Complementary and Alternative Therapies Used by Turkish Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Background: Most breast cancer patients use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), usually in parallel with their conventional treatments. This study was planned to determine the prevalence and determining factors for use of CAM by breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Patients and Methods: This descriptive study was carried out between October 2010 and May 2011, and included 96 patients at the Istanbul University Institute of Oncology. The Patient Characteristics form and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Scale were used for data collection. Descriptive and non-parametric tests were performed, and logistic regression analysis was used to predict factors affecting CAM use. Results: Praying was the most frequently used form of CAM, and most of the herbal supplements used by patients were harmless. Herbal use was higher among patients who had local disease (relative risk (RR) 4.48%, 95% confidence interval (Cl) 1.12-17.95), and worship was more common among those who had not undergone surgery (RR 4.66%, 95% Cl 1.64-13.20). Conclusion: The CAM approaches used by patients were found to be safe. However, sage and flax seed usage for estrogen-and progesterone-positive patients and exercise for patients with spinal metastasis can be inappropriate approaches. It is important to question and inform patients about CAM use during treatment.Istanbul University Department of Scientific Research ProjectsIstanbul University [20701]This study was supported by the Istanbul University Department of Scientific Research Projects (project no. 20701)

The effect of placental angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors on pregnancy outcome in patients with early onset preeclampsia

Objective: The aim was to evaluate the possible effects of anti-angiogenic factors including soluble endoglin (sEng), placental growth factor (Pgf), and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) in both normotensive pregnant patients and preeclampsia (PE) patients. Material and Methods: The study was carried out at the Departments of Gynecology and Obstetrics and Biochemistry of Yozgat Bozok University Training and Research Hospital. Eighteen women with PE who were pregnant for at least 20 weeks comprised the study group. The control group consisted of 33 pregnant women with no complications and with similar demographic features. In the study, laboratory parameters, demographic characteristics, sEng, sFlt-1, and Pgf levels, delivery type, APGAR scores of the infants, and birthweight were determined and a comparison was made between the groups. Results: It was found that the sEng level was significantly lower in the PE group compared to the control group (p<0.05). In addition, the Pgf, birthweight, and 1st and 5th-minute APGAR scores were significantly lower in the PE group compared to the control group (p[removed

A Case of Primary Pulmonary Lymphoma

Primary pulmonary lymphoma, which is constitutes only 0,5% of all lung tumors, is a rare tumor arising from in­trapulmonary lymphatics. Due to presentation with mass and consolidation, many diseases, require to be consid­ered in the differential diagnosis such as primary or meta­static lung cancer, pneumonia, pulmonary sequestration and atelectasis radiologically. A 44 years old male patient with complaints for two years, with 65x68 mm pulmo­nary mass lesion in left upper lobe and lingular segments which has boundaries could not be distinguished by heart border, was interned. Diagnostic thoracotomy applied and histopathology was obtained as pulmonary lymphoma. Wedge resection including lingula and lower lobe api­cal segments was performed. In this study, we aimed to present a case hospitalized with complaints of cough and fatigue and diagnosed as primary pulmonary ( low-grade B-cell) lymphoma

Sexual function and depression in polycystic ovary syndrome: Is it associated with inflammation and neuromodulators?

Numerous studies have been carried out on depression and sexual dysfunction concomitant with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Increasing evidence has revealed the importance of inflammation in the etiology of PCOS. In addition, it has been known that some neuromodulators affect depression and sexual function. However, their effects on PCOS are not known. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship of depression and sexual function with cytokines and neuromodulators in PCOS patients. The present study included 20 fertile and 30 infertile patients diagnosed with PCOS and 30 healthy volunteers. Metabolic and endocrine parameters, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, TNFα, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), Glutamate, Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) serum levels, Beck Depression Index (BDI) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) scores of the patients were compared between the groups. TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, glutamate, GABA, and BDI scores were found to be significantly higher (p 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted with potential factors that may affect sexual dysfunction. The results indicated that high waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (> 0.80) with an odds ratio of 1.81 in PCOS patients, and body mass index (BMI) with an odds ratio of 2.3 and high WHR (> 0.80) with an odds ratio of 1.97 in all patients were found to be independent risk factors affecting sexual dysfunction. The results of the present study suggested that chronic low-dose inflammation seen in PCOS may interact with some neuromodulators, leading to the development of depression. However, no relationship was found between these parameters and sexual function. © 2020 Elsevier Lt

The frequency of Duchenne muscular dystrophy/Becker muscular dystrophy and Pompe disease in children with isolated transaminase elevation: results from the observational VICTORIA study

IntroductionElevated transaminases and/or creatine phosphokinase can indicate underlying muscle disease. Therefore, this study aims to determine the frequency of Duchenne muscular dystrophy/Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD) in male children and Pompe disease (PD) in male and female children with isolated hypertransaminasemia.MethodsThis multi-center, prospective study enrolled patients aged 3–216 months with serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and/or aspartate transaminase (AST) levels &gt;2× the upper limit of normal (ULN) for ≥3 months. Patients with a known history of liver or muscle disease or physical examination findings suggestive of liver disease were excluded. Patients were screened for creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) levels, and molecular genetic tests for DMD/BMD in male patients and enzyme analysis for PD in male and female patients with elevated CPK levels were performed. Genetic analyses confirmed PD. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of the patients were analyzed.ResultsOverall, 589 patients [66.8% male, mean age of 63.4 months (standard deviation: 60.5)] were included. In total, 251 patients (188 male and 63 female) had CPK levels above the ULN. Of the patients assessed, 47% (85/182) of male patients were diagnosed with DMD/BMD and 1% (3/228) of male and female patients were diagnosed with PD. The median ALT, AST, and CPK levels were statistically significantly higher, and the questioned neurological symptoms and previously unnoticed examination findings were more common in DMD/BMD patients than those without DMD/BMD or PD (p &lt; 0.001).DiscussionQuestioning neurological symptoms, conducting a complete physical examination, and testing for CPK levels in patients with isolated hypertransaminasemia will prevent costly and time-consuming investigations for liver diseases and will lead to the diagnosis of occult neuromuscular diseases. Trial RegistrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT04120168

Quality of life and activities of daily living in heart failure

Yüksek Lisans TeziBu çalışma, kalp yetmezlikli hastaların yaşam kalitesi ve günlük yaşam aktivitelerini incelenmek amacı ile planlanmıştır. Trakya Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Sağlık Araştırma ve Uygulama Hastanesi Kardiyoloji Kliniği Ve Polikliniğine Nisan Ekim 2007 tarihleri arasında başvuran ve kalp yetmezliği tanısı alan, gönüllü olarak çalışmaya katılmayı kabul eden 75 hasta çalışma kapsamına alınmıştır. Çalışmada veriler, araştırmacı tarafından ilgili literatür doğrultusunda hazırlanan hasta bilgi formu, Leary ve Jones tarafından ve Özer ve Argon tarafından Türkçe geçerlilik güvenilirlik çalışması yapılan Yaşam Kalitesi Ölçeği, Katz tarafından geliştirilen Günlük yaşam aktiviteleri ölçeği kullanılarak toplanmıştır. Elde edilen verilerin değerlendirilmesinde, yüzdelik, Kruskal-Wallis Varyans Analizi, t-testi, Turkey-HSD Post Hoc testi, Pearson Ki-Kare testi, Kolerasyon Analizi, Spearmans Kolerasyon Analizi kullanılmıştır. Çalışmanın sonuçlarına göre, hastaların yaşam kalitesi orta düzeyin biraz altında (puan ortalaması: 65.51±22.25) olduğu ve yaşam kalitesini ortalama uyku süresi, uykunun düzenli olma durumu, günlük alınan toplam ilaç sayısı, daha önce hastanede yatma durumu, kalp yetmezliği sınıfından etkilendiği bulunmuştur. Hastaların günlük yaşam aktivitelerinde bağımsız olduğu (puan ortalaması: 15.41±3.13) ve günlük yaşam aktivitelerinin yaş, kalp yetmezliği sınıfı, günlük alınan toplam ilaç sayısı, günlük ortalama uyku süresinden etkilendiği bulunmuştur. Hastaların yaşam kalitesi ve günlük yaşam aktiviteleri arasında istatistiksel açıdan negatif yönde anlamlı ilişki bulunmuştur. Günlük yaşam aktiviteleri ölçeğinden alınan puan arttıkça yaşam kalitesi ölçeğinden alınan puan azalmaktadır. Yani günlük yaşam aktivitelerinde bağımsızlık düzeyi arttıkça yaşam kalitesi de artmaktadır. Çalışmanın bu sonuçları doğrultusunda; "Kalp yetmezliği olan hastalara bireysel ve hastalıkla ilgili özellikler doğrultusunda eğitim programlarının planlanması, "Kalp yetmezliğinin şiddeti arttıkça GYA'nin desteklenmesi ve yaşam kalitesini yükseltmeye yönelik önlemler alınması önerilebilir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Kalp Yetmezliği, Yaşam Kalitesi, Günlük Yaşam AktiviteleriThis study was planned for the purpose of examining the quality of life and activities of daily living of heart failure patients. The study population was 75 patients who presented to Trakya (Thrace) University Medical Faculty Health Research and Training Hospital's Cardiology Ward and Outpatient Clinic between April and October 2007 with the diagnosis of heart failure and who were willing to participate voluntarily in the study. The data were collected in the study using a patient information form prepared by the researcher based on relevant information in the literature, the Quality of Life Scale which was developed by Leary and Jones and adapted and tested for validity and reliability in Turkish by Özer and Argon, and the Activities of Daily Living Scale developed by Katz. The data obtained were analyzed using percentage, Kruskall-Wallis variance analysis, t test, Tukey HSD post hoc test, Pearson Chi square test, correlation analyses, and Spearman's correlation analysis. According to the study results the patients' quality of life mean score was slightly below average (65.51±22.25) and their quality of life were found to be affected by their mean amount of sleep per day, status of having regular sleep, total number of medications taken per day, status of previous hospitalization and heart failure class. The patients were found to be independent in their activities of daily living (mean score was 15.41±3.13) and their activities of daily living were found to be affected by their age, heart failure class, total number of medications taken per day, and their mean amount of sleep per day. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between the patients' quality of life and activities of daily living. As the score from the Activities of Daily Living Scale increased the score from the Quality of Life Scale decreased. That is, as their level of independence in their activities of daily living increased their quality of life also increased. Based on these study results it is recommended that "Educational programs be planned based on the individual and disease related characteristics of patients with heart failure, "As the severity of heart failure increases that measures be taken to support patients' activities of daily living and improve their quality of life. Key Words: Heart Failure, Quality of Life, Activities of Daily Livin

İngilizce’nin yabancı dil olarak öğretildiği bir sınıfta etkileşimsel kimliklerin karşılıklı oluşturulması üzerine bir vaka çalışması.

Identity, conceptualized as a social construct, has found its way into SLA research after Firth and Wagner (1997) and Block (2003 ) made their call for a social turn in the field. Drawing on poststructuralist ideas of learning, Norton (1995, 2000, 2013) has established her social theory of identity in SLA, which sees ‘identity’ as multiple, as a site of struggle and as changing over time. Adopting this view, many researchers have published on the ties between identity and language learning (see Norton & Toohey, 2011); however, there is still a need for identity research evidenced by real classroom interactions coming from local contexts of EFL classes. Addressing this gap, this study aims to understand how various identity positions are co-constructed within interaction in an EFL context and how these positions affect language learning processes of the students. Informed by Positioning Theory (Davies & Harré, 1990), a conversation analytic approach is used in order to analyse the video recordings of 17 hours of an Upper-Intermediate level English preparatory class at a private university in Ankara, Turkey. The analysis shows two students as focal cases as their identity construction and negotiation are different from other students. It is found that positioning oneself or being positioned in certain ways in the sequential organization of interactions, such as knowledgeable, attentive, indifferent, silent, funny and so on, come to create students as certain beings, affect the ways that interactions unfold in classroom, and create consequences for participation opportunities. It is hoped that this study will contribute to identity research in Turkey, first, by providing evidence to the relevancy of ‘identity’ as a subject of inquiry at the intersection of discourse and language learning studies, and second, by applying discourse analysis (Positioning and Conversation Analysis) in order to study identity as a social construct.M.S. - Master of Scienc