Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) among patients with chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C, serum samples were collected between January and December 2004 from patients with chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C. Methods: There were 190 adult patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and 174 with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the study group. As the control group, a cohort of 178 age- and sex-matched individuals without known liver disease was selected. Results: Anti-HEV IgG antibodies were positive in 26/190 (13.7%) of chronic HBV and 94/174 (54%) of chronic HCV patients. In the control group anti-HEV positivity was 15.7% (28/178). There was no difference in the percentage of chronic HBV patients and control group who were positive for anti-HEV antibody, but the presence of HEV infection was significantly higher in chronic HCV patients. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that HEV and HCV might share a common route of transmission in our region. We recommend that preventive measures against HEV should be undertaken in chronic HCV patients as superinfection with HEV can cause a more severe pattern of disease in chronic hepatitis patients.

Although fat grafting is frequently used in plastic surgery practice, debate about the viability of the graft still persists owing to its questionable long-term success. The ultimate aim is to obtain long-term graft viability. Vascularization of the graft is essential for this purpose. The effects of 2 different local anesthetic preparations frequently used during harvesting of fat grafts on long-term graft survival were compared with angiogenesis and volumetric measurements. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups. The inguinal region was selected as the fat graft donor site. The first group was injected with isotonic saline, the second was injected with lidocaine plus epinephrine, and the third was injected with prilocaine. Fat grafts were implanted into the dorsal regions of rats, and volumetric measurements were performed initially and on days 30 and 180 at which microvascular angiogenesis were also analyzed. Microvascular angiogenesis was assessed both with the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry through determination of vessels stained with factor VIII. No significant difference was obtained between the 3 groups in graft volume or microvascular angiogenesis at any stage of the study. Results from this experimental study indicate that there is no negative effect of lidocaine plus epinephrine or prilocaine on microangiogenesis and the survival of fat grafts.

Background: Fungal infections are common and life threatening among immunosupressive patients. Rare side effects may occur related to the use of voriconazole, which is the drug of choice in invasive aspergillosis. Patients and Methods: Neuropathy was determined through clinical and electromyographic findings during the course of voriconazole therapy in 2 patients developing invasive aspergillosis. Results: Since examinations revealed no neuropathy capable of ascription to any other cause and improvement followed the cessation of the drug, this suggested that neuropathy may be linked to voriconazole use. Conclusion: Neuropathy may be seen as a side effect during voriconazole treatment. Voriconazole-induced side effects should be borne in mind and patients carefully monitored during its use.

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Monitoring flap viability in the postoperative period is important for the prediction of partial or total flap failure. Many alternative methods such as laser Doppler flowmetry, photoplethysmography, infrared spectroscopy, fluorescein injection, evaluation of flap color, turgor, temperature and capillary reflow have been used for this purpose. Although these methods are valuable in the determination of flap condition, they are not sufficient prognostic markers for flaps. In this study, we investigated the relationship between serum ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) values and flap viability. In 20 Wistar rats, caudal-based 9 × 3 cm dorsal flaps were prepared. IMA values were measured before the flap elevation as well as 6 h and 1 week after the surgical procedure. Seven days after the operation, the viable flap areas were calculated. The relationship between changes in the IMA level during the study and viable flap area measurements was investigated. There was no statistically significant correlation between serum IMA level alterations during the preoperative to postoperative 6th hour period and necrotic flap area measurements. This lack of correlation was also present between the change in IMA levels during the preoperative to postoperative 7th day period and necrotic flap area measurements. In conclusion, serum IMA levels do not predict rat skin flap viability.