Is there any difference in tetanus IgG levels of diabetic patientswith respect to the presence of foot ulcers?

BACKGROUND/AIM

The aim of this study was to reveal the tetanus immunization status of diabetic patients and to determine whether diabetic patients with foot ulcers have different TIG levels.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was designed that included diabetic patients with foot ulcers (n = 30) and diabetic patients without ulcers (n = 30). The groups were compared for serum TIG levels along with total serum protein, albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and total immunoglobulin G (Ig G).

RESULTS

For diabetic patients without foot ulcers, 17 of 30 (56.6%) patients were found to have nonprotective TIG levels whereas for diabetic patients with foot ulcers, 28 of 30 (93.3%) patients were found to have nonprotective TIG levels. The mean value of TIG for diabetic patients without foot ulcers was 0.345 ± 0.281 IU/mL and for diabetic patients with foot ulcers the mean TIG value was 0.055 ± 0.033 IU/mL. Statistically significant differences were observed in TIG (P = 0.008), total protein (P < 0.001), albumin (P < 0.001), and CRP levels (P < 0.001) between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

The majority of the diabetic patients had low TIG levels and they were significantly lower in diabetic patients with ulcers. A booster dose of tetanus vaccine should be considered for diabetic patients with and without diabetic foot ulcers.

Magnetic compression anastomosis for patients with a disconnected bile duct after living-donor related liver transplantation: a pilot study

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM

We present the use of the magnetic compression anastomosis (MCA) technique for treatment of disconnected bile duct after living-donor related liver transplantation (LDLT) using the recently introduced through-the-scope magnet.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The MCA technique was used in patients with disconnected bile duct who could not be treated with either percutaneous or endoscopic procedures. All patients already had a percutaneous external biliary drainage catheter before the procedure. The magnet was placed percutaneously into the proximal side of the obstruction by pushing a 5-Fr catheter over a guidewire. Concurrently, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) including endoscopic papillary sphincterotomy was performed. The sister magnet was then carefully advanced to the opposite side of the obstruction with a 5-Fr catheter over a guidewire. After the confirmation of biliary recanalization, a guidewire was passed through the stricture and a percutaneous dilation of the stricture was performed with a balloon-tipped catheter. Endoscopic balloon dilation of the stricture, insertion of two plastic stents and the removal of the internal drainage catheter were performed during the first ERCP session. Stent exchange and multiple side-by-side stent placements were planned at regular intervals (3 monthly) for all patients.

RESULTS

A total of six LDLT patients with disconnected bile duct (aged 37 - 68, four men) underwent the MCA technique between September 2014 and July 2015. Biliary recanalization was achieved 13 - 42 days after the magnet placement procedure. The success rate of the procedure was 100 %.

CONCLUSIONS

The MCA technique using a small magnet (diameter 2.4 mm) is effective and useful in LDLT patients with disconnected bile duct.

Herniation of the liver: an extremely rare entity

We hereby present the case of a 75 years old female who was complaining of right upper quadrant abdominal pain. She had a history of cystectomy, cholecystectomy and choledochotomy operations for liver hydatid cyst 5 years ago. In addition, multiple endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography sessions had been performed for recurrent biliary duct stones in the last 4 years. Radiological investigations revealed the presence of cirrhosis and the herniation of the left liver lobe through the abdominal incisional hernia defect. Secondary sclerosing cholangitis as a result of the previous operations was suggested to be the probable etiology for cirrhosis. The cirrhotic patient with an advanced age was found to be high risk for surgery. In addition, her symptoms were minimal. Thus, she was managed conservatively. Herniation of the liver is very rare. It is quite difficult to speculate any predisposing risk factors for liver herniation because of the rarity of this condition.

The ultrasonographic evaluation of hemodynamic changes in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy after tarsal tunnel decompression

BACKGROUND

Nerve decompression procedures have shown to have promising roles in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy. It is known that not only nerves but also arteries pass through the same compressed anatomical tunnels. The aim of the study is to reveal whether the surgical decompression procedures have a positive effect on hemodynamic and morphological parameters of the arterial structures passing through these anatomic tunnels.

METHODS

Twenty-seven patients who underwent posterior and anterior tarsal tunnel release procedures were retrospectively scanned for preoperative and 3 months postoperative arterial Doppler ultrasound imaging. The preoperative and third month postoperative measurements were compared for flow pattern of artery, flow lumen diameter, pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), and flow volumes by evaluating the hemodynamic and morphological parameters of dorsalis pedis (DPA) and tibialis posterior arteries (TPA).

RESULTS

For TPA, mean PI values were 5.76 ± 2.78 preoperatively, 7.17 ± 3.08 postoperatively. Mean RI values were 0.94 ± 0.04 preoperatively and 0.89 ± 0.05 postoperatively. For DPA, mean PI values were 5.06 ± 2.14 preoperatively and 6.35 ± 2.31 postoperatively. Mean RI values were 0.93 ± 0.05 preoperatively and 0.86 ± 0.06 postoperatively. When the results are analyzed for both of the arteries, PI values were significantly increased; RI values were significantly decreased when the preoperative measurements were compared with the postoperative measurements (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

According to these results, it can be suggested that the nerve release procedures have a positive effect on the hemodynamic and morphological parameters of the arteries as they pass through the anatomical tunnels as well as its positive effects on the neurological functions of the entrapped nerves.

Genetic polymorphisms of ADH1B, ADH1C and ALDH2 in Turkish alcoholics: lack of association with alcoholism and alcoholic cirrhosis

No data exists regarding the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) gene polymorphisms in Turkish alcoholic cirrhotics. We studied the polymorphisms of ADH1B, ADH1C and ALDH2 genes in alcoholic cirrhotics and compared the results with non-cirrhotic alcoholics and healthy volunteers. Overall, 237 subjects were included for the study: 156 alcoholic patients (78 cirrhotics, 78 non-cirrhotic alcoholics) and 81 healthy volunteers. Three different single-nucleotide-polymorphism genotyping methods were used. ADH1C genotyping was performed using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. The identified ADH1C genotypes were named according to the presence or absence of the enzyme restriction sites. ADH1B (Arg47Hys) genotyping was performed using the allele specific primer extension method, and ALDH2 (Glu487Lys) genotyping was performed by a multiplex polymerase chain reaction using two allele-specific primer pairs. For ADH1B, the frequency of allele *1 in the cirrhotics, non-cirrhotic alcoholics and healthy volunteers was 97.4%, 94.9% and 99.4%, respectively. For ADH1C, the frequency of allele *1 in the cirrhotics, non-cirrhotic alcoholics and healthy volunteers was 47%, 36.3% and 45%, respectively. There was no statistical difference between the groups for ADH1B and ADH1C (p&gt;0.05). All alcoholic and non-alcoholic subjects (100%) had the allele *1 for ALDH2. The obtained results for ADH1B, ADH1C, and ALDH gene polymorphisms in the present study are similar to the results of Caucasian studies. ADH1B and ADH1C genetic variations are not related to the development of alcoholism or susceptibility to alcoholic cirrhosis. ALDH2 gene has no genetic variation in the Turkish population.

Comparison of the histopathological findings of patients with diabetic and idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome

PURPOSE

This study is aimed to investigate whether there are any histopathological differences between diabetic and idiopathic carpal tunnel syndromes.

METHODS

The biopsy specimens were taken from transverse carpal ligament (TCL), tenosynovium adjacent to median nerve and epineurium of median nerve and evaluated in 47 patients (21 diabetic and 26 idiopathic) who were diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and treated surgically with open carpal tunnel release. Fibroblast proliferation, fibrosis, perivascular inflammation, oedema, vascular proliferation and vascular wall thickness were determined and scored in all specimens.

RESULTS

There weren't any histopathological abnormalities in TCL specimens of both groups. Synovial hyperplasia, fibrosis and perivascular inflammation were not observed in tenosynovial analysis of both groups. Diabetic CTS patients, when compared with idiopathic CTS patients, had higher rates of synovial edema (idiopathic CTS 57 %, diabetic CTS 87 %), vascular proliferation (idiopathic CTS 30.8 %, diabetic CTS 90.5 %) and increased vascular wall thickness (idiopathic CTS 11.5 %, diabetic CTS 90.5 %). There was no oedema, fibrosis and perivascular inflammation of the epineurium in specimens of either group. But increases in vascular proliferation (idiopathic CTS 7.7 %, diabetic CTS 71.4 %) and vascular wall thickness (idiopathic CTS 3.8 %, diabetic CTS 71.4 %) was seen in the epineurium of diabetic patients and these differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Because of the severe synovial and epineurial histopathological abnormalities and inadequate neural regeneration capacity, surgical open carpal tunnel decompression should be planned earlier in diabetic CTS patients. Further studies should be considered to evaluate the histopathological features of diabetic CTS patients early in the course of the disease.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis A,B, and C viruses in Turkish alcoholic cirrhotics and the impact of hepatitis B on clinical profile

INTRODUCTION

The aims of this study were to detect the seroprevalence of hepatitis A, B, and C viruses in Turkish alcoholic cirrhotics, and to evaluate the impact of hepatitis B infection on clinical profile at first admittance.

METHODOLOGY

Serological markers for hepatitis A, B, and C viruses in 300 alcoholic cirrhotics diagnosed between January 1994 and December 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Among them, 148 eligible patients were divided into group 1 (HBsAg positive, n = 43) and group 2 (HBsAg and anti-HBc negative, n = 105). Clinical characteristics at first admittance of groups 1 and 2 were compared.

RESULTS

The seroprevalence of anti-HAV total, HBsAg, and anti-HCV was found to be 91.5%, 16.3%, and 8.2%, respectively. The prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma was higher in the HbsAg-positive group compared to HbsAg- and anti-HBc-negative group (16.3% vs. 2.9%, p = 0.007). Other clinical features were similar in the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Alcoholic cirrhotics have higher frequencies of HBsAg and anti-HCV than the general population. These patients should be investigated for coexistent HBV and HCV infections, and HBV vaccination should not be neglected. Alcoholic cirrhotic patients with concomitant HBV infection should be closely screened for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Management of pulse oximeter probe-induced finger injuries in children: report of two consecutive cases and review of the literature

Pulse oximetry is a standard noninvasive procedure for monitoring arterial oxygen saturation. Finger injuries related to pulse oximeter use have been reported as chemical or thermal burns, sun-tanning, pressure erosion, sensory loss, and gangrene. The mechanisms of these complications have not been definitively explained; but pressure ischemia, prolonged use, overheating of the probe, inappropriate use of the probe, and short circuiting are considered to be the main factors. We describe 2 cases of pulse oximeter probe-induced finger injuries, propose the possible mechanisms and factors related to the injury, and discuss the management.

[Posttraumatic primary cutaneous aspergillosis with Candida guilliermondii infection in a healthy host]

Opportunistic fungal infections are usually seen in immunocompromised patients. While Candida is the most prevalent agent in such infections, Aspergillus is at the second order. Primary cutaneous aspergillosis is most common in immunocompromised patients but can rarely be seen in healthy hosts as well. We report a case of posttraumatic primary cutaneous aspergillosis and Candida guilliermondii coinfection in a 70-years-old healthy man. The patient had an ulcerous lesion which developed in the site of a trauma on the middle finger of the right hand. Histopathological examination of the biopsy specimens revealed septate hyphae with dichotomous branching small circular blastospores. The cultures of the biopsy specimen yielded yellow-green colored, granular mold colonies and creamy white yeast colonies. Microscopic examination of the lactophenol cotton blue stained mold colonies indicated long conidiophores with vesicles surrounded by uniseriate phialides, compatible with Aspergillus flavus. Yeast colonies were identified as Candida guilliermondii by ID32C (BioMerieux, France) and by their microscopical morphology detected in corn meal-Tween 80 agar incubated at 25°C for 72 hours. The patient was treated properly with surgical debridement and itraconazole therapy. Since the immune system is compressed as a consequence of aging, cutaneous opportunistic fungal infections should be considered in the differential diagnosis of posttraumatic necrotic ulcers and black eschar in aged patients.