Association between Dysphagia and Frailty in Community Dwelling Older Adults.

OBJECTIVES: Dysphagia is described as a geriatric syndrome that occurs more frequently with aging. It is associated with the deterioration in functionality however, it is usually ignored. Frailty is a geriatric syndrome that is recognized more with its well-known adverse consequences. Very recently, dysphagia has been suggested to accompany frailty in older adults. We aimed to investigate the association between dysphagia and frailty in the community dwelling older adults. DESIGN: Prospective, cross-sectional study. SETTING: Geriatric outpatient clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Older adults aged ≥60 years. MEASUREMENTS: Dysphagia was evaluated by EAT-10 questionnaire and frailty by FRAIL scale. Handgrip strength (HGS) was evaluated by hand-dynamometer. Gait speed was evaluated by 4-meter usual gait speed (UGS). Nutritional status was assessed by mini-nutritional assessment-short form (MNA-SF). RESULTS: 1138 patients were enrolled. Mean age was 74.1±7.3 years. EAT-10 questionnaire was answered by all and FRAIL-scale by 851 subjects. EAT-10 score >15 points was regarded as significant dysphagia risk. The participants with EAT-10>15 points were older when compared to the participants with EAT-10<=15 points (p=0.002). Among participants with EAT-10>15 points, women gender and neurodegenerative diseases were more prevalent (p=0.04, p=0.002; respectively); number of chronic diseases, number of drugs and FRAIL score were higher (p=0.001 for each), and HGS, UGS, MNA-SF scores were lower (p=0.002, p=0.01, p<0.001; respectively). In multivariate analyses, the factors independently associated with presence of EAT-10 score>15 were FRAIL score and the number of drugs. CONCLUSION: Dysphagia is associated with frailty irrespective to age, presence of neurodegenerative diseases, number of chronic diseases and drugs. To our knowledge, this is the largest serie in the literature providing data on independent association of dysphagia with frailty.

Peritoneal seeding and subsequent progression of mantle cell lymphoma after splenectomy for debulking.

BACKGROUND: Peritoneal seeding after abdominal surgery is a well known route of metastasis in intra-abdominal solid tumours. Direct mechanical contamination, local peritoneal trauma and subsequent inflammation, postoperative immunosuppression, and laparoscopic surgery are the proposed predisposing factors for this type of metastasis. These factors probably result in enhanced adhesion or growth of tumour cells. However, this route of metastasis has not yet been reported for lymphomas. Here, we report the first case of peritoneal seeding of lymphoma cells after an abdominal surgery. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 47-year-old man with mantle cell lymphoma had ascites because of infiltration of the liver. He underwent debulking splenectomy. The postoperative ascites cytology and control abdominal computed tomography imaging both confirmed peritoneal involvement and lymphoma progression. Demonstration of negative peritoneal involvement before surgery and close timing of peritoneal involvement after splenectomy suggested to us that the debulking surgery was the main cause of peritoneal seeding of lymphoma cells in our case. CONCLUSIONS: Factors similar to those in solid tumour seeding may also be valid for lymphomas. Peritoneal seeding and consequent disease progression may be a potential complication of abdominal surgery in lymphoma with extensive intra-abdominal involvement.

A case of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria presenting with intra-abdominal bleeding due to splenic rupture, developing renal infarct.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare disorder characterized by intravascular hemolysis, hemoglobinuria, and thrombosis. Thrombotic attacks are life threatening and are responsible for nearly 50% of PNH-related deaths. Compared with thrombotic events, bleeding related to thrombocytopenia in PNH is quite rare. This report describes an atypical clinical presentation with problems in the diagnosis and management of a woman who presented with a splenic infarct followed by massive intra-abdominal bleeding due to splenic rupture. She also developed a renal infarct during hospitalization after diagnosis.

Fever of unknown origin: a report of 57 cases.

Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is defined as the body temperature higher than 38.3 degrees C on several occasions and lasting longer than 3 weeks, with the aetiology remaining uncertain after 1 week of investigation. In this study, we reviewed 57 patients with FUO hospitalised in our inpatient department between 1998 and 2003. The median age of the patients was 44 years (17-84), and 26 were males (46%), while 31 were females (54%). In 24 patients (42%), infectious diseases such as tuberculosis (12 patients) and brucellosis (5 patients) were found under the aetiology of FUO. Inflammatory rheumatic diseases were the second most common cause of FUO (17 patients, 30%), while malignancies were found in 10 patients (18%). In six patients (10%), aetiology could not be identified. In conclusion, infectious diseases especially tuberculosis and brucellosis are the leading causes of FUO in our country.

Acute renal failure due to leukaemic infiltration in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: case report.

A 73-year-old woman was presented with altered mental status and disorientation. She was diabetic and hypertensive, and she had experienced an ischemic cerebrovascular accident 3 years ago. Physical examination revealed the findings of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cor pulmonale and congestive heart failure. Hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and ascites were found and might be associated with postsinusoidal portal hypertension secondary to congestive heart failure. Laboratory tests showed uremia, lymphocytosis and thrombocytopenia. Neurologic findings were related with uremia and hypoxia. Multiple pathologic lymphadenopathies were seen in abdominal ultrasonography and thoracic computed tomography. Bone marrow histology indicated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). The reason for acute renal failure was leukaemic infiltration of the kidneys due to CLL that was shown with renal biopsy. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine responded well to cyclophosphamide and methyl prednisolone treatment. In CLL, direct renal involvement is frequently seen in autopsy studies especially in advanced disease, however, renal failure due to leukaemic infiltration is extremely rare.

Bilateral renal artery stenosis after abdominal radiotherapy for Hodgkin's disease.

A 49-year-old woman was admitted with fatigue, dyspnoea, pretibial oedema and decreased daily urination. Seven years ago she was treated with doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine, alternating with mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine and prednisone and 80 Gy abdominal radiotherapy for Hodgkin's disease. Two years later, malignant hypertension was diagnosed. Angiotensin-2 antagonist and beta-blocker treatment was given. After increased serum creatinine levels were determined, renal angiography was performed and total obstruction in the left renal artery and near total obstruction in the right side was observed. She was admitted to our clinic with oliguria, and acute renal failure was diagnosed. Balloon angioplasty and stent implantation was performed to the right renal artery. After a polyuric period, serum creatinine reduced to near normal levels. Angiotensin-2 antagonist treatment worsened the course in this patient. Patients with resistant hypertension occurring years after abdominal radiotherapy should be evaluated for renal artery stenosis.

The diagnostic value of troponin T and myoglobin levels in acute myocardial infarction: a study in Turkish patients.

This study compares the diagnostic value of troponin T (TnT) and myoglobin with creatinine kinase (CK) for myocardial infarction (MI) in a tertiary care centre in a developing nation. The study group comprised 33 acute myocardial infarction patients and 27 healthy controls. Receiver operating characteristic curves for TnT, myoglobin and CK were drawn and areas under the curve calculated. At admission, myoglobin levels had greater diagnostic sensitivity than TnT or CK levels. After 2 h, myoglobin and TnT had equal sensitivity and specificity, whereas CK still had lower sensitivity than myoglobin and TnT. After 4 h there was no difference between the tests. It was concluded that myoglobin levels on admission and TnT at 2 h had the greatest diagnostic rate, whereas all the tests were similar after 4 h for MI.

Osteodystrophy in posthepatitic cirrhosis.

This study investigated the incidence and severity of hepatic osteodystrophy in patients with posthepatitic liver cirrhosis, and the role of hepatocellular injury in bone loss. Twenty-four patients (15 females and 9 males, mean age 49 +/- 13 years) with posthepatitic cirrhosis were enrolled in this study. The control group consisted of 22 healthy age and sex matched adults. The bone mineral density (BMD) was evaluated by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry of the L1-L4 vertebral bodies. A detailed questionnaire was used to assess the epidemiological findings. A statistically significant decrease in BMD of the patients was observed. There were no significant differences in the alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, osteocalcin, free testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, and estradiol levels, oral calcium intake, urinary calcium, phosphorus and hydroxypyroline excretion between patients and controls. The control group smoked more cigarettes, consumed more coffee and meat, and were exposed the sun light for a longer period than the study group. Multiple regression analysis showed that osteopenia depends significantly on the extent of liver disease. The data shows that the patients with posthepatitic cirrhosis had osteopenia, and that cirrhosis was a direct and independent risk factor.

A case of Noonan syndrome with pulmonary and abdominal lymphangiectasia.

Noonan syndrome is characterised by a Turner-like phenotype and a normal karyotype. Although it is reported to be associated with abnormalities of the lymphatic system, involvement of the pulmonary lymphatics is rare. We present a case of Noonan syndrome where a whole body scintigraphy revealed lymphangiectasia of the lower extremities, abdomen and lungs.

Genotoxic potential of cyclosporin A in patients with renal transplantation.

We analyzed the induction of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) by cyclosporin A (CsA) as a marker of genotoxic potential. In 30 patients undergoing renal transplantation, SCE induction was tested before the introduction of CsA and 3 months later. We found that SCE frequency increased significantly at the end of 3 months. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating in vivo induction of SCE by CsA in humans. We conclude that CsA has a genotoxic potential on human lymphocytes.

Hypogonadism is not related to the etiology of liver cirrhosis.

We investigated the clinical and laboratory findings of hypogonadism and feminization in male patients with viral or alcoholic cirrhosis to determine whether chronic liver disease plays a primary role in the development of sexual dysfunction and hormonal changes. Two groups of male patients with liver cirrhosis (23 alcoholic, 33 viral) age- and Child's grade-matched, and 20 age-matched healthy men, as a control group, were included in this study. Clinical signs of hypogonadism and feminization were examined in the cirrhotic patients. Follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, testosterone, free testosterone, estradiol, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and sex hormone-binding globulin were estimated in all groups. Seminal fluid was also analyzed in 7 alcoholic and 15 viral cirrhotics. Serum levels of estradiol, androstenedione, and sex hormone-binding globulin were significantly higher, and free testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels were significantly lower in both groups of cirrhotics compared with the control group. Child's C patients in both groups of cirrhotics were found to have higher estradiol and lower free testosterone levels than child's A and B patients. Alcoholic and viral cirrhotics had markedly reduced sperm motility and density. The differences between alcoholic and viral cirrhotic patients in the clinical signs of hypogonadism, serum levels of sex steroids, and the results of seminal fluid analysis were not statistically significant. These findings suggest that liver cirrhosis per se, independent of etiology, causes hypogonadism and feminization, and that the degree of hypogonadism and feminization correlates well with the severity of liver failure.

Value of bronchoalveolar lavage in lipidoses with pulmonary involvement.

Adult lipid storage disorders with pulmonary involvement are rare and usually diagnosed at autopsy. We report a patient with splenomegaly and reticulonodular pattern on lung computed tomography. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed and revealed the presence of lipid-containing foamy cells, with the demonstration of both periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and scharlach red stain positive vacuoles in the cytoplasm of alveolar macrophages. The same cells were found in bone marrow biopsy. As in other rare disorders, bronchoalveolar lavage may be of diagnostic value in lipid storage disorders with pulmonary involvement.