Biomedical subjects

A Ceviz

Publications and source records attributed to A Ceviz.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Management of spinal brucellosis and outcome of rehabilitation.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of cases. OBJECTIVE: To review cases of brucellosis in order to clarify diagnostic guidelines, treatment regimes and prognosis. SETTING: University Hospital, Turkey. METHODS: Study of 11 patients (9 male, 2 female) with either brucellar spondylitis or epidural brucellar abscess. Diagnosis made on clinical presentation, laboratory findings, radiographic evidence and a minimum brucellar anti body of 1 : 160, a positive bacteriological culture and/or histological finding of inflammation of granulomatous tissue. All patients were treated with a combination of oral antibiotics. Surgery was performed in 8 patients. RESULTS: At least 6 months antibiotic therapy using Rifampicin and Doxycycline is recommended. Surgery is indicated in the presence of spinal instability, cord compression or radiculopathy. In our series eight patients required surgery. CONCLUSION: The patients complaining of back pain, particularly in endemic areas should be investigated as possible cases of brucellosis.

Abscess↗

PubMed2001

Synovial cyst at the intervertebral foramina causing lumbar radiculopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the presence of intraforaminal synovial cysts resulting in nerve root compression. METHODS: A 26 year old man presenting with left leg pain was admitted. He had no motor, sensory, or reflex changes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MRI-myelography showed an intra and extra foraminal, extradural, cystic lesion at L4 vertebra on the left side. RESULTS: At surgery there was a cystic mass pressing on the nerve root, and no connection or communication with the dural structures could be found. CONCLUSION: Synovial cysts are uncommon extradural degenerative lesions. Intraspinal synovial cysts occur most often at the L4-5 level, but they have been reported in all areas of the spine except the intraforaminal region and the sacrum.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Lumbar epidural brucellar abscess causing nerve root compression.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the usefulness of MR sequences for the differential diagnosis of spinal brucellar abscesses which mimic lumbar disc herniation. METHODS: We analyzed six patients with brucellar abscesses who had symptoms mimicking lumbar disc herniation. The study group consisted of three women and three men who were 15-67 (mean = 37) years old. Patients were imaged in the axial and sagittal planes with a I.0-T MR scanner using a spine coil. RESULTS: The level of abscesses were accurate in 100% (six of six) of patients with MR imaging. MRI examinations revealed an extradural soft tissue mass which were iso- to hypointense compared to spinal cord on T1WI and hyperintense on T2-weighted images. By contrast study, diffuse homogeneous or slightly heterogeneous enhancements were seen. CONCLUSION: Lumbar extradural brucellar abscess can have lumbar disc disease symptoms. MRI may non-invasively and rapidly reveal the presence of spinal abscess and degree of extension to the spinal canal. Extradural brucellar abscess should be included in the differential diagnosis of radicular symptoms caused by disc herniation.

Abscess↗

PubMed1998

Tuberculous meningitis in adults: an eleven-year review.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the presentation, diagnosis and outcome of patients with tuberculous meningitis (TBM). DESIGN: The medical records of adults with TBM who were treated at Dicle University Hospital between January 1985 and October 1996 were reviewed. RESULTS: In total, 101 patients were identified and stratified according to the stage of disease at presentation. The mean duration of the symptoms of TBM before admission was 12 days. The majority of patients had headaches (96.0%), fever (91.1%), nuchal rigidity (91.1%), vomiting (81.2%), meningism (79.2%) and abnormal mental state (72.3%). The mean cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leukocyte count was 0.38 x 10(9)/L, protein 1410 mg/L, glucose 2.0 mmol/L and CSF/blood glucose ratio 27%. Cranial computerized tomography (CT) scans were performed during the course of TBM in 64 patients. The results were normal in 6.3%, and abnormal in 93.7% of the cases; the most frequent abnormality found on CT was hydrocephalus (45.3%). Forty-four patients (43.5%) died. Minor neurological sequelae developed in 11 patients (10.9%), major sequelae in 10 (9.9%), and 31 patients (30.7%) completely recovered. There was no follow-up for five patients (5.0%). Five factors were important in predicting fatal outcome: stage III at presentation, low glucose levels, low CSF/blood glucose ratio, high protein levels, and CT scanning abnormality. CONCLUSION: TBM is a very critical disease in terms of fatal outcome and permanent sequelae: 43.5% of the patients died and only 30.7% experienced complete recovery. Early treatment may reduce fatal outcome and morbidity.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

The effect of urokinase in preventing the formation of epidural fibrosis and/or leptomeningeal arachnoiditis.

BACKGROUND: Epidural fibrosis and leptomeningeal adhesion formation are among the common causes of failed back surgery syndrome. Urokinase has been commonly used in treating aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and intracerebral hematoma. METHODS: In a rat model, the potential of local urokinase in preventing the production of epidural fibrosis due to bleeding was investigated. RESULTS: A reduction of approximately 48% in leptomeningeal adhesion formation with the use of urokinase was demonstrated. Adhesion score was 2.300 in the control group and 0.700 in the urokinase treated group on day 42 of the postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that urokinase has the important effect of preventing the formation of leptomeningeal adhesion, but many more extensive studies clearly need to be done before such material can be clinically used.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Recurrent bacterial meningitis: a 6-year experience in adult patients.

Ten adult patients with recurrent bacterial meningitis (RBM) of 22 episodes were diagnosed and treated at the Dicle University Hospital from January 1990 to December 1995. Apart from 22 episodes of RBM these patients had an additional 25 episodes treated at other hospitals. The RBM attacks developed after closed head trauma in four patients, asplenia and chronic otitis media in one patient, chronic otitis media and oto-mastoiditis in one patient, chronic maxillary sinusitis in one patient, chronic mastoiditis in one patients, and suppurative foci of facial bones caused by shrapnel pieces and no predisposing condition in one patient. In 10 RBM episodes, Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and/or blood culture, and in one episode Proteus vulgaris was isolated from CSF and otitis media suppuration. In the four episodes both cultures were negative, but direct microscopy showed Gram-positive diplococci on Gram-staining. Three of the patients died from meningitis-related complications.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Effects of nimodipine and ofloxacin on staphylococcal brain abscesses in rats.

The therapeutic effects of nimodipine (CAS 66085-59-4) and ofloxacin (CAS 82419-36-1) were investigated against experimental brain abscess formation in rats. Nimodipine, a 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative, is chemically related to nifedipine but the smooth muscle relaxant effect preferentially acts on cerebral arteries. Ofloxacin is a member of 4-Quinolone broad spectrum antibiotics. Ninety-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were inoculated intracortically with Staphylococcus aureus and then different groups were treated with either saline, ofloxacin or the combination of ofloxacin and nimodipine. The rate of brain abscess formation and mortality were considerably decreased by nimodipine and ofloxacin therapy. Combination therapy was found histologically to be considerably more effective than ofloxacin alone against brain abscess formation in rats.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Effects of nimodipine on the cerebrovascular and neuronal changes during pneumococcal meningitis in the rat.

It was investigated whether treatment with the calcium channels blocker Nimodipine, a 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative, influences vasculopathy and neuronal injury in experimental pneumococcal meningitis. Rats were randomly assigned to one of three experimental groups. The first group (Control group, n = 20) was given saline (0.4 ml/day) intraperitoneally (i.p.), whereas the second group (group C, n = 22) was treated only with ceftriaxone in a dosage of 30 mg/day/i.p.. The third group (group C-N, n = 22) was treated with the combination of ceftriaxone 30 mg/day/i.p., and nimodipine 0.6 mg/day/i.p.. Treatment was begun at the time of inoculation in all three groups. The control group was compared clinically and histopathologically with groups C and C-N at 24 h, three and six days after inoculation. Six rats in the control group and eight rats in group C and group C-N were sacrificed at 24 hours and seven rats in each group were sacrificed on the third and sixth day after inoculation. Clinically, there were no significant differences between group C and group C-N (p>0.05). There were significant differences between group C and group C-N for vasculopathy and neuronal injury (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.005, respectively).

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Acceptable radiation leakage of microwave ovens on pregnant and newborn rat brains.

The present article was intended to investigate the possible effects of the acceptable radiation leakage of microwave ovens on pregnant and new-born rat brains. Twenty-seven pregnant Wistar-albino rats were separated into three groups (n = 9), a control group (sham-exposed) and two experimental groups. The experimental gravid rats were confined in Plexiglas cages and placed next to the closed door of a microwave oven (power-output: 550 W). The NIR 15 (NIR: non-ionising radiation) group of gravid rats were exposed to the leakage of microwave ovens daily for 15 minutes whereas the NIR 30 group was exposed daily for 30 minutes during their pregnancies. The most striking changes were observed in the NIR 30 group of rats. Congestive vessels, edema and degenerative neurones were noticed in all experimental dams. Chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate, and focal necrosis of neurones were seen only in the NIR 30 group of dams. Progressive edema and conspicuous congestive vessels were seen in the offspring of both experimental groups. Chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate, haemorrhage, necrotic neural tissues, and degenerative neurones with a reactive glial proliferation were observed only in the offspring of the NIR 30 groups.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Spinal intradural neuroepithelial cyst associated with multiple congenital anomalies in a child.

A case of spinal intradural neuroepithelial cyst is presented. The patient, who had thoracolumbar hypertrichosis, underwent magnetic resonance imaging which demonstrated a cystic lesion within spinal canal. The cystic lesion was removed surgically. Histological study proved it to be a neuroepithelial cyst. Spinal intradural neuroepithelial cyst associated with other congenital malformations is a rare condition.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

PubMed1986

Alveolar hydatid disease of the brain. Report of four cases.

Four cases of alveolar hydatid disease of the brain encountered within 27 months in eastern Turkey are reported. All of the patients were male farmers who presented with signs of cerebral tumor. Two of the patients were shown to harbor hepatic lesions and one of them had pulmonary metastases. The cerebral lesions were removed in toto and neurological recovery was obtained in all four patients. A review of the literature revealed only five previously reported cases treated surgically. It is concluded that cerebral Echinococcus multilocularis lesions are amenable to surgery, and that their removal provides useful prolongation of life despite the presence of hepatic or pulmonary disease.

Adult↗