Serum PTH levels at postoperative 12 and 24 h can predict early post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia. Prophylactic oral calcium supplementation therapy can prevent early post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia with advantages of being cost effective and safe.

Objective: Assessment of frequency and clinical findings of parasitic infections for etiology of acute appendicitis. Methods: Data of 1452 patients who were carried out appendectomy between January 1999 and December 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. Appendectomy was performed in 1159 of the patients with a pre diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Demographics, physical findings, radiologic and laboratory studies, operative findings, pathological results, presence and type of parasitosis were investigated. Results: Among the 1159 patients done appendectomy with a pre diagnosis of acute appendicitis, 719 (62%) were males and 440 (38%) were females. Parasitic infection was demonstrated in 17 (1.4%) of them. Mean average age of these patients was 36.6±20.1 years. Enterobius vermicularis was present in 15 (88.2%) and Entamoeba histolytica in 2 (11.8%) of the patients. Of the pathology specimens of appendix consisting Enterobius vermicularis, 12 (80%) were normal appendix tissues, 1 (6.6%) was acute uncomplicated appendicitis and 2 (13.3%) were perforated appendicitis. One (50%) of the two specimens consisting Entamoeba histolytica was normal appendix and the other (50%) was acute appendicitis. Conclusion: Differential diagnosis of parasitic infections in etiology of acute appendicitis should be made properly. It must be remembered that this attention can save patients from a negative laparotomy and morbidity and mortality of it. (Turkiye Parazitol Derg 2014; 38: 12-6) (Turkiye Parazitol Derg 2014; 38: 12-6)

Background:Diseases and tumors of the appendix vermiformis are very rare, except acute appendicitis.Objectives:This retrospective study was conducted to document the unusual findings in appendectomy specimens.Patients and Methods:Data of 1466 adult patients were gathered retrospectively. Appendectomy was performed in 1169 and in 297 patients following a diagnosis of acute appendicitis and during other abdominal operations, respectively. The data of 57 (3.88 %) patients who were pathologically reported to have unusual appendix findings were retrospectively collected. The records were analyzed according to patients’ age, gender, clinical presentations, operative reports, pathological reports and follow up.Results:Unusual pathologic examination findings were detected in the appendectomy specimens of 57 patients with a mean age of 48.34 ± 19. Twenty-nine patients (50.8 %) were male and 28 (49.2 %) were female. Normal appendix tissues were observed in specimens of 26 (45.6 %) patients and inflamed appendix in 31 (54.3 %). The most common unusual finding was parasitic diseases of the intestine. Pathological diagnosis of malignancy and benign features were reported in specimens of 14 and 43 patients, respectively. Macroscopic evaluation of appendectomy specimens during surgery might result in negligence of the presence of unusual pathology.Conclusions:Even if the macroscopic appearance of the specimen is normal or acute appendicitis, we suggest routine histopathological examination.

The abbreviated Burn-Specific Health Scale (BSHS) is an instrument that measures physical, mental, social, and general health in burn survivors. This scale is composed of 80 items. The aim of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of a Turkish version of the BSHS (the BSHS-Turkish). The BSHS-abbreviated was translated and adapted for Turkish persons according to standard procedures. After a telephone interview with all eligible patients, the BSHS-Turkish was mailed to 103 burn patients. Fifty-three patients (51.46%) filled out both questionnaires; the second one was completed within 15 days of the first one. The mean time that it took to complete the questionnaire was 31.06 +/- 15.2 minutes (range, 3-60 minutes). The test-retest, internal reliability, and construct validity of the BSHS-Turkish were satisfactory according to intraclass correlation coefficient, Cronbach's alpha, and the Mann Whitney U test. The BSHS-Turkish is a reliable and valid instrument for determining the health status of Turkish patients with burns.

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a fuel that is widely used for domestic, agricultural, and industrial purposes. LPG is also commonly used in restaurants, industries, and cars; however, the home continues to be the main site for accidents. In Turkey, the increased usage of LPG as a cooking or heating fuel has resulted in many burn injuries from LPG mishaps. Between January 2000 and June 2011, 56 LPG-burned patients were compared with 112 flame-burned patients. There were no significant differences with respect to the mean age, sex, hospitalization time, and mortality in both groups. In the LPG-caused burn cases, 41 burns (73.2%) occurred at home, seven (12.5) were work-related mishaps, and eight (14.3) were associated with car accidents. The majority of the LPG burns (82%, 46 patients) resulted from a gas leak, and 18% of them were related to the failure to close LPG tubes in the patients' kitchens (10 patients). Burns to the face and neck (82 vs 67%, P = .039) and upper (62 vs 23%, P = .000) and lower (70 vs 45%, P = .002) extremities were significantly higher in LPG-caused burn cases than flame-burned cases. General awareness regarding the risk of LPG and first aid for burns appears to be lacking. The LPG delivery system should be standardized throughout countries that widely use LPG.