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Biomedical subjects

C Ertekin

Publications and source records attributed to C Ertekin.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Esophageal injuries].

Despite progress in the management of esophageal perforations by early diagnosis, antibiotics, monitoring, and respiratory and nutritional support, it still remains as a disasterous condition. The most common cause of esophageal perforation is iatrogenic disruption. The result in the management of esophageal perforation is influenced by several factors: localization and size of the rupture, length of delay in diagnosis, age, extent of mediastinal and pleural contamination, the presence of underlying esophageal diseases, and inflammation or tumor at the perforation localization. In this study, 7 cases of esophageal perforations in the last six years have been analysed retrospectively. In study group, there were 5 males and 2 females, and the mean age was 36 (12-75). The most common cause of perforation was gunshot injury (3 cases), and stab wound (1 case), foreign body (1 case), iatrogenic distruption (2 cases). Three patients died and four patients were discharged from hospital with recovery. Esophageal perforation is a life-threatening condition. Early diagnosis and repair reduces the morbidity and mortality.

Adolescent↗

[Trauma and resuscitation course (TRC): evaluation of the first 2 years].

Eight Trauma and resuscitation Courses (TRC): two instructor and 6 student courses have been organized in Turkey between December 1998 and November 2000. Questionnaire results of 121 students and 63 instructors were reviewed. We strongly believe that these results will be supportive for the courses in the future. Fifty-five of the instructors were from university, and 8 were from teaching hospitals. 121 doctors attended six student courses, the average age of whom was 34. Average time period following university graduation was 10 years (3 months 43 years) for the participants. Among these, 94% found the course content sufficient. The course book was determined as insufficient in terms of drawings and pictures by 15%. The main target population of the course was selected as emergency service doctors and practitioners. As a result we determined that the main criticisms were insufficient practical and video sessions and the lack of drawings in the course book our main goal is to accomplish the required changes, and make new courses more yielding and profitable, thus introduce standardization in terms of trauma care nationwide.

Audiovisual Aids↗

[The evaluation of the suitability of our cases for referral to a level I trauma center].

This study was performed on 200 patients with a prospective method, between July and October 1998. The aim of the study was to analyze the patients who were admitted directly or referred from another hospital, if they were suitable with the transfer criteria to a level I trauma center. One hundred and seven patients (53.5%) were admitted without ambulance and 93 patients (46.5%) by ambulance to our center. 34% of those patients applied directly and 66% of them were sent from other hospitals. Private ambulances consisted 70%, and 30% the belonged to the national health service. Only 26% of the ambulances had doctor as staff. The most common trauma etiologies were: traffic accidents (42.5%), falling from a height (37.5%) and assaults (11.5%). The mean Glasgow coma score (GCS) of the patients was calculated as 13.9 and mean revised trauma score was 11.7. The Glasgow coma score, revised trauma score and appropriateness to the transfer criteria of the American College of Surgeons were statistically analyzed according to the Fischer Exact test. The results revealed that 96% of the patients with RTS, 86% of the patients with GCS and 60% of the patients with ACS were not appropriate to the transfer criteria to a level I trauma center. In conclusion; we believe that GCS will predict better results in the triage of trauma patients with head trauma in our country.

Female↗

Effect of mucosal anaesthesia on oropharyngeal swallowing.

The effect of the topical anaesthesia of the oropharyngeal mucosae was studied in order to evaluate the role of the mucosal sensory receptors on the oropharyngeal swallowing in 12 adult volunteers. Laryngeal vertical movements were detected by a piezoelectric sensor and electromyography of the submental muscle complex were simultaneously recorded. All subjects were instructed to swallow doses of water, gradually increasing in quantity from 3-20 mL and any recurrence of the signals related to swallowing within 8 s was accepted as a sign of dysphagia and its limit value measured. Before the topical anaesthesia of the oropharyngeal mucosae by xylocaine puffs; the dysphagia limit was never observed with less than 20 mL water. During topical mucosal anaesthesia lasting 4-6 min among the subjects, the dysphagia limit was less than 20 mL water and the recurrence of swallows two or more times was mainly recorded with 3-5 mL water. Five of the subjects demonstrated the clinical and electrophysiological signs of laryngeal aspiration at the earlier period of the topical anaesthesia. It is concluded that the sensory inputs from the mucosal receptors are important to trigger voluntary swallowing and their absence or dysfunction may contribute to oropharyngeal dysphagia and laryngeal aspiration.

Adult↗

Proximal and distal motor nerve conduction in obturator and femoral nerves.

OBJECTIVE: To study the proximal and distal motor conduction properties of obturator and femoral nerves. DESIGN: For evaluation of distal motor conduction properties, obturator and femoral nerves were stimulated at the inguinal ligament, and M responses were recorded with needle electrodes from gracilis and rectus femoris muscles. Upper lumbar roots were stimulated with needle electrodes inserted between L1-L2 vertebral laminae. PARTICIPANTS: Sixteen healthy adults, eight of each gender, age 22 to 52 years (mean 37.5). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Description of a method for assessing motor conduction along the obturator nerve and evaluating proximal motor conduction measurements obtained with stimulation of obturator and femoral nerves. RESULTS: Distal motor conduction latencies were 3.9 +/- 0.7 msec for gracilis and 4.6 +/- 0.5msec for rectus femoris after stimulation of obturator and femoral nerves, respectively. Proximal conduction times from lumbar vertebral level were 10.4 +/- 0.3msec for the obturator nerve and 10.8 +/- 0.4msec for the femoral nerve. Conduction velocities of proximal segments of both nerves were similar, 62m/sec for the obturator nerve and 65m/sec for the femoral nerve. Submaximal stimulation of both nerves evoked H-reflex responses from their associated muscles. CONCLUSIONS: Motor conduction properties of the obturator nerve can be assessed by the method described, particularly to differentiate between peripheral, plexus, or radicular lesions that involve the obturator nerve.

Adult↗

Pathophysiological mechanisms of oropharyngeal dysphagia in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

We investigated the pathophysiological mechanisms of dysphagia in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Forty-three patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis were examined by clinical and electrophysiological methods that objectively measured the oropharyngeal phase of voluntarily initiated swallowing, and these results were compared with those obtained from 50 age-matched control subjects. Laryngeal movements were detected by a piezoelectric sensor and EMG of submental muscles, and needle EMG of the cricopharyngeal muscle of the upper oesophageal sphincter of both the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and control groups was recorded during swallowing. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients with dysphagia displayed the following abnormal findings. (i) Submental muscle activity of the laryngeal elevators, which produce reflex upward deflection of the larynx during wet swallowing, was significantly prolonged whereas the laryngeal relocation time of the swallowing reflex remained within normal limits. (ii) The cricopharyngeal sphincter muscle EMG demonstrated severe abnormalities during voluntarily initiated swallows. The opening of the sphincter was delayed and/or the closure occurred prematurely, the total duration of opening was shortened and, at times, unexpected motor unit bursts appeared during this period. (iii) During voluntarily initiated swallows there was significant lack of co-ordination between the laryngeal elevator muscles and the cricopharyngeal sphincter muscle. These results point to two pathophysiological mechanisms that operate to cause dysphagia in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. (i) The triggering of the swallowing reflex for the voluntarily initiated swallow is delayed and eventually abolished, whereas the spontaneous reflexive swallows are preserved until the preterminal stage of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. (ii) The cricopharyngeal sphincter muscle of the upper oesophageal sphincter becomes hyper-reflexic and hypertonic. As a result, the laryngeal protective system and the bolus transport system of deglutition lose their co-ordination during voluntarily initiated swallowing. We conclude that these pathophysiological changes are related mainly to the progressive degeneration of the excitatory and inhibitory corticobulbar pyramidal fibres.

Adult↗

The electromyographic behavior of the thyroarytenoid muscle during swallowing.

The electromyographic (EMG) behavior of the laryngeal adductors (e.g., the thyroarytenoid [TA] muscle) during swallowing has been scarcely studied. However, the detailed analysis of TA muscle is important to understand the physiology of swallowing. We investigated 14 healthy adult subjects. Activation of the TA laryngeal adductor muscle was compared with the mechanically measured laryngeal up-down movement and with the onset of excitation of laryngeal elevators, such as submental (SM) muscles, during swallowing. The laryngeal adductor of TA and laryngeal elevators of SM muscles were electromyographically (integrated/rectified) recorded. The vertical laryngeal movements during swallowing were recorded using a piezoelectric sensor. The EMG behavior of the TA muscle revealed three different activities during swallowing. The basic activity was stable; it almost started with the upward movement of larynx and after the SM-EMG onset. A fore-burst was recorded just before the upward movement of the larynx and a late-burst appeared just after the downward movement. The fore-burst was proposed to be related with oral-laryngeal reflexes, and the late-burst could be a rebound activity after a short expiration of swallowing, while the basic activity is accepted to be a part of activity of central-pattern generator of swallowing program.

Adult↗

Mechanisms of dysphagia in suprabulbar palsy with lacunar infarct.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The objective of the present study was to investigate the neural mechanisms of dysphagia in suprabulbar palsy (SBP) with multiple lacunar infarct. METHODS: We evaluated the swallowing disorders of patients with SBP (n=34) and age-matched healthy control subjects (n=35) by means of an electrophysiological method that recorded the oropharyngeal swallowing patterns. With this method, dysphagia limit, the triggering of voluntarily initiated swallows, duration of laryngeal relocation time, and total duration of oropharyngeal swallowing were recorded and measured. In addition, the EMG behavior of the cricopharyngeal (CP) muscle of the upper esophageal sphincter was also assessed. RESULTS: In patients with SBP, the dysphagia limit in all except 1 patient was pathological with limits of <20-mL bolus volume, which is contrary to normal subjects, in whom the dysphagia limit exceeds the 20-mL bolus volume. Either triggering of swallowing reflex was delayed (P<0.04), or the swallow could hardly be triggered in 7 patients on the voluntary attempts for 3 mL water. Whenever the reflex swallowing could be triggered, it was slow and prolonged (P<0.01). The CP muscle of the upper esophageal sphincter appeared to have become hyperreflexic and incoordinated with laryngeal movements during swallowing. CONCLUSIONS: It was proposed that the progressive involvement of the excitatory and inhibitory corticobulbar fiber systems linked with the bulbar swallowing center is mainly responsible for the triggering difficulties of the swallowing reflex and for the hyperreflexic/incoordinated nature of the CP sphincter. In addition, the dysfunction of the extrapyramidal system has a specific role in the slowing of oropharyngeal swallowing and the accumulation of saliva in the mouth.

Adult↗

The head stabilization reflex by stimulation of accessory nerve.

The head stabilization reflex (HSR) was described by a new technique of stimulating the accessory nerve and then the reflex muscle responses' were recorded electromyographically from the contralateral sternocleidomastoid muscle. Thirty-two normal control subjects and 22 patients with various neurological disorders were studied. The HSR obtained from the contralateral sternocleidomastoid muscle was very stable with a mean latency of about 45 ms and was regularly obtained by the supramaximal stimulation of the ipsilateral accessory nerve from the normal subjects. The HSR was absent in 9 out 11 patients with cerebellar syndrome. The HSR seemed to be a oligo-polysynaptic/plurosegmental reflex under the strong control of the cerebellum.

Accessory Nerve↗

Autonomic nerve involvement and venous leakage in diabetic men with impotence.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the neurophysiological and vascular factors in diabetic impotence, particularly the role of autonomic neuropathy on venous leakage and erectile impotence. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-four diabetic men with impotence were investigated using various neurophysiological and radiological methods. The results were compared with those from patients with idiopathic penile venous leakage for autonomic neuropathy, especially for spontaneous cavernosal activity (SCA). RESULTS: Of the neurophysiological tests, the SCA was most frequently abnormal, with the loss of normal periodic oscillations. Penile venous leakage, either alone or with arterial insufficiency, was the most frequent vascular problem (67%) in patients with diabetic impotence, in whom the SCA was absent in most (83%). Conversely, the SCA was normal in all impotent patients with idiopathic venous leakage. CONCLUSION: Venous leakage in diabetic patients is probably produced by autonomic dysfunction of the penile vascular innervation or degeneration of penile smooth muscles, because the SCA was absent more often in these patients.

Adult↗

The nature of spontaneous cavernosal activity.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the characteristics of spontaneous cavernosal activity (SCA) and to relate this to previous descriptions of spontaneous potentials from the cavernosum (single potential analysis of cavernosal activity, SPACE). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The SCA was recorded in 31 normal men with no sexual problems; various manipulations were applied using concentric-needle (CN), bipolar needle (BN) and surface electrodes. The electrical activity was compared with the observed slow retractile movements of the flaccid penis and with other assessments of electrical activity from skin. RESULTS: SCA appeared synchronously from both sides of the cavernosal bodies in all normal subjects when detected by CN electrodes. The synchronous recordings both by CN and BN electrodes, or both by CN and surface electrodes registered similar oscillatory potentials. Slow retractile movements of the penis occurred synchronously with these potentials in all subjects and both were absent during erection. CONCLUSION: SCA is apparently related to biomechanical slow movement artefacts of the flaccid penis: it may be a consequence of the summed contractions of smooth muscle groups in the cavernosum. Observing the small retractile slow movements of the flaccid penis and recording the SCA may be a useful indirect method to characterize cavernosal neural innervation and smooth muscle activity.

Adult↗

Traumatic rupture of hydatid cysts: a 12-year experience from an endemic region.

BACKGROUND: Trauma as a cause of hydatid cyst rupture leads to various clinical sequelae. However, extensive data in the current literature regarding clinical presentation and management of such patients are lacking. METHODS: This article is a retrospective review of 16 patients with traumatic rupture of hydatid cysts treated at a university hospital in an endemic area. RESULTS: Falls (44%) were the most common cause of trauma. The ruptured cysts were located in the liver in 13 patients (81%), in the spleen in 2 patients, and in the lung in 1 patient. Computerized tomography had a sensitivity of 100% in demonstrating cyst rupture; whereas, ultrasonography had a sensitivity of 85%. Ten patients (62%) had rupture into the peritoneal cavity and 5 patients (31%) into the biliary tree. Five (31%) of the cysts were infected. Surgical procedures included introflexion (five patients), pericystectomy-choledochoduodenostomy (three patients), external drainage-choledochoduodenostomy (two patients), unroofing-external drainage (two patients), splenectomy (two patients), unroofing (one patient), and right hepatectomy (one patient). Mean length of hospitalization was 15.9 days (range, 5-61 days). One patient (6%) died, and eight patients (50%) developed complications. Nine patients (56%) were followed-up for an average of 30 months (range, 3-72 months), and there was no recurrence. CONCLUSION: Computed tomography is currently the most sensitive diagnostic tool for demonstrating hydatid cyst rupture. The surgical options vary depending on intraoperative findings. Allergic reactions and recurrence as a result of intraperitoneal spillage are not as common as once believed. Biliary rupture is associated with an increased rate of wound infection.

Accidental Falls↗

Motor-evoked potentials from various levels of paravertebral muscles in normal subjects and in patients with focal lesions of the spinal cord.

STUDY DESIGN: This prospective study includes normal control subjects and patients with focal lesions of the spinal cord investigated by transcranial magnetic stimulation. OBJECTIVES: To establish a stable method to elicit motor evoked potentials from cervical to lumbar segmental levels and to apply the method that would allow the localization in patients with restricted cord lesion. Thirty-four healthy subjects (10 women, 24 men) and 17 patients with focal spinal lesions were admitted to this study. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The focal cord lesions and injuries were previously evaluated by the records of lower limb muscles after cortical stimulation, but this method did not demonstrate the vertebral levels at which the lesions were located. METHODS: The paravertebral myotomal-evoked potentials were recorded in different segmental levels (T1, T6, T12, and L3) from paravertebral muscles, using surface and needle electrodes by transcranial magnetic stimulation in normal control subjects and patients. RESULTS: In normal control subjects, paravertebral myotomal-evoked potentials were obtained from T1, T6, T12, and L3 paravertebral muscles with both recording techniques (surface and needle electrode). From T1 to L3 latencies of paravertebral myotomal-evoked potentials increased gradually (from 10 msec to 17 msec) in normal control subjects. The levels of spinal cord lesions were obtained reliably in 14 of 17 patients with thoracic-lumbar spinal cord lesions, by using both electrophysiologic methods. In 11 of 14 patients, the lesions produced total conduction block, at and below the lesion level. In the remaining 3 patients slowing of intersegmental conduction was observed along the focal cord lesion. CONCLUSIONS: The paravertebral myotomal-evoked potentials obtained by surface electrode from paravertebral muscles and by midline needle electrode in the intrinsic rotatory muscles of the spine were useful in localizing lesions in the spinal segments in most of the patients with thoracic-lumbar cord lesions.

Adult↗

Surface stimulation single-fiber electromyography.

Stimulation single-fiber electromyography (S-SFEMG) is an alternative method to SFEMG during voluntary contraction (VC-SFEMG). S-SFEMG is preferred to VC-SFEMG in uncooperating patients, children, and patients having severe weakness. Surface stimulation is a viable alternative to needle stimulation in S-SFEMG. In the present study, surface versus needle stimulation of facial nerve has been tested by recording from the orbicularis oculi and frontalis muscles. Jitter values obtained by both methods have been found to be nearly equal.

Adult↗

Effect of the vastus medialis obliquus on the patellofemoral joint.

In this study, the effect of dynamic stabilizers on the patellofemoral (PF) joint was investigated in normal volunteers (group I) and in patients with patellar pain (group II) or instability (group III) by using computed tomography (CT) analysis and integrated electromyography (iEMG) of the quadriceps muscle. Nine subjects (16 knees) from group I, 10 patients (12 knees) from group II and 8 patients (12 knees) from group III were included in the study. CT scans of the PF joint with quadriceps contracted (QC) and uncontracted (QU) and iEMG of vastus medialis obliquus (VMO), vastus lateralis (VL) and rectus femoris (RF) were obtained with the aid of a specially designed jig at 0 degree, 15 degrees, 30 degrees and 45 degrees of knee flexion. The same muscle contraction pattern simulating closed kinetic chain exercise was used for both CT and iEMG. The difference between the congruence angles (CA) and tilt angles (PTA) in QC and QU positions and VMO:VL ratio from the iEMG were calculated separately for each flexion angle. CA was increased in all groups with quadriceps contraction at 0 degree and 15 degrees of flexion. PTA was decreased in group I and increased in groups II and III with quadriceps contraction at the same flexion angles. This difference was statistically significant in group III at 0 degree and 15 degrees of flexion. Quadriceps contraction did not affect the patellar position significantly even in the instability group at 45 degrees of flexion. In all flexion angles the balanced VMO:VL activity ratio was observed only in group I. In the other groups, VL activity was higher than VMO activity except at 45 degrees of flexion. These findings do not support the hypothesis of dominant centralizing effect of VMO on the patella in extension, but the effect of the VMO may be more clearly demonstrated by measuring PTA in both QC and QU positions.

Adult↗

Use of levodopa to relieve pain from painful symmetrical diabetic polyneuropathy.

Levodopa has been used to treat some painful conditions and found to be effective in neuropathic pain due to herpes zoster in a double-blind study. From our anecdotal observations about the efficacy of levodopa on diabetic neuropathic pain, we designed a double-blind placebo-controlled study to test levodopa in painful diabetic neuropathy. Twenty-five out-patients with painful symmetrical diabetic polyneuropathy were admitted to the study. Fourteen patients were given 100 mg levodopa plus 25 mg benserazide to be taken three times per day for 28 days. Eleven patients were given identical placebo capsules. A blinded neurologist evaluated the patients clinically and performed Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) measurement every week from day 0 to day 28. The results seemed promising and levodopa may be a choice for the control of pain in neuropathy for which we do not have many alternative treatments.

Adult↗