Prediction of Arrhythmic Events After Acute Myocardial Infarction Using Two Methods for Late Potentials Recording

One hundred consecutive patients recovering from an acute myocardiai infarction underwent, prior to home discharge, signal-averaged electrocardiography (ECG), left ventriculography. and 24-hour Holter ECG recording. The signal-averaged ECG was recorded and analyzed using two procedures: the orthogonal bipolar XYZ lead configuration with a bidirectional filter: and a precordial unipolar lead configuration with a uonrecursive digital filter. An abnormal signal-averaged ECG was seen in 40% of patients with the XYZ system and in 30% of patients in the precordial method, abnormal ejection fraction (< 40%) in 24% of patients and high grade ectopy activity in 22%. During the 24-month follow-up period, 12 patients (12%) had an arrhythmic event defined as either sudden death (11 patients) or sustained ventricular tachycardia (1 patient). Neither the signal-averaged ECG with the XYZ configuration, the abnormal ejection fraction, nor the high grade ectopy were able to statistically predict a higher arrhythmic event rate. The signal-averaged ECG with the precordial configuration was able to statistically predict a higher arrhythmic event rate, P < 0.03; odds ratio = 3.96. The combination of the orthogonal XYZ configuration signal-averaged ECG with the ejection fraction (P < 0.01, odds ralio = 7.33), or with ejection fraction and Holter monitoring (P < 0.06. odds ratio = 6.17) was able to predict a higher arrhythmic event rate. The combination of the precordial configuration signal-averaged ECG with the ejection fraction (P < 0.002, odds ratio = 14.4), or with ejection fraction and Holter monitoring (P < 0.06. odds ratio =10) was able to better predict a higher arrhythmic event rate. The combination of a normal or abnormal signal-averaged ECG and ejection fraction gave a sensitivity, specificity, positive, or negative value prediction of arrhythmic events of 60%, 90.6%, 37.5%, and 96%, respectively. It must be emphasized that the number of arrhythmic events during the 2-year follow-up was small and further study is required to determine the true predictive value of each method for arrhythmic events.     

Effects of intraoperative blood loss during liver resection on patients’ outcome: a single-center experience

Background/aim Operative bleeding is one of the major determinants of outcome in liver surgery. This study aimed to describe the impact of intraoperative blood loss on the postoperative course of liver resection (LR). Materials and methods The data of 257 patients who were treated with LR between January 2007 and October 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. LRs were performed via intermittent portal triad clamping (PTC) under low central venous pressure. Results LRs were performed for 67.7% of patients with a malignant disease and 32.3% of patients with a benign disease. Major LR was performed in 89 patients (34.6%). The mean PTC period was 20.32 min (±13.7). The median intraoperative bleeding amount was 200 mL (5–3500 mL), the 30-day mortality rate was 4.3%, and the morbidity rate was 31.9%. The hospital stay (p = 0.002), morbidity (p = 0.009), and 30-day mortality (p = 0.041) of patients with a bleeding amount of more than 500 mL significantly increased. Conclusion Surgeons should consider the adverse effects of intraoperative bleeding during liver resection on patients’ outcome. Favorable outcomes would be obtained with diligent postoperative care.     

Translation and validation of a Turkish version of the Xerostomia Inventory XI in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome

Background/aim The aim of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of Turkish version of the Xerostomia Inventory XI in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS).Materials and methods A cross-sectional survey study design and analysis were used to assess the reliability and validity of the Xerostomia Inventory XI. A total of 69 patients with pSS (5 males, 64 females; mean age = 54.81 ± 8.77 years) were included. The Xerostomia Inventory XI (TR) was applied twice at an interval of 15 days. The test-retest reliability was assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and the internal consistency of multiitem subscales by calculating Cronbach’s alpha values. The correlations between ESSPRI, basal and stimulated salivary flow (BSF-SSF), Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life-UK (OHRQoL-UK) Questionnaire were evaluated to determine the construct validity.Results The ICC value for test/retest reliability of the Xerostomia Inventory XI (TR) was 0.993. The internal consistency was 0.869. There were low to high correlations between Xerostomia Inventory XI (TR) and ESSPRI, BSF, SSF, OHIR-14 total and OHRQoL-UK total.Conclusion The Turkish version of the Xerostomia Inventory XI was found to be clinically valid and reliable to be used in clinical evaluations and rehabilitation interventions in patients with pSS.     

White matter abnormalities and dystonic motor disorder associated with mutations in the SLC16A2 gene

Aim Mutations in the SLC16A2 gene have been implicated in Allan–Herndon–Dudley syndrome (AHDS), an X‐linked learning disability * syndrome associated with thyroid function test (TFT) abnormalities. Delayed myelination is a non‐specific finding in individuals with learning disability whose genetic basis is often uncertain. The aim of this study was to describe neuroimaging findings and neurological features in males with SLC16A2 gene mutations. Method We reviewed brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and neurological features in a cohort of five males aged between 1 year 6 months and 6 years (median 4y) from four families harbouring SLC16A2 gene mutations. Results The participants presented aged between 4 and 9 months with initial hypotonia and subsequent spastic paraparesis with dystonic posturing and superimposed paroxysmal dyskinesias. Dystonic cerebral palsy was the most common initial clinical diagnosis, and AHDS was suspected only retrospectively, considering the characteristically abnormal thyroid function tests, with high serum tri‐iodothyronine (T₃), as the most consistent finding. Brain MRI showed absent or markedly delayed myelination in all five participants, prompting the suspicion of Pelizaeus–Merzbacher disease in one patient. Interpretation Our findings indicate a consistent association between defective neuronal T₃ uptake and delayed myelination. SLC16A2 involvement should be considered in males with learning disability, an associated motor or movement disorder, and evidence of delayed myelination on brain MRI. Although dysmorphic features suggestive of AHDS are not always present, T₃ measurement is a reliable screening test.     

Reliability and validity of the Turkish version of Post-COVID-19 Functional Status Scale

Background/aimThe post-COVID-19 Functional Status (PCFS) has recently been developed for functional outcomes of COVID-19 upon discharge and in long term. The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability and validity properties of the Turkish version of the PCFS in Turkish post-COVID-19 patients with hospitalized and nonhospitalized during infection.Materials and methods One hundred participants with post-COVID-19 were included in this cross-sectional study. Test-retest reliability of the Turkish version of PCFS assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach’s alpha was calculated for internal consistency. For construct validity, correlation coefficients between the Turkish version of PCFS developed by translation-back translation method and modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale (MMRC), London Chest Activities of Daily Living (LCADL) scale, Barthel Index (BI) were analyzed.Results For test-retest reliability analysis, ICC ranged between 0.734 and 0.880. The total ICC score was 0.821, indicating excellent reliability. The Cronbach’s alpha value of the PCFS test and retest scores were recorded as 0.821 indicating that the scale is quite reliable. The PCFS score was moderately correlated with the mMRC score (r = 0.534, p < 0.001) and weakly correlated with the LCADL self care (r = 0.311, p = 0.002), domestic (r = 0.277, p = 0.005), physical activity (r = 0.342, p < 0.001), leisure subscores (r = 0.434, p < 0.001) and total score (r = 0.399, p < 0.001).Conclusion The Turkish version of the PCFS scale is reliable scale that reflects activity limitation and functional status after COVID-19. The Turkish version of the PCFS will be a guide for rehabilitation professionals to understand functional limitation after COVID-19 and to direct interventions accordingly to functional status of the patients at discharge and in long term.