Circadian blood pressure rhythm in normotensive offspring of hypertensive parents

Background: The aim of this study was to explore the circadian blood pressure (BP) rhythm using ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) in normotensive children with a family history of essential hypertension. Methods: Group 1 consisted of children with hypertensive mothers and/or fathers (n = 20), Group 2 consisted of children with hypertensive grandparents (n = 20), and Group 3 consisted of children with normotensive parents (n = 20). All participating children underwent a 24-h ABPM and echocardiography. Results: Significantly higher systolic burden was found in children with hypertensive parents (p < 0.05) and grandparents (p < 0.05) compared to controls. Ambulatory BP measurements had a higher daytime systolic BP in Group 1 compared to controls (p < 0.05). While left ven­tricular (LV) posterior wall thickness was similar in Group 1 and Group 2, it was significantly higher in both of these groups compared to the controls. The LV mass index (LVMI) was signifi­cantly higher in Group 1 than in controls (p < 0.05). However, diastolic BP was significantly higher in dippers compared to non-dippers (p < 0.05). LV posterior wall thickness, interven­tricular septum thickness and LVMI were significantly higher among non-dippers compared to dippers (p < 0.05). In children with a family history of hypertension, a positive correlation between nocturnal systolic BP and LVMI was found, and increasing nocturnal BP values were associated with increasing LVMI (p < 0.01). Conclusions: In children with a family history of hypertension, target-organ damage may precede the clinical detection of hypertension, and in those with a nocturnal non-dipper status, a more marked effect on LVMI may occur

Investigating the Contribution of Action Research on Teachers' Professional Development 1

Abstract: Professiona

Evaluation of the Practice Pattern of Medical Patients' VTE Prophylaxis With a Standard Risk Assessment Model Form: MERAM Study

Hospitalized acutely ill patients face high risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) unless appropriate thromboprophylaxis is applied. This study aimed to determine VTE prophylaxis practices for inpatients in Turkey and to evaluate the impact of physicians' training via a modified Standard Medical Patients' VTE Risk Assessment Model (MERAM). A total of 607 inpatients included in this national multicenter noninterventional observational registry were evaluated in terms of demographics, VTE risk, and preventive measures at 2 consecutive cross-sectional visits. Physicians were asked to complete a questionnaire on current VTE method risk assessment and other models including MERAM. The VTE prophylaxis rates significantly increased from 49.4% to 62.4% between visits (P < .05). The lack of risk evaluation decreased from 74.6% to 19.5% (P < .001). Percentage of physicians using prophylaxis and use of MERAM increased between visits. Physician training proved effective for providing general awareness of VTE prophylaxis and led to higher rates of risk assessment model-based appropriate VTE prophylaxis

Changes in the Beliefs of the Prospective Teachers on Knowledge, Learning and Teaching in a Social Constructivist Teaching Setting Applied

Epistemological beliefs are the individuals’ point of view on what is knowledge, how to accumulate it, defining its boundaries and identifying the criteria. This study aims to investigate whether there is a change in the beliefs of the prospective teachers related to knowledge, learning and teaching in a social constructive teaching setting.The research has been conducted with 119 prospective teachers. This study is a semi-experimental one conducted with pretest and post-test without a control group. Data has been collected with ‘Epistemological Belief on Learning and Teaching’ scale developed by Ching Sing Chai, Timothy Teo and Chwee Beng Lee. The findings indicated a positive change in the beliefs of the candidates about relative knowledge and a visible decrease in the beliefs about absolute knowledge. Also, learning environment significantly affected the beliefs of the prospective teachers about relative knowledge. The results have proven that there occurred changes on the beliefs of prospective teachers’ knowledge, learning and teachin

Relationship between oxidative stress and blood glucose fluctuations evaluated with daily glucose monitoring in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Background: The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between oxidative stress marker (8-iso-prostaglandine F-2 alpha) and glycemic indices computed from daily glucose monitoring data in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM)

Relationship between oxidative stress and blood glucose fluctuations evaluated with daily glucose monitoring in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Background: The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between oxidative stress marker (8-iso-prostaglandine F-2 alpha) and glycemic indices computed from daily glucose monitoring data in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM)

Efficacy of Use of Red Cell Distribution Width as a Diagnostic Marker in Acute Appendicitis

WOS:000398905900007Aim: We aimed to investigate the increase in values of red cell distribution width (RDW) and also the dependence of RDW on leukocyte count (WBC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) values in acute appendicitis (AA).Materials and Methods: This study includes data collected from 407 patients who were admitted between January 2012 and July 2014 to the emergency service and underwent an operation owing to a diagnosis of AA confirmed by a pathology report. These patients were divided into two groups, namely, non-complicated and complicated appendicitis, according to the results of the operation. The control group consisted of 100 adult patients with similar complaints not having acute abdominal conditions. The age, gender, and WBC, RDW, and CRP levels of the patients on admission were recorded retrospectively.Results: A total of 350 (86%) of the patient group were diagnosed with non-complicated appendicitis, 34 (8.4%) with plastron appendicitis, and 23 (5.6%) with perforated appendicitis. No significant difference was observed with respect to WBC, RDW, and CRP levels between the AA groups (p0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of the WBC, RDW, and CRP values in the AA group were 70% and 60%, 41% and 30%, and 51% and 40%, respectively. No dependence of RDW values on WBC or CRP levels was found.Conclusion: RDW values were found to be significantly higher in the AA group than in the control group. The low sensitivity and specificity values of the RDW test reduce the possibility that it might become a hematologic marker to be used in the definitive diagnosis of AA