Possible association between lipid profile and uterine fibroid size

Background: Uterine fibroid is the most common benign tumor in reproductive age group, arising from single smooth muscle cell of the uterus. Steroid hormones, estrogen, and progesterone are considered to be the most important links in the pathophysiology of uterine fibroid; meanwhile estrogens influence several aspects of lipid metabolism; so it's possible to theorize a relationship between uterine fibroid size and dyslipidemia. Aim of the study was to evaluate possible association of lipid profile with uterine fibroid size. Methods: This was a cross sectional study performed in Babylon Teaching Hospital for Maternity and Pediatrics during the period from 1st of March 2020- 1st of December 2020. This study included one hundred women diagnosed with uterine fibroid using abdominal and/or transvaginal ultrasound, fifty patients with large uterine fibroids ≥5cm3, and fifty patients with small uterine fibroid<5cm3. Serum lipid profile was measured in both groups in fasting state for comparison. Results: The most common complaint was abnormal uterine bleeding in both groups. body mass index were 20-29.9; and significant difference between group1 that showed a lower levels of high-density lipoprotein 40.82±9.4, higher levels of low-density lipoprotein 94.79±35.07 and total serum cholesterol 155.7±43.63 and group 2 that showed higher level of high density lipoprotein 50.7±6.55, lower level of low density lipoprotein 51.49±15.2 and total cholesterol 123.2±14.18 with p value <0.001.while non-significant difference between the two groups in term of  very low density lipoprotein with p value  0.878  and triglyceride with p value 0.879. Conclusions: Dyslipidemia in the form of low high density lipoprotein, high low density lipoprotein and high cholesterol was significantly associated with increased size of uterine fibroid

Comparison Study of mecA Gene-Based PCR With Phenotypic Methods For Detecting Biofilm Forming Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolates and Comparison of mecA With femA, femB, and mecC Genes.

Staphylococcus aureus is opportunistic human pathogen that causes a variety of diseases. Out of 580 clinical specimens, 100 Staphylococcus aureus isolates were isolated and identified depending on cultural, morphological and different biochemical tests , in addition to molecular identification by using PCR with specific primer 16S rRNA. For biofilm detection, method of polystyrene microtitre plate was used and the results showed that 61% were biofilm producer and 39% were non-biofilm producer isolates. The different methods were applied for detection of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates and the identification of mecA gene by PCR was considered as the gold standard method comparing with other four phenotypic tests in sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of method. The results of cefoxitin showed that 50 (81.97%) were similar to mecA gene PCR 50(81.97%) and sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of these test were 100%, while, the method of oxacillin disk diffusion , oxacillin agar screening and MIC for oxacillin showed less specificity ,positive predictive value and accuracy. Whereas, sensitivity and negative predictive value for all methods equal to 100%. The results of cefoxitin disk diffusion test showed the highest specificity, accuracy compared to other phenotypic tests that were low precision in the determination of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates. On the other hand, It was found that there was a relation between femA and mecA genes, while no relation was observed between femB , mecC and with mecA

Comparison Study of Accuracy of phenotypic Methods for Detecting Biofilm Producer Staphylococcus aureus Isolates

Microorganisms growing in a biofilm are correlating with chronic human infections and are highly resistant to immune system, antimicrobial agents and difficult to remove from the infected host. There are different methods to determine biofilm production such as Microtitre Plate (MtP) method , Congo Red Agar method (CRA) and Tube Method (TA) method .This study was carried out from December 2015 to september 2016, 580 specimens were obtained from patients at different hospitals in Erbil city/ Iraq. Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates were identified phenotypically by different biochemical and molecular tests. One hundred isolates were found to be Staphylococcus aureus. MtP, CRA and TA tested Biofilm determination. This study was aimed to compare three methods of biofilm production. The results found that the accuracy and specificity of MtP was 100%, while it was 87%, 75% and 91% ,81.25% for CRA and TA methods respectively . The MtP method was considered to be superior to CRA and TA methods, and this method was the better screening for biofilm formation than CRA and TA methods, so this method can be a reliable quantitative tool for detection of biofilm formation in clinical isolates of S. aureu

Health worker densities and immunization coverage in Turkey: a panel data analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Increased immunization coverage is an important step towards fulfilling the Millennium Development Goal of reducing childhood mortality. Recent cross-sectional and cross-national research has indicated that physician, nurse and midwife densities may positively influence immunization coverage. However, little is known about relationships between densities of human resources for health (HRH) and vaccination coverage within developing countries and over time. The present study examines HRH densities and coverage of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in Turkey during the period 2000 to 2006.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study is based on provincial-level data on HRH densities, vaccination coverage and provincial socioeconomic and demographic characteristics published by the Turkish government. Panel data regression methodologies (random and fixed effects models) are used to analyse the data.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Three main findings emerge: (1) combined physician, nurse/midwife and health officer density is significantly associated with vaccination rates – independent of provincial female illiteracy, GDP per capita and land area – although the association was initially positive and turned negative over time; (2) HRH-vaccination rate relationships differ by cadre of health worker, with physician and health officers exhibiting significant relationships that mirror those for aggregate density, while nurse/midwife densities are not consistently significant; (3) HRH densities bear stronger relationships with vaccination coverage among more rural provinces, compared to those with higher population densities.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We find evidence of relationships between HRH densities and vaccination rates even at Turkey's relatively elevated levels of each. At the same time, variations in results between different empirical models suggest that this relationship is complex, affected by other factors that occurred during the study period, and warrants further investigation to verify our findings. We hypothesize that the introduction of certain health-sector policies governing terms of HRH employment affected incentives to provide vaccinations and therefore relationships between HRH densities and vaccination rates. National-level changes experienced during the study period – such as a severe financial crisis – may also have affected and/or been associated with the HRH-vaccination rate link. While our findings therefore suggest that the size of a health workforce may be associated with service provision at a relatively elevated level of development, they also indicate that focusing on per capita levels of HRH may be of limited value in understanding performance in service provision. In both Turkey and elsewhere, further investigation is needed to corroborate our results as well as gain deeper understanding into relationships between health worker densities and service provision.</p

Explaining the decline in coronary heart disease mortality in Turkey between 1995 and 2008.

BACKGROUND: Coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality rates have been decreasing in Turkey since the early 1990s. Our study aimed to determine how much of the CHD mortality decrease in Turkey between 1995 and 2008 could be attributed to temporal trends in major risk factors and how much to advances in medical and surgical treatments. METHODS: The validated IMPACT CHD mortality model was used to combine and analyse data on uptake and effectiveness of CHD treatments and risk factor trends in Turkey in adults aged 35-84 years between 1995 and 2008.Data sources were identified, searched and appraised on population, mortality and major CHD risk factors for adults those aged 35-84 years. Official statistics, electronic databases, national registers, surveys and published trials were screened from 1995 onwards. RESULTS: Between 1995 and 2008, coronary heart disease mortality rates in Turkey decreased by 34% in men and 28% in women 35 years and over. This resulted in 35,720 fewer deaths in 2008.Approximately 47% of this mortality decrease was attributed to treatments in individuals (including approximately 16% to secondary prevention, 3% angina treatments, 9% to heart failure treatments, 5% to initial treatments of acute myocardial infarction, and 5% to hypertension treatments) and approximately 42% was attributable to population risk factor reductions (notably blood pressure 29%; smoking 27%; and cholesterol 1%). Adverse trends were seen for obesity and diabetes (potentially increasing mortality by approximately 11% and 14% respectively). The model explained almost 90% of the mortality fall. CONCLUSION: Reduction in major cardiovascular risk factors explained approximately 42% and improvements in medical and surgical treatments explained some 47% of the CHD mortality fall. These findings emphasize the complimentary value of primary prevention and evidence-based medical treatments in controlling coronary heart disease

Possible mechanism behind the hard-to-swallow property of oil seed pastes

Roasted and crushed oil-rich seeds, such as sesame paste and peanut butter, both share a common structure and elicit an apparent sensation of thickening in the mouth. Working with sesame paste, as an example, the force needed to compress sesame paste:water mixtures peaked at 25% added water. The adhesive force required to pull a plunger from the surface was bimodal with peaks at around 15 and 25% hydration. It is postulated that when introduced to the mouth, water from the saliva is absorbed by the paste leading to a hard, adhesive material that sticks to the palate and the tongue, making these materials hard to swallow. It is hypothesized that the shared hard-to-swallow behaviour exhibited by other oil seed pastes/butters is due to a similar hydration process in the mouth

What was retained? The assessment of the training for the peer trainers' course on short and long term basis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In Turkey, the studies have reported that the age at which sexual intercourse and sexual activity starts has been steadily declining. There is an urgent need to increase social and health services for young people in order to provide them with a healthy life by changing their risky behaviors, avoiding unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Sexual and reproductive health training particularly for adolescents warrants special attention and consideration.</p> <p>The objective of our study is to find out the short and long term effectiveness of a training course on peer education.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study was conducted on 237 students who participated in a 40 hour Peer Trainer Training course. We utilized two types of evaluation methods to measure the effectiveness of the training on students' knowledge and attitude. The first method consisted of administering 3 tests comprised of the same 45 questions at 3 separate time intervals. Prior to the training a pre-test was given to obtain a measurement of base knowledge, and then an immediate post-test was given to evaluate the change in the knowledge and opinion of the participants.</p> <p>Finally, 6 months later the same test was administered to measure the retention of knowledge by the students. In the second type of evaluation, the participants' assessment of the training itself was sought by asking them to complete a Short Course Evaluation Form. We utilized SPSS 12.0 for descriptive analysis, and the Wilcoxon two related sample t-test were run.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>According to the pre and immediate post-test results, the training resulted in an increase in knowledge learned by an average of 21.6% (p < 0.05). Whereas, according to the immediate post test and the late post-test which was given six month later, there was a 1.8% decrease in the knowledge and attitude of the participants (p > 0.05). Participants thought that they had fun during training, and they became aware of what they knew and what they did not know.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Peer trainers with the training methods utilized, the knowledge and counseling acquired during training sessions will be able to provide counseling to their peers on reproductive health.</p