Obesity is associated with lower levels of Vitamin D

Aim: In this study we aimed to compare the 25(OH) Vitamin-D level of obese patients and the serum 25(OH) Vitamin-D level of healthy individuals who have normal  weight ;and also to evaluate the relation between 25(OH) Vitamin-D level and body mass index (BMI),waist circumference, hip circumference, body fat ratio. Methods: Among the patients who went into Okmeydani Training and Research Hospital Internal Medicine Polyclinic and the patients hospitalized at the Internal Medicine Clinic between the dates December 2012 - May 2013 and whose ages range between 18 and 70; total 105 individuals took part in the study. 62 individuals whose BMI is ≥30 formed the patient group, while 43 individuals whose BMI is between 18,5 and 25 formed control group. Vitamin-D level of the patient group and control group was measured. The data obtained was statistically analyzed. Results: The weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, body fat ratios of the patients in the case group were significantly higher than the ones in the control group (p<0.05). The 25 (OH) Vitamin-D level of the patients in the case group was significantly less than the ones in control group (p=0.03). There was statistically significant negative correlation between 25 (OH) Vitamin-D value and weight (r=-0.26 p=0.01), waist circumference (r=-0.23 p=0.02), and BMI (r=-0.26 p=0.01). Conclusion: Physicians should consider in treatment of vitamin-D deficiency that, serum vitamin-D levels are higher in obese compared to lean subjects and correlated negatively with BMI, weight and waist circumference

Effects of 2,4-DP- P (2,4-Dichlorophenoxypropionic Acid-P) Plant Growth Regulator on Fruit Size and Yield of Star Ruby Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Osb.)

Star Ruby is the main grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) variety grown in Turkey; however, small fruit size is a common problem in ‘Star Ruby’ grapefruit. Fruit size is a decisive external quality parameter in citrus at the marketing of fresh citrus fruits. Fruit size can be enhanced by several techniques such as girdling and thinning. Various plant growth regulators are known to affect the growth and size of citrus fruit. The objective of the present study was to observe the effects of 2,4 dichlorophenoxypropionic acid-p (2,4-DP-P) on the fruit size, yield and quality of Star Ruby from 20-year-old trees budded on sour orange rootstock in Adana, Turkey in 2007. Four concentrations (50, 100, 150 and 300 ppm) of 2,4-DP-P were applied 8 weeks after anthesis during physiological fruit drop when the mean fruit diameter was 13-15 mm. The results indicated that the application of 2,4-DP-P increased the fruit size of Star Ruby grapefruit without reducing yield. The application had a significant effect on fruit yield except for trees treated with 50 ppm 2,4-DP-P. Compared with the control trees, applications of 2,4-DP-P increased the number of large, commercially valuable Star Ruby (>93 mm, 89-93 mm and 84-89 mm). No effects were determined on fruit internal quality parameters. Thus, the results of the present study revealed that 2,4-DP-P can be used to improve the fruit size of Star Ruby fruitlets during the June drop

Tobacco use among 10th grade students in Istanbul and related variables

Aim of this study was to determine prevalence of cigarette smoking and hookah use among 10th grade students in Istanbul, Turkey, and to compare sociodemographic, psychological and behavioral variables according to frequency of tobacco use. Cross-sectional online self-report survey conducted in 45 schools from the 15 districts in Istanbul/ Turkey. The questionnaire included sections about demographic data, family characteristics, school life, psychological symptoms and use of substances including tobacco, hookah, alcohol, marijuana, volatiles, heroin, cocaine, non-prescribed legal tranquillizers (benzodiazepines, alprazolam etc.) and illegal tranquillizers (flunitrazepam). The analyses were conducted based on the 4957 subjects. Trial at least once in life is observed as 45.4% for hookah use and as 24.4% for cigarette use. Risk of hookah and cigarette use was significantly higher in male students than in female students. Frequency of tobacco use is related with various sociodemographic, psychological and behavioral variables. Our data also shows that using tobacco and alcohol increases the risk of all the other substances use and these effects are interrelated. The data suggest that there is a link between tobacco use and substance use, psychological, behavioral and social factors. There is also a strong association between tobacco use and suicidal behavior as well as self-mutilative, impulsive, hyperactive, delinquent, aggressive and behavioral problems. The illumination of these relationships may be relevant in prevention and management of tobacco use as well as important problems, such as substance use, impulsivity, hyperactivity, delinquent, aggressive self-mutilative and suicidal behavior among 10th grade students in Istanbul. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Relationship of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptom severity with severity of alcohol-related problems in a sample of inpatients with alcohol use disorder

Purpose: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been shown to be related to a higher risk of developing psychiatric problems such as depressive disorders, substance use disorder, and impulsivity. Adults who have comorbid ADHD and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are at greater risk of negative outcomes. Thus, it is important to evaluate the relationship of ADHD symptoms and the severity of alcohol-related problems among patients with AUD. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of ADHD symptoms on severity of alcohol-related problems, while controlling the effects of depression and impulsivity in a sample of inpatients with AUD

Psychometric Properties of the Turkish Versions of the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT) and the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10) in the Prison Setting

The aim of this study was to evaluate psychometric properties of the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT) and the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10) in prisoners with (n = 124) or without (n = 78) drug use disorder. Participants were evaluated with the DUDIT, the DAST-10, and the Addiction Profile Index-Short (API-S). The DUDIT and the DAST-10 were found to be psychometrically sound drug abuse screening measures with high convergent validity when compared with each other (r = 0.86), and API-S (r = 0.88 and r = 0.84, respectively), and to have a Cronbach's alpha of 0.93 and 0.87, respectively. In addition, a single component accounted for 58.28% of total variance for DUDIT, whereas this was 47.10% for DAST-10. The DUDIT had sensitivity and specificity scores of 0.95 and 0.79, respectively, when using the optimal cut-off score of 10, whereas these scores were 0.88 and 0.74 for the DAST-10 when using the optimal cut-off score of 4. Additionally, both the DUDIT and the DAST-10 showed good discriminant validity as they differentiated prisoners with drug use disorder from those without. Findings support the Turkish versions of both the DUDIT and the DAST-10 as reliable and valid drug abuse screening instruments that measure unidimensional constructs

Relationship of PTSD With impulsivity Dimensions While Controlling the Effect of Anxiety and Depression in a Sample of Inpatients With Alcohol Use Disorder

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with impulsivity dimensions while controlling the effect of anxiety and depression in a sample of inpatients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Methods: Participants were 190 male patients admitted to a specialized center for substance use disorders within a six month period. Participants were evaluated with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Short Form Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11-SF), the Traumatic Experiences Checklist, and PTSD Checklist-Civilian version. Results: Age was lower in the group with PTSD (n = 63, 33.2%) than the group without PTSD (n = 127, 66.8%). Duration of education, marital, and employment status did not differ between the groups. STAI, BDI, and BIS-11-SF scores were higher in the group with PTSD. Trait anxiety, depression, and impulsivity predicted high PTSD risk in a logistic regression model. Same variables predicted the severity of PTSD symptoms in a linear regression. Among dimensions of impulsivity attentional component was the only predictor of PTSD symptoms severity, not motor or nonplanning impulsivity. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the PTSD may be related to impulsivity, particularly attentional impulsivity, even after controlling anxiety and depression among inpatients with AUD

Sequence of theory‐of‐mind acquisition in Turkish children from diverse social backgrounds

We examined the sequence of theory of mind (ToM) acquisition in 260 Turkish children (Mage = 53.36 months, SD = 10.37) and the demographic factors associated with it. Children came from 5 different cities in Turkey. Their ToM skills were measured using ToM Scale, which probes various mental state understandings from diverse desires to hidden emotions. These Turkish children demonstrated the traditional, collectivist ToM acquisition pattern evident in Iran and China with earlier understanding of knowledge access than diverse beliefs, not the western, individualist pattern evident in the United States, Australian, and German children. Gender, socio‐economic status (SES), and number of adults living in the home influenced the pace of children’s ToM acquisitions. A post hoc analysis examined a minority of children that exhibited individualist ToM acquisition with earlier achievement of diverse beliefs than knowledge access. The results contribute to a fuller sociocultural understanding of ToM development including examination of variations within a single heterogeneous developing country. They also further suggest the importance of exposure to different ideas and beliefs in large households for earlier understanding of varying belief states.HighlightsWe assessed theory of mind (ToM) acquisition in 260 Turkish children whose families spanned a large range of social class circumstances.We measured ToM via Wellman and Liu’s scale (2004), consisting of five items testing diverse desires, diverse belief, knowledge access, false belief, and hidden emotion.The Turkish children demonstrated the traditional, collectivist ToM acquisition pattern, but a minority of children exhibited individualistic ToM acquisition. In cultures where elements of individualism and collectivism are blended, children can come to different orders of acquisition in accord with recent arguments that cultural development often represents a coexistence of different reasoning styles.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/145214/1/icd2098.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/145214/2/icd2098_am.pd

Mediating role of childhood emotional abuse on the relationship between severity of ADHD and PTSD symptoms in a sample of male inpatients with alcohol use disorder

The aim of the present study was to evaluate relationship of PTSD symptom severity with severity of ADHD symptoms while controlling the effect of childhood trauma in a sample of male inpatients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Participants included 190 male inpatients with AUD. Participants were evaluated with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-28), the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) and PTSD Checklist Civilian version (PCL-C). PTSD and ADHD scores were mildly correlated with severity of childhood trauma and types of traumas, the only exception was emotional neglect, which was not correlated with PTSD and ADHD. Severity of ADHD symptoms was associated with the severity of PTSD symptoms, together with the severity of childhood trauma in a linear regression model. In another linear regression model where dimensions of ADHD and childhood trauma were considered as independent variables, emotional abuse and both inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive dimensions of ADHD were associated with the severity of PTSD. These findings suggest that the severity of adult ADHD symptoms is related with the severity of PTSD symptoms, while severity of childhood trauma, particularly emotional abuse may have an mediating role on this relationship among male inpatients with AUD. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Psychometric properties of the Turkish version of Drug Use Disorders Identification Test–Extended (Turkish DUDIT-E) in substance-dependent adults under probation

Objective: Motivation is a widely used concept in substance use treatment, which is related to the change during treatment. The Drug Use Disorders Identification Test–Extended (DUDIT-E) is one of the instruments to measure motivation. Among clients who have been screened already for drug-related problems, DUDIT-E maps the frequency of illicit drug use (D), the positive (P) and negative (N) aspects of drug use, and treatment readiness (T). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Turkish DUDIT-E in adult male patients with substance use disorder (SUD) in Turkey. Methods: We examined the psychometric characteristics of this instrument in a population of outpatients with SUD and who are under probation (n = 196). The participants were administered the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT), the DUDIT-E, and the Addiction Profile Index (API). Results: Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.96 for P score, 0.95 for N score, and 0.85 for T score. Principal component analysis supported construct validity for P, N, and T scores. The DUDIT-E subscales were mild to moderately correlated with the DUDIT and the API. Conclusions: The findings showed that the Turkish version of the DUDIT-E, when used together with the DUDIT, could effectively identify substance use problems in outpatients with SUD who are under probation

Severity of craving is related with severity of adult ADHD symptoms among inpatients with alcohol use disorder

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate relationship of craving severity with severity of adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in a sample of inpatients with alcohol use disorder, while controlling the effects of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Methods: Participants included 78 inpatients with alcohol use disorder. Participants were evaluated with the Obsessive-Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS), the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) after a detoxification period of three to four weeks. Results: Although trait anxiety predicted OCDS score, trait anxiety was no longer a predictor after entering ASRS-18 score and the ASRS-18 score was the only predictor for severity of craving in linear regression analyses. Results for the ASRS-6 were the same. Among subscales of ASRS-18 inattentive score predicted OCDS score. When obsessive and compulsive dimensions of craving were taken as dependent variables, ASRS-18/ASRS-6 predicted obsessive craving score together with the trait anxiety, whereas ASRS-18/ASRS-6 predicted compulsive craving alone. Conclusion: These findings suggest that severity of ADHD symptoms (particularly inattentive symptoms) is related with severity of the craving. Although ADHD symptoms predicted compulsive craving alone, it predicted obsessive craving together with the trait anxiety. Also ASRS-18 and ASRS-6 showed similar results, suggesting that ASRS-6 with much less items can be used among this population for screening ADHD symptoms