Gulay Sain Guven

Beneficial effects of periodontal treatment on metabolic control of hypercholesterolemia.

Background: The authors aimed to evaluate whether local periodontal therapy may influence plasma lipid levels in patients with periodontitis. Methods: Fifty patients (31 females and 19 males, age 36-66 yr) were randomly assigned to the treatment and control groups. Lipid profile and dental variables were measured at baseline and at the end of the study in both groups. Results: In the third month, there was a significant decrease in total and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels of the treatment group compared with baseline values. Also, the reduction in bleeding on probing, pocket depth, attachment loss, plaque index and gingival index were statistically significant in the treatment group. Conclusions: The present study indicates that periodontitis causes changes in total and LDL cholesterol levels and local periodontal treatment resulted in a significant decrease in these markers. These results suggest a potential effect of periodontitis-driven systemic inflammation on lipid metabolism.

Epidemiology and outcome of sepsis in a tertiary-care hospital in a developing country

Sepsis continues to have a substantial mortality and morbidity despite advances in the diagnosis and management of this condition. We retrospectively analysed hospital charts of patients diagnosed to have sepsis between January 2002 and June 2003. Demographic characteristics of patients, microbiological findings and predictors of survival were evaluated. Sixty-nine sepsis episodes that occurred in 63 patients were analysed. The most common underlying diseases were hypertension, malignancies and diabetes mellitus. Renal insufficiency, respiratory distress and disseminated intravascular coagulation developed in 52.2, 30.4 and 30.4% of the episodes respectively; 47.7% of the blood cultures yielded an organism. Gram-negative bacteria were the predominant microorganisms (65.9%). Fifty-five patients (87.3%) died. Mechanical ventilation and underlying renal disease were significant determinants of mortality. In conclusion, Gram-negative bacteria remain the major pathogens in sepsis. The mortality remains very high, and a change in the clinical approach to the septic patient should be employed to improve the outcome.

Pregnancy- and lactation-associated osteoporosis with severe vertebral deformities: can strontium ranelate be a new alternative for the treatment?

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Pregnancy- and lactation-associated osteoporosis is an uncommon condition that may be a consequence of preexisting low bone density, loss of bone mineral content during pregnancy, and increased bone turnover. PURPOSE To present a case of severe osteoporosis associated with pregnancy and lactation and its treatment protocol. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING A tertiary care hospital. PATIENT SAMPLE A young female after twin pregnancy presenting with severe osteoporosis. METHODS The diagnosis was done on the basis of bone mineral density (BMD) measurement. The patient was treated with first alendronate and then strontium ranelate. She was considered as a candidate for kyphoplasty. RESULTS A dramatic increase in the BMD and palliation of back pain were observed. CONCLUSIONS Strontium ranelate may be a new alternative in the treatment of pregnancy- and lactation-associated osteoporosis.

Infectious complications in patients with hematological malignancies consulted by the Infectious Diseases team: a retrospective cohort study (1997–2001)

In order to identify the characteristics of patients with hematological malignancies (HM) in the presence/suspicion of any accompanying infectious disease, and to find the predictors of mortality in this group, hospital charts of patients with HM consulted by the Infectious Diseases (ID) team for signs/symptoms of any infection between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2001 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 1,132 consultations were done for 641 patients: 59.4% of the patients were male and the mean (±standard deviation) age of the study participants was 47.9±1.4 years. The most common underlying diseases were non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (30.9%), acute myelogenous leukemia (26.2%), and multiple myeloma (10.9%). Clinically and microbiologically documented infections and fever of unknown origin were observed in 43.3%, 38.1%, and 18.5% of the participants, respectively. Bloodstream infections were detected in 134 episodes (20.9%): 56.5% were caused by gram-negative microorganisms. In logistic regression analysis, the presence of pneumonia (OR 7.56, 95% CI 4.84–12.486), invasive fungal infection (OR 4.12, 95% CI 1.78–9.55), relapse or recent diagnosis of the underlying disease (OR 2.82, 95% CI 1.53–5.21) and neutropenia (OR 2.70, 95% CI 1.70–4.31) were identified as statistically significant predictors of mortality.

Osteoporosis In Turkish HIV/AIDS patients: comparative analysis by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and digital X-ray radiogrammetry

Recently, osteoporosis has attracted concern among physicians treating patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Many confounding factors are assumed to play a role in its pathogenesis. The discussion has increased dramatically since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), and, in fact, the pertinent data have become much more contradictory. In this study, we have evaluated the BMD of our HIV/AIDS patients, comparatively by two methodologies: dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and digital X-ray radiogrammetry (DXR). The study comprised 27 HIV/AIDS patients (15 males, 12 females). Bone mineral density measurements using DXA (Hologic QDR-4500) were performed at the lumbar spine (L1–L4), femur and distal radius. DXR evaluations were done by Pronosco X-posure system (Sectra Pronosco, Denmark) using the X-ray graphs of the patients’ non-dominant hands. Nine patients (33.33%) were found to have osteoporosis. Fourteen (51.85%) had osteopenia and four (14.81%) were normal. Estimated BMD and cortical thickness measurements obtained from DXR significantly correlated with lumbar, femoral and radial DXA measurements. Whether disease-related or drug-related, the tendency to a decline in the bone mass of these patients exists, and future studies are awaited to unravel the clinical significance of osteopenia, risk of fracture and the individual differences between HAART regimens in HIV/AIDS. We also believe that launching screening and treatment guidelines for osteoporosis in these patients will then become reasonable. Last but not least, DXR appears to be a promising tool in this regard.

Cowden syndrome: a major indication for extensive cancer surveillance

Cowden syndrome (CS) or multiple hamartoma syndrome is a rare genetic disorder related to increased cellular proliferation of ectodermal, mesodermal, and endodermal tissues. It is characterized by multiple hamartomas and malignant neoplasms. Cancers of the breast, thyroid, endometrium, and skin are the most prevalent ones. Although close surveillance for cancer is required, many cases are undiagnosed or diagnosis comes at a late stage, partly due to the variable phenotype of the disease. Detection of multiple skin lesions of different characteristic in a patient with other local and systemic pathologies prompts further evaluation for CS. A case of CS, whose diagnosis is based upon skin lesions, alimentary tract polyposis, mental dullness, and history of spinal arteriovenous malformations, is discussed in this report.

Mercury vapor inhalation and poisoning of a family

Acute mercury vapor poisoning is a rare but fatal toxicological emergency. People are exposed to mercury in daily life by the way of foods, vaccines, antiseptics, ointments, amalgam or occupation. We present here, the clinical picture and management of four members of the same family who were exposed to elemental mercury. Three of the family members were seen in another hospital with malaise, fever, eritematous rash and pulmonary problems. Their questioning revealed the mercury exposure. Having a suspicion of heavy metal intoxication, blood and urine mercury levels were measured and mercury intoxication was diagnosed. On admission to our hospital, two patients already had chelation therapy. In three of them we found three distinct abnormalities: encephalopathy, nephrotic syndrome and polyneuropathy. The fourth family member had minor symptoms. This family is an example for the inhalation exposure resulting from inappropriate handling of liquid mercury. During the first days, flu like illness ensues. Then, severe pulmonary, neurological, renal, hepatic, hematological and dermatological dysfunctions develop. Blood and urine mercury levels should be tested on suspicion, but it must be kept in mind that blood level is unreliable in predicting the severity of mercury toxicity. The priority in the treatment should be removing the patient from the source of exposure. Then British anti-Lewisite, edetate calcium disodium, penicillamine, Sodium 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfhonate and 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid can be used for binding the mercury. We conclude that since mercury-containing devices are present in daily life, physicians must be able to recognize the clinical manifestations and treatment of mercury poisoning.

Local bone marrow Renin-Angiotensin system and atherosclerosis.

Local hematopoietic bone marrow (BM) renin-angiotensin system (RAS) affects the growth, production, proliferation differentiation, and function of hematopoietic cells. Angiotensin II (Ang II), the dominant effector peptide of the RAS, regulates cellular growth in a wide variety of tissues in pathobiological states. RAS, especially Ang II and Ang II type 1 receptor (AT1R), has considerable proinflammatory and proatherogenic effects on the vessel wall, causing progression of atherosclerosis. Recent investigations, by analyzing several BM chimeric mice whose BM cells were positive or negative for AT1R, disclosed that AT1R in BM cells participates in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Therefore, AT1R blocking not only in vascular cells but also in the BM could be an important therapeutic approach to prevent atherosclerosis. The aim of this paper is to review the function of local BM RAS in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Hip fractures in a developing country: osteoporosis frequency, predisposing factors and treatment costs.

Hip fractures are a burden to both society and the individual. The aim of this study was to describe the frequency of osteoporosis and the in-hospital treatment costs of patients with hip fractures admitted to Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Hospital. Patients with a hip fracture who were admitted to the Orthopedics and Traumatology wards between April 2003 and December 2006 were interviewed and 50 of them were enrolled prospectively in the study protocol. Patient characteristics, predisposing factors for fractures and hospital costs were recorded as well as laboratory test results and bone mineral density measurements. The mean age was 74.2 years and 72% of the patients were women. Sixty-four percent of them presented with an intertrochanteric fracture. The patient population was significantly debilitated with a high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism. No association was shown with T scores and dietary habits and lifestyle characteristics of patients. In 34% of patients in whom measurements were available, no osteoporosis could be documented. The mean hospital expenditure was

Could remembering the prozone phenomenon shorten our diagnostic journey in brucellosis? A case of Brucella spondylodiscitis

5983. Factors affecting the total cost were age and functional status of the patient and the duration of hospital stay, independent of the type of fracture and surgical procedure used.