Comparing the effectiveness of ultrasound guided versus blind genicular nerve block on pain, muscle strength with isokinetic device, physical function and quality of life in chronic knee osteoarthritis: a prospective randomized controlled study

( Damla Cankurtaran ),( Ozgur Zeliha Karaahmet ),( Sadik Yigit Yildiz ),( Emel Eksioglu ),( Deniz Dulgeroglu ),( Ece Unlu ) 대한통증학회 2020 The Korean Journal of Pain Vol.33 No.3

Background: The genicular nerve block (GNB) is demonstrated from several reports to alleviate pain and improve knee functionality in patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis (OA). Ultrasound (US)-guided GNB has been the most used imaging method. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of US-guided versus blind GNB in the treatment of knee OA. Methods: This prospective, randomized clinical trial included patients with knee OA based on American College of Rheumatology diagnostic criteria. The patients were evaluated for clinical and dynamometer parameters at the baseline, 4 weeks after treatment, and 12 weeks after treatment. The patients underwent blind injection or US-guided injection. Results: When compared with the baseline, both groups showed significant improvement in pain, physical function, and quality of life parameters. Significant differences were observed between the groups for clinical parameters (30-second chair stand test, 6-minute walk test) in favor of the US-guided group. On the other hand, blind injection was more significantly effective on some parameters of the Nottingham Health Profile. There wasn’t any significant improvement in isokinetic muscle strength for either group. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that both US-guided and blind GNB, in the treatment of knee OA, were effective in reducing symptoms and improving physical function. GNB wasn’t an effective treatment for isokinetic muscle function. USguided injections may yield more effective clinical results than blind injections.

Factors associated with paravertebral muscle cross-sectional area in patients with chronic low back pain

( Damla Cankurtaran ),( Zeynep Aykin Yigman ),( Ebru Umay ) 대한통증학회 2021 The Korean Journal of Pain Vol.34 No.4

Background: This study was performed to reveal the relationships between the cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of the paraspinal muscles and the severity of low back pain (LBP), including the level of disability. Methods: This single-center cross-sectional study was conducted on 164 patients with chronic LBP. The effects of demographic characteristics, posture, level of physical activity, disc herniation type, and sarcopenia risk on the CSAs of paraspinal muscles were evaluated along with the relationship between the CSAs and severity of pain and disability in all patients. The CSAs of paraspinal muscles were evaluated using the software program Image J 1.53. Results: A negative significant correlation was found between age and the paraspinal muscle’s CSA (P < 0.05), whereas a positive correlation was present between the level of physical activity and the CSA of the paraspinal muscle at the L2-3 and L3-4 levels. The CSAs of paraspinal muscles in patients with sarcopenia risk was significantly lower than those in patients without sarcopenia risk (P < 0.05). The CSAs of paraspinal muscles at the L2-3 and L3-4 levels in obese patients were significantly higher than those in overweight patients (P = 0.028, P = 0.026, respectively). There was no relationship between the CSAs of paraspinal muscles and pain intensity or disability. Conclusions: Although this study did not find a relationship between paraspinal CSAs and pain or disability, treatment regimens for preventing paraspinal muscles from atrophy may aid pain physicians in relieving pain, restoring function, and preventing recurrence in patients with chronic LBP.

Thermotropic liquid crystalline 4-(Nonyloxy) benzoic acid: Phase transition temperatures, thermodynamic characterization, and separation of structural isomers

Isik Birol,Cakar Fatih,Cankurtaran Husnu,Cankurtaran Ozlem 한국화학공학회 2023 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.40 No.11

The retention behavior of various organic probes on the 4-(Nonyloxy) benzoic acid liquid crystal, which is used as a stationary phase, was investigated using the inverse gas chromatography method at infinite dilution. The thermodynamic parameters including the Flory-Huggins parameter, equation-of-state interaction parameter, the mole fraction activity coefficient, the effective exchange energy parameter, and residual thermodynamic parameters were determined in the temperature range of 423.15-433.15 K by using the retention behavior of the probes on the liquid crystal. It was determined from the thermodynamic parameters that all probes were poor solvents for the liquid crystal. Besides, the results of the 4-(Nonyloxy) benzoic acid liquid crystal was compared with a liquid crystal in the literature, and the effect of the number of alkyl groups on the liquid crystals on the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter and isomer separation was evaluated.

Brachial Plexus Injuries in Adults with Traumatic Brain Injury : A Retrospective Study

Tezel, Nihal,Can, Asli,Cankurtaran, Damla,Akyuz, Ece Unlu,Cakci, Aytul The Korean Neurosurgical Society 2021 Journal of Korean neurosurgical society Vol.64 No.2

Objective : We aimed to investigate the presence of brachial plexus injury (BPI) in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients and to draw attention to BPI, which can be overlooked by physicians in TBI patients. Methods : The study was designed retrospectively by examining the files of 58 patients with moderate to severe TBI to investigate coexistence of TBI and BPI. Results : BPI was detected in six of 58 TBI patients (10.3%). BPI was detected after an average 116 days from the initial injury. Three patients had lower trunk BPI and three patients had panplexopathy. Conclusion : Diagnosis of BPI in patients with TBI is delayed in the acute period of injury. The clinicians should keep in mind that BPIs may occur and remain undiagnosed in patients with TBI.

Serotonin Expression in Lichen Planus Lesions and Its Relationship with Depression/Anxiety

( Gokce Isil Kurmus ),( Muzeyyen Gonul ),( Filiz Canpolat ),( Demet Yilmazer ),( Eylem Sahin Cankurtaran ) 대한피부과학회 2019 Annals of Dermatology Vol.31 No.2

Background: Psychological factors such as stress, depression, and anxiety have been documented to contribute to the development of lesions in lichen planus (LP). Objective: To evaluate the relationship between serotonin expression in LP lesions and depression/anxiety. Methods: Forty patients (22 females, 18 males) with LP and 20 healthy control subjects were included in this study. The severity of LP was assessed with the palmar method (using the measurement of affected body surface area [BSA]). The depression and anxiety scores were measured with Beck's depression inventory (BDI) and Beck's anxiety inventory (BAI). The expression of serotonin was determined via immunohistochemistry in LP lesions and in the control group skin using a monoclonal antibody to serotonin. Results: The skin biopsies of the LP patients had significantly higher levels of serotonin than those of the control subjects (p<0.001). In the LP patients, and there was a positive correlation between serotonin expression and LP severity (p=0.022). Based on the results from the BDI and BAI, there was a significant relationship between the severity of depression/anxiety and intensity of serotonin expression (p <0.001). Conclusion: Data from this study suggest that serotonin may have a possible role in the pathogenesis of LP. Further, the relationship between serotonin expression in acute cutaneous lesions and the depression/anxiety scores indicates that serotonin may be a mediator for the association of LP and depression/anxiety simultaneously. There is a need for more specific studies showing the expression of serotonin in the lichen planus to demonstrate the cause or effect. (Ann Dermatol 31(2) 146∼153, 2019)

Relationships of Fall Risk With Frailty, Sarcopenia, and Balance Disturbances in Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease

Merve Güner Oytun,Semra Topuz,Arzu Okyar Baş,Süheyla Çöteli,Zeynep Kahyaoğlu,İlker Boğa,Serdar Ceylan,Burcu Balam Doğu,Mustafa Cankurtaran,Meltem Halil 대한신경과학회 2023 Journal of Clinical Neurology Vol.19 No.3

hence it commonly coexists with balance issues. Frailty and sarcopenia are intertwined and prevalent in dementia, and are closely related to falls. We aimed to determine the relationships of the fall risk with balance disturbances, sarcopenia, and frailty in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods The study enrolled 56 patients with probable AD. A comprehensive geriatric assessment was performed, and muscle strength and mass, performance status, gait, and balance were evaluated. All parameters were compared between fallers and nonfallers with AD. Results Fallers comprised 53.6% of the study population. The demographic features and AD stages did not differ between fallers and nonfallers. Fallers were more frail than nonfallers (p<0.05). Frailty was found to be independently associated with fall history (odds ratio=2.15, 95% confidence interval=1.20–3.82, p=0.031). We found that falls were not associated with AD stage, muscle mass and function, balance and geriatric syndromes except urinary incontinence in patients with AD (p>0.05). Conclusions We found that falls were not influenced by AD stage. Both physical and cumulative frailty were strongly associated with falls in patients with mild-to-moderate AD.