Association between hyponatremia, inflammation, and mortality in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis: A nationwide observations.

INTRODUCTION: Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disorder often present in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the effect of hyponatremia on mortality in patients undergoing PD. METHODS: The health records of adult individuals with an inserted PD catheter identified via the centralized national e-health database were used. RESULTS: The mean age of the 846 patients included in the study was 52.48 years (±14.6). The mean sodium level was 136.51 mEq/L. Sodium levels <137 mEq/L were associated with higher death risk independent of comorbidities. There was a 0.821 times less reduction in mortality for each mEq /L increase in serum sodium. CONCLUSION: Our study provides evidence that monitoring and adjusting serum sodium levels is crucial in managing PD patients with hyponatremia, as low serum sodium level was found to be a significant and independent predictor of mortality.

Efficacy of Dentaq® Oral and ENT Health Probiotic Complex on Clinical Parameters of Gingivitis in Patients Undergoing Fixed Orthodontic Treatment: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVES: Probiotics act as a unique approach to maintaining oral health by supplementing the endogenous oral bacteria with additional naturally occurring beneficial microbes to provide defense against pathogens harmful to teeth and gingiva. The aim of this pilot study was to clinically evaluate the effects of probiotics on plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation in subjects with fixed orthodontics. METHODS: The pilot study was comprised of 15 healthy patients, aged 11 to 18 years, undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment. Patients used an all-natural, dissolving lozenge containing six proprietary probiotic strains (Dentaq® Oral and ENT Health Probiotic Complex)for 28 days. Gingival Index (GI) according to Löe-Silness and Plaque Index (PI) according to Quigley-Hein for all teeth were measured at baseline (Day Zero) and at the end of the probiotic regimen (Day 28). RESULTS: The mean baseline GI and PI scores within each patient decreased by 28.4% and 35.8%, respectively, by Day 28. Patients reported decreased tooth and gingival pain, decreased oral bleeding, and increased motivation to maintain proper oral hygiene over the course of the study. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study provided preliminary support for the use of Dentaq Oral and ENT Health Probiotic Complex as a safe and effective natural health product for the reduction of plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation. The results demonstrate its potential therapeutic value and open the door for larger scale placebo-controlled clinical studies to verify these findings.

Increasing diagnosis of thyroid papillary carcinoma follicular variant in south-east Anatolian region: comparison of characteristics of classical papillary and follicular variant thyroid cancers.

We aimed to compare ratios of thyroid cancers diagnosed in our regional reference hospital Pathology Center in Sanliurfa city located in southeast Anatolia, and evaluate the characteristics related with follicular variant papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC). We re-evaluated the specimens of last 5 years thyroidectomies by same five pathologists, by same criteria and immunohistochemical evaluation. Chi-square test was used to compare characteristics of classical pure papillary thyroid carcinomas and FVPTC groups. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to evaluate the factors related with presence of FVPTC. Among 400 thyroidectomies, there were 105 papillary thyroid carcinoma, 42 of them with pure PTC, and 56 with FVPC, also seven with other variants. There was increase in ratios of FVPTC/PTC between 2010 and 2011 (68.4 vs 76.7%, p < 0.005). Radius, vascular invasion, and extrathyroidal invasion showed statistically significant difference between pure PTC and FVPTC. In regression analysis radius (p = 0.001, OR = 2.611; 95%CI, 2.010-3.391), age (p = 0.018, OR = 0.959; 95%CI, 0.927-0.993), and multicentricity (p = 0.044, OR = 0.403; 95%CI, 0.167-0.975) were related with presence of FVPTC. Besides, further need for studies to understand whether total prevalence of FVPTC is higher in this region, and the related factors, our study showed that the ratio of FVPTC/PTC is higher in our reference hospital. Age of the patients and the radius and multicentricity of the nodules could be alarming factors for us to suspect for FVPTC.

Use of resterilized polypropylene mesh in inguinal hernia repair: a prospective, randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Inguinal hernia repair consumes considerable health-care resources worldwide. Open mesh repairs are commonly used and the feasibility of using a resterilized mesh, which is a general practice in certain countries, has not been evaluated. STUDY DESIGN: In this randomized prospective study, original and resterilized meshes were used in two groups of patients with unilateral inguinal hernia. Microbiologic changes, textile mechanical properties, overall complication rates, and cost-effectiveness of resterilized mesh were investigated. A time period of 3 years was determined for patient enrollment to this pilot feasibility study, with the goal of 100 patients in each group. RESULTS: Ninety-one patients were enrolled in the original group and 93 in the resterilized mesh group. Median followup was 735 and 739 days and calculated interquartile ranges were 454 and 513 days, respectively. Average tensile strength of the original polypropylene mesh changed slightly with resterilization, as maximum load decreased from a mean of 66.6 to 58.2 N/cm. Overall complication rates were similar in the two groups. The 6.6% infection rate in the original mesh group was not statistically different from the 7.5% rate in the resterilized group (p = 0.80, relative risk = 0.88, 95% confidence interval, 0.31-2.51). There was only one recurrence in the original mesh group in the 21st month. Use of a resterilized mesh decreased the overall cost of operation by decreasing the cost of mesh from 15.9% to 8.3% of the total amount. CONCLUSIONS: Use of a resterilized mesh for inguinal hernia repair is feasible without considerable changes in infection and recurrence rates.