AN INVESTIGATION INTO TURKISH EFL LEARNERS’ STEREOTYPED THOUGHTS AND EXPOSURE TO ENGLISH: A CORRELATIONAL STUDY

This study aims to investigate tertiary EFL learners’ stereotyped thoughts about foreign languages, the extent of their exposure to English, and the potential relationships between these variables, also in relation to their proficiency level. 124 EFL students in the preparatory school of a state university in Turkey participated in the study. Two quantitative data collection instruments were distributed to the participants: Stereotyped Thoughts About Foreign Languages Scale (Ünal, 2015) and Exposure to English Scale (Gökcan & Çobanoğlu-Aktan, 2016). Descriptive statistics and correlations were used to analyze the data. The results showed that the participants held a moderate level of stereotyped thoughts and exposure to English. Moreover, significant and positive relationships were revealed between L2 exposure and (1) proficiency level and (2) the two dimensions of stereotyped thoughts: collectivity at a weak level and trying to change people at a moderate level. However, L2 exposure correlated significantly and negatively with taking it personally and exaggerated generalization at a weak level. Concerning the relationships between proficiency level and the dimensions of stereotyping, the “Must” rule, taking it personally and excessively self-sacrificing showed significant and negative relationships with proficiency level weakly, while exaggerated generalization correlated with proficiency at a moderate level. Keywords: L2 exposure, stereotypes, foreign languages, attitude

Diabetic Neuropathy and Treatment Strategy – New Challenges and Applications

Smart drug delivery systems are very popular drug delivery systems for treatment to common disease such as gene therapy, heart disease, cancer therapy, and neuropathy. Neuropathy is the most common chronic complication of diabetes that is associated with especially loss of peripheral nerve fibers. Hyperglycemia, insulin deficiency and dyslipidemia largely affect the development and progression of diabetic neuropathy. Several metabolic disruptions including altered protein kinase C, elevated polyol pathway activity, oxidative stress, the formation of advanced glycation and lipoxidation end products, and various pro-inflammatory changes directly affect neural tissue and cause neurodegenerative changes in diabetes. The therapeutic interventions of these metabolic pathways have a limited success to relieve the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. This review emphasizes on the pathogenesis of neurovascular changes, presently available therapeutic approaches future directions for the management of diabetic neuropathy and related new drug delivery systems

IDEAL SPONTANEOUS SPACE CLOSURE AFTER LATE EXTRACTION OF PERMANENT FIRST MOLAR TEETH

OBJECTIVE: Before they haven't completed its development, permanent first molar(PFM) teeth which have been decayed and treated with root canal therapy is mostly extracted before the child even reaches adult hood. With correct evaluation of patient, these extracted teeth’s space can be ideally closed by permanent second molars(PSM). The aim of the study is to learn under which conditions we can provide ideal closure and occlusion in patients who refer to us in a late stage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 695 patients aged 6-16 years who had PFM tooth extracted at a Faculty of Dentistry were retrospectively evaluated from the system. 117 patients had their PFM tooth extracted after the ideal age range and 15 of them were found to meet the inclusion criteria. Panoramic films of 21 teeth of 15 patients with spontaneous ideal closure were evaluated before extraction and after eruption of PSM teeth. The contact between the PSM and the second premolar was recorded and intraoral photographs were taken. Rotations in the PSM and second premolars, axis disturbances towards the linguale/buccal, midline deviations in both jaws, TMJ dysfunctions and chewing habits were evaluated. RESULTS: When PFM extraction was performed, PSM development stage was determined as Demirjian G in 19 teeth and H stage in 2 teeth. Tipping was observed in 80%, and rotation in 9.5% of the PSM teeth. Clinically, it has been determined that 85% of the patients don’t notice the PFM deficiency, don’t complain about their teeth and don’t consider orthodontic treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of this study, it has been observed that ideal spontaneous space closure and ideal occlusion can be achieved, although it was extracted in late period. In ideal occlusion, rotation or tipping after extraction in late period; permanent third molar presence and eruption pressure were more effective than the eruption direction and angle of the PSM tooth

Türkiye’de ulusal akne haftasında yapılan bilgilendirme seminerlerinin katılımcıların akne hakkındaki bilgi düzeylerine etkisi

Background and Design: To investigate the contribution of informative presentations about acne vulgaris and questionnaires administered before and after informative meetings on patients' awareness and consciousness. Materials and Methods: Participants were asked to fill out a 20-question survey before and after informative seminars in hospitals and secondary and high schools as part of National Acne Week. The level of statistical significance was set as p <= 0.05. Results: A total of 466 participants completed the survey before and after the seminar, and the mean age of the participants was 17.4 +/- 6.9. Before the seminar, 31.1% of participants thought that acne is originated from the liver, whereas this figure decreased to 16.7% after the seminar. In all, 47.6% of participants consulted doctors and 23.9% consulted social media to seek information about acne; however, after receiving training, 77% preferred to consult a doctor. Of the participants, 51.1% were expecting to see the results of acne treatment in 1 or 2 weeks, whereas 83.3% stated that the effects would be seen in 2 or 3 months after the seminar. When the participants' educational background was grouped as "secondary-high school-other," a statistically significant difference was obtained (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our study features both patients' misconceptions and their incorrect attitudes about acne, and their level of knowledge improved significantly as a result of educational seminars. The relative benefit derived from educational seminars was positively related to the participants' highest level of education.Amaç: Akne vulgaris ile ilgili bilgilendirme toplantısı öncesi ve sonrasında uygulanan anket formları ile bilgilendirici sunumların akne hakkındaki farkındalık ve bilinç düzeylerine katkısını incelemek amaçlanmaktadır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Ulusal Akne Haftası kapsamında hastane, ortaokul ve lise dengi okullarda verilen bilinçlendirme eğitimi öncesi ve sonrasında katılımcılardan 20 soruluk bir anket doldurmaları istendi. İstatistiksel anlamlılık düzeyi p≤0,05 olarak kabul edildi. Bulgular: Eğitim öncesi ve sonrasında anket formunu dolduran 466 kişinin yaş ortalaması 17,4±6,9 idi. Eğitim öncesi katılımcıların %31,1’i aknenin karaciğer kaynaklı olduğunu düşünürken, eğitim sonrası bu oran %16,7’ye indi. Akne hakkında bilgi almak için eğitim öncesi katılımcıların %47,6’sı doktora, %23,9’u sosyal medyaya başvururken, eğitim sonrası %77’si doktora başvurmayı tercih edeceğini belirtti. Katılımcıların %51,1’i akne tedavisinin 1-2 hafta içerisinde etkisini göstereceğini beklerken, eğitim sonrası %83,3’ü 2-3 ay kullandıktan sonra yanıt alınabileceğini belirtti. Kişilerin öğrenim durumları, “ortaokul-lise-diğer” olarak gruplandırıldığında, eğitim sonrası gruplar arasında öğrenim durumlarına göre istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir farklılık saptandı (p=0,005). Sonuç: Çalışmamız bireylerin hem akne hakkındaki yanlış bilgi ve tutumlarını ön plana çıkarmakta, hem de hekimlerin vereceği eğitim seminerleri ve bilgilendirme toplantıları ile bilgi düzeylerinde kayda değer bir gelişme sağlanacağını göstermektedir

The effect of blood urea nitrogen/albumin ratio in the short-term prognosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective: There is no definite laboratory parameter in predicting short-term prognosis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Our aim was to evaluate the prognostic effect of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN)/albumin ratio in COPD patients. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study comprising of 264 COPD patients who were in exacerbation period and selected from 4 centers was carried out. Data on demographic characteristics, disease characteristics, comorbid conditions and short-term prognosis of patients were obtained. and analyzed. Results: The BUN/Albumin ratio was higher in patients with oxygen saturation <90% (p=0.004). There was no difference between global obstructive lung disease (GOLD) stages means of BUN/Albumin ratio but this rate was higher in those with infective exacerbations (p=0.019). The BUN/albumin ratio of patients who were discharged (5.3±2.2) was significantly high er than the patients who were transferred to the intensive care unit [ICU] (11.7±6.0) (p<0.0001). The cut-off level of BUN/ albumin ratio in prediction of the need for ICU was7.2 (sensitivity 80%, specificity 85.4%) and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.911 (95% CI: 0.861–0.961) (p<0.001). The cut-off level of BUN/albumin ratio in prediction of mortality was 8.1 (sensitivity 88.2%, specificity 85.4%) and the area under the ROC curve was 0.963 (95% CI: 0.930–0.995) (p<0.001). Conclusion: BUN/albumin ratio can be used as an affordable, inexpensive and practical method for determining the short term prognosis in hospitalized COPD patients. Prospective studies involving more patients are needed

EVALUATION OF INCONTINENCE, QUALITY OF LIFE AND SEXUAL FUNCTION IN WOMEN WHO OPERATED SUBURETHRAL SLING

eden bir hastalık olmamasına rağmen, psikolojik, sosyal ve cinsel problemlerle yaşam kalitesi üzerinde olumsuz etkileri olduğu gösterilmiştir. Çalışmamızda orta üretral askı operasyonu sonrası kadınların cinsel fonksiyon, idrar kaçırma ve yaşam kalitesinin araştırılması amaçlandı. Gereç ve yöntem: Ekim 2005 ile Mart 2007 tarihleri arasında stres ve karışık tipte idrar kaçırma nedeniyle orta üretral askı operasyonu yapılan 29 cinsel aktif kadın hasta değerlendirildi. Hastalardan tıbbi ve cinsel öykü alınarak, Kadın Cinsel Fonksiyon İndeksi ve İnkontinans Yaşam Kalitesi Ölçeği dolduruldu. Verilerin değerlendirilmesinde sayı, yüzde dağılımı, McNeamer analizi, ki-kare ve t testleri kullanıldı. Bulgular: Çalışmaya alınan kadınların ortalama yaş ve kadın cinsel fonksiyon indeksi skoru sırasıyla 50,4 ± 8,8 yıl ve 19,3 ± 10,7 olarak saptandı. Kadın cinsel fonksiyon indeksi skoruna göre (<25) çalışmaya alınan %65,5 kadında cinsel fonksiyon bozukluğu saptandı. Operasyon sonrası kadınlar yaşam kalitelerinden memnundu. Operasyon öncesi %69'u cinsel ilişkilerinde idrar kaçırırken, operasyon sonrasında bu oranın %21 olduğu saptandı. Orta üretral askı ameliyatı sonrası hastaların %52'si cinsel yaşamlarından daha memnun olduklarını belirtti. Sonuç: Orta üretral askı operasyonu sonrasında kadınların inkontinans yakınmalarında düzelme olduğu ve yaşam kalitelerinden memnun olduğu görülürken, cinsel fonksiyon bozukluğu prevalansının önemli düzeyde yüksek olduğu görülmektedir. Objective: Although urinary incontinence is not a life threatening disorder, it has been shown to have detrimental effects on quality of life in terms of psychological, social and sexual problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of suburethral sling operation on sexual function, incontinence and quality of life. Material and method: Twenty nine women were evaluated who underwent suburethral sling operation for stress and mixed incontinence from October 2005 to March 2007. All women and their partners were sexually active. We evaluated all the women enrolled in the study by taking incontinence and sexual history, administering the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Incontinence Quality of Life Instrument. Number (I-QOL), percent distribution, McNeamer, chi square and t tests were used for the data analysis. Results: Mean age and FSFI scores of women were 50.4±8.8 years and 19.3 ± 10.7, respectively. According to total FSFI score (<25) there were 65.5% subjects had sexual dysfunction. Quality of life was improved after suburetral sling in female patients. Reported urinary leakage during intercourse was significantly reduced (69% to 21%). Among the patients 52% of them were reported an improvement of their sexual life after suburetral sling surgery. Conclusion: This study showed that suburetral sling procedures as anti-incontinence surgery is associated with reduced complaints of incontinence and improvement of the quality of life. However, prevalence of female sexual dysfunction is significantly high in these patients

Atomoxetine treatment may decrease striatal dopaminergic transporter availability after 8 weeks: pilot SPECT report of three cases

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders. The pathophysiology is thought to involve noradrenaline and dopamine. The role of dopamine transporter (DAT) was evaluated in imaging studies using mostly dopamine reuptake inhibitors. Atomoxetine is a selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor. Here we report the results of a pilot study conducted to evaluate changes in striatal DAT after 8 weeks of atomoxetine treatment. Our results suggest that 8 weeks of atomoxetine treatment may change striatal DAT bioavailability as measured via SPECT but that change was not correlated with genotype or clinical improvement