Psoas abscess as a complication of pyogenic sacroiliitis: report of a case

A psoas abscess is, either primary or secondary, a rare entity for a general surgeon. Images by ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT) can help a general surgeon to make an accurate diagnosis when encountering the patient complaining of unilateral lower abdominal deep pain with fever. A case of pyogenic abscess of the psoas muscle as a result of sacroiliitis in a 22-year-old man is reported herein. The abdominal CT and magnetic resonance imaging scans demonstrated a large multilocular abscess extending along the iliopsoas muscle, and erosion and a widening of the left sacroiliac joint. The abscess was drained with an open surgical approach and the patient responded well to antibiotic therapy. Aggressive surgical and medical treatment is necessary in patients with psoas abscess to prevent complications. Received: March 5, 2001 / Accepted: November 20, 2001     

The status of alternative treatment in cancer patients in Turkey

This study was designed to measure the frequency at which Turkish patients with cancer resort to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). A total of 704 patients referred to the Gülhane Military Medical Academy and Ankara Numune Training Hospital between September 2002 and January 2003 were asked about the CAM therapies they used. Of these, 276 patients (39.2%) had used CAM. Gender, marital status, educational status, age, financial status, severity of pain, history of cancer in the family, and their own ideas concerning CAM therapies were found to be correlated with the frequency of resorting to CAM. Resorting to CAM may lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment, adverse drug interactions, treatment withdrawal, and disease progression. Therefore, it is very important to inform patients about these potential dangers. Further studies are needed to clarify the reasons that lead patients to resort to CAM.     

Total elbow arthroplasty in patients who have elbow fractures caused by gunshot injuries: 8- to 12-year follow-up study

Introduction In this retrospective study, we aimed to present 8–12-year clinical and radiographic evaluation of total elbow arthroplasty in young patients who had open fractures due to gunshot injuries. Materials and methods The study included a consecutive series of seven patients who had insertion of total elbow prosthesis (semi-constrained type) for the treatment of comminuted intra-articular elbow fractures resulting from gunshot injuries between 1994 and 1998. All patients were male and the mean age at the time of operation was 23 years. Results The average time from the original fracture to the joint replacement was 26 months (range 14–39). The mean follow-up period was 117 ± 15 months. At the time of the latest follow-up, 5 of 7 elbows had a poor result. Radiological evaluations revealed that three patients had ulnar and two patients had humeral component loosening at the last follow-up examination. No intra-operative complications were observed. In the long-term evaluation, two patients had prosthesis loosening that resulted from deep infection and three patients had aseptic loosening that necessitated re-operation. The prosthesis removal was performed. Conclusion As a result, the patients in whom we implemented total elbow prosthesis in comminuted elbow fractures due to gunshot wounds seemed to get back into active life in the early period without any problem and it seemed that their pain disappeared and their functional capacity increased. In the long period, however, these values showed a distinct decrease with the same patients.     

Emmetropization in Anisometropic Amblyopia

Purpose: To investigate the process of emmetropization in anisometropic amblyopic subjects during childhood and to determine the effects of spectacle use only and patching. Methods: Retrospectively, the records of patients who were diagnosed as anisometropic amblyopes were reviewed and 132 subjects who were between the ages of 5 to 8 at the time of diagnosis, with minimum follow-up of 3 years, were included in the study. Full ophthalmological examination was performed in every subjects and the information from every visit was retrieved for evaluation. Patients were divided into two groups according to the treatment they applied: patching and spectacle alone. Results: The emmetropization process was similar to normal subjects after 3 years of follow-up, with a change of ?0.71 D from the baseline spheric retinoscopy measurement in the spectacle group and ?0.53 D in patching group (p > 0.809). Patching and spectacle use did not change the decrease in hypermetropia. Astigmatism and anisometropia scores did not show any difference in two groups in the 3-year follow-up period. Conclusion: The emmetropization process is similar to normal population in anisometropic subjects and spectacle use and patching therapy have no effects on this process. The anisometropia score does not change with patching and stays relatively the same during the follow-up in childhood.     

Depression and socio‐economical burden are more common in primary caregivers of patients who are not aware of their cancer: TURQUOISE Study by the Palliative Care Working Committee of the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG)

In this study, we aimed to determine the personal, social and economic burden and the frequency of depression, as well as in caregivers of cancer patients who are being treated with chemotherapy in Turkey. The study is designed as a cross‐sectional survey study using a 5‐point Likert‐type response scale, and the last part of the questionnaire includes the Beck Depression Inventory. The depression rate was found to be 64% (n = 476) among all subjects (n = 968), with 91% of those with depression demonstrating signs of mild depression. In this study, a significant difference was found between the presence of depression and age (young), sex (female), educational level (high), economic status (low), financial loss during treatment, patient's lack of knowledge about his/her diagnosis, metastatic disease and short survival time. In addition, 64% of all subjects had concerns of getting cancer, and 44% of all subjects had feelings of anger/rage against other people. In a multivariate regression analysis, the patient's lack of knowledge of the diagnosis was the independent risk factor. In conclusion, depression incidence and burden rate increased among cancer caregivers, and care burden was highly associated with depression. Accordingly, approaches to reducing the psycho‐social effects of cancer should focus intensively on both the patients and their caregivers in Turkey.     

Fatty acid-binding protein-4 as a biomarker predicting acromegaly-associated diabetes mellitus

Background/aimThe known pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus (DM) in acromegaly is mainly based on growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) excess. Fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP-4), a novel adipokine, is found to induce insulin resistance and type 2 DM. We aimed to investigate the possible effect of FABP-4 on glucose metabolism in patients with acromegaly.Materials and methodsThis case-control study included 28 patients newly diagnosed with acromegaly and 57 healthy volunteers. The patients with acromegaly were classified according to their glycemic status as with DM, prediabetes, and normal glucose tolerance. Anthropometric measurements, laboratory test results, and FABP-4 levels of the subjects were evaluated.ResultsAlthough no difference was observed in FABP-4 levels between acromegaly and control groups, the FABP-4 level was higher in the patients with acromegaly having DM compared to the patients with acromegaly having prediabetes and NGT, and the control group (p = 0.004, p = 0.001, p = 0.004, respectively). Logistic regression analysis suggested that the FABP-4 is an independent predictor of DM in acromegaly (β = 7.382, OR = 38.96, 95% CI: 1.52-5.76, p = 0.018).Conclusion The FABP-4 may be a helpful predictor of acromegaly-associated DM.     

Phase II Study of Loading-Dose Ibandronate Treatment in Patients with Breast Cancer and Bone Metastases Suffering from Moderate to Severe Pain

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of loading-dose intravenous (i.v.) ibandronate in women with breast cancer and bone metastases. Patients and Methods: In this prospective, phase II, open-label study, 13 women with breast cancer, bone metastases, and moderate/severe bone pain received ibandronate 6 mg/day (i.v. loading-dose 15 min infusion over 3 consecutive days) with follow-up until day 14. Endpoints included pain response (primary), duration until pain response, analgesic use, Karnofsky index, safety (including hematologic, biochemical, and urine examinations), and adverse events. Results: Pain intensity decreased on days 7 and 14 versus day 1 (mean visual analogue scale score: 3.2 ± 2.2 and 3.0 ± 2.1 versus 6.1 ± 0.9, respectively; p < 0.01 for both). Mean time to pain response was 8.2 ± 3.3 days. Mean rate of analgesic use decreased (69.2%, 16.7% and 15.4% on days 1, 7 and 14, respectively). Mean Karnofsky index score increased (80.8 ± 13.1 and 80.8 ± 13.2, on days 7 and 14 versus 77.7 ± 11.7 on day 1; p < 0.05 on both days). Conclusion: Bone pain and analgesic use decreased in women with breast cancer and bone metastases following loadingdose i.v. ibandronate which was well-tolerated with no renal safety concerns.     

Biceps tenodesis with interference screw: cyclic testing of different techniques

Different surgical techniques exist for biceps tenodesis. The most secure fixation technique is with interference screws. The purpose of the study was to compare the biomechanical performance of three different interference screw biceps tenodesis fixation methods, which involve different tunnel preparation methods. Using a sheep shoulder model and metal interference screws, a bone wedge technique was compared to serial tunnel dilation and a control group. After a preload, all repairs were cyclically loaded (20–60 N) for 100 cycles followed by destructive testing. Biceps tenodesis using an interference screw—bone wedge technique showed statistically lower cyclic displacement (8.1 ± 6.4 mm) than serial dilatation with an interference screw (21.3 ± 8.4 mm) or interference screw fixation alone (18.3 ± 8.3 mm) (P = 0.02). There were no statistically significant differences in ultimate failure strength for any of the interference screw biceps tenodesis techniques tested. The tunnel preparation method chosen for interference screw fixed biceps tenodesis can have a positive effect on tenodesis performance. Using the bone wedge technique may allow a more rapid rehabilitation program applicable for the traumatic biceps tendon rupture seen in young, athletic patients with high demands.     

Self-reported experience of mucositis in cancer patients who underwent conditioning regimen and stem cell transplantation

Purpose  

This study was done to evaluate the frequency and severity of mucositis in the early period of stem cell transplantation (SCT) and the relation of conditioning regimens with mucositis.