Background: Patients who survived hospitalization for COVID-19 experienced varying durations of illness but the factors associated with prompt recovery are unknown. This study identifies factors differentiating hospitalized patients who recovered promptly vs. survived a prolonged course of illness due to COVID-19. Methods: This was a retrospective study from March-August 2020 of hospitalized adults with COVID-19 which were grouped based on time to recovery: short (≤ 3 days), intermediate (4-10 days), and prolonged (>10 days). Recovery was defined as resolution of fever, tachypnea, hypotension, extubation and return of mental status at baseline. Multivariate analysis was used to evaluate factors associated with prompt recovery. Results: Among 508 patients hospitalized for COVID-19, 401 (79%) survived. Of those, prompt recovery (within 3 days) was achieved in 43% (174/401) whereas 23% (92/401) recovered after a prolonged period of > 10 days. Overall, median age was 64 y with 73% admitted from home and 25% from a skilled nursing facility. Predictors for prompt recovery upon admission included female sex (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1-2.7; p = 0.01), no fever (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.6; p = 0.03), longer time from symptom onset to hospitalization (OR, 1.1; 95% CI, 1.0-1.1; p = 0.001), no supplemental oxygen (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.2-3.0; p = 0.004), no direct ICU admission (OR, 41.7; 95% CI, 2.4-740.4; p = 0.01) and absence of bacterial co-infections (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.5-4.0, p = 0.0003). Conclusions: Our study provides relevant data that could help clinicians triage competing resources in health systems that are challenged by the ebb and flow of COVID-19 cases by identifying clinical features of COVID-19 patients who may require less intensive management including avoidance of unnecessary antibacterial therapy.

Aim: Providing effective ventilation of the unconscious patient is an essential skill in every specialty dealing with airway management. In this randomized cross-over study aimed to compare intra-oral and classic face mask in terms of ventilation success of patients, practitioners’ workload and anxiety assessments. Also we analyzed potential risk factors of difficult mask ventilation for both masks. Methods: 24 anesthesiology residents and 12 anesthesiologists participated in the study. Each of the practitioners ventilated 4 patients with both masks at settled pressure and frequency. Practitioners rated their workload and anxiety related to masks with National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index score and State Trait Anxiety Inventory scale. Ventilation success was evaluated with Han scale, expiratory tidal volume and leak volume. We analyzed potential risk factors of difficult mask ventilation with anthropometric characteristics and STOP-BANG score. Results: Ventilation success rate was superior with intraoral mask comparing to classic face mask in terms of Han Scale (Easy mask ventilation percentage 84/144 (58.3%); 123/144 (85.4%); respectively) and tidal volume (481.92±173.99; 430.85±154.87mL; respectively). Leak volume in intraoral mask ventilation was significantly lower than classic face mask (71.50±91.17 /159.38±146.31 respectively). Diffucult mask ventilation risk factors were high weight, neck circumference, Mallampati score and STOP-BANG score>3 for classic face mask (at the utmost neck circumference 95% CI, OR=1.180, p= 0.002) Risk factors were high body mass index and Mallampati score for intraoral mask (at the utmost Body mass index 95% CI, OR=1.162 p=0.006). The anxiety ratings of practitioners were similar between two masks. The work-load rating is higher with intraoral mask comparing to classic face mask. Conclusion: Intraoral mask may be an effective alternative device for bag-valve mask ventilation.

Background This study aimed to examine the hemogram parameters, including the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), which is fast, easy and practical to determine, in stroke patients who present with more physiological stress and inflammation and compare them with patients presenting other neurological diseases. Methods The demographic, laboratory and imaging features of all patients who were admitted to the Neurology Service within a three-year period and met the study criteria were retrospectively analyzed. A hemogram from peripheral venous blood samples was taken at the time of admission, and the NLR was calculated. Results A total of 3,152 patients, 1,604 of whom were women (50.9%), with a mean age of 66.1 ± 14 (18-100) years who were hospitalized in the neurology clinic between January 1, 2015 and January 1, 2018, comprised the study’s sample. Mean age, mean leukocyte-neutrophil count and NLR were significantly higher in stroke patients than in those without stroke (p <0.001, p <0.001 and p <0.001, respectively), but mean red blood cell, platelet and lymphocyte counts, and hemoglobin and hematocrit values were found to be significantly lower (p <0.001, p <0.001, p <0.001, p <0.001 and p<0.001 respectively). When the hemogram parameters were compared according to stroke type, red blood cell, hemoglobin, hematocrit and NLR values in patients with hemorrhagic stroke (p = 0.019, p = 0.002, p = 0.002 and p = 0.001, respectively) and platelet and lymphocyte values in ischemic stroke patients were found to be significantly higher (p = 0.002 and p <0.001, respectively). Conclusion In this study, significant data obtained by comparing the hemogram parameters of those with stroke and other neurological diseases are presented. All neurological diseases, especially acute stroke and its types, should be examined in future prospective, randomized and controlled studies with all hemogram parameters, especially the NLR (low cost)

Objective To analyze the effect of nasopharyngeal ventilation on the detection rate of colorectal polyps in 200 middle-aged and elderly overweight patients during painless colonoscopy. Methods A total of 100 patients aged 50-75 years, body mass index (BMI) ≥24 or abdominal circumference ≥85 cm in males and ≥82 cm in females, without underlying diseases, who underwent nasopharyngeal ventilation during painless colonoscopy at physical examinations in our hospital from 2019 to 2020, were selected as the observation subjects (n = 100). The control sample area was determined by propensity matching according to the basic information characteristics presented by the observation group. 100 patients received mask oxygen at physical examinations were randomly selected in the control group (n = 100). Results The verification analysis after matching indicated that there were no intraoperative and postoperative adverse reactions, the number of intraoperative limb movements was less than 1, and the intestinal peristalsis intervals were more than 5s in both groups, without atropine intervention. Colonoscopy was performed by senior endoscopists with a withdrawal time of 6-8 min. When the intraoperative SpO2 was lower than 90% but higher than 85%, the patients in the observation group underwent nasopharyngeal ventilation while those in the control group received mask oxygen assisted chin-lift. As a result, the SpO2 was maintained higher than 90%. The detection rate of colorectal polyps was compared between the two groups. Conclusion The detection rate of colorectal polyps in the observation group was higher than that in the control group, with a statistically significant difference. It may result from the reduction of ineffective respiratory movement and intraoperative intestinal peristalsis in middle-aged and elderly overweight patients.

Background: We aimed to determine the relationship of ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) with diabetic foot ulcers and its predictive value in the Wagner classification. Methods: Our cross-sectional study was conducted in 120 diabetic foot patients and 60 healthy individuals with similar body mass index and age. Patients with a diabetic foot were classified according to the Wagner classification. Biochemical parameters, C-reactive protein (CRP) and IMA levels were measured in all patients and healthy volunteers. Screening performance characteristics of CRP and IMA were calculated according to Wagner classes and the presence of osteomyelitis. Results: CRP and IMA levels in the patient group were significantly higher than the control group. The highest IMA levels were detected in Wagner grade 5. CRP had higher sensitivity and specificity than IMA in the discrimination of other grades, except for grade 4-5 separation. For Wagner grade 4-5 distinction, IMA had 84.6% sensitivity and 94.7% specificity. Conclusion: IMA may play a role in the pathogenesis of diabetic foot ulcers and had a higher predictive value in discrimination of the Wagner grade 4 and 5. In the management of diabetic foot patients, it may be recommended that IMA is evaluated by clinicians.

Aim: To examine the incidence and treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) as well as 30-day and 1-year prognoses of patients in three major regions of Hungary by analysing data from the country’s continuous and mandated infarction registry. Methods and results: The total population of Hungary is currently 9.8 million: 39% live in the eastern region (ER), 31% in the Central region (CR) and 30% in the western region (WR). These regions exhibited significant differences in income and people exposed to poverty. Population over 30 years, the age-standardised incidence of AMI was 177.5 (175.7–179.3) per 100,000 person-year. During hospital treatment, 82.5%–84.6% of patients with ST-elevation (STEMI) and 54.8%–81.8% without ST-elevation (NSTEMI) underwent PCI. The total ischaemic time was shortest in WR:221 minutes. In the STEMI group, the 30-day mortality rates of males were lowest in the WR (p = 0.03). If PCI was performed, mortality rates for both sexes were lowest in the WR (p < 0.01; p = 0.04). The 1-year mortality rate in the male population who received PCI was lowest in the WR. In the NSTEMI group, the 30-day mortality rate exhibited no differences. Regarding 1-year mortality, those who underwent PCI in the WR showed the lowest mortality. Conclusion: The major regions of Hungary exhibited significant differences regarding the prehospital delay, the incidence, treatment and mortality of AMI. Logistic regression analysis confirmed the independent prognostic significance of the region on the 30-day mortality of patients with STEMI (Hazard ratio = 0.88, p = 0.0114).

Objective: We aimed to investigate the effects of hypotensive anesthesia on oxidative stress with serum thiol/disulfide balance in patients undergoing elective septoplasty procedures under general anesthesia. Methods: Seventy-two patients between the ages of 18-60, with a physical condition I –II, according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, were included in this prospective observational study. Septoplasty was chosen for standard surgical stress. According to the maintenance of anesthesia, patients were divided into the groups as Hypotensive Anesthesia (n = 40) and Normotensive Anesthesia (n = 32). Serum thiol/disulfide levels were measured by the method developed by Erel & Neşelioğlu. Results: The native thiol and total thiol values of both groups measured at the 60th minute intraoperatively were significantly lower than the preoperative values (both p < 0.01). Intraoperatively, at the 60th minute, there was no significant difference in terms of post-native thiol and post-total thiol levels between hypotensive and normotensive anesthesia groups (p = 0.68, and p = 0.81, respectively). Age > 40 years and female gender were found to have a significant effect on dynamic oxidative stress (p = 0.002, and p = 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: This pilot study has found that hypotensive anesthesia had no adverse effect on dynamic thiol/disulfide balance in elective surgeries.

Aims In older adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D), overtreatment remains prevalent and undertreatment ignored. The main objective is to estimate the prevalence and examine factors associated with potential overtreatment and undertreatment Method Observational study conducted within an administrative database of older adults with T2D who registered in 2018 at the Portuguese Diabetes Association. Participants were categorized either as potentially overtreated (HbA1c≤7.5%), appropriately on target (HbA1c≥7.5–≤9%), or potentially undertreated (HbA1c>9%). Results of 444 participants, potential overtreatment, and undertreatment were found in 60.5% and 12.6% of the study population. Taking the patients on target as a comparator, the group of potentially overtreated showed to be more males (61.3% vs.52.2%), less-obese (34.1% vs.39.2), higher cardiovascular diseases (13.7% vs.11%), peripheral vascular diseases (16.7% vs.12.8%), diabetic foot (10% vs.4.5%), and severe kidney disease (5.2% vs.4.5%). Conversely, the potentially undertreated participants were more females (64.2% vs.47.7%), obese (49% vs.39.2%), had more dyslipidemia (69% vs.63.1%), peripheral vascular disease (14.2% vs.12.8%), diabetic foot (8.9% vs.4.5%), and infections (14.2% vs.11.9%). The odds of potential overtreatment were mostly decreased by 59% of females, 73.5% in those with retinopathy, and 86.3% in insulin, 65.4% sulfonylureas, and 66.8% in SGLT2 inhibitors users. Contrariwise, an increase in the odds of potential undertreatment was more than 4.8times higher in insulin, and more than 3.1times higher in sulfonylureas users. Conclusion potential overtreatment and undertreatment in older adults with T2D in routine clinical practice should guide the clinicians to balance the use of newer oral antidiabetic agents considering its safety profile regarding hypoglycemia.

Background: Since the pathophysiology of medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) remains unclear, health care providers often struggle with these patients, especially with a different ethnic and/or cultural background. These challenges are insufficiently addressed in their training and in the organization of care. Aim: To improve health care provider-patient interaction focused on MUS patients in general and in ethnic minorities and refugees in particular through a systematic review of syndromal definitions and epidemiology and organization of care of MUS patients. Methods: Screening of PubMed, Web of Science, Cinahl and Cochrane Library on the keywords ‘Medical unexplained (physical) symptoms (MUPS)’, ‘Somatoform disorder’, ‘Functional syndrome’, ‘Diversity’, ‘Migrants’, ‘Ethnicity’, ‘Care models’, ‘Medical education’, ‘Communication skills’, ‘Health literacy’ Results: Different case definitions result in markedly different epidemiologic estimates for MUS patients. Nevertheless, they are prevalent in a wide range of health care settings. Literature offers evidence of the effectiveness of structural frameworks in approaching MUS patients. Organization of MUS care needs to transcend different levels of care: specialist tertiary and secondary care and primary care involving different qualifications of caregivers need to be aligned. Conclusion: The systematic review identified significant gaps and shortcomings in organization of care. These need to be addressed in order to improve outcomes. Keywords: Medical unexplained (physical) symptoms (MUPS), Somatoform disorder, Functional syndrome, Diversity, Migrants, Ethnicity, Care models Message for the clinic: - Medically unexplained symptoms are highly prevalent but case definitions hamper both recognition and a proper approach. - MUS are ill understood in both the general population as in migrants and refugees. - Interdisciplinary and integrated care through a biopsychosocial model is mandatory.

Objectives: To evaluate the bullying in individuals with cleft lip and/or palate (CLP) by Twitter analysis. Materials and Methods: Twitter’s advanced search function was used while the term ‘cleft lip and palate’ was kept constant, and the selected keywords were ‘bully’, ‘bullying’, ‘bullied’ and ‘teased’. A total of 150 tweets that met the criteria were selected. The data were qualitatively evaluated by thematic analysis and the themes were determined based on this analysis. Results: Most of the tweets were posted by a layperson (76%). Also, nearly half of the tweets were categorized in the theme ‘personal experience of being bullied’ (43%). The tweets were distributed according to their uploader status as CLP subjects (46%), irrelevant individuals (28%), and parents of CLP subjects’ (26%). Of the 150 tweets evaluated, 74 were identified as negative, while 25 were identified as neutral and 51 as positive. No significant differences were detected in retweet and like numbers between negative, neutral, and positive comments (P > .05). Conclusions: This is the first study in the literature regarding the bullying suffered by individuals with CLP using Twitter data. Twitter is a social media platform for bullying victims with CLP to share their experiences and seek for social support.

Background: Evidence shows that simplified SOFA scoring system has better clinical practice. Objective: This study aimed to compare the scores acquired with the simplified sequential organ failure assessment (sSOFA), simplified organ dysfunction criteria optimized for electronic health records (eSOFA), and simplified and accurate sequential organ failure assessment (sa-SOFA) for their accuracies in predicting the prognosis of septic patients. Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted at three major academic hospitals. Clinical data from 574 patients diagnosed with sepsis following the Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3)were retrospectively retrieved and analyzed. Scores from the quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA) and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) were used as reference scores. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was used to compare the accuracies of eSOFA, sSOFA, and sa-SOFA scores in predicting in-hospital mortality. Results: AUROC analysis demonstrated the predictability of the five scoring systems for sepsis surveillance, listed in descending order as: sa-SOFA,0.790 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.754-0.822); SOFA, 0.774 (95% CI: 0.738-0.808); eSOFA,0.729 (95% CI: 0.691-0.765); sSOFA,0.681 (95% CI: 0.641- 0.719); and qSOFA,0.618(95% CI: 0.577-0.658). Moreover, sa-SOFA and SOFA scores (Z= 1.950, p = 0.051) did not significantly differ from each other in discriminatory power, but the sa-SOFA score had a higher power than either the sSOFA or eSOFA scores (p values <0.001). Conclusion: sa-SOFA showed the highest accuracy in predicting in-hospital fatality of septic patients when compared with sSOFA and eSOFA.

Aims: In this study, we aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of intravenous ibuprofen by using the C-reactive protein level and thiol/disulfide homeostasis as the oxidative stress marker. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 70 patients aged between 30and65 who were scheduled for elective laparoscopic hysterectomy. The patients were divided into two groups to receive either preemptive 800mg of intravenous ibuprofen plus 1000 mg of intravenous paracetamol (Group IP) or only 1000 mg of intravenous paracetamol as a control group (Group P).The blood samples for thiol/disulfide homeostasis were collected as follows; before induction of anesthesia (T0),before pneumoperitoneum (T1),following post-deflation and discontinuation of anesthesia (T2) and postoperative 24th hour (T3).Simultaneous blood samples for C-reactive protein were also collected. The pre and postoperative urea, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were measured. Results: A total of 69 patients were included in the study. The patient’s characteristics and intraoperative variables were comparable between groups (p>0.05). The number of patients requiring rescue analgesia, the total amount of analgesic used, VAS scores, and postoperative side effects were significantly lower in Group IP (p<0.001).There decrease in native and total thiol levels at T1, T2, T3 measurement points was significant in Group IP (p<0.001). In both groups, the comparison to baseline values demonstrated no significant changes in terms of disulfide level (p>0.05).The simultaneous CRP levels indicated a significant increase at the postoperative 24.hour in both groups (p<0.001). The difference between groups was insignificant (p>0.05). There was a significant increase in urea and creatinine levels in patients of Group IP (p<0.05). Conclusion: The pre-emptive administration of ibuprofen provided an effective pain control after gynecologic laparoscopy. However, ibuprofen changed the thiol/disulfide homeostasis in favor of oxidation and had no beneficial effect in surgically induced oxidative stress.

Abstract: Background: The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is a public health emergency and constitutes a challenge to psychological health. This study aimed to assess the psychological conditions among university students in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods: During the period between the 4th and 18th of June 2020, the students at Umm AlQura University in Saudi Arabia were invited to complete an online survey. The survey assessed their sociodemographic characteristics, educational disciplines, and manifestations of depression, anxiety, and stress as determined by the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Results: The study included 936 students. Of them, 41.1% had depressive symptoms (31.7% mild to moderate and 9.4% severe to very severe), 26.9% had anxiety symptoms (15.8% mild to moderate and 11.1% severe to very severe), and 22.4% had stress symptoms (15.2% mild to moderate and 7.2% severe to very severe). Students who reported having a friend or relative infected with or died from COVID-19, watching or reading news about the pandemic ≥2 hours/day, and not having emotional support from family, university, and society were more likely to show psychological problems. Conclusion: Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were common among Saudi university students. Psychological counseling and support should be provided to university students in Saudi Arabia. Keywords: Depression; Anxiety; Stress; COVID-19; University students; Saudi Arabia

Aims of the study: To test the feasibility of a group psychosocial intervention called Learning Through Play (LTP) plus Culturally adapted Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CaCBT) for depressed Kenyan mothers with children aged 0-36 months. Methods used to conduct the study: This study was a single-arm mixed methods feasibility study to test an integrated parenting intervention for maternal depression in a low-income rural area of Fumbini village in Kilifi District of Kenya. Women between the ages of 18 and 45 years with children up to three years were screened for depression using PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire). Those scoring above 10 on PHQ-9 were interviewed using the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R) to confirm the diagnosis of depression. Assessments were carried out at baseline and the end of the intervention (3 months), followed by qualitative interviews with 12 women. Qualitative interviews were analysed using thematic analysis from a social-constructionist theoretical lens. Results of the study: The LTP Plus was both feasible and acceptable with high satisfaction among the participants. Qualitative results showed that the women perceived the intervention as beneficial in reducing the symptoms of depression, coping with stress and negative emotions. The results also indicated that there was a reduction in scores on PHQ-9, GAD-7 with an increase in perceived social support, health-related quality of life and an improvement in mothers’ knowledge about child development at the end of the intervention. Conclusions drawn from the study and clinical implications: This study represents the first feasibility research on integrated parenting intervention in Kenya. The results indicated that culturally adapted LTP plus CaCBT is feasible and acceptable in a low-income setting of Kenya. There is now a need to study the clinical and cost-effectiveness of LTP plus CaCBT in an appropriately powered larger randomised control trial, with a longer follow-up period.

Background - Since SARS-CoV-2 spread, evidences regarding sex differences in progression and prognosis of COVID-19 have emerged. Besides this, studies on patients’ clinical characteristics have described electrolyte imbalances as one of the recurrent features of COVID-19. Methods - We performed a case-control study on all patients admitted to the emergency department (ED) from 1st March to 31st May 2020 who had undergone a blood gas analysis and a nasopharyngeal swab test for SARS-CoV-2 by rtPCR. We defined positive patients as cases and negatives as controls. The study was approved by the local ethics committee Area 3 Milan. Data were automatically extracted from the hospital laboratory SQL-based repository in anonymized form. We considered as outcomes potassium (K+), sodium (Na+), chlorine (Cl-) and calcium (Ca++) as continuous and as categorical variables, in their relation with age, sex and SARS-CoV-2 infection status. Results - We observed a higher prevalence of hypokalemia among patients positive for SARS-CoV-2 (13.7% vs 6% of negative subjects). Positive patients had a higher probability to be admitted to the ED with hypokalemia (OR 2.75, 95% CI 1.8-4.1 p<0.0001) and women were twice as likely to be affected than men (OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.67-3.54 p<0.001). Odds ratios for positive patients to manifest with an alteration in serum Na+ was (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.17-2.35 p<0.001) and serum chlorine (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.03-2.69 p<0.001). Notably, OR for positive patients to be hypocalcemic was 7.2 (95% IC 4.8-10.6 p<0.0001) with a low probability for women to be hypocalcemic (OR 0.63, 95% IC 0.4-0.8 p=0.005). Conclusions - SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with a higher prevalence of hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, hypochloremia and sodium alterations. Hypokalemia is more frequent among women and hypocalcemia among men.

Backgrounds Appendectomy is one of the most commonly performed surgeries worldwide. Sepsis is an major etiology of morbidity and mortality in children. Our preliminary research revealed a positive correlation among appendectomy and future risk of sepsis in adults. However, to date, the relationship among appendectomy and future risk of sepsis in children remains unknown. The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship among appendectomy and hazard of future sepsis in children. Methods We applied a nationwide population-based cohort to assess whether children who received appendectomy were at increased risk of subsequent sepsis. Overall, 57261 subjects aged below 18 undergoing appendectomy as appendectomy group and 57261 matched controls were identified as non-appendectomy group from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. We use propensity score analysis to match age, sex, urbanization level, and parental occupation at the ratio to 1:1. Multiple Cox regression and stratified analyses were used to appraise the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for developing sepsis in children. Results Children who received appendectomy had a 2.63 times higher risk of developing sepsis than those who did not, and the risk was even higher in children aged under 6 years. Patients with <1 year follow-up showed a 5.64-fold risk of sepsis in the appendectomy cohort. Patients with 1–4 and ≥5 years’ follow-up showed a 2.41- and 2.02-times risk of sepsis. Conclusion Appendectomy was correlative to a 2.63-fold increased future sepsis risk in children, and the risk in younger patients aged <6 years was even higher. More studies to interpret the possible biological mechanisms of the associations among sepsis and appendectomy are warrant

Background: Reconstruction of Achilles tendon and the overlying tissue defects is a challenging undertaking. The spectrum of available repair methods range from secondary healing to use of free flaps. Method: In this study, we retrospectively evaluated 14 patients who underwent reconstruction of Achilles region defect between 2016 and 2019 at a single center. Results: Reconstructions were performed with secondary healing (n=2), negative pressure wound therapy and skin grafting (n=2), free flaps (n=6), and local and distant flaps (n=4). Satisfactory aesthetic and functional outcomes were achieved in all patients. One patient developed partial skin graft loss. Marginal necrosis occurred in one of the local flaps. Wound dehiscence and flap retraction occurred in one of the free (superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator) flaps. One patient undergoing reconstruction with ulnar artery perforator flap developed intraoperative atrial fibrillation; the operation was terminated and reconstruction completed with skin grafting. Conclusion: Orthoplastic reconstruction should be kept in mind for Achilles tendon defects. Use of special digital imaging techniques facilitates flap surgery and helps minimize the risk of flap complications. Conventional approaches are suitable for shallow small skin lesions. Local flaps are good options for deeper skin defects owing to superior aesthetic outcomes. Superthin free flaps offer a distinct advantage in skillful hands. Use of multi-content free chimeric flaps for reconstruction of complex defects facilitates better anatomical repair. Cross leg or flow-through flaps may be considered in patients with compromised distal circulation. Selection of the most reliable approach for Achilles reconstruction is a key imperative to achieve favorable outcomes.

Purpose: To evaluate the bowel habits of patients with acne vulgaris Method: In this case control study, socio-demographic characteristics of the participants (age, gender, marital status, educational status, profession, economic status, smoking-alcohol habits, chronic diseases, previous operations, people they live with, diet) were questioned and the global acne grading scores of the patients were calculated. Bristol Stool Scale, Rome III Criteria for IBS, International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, Hospital Anxiety Depression and KADF (dietary fiber information) scales fulfilled. Results: The patient group consisted 102 and the control group consisted 104 participants. The mean age was 20.9 ± 3.9 years old in the case group and 21.8 ± 5.0 years old in the control group. Patient and control groups were similar in terms of age and gender. Smoking rates were significantly higher in the patient group (p=0,035). The amount of coffee consumed per day were significantly higher in the patient group (p=0,040). According to the global acne grading scores, 55.9% (n = 57) had medium, 39.2% (n = 40) had mild, 3.9% (n = 4) had severe and 1% (n=1) had very severe acne. Anxiety scores were found to be significantly higher in the patient group (p = 0.005). When the case and control groups were compared for IBS presence, no significant difference was found (p = 0.317). Also, IBS was not related with acne severity (p = 0.162). Conclusion: Further large sample sized studies are needed on this subject, as there is strong evidence about brain–gut–skin axis existence.