Malaria Epidemiology in Mersin Province, Turkey from 2002 to 2011

Background: Malaria is an infectious disease caused by Plasmodium spp. with high morbidity and mortality in human in tropical and subtropical regions. In recent years, number of malaria cases has been significantly reduced because of fight with the disease in Turkey. This study intended to investigate the malaria epidemiology in Mersin Province from 2002 to 2011 using data from the provincial Public Health Directorate. Methods: Over ten years, 303573 blood samples were taken from the people by active and passive surveillance methods and blood smears were prepared. Smears were stained with Giemsa and examined under the microscope. Results: Totally, 73 people including 44 male and 29 female were positive in terms of Plasmodium spp. It was determined that P. vivax observed in 67 cases while P. falciparum in 6 cases. Cases were mainly observed in 15 to 44 years old range, showed an increase between June-September periods and a significant decrease after 2006. Out of the 73 malaria cases, 54 cases were from Mersin Province and 13 cases were imported from another province of Turkey. Six cases were transmitted from abroad. Conclusion: These results provide information about malaria epidemiology in an endemic area in Turkey and contribute its prevention in Mersin Province

Mean platelet volume in patients with retinal artery occlusion

ABSTRACT Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the mean platelet volume (MPV) of patients with retinal artery occlusion (RAO). Methods: Thirty-seven patients diagnosed with RAO and 32 control subjects were included in this retrospective study. Retinal artery occlusion was diagnosed on the basis of clinical examination and fundus fluorescein angiography. All participants underwent complete ocular examination, and MPV, hematocrit, hemoglobin, and platelet counts were recorded. RAO patient data were compared with those of the control subjects. Results: Patients with RAO had significantly higher MPV values (7.96 ± 1.2 fL) compared with control subjects (7.33 ± 0.7 fL, p<0.001). No significant difference was found with regard to platelet count between the RAO group and the control group (262 ± 70.1 × 109/L and 251 ± 56.6 × 109/L, respectively, p=0.50). MPV was an independent predictor of RAO [odds ratio (OR)=0.50; 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.28-0.89; p=0.019). Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that MPV values were significantly higher in patients with RAO, suggesting that larger platelets may contribute to the pathogenesis of the RAOs

An analysis of language and speech disorders in preschool children in Turkey: The case of Beypazarı

The children with early language and speech delay have the risk to face with learning disabilities as well as psychological and behavioral adjustment problems in the preschool period. The aim of this study to analyse the language and speech disoders in the children aged between 3 and 6 years who attend kindergarden. 503 children who attend the kindergarden were determined in Beypazarı. However, 101 children were out of study for various reasons (N:402). The implementation of the study consists of two stages. In the first stage, the language and speech development of the children was questioned. The Turkish Preschool Language Scale–5 (TPLS-5) test was administered to the risky children in the second stage. A moderate (0,300) and a significant correlation (p0) and significant correlation (p<0,01) was found between the chronological and expressive language of the children. The language and speech disorder has an important potential negative effect on families and societies both in the short and the long term. For this reason, it is quite important to follow the language and speech development of children closely in the preschool period

Comparison of Optical versus Ultrasonic Biometry in Keratoconic Eyes

Purpose. To compare the measurements of optical versus ultrasonic biometry devices in keratoconic eyes. Materials and Methods. Forty-two eyes of 42 keratoconus (KC) patients enrolled in the study were examined. Clinical and demographic characteristics of the patients were noted, and detailed ophthalmological examination was performed. Following Pentacam measurements, central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), and axial length (AL) were obtained using the Lenstar and US biometer to determine the reproducibility of the measurements between the two devices in keratoconic eyes. The Bland-Altman method was used to describe the agreement between the two devices. Results. The Lenstar could not measure at least one of the biometric properties in one eye and did not automatically give the corrected ACD in 2/3 of our study population. The Lenstar measured CCT (average difference 5.4 ± 19.6 µm; ICC = 0.90; ), LT (average difference 0.13 ± 0.17 mm; ICC = 0.67; ), and AL (average difference 0.10 ± 0.76 mm; ICC = 0.75; ) thinner than US biometer, whereas it measured ACD (average difference 0.18 ± 0.17 mm; ICC = 0.85; ) deeper than US biometer in keratoconic eyes. Conclusion. Although the difference between the measurements obtained using the two devices might be clinically acceptable, US biometry and Lenstar should not be used interchangeably for biometric measurements in KC patients

Erzurum Daphan Sulama Birliği Birinci ve ikinci Etap Sulama Şebekesinin Performansının Değerlendirilmesi (2012-2016)

Bu çalışma, Devlet Su İşleri Müdürlüğü tarafından inşası tamamlanarak sulamaya açılan ve Daphan Sulama Derneği'ne devredilen Daphan Ovası birinci ve ikinci etap sulama projeleri alanlarının 2012-2016 yılları arasında sulama sistemi performansının değerlendirilmesi amacıyla yürütülmüştür. Araştırma sonucunda yıllık net su temin oranının sulu koşullarda bitkisel üretim yapılan alan için 7,10 ile 9,90 arasında olduğu, sulamaya açılmış toplam alanda da yıllık olarak 2,19 ile 2,60 arasında değiştiği belirlenmiştir. Sulamaya açılmış toplam alan için su temin oranları 0,93 ile 1,10 arasında olup sulu koşullarda üretim yapılan alanda 3,20 ile 4,20 aralığında değişmiştir. Sürdürülebilir sulama alanı oranı %24,53 ile %33,15 arasında gerçekleşmiş, üretim değeri oranı da %19,34 ile %26,13 arasında belirlenmiştir. Karlılık oranı 4,30 ile 9,28 arasında iken mali etkinlik oranı %17,69 ile %46,82 arasında, mali yeterlilik oranı %106 ile %145 arasında gerçekleşirken tahsilât oranı %20,66 ile %34,37 arasında kalmıştır

Mean Platelet Volume in Patients with Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy

Objective. We aimed to investigate the mean platelet volume (MPV) of the patients with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Methods. The medical records of 46 patients with the diagnosis of NAION and 90 control subjects were retrospectively evaluated. All participants underwent complete ocular examination including intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement. Hematocrit, MPV, hemoglobin, and platelet levels of the patients with NAION were compared with those of control subjects. Results. There was no significant difference between the groups in platelet counts (p=0.76). NAION group had significantly higher MPV values (8.25±1.26 fL) than that of control subjects (7.64±1.01 fL) (p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that MPV is an independent predictor of NAION (odds ratio = 1.61; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.13–2.28; p=0.007). The mean IOP was significantly higher in NAION group (p<0.001). IOP was also found as an independent predictor of NAION according to the regression analysis (OR = 1.27; 95% CI = 1.08–1.48; p=0.003). Conclusion. Our results demonstrated that the MPV values were significantly higher in NAION patients, suggesting that larger platelets may contribute to the pathogenesis of the NAION

ACTIVE FOLLOW-UP DECISION IN PROSTATE CANCER; HOW SAFE IS THE BIOPSY GLEASON SCORE?

Amaç: Prostat spesifik antijenin tanımlanmasından sonra insidental prostat kanseri oranı yükselmiş ve hastalar gereksiz tedavilere maruz kalabilmişlerdir. İnsidental prostat kanseri olan hastalarda herhangi bir tedavi uygulanmadan yakın izlem kılavuzlara girmiş ve hastalara uygulanmaya başlamıştır. Ancak transrektal ultrasonografi eşliğinde biyopsi patolojilerindeki veriler ile radikal prostatektomi spesimen patolojilerindeki verilerin uyumsuzluğu, küratif tedavi ihtiyacı olabilecek hastaları riske atmaktadır. Bu çalışmada; radikal prostatektomi spesimenlerindeki Gleason skorları ile TRUS-bx Gleason skorlarının karşılaştırılması amaçlanmıştır. Materyal – Metot: Mart 2011 ile Haziran 2016 tarihleri arasında, kliniğimizde radikal prostatektomi cerrahisi geçirmiş hastaların verileri retrospektif olarak değerlendirildi. Hastaların transrektal ultrasonografi eşliğinde biyopsi öncesi PSA değerleri, biyopsi kor sayıları, kanser pozitif biyopsi kor sayıları, biyopsideki kanser yüzdeleri ve Gleason skorları tespit edilerek, radikal prostatektomi sonrası Gleason skorları, doku kanser oranları, cerrahi sınırlar ve patolojik evre ile karşılaştırıldı. Bulgular: Toplam 44 hastanın verileri değerlendirildi. Transrektal ultrasonografi eşliğinde biyopsi patolojisinde Gleason skoru 7 olan hastaların 1’inde (%16,6) prostat spesimen Gleason skoru >7 olarak tespit edildi Sonuç: Transrektal ultrasonografi eşliğinde biyopsi patolojilerinde bildirilen Gleason skorları ile radikal prostatektomi Gleason skorları arasında fark olabilmekte, bu fark özellikle biyopsi Gleason skoru 7 at 1 (16,6%) patient in both transrectal ultrasonography guided biopsy and radical prostatectomy Conclusion: There are differences between transrectal ultrasonography guided biopsy Gleason scores and the radical prostatectomy Gleason scores. This differences especially are obvious in patients with Gleason score <7. The reliability of gleason scores reported by the pathologists might be questionable so, in order to decide active surveillance for patients, other variables (core-tumor ratio, tumor core number, PSA) must also be considered

Spectral domain optical coherence tomography findings of the patients with central serous chorioretinopathy

Objectives: In this study, optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings of the patients with a diagnosis of acute or chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) were investigated. Methods: Patients with symptoms and signs longer than 3 months were considered as chronic CSCR. OCT findings of acute and chronic CSCR were recorded at admission. Between the groups, following parameters were compared; visual acuity, hyper reflective dots (HRD), subretinal fluid height (SFH) presence of pigment epithelial detachment (PED), status of photoreceptor inner-outer segment (IS/OS) line. Results: When acute and chronic patients evaluated separately, in acute patients accompanied by PED had lower visual acuity and higher SRF height. In patients with chronic CSCR subretinal fluid of patients with PED was greater than the others however there were no statistically significant differences in visual acuity. Presence of HRD had no effect on the average visual acuity SRF height in patients with acute and chronic CSCR. Also IS/OS line integrity had no effect in visual acuity of the patients in our study. Conclusion: Between the groups there was no difference in terms of IS/OS line distortion, presence of HRD, PED. Height of SRF in patients with PED was higher in both groups. In addition, in acute patients with PED visual acuity was also found to be lower. J Clin Exp Invest 2014; 5 (2): 290-29