Healthy Behaviours and Educational Needs among Turkish Women: A School-Based Study

The present descriptive study was planned to be the first stage of a school-based programme towards promoting healthy behaviours in Turkish women after determining their healthy behaviours and their need for relevant education. The sample was composed of 468 mothers of students attending an elementary school located in the city of Istanbul. The data were obtained during interviews and using two separate questionnaires. The Health Promotion Model formed the basis for the questionnaires describing healthy behaviours. The mean age was 34.6 ± 0.5 and 10.9% of the participants were illiterate. They generally were in middle-income families and 41.5% had at least one chronic disease. The participants were found to have poor behaviours pertaining to exercising, eating habits, and weight control. The majority (88%) did not exercise regularly. Chronic diseases were found to be the factor with the largest impact (OR: 1.87, 95%, CL=1.908–2.515). The participants pointed out that they would especially like to be educated on how to control their weight. The researchers have appended a programme devised for women regarding exercising, eating habits and weight control

Use of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging Angiography to Follow-Up Arterial Remodeling in an Animal Model

Appropriately sized arteries in small animals may be possible models for studying the remodeling process as occurs after arterial balloon injury in humans. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is able to noninvasively image tissue in vivo. To date, small animal angiog raphy models have mostly used research-dedicated instruments and resolution, which are not universally available.Experiments were carried out on a rat aorta model of remodeling in vivo (n=40). Arteries were injured by oversized balloon dilation; control arteries were uninjured. Angiography imaging was performed immediately before sacrifice with an unmodified clinical MRI unit, a 1.5 Tesla MR tomograph with a 20-cm-diameter coil. Longitudinal MRI pictures of the aorta and morphometry of tissue sections to measure luminal and arterial wall areas were analyzed with use of computer-assisted techniques.Comparison of dimensions demonstrated correlation between MRI and histology measurements of the lumen. MRI and morphometry showed a gradual increase in mean luminal area over 6 weeks following injury. The lumen increase correlated with total arterial area and thickness.In this rat aorta model, remodeling documented at histology was followed-up in vivo. The use of such clinical MRI scanners has potential to reduce animal numbers needed to follow-up the remodeling process after therapeutic intervention

Ultrastructure of the Natal and Primary Teeth

Aim: The teeth present in the oral cavity at birth are known as natal teeth and their etiology is still unknown. In this study, we aimed to compare the morphologic structures of natal and primary teeth at the ultra structural level using transmission electron microscope (TEM). Material and Methods: We investigated a natal tooth of a fourteen-day-old newborn baby. It was extracted due to the hypermobility with a risk of aspiration. As a control, a healthy primary incisor tooth was extracted from another child due to the physiologic root resorption. Immediately after extraction, both teeth were fixed in 10% formalin solution and decalcified by immersion in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution. Following routine TEM preparation process, teeth were embedded in Epon 812. Results: Histologically, structures of enamel prism and dentin tubules were different in the natal tooth compared to the primary tooth. Light microscopic (LM) and TEM investigations of the primary tooth showed prominent crystal structures in the enamel prism and regular organization in both enamel and dentin. LM and TEM investigations of the natal tooth revealed an irregular enamel prism in the hypoplastic enamel, vacuolization in the interprismatic enamel and an irregular organization in the dentin tubules. Conclusion: We conclude that the structural differences of the enamel and dentin in the natal tooth might be a result of incomplete maturation

Nickel Release and the Viability of Streptococcus mutans Corresponding to Low Risk of Dental Caries in Artificial Saliva Containing Orthodontic Appliances: In Vitro Study

Objective: The aims of this study were to determine the effect of different levels of Streptococcus mutans that correspond to a low risk of dental caries on nickel release and to determine the viability of S. mutans.Methods: Simulated fixed orthodontic appliances composed of copper nickel titanium, nickel titanium, or stainless steel were immersed in Klimek artificial saliva for 10 days with or without S. mutans inoculation on day 7. Same levels of S. mutans cultures (4 × 104 cfu/mL) were inoculated into the artificial saliva without orthodontic appliances. Nickel release was detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The archwire surface was analyzed by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.Results: The density of S. mutans significantly increased in the artificial saliva without orthodontic appliances (P < .05). Appliances with nickel titanium alloys showed higher nickel release in the artificial saliva with or without S. mutans than those with copper nickel titanium or stainless steel archwires (P < .05). However, S. mutans increased nickel release only in orthodontic appliances with stainless steel archwires (P < .05). Although atomic force microscopy showed that the surface of as-received stainless steel archwires was smoother than that of nickel titanium or nickel titanium archwires, S. mutans increased the surface roughness of only the SS archwires. S. mutans adhered to all archwire types.Conclusion: While corrosion or corrosion-related processes may have decreased the growth capacity of S. mutans, reciprocally, S. mutans influenced corrosion. Rough surfaces can also promote corrosion; therefore, the surface roughness of metal alloy orthodontic appliances should be evaluated to determine their corrosion behavior

Synthesis and In vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Novel 2-(4-(Substituted-carboxamido)benzyl / phenyl)benzothiazoles

A new series of 2-[4-(4-substitutedbenzamido / phenylacetamido / phenylpropionamido) benzyl / phenyl]benzothiazole derivatives (6a−6w) were synthesized and evaluated for antibacterial and antifungal activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli with their drug-resistant isolates and a yeast Candida albicans. Microbiological results indicated that the compounds possessed a broad spectrum of activity against the tested microorganisms at MIC values between 200 and 6.25 μg/ml. Compounds 6e and 6j exhibited the greatest activity with MIC values of 6.25 μg/ml against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus isolate, respectively.(doi: 10.5562/cca2064

Assessment the effect of diabetes education on self-care behaviors and glycemic control in the Turkey Nursing Diabetes Education Evaluating Project (TURNUDEP): a multi-center study

Background: Diabetes education in Turkey is provided by diabetes nurse educators in almost all healthcare organizations. However, the education is not standardized in terms of learning content, duration, and methods. This multi-center study was performed to assess the self-care behaviors and glycemic control following education provided to the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus by diabetes nurse educators. Methods: This was a descriptive and cross-sectional study and included 1535 patients admitted to 28 public hospitals for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The education was assessed by using a Patient Identification Form and Self-care Scale. Results: The proportion of individuals who received diabetes education within the last year was 78.5%, with 46.7% of them having received it once. Of the patients, 84.8% reported that they received diabetes education individually. It was found that the proportion of individuals who received education about oral antidiabetics (78.5%) and glucose testing at home (78.5%) was higher than the proportion of individuals who received education about exercise (58.8%) and foot care (61.6%). The status of diabetes education, education intervals, and the correlation of the education method with self-care and glycemic control was evaluated. Self-care and glycemic control levels were better among the patients who received diabetes education thrice or more and in patients who received education both individually and in a group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Approximately three-quarters of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus received education by diabetes nurse educators in Turkey. Diabetes education is positively correlated with self-care and glycemic control levels among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Efforts for generalization and standardized education for all diabetes patients are necessary. © 2022, The Author(s)

Evaluation of patients with fibrotic interstitial lung disease: Preliminary results from the Turk-UIP study

OBJECTIVE: Differential diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is important among fibrotic interstitial lung diseases (ILD). This study aimed to evaluate the rate of IPF in patients with fibrotic ILD and to determine the clinical-laboratory features of patients with and without IPF that would provide the differential diagnosis of IPF. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included the patients with the usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern or possible UIP pattern on thorax high-resolution computed tomography, and/or UIP pattern, probable UIP or possible UIP pattern at lung biopsy according to the 2011 ATS/ERSARS/ALAT guidelines. Demographics and clinical and radiological data of the patients were recorded. All data recorded by researchers was evaluated by radiology and the clinical decision board. RESULTS: A total of 336 patients (253 men, 83 women, age 65.8 +/- 9.0 years) were evaluated. Of the patients with sufficient data for diag-nosis (n=300), the diagnosis was IPF in 121 (40.3%), unclassified idiopathic interstitial pneumonia in 50 (16.7%), combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) in 40 (13.3%), and lung involvement of connective tissue disease (CTD) in 16 (5.3%). When 29 patients with definite IPF features were added to the patients with CPFE, the total number of IPF patients reached 150 (50%). Rate of male sex (p<0.001), smoking history (p<0.001), and the presence of clubbing (p=0.001) were significantly high in patients with IPE None of the women <50 years and none of the men <50 years of age without a smoking history were diagnosed with IPE Presence of at least 1 of the symptoms suggestive of CTD, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and antinuclear antibody (FANA) positivity rates were significantly higher in the non-IPF group (p<0.001, p=0.029, p=0.009, respectively). CONCLUSION: The rate of IPF among patients with fibrotic ILD was 50%. In the differential diagnosis of IPF, sex, smoking habits, and the presence of clubbing are important. The presence of symptoms related to CTD, ESR elevation, and EANA positivity reduce the likelihood of IPF