A REVIEW OF SOCIAL STUDIES COURSEBOOK IN TERMS OF THINKING TRAINING: “SCIENCE IN TIME” UNIT

The aim of this study is to examine the 7th grade social studies coursebook unit titled “Science in Time” in terms of thinking training. The data was collected through the technique of document analysis, which is a qualitative research method. The document in question is Social Studies coursebook and student workbook prepared by the Ministry of Education in the academic year of 2016-2017 and used for the 7th grade in primary schools. In order to investigate the qualities of thinking training thoroughly and in detail, a single unit was selected by means of random sampling. , The titles, written materials, visual elements, assessment and evaluation questions (in the unit and at the end of the unit) in the “Science in Time” unit was reviewed in terms three essential thinking skills mentioned in the Ministry of Education program, namely critical thinking, creative thinking, and caring thinking. The data was analyzed by means of content analysis. According to the review results for written materials, the fact that students were asked to guess the concepts given in the concept-box without any definition and the fact that students could see additional resources about in-text subjects were considered positive qualities in terms of making connections among evidences. As for the visual materials, the book lacked any thinking-provoking questions about the pictures. When the book was reviewed in terms of assessment and evaluation, the results revealed positive qualities considering that the “Let’s Think” questions in the chapters and at the end of each chapter as well as the student workbook activities encouraged thinking training skills. However, the evaluation questions at the end of the unit were knowledge level questions, so they were considered inadequate for the use of thinking skills.  Article visualizations

Çaşır (Ferula orientalis L.) Bitkisi ve Yöresel Mutfaklarda Kullanımı

Plants have been used frequently in different areas of life for various purposes since the beginning of human life. Considering the traditions of hunter and gatherer societies, especially during the gathering process, human beings benefited from plants for many of their needs. The primary benefit they provide is to meet the need for nutrition, warmth, protection and treatment. Turkey has many medicinal and aromatic plants, spices and herbs thanks to its different climatic features and fertile soil. The presence of various herbs from different regions also contributes to the richness of the local cuisines. Edible wild plants that grow spontaneously in the regions are considered as the main product and by-product in the preparation of many dishes in traditional kitchens. Ferula orientalis Linnaeus (1753) is one of the medicinal aromatic plants that can grow spontaneously in the regions and belongs to the parsley family, which is called with its botanical name. With its different species, the çaşar plant can be grown in different geographical areas from Bodrum to Kars in our country. The gene center of the plant is Central Asia. There are 17 species in total in Anatolia, 8 of which are endemic. In this study, the general characteristics and usage patterns of the çaşır (Ferula orientalis L.) plant belonging to the Ferula family, which grows spontaneously in some geographical areas of Turkey, were examined. Thanks to the nutritional components it contains, the herb has therapeutic properties in circulatory system disorders, strengthening of muscles and nerves, diabetes, neurological diseases, asthma, tuberculosis, cough, cholesterol-lowering, normalization of hemoglobin level, cleansing the body from heavy metals, toxins and salts, and hemorrhoids. The çaşır plant, which is used as the main ingredient after being boiled and pickled in meals, is consumed in different types of dishes, especially in brine, in Erzurum local cuisine. With the study, it was tried to emphasize that the awareness of endemic grass species such as çaşır not only in the regions where they grow, but also in the country and in the world should be increased.Bitkiler, insan hayatının başlangıcından itibaren çeşitli amaçlarla yaşamın farklı alanlarında sıklıkla kullanılmışlardır. Avcı ve toplayıcı toplum gelenekleri göz önünde bulundurulduğunda özellikle toplayıcılık sürecinde insanoğlu birçok ihtiyacı için bitkilerden fayda sağlamıştır. Sağladıkları faydanın başında beslenme, ısınma, korunma ve tedavi olma ihtiyacının giderilmesi gelmektedir. Türkiye, farklı iklimsel özellikleri bünyesinde bulundurması ve verimli toprakları sayesinde birçok tıbbi ve aromatik bitkiler, baharat ve ot çeşidine sahiptir. Farklı bölgelere ait çeşitli ot içeriklerinin varlığı yöre mutfaklarının zenginliğine de katkı sağlamaktadır. Yörelerde kendiliğinden yetişebilen tıbbi aromatik bitkilerden biri de Ferula orientalis Linnaeus (1753) botanik adı ile adlandırılan ve maydanozgiller familyasına ait olan çaşır bitkisidir. Çaşır bitkisi farklı türleriyle ülkemizde Bodrum’dan Kars’a kadar farklı coğrafi alanlarda yetişebilmektedir. Bitkinin gen merkezi Orta Asya’dır. Anadolu’da ise 8’i endemik tür olmak üzere toplamda 17 türü bulunmaktadır. Bu çalışma ile Türkiye’nin bazı coğrafik alanlarında kendiliğinden yetişen Ferula ailesine ait çaşır (Ferula orientalis L.) bitkisinin genel özellikleri ve yöresel mutfaklardaki kullanım şekilleri incelenmiştir. Çaşır bitkisi içerdiği besin bileşenleri sayesinde dolaşım sistemi bozuklukları, kas ve sinirlerin güçlenmesi, diyabet hastalığı, nörolojik hastalıklar, astım, tüberküloz, öksürük, kolesterol düşürücü, hemoglobin düzeyinde normalleşme, vücudun ağır metal, toksin ve tuzlardan temizlenmesinde ve hemoroit gibi rahatsızlıklarda tedavi edici özelliklere sahiptir. Yemeklerde haşlandıktan ve salamura edildikten sonra ana malzeme olarak kullanılan çaşır bitkisi özellikle Erzurum yöresel mutfağında farklı yemek çeşitlerinde tüketilmektedir. Yapılan çalışma ile çaşır gibi endemik ot türlerinin sadece yetiştikleri yörelerde değil hem ülke içerisinde hem de dünya üzerinde bilinirliğinin artması gerektiği vurgulanmaya çalışılmıştır

Akromegalia może wiązać się z zaburzeniami rozkurczu dolnego zwieracza przełyku (LES)

  Introduction: Although prolonged small intestine and colonic transit time has been demonstrated in acromegaly patients, the influence of acromegaly on oesophagus motility and the pathological mechanisms involved are still not clarified. We aimed to investigate manometric measurements to ascertain whether oesophagus motility is affected in active acromegaly patients. Material and methods: The study was performed in an institutional referral centre at a tertiary care hospital. Twenty-three acromegaly patients (mean age 43.2 ± 13.2 years) and 25 sex- and age-matched healthy control subjects (mean age 48.6 ± 7.9 years) were recruited to a case-control study. Oesophageal manometry was performed using MMS (Medical Measurement Systems, Netherlands) Solar GI — Air Charged Intelligent Gastrointestinal Conventional Manometry. Results: In manometric measurements the lower oesophageal sphincter pressure was 18 ± 7 mmHg in acromegaly patients and 15.6 ± 4.4 mm Hg in controls, and there was no significant difference (p = 0.17). The percentage of relaxation was 64.8% and 81.8%, respectively, and it was significantly lower in acromegaly patients than in controls (p < 0.001). Additionally, the duration of relaxation was found to be 4 ± 1.9 seconds and 5 ± 1.7 seconds in patients and controls, respectively (p = 0.049). Conclusions: Our study has demonstrated a significant reduction in the percentage and duration of lower oesophageal sphincter relaxation in oesophagus motility even in acromegaly patients without any gastrointestinal symptoms. Further clinical and pathophysiological studies are required to clarify the underlying mechanisms of gastrointestinal motility disorders in acromegaly. (Endokrynol Pol 2015; 66 (4): 308–312)    Wstęp: Chociaż u pacjentów chorujących na akromegalię wykazano wydłużony czas pasażu żołądkowo-jelitowego, wpływ akromegalii na motorykę przełyku oraz powiązane z tym mechanizmy patologiczne nadal nie są wyjaśnione. Celem pracy było zbadanie za pomocą pomiarów manometrycznych czy motoryka przełyku ulega zmianie u pacjentów z aktywną akromegalią. Materiał i metody: Badanie przeprowadzono w ośrodku referencyjnym w szpitalu specjalistycznym. Dwudziestu trzech pacjentów chorujących na akromegalię (śr. wiek 43,2 ± 13,2 lat) oraz w grupie kontrolnej 25 osób dopasowanych pod względem płci i wieku (śr. wiek 48,6 ± 7,9 lat) zostało zakwalifikowanych do badania kliniczno-kontrolnego. Manometrię przełyku wykonano za pomocą MMS (Medical Measurement Systems, Holandia) Solar GI. Wyniki: W pomiarach manometrycznych u pacjentów ciepiących na akromegalię, ciśnienie dolnego zwieracza przełyku wynosiło 18 ± 7 mm Hg, a u osób kontrolnych wynosiło ono 15,6 ± 4,4 mm Hg, nie było więc znaczącej różnicy między grupami (p = 0,17). odsetek rozkurczu wynosił odpowiednio 64,8% i 81,8% i był on znacznie niższy u pacjentów z akromegalią (p < 0,001). Ponadto, długość trwania rozkurczu wynosiła odpowiednio 4 ± 1,9 sek. i 5 ± 1,7 sek. (p = 0,049). Wnioski: Niniejsze badanie wykazało znaczną redukcję odsetka i czasu trwania rozkurczu dolnego zwieracza przełyku w motoryce przełyku, nawet u pacjentów z akromegalią bez objawów żołądkowo-jelitowych. Należy przeprowadzić dalsze badania kliniczne i patofizjologiczne, aby wyjaśnić mechanizmy leżące u podłoża zaburzeń motoryki żołądkowo-jelitowej u pacjentów chorujących na akromegalię. (Endokrynol Pol 2015; 66 (4): 308–312)

The benign mimickers of carcinoma on breast MRI

The similarity between benign and malignant pathologies on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a wide-ranging variability of the lesions from benign proliferative changes to invasive breast carcinoma cause a lower and wide-ranging specificity of breast MRI relative to its surpass sensitivity. A wide range of tissue components such as the skin, the adipose tissue, vascular and neural tissues, connective tissues, glandular tissues, ducts, and muscle tissues are found here all together. This pictorial review was aimed at deliberating benign mimickers of breast carcinoma on MRI and trying to call attention to the overlapping and distinctive features

Kişilik Özelliklerinin Algılanan Aşırı Nitelikliliğe Etkisi: Konaklama İşletmeleri Çalışanları Üzerine Bir Araştırma

Literatürde insanların eğitimi, bilgi ve becerilerinin yaptığı işin gereklerine uymaması olarak ifade edilen nitelik kavramı son yıllarda işletmelerde bir istihdam konusu olarak ele alınmaktadır. Örgütlerde çalışan insanlar ya yaptıkları işe göre kendilerini aşırı nitelikli hissetmekte ya da sık rastlanmasa da işin kendi niteliklerine fazla olduğunu kabul etmektedirler. Her iki durumda da örgüt çalışanı mutlu olmayan, mutlu olmadığı için verimi düşük çalışanlara dönüşmektedir. Ancak bazı durumlarda iş, çalışanın niteliklerine uygun olsa da çalışan kendisini aşırı nitelikli hissettiği için örgüte fayda sağlayamamaktadır. Bu durumda çalışanların kişilik özellikleri devreye girmektedir. Hangi kişilik özelliğine sahip çalışanın kendisini aşırı nitelikli hissettiğinin tespit edilmesi ve özellikle yöneticiler tarafından bu konuda önlemler alınması gerekmektedir. Bu doğrultuda araştırmanın amacı kişilik özelliklerinin algılanan aşırı nitelikliliğe etkisini incelemektedir. Bu amaç doğrultusunda “Beş faktör kişilik modeli” ile “Algılanan aşırı niteliklilik ölçeği” kullanılarak anket formu düzenlenmiş ve konaklama işletmelerinde çalışan işgörenlere anketler yapılmıştır. Toplamda değerlendirmeye alınan 132 ankete güvenilirlik ve geçerlik analizleri ile regresyon analizi yapılmıştır. Elde edilen sonuçlar incelendiğinde duygusal dengenin algılanan aşırı niteliklilik üzerinde anlamlı bir etkisi olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Genellikle kendisini rahat bir insan olarak nitelendiren, her şeyi merak eden duygusal denge kişilik özelliğine sahip insanların kendisini işin gerektirdiğinden fazla yetenekli ve bilgili gördüğü söylenebilir. Bu durumda yöneticilere düşen çalışanlarını iyi tanımak ve aldıkları eğitimle, sahip oldukları yeteneklere doğru orantılı işlere/departmanlara yerleştirmektir

Is there any relationship between RDW levels and atrial fibrillation in hypertensive patient?

African Health sciences Vol 14 No. 1 March 201

Virtual morphometric method using seven cervical vertebrae for sex estimation on the Turkish population

Sex estimation from skeletal remains is crucial for the estimation of the biological profile of an individual. Although the most commonly used bones for means of sex estimation are the pelvis and the skull, research has shown that acceptable accuracy rates might be achieved by using other skeletal elements such as vertebrae. This study aims to contribute to the development of sex estimation standards from a Turkish population through the examination of CT scans from the seven cervical vertebrae. A total of 294 individuals were included in this study. The CT scans were obtained from patients attending the Bakirkoy Training and Research Hospital (Turkey) and the data was collected retrospectively by virtually taking measurements from each cervical vertebrae. The full database was divided into a training set (N = 210) and a validation set (N = 84) to test the fit of the models. Observer error was assessed through technical error of measurement and sex differences were explored using parametric and non-parametric approaches. Logistic regression was applied in order to explore different combinations of vertebral parameters. The results showed low intra- and inter-observer errors. All parameters presented statistically significant differences between the sexes and a total of 15 univariate and multivariate models were generated producing accuracies ranging from a minimum of 83.30% to a maximum of 91.40% for a model including three parameters collected from four vertebrae. This study presents a virtual method using cervical vertebrae for sex estimation on the Turkish population providing error rates comparable to other metric studies conducted on the postcranial skeleton. The presented results contribute not only to the development of population-specific standards but also to the generation of virtual methods that can be tested, validated, and further examined in future forensic cases

Genetic Diagnosis of Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia: Four Novel Pathogenic Variations in Turkish Patients

Aims: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by telangiectasia, epistaxis, and vascular malformations. Pathogenic mutations were found in ENG, AVCRL1, SMAD4, and GDF genes. In this study, we present our database of patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia regarding the phenotype-genotype relations and discuss two novel ENG gene pathogenic variations in two unrelated families. Methods: Next Generation Sequencing analysis was performed on the peripheral blood of nine patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia in four unrelated families. All patients were diagnosed with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia according to the Curaçao criteria. Data on treatment and screenings of visceral involvement were recorded from files. Results: We have found a pathogenic variation in either the ENG or ACVRL1 gene in each family. Two novel pathogenic variations in the ENG gene, including NM_000118.3 (ENG): c.416delC (p.P139fs*24) and NM_000118.3(ENG): c.1139dupT (p.Leu380PhefsTer16), were found in the same family. The NM_000020.2(ACVRL1): c.1298C>T (p.Pro433Leu) pathogenic variation in the ACVRL1 gene in our first family and a novel heterozygous likely pathogenic NM_000020.2(ACVRL1): c.95T>C (p.Val32Ala) variation was found in our second family. Seven of the nine patients were treated with thalidomide for controlling bleeding episodes. All patients responded to thalidomide. In one patient, the response to thalidomide was lost and switched to bevacizumab. Conclusion: In hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, certain types of mutations correlate with disease phenotypes and with next generation sequencing methods. New pathogenic variations can be revealed, which might help manage patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasi

Advantages and limitations of QF-PCR analysis in invasive prenatal genetic diagnosis: a tertiary center experience from Turkey

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the success and reliability of QF-PCR analysis in detecting chromosomal abnormalities and to determine its advantages and limitations. Methods: Patients who underwent karyotype and QF-PCR analysis as a prenatal invasive diagnostic test in a tertiary center were retrospectively analyzed. Invasive genetic test indications, ultrasonographic fetal screening reports, karyotype and QF-PCR analysis results of the patients were obtained from the electronic data system. Karyotypes were classified as normal, common aneuploidies (trisomies 21, 18, 13, and sex chromosome aneuploidies) and other aneuploidies. QF-PCR analysis and karyotype results were compared for inconsistency. Results: A total of 426 cases (41 [9.6%] chorionic villus sampling, 339 [79.6%] amniocentesis and 46 [10.8%] cordocentesis) were included in the study. The most common indication for prenatal invasive diagnostic testing was fetal structural anomalies (36.7%). Aneuploidy was detected in 61 (14.3%) of the fetuses. Fifty-nine (96.7%) of 61 fetuses with aneuploidy were common aneuploidies. The sensitivity and specificity of the QF-PCR analysis in detecting common aneuploidies was 100%. QF-PCR analysis was indicative if not diagnostic in all fetuses with mosaic trisomy or sex chromosome aneuploidies. Conclusion: QF-PCR analysis is a rapid, robust, and reliable test for the prenatal detection of common aneuploidies. Although QF-PCR analysis has high sensitivity and specificity in detecting common aneuploidies, it should be used for rapid preliminary information and the result of karyotype analysis should be awaited for important clinical decisions

Importance of isolated minor findings on fetal ultrasound examinations in the diagnosis of Down syndrome

Objective: To investigate the importance of prenatal ultrasound in the detection of Down syndrome by evaluating ultrasonographic and minor ultrasonographic findings in fetuses with this aneuploidy. Methods: Patients who were reported to have trisomy 21 as a result of karyotype analysis performed by cordocentesis, amniocentesis, or chorionic villus biopsy materials and who underwent ultrasound scan before diagnosis between 18 and 26 weeks of gestation by the Maternal Fetal Medicine Department between 2013 and 2020 were included in the study group. Results: The results of 132 of 4525 (2.9%) invasive procedures were reported to have trisomy 21 and ultrasound scans of each fetus were performed in our department. The mean gestational age at the ultrasound scans was 19.2±3.8 (SD) weeks. At least one major structural anomaly or minor ultrasonographic finding was detected in 99.2% of all fetuses. Major structural anomalies were present in 80 (60.6%) fetuses. In fetuses with major structural anomalies, cardiac defects (53.7%) were the most detected anomalies. No ultrasound findings could be detected in one (0.8%) of the remaining 52 patients, and only isolated minor findings were detected in 51 (38.6%) fetuses. More than half (60.7%) of these fetuses had a single minor finding. The most common isolated single minor finding was nuchal fold thickness in 13 (41.9%) fetuses followed by aberrant right subclavian artery in six (19.3%) fetuses. Conclusion: Down syndrome displays a large variety of different sonographic findings on fetal ultrasound. Although major structural anomalies and multiple minor findings are generally considered more important, the presence of any isolated minor marker may be the only detectable finding of Down syndrome