No abstract

We aimed to determine histological damage in patients with varicocele by comparing the elasticity of their affected testes with that of their normal contralateral testes as well as normal testes of control subjects without varicocele using shear wave elastography (SWE). In total, 48 patients with varicocele (96 testes) and 52 control subjects (104 testes) were included in this study. Shear wave elastography values were measured in the longitudinal plane using an oval region of interest that covered as much of the testicular contours as possible. Fifty testes with varicocele were classified as group A, 46 normal contralateral testes of the same patients as group B, and 104 normal testes of control subjects as group C. The normal group C testes were randomly chosen from patients who had applied for ultrasonography for any reason and agreed to participate in the study. The testicular volume and SWE values were compared between these 3 groups. The average age of the patients was 28.45 years, and no significant difference in age was found between the 3 groups (P = 0.665). A significant difference in the testicular volume was found between groups A and C (P = 0.014). The SWE values were significantly higher in group A than in groups B and C (P < 0.001). No significant correlation was observed between the testicular volume and SWE values in any of the groups. Our results showed that SWE can be used as an effective technique to assess testicular stiffness in patients with varicocele to predict interstitial fibrosis and the severity of histological damage.

No abstract

Cystic echinococcosis is a neglected, zoonotic disease in Turkey. The disease is commonly seen in rural areas where the local population is in close contact with livestock and dogs. This research aimed to molecularly identify of hydatid cysts in cattle and human isolates from Konya, Turkey. Following sample collection, direct microscopy was performed. After direct examination, total DNA was extracted, and positive PCR products of cox 1 mitochondrial gene (~875 bp) were sequenced. A total of 83 hydatid cysts (cattle n = 57 and human n = 26), 82 were identified as Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto (G1-G3 genotypes), and one human isolate was characterized as Echinococcus equinus (G4 genotype). Fertility rates of cysts belonging to cattle for liver and lung cysts were 93.3% and 80%, respectively. Out of 26 human originated isolates, 18 (69.2%) of cysts were found to be fertile. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of E. equinus from human host in Turkey.

No abstract

This study describes the peri-procedural and late complications and angiographic follow-up results of 32 patients with 34 complex aneurysms treated with flow diverter Silk stents in a single centre. In this retrospective study, 40 Silk stents (SS) were implanted in 34 complex intracranial aneurysms in 32 patients. In our series, 20 (58.8%) carotid-ophthalmic internal carotid artery (ICA), six (17.6%) cavernous ICA, two (5.9%) supraclinoid ICA, two (5.9%) petrosal ICA (the same patient- bilateral) and four (11.8%) posterior circulation aneurysms were treated. One of the posterior circulation lesions was a fenestrated-type aneurysm. Twenty wide-necked, saccular; eight neck remnant; four fusiform and two blister-like aneurysms were included in our series. SS were successfully implanted in all patients (100%). Misdeployment occurred in 17.6% of patients. In two of these patients adequate stent openness was achieved via Hyperglide balloon dilatation. Coil embolization in addition to SS placement was utilized in four aneurysms. One patient (3%) experienced transient morbidity due to a thromboembolic event and there was one mortality (3%) due to remote intraparenchymal haemorrhage. Complete occlusion of 27/33 (81.8%) and 29/33 (87.9%) aneurysms was achieved six and 12 months after the procedure, respectively. In-stent intimal hyperplasia was detected in 6.1% patients. Flow-diverter Silk stent implantation is an effective method of treating complex aneurysms with acceptable mortality and morbidity rates. Complete occlusion is achieved in most of the complex aneurysms.

To investigate chest computed tomography (CT) findings in asymptomatic patients tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Material and methods: The chest CT images of 64 patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) who were RT-PCR test-positive but asymptomatic were retrospectively evaluated for the appearance and distribution of abnormal parenchymal findings. Results: Of the 64 patients (mean age 59.4 ± 12; range 23-85), 42 (65%) were female, and 22 (35%) were male, and 16 (25%) of the patients had no abnormal findings on chest CT. Of the remaining 48 patients, lung involvement was bilateral in 32 (67%). Right upper lobe in 26 (54%), right middle lobe in 20 (42%), right lower lobe in 38 (79%), left upper lobe in 27 (56%), and left lower lobe were affected in 34 (71%) patients. The mean number of opacities detected in patients was 7.5 ± 5.7. The opacities were located only peripherally/subpleural in 22 (46%), only centrally/peribronchovascular in 5 (10%), and mixed in 21 (44%) patients. The frequency of pure ground glass opacities (GGO) was 63% GGO with a crazy-paving pattern or consolidation was 33%. Pure consolidation was detected in only two (4%) patients. Parenchymal opacities were only round in 27 (56%), only geographic demarcated in 3 (6%), only patchy in 2 (4%), and mixed in 16 (33%) patients. Conclusion: Chest CT was normal in only one-quarter of the asymptomatic patients. CT findings in asymptomatic COVID-19 patients were often peripherally located, mostly round-shaped GGO.

We investigated the effectiveness of shear wave elastography (SWE) in patients with lower extremity superficial venous insufficiency (VI). A total of 138 symptomatic patients, 51 asymptomatic volunteers, and a total of 359 lower extremities (257 symptomatic, 102 asymptomatic) were examined. All participants underwent Doppler ultrasound (US) evaluation to determine VI and SWE measurements performed by manually drawing vein wall and perivenous tissue with free region of interest at the great saphenous vein (GSV) and small saphenous vein (SSV). The GSV, SSV diameter, VI, and volume flow of reflux were compared with the SWE values. The SWE values of the symptomatic group for GSV and SSV were significantly higher than those of the asymptomatic control group regardless of whether VI was detected by Doppler US (P < 0.001). There was a statistically significant increase in SWE values for the symptomatic group who were diagnosed as having reflux in GSV and SSV (P < 0.001). A significant positive correlation between increased GSV, SSV diameter, and SWE values was seen (P < 0.001). Venous insufficiency can be diagnosed with a 84.7% sensitivity and 84.2% specificity when 2655 m/s was designated as cutoff value, and with a 85.4% sensitivity and 84.2% specificity when 22,350 kPa was designated as the cutoff value in GSV. Venous insufficiency can be diagnosed with a 84.3% sensitivity and 82.4% specificity when 2845 m/s was designated as cutoff value, and with a 85.7% sensitivity and 84.4% specificity when 27,100 kPa was designated as the cutoff value in SSV. Shear wave elastography may be used effectively in addition to conventional Doppler US examination in diagnosing and following VI.