The benefits and risks of surgery for splenic hydatid cyst (SHC) remain controversial. We aimed to share our experience about a surgical approach for SHC. Sixteen consecutive patients with SHC disease who underwent open splenectomy at our hospital between January 2006 and July 2012 were retrospectively evaluated. Data on the patients' demographic features, clinical findings, radiological and serological diagnostic methods, and surgical and medicinal treatment options were collected and used to generate descriptive profiles of diagnosis, treatment course, and outcome. The patient population was composed of 6 females and 10 males, with an age range of 18 to 79 years (mean age: 47.0 ± 18.0). Radiological examinations detected hydatid cysts in spleen alone (n = 7) or both spleen and liver (n = 9). Preoperative serological testing identified 13 of the patients as IHA positive. All except 1 patient received a 10- to 21-day preoperative course of albendazole therapy and all patients received vaccination 1 week prior to surgery. Seven patients underwent splenectomy. The remaining patients underwent splenectomy with partial cystectomy and omentopexy (n = 6), partial cystectomy and unroofing (n = 1), pericystectomy (n = 1), or pericystectomy with partial nephrectomy (n = 1). All except one patient received a 10- to 45-day postoperative course of albendazole. No patients developed serious complications or signs of recurrence during the follow-up. The clinical profile of SHC disease at our hospital includes diagnosis by radiological methods, splenectomy treatment by simple or concomitant procedures according to the patient's symptoms, cyst size, number and localization, and compression of adjacent organs, and adjunct vaccination to decrease risk of postoperative septic complications. This profile is associated with low risk of complications and high therapeutic efficacy.

Background. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the results of patients with sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus who underwent surgery using the Karydakis technique. Methods. Two hundred fifty-seven patients with sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease were treated by the Karydakis flap procedure between December 2003 and June 2011. Patients were evaluated with respect to age, gender, preoperative symptoms, duration of preoperative symptoms, history of pilonidal sinus surgery, early postoperative complications, recurrence rates, and cosmetic satisfaction. Results. There were 223 (86.8%) male and 34 (13.2%) female patients. The mean age of the patients was 27.15 ± 7.69 years. The most frequent symptom was seropurulent discharge (57.58%). Postoperative morbidity was noted in 24 patients (9.3%). The mean hospital length of stay was 3.34 ± 1.42 days. The cosmetic satisfaction rate was 91.06%. Recurrences were noted in 6 patients (2.3%). Conclusion. The Karydakis flap procedure is a safe treatment alternative for the surgical treatment of sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease owing to the associated low complication rate, short hospital length of stay, rapid healing, and a high patient satisfaction rate.

We aimed to form a risk prediction model to assess the probability of intrahospital death in cancer patients at the time of hospitalisation. The medical records and the relevant clinical parameters of cancer patients who died in or who were discharged from a teaching hospital between 1997 and 2000 (n = 334) were reviewed to explore the determinants of intrahospital death, which later were verified prospectively (n = 131). Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of four, short duration of disease (on a logarithmic scale), emergency admission, low haemoglobin (Hb) value (on a linear scale) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) value greater than 378 micro/ml were significantly and independently associated with the risk of intrahospital death. This model had a receiver operating characteristic area of 0.88 in the derivation cohort and 0.82 in the validation cohort. Using readily available clinical parameters, it is possible to devise an accurate and applicable risk prediction model for the hospitalised cancer patients.

A very important step in laparoscopic appendectomy is dissection of the appendiceal mesenteric pedicle. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of LigaSure in laparoscopic appendectomy. Between August 2007 and June 2008, a total of 32 patients were included in the study. Patients were randomized into 2 groups. The first group's dissection of the mesoappendix was performed with LigaSure (5 to 10 mm), whereas the second group's with endodissector and endoclip. The surgical time, postoperative complications, additional analgesics use and hospital stay were compared. There were no significant differences in complication rates, use of analgesics and hospital stay between the groups. The operation time (49.06+/-14.73 min vs. 59.69+/-12.54 min, P=0.036) was significantly lower in the LigaSure group. This study demonstrates that dissection of the mesoappendix with LigaSure reduces the operation time and could be used safely. However, more experiences are needed to attain reliable scientific results.

Objectives: To evaluate the quality, reliability, and educational content of YouTube videos related to soft contact lenses (CL). Methods: An online YouTube search was performed for the terms contact lens and other common CL-related terms contact lens insertion and removal, contact lens wearing, and contact lens care. The first 50 videos were evaluated for each term. Videos were evaluated using three checklists (the modified DISCERN criteria, the Journal of the American Medical Association [JAMA] criteria, and Global Quality Score [GQS]). Video popularity was also evaluated using the video power index (VPI). Videos were classified into three groups according to the source of the upload; group 1: universities/occupational organizations, group 2: medical ad/ profit-oriented companies, and group 3: independent users. Results: From among the 200 videos analyzed, 79 were included. The mean mDISCERN score of the videos was 2.3461.39, the mean JAMA score was 1.2060.99, and the mean GQS value was 3.4761.28. There were positive correlations between the three checklists (P,0.001). Video power index was not correlated with each score. The videos in group 1 (13.9%) had the highest scores whereas videos in group 3 (41.8%) had the lowest scores. There was no significant difference between the video sources according to the VPI. Conclusion: Although some YouTube videos contain useful information for CL wearers, most videos have poor quality and reliability and contain insufficient information. Eye care providers should be aware of these sources and steer CL users to information sources that provide accurate and reliable information and do not contain misleading information.

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Introduction/objectives Intra-articular injections may be useful in terms of pain and functional status, in knee osteoarthritis (OA). Besides hyaluronic acid (HA) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP), peptide molecules recently begin to be used. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of intra-articular peptide Prostrolane® (CAREGEN Co. Ltd.) injection with that of the HA and PRP in the persons with OA. Method Fifty-four patients with OA were included in this prospective, randomized study. Patients were randomized into three groups as intra-articular HA, peptide, and PRP groups. Paracetamol was permitted three times a day to all groups. All the patients were evaluated by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and visual analogue scale (VAS) at rest and during movements. Measurements performed at the baseline, after the first week of injection, and at the first and third months of follow-up. Results Mean age was 55.8 ± 8.9 years. Forty-four (81.6%) were women. A week after the injections, rest and movement pain severity was measured by VAS decreased significantly in all the study groups (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of first week pain relief (p > 0.05). WOMAC pain, stiffness, function, and total scores were improved significantly in all the groups a week after the injections (p < 0.05). Improvement continued at the third month control; however, the improvement in the WOMAC pain score was significantly better in the peptide group at the third month control (p < 0.05). The decrease in the rest and movement pain was continued for 3 months except the HA group’s rest pain. There were no differences among the groups for all measurements, except for the WOMAC pain score at 3 months after treatment, which was significantly lower in the peptide group. Conclusion As a result, pain relief and functional improvement were obtained after the intra-articular HA, peptide, and PRP injections in OA, and decrease in pain was better in the peptide group. Key Points• The short-term effects of intra-articular HA, peptide, and PRP injections were compared in knee osteoarthritis.• HA, peptide, and PRP injections may be useful in pain relief and functional improvement in knee osteoarthritis.

Hepatodiaphragmatic interposition of the intestine, known as Chilaiditi's syndrome, is a rare and often asymptomatic anomaly, typically found as an incidental radiographic sign. We report a case of Chilaiditi's syndrome associated with transverse colon volvulus, predisposed by segmental agenesis of the right lobe of the liver. A 45-year-old man presented with a 2-day history of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and constipation. Plain chest X-ray and abdominal computed tomography showed colonic interposition and segmental agenesis of the right lobe of the liver. Laparotomy revealed a clockwise volvulus of the transverse colon associated with interposition and incarceration of the colon through the space of the agenetic segment of the liver. The transverse colon, which was adherent to the agenetic space in the liver and diaphragm, was dissected away and repositioned, and the volvulus was reduced. To our knowledge, this is only the sixth reported case of a colonic volvulus associated with Chilaiditi's syndrome and the first case associated with segmental agenesis of the right lobe of the liver.