Treatment and outcomes of patients with metastatic spinal cord compression: a double-center study.

OBJECTIVE: Spinal metastases may only affect the bone tissue and result in spinal instability or may additionally result in epidural compression, leading to neurological deficits. Surgery has emerged as a popular method in treating metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) due to the advances in surgical techniques and instrumentation. In this study, we evaluated patients with MESCC regarding neurological status, pain status, and survival rates, and presented our experience managing MESCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical and radiographic records of 53 patients diagnosed with MESCC between January 2011 and March 2017 were retrospectively evaluated. The study included patients with a pathological diagnosis of primary cancer, those who complained of spinal metastasis, and those who had indications of MESCC on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Bone structure and spinal stability were evaluated using assessed Computed Tomography (CT), and metastatic spread was considered using assessed Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in suitable cases. For each patient, the presence of a tumor compressing the spinal cord, age, gender, preoperative, and postoperative American Spinal Injury Association scores (ASIA), Tokuhashi prognostic score (TPS), affected spinal segment, pathological diagnosis, preoperative, and postoperative Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the status of spinal stability, follow-up period, and complications were evaluated. RESULTS: Forty-five patients (82.2% of them were women) underwent surgery with a mean age of 58.29 ± 15.14 years. The most frequent type of primary tumor was multiple myeloma (33.9%), followed by lung (24.6%), gastric (7.5%), and prostate (5.7%). The most common site of metastasis was the thoracic region (43.4%), followed by lumbar (24.5%), multiple (24.5%), and cervical (5.7%). The analysis indicated that a significant difference was found between the survival rates of the TPS categories. CONCLUSIONS: Common symptoms of MESCC include spinal pain and neurological deficit below the level of the injury. Prompt surgical treatment followed by oncological treatment leads to significant neurological recovery, more prolonged survival, pain relief, and improved quality of life in patients with a short survival time. Oncological treatments, including radiotherapy (RT), should be recommended after surgical treatment.

Rationing scarce healthcare capacity: A study of the ventilator allocation guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the United States, even though national guidelines for allocating scarce healthcare resources are lacking, 26 states have specific ventilator allocation guidelines to be invoked in case of a shortage. While several states developed their guidelines in response to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, New York State developed these guidelines in 2015 as "pandemic influenza is a foreseeable threat, one that we cannot ignore." The primary objective of this study is to assess the existing procedures and priority rules in place for allocating/rationing scarce ventilator capacity and propose alternative (and improved) priority schemes. We first build machine learning models using inpatient records of COVID-19 patients admitted to New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center and an affiliated community health center to predict survival probabilities as well as ventilator length-of-use. Then, we use the resulting point estimators and their uncertainties as inputs for a multiclass priority queueing model with abandonments to assess three priority schemes: (i) SOFA-P (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment based prioritization), which most closely mimics the existing practice by prioritizing patients with sufficiently low SOFA scores; (ii) ISP (incremental survival probability), which assigns priority based on patient-level survival predictions; and (iii) ISP-LU (incremental survival probability per length-of-use), which takes into account survival predictions and resource use duration. Our findings highlight that our proposed priority scheme, ISP-LU, achieves a demonstrable improvement over the other two alternatives. Specifically, the expected number of survivals increases and death risk while waiting for ventilator use decreases. We also show that ISP-LU is a robust priority scheme whose implementation yields a Pareto-improvement over both SOFA-P and ISP in terms of maximizing saved lives after mechanical ventilation while limiting racial disparity in access to the priority queue.

Assessment of alternative emergency treatments for symptomatic irreversible pulpitis: a randomized clinical trial.

AIM: To evaluate three emergency procedures for their ability to alleviate clinical symptoms associated with symptomatic teeth having signs of (at least) partial irreversible pulpitis. METHODOLOGY: Sixty-six maxillary and mandibular molars were randomly assigned to a total pulpectomy group (TP; n = 22), partial pulpectomy group (PP; n = 22) or pulpotomy group (P; n = 22). Procedure durations were recorded. Patients answered a questionnaire on daily analgesic requirements and about clinical symptoms (pain intensity, chewing sensitivity and thermal sensitivity) after the anaesthetic effect had disappeared (Day 0) and on Days 1, 3 and 7 post-treatment. RESULTS: The total pulpectomy group was associated with the longest procedures (median, 24 min), followed by the partial pulpectomy and pulpotomy groups (P < 0.001 for all). In all three groups, pain intensity, thermal sensitivity and chewing sensitivity decreased significantly from the preoperative time-point to Day 7 (P < 0.001 for all). The total pulpectomy group reported greater reductions in pain intensity than the pulpotomy group between Days 0 and 7, Days 1 and 3, and Days 1 and 7 (P < 0.001 for all). No other intergroup differences were noted regarding reductions in pain intensity, and none were observed with respect to changes in prevalence of thermal sensitivity and chewing sensitivity. There were also no significant intergroup differences regarding the analgesic requirements throughout the 7 days. CONCLUSION: As emergency treatments for teeth having signs of irreversible pulpitis, pulpotomy, partial pulpectomy and total pulpectomy were comparable with respect to relieving clinical symptoms. Pulpotomy may be preferred because it requires significantly less time and is a simple technique that relieves symptoms quickly and effectively.

Effects of prenatal PPAR-γ agonist rosiglitazone exposure on rat hippocampus development in a time-dependent manner: A stereological and histopathological study.

Rosiglitazone is in the thiazolidinedione class of drugs used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. It works as an insulin sensitizer by binding to the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma. We investigated the effects of prenatally administered rosiglitazone on pyramidal cell numbers and morphologies in the hippocampus at postnatal period using histochemical and stereological techniques, congenital morphological properties and the number of offspring in rats. Eighteen female rats were grouped into control (C), low-dose rosiglitazone (LDR) and high-dose rosiglitazone (HDR). LDR pregnant rats received 2 mg/kg/day of rosiglitazone via oral gavage during the first 16 days of the pregnancy. HDR rats received 5 mg/kg/day. The infants were grouped into newborn (NB), 4 week (4 W) and 12 week (12 W). A side from histopathologic and congenital assessments, stereological analyses were performed using the optical fractionator method. Congenital anomaly was not detected in any of the rosiglitazone treatment groups, and their number of offspring was similar to that of the C group. Stereological counts revealed a significant reduction in the number of hippocampal pyramidal cells in the C and LDR groups but not in the HDR group until birth to 12th week. When NB groups were compared, the number of pyramidal cells in the HDRNB group was less than those in the LDRNB and CNB groups. HDR affected apoptosis or the proliferation and maturation of progenitor cells to the pyramidal neuron during neurodevelopment in the hippocampus, whereas LDR did not adversely affect neuronal development and did not cause congenital anomalies.

Relationship of hemoxygenase-1 and prolidase enzyme activity with oxidative stress in papillary thyroid cancer.

AIM: Recent studies associate thyroid cancer with oxidative stress. We aim to clarify the relation between papillary thyroid cancer, oxidative stress, hemoxygenase-1, prolidase enzymes and investigate the availability of these enzymes as markers for diagnosis, success of treatment, and follow-up. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma and 25 healthy control subjects were included in this study. Hemoxygenase-1, prolidase (oxidant stress indicator), malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, and superoxide dismutase (an indicator of antioxidant defense system) were measured pre-operatively and 30 days after thyroidectomy. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in serum levels of malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase (p <0.001 for both) after thyroidectomy in papillary thyroid carcinoma group. In addition, there was a significant difference in the postoperative serum levels of prolidase, malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, and superoxide dismutase between papillary thyroid carcinoma and control groups (p =0.024, p <0.001, p =0.002, and p =0.016, respectively) beside significant difference of malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, hemoxygenase-1, and superoxide dismutase pre-operative serum levels (p <0.001, p =0.003, p =0.006, and p =0.025, respectively). CONCLUSION: When the unquestionable role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of cancer is considered, in the future it is expected to associate parametric changes in the serum of patients caused by oxidative stress to papillary thyroid cancer. Hippokratia 2016, 20(1): 55-59.

The importance of hemosiderin deposition in the infant brain: an autopsy study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Iron is an essential element involved in many metabolic processes. Presence and accumulation of iron in various body systems can result in different outcomes. Its accumulation in the central nervous system (CNS) cannot be detected routinely by application of hematoxylin-eosin staining. Detection of the presence of hemosiderin in the brain and cerebellum by application of Perls' dye is of importance in cases of infant deaths. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, brain and cerebellar specimens obtained from 52 eligible infants  (aged 0-1 years) autopsied in our institute between the years 2010 and 2013, independent of the cause of death, were analyzed in order to detect possible presence of hemosiderin. Perls' dye was used to detect histopathological staining intensity and distribution of hemosiderin in the brain and cerebellum. RESULTS: Cases did not differ significantly as for the patients' age and gender (p =0.473), type of the culprit trauma (p =0.414), death/crime scene (p =0.587), and diagnosis groups (p =0.550). In this autopsy study blue colored hemosiderin granulations, stained with Perls' dye were detected in the brain (n: 39, 75%), and cerebellum (n: 35, 67.3%). A weakly negative, but significant correlation was detected between the postmortem interval and intensity values of cerebellar hemosiderin (Spearman's correlation coefficient: -0.381, p =0.024). A statistically significant difference was found between the distribution scores of cerebral hemosiderin in cases with and without trauma history (p =0.03). Median cerebral hemosiderin distribution scores were 2.5 and 2, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The detection of a correlation between the presence of cerebral and cerebellar hemosiderin, and postmortem interval in the age group of 0-1 years, should be interpreted as an important finding in the analysis of cerebral iron. The presence of hemosiderin in the CNS may be a significant finding in the elucidation of infant deaths and this procedure should be carried out on a routine basis.Hippokratia 2015; 19 (2):164-171.

Evaluation of potential salivary acetaldehyde production from ethanol in oral cancer patients and healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND: Acetaldehyde has been implicated as a major factor in oral carcinogenesis associated with alcohol consumption. In this study, saliva samples from oral cancer patients and healthy individuals were incubated in vitro with ethanol in order to investigate factors which can influence salivary acetaldehyde production. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 66 individuals (40 males and 26 females, mean age 52 years) participated in the study. Participants were classified into three groups: Group 1 (oral cancer patients [n = 20]); Group 2 (poor dental health status [n = 25]) and Group 3 (good dental health status [n=21]). Every patient chewed a 1g piece of paraffin chewing gum for 1 minute then saliva samples were collected from all individuals. After in vitro incubation of the samples with ethanol, the levels of salivary acetaldehyde production was measured by head space gas chromatography. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests and Spearman's Correlations analysis were performed for statistical analyses. RESULTS: The salivary acetaldehyde production was significantly higher (p <0.0001) in both group 1 and group 2 when compared to group 3. However, there was no significant difference between group 1 and group 2. Poor dental health status, infrequent oral hygiene habits and dental visits, smoking and presence of a dental prosthesis were significant parameters for increased levels of salivary acetaldehyde production from alcohol. The evaluation of salivary acetaldehyde production after in vitro incubation with ethanol may be useful for early detection of oral cancer. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, the significantly higher levels of salivary acetaldehyde production in oral cancer patients and individuals with poor dental health status may suggest a possible link between increased salivary acetaldehyde production and oral cancer. Improved oral hygiene can effectively decrease the level of salivary acetaldehyde production in oral cavity. Hippokratia 2014; 18 (3): 269-274.

Death due to peripheral vascular injury following blunt trauma.

UNLABELLED: According to the document of death, 34-year-old forester sustained a crush injury to his lower extremity and pelvis as was pinned between the wood log and ground. During autopsy intramuscular bleeding was observed in the left pelvic region the left femoral region femur was detected intact there was no fracture, but there was observed a traumatic transection of the common femoral artery and vein, which was accompanied with massive bleeding in the surrounding soft tissues and muscles. We presented rare case of traumatic transection of the common femoral artery and vein in a patient without an femoral fracture caused by blunt trauma. KEYWORDS: blunt trauma - peripheral vascular injury - autopsy.

Sudden death due to a rare brain tumor: an autopsy case.

UNLABELLED: Sudden death in persons with intracranial neoplasms is a rare mechanism of death detected in the forensic autopsies. 10 years-old girl was brought to a local clinic death shortly after analgesic therapy for headache. Autopsy findings showed a large, solid cerebellar mass. Histological diagnosis was pilomyxoid astrocytoma, low-grade tumor with features alike to pilocytic astrocytomas. In this case report we present and discuss rare autopsy case of pilomyxoid astrocytoma from medicolegal point of view. KEYWORDS: sudden death - brain - pilomyxoid astrocytoma - autopsy.

Cranial injury caused by penetrating non-missile foreign body: an autopsy case.

UNLABELLED: Presented case was 32-year-old male marble worker, who underwent industrial accident at workplace. On gross physical examination; on forehead region round skin wound in 0.9 cm diameter was detected, radiological examination showed the image of metallic object. in the skull cavity. Brain dissection showed obvious brain injury, haemorrahge explaining the pattern of injury caused by the metallic bodys path, from left frontal lobe to the left cerebellar hemisphere was identified. We presented rare case of penetrating injury of the cranial region caused by non-missile foreign body. KEYWORDS: cranial injury - non-missile foreign body - autopsy.

Unusual head and neck injury in elevator: autopsy study.

Industrial injuries related to auto-load-carrying vehicles were not frequently reported in the literature. Presented case was, 31-year-old male furniture worker. Deceased was found in awkward position in furniture workshop. Victim was observed on his knees in front of the elevator, head and neck lodged within openings of the elevator, and head and neck structures compressed-guillotined by the lower platform of the elevator were detected. We presented rare case of head and neck compression by elevator. Key words: head - neck - accidents - elevator - autopsy.

Age-related histopathological changes in the cardiac conducting system in the Turkish population: an evaluation of 202 autopsy cases.

BACKGROUND: Histopathological features of the cardiac conducting system (CCS) in the Turkish population have not been investigated previously. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined CCS of 202 autopsy heart specimens dissected between the years 2004 and 2005 in Bursa Forensic Medicine Institution. Of the 202 cases from all age groups, 154 were males and 48 were females. RESULTS: In our cases, an increase in fibrous and adipose tissue concordant with age, indicating an age-related nature, were detected. Fibrous and fatty tissue infiltration appeared at the age of 35. Fatty infiltration started between the ages 20 and 34 years at the sinoatrial node (SAN). There was no relationship between obesity and fatty tissue infiltration in SAN and atrioventricular node (AVN). In 4 cases calcification and in 19 cases inflammation was observed. Amyloid accumulation was not present. In 7 cases myocardial infarction not involving CCS was seen. In 1 case fibroelastoma was detected. CONCLUSIONS: In the Turkish population age-related fibrosis and fatty infiltration in CCS appeared at the age of 35 years and increased with age. Fatty infiltration in the SAN started at a younger age than that reported in the literature. In cases where the cause of death could not be determined, we could not detect lethal pathological features. However, we think that examination of the CCS will improve the quality of autopsy diagnosis.

Distribution of HLA antigens in breast cancer.

Investigation of various tumor-specific markers has a critical role in early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. The aim of the this study is to investigate the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) alleles, the molecules that play an important role in immunity and tumor response of the body, and its relationship with breast cancer. In this prospective clinical study, after obtaining approval from the ethics committee of Istanbul University Experimental Medical Research Institute, 22 female patients who have been hospitalized in Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine the Department of General Surgery with a diagnosis of breast cancer were selected. In the control group, there were 22 healthy women who had no relationship and were donor candidates for renal transplantation. After collecting blood in 5 ml tubes with EDTA, HLA A, B and DR groups were measured with SSP method using the GenoVision Olerup SSP (Olerup SSP, Stockholm, Sweden) kit in Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine Blood Center Tissue Type Determination Laboratory. In patient and control group, totally 53 alleles; 17 alleles of HLA-A gene, 22 alleles of B gene, 14 alleles of DR gene were detected. A statistically significant relationship was determined between HLA-B55:01 and HLA-DRb1*18:01 alleles and the development of breast cancer (p<0.05). HLA-B13:01 antigen is determined only in the control group. It was concluded that HLA-B13:01 antigen, determined only in the control group, may be protective for breast cancer and HLA-B55:01 and HLA-DRb1*18:01 antigens, determined only in the patient group, may be a risk factor for breast cancer (Tab. 5, Ref. 22).

Spectroscopic reflectometry of mirror surfaces during plasma exposure.

An in situ spectroscopic reflectometry system has been built to investigate the evolution of the specular reflectivity spectrum of ITER first mirror samples during plasma exposure. Results are presented for three different types of molybdenum mirror samples that were exposed to deuterium plasma, including single crystalline, nanocrystalline, and polycrystalline molybdenum. The results show good agreement with ex situ measurements of the reflectivity spectrum before and after exposure and extend the results obtained in previous experiments.

Morphometric features of the thyroid gland: a cadaveric study of Turkish people.

BACKGROUND: Although racial and ethnic variations in the morphology of anatomical structures are defined well, the size, shape, and weight of the thyroid gland have not previously been reported in Turkish people. This study provides data about the morphometric features of the thyroid gland, thyroid lobes, and pyramidal lobe, and highlights some anatomical variations in people from the Marmara region in Turkey. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The material for the present study consisted of thyroid glands obtained from 75 male and 15 female adult cadavers aged between 18 and 80 years. A dissection was carried out and the thyroid glands were exposed. The glands were weighed and measured according to the various age groups of the patients. RESULTS: A pyramidal lobe was found to be present in 57.8% of the cadavers (52/90). During midline dissection of the neck 2 males out of 90 cadavers, giving an incidence of 2.22%, did not show an isthmus. The mean thyroid weight was 26.11 ± 8.14 g. In males it was 26.93 ± 7.96 g while in females it was 21.93 ± 7.98 g. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first reported morphometric study on cadaveric thyroid glands from Turkey and it highlights individual and ethnic/racial variations. In order to perform safe and effective surgery and for the accurate diagnosis of thyroid disorders, knowledge of normal anatomy and the variations of the thyroid gland are essential.

Black esophagus: a rare autopsy case.

The black esophagus is a rare entity of an acute esophageal necrosis described at endoscopy and typical histological properties of a diffuse mucosal necrosis. The presented case was a 17-year-old girl; admitted to the hospital with an abdominal distantion and vomiting, who died soon after admittance. The case was investigated by local prosecutor, as the cause of the death was unknown; a forensic autopsy was mandated and later performed in our department. During autopsy on macroscopic examination an acute esophageal necrosis with black colored esophageal mucosa was detected. In this case report, we aimed to explain the autopsy findings, clinical presentation, histological appearance, risk factors and pathogenesis of the disease from the medico legal point of view (Tab. 1, Fig. 1, Ref. 5).

Allergic myocardial infarction due to hydatid cyst: an autopsy case.

Hydatid disease is a parasitic tapeworm infestation. Anaphylactic reactions as a result of cyst perforation generally occur after trauma during a spread of cystic fluid in the intravascular space, which may also initiate anaphylaxis. The reported case was a 17-year-old boy who was admitted to the hospital emergency department with a sudden onset of nausea, vomiting and fainting, resulting in death. The cause of his sudden death was unknown. Autopsy macroscopically revealed hydatid cysts in the liver. In the histopathological examination, hydatid cyst was recognized by scolices and also an inflammatory infiltration composed mainly of mast cells in the myocardium was detected. Sudden death in this case was attributed to allergic myocardial infarction due to intravascular spread of the hydatid cyst content (Fig. 2, Ref. 10).

An analysis of carbon monoxide poisoning cases in Bursa, Turkey.

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning from coal and gas heaters is a public health concern in Turkey. This study estimated the prevalence, mortality rate and clinical predictors of severity of CO poisoning cases treated at the emergency unit of the Uludag University Medical School, Bursa from 1996 to 2006. Of 305 patients treated over a 10-year period, only 1 case was recorded as suicide. The CO source was a coal heater in 85.9% of cases. Mean Glasgow coma score (GCS) on admission was 12.8 (SD 0.2) and mean carboxyhaemoglobin level was 21.6% (SD 0.92%). There were statistically significant associations between higher GCS score, older age and higher HbCO level. Better education of the public is vital for the prevention of these injuries.

An analysis of carbon monoxide poisoning cases in Bursa, Turkey

Carbon monoxide [CO] poisoning from coal and gas heaters is a public health concern in Turkey. This study estimated the prevalence, mortality rate and clinical predictors of severity of CO poisoning cases treated at the emergency unit of the Uludag University Medical School, Bursa from 1996 to 2006. Of 305 patients treated over a 10-year period, only 1 case was recorded as suicide. The CO source was a coal heater in 85.9% of cases. Mean Glasgow coma score [GCS] on admission was 12.8 [SD 0.2] and mean carboxyhaemoglobin level was 21.6% [SD 0.92%]. There were statistically significant associations between higher GCS score, older age and higher HbCO level. Better education of the public is vital for the prevention of these injuries

Blast injury: lessons learned from an autopsy.

Blast injury is becoming more common in the non-military population but it is still rare to see such injuries and deaths unrelated to terrorist acts. The exact mechanisms involved in blast injuries are unclear. Civilian physicians and surgeons need to have a basic understanding of the patho-mechanics and physiological effects of blast injuries. We report a case where a 31-year-old male accidentally detonated a diesel storage tank. His autopsy findings provide useful information for those who investigate explosive-related deaths.