receptor with preterm labor

Objectives: To investigate a potential association between the beta-2-adrenergic receptor (B2AR) polymorphisms occurring at amino acid positions 16 (Arg16Gly) and 27 (Gln27Glu) and preterm labor. Methods: Eighty patients with preterm labor and 76 control subjects were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: A significant association was found between Gln27GIu substitution and preterm labor (P=0.001). The frequency of Gly16 and Glu27 alleles were found to be higher in patients than in control women (0.54 vs. 0.48 and 0.42 vs. 0.26, respectively), and the odds ratio for the occurrence of preterm labor was 2.14 (95% CI, 1.32-3.46; P=0.002) for the Glu 27 allele. An early delivery was noted in 52.5% of patients. Conclusion: The Gln27GIu polymorphism of the B2AR gene may have a role in molecular pathogenesis of preterm labor. Glu27 allele in patients with preterm labor might be a risk factor for deliveries before 37 weeks of gestation. (C) 2002 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

Burnout syndrome among dermatologists and assessment of prevalence and risk factors: A nationwide survey

Background: Burnout is a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a sense of low personal accomplishment. Increasing patient volumes and rising health-care systems' productivity targets also pose a risk of burnout in all specialties including dermatology. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to study burnout syndrome in dermatologists and determine related factors. Methods: Dermatologists who were actively working (n = 2005) were E-mailed a questionnaire via the Turkish Dermatology Society, and 422 (21%) completed it anonymously. The first part of the questionnaire comprised demographic and work-related characteristics, and the second part was formed by the Turkish version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). The MBI is a 22-item questionnaire for the assessment of burnout in the following three dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment. Results: Emotional exhaustion and depersonalization scores of residents were significantly higher (P < 0.001), and personal accomplishment scores were significantly lower (P < 0.001) than that of the other groups. Dermatologists in the private sector had significantly lower scores for emotional exhaustion (P < 0.001) and depersonalization (P < 0.001) and significantly higher scores for personal accomplishment (P < 0.001) than those working in the public sector. Emotional exhaustion and depersonalization scores were significantly higher in participants who worked on weekends, those intended to change workplace, and had at least one chronic illness (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). A positive correlation was found between emotional exhaustion and depersonalization (r = 0.691,P < 0.001), number of patients (r = 0.355,P < 0.001), and number of shifts (r = 0.344,P < 0.001), and there was a negative correlation between personal accomplishment (r = -0.485,P < 0.001), age (r= -0.301,P < 0.001), number of vacation days (r = -0.149, P= 0.002), and years in the profession (r = -0.288,P < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study sheds light on factors that influence burnout and also indicates a need for health-care reforms for dermatologists' satisfaction and burnout, as well as patient satisfaction and quality of care

Unertan syndrome: A case series demonstrating human devolution

PubMedID: 18041603A large family with six individuals exhibiting the Unertan syndrome (UTS) was identified residing in southern Turkey. All of the individuals had mental impairments and walked on all four extremities. The practice of intra-familial marriages suggested that the UTS may be an autosomal recessive disorder, similar to previously described cases. The inferior portions of the cerebellum and vermis were absent as evidenced by MRI and CT scans. The height and head circumference of those affected were within normal ranges. Barany's test suggested normal vestibular system function. The subjects could not name objects or their close relatives. The males (n = 4) could understand simple questions and commands, but answered questions with only one or two sounds. The females (n = 2) were superior to the males with respect to language skills and walking, suggesting an association between walking and speaking abilities. One male exhibited three walking patterns at the same time: quadripedal, tiptoe, and scissor walking. Another male used two walking styles: quadripedal and toe-walking. It is emphasized that there are important differences between the UTS and the disequilibrium syndrome. It is suggested that the inability to walk upright in those affected with the UTS may be best explained by a disturbance in lateral-balance mechanisms, without being related to the cerebello-vestibular system. An interruption of locomotor development during the transition from quadripedality to bipedality may result in habitual walking on all four extremities and is normal in some children. Because quadripedal gait is an ancestral trait, individuals with the UTS, exhibiting a manifestation of reverse evolution in humans, may be considered an experiment of nature, useful in understanding the mechanisms underlying the transition from quadripedality to bipedality during human evolution. The proposed mutant gene or gene pool playing a role in human quadrupedality may also be responsible for human bipedality at the same time. Herein there is no intent to insult or injure; rather, this report is an endeavor to better understand human beings. Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of International Journal of Neuroscience for the following free supplemental resource(s): video clips. Copyright © 2008 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc.Received 22 January 2007. This work was supported by the Research Funds of the Gaziantep University. Also this study was partly supported by the Turkish Academy of Sciences, Ankara, Turkey. Address correspondence to Prof. Dr. Uner Tan, Cukurova University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Physics, Balcalı Adana 01330, Turkey. E-mail: [email protected]