Evaluation of the impact of warfarin time in therapeutic range on outcomes of patients with atrial fibrillation in Turkey: Perspectives from the observational, prospective WATER Registry

Background: Warfarin is highly efficacious in reducing stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, its safety and efficacy in stroke prevention is markedly influenced by its time in therapeutic range (TTR). The quality of anticoagulant therapy varies considerably among countries. Representative data concerning the quality of anticoagulant therapy and its effects on clinical outcomes in Turkey are lacking. Methods: Warfarin in Therapeutic Range (WATER) registry is a prospective, observational study which followed 572 AF patients (mean age 67.3 ± 12 years; females 60%; 71% non-valvular AF) treated with warfarin. Results: At a median of 22-month follow-up, the mean TTR value was 42.3 ± 18% (median: 40%) for the whole population and lower in non-valvular AF su group than valvular AF subgroup (40.3 ± 18 vs. 46.9 ± 19, respectively, p < 0.001). Death, cardiac hospital­ization and minor bleeding rates were higher in the group with TTR value < 40% than the group with > 40% (3.4% vs. 5.9%; 28.6% vs. 35.4%; 36.5% vs. 41.7%, respectively, all of them p < 0.001). A correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between age and TTR value (r = –0.178, p < 0.001). Mean CHA2DS2VASc score was 3.63 ± 1.5 and mean HASBLED score was 2.38 ± 1.01 in the non-valvular AF group. A negative correlation was observed between TTR levels and CHA2DS2VASc score. Conclusions: WATER provides insight into the anticoagulation control status of AF patients in Turkey. The quality of anticoagulation was poor. Strategies should be undertaken by clinicians and patients to improve TTR. New oral anticoagulant agents may be perfect alternatives for non-valvular AF patients

Evaluation of dental panoramic radiographic findings in edentulous jaws: A retrospective study of 743 patients "Radiographic features in edentulous jaws"

PURPOSE. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of significant panoramic radiographic findings and eventual treatment requirements before conventional or implant supported prosthetic treatment in asymptomatic edentulous patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A total of 743 asymptomatic edentulous patients were retrospectively evaluated using a digital panoramic system. We analyzed the radiographic findings, including irripacted teeth, retained root fragments, foreign bodies, severe atrophy of the posterior maxillary alveolar bone, mucous retention cysts, soft tissue calcifications and radiopaque radiolucent conditions. RESULTS. Four-hundred-eighty-seven (65.6%) patients had no radiographic finding. A total of 331 radiographic findings were detected in 256 (34%) patients. In 52.9% (n=175) of these conditions, surgical treatment was required before application of implant-supported fixed prosthesis. However, before application of conventional removable prosthesis surgical treatment was required for 6% (n=20) of these conditions. CONCLUSION. The edentulous patients who will have implant placement for implant-supported fixed prosthesis can frequently require additional surgical procedures to eliminate pathological conditions

Recurrent Cherubism in an Adult Patient

Cherubism is an uncommon, nonneoplastic, fibro-osseous disorder of the jaws in childhood and adolescence. It affects the jaw bones by deforming the cortical shell. Clinical features include progressive painless and mostly bilateral expansion of the mandible and/or maxilla. Because fibrous connective tissue replaces osseous tissue, radiographic features generally include expansile osteolytic lesions and a ground-glass appearance. Several treatment protocols for cherubism have been recommended in the literature; however, despite surgical curettage treatment, recurrences may occur

THE CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF FOCAL AND WIDESPREAD SQUAMOUS AND GLANDULAR DIFFERENTIATION IN UROTHELIAL CANCERS OF THE BLADDER

Introduction: The most common histologic type of bladder cancers is urothelial carcinoma, accounting for 90% and 95% of bladder cancers. Urinary bladder carcinomas may sometimes have diverse histologic features, which differ from the conventional urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. These divergent tumors are divided into four major categories as: variant forms of urothelial carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and undifferentiated carcinoma. In the first category, the most common divergent tumor group is the carcinomas with squamous and/or glandular differentiation. Squamous differentiation occurs in up to 10-20% of urothelial carcinomas of the bladder and glandular differentiation is less common than squamous differentiation. The clinical significance of squamous and glandular differentiation remains uncertain. In this study, we evaluated the effects of focal and widespread squamous and/or glandular differentiation on stage, grade and survival of bladder tumor patients at presentation

SARCOMATOID CARCINOMA OF THE URINARY BLADDER

Introduction: Most of bladder tumors are urothelial cell carcinomas. Sarcomatoid carcinoma is a rare tumor of the urinary bladder and accounts for approximately 0.3% of all bladder malignancies. In these tumors, histogenesis and biological behavior remain controversial. Herein, we report five cases of sarcomatoid carcinoma of the urinary bladder

The relationship between the expression of E-cadherin and tumor recurrence and progression in high-grade stage T1 bladder urothelial carcinoma

Objective To evaluate the relationship between the expression of E-cadherin (E-CD) and tumor recurrence and progression in patients with high-grade stage T1 urothelial carcinoma of bladder

The effect of squamous and/or glandular differentiation on recurrence, progression and survival in urothelial carcinoma of bladder

Introduction The effects of squamous and/or glandular differentiation in urothelial carcinoma of bladder on recurrence, progression and survival rate were evaluated in this study