Non-operative treatment in children and adolescents with atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation

Amaç: Atlantoaksiyel rotator subluksasyon (AARS) çocuk ve adolesanlarda baş-boyun hareketlerinde kısıtlılık ve tortikollisle kendini gösteren, genellikle tanıda güçlük yaşanan ve beraberinde potansiyel riskler barındıran bir durumdur. Bu çalışmada cerrahi dışı yöntemlerle tedavi edilen 12 AARS olgusunun retrospektif analizi sunulmaktadır. Hastalar ve yöntem: AARS nedeni ile cerrahi dışı yöntemlerle tedavi edilen, ortalama yaşı 11,5 olan 12 hasta travma ve üst solunum yolu enfeksiyonu öyküsü, ek yaralanmalar, radyolojik bulgular, semptomların süresi, mentooksipital traksiyonun miktarı ve süresi ile tedavinin klinik sonuçları açısından değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Olguların 8’inde travmatik AARS saptanırken, 4 olguda subluksasyonların ardında travmatik bir neden bulunamadı. Olguların 10’unda Fielding ve Hawkins’e göre tip I, 2’sinde ise tip II subluksasyonlar saptandı. Tüm olgular yatak başı mentooksipital traksiyonla tedavi edildi. Traksiyonda kullanılan ortalama ağırlık 1,8 kg iken, ortalama traksiyon süresi 3,75 kg olarak hesaplandı. Olgular traksiyonla elde edilen klinik düzelmenin ardından 3 hafta Philadelphia boyunlukla takip edildi. Altıncı ay kontrollerde hiçbir olguda baş-boyun hareketlerinde kısıtlılık ve ağrı saptanmadı. Sonuçlar: Atlantoaksiyel eklem, baş rotasyonunun çoğundan sorumlu olan karmaşık bir yapıdır. Çocuk ve adolesanlarda boyun ağrısı ve torticollis ayırıcı tanısında atlantoaksiyel eklem patolojileri ve AARS mutlaka düşünülmeli ve ekarte edilmelidir. Tanıda gecikme yaşanan olguların tedavisinde cerrahi dışı yöntemlerle başarı şansı düşüktür.Objective: Atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation (AARS) is an uncommon lesion seen mainly in children and adolescents. A retrospective analysis of 12 patients with AARS treated non-operatively is presented in this study. Material and Methods: Twelve patients with AARS who were treated non-operatively were evaluated retrospectively in terms of recent trauma and respiratory tract infection history, accompanying injuries, radiological findings, duration of symptoms, amount and duration of traction and clinical results of the treatment. Results: Traumatic AARS was present in 8 patients. No evidence of trauma was found in 4 patients. Type I subluxations in 10 and type II subluxations in 2 patients were found according to the Fielding and Hawkins classification. All patients were treated using bed-side mentooccipital tractions. The mean duration of bed-side mentooccipital traction was 3,75 days and the mean amount of load was 1.8 kg. All patients were kept in Philadelphia collars for additional 3 weeks after the clinical recovery. No limitations and pain in head movements were present in any patient at the sixth month follow-up examinations. Conclusion: Paediatric patients with neck pain and torticollis should be investigated concerning trauma and recent respiratory tract infection history in order to avoid any delay in diagnosis of a possible AARS

A comparison of the effects of different types of laryngoscope on the cervical motions: randomized clinical trial

Background: The rate of cervical injury among all trauma patients is 3.1%. The most important point dur- ing intubation of those patients is not to increase the cervical injury. Aims: In this study, we hypothesize that there will be a minimal cervical extension during a laryngoscopy with the use of optical view laryngoscopes. Study Design: Prospective, randomized clinical trial. Methods: One hundred and fifty adult patients with ASA physical status I to III were enrolled in our study. After routine anesthesia induction, we randomly as- signed the patients into three groups according to the type of laryngoscope. Macintosh type, Truview EVO2® type and Airtraq® type laryngoscopes were used in Group DL (n=50), Group TW (n=50) and Group ATQ (n=50), respectively. After applying gen- eral anesthesia induction and mask ventilation, all of the patients were positioned in the neutral position. An inclinometer was placed on the forehead of the patients. Then, the extension angle during intubation and the Cormack-Lehane Score were measured and the time to intubation was recorded. Results: One of the 50 patients in the DL Group, 2 of the 50 patients in the TW Group, and 4 of the 50 patients in the ATQ Group were excluded from the study because of the failure of intubation at defined times. The angle of cervical extension during laryngoscopy was found to be 27.24±6.71, 18.08±7.53, and 14.54±4.09 degrees in the Groups DL, TV and ATQ, respectively; these differences also had statistical significance (p=0.000). The duration of intubation was found to be 13.59±5.49, 23.60±15.23, and 29.80±13.82 seconds in Groups DL, TV and ATQ, respectively (p=0.000). Conclusion: A minimal cervical motion was obtained during tracheal intubation with the use of Truview EVO2® and Airtraq® types of laryngoscope compared with the Macintosh laryngoscope. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02191904). Keywords: Airtraq®, airway management, intratracheal equipment, intubation, Macintosh, Truview EVO2&reg

Treatment of proximal humerus fractures with external fixation

Amaç: Bu çalışmada, kapalı redüksiyon ve eksternal fiksasyon ile tedavi edilen proksimal humerus kırıklı hastaların fonksiyonel sonuçları değerlendirildi. Hastalar ve Yöntemler: Çalışmada proksimal humerus kırıklı 16 hasta (11 erkek 5 kadın; ort. yaş 50.3; dağılım 9-81) geriye dönük olarak değerlendirildi. Tüm hastalara kapalı redüksiyon sonrasında eksternal fiksatör (9 hastaya İlizarov eksternal fiksatör, 7 hastaya monolateral eksternal fiksatör) uygulandı. Kırıklar kaynadıktan sonra eksternal fiksatörler çıkarıldı ve hastaların fonksiyonel sonuçları Constant skoru ile değerlendirildi. Ortalama takip süresi 37 ay (dağılım 4-69 ay) idi. Bulgular: Ortalama kaynama süresi 14 hafta (dağılım 8-22 hafta) idi. Bir hastada kaynama sağlanamadı. Bir hastada humerus başı avasküler nekrozu gelişti. Üç hastada görülen yüzeyel çivi dibi enfeksiyonu pansuman ve medikal tedavi ile iyileşti. Ortalama Constant skoru 81 puan bulundu. Sonuç: Deplase proksimal humerus kırıklarının tedavisinde kapalı redüksiyon ve eksternal fiksasyon uygulaması tatmin edici kırık redüksiyonu ve stabilitesi ve fonksiyonel sonuç sağlar.Objectives: We evaluated the functional results of patients who were treated with closed reduction and external fixation for proximal humeral fractures. Patients and Methods: The study included16 patients (11 males, 5 females; mean age 50.3 years; range 9 to 81 years) with proximal humerus fractures. All the patients were treated with closed reduction and external fixation (9 İlizarov external fixator, 7 monolateral external fixator). After bone union was achieved, the fixators were removed and functional results were evaluated with the Constant score. The mean follow-up was 37 months (range 4 to 69 months). Results: The average union time was 14 weeks (range 8 to 22 weeks). Union did not occur in one patient. Avascular necrosis of the humeral head developed in one patient. Superficial pin tract infections were observed in three patients, all of whom were successfully treated with wound care and antibiotic therapy. The mean Constant score was 81. Conclusion: Treatment of displaced fractures of the proximal humerus with closed reduction and external fixation provides satisfactory fracture reduction and stability and functional results

Comparison of sirolimus and colchicine treatment on the development of peritoneal fibrozis in rats having peritoneal dialysis

Background: Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis is a successful treatment modality for patients with end-stage renal disease. Peritoneal fibrosis (PF) is the most critical complication of long-term peritoneal di- alysis (PD). Aims: In our study, we aimed to compare the effects of colchicine and sirolimus on PF induced by hypertonic peritoneal dialysis solutions in rats. Study Design: Animal experiment. Methods: Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into three groups. The control group received an intraperitoneal injection (ip) of saline. The sirolimus group received the PD solution, plus 1.0 mg/kg/day Rapamune®. The colchicine group received the PD solution ip plus 1.0 mg/kg/day of colchicine. Blood sam- ples were taken to measure the serum levels of VEGF, TGF-β, and TNF-α. Peritoneal tissue samples were taken for histopathological evaluation. Results: TGF-β and TNF-α values in the sirolimus group were found to be statistically significantly lower than in the control and colchicine groups, but the differences between the control and colchicine groups were not statistically significant. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups regarding the VEGF values. Vascular neogenesis and peritoneal thickness were compared; the values in the sirolimus group were statistically reduced compared to the values in the control group. Mild fibrosis developed in 75% of all animals in the sirolimus group; there was no moderate or severe fibrosis observed. Fibrosis developed to varying degrees in 100% of the animals in the control and colchicine groups. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that sirolimus might be beneficial for preventing or delaying the progression of PF and neoangiogenesis. These alterations in the peritoneal membrane may be connected with reduced TNF-α and TGF-β levels

Predicting mortality and morbidity of geriatric femoral fractures using a modified frailty index and perioperative features: a prospective, multicentre and observational study

Introduction: Femoral fracture is associated with high geriatric mortality. Frailty is the increased vulnerability to stressors resulting from aging-associated decreases in physiological reserve. We aimed to predict 30-365-day postoperative mortality and morbidity rates using modified frailty index and perioperative characteristics in geriatric femoral fractures. Materials and Method: Using a prospective observational design, data were collected from patients >65 years undergoing femoral fracture surgery from 13 different hospitals in 2016 and 2017. Post-discharge follow-up periods were 30, 90, 180, and 365 days. Age, sex, modified frailty index and anaesthesia types used during surgery were recorded. Renal markers, troponin I and haemoglobin levels were examined preoperatively and postoperatively at 24 and 72 hours. Results: We included 392 patients in this study. The age of the patients were between 65 and 101 (mean, 79 +/- 11.9). Median modified frailty index was 5 (interquartile range, 2-7). Increase in modified frailty index increased mortality rate. Mortality rate at postoperative 30 days was 9.8%, while overall study mortality rate was 23%. Spinal anaesthesia was administered in 205 patients (52.3%, most frequent), followed by general in 110 (28.1%), peripheral nerve blocks in 21 (5.4) and spinal-epidural in 43 (11%). Anaesthesia type affected both intensive care unit (p<0.001) and total hospitalization (p<0.012) duration. A logistic regression model revealed that frailty index, preoperative creatinine and centre type were independent mortality predictors. Conclusion: Increased modified frailty index was associated with higher postoperative mortality risk, thus providing an additional way for improving risk stratification. Preoperative creatinine increase and centre types are determining factors in mortality

Protein kinase A-mediated phosphorylation regulates STAT3 activation and oncogenic EZH2 activity

Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) member enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2) trimethylates histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3), alters chromatin structure and contributes to epigenetic regulation of gene expression in normal and disease processes. Phosphorylation of EZH2 augmented EZH2 oncogenic activity in cancer but observations have been limited to serine 21 (S21) residue by protein kinase B. In addition, phosphorylation of the evolutionarily conserved T372 motif of EZH2 by p38 resulted in EZH2 interaction with Ying Yang 1 and promoted muscle stem cell differentiation. In the present study, we used epithelial ovarian cancer (OC) cells as a model to demonstrate that phosphorylation of EZH2 at T372 by protein kinase A (PKA) induced a dominant-negative EZH2 phenotype, inhibited OC cell proliferation and migration in vitro and decreased ovarian xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Phosphorylation of T372 by PKA enhanced the interaction between EZH2 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and STAT3 binding to pT372-EZH2 reduced cellular levels of pSTAT3 and downregulated interleukin 6 receptor expression in OC. Furthermore, PKA-mediated pT372-EZH2 decreased ATP levels and altered mitochondrial gene expression, resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction and reduced OC cell growth. These findings demonstrate that PKA-mediated T372 phosphorylation reduces oncogenic EZH2 activity and reveal a novel role for pT372 in regulating EZH2 in OC and possibly other cancers

Effect of Preoperative Anxiety on Depth of Anaesthesia and In Vitro Fertilization Success

Objective:Infertility anxiety may have a harmful effect on embryo quality and fertilization during in vitro fertilization (IVF). Monitoring brain function gives real-time information about the depth of anaesthesia of a patient. This study examined the effect of preoperative anxiety on the depth of anaesthesia and IVF success.Methods:One hundred thirty-one patients who had undergone oocyte retrieval were divided into two groups according to the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI): the low-anxious Group L (n = 71) and high-anxious Group H (n = 60). Hemodynamic stability, intraoperative total propofol and fentanyl consumption, good quality embryo (GQE) rate, and fertilization rate were recorded.Results:Fertilization and GQE rates were not significant between groups L and H. Total propofol consumption was significantly higher in group H than in group L. Heart rate (HR) preoperatively and postoperatively and systolic arterial pressure (SAP) preoperatively and diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) postoperatively were significantly increased in group H than in group L. The time for the modified Aldrete score to reach 9 (MAS 9) in group H was significantly higher than that in group L. The effect of variables that were found significantly in the univariate analysis (Propofol, HRpreop, HRpostop, SAPpreop, DAPpostop, and MAS 9) on BAI score.Conclusion:Total propofol consumption was higher in patients with high anxiety levels, but it did not have a negative effect on IVF success

Einstein-Debye Yaklaşımı Kullanılarak Uranyum Nitrit' in Isı Kapasitesinin Değerlendirilmesi Üzerine Çalışma

We have proposed an alternative evaluation procedure for calculating specific heat capacity of Uranium Nitride nuclear fuel. The calculation results have been obtained by the use of Einstein-Debye approach. The proposed method is valid for all temperature values. This method can be easily applied to the other nuclear fuels to determine the other thermophysical properties.Bu çalışmada alternatif nükleer yakıt olan Uranyum Nitrit' in ısı kapasitesinin hesaplanması için bir değerlendirme yöntemi ileri sürülmüştür. Hesaplama sonuçları Einstein-Debye yaklaşımı kullanılarak elde edilmiştir. Verilen yöntem sıcaklığın tüm aralıkları için geçerlidir. Bu yöntem diğer nükleer yakıtların termofiziksel özelliklerinin belirlenmesinde kolaylıkla uygulanabilr

Revealing the Dark Side of Portlandite Clusters in Cement Paste by Circular Polarization Microscopy

Plane and crossed polarization are the two standard light modes in polarized light microscopy that are widely used to characterize crystalline and amorphous phases in cement-based materials. However, the use of the crossed polarized light mode has been found to be restrictive for studying birefringent phases quantitatively due to the extinction phenomenon that arises depending on the crystal orientation. This paper introduces circular polarization microscopy as an alternative technique to overcome the extinction problem during the examination of cementitious materials’ microstructure with optical microscopy. In order to evaluate the feasibility of this technique, selected optical and micromorphological features of portlandite clusters were investigated in cement paste. Image analysis results showed that compared to the conventional crossed polarization technique, circular polarization offers significant advantages when portlandite quantification is of interest, and it stands out as a promising low-cost alternative to backscattered electron microscopy