The effect of lavender and bergamot oil applied via inhalation on the anxiety level and sleep quality of surgical intensive care unit patients.

OBJECTIVE: Due to numerous stressors in intensive care, common psychosocial problems arise in patients. Among these, decreased anxiety and sleep quality are observed. This study aims to determine the effect of lavender and bergamot oil applied by inhalation on anxiety and sleep quality in surgical intensive care unit patients. METHODS: Fifty-four patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, were included in this study. They were randomly divided into three groups (Lavender, Bergamot, Control). Intervention groups were exposed to 3 drops of lavender oil or bergamot oil on pillows for 20 min, which were then placed 10 cm away from the patient's head. This intervention was applied for two nights. The patients' sleep quality and anxiety level were evaluated using the "State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)" and "Richard-Campbell Sleep Scale (RCSS)." Data were analyzed using Chi-square, independent t-test, One-way ANOVA tests. RESULTS: According to our results, anxiety scores significantly decreased in the lavender and bergamot groups. Sleep quality scores significantly increased (p = <0.001). The control group showed lower sleep quality scores. CONCLUSION: Lavender and bergamot oil inhalation appeared effective in reducing anxiety and improving sleep quality in surgical intensive care unit patients.

The Efficacy of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Bell's Palsy Sequelae.

OBJECTIVE: This study was planned to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment for the treatment Bell's palsy sequelae. In this study, forty patients with Bell's palsy sequelae were randomly allocated to either the acupuncture or the control group. The clinical outcomes before and after treatment were assessed using the following assays: the facial nerve compound motor action potential and HouseeBrackmann (HB) and Sunnybrook (SB) grading scales. Agreement analysis was performed between the SB and HB grading scales. There was significant difference between pretreatment and posttreatment compound motor action potential values of the patients within the acupuncture group (p = 0.036). In pretreatment and posttreatment SB and HB scores, significant differences within the two groups were observed. However, the significance level in the improvement rate in the acupuncture group was higher than that of the control group. General agreement between the SB and HB scores of groups was an acceptable value, and weighted agreement between the scales was a moderate agreement. In this study, we found that acupuncture treatment is effective in improving Bell's palsy sequelae. Acupuncture can be used as a safe method in the treatment of Bell's palsy sequelae.

Paradox in the cubital tunnel syndrome--frequent involvement of left elbow: first report.

OBJECTIVE: Cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS) is the second most common compression neuropathy in the arm, but the existence of a compressive cause has not been determined conclusively and the majority of the cases are idiopathic. In this paper, involvement sides of limbs of patients with cubital tunnel syndrome were studied. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between October 2008 and December 2011, the clinical assessment of consecutive operated patients with cubital tunnel syndrome in Rize Education and Research Hospital were analysed. The diagnosis and severity of syndrome was based on electro-diagnostic study. RESULTS: This study included 57 consecutive patients with cubital tunnel syndrome (39 men, 18 women; mean age, 44,7 years; range, 23-79 years; mean age, 44,7 years; range, 23-79 years); 31 patients underwent surgical treatment. Involvement was on the right side in 18 and on the left in 39 patients. Severity scores and MCV were statistically significant between sides. CONCLUSION: Profound involvement with cubital tunnel was found in left elbow. According to the finding of non-dominant elbow involvement in our study, the exact etiology and ideal management of cubital tunnel syndrome continues to be heavily debated.

An anatomical study on the facial nerve trunk in fetus cadavers.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Facial nerve paralysis is the most worrying parotid surgery complication. Little attention has been paid to the facial nerve trunk, especially in children. Pathological variations, tumors, and anatomic variations of the facial nerve may cause parotid and facial nerve surgery difficulties. This study describes the facial nerve trunk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured the facial nerve trunk from 8 female and 8 male fetus cadavers aged 21.0 to 35.5 gestational weeks. The locations and positions of the trunks were described. The length of the facial nerve trunk (K) was measured and bifurcation and trifurcation of the trunk was examined. Values were analyzed separately for right and left sides and for male and female fetuses. RESULTS: The most common facial nerve trunk type was bifurcation (81.25%), followed by trifurcation (18.75%). K was 11.59 + 2.80 mm in the total fetuses. There was no significant difference between K measurements. CONCLUSION: Facial nerve injury during parotid surgery is a main cause of pediatric facial paralysis. There are few previous descriptions of the facial trunk in children. K must be accurately known in any surgical procedure planned for the area. The main furcation of the facial nerve should also receive special attention.

Stereological evaluation of the kidneys of anencephalic and normal fetuses.

The aim of this study is to test the glomerular and other quantitative parameters of kidneys of anencephalic fetuses and comparing those to "normal" fetuses. In this study, 20 kidneys of human fetuses (5 boys and 5 girls of anencephalic fetus, and 5 boys and 5 girls of normal fetus), at gestational ages of 25-30 weeks, were examined. This study is based on two basic research methods: one is a conventional anatomical measurement at the macroscopical level; the other is a design-biased stereological method at the microscopical level. Physical dissector and Cavalieri principle were used to estimate the total and numerical density of glomerulus and the volume of kidney, respectively. The results of the two types of investigation were compared based on anencephalic/normal and boy/girl kidneys at both the macroscopical and microscopical levels. There was no significant difference found between the quantitative features of kidneys (volume of kidneys and mean number and/or height of glomerulus) belonging to anencephalic and normal fetuses. The results of this study suggest that anencephalic fetuses did not differ from normal fetuses in respect of kidneys.

Anencephalic fetuses can be an alternative for kidney transplantation: a stereological and histological investigation.

In the study, stereological, histological, and anatomical techniques were used to investigate structural and morphometrical features of anencephalic and normal fetal kidneys. Twenty human fetal kidneys (5 male and 5 female anencephalic fetuses, and 5 male and 5 female normal fetuses) at gestational ages 30 to 35 weeks were examined. Our study used two basic research methods. One was conventional anatomical measurement at the macroscopic level, such as volume, length, weight, etc. The other consisted of conventional and modern microscopic techniques. The microscopic techniques were based on two research methods: histopathological examination at light microscopic level and stereological estimations, including mean kidney volumes, obtained by the Cavalieri method, and the total number and mean height of the glomeruli via the physical dissector method. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of width, height, weight, and fluid replacement volumes. Microscopic quantitative assessment found no statistical differences either, in terms of the kidney volumes and the number and height of the glomeruli. Our findings suggest that kidneys from anencephalic infants may be a suitable alternative for renal transplantation.

Incomplete fixation of the colon ascendens and an unusually located peritoneal fold together with direct inguinal hernia.

During abdominal dissection of a male cadaver, aged 60 years at death, a peritoneal fold formed by mesentery of the terminal ileum and attached to the anterior wall was encountered in the abdominal cavity. Distal part of the terminal ileum, cecum, and colon ascendens were herniated from the medial inguinal fossa. The unusually located peritoneal fold was interpreted as a predisposing factor for the accompanying direct inguinal hernia. The subject is discussed in terms of embryonic development of the midgut.

Anterior tibial compartment syndrome due to the pyomyositis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis. A case report.

Anterior tibial compartment syndrome was developed due to pyomyositis in a 33-year-old male patient with rheumatoid arthritis while receiving steroid therapy during the follow-up period. The preoperative physical examination, laboratory findings, MRI images, intraoperative observation and postoperative histopathological examinations confirmed the association with pyomyositis. The surgical drainage and antibiotic treatment were effective, and in the follow-up period, neuromuscular dysfunctions disappeared completely within 6 months. The patient has been asymptomatic for 4 years of follow-up. To date, anterior tibial compartment syndrome due to pyomyositis in a case with rheumatoid arthritis has not been reported.