Congenital hypoplasia and aplasia of different segments of medial crus: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Congenital anomalies of lower lateral cartilages are very rare. Difficulties to detect before the operation may cause problems during the surgery. In this paper, we presented a unique deformity with the combination of aplastic and hypoplastic segments of lower lateral cartilage.

METHODS

A 21-year-old female patient who underwent rhinoplasty were enrolled in this study. Airway impairment, prominent nasal hump, droopy nasal tip and nostril asymmetries were observed in physical examination.

RESULTS

Partial aplasia and hypoplasia on the right-sided lobular segment and hypoplasia on the left-sided lobular segment of the middle crus were detected. Hypoplasia of the columellar segment and footplate segment of the medial crus was observed on both sides. Also, intercrural soft tissue volume was low. Defective medial crus was reconstructed with the septal cartilage graft.

CONCLUSION

Although a rare occurrence, awareness of congenital lower cartilage anomalies is important for surgical planning and reconstruction of deformities. Cartilage tissue reflection to the skin surface and examination of each tip segment is crucial to detect anomalies preoperatively.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4 (Therapeutic).

Volumetric and three-dimensional examination of sella turcica by cone-beam computed tomography: reference data for guidance to pathologic pituitary morphology

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to assess the dimensions and volume of sella turcica in healthy Caucasian adults with normal occlusion and facial appearance from cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CBCT images of 80 Caucasian adult patients (40 males, 40 females) with normal facial appearance and occlusion taken previously for diagnostic purposes were evaluated. Two groups were constructed in accordance to gender. The volume, length, diameter, and depth of the sella turcica were measured by Romexis software programme. Mann-Whitney U test and Independent t-tests were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The mean lengths of the sella were 9.9 mm and 10.2 mm, depths were 9.2 mm and 8.8 mm and diameters were 12.3 mm and 12.1 mm in female and male groups, respectively. Between the genders, no statistically significant differences were found for any of the measurements. There were significantly higher values for the volume of sella turcica in males than in females (1102 ± 285.3 mm3 and 951.3 ± 278.5 mm3, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The dimensions of sella turcica in healthy Caucasian adults with normal occlusion and facial appearance revealed nonsignificant differences between the genders. Individual variability in dimensions and gender differences in the volume are of importance in comparison of patients with craniofacial syndromes and aberrations. Knowledge concerning the dimensions and volume of sella turcica will be clinically relevant for a guidance to consciously realize pituitary disorders.

Tuning the cellular trafficking of the lysosomal peptide transporter TAPL by its N-terminal domain

The homodimeric ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transport complex TAPL (transporter associated with antigen processing-like, ABCB9) translocates a broad spectrum of peptides from the cytosol into the lumen of lysosomes. The presence of an extra N-terminal transmembrane domain (TMD0) lacking any sequence homology to known proteins distinguishes TAPL from most other ABC transporters of its subfamily. By dissecting TAPL, we could assign distinct functions to the core complex and TMD0. The core-TAPL complex, composed of six predicted transmembrane helices and a nucleotide-binding domain, is sufficient for peptide transport, showing that the core transport complex is correctly targeted to and assembled in the membrane. Strikingly, in contrast to the full-length transporter, the core translocation complex is targeted preferentially to the plasma membrane. However, TMD0 alone, comprising a putative four transmembrane helix bundle, traffics to lysosomes. Upon coexpression, TMD0 forms a stable non-covalently linked complex with the core translocation machinery and guides core-TAPL into lysosomal compartments. Therefore, TMD0 represents a unique domain, which folds independently and encodes the information for lysosomal targeting. These outcomes are discussed in respect of trafficking, folding and function of TAPL.

Temporal Variation in Drug Interaction Between Lithium and Morphine‐Induced Analgesia

The administration-time-dependent aspects of the drug interaction between lithium and morphine-induced analgesia were studied using the mouse hot-plate test at six different times of day, each scheduled at 4 h intervals. Lithium treatment alone, in doses of 1 to 10 mmol/kg administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) did not significantly alter test latencies compared to the corresponding clock-time in saline-injected controls. Basal pain sensitivity and morphine-induced antinociceptive activity displayed significant circadian rhythms as assessed by the hot-plate response latencies, with higher values occurring during the nocturnal activity than during the daytime rest span. Acute administration of lithium, in a dose of 3 mmol/kg, 30 min prior to morphine dosing did not influence morphine-induced analgesia compared to all the clock-time test-matched morphine groups, except the 9 HALO (Hours After Lights On) one. There was a prominent potentiation of the morphine-induced antinociception at this biological time during combined drug treatment. The latter finding demonstrates that administration-time-dependent differences in drug-drug interactions need to be considered in both experimental designs and clinical settings.

The effect of the emotional intelligence on job satisfaction

People with high emotional and social capacity, people who can take them under control, understand and manage emotions of others expertly are more advantageous both in their private and professional lives. Under this scope, in order to investigate the effect of the emotional intelligence of nurses and midwives, who consist an important manpower in the health system, to their job satisfaction, an investigation has been conducted in Fethiye State Hospital with 80 individuals. Of the workers investigated, 36.3% were in 21-30 age group, 62.5% were 2 years-college graduated, 98.8% were clinical nurses, 36.3% worked since 6-10 years. It was found that total emotional intelligence of the workers was low (X=22.54, SS=5.14), and average job satisfaction levels were middle level (X=15.62, SS=3.27). A positive association was found between the emotional intelligence and job satisfaction. As a conclusion, the relationships between the demographic variables and emotional intelligence and job satisfaction were evaluated in the study.

Influence of oxidative stress and inflammation on rHuEPO requirements of hemodialysis patients with CRP values "in normal range"

AIMS

We sought to evaluate influences of oxidative stress (OS) on rHuEPO requirements in hemodialysis patients without chronic inflammation.

METHODS

Sixty-eight hemodialysis patients and 46 healthy controls underwent measurements plasma levels of antioxidative agents, such as glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and oxidative compounds including malonyldialdehyde (MDA). We retrospectively analyzed the last 3 months' rHuEPO requirements, iron indices, and CRP levels.

RESULTS

Plasma levels for SOD, GPX, and MDA were 974.4+/-216.4 U/gHb, 44.4+/-13.6 U/gHb, 10.0+/-2.0 nmol/mL, respectively yielding results that were different from healthy controls (P<.0001). Increased OS negatively correlated with hemoglobin levels (P<.0001) and positively correlated with rHuEPO requirements (P<.01). Increased antioxidative capacity positively correlated with hemoglobin levels (P<.0001) and negatively correlated with rHuEPO requirements (P<.0001). For further analyses, hemodialysis patients were subgrouped according to rHuEPO requirements as group I (lowest 1/3, n=23), group II (moderate 1/3, n=23) and group III (highest 1/3, n=22). Group III displayed the highest MDA (P<.05), the lowest SOD (P<.0001), and comparable GPX (P<.05) levels. Group III also had the highest CRP and the lowest albumin levels compared with the others (P<.01).

CONCLUSION

OS has strong adverse influences on rHuEPO responses of HD patients with "normal" CRP levels, but it should not be forgotten that CRP levels in the "normal" range may still reflect ongoing microinflammation.