Fetal Cleft Lip/Palate Surgery: End of a Dream?

Recognition that a fetus can scarlessly heal in intrauterine life led to various animal studies in the mid 1980s exploring the possibility of fetal cleft lip/palate surgery. The idea of scarless cleft repair seemed like a possible dream after the promising results from the early animal studies. In this review, we analyze the progress made in the 30 years since our first experience with animal models.

Measures of ventricles and evans' index: from neonate to adolescent.

Ventricle sizes are important for the early diagnosis of hydrocephalus or for follow-up after ventriculostomy. Diameters of ventricles may change, especially in childhood. This study aims to provide normative data about ventricle diameters. Among 14,854 cranial MRI performed between 2011 and 2013, 2,755 images of Turkish children aged 0-18 years were obtained. After exclusions, 517 images were left. Four radiologists were trained by a pediatric radiologist. Twenty images were assessed by all radiologists for a pilot study to see that there was no interobserver variation. There were 10-22 children in each age group. The maximum width of the third ventricle was 5.54 ± 1.29 mm in males in age group 1 and 4.98 ± 1.08 mm in females in age group 2. The Evans' index was <0.3 and consistent with the literature. The third ventricle/basilar artery width ratio was found to be >1 and <2 in all age groups and both gender groups. Our study showed the ventricle size data of children in various age groups from newborn to adolescent. The ventricle volume/cerebral parenchyma ratio seems to decrease with age. We think that these data can be applied in clinical practice, especially for the early diagnosis of hydrocephalus.

A case of tension pneumothorax during hyperbaric oxygen therapy in an earthquake survivor with crush injury complicated by ARDS (adult respiratory distress syndrome).

Pneumothorax (PTX) is rarely reported in patients receiving hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy. Patients with air-trapping lesions in the lungs and those with a history of spontaneous PTX, lung disease, mechanical ventilation or chest trauma are at an increased risk for PTX during HBO2 therapy. A 28-year-old male earthquake survivor was referred to our center for multiple wounds 21 days after being rescued from the debris. He had been intubated and put on mechanical ventilation for three days because of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). At initial presentation, he was conscious, well-oriented and hemodynamically stable. The initial six HBO2 treatments were uneventful. On the seventh HBO2 treatment, the patient lost consciousness and developed cardiopulmonary arrest near the end of decompression. The HBO2 specialist accompanying the patient inside the chamber immediately initiated CPR. A diagnosis of tension PTX was made. After the patient was removed from the chamber, a chest tube was inserted, which improved the symptoms. Although rare, tension PTX can occur during HBO2 therapy. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for saving a patient's life. Increased vigilance is required during treatment of patients with risk factors for PTX.

Clinical usefulness and performance of acoustic radiation force impulse in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) compared with liver biopsy in quantifying fibrosis levels in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was approved by the institutional review board at our hospital. One hundred CHB patients and 30 healthy controls (130 individuals) were included in the study. ARFI measurements were performed on all of these cases. CHB was diagnosed when serum hepatitis surface antigen was positive for more than 6 months and when persistent or intermittent elevations in alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels and histopathological changes in liver biopsy were present. Liver biopsies were taken as a reference standard for 100 CHB patients. Liver biopsy samples were examined using the Ishak scoring system and compared with ARFI velocity values. RESULTS: Of the 130 participants, 107 (82.3%) were men and 23 (17.7%) were women. Thirty of these participants were healthy controls and their fibrotic score was evaluated as an Ishak fibrosis score of 0. A gradual increase in the mean velocity value was obtained for fibrosis scores F0-F6 (Ishak fibrosis score) in our study. A strong positive correlation was found between the mean velocity values and fibrosis scores of liver biopsy that were performed on liver segment 8. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to detect the best cutoff velocity values, and no or mild fibrosis (F≤2), significant fibrosis (F≥3), and severe fibrosis (F≥5) were calculated to be 0.95, 1.75, and 2.55 m/s, respectively. When a cutoff value of 1.75 m/s was used, ARFI had a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 98% in differentiating patients with fibrosis score F≤2 versus F≥3. CONCLUSION: ARFI elastography in patients with CHB can be considered an easy-to-use and accurate noninvasive tool to evaluate the severity of liver fibrosis.

Evaluation of endothelial dysfunction in patients with familial Mediterranean fever: the relationship between the levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine and endocan with carotid intima-media thickness and endothelium-dependent vasodilation.

It has been suggested that there is an ongoing subclinical inflammation in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patients also in attack-free periods as well. Due to this ongoing inflammation, endothelial dysfunction (ED) may develop. Previously, ED has been suggested to increase the risk of the atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Endocan is recognized as a specific molecule of the endothelium and has been shown to increase in some cases associated with inflammation. However, there is not sufficient data whether those with FMF could develop ED in the early period of life. In this study, we aimed to investigate ED and its relation with endocan in young FMF patients. A total of 57 male patients diagnosed with FMF according to the Tel Hashomer criteria and a total of 33 healthy males with similar characteristics to the patient group were included in this research. Complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), fibrinogen, serum glucose, serum LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride (TG), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), and endocan levels were tested from fasting blood samples. Moreover, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) were measured. The endocan levels of the FMF patients during an attack-free period were significantly higher than those of the control group (p < 0.001). On the other hand, FMD measurements were significantly lower among FMF patients (p < 0.001). ADMA levels were higher in the patient group; however, this difference was similar (p > 0.05). CIMT values were similar among FMF patients and healthy controls (p > 0.05). These results have suggested that ED may develop in the patients with FMF who have no additional CVD risk, even during young adulthood, and endocan may be a favorable biomarker at demonstration of ED than ADMA among FMF patients.

The role of coronary CT angiography in diagnosis of patent foramen ovale.

PURPOSE: We aimed to examine the incidence of patent foramen ovale (PFO) and atrial septal aneurysms (ASA) in the Turkish population using coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA); assess the feasibility of coronary CTA for PFO diagnosis by conducting a comparison with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE); and determine the diagnostic role and characteristics of the interatrial tunnel, free flap valve (FFV), and shunts. METHODS: The present study was conducted retrospectively and included a sample of 782 patients. Coronary CTA results for all patients were evaluated for the following parameters: the presence of PFO, the degree of contrast jet (if present due to PFO), ASA existence, free flap valve (FFV) length, and PFO tunnel diameters (1 and 2). Coronary CTA and TTE results for PFO detection were also compared for 19 patients who underwent both procedures. RESULTS: PFO was present in 118 patients (15%). In 19 patients who underwent both CTA and TTE, the shunt was present in 15 patients on TTE compared with nine patients on CTA. The sensitivity and specificity of CTA for shunt existence were 53% (8/15) and 75% (3/4), respectively. FFV was observed on CTA in 118 patients (15%). No significant relationship was observed between shunt existence and FFV length (P = 0.148), or between shunt existence and tunnel diameter-1 (P = 0.638) or diameter-2 (P = 0.058). ASAs were present in 16 patients (2%), while accompanying PFO was present in three patients (2.4%). CONCLUSION: Coronary CTA constitutes a more practical and efficient alternative to TTE for PFO diagnosis. Further, it allows the clear visualization of anatomical details of the interatrial tunnel, shunts, and associated abnormalities and detects ASAs.

Doppler ultrasound measurements of renal functional reserve in healthy subjects.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to calculate the normal values of renal functional reserve in healthy individuals measuring the resistive index and pulsatility index using Doppler ultrasonography. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty healthy volunteer adults were included in the study. Their basal resistive index and pulsatility index values were measured and after oral protein load at 30th, 75th and 120th minutes, resistive index and pulsatility index measurements were repeated. The maximum changes in resistive index and pulsatility index from baseline were calculated in each subject which represented the renal functional reserve. RESULTS: The mean values of resistive index and pulsatility index decreased significantly starting with 30 minutes and consecutively at 75 and 120 minutes (for all p<0.05). The highest decrease compared to baseline values was recorded at 75 minutes and renal functional reserve values were calculated as 22.2% for resistive index and 25.4% for pulsatility index. CONCLUSIONS: Renal functional reserve can be calculated through Doppler resistive index and pulsatility index measures. We consider that it may be helpful to know normal values of renal functional reserve in healthy subjects.

Erratum: RE: An Unusual Course of Sinoatrial Node Artery Originating from Distal Right Coronary Artery.

[This corrects the article on p. 878 in vol. 15, PMID: 25469103.].

Renal metastasis from pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a rare case along with literature review.

Metastatic masses in the kidney are rare, and metastasis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma to the kidney is even rarer. A 58-year-old male patient with macroscopic hematuria presented to the emergency department. Abdominopelvic computed tomography revealed a lesion that was not visualized as a complete mass but instead appeared as a patch extending from the pelvis to the parenchyma. Biopsy indicated metastasis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma to the right kidney. These findings indicate that metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma should be considered in patients presenting with hematuria and findings of patch-like suspicious masses in the right kidney. After diagnosis is confirmed by prompt biopsy, chemotherapy should be initiated to prolong the patient's life. To the best of our knowledge, the present case is the first report of renal metastasis from pancreatic adenocarcinoma in a living patient.

Shepherd's crook right coronary artery: a multidetector computed tomography coronary angiography study.

BACKGROUND: Shepherd's crook deformity of the right coronary artery (RCA) is considered a haemodynamically non-significant course anomaly. It may be challenging for cardiologists during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. AIM: To investigate the radiological anatomy of the high riding course of the proximal segment of the RCA, especially focused on the Shepherd's crook RCA (SCRCA), on multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) coronary angiography. METHODS: A total of 1,118 MDCT coronary angiography examinations were reviewed retrospectively (349 [31.2%] male; 769 [68.8%] female, age range from 18 to 88 years [54.4 ± 14.7 years, mean ± standard deviation]). We classified the segments that had a higher course than RCA ostium (high riding RCA) into two types: type 1--courses turning inferior with an angle equal to or more than 90 degrees, type 2 (SCRCA)--courses turning inferior with an angle less than 90 degrees. The origin of the sinoatrial node artery (SANA) and conus artery were also noted. RESULTS: High riding RCA was detected in 146 (13%) patients. Of them, 105 (71%) had type 1 and 41 (29%) had type 2. Atherosclerotic plaque formations, to varying degrees, were presented in 10 (24.3%) of the patients with SCRCA. Approximately half of SANA originated from the SCRCA segment of the RCA in SCRCA cases. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study about SCRCA that has been performed with MDCT coronary angiography. This study brings important anatomical knowledge to cardiologists. To have knowledge about the origin of the SANA prior to PTCA procedures is important to prevent possible arrhythmias and infarcts.

Cross-sectional area measurement of the coronary arteries using CT angiography at the level of the bifurcation: is there a relationship?

PURPOSE: Our aim was to determine whether there is a correlation between cross-sectional areas of the left main coronary artery (LMCA), left anterior descending artery (LAD), and circumflex artery (CX) in normal cases using coronary CT angiography. METHOD: Examinations of 180 patients (119 men and 61 women) were selected among 2248 consecutive coronary CT angiography studies. Cross-sectional areas of LMCA, LAD, and CX were measured at the level of bifurcation. Correlation between age, height, and body mass index and coronary artery cross-sectional areas was investigated and possibility of formulating a correlation between the cross-sectional areas of LMCA, LAD, and CX was explored. RESULTS: Mean cross-sectional areas of LMCA, LAD, and CX were found as 17.4±3.9 mm2, 12.5±3.1 mm2, and 10.5±3.0 mm2, respectively. While cross-sectional areas of LMCA and LAD were significantly larger in men, no significant difference was found between the sectional areas of CX in men and women. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to elucidate the relationship between the cross-sectional areas of LMCA LAD, and CX. Our analysis showed that the relationship between LMCA, LAD, and CX cross-sectional areas can be formulated as follows: LMCA=3.870 + 0.718×LAD + 0.434×CX. CONCLUSION: There is a correlation between the cross-sectional areas of LMCA, LAD, and CX at the level of bifurcation, and this correlation can be expressed with a formula.

Long-term Survival after Lapatinib Rechallenge in Isolated Brain Metastasis of HER2-positive Breast Cancer.

Lapatinib is an effective drug in HER2-positive breast cancer. We present a case with successful treatment of lapatinib in brain metastasis of HER2+ breast cancer. Forty-eight years old woman was admitted our clinic with early breast cancer. In third years after adjuvant chemotherapy and trastuzumab, isolated and multiple brain metastasis were detected. After whole brain RT, lapatinib (with capecitabine for 10 months and with letrozole for 3 months) has been used. Volumetric reduction of lesions was achieved and symptoms disappeared. When lapatinib discontinued, brain metastasis relapses. Lapatinib plus capecitabine reinduction has been started. Totally, longer survival than 45 months was achieved after first brain metastasis detection. Because both combinations of lapatinib with capecitabine and letrozole were effective and reinduction treatment was successful, presented case has strongly supported activity of lapatinib treatment in brain metastasis of HER2+ breast cancer.