Investigation of hearing loss in patients with acute brucellosis by standard and high-frequency audiometry

This study aimed to determine the effect of acute brucellosis on the auditory system. Forty-two patients with acute brucellosis were evaluated clinically, and with serological and audiological tests, before and after treatment. Hearing threshold averages were calculated at 11 different frequencies (250-8000 Hz) of the auditory airway, and statistical analysis was performed. The average hearing thresholds were > 20 dB, with standard audiometry at 6000-8000 Hz, and < 20 dB at all other frequencies. After treatment, the average auditory threshold decreased to < 20 dB at 6000-8000 Hz (p < 0.0001). Pure-tone hearing thresholds were improved at all frequencies after treatment, with statistically significant differences at all frequencies except 12,000, 14,000 and 16 000 Hz (p < 0.05). There was no permanent hearing loss caused by acute brucellosis, and hearing thresholds were restored after treatment. It was concluded that acute brucellosis affects the auditory system, especially at high frequencies, and that patients with all forms of brucellosis should be evaluated for hearing loss.     

Helicobacter pylori infection in epileptic patients.

It is well known that there might be an epidemiological association between Helicobacter pylori infection and extraintestinal diseases. This study aimed at determining H. pylori infection in epileptic patients. Forty-seven cryptogenic epileptic patients (Group 1) and 35 healthy people (Group 2) participated in this study. Presence of H. pylori infection was examined by H. pylori stool antigen (HpSA), H. pylori IgG, and IgM. HpSA was detected in 21 participants (44.6%) in Group 1 and in 3 participants (8.5%) in Group 2. H. pylori IgM was positive in 27 participants (57.4%) in Group 1 and in 8 participants (22.8%) in Group 2. H. pylori IgG was positive in 37 participants (78.7%) in Group 1 and in 13 participants (38%) in Group 2. The difference of rates of HpSA, H. pylori IgM and IgG in Groups 1 and 2 were found statistically significant (chi2=4.18, p=0.04; chi2=9.18, p=0.0017; chi2=14.58, p<0.001, respectively). We also compared presence of H. pylori infection between the epileptic patients with poor and good prognosis; HpSA positivity was detected in 15 (62.5%) of 24 and 6 (26%) of 23, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (chi2=6.30, p=0.012). H. pylori IgM positivity was detected in 16 (66%) of 24 patients with poor prognosis and 11 (47.8%) of 23 patients with good prognosis (p>0.05). H. pylori IgG positivity was detected in 18 (75%) of 24 patients with poor prognosis and 19 (82.6%) of 23 patients with good prognosis. The differences of H. pylori IgM and IgG positivity rates in epileptic patients with poor and good prognosis were not found statistically significant (p>0.05). These results suggest a probable association between the acute H. pylori infection and epilepsy, especially with poor prognosis.     

The role of bone scintigraphy in the assessment of chronic wrist pain without any trauma history

Bone scintigraphy of the hands and wrists represents an important adjunct imaging technique that complements plain film radiographic examination in the evaluation of chronic wrist pain. In this study, the effectiveness of bone scintigraphy was investigated in the evaluation of chronic wrist pain in the patients without the history of trauma and any radiological and rheumatological abnormalities. Seventy-one patients with normal conventional radiographs and unexplained wrist pain were evaluated prospectively between 1998 and 2003 in our hand surgery clinic. There was no trauma history and no specific physical examination findings in the patients. The bone scintigraphy was done in all patients. Fifty-two of the all patients had normal scintigram. Seventeen of the remaining 19 patients showed increased activity over triquetrum (5 cases), lunatum (4 cases), trapezium (4 cases), hamatum (2 cases) and psiforme (2 cases). As the additional radiological investigations like MRI and CT revealed no bony abnormalities, the results of bone scintigraphy were evaluated as chronic ligamentous injuries. Two patients had diffuse increased uptake compatible with synovitis. The evaluation of bone scintigraphy correlated with clinical findings is effective to choose the most efficient treatment method in chronic wrist pain.     

Neonatal osteofibrous dysplasia: a case report

We describe a case of neonatal osteofibrous dysplasia that was diagnosed 3 days after birth. Osteofibrous dysplasia is a fibro-osseous lesion rarely seen in long bones. It is also known as congenital osteitis fibrosa or ossifying fibroma of bones. Although it occurs in children under 10 years of age, it is extremely rare in newborn babies. It must be differentiated from adamantinoma due to their radiological appearance, predilection for tibia and fibula, clinical picture, and certain histological similarities.     

Is size-reducing ascending aortoplasty with external reinforcement an option in modern aortic surgery?

OBJECTIVE: Enlargement of the ascending aorta is often combined with valvular, coronary, or other cardiac diseases. Reduction aortoplasty can be an optional therapy; however, indications regarding the diameter of aorta, the history of dilatation (poststenosis, bicuspid aortic valve), or the intraoperative management (wall excision, reduction suture, external reinforcement) are not established. METHODS: In a retrospective study between 1997 and 2005, we investigated 531 patients operated for aneurysm or ectasia of the ascending aorta (diameter: 45-76mm). Of these, in 50 patients, size-reducing ascending aortoplasty was performed. External reinforcement with a non-coated dacron prosthesis was added in order to stabilize the aortic wall. RESULTS: Aortoplasty was associated with aortic valve replacement in 47 cases (35 mechanical vs 12 biological), subvalvular myectomy in 29 cases, and CABG in 13 cases. The procedure was performed with low hospital mortality (2%) and a low postoperative morbidity. Computertomographic and echocardiographic diameters were significantly smaller after reduction (55.8+/-9mm down to 40.51+/-6.2mm (CT), p<0.002; 54.1+/-6.7mm preoperatively down to 38.7+/-7.1mm (echocardiography), p<0.002), with stable performance in long-term follow-up (mean follow-up time: 70 months). CONCLUSIONS: As demonstrated in this study, size reduction of the ascending aorta using aortoplasty with external reinforcement is a safe procedure with excellent long-term results. It is a therapeutic option in modern aortic surgery in patients with poststenotic dilatation of the aorta without impairment of the sinotubular junction of the aortic valve and root.     

IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GLAUCOMA AND HELICOBACTER PY-LORI?

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between glaucoma and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. Participants: 137 patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), 85 control subjects and 250 patients with gastric symptoms participated Methods: The presence of H. pylori infection in glaucoma patients, and glaucoma incidence in H. pylori infected patients     

Morphological study of some hypothalamic centers in rats after deafferentation of the mediobasal hypothalamus

The volume of the nuclei and nucleoli of certain hypothalamic centers (SON, PVN, SCN, AN, VMN) was determined in control rats and in rats after deafferentation of the mediobasal hypothalamus. Sex differences were found in the parvocellular formations of the control animals: The volumes of nuclei and nucleoli of neurons of AN and VMN, and also of the nucleolus of SCN neurons were larger in females than in males. After deafferentation of the mediobasal hypothalamus the volume of the cell nuclei was increased, especially in hypothalamic formations located outside the isolated zone. This increase was more clearly defined in rats constantly in a state of estrus after the operation. Statistically significant differences between volumes of both nuclei and nucleoli of the cells in subgroups of rats with permanent estrus and with permanent diestrus were found only in the case of SCN. No such differences were found for AN, despite the considerable difference in the constant of luteinizing hormone in the pituitary of the same rats. It is suggested that gonadotropin releasing factors are not produced by the cells of AN and that control over the succession of phases of the sex cycle may be exerted by SCN.Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, I. M. Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry, Leningrad. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. N. Chernigovskii.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 89, No. 3, pp. 352–354, March, 1980.