Photoinduced Step-Growth Polymerization of N-Ethylcarbazole.

A novel method for photochemical step-growth synthesis of poly( N-ethylcarbazole) (PEC) via consecutive diphenyl iodonium hexafluorophospate (Ph2I+PF6-) mediated electron transfer and coupling reactions is reported. The photoinduced electron transfer reaction of the excited N-ethylcarbazole (EC) in the presence of Ph2I+PF6- as the oxidizing salt proceeded efficiently giving EC radical cations (EC+•). Subsequently, the protons released concomitantly with coupling of two EC radical cations. The successive reactions involving excitation, electron transfer, proton release, and coupling lead to the formation of PEC. The electrochemical properties and surface morphology of the thin films of the formed polymers before and after dedoping were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, and atomic force microscopy techniques, respectively.

Recurrent pilonidal disease surgery: Is it second primary or reoperative surgery?

OBJECTIVE: Pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) effects mainly young men's social and work life with frequent recurrence rate. Reoperation for unimproved or recurrent disease is somehow troublesome. Surgeons may think that changing treatment strategy after recurrence may prevent further relapses of PSD. We analyzed patients with recurrent pilonidal sinus to determine their predisposing features for recurrence and the outcomes of the preferred surgical methods. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From 2007 to 2012, out of 95 recurrent pilonidal sinus disease (rPSD) patients, 62 operated cases were included and examined retrospectively. Their retrospective data were examined for demographics, 1(st) and 2(nd) operation types, patient satisfaction and pain scores. For cases with insufficient preoperative or postoperative data, phone call and interviews were done to obtain data. Some were kindly invited to the outpatient examination. Student's t test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Kaplan Meier test for disease free survival time were used where appropriate. P values less than 0.05 were accepted to be statistically significant. RESULTS: Total of 62 rPSD patients were examined. Male:female ratio was 2.9:1. The mean age after 1(st) and 2(nd) operations were 24.7 and 28.1 years, respectively. One and five-year recurrence rates were 33.9% and 66.1%, respectively. The mean interval between the 1(st) and 2(nd) operations was 45.6 months. Excision and midline closure was the most frequent type of operation followed by flap reconstructions and excision-lay open procedures. The 1(st) operation types of rPSD cases were different from that of 2(nd) operations. Pain perception and satisfaction scores were better in flap reconstruction groups. CONCLUSION: Reoperative surgery of rPSD is satisfactory with certain precautions. Relapses after flap reconstruction procedures with a well-being period should be referred as second primary disease. Changing surgical strategy is not always indicated as some patients with recurrence have relapsing or second primary disease that have distinct clinical course. Re-flap surgery after any kind of relapse is well appreciated.

Gastric Remnant Cancer: Continuing Serious and Insidious Problem for Surgeons.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastric remnant cancers (GRC) are usually detected at a later stage resulting in low rates of curative resection and a consequently poor prognosis. The incidence and etiology of GRC have been changing recently because of early detection and improved outcomes in patients with gastric cancers. This study was performed to evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of patients with GRC. METHODOLOGY: From January 2004 and July 2014, 27 patients with GRC who underwent surgery were analyzed retrospectively. The clinicopathological and follow-up data of 27 patients were evaluated including age, gende types of reconstruction, tumor location, histological types, TNM stages, surgical treatment and prognosis. RESULTS: Total 221 patients underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer and ulcer disease and 27 (12.7%) consecutive GRC patients were included in this study. The median survival for all 27 patients was 20.0 ± 2.4 months. Previous malign disease, advanced TNM stage and non-curative resection were the negative prognostic factors for survival in patients with remnant stomach cancer (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Regular follow-up is one of the important factors affecting the early diagnosis and median survive time of patients with GRC. Curative resection is recommended operative treatment procedure to improve the survival when GRC patient diagnosed.

Identification of risk factors involved in recurrence after common bile duct stone removal with ERCP: A retrospective observational study.

ABSTRACT: Recurrent stone detection is common after endoscopic treatment of common bile duct stones (CBDS). This study aimed to identify the risk factors for recurrence of CBDS.We retrospectively evaluated 14 patients who underwent endoscopic treatment for CBDS. Risk factors for single and multiple recurrent CBDSs were evaluated using logistic regression analysis.Endoscopic and needle-knife precut sphincterotomy was performed in 506 and 112 patients, respectively. There was 1 recurrence in 85 patients (13.8%), 2 recurrences in 23 patients (3.7%), and 3 recurrences in 9 patients (1.5%). According to the multivariate analyses, being older than 65 years (odds ratio [OR] 1.084, P = .000), concomitant heart disease (OR 2.528, P = .002), concomitant lung disease (OR 1.766, P = .035), a large common bile duct diameter (OR 1.347, P = .000), presence of cholelithiasis (OR 1.752, P = .018), stent (OR 1.794, P = .023), or T-tube placement in the common bile duct (OR 47.385, P = .000), and prolongation of the procedure (OR 1.037, P = .000) increased the risk of recurrence, while having undergone cholecystectomy due to gallstones (OR 1.645, P = .042). The mean stone diameter (P = .059), nitroglycerin use (P = .129), and periampullary diverticulum (P = .891) did not increase the risk of recurrent CBDS.The probability of multiple recurrences after the first recurrence of CBDS increased with age >65 years, concomitant heart/lung diseases, stent/T-tube placement in the common bile duct, a wide common bile duct (≥10 mm), and cholelithiasis.

The effect of preoperative Lugol's iodine on intraoperative bleeding in patients with hyperthyroidism.

AIM: To investigate the effect of preoperative Lugol's iodine on intraoperative bleeding in patients with hyperthyroidism. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This controlled, randomized, prospective cohort was carried out on 40 patients who admitted for surgery due to hyperthyroidism. Cases were randomly assigned to receive either preoperative treatment with Lugol solution (Group 1) or no preoperative treatment with Lugol solution (Group 2). Group 3 (n = 10) consisted of healthy adults with no known history and signs of hyperthyroidism. Blood flow through the thyroid arteries of patients was measured by color flow Doppler ultrasonography. Free T3, free T4, TSH, thyroid volume and the resistance index of the four main thyroid arteries were measured in all patients. RESULTS: There was not a significant difference between gender, preoperative serum thyroid hormone levels, or thyroid gland volumes between groups 1 and 2. The mean blood flow of the patients in Group 1 was significantly lower than values in Group 2. When age, gender, thyroid hormone, TSH, thyroid volume, blood flow, and Lugol solution treatment were included as independent variables, Lugol solution treatment (OR, 7.40; 95% CI, 1.02-58.46; p = 0.001) was found to be the only significant independent determinant of intraoperative blood loss. Lugol solution treatment resulted in a 7.40-fold decrease in the rate of intraoperative blood loss. CONCLUSION: Preoperative Lugol solution treatment was found to be a significant independent determinant of intraoperative blood loss. Moreover, preoperative Lugol solution treatment decreased the rate of blood flow, and intraoperative blood loss during thyroidectomy.

Successful Localization of Abnormal Parathyroid Gland Using Ultrasound-Guided Methylene Blue Dye Injection in the Reoperative Neck.

Persistent or recurrent hyperparathyroidism is a challenging problem for endocrine surgeons. The aim of this study was to review our experience using ultrasound-guided (US-G) methylene blue dye injection for the localization and removal of abnormal parathyroid glands in patients having primary hyperparathyroidism and previous neck surgery. Between January 2012 and May 2013, six consecutive patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and previous neck surgery underwent focused parathyroidectomy with the use of US-G methylene blue dye injections to localize the presumed parathyroid adenoma were included in the study. We analyzed the data of six patients who underwent reoperative parathyroid surgery using US-G methylene blue dye injection retrospectively. The dye injection was performed just prior to surgery. All patients were successfully treated for their hyperparathyroidism which was confirmed by at least 50 % drop in intraoperative parathormone level 10 min after resection. There were no complications related with US-G dye injection or with surgery. US-G methylene blue dye injection is a cheap, safe, and effective method for localization of diseased parathyroid glands and guiding surgery in the reoperative neck.

Evaluation of affecting factors for conversion to open cholecystectomy in acute cholecystitis.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the gold standard for the surgical treatment of gallbladder disease. Severe inflammation makes laparoscopic dissection technically more demanding in acute cholecystitis. Conversion to open cholecystectomy due to adverse conditions is still required in some patients. AIM: To evaluate predictive risk factors associated with conversion to open cholecystectomy in acute cholecystitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 165 patients who underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis in our clinic. Patients who completed laparoscopic cholecystectomy and required conversion to open cholecystectomy were compared in terms of age, sex, fever, laboratory and USG findings, operation timing, complications, and duration of hospital stay. RESULTS: There were 53 (32%) male and 112 (68%) female patients; the mean age was 52.4 ±12.5 years. Forty-six (27.9%) of the 165 patients were converted to open cholecystectomy. Male sex of the patients who underwent conversion (47.1%) was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.001). Preoperative white blood count, blood glucose and amylase values, morbidity rate, and hospital stay were raised in patients who underwent conversion, and all were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Male sex, blood leucocyte, glucose, and raised amylase emerged as the effective factors for conversion cholecystectomy in our study. These factors should help the clinical decision-making process when planning laparoscopic cholecystectomy in acute cholecystitis. By predicting these risk factors for conversion, preoperative patient counselling can be improved.

Breast Carcinosarcomas.

OBJECTIVE: Carcinosarcomas of the breast are rare and aggressive breast tumors. The optimal treatment strategies and the classification of these difficult to diagnose tumors are not clear in the literature due to their very low incidence. In this study, we aimed to evaluate patients who were operated on for breast carcinosarcoma and discuss the current literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients who were treated with a diagnosis of breast carcinosarcoma between January 2000 - March 2013 at the Izmir Bozyaka Teaching and Training Hospital General Surgery Clinics were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 59.7 (±13.4) years. Eight patients underwent modified radical mastectomy, one patient lumpectomy and one patient breast conserving surgery + sentinel lymph node biopsy procedures. The TNM stage of patients were identified as stage 1 in 2 patients, stage 2 in 6 patients, and stage 3 in 2 patients. 60-month disease-free survival rate was 52.5% (±18.6). The overall survival rate was 53.3% (±20.5). Four patients died during follow-up. CONCLUSION: It is reported that the prognosis of carcinosarcomas are as poor as triple negative epithelial tumors. In contrast to the literature, in our study the disease-free and overall survival rates according to stage were not different from epithelial tumors. In this regard, prospective studies including more patients are required.