Computed Tomography-Based Occipital Condyle Morphometric Analysis in the Turkish Population: A Trajectory Analysis for Optimal Screw Selection.

AIM: To provide a comprehensive analysis for accurate screw size selection and insertion angle during surgical procedures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, a total of 120 patients participated, resulting in the analysis of 240 occipital condyles using coronal, sagittal, and axial planes on CT scans. Statistical evaluation was performed using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The mean sagittal length and height were measured at 17.2 ± 1.7 mm and 9.1 ± 1.5 mm, respectively. The average condyle angle, a crucial factor for screw insertion, was assessed at 38.0 ± 5.5 mm in length, 19.6 ± 2.6 mm in width, and 9.5 ± 1.0 mm in height. Condyle height in the anterior and posterior hypoglossal canals was measured at 10.8 ± 1.4 mm and 9.0 ± 1.4 mm, respectively. Screw angle and condyle width were statistically smaller in females compared to the male population. CONCLUSION: The OC is a significant anatomical structure in the craniovertebral junction, playing a crucial role in stability. The obtained morphological values are applicable to the Turkish population and offer statistically significant findings for preoperative planning involving occipital condyle screw instrumentation.

The positive effect of pulse electromagnetic field therapy on pain and disability in chronic low back pain: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Low back pain that lasts longer than three months is called chronic low back pain. Chronic low back pain is among the most common problems in the world, causing severe disability and loss of employment in patients. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of pulse electromagnetic field therapy (PEMFT) added to routine physical therapy on pain and functional status in patients with chronic low back pain. METHODS: This retrospective comparative study included 69 patients with chronic low back pain. The patients were divided into two groups: those who received lumbar transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, infrared, and ultrasound treatments, and those who additionally received PEMFT. The files of patients with chronic low back pain were reviewed, and those who had been evaluated using the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (QBPDS) in terms of functional capacity and effects of low back pain and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain both before and after treatment were included in the study. RESULTS: No significant difference was detected between the two groups' pretreatment VAS and QBPDS scores (p > 0.05). The second-and-third measurement scores of both groups were significantly lower than their first-measurement VAS and QBPDS scores (p ˂ 0.001), but there was no significant difference between their second- and third-measurement scores (p > 0.05). According to the inter-group comparison of the VAS and QBPDS scores, the second and third-measurement scores of the PEMFT group were significantly lower than those of the control group (p ˂ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: PEMFT seems to be able to alleviate pain intensity and ameliorate disability in patients with chronic low back pain. PEMFT can be considered an effective and safe option that can be added to routine physical therapy modalities for relieving chronic low back pain frequently encountered in clinical practice. Further studies validating the effectiveness of PEMFT could strengthen its position in the management of chronic low back pain.

The effect of earthquake on fibromyalgia: a comparison of patients on medication and without medication.

INTRODUCTION / OBJECTIVES: Stressful events like earthquakes might worsen the symptoms of fibromyalgia, although the influence of medications on these consequences is yet uncertain. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of an earthquake on the symptoms of fibromyalgia and evaluate the impacts of medications used to treat fibromyalgia on the clinical picture. METHOD: Ninety-five fibromyalgia patients were enrolled in a comparative study and divided into two groups: medication and non-medication. Three subcategories of medication groups were established: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and gabapentinoid drugs (GDs). Before and after the earthquake, clinical evaluations were conducted using the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Jenkins Sleep Rating Scale (JSS). Statistical analyses were conducted to compare the scores before and after the earthquake and evaluate the differences between the groups. RESULTS: Statistically significant increases were observed in FIQ, HADS-anxiety, HADS-depression, and JSS scores in the medication and non-medication groups before and after the earthquake comparisons (p < 0.05). Non-medication group reported significantly higher post-earthquake changes in FIQ, HADS-anxiety, HADS-depression, and JSS compared to the medication group (p < 0.05). While HADS-anxiety, HADS-depression, and JSS changes after the earthquake differed according to the drug subgroups (p < 0.05), no statistically significant difference was observed in FIQ values (p > 0.05). The highest scores were detected in the GD subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the substantial impact of earthquakes on fibromyalgia patients. Medication use may assist in reducing the detrimental effects of stresses like earthquakes on fibromyalgia symptomatology. Future research with larger sample sizes and more extended follow-up periods is needed to explain these findings and optimize treatment regimens for fibromyalgia patients experiencing significant stressors.

Exploring complex links: inflammatory rheumatic diseases and men's health.

This article examines the complex interactions between inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRDs) and men's health. It delves into the effects of IRDs on reproductive health, erectile dysfunction, prostate involvement, male osteoporosis, body composition, physical activity, and coping mechanisms. The findings show that the prevalence of sexual dysfunction varies among different diseases, underscoring the necessity for comprehensive counseling. The link between IRDs and prostate health, with a substantial rise in benign prostatic hyperplasia among IRD patients, demonstrates the condition's importance. In contrast to popular belief, osteoporosis mostly affects women; the current study highlights the growing identification of male osteoporosis, particularly in the setting of IRDs. Male RA patients had a significant loss in bone mineral density, highlighting the importance of increasing awareness and tailored therapy to address osteoporosis in men. IRDs affect body composition, with male RA patients showing imbalances characterized by decreased lean body mass and increased fat mass. Given the dynamic nature of these conditions, coping with IRDs necessitates thorough and individualized diversified approaches. The complex link between IRDs and men's health demands continuing research, including longitudinal studies and tailored therapies. The essay promotes a patient-centered approach, recognizing the unique obstacles that males with IRDs confront.

Healing refractory livedoid vasculopathy-related skin ulcers by ozone therapy: a case-based review.

Chronic skin wounds represent a prominent etiological factor in the occurrence of non-traumatic foot amputations on a global scale and pose a substantial threat to the patient's well-being and mortality in the absence of effective treatment strategies. There exists a subset of patients that exhibit an insufficient response to different treatment options, comprising antibiotics, dressings, gauze bandages, debridement, rehabilitation, collagen patch, and vacuum-assisted closure. In this patient group, distinct treatment strategies emerge before surgery and amputation. Ozone therapy is one of them. Ozone exhibits a wide variety of effects such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and trophic. Its trophic effect is mediated by disinfection, stimulation of granulation tissue, acceleration of the angiogenesis process, and detoxification mechanisms. In this article, we presented the beneficial effect of ozone therapy in a case of chronic skin ulcer associated with livedoid vasculopathy. In this context, we aimed to discuss the role of ozone therapy in the management of chronic skin ulcers. Finally, we focused on ozone therapy as a promising method in inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

Effects of low-level laser therapy on acupuncture points on knee pain and function in knee osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Knee osteoarthritis is a common and disabling disease. We aimed to examine the effect of low-level laser therapy in addition to routine physical therapy modalities (transcutaneous electrical stimulation, superficial heating modality of infrared, ultrasound, and exercise) on the functional status and pain in knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: Patients with knee osteoarthritis (n=71) who underwent physical therapy (transcutaneous electrical stimulation, infrared, ultrasound, exercise therapy, and low-level laser therapy) were retrospectively screened. Patients who received low-level laser therapy on acupuncture points, transcutaneous electrical stimulation, infrared, ultrasound, and exercise were included in the low-level laser therapy (+) (n=35), and patients who received only transcutaneous electrical stimulation, ultrasound, infrared, and exercise were included in the low-level laser therapy (-) group (n=36). The Visual Analog Scale for activity pain, Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale, and walking and stair climbing tests were used before and after treatment obtained from patient files. RESULTS: The post-treatment Visual Analog Scale activity score and walking and stair climbing test results were statistically significantly lower in the low-level laser therapy (+) group than in the low-level laser therapy (-) group. There was no significant difference in post-treatment Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale scores between the two groups. In both groups, the Visual Analog Scale activity, Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale, and walking and stair climbing test scores statistically significantly decreased after treatment. CONCLUSION: Knee osteoarthritis increases with aging and creates significant functional limitations. low-level laser therapy with routine physiotherapy contributed to the improvement in the pain and functional status of the patients with knee osteoarthritis. Low-level laser therapy can be recommended in osteoarthritis treatment guidelines with the support of further studies, which is an easy-to-apply, effective, and reliable method.

The Safety to Switch from Constant Voltage to Constant Current with a Mixed Internal Pulse Generator in Deep Brain Stimulation.

Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an efficient modality for the treatment of movement disorders. Differing from the constant voltage (CV)-DBS devices, constant current (CC)-DBS devices may allow more precise stimulation of the target brain regions since they are less influenced by impedance. If internal pulse generators (IPGs) of DBS devices are required to be connected with electrodes of different brands, employing proper adapters is necessary. Such connected DBS devices are called mixed or hybrid devices. Objectives: As there is sparse information about the clinical mixed devices, we studied their safety and efficacy. Materials and Methods: Clinical scores of 13 patients implanted with mixed DBS devices were determined with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) in Parkinson's disease (PD) (n = 10) and with the Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale (BFMDRS) in dystonia (n = 3). Patient satisfaction was assessed with the Timmerman questionnaire. The Clinical Global Impression Improvement (CGI-I) Scale was also evaluated. Results: Patients' overall satisfaction was considerably higher with mixed devices. The UPDRS and BFMDRS clinical scores did not significantly differ after switching to a mixed DBS device. Three patients before the DBS switch suffered from side effects under the CV mode. These patients got rid of the side effects in their follow-up with a reduction in pulse width values. Discussion: Mixed devices working in CC mode are well tolerated with high patient satisfaction. Conclusion: Besides patient satisfaction, mixed IPGs are also considered safe.

Long-Term Efficacy of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery on Pain Control in Trigeminal Neuralgia.

AIM: To investigate the efficacy of Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) in patients with Burchiel type 1 and 2 trigeminal neuralgia (TN). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of 163 patients who underwent GKRS between December 2006 and December 2021 was performed. The median follow-up was 37 (range, 6-168) months. The target was the cisternal portion of the trigeminal nerve, and the median prescribed dose was 85 (range, 75-90) Gy. Pain severity was evaluated using the Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) pain intensity score. All patients had BNI IV or V before GKRS. BNI IIIb or better was defined as adequate pain relief. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the prognostic significance of different pretreatment and treatment variables. RESULTS: The initial pain relief rate was 85%, with a median period of 25 (range, 1-90) days. At the final follow-up, 62.5% of patients had adequate pain relief. BNI I was achieved in 8% of patients within the first 24 h after GKRS; this rate was 22% at the final follow-up. The pain-free interval was significantly shorter in the 75 Gy group than in the 90 Gy group (p=0.04). The predicted adequate pain relief rates at the 3rd and 6th month and 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th year were 84%, 79%, 76%, 67%, 59%, and 55%, respectively. The complication rate was 8%, with disturbing facial sensorial dysfunction in four patients, decreased corneal reflex in three patients, and masseter dysfunction in six patients. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed Burchiel type 1 TN (p=0.001) and male gender (p=0.037) as predictors of increased initial pain relief rate and shorter time to initial pain relief day, respectively. CONCLUSION: Appropriate patient selection is the key to successful TN treatment. GKRS can be recommended, especially for patients with Burchiel type 1 TN, with low complication rates and effective long-term pain relief.

Efficacy of Extracorporeal Shock Wave and Pulse Electromagnetic Field Therapies in Calcaneal Spurs.

BACKGROUND: Various treatment methods are available for calcaneal spur, which can cause disability. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMFT) added to extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on pain and functional capacity in treating calcaneal spurs. METHODS: Patients with calcaneal spurs who were recommended ESWT or ESWT+PEMFT and whose Foot Function Index (FFI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) values were available in their records were retrospectively analyzed. The two groups were ESWT (n=35) and ESWT+PEMFT (n=40). FFI and VAS scores were obtained from their records before treatment, after treatment, and in the third month after treatment. RESULTS: The two groups were similar regarding their pre-treatment FFI and VAS scores. In intra-group evaluation, statistically significant decreases were found in terms of the FFI pain, disability, and activity limitation and VAS scores in both groups after treatment and in the third month after treatment compared to the pre-treatment period. In the comparison between the groups, the post-treatment and post-treatment third-month FFI pain, disability, and activity limitation and VAS scores were significantly lower in the PEMFT+ESWT group than the ESWT group (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: A calcaneal spur is a condition that can cause pain and functional limitation in patients. Various studies have demonstrated the efficacy of ESWT in the treatment of calcaneal spurs. In our study, we observed that PEMFT added to ESWT significantly improved the pain and functionality of the patients. Further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of PEMFT in calcaneal spurs.

Estimation of the water footprint of kiwifruit: in the areas transferred from hazelnut to kiwi.

Agriculture is the largest consumer of freshwater and plays a critical role in addressing global water scarcity. While numerous studies have focused on the water footprint (WF) of various agricultural products, little attention has been paid to changing cropping patterns and their impact on WF. Here, we investigate the impact of conversion from hazelnut fields to kiwi orchards on green, blue, and gray WF between 2010 and 2021 in Ordu, Turkey. Our results show a total increase of 803,901 tons WF for all green, blue, and gray WF. Compared to the previous situation, changing the agricultural product and growing kiwifruit on previously established hazelnut fields increases green WF by 372,106 tons and blue WF by 334,167 tons. Thus, the change of cultivation pattern could significantly contribute to the water scarcity in the area, and at the same time, the increase in WF. Although kiwi cultivation might be advantageous economically, this economic benefit might be an ecological disadvantage as kiwi production is highly dependent on limited blue water resources. Therefore, it is suggested to further promote the rain-fed product, the hazelnut.

Attitudes and Behaviors Regarding Smoking in Friends and Relatives of Patients in Emergency Room: A New Frontier in the Fight against Tobacco.

Background: Emergency rooms (ERs) are usually crowded with friends and relatives (F&Rs) of the patients. This experience may result in changes in smoking behaviors and create opportunities for smoking cessation interventions. The study aims to investigate these changes and offers a new frontier in the fight against smoking. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the ERs of two universities in different cities. A questionnaire consisting of 18 questions was applied to F&Rs of the emergency patients. Statistical analysis was performed using Jamovi program. Findings: A total of 603 respondents were included in the study. Of them, 71.3% were first-degree relatives, 51.7% waited 5 or more times in ER before, and 68.6% spent 0-2 hours in a day around the ER. Upon witnessing patients in the ERs, 53.4% of the F&Rs had the idea of quitting smoking and 42.9% wanted to have smoking cessation therapy during their wait in the hospital. While 76.1% of the participants were not using different brands of cigarettes when offered in normal life, this rate was lower around the ERs (64.6%) (P < 0.001). Participants smoked 0.82 ± 0.34 cigarette per hour in normal life excluding sleeping time; this number raised almost 6 folds during the wait (4.85 ± 2.11) (P < 0.001). Conclusion: F&Rs smoked more during waiting around ERs. However, they also expressed desire to quit smoking and receive smoking cessation intervention during the wait. Providing smoking cessation counseling to F&Rs in the ER may be a valuable intervention.

Effect of Neural Therapy on shoulder dysfunction and pain in supraspinatus tendinopathy.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of 1% procaine injection, which is used in neural therapy, on shoulder pain and dysfunction in patients diagnosed with supraspinatus tendinopathy. Methods: The Range of Motion values, Visual Analog Scale and the QuickDASH Scale scores of 70 patients, who were diagnosed with musculus supraspinatus tendinitis based on magnetic resonance imaging findings, were analyzed. The data of the scales obtained before neural therapy and at the follow-up visit at four weeks after the end of therapy were compared, and a p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: After neural therapy, a statistically significant increase was observed in Range of Motion values and there was a statistically significant decrease in both the Visual Analog Scale and QuickDASH score averages. Conclusion: This is one of the rare studies showing the effects of neural therapy application on shoulder pain severity and dysfunction in patients with supraspinatus tendinitis who are resistant to medical therapy.

Management of Pregnancy and Childbirth in a Cervical Dystonia Patient with an Implanted Deep Brain Stimulation System: A Case Report.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) can lead to psychosocial and functional improvement in medically refractory cervical, segmental, or generalized moderate to severe dystonia. After treatment with DBS in women with dystonia, pregnancy can be planned. However, in the literature, there are no standardized clinical guidelines for the management of movement disorder treated with DBS during pregnancy. Herein, we report a 24-year-old female patient with cervical dystonia (CD) who have an implanted bilateral globus pallidus interna (GPi)-DBS. The patient got pregnant during the 5-year follow-up period after DBS surgery and then delivered a healthy baby via cesarean section under general anesthesia. A patient with CD who have a DBS system with a rechargeable battery could be managed safely during pregnancy and childbirth.

Effect of Fasting on Smoking Addiction: A Multicentered Primary Care Research.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is a serious public health challenge across the world. Fasting in Ramadan requires people to stay away from smoking as well as activities such as eating, drinking, and sexual intercourse. We examined the effect of fasting on cigarette smoking and nicotine addiction during the Ramadan. METHODOLOGY: This study was designed as a descriptive cross-sectional survey. A questionnaire was prepared to determine sociodemographic data and smoking habits of a sample population. The questionnaire was delivered through face-to-face interviews at several family medicine clinics in Turkey, with smokers who fast in Ramadan. RESULTS: There were 354 persons, of which 278 were male (78.5%), 76 were female (21.5%), and the mean age was 32.92 ± 11.84 years. A significant decrease in cigarette consumption during the Ramadan was reported by 285 (80.5%) smokers ( p < .001). The number of smokers who had difficulty resisting the urge to smoke was less in Ramadan than non-Ramadan periods ( p < .001). Religious sentiments were reported as the most important reason for coping with nicotine abstinence (53.7%). Significantly in 14.7% of the cases, participants stopped smoking during the whole period of Ramadan. CONCLUSIONS: Religious beliefs and willpower were found to be effective in helping people reduce or temporary stop smoking. Fasting may play a significant role in changing smoking behavior. Smoking cessation along with counseling supported by the state, health authorities, and clergy can be useful in the fight against smoking in Ramadan.

COVID-19 infection produces subarachnoid hemorrhage; acting now to understand its cause: A short communication.

In the medical literature, some case reports on the association of the COVID-19 infection and occurrence of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)have been reported Aim of the present paper is to search the causes of this association The diagnosis of COVID-19 was based on the real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and computed tomography (CT) of the chest. There were four patients, whose median ages were 46,758, ranged 36-54 years). In conclusion, Spontaneous SAH can occur in the early and late course of COVID-19 infection. Its early recognition of the patient with spontaneous SAH is imperative.

A Pregnant Woman with Cranial Aneurysm Rupture in the Second Trimester of Pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Reports of cerebral aneurysm and aneurysm rupture during pregnancy are rare in the literature. Aneurysms might rupture and cause intracranial hemorrhage during or after pregnancy. Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage during pregnancy presents a challenge regarding treatment and management. No institution has reported a large patient population or experience in managing this condition during pregnancy in the literature. Owing to the limited number of cases, there are no available treatment guidelines, and treatment is usually based on a case-by-case approach. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 31-year-old woman presented in the 27th week of pregnancy with sudden-onset headache, which was diagnosed as subarachnoid hemorrhage. The diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage with an aneurysm located on the anterior communicating artery was made with magnetic resonance imaging and digital subtraction angiography. The aneurysm was treated by surgical clipping. The pregnancy continued successfully until the 35th gestational week, when the infant was successfully delivered by planned cesarean section owing to preeclampsia and fetal growth retardation. Postoperative follow-up was uneventful. CONCLUSIONS: We present our experience in the management of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage during pregnancy and maternal and fetal outcomes of this rare disease. More cases and multicenter studies are needed to develop standardized management of this disease.

Natural history of neuromodulation devices and therapies: a patient-centered survival analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Despite rapid development and expansion of neuromodulation technologies, knowledge about device and/or therapy durability remains limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term rate of hardware and therapeutic failure of implanted devices for several neuromodulation therapies. METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective analysis of patients' device and therapy survival data (Kaplan-Meier survival analysis) for deep brain stimulation (DBS), vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), and spinal cord stimulation (SCS) at a single institution (years 1994-2015). RESULTS: During the study period, 450 patients underwent DBS, 383 VNS, and 128 SCS. For DBS, the 5- and 10-year initial device survival was 87% and 73%, respectively, and therapy survival was 96% and 91%, respectively. For VNS, the 5- and 10-year initial device survival was 90% and 70%, respectively, and therapy survival was 99% and 97%, respectively. For SCS, the 5- and 10-year initial device survival was 50% and 34%, respectively, and therapy survival was 74% and 56%, respectively. The average initial device survival for DBS, VNS, and SCS was 14 years, 14 years, and 8 years while mean therapy survival was 18 years, 18 years, and 12.5 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The authors report, for the first time, comparative device and therapy survival rates out to 15 years for large cohorts of DBS, VNS, and SCS patients. Their results demonstrate higher device and therapy survival rates for DBS and VNS than for SCS. Hardware failures were more common among SCS patients, which may have played a role in the discontinuation of therapy. Higher therapy survival than device survival across all modalities indicates continued therapeutic benefit beyond initial device failures, which is important to emphasize when counseling patients.

Sex-dependent posterior fossa anatomical differences in trigeminal neuralgia patients with and without neurovascular compression: a volumetric MRI age- and sex-matched case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: The pathophysiology of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) in patients without neurovascular compression (NVC) is not completely understood. The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the hypothesis that TN patients without NVC differ from TN patient with NVC with respect to brain anatomy and demographic characteristics. METHODS: Six anatomical brain measurements from high-resolution brain MR images were tabulated; anterior-posterior (AP) prepontine cistern length, cerebellopontine angle (CPA) cistern volume, nerve-to-nerve distance, symptomatic nerve length, pons volume, and posterior fossa volume were assessed on OsiriX. Brain MRI anatomical measurements from 232 patients with either TN type 1 or TN type 2 (TN group) were compared with measurements obtained in 100 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (control group). Two-way ANOVA tests were conducted on the 6 measurements relative to group and NVC status. Bonferroni adjustments were used to correct for multiple comparisons. A nonhierarchical k-means cluster analysis was performed on the TN group using age and posterior fossa volume as independent variables. RESULTS: Within the TN group, females were found to be younger than males and less likely to have NVC. The odds ratio (OR) of females not having NVC compared to males was 2.7 (95% CI 1.3-5.5, p = 0.017). Patients younger than 30 years were much less likely to have NVC compared to older patients (OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.3-18.4, p = 0.017). The mean AP prepontine cistern length and symptomatic nerve length were smaller in the TN group than in the control group (5.3 vs 6.5 mm and 8.7 vs 9.7 mm, respectively; p < 0.001). The posterior fossa volume was significantly smaller in TN patients without NVC compared to those with NVC. A TN group cluster analysis suggested a sex-dependent difference that was not observed in those without NVC. Factorial ANOVA and post hoc testing found that findings in males without NVC were significantly different from those in controls or male TN patients with NVC and similar to those in females (female controls as well as female TN patients with or without NVC). CONCLUSIONS: Posterior fossa volume in males was larger than posterior fossa volume in females. This finding, along with the higher incidence of TN in females, suggests that smaller posterior fossa volume might be an independent factor in the pathophysiology of TN, which warrants further study.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cell microchimerism in Turkish female patients with systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate microchimerism (Mc) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) taken from female patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and healthy females. We also intended to research the association between Mc and the clinical subsets. METHODS: This study included 50 females with lcSSc, 30 females with dcSSc and 40 healthy females. The Y-chromosome sequences were studied by RT-PCR in DNA obtained from PBMC. RESULTS: Mc was found in 28 (35 %) patients and 8 (20 %) healthy controls as well as in 6 dcSSc patients with son(s) (27.3 %), 10 lcSSc patients with son(s) (32.3 %) and 7 control females with son(s) (18.9 %) (p > 0.05). Mc was detected in 6 nulliparous lcSSc patients (31.6 %) and in 1 nulliparous dcSSc patient (11.1 %) (p > 0.05). The mean time elapsed between the first pregnancy and the diagnosis of SSc was 3.5 (0-49) years in the Mc-positive patients and 14 (0-55) years in the negative patients (p = 0.020). The mean modified Rodnan skin scores (ModRSS) of the patients with and without Mc was 10 (4-24) and 13 (4-26), respectively (p = 0.038). The relationship between Mc and the system involvement, disease severity, autoantibody profile, number of children and age of children was not found. CONCLUSIONS: Various etiological factors rather than just one play a role in the development of scleroderma. Mc is thought to be one factor that shortens the elapsed time of disease development in SSc. Mc is inversely related to the ModRSS, and no association was detected between Mc and autoantibodies or the clinical subsets.

Intraosseous meningioma mimicking osteosarcoma in an adolescent: a case report.

Intaosseous meningiomas (IM) are the one of the less frequent benign tumors of the skull. The etiology of IM has not been cleared yet. The frontoparietal and orbital regions are the most common locations for IM. The average age for IM diagnosis is 50.5. A 16-year-old girl with a right frontoparietal mass was referred to our outpatient clinic. Cranial CT revealed a mass lesion which resulted in expansion in the right parietal and posterior frontal bone, having lytic and sclerotic regions inside with accompanying irregular cortex in inner and outer tables of the calvarium. Prediagnosis was osteosarcoma according to the imaging studies and after the performed biopsy and consecutive surgery, the lesion was diagnosed as IM. Though CT with bone windows is often useful, it is not always diagnostic. Biopsy plays an important role in calvarial vault lesions for planning the treatment. In our case, malignant criteria in radiology did not match the benign histology revealed. Radiological preoperative misdiagnosis of meningioma is possible.