Folia medicaPub Date : 2026-02-25DOI: 10.3897/folmed.68.e162507
Turgay T Kalinov
{"title":"When two pathologies collide: a case report of acute appendicitis in a patient with an enlarged abdominal aortic aneurysm.","authors":"Turgay T Kalinov","doi":"10.3897/folmed.68.e162507","DOIUrl":"10.3897/folmed.68.e162507","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Acute appendicitis and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rarely coexist, but when they do, they present diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. A 6 7-year-old male with a known 70 mm AAA presented with signs of acute appendicitis. Conservative management failed, and open appendectomy via McBurney incision was performed successfully. In patients with large AAAs and concomitant acute surgical abdomen, early multidisciplinary assessment and cautious surgical planning are critical.</p>","PeriodicalId":12415,"journal":{"name":"Folia medica","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147510876","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Hyperbaric oxygen therapy of diabetic foot ulcers: a pilot study.","authors":"Vasilka Gyurova-Kancheva, Angelina Kirkova-Bogdanova, Daniela Taneva, Hristo Bozov, Yozlem Kyuldzheva","doi":"10.3897/folmed.68.e166916","DOIUrl":"10.3897/folmed.68.e166916","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Ulcers caused by a diabetic foot are among the most common and serious complications of diabetes mellitus and lead to severe medical and social consequences for individuals and society. Their treatment should be complex and individualized, given the complex etiology and pathogenesis of this type of lesion. One of the established complementary methods in therapy is the application of oxygen by inhalation under high pressure (above atmospheric) or the so-called hyperbaric oxygenation.</p>","PeriodicalId":12415,"journal":{"name":"Folia medica","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147510761","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Folia medicaPub Date : 2026-02-24DOI: 10.3897/folmed.68.e164570
Edoardo Ipponi, Fabrizia Gentili, Francesco Rosario Campo, Fabio Cosseddu, Antonio D'Arienzo, Paolo Domenico Parchi, Lorenzo Andreani
{"title":"More than just sciatica. Clinical presentation, surgical treatment and functional outcomes of sciatic nerve schwannomas.","authors":"Edoardo Ipponi, Fabrizia Gentili, Francesco Rosario Campo, Fabio Cosseddu, Antonio D'Arienzo, Paolo Domenico Parchi, Lorenzo Andreani","doi":"10.3897/folmed.68.e164570","DOIUrl":"10.3897/folmed.68.e164570","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Introduction: Peripheral nerve schwannomas are rare benign tumors. The onset of a schwannoma in the sciatic nerve is uncommon and can impair the nerve’s functionality. To this date, the literature on this topic is mainly composed of case reports, lacking large case series.\u0000\u0000Aim: To overcome the limitations of previous literature, we performed a retrospective study on surgical enucleation of sciatic nerve schwannomas, evaluating surgical treatment’s clinical and functional effectiveness.\u0000\u0000Materials and methods: We examined retrospectively all cases of sciatic nerve schwannomas that underwent surgical enucleation between 2016 and 2022. For each one, we analyzed lesion size and localization. Motor and sensory deficits, Tinel sign, and lower limb functionality (assessed using MSTS and LEFS score) were evaluated before surgery and at the patients’ latest follow-up.\u0000\u0000Results: Eight cases were included in our study. All patients had pre-operative sensory deficits. The mean MRC score was 3.9 before surgery, while MSTS and LEFS scores were 21.1 and 59.5, respectively. No local recurrence or major complication were recorded. After surgery, the mean MRC score rose to 5, and both MSTS scores (29.5) and LEFS scores (78.1) significantly increased compared to pre-operative records.\u0000\u0000Conclusions: In our cohort, good functional performances and symptomatic relief were seen after the removal of sciatic nerve schwannomas. Early diagnosis and prompt surgical treatment should represent the therapeutic approach for sciatic neurinomas, considering the good postoperative outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":12415,"journal":{"name":"Folia medica","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147510727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Folia medicaPub Date : 2026-02-24DOI: 10.3897/folmed.68.e168963
Konstantinos Natsis, George Konstantinidis, Maria Piagkou, George Triantafyllou, Alexandros Samolis, Trifon Totlis, George Tsakotos, Dimitrios Chytas, Juergen Koebke
{"title":"Morphological variability of the gastrocnemius muscle's third head: cadaveric dissection findings.","authors":"Konstantinos Natsis, George Konstantinidis, Maria Piagkou, George Triantafyllou, Alexandros Samolis, Trifon Totlis, George Tsakotos, Dimitrios Chytas, Juergen Koebke","doi":"10.3897/folmed.68.e168963","DOIUrl":"10.3897/folmed.68.e168963","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Aim: The gastrocnemius tertius (GT) represents the presence of a third head (TH) of the gastrocnemius muscle (GM), the most common morphological variant of the GM. This cadaveric dissection series aimed to determine the frequency, morphological characteristics, and anatomical relationship of the GT with the popliteal neurovascular structures (PNVS).\u0000\u0000Materials and methods: Forty formalin-embalmed cadaveric lower limbs from the Department of Anatomy and Surgical Anatomy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, were examined. All specimens were donated to the Department after obtaining informed consent prior to death, in accordance with institutional and national ethical regulations.\u0000\u0000Results: The GT was identified in six of forty specimens (15%). In four cases (10%), the third head originated from the posterior distal surface of the femur, medial to the lateral head (LH), and fused with it. The popliteal vessels were located medially to the TH. In one case (2.5%), the TH arose from the LH and fused with the medial head (MH), with the popliteal vessels coursing between the TH and MH. In another case (2.5%), the TH did not fuse with the LH but instead formed a distinct tendon inserting into the calcaneal tendon.\u0000\u0000Conclusion: The GT was observed in 15% of Greek cadavers, representing the highest prevalence reported to date. Specific morphological configurations may predispose to PNVS compression, potentially affecting one or more components of the neurovascular bundle. Awareness of such GM variants, supported by thorough clinical assessment and targeted imaging, is essential for accurate diagnosis and effective management of popliteal fossa pathologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":12415,"journal":{"name":"Folia medica","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147510739","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Folia medicaPub Date : 2026-02-24DOI: 10.3897/folmed.68.e169306
Yana Gvozdeva
{"title":"Development and validation of a UV-spectrophotometric method for determination of an ACE inhibitor in pharmaceutical formulations.","authors":"Yana Gvozdeva","doi":"10.3897/folmed.68.e169306","DOIUrl":"10.3897/folmed.68.e169306","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Introduction: Fosinopril sodium, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, is a widely prescribed antihypertensive agent and one of the leading drugs approved for use in hypertension management. Despite its clinical relevance, no UV-spectrophotometric methods have been previously reported for the analysis of fosinopril sodium in simulated salivary fluid (SSF, pH 6.8) and simulated gastric fluid (SGF, pH 1.2). However, researchers favor UV-spectrophotometry due to its versatility, simplicity, and efficiency in drug analysis.\u0000\u0000Aim: The aim of this study was to develop and validate a simple, rapid, and cost-effective UV-spectrophotometric method for analyzing fosinopril sodium in both experimental and commercial dosage forms, as well as in novel drug delivery systems.\u0000\u0000Materials and methods: This study presents the development of a UV-spectrophotometric method for quantifying fosinopril sodium in enzyme-free SSF and SGF media and its validation.\u0000\u0000Results: Maximum absorbance is observed at 209 nm in SSF and 207 nm in SGF. The technique demonstrates linearity in the range of 2.5–20 μg/mL, with a limit of detection and limit of quantification of 0.0438 μg/mL and 0.133 μg/mL in SSF, and 0.0714 μg/mL and 0.216 μg/mL in SGF, respectively. Analytical recovery is 100.1% in SSF and 99.9% in SGF, with RSD values of 0.373% in SSF and 0.203% in SGF, indicating high precision and accuracy.\u0000\u0000Conclusion: These results demonstrate that the developed and validated method is suitable for the routine quantitative determination of fosinopril sodium in experimental and commercial pharmaceutical formulations.</p>","PeriodicalId":12415,"journal":{"name":"Folia medica","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147510677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Folia medicaPub Date : 2026-02-24DOI: 10.3897/folmed.68.e163602
Meena Abdul Wadood, Aseel Al Haidar, Nada Radhi
{"title":"Impact of extracted primary teeth on occlusion and its relation to weight status among a group of children.","authors":"Meena Abdul Wadood, Aseel Al Haidar, Nada Radhi","doi":"10.3897/folmed.68.e163602","DOIUrl":"10.3897/folmed.68.e163602","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Introduction: Premature loss of primary molars can disrupt dental arch integrity, alter occlusal relationships, and predispose to malocclusion. Concurrently, undernutrition may influence craniofacial growth, compounding occlusal disturbances.\u0000\u0000Aims: The study’s objectives were to assess the effects of early primary molar extraction on the formation of occlusal relationships and investigate its relationship to children’s weight-for-age status.\u0000\u0000Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 children between the ages of 7 and 8. Each child was examined to ascertain the presence of any premature loss of primary molars in the upper or lower jaw, evaluated on a unilateral basis. The occlusal relationship of molar permanent teeth was evaluated bilaterally, and the weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ) was assessed. A comprehensive statistical analysis was conducted, encompassing percentage distributions, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the Pearson chi-square test, with a significance level of 5%. This analysis was undertaken to ascertain the associations between premature tooth loss, occlusion, and malnutrition.\u0000\u0000Results: The most prevalent tooth that had been prematurely lost was the lower first primary molar (38%). A difference in Angle’s molar relationship between the extracted and the control sides was observed, especially among those with premature loss of the second primary molar. The mean WAZ value was significantly lower among children with Class III Angle’s molar relationship on the extracted side (F=16.158, p<0.01). However, it was significantly lower among children with Class II Angle’s molar relationship on the control side (F=33.665, p<0.01).\u0000\u0000Conclusions: Premature loss of the primary second molar in the upper arch changed the Angle’s molar classification towards Class II, while in the lower jaw, the Angle’s molar classification changed to Class III. Undernutrition further increases malocclusion risk, emphasizing the need for preventive care and integrated management that addresses both oral and systemic health.</p>","PeriodicalId":12415,"journal":{"name":"Folia medica","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147510683","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Disorders in lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and antioxidants in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment without major depression.","authors":"Gallayaporn Nantachai, Michael Maes, Vinh-Long Tran-Chi, Arisara Amrapala, Asara Vasupanrajit, Solaphat Hemrungrojn, Chavit Tunvirachaisakul","doi":"10.3897/folmed.68.e166867","DOIUrl":"10.3897/folmed.68.e166867","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is characterized by changes in lipids and oxidative stress (OS). It is crucial to exclude patients with major depression (MDD) to accurately evaluate these biomarkers in aMCI.</p>","PeriodicalId":12415,"journal":{"name":"Folia medica","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147510669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Folia medicaPub Date : 2026-02-24DOI: 10.3897/folmed.68.e168540
Gergana S Pavlova, Maria S Becheva, Angelina G Kirkova-Bogdanova, Maria K Bozhkova
{"title":"Monitoring the effect of noninvasive cosmetic procedures on skin photoaging.","authors":"Gergana S Pavlova, Maria S Becheva, Angelina G Kirkova-Bogdanova, Maria K Bozhkova","doi":"10.3897/folmed.68.e168540","DOIUrl":"10.3897/folmed.68.e168540","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Introduction: The human desire to slow down biological aging and conceal the external manifestations of premature aging has given rise to the pursuit of esthetic procedures. With advancing age, the structural integrity of the skin undergoes a decline, characterized by a decrease in elasticity and firmness and an increase in the number of wrinkles as a consequence of skin photoaging.\u0000\u0000Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of non-invasive cosmetic procedures on skin photoaging, specifically radiofrequency lifting and facial kinesitherapy.\u0000\u0000Materials and methods: The study included 100 patients. The participants were divided into two groups: control and experimental. The study was prospective and lasted six months. The Glogau scale was used to assess wrinkles at the beginning and end. The experimental group received facial muscle kinesitherapy as well as radiofrequency lifting. The control group only received procedures that involved radiofrequency lifting.\u0000\u0000Results and discussion: We found a statistically significant difference regarding skin photoaging between the initial and final results in the experimental and control groups. The experimental group saw improvements in wrinkle reduction and facial contour smoothing as a result of radiofrequency lifting and kinesitherapy for the mimic muscles.\u0000\u0000Conclusion: Radiofrequency lifting combined with active gymnastics of the facial muscles improves the contour, appearance, and natural vision by influencing the effects of skin photoaging.</p>","PeriodicalId":12415,"journal":{"name":"Folia medica","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147510714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Folia medicaPub Date : 2026-01-30DOI: 10.3897/folmed.68.e155194
Nikolaos Stefanos Bastas, Elena Dragioti, Athanasios Basios, Ioanna Mega, Evangelos Kokkinis, Aikaterini D Lianou
{"title":"A narrative review of mechanisms underlying tinnitus, depression, and anxiety.","authors":"Nikolaos Stefanos Bastas, Elena Dragioti, Athanasios Basios, Ioanna Mega, Evangelos Kokkinis, Aikaterini D Lianou","doi":"10.3897/folmed.68.e155194","DOIUrl":"10.3897/folmed.68.e155194","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Tinnitus is a distressing condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Subjective tinnitus is characterized by the perception of sound without an external source. There are a few hypotheses, but exact causes and mechanisms remain unclear. Several studies have identified a strong correlation between tinnitus and psychological disorders, particularly depression. This review explores the relationship between tinnitus and disorders such as anxiety and depression. The aim was to examine the underlying mechanisms that contribute to this association.</p>","PeriodicalId":12415,"journal":{"name":"Folia medica","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147510731","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Folia medicaPub Date : 2026-01-30DOI: 10.3897/folmed.68.e177757
Jacob Draves, Steven Yale, Halil Tekiner, Eileen Yale
{"title":"Clarifying clinical findings in Hoffmann syndrome and myxedema.","authors":"Jacob Draves, Steven Yale, Halil Tekiner, Eileen Yale","doi":"10.3897/folmed.68.e177757","DOIUrl":"10.3897/folmed.68.e177757","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Not Applicable.</p>","PeriodicalId":12415,"journal":{"name":"Folia medica","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147510716","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}