Risk factors for brachial plexus injury and permanent sequelae due to shoulder dystocia.

Aim: The primary aim of this study was to determine the risk factors for the occurrence of brachial plexus injury in cases of shoulder dystocia. Secondly, it was aimed to determine the factors affecting the occurrence of permanent sequelae in cases with brachial plexus injury. Subjects and Methods: ICD-10 codes were scanned from the records of patients who gave birth between 2012 and 2018, and the records of patients with brachial plexus injury and shoulder dystocia were reached. Shoulder dystocia cases with brachial plexus damage were accepted as the study group, and shoulder dystocia cases without brachial plexus damage were considered the control group. Shoulder dystocia patients with brachial plexus injury and without injury were compared for 2-year orthopedics clinic follow-up reports, surgical intervention, permanent sequelae status as well as birth data, maternal characteristics, and maneuvers applied to the management of shoulder dystocia. Results: Five hundred sixty births with shoulder dystocia were detected. Brachial plexus injury was observed in 88 of them, and permanent sequelae were detected in 12 of these patients. Maneuvers other than McRobert's (advanced maneuvers) were used more and clavicle fracture was seen more in the group with plexus injury (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, respectively). Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the risk factors of brachial plexus injury. Brachial plexus injury was observed 4.746 times more in infants who were delivered with advanced maneuvers and 3.58 times more in infants with clavicle fractures at birth. Conclusion: In patients with shoulder dystocia, the risk of brachial plexus injury increased in deliveries in which advanced maneuvers were used and clavicle fracture occurred.

Correlation between 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels and COVID-19 severity in pregnant women: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and disease severity in hospitalized COVID-19 positive pregnant women. METHODS: The COVID-19 (+) pregnant women (confirmed by PCR test) were classified as asymptomatic, mild symptomatic, and severe disease according to their symptoms and laboratory results. Severe COVID-19 criteria were respiratory symptoms and/or findings. The following laboratory results were considered as poor prognostic factors: the number of lymphocytes <800/µl and/or CRP value >10 times the upper limit of the normal range and/or ferritin value >500 ng/ml and/or D-Dimer value >1000 µg/l. The patients were divided into two groups; asymptomatic or mild symptomatic group (Group 1), and severe disease and/or poor prognostic factor group (Group 2). The 25(OH)D levels were compared between groups. ROC curve analysis was used to analyze the cutoff value for vitamin D to predict the severity of COVID-19. RESULTS: 25(OH)D levels were found to be statistically significantly lower in group 2 (15.5 (10.25) ng/ml in Group 1, 13 (12) ng/ml in Group 2, p = .010). The 25(OH)D level under 14.5 ng/ml was associated with severe COVID-19 and/or poor prognostic factors (p = .010). The risk of severe COVID-19 and/or having poor prognostic factors was 1.87 times higher among pregnant women who had 25(OH)D levels below 14.5 ng/ml. This value was found to have 54.1% sensitivity and 61.3% specificity in predicting severe COVID-19 and/or poor prognostic laboratory findings in pregnant women. CONCLUSION: There is a relationship between vitamin D status and the severity of COVID-19 in pregnant women. During the pandemic period, vitamin D supplementation for pregnant women should gain more importance.

The impact of genital warts on sexual function and sexuality-related distress in late adolescence.

Adolescence is a transition period during which sexual experiences gain importance. Genital warts are sexually transmitted lesions that have been shown to negatively affect sexual perception. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of genital warts on female sexual function and sexuality-related distress in adolescence. A total of 90 female adolescents between the ages of 17 and 21 who had regular sexual intercourse with heterosexual partners were included in this prospective case-control study. Female Sexual Function Index, Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale, and Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised scores of adolescents with genital warts (n = 45) were compared to healthy subjects (n = 45). Total Female Sexual Function Index and Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale scores revealed significant dysfunction in adolescents with genital warts (20.7 ± 4.13 (20.9) vs. 28.2 ± 3.51 (28.7), p < 0.0001; 17.1 ± 3.61 (17) vs. 13.02 ± 3.01 (13), p < 0.0001, respectively). Total Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised score was significantly decreased in the presence of genital warts (23.82 ± 9.73 (23) vs. 8.8 ± 7.38 (6), p < 0.0001). Significant correlations were found between the total Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised score and the total Female Sexual Function Index score, and the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale score (r = -0.78, p < 0.0001; r = 0.68, p < 0.0001, respectively). This study revealed that genital warts have significantly unfavorable effects on sexuality in adolescence leading to sexual dysfunction as well as sexuality-related distress. Regarding to the present findings, promoting sexual health in addition to physical well-being may increase success in clinical management of genital warts.

Epidural volume expansion: is there a ceiling effect?

AIM: The optimal volume of epidural saline administration on spinal anesthesia is not clear. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the block characteristics of 5, 10, 15, and 20 mL epidural saline after spinal anesthesia. METHODS: This prospective, randomized double-blind study was conducted in the operation room setting of a university hospital. Seventy-five healthy adult patients electively undergoing limb surgery under regional anesthesia were investigated. Spinal anesthesia was performed, and plain bupivacaine (10 mg) was administered within one minute using combined spinal and epidural anesthesia. Epidural catheters were introduced, and patients were allocated to one of five groups to receive 0, 5, 10, 15 or 20 mL saline through the catheter (N=15 in each group). The patient was assessed every minute for motor and sensory block levels until a maximum level was reached. In addition, the patient was assessed thereafter in five-minute intervals using Bromage's scale for motor block and pinprick/cold sensation for sensory block. RESULTS: The maximum level of spinal analgesia was significantly lower in the control group compared to the saline treatment groups, but there was no significant difference between the epidural saline groups. The periods for motor block resolution were the same. The duration of analgesia was significantly longer in patients receiving 15 mL saline compared to other groups. The time to regression to the L1 level was significantly longer with 15- and 20-mL treatment groups compared to the 5- and 10-mL groups. CONCLUSION: The present results indicate that a ceiling effect was observed on the duration of spinal analgesia using plain bupivacaine with epidural saline loading (maximum--15 mL).

A retrospective analysis of treatment responses of palmoplantar psoriasis in 114 patients.

BACKGROUND: Treatment options remain unsatisfactory for patients with palmoplantar psoriasis (PP) and palmoplantar pustular psoriasis (PPP). Aim To evaluate the therapeutic responses of PP and PPP patients that were treated in our psoriasis polyclinic between 2003 and 2007. METHODS: This retrospective study comprised PP (n = 62) and PPP (n = 52) patients. Treatments were individualized according to patient compliance and associating systemic diseases. The effect of systemic treatments was grouped as follows: 'no improvement': patients unresponsive for the present treatment; 'partial improvement': < 50% decrease in severity or affected area; 'moderate improvement': 50-75% decrease in severity or affected area, and 'marked improvement': > 75% decrease of the disease compared to baseline. RESULTS: In the PP group, 17 of 62 patients showed marked improvement to topical agents, while the remaining patients required systemic agents including oral retinoids (n = 24), local psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA; n = 12), methotrexate (n = 9) and cyclosporine (n = 2). Marked improvement was achieved in 53%, 45%, 47% and 100%, respectively. In these patients, two (n = 10), three (n = 5), or four (n = 5) systemic agents were used alternately. In the PPP group, 18 of 52 patients achieved marked improvement by topical agents. Patients that required systemic agents were treated with colchicum (n = 19), local PUVA (n = 8), methotrexate (n = 4), oral retinoids (n = 3) and cyclosporine (n = 2). These treatments achieved a marked improvement in 60%, 33%, 57%, 83%, and 50% of the patients, respectively. In the course of the disease, 18 patients required two and 3 patients required three systemic agents alternately. CONCLUSIONS: Although the success rates appeared to be high, the high number of patients who required multiple systemic agents emphasized the fact that localized forms of psoriasis were resistant to therapy.

Early effects of fibrin sealant on colonic anastomosis in rats: an experimental and case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Leakage from colonic anastomoses leads to mortality and morbidity. Fibrin adhesives can be used to increase the strength of the anastomosis. In this study, we evaluated the early effects of fibrin sealant and hyaluronic acid-carboxymethylcellulose on colonic anastomosis in rats. METHODS: Anastomoses were made in the descending colon of 38 female Wistar-Albino rats, in three groups: control group (n = 12), group 1 treated with hyaluronic acid-carboxymethylcellulose (n = 16), and group 2 treated with fibrin sealant (n = 10). After 72 hours, adhesion scores, bursting pressure, rupture strength and histopathologic healing scores were evaluated. RESULTS: Due to postoperative mortality, we evaluated 10, 10 and 9 rats in the control group and in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Of these, we excluded 4, 5 and 4 rats that had macroperforations at autopsy. In the remaining rats, bursting pressure (123.2 +/- 14.8 mmHg) and rupture strength (400 +/- 16 mg) in the fibrin sealant group were significantly greater than in the two other groups ( CONTROL: 68.0 +/- 10.6 p = 0.006 and 325 +/- 52 p = 0.009; Group 1: 74.0 +/- 9.8 p = 0.03, 330 +/- 27 p = 0.016). However, we did not observe any significant difference between adhesion scores (2.5 +/- 0.6, 2.0 +/- 0.7, 2.0 +/- 0.7, p = 0.343). CONCLUSIONS: In this experimental study, fibrin sealant increased bursting pressure and rupture strength of colonic anastomoses while hyaluronic acid-carboxymethylcellulose had no effects in rats, but both of them showed no effect on adhesion scores. In order to use fibrin sealant to decrease the rate of early leakages from colonic anastomoses, further studies have to be performed.

Treatment of pilonidal sinus by phenol application and factors affecting the recurrence.

BACKGROUND: Phenol injection, a less invasive method, has become more popular for the treatment of sinus pilonidalis. Recurrence rates after the use of phenol have been reported to be less than those after other surgical methods. METHODS: In this study, we applied 80% phenol to 143 patients with sinus pilonidalis. Patients were reevaluated at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after the phenolization procedure to search for any recurrences. Age, sex, skin color, occupation, hair distribution, complaints, macroscopic characteristics of the lesion, pouch volume, microbiological yield, complications of phenol injection, healing time, and recurrences were determined. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 24 months and the recurrence rate was 8.3% (12 of 143 patients). Volume of the sinus tract and number of sinus orifices were determined to be the factors significantly affecting recurrences (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Injection of 80% phenol is an ideal approach for the conservative treatment of sinus pilonidalis. This study confirms that this is an effective and costless method with low recurrence rates.

Nephrolithiasis associated with ceftriaxone therapy: a prospective study in 51 children.

BACKGROUND: Ceftriaxone, a third generation cephalosporin, is widely used for treating infection during childhood. The kidneys eliminate approximately 33-67% of this agent, and the remainder is eliminated via the biliary system. Ceftriaxone may bind with calcium ions and form insoluble precipitate leading to biliary pseudolithiasis. The aim of this study was to assess whether ceftriaxone associated nephrolithiasis develops by the same mechanism, and whether this condition is dose related. METHODS: The study involved 51 children with various infections. Of these, 24 were hospitalized with severe infection and received 100 mg/kg/day ceftriaxone divided into two equal intravenous doses. The other 27 patients received a single daily intramuscular injection of 50 mg/kg/day. Serum and urine parameters were evaluated before and after treatment, and abdominal ultrasonographic examinations were also carried out before and after treatment. RESULTS: Serum urea, creatinine, and calcium levels were normal in all patients before and after treatment. Post-treatment ultrasound identified nephrolithiasis in four (7.8%) of the 51 subjects. The stones were all of small size (2 mm). Comparison of the groups with and without nephrolithiasis revealed no significant differences with respect to age, sex distribution, duration of treatment, or dose/route of administration of ceftriaxone. The renal stones disappeared spontaneously in three of the four cases, but were still present in one patient 7 months after ceftriaxone treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Conclusions: The study showed that children taking a 7 day course of normal or high dose ceftriaxone may develop small sized asymptomatic renal stones. The overall incidence of nephrolithiasis in this study was 7.8%.