:Although a variety of dressing methods have been used in the management of split-thickness skin graft donor sites to date, a standart method is not available yet and the treatment is still controversial. In the present study, we aimed to compare the effects of open-dry dressing to closed-moist dressing on the healing of graft donor site by using the same topical antibiotics with regard to healing time, patient satisfaction and complications. Methods:40 patients were included in the study and they were divided in two groups at random. Intermediate split-thickness skin grafts of 0.30 mm to 0.45 mm were harvested from the same body region (anterolateral site of the thigh) with the same dermotome in both groups. While the donor sites were left open and dried with a light source in the first group, they were kept in a closed and moist environment in the second group. The patients were evaluated in terms of epithelization time, complications, and patient satisfaction. Results:Postoperative pain and itch in the donor site were more evident in the open-dry group than the closed-moist one. While no complication was seen in the first group, infection developed in two patients of the second group. The healing times ranged from 7 to18 days (mean, 12.05±3.07 days) and from 5 to15 days (mean, 8.45±2.39 days) in Group 1 and 2, respectively (p< 0.05). Conclusions:Although the closed-moist dressing has a higher rate for infection,we think that the closed-moist dressing method produces a faster healing than the open-dry one in the management of split-thickness skin graft donor sites.

: In this study, between 1985-2003 years, ischemic mitral failure due to ischemic heart disease patients operated as CABG and or combined with mitral valve intervention in Koşuyolu Heart Education and Investigation Hospital. Method: Between 1985-2003 years, ischemic heart disease and owing to ischemic mitral failure diagnosed 123 patients operated as CABG and or combined with mitral valve interventions investigated retrospectively in Koşuyolu Heart Education and Investigation Hospital Results: In group I, only CABG performed without valve intervention are 80 (65%) patients, in group II, mitral valve reconstructed or mitral valve replaced with CABG are 43 (35%) patients investigated. 94 (76.4%) of them were male, 29 (23.6%) were female. Average age was 59.1 years. In all groups the patients had angiographically more then 50% obstruction in their vessels had MI secondary to ischemic heart disease concomitantly had moderate to severe mitral failure. In mitral valve intervened group 29 (67.4%) patients were mitral valve replaced and CABG performed, 14 (32.6%) patients were mitral valve reconstructed and CABG performed. Conclusion: All of the patients’ preoperative and postoperative functional capacities were compared and functional capacities of the postoperative periods were got better markedly.

Aims: Gastroenteritis is one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity in infants and young children in developing countries. In this study, we investigated Escherichia coli O157:H7 serotype in stool specimens of children under five years admitted with diarrhea to Perilikaya Health Center in Gaziantep through June-July 2000. Methods and Results: Ninetyone stool specimens from infants and children suffering from acute diarrhea and 60 from asymptomatic children within the same age group were screened for intestinal pathogens. Escherichia coli strains grown in stool culture were inoculated onto Sorbitol Mac Conkey Agar (SMCA) and were incubated at 37 °C for 24-48 hours. Sorbitol negative colonies on SMCA were further identified with the Sceptor system (Becton Dickinson, Maryland, USA). All isolates were screened for E. coli O157:H7 with latex agglutination test (Dryspot, E.coli O157, Oxoid, Basingstoke, England). For the control group same procedures were applied. Escherichia coli O157:H7 was not detected in any stool specimen from the study and control groups. Regarding the study group, protozoa were detected in 27 (29.7%), Rotavirus in 25 (27.5%) and Candida species in 24 (26.4%) cases. Pathogenic bacteria were isolated in five (5.5%) of the specimens. Conclusion: Escherichia coli O157:H7 was not detected in our investigation as a result of childhood diarrhea, but we think that more research studies should be done in future.

Aim: Data of effects of excessive alcohol consumption on alpha 1 antitrypsin (α1-AT) and C reactive protein (CRP) levels is little in men. Therefore, the objective of this investigation was to the effects of excessive alcohol consumption on CRP and α1-AT levels. Methods: A total of 69 men including 28 with no alcohol consumption (age range 18-53) and 41 with excessive alcohol use (age range 20-52) were recruited. Blood was drawn 6-8 hours after alcohol consumption. Persons having similar BMI and age were preferred for alcohol and control groups. Serum CRP and α1-AT were measured with immunoturbidimetric method, and aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activities were measured with commercial enzymatic kits. Results were assessed with One-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Student’s t independent tests statistically. Results: There is no difference between excessive alcohol and control groups in terms of BMI, age, AST, ALT, ALP and α1-AT values. GGT and CRP levels of alcohol group were significantly higher than control group (p<0.001). Although alcohol group’s CRP values were significantly higher than controls, CRP values were within normal range for both groups. While in 41.5% of persons within alcohol group had normal GGT levels (19-29 U/L), 58.5% persons had high GGT levels (31-83 U/L). Conclusions: Excessive alcohol consumption is important due to (a) increase of CRP with its inflammatory impact (b) decrease of α1-AT production by its free radical production effect (c) increase of GGT by its effects on hepatocyte membrane. These effects may important for the risk of injury and cirrhosis in mid and long term.

Aim: Concomitant cardiac and thoracic lesions are uncommon, but when present they pose a therapeutic challenge for cardiothoracic surgeon. There is no definitive agreement whether a simultaneous surgical procedure should be preferred to a stage one. In this study, we retrospectively evaluated the results of the simultaneous cardiac and thoracic operations which were performed in our department and reviewed the literature. Methods: Between January 2001 and December 2006, 10 patients underwent simultaneous cardiac and thoracic operations. There were 2 female and 8 male patients ranging in age between 13 and 65 years, with a mean age of 34,9 years. Myocardial revascularization with or without cardiopulmonary bypass CPB preceded the thoracic procedures. In other patients requiring CPB, thoracic procedures were performed before systemic heparinization and (CPB), except 2 trauma victims with unstable hemodynamy. Results: Seven patients underwent median sternotomy, 5 of whom required CPB. Two patients underwent left thoracotomy. The remaining one required both left and right anterior thoracotomy and axillary incision. The thoracic procedures consisted of wedge resection in 2 patients, ligation of bullae and pleurodesis in 2, cystotomy in 1, repair of diaphragm in 1, pleural decortication in 1, repair of injured lung in 3. The cardiac procedures consisted of mitral valve replacement in 2 patients, coronary bypass in 2, replacement of ascending aorta in 1, pericardiectomy in1, pericardiopleural window in 1, and repair of left ventricle in 2 and pericardium in 1. Conclusion: From our series and a review of the literature we conclude that simultaneous cardiac and thoracic surgery can be performed safely and should be considered as an alternative to staged treatment. Off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery should be preferred to avoid complications associated with CPB and systemic heparinization in a simultaneous operation.

Acute infantile hemorragic edema is a leukocytoclastic vasculitis of the skin characterized by clinical triad of large purpuric skin lesions, fever and edema.The disease has character of short and violent onset and a benign course that spontaneously recovering. In this article we present a patient that referred as meningococcemia from a medical center and carrying the typical findings of AIHE presenting with pneumonia.Our purpose was to remember this rare disease in the differantial diagnosis with especially, meningococsemia, Henoch-Schönlein Purpura and the other purpuric rashes.

Spinal cord abscesses are rare and can be potential harmful lesions causing a variety of neurologic problems. Abscess formation may cause myelopathyand radiculophaty due to extradural compression of the spinal cord. In this article a case of spinal epidural abcess devoloped due to brusellosis was presented in the light of literature.

Brucellosis is among important causes of epididmo-orchitis in regions where it is endemically seen. Generally the involvement in brucellar epididmo-orchitis is in granulomatous type and the prognosis is good. However, late or misdiagnosis and mistreatment may cause complications that can result in orchiectomy. We here presented a case of unilateral brucellar epididimo-orchitis requiring orchiectomy in a young male patient given delayed treatment due to mistaken diagnosis and discussed the case in the light of the literature.