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.     

Inductively coupled transmission of neuro-active signals: analysis of optimal parameters

Fifteen parameters that play a role in the optimal transmission of therapeutic signals by inductively coupled implantable neurostimulator have been investigated. For this purpose, at first, a model of the system was constructed from which the system transfer function was obtained. Then, the relationship between the transfer gain and each parameter was evaluated using mathematical equations and a specifically built computer program. This study showed that the gain could be increased selecting small values for some parameters (the number of active coil windings, first radii of inner and outer paths of the core, heights of the core base and windings, position under the skin, internal resistances of the active and passive coils, tissue impedance between the contacts of electrode), and high values for the others (the number of passive coil windings, second radii of inner and outer paths of the core, frequency of the signal, relative magnetic permeability of the core). Critical saturation values were another considerable point. The nearest commercially available standard values should be preferred in practical applications.     

A randomized controlled trial of goserelin and medroxyprogesterone acetate in the treatment of pelvic congestion

Following identification of the proportion of pelvic congestion among symptomatic patients complaining of chronic pelvic pain, and in a totally asymptomatic group of patients requesting tubal ligation, the efficiency of goserelin acetate versus medroxyprogesterone acetate was compared objectively using pelvic venogram scores, and subjectively by symptom resolution, improvement of psychological status and sexual functioning in a prospective randomized trial in 47 patients with pure pelvic congestion syndrome. Patients received either goserelin acetate (3.6 mg/month for 6 months) or medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA; 30 mg/day for 6 months). Among patients with chronic pelvic pain, those with pure pelvic congestion were mostly parous, had the most severe pelvic signs and symptom scores, lowest rates of sexual functioning, and higher states of anxiety and depression as compared with others. At 1 year after treatment, goserelin remained superior to MPA in terms of pelvic venographic improvement as an objective measure. In alleviation of signs and symptomatology, improvement of sexual functioning and reduction of anxiety and depressive states as subjective measures, goserelin acetate achieved a statistically significant advantage (P = 0.0001) compared with MPA.     

Laparoscopic presacral neurolysis for endometriosis-related pelvic pain

BACKGROUND: Some patients with endometriosis are candidates for sympathectomy of the superior hypogastric plexus. The objective of this paper is to describe our technique of laparoscopic presacral neurolysis for sympathectomy and to report 1 year results of the first 15 cases. METHODS: To achieve this objective in a prospective observational study of 1 year follow-up; we performed laparoscopic presacral chemical neurolysis with phenol in 15 patients with pelvic pain and minimal-moderate endometriosis. The main outcome measures were: the impact of treatment on pelvic symptom resolution, non-opioid analgesic consumption during menses, sexual performance and observed complications and side effects during 1 year follow-up. RESULTS: We noted a significant reduction in total pelvic symptom score as compared with baseline mean (SD) of 9.04 (1.2). The mean difference [95% confidence interval (CI)] of reduction was 5.7 (4.9-6.5), 5.8 (5.0-6.6) and 5.8 (4.9-6.6) from the baseline at the 3rd, 6th and 12th postoperative month (P < 0.001). We observed a significant improvement in Sabbatberg Sexual Rating Scale as compared with baseline mean (SD) of 30.9 (4.3). The mean difference (95% CI) of increase was 33.4 (30.3-36.4), 33.2 (30.1-36.2) and 33.2 (30.1-36.3) from the baseline at the 3rd, 6th and 12th postoperative month. We observed a significant reduction in analgesic consumption during menses in terms of total naproxen sodium tablets as compared with baseline mean (SD) of 8.9 (1.1). The mean difference (95% CI) of reduction in the total number of naproxen sodium 250 mg tablets was 6.5 (5.5-7.5), 6.7 (5.7-7.7) and 6.6 (5.6-7.6) from the baseline at the 3rd, 6th and 12th postoperative month. The most common side effect was constipation. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic presacral neurolysis is feasible and simple. More data is needed to support its efficacy and safety.     

Evaluation of adipokines and inflammatory mediator expression levels in patients with periodontitis and peri-implantitis: a cross-sectional study

Clinical Oral Investigations - The aim of this study was to analyze the mRNA and protein expression of adiponectin, leptin, visfatin, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-6...     

The effects of decontamination methods of dental implant surface on cytokine expression analysis in the reconstructive surgical treatment of peri-implantitis

Odontology - The aim of this trial was to analyze the effect of implant surface decontamination procedures combined with reconstructive surgical treatment (RST) of peri-implantitis on gene...