Analysis of Lung Metastases in Patients with Primary Extremity Sarcoma

Purpose: To investigate the incidence, radiographic findings, and the time course for the appearence of lung metastases from primary extremity sarcoma

Catenary soil relationships in the Çukurova Region, southern Turkey

A catenary sequence from the north to the south of the Çukurova Region was studied using pedo-geomorphological criteria. The catena studied is typical for the Mediterranean coastal areas covering surfaces - geomorphic units - formed by neotectonic activity and the following processes related to pedology. Each geomorphic unit was determined to comprise soils at different stages of development. However a trend showing increase of age with increasing elevation was found from the south to the north of the region. Soils occurring on Fluvio-Marine Terraces are Mollisols and Alfisols; on the Bajadas are Vertisols, Entisols and Inceptisols; on the River Terraces are Entisols; on the Bottom Lands are Entisols, Vertisols, Inceptisols; on the Delta are Vertisols, and Inceptisols; on the Coastal sand Dunes are Entisols; and on the Uplands are Entisols and Mollisols. © 1991

Comparison of outcomes of laparoscopic intracorporeal knotting technique in patients with complicated and noncomplicated acute appendicitis

Nurettin Ay,1 Bulent Dinç,2 Vahhac Alp,1 Şafak Kaya,3 Utkan Sevük4 1Department of General Surgery, Diyarbakir Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey; 2Department of General Surgery, Ataturk State Hospital, Antalya, Turkey; 3Department of Infectious Disease, Diyarbakir Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey; 4Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Diyarbakir Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey Background and aim: In our study we aimed to compare laparoscopic intracorporeal knotting technique (base of the appendix was ligated with 20 cm of 2.0 silk) in patients with complicated acute appendicitis (CAA) and noncomplicated acute appendicitis. Patients and methods: Ninety patients (female/male: 40/50, age ranging from 16 to 60 years, median age and interquartile range [IQR]: 25 [20; 32] years) who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy were included in the study. The patients were evaluated for the type of acute appendicitis, duration of operation, duration of hospital stay, and postoperative complications. Results: The number of cases diagnosed as CAA was 28 (31.1%), and the number of noncomplicated cases was 62 (68.9%). We found that there was no significant difference in postoperative complication rates between complicated and noncomplicated appendicitis cases. Incision site infection was seen in seven cases (7.8%) and ileus was seen in two cases (2.2%). Bleeding, intra-abdominal abscess, and appendix stump leakage were not observed in any of the cases. Median and IQR duration of operation were 42 (35; 52) minutes and median and IQR duration of hospital stay were detected as 2 (1; 2) (range 1–10) days. Conclusion: Laparoscopic intracorporeal knotting technique may be a safe, effective, and reliable technique as the materials needed for closing the appendix stumps are easily available for both CAA cases and noncomplicated cases. Keywords: laparoscopic intracorporeal knotting technique, laparoscopic appendectomy, complicated acute appendiciti

Formation, distribution and chemical properties of saline and alkaline soils of the Çukurova Region, southern Turkey

The salinity and alkalinity changes over the last 30 years in the Çukurova Region were studied using LANDSAT images, field trials and data obtained from earlier studies. Three categories of reclaimed land were determined for the region as follows: 1. 1. Totally reclaimed soils, including the Bajadas, River Terraces and Bottom Lands. 2. 2. Partially reclaimed soils, in the Delta and Saline Marshy areas. 3. 3. Soils with increased salinity, in the Sand Dunes and the Salinity Marshy areas. © 1991

Reliability of SleepStrip as a screening test in obstructive sleep apnea patients

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common sleep disorder and related to multiple conditions that cause mortality in adults. In the present study, reliability of SleepStrip, a disposable screening device for detection of OSAS, is tested. In this prospective, nonrandomized double-blinded single cohort study at an academic health center, the performance of the SleepStrip in detecting respiratory events and establishing an SleepStrip score (Sscore) in domestic use were compared to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) obtained by the standard polysomnography (PSG) recordings in the sleep laboratory. Forty-one patients who have the PSG results participated the study and wore the SleepStrips at home. Test efficiency rate was 75% and there was a positive correlation between PSG-AHI scores and Sscores (r = 0.71, p 30 levels. The SleepStrip has 100% specificity and positive predictive values, but it also has low negative predictive and sensitivity values. The SleepStrip is not a reliable screening test in differential diagnosis among simple snorers, mild, moderate and severe OSAS patients. However, high Sscores highly indicate the presence of moderate-severe OSAS. We can safely send these patients to split-night PSG and continuous, automatic, bi-level positive airway pressure (CPAP/BPAP/APAP) titration at the same night. The SleepStrip may increase the effective use of the sleep laboratories

Pretreatment Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio in Salivary Gland Tumors Is Associated with Malignancy

Objective To assess pretreatment levels in the counts and percentages of leukocytes and the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in benign and malignant salivary gland tumors (SGTs) while investigating whether NLR is an inflammatory marker for distinguishing low- from high-grade parotid gland tumors. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting Tertiary referral center. Subjects and Methods This study was performed on 182 patients with SGTs (age range: 16-87 years; 93 male and 89 female) who were treated between January 2010 and May 2015. Pretreatment counts and percentages of leukocytes and NLR were measured preoperatively in benign and malignant tumors. Results Mean neutrophil percentage (63.50% ± 12.11% vs 58.76% ± 8.20%, P =.008) and NLR (3.29 ± 3.13 vs 2.13 ± 1.26, P =.008) were significantly higher in patients with malignant SGTs than in patients with benign SGTs. Mean lymphocyte count (2.42 ± 0.72 103/mm3 vs 1.97 ± 0.87 103/mm3, P <.001) and percentage (30.67% ± 7.68% vs 26.86% ± 10.15%, P =.011) were lower in patients with malignant SGTs than in patients with benign SGTs. Mean lymphocyte percentage and NLR were significantly different between low- and high-grade malignant parotid gland tumors (P =.026 and P =.030, respectively). Conclusion Elevated NLR could be an inflammatory marker to distinguish low- from high-grade malignant parotid gland tumors. © Official journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation

Acreage estimation of wheat and barley fields in the province of Adana, Turkey

In this study, the wheat (triticum) and barley (hordeum) planted areas in the province of Adana were determined by using Landsat-5 TM data in 1991. To classify the wheat and barley fields in this region, Landsat bands 3, 4 and 5 were used. Reflectance distribution in these bands has been expected to have an ellipsoidal shape, and a method was developed to make classification for such distribution. To check the accuracy of the classification, test areas in the province were selected and the classification results were compared with ground-truth. Consequently, it was found that the error estimated wheat and barley planted areas was around 15% and the results of the acreage estimation for wheat and barley fields were 218000 ± 32000 hectare in 1991. © 1995 Taylor & Francis Ltd