Role of Asymmetric Dimethylarginine in Psychiatric Disorders

Asymmetric dimethylarginine has been a post-translational modified form of the aminoasid arginine. Being a competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase enzyme, makes asymmetric dimethylarginine important. Findings of previous studies and observations show that the accumulation of asymmetric dimethylarginine may have an important role for the regulation of signal transduction in nitric oxide system, and this accumulation may be a new mechanism for the regulation of nitric oxide production in the brain. Studies have suggested that increased asymmetric dimethylarginine levels could lead to a decrease in the level of nitric oxide production by inhibiting nitric oxide synthase enzyme. Therefore asymmetric dimethylarginine may be important in the pathophysiology of various psychiatric disorders. In this review, findings of research studies on asymmetric dimethylarginine and nitric oxide conducted with psychiatric patients so far and possible role of these molecules in the etiopathogenesis of various psychiatric disorders were discussed. [Psikiyatride Guncel Yaklasimlar - Current Approaches in Psychiatry 2014; 6(4.000): 355-362

Analysing the difference of perceived destination image according to local people: Pamukkale caseYöre halkı demografik verilerine göre algılanan destinasyon imaj farklılığının incelenmesi: Pamukkale örneği

Tourism is an important power for regional development. Successfull tourism applications increase the number of tourists that are visiting a destination, income, and employment and so is an important factor for national income. And destination image is an important factor for tourism success. Destination image is the sum of impressions about local people, craft, tourists and tourism workers. For this reason perceived image of local people is also important for measuring the destination image and bringing it to the desired levels.The aim of this study is to define whether the perceived image of local people of Pamukkale differs according to demographic variables, and identify in which groups or variables are the differences, and make some suggestions for making the image beter for local people.Survey method is used for this study. The questionnaires are applied to local people of Pamukkale by face-to-face method after the pilot approach and validity and reliability tests. As the result of the study it is determined that demographic variables make differences among the perceived image of local people. Demographic variables that make difference are gender, marital status, employment, education status, age, and income.Extended English abstract is in the end of Full Text PDF (TURKISH) file.ÖzetTurizm bölgesel kalkınma açısından önemli bir güçtür. Başarılı turizm uygulamaları ise bir destinasyona gelen turist sayısını, geliri, istihdamı artırır ve dolayısıyla ülkenin gelirinde önemli paya sahiptir. Turizmdeki başarıda ise destinasyon imajı oldukça önemli bir yere sahiptir. Destinasyon imajı, yörede yaşayan halk, esnaf, turistler ve çalışanlar hakkındaki izlenimlerin tümüdür. Bu sebeple yöre halkının algıladığı imaj destinasyon imajının ölçülmesi ve istenilen düzeylere taşınması açısından önemlidir.Bu araştırmanın amacı, Pamukkale yöre halkının Pamukkale destinasyonuna ilişkin algıladığı destinasyon imajının, demografik verilere göre farklılık yaratıp yaratmadığını belirlemek, farklılıkların hangi değişkenler ve gruplar arasında olduğunu tespit etmek ve yöre halkı açısından daha olumlu hale getirilebilmesi için öneriler ortaya koymaktır. Araştırmada anket yöntemi kullanılmış ve anketler, Pamukkale yöre halkından seçilen örneklemle yüz yüze görüşülerek gerçekleştirilmiştir. Yapılan ön uygulama, geçerlilik ve güvenilirlik analizinden sonra, yöre halkı üzerinde anket uygulanmıştır. Anket sonucunda elde edilen veriler, SPSS 22 programı ile bilgisayar ortamında değerlendirilmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda, demografik değişkenlerin yöre halkının destinasyon imajına ilişkin farklılık oluşturduğu tespit edilmiştir. Farklılık oluşturan demografik değişkenler; cinsiyet, medeni durum, çalışma durumu, öğrenim durumu, yaş ve gelir olarak belirlenmiştir

Needle sticks and injuries due to surgical instruments in health care providers

Objective: Health caregivers are facing various risks andhazards in their working environment. In this study theevaluation and examination of measures to be taken wasaimed among occupational injuries in our hospital in thelast three years.Methods: This study was performed as a retrospectiveinvestigation of 40 records of injury for health care providersthat detected by infection control committee of atertiary care university hospital between May 2010 andApril 2013.Results: Forty health care providers mean aged 28.5±7.8years submission were included. There were 21 male and19 female subjects. Most cases were the nurses (16/40).The majority of the injuries occurred in the surgical wards.Among the submissions, only 3 were working in the emergencyservice. The type of injuries were needle stick in 36cases and injuries due to surgical instruments in 2 casesand mucosal exposure in 2 cases. Following injury, 39cases confirmed that they cleaned the injured area. Inone case, the injured area was exsanguinated by squeezing.The cause of injury was known by 25 cases; however,15 cases did not know the causative material. In one casehepatitis B developed after injury. This case did not applyto the infection committee early stage but referred afterthe development of signs of active hepatitis.Conclusions: Health care providers should be educatedabout the risks of occupational body fluids and blood exposuresand after exposure to blood or blood productsthey should apply to the infection control committee withoutdelay.Key words: Hepatitis B, needle stick, health care provider

Orta Anadolu Bölgesinde Organik Kiraz Üretiminde Hastalık, Zararlı ve Yabancı Otların Mücadelesinin Yönetimi

Proje 2003-2005 yılları arasında Isparta (Eğirdir) ve Konya (Akşehir) illerinde yürütülmüştür. Organik ve entegre mücadele uygulamaları yapılan kiraz bahçelerinde mevcut hastalık, zararlı ve yabancı otların tespiti ve mücadelesi, doğal düşmanların tür ve yoğunlukları, toprak ve yaprak analizleri, meyve analizleri ve ekonomik analizler yapılmıştır. Kiraz Zararlılarının Mücadelesinin Yönetiminde bahçelerdeki zararlı ve yararlı türleri ve yoğunluklarını belirlemek amacıyla dal sayım yöntemi, gözle inceleme yöntemi, darbe yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Kiraz Hastalıklarının Mücadelesinin Yönetiminde hastalık etmenlerini saptamak amacıyla hastalık belirtisi gösteren meyve, dal, yaprak ve sürgünlerden örnek alınarak izolasyonu yapılmıştır. Yabancı ot Mücadelesinin Yönetiminde bahçelerdeki yabancı otların türleri saptanmıştır. Hastalık, zararlı ve yabancı otların mücadelesi, organik tarım bahçelerinde organik tarım yöntemlerine, entegre mücadele bahçelerinde entegre mücadele yöntemlerine uygun olarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışmaların yapıldığı bahçelerden toprak ve yaprak örnekleri alınarak, analizleri yapılmış ve besin eksikliği belirlenmiştir. Pomolojik analizler ve ekonomik analizler yapılmıştır. ETKO Organik Tarım Kontrol ve Sertifikasyon kuruluşu uzmanları tarafından organik tarım uygulaması yapılan bahçeler denetlenmiş olup, her iki bahçeye de 2004-2005 yıllarında Organik Tarım Sertifikası verilmiştir

Burden and Depressive Symptoms Associated with Adult-Child Caregiving for Individuals with Heart Failure

Background. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate adult-child caregiver burden in heart failure (HF) patients. Secondary purpose of the study was to identify the possible influencing factors for caregiver burden and depressive symptoms in a young adult-child caregiver group. Methods. A total of 138 adult-child caregivers and 138 patients with HF participated in this study. Caregivers' burden, depressive symptoms, and anxiety levels were assessed by using Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale (ZCBS), Beck Depression Inventory, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, respectively. Results. The mean ZCBS scores of the female caregivers were significantly higher than male caregivers. Approximately one-third of the adult-child caregivers had at least mild depressive symptoms. Caregivers with higher depressive symptoms had higher levels of caregiver burden. There were positive correlations between caregiving time, severity of depressive symptoms, and perceived caregiver burden. There was a negative correlation between education level of caregivers and perceived caregiver burden. Age, socioeconomic level, and marital status of patients were affecting factors for depressive symptoms in caregivers. Among caregiver characteristics, gender, marital status, and ZCBS scores seem to influence the depression in caregivers. Conclusions. The study findings suggest significant levels of burden and depressive symptoms even in adult-child caregivers of HF patients

In a real-life setting, direct-acting antivirals to people who inject drugs with chronic hepatitis c in Turkey

Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) should be treated in order to eliminate hepatitis C virus in the world. The aim of this study was to compare direct-acting antivirals treatment of hepatitis C virus for PWID and non-PWID in a real-life setting. Methods: We performed a prospective, non-randomized, observational multicenter cohort study in 37 centers. All patients treated with direct-acting antivirals between April 1, 2017, and February 28, 2019, were included. In total, 2713 patients were included in the study among which 250 were PWID and 2463 were non-PWID. Besides patient characteristics, treatment response, follow-up, and side effects of treatment were also analyzed. Results: Genotype 1a and 3 were more prevalent in PWID-infected patients (20.4% vs 9.9% and 46.8% vs 5.3%). The number of naïve patients was higher in PWID (90.7% vs 60.0%), while the number of patients with cirrhosis was higher in non-PWID (14.1% vs 3.7%). The loss of follow-up was higher in PWID (29.6% vs 13.6%). There was no difference in the sustained virologic response at 12 weeks after treatment (98.3% vs 98.4%), but the end of treatment response was lower in PWID (96.2% vs 99.0%). In addition, the rate of treatment completion was lower in PWID (74% vs 94.4%). Conclusion: Direct-acting antivirals were safe and effective in PWID. Primary measures should be taken to prevent the loss of follow-up and poor adherence in PWID patients in order to achieve World Health Organization’s objective of eliminating viral hepatitis

Neuroendocrine and Molecular Interactions in Eating Disorders

There are three basic pillars for the development of eating disorders: genetic predisposition, neuro-endocrine-molecular changes in the brain and metabolic response to it. As a result of neuroendocrine research, a close relationship has been found between neuroendocrine functions and symptom domains of psychiatric disorders such as eating disorders and mood disorders. Certain hormones, neurotransmitters and other molecules which might have effect on the basis of eating disorders can be listed as estrogen, serotonin, leptin, ghreline, alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone, cholecystokinin, dopamine, noradrenaline, brain-derived neurotropic factor, agouti-related protein, neuropeptide-Y, opioids and their receptors, thiamine, zinc, omega-3 acids. In this review, main neuroendocrine-molecular changes and interactions that occur in the eating disorders have been discussed. [Psikiyatride Guncel Yaklasimlar - Current Approaches in Psychiatry 2014; 6(4.000): 389-400