Evaluating the readability, quality and reliability of online information on Behçet’s disease

There are concerns over the reliability and comprehensibility of health-related information on the internet. The goal of our research was to analyze the readability, reliability, and quality of information obtained from websites associated with Behçet’s disease (BD). On September 20, 2021, the term BD was used to perform a search on Google, and 100 eligible websites were identified. The Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES), Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), and Gunning Fog (GFOG) were used to evaluate the readability of the website. The JAMA score was used to assess the websites’ reliability, the DISCERN score and the Health on the Net Foundation code of conduct (HONcode) were used to assess quality, and Alexa was used to analyze their popularity. Sections of the text were evaluated, and the results revealed that the mean FRES was 35.49±14.42 (difficult) and the mean GFOG was 14.93±3.13 years (very difficult). According to the JAMA scores, 36% of the websites had a high reliability rating and 20% adhered to the HONcode. The readability was found to significantly differ from the reliability of the websites (p<0.05). Moreover, websites with scientific content were found to have higher readability and reliability (p<0.05). The readability of BD-related information on the Internet was found to be considerably higher than that recommended by the National Health Institute’s Grade 6, with moderate reliability and good quality. We believe that online information should have some level of readability and must have reliable content that is appropriate to educate the public, particularly for websites that provide with patient education material.

Preoperative Vitamin D levels and respiratory complications of general anesthesia

Aims

This research aims to investigate whether there is a correlation between the respiratory complications occurring in patients under general anesthesia and preoperative Vitamin D levels.

Settings and Design

The study was a prospective observational study.

Materials and Methods

This study included 95 adult cases. The cases had total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels identified in blood samples before the operation. Patients given routine general anesthesia and were assessed in terms of respiratory complications during anesthesia induction, extubation, anesthesia recovery, and the first 24-h postoperative.

Statistical Analysis Used

The Shapiro-Wilk test, Student's-t-test, one-way ANOVA test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and Chi-square tests were used.

Results

The mean 25OHD vitamin level identified in the preoperative period was 13.00 ± 6.57 ng/mL, with 25OHD vitamin levels found to be significantly low in female cases compared to male cases (P < 0.05). There was a statistically significant negative relationship between age and 25OHD vitamin levels identified (P = 0.045). When assessed in terms of surgery types, there was no significant difference found in Vitamin D levels in terms of surgery type. When examined for complications in the induction, extubation period, and postoperative recovery period, there was a significant difference identified between 25OHD vitamin levels and these complications (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

This research observed that patients with low preoperative 25OHD vitamin levels encountered respiratory complications related to general anesthesia more often. Especially, in the early postoperative period, there is a very significant difference between complications and low 25OHD vitamin levels.

Comparison of combined antioxidants and thymoquinone in the prevention of testis ischemia - reperfusion injury

We aimed to compare the preventive effects of combined antioxidants (CA1, 2) with a single antioxidant drug (thymoquinone; TQ) on experimental testis Ischemia/Reperfusion (I/R) injury. Thirty-five adult male Wistar rats were divided into five groups of seven rats each: control, testis I/R, testis I/R + CA1, testis I/R + CA2, and testis I/R + TQ. After 1 h of testicular ischemia, reperfusion was achieved by detorsion for 4 h. Antioxidants were intraperitoneally administered for 30 min prior to reperfusion. All rats were sacrificed 4 h after reperfusion to evaluate the tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant status (TAS) and the immunohistochemical evaluation of tissue inducible and endothelial nitric acid synthase (iNOS, eNOS) and apoptosis protease-activating factor 1 (APAF-1). MDA levels were lower and TAS values were higher in the I/R + antioxidant groups than in the I/R group (p < 0.05). iNOS and eNOS levels in the I/R + antioxidant groups were also lower than those in the I/R group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the CA groups and the TQ group according to aforementioned parameters. In addition, tissue APAF-1 values were significantly higher in the I/R group than in the other groups. However, there was a significant difference between the TQ and CA groups in APAF-1 levels, which were highest in the TQ group (p < 0.05). Although TQ alone increased TAS values and reduced tissue iNOS and eNOS levels, combined antioxidant treatment may more effectively reduce apoptosis and increase preventive effects in testis I/R injury.

Investigation of histopathological effects after intra-arterial sugammadex injection in an experimental animal model

PURPOSE

Intra-arterial injection of medications are related to mortality and morbidity. It was aimed to investigate the histopathological effects caused by two different intra-arterial doses of sugammadex, a new selective relaxant binding agent used to reverse the effects of steroidal systemic muscle relaxants used in surgeries carried out under general anesthesia.

METHODS

A total of 15 rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups. The control group was given 1 mL saline bolus into the central artery of the ear. The other two groups (Group Sgdx2 and group Sgdx16) were given 2 and 16 mg/kg sugammadex, respectively, intra-arterially.

RESULTS

In control group, histopathological evaluation was in normal limits. The cross-sections belonging to Group Sgdx2 did not have any significant pathological change compared with control group (p > 0.05). Edema and single-cell necrosis were significantly higher in Group Sgdx16 when compared to control group (p < 0.05). In comparison to Group Sgdx2, single-cell necrosis was significantly higher in Group Sgdx16 (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Being broadly used in anesthesia, sugammadex should be administered with care because when given by intra-arterial route it may cause tissue damage and tissue loss and the patients' arteries should be carefully checked.

Gastroprotective effects of CoQ10 on ethanol-induced acute gastric lesions

INTRODUCTION

Alcohol consumption is frequently associated with gastric mucosal lesions. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Coenzyme-Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation on the ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage in a rat model.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Sixty-four female wistar albino rats were randomly divided into 8 groups (n = 8). Studies were performed in ethanol induced gastric ulcer model in Wistar albino rats. Famotidine at a dose of 5 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg and CoQ10 at a single dose of 10 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg for 7 days were administered as pretreatment. All the rats in study groups received 2 ml/kg ethanol 95 % intragastrically, 30 minutes after pretreatment. Four hour after ethanol administration, all rats were sacrificed and their stomachs were removed under ketamin anaesthesia. Gastric protection was evaluated by measuring the ulcer index, MDA concentrations, and histopathological studies.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Rats pretreated either with famotidine or CoQ10 had significantly diminished gastric mucosal damage which was assessed with gross and microscopic analysis (p < 0.00625). MDA levels were significantly lower in famotidine 20 mg/kg and CoQ10 pretreatment for 7 days group (p < 0.00625).

A questionaire study evaluating the knowledge and approach by physicians about arterial blood gas

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Arterial blood pressure analysis is a frequently applied method in the diagnosis and follow-up of respiratory insufficiency and in the treatment of patients under risk. It is very important to take and analyze the blood gas sample properly. Therefore, a questionary study was performed which evaluated the knowledge and the approach of doctors working in various specialties.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A questionary form consisting of 27 questions were filled by 100 specialist physicians who participated in the study.

RESULTS

It was observed that doctors participating in our study had partly sufficient knowledge regarding administration and evaluation of arterial blood gas. It was considered that in intensive care unit experience of participant doctors during their intern periods was a very important factor. But it was observed that most of the participant specialist physicians performed Allen test before radial artery puncture, and they frequently preferred femoral artery for their first puncture option, and they did not pay attention in the proper transportation of the samples and in sending cultures from arterial cannula against risk of infection. The majority of doctors who participated in our study stated that they would like to receive training in arterial blood gas administration and evaluation.

DISCUSSION

In conclusion, to take samples from arterial blood gas is an invasive operation and if not performed correctly it can cause complications to develop. Transportation and evaluation is as much important as sampling. It is very important to provide sufficient education to candidates of specialist physicians and to organize training courses aimed to increase their knowledge and experience during the period of their speciality without taking their speciality into account.

Comparison of propofol-dexmedetomidine, tiopental-dexmedetomidine and etomidate-dexmedetomidine combinations' effects on the tracheal intubation conditions without using muscle relaxants

BACKGROUND

In our study, we aimed to compare the endotracheal intubation conditions without muscle relaxants during induction with the combinations of dexmedotimidine-propofol, dexmedotimidine-thiopenthal and dexmedetomidine-etomidate.

METHOD

Seventy-six patients, in ASA risk group I-II, between ages 20-60 years, with Mallampati Class 1 were included in the study. All patients were premedicated with midazolam. The patients were randomly divided into three groups as Group P (n=30, dexmedetomidine-propofol), Group T (n=30, dexmedetomidine-thiopenthal), Group E (n=16, dexmedetomidine-etomidate). All patients received dexmedetomidine 1 μg.kg-1 in 10 min. Then, the patients were administered 2.5 mg.kg-1 propofol for Group P, 5 mg.kg-1 thiopental for Group T and 0.3 mg.kg-1 etomidate for Group E during induction. Hemodynamic data of the patients were recorded before induction, after dexmedetomidine administration, immediately after intubation and 3, 5 and 10 minutes after intubation.

RESULTS

There was no difference between the groups according to hemodynamic data. Sixteen patients in Group P and 10 patients in Group T had acceptable intubation conditions. Muscle relaxant was needed in 14, 20 and 16 patients in Groups P, T and E, respectively (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we determined that best intubation conditions without muscle relaxants were achieved with propofol-dexmedetomidine combination. None of the patients receiving etomidate -dexmedetomidine combination could be intubated without muscle relaxants (Tab. 6, Ref. 29).

A case of surgical instrument left in the abdomen and taken out of the transverse colon

BACKGROUND

Foreign bodies cause an aseptic reaction that does not have specific symptoms and may also result in peritonitis, acute abdominal pain, an intraperitoneal abscess, or intestinal obstruction or perforation. We present a case of a surgical instrument left in the abdomen that passed into the transverse colon via migration after a surgery.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 36-year-old female patient was operated upon, with a diagnosis of a hydatid cyst in her liver. Approximately 3 years after the surgery, she excreted part of a surgical forceps with her stool while she was defecating. In upright direct abdominal radiography, a surgical instrument was observed in the abdomen. The patient was operated to remove the foreign body from the abdomen. The surgical instrument that was taken out had corroded and turned black. It was observed that the material that had dropped out of the anus and the material that was taken out during the operation were parts of the same surgical instrument. The ascending colon and the abdomen were stitched anatomically. Follow-ups were conducted after the operation, and the patient was discharged with recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

It should be noted that a surgical instrument may be left inside the body of patients who have a history of surgery and that it can migrate.

The effects of nitrous oxide on vitamin B12 and homocysteine levels in methyltetrahydrofolate reductase gene mutation

BACKGROUND

We aimed to investigate the effects of nitrous oxide on plasma total homocysteine and vitamin B12 levels in patients with or without methyltetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHRF) gene mutation.

METHODS

After obtaining the ethics committee approval and written informed consents of patients, 93 patients between 18-70 years of age scheduled for surgery anticipated to last 1-4 hours were enrolled in the study. Patients with contraindications for nitrous oxide use were excluded. Preoperatively, blood samples were obtained from all patients for the determination of MTHFR gene mutation. Anesthesia induction was achieved with 3 mg.kg-1 of propofol and 1 µg.kg-1 of fentanyl. Anesthesia maintenance was performed with sevoflurane and with a carrier gas composed of 40 % O2 and 60 % N2O. Venous blood samples were obtained after venous canulation, and 24 hours after extubation for the analysis of plasma total homocysteine, vitamin B12 levels.

RESULTS

Eighty-one patients were included in the study. Postoperative vitamin B12 levels were found to be significantly lower when compared with their preoperative levels (p<0.05). It was found that MTHRF gene polymorphism had no significant effect on postoperative plasma total homocysteine and serum vitamin B12 levels (p>0.05). Postoperative plasma total homocysteine levels were found to be significantly different between patients with operation times under and over 3 hours (p=0.028).

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that MTHRF gene polymorphism had no significant effects on postoperative plasma total homocysteine levels. However, we found that homocysteine levels might rise in patients who received general anesthesia with nitrous oxide for longer than 3 hours (Tab. 7, Ref. 26).

The Analgesic Effect of Dexketoprofen When Added to Lidocaine for Intravenous Regional Anaesthesia: A Prospective, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study

This prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study evaluated the effects of dexketoprofen as an adjunct to lidocaine in intravenous regional anaesthesia (IVRA) or as a supplemental intravenous (i.v.) analgesic. Patients scheduled for elective hand or forearm soft-tissue surgery were randomly divided into three groups. All 45 patients received 0.5% lidocaine as IVRA. Dexketoprofen was given either i.v. or added into the IVRA solution and the control group received an equal volume of saline both i.v. and as part of the IVRA. The times of sensory and motor block onset, recovery time and postoperative analgesic consumption were recorded. Compared with controls, the addition of dexketoprofen to the IVRA solution resulted in more rapid onset of sensory and motor block, longer recovery time, decreased intra- and postoperative pain scores and decreased paracetamol use. It is concluded that coadministration of dexketoprofen with lidocaine in IVRA improves anaesthetic block and decreases postoperative analgesic requirements.

A comparison of spinal anesthesia with low-dose hyperbaric levobupivacaine and hyperbaric bupivacaine for transurethral surgery: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to compare spinal anesthesia effects of low-dose hyperbaric levobupivacaine and low-dose hyperbaric bupivacaine for transurethral procedures.

METHODS

In this double-blind, randomized, controlled study, a total of 60 patients who were ASA I-III were randomized into two groups. Group B received 7.5 mg hyperbaric bupivacaine plus 25 µg fentanyl, and Group L received 7.5 mg hyperbaric levobupivacaine plus 25 µg fentanyl intrathecally. The onset time to T10 dermatome, times to maximum sensory and motor block levels, time to two-segment regression of sensory block, time to Bromage score zero, time to full recovery of sensory block, and hemodynamic values, as well as adverse effects, were recorded. The primary outcome was the time to complete regression of motor block.

RESULTS

The onset time of block to T10, time to maximum sensory block, and time to two-segment regression were similar in both groups. The time to maximum motor block was shorter in Group B (7 ± 3 min) than in Group L (12±5 min), (P<0.001). The time to a Bromage score of zero (recovery of motor block) was shorter in Group L (105±19 min) than in Group B (113±7 min), (P=0.04). The time to full recovery of sensory block was shorter in Group B (127±14 min) than in Group L (157±34 min), (P<0.001). The requirement for analgesia was earlier in Group B (305±50 min) than in Group L (389±146 min), (P=0.004).

CONCLUSION

Although both techniques provide adequate spinal block and have few similar side effects for transurethral surgery, the use of low-dose hyperbaric levobupivacaine plus fentanyl may be preferable to low-dose hyperbaric bupivacaine plus fentanyl because of the reduced motor block, shorter duration of motor block, longer duration of sensory block and longer time to the first requirement for analgesia.

An Evaluation of P Wave Dispersion, QT, Corrected QT and Corrected QT Dispersion Intervals on the Electrocardiograms of Malnourished Adults

The aim of our study was to investigate P wave dispersion (Pwd), QT, corrected QT (QTc), QT dispersion (QTd) and corrected QT dispersion (QTcd) intervals in subjects with malnutrition diagnosed in the pre-anaesthetic assessment, compared to those without malnutrition.

A total of 76 adult patients were included. Main diagnoses, anthropometric measurement, body mass index, electrocardiogram and serum sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium and calcium levels were recorded for all patients. Pwd, QT and QTd intervals were measured on all electrocardiogram records and QTc and QTcd intervals determined with the Bazett formula. Protein-energy malnutrition was diagnosed with the nutritional risk index.

No statistically significant difference was found between the age, gender and malignant cancer diagnosis rates between patients with malnutrition (group M) and those not suffering from malnutrition (group N) (P >0.05). Serum albumin, total protein, potassium, calcium, magnesium and chloride values of group M were found to be significantly lower than group N (P <0.05). In group M, Pwd, QT, QTc, QTd and QTcd intervals were significantly longer than in group N (P <0.001).

Patients diagnosed with malnutrition during pre-anaesthetic assessment had significantly longer Pwd, QTc and QTcd interval durations than the control group. We attribute such extended Pwd, QTc and QTcd durations in these patients to malnutrition and malnutrition-related electrolyte imbalance.

Effects of dexmedetomidine or methylprednisolone on inflammatory responses in spinal cord injury

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to compare the anti-inflammatory response of methylprednisolone and the alpha2-agonist dexmedetomidine in spinal cord injury (SCI).

METHODS

Twenty-four male adult Wistar albino rats, weight 200-250 g, were included in the study. The rats were divided into four groups as follows: the control group (n: 6) received only laminectomy; the SCI group (n: 6) with trauma alone; the SCI+methylprednisolone group (n: 6) with trauma and 30 mg/kg methylprednisolone, followed by a maintenance dose of 5.4 mg/kg/h; and the SCI+dexmedetomidine group (n: 6) with trauma and 10 microg/kg dexmedetomidine treatment intraperitoneally. Twenty-four hours after the trauma, spinal cord samples were taken for histopathological examination and serum samples were collected for interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha measurement.

RESULTS

TNF-alpha (P=0.009) and IL-6 (P=0.009) levels were significantly increased in the SCI group. TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels were significantly decreased with methylprednisolone (P=0.002, 0.002) and dexmedetomidine (P=0.002, 0.009) treatment, respectively. Methylprednisolone and dexmedetomidine treatment reduced neutrophils' infiltration in SCI.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study does not clarify the definitive mechanism by which dexmedetomidine decreases inflammatory cytokines but it is the first study to report the anti-inflammatory effect of dexmedetomidine in SCI. Further studies are required to elucidate the effects of dexmedetomidine on the inflammatory response.