The prevalence of and risk factors for hypertension in adults living in Istanbul

The prevalence of and risk factors for hypertension were determined among habitants in the European side of Istanbul who are 25 years and older. Eight administrative districts were selected with the method of simple random sampling. The participants were selected through systematic calling from address lists. Between 17 and 22 June 2002, the questionnaires were applied to the participants in a face-to-face interview; then arterial blood pressures, body weights and heights of the participants were measured. Of 423 adults participating in the study, 35.5% were hypertensive; 35.9% were obese, 27.9% were overweight and 2.1% were underweight. Risk factors for hypertension such as age, gender, educational status, social security, family history of hypertension and cardiovascular disease, medical history of diabetes and congestive heart failure, smoking and alcohol use, and body mass index in the hypertensive and non-hypertensive groups were investigated by means of logistic regression analysis. Age [ odds ratio (OR): 5.20, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.18-12.40], body mass index(OR: .22, 95% CI: 1.57-3.16) and smoking (OR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.55-0.95) were found to be correlated with hypertension. The results showed that the prevalence of hypertension was high in Istanbul, and obesity, being overweight and advanced age were the risk factors for hypertension

Factors Affecting the Self-efficacy, Self Competency, and Willingness of Medical Students in Disasters

Aim: During times of disasters, healthcare professionals often face pressure and need additional support in care areas. This study assesses the potential role of medical students in disaster response and the influencing factors, including their involvement in the TEAMS project. Materials and Methods: An observational survey-based study was conducted at a university to assess the motivation and competency of undergraduate students toward disaster response. To collect data, the questionnaire was distributed using Google Forms. The homogeneity of items in the subscales of the questionnaire was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha, and the questionnaire results were compared with the categorical variables using the t-test. Results: TEAMS participants demonstrated a higher level of competence in trauma care and drug/injection administration (p<0.05). Individuals who received disaster training exhibited increased competency in triage, trauma care, drug/injection administration, patient follow-up, and psychological support (p<0.05). Sixth-year students feel more proficient in trauma care, psychological support, community health services, and public relation work. Conclusion: Students are willing to contribute to disaster relief efforts, but their motivation is enhanced when they feel psychologically and medically prepared. Active involvement in disaster training programs plays a significant role in increasing students’ competence

The effect of beta-aminopropionitrile and prednisolone on the prevention of fibrosis in alkali esophageal burns: an experimental study

İstanbul Bilim Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi.Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of beta-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) and prednisolone on the prevention of esophageal damage and stricture formation after caustic esophageal burn. Method. Twenty-eight rats were divided into four equal groups. In groups 1, 2, and 3, caustic esophageal burns were generated by applying NaOH to the 1.5 cm segment of the abdominal esophagus. Group 4 was for the sham. Normal saline to group 1, BAPN to group 2, and prednisolone to group 3 were administered intraperitoneally as a single daily dose. Results. Treatment with BAPN decreased the stenosis index (SI) and histopathologic damage score (HDS) seen in caustic esophageal burn rats. The SI in group 4 was significantly lower compared with groups 1, 2, and 3. Group 2 had the minimum SI value in corrosive burn groups. The differences related to SI between groups 1, 2, and 3 were not statistically significant. The HDS was significantly lower in group 4 compared with groups 1, 2, and 3. The HDS in group 2 was significantly lower compared with groups 1 and 3. Conclusion. This study demonstrated that BAPN was able to decrease the development of stenosis and tissue damage better than prednisolone

Effects of pentoxifylline on oxidative stress in rats with abdominal compartment syndrome model

Background: Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) causes severe pathology in the cardiovascular, renal and pulmonary systems. Recent studies showed that pentoxifylline (PTX) has effects on increasing tissue oxygenation, healing capillary refill and reducing superoxides and hydroxyl radicals by inhibiting xanthine oxidase. In this study, our aim was to study the effects of PTX on free oxygen radicals and oxidative damage in rats with ACS model

Association between galectin-3 levels and isolated coronary artery ectasia

Background: Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is a well-recognised disorder characterised by abnormal dilation of the coronary arteries. Underlying mechanisms associated with abnormal luminal dilation in CAE remain to be elucidated. However, histopathological features resemble those of coronary atherosclerosis. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a valuable biomarker for both progression and destabilisation of atherosclerotic lesions. To the best of our knowledge, there is no study in the literature examining serum Gal-3 levels in patients with isolated CAE. In the present study, therefore, we aimed to investigate the possible relationship between serum Gal-3 levels and isolated CAE

Effects of acetaminophen and mannitol on crush injuries in rats: An experimental study

BACKGROUND: The present objective was to evaluate effects of acetaminophen and mannitol on renal function and histopathology in crush injuries

To decide medical therapy according to ECG criteria in patients with supraventricular tachycardia in emergency department: adenosine or diltiazem

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of ECG criteria which are used for the distinction between AVNRT and AVRT for the choice of treatment in patients with Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT). The 77 patients with narrow QRS complex SVT which was treated with Adenosine or Diltiazem in the Emergency Department were evaluated retrospectively. All 12-lead ECG during tachycardia were blindly reviewed according to ECG criteria (Pseudo-r in V1, Pseudo-S-wave in the inferior leads, Visible P-wave, aVL notch) by a cardiologist and an emergency physician. In this study, while 59.6% of the patients returned to normal sinus rhythm (NSR) after the first dose 6 mg, 64.91% of them after the first dose 12 mg and 71.92% of them after the second dose of 12 mg adenosine, 95% of the patients returned to NSR after the 0.25 mg/kg diltiazem. The most visible ECG findings were visible P waves and the least visible ECG findings were Pseudo-S waves in the inferior leads. It was statistically significant between converted by adenosine to NSR and converted by diltiazem to NSR to the presence of visible P-wave and the aVL lead notch in their ECG findings. Conclusion: The rate of return to NSR through diltiazem was found higher than that of adenosine in narrow complex SVT patients. Also, diltiazem may be the first medication to be preferred in the presence of retrograt P wave and aVL notch in the ECG of the patients with narrow QRS complex stable SVT