Views on Montessori approach by teachers serving at schools applying the Montessori approach [Montessori yaklaşımını uygulayan okullarda çalışan öğretmenlerin Montessori yaklaşımına ilişkin görüşleri]

Problem Statement: Further studies on Montessori teachers are required on the grounds that the Montessori approach, which, having been applied throughout the world, holds an important place in the alternative education field. Yet it is novel for Turkey, and there are only a limited number of studies on Montessori teachers in Turkey. Purpose of Study: The aim was to investigate views on the Montessori approach by the teachers who serve at the schools applying the Montessori approach. Methods: Research data was collected by the basic qualitative research, one of the qualitative research methods. Descriptive analysis method was used in analysis of the qualitative data. Nine teachers serving at three different schools in Ankara province applying Montessori approach were interviewed. Findings and Results: Eight main themes were determined upon data analysis; namely, education on Montessori approach, basic qualities required for teachers applying Montessori approach, adequacy of education on Montessori approach, in-service training on the challenges experienced by Montessori teachers, plans of teachers for self-development, following existing studies in Turkey on Montessori approach, views on studies on Montessori approach, and views on the criticisms towards Montessori approach. Conclusions and Recommendations: All teachers confirmed that they internalized the approach upon training in line with Montessori philosophy. They emphasized that they received training covering all the educational fields, yet the implementation dimension was inadequate due to training without the involvement of children. Furthermore, they suggested that all the schools in Turkey were opened by commercial motives, and as such these schools failed to comply with the standards of the institutions providing education on the basis of Montessori approach. They asserted that all criticisms towards Montessori approach would be proved to be groundless upon implementation of the approach. It was seen that experienced supervisors, in-service training, and scientific studies on Montessori approach were required. © 2016, Ani Publishing. All rights reserved

Evaluation of benign/malign primary sacrum tumors and surgical site infections [Benign/malign primer sakrum tümörleri ve cerrahi alan enfeksiyonlarının değerlendirilmesi]

Objective: In literature, sacrum tumors and its surgery are very few. Primary tumors of sacrum are less common than metastatic tumors. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the characteristics and the surgical site infections after surgery of the cases operated with benign/malign primer sacrum tumor. Material and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed records of cases of operated with diagnosed by pathological examination benign/malign primer sacrum tumors in our clinic between the years of 2012 and 2018. The demographic characteristics of the cases, comorbid diseases, applied surgical treatment modalities, post-operative surgical site infection frequency, post operative features of wound site, vital findings of cases, duration of post-operative infection development, causative microorganism agents in infection, the incidence, duration and causative microorganism of recurrent infections and the survival for five years were evaluated. Results: A total of 9 cases [five male, four female, mean age 38 years (21-74)] were included. 3 cases (33,3%) were cordoma, 3 cases (33,3%) were ewing sarcoma, one case (11,1%) malignant schwannom, one case (11,1%) giant cell tumor and one case (11,1%) were diagnosed with chondrosarcoma in their pathological examinations. Eight patients (88.9%) with malign tumor underwent extensive resection in 6 patients and one patient (11.1%) with intralesional curettage with benign tumor diagnosis. Six of the cases (66.7%) developed surgical site infection after the surgery. Infection was detected in 3 (75%) of the cases who recieved the pre-op and/or post-op radiotherapy and chemotherapy but in all underwent implantation during the surgery. Overall survival was 77.7% at 5 years and 83.3% in who developed surgical site infection. Conclusion: As in the sacrectomy, infections after operations in the operations with extensive resection and close rectal proximity are common problems. Besides antibiotic therapy co-administration of surgical debridement is also important for efficacy in the treatment of surgical site infection. © 2018 by Türkiye Klinikleri

Imbalanced free radicals and antioxidant defense systems in schizophrenia: A comparative study

Objective: To examine changes of blood oxidative-antiovidative level in schizophrenic patients and its relationship with clinical symptoms. Methods: Forty-six Chinese patients met DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV) criteria for schizophrenia and fifty age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the present study. Baseline psychiatric symptom severity was assessed with brief psychiatric rating scale, positive and negative syndrome scale on the blood draw day. Fresh blood samples were collected to measure levels of nitric oxide and lipid peroxide in plasma as well as activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in red blood cells by spectrophotometric assays simultaneously. Results: Comparison of the biochemical parameters indicated that the level of nitric oxide and lipid peroxide increased in patient group, which represented a positive correlation with positive scale scores; while the activities of three critical enzymes decreased and showed a negative linear correlation. Conclusion: This study showed that there are dysregulation of free radical metabolism and poor activities of the antioxidant defense systems in schizophrenic patients. Excess free radicals formation may play a critical role in the etiology of schizophrenia. Using antioxidants might be an effective therapeutic approach to partially alleviate or prevent the symptoms of schizophrenia