Chronic appendicitis: the process from pre-diagnosis to pathology.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic appendicitis (CA) is a rare medical condition. CA is characterized by a less severe and almost continuous abdominal pain. It has a clinical picture lasting longer than 1-2 days and extending over weeks, months, even years. The exact etiology of CA is unclear. Certain resources have reported it as the cause of partial obstruction in the lumen of the appendix. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our study was carried out with the approval of the Clinical Research Ethics Committee. A retrospective analysis was performed between August 2018 and March 2020. RESULTS: It was determined that 207 appendectomies were performed during the retrospective scan period. The data of 182 of these patients could be accessed fully and we could get answers to the criteria we thought. Only 8 of the patients screened were likely to be diagnosed with chronic appendicitis in the preoperative period. CA was found in 1 of the 8 patients (12.5%) who underwent surgery after a preliminary diagnosis of CA. Two patients were reported as malignant (25%), 3 patients (37.5%) as reactive lymphoid hyperplasia, and 1 patient as peri appendicitis (12.5%). Bleeding and congestion were reported in the last patient (12.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of chronic appendicitis is made by pathological examination. It may not always be possible to consider "chronic appendicitis" as a preliminary diagnosis. This should still be kept in mind. In our opinion, it is a bit difficult to make a preliminary diagnosis of chronic appendicitis and make a surgical decision. We believe that controlled and prospective studies can shed more light on chronic appendicitis.

Investigation of the relationship between serum hormones and pilonidal sinus disease: a cross-sectional study.

AIM: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine whether pilonidal sinus is influenced by hormones that stimulate body hair growth. Currently, there are insufficient data on the presence of hormonal abnormalities in pilonidal sinus disease. METHOD: Hormone levels (including those of thyroid-stimulating hormone, follicular-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, progesterone, oestradiol, testosterone, cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone) were measured in 39 patients with pilonodal sinus presenting between February 2013 and March 2013. The results were compared with those of 39 volunteers without this disease. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between men with pilonidal sinus disease (P > 0.05). The prolactin levels of women with pilonoidal sinus were significantly higher than those of women in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Raised serum prolactin levels in women may be related to the development of pilonidal sinus disease.

The effects of different prosthetic materials on the formation of collagen types in incisional hernia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the rate of collagen Type I/Type III for different meshes. METHOD: Fifty rats were used. Five groups were formed: prolene (n = 10), mersilene (n = 10), parietex (n = 10), e PTFE (n = 10) and control group (n = 10). In all animals, laparotomy was performed using a midline incision. After that four different kinds of meshes are placed into the retro-rectus plane and fixed with a non-absorbable suture. Rectus superficial fascia and skin are closed. In the control group, repairment is done primarily. Thirty days later, meshes are found through the incisions that were done previously. Scar tissues above and near by meshes and also in the control group are taken, and in these tissue samples, the ratio of Type I/III is evaluated histochemically. RESULTS: The Prolene mesh was found to contain more collagen fibers than e PTFE. As a result of the histopathologic evaluation, it was seen that Group I contained statistically significantly more collagen density than the other four groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, the collagen Type I/III ratio in the specimen taken from the top part and the surrounding area of Group I was found significantly higher than the collagen Type I/III ratios of the rest of the groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: As a conclusion, the ratio of collagen Type I/III is the highest in the prolene group.