Fetal nasal bone length during the second trimester of pregnancy in a Turkish population.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the distribution of fetal nasal bone length (NBL) according to gestational age during the second trimester of pregnancy in a Turkish population. STUDY DESIGN: Fetal NBL and other routine biometric measurements were evaluated retrospectively in 2327 fetuses between 15 and 24 weeks of gestation. The measurements were obtained via transabdominal ultrasound. The distribution of fetal NBL between 15 and 24 weeks of gestation was established, and percentiles were calculated. Relationships between fetal NBL and other parameters were assessed using regression analysis. RESULTS: Mean (±standard deviation) fetal NBL ranged from 2.95±0.52 at 15 weeks of gestation to 6.26±0.77mm at 24 weeks of gestation. The fifth percentile for fetal NBL was 2.1mm at 15 weeks of gestation and 5.0mm at 24 weeks of gestation. A significant positive correlation was noted between fetal NBL and gestational age (NBL=gestational age×0.37-2.55; R(2)=0.59; p<0.01) and between fetal NBL and biparietal diameter (BPD) (NBL=BPD×0.11-0.33; R(2)=0.61; p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Fetal NBL is less in Turkish subjects compared with non-Turkish subjects.

A study of depression and anxiety among doctors working in emergency units in Denizli, Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Major work has been carried out on the psychological well-being of emergency room doctors in the US, Canada and in other developed countries, but little has been published regarding the same in the countries in economic transition. OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of, and the factors related to, depression and anxiety among doctors working in emergency units in Denizli, Turkey. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2004, using a sample of 192 doctors employed in emergency units in Pamukkale University Hospital, the City Hospital, the Social Security Hospital, private hospitals, citywide primary healthcare centres and 112 emergency services in Denizli, Turkey. Data were obtained using a self-administered questionnaire, including questions on sociodemographic characteristics and two instruments determining the level of depressive symptoms and anxiety. Logistic regression was the method chosen for multivariate statistical analysis. RESULTS: The mean (standard deviation (SD)) depression score was 10.6 (6.5) and the frequency (%) of depression was 29 (15.1). Not having any hobby and having high anxiety scores were salient factors among doctors experiencing depressive symptomatology in bivariate comparisons. Logistic regression analysis showed that not having any hobby (p = 0.07) and having increased anxiety scores (p<0.001) were positive contributors to depression scores. The mean (SD) anxiety score was 8.7 (8.2) and the frequency (%) of anxiety was 28 (14.6). Being a woman, having a low monthly income and having high depression scores contributed considerably to the anxiety of doctors in bivariate comparisons. Low monthly income (<1000 v 1000-2000 YTL) (p = 0.03), the number of years spent in emergency units (p = 0.03) and having high depression scores (p<0.001) were the factors that contributed significantly to the anxiety of doctors in the multivariate regression analysis. CONCLUSION: The considerable amount of depression and anxiety found among doctors in this study should trigger further work. Studies using more powerful designs would help to illuminate the factors leading to depression and anxiety, which result in attrition among doctors from emergency units.

Can mucosal sealing reduce tonsillectomy pain?

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: The hypothesis tests whether sealing the tonsillectomy field with posterior pillar mucosa can prevent unwanted outcomes in pediatric tonsillectomy. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, single blinded study was conducted on a sample of 39 children between 3 and 15 years of age. After dissection and snare tonsillectomy, the tonsillar fossa was covered on one side using the palatopharyngus mucosa and the other side is used as control. Pain scores, healing, edema and infection at the operation site were investigated. METHODS: The tonsillectomy sites were randomly assigned into one of two groups. First group contained the ones with mucosal flap sealed over the operation site and the second group was kept as control with the operation site left uncovered. All of the patients received mild analgesics. The pain assessment is done on Days 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 postoperatively, by using Wong-Baker faces visual analog scale. On the 10th postoperative day, the operation field of each side is scored separately for edema, healing and infection. Statistical investigation was performed through a software program. RESULTS: On first postoperative day, pain level difference was not statistically significant between the two groups (p>0.01). But from 3rd to 10th postoperative day, the pain level was found out to be lower in the mucosa sealed site (p<0.01). On the 10th postoperative day, while the edema was significantly more (p<0.01), healing was better (p<0.01) at the sutured site. Postoperative infection at operation site was not different between the groups (p>0.01). CONCLUSION: Covering tonsillectomy field with mucosal palatopharyngeal arch flap significantly reduces pain after third postoperative day. The flap side had better healing when compared to denuded site. But the sutures in the mucosal flap may cause more tissue edema. Sutures have no significant effect on postoperative infection. Thus, mucosal flap may be used as an adjuvant surgical technique to decrease tonsillectomy pain of children in addition to the analgesic medication.

High-grade and low-grade gliomas: differentiation by using perfusion MR imaging.

AIM: Relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) is a commonly used perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique for the evaluation of tumour grade. Relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF) has been less studied. The goal of our study was to determine the usefulness of these parameters in evaluating the histopathological grade of the cerebral gliomas. METHODS: This study involved 33 patients (22 high-grade and 11 low-grade glioma cases). MRI was performed for all tumours by using a first-passage gadopentetate dimeglumine T2*-weighted gradient-echo single-shot echo-planar sequence followed by conventional MRI. The rCBV and rCBF were calculated by deconvolution of an arterial input function. The rCBV and rCBF ratios of the lesions were obtained by dividing the values obtained from the normal white matter of the contralateral hemisphere. For statistical analysis Mann-Whitney testing was carried out. A p value of less than 0.05 indicated a statistically significant difference. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was performed to assess the relationship between the rCBV and rCBF ratios and grade of gliomas. Their cut-off value permitting discrimination was calculated. The correlation between rCBV and CBF ratios and glioma grade was assessed using Pearson correlation analysis. RESULTS: In high-grade gliomas, rCBV and rCBF ratios were measured as 6.50+/-4.29 and 3.32+/-1.87 (mean+/-SD), respectively. In low-grade gliomas, rCBV and rCBF ratios were 1.69+/-0.51 and 1.16+/-0.38, respectively. The rCBV and rCBF ratios for high-grade gliomas were statistically different from those of low-grade gliomas (p < 0.001). The rCBV and CBF ratios were significantly matched with respect to grade, but difference between the two areas was not significant (ROC analysis, p > 0.05). The cut-off value was taken as 1.98 in the rCBV ratio and 1.25 in the rCBF ratio. There was a strong correlation between the rCBV and CBF ratios (Pearson correlation = 0.830, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Perfusion MRI is useful in the preoperative assessment of the histopathologicalal grade of gliomas; the rCBF ratio in addition to the rCBV ratio can be incorporated in MR perfusion analysis for the evaluation.

Comparison of suture and nasal packing in rabbit noses.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The study aimed to detect the changes in adult rabbit nasal septal tissues after application of nasal pack or trans-septal suture as performed during septoplasty. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized double-blind animal study. METHODS: Thirty-three adult albino Vienna rabbits were assigned into the following groups: control, suture, and nasal pack. The mucoperichondrium at one side of the nasal septum was elevated and then put into place again over the cartilage and fixed with either a nasal pack or an absorbable trans-septal suture. The nasal packs were removed 48 hours after insertion. Rabbits were killed 6 weeks after the procedure. The nasal septa were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and examined by means of light microscopy for mucosal changes (inflammation or damage) and for thicknesses of the mucosa, the perichondrium, and the cartilage. RESULTS: Both intranasal packs and sutures caused significant mucosal inflammation and damage when compared with the control group (chi test, P <.05). The mucosal thickness did not change, but the perichondrial thickness for both the nasal pack group and the suture group increased (Mann-Whitney U test, P <.05). Also, the septal cartilage thickness was not significantly different between the suture and the nasal pack groups, but the suture group had a thinner septal cartilage than the control group (Mann-Whitney U test, P <.05). CONCLUSION: The septal suture is an efficient and useful method for clinching the septal flaps over the septal cartilage. In addition, it has nearly the same effects as nasal packs on the histological appearance of the nasal septum and does not cause discomfort for the patient. The septal suture can be a preferred alternative to intranasal packing.

A mild case of frontonasal dysplasia: the rhinologic perspective.

Frontonasal dysplasia (FND) is a congenital malformation characterized by hypertelorism, broad nasion with a midline cleft in the bony dorsum, midline defect of the frontal bone, absence of the nasal tip, and deformities in the nasal alar region. The clinician should be aware of the mild forms of FND. We presented absence of crista galli in a mild case of FND. Computed tomography scanning should assess the facial bones, nose, and paranasal structures. If a surgical correction is planned, this complete work-up prevents unexpected complications and complements the evaluation of paranasal deformities.

Endoscopic removal of esthesioneuroblastoma.

Esthesioneuroblastoma is a rare tumor of neural crest origin that arises in the nasal cavity. There is still no consensus on the optimal treatment for this neoplasm, and the literature contains very few accounts of endoscopic excision in these cases. We described a case report of 12-year-old girl with esthesioneuroblastoma that was confined to the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, with no orbital or intracranial extension. The tumor was removed via intranasal endoscopic approach and radiotherapy was administered postoperatively. The patient is currently being followed, and there has been no recurrence in 24 months after surgery.

Isolated sphenoid sinus adenocarcinoma: a case report.

While solitary sphenoid sinus disease is uncommon, primary isolated sphenoid sinus carcinoma is extremely rare. We describe a case of isolated sphenoid sinus adenocarcinoma in a 68-year-old man. The patient presented with a persistent headache and with diplopia secondary to complete ophthalmoplegia. Paranasal sinus tomography showed a soft-tissue mass obliterating the sphenoid sinus and infiltrating the cavernous sinuses. The histological diagnosis on endoscopic intranasal biopsy was adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent radiotherapy, and his symptoms resolved. However, multiple bone metastases developed 6 months after he was diagnosed. This report is significant in that it presents a rare condition and highlights the features of primary sphenoid sinus lesions.

The canalith repositioning maneuver in patients with benign positional vertigo.

The canalith repositioning maneuver (CRM), as defined by Epley, can be an effective treatment for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). The staff at Baskent University's Ear Nose and Throat Clinic performed CRM on 68 cases of canalithiasis in 64 BPPV patients from June 1996 to August 1997. Symptoms resolved after the first session in 49 patients (72%) and after the second session in 11 cases (16.2%). It was necessary to repeat the maneuver three times in two cases (2.9%) and four times in one patient (1.5%). Discounting three patients who were lost to follow-up, only two patients in our study did not respond to CRM treatment. There was no co-existing pathology found in all but two of the patients studied. Our experience indicates that unless there is no response to CRM or there is suspicion of an incorrect diagnosis, it is not necessary to perform diagnostic studies routinely for differentiating other neuro-otologic disorders prior to using CRM in BPPV patients diagnosed by the Dix-Hallpike test.

Mucous cyst of the nasal dorsum.

The case of a 47-year-old patient with a nasal dorsum cyst excised via external rhinoplasty is described. The lesion was diagnosed as a mucous cyst. Only ten cases of mucous cysts on the nasal dorsum have been published to date, all having developed post rhinoplasty. To our knowledge, ours is the first case that is not associated with rhinoplasty. The external rhinoplasty approach permits better exposure and complete excision of the nasal dorsum masses, and offers good esthetic results.

Association of human herpesvirus 6 with the demyelinative lesions of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.

Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a primary demyelinating disease of the central nervous system occurring almost exclusively in individuals with impaired cell-mediated immunity. The JC polyoma virus has been accepted as the etiologic agent ofPML. Using a two-step in-situ polymerase chain reaction procedure to amplify and detect genomic DNA of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV6) in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded archival brain tissues, a high frequency of infected cells was consistently detected in PML white matter both within and surrounding demyelinative lesions and HHV6 genome was found mainly within oligodendrocytes. Lesser amounts of HHV6 genome were detected in most normal, AIDS, and other neurological disease control tissues. Immunocytochemistry for HHV6 antigens showed actively infected nuclei of swollen oligodendrocytic morphology only within the demyelinative lesions of PML but not in adjacent uninvolved tissue. In addition, no HHV6 antigens were detectable in control tissues including brains of individuals with HIV-1 encephalopathy but without PML. Double immunohistochemical staining for JC virus large T antigen and HHV6 antigens demonstrated co-labeling of many swollen intralesional oligodendrocytes in the PML cases. The evidence suggests that HHV6 activation in conjunction with JC virus infection is associated with the demyelinative lesions of PML.

[Evaluation of nasolacrimal duct function in chronic paranasal sinus infections with 99mTc dacryoscintigraphy]. / Die Auswertung der Tränenwegs-Funktion bei chronischen Nasennebenhöhlen-Infektionen durch 99mTc Dakryoszintigraphie.

BACKGROUND: Paranasal sinus infections and nasolacrimal duct obstructions are commonly encountered problems. However the relationship between these two conditions is not yet clear. Trauma, surgery, tumors, and systemic diseases are among the causes of acquired nasolacrimal duct obstructions but most of the cases are idiopathic. In this study patients diagnosed with chronic paranasal sinus infection were examined with 99mTc lacrimal dacryoscintigraphy to assess their nasolacrimal duct function. METHODS: Twenty-four patients diagnosed with chronic paranasal sinus infection are included in the study. These patients were observed for at least three months awaiting surgical treatment following unsuccessful medical treatment. The control group included 16 persons admitted to the ophthalmology department without any nasolacrimal duct disease. Nasal endoscopy and paranasal sinus CT revealed normal findings. The age of the patients with chronic paranasal sinus infection and examined in regard to nasolacrimal duct function was between 15 to 17 with a mean age of 34.2 years. Fourteen patients were male and 10 patients were female. The control group included 9 male and 7 female patients between 18 to 60 years with a mean of 30.5 years. RESULTS: The dacryoscintigraphic examination of 48 nasolacrimal ducts in 24 patients with chronic paranasal sinus infection revealed 7 complete and 18 partial obstructions of the duct, and 23 normal findings. In the control group with 32 nasolacrimal ducts of 16 patients, there was no complete obstruction. Partial obstruction (10.6, 12.0, 14.7 minutes) was be observed in three cases. The statistical workup resulted in a significant difference between paranasal sinus patients and control group (x2 = 15,840 p < 0.001). The paranasal sinus CTs of the patients with paranasal sinus disease were staged using the Lund-Mackay staging system: There is no correlation between the staging score of the paranasal sinus infection and the degree of the obstruction the nasolacrimal duct. CONCLUSION: This study shows that chronic paranasal sinus disease plays an important role in the pathogenesis of nasolacrimal duct obstructions. The presence of infection has an influence on the nasolacrimal drainage system, but the distribution (staging) of the infection does not appear to correlate with the degree of nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Partial obstruction cases that may progress to complete obstruction may be detected by dacryoscintigraphy, and the treatment of chronic paranasal sinus disease may help to overcome the lacrimal drainage problems in these cases.

Tracheal reconstruction with a vascularized cartilage flap in rabbits.

The relative merits of a vascularized autogenous cartilage flap (VACF) are discussed in reconstruction of tracheal defects in rabbits. Sixteen albino Vienna rabbits were divided into two groups of eight animals each. In all rabbits, a rectangular tracheal defect was created. In the experimental group, a VACF was designed on the left auricle. This island flap was then transposed through a subcutaneous tunnel to the trachea and used to repair the defect. In the control group, tracheal defects were reconstructed with free cartilage grafts. In histologic evaluations, it was found that the reconstructed site showed a greater degree of vascularization when a VACF was used, and the gap between the trachea and flap was filled with new cartilage tissue, to a much greater extent than with the free cartilage grafts. It is concluded that use of the VACF is a relatively safe and effective procedure for repairing tracheal defects.

[Aneurysmal bone cyst of the mandible]. / Aneurysmatische Knochenzyste des Unterkiefers.

BACKGROUND: Aneurysmal bone cysts are benign lesions of bone consisting of a septated, cystic cavity filled with non-endothelium-lined, blood-filled spaces. Aneurysmal bone cysts mainly occur in children and adolescents. Only a few occur in the jaws. PATIENT: This is the report of a 9-year-old girl with an aneurysmal bone cyst in the condyle of the mandible who was admitted to the hospital with swelling in front of her right ear. Because of the location and to eliminate recurrence, complete surgical excision of the condyle was performed. DISCUSSION: Fifty-seven cases of aneurysmal bone cyst of the mandible have been reported to date. Aneurysmal bone cyst is treated by surgical excision, which ranges from enucleation and curettage to conservative resection. CONCLUSION: Simple curettage for aneurysmal bone cyst is reported to be associated with a high recurrence rate, a result of the difficulty of completely excising such a vascular lesion. We recommend complete surgical excision as the best treatment.

[Oropharyngeal anthrax]. / Oropharyngealer Milzbrand.

We report on a 46-year old man suffering from the oropharyngeal form of human anthrax. The patient presented with a sore throat and extensive swelling of the right neck, the oropharynx and especially the right tonsil. The skin of the mandibular and submandibular region showed vesicular lesions followed by ulcerations resulting in a blackish eschar. The diagnosis was verified by bacteriological culture. Thus, in cases of known exposure, in areas where anthrax is endemic or in immigrant workers coming from such areas, infection with bacillus anthracis should be included in the differential diagnosis of inflammatory oedematous lesions of the oropharynx.