The effect of hand fine motor skills on peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to evaluate the relationship between the hand fine motor skills of peritoneal dialysis (PD) practitioners and PD-related peritonitis. METHODS: This multicenter prospective observational study was conducted with 120 incident PD patients. Patients were divided into two groups who had PD-related peritonitis within the first year as Group 1, and those who did not as Group 2. Hand fine motor skills were evaluated by Nine-Hole Peg Test (NHPT) and Nut Screwing Test (NST). RESULTS: Initial NHPT (28.5 ± 6.0 s vs. 25.8 ± 5.0 s, p = 0.011) and NST (82.3 (61.5-102.8) s versus 65.3 (52.3-88.5) s p = 0.023) scores were significantly higher in Group 1 than Group 2. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, NHPT, Body Mass Index, Mini-Mental Test, self PD practitioner, and catheter complications were found to be independent variables in predicting PD-related peritonitis. CONCLUSION: Decreased hand fine motor skills of PD patients is a risk factor for peritonitis.

Validity and Reliability of Turkish Version of Reaction Type Scale Against COPD.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to develop a scale that could assess illness perception and reaction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted in patients who were admitted in the pulmonary disease departments of a public and a private hospital. The study included 271 COPD patients. The COPD Perception and Reaction Scale, consisting of 54 items, was prepared as a Likert-type 5-point rating scale. In the validity phase of the study, expert judgments were obtained for content validity, and explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA) were then performed. The reliability of the scale in terms of internal consistency was tested with the Cronbach's alpha coefficient. RESULTS: According to the results of the EFA, the COPD Perception and Reaction Scale consists of 3 subdimensions and 23 items. Factors are termed behavioral reaction, emotional reaction, and spiritual reaction. According to the CFA, the goodness-of-fit indices obtained (χ2/df = (676.47/227) 2.98 and RMSEA = 0.056, NFI = 0.80, CFI = 0.96, NFI = 0.91, and AGFI = 0.85) suggest that the recommended model for the scale is acceptable. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.74; Cronbach's alpha values for the subdimensions were calculated as 0.87 for "emotional reaction," 0.76 for "behavioral reaction," and 0.79 for "spiritual reaction." CONCLUSION: The 23-item form of the COPD Illness Perception and Reaction Scale was demonstrated to be a valid and reliable scale for determining the perception and the reaction toward illness in COPD patients in Turkey.

MR imaging pattern of tibial subchondral bone structure: considerations of meniscal coverage and integrity.

OBJECTIVES: To compare regional differences in subchondral trabecular structure using high-resolution MRI in meniscus-covered/meniscus-uncovered tibia in cadaveric knees with intact/torn menisci. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 3D proton density CUBE MRI of 6 cadaveric knees without significant osteoarthritis (OA) was acquired, 0.25-mm resolution. Menisci were evaluated and classified intact or torn. MR data were transferred to ImageJ program to segment tibial 3D volume of interest (VOI). Data was subdivided into meniscus-covered/meniscus-uncovered regions. Segmented VOI was classified into binary data, trabeculae/bone marrow. The trabecular bone data was used to measure MR biomarkers (apparent subchondral plate-connected bone density (adapted from spine MR), apparent trabecular bone volume fraction, apparent mean trabecular thickness, apparent connectivity density, and structure model index (SMI)). Mean value of parameters was analyzed for the effects of meniscal tear/tibial coverage. RESULTS: Nine torn menisci and 3 intact menisci were present. MR measures of bone varied significantly due to meniscal coverage/tear. Subchondral plate-connected bone density under covered meniscus regions increased from 10.9 to 23.5% with meniscal tear. Values increased in uncovered regions, 19.3% (intact) and 32.4% (torn). This reflects higher density when uncovered (p = 0.048) with meniscal tear (p = 0.007). Similar patterns were found for trabecular bone fraction (coverage p < 0.001, tear p = 0.047), trabecular thickness (coverage p = 0.03), connectivity density (coverage p = 0.002), and SMI (coverage p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: Quantitative trabecular bone evaluation emphasizes intrinsic structural differences between meniscus-covered/meniscus-uncovered tibias. Results offer insight into bone adaptation with meniscal tear and support the hypothesis that subchondral bone plate-connected bone density could be important in early subchondral bone adaptation.

Pulmonary cement embolism following cement-augmented fenestrated pedicle screw fixation in adult spinal deformity patients with severe osteoporosis (analysis of 2978 fenestrated screws).

INTRODUCTION: There is very limited information about pulmonary cement embolism (PCE) following cement-augmented fenestrated pedicle screw (CAFPS) fixation in the literature. The aim of this study to report the incidence of PCE following CAFPS fixation in adult deformity patients with severe osteoporosis and to identify risk factors such as; the number of levels, number of screws, and the cement volume used. METHODS: 281 patients (204F, 77M) in whom CAFPS fixation was used during deformity surgery were included. All patients' routine postop 2 day chest X-rays and any available CT scans were reviewed by two radiologists. In patients with PCE, preop, early postop, and latest echocardiography studies were compared in terms of changes in pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and right ventricular dilatation. Estimated cement volume used was calculated as: 2 cc (1 cc + 1 cc) per thoracic and 3 cc (1.5 cc + 1.5 cc) per lumbar levels, which are our routine protocol. Statistical analysis for risk factors was assessed with point biserial correlation test. RESULTS: Average age is 70.5 (51-89) and average follow-up is 3.2 years (2-5). A total of 2978 CAFPS were instrumented with a mean of 10.5 levels (2-16) in 281 patients. PCE was diagnosed radiologically in 46 patients (16.3%). Among these 46 patients, PCE was clinically symptomatic in only 4 patients. Overall incidence of symptomatic PCE was 1.4% (4 of 281). Symptomatic PCE was statistically significant: when CAFPS fixation was performed > 7 levels; > 14 screws were used, and > 20-25 cc cement was used for augmentation (r = 0.378). In PCE group, mean preop PAP values of 27.40 (20-37) mm/Hg increased to 32.34 (20-50) mm/Hg in early postop and decreased to 28.29 (18-49) mm/Hg at final follow-up. In symptomatic PCE patients, mean preop PAP values of 30.75 (28-36) mm/Hg increased to 45.74 (40-50) mm/Hg in early postop and decreased to 38.75 (37-40) mm/Hg at final follow-up. CONCLUSION: This study showed an overall 16.3% radiological PCE and 1.4% symptomatic PCE incidence when CAFPS were used due to severe osteoporosis. The symptomatic PCE risk was significant when CAFPS were > 7 levels; > 14 fenestrated screws; and > 20-25 cc cement volume is used and this may cause PAP increase and right ventricular dilatation.

Diffusion tensor imaging of cysts, hemangiomas, and metastases of the liver.

BACKGROUND: Although diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging imaging (DW-MRI) is commonly used to characterize hepatic lesions, the literature is sparse about the use of MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in this regard. By using DTI, one is able to obtain not only apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) but also fractional anisotropy (Fa) values. PURPOSE: To evaluate DTI using ADC and Fa values in the imaging of hepatic cysts, hemangiomas, and metastases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-six patients with 77 lesions were examined with DTI. There were 32 metastases, 13 cysts, and 32 hemangiomas. Two radiologists performed ADC and Fa measurements. Inter-observer agreement was evaluated using Bland-Altman plots. ADCs and Fa values were correlated using Pearson correlation. The differences were compared using ANOVA and Tukey tests. A ROC analysis was applied; sensitivities and specificities were calculated. RESULTS: The inter-observer agreement was very good. The correlation between ADC and Fa was negative, weak, and significant (r = -0.36). The mean ADC value of cysts (3.30 ± 0.8 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s) was significantly higher than that of hemangiomas (2.23 ± 0.5 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s) and metastases (1.62 ± 0.4 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s). The mean Fa value of cysts (0.2 ± 0.05) was significantly lower than hemangiomas (0.37 ± 0.1) and metastases (0.46 ± 0.1). The Az values for discriminating metastases from benign hepatic lesions for ADC and Fa value were 0.885 and 0.731, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of ADC and Fa were 87.5% and 84.4%, and 78.1% and 57.8%, respectively. The Az value for discriminating cysts from hemangiomas for Fa was 0.96. The sensitivity and specificity were 90.6% and 92.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Fa values may play a supportive role in the imaging of liver lesions. Whereas metastases tend to have low ADCs and high Fa values, cysts have high ADCs and low Fa values and hemangiomas have high ADCs and high Fa values.