The role of nebulised budesonide in the treatment of exacerbations of COPD.

The present study was designed to evaluate the hypothesis that nebulised budesonide (NB) might be an alternative to systemic corticosteroids (SC) in the treatment of patients with exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (ECOPD). Patients hospitalised with ECOPD (n = 159) were randomised into three groups. Group 1 received only standard bronchodilator treatment (SBDT), group 2 received SC (40 mg prednisolone) plus SBDT, and group 3 received NB (1,500 microg q.i.d.) plus SBDT. Improvement during 10-day hospitalisation was compared with exacerbation and rehospitalisation rates after discharge. While mean+/-sd age was 64.1+/-8.9 yrs (female/male = 0.1), mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)) at admission was found to be 37.2+/-12.2% predicted. Arterial blood gases and spirograms recovered faster in groups 2 and 3. While improvements in arterial oxygen tension (P(a,O(2))) and forced vital capacity (FVC) in group 2, and improvements in P(a,O(2)), FVC and FEV(1) in group 3, became significant at 24-h control, the first significant improvement in group 1 appeared in arterial oxygen saturation at 72-h control. The mean improvement of P(a,O(2)) after 10 days was 1.20 and 1.06 kPa (9 and 8 mmHg) higher in group 2 and 3, respectively, than in group 1. Blood glucose exhibited an upward trend only in group 2. The study demonstrates that nebulised budesonide may be an effective and safe alternative to systemic corticosteroids in the treatment of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.     

Effect of water extract of Turkish propolis on tuberculosis infection in guinea-pigs.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (H(37)R(v))-infected guinea-pig model was used to investigate the effect of water extract of propolis (WEP). After subcutaneous inoculation of tubercle bacilli, each animal received oral WEP (n=9), isoniazid (n=5) or saline (n=6) as placebo and were sacrificed 30 days later. Formation of necrosis was less prominent in the group treated with WEP, but was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The granuloma formation in the same group was more prominent than the placebo and isoniazid groups; however, this finding failed to reach statistical significance by the Kruskal-Wallis test (P>0.05). These findings suggest that Turkish WEP may have a limited effect on the development of tuberculosis infection in this guinea-pig model.     

Outcome after repair of cor triatriatum

Cor triatriatum represents <0.1% of all congenital cardiac malformations. Symptoms in patients with cor triatriatum are related to pulmonary venous obstruction and pressure loading of the right side of the heart. The aim of this study was to describe our institutional experience with repair of cor triatriatum. From June 1963 to June 2010, 65 patients underwent repair at a median age of 7.2 months (range 2 days to 47.6 years). Among these patients, 49 (75%) had associated congenital heart defects. Atrial septal defect (n = 29), ventricular septal defect (n = 15), partially or totally anomalous pulmonary venous return (n = 14), mitral valve abnormalities (n = 11), and supravalvar mitral ring (n = 5) were the most common associated defects. Surgical treatment consisted of excision of the membrane, along with additional procedures in 47 patients (72%). Five patients had new postoperative supraventricular arrhythmias. During a median follow-up period of 5.4 years, no patients underwent reintervention for recurrent left atrial obstruction, 7 patients were noted to have minor residual cor triatriatum without obstruction, and 8 patients (including 4 diagnosed before cor triatriatum repair) had pulmonary vein stenosis, 6 of whom underwent intervention for that reason. In conclusion, in this large surgical series of patients who underwent repair of cor triatriatum, there were no cases of significant residual or recurrent cor triatriatum. Although the association between cor triatriatum and pulmonary vein stenosis has been described previously, the relative frequency of this condition in our cohort (>10%, including patients diagnosed before and after cor triatriatum repair) is noteworthy. Abnormalities of the mitral valve and a supravalvar mitral ring were also seen more often than the existing research would suggest, which may be another important consideration in evaluating and following these patients.     

Prolactin levels in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with infantile spasms

Infantile spasms are an age-related epileptic syndrome of infancy and are characterized by the combination of clusters of epileptic spasms and specific electroencephalographic findings. The etiology and the pathogenesis of the disease is still unclear. Prolactin has been thought to be specifically related to epileptic seizures. To investigate the possible mechanism of prolactin secretion in infantile spasms cerebrospinal fluid prolactin levels were examined. Fifteen patients with infantile spasms (10 females and five males), 3-16 months of age, were evaluated and compared with age- and sex-matched control subject. Cerebrospinal fluid samples for prolactin were obtained before and after treatment. The mean prolactin levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of the patients before therapy (3.25 +/- 1.48 ng/mL) was higher than the control group (2.38 +/- 0.89 ng/mL), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The mean prolactin level in the cerebrospinal fluid of the patients after therapy (4.69 +/- 1.47 ng/mL) was demonstrated to be higher than the mean prolactin level before therapy (3.25 +/- 1.48 ng/mL) and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.037). Elevation of cerebrospinal fluid prolactin levels before and after treatment in patients with infantile spasms provided evidence that the cerebrospinal fluid prolactin level is related with neuronal injury.     

Assessment of B-type natriuretic peptide in patients with pneumonia

The mammalian heart synthesises and secretes B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), which has potent diuretic, natriuretic and vascular smooth muscle-relaxing effects as well as complex interactions with the hormonal and nervous systems. Recent studies described that BNP was acute phase reactant. In this study, we aimed to evaluate BNP levels in patients with pneumonia. Twenty-one patients with pneumonia and 21 healthy control subjects were enrolled in this study. Their serum levels of BNP were measured in addition to the standard evaluations. Leucocyte count [19.3 (13.2-25.7) 10(6)/ml vs. 9.55 (3.7-13.9) 10(6)/ml, p < 0.001], erythrocyte sedimentation rate [73 (57-81) mm/h vs. 35 (4-55) mm/h, p < 0.001], C-reactive protein (CRP) [127.72 (27-290) mg/l vs. 13.19 (3-41) mg/l, p < 0.001] and BNP [53.1 (17-91) pg/ml vs. 16.24 (1-38) pg/ml, p < 0.001] levels significantly decreased after treatment period. Initial BNP levels were significantly higher than control groups (53.10 +/- 15.07 pg/ml vs. 18.62 +/- 14.05 pg/ml, p < 0.001) and decreased after treatment to the levels comparable with control subjects. BNP levels correlated with CRP levels at admission (r = 0.716, p < 0.001). We have shown that BNP levels show a transient increase in patients with pneumonia and correlate well with CRP.     

Asthma, age, and early reversibility testing.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of age on early reversibility testing (ERT) in patients with asthma. Forty-nine nonsmokers with asthma were investigated. In all cases, disease duration was less than 15 years; the absolute change (absolute variability, AV) in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) on ERT was greater than 100 mL; and the increase in FEV1 on ERT was greater than 10%. Patients were categorized as group I (younger than 50 years; n = 24) and group II (50 years or older; n = 25). There were no significant differences between the groups regarding disease duration and severity. The mean patient ages in groups I and II were 40.3 +/- 7.9 years and 59.2 +/- 7.1 years, respectively, and the corresponding mean baseline FEV1 values were 62.2 +/- 23.7% and 67.4 +/- 21.1% of predicted value (p > 0.05). Pulmonary function tests were performed at baseline, and then repeated for ERT 20 minutes after inhalation of 200 microg salbutamol. After ERT, the respective findings for groups I and II were as follows: AV 412 +/- 184 mL and 247 +/- 138 mL; percentage change (PC) in FEV1 21.5 +/- 9.3% and 16.9 +/- 7.5%; and percent of predicted change (PPC) in FEV1 13.6 +/- 6.5% and 9.9 +/- 4.9%. The AV, PC, and PPC values for group I all were higher than the corresponding findings for group II, and the differences in AV and PPC were statistically significant (p = 0.001, p < 0.05). The study showed that elderly asthma patients exhibit significantly lower AV and PPC after ERT. To improve the accuracy of asthma diagnosis in elderly patients, limits of ERT should be redefined.     

Primary lumbar epidermoid tumor mimicking schwannoma.

A case of a primary lumbar epidermoid tumor is described. Intraspinal epidermoid tumors are rare. The differential diagnosis on this case was a nerve sheath tumor, such as aschwannoma, as the tumor entered the dural sac and caused dural ectasia. The diagnostic pitfalls of this feature of the tumor are discussed.     

Chronic subdural hematoma in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND: cSDH is a rare form of bleeding in patients with ITP. Intracerebral hematoma or subarachnoid hemorrhage is more frequently reported in these patients. Spontaneous resolution of cSDH in patients with idiopathic subdural hematoma is uncommon. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report a case of spontaneous cSDH in a patient with ITP, and we review the related cases in the literature. In our patient, the hematoma resolved spontaneously despite very low platelet levels. There also was an incidental left parietal convexity meningioma. A review of the literature is presented, and the management of the patients is discussed. CONCLUSION: In patients with ITP, cSDHs may resolve spontaneously or with medical treatment, and surgery might be deferred except in emergency conditions or in patients with normal neurological findings. Close neurological and radiological observation along with the medical treatment may be appropriate in the management of patients with normal neurological findings.