Apelin Levels In Isolated Coronary Artery Ectasia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The etiopathogenesis of coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is not known completely. In most of the cases, CAE is associated with atherosclerosis; however, isolated CAE has a nonatherosclerotic mechanism. The association between atherosclerotic coronary artery disease and apelin has been examined in previous studies. However, the role of plasma apelin in isolated coronary artery ectasia has not been studied. In this study, we investigated the relationship between plasma apelin levels and isolated coronary artery ectasia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study population included a total of 54 patients. Twenty-six patients had isolated CAE (53.6+/-8.1 years); 28 patients with normal coronary arteries (51.6+/-8.8 years) and with similar risk factors and demographic characteristics served as the control group. Apelin levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunoassay kit. RESULTS: Apelin level in the CAE group was significantly lower (apelin=0.181+/-0.159 ng/mL) than that in the control group (apelin=0.646+/-0.578 ng/mL) (p=0.033). Glucose, creatinine, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: In this study, we showed that patients with isolated CAE have decreased plasma apelin levels compared with the control group. Based on the data, a relationship between plasma apelin and isolated CAE was determined.

Comparison of Outcomes of Standard and Oncoplastic Breast-Conserving Surgery / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to determine and to compare the oncological outcomes of bilateral reduction mammoplasty to standard breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer. METHODS: One hundred sixty-two patients who received a quadrantectomy because of breast cancer (group 1) and 106 breast cancer patients with macromastia who underwent breast-conserving surgery via bilateral reduction mammoplasty (group 2) between 2003 and 2010 were enrolled in this study. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 37 months for group 1 and 33 months for group 2. Surgical margins were wider than 2 mm in 82.7% and 10 mm in 76.5% of the patients in group 1. Eleven percent of patients had positive surgical margins in this group. When compared to group 2, the rates were 89%, 84%, and 8.4%, respectively. Three patients (1.8%) in group 1 and one patient (0.9%) in group 2 had local recurrence of the disease and received a mastectomy. No statistical significances were noted for either local recurrence or overall survival between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Bilateral reduction mammoplasty has some advantages as compared to the standard conventional breast-conserving surgery techniques without having any unfavorable effects on surgical margin confidence, local recurrence, and survival rates.

The Effect of Plasmakinetic Cautery on Wound Healing and Complications in Mastectomy / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: Surgical equipment used in breast cancer surgery that affects wound healing and minimizes complications seems to be a popular investigation topic. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of plasmakinetic cautery on wound healing in patients receiving mastectomy. METHODS: Forty-six consecutive breast cancer patients receiving modified radical mastectomy were evaluated prospectively. Plasmakinetic cautery was used in 24 operations and electrocautery was used in 22 operations in random order to manage skin flaps and excise breast tissue. In the postoperative period, vacuum drainage amount and duration time as well as the start time of arm exercises were recorded. Complications like seroma, surgical site infection, hematoma, and flap necrosis were determined. RESULTS: Age, body mass index, breast volume and flap area parameters were similar in each group. Mean drainage duration was found to be 5.5 days in the plasmacautery group and 7.9 days in the electrocautery group (p=0.020). In the plasmacautery and electrocautery groups, mean drainage volume was 707 and 1,093 mL, respectively (p=0.025). There was no statistical significance between the groups when operation duration, amount of blood loss, time to start arm exercises, seroma, hematoma, surgical site infection, and flap necrosis were considered. CONCLUSION: Plasmakinetic cautery is a promising new surgical instrument that provides atraumatic, scalpel-like cutting precision and electrosurgical-like hemostasis, resulting in minimal tissue injury. So, plasmacautery shortens the drainage amount and duration time compared to electrocautery without elongating operation duration or increasing the amount of blood loss.