Argon laser treatment of pterygium

The effectiveness of argon laser therapy on pterygium management as a primary modality and as adjunctive therapy to surgery was assessed. Twelve pterygia were surgically excised, 18 pterygia were treated with surgical excision followed by argon laser therapy, and 11 primary pterygia received argon laser alone. A statistically significant difference, was found between pretreatment and post-treatment sizes of pterygia in all groups. At 24-month follow-up, no pterygia in the laser group showed fibrovascular growth over 1 mm.     

Effects of famotidine, a new histamine H2-receptor antagonist, on renal function

The effects of famotidine on renal function were investigated. Eight healthy men (N) and 8 renal patients with varying degrees of renal failure (R.F.) participated in the trial. They were given either famotidine (40 mg) or cimetidine (800 mg) for 7 days. Cimetidine produced a significant decrease in creatinine clearance (from 131.6 +/- 12.9 to 107.7 +/- 3.4 ml/min (N), and 22.2 +/- 3.9 to 18.1 +/- 3.5 ml/min (R.F.], and increase in serum creatinine (from 0.96 +/- 0.05 to 1.09 +/- 0.04 mg/dl (N), and 3.46 +/- 0.62 to 3.86 +/- 0.51 mg/dl (R.F.], and a decrease in creatinine excretion (from 24.0 +/- 1.1 to 22.6 +/- 0.8 mg/kg/24 hr (N], respectively, although the reduction in creatinine excretion in the renal failure group was small. On the other hand, the famotidine treatment produced no significant changes in renal function in both subjects (creatinine clearance, 136.5 +/- 5.7 to 133.6 +/- 6.0 ml/min (N), and 21.9 +/- 3.6 to 20.9 +/- 4.1 ml/min (R.F.); serum creatinine, 0.98 +/- 0.02 to 0.99 +/- 0.02 mg/dl (N), and 3.24 +/- 0.43 to 3.46 +/- 0.55 mg/dl (R.F.); and urinary creatine, 25.1 +/- 1.0 to 25.3 +/- 1.0 mg/kg/24 hr (N), and 17.2 +/- 1.4 to 16.6 +/- 1.5 mg/kg/24 hr (R.F.]. There were no changes in the percent sodium excretion, or the serum and urinary beta 2-microglobulin in both groups.     

Significance of LDH isozyme pattern in rubella

The laboratory data from 136 patients suffering from a mass outbreak of rubella were serially examined. Alteration of thrombocytopenia (38.7%), leukopenia (26.4%), increased LDH (94.3%), and increased GOT (32.4%) were observed during the early days of disease. Slightly later, increased GPT was noted in 48.5%. LDH isozymes may be grouped into two specific patterns: 1) an LDH3 dominant pattern appeared (90.4%) during the beginning days of the disease. 2) an LDH3 dominant pattern with LDH5 greater than LDH4 was detected one week later. It was concluded that the increase of LDH3 may have been induced by thrombocytopenia due to viral infection. The increase of LDH5 appears to result from liver damage. In conclusion, LDH isozyme findings are significant in the early diagnosis of liver damage in rubella.     

Comparison of the classic limberg flap and modified limberg flap in the treatment of pilonidal sinus disease: A retrospective analysis of 416 patients

Purpose  

Pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) is usually seen on the sacrococcygeal region in adolescent patients. The current study analyzed the outcome of the rhomboid excision and the Limberg flap procedure (cLF) in comparison to the modified Limberg flap procedure (mlF) for PSD.     

Efficacy of a modified mandibular advancement device for a totally edentulous patient with severe obstructive sleep apnea

Background  

It has been asserted that the success rate of oral appliances was more satisfactory for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) than severe ones; besides, there is a lack of literature about mandibular advancement device (MAD) application for edentulous patients with OSA.     

Ways of problem solving as predictors of relapse in alcohol dependent male inpatients

Aim

The purpose of this study was to identify how remitters and relapsers view their everyday problem solving strategies.

Method

A total of 128 male alcohol dependent male inpatients who were hospitalized at the Ankara University Psychiatry Clinic, Alcohol and Substance Abuse Treatment Unit were recruited for the study. Subjects demographic status and alcohol use histories were assessed by a self-report questionnaire. Also, patients were evaluated with The Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory (CSI), The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Scale (STAI-I-II), and The Problem Solving Inventory (PSI). Patients were followed for six months with monthly intervals after hospital discharge. Drinking status was assessed in terms of abstinence and relapse. Data were assessed with Student t-test, and univariate and multivariate analyses. In the logistic regression analysis, age, marital status, employment status and PSI subscores were taken as the independent variables and drinking state at the end of six months as the dependent variable.

Results

There were significant differences in reflective and avoidant styles, and monitoring style of problem solving between abstainers and relapses. It was found that subjects who perceived their problem solving style as less avoidant and less reflective were at greater risk to relapse.

Conclusions

The findings demonstrated that active engagement in problem solving like utilizing avoidant and reflective styles of problem solving enhances abstinence. In treatment, expanding the behavior repertoire and increasing the variety of ways of problem solving ways that can be utilized in daily life should be one of the major goals of the treatment program.     

Less invasive quick replacement of the proximal arch with aggressive rapid rewarming for type A acute aortic dissection

We describe a newly modified technique, which we term “less invasive quick replacement” (LIQR) for type A acute aortic dissection (AAD). After cooling to a rectal temperature of 28°C without any cerebral perfusion, circulating blood in the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit was warmed up to 40°C during open distal anastomosis. As soon as the distal anastomosis was completed, rapid rewarming was initiated by perfusing blood at 40°C. The average CPB and total operative times were 71.8 ± 9.6 and 130.6 ± 7.7 min, respectively. The shortest operative time was 101 min from skin incision to skin closure. All patients were weaned off the ventilator within 12 h of surgery. The postoperative hospital stay was 9.3 ± 1.2 days. There was no incidence of cerebral damage or hospital mortality. Our initial results showed LIQR to be safe and effective.     

The effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide on healing of intestinal anastomosis in rats with experimental obstructive jaundice

Purpose  Intestinal anastomotic healing is a complex procedure in which several mediators and cytokines play roles. Calcitonin gene-related peptide is an important neuropeptide in inflammation. In this study we aimed to investigate the effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide on healing of intestinal anastomosis in rats with obstructive jaundice. Materials and methods  Obstructive jaundice was induced in rats by the ligation and division of the common bile duct. Four days after the operation, intestinal anastomosis was performed, and either calcitonin gene-related peptide or 0.9% NaCl was administered intraperitoneally to these jaundiced rats and controls. The concentrations of serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and triglyceride levels of all rats were measured, and healing of the anastomosis was evaluated by measuring the bursting pressure and hydroxyproline content on the 7th postoperative day. Results  Calcitonin gene-related peptide was found to have positive effects on healing of the anastomosis by inhibiting the effects of TNF-α and increasing the bursting pressure and hydroxyproline content of the anastomosis. Conclusion  Calcitonin gene-related peptide increases anastomotic wound healing in experimental anastomosis in the presence of obstructive jaundice in rats.