Analysis of the prechiasmatic sulcus in Chiari Malformation Type I

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess morphological features of the prechiasmatic sulcus (PS) in Chiari Malformation Type I (CM-I).

METHODS

The study population consisted of computed tomography images of 42 CM-I patients (average age: 21.26±16.46 years; sex: 25 females and 17 males) and 58 normal subjects (average age: 28.12±22.60 years; sex: 29 females and 29 males). The measured parameters to determine the anatomy of PS were as follows: the planum length (PL), sulcal length (SL), sulcal angle (SA), and interoptic distance (IOD). Considering SL and SA measurements, PS was identified as four types: the narrow-steep-groove (NSG), narrow-flat-groove (NFG), wide-steep-groove (WSG), and wide-flat-groove (WFG).

RESULTS

SA was greater in CM-I (32.80±18.21°) compared to the control group (23.05±14.53°) (p=0.004), but the others were similar in both groups. Distribution ranking of PS types was found as NFG (31%) > NSG (26.20%) > WSG (23.80%) > WFG (19%) in CM-I group, while as WFG (37.90%) > WSG (20.70%) = NFG (20.70%) = NSG (20.70%) in the control group. Distribution rate of PS types relative to both groups showed that the classification system was not affected by CM-I (p=0.226).

CONCLUSIONS

SA value is approximately 25% greater in CM-I than the control; thus, CM-I subjects have more vertical groove. The percentage of narrow-type (NSG + NFG) in CM-I was higher than in the control group.

Retrospective analysis of vitamin D status on ınflammatory markers and course of the disease in patients with COVID-19 infection

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to investigate the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status within the last 6 months prior to COVID-19 infection and parameters of immune function and clinical outcomes.

METHODS

Fifty-six patients, who were admitted to the emergency clinic and diagnosed with COVID-19 infection, were included in the study. Data on clinical characteristics, inflammatory parameters and vitamin D status were recorded for each patient. All the participants had data on 25-hydroxyvitamin D status within the last 6 months prior to COVID-19 infection.

RESULTS

The patients were stratified as those with vitamin D status less than 20 ng/mL and higher than 20 ng/mL. A group with vitamin D status less than 20 ng/mL had lower lymphocyte counts and lower haemoglobin levels that was statistically significant (respectively; p = 0.021, p = 0.035). Higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were seen in the vitamin D-deficient group (p = 0.013). It was observed that vitamin D status of the patients who required oxygen therapy were lower than those who did not require oxygen therapy, not statistically significant (p = 0.05). Patients who did not use vitamin D supplementation within 6 months prior to COVID-19 infection had more likely to be diagnosed with pneumonia (p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

Cases with lower vitamin D status had increased inflammatory markers and worse clinical outcomes than patients with higher vitamin D status. This study suggests that vitamin D status can be used as a prognostic factor in COVID-19 patients, and vitamin D supplementation can be recommended to improve the clinical outcomes in COVID-19 infection.

High dose cotinine may induce neural tube defects in a chick embryo model

AIM

Nicotine is a well-known agent among 4000 chemicals in cigarettes. About 70 to 80% of nicotine is converted to cotinine, a major metabolite. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of cotinine on neural tube development in a chick embryo model.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Sixty fertile, specific pathogen free eggs were divided into 6 groups for this study. In the first group, a fixed cotinine concentration for each egg was calculated just to simulate the concentration of a smoker's blood level. A second experimental group was designed at a higher cotinine concentration. Embryos that succeeded to reach Hamburger-Hamilton stage 12 from each group were then embedded into paraffin for permanent sections. These two groups were compared with eggs subjected to vehicle (standard alcohol and ten times more alcohol concentration) and control groups (saline and sham groups).

RESULTS

Embryos of the cotinine (regular dose), vehicle and control groups were normal, but embryos subjected to higher cotinine concentrations were malformed at the cranial part of the thoracic neural tube.

CONCLUSION

Association of cotinine with neural tube defects was demonstrated in the present study. Cigarette smoking may induce hazardous effects on neural tube development.

[The analysis of traumatized patients who were admitted to the Uludag University Medical School Hospital after the Marmara earthquake]

The aim of this study was to analyze the victims of the Marmara earthquake who injured, especially had the crush syndrome. Our hospital received a total of 645 victims after the earthquake and admitted 330. Victims were classified into five different groups according to their diagnosis (crush syndrome, vital organ injury, vertebral and pelvic injuries, others and unknown) and their mortality rates were determined. Mortality was highest (21%) in the crush syndrome group. Second and third highest mortality were in the unknown (20%) and vital organ injury (20%) groups. The overall mortality rate was 8%. In conclusion the earthquake victims with crush syndrome and vital organ injury had the highest mortality and morbidity rates. Because of that so many departments (General Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Orthopedics Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Nephrology, Infection Disease etc.) had to be study in a great harmonious.

[Do emergency departments comply with the rules of patient transportation?]

Emergency departments must comply with the rules of patient transportation. The aim of this study was to find out the compliance of the emergency departments in our region with patient transport the rules and regulations. 180 patients transported to our emergency department by an ambulance from another hospital, between 01.05.1999-01.07.1999 were analyzed. ACEP's (American College of Emergency Physicians) patient transportation rules were taken as a reference for comparison. Our findings have shown that the compliance to these rules is insufficient. Results of the study, will be presented to our colleagues working in the emergency departments in our region, in one of our monthly trauma meetings. State Department of health in the city, two state hospitals and Social Security hospitals in the region will also be informed about the results so that certain guidelines for better patient transportation can be established in the region.

Outcome of major trauma in a Turkish university hospital: did integrated approach make a difference?

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the institution in an in-hospital integrated approach to trauma on the mortality of severely injured patients in a university hospital in Turkey. We examined the effects of several risk factors, namely physiological parameters, anatomical findings, and the timeliness of therapeutic approaches, on the mortality of major trauma patients before and after the institution of integrated trauma care. The investigated risk factors were injury severity score (ISS), revised trauma score (RTS), anatomical localization of the injury, the type of injury, prehospital time, emergency room time, and referral from another hospital. TRISS (RTS, ISS, and age combination index) analysis was done for each patient and the M-, Z-, and W-statistics were calculated. Mortality in the low RTS and the penetrating injury groups decreased significantly. The overall mortality decreased from 32.5% to 23.3%. There were three unexpected survivors in the second period, but there were no unexpected survivors in the first period. Twenty-six of the first period and nine of the second period deaths were unexpected. A significant improvement was seen in the Z-statistics between the two periods. Z value increased from -2.47 to 0.55. In-hospital integrated approach to trauma made major improvements in the care of the patients with severe injuries, especially those with significant airway, ventilation and circulation problems.