Relationship of the blood pressure's level and skinfold thickness]

OBJECTIVE: Hypertension is an important problem of the public health. Insufficient education of the people along with insufficient physical examination also plays a role in the poor success of the diagnosis and treatment of the hypertension. We investigated whether the skinfold thickness has an importance in the prediction of blood pressure or not. METHODS: In Aydin City area 110 women and 100 men selected by randomized sampling method were included into our study. Body mass index, blood pressure and skinfold thickness were measured according to the international guidelines. RESULTS: There was a moderate correlation between the skinfold and body mass index (r= 0.494, p=0.000) and there was a mild correlation between the body mass index and systolic and diastolic blood pressures (r=0.225, p=0.000 and r=0.300, p=0.000, respectively). There was no correlation between the skinfold thickness and systolic and diastolic blood pressures (r=0.058, p=0.400 and r=0.090, p=0.194, respectively). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that body mass index, not skinfold thickness, can be used for the prediction of the blood pressure. Some other factors independent from the body mass index might be the determinants of the skinfold thickness.     

An Innovative Approach to Chairside Provisional Replacement of an Extracted Anterior Tooth: Use of Fiber-Reinforced Ribbon-Composites and a Natural Tooth

Immediate chairside replacement of an extracted anterior tooth may contribute to a patient's comfort, treatment acceptance, and expectations of treatment; however, fabrication of a custom restoration in the anterior region of the mouth may result in an esthetic compromise for patients during the fabrication period. Chairside tooth replacement is an excellent application of fiber-reinforced composite resin technology. This article presents an innovative, affordable chairside procedure in which Ribbond Multi-Purpose Bondable Reinforcement Ribbon is used to replace a single extracted anterior tooth using the patient's own tooth.     

The vascular anatomy of the lumbrical muscles in the hand.

The lumbrical muscles are located in the midpalm, dorsal to the palmar aponeurosis. The main function of these muscles is an indirect contribution to interphalangeal joint extension by decreasing the flexor effect of the flexor digitorum profundus muscle. Due to their minor biomechanical functions and suitable constructions, these muscles have been preferred in reconstructive surgery as local transposition flaps or pedicled flaps. Despite the surgical and clinical importance, vascular anatomical studies of these muscles are not well represented in the current literature. This study was performed in the Department of Anatomy of the Faculty of Medicine of the Ege University. Thirty-four cadaver hands, injected with red-coloured latex were used, and we aimed to describe the morphometry and vascular anatomy of the lumbrical muscles. We measured the length and width of the muscles, after removing their epimisium, and the diameter and length of the arteries to the muscles. The outcomes of our study determined that the length and width of the lumbrical muscles were reduced significantly from radial towards ulnar sides. The lumbrical muscles were supplied from both their palmar and dorsal surfaces by both superficial and deep palmar arches and/or their branches. We also described the level of entry of the dominant arteries for each lumbrical muscle and measured the size of the vessels and muscles to guide some surgical approaches. This anatomical study could guide for some surgical approaches and reduce the deficiency about the vascular anatomical patterns of the lumbrical muscles in the literature.     

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome induced by ziprasidone on the second day of treatment.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is the rarest and most serious of the neuroleptic-induced movement disorders. We describe a case of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) associated with the use of ziprasidone. Although conventional neuroleptics are more frequently associated with NMS, atypical antipsychotic drugs like ziprasidone may also be a cause. The patient is a 24-year-old male with a history of schizophrenia who developed signs and symptoms of NMS after 2 days of treatment with an 80-mg/day dose of orally administrated ziprasidone. This case is the earliest (second day of treatment) NMS due to ziprasidone reported in the literature.     

Mucopolysaccharidosis VII as cause of fetal hydrops in early pregnancy

We report on fetal hydrops presenting at 18 weeks of gestation and diagnosed as β-glucuronidase deficiency. The parents were first cousins and there were 2 previous similar fetal deaths. β-Glucuronidase was absent in cultured fetal fibroblasts and lymphoblasts but was normal in the tested relatives. The activities of other lysosomal enzymes were normal. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Dydrogesterone-induced hepatitis and autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

Dydrogesterone, similar to women's natural progesterone, has been used in a wide range of gynecological conditions. Despite its widespread use, dydrogesterone-induced hepatotoxicity and dydrogesterone-induced hemolytic anemia have, to the best of our knowledge, never been reported previously. We describe a case of hepatitis and warm antibody hemolytic anemia due to dydrogesterone.     

Is there any relationship between human leucocyte antigen class II and chronic urticaria? (chronic urticaria and HLA class II)

The Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) typing of large groups of patients with various autoimmune diseases has demonstrated that some HLA alleles occur at higher frequencies in specific diseases than in the general population. Chronic urticaria has been shown to have an autoimmune basis by a previous study which found an association between chronic urticaria and specific HLA groups. We investigated the HLA subtypes of Turkish chronic urticaria patients. For this purpose 42 Turkish patients with chronic urticaria and 115 healthy controls were typed for HLA-DR and DQ by PCR-SSP (Polymerase Chain Reaction Sequence Specific Primers) low resolution DNA technique. We found an increased frequency of DR4 (42.9%, p=0.01) in chronic urticaria patients in comparison with that in healthy controls. This study supports the hypothesis that HLA alleles may be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic urticaria and that they appear to be directly involved in the initiation of the immune response.     

Lipid peroxidation, erythrocyte superoxide-dismutase activity and trace metals in young male footballers

Physical training is known to induce oxidative stress in individuals subjected to intense exercise. In this study, we investigated plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of 25 young male footballers and a control group of similar age. Red blood cell (RBC) count, haemoglobin (Hb) and haematocrit (Hct) values, and copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) levels were also examined. The maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) of all subjects was determined in order to establish their functional capacity. The main finding of the present study was that plasma MDA levels, one of the most commonly used markers of lipid peroxidation, of this group of footballers aged under 21 decreased slightly when compared with those of the control group (p < 0.001). In contrast, erythrocyte SOD activity was higher in the footballer group than in the controls (p < 0.001). Footballers who are under regular training showed an improved antioxidant activity in comparison to sedentary controls. Plasma copper concentration, RBC count and Hb concentration of the footballer group were all significantly lower than those of the control group, (p < 0.001, p < 0.01, p < 0.01, respectively). Investigating the footballers' data with Spearman's correlation analyses, the correlation coefficients (r) between Zn/Cu ratio and SOD was positive (r=0.44; p < 0.05); and between VO2max and SOD (r=0.42; p < 0.05) were both positive. On the basis of statistical analysis, we suggest that regular exercise may be beneficial in cases of oxidative damage by reducing the amount of lipid peroxidation and increasing the activity of the antioxidant enzyme SOD.     

Relationship between Pollen Counts and Weather Variables in East-Mediterranean Coast of Turkey

BACKGROUND: Aeroallergen sampling provides information regarding the onset, duration and severity of the pollen season that clinicians use to guide allergen selection for skin testing and treatment. OBJECTIVES: This atmospheric survey reports (1) airborne pollen contributions in Adana in one-year period (2) pollen onset, duration and peak level (3) the relationship between airborne pollen and selected meteorological variables and; (4) effects on symptoms in pollen allergic children. METHODS: Pollen sampling was performed with a volumetric Burkard Spore Trap. Meteorological data were measured daily from April 2001 to April 2002. Asthma symptom scores were investigated in 186 pollen allergic children that were on follow up in pediatric allergy outpatient clinics during same period. RESULTS: Average measurements included 82.5% tree pollen, 7.7% grass pollen and 9.8% herb pollen 54 taxa were identified during one year. The most prominent tree pollens were Cupressaceae, Eucalyptus and Pinus. The most common herb was Chenopodiaceae pollen family. When airborne pollen levels were examined in relation to single meteorological conditions; daily variations in total pollen counts were not significantly correlated with any variable studied (humidity, rainfall, temperature and wind) (p > 0.05). On the other hand, statistically significant relationship between pollen concentration and symptom scores were found (p > 0.05). Positive correlations were seen between both Gramineae and Herb pollen, and humidity and rainfall from March to July. However, positive correlations were detected between tree pollen counts and temperature and humidity in May and June. CONCLUSION: This survey is the first volumetric airborne pollen analysis conducted in the survey area in Adana. This study suggested that the effects of weather on pollen count and symptom scores in this population could not be clearly identified with the evaluation of one-year data. However, pollen counts had effect on allergic symptoms in pollen allergic children. Examination of the complex interaction of multiple whether parameters would perhaps more fully elucidate the relationship between meteorology and aerobiology and provide the clinician with information necessary to forecast pollen prevalence. An awareness of the ever chancing, local aeroallergen patterns requires regular monitoring. Such awareness serves as a useful guide in the effective testing and treatment of atopic patients.