Conventional and Diffusion-Weighted MR Imaging Findings of Parotid Gland Tumors

Objective: To investigate diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of parotid gland lesions in addition to conventional MRI findings and demographic data.Methods: A retrospective evaluation was made of the demographic data, histopathologic data, preoperative conventional and diffusion-weighted MRI of 74 patients who underwent parotidectomy. The patients were categorized according to the histopathology (pleomorphic adenoma [PA], Warthin’s Tumor [WT] and malignant Tumor [MT]).Results: Histologically, 30 patients had PA, 27 patients had WT, and the remaining 17 patients had MT. The mean age of the PA, WT and MT groups were 44±21 (20-72), 55±10 (41-71) and 62±20 (21-76) years, respectively. The WT (81%) and MT (70%) groups were male dominant, while the PA group showed female dominance (55%). The PA group showed statistically significant difference in terms of age (p<0.05) and gender (p=0.009) compared to the other two groups. The median apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values for the PA, WT and MT groups were 1.99±0.94 (1.10-2.41) x 10-3 mm2/s, 0.92±0.35 (0.21-1.79) x 10-3 mm2/s and 1.20±0.34 (0.78-1.47) x 10-3 mm2/s, respectively. PA was differentiated from the other two groups (p=0.001). The sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing PAs from WT was 97% and 85%, respectively, when the ADC cutoff value was 1.25; and for distinguishing PAs from MT was 77% and 83%, respectively, when the ADC cutoff value was 1.35.Conclusion: ADC measurements are useful for the differentiation of PA from both WT and MT; and can be used as a complementary tool to predict the histopathology in the preoperative planning of parotid tumors

Syndecan-1 (CD138) expression in acute myeloblastic leukemia cells - An immuno electron microscopic study

Syndecan-1 (CD138), an important transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan is expressed in distinct stages of cell differentiation. Although its expression in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells is well known; its function or presence in acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) cells is still largely unknown. The expression of syndecan-1 was studied in bone marrow biopsies of three patients with AML using electron microscopic immunocytochemistry. Positive expression of syndecan-1 was found in AML cells. These results suggest that syndecan-1 expression is not only a characteristic phenotypic marker for ALL, but is also expressed in AML cells

Does the Change in the Indications of Endoscopic Sinonasal Surgery Continue? Data between 1994-2018

Objective: Endoscopic sinonasal surgery (ESS) has changing over the years in parallel with the developments in endoscopy devices, video-imaging techniques, and surgical instruments. In the present study we investigated whether the indications of patients who underwent surgery over a period of 25 years have accommodated to these changes.Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 1173 patients who underwent surgery in our clinic from 1994 through 2007, and 954 patients who underwent surgery from 2008 through 2018. The patients were divided into three groups as follows: chronic rhinosinusitis with polyps (CRSwNP), chronic rhinosinusitis without polyps (CRSsNP), and others. The changes in the indications during the first 14 years and the following 11 years were compared, and the results were statistically evaluated.Results: A significant decrease was observed in the number of patients who underwent surgery following the diagnosis of CRSsNP (p<0.001). In addition, a statistically significant increase was found in CRSwNP (p<0.001) and other (p<0.001) indications.Conclusion: When ESS indications identified in our clinic were reviewed, it was observed that the increasing trend in CRSwNP rate in the first 14 years continued, there was a significant increase in non-CRS indications in the last 11 years, and there has been an increase in patients with fungal sinusitis, especially in this group

“The Lolelaplap (Marshall Islands) in Us: Sailing West to East (Ralik→Ratak) to These Our Atolls (Aelon Kein Ad) Ad Jolet Jen Anij (Our Blessed Inheritance from God)”

This paper discusses the expansion of Oceania through a Marshallese indigenous lens as a focal point. It explains that decolonizing methodologies allows reclaiming of space for mental liberation and reassurement of constitutional rights. It highlights similar occurrences of decolonization practices meeting resistance in the 21st century all while strengthening the human right argument that no human deserves any less than their fellow human brothers and sisters. It argues that an indigenous imagery can only be viewed through an indigenous lens where the researches’ level of purity is retained and unfiltered. It nevertheless argues that Marshallese ethnolinguistics reveal the same cultural practices in America, Judeo-Christianity, and Oceania thus dictating the reality that “we are the same not withstanding one stays here and one there (Bedbedjin Bedbedjen, Bedbedjinma wot Kwe)”. It further explains the importance in these similarities and how Marshallese spirituality predates introduced American Judeo-Christianity despite the latter attempting to marginalize the former. It concludes by stating that Marshallese contributions on the global stage are rooted in that culture of love (IaKwe) which is echoed by the custom(s) revealing the significance of Marshallese validation academically, spiritually, economically, & socially to prevent institutionalized discrimination. This paper ends stating that the agency to know one’s self and how one should fit in the world, is a human right in itself and Marshallese are entitled to this sense of self worth through knowing thy self by thy self where real thinking takes place in one’s own mind as we all live our own lives

Comparison of the relationship between body mass index and apnea hypnoea index in different age groups in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients

13. Uluslararası Kulak Burun Boğaz ve Baş Boyun Cerrahisi Kongresi’nde (5-7 Nisan 2018, Ankara) sözlü bildiri olarak sunulmuştur.Obezite tıkayıcı uyku apne sendromu (TUAS) için iyi tanımlanmış bir risk faktörüdür, ancak obezitenin TUAS gelişim riski üzerine etkileri, farklı yaş gruplarında farklı bulunmuştur. Bu çalışma ile farklı yaş gruplarında, vücut kitle indeksi (VKİ) ile apne hipopne indeksi (AHİ) arasındaki ilişkinin araştırılması ve obezitenin TUAS ağırlığı üzerine etkilerinin yaş grupları arasındaki farkının araştırılması amaçlandı. TUAS ön tanısı ile tüm gece polisomnografisi yapılan hastaların polisomnografik kayıtları retrospektif olarak incelendi. Çalışmaya dahil edilme kriterlerini karşılayan 236 hasta, yaş aralıklarına göre 4 farklı gruba ayrıldı. Grupları sırası ile 40 yaş altı, 41-50 yaş arası, 51-60 yaş arası ve 60 yaş üstü hastalar oluşturdu. Tüm hastaların ve her bir grubun VKİ ve AHİ’leri arasındaki korelasyon araştırıldı. Altmış yaş üstü hasta grubu haricindeki tüm gruplarda VKİ ile AHİ arasında istatistiki anlamlı aynı yönlü korelasyon saptandı. Literatürle uyumlu olarak ileri yaş grubunda obezitenin TUAS şiddeti üzerine etkisi, diğer yaş gruplarına göre daha düşük olduğu sonucuna ulaşıldı.Obesity is a well-defined risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), but the effects of obesity on OSAS development risk are different in different age groups. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and apnea hypopnea index (AHI) in different age groups and to investigate the effect of obesity on OSAS severity among age groups. Polysomnographic records of patients who underwent whole night polysomnography with OSAS pre-diagnosis were retrospectively reviewed. Two hundred thirty-six patients who met the inclusion criteria were divided into 4 groups according to their age range. The groups were composed of patients under the age of 40, between the ages of 41-50, between the ages of 51-60 and over 60. Correlations between BMI and AHI of all patients and each group were investigated. There was a statistically significant correlation between BMI and AHI in all groups except patients over 60 years of age. .In accordance with the literature, the effect of obesity on OSAS severity in the elderly group was found to be lower than in the other age groups

Prospective registry of adult patients receiving therapeutic plasma exchange with a presumptive diagnosis of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA): the Turkish hematology research and education group (ThREG)-TMA02 study

Thrombotic microanjiopathy (TMA) is a pathological diagnosis characterized by abnormalities of small vessels leading to microvascular thrombosis of arterioles and capillaries. The current prospective, non-interventional, multicenter study aimed to define the distribution of different TMA forms in adult Turkish patients who were referred for therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) for presumptive diagnosis of TMA. Patients with serum ADAMTS13 activity 10 %, normal renal function and no secondary TMA were treated as unclassified TMA. The study included a total of 80 patients (women: 50; man: 30) with a median age of 48 (20?74). Detailed evaluation at 1 month after hospital admission revealed aTTP, secondary TMA, infection/complement-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome and unclassified TMA in 29 (36.2 %), 22 (27.5 %), 23 (28.8 %) and 6 (7.5 %) patients respectively. As subclassification of various TMAs will dictate specific therapy, proper diagnosis in a timely manner is of utmost clinical significance. © 2022Alexion Pharmaceuticals: 100064The study was sponsored by Alexion Pharmaceuticals as an investigator initiated trial (Tracking Number: 100064)