Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A Gür.
Ochronosis involves primarily the large cartilaginous joint surfaces, ribs, intervertebral discs, ear cartilage etc. We report on a 53-year-old woman with typical alkaptonuric ochronosis with dark urine, blue-black pigmentation of the auriculae and hands, focal brown hyperpigmentation of the sclera, spondylarthropathy and severe shoulder joint involvement.
Low energy lasers are widely used to treat a variety of musculoskeletal conditions including fibromyalgia, despite the lack of scientific evidence to support its efficacy. A randomised, single-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of low-energy laser therapy in 40 female patients with fibromyalgia. Patients with fibromyalgia were randomly allocated to active (Ga-As) laser or placebo laser treatment daily for two weeks except weekends. Both the laser and placebo laser groups were evaluated for the improvement in pain, number of tender points, skinfold tenderness, stiffness, sleep disturbance, fatigue, and muscular spasm. In both groups, significant improvements were achieved in all parameters (p<0.05) except sleep disturbance, fatigue and skinfold tenderness in the placebo laser group (p>0.05). It was found that there was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to all parameters before therapy whereas a significant difference was observed in parameters as pain, muscle spasm, morning stiffness and tender point numbers in favour of laser group after therapy (p<0.05). None of the participants reported any side effects. Our study suggests that laser therapy is effective on pain, muscle spasm, morning stiffness, and total tender point number in fibromyalgia and suggests that this therapy method is a safe and effective way of treatment in the cases with fibromyalgia.
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.
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.
OBJECTIVE: To illustrate the dilemmas in the diagnosis and management of intramedullary tuberculomas of the spinal cord. METHODS: Case report of a 32 year-old man with tuberculous meningitis. The presence of unexplained urinary retention and progressive weakness in the legs led to the discovery of an additional tuberculoma of the conus medullaris. SETTING: Dicle University Diyarbakir, Turkey. RESULTS: The patient was on a 1-year course of isoniazid, pyrazinamide and rifampicin, and responded well to conservative treatment. Our patient's unique features were represented by the worsening of neurological symptoms while being treated with adequate anti-tuberculous medication. CONCLUSION: We present a case of intramedullary tuberculoma of the conus medullaris to illustrate the dilemmas in the diagnosis and management of this curable disease, and review of the literature to date.
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Acute exacerbations, most of which are due to lower respiratory tract infections, cause great morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and most of these are due to lower respiratory tract infections. The aim of this study was to determine the causative organism and the effects of azithromycin, ampicillin sulbactam (sultamicillin), ciprofloxacin and cefaclor monohydrate therapy in COPD. One hundred and six patients with COPD in acute exacerbation were randomized into four groups for empiric antibiotic treatment following lung function tests and sputum examination. The most common strains isolated from sputum were Haemophilus influenzae (30.8%), Streptoccocus pneumoniae (12%) and Moraxella catarrhalis (7.7%). Azithromycin, sultamicillin, ciprofloxacin and cefaclor monohydrate were found to be effective in treating COPD exacerbations.
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