Does truncal ligation of the inferior thyroid arteries during bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy affect serum calcium levels? A prospective, randomized, controlled study.

This study was designed to investigate the effect of truncal ligation of the inferior thyroid arteries on post-thyroidectomy serum calcium levels. This prospective, randomized study was carried out in 98 patients. In group 1, bilateral inferior thyroid arteries were ligated truncally during bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy procedure, whereas in group 2, ligation was not performed. In all patients, serum ionized calcium levels were measured preoperatively and on postoperative days 1, 2, 3 and 30. There were no statistically significant differences in serum ionized calcium values between group 1 and 2 on postoperative days 1, 2, 3, and 30 (P > 0.05). Laboratory hypocalcemia was found on postoperative days 1, 2, and 3 in 9 (9.2%), 15 (15.3%), and 2 (2.0%) patients, respectively. In all patients, laboratory hypocalcemia improved until postoperative day 5. It was thought that truncal ligation of the inferior thyroid arteries during bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy had no effect on post-thyroidectomy serum calcium levels.

Evaluation of conventional imaging techniques on preoperative localization in primary hyperparathyroidism.

We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and preoperative localization capacity of 99mTc methoxyisobutylnitrile (MIBI) parathyroid scintigraphy and ultrasonography (USG) in enlarged parathyroid glands in the primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) as well as the relationship between the success rate of these techniques and biochemical values. In this study, we retrospectively evaluated 39 patients with clinical and biological evidence of pHPT who referred to the university hospital for MIBI parathyroid scintigraphy. Patients were examined with USG and double-phase MIBI parathyroid scintigraphy for the detection of enlarged parathyroid glands. Preoperative serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels, calcium (Ca), phosphate and alkaline phosphatase measurements were obtained. A total of 45 parathyroid lesions in 39 patients were reviewed. Thirty-four patients had a single adenoma and 5 patients with multi-gland disease had 11 abnormal parathyroid glands including three adenomas, whereas the remaining 8 glands showed hyperplasia. The overall sensitivities of MIBI parathyroid scintigraphy, USG and combined techniques were 85.3%, 72.5% and 90.4%, respectively; the positive predictive values (PPV) were 89.7%, 85.2% and 92.6%, respectively. The most successful approach for detection of enlarged parathyroid glands in hyperparathyroidism is the concurrent application of USG and MIBI parathyroid scintigraphy modalities. The concomitancy of thyroid diseases decreases the sensitivity of both MIBI parathyroid scintigraphy and USG in enlarged parathyroid glands.

A prospective randomised study of local anaesthetic injection after multiple rubber band ligation of haemorrhoids.

One hundred and forty-two patients with second and third degree internal haemorrhoids were randomised to rubber band ligation only (n = 72) or rubber band ligation + local anaesthetic injection (n = 70). Pain was assessed by the patients at intervals of 6 hours and 1, 2, 3 and 4 days after banding. Other symptoms, complications, analgesic requirements and patient satisfaction were also recorded for 10 days following the treatment. There was a significant reduction in pain at 60 minutes and 6 hours after the procedure in the rubber band ligation plus local anaesthetic injection patients compared with the rubber band ligation only group (P < 0.05), but there was no reduction in pain when local anaesthetic was used compared with rubber band ligation only on days 1, 2, 3 and 4 days after ligation. On day 10 after banding, there was no difference between the two groups with respect to symptoms such as nausea, feeling of heaviness and/or tenesmus, fainting; complications, analgesic consumption or overall patient satisfaction. Bupivacaine injection after multiple rubber band ligation may be useful in reducing pain during the first 6 hours of the postbanding period.

Investigation of the association between ATP2B4 and ATP5B genes with colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) develops as a multi-step process which results from gradual accumulation of mutations in proto-oncogenes, tumor suppressor, and DNA repair genes. Mortality rate of CRC is very high. Therefore, development of alternative diagnostic methods which can be used in the early diagnosis is crucial. ATP2B4 gene encodes one of the four isoforms of p-type ATPase PMCA enzyme and bears critical importance in maintaining the balance of intracellular calcium homeostasis by providing the export of calcium ions out of the cell. ATP5B encodes a subunit of the mitochondrial ATP synthase which is an f-type ATPase. In this study, the relationship between ATP2B4 and ATP5B genes and CRC regarding gene expression was investigated. Study groups were constructed from a number of 50 patients (25 males, 25 females) with the mean age of 55.68 ± 9.4 and the gene expression levels in the healthy and cancerous tissues of the patients were compared by using semi-quantitative PCR and Real-Time PCR methods. As a result, in patients with rectum tumors, there was a significant relationship between ATP2B4 gene expression and the tumor location and in patients younger than 45 years, ATP5B gene expressions were detected significantly higher in tumor tissues by using RT-PCR. However, no significant relationship was detected in terms of expression differences of ATP2B4 and ATP5B genes between cancerous and healthy tissues of the CRC patients. ATP2B4 and ATP5B genes might have indirect associations in CRC pathogenesis and the investigation of their interactions with DNA repair and other related genes may help in understanding of CRC formation.

Long-term results in the treatment of fistula-in-ano with fibrin glue: a prospective study.

PURPOSE: This prospective study was done to analyze the efficacy of commercial fibrin glue application in the healing of patients with fistulas-in-ano from a long-term (mean 4.5 years) research period. METHODS: This clinical trial of forty-six patients was performed during the period from January 2004 to February 2005. Thirty-nine men and seven women were treated for a fistula-in-ano with a commercial fibrin glue application. In the operating room, the patients underwent an anorectal examination under spinal anesthesia. The external and internal fistula tract openings were then identified. The fistula tract was curetted. Fibrin glue was injected into the external fistula opening until the fibrin glue could be seen coming from the internal opening. RESULTS: The overall initial success rate was 86.95% (40/46). Recurrence rate was 41.30% (19/46). Two patients underwent a re-application with fibrin glue and the fistulas of these patients closed. The total recurrence rate was 36.95% (17/46). The long-term overall success rate was 63.04% (29/46). CONCLUSION: Fibrin glue application was thus found to be an easy, safe, acceptable, successful alternative treatment in the management of fistulas-in-ano. Choosing the patient correctly is very important because long (more than 4 cm) and non-ramificate fistula tracts usually close with commercial fibrin glue.

The use of fibrin glue in the treatment of fistula-in-ano: a prospective study.

PURPOSE: This prospective study was done to analyze the efficacy of commercial fibrin glue application in the healing of patients with fistulas-in-ano. METHODS: This clinical trial of 36 patients was performed during the period from November 2003 to May 2004. Thirty men and six women were treated for a fistula-in-ano with commercial fibrin glue application. None of the patients had undergone prior attempts to correct fistulas-in-ano surgically. All patients received preoperative mechanical bowel preparation and prophylactic intravenous antibiotics. In the operating room, the patients underwent an anorectal examination under spinal anesthesia. The external and internal fistula tract openings were then identified. The fistula tract was curetted. Fibrin glue was injected into the external fistula opening until fibrin glue could be seen coming from the internal opening. No dressing was applied over the external opening. Thereafter, the patient was discharged. A 1-week course of oral antibiotics was prescribed. The patients were followed up for 70 weeks with a mean of 54 weeks (range 40-70 weeks). RESULTS: The cause of the fistula-in-ano was cryptoglandular in all patients. The overall initial success rate was 77.8% (28/36). No complications were encountered related to the application. Two patients underwent a reapplication with fibrin glue and the fistulas of these patients were all closed. The overall success rate was 83.3% (30/36). CONCLUSION: Fibrin glue application was thus found to be an easy, safe, effective, and useful alternative treatment in the management of fistulas-in-ano. However, our findings need substantiation by increasing the number of patients and prolonging the follow-up duration, as well as carrying out comparative studies.

Adrenal cyst.

Adrenal cysts are rarely seen lesions. Most are asymptomatic and less than 10 cm. Adrenal cysts, most of which are diagnosed incidentally, can be diagnosed more by wide usage of diagnostic imaging methods. Symptoms appear when they grow to a large size causing pain or gastrointestinal disturbance or become palpable. In this article, a case of a large left adrenal cyst, 12 cm diameter was causing abdominal pain in a 20-year-old female patient subsequently removed totally by surgical excision with adrenalectomy is presented and treatment modalities was discussed.