The Effects of Cervical Mobilization with Clinical Pilates Exercises on Pain, Muscle Stiffness and Head and Neck Blood Flow in Cervicogenic Headache: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background and Objectives: Physiotherapy approaches are used to eliminate the problems caused by cervicogenic headache (CHA), known as secondary headache associated with the structures of the upper cervical region. This study aimed to investigate the effects of cervical mobilization (CM) with clinical Pilates exercises (CPE) on pain, muscle stiffness and head-neck blood flow in CGH. Materials and Methods: A total of 25 patients participated in this randomized controlled study and were randomized into either the CM group or the CM+CPE group. All treatment methods were applied 3 days a week for 6 weeks. The outcome measure was headache intensity and frequency, the number of analgesics, muscle stiffness and vertebral artery (VA) and internal carotid artery (ICA) blood flow. Headache intensity was measured by a visual analogue scale, muscle stiffness by a myotonometer and blood flow by Doppler US. Evaluations were repeated after 6 weeks of treatment. Within-group comparisons were made by the Wilcoxon signed rank test, and between-group comparisons were made by the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: After treatments in the two groups, headache intensity and frequency and the number of analgesics decreased, the muscle stiffness of the suboccipital, upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscles decreased, and the blood flow of the ICA and VA increased (p < 0.05). There was a significant difference between the groups in terms of headache intensity (p = 0.025) and muscle stiffness in SKM (p = 0.044) in favor of the CM+CPE group. Conclusions: Non-pharmacological treatment approaches have an important role in CHA related to the upper cervical region. This study suggests that it would be beneficial to add CM in combination with CPE to the non-pharmacological treatment of patients with CHA.

Evaluation of Vascular Structures of Living Donor Kidneys by Multislice Computed Tomography Angiography before Transplant Surgery: Is Arterial Phase Sufficient for Determination of Both Arteries and Veins?

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to determine the efficacy of preoperative early arterial Computed tomography angiography (CTA) in donor nephrectomy, to assess the renal arterial and venous structures of donor kidneys. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy living donor candidates were included to this study, who had CTA for the assessment of their renal vessels in our hospital between January 2011 and January 2015. Only early arterial phase images were obtained to avoid exposing the patients from high dose of radiation. Scans were reported by two radiologists independently. The number of renal arteries, veins and their tributaries were documented. The donor kidneys were removed by two consultant surgeons, and after back-table perfusion the same details were recorded and taken as the reference findings for the operation side. RESULTS: A total of 70 potential live kidney donors underwent renal CTA, among them fifty five patients had donor nephrectomy. A total of 140 kidneys were evaluated by CTA and the vessels of 55 harvested kidneys were compared with CTA findings. There were 40 kidneys that had at least one accessory or polar artery. There were 5 early branching renal arteries, two retroaortic and two circumaortic renal veins. Three kidneys had multiple renal veins. Operation findings were totally consistent with CTA findings in patients who underwent donor nephrectomy. CONCLUSION: Arterial phase CTA is sufficient for evaluation of both arterial and venous vessels of kidneys, and precontrast, venous or late phase imaging should be preserved only for chosen circumstances to avoid high radiation exposure.

Ectopic appendix vermiformis located in the right deep gluteal region due to unilateral piriformis agenesis.

Incidental CT findings of a 67 years old female patient that had right piriformis agenesis and migration of appendix vermiformis to the right deep gluteal region is presented. To our knowledge this is the first case that the appendix has such ectopic location. Consideration of such variation would be beneficial to avoid possible complications, especially for surgeons who deal with gluteal region.

Tegmento-vermian dysplasia: radiologic features of a novel described anatomic variation.

Here we present the incidental radiological findings of a case that has a huge pontine tegmental cap orienting posteriorly towards the fourth ventricle and continues with the inferior vermis, accompanied by a midline anterior midbrain cleft. Having knowledge about this variation will prevent a misdiagnosis of a posterior fossa tumor and eventual unnecessary biopsy or operation.

Giant multicystic malignant pheochromocytoma.

Pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor originating from the embryonic neural crest and secreting high levels of catecholamines. The average tumor size is approximately 7 cm, and the average weight is approximately 200 g in the previous publications. Sometimes these tumors may be bigger. In this report, a case of multicystic malignant pheochromocytoma with a huge size is presented, which is seldom reported in the past. A 37-year-old male patient was referred to our hospital for etiological investigation of his recently diagnosed hypertension. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) examination was performed for further evaluation of the lesion and surrounding tissues. The lesion was 18×8×13 cm in size. It had lobulated margins, large cystic components, and peripheral and septal contrast enhancement. The levels of metanephrine, normetanephrine, adrenaline, noradrenaline, vanilmandelic acid, and dopamine were significantly elevated. The patient was prepared for surgery. In the pathological evaluation, the mass weighed 1018 g and was 18×8×13 cm in size. He was diagnosed with malignant pheochromocytoma. After eight months, a CT examination showed a recurrent mass, liver metastasis, and distant metastasis. The patient received chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Multicystic malignant pheochromocytoma may reach huge sizes without causing any symptoms.

An unusual course of aortic arch through an accessory fissure of left upper lobe of the lung: extramediastinal aortic arch.

In this case report, we present an unexpected, extramediastinal course of aortic arch through an accessory fissure of left upper lobe of the lung in a 19-year-old healthy man.

The Reasons of Renal Transplant Recipients' Admission to the Emergency Department; a Case Series Study.

INTRODUCTION: Renal transplantation are admitted to emergency department (ED) more than normal population. The present brief report aimed to determine the reasons of renal transplant patients' ED visits. METHODS: This retrospective case series study analyzed the reasons of renal transplant recipients' admission to one ED between 2011 and 2014. The patient data were collected via a checklist and presented using descriptive statistics tools. RESULTS: 41 patients with the mean age of 40.63 ± 10.95 years were studied (60.9% male). The most common ED presenting complaints were fever (36.6%) and abdominal pain (26.8%). Infections were the most common final diagnosis (68.3%). Among non-infectious causes, the most common was acute renal failure (9.7 %). 73.2% of the patients were hospitalized and no cases of graft loss and mortality were seen. CONCLUSION: The most common reason for ED admission was fever, and infections were the most common diagnosis. Acute gastroenteritis being the most frequent infection and among non-infectious problems, acute renal failure was the most frequent one.

Comparison of Wiltse and classical methods in surgery of lumbar spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis.

AIM: Minimally invasive approaches to posterior lumbar surgery are available today that can enhance patient comfort by greatly reducing tissue damage and offer better clinical results. However, such methods have not yet gained widespread popularity despite their significant advantages. This study compares the Wiltse method and the classical method of lumbar surgery based a cohort, clinical study of 57 patients. The patients all had degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis and/or spondylolisthesis and had developed multifidus muscular atrophy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 57 patients admitted to our clinic between April 2012 and September 2013 with a diagnosis of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis and/or spondylolisthesis. These were treated with the classic posterior approach (n=26) or the Wiltse method (n=31). FINDINGS: In the classical method group, the ratio of female to male patients was 20/6 and the mean age was 58.19±10.17 years. A comparison of preoperative and postoperative multifidus muscle cross-sectional measurements (average of right and left) revealed a 36.09% atrophy level in the classical method group and a 26.34% atrophy level in the Wiltse group (p<0.01). However, atrophy development was 18.82% higher in the classical method group (p<0.05) relative to the Wiltse group. CONCLUSION: The Wiltse method is less invasive and causes less tissue damage. It reduces the change of hemorrhage and multifidus muscles and offers a shorter duration of hospitalization with less pain.