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Özge Akgün,1 Christian Oudshoorn,1 Francesco US Mattace-Raso,1 Angelique Egberts1,2 1Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Geriatric Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; 2Department of Hospital Pharmacy, Franciscus Gasthuis & Vlietland, Rotterdam & Schiedam, the NetherlandsCorrespondence: Angelique Egberts, Section of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Room Rg-527, PO Box 2040, Rotterdam, CA, 3000, the Netherlands, Tel +31 10 70 35979, Fax +31 10 70 34768, Email a.egberts@erasmusmc.nlPurpose: In-hospital falls, especially among older patients, are a major and underestimated problem. Several studies have suggested a possible association between anticholinergic drug use and falls, but the results are inconclusive and studies focusing on in-hospital falls are scarce. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether anticholinergic drug exposure on admission is associated with in-hospital falls.Patients and Methods: This retrospective chart review study was conducted in the Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Patients aged 65 years and older, who were acutely admitted to the geriatric ward between 2012 and 2015, were included. Anticholinergic drug exposure was determined with the Anticholinergic Risk Scale (ARS), the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden scale (ACB) and the list of Chew. Logistic regression was used to investigate the possible association between anticholinergic drug exposure and in-hospital falls. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, fall history, fall as reason for admission, number of drugs on admission, use of a mobility aid and delirium.Results: A total of 905 patients were included, of which 94 patients experienced one or more in-hospital falls. Each additional anticholinergic drug in use, according to the ARS, was associated with an increased odd of experiencing a fall (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.06– 2.10). Other measures, ie anticholinergic drug use (yes/no) and different categories of anticholinergic drug burden, measured with the ARS, ACB and list of Chew, were all not associated with in-hospital falls.Conclusion: Anticholinergic drug exposure on admission is possibly not a main risk factor for in-hospital falls among older patients.Keywords: accidental falls, cholinergic antagonists, inpatients

IntroductionThe employment of laparoscopic surgical techniques has reignited the debate on managing Meckel's Diverticulum (MD) due to its low complication rates. Nevertheless, concerns have been raised regarding completely removing any potential heterotopic mucosa. Our study aimed to compare surgical approaches in MD and assess the effectiveness of simple diverticulectomy.MethodsBetween 2003 and 2022, 139 patients with MD were retrospectively analysed. The study examined the morphometric measurements of the diverticulum and the location of the heterotopic mucosa in the diverticulum regarding growth and symptoms.ResultsSimple diverticulectomy achieved the lowest postoperative complication rate among excision techniques (p = 0.03). MD's length, diameter, and distance to the ileocecal valve increase linearly with growth in the first three years of life (p = 0.00, p = 0.01, p = 0.00) but not in subsequent years (p = 0.81, p = 0.43, p = 0.21). As the length of the MD increases, the heterotopic mucosa (HM) is displaced distally (p = 0.01). Patients in whom HM reaches the base of the diverticulum always present with bleeding (p = 0.02).DiscussionSimple diverticulectomy is a safe technique for Meckel's diverticulum resection. Meckel's diverticulum continues to grow until the age of 3. With this growth, the heterotopic mucosa is displaced distally and moves away from the base of the diverticulum. Bleeding is the main symptom in patients with HM reaching the base of the diverticulum. In patients with bleeding or younger than three years of age, simple diverticulectomy may not be considered safe.Level of Evidence: III

Objective: The primary goal in the treatment of corrosive esophagitis (CE) is to control inflammation and scar reactions. L-glutamine (Gln) is beneficial for the integrity of the intestinal mucosal epithelium and is an amino acid that promotes mature collagen growth. This study was designed to demonstrate the positive results of Gln on injury in corrosive esophagitis. Method: Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were used in the study. They were divided into 3 groups. CE was formed by dripping 20% sodium hydroxide into the distal esophagus in both groups except the control group (n=10). First group (n=9) was left untreated, while the other group (n=9) was fed orally with the addition of 1 g/kg Gln once a day for 21 days. All rats were sacrificed after 3 weeks. Esophagus of treated and other group rats were examined under light microscope to evaluate collagen deposition, histological damage score and stenosis index. Results: Excess submucosal collagen, muscularis mucosal damage, inflammation and ulceration, which are among the histological damage score parameters, were significantly higher in the untreated group than in the Gln group (p=0.005, p=0.015, p=0.001, respectively). The stenosis index was significantly different (p=0.013). The group treated with Gln had inflammation but no ulceration and necrosis. Conclusion: Our experimental animal study suggests that Gln in nutrition reduces damage in the esophageal mucosa, slows down or partially stops the cellular destruction process that causes stenosis.

Background: Burns are a source of pain, which cannot be fully treated with medications. Objectives: This study aims is to test the effectiveness of lavender oil inhalation aromatherapy applied before dressing change on vital signs and pain levels of children with burns. Design: This randomized controlled study was held between May 2018 and May 2019. A total of 108 children who met the inclusion criteria were studied in three groups: Lavender-15 Group inhaled lavender oil for 15 min before dressing (n:36), Lavender-60 Group inhaled lavender oil for 60 min before dressing (n:36), and Control Group inhaled jojoba (placebo) oil for 15 min before dressing (n:36). Baseline pain levels and vital signs of the children were measured before inhalation. Pain levels and vital signs of the children were re-measured at the 1st and 30th minutes after dressing. Results: There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of pain levels (p = 0.750) and vital signs before dressing. In post-dressing measurements, the number of respiration (after 1 min p = 0.000, after 30 min p = 0.000), heart rate (after 1 min p = 0.000, after 30 min p = 0.000), mean arterial blood pressure (after 1 min p = 0.010, after 30 min p = 0.000) and pain levels (after 1 min p = 0.000, after 30 min p = 0.000) were lower in the Lavender groups compared to the placebo group. Discussion: The result of this research reveals that inhalation aromatherapy which applied before dressing in children with burns affects the reduction of pain levels and stabilization of vital signs.

Purpose: Percutaneous internal ring suturing technique (PIRS) is a minimally invasive technique in pediatric inguinal hernia repair. In the present study, a negative effect on testicular blood flow using PIRS technique has been investigated. Methods: Forty male patients were included in the study prospectively. Two groups were formed as conventional open surgery (Group I) and PIRS technique (Group II). The resistive index (RI) value of the testicular artery was measured prospectively by using SMI (superb micro-vascular imaging) software with the color doppler ultrasound technique preoperatively and postoperatively at the first month. Results: Inguinal hernia was present on the left in 35% (n = 14) of the patients and on the right in 65% (n = 26) of the patients. There was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.727) between Group I and II with regard to preoperative RI value (0.66 ± 0.07 vs. 0.66 ± 0.45, respectively). Similarly, there was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.220) between Group I and II with regard to the RI values measured at the postoperative first month (0.58 ± 0.04 vs. 0.60 ± 0.04, respectively). Although the postoperative RI values decreased compared to the preoperative values in both groups, this difference was not statistically significant. (p = 0.447 in Group I, and p = 0.175 in Group II for intragroup comparison). Conclusions: Besides PIRS technique has the advantages provided by all other laparoscopic techniques defined for inguinal hernia repair, there is no significant difference between this technique and conventional open surgery with regard to testicular blood flow. It is an innovative candidate technique instead of the open surgery method besides its additional advantages.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the potential, protective effects of amlodipine in an experimental, ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) model in the rabbit small intestine. Materials and Methods: The rabbits were divided into four groups: sham-operated, amlodipine (10 mg/kg) + sham-operated, I/R, and I/R + amlodipine (10 mg/kg) groups. An intestinal I/R model was applied to the rabbits. The superior mesenteric artery was occluded for 1 h with an atraumatic vascular clamp and then was reperfused for 2 h. Animals in the amlodipine and I/R + amlodipine groups received the amlodipine by oral gavage. At the end of the 2-h-reperfusion period, the animals were sacrificed. Results: Pretreatment with amlodipine significantly increased SOD activity and GSH levels to values close to those found in the serum from the I/R group. Rabbits in the I/R group showed high levels of serum MDA. Amlodipine pretreatment significantly reduced the serum MDA levels compared to the I/R group, although the MDA levels in the I/R + amlodipine group were still higher than in the sham-operated group. The I/R damage was ameliorated by amlodipine pretreatment, as evidenced by histopathological analysis. Conclusion: The present study is the first to report an attenuation of I/R-induced intestinal injury by the systemic administration of amlodipine.

We investigated the potential protective effects of montelukast (MLK) on cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)–induced tissue injury in vital organs — liver, heart, kidneys, and especially lungs — through inhibition of the proinflammatory cytokine response and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in rats. The rat groups were (1) a 10-mg/kg MLK-treated CLP group; (2) a 20-mg/kg MLK-treated CLP group; (3) a 20-mg/kg MLK-treated, sham-operated group; (4) a CLP control group; and (5) a sham-operated control group. MLK treatment significantly decreased proinflammatory (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6) cytokine levels following CLP. The lipid peroxide level increased in the lung, heart, liver, and kidney tissues after CLP-induced sepsis, and myeloperoxidase activity increased in the lung, heart, and liver tissues. MLK attenuated this elevation in all tissues except the kidney, dose dependently. The glutathione levels and superoxide dismutase activity were significantly increased in the lung, liver, and kidney tissues after MLK treatment. MLK treatment after CLP also potentially reduced mortality. The lung and kidney tissues were the most protected by MLK under sepsis conditions. We can suggest that MLK reverses the systemic inflammatory reaction to polymicrobial sepsis and thereby reduces multiple organ failure.

Objective: Annular pancreas is an uncommon cause of duodenal obstruction in children. In this study, the clinical, radiological, and prognostic findings related to this disorder over a 12-year review period were analyzed.Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of 22 patients with annular pancreas who were treated with surgical repair between April 1998 and February 2010 was performed at two different pediatric surgical units. Presenting symptoms, associated anomalies, radiological findings, the type of surgery performed, postoperative outcomes, and complications were analyzed.Results: Twenty-two patients were identified. Thirteen of the 22 patients (59.1%) were born prematurely, 11 patients (50%) had low birth weight, 2 patients (9.1%) had very low birth weight and 1 patient (4.5%) had extremely low birth weight. The mean birth weight was 2285.23±675.12 g. (970-3300). All patients presented with vomiting, which was bilious in nine (40.9%). Nine patients (40.9%) had chromosomal anomalies. Corrective surgery consisted of duodenoduodenostomy in 9 patients (40.9 %), duodenojejunostomy in 9 patients (40.9%), and gastrojejunostomy in 4 patients (18.1%). Fourteen of the 22 patients have survived (63.6%). The causes of death were combinations of sepsis, pneumonia, brain hemorrhage, and cardiac anomaly. Conclusion: Infants with annular pancreas associated with duodenal obstruction were often born prematurely and/or had low birth weights; many had cardiovascular anomalies. Annular pancreas associated with duodenal obstruction correlated strongly with the trisomy 21 karyotype among the chromosomal anomalies, as did duodenal atresia. The oral feeding tolerance time was nearly the same for all patients regardless of the surgical procedure used.