Is polysomnographic examination necessary for subjects with diaphragm pathologies?

OBJECTIVES: While respiratory distress is accepted as the only indication for diaphragmatic plication surgery, sleep disorders have been underestimated. In this study, we aimed to detect the sleep disorders that accompany diaphragm pathologies. Specifically, the association of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome with diaphragm eventration and diaphragm paralysis was evaluated. METHODS: This study was performed in Süreyyapasa Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Training and Research Hospital between 2014-2016. All patients had symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (snoring and/or cessation of breath during sleep and/or daytime sleepiness) and underwent diaphragmatic plication via video-assisted mini-thoracotomy. Additionally, all patients underwent pre- and postoperative full-night polysomnography. Pre- and postoperative clinical findings, polysomnography results, Epworth sleepiness scale scores and pulmonary function test results were compared. RESULTS: Twelve patients (7 males) with a mean age of 48 (range, 27-60) years and a mean body mass index of 25 (range, 20-30) kg/m2 were included in the study. Preoperative polysomnography showed obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in 9 of the 12 patients (75%), while 3 of the patients (25%) were regarded as normal. Postoperatively, patient complaints, apnea hypopnea indices, Epworth sleepiness scale scores and pulmonary function test results all demonstrated remarkable improvement. CONCLUSION: All patients suffering from diaphragm pathologies with symptoms should undergo polysomnography, and patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome should be operated on. In this way, long-term comorbidities of sleep disorders may be prevented

Generation and Analysis of Expressed Sequence Tags from Olea europaea L.

Olive (Olea europaea L.) is an important source of edible oil which was originated in Near-East region. In this study, two cDNA libraries were constructed from young olive leaves and immature olive fruits for generation of ESTs to discover the novel genes and search the function of unknown genes of olive. The randomly selected 3840 colonies were sequenced for EST collection from both libraries. Readable 2228 sequences for olive leaf and 1506 sequences for olive fruit were assembled into 205 and 69 contigs, respectively, whereas 2478 were singletons. Putative functions of all 2752 differentially expressed unique sequences were designated by gene homology based on BLAST and annotated using BLAST2GO. While 1339 ESTs show no homology to the database, 2024 ESTs have homology (under 80%) with hypothetical proteins, putative proteins, expressed proteins, and unknown proteins in NCBI-GenBank. 635 EST's unique genes sequence have been identified by over 80% homology to known function in other species which were not previously described in Olea family. Only 3.1% of total EST's was shown similarity with olive database existing in NCBI. This generated EST's data and consensus sequences were submitted to NCBI as valuable source for functional genome studies of olive

Should patients with risk factors be tested for hypersensitivity to contrast media: a prospective study

Previous hypersensitivity reactions to contrast media (CM), atopy, atopic disease, drug allergy, and age (20-29 or > 55) are risk factors for CM hypersensitivity reactions. Our aim was to evaluate whether these risk factors should prompt skin testing for diagnosing CM allergy

Anemia after kidney transplantation: Does its basis differ from anemia in chronic kidney disease?

Background Although similar factors play a role in both PTA and anemia in patients with CKD, additional risk factors exist in the pathogenesis of PTA. The present study aimed at comparing anemia and inflammation-related parameters between RTx recipients and CKD patients and elucidating the risk factors of PTA. Methods This single-centered, cross-sectional study consisted of 68 participants: 48 were in the RTx group and 20 were in the CKD group. The CKD patients were comparable to the RTx recipients in terms of age, gender, and eGFR. Serum levels of EPO, hepcidin, and IL-6 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The ratio of EPO/Hb was calculated to estimate endogenous EPO resistance. Results The prevalence of anemia was 46% in the RTx group and 30% in the CKD group (P = .23). RTx recipients had significantly lower Hb (P = .04), higher EPO (P < .001), and ferritin levels (P = .001), and higher EPO/Hb ratios (P < .001); however, CKD patients showed a higher frequency of absolute iron deficiency (P = .008). Neither hepcidin nor IL-6 levels differed between the two groups. Hb level of RTx recipients was correlated with only eGFR (r = .437,P = .002) but not with any of the transplantation-related factors, while Fe level was the only parameter to be correlated with Hb level of CKD patients (r = .622,P = .01). Conclusion In the present study comparing GFR-matched RTx and CKD patients, lower GFR level appears to be the factor most strongly associated with anemia, and endogenous EPO resistance is among the contributing factors to PTA

Two Siblings with Triple-A Syndrome: Endocrinologic and Neurologic Features

WOS: 000429745000008Triple-A syndrome is a rare, multi-systemic disease and is characterized by adrenal insufficiency, achalasia, or alacrima. The symptoms may also involve neurologic manifestations, including pyramidal findings and peripheral motor neuropathy. Other findings include autonomic dysfunction and cerebellar ataxia. In the present study, we present the case of two siblings with triple-A syndrome with neurologic manifestations. The neurologic abnormalities can lead to misdiagnosis owing to resemblance to the manifestations of other neurologic disorders. Therefore, the cases with triple-A syndrome should be carefully evaluated and examined for clinical and neurophysiologic signs

Epidemic Adenoviral Keratoconjunctivitis Possibly Related to Ophthalmological Procedures in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Lessons from an Outbreak

Purpose: Epidemic adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis can spread rapidly among preterm infants who frequently undergo ophthalmological examination. Here we present our experience on a nosocomial outbreak that affected 8 nursery staff members and 26 premature infants. We focus on the presentation and progress of the outbreak, the diagnosis of the disease and the measures taken for its control