Migraine-like headache in cerebral venous sinus thrombosis

A 20-year-old female, university student presented with severe, throbbing, unilateral headache, nausea and vomiting that started 2 days ago. The pain was aggravated with physical activity and she had photophobia. She had been taking contraceptive pills due to polycystic ovary for 3 months. Cranial computed tomography was uninformative and she was considered to have the first attack of migraine. She did not benefit from triptan treatment and as the duration of pain exceeded 72h further imaging was done. Cranial MRI and MR venography revealed a central filling defect and lack of flow in the left sigmoid sinus caused by venous sinus thrombosis. In search for precipitating factors besides the use of contraceptive pills, plasma protein C activity was found to be depressed (42%, normal 70–140%), homocystein was minimally elevated (12.7μmol/L, normal 0–12μmol/L) and anti-cardiolipin IgM antibody was close to the upper limit

A Phenomenological Study on the Effectiveness of Curriculum and Course Information Packages in the Bologna Process

The aim of the present study is to analyze the School of Education and Department of Educational Sciences' curricula (program and course information packages) with respect to the Bologna process. Designed in line with phenomenology, the study focuses on the phenomenon of "the effectiveness of curricula with respect to the Bologna process". The data were collected by interviewing two separate focus groups of students and lecturers, and analyzed by using Miles and Huberman's stages. The results of the three research questions are explained in terms of preparation, implementation, follow-up and revision, and quality assurance. The results are as follows: Considering the positive aspects of the process, both lecturers and students agreed that the process eased access to information and course selection with the help of elective courses; however, all participants complained about the lack of information flow, unclear tasks and process, disbelief in the importance of the process, resistance to the preparation process, unfair work distribution, and the mismatch between competencies and courses. Lecturers also mentioned problems related to the revision and feedback processes

Evaluation of abdominal computed tomography findings in patients with COVID-19: a multicenter study

PURPOSE: To evaluate the frequency of abdominal computed tomography (CT) findings in patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and interrogate the relationship between abdominal CT findings and patient demographic features, clinical findings, and laboratory test results as well as the CT atherosclerosis score in the abdominal aorta. METHODS: This study was designed as a multicenter retrospective study. The abdominal CT findings of 1.181 patients with positive abdominal symptoms from 26 tertiary medical centers with a positive polymerase chain-reaction test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 were reviewed. The frequency of ischemic and non-ischemic CT findings as well as the association between CT findings, clinical features, and abdominal aortic calcific atherosclerosis score (AA-CAS) were recorded. RESULTS: Ischemic and non-ischemic abdominal CT findings were detected in 240 (20.3%) and 328 (27.7%) patients, respectively. In 147 patients (12.4%), intra-abdominal malignancy was present. The most frequent ischemic abdominal CT findings were bowel wall thickening (n = 120; 10.2%) and perivascular infiltration (n = 40; 3.4%). As for non-ischemic findings, colitis (n = 91; 7.7%) and small bowel inflammation (n = 73; 6.2%) constituted the most frequent disease processes. The duration of hospital stay was found to be higher in patients with abdominal CT findings than in patients without any positive findings (13.8 ± 13 vs. 10.4 ± 12.8 days, P < 0.001). The frequency of abdominal CT findings was significantly higher in patients who did not survive the infection than in patients who were discharged after recovery (41.7% vs. 27.4%, P < 0.001). Increased AA-CAS was found to be associated with a higher risk of ischemic conditions in abdominal CT examinations. CONCLUSION: Abdominal symptoms in patients with COVID-19 are usually associated with positive CT findings. The presence of ischemic findings on CT correlates with poor COVID-19 outcomes. A high AA-CAS is associated with abdominal ischemic findings in patients with COVID-19

Learning platform for smoking cessation project: From begining to date

Although 35% of the adults in Turkey are current smokers, the number of trained physicians and smoking cessation (SC) clinics are not enough to meet the demand. Aim: This national project aimed to create the necessary infrastructure for providing SC therapy all-around the country and to train physicians in this topic. This project was run by Turkish Thoracic Society Tobacco Working Group and supported by a grant from Pfizer Foundation. Methods: For this purpose, an organization network including field training teams was planned. The training materials were prepared and standardized. A website of the project including a wide e-learning platform was created (www.sigarabirakmadaogrenmezemini.org). Results: Firstly, a central training program was planned. Forty volunteers from all regions of Turkey were participated to this program. Afterwards, field training programs were started to perform by these trainers. From the beginning field training sessions were performed in 11 cities with more than 300 participants. The project website was visited by 10.369 visitors and 518 participants completed e-training module since April 2011. Conclusion: The SÖZ project enabled a training ground that will last for years; a professional website and a trainer staff to generalize the program. Through this project, the integration of SC intervention in all health service steps will be provided, the number of SC clinics in Turkey will increase, and in future smoking rate will reduce in our country

İLKÖĞRETİM 6.SINIF MATEMATİK DERSİ KESİRLER KONUSUNUN ÖĞRETİMİNDE 4MAT ÖĞRENME STİLİ MODELİNİN ÖĞRENCİ BAŞARISINA ETKİSİ

Bu araştırmada problemi, ilköğretim 6. sınıf matematik dersine ait kesirler konusunun öğretiminde 4MAT öğrenme stili modelinin öğrenci başarısı ve kalıcılık üzerindeki etkisinin ne olduğu oluşturmaktadır. Bu etkiyi belirlemek amacıyla, deneysel yöntem uygulanmıştır. Araştırma modeli ise, kontrollü ön ve son-test model olmuştur. Deney grubuna 4MAT öğrenme stili modeline dayalı öğretim verilmiştir. Kontrol grubuna da ders kitabına dayalı öğretim verilmiştir. Bu araştırma, 2007-2008 eğitim-öğretim yılının 2. yarıyılında Ankara ilinde bulunan bir devlet okulunda yapılmıştır. Deney grubunda 29 öğrenci ve kontrol grubunda 29 öğrenci olmak üzere, toplam 58 öğrenci araştırmaya katılmıştır. Araştırmacı tarafından geliştirilen 25 maddelik konu başarı testi gruplara, öğretimler öncesinde ön-test, 8 ders saatlik öğretim sonrasında son-test, son-testten 1 ay sonra ise kalıcılık testi olarak uygulanmıştır. Araştırmanın bulgularına göre, 4MAT öğrenme stili modeline dayalı öğretim gören deney grubunun akademik başarısının, ders kitabıyla öğretim gören kontrol grubunun başarısından daha fazla arttığı görülmüştür. Kalıcılık üzerinde ise, 4MAT öğrenme stili modeline dayalı öğretimin ders kitabına dayalı öğretime göre daha etkili olduğu ortaya çıkmıştır. Ayrıca, görüşlerini almak için deney grubuna anket, uygulama öğretmenine görüşme uygulanmıştır. Öğrenciler, dersin zevkli ve ders kitabından daha yararlı geçtiğini; öğretmense izlenen adımların öğrenmeler ve katılım için yerinde bir süreç olduğunu belirtmiştir.At this research, what the effect of the 4MAT learning styles model to the students' success and the permanence at teaching of fractions in 6th grade Mathematics occurs the problem. To define this effect, the expermental method was been applied. The model of research was front and last-test model with control. The experiment group was given the teaching of the 4MAT learning styles model and the control group was given the teaching of the textbook approach. This research was applied in a state school in Ankara in the second term of 2007-2008 education-instructiıon year. 29 Students were in experiment and 29 were students in control group. So in total 58 students joined the study. Subject success test that was developed by the researcer was applied to the groups as front-test before teachings, as last-test after teaching 8 lessons time and as permanence test after 1 month from last-test. According to the research results; it was clear that the experiment group's academic success teached with the 4MAT learning styles model increased more than the control group's academic success teached with the textbook approach. Also, on permanence, teaching of the 4MAT learning styles was more effective than teaching of the textbook approach. Also, the surwey was applied to the experiment group and the conversation was applied to the teacher of application to learn their opinions. The students explained that the lesson had been pleasured and useful than textbook. The teacher explained that the steps was an appropriate process for learnings and joining

Post-thymectomy, seronegative myasthenia gravis

Kansu, Tulay/0000-0002-1986-4680; Kansu, Tulay/0000-0002-1986-4680WOS: 000253089500003Patients with thymoma associated myasthenia gravis (MG) usually present with severe disease unresponsive to usual treatment and almost all have antibodies against acetylcholine receptors (AChR). We like to present a case of post-thymectomy, seronegative MG. A 55-year-old man was referred with horizontal diplopia and abduction deficit in the right eye two years after he had thymectomy for a thymoma. Single-fiber electromyography was diagnostic for MG and AChR titer was undetectable. Ocular signs did not response to pyridostigmine, prednisolone and immunoglobulin treatments and the patient also suffered from proximal weakness and pain in the extremities. Cyclosporine-A was started and the initial response was favorable with a decrease in general weakness

A scoring system for the effectiveness of hepatitis-B vaccination in children receiving treatment for cancer

The purpose of this study was to determine the variables that may influence the outcome of a Hepatitis-B (HBV) vaccination program in children who were receiving treatment for cancer. This study was performed retrospectively using hospital records belonging to the children with cancer who received HBV vaccine in our center between January 1993 and June 1998. Only patients who received three doses of HBV vaccine for three consecutive months and whose antibody titers were determined at least once within the first six months after the last dose of vaccination were included in this study. The effect of patients' age, sex, tumor type and vaccine type on the outcome of vaccine response were evaluated. To assess the effect of combined modality treatment on the vaccine response, a risk factor scoring was calculated for each patient. In addition, possible relationship between the vaccination response and the lowest blood lymphocyte concentration during the vaccination period was also evaluated. A total of 52 patients were studied. The rate of seroconversion was 65% in the overall group. No significant effects of patients' age, sex, tumor type and vaccine type on the vaccine response were seen. When surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and infectious complications are accepted as risk factors, the total risk factor score showed significant difference among the groups according to anti-HBs titers. The anti-HBs titers showed a significant correlation with the lowest concentration of blood lymphocytes during the vaccination period. The total risk factor scoring and blood lymphocyte concentration helped to predict the response to immunization in children with cancer

Bilateral Optic Neuritis After Influenza Vaccination

Kansu, Tulay/0000-0002-1986-4680; Kansu, Tulay/0000-0002-1986-4680WOS: 000283294800010Optic neuritis is a rare complication of vaccination. We report a 55-year-old woman who presented with bilateral optic neuritis following influenza vaccination. The patient has typical features of acute optic neuritis with acute visual loss, periocular pain, visual defects, full recovery of vision after 6 months, and the absence of deterioration after withdrawal of corticosteroids. Considering the absence of oligoclonal bands in the cerebrospinal fluid analysis and the nonexistence of lesions resembling multiple sclerosis (MS) in cranial magnetic resonance imaging, the case at present does not appear to be associated with MS

Retinal nerve fiber layer analysis in idiopathic intracranial hypertension

WOS: 000239211900011PubMed: 16804262Background: The chronic nature of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) represents a risk factor for progressive optic nerve damage and structural abnormalities of the retina. Aim: We measured the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in patients followed with the diagnosis of IIH who had no or mild visual impairment to search for possible structural alterations in the retina for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. Settings and Design: Case-control prospective study. Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of 12 women followed and treated with the diagnosis of IIH in our clinic. The selection criteria were the, normal optic nerve, normal visual fields or mild visual field defects (Grade 1-3) by Humphrey perimeter. Randomly assigned, age-matched 12 healthy women were taken as the control group. Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was evaluated with scanning laser polarimetry and both eyes were studied for each case in both groups. Statistical Analysis Used: Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The mean ages of the patient and the control groups were 34.58 +/- 4.2 and 34.42 +/- 5.7 years respectively (P=0.87). The mean duration of disease was 5.5 +/- 3 years. Some parameters related to RNFL thickness were found to differ significantly between patients with IIH and control subjects. Namely superior ratio (P=0.007), inferior ratio (P=0.039), superior-nasal ratio (P=0.025), maximum modulation (P=0.01) and symmetry (P=0.006) were lower in the patient group than controls. Conclusion: Scanning laser polarimetry might be a good adjunct for determining possible structural affects of IIH on the retina in patients with no or mild visual impairment