Surgical treatment of inguinal hernia: Our experience

Aim: In present retrospective analysis, we aimed to evaluate the treatment results of subjects with inguinal hernia whom underwent surgical repair. Methods: Surgical treatment of inguinal hernia for last 7 years have been retrospectively analyzed. Surgical procedures include anterior mesh, posterior mesh, Mc Vay, non-mesh repair, plug mesh. Results: A total of 2320 patients underwent hernia surgery were included to the study. While, 2224 of the cases were elective procedures while 96 were operated in emergency conditions. Incarceration 78 of emergent cases were incarcerated and 18 were strangulated. Patients requiring emergency surgery were significantly older than the patients underwent elective hernia repair. Duration of hospital stay was significantly longer in emergent cases compared to elective cases. Need for intestinal resection was more common in emergent cases compared to elective surgery cases. Mc Vay and plug mesh procedures were more commonly used in emergent cases compared to elective surgery cases. Intestinal laceration and development of recurrences were more common in emergent surgery cases compared to elective surgery. Conclusion: Inguinal hernia patients should be scheduled for elective surgery without delay since need for emergent surgery may increase by time and emergent cases are associated with more complications and surgical morbidity

Serum Irisin Levels in Patients with Acute Atrial Fibrillation

Objective: The purpose of this research was to investigate whether changes in serum irisin levels can represent a marker of altered energy requirements in patients with acute atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing cardioversion (CV). Methods: The research was planned as a randomized, prospective case-control study. Patients presenting to the emergency medicine and cardiology departments of a university hospital due to acute AF were included in the study. Irisin levels were measured from serum specimens collected 24 and 72 hours (h) following restoration of sinus rhythm with CV in patients in AF rhythm. The values obtained were then compared using statistical analysis. Results: Thirty-one patients undergoing CV due to acute AF were enrolled. Mean irisin levels were studied from serum specimens collected 24 and 72 h following restoration of sinus rhythm with CV, and were then compared. No statistically significant difference was determined at comparison of patients’ basal to 24 h, basal to 72 h, and 24 to 72 h mean irisin values (p0.734, p0.958, and p0.643, respectively). Negative correlation was determined between basal serum irisin levels and LDL (r= -0.519, p= 0.002), but no significant correlation was observed with epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness. Conclusion: We determined no change in serum irisin levels studied 24 h and 72 h following return of normal sinus rhythm after CV from basal serum irisin levels in patients with acute AF. No correlation also was determined between serum irisin levels and EAT thickness

Fractal properties and simulation of micro-seismicity for seismic hazard analysis: a comparison of North Anatolian and San Andreas Fault Zones

We analyzed statistical properties of earthquakes in western Anatolia as well as the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ) in terms of spatio-temporal variations of fractal dimensions, p- and b-values. During statistically homogeneous periods characterized by closer fractal dimension values, we propose that occurrence of relatively larger shocks (M >= 5.0) is unlikely. Decreases in seismic activity in such intervals result in spatial b-value distributions that are primarily stable. Fractal dimensions decrease with time in proportion to increasing seismicity. Conversely, no spatiotemporal patterns were observed for p-value changes. In order to evaluate failure probabilities and simulate earthquake occurrence in the western NAFZ, we applied a modified version of the renormalization group method. Assuming an increase in small earthquakes is indicative of larger shocks, we apply the mentioned model to micro-seismic (M<= 3.0) activity, and test our results using San Andreas Fault Zone (SAFZ) data. We propose that fractal dimension is a direct indicator of material heterogeneity and strength. Results from a model suggest simulated and observed earthquake occurrences are coherent, and may be used for seismic hazard estimation on creeping strike-slip fault zones

Properties of the aftershocks sequences of the 2000 and 2002 earthquakes in Aksehir-Afyon graben, west-central Anatolia, Turkey

The b-value of the Gutenberg-Richter's frequency-magnitude relation and the p-value of the modified Omori law, which describes the decay rate of aftershock activity, were investigated for more than 500 aftershocks in the Aksehir-Afyon graben (AAG) following the 15 December 2000 Sultandagi-Aksehir and the 3 February 2002 Cay-Eber and Cobanlar earthquakes. We used the Kandilli Observatory's catalog, which contains records of aftershocks with magnitudes >= 2.5. For the Cobanlar earthquake, the estimated b-values for three aftershock sequences are in the range 0.34 <= b <= 2.85, with the exception of the one that occurred during the first hour (4.77), while the obtained p-values are in the range 0.44 <= p <= 1.77. The aftershocks of the Sultandagi earthquake have a high p-value, indicating fast decay of the aftershock activity. A regular increase of b can be observed, with b < 1.0 after 0.208 days for the Cay-Eber earthquake. A systematic and similar increase and decrease pattern exists for the b- and p-values of the Cobanlar earthquakes during the first 5 days

Knowledge, attitude and sources of information regarding aids of high school students in Antakya (Antioch) City

Aim: The aim of the current study was to investigate the knowledge of senior High school students, sources of their knowledge, and the socio-economical facts acting on their knowledge about AIDS. Methods: A cross sectional, descriptive study, included a total of 2838 students (1368 females and 1470 males) from 16 high schools of 4 different types (State, Anatolian, Trade, and Private high schools). A questionnaire composed of 5 different sections was used to analyze the knowledge level separately "what kind of disease is AIDS", "how AIDS can be transmitted", "risk factors for AIDS", "ways of protection from AIDS", and "the sources of their knowledge about AIDS" in sections from 1 to 5 respectively. In the first 4 sections the right answers were graded with a score of 2, wrong answers were graded with a score of 0, and a score of 1was given when the student did not have an idea. The maximum score for the first 4 sections of the questionnaire were 12, 38, 14, and 14 respectively. In the 5th section the probable sources of knowledge of AIDS, such as school, friends, family, newspapers, books, and TV, were questioned. Results: The mean score received from the questionnaire were 49.50±6.50 (minimum: 27, maximum: 69). The mean score for the females was 49.69±6.46, it was 49.32±6.66 for the males (p&gt;0.05). The mean score for the first 4 sections were 8.2±2.15, 24.7±4, 16, 9.70±2.30, and 6.90±1.79, respectively. Statistically, there was no significant difference observed between the 15-16, 17-18, and 19-20 age groups on knowledge about "risk factors for AIDS" (p&gt;0.05). However, there were meaningful differences in "what kind of disease is AIDS", "how AIDS can be transmitted", and "ways of protection from AIDS" (p&lt;0.05). In aspect of type of high school the knowledge levels of students about AIDS obtained from the questionnaire were statistically different. Concerning the total score of the questionnaire, the students from trade schools received the lowest score, while the highest score of "risk factors for AIDS." were received by Anatolian high school students. The highest score for "what kind of illness is AIDS", "how AIDS be can transmitted", and "ways of protection from AIDS" were received by private high school students. Conclusion: High school students in this region do not have enough knowledge on AIDS. They need education especially on ways of protection and spread of AIDS. © 2011 Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

Comparison of keypads and touch-screen mobile phones/devices as potential risk for microbial contamination

Conclusions: We found no significant difference between TMP/Ds and KMPs in terms of microbial contamination, but TMP/Ds harboured more colonies and total microbial counts increased with screen size

Turkish endocrine surgery publications in international scientific journals

WOS: 000370846200007PubMed ID: 26170755Objective: In recent years, major progress has been made in the field of endocrine surgery in Turkey, similar to that in the rest of the world. Parallel to these developments, there has been a significant increase in the number of publications in the related field. Our study aimed to evaluate Turkey's publications related to endocrine surgery in the international arena. Material and Methods: Members of the general surgery departments from academic centers in Turkey were determined. Using these member names, a PubMed search was performed for English papers related to "endocrine surgery." For searching papers from non-academic centers, the same engine was used. To reach manuscripts possibly missed by the PubMed search, 3 national calls were made through the website of the Turkish Society of Endocrine Surgery. The obtained papers were divided into "thyroid," "parathyroid," "adrenal," and "neuroendocrine tumors" and were listed according to the publication year. In addition, all manuscripts were listed according to the publishing journal and the 2012 impact factor of that journal. This study did not require ethical approval, because it did not involve evaluation of experimental or patient data. Results: A search of Turkish general surgery clinics revealed 497 international publications, between 1976 and 2012. When listed according to the year of publication, most publications were found to be in the year 2009. Papers appeared mostly in "Surgery Today." The mean impact factor of the journals where the papers have been published was 1.9 (0.1-13.8). The rates of thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal tissue and neuroendocrine tumors related publications were 69%, 10%, 15% and 6%, respectively. Since this study is not an experimental study or a study related to patient data, we did not apply for ethical approval. Conclusion: The contribution of Turkish general surgeons' to world science is apparent when evaluated in terms of publications related to endocrine surgery until recently. Particularly, since 2002, with the increase in the number of publications in the field of endocrine surgery, there has been an increase in Turkey's importance on the international platform

Intussusception in adults: Clinical characteristics, diagnosis and operative strategies

AIM: To evaluate 20 adults with intussusception and to clarify the cause, clinical features, diagnosis, and management of this uncommon entity

Increased Epicardial Adipose Tissue is Associated with the Extent of Aortic Dissection

WOS: 000588732200005PubMed: 33299785Background: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a biologically active organ that has endocrine and paracrine functions. Endothelial dysfunction, systemic, and local inflammatory response, due to bio-active molecules produced by EAT, may affect aortic dissection propagation and extent. We investigated the association between EAT thickness and the extent of aortic dissection. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 78 patients with aortic dissection diagnosed by thoracoabdominal Computerized Tomography (CT). EAT was measured from the thickest part of the perpendicular plane between the pericardium and free wall of the right ventricle using CT. Aortic dissection length was measured from the beginning to the end of the dissection flap at sagittal images. Results: We included 78 patients with the mean age of 63.9 +/- 11.7 and 57 (73.5%) patients were male. Dissection length was correlated positively with EAT (r = 0.409, p < 0.001), body mass index (r = 0.408, p = 0.018), and admission systolic blood pressure (r = 0.830, p = 0.026) whereas an inverse correlation existed between age and dissection length (r = 0.318, p = 0.005). Multivariate analysis identified age and EAT as independent predictors of dissection length. Conclusion: Increased EAT was independently associated with the extent of aortic dissection. We think that either paracrine and endocrine functions of EAT might have contributed to the extent of aortic dissection