Mahmut Can Yağmurdur

Endovascular stent placement in the treatment of upper extremity central venous obstruction in hemodialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of stent placement for treating upper extremity central venous obstruction in chronic hemodialysis patients. METHODS AND MATERIAL Between January 1999 and October 2001, we inserted metallic stents into the upper extremity central veins of 14 patients with shunt dysfunction and/or arm swelling. The indications for stent placement were stenosis or occlusion of the central vein in the upper extremity used for dialysis. Six of the individuals were diagnosed with subclavian vein stenosis, and 5 with brachiocephalic vein stenosis. Of the remaining 3 patients, 2 had subclavian vein occlusion, and 1 had left brachiocephalic vein occlusion. RESULTS All the stent placement procedures were technically successful, and there were no major complications. Follow-up ranged from 2 weeks to 29 months. The 1-, 3-, 6- and 12-month primary stent patency rates were 92.8, 85.7, 50 and 14.3%, respectively. Repeat interventions, including percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and additional stent placement, were required in 9 patients. The 3-, 6-, 12-month, and 2-year assisted primary stent patency rates were 100, 88.8, 55.5 and 33.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION Endovascular stent placement is an effective alternative to surgery in patients with shunt dysfunction due to obstruction of an upper extremity central vein. Repeated interventions are usually required to prolong stent patency.

Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene Intron 4 (VNTR) Polymorphism and Vascular Access Graft Thrombosis

Vascular access thrombosis is a leading cause of vascular access failure in hemodialysis patients. Thrombosis is a multifactorial condition and genetic makeup can affect thrombosis risk. We conducted a study to investigate for possible associations between ecNOS gene intron 4 variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism and thrombosis of polytetrafluoroethylene hemodialysis arteriovenous access grafts (AVG) in Turkish patients. Fifty-five patients with end-stage renal disease who had AVGs implanted between 2000 and 2002 and 167 healthy individuals representing our healthy population were enrolled in this prospective study. Each subject provided a venous blood sample from which DNA was isolated, and polymerase chain reaction analysis was done to identify genotypes (aa, bb, ab) for ecNOS gene intron 4 VNTR polymorphism. All grafts were placed in brachioaxillary position. The subjects were divided into two groups based on duration of graft patency. The thrombosis group (Group I) comprised 26 patients who developed AVG thrombosis in the first 12 months after placement. The no-thrombosis group (Group II) comprised 29 patients whose grafts remained patient for at least 12 months. The frequency of the aa genotype in Group I was significantly higher than that in Group II (p =. 005). At 6, 12, and 24 months, the primary patency rates for the AVGs in patients with the aa genotype were significantly lower than the corresponding rates for the bb and ab genotype groupings (p =. 01, p =. 01 and p =. 04 for the three respective time points; Kaplan–Meier). ecNOS gene intron 4 VNTR polymorphism is linked with the pathogenesis of vascular access thrombosis in Turkish patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis: a case-control study.

This case-control study assesses laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in patients with end-stage renal disease treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Eleven patients receiving peritoneal dialysis treatment and 33 patients without end-stage renal disease who had undergone an elective LC were compared. Medical records were reviewed, and laboratory values and outcomes and results were analyzed. The peritoneal dialysis group showed a higher frequency of associated disease and previous abdominal surgery; a lower hemoglobin and platelet count; and elevated alkaline phosphatase, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine values. Statistically significant between-group differences were found with regard to postoperative complications and postoperative hospital stay days. One procedure in each group was converted to an open cholecystectomy. No patient in the peritoneal dialysis group who underwent a LC had peritonitis. No other catheter-related complications occurred. LC may be performed with low complication rates in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis with an experienced team.

Clinical findings and HER-2/neu gene amplification status of breast carcinoma patients.

The study group was derived from the archival materials of 48 invasive intraductal breast cancer patients who had undergone partial mastectomy/ axillary dissection. All patients included in the study had clinically T1-2N0M0 invasive ductal carcinoma. To detect HER-2/neu status, fluorescentin situ hybridization was performed using a HER-2/neu locus-specific probe. Signals were counted and patients were classified in three groups according to signal ratios: signal ratio <2, group 1 (n=31); signal ratio 2–4, group 2 (n=11); signal ratio >4, group 3 (n=6). Ratios of axillary metastatic lymph nodes to dissected total lymph nodes were 17%, 23% and 83% in groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively (P=0.003). The number of metastatic axillary lymph nodes, and the ratio of microscopic metastatic lymph nodes were highest in group 3 (P=0.001 and P=0.008, respectively). No significant difference was observed between groups for distant metastasis in a 5-year follow-up period. Signal ratios decreased with estrogen receptor expression (P=0.03). Histopathologically, an irregular growth pattern of the tumor was observed in 100% of the patients in group 3, and in 54% and 60% in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P=0.04). Lymphovascular invasion of the tumor was significantly higher in group 3 compared to the other two groups (P=0.01). The extensive intraductal component ratio was the highest in group 3 (P=0.04). The appearance of desmoplastic reaction and lymphocyte infiltration did not show significant difference between the groups. Our results show that HER-2/neu signal ratio increases with lymphovascular invasion, an extensive intraductal component, irregular growth pattern and axillary metastasis in clinically T1-2N0M0 invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

Management strategies for patients with nipple discharge

Background and aimsThe aim of this study was to assess management strategies for patients with nipple discharge (ND).Patients and methodsThe records of 13,443 women with breast-related complaints who were examined by the same surgeon between 1 January 1960 and 31 December 2000 were retrospectively assessed. Patients with ND were grouped according to whether they had had a spontaneous or provoked discharge. The parameters investigated in each group were age, physical findings, number of pregnancies, duration of lactation, duration of discharge, colour of discharge, and histopathological features. Chi-square and Mann–Whitney U-tests were used for statistical analysis.ResultsND was the presenting symptom in 603 (4.5%) of the cases. Two hundred and eighty-seven (48%) of the 603 patients showed spontaneous nipple discharge (SND group) and the other 316 (52%) showed provoked nipple discharge (PND group). In the SND group, 124 (43%) tissue specimens were obtained by either biopsy or sub-areolar exploration. Histopathological examination revealed that the most frequent causes of ND in these cases were intraductal papilloma (49 patients; 40%), intraductal carcinoma (35 patients; 28%), and cystic disease (15 patients; 12%). Twenty tissue specimens were obtained from the group with PND. In these cases, the most frequently identified causes of ND were cystic disease (seven patients; 35%), intraductal papilloma (six patients; 30%), ductal ectasia (two patients; 10%), and carcinoma (one patient; 5%). The SND and PND groups differed significantly with respect to age (P=0.001) and duration of ND (P=0.008). The incidence of cancer was higher in the SND specimens than in the PND specimens (28% vs 5%, respectively; P=0.01). The number of pregnancies was significantly higher and the duration of lactation was significantly longer in the SND group (P=0.03 and P=0.02, respectively).ConclusionThe study confirms previous reports that patients with SND have a higher incidence of carcinoma than those with PND. The results suggest that older age, higher number of pregnancies, and longer duration of lactation may predispose to cancer development in patients with SND. The possibility of breast cancer should also be kept in mind when one is assessing patients with PND. Careful physical examination and close follow-up is the optimal management strategy for patients with any type of ND.

The Impact of Transient Elevation of Intra-Abdominal Pressure on Liver Regeneration in the Rat

Transient increased intra-abdominal pressure (IIAP) due to carbon dioxide insufflation is suspected to cause a form of ischemia–reperfusion injury. Considering this, a study was designed to assess the effect of transient IIAP on liver regeneration in a rat model. Six groups of animals (each n = 6) were studied. While experiments in Group 1 (IIAP + PHR) were subjected to IIAP, following partial hepatic resection (PHR), those in Group 2 (IIAP) experiments were subjected to IIAP. Animals in Group 3 (IR + PHR) were subjected to liver ischemia–reperfusion (IR) following PHR, and those in Group 4 (IR) underwent only IR. Group 5 (PHR) and Group 6 (healthy) served as controls. Blood was taken for assessment of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6 with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at day 5 postoperatively. Each rat was then given a lethal injection of pentobarbital. Gravimetric analysis and immunohistochemistry staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were used for assessments of liver regeneration. Apoptosis was assessed by immunohistochemical TUNEL index, expressed as the number of positive cells/per total number of cells at the same time. Although mean liver regeneration rates of Group 1 and Group 3 were the same, that of Group 5 was the highest (p =. 04). Serum TNF-alpha levels of Group 1 versus Group 3 were 340 pg/ml versus 352 pg/ml. Serum IL-6 levels of Group 1 versus Group 3 were 124 pg/ml versus 135 pg/ml. Serum TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels of Group 1 and Group 3 were the same at the first day of surgical procedure (p >.05). Mean serum TNF-alpha levels of Group 5 (387 pg/ml) were significantly higher than those of both Group 1 and Group 3 at 24 h of operation. Serum IL-6 levels of Group 5 (174 pg/ml) at the same time was higher than those of Group 1 and Group 3 at the same time (p =. 01). Proliferating cell nuclear antigen indices of Group 1, Group 2, Group 3, Group 4, and Group 6 were the same; however, the mean PCNA-labeling index of Group 5 was higher than those of the others. There were no significant differences between the groups (p >.05). Liver regeneration is suppressed by transient IIAP. However, the effect of IIAP on liver apoptosis needs to be clarified.

Male breast cancer: thirteen years experience of a single center

BackgroundThis retrospective study analysed the epidemiological, clinical, and therapeutic profiles of breast cancer in males.MethodsWe report our experience at the Hospital of the University of Baskent, where 20 cases of male breast cancer were observed and treated between 1995–2008.ResultsMedian age at presentation was 66,7 ± 10,9 years. Average follow-up was 63 ± 18,5 months. The main presenting symptom was a mass in 65% of cases (13 patients). Ýnvasive ductal carcinoma was the most frequent pathologic type (70% of cases).ConclusionMale breast cancer patients have an incidence of prostate cancer higher than would be predicted in the general population. Cause of men have a higher rate of ER positivity the responses with hormonal agents are good.

Effect of graft type on postoperative liver function recovery in living liver donors.

BACKGROUND Donor safety is the primary focus in living-donor liver transplantation. Although, the procedure carries a significant risk of morbidity and even death, the use of marginal living donors is a current issue of discussion. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between September 2001 and October 2008, we performed 203 liver transplantation procedures using organs from living donors. Of 203 donors, 115 were men and 88 were women, with a mean (SD; range) age of 34.5 (9; 19-66) years. One hundred fifty donors were first-degree relatives of the recipients, 36 were second-degree relatives, and 17 were spouses. We did not accept grafts with remnant volume less than 40% or from donors with impaired liver function. We performed 96 right-lobe 38 left-lobe, and 69 left-lateral segmentectomies. For the right-lobe grafts, the median hepatic vein was always left in the remnant liver. The mean ratios of remnant to total donor liver volume were 42.0%, 66.8%, and 74.6% for the right-, left-, and left lateral segmentectomies, respectively. Mean hospitalization time was 7.0, 6.2, and 9.7 days, respectively. Mean operative time was 330, 324, and 324 minutes, respectively. Only 15 donors (7.8%) received autologous blood transfusions during surgery. Liver function tests including alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and bilirubin concentrations and prothrombin time were assessed postoperative days 1, 3, and 5 at outpatient follow-up, usually at week 3. RESULTS There were no deaths; however, 26 complications occurred in 20 of 203 donors (5.2%), most of which were treated with radiologic interventions. CONCLUSION Larger grafts produce impaired function in the early postoperative period; however, they do not have a negative effect in the long term. The remnant volume should be measured fastidiously, and surgeons must avoid taking large volumes of liver, especially in right-lobe donors.

Early period psychiatric disorders following burn trauma and the importance of surgical factors in the etiology.

BACKGROUND We aimed to assess early period psychiatric disorders following burn trauma. METHODS The files of 1369 patients who had burn trauma were analyzed retrospectively. Forty-five patients with the diagnosis of psychiatric disorder were assessed based on the variables of age, gender, presence of chronic diseases, psychiatric disorders prior to burn trauma, cause of the burn, burn percentage, degree of burn, additional trauma, number of surgeries, duration of hospitalization, extremity amputation, intubation status, psychiatric symptoms, post-trauma psychiatric disorders, and mortality. RESULTS Forty-five patients developed psychiatric disorder in the early period following burn trauma. Of the 45 patients, 7 (15.5%) were female and 38 (84.5%) were male. The mean age was 32±14.3 years, burn percentage was 40.09±20.69%, number of operations was 2.95±1.75, and the total duration of hospitalization was 51.57±38.62 days. welve (26.6%) patients had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 11 (24.4%) had delirium, 8 (17.7%) had anxiety disorder, 7 (15.5%) had depression, 1 (2.2%) had abstinence syndrome, 1 (2.2%) had schizoaffective disorder, 2 (4.4%) had PTSD and depression, 2 (4.4%) had PTSD and delirium, and 1 (2.2%) had PTSD and anxiety disorder. CONCLUSION Burn is a trauma that can be treated with a multidisciplinary approach.

HER-2/neu Gene Codon 655 (Ile/Val) Polymorphism in Breast Carcinoma Patients

Amplification and/or overexpression of HER-2/neu has been reported to be associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer. One single-nucleotide polymorphism at codon 655 indicates a guanine-to-adenine substitution (Ile655Val) in the transmembrane domain-coding region of the HER-2/neu gene reported to be associated with increased risk of breast cancer. However, several studies have shown that this association is controversial. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association between HER-2 codon 655 polymorphisms and breast cancer risk in breast cancer patients. We analyzed the HER-2 codon 655 polymorphisms in paraffin block sections from 58 breast cancer patients and 55 control subjects and evaluated the association of the polymorphic alleles with breast cancer. Following DNA isolation, polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was carried out. The polymorphic Val allele was detected in 12.1% of the patients and in 17.3% of the control subjects. When the results of the study were evaluated, no statistically significant correlation was found between HER-2/neu codon 655 polymorphism and breast cancer.