A Comparison of the Results of Turkey in the 2003-2006-2009 Pisa Exams According to Geographical Regions and Type of Schools

AbstractNowadays, because of the globalization and the recent developments with in the educational systems, in Middle, South and North American, East Asian and North African and the European Union member countries, tests, such as PISA, TIMSS, and PIRLS, are administered to assess the achievement of the students at international level. This research is limited to only PISA, and the research question can be stated as “what is the general situation in Turkey according to PISA, 2003-2006-2009 exams results?” The results and recommendations are provided in the full text

The role of sulfoglucuronosyl glycosphingolipids in the pathogenesis of monoclonal IgM paraproteinemia and peripheral neuropathy

In IgM paraproteinemia and peripheral neuropathy, IgM M-protein secretion by B cells leads to a T helper cell response, suggesting that it is antibody-mediated autoimmune disease involving carbohydrate epitopes in myelin sheaths. An immune response against sulfoglucuronosyl glycosphingolipids (SGGLs) is presumed to participate in demyelination or axonal degeneration in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). SGGLs contain a 3-sulfoglucuronic acid residue that interacts with anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) and the monoclonal antibody anti-HNK-1. Immunization of animals with sulfoglucuronosyl paragloboside (SGPG) induced anti-SGPG antibodies and sensory neuropathy, which closely resembles the human disease. These animal models might help to understand the disease mechanism and lead to more specific therapeutic strategies. In an in vitro study, destruction or malfunction of the blood-nerve barrier (BNB) was found, resulting in the leakage of circulating antibodies into the PNS parenchyma, which may be considered as the initial key step for development of disease

Evaluation of the primary school level students' attitudes towards mobile phones

The main issue of this study on the usage of mobile phones at the primary school level can be expressed as: How do the primary school students evaluate mobile phone usage? The purpose of this study is to determine whether there is a differentiation in the primary students' approach towards mobile phone usage according to their personal characteristics. The sample group of this stusy in which the surveying method was utilized, is 365 5(th) grade students studying in six different primary schools. Data gathering tools are the Personal Information Form and the Mobile Phone Usage Awareness Scale. The KMO value of the scale has been determined to be .748 and p<0.001 The gathered data has been analysed with the frequency, percentage, t-test, unilateral variance analysis and post-hoc scheffe tests. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Vocal cord paralysis during the treatment of mantle cell lymphoma with vincristine

Case description We present a case of a seventy-eight year-old man who developed vocal cord paralysis without any sign of peripheral neuropathy during the treatment of Mantle Cell Lymphoma. He first presented in 2008 with a few bilateral small inguinal lymph nodes. Inguinal lymph node biopsy demonstrated Mantle Cell Lymphoma. Flow cytometry studies of peripheral blood and bone marrow cells were compatible with Mantle Cell Lymphoma. R-CHOP chemotherapy triweekly (Rituximab; Cyclophosphamide; Adriamycin; Vincristine; and Methylprednisolone) was planned. At the end of the second cycle, the patient complained of hoarseness without any symptoms of dysphagia or odynophagia. Direct flexible laryngoscopy showed bilateral vocal cord paralysis. Vincristine was discontinued and the patient's voice gradually resolved in about 4 months. Conclusion Vincristine may cause peripheral, autonomic and cranial neuropathies. However cranial nerve involvement is quite uncommon