The importance of carotid artery stiffness and increased intimamedia thickness in obese children

Background. Atherosclerosis that starts in childhood invariablyadvances during adulthood.Aim. We aimed to study the effect of obesity on main carotidartery intima-media thickness (CIMT) and arterial stiffness.Material and methods. A total of 78 children were studied fromOctober 2010 to February 2011. They were divided into obese (n=42,group 1) and normal (n=36, group 2). All children were subjectedto physical examination, routine biochemical and haematologicalanalysis, carotid ultrasonography and echocardiographicmeasurements. A detailed medical history was obtained. Bodymass index (BMI) was calculated by dividing participants’ weight inkilograms by the square of their height in metres. Stiffness index âwas calculated using blood pressure and diameter of the systolicand diastolic artery. Intima-media thickness was also measured.Results. The mean age of the obese and normal (control) groupswas 10.12±2.12 years and 9.78±1.78 years, respectively. Weight, BMI,and systolic and diastolic blood pressure values were significantlyhigher in the obese group (all p<0.001). In terms of arterial stiffnessand CIMT measurements, all parameters were higher in the obesegroup than the control (p<0.001). There was a relationship betweenthe degree of obesity and CIMT or stiffness index â. In addition,dilatation and hypertrophy levels in the left ventricle were higherin obese children.Conclusions. Obese children with risk factors for multipleatherosclerosis could have increased CIMT dimensions and,consequently, should be screened for these risks. UltrasonographicCIMT and arterial stiffness measurements can detect vasculardamage at an early stage of development in children withcardiovascular risk factors

Expression of CK-19 and CEA mRNA in peripheral blood of gastric cancer patients

Aim: To investigate the clinical and pathological relevance of detection of circulating tumor cells (CTC) in the peripheral blood of gastric carcinoma patients before operation. Patients and Methods: Fifty patients with gastric adenocarcinoma were analysed prospectively. Patients were divided into two groups according to the extent of the tumor. Group I (unresectable) consisted of 22, and group II (resectable) consisted of 28 patients. Peripheral blood samples were collected pre-operatively from all 50 patients as well as from ten healthy controls and analyzed for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cytokeratin-19 (CK-19) messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs). Tumor localisation, stage, presence of signet cell formation, nodal metastases, serousal and lymphovascular invasion were recorded for all patients. Results: Expression of CK-19 was detected in 24 (48%), and CEA in 10 (20%) cases. Nine patients (40%) in group I and 15 (53.6%) in group II were positive for CK-19 expression. CEA expression was more frequent among group I patients (6 vs. 4 cases). There was no significant difference between the groups in the expression of CK-19 and CEA mRNA, tumor localisation, presence of signet formation, and presence and extent of nodal metastases. Patients with major vascular invasion (MVI) expressed significantly higher levels of CTC mRNA compared to those without MVI (p = 0.023 for CEA, and p = 0.009 for CK-19). The median 1 and 2-year survival was 9.5 and 10.5 months for group I, and 20 and 28.5 months for group II, respectively (p = 0.001). The mean survival was 6.7 months for patients with MVI, and 30.2 months for those without MVI (p = 0.0001). Conclusions: High levels of CTCs were observed in patients with MVI invasion, rather than other causes of unresectability. It can be suggested that expression of both CEA and CK-19 in the peripheral blood of gastric cancer patients are strong predictors of MVI and significantly worse survival rates. Copyright © Experimental Oncology, 2010

Expression of CK-19 and CEA MRNA in peripheral blood of gastric cancer patients

The aim of this paper is to investigate the clinical and pathological relevance of detection of circulating tumor cells (CTC) in the peripheral blood of gastric carcinoma patients before operation

Impact of antimicrobial drug restrictions on doctors' behaviors

Background/aim: Broad-spectrum antibiotics have become available for use only with the approval of infectious disease specialists (IDSs) since 2003 in Turkey. This study aimed to analyze the tendencies of doctors who are not disease specialists (non-IDSs) towards the restriction of antibiotics.Materials and methods: A questionnaire form was prepared, which included a total of 22 questions about the impact of antibiotic restriction (AR) policy, the role of IDSs in the restriction, and the perception of this change in antibiotic consumption. The questionnaire was completed by each participating physician.Results: A total of 1906 specialists from 20 cities in Turkey participated in the study. Of those who participated, 1271 (67.5%) had 5 years of occupational experience in their branch expressed that they followed the antibiotic guidelines more strictly than the JSs (P < 0.05) and 755 of physicians (88%) and 720 of surgeons (84.6%) thought that the AR policy was necessary and useful (P < 0.05).Conclusion: This study indicated that the AR policy was supported by most of the specialists. Physicians supported this restriction policy more so than surgeons did

The Relationship between Burnout, Self-Esteem and Professional Life Quality of Nurses

PMID = 2995026

The use of temporalis muscle graft, fresh and cryopreserved amniotic membrane in preventing temporomandibular joint ankylosis after discectomy in rabbits

PMID = 2521814

Comparison of the Efficacy of Methotrexate and Narrow-Band Ultraviolet B for the Treatment of Plaque-Type Psoriasis

PMID = 2547061

Assessment of the Factors That Affect the Anatomic and Functional Success of Cartilage Tympanoplasty in Children

PMID = 2798443

Public Knowledge and Attitude toward Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in Tokat Turkey

&quot;nBackground: The World health Organization (WHO) declares Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fe&amp;shy;ver (CCHF) endemic in Turkey. Despite the magnitude of problem, no documented evi&amp;shy;dence exists in Turkey, which reveals the aware&amp;shy;ness and practices of the country&apos;s adult popula&amp;shy;tion regarding CCHF, its spread, symptoms, treatment, and preven&amp;shy;tion. This study was conducted to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding CCHF in people visit&amp;shy;ing terti&amp;shy;ary care hospital in Tokat, Turkey.&quot;nMethods: This questionnaire based cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients&apos; rela&amp;shy;tives or guardians who ad&amp;shy;mitted pediatric outpatient clinics during May-July 2008. The question&amp;shy;naire was composed of 25 questions.&quot;nResults: A total of 1034 respondents participated in the survey. Sufficient knowledge about CCHF was not found in 28.9% of the sample. Literate individuals were relatively better informed about CCHF as compared to the illiterate peo&amp;shy;ple. Television and radio were con&amp;shy;sidered as the most important and useful source of information on the disease.&quot;nConclusion: We have found insufficient knowledge on CCHF in our population. It is thought to have no chance of suc&amp;shy;cess against a fatal disease such as CCHF, which has serious consequences, without the contribution of commu&amp;shy;nity. It is clear that there are important tasks for health, agri&amp;shy;culture, and media sectors to improve public knowledge and awareness about CCHF. &quot;n&amp;nbsp;Keywords: Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever, Public knowledge, Survey, Turke

Efficacy of bupivacaine for post-tonsillectomy pain: a study with the intra-individual design

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of postoperative local anesthesia in tonsillectomy patients using an intra-individual study design