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La gammagrafía con leucocitos marcados con 99mTc-HMPAO ha resultado un método de estudio específico y altamente sensible en el diagnóstico y seguimiento de pacientes con sospecha de infección protésica. El objetivo de este estudio retrospectivo fue evaluar la utilidad de la SPECT/TC en infección protésica. Se realizó una gammagrafía con leucocitos marcados con 99mTc-HMPAO a 37 pacientes con prótesis articular (11 hombres y 26 mujeres; rango de edades de 38 a 84 años; edad media ± DE, 65,7 ± 5,6 años). Se obtuvieron imágenes planares 2, 4 y 24 horas después de la inyección. A las 4 horas se realizó SPECT/TC usando una gammacámara híbrida de doble detector con TC de baja energía. En todos los pacientes se compararon los resultados de la gammagrafía con los resultados de la intervención quirúrgica, el cultivo y el seguimiento clínico. De 37 pacientes estudiados con leucocitos marcados con 99mTc-HMPAO, con gammagrafía y SPECT/TC, 17 (45,9%) tenían infección protésica y 20 (54,1%) tenían afecciones protésicas no infecciosas. La gammagrafía con leucocitos marcados con 99mTc-HMPAO fue verdadero positivo para infección en 16 de 37 pacientes y verdadero negativo en 20 de 37 pacientes. La SPECT/TC proporciona una localización anatómica precisa de todos los posibles focos. Considerando el diagnóstico final, la SPECT/TC aportó una contribución clínica significativa en 22 de 37 pacientes (59,4%). La sensibilidad, especificidad, valor predictivo negativo y valor predictivo positivo fueron del 100%, 59,1%, 100%, 62,5% en las imágenes planares y de 100%, 90,1%, 100%, 88,2% en la imagen planar más SPECT/TC respectivamente. Nuestros resultados indican que la realización de la SPECT/TC puede mejorar el estudio con leucocitos marcados con 99mTc-HMPAO en pacientes con sospecha de osteomielitis, y proporcionar una localización anatómica y una definición precisa del alcance de la infección. White blood cell scanning with 99mTc-hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (HMPAO) has proven a sensitive and specific imaging method in the diagnosis of suspected prosthesis infection. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the usefulness of SPECT/CT performed simultaneously using a hybrid imaging device of prosthesis infections. 99mTc-HMPAO scintigraphy was performed on 37 patients (11 men and 26 women; age range 38-84 years; mean age ± SD, 65.7 ± 5.6 years). Planar scans were acquired 2.4 and 24 hour after injection. SPECT/CT was obtained 4 h after injection, using a dual-head hybrid gama camera coupled with a low-power x-ray tube. In all patients, scintigraphic results were matched with the results of surgery, cultures and clinical follow-up. Seventeen (45,9%) out of 37 patients had prosthesis infection and 20 (54,1%) out of 37 patients had non-infectious prosthesis pathologies with 99mTc-HMPAO scintigraphy and SPECT/CT. The 99mTc-HMPAO scintigraphy was true-positive for infection in 16 of 37 patients and true-negative in 20 of 37 patients. SPECT/CT provided an accurate anatomic localization of all positive foci. With regard to the final diagnosis, SPECT/CT added a significant clinical contribution in 22 of 37 patients (59,4%). Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value and positive predictive values were 100%,59.1%,100%,62.5% in planar images with 99mTc-HMPAO scintigraphy and 100%,90.1%,100%,88.2% in the planar+SPECT/CT imaging, respectively. Our results indicate that SPECT/CT performed using a hybrid device can improve imaging with 99mTc-HMPAO scintigraphy in patients with suspected osteomyelitis by providing accurate anatomic localization and precise definition of the extent of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preaxial polydactyly is a common limb malformation in humans with variable clinical expression. Different types of triphalangeal thumb-preaxial polydactyly phenotypes were mapped to the chromosome 7q36 region. We studied a large Turkish family of 69 individuals, of whom 22 individuals were affected. In all, 11 affected family members were clinically and radiologically evaluated. All affected individuals had a triphalangeal thumb and a preaxial (hypoplastic) extra digit bilaterally, with minimal intrafamilial variation. No feet involvement was observed. Linkage and haplotype analyses using 20 informative meioses confirmed the 7q36 region contained the LIMBR1 gene. Maximum logarithm of the odds (LOD) scores were obtained with DNA markers D7S550 and D7S2423. We have further identified a novel C to T alteration at position 4909 bp in the critical zone of polarizing activity regulatory sequence (ZRS) region, in the intron 5, of the LMBR1 gene. One affected male with homozygous status and no phenotypic difference from affected family members with heterozygous status represented the first homozygote case of the triphalangeal thumb-preaxial polydactyly phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. To determine incidence of pressure ulcers in patients at risk according to the Waterlow scale in intensive care units and to evaluate the effects of risk factors in critically ill patients. Background. Pressure ulcers continue to be an important health problem that increases the risk of illness and death, extends patients' length of hospital stay and increases healthcare expenses. Design. The study was conducted as a descriptive and prospective study. Method. The sample consisted of 140 patients. Data were collected using a data collection form, the skin assessment instrument and the Waterlow scale. Results. The incidence of pressure ulcers in intensive care unit patients was found to be 14·3%. The majority of pressure ulcers (74%) were grade I. The mean length of time for pressure ulcer development was found to be 10·4 (SD 1·85) days. A statistically significant difference was found in the patients for pressure ulcer development according to their level of consciousness, activity, cooperation, length of stay, Waterlow scale score and C-reactive protein level. In the multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis, the most influential factors for pressure ulcer development were determined to be length of stay and activity level. Conclusions. Extra care needs to be taken to prevent pressure ulcer development in intensive care unit patients who have an extended length of stay, are dependent for activities, have high Waterlow scores, are unconscious and are not cooperative. Relevance to clinical practice. This study determined the incidence of and factors that can affect the development of pressure ulcers in intensive care unit patients who are in a high risk group for the development of pressure ulcers and presented the importance of having Turkish nurses implement interventions directed at these factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hamstring shortening (HS) causes changes in the posture and walking ability in spastic children, however, there are no studies defining the abnormalities in patellar alignment in individuals with HS.Twenty-five patients with a primary complaint of anterior knee pain, having HS detected at physical examination, and 11 healthy individuals without any HS or knee discomfort as a control group are included in this study. Serial x-rays of the spine, pelvis and knee are taken and knee x-rays are evaluated for the position of the patella in both groups.In patients with Knee Extension Deficit (KED) S 60 degrees, the Blackburne-Peel ratio is lower and the Insall-Salvati ratio is higher than the other groups, denoting a cephalic location of the patella p<0.05). There are no changes in the congruency and sulcus angles between the HS and control groups. Vertebral and pelvic changes correlate well with the literature, confirming that significant alterations occur after 60 degrees of KED in adults.The extensor mechanism of the knee is affected and patella is located higher than normal in patients with severe HS, which may be a cause for knee discomfort. In the light of these findings, a routine knee extension deficit examination can be suggested in the initial evaluation of knee discomfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer, and it very rarely metastasizes. An aggressive case of basal cell carcinoma metastasizing to skin, lungs, posterior chest wall, liver and lymph nodes is presented here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several letters to the editor are presented discussing various cases related to diabetes including one discussing serum sickness-like reactions associated with type III insulin allergy responding to plasmapheresis and the other claiming that mutations in IAPP and NEUROG3genes are not a common cause of permanent neonatal, infancy or childhood-onset diabetes.

Pyogenic granuloma is a common benign skin tumour. However, giant recurrent pyogenic granuloma with satellitosis is relatively rare. We present a 52-year-old man who had recurrent gigantic pyogenic granuloma with satellitosis responsive to systemic steroids. Our case of recurrent pyogenic granuloma is interesting because of its clinical presentation, recurrence following surgical excision and its steroid responsiveness. Systemic steroids may be effective in treating recurrent giant pyogenic granulomas during their high-proliferation phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]