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Biomedical subjects

Hakan Ozdemir

Publications and source records attributed to Hakan Ozdemir.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Posterior spinal epidural abscess: an unusual complication of vertebroplasty.

OBJECTIVE: Complications after vertebroplasty are rare. There are few reported infectious complications requiring surgical management such as corpectomy with anterior reconstruction and posterior stabilization, although we have not seen any reports about epidural abscess in the literature. We present a patient in whom posterior epidural abscess developed after vertebroplasty in which drainage and antibiotherapy were required for treatment. METHODS: A 70-year-old female with a painful T12 osteoporotic compression fracture underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty using polymethylmethacrylate without complication. One week after vertebroplasty, however, she had fever and increased back pain. On clinical examination, soft tissue abscess formation was determined at the vertebroplasty site. This was drained surgically and antibiotic treatment was started. At follow-up, she had progressive neurological deterioration (paraparetic) on the 18th day after abscess drainage. MRI of the thoracolombar spine revealed posterior spinal epidural abscess at the T11/12 level. Partial laminectomy and drainage were performed. She had complete neurological recovery in the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: An epidural abscess, which is an unusual complication of vertebroplasty, represents a medical and surgical emergency. Treatment is generally urgent surgical drainage combined with antibiotics. The patient should be evaluated in detail for systemic infectious disease and comorbid conditions before the vertebroplasty procedure.

Aged↗

Early optical coherence tomography changes after photodynamic therapy in patients with age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: To evaluate early changes after photodynamic therapy (PDT) in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by optical coherence tomography (OCT). DESIGN: Prospective interventional case series. METHODS: PDT was performed on 20 eyes of 20 patients who presented with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) attributable to AMD. OCT was used to evaluate changes at 2, 12, and 24 hours and at 3, 7, 15, and 30 days after therapy. RESULTS: In the first 24 hours, OCT showed an increase in the subretinal fluid (SF) in all eyes and an increase in intraretinal fluid (IF) in 13 eyes. On the 15th day and the 30th day after therapy, reduction of SF and IF was observed in almost all eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Serial OCT evaluation of patients with subfoveal CNV attributable to AMD suggests that the initial response after PDT is an increase in SF and IF.

Aged↗

Optical coherence tomography after photodynamic therapy for patients with pathologic myopia.

PURPOSE: To evaluate early changes after photodynamic therapy (PDT) for patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) due to pathologic myopia by optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: PDT was performed on 10 eyes of 10 patients who presented with subfoveal CNV due to pathologic myopia. OCT was used to evaluate changes 1 day, 3 days, and 7 days after therapy. Changes in intraretinal and subretinal fluid and CNV were examined on the images obtained. The retinal elevation and the height of the neurosensory retinal detachment were calculated. From these two values, the thickness of the neurosensory retina was obtained. The thickness of the neurosensory retina was measured to ascertain the intraretinal fluid change, and the height of the neurosensory retinal detachment was measured to ascertain the subretinal fluid change. RESULTS: The mean pretherapy retinal elevation+/-SD increased from 211+/-28 microm to 230+/-39 microm 1 day after PDT and decreased to 221+/-36 microm 3 days after therapy. At 7 days after therapy, the mean retinal elevation+/-SD was 211+/-22 microm. The retinal elevation was due to a subretinal fluid accumulation, whereas the thickness of the neurosensory retina increased only to a minor extent (range, 0-22 microm) and the foveal architecture remained unchanged. The mean pretherapy height+/-SD of the neurosensory retinal detachment was 6+/-11 microm. It was 18+/-20 microm, 12+/-12 microm, and 3+/-6 microm 1 day, 3 days, and 7 days after therapy, respectively. No change in CNV was observed during follow-up. CONCLUSION: The results of our study indicate that the acute infiltration observed in patients with pathologic myopia after PDT occurs in the first day and regresses during the first week. Yet, it should be noted that, unlike in patients with age-related macular degeneration, the acute infiltration phase can be observed by OCT only to a limited extent.

Adult↗

Doppler sonographic evaluation of hemodynamic changes in colorectal liver metastases relative to liver size.

OBJECTIVE: The mechanisms of hemodynamic alterations in colorectal liver metastases are not clearly understood yet. Considering that an increase in liver size in patients with metastases could also result in an alteration in total liver flow, we aimed to analyze hemodynamic changes relative to the liver volume and to search for the possibility of any intrinsic factors affecting blood flow in patients with metastases. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with colorectal liver metastases and 20 control subjects with no liver disease were evaluated sonographically. All patients were examined prospectively by Doppler sonography and helical computed tomography. Hepatic hemodynamic parameters, including blood flow in the hepatic artery and portal vein, total blood flow to the liver, and Doppler perfusion index, were calculated, and values relative to liver volume were obtained. Hepatic perfusion changes in liver metastases were then compared with those in a control group. RESULTS: The liver volume of the patients with liver metastases was greater than that of the control group (P=.003). Hepatic arterial blood flow rates were higher, whereas portal flow rates were lower, in patients with liver metastases compared with control subjects (P<.05). Total liver blood flow was not significantly different between the two groups. However, total blood flow relative to liver volume was significantly lower in the metastatic group (P<.001). Doppler perfusion index values in the patients with metastasis were significantly higher than in the control group (P=.000). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings may support the hypothesis that a humoral mediator-induced portal venous flow reduction causes perfusion changes in liver metastases from colorectal disease. However, an additional intrinsic hepatic hemodynamic event should also be present. Doppler perfusion index measurements can provide additional information in the evaluation of patients with colorectal liver metastases.

Adult↗

Portomesenteric venous gas: imaging findings with an emphasis on sonography.

OBJECTIVE: Portomesenteric venous gas is a rare condition with an unclear pathogenesis. Most studies in the medical literature mention computed tomography (CT) as the primary imaging tool for this entity. The objective of this study was to outline the advantages and disadvantages of sonography in the evaluation of patients with portomesenteric venous gas. METHODS: We describe 7 patients (3 female and 4 male; age range, 47-83 years) with portomesenteric venous gas. Both CT and sonographic examinations were performed in each patient. Our patient population consisted of 2 patients with superior mesenteric artery occlusion, 3 with ischemia of the colon, small bowel, or both, 1 with gastric ulcer perforation, and 1 with ischemic bowel disease presumably secondary to complications of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. RESULTS: Portal venous gas was observed in all 7 patients with sonography and in 6 patients with CT. Computed tomography was unable to show gas in the portal venous system in 1 patient. Sonography showed patchy hepatic gas accumulation (likely within small peripheral portal vein branches) with no correlative findings on CT. Computed tomography showed important associated findings, including pneumatosis intestinalis. CONCLUSIONS: In cases with portomesenteric gas, CT is the preferred modality for showing the underlying etiology. However, with its real-time imaging capability, sonography may also be a very valuable imaging modality in the evaluation of this entity.

Aged↗

The role of late-phase pulse inversion harmonic imaging in the detection of occult hepatic metastases.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of late-phase pulse inversion harmonic imaging (PIHI) in detecting occult metastases and to compare the results with helical computed tomography (CT) in a group of patients whose fundamental liver sonographic results were normal. METHODS: Thirty-two patients (21 women and 11 men; age range, 20-87 years) with a known primary malignancy were enrolled in the study. The patients were evaluated with conventional sonography, unenhanced PIHI, and PIHI 3 minutes after the injection of Levovist (SH U 508A; Schering AG, Berlin, Germany). All patients also underwent triphasic helical CT within 1 week after sonography. In 1 patient, mangafodipir-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging was performed as part of the clinical workup. RESULTS: After Levovist injection, in 4 (12.5%) of 32 patients, at least 1 hypoechoic lesion was detected by PIHI; multiple lesions were shown in 1 patient. The mean diameter of newly detected lesions was 12 mm. Triphasic helical CT also showed all of the lesions that were detected by PIHI. The diagnoses were confirmed by biopsy and CT findings in 2 patients and by the typical CT and magnetic resonance imaging findings in 1 patient. For the fourth patient, the diagnosis was confirmed by follow-up and CT. Conclusions. Late-phase PIHI is comparable to helical CT for detecting occult hepatic metastases, but it protects patients from the potentially hazardous effects of radiation and iodinated contrast agents. Further series involving a larger number of patients are needed to determine its place in the evaluation of cancer staging and treatment planning.

Adult↗

Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide in sympathetic ophthalmia.

PURPOSE: To report the result of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide in the treatment of sympathetic ophthalmia. METHODS: A 29-year-old woman who suffered from sympathetic ophthalmia and who was being treated with systemic corticosteroid therapy received an intravitreal injection of 4 mg of triamcinolone acetonide. RESULTS: By the 15th day after injection visual acuity had improved from 20/200 to 20/40 and serous retinal detachment had almost completely resorbed. Systemic corticosteroid therapy was reduced sequentially. By the third month after injection, the patient was in clinical remission. Her visual acuity was 20/20 and no serous detachment was observed. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, short-term improvement in the clinical picture of a patient with sympathetic ophthalmia after intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection was described. The results suggest that intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection may be an additional tool in the treatment of sympathetic ophthalmia.

Acute Disease↗

Does intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide-assisted peeling of the internal limiting membrane effect the outcome of macular hole surgery?

PURPOSE: To evaluate functional and anatomical outcome of triamcinolone acetonide assisted internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling in patients with macular hole. METHODS: Fifteen eyes of 15 consecutive patients were identified with stage 3 and 4 idiopathic macular holes, these undergoing triamcinolone acetonide assisted ILM peeling for macular holes. These were matched retrospectively with 15 eyes of 15 patients with stage 3 and 4 idiopathic macular holes of less than six months duration, who underwent macular hole surgery with ILM peel augmented with indocyanine green (ICG). Functional and anatomical outcomes were compared between two groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups with reference to demographic features of age, sex, staging of the macular holes and the proportion subsequently undergoing cataract surgery. The mean follow-up period was 6.4 months in the triamcinolone acetonide group and 7.2 months in the ICG group. The hole closure rate was 100% in both group at primary operation. The mean Snellen line change was +1.24 in the intravitreal triamcinolone group and +1.1 in the ICG group. There was a significant improvement in Snellen and Logmar visual acuity in both groups. These differences in visual outcome between the groups were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed similar outcomes for patients with macular hole where ICG has been used when compared to patients where triamcinolone acetonide has been used for ILM peeling. Further study with longer follow-up and large series is warranted to assess the safety of the triamcinolone acetonide assisted ILM peeling in macular hole surgery.

Basement Membrane↗

Regression of serous macular detachment after intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide in patients with diabetic macular edema.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide on serous macular detachment in eyes with diabetic macular edema. DESIGN: Interventional case series. METHODS: The study population comprised twenty eyes of 20 patients with diabetic macular edema (12 men, eight women), aged 48 to 76 years. The eligibility criteria for this study included clinically detectable macular edema in which the presence of serous macular detachment was documented by optical coherence tomography. After intravitreal injection of 0.1 ml (4 mg) triamcinolone acetonide, visual and anatomic responses were observed. RESULTS: In all eyes, after an injection of triamcinolone acetonide, macular edema and serous macular detachment regressed. At 3 and 6 months, macular edema and serous macular detachment had recurred in eight (40%) and nine eyes (45%), respectively. Patients with recurrence were re-treated. No eyes lost vision at 1 month, and all eyes showed improvement. At 3 months, no eyes had lost vision from baseline, and 17 eyes (85%) showed improvement. At 6 months, again no eyes had lost vision from baseline, and 16 eyes (80%) maintained improved visual acuity. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide is an effective treatment for serous macular detachment in patients with diabetic macular edema.

Aged↗

Arthroscopic treatment of anterolateral soft tissue impingement of the ankle: evaluation of factors affecting outcome.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results for patients treated arthroscopically for anterolateral soft tissue impingement syndrome, to determine the factors affecting the outcome, and to report on a synovial shelf. TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective clinical review. METHODS: Forty-one patients underwent operative arthroscopy for anterolateral impingement of the ankle between 1990 and 2001; the mean follow-up was 83.7 months (range, 21 to 152 months). There were 25 men and 16 women with an average age of 33.2 years (range, 15 to 63 years). All patients reported a history of inversion injury to the ankle. The most frequent preoperative complaints were tenderness localized to the anterolateral aspect of the ankle, swelling, crepitation, and pain at weight-bearing. All patients had failed to respond to at least 3 months of conservative treatment. The results were assessed according to Meislin's criteria and the American Orthopaedics Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scoring table. For statistical analysis, the Mann-Whitney U test was used where appropriate and the significance was set at P < .005. RESULTS: According to Meislin's criteria, there were excellent results in 21 patients, good in 16, fair in 2, and poor in 2. The mean AOFAS score was 89.6 points (range, 60-100) at follow-up. Four different soft tissue pathologies causing impingement were described. It has been statistically shown that cartilage damage located at the anterolateral region of the ankle and not advanced to the subchondral bone, and repeated inversion injuries had negative effects on clinical results at long-term follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The arthroscopic diagnosis and treatment of anterolateral soft tissue impingement is a safe and effective method. Any combination of associated intra-articular pathologies, such as a chondral lesion or a new inversion injury of the ankle, after the arthroscopic procedure resulted in a poor outcome. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, Therapeutic Study.

Adolescent↗

Doppler and gray-scale ultrasound evaluation of morphological and hemodynamic changes in liver vascualture in alcoholic patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to search sonographically for morphological and hemodynamic changes in hepatic and splanchnic vasculature of alcoholic patients having no signs of hepatic damage, and compare these with normal healthy subjects. METHODS: Thirty alcohol-dependent patients and 30 control subjects with no alcohol problem or hepatic impairment were included in the study. All patients were evaluated by gray-scale and spectral Doppler ultrasound. The diameter of the portal vein, portal venous velocity, peak systolic and end diastolic velocities of hepatic and superior mesenteric arteries were assessed. RI, PI and systolic/diastolic velocity ratios were also calculated. RESULTS: Portal vein cross-sectional area was greater in alcoholic patients compared to control group (P = 0.0012). Portal vein velocity, hepatic artery peak systolic and end diastolic velocity, superior mesenteric artery peak systolic and end diastolic velocity were significantly greater in alcoholic patients than in control group (P < or = 0.001). No statistically significant difference was detected between other parameters evaluated. CONCLUSION: In alcohol-dependent patients, some hemodynamic and morphologic changes occur in hepatic and splanchnic circulation, even before the signs of hepatic damage develop. These changes can be detected by means of Doppler and gray-scale sonogrsphy.

Adult↗

The knowledge of "Facts for Life".

OBJECTIVE: "Facts for Life" is an essential tool for saving the lives of children. In this study we wanted to evaluate the knowledge of "Facts for Life" among Turkish women. DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional field study. We used 25 indicator questions to evaluate the knowledge of women in the following main subjects: safe motherhood, childhood immunization, childhood diarrhoea, children's acute respiratory diseases, and household hygiene. We filled out printed questionnaires during face-to-face interviews. For each correct answer we gave 4 points, and the sum of the points was accepted as the knowledge score. SETTING: Bursa metropolitan area in Turkey. SUBJECTS: Married women between 15-44 years of age. We selected 1000 of them from the household cards of the health centers that were located at the Bursa metropolitan area by using a random selection method. RESULTS: Mean knowledge score was 72.0 +/- 0.3. About 3/5 had moderate, 1/5 good + very good, and 1/5 bad knowledge scores. Childhood diarrhoea was better known than acute respiratory diseases. The very well known "Facts for Life" were those concerning food and household hygiene. CONCLUSION: Women's knowledge about "Facts for Life" was at a moderate level. The knowledge level of older women was better than the younger. Some false beliefs still existed. Knowledge about ARI and diarrhoeal diseases in childhood were the least known facts.

Adolescent↗

Serous macular detachment in diabetic cystoid macular oedema.

PURPOSE: To define serous macular detachment in patients with diabetic cystoid macular oedema (CME). METHODS: This study involved 78 eyes of 58 patients with diabetic CME. The patients underwent complete ophthalmic examination, fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Eyes with epiretinal membrane or vitreo-macular traction were not included in the study. Optical coherence tomography-3 was used in all patients and fundi were scanned on the horizontal, vertical and four oblique planes through the centre of the fovea. RESULTS: In all cases the increased thickness of the retina was related primarily to the hyporeflective intraretinal cavities. With OCT, 24 of 78 eyes (31%) had serous macular detachment as shown by retinal elevation over a non-reflective cavity with minimal shadowing of the underlying tissues. Fluorescein angiography did not show serous macular detachment in any patient. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed that the incidence of serous macular detachment in diabetic CME was much higher than previously reported. Optical coherence tomography-3 allows an in vivo cross-sectional observation of very subtle serous macular detachment that is difficult to diagnose at the slit-lamp or by fluorescein angiography in patients with diabetic CME.

Adult↗

Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide for treatment of cystoid macular oedema in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the anatomic and visual outcomes of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection in patients with cystoid macular oedema (CMO) secondary to retinitis pigmentosa (RP). METHODS: Five eyes of five patients with CMO secondary to RP, aged 25-41 years (mean 33.2 years) made up the study population. All eyes had persistent CMO despite medical treatment with 250 mg of oral acetazolamide twice daily for 1 month. Intravitreal injection of 4 mg (0.1 ml) triamcinolone acetonide was offered to treat macular oedema. The visual and anatomic responses were observed, as well as complications related to the injection procedure and corticosteroid medication. RESULTS: Follow-up periods varied between 6 and 8 months (mean 6.8 months); all patients completed 6 months of follow-up. After intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection all patients showed good anatomic response. The baseline median central macular thickness was 418 microm (range 376-626 microm). At 1 month, the median central macular thickness had decreased to 224 microm (range 214-326 microm). At 3 and 6 months, the median central macular thicknesses were 275 microm (range 215-584 microm) and 312 microm (range 239-521 microm), respectively. Recurrent CMO was found in one patient at the 3-month follow-up and in two patients at the 6-month follow-up. Retreatment was performed in these patients. At the 1-month follow-up, no patient was found to have lost vision and two patients showed improvement. At the 3- and 6-month follow-ups, no patient had lost vision from baseline but no patient had maintained their improved visual acuity (VA). CONCLUSIONS: In our small series, all patients showed an anatomic improvement in CMO after intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide. However, in three out of five patients, despite good anatomic results, no improvement in VA was achieved. Because of the limitations of this pilot study, it is difficult to explain why no improvement in VA was achieved despite good anatomic results in some patients. Further study with longer follow-up periods and larger series is warranted to assess the efficacy of the treatment.

Adult↗