A folk remedy: Royal jelly improves lung capacity in smokers

Background and Aim: Royal jelly (RJ) is one of the natural, valuable curative bee productdue to its promising health-beneficial and nutritional properties. This healthy diet possesses anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidants, antitumor, and immunomodulatory functions which benefit in humans health and welfare,resulting in its widespread medical use. The aim of this randomized case controlled study was to determine the effect of royal jelly on the lung capacity of sedentary male smokers. Materials and Methods: The study was approved by the ethics committee of the university and consisted of 83 sedentary male and single participants aged 25-30 years without any health problems. Participation was voluntary. This case controlled design study was conducted in accordance with the ethical principles outlined by the World Medical Association's Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained from participants. The sample was divided into four groups: smoker experimental (Group I: 22), non-smoker experimental (Group II: 21), smoker control (Group III: 20), and non-smoker control (Group IV: 20). The experimental groups consumed 1000 mg/day pure royal jelly between 08.00 and 10.00 am for 21 days. The control groups consumed a placebo liquid between 08.00 and 10.00 am for 21 days. Pre- and post-pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were performed. Results: Group I had significantly higher mean posttestforced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1) (1.86±0.19 L) than mean pretest FEV1 (1.76±0.05 L) while Group II had significantly higher mean posttest FEV1 (2.25±0.27 L) than mean pretest FEV1 (2.18±0.17 L) (p < 0.000). No statistically significant difference was observed in the control groups. Conclusion: PFT results before and after 1000mg/day royal jelly supplement revealed positive and significant differences. © Mattioli 1885

The importance of perfusion index monitoring in evaluating the efficacy of stellate ganglion blockage treatment in Raynaud’s disease

Stellate ganglion blockage (SGB) is a method used for treating Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP). This study primarily aimed to determine whether the perfusion index (PI) can be used an alternative to Horner’s signs in evaluating the efficacy of SGB in patients diagnosed with RP. In a total of 40 patients, aged 18–65 years and diagnosed with primary RP, SGB was applied for 5 days on the same side with the 2-finger method, using 6 mL of 5% levobupivacaine at the 7th cervical vertebra level. The PI values were recorded from the distal end of the 2nd finger of the upper extremity on the side applied with the block at baseline and at 5, 15, 30, 60 and 120 min. The onset time of Horner findings was recorded. The PI values and visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores were recorded pre-treatment and after 2 weeks.When the PI values of the 40 patients were examined, a 62.7% increase was observed from baseline to the first session at 5 min (p &lt; 0.05). When all sessions were evaluated, a statistically significant increase was determined in the PI values measured at 5, 15, 30, 60 and 120 min compared with the baseline PI values. There was a statistically significant decrease in the post-treatment VAS pain scores and a statistically significant increase in the post-treatment PI values (p &lt; 0.05). By eliminating peripheral vasospasm with the application of SGB in patients with RP, the distal artery blood flow and PI are increased. PI measurement is a more objective method and therefore could be used as an alternative to Horner findings in evaluating the success of SGB. PI is a non-invasive and simple measurement and also an earlier indicator in evaluating the success of SGB than Horner’s signs.Keywords: Raynaud’s phenomenon; perfusion index; stellate ganglion blockage; pain; Horner's sig

Effects of dexmedetomidine infusion during spinal anesthesia on hemodynamics and sedation

Background: We evaluated the effects of intravenous dexmedetomidine during spinal anesthesia on hemodynamics, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, sedpain, and compared them with those of saline infusion. Sixty American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II cases were randomly divided into two groups. Patients were connected to the monitor after premedication, and spinal anesthesia was administered. Sensory and motor blockades were assessed using pinprick test and Bromage scale, respectively. Group I received dexmedetomidine infusion and Group II received saline infusion. Throughout the infusion process, hemodynamic data, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, sedation, pain, Bromage score, amnesia, bispectral index, and side effects were recorded. Postoperative hemodynamic measurements, oxygen saturation, sedation, pain scores were obtained. Sedation and pain were evaluated using the Ramsay and visual analog scales, respectively. Analgesics were administered in cases with high scores on the visual analog scale. Postoperative analgesic consumption, side effects, treatments were recorded. No significant differences were found between the groups with respect to oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, pain, and side effects in the intraoperative period. Time to onset of sensorial block, maximum sensorial block, onset of motor block, and maximum motor block; bispectral index values; and apex heartbeat until 80 min of infusion, systolic arterial blood pressure until 90 min, and diastolic arterial blood pressure until 50 min were lower, whereas amnesia and sedation levels were higher in dexmedetomidine group. Postoperative pain and analgesic requirement were not different. Apex heartbeat at 15 min and systolic arterial blood pressure at 30 min were lower and sedation scores were higher in the dexmedetomidine infusion group. We demonstrated dexmedetomidine infusion had a hemodynamic depressant effect intraoperatively whereas it had no significant effect on peripheral oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, visual analog scale scores, and side effects. Dexmedetomidine infusion enhanced motor and sensory blockade quality and induced amnesia and sedation

A comparison of outcomes between Syrian and Turkish patients with traumatic brain injury admitted to intensive care in Gaziantep, Turkey, two border sharing countries

Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze the outcomes of Syrian patients with serious TBI admitted alive in intensive care units(ICUs) and to compare their results with Turkish patients.As a direct consequence of the ongoing civil war, Syrian patients withsevere traumatic brain injury (TBI) have been receiving neurosurgical intervention in Turkey.Material and Methods: The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board, and written informed consent was obtained frompatientsfamilies prior to participation. The study sample consisted of 44 Syrianand 42 Turkish TBI patients in ICUs in Gaziantep, thecity which hosts the most Syrian refugees. Medical records of Syrian patients were compared with those of Turkish patients in termsof age, gender, American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) scores, mechanism of injury, neurological status (Glasgow Coma Score)[GCS] on admission, surgical methods, postoperative complicationsmorbidity and mortality rates.Results: Totally 25% of Syrian patients were admitted to ICUs for gunshot wounds while 59.5% of Turkish patients were admitted toICUs due to traffic accident traumas. During hospitalization, factors associated with mortality were low on admission (GCS <8). Ofthese patients, 79.5% of Syrian and 83.3% of Turkish patients underwent craniotomy and hematoma evacuation. The mortality rateswere 63.6% and 64.3% in Syrian and Turkish patients, respectively.Conclusion: There was no significant difference in mortality rates between the two populations. Determining factors that affectmortality can improve the management of TBI patients in ICUs. Results show that prevention is the only available approach