Estimation of radon flux spatial distribution in Rize, Turkey by the artificial neural networks method

In this study, average radonflux distribution in the Rize province (Turkey) was estimated by the artificial neuralnetworks (ANN) method. For this purpose, terrestrial gamma dose rate (TGDR), which is defined as an importantproxy in determining radonflux distribution, was used. Input parameters that were used for ANN were thenatural radionuclide (238U,232Th and40K) activity values in soil samples taken from 64 stations in Rize Province,data from ambient gamma dose rates (AGDR) directly affecting the distribution of radonflux and data of geo-graphical coordinates. Randomly chosen 42 stations were used for ANN training and data from 22 stations wereused for testing the ANN model. Performance test results gave a Pearson'srvalue of 0.60 (p < 0.001) and RMSEof 0.296. The area that was used for the model was divided into grids of 100 m by 100 m and a spatial dis-tribution map was composed by using ANN predicted radonflux rates at grid nodes, whereby natural radio-nuclide values and Ordinary Kriging predicted values of external gamma dose rates were used for composing thema

A comparison of dexmedetomidine, moxonidine and alpha-methyldopa effects on acute, lethal cocaine toxicity

Background: The treatment of cocaine toxicity is an important subject for emergency physicians. We investigated the effects of dexmedetomidine, moxonidine and alpha-methyldopa on acute cocaine toxicity in mice. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dexmedetomidine, moxonidine and alpha-methyldopa in a mouse model of acute cocaine toxicity. Materials and Methods: We performed an experiment consisting of four groups (n = 25 each). The first group received normal saline solution, the second group received 40 μg/kg of dexmedetomidine, the third group received 0.1 mg/kg of moxonidine and the fourth group received 200 mg/kg of alpha-methyldopa, all of which were intraperitoneally administered 10 minutes before cocaine hydrochloride (105 mg/kg). All animals were observed for seizures (popcorn jumping, tonic-clonic activity, or a loss of the righting reflex) and lethality over the 30 minutes following cocaine treatment. Results: The ratio of animals with convulsions was lower in all treated groups when compared to the control (P 0.05). In addition, the time to lethality was also longer in the same group (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The present study provides the first experimental evidence in support of dexmedetomidine treatment for cocaine-induced seizures. Premedication with dexmedetomidine reduces seizure activity in a mouse model of acute cocaine toxicity. In addition, while dexmedetomidine may be effective, moxonidine and alpha-methyldopa did not effectively prevent cocaine-induced lethality. © 2015, Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal

Knowledge and experiences of families regarding amber necklaces

BackgroundAmber necklaces have been used frequently to reduce the complaints of babies during teething. In this study, the knowledge and experience of families regarding the use of amber necklaces investigated.MethodsThe structured questionnaire was applied face-to-face to parents with a 4-24 month old baby who applied to the paediatric outpatient clinic.ResultsOne hundred one families participating in the study reported that they used the amber necklace most frequently for restlessness (n = 72, 71.3%). Eighty- three% of families reported that the amber necklace was beneficial. It determined that 2% of the babies had suffocation and 2% had problems dispersing the grains.ConclusionAlthough the parents think that the use of amber necklaces is effective during the teething period, they are not aware of the risks. It is important for healthcare professionals to inform their families about teething and especially the risks of using amber necklaces

Examining the features of the patients consulting the emergency department of a university and having acute coronary syndrome

Acil servislerde, akut koroner sendrom tanılı hastaların erken tanı ve tedavisi hayati önem arz eder. Bu çalışmada akut koroner sendrom tanısı alan, takip ve tedavisi yapılan hastaların verilerinin incelenmesi amaçlandı. Dört yıllık çalışma süresinde, Pamukkale Üniversitesi Hastanesi acil servisinde akut koroner sendrom tanısı almış olan 602 hasta çalışma grubunu oluşturdu. Hastaların cinsiyetleri, acil servise geliş şikayetleri, geliş zamanları, aldıkları tanılar ve sonuçları değerlendirildi. Olguların; çoğunlukla erkek cinsiyette olduğu, özgeçmişlerinde en sık HT, KAH ve DM eşlik ettiği, yaş ortalamasının 52.4± 9.4 olduğu, en sık 05:00-08:00 ve 17:00-20:00 saatleri arasında başvuruda bulunduğu, hafta sonları daha sık başvuru olduğu, en çok Aralık ayında başvuru olduğu, en sık başvuru şikayetinin göğüs ağrısı olduğu, acil serviste ortalama 2.5±2.4 saat kaldığı, her iki cinsiyette en sık tanının UA olduğu, yaş ilerledikçe NSTEMI tanısının arttığı saptanmıştır. STEMI tanılı hastaların kısa süre içinde Kardiyoloji yoğun bakım servisine yattığı görüldü. Bu çalışmada, acil servise başvuran akut koroner sendromlu olgular ile ilgili veriler elde edilmiştir. Olgu sayımız yeterli olmadığı için bir genelleme yapılması mümkün olmasa da, bu tür verilerin acil servislerde AKS olgularının tanı ve tedavisinde yol gösterici olacağını düşünmekteyiz.It's crucial in emergency departments to early diagnose patients having acute coronary syndrome and treat them immediately. In the current study, it is aimed to examine the data of the patients diagnosed as acute coronary syndrome. Participants of the four-year study consist of 602 patients diagnosed as acute coronary syndrome in the emergency department of Pamukkale University. Gender of the patients, their complaints, register time, their diagnosis and results are evaluated. Data showed that most of them are males, mostly they have history of HT,CAD and DM, their mean age is 52.4± 9.4, most frequent register time is 05:00-08:00 and 17:00-20:00, it involves mostly weekends and the month December, the most common complaint is chest pain, their duration at the hospital is 2.5±2.4 hours, most common diagnosis in both genders is UA, the diagnosis of NSTEMI increases as patients get older. Patients diagnosed as STEMI in emergency department are referred to Cardiology Intensive Care Unit. In the current study, data are gathered about patients having acute coronary syndrome and consulting to the emergency department. Although it is not possible to make a generalization due to the inadequate case, we think that such kind data can help in the diagnosis of ACS cases in emergency departments

Female Sexual Disfunction and Evaluation of the Related Sociocultural Parameters in a General Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, Kırıkkale Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Genel Psikiyatri Polikliniği'ne 2009 Ocak-Mart aylarında cinsel işlev bozukluğu (CIB) dışında başka yakınmalarla ilk defa başvuran, psikotik bir bozukluğu olmayan, en az bir yıl evli olan kadın hastalarda CIB var- lığı, sıklığı ve etkileyen olası sosyokültürel faktörleri ortaya çıkarmaktır . Yöntem: Veriler , üç farklı anket ve yüzyüze görüşme ile elde edilmiştir . DSM-IV Eksen I Bozuklukları için Yapılandırılmış Psikiyatrik Görüşme Formu (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders-SCID-I) uygulanmıştır . CIB tanısı koyabilmek için cinsel işlev yakınmalarının eksen I tanısından bağım- sız olup olmadığı, kişiye sıkıntı veren bir durum olup olmadığı yapılan ayrıntılı görüşmelerde sorgulanmıştır . Cinsel sorun sıklığını değerlendirmek için Kadın Cinsel Işlev Indeksi (KCII) kullanılmıştır. Hastalar tarafından doldurulan anketlerde sosyodemografik özellikler ve sosyokültürel faktörler sorgulanmıştır . Bulgular: Çalış- maya katılan kadınların yaş ortalaması 35.9±8.6 yıldı. Kadınların %93'ü evkadını ve %50'si ilkokul eğitimliydi. Kadınlar ortalama 16.6±8.6 yıldır evliydiler . Bu araştır- mada 20-74 yaş evli kadınlarda CIB yaygınlığı %36.2 olarak bulunmuştur. Çalışmamızda CIB'i etkileyen sosyokültürel etmenlerin, ilk cinsel bilgileri öğrenme şekli, evlenme şekli, ailelerin cinselliğe karşı tutumu olduğu bulunmuştur . Sonuç: Bu çalışmada, kadın CIB yaygınlığı literatürle uyumlu bulunmuştur . Elde edilen sonuçlara göre, değerlendirilen parametreler göz önüne alındığında, sosyokültürel yapının cinsel yaşamı olumsuz yönde etkileyebileceği söylenebilir .In this study we aimed to find out the prevalence of female sexual disfunction (FSD) and the sociocultural factors influencing it among at least one year old married women who applied to Kirikkale University Faculty of Medicine Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic by taking appointment with complaints different from female sexual dysfunction. Method: The data for investigation were collected through three distict questionnaires and face to face interview is used. For the diagnosis of DSMIV axis I disorder SCID (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV) were applied. To diagnose sexual disorder, complaints of sexual function has been questioned to detailed regardless of axis I disorder. In questionnaires filled out by patients, sociocultural factors and sociodemographic haracteristics were investigated. To assess FSD, Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) is used. Results: The mean age of the participating women was 35.9&plusmn;8.6 years. 93% of the women were housewife and 50% of education level was primary school. They had been married for 16.6&plusmn;8.6 years on average. The prevalence of FSD was 36.2% among the married women of 20-74 of age. The factors affecting the sexual dysfunction were as follows: the way of learning the first sexual information, the form of marriage, family attitudes towards sexuality. Conclusion: In this study we find out that the frequency of FSD was consistent with the literature. For the diagnosis of sexual disorders face to face interview should be done because scale used for sexual disorders can only figure out the presence and the severity of sexual problems. According to the results of this study sociocultural structure can affect the sexual life can say

Health risk assessment of soil trace elements using the Sequential Gaussian Simulation approach

In this study, the performance of the Sequential Gaussian Simulation (SGS) approach was studied with the aim of accurately determining local health risk distributions associated with trace elements (V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, and Pb). This study plays a crucial role in determining the distribution of health risk levels, especially from heavy metals. In the SGS approach, health risk levels (non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic) were calculated for pixel sizes of 250 × 250 m2. Results were compared to the conventional Ordinary Kriging (OK) method. The cross-validation performances of both methods were compared. Non-carcinogenic health risks calculated according to SGS and OK for children were, respectively, ρc: 0.57 and 0.23, RMSE: 0.45 and 0.57, and MAE: 0.33 and 0.43. In the case of adults, non-carcinogenic SGS and OK results were, respectively, ρc: 0.53 and 0.24, RMSE: 0.06 and 0.07, and MAE: 0.04 and 0.05 for adults. Carcinogenic health risk estimates obtained by SGS and OK were, respectively, ρc: 0.72 and 0.31, RMSE: 4.1 × 10−5 and 5.8 × 10−5, and MAE: 3.2 × 10−5 and 4.3 × 10−5 in the case of children, and in the case of adults the results were, respectively, ρc: 0.71 and 0.30, RMSE: 5 × 10−6 and 4.3 × 10−6, and MAE: 4 × 10−6 and 5 × 10−6. These results indicated that SGS offered a more accurate approach in determining health risk distributions

Cost Analysis of Emergency Department Visits by Geriatric Patients Living in Nursing Homes

Objective: To determine the cost analysis of emergency department (ED) visits by geriatric patients living in nursing homes.Study Design: Cross-sectional study.Methodology: Medical records of geriatric patients living in nursing homes who were admitted to the emergency department of the Hospital, between 2011 and 2015, were retrospectively reviewed. Number of visits, reason, and cost of treatment was determined.Results: In total 63 patients (21 females [33.3%], 42 males [66.6%]) with mean age of 76.3 +/- 8.16 years were included. The total number of emergency department visits by those 63 patients was 243. Twenty-three (9.5%) of the total emergency department visits were due to trauma. Six patients (9.5%) were admitted to the emergency department with cardiopulmonary arrest. The mean cost of each patient was $358.30 (53.90 - 1734.10), the maximum cost was$10,095.10, and the minimum cost was $7.42.Conclusion: Emergency department visits and hospitalisation are common among elderly patients living in nursing homes. However, emergency department visits by this frail population put a heavy burden on the economy. Essential measures should be taken to reduce the financial burden of emergency department visits and hospitalisation of this geriatric population.C1 [Seyit, Murat; Yilmaz, Atakan; Ozen, Mert] Pamukkale Univ, Dept Emergency Med, Med Sch, Denizli, Turkey.[Seyit, Duygu Aras] Dumlupinar Univ, Evliya Celebi Res & Training Hosp, Dept Neurol, Kutahya, Turkey