Ultrasound Guided Infraclavicular Block for Pain Control After Upper Extremity Surgery

Background: Opioids added to local anesthetics for peripheral nerve blocks may intensify analgesia and prolong analgesic and sensorial block duration. These agents may also cause potentiation and prolongation of motor block. Objective: This study compared the postoperative effects of 30 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine +50 mcg fentanyl and 30 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine + 100 mcg fentanyl solutions for the ultrasound-guided infraclavicular block in patients undergoing elbow and forearm surgery. Methods: In this randomized double-blind study, thirty-six patients with risk of ASA class I-III were randomly allocated into 2 randomized groups. Ultrasound-guided infraclavicular blocks with 30 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine + 50 mcg fentanyl for group 1 and 30 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine + 100 mcg fentanyl for group 2 were performed before patients emerged from general anesthesia. After surgery, pain levels at rest and during movement were evaluated using the 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS) at recovery room admission, at the 15th and 30th minutes in the recovery room, and at the 2nd, 6th, 12th and 24th hours postoperatively. Both morphine and rescue analgesic requirements were recorded. Sensorial and motor block durations, patient satisfaction, and complications related to the infraclavicular block were recorded. Results: In both groups, no significant difference in VAS pain scores, total morphine and total rescue analgesic requirements, duration of sensorial and motor block, or patient satisfaction were observed. None of the patients experienced any complications. Conclusion: The mixtures of 0.25% bupivacaine + 50 mcg fentanyl and 0.25% bupivacaine + 100 mcg fentanyl showed similar postoperative effects

Türkiye akademik CAR-T hücre (ISIKOK-19) klinik çalışması ön raporu: Ürün karakterizasyonu ve klinik uygulama sonuçları

Objective: Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapies have already made an impact on the treatment of B-cell malignancies. Although CAR-T cell therapies are promising, there are concerns about commercial products regarding their affordability and sustainability. In this preliminary study, the results of the first production and clinical data of an academic CAR-T cell (ISIKOK-19) trial in Turkey are presented. Materials and Methods: A pilot clinical trial (NCT04206943) designed to assess the safety and feasibility of ISIKOK-19 T-cell therapy for patients with relapsed and refractory CD19+ tumors was conducted and participating patients received ISIKOK-19 infusions between October 2019 and July 2021. The production data of the first 8 patients and the clinical outcome of 7 patients who received ISIKOK-19 cell infusions are presented in this study. Results: Nine patients were enrolled in the trial [5 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 4 with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)], but only 7 patients could receive treatment. Two of the 3 participating ALL patients and 3 of the 4 NHL patients had complete/ partial response (overall response rate: 72%). Four patients (57%) had CAR-T-related toxicities (cytokine release syndrome, CAR-T-related encephalopathy syndrome, and pancytopenia). Two patients were unresponsive and had progressive disease following CAR-T therapy. Two patients with partial response had progressive disease during follow-up. Conclusion: Production efficacy and fulfillment of the criteria of quality control were satisfactory for academic production. Response rates and toxicity profiles were also acceptable for this heavily pretreated/refractory patient group. ISIKOK-19 cells appear to be a safe, economical, and efficient treatment option for CD19+ tumors. However, the findings of this study need to be supported by the currently ongoing ISIKOK-19 clinical trial.Amaç: Kimerik antijen reseptör T (CAR-T) hücre uygulamaları B-hücreli malignitelerin tedavisinde etkili olmaktadır. CAR-T hücre uygulamalarının sonuçları umut vaadedici olsa da, ticari CAR-T ürünlerinin yükek maliyetleri nedeniyle ulaşılabilirlik açısından ciddi sorunlar yaşanmaktadır. Bu ön raporda, Türkiye’deki ilk akademik CAR-T hücre çalışmasının üretim ve klinik uygulama sonuçları sunulmuştur. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Relaps refrakter CD 19+ hematolojik maligniteli hastalarda ISIKOK-19 T-hücre tedavisinin güvenliği ve etkinliğini değerlendirmek amacıyla yürütülen klinik çalışmaya (NCT04206943) Ekim 2019-Temmuz 2021 tarihleri arasındaki hastalar dahil edilmiştir. Bu raporda ilk 8 hastanın üretim bilgileriyle, ISIKOK-19 hücre infüzyonu yapılan 7 hastanın klinik sonuçları sunulmuştur. Bulgular: Çalışmaya toplam 9 hasta dahil edilmiştir (5 akut lenfoblastik lösemi [ALL] ve 4 non-hodgkin lenfoma [NHL]), ancak sadece 7 hastaya hücre infüzyonu yapılabilmiştir. Hücre infüzyonu alan 3 ALL hastasından 2’sinde ve 4 NHL hastasının 3’ünde tam/kısmi cevap gözlenmiştir (toplam yanıt oranı %72). Dört hastada (%57) CAR-T ilişkili toksisite (sitokin salınım sendromu, immün efektör hücre ilişkili nörotoksisite sendromu ve pansitopeni) tespit edilmiştir. İki hastada ise CAR-T hücre uygulaması sonrası cevapsızlık ve progresif hastalık izlenmiştir. Kısmi cevap veren hastalardan 2’sinde de takip sırasında progresif hastalık tespit edilmiştir. Sonuç: Akademik CAR-T üretimimiz, üretim etkinliği ve kalite kontrol kriterlerinin tam olarak karşılanması açısından tatmin edici sonuçlara sahiptir. Çalışmaya dahil edilen hastaların tedavi yükü hesaba katıldığında tedaviye cevap oranı ve toksisite profili açısından da sonuçlar kabul edilebilir düzeydedir. Bu sonuçlarla, ISIKOK-19 hücrelerinin güvenli, ekonomik ve etkili bir tedavi seçeneği olduğu düşünülebilir. Ancak bu ön sonuçların halen devam eden ISIKOK-19 klinik çalışmasıyla desteklenmesi beklenmektedir

Financial risk-taking in adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

This study aimed to examine the financial risk-taking behaviors of adult individuals diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Design/methodology/approach: The study was conducted with adults (n = 80) diagnosed with ADHD and healthy controls (n = 80). In order to measure risk-taking in the financial domain, the items in the investment and gambling sub-dimensions of the Domain-Specific Risk-Taking Scale (DOSPERT) were applied. Findings: Adults with ADHD had higher investment and gambling risk-taking and expected benefits scores than the control group, and there was no difference between the two groups in terms of risk perceptions. In the regression analysis, there was a positive linear relationship between the investment and gambling risk-taking scores and the expected benefits scores in both groups. There was a negative linear relationship between investment risk-taking and risk perceptions scores only in the control group. Originality/value: In terms of investment and gambling, both risk-taking and expected benefits are greater in individuals with ADHD. It has been observed that while healthy individuals take investment risks, they evaluate according to the expected benefits and risk perceptions, while individuals with ADHD make evaluations only according to the expected benefits, risk perceptions do not predict financial risk-taking in individuals with ADHD. When it comes to risk-taking related to gambling, both groups take risks only according to their expectations of benefits, not their perceptions of risk. The study provides outputs that can contribute to the literature in terms of the effects of ADHD diagnosis on financial decision-making processes in the context of risk-taking

Long-Lasting Follow-Up with Low-Dose Steroid in an 18-Year-Old Male with Rosai–Dorfman Disease

Rosai–Dorfman disease (RDD) is a rare and benign pathology of sinus histiocytosis of unknown etiology. Lymphadenopathy is the predominant clinical manifestation, but diverse organs can also be affected. Histological features involve S-100+ histiocytes with characteristic nuclear features within the enlarged sinusoids of the lymph nodes. The clinical course is unpredictable, but is often benign with spontaneous resolution of disease in most patients. We report a patient with bilateral massive enlargement of cervical, axillary, and inguinal lymph nodes, moderately enlarged spleen, and a weight loss of 15 kg. Excisional biopsy from the cervical lymph node showed that the dilated sinusoids were infiltrated by lymphocytes, plasma cells, and large histiocytes with CD 68 and S-100 protein positive. Due to the slow progression of the disease, oral prednisolone with a body weight of 1 mg/kg was started in March 2016. The steroid dosage has been adjusted many times during the clinical follow-up. After 33 months, steroid treatment resulted in partial shrinkage of lymph nodes, the spleen returned to its normal size, and the patient gained weight. After 38 months of follow-up, no systemic symptoms, sign, or extranodal involvement were detected, and the patient continued with low-dose steroid treatment

No differences in clinical outcomes or isokinetic performance between cruciate-substituting ultra-congruent and posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasties: a randomized controlled trial

Purpose: Whether ultra-congruent (UC) or posterior cruciate ligament-stabilized (PS) inserts should be used in posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)-sacrificing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains debatable. Therefore, the aim of this prospective randomized controlled study was to compare the isokinetic performance and clinical outcomes of these inserts in PCL-sacrificing TKA. Methods: Sixty-six patients diagnosed with primary knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to either the UC or the PS group. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of age, body mass index or sex. The Knee Society score (KSS) and isokinetic performance results for each patient were recorded preoperatively and at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. The physiatrist that performed the isokinetic tests and the patients were blinded to the study groups. Results: There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of the preoperative KSS or isokinetic performance. Gradual improvement in the KSS was observed in both groups, but no significant differences were detected between the groups during the whole follow-up period. The UC and PS groups exhibited similar peak extension and flexion torque values normalized to body weight at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The use of UC or PS inserts in TKA did not affect the clinical outcomes or isokinetic performance.The clinical relevance of this study is that the potential differences in clinical outcomes and isokinetic performance between UC and PS inserts do not need to be considered when sacrificing the PCL in TKA. Level of evidence: I