Designing and validating an autoverification system of biochemical test results in Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, clinical laboratory

IntroductionAutoverification (AV) is a postanalytical tool that uses algorithms to validate test results according to specified criteria. The Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) document for AV of clinical laboratory test result (AUTO-10A) includes recommendations for laboratories needing guidance on implementation of AV algorithms. The aim was to design and validate the AV algorithm for biochemical tests. Materials and methodsCriteria were defined according to AUTO-10A. Three different approaches for algorithm were used as result limit checks, which are reference range, reference range ± total allowable error, and 2nd and 98th percentile values. To validate the algorithm, 720 cases in middleware were tested. For actual cases, 3,188,095 results and 194,520 reports in laboratory information system (LIS) were evaluated using the AV system. Cohen’s kappa (κ) was calculated to determine the degree of agreement between seven independent reviewers and the AV system. ResultsThe AV passing rate was found between 77% and 85%. The highest rates of AV were in alanine transaminase (ALT), direct bilirubin (DBIL), and magnesium (Mg), which all had AV rates exceeding 85%. The most common reason for non-validated results was the result limit check (41%). A total of 328 reports evaluated by reviewers were compared to AV system. The statistical analysis resulted in a κ value between 0.39 and 0.63 (P < 0.001) and an agreement rate between 79% and 88%. ConclusionsOur improved model can help laboratories design, build, and validate AV systems and be used as starting point for different test groups

Kriminoloji araştırmalarında mağdur anketlerinin yeri ve önemi

Due to increasing crime rates, insufficient policies and the limitations of the official statistics, victim surveys are being used as an alternative crime measurement technique. These types of surveys are inspired most of the criminological theories and regarded as a data source especially in shaping the crime policies of the Anglo-Saxon countries. Even though they have developed over time, victim surveys have limitations which create an obstacle in measuring crime. However, these surveys could be used as a useful data source in analyzing victims, their needs and behaviors. The recent victim surveys, which were conducted in Turkey, revealed significant findings. In the future, it is inevitable to use victim surveys as a management instrument in the field of security policies in Turkey. This study first examines the birth and development of the victim surveys, then it discusses the theoretical and methodological problems and the victim surveys conducted in Turkey. In conclusion section, this article provides recommendations related to the topic.Su&ccedil; oranlarındaki artış, su&ccedil; politikalarının yetersizliği ve resmi istatistiklerin sınırlılıkları alternatif bir su&ccedil; &ouml;l&ccedil;me tekniği olan mağdur anketlerinin doğmasına neden olmuştur. Bu t&uuml;r anketler, bir&ccedil;ok su&ccedil; teorisine ilham vermiş ve &ouml;zellikle Anglo-Sakson &uuml;lkelerinde su&ccedil; politikalarında başvurulan bir veri kaynağı haline gelmiştir. Fakat zaman i&ccedil;erisinde gelişim g&ouml;stermiş olsalar da, mağdur anketleri b&uuml;nyesinde bir&ccedil;ok metodolojik sınırlılığı barındırmakta ve bu sınırlılıklar, anketlerin su&ccedil;un &ouml;l&ccedil;&uuml;m&uuml;nde kullanılmasını engellemektedir. Buna karşılık bu anketler, mağdurlar, mağdurların beklentileri ve mağdurların davranışlarının et&uuml;d&uuml; konusunda faydalı bir veri kaynağı olabilir. Son yıllarda T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;de yapılan mağdur anketleri &ccedil;arpıcı sonu&ccedil;lar ortaya &ccedil;ıkarmıştır. Mağdur anketlerinin, &ouml;n&uuml;m&uuml;zdeki yıllarda T&uuml;rk kamu g&uuml;venlik politikalarında bir y&ouml;netim enstr&uuml;manı olarak kullanılması ka&ccedil;ınılmazdır. Bu &ccedil;alışmada, ilk olarak, mağdur anketlerinin ortaya &ccedil;ıkışı ve gelişimi, ardından karşılaşılan teorik ve metodolojik problemler ve T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;de yapılan mağdur anketleri ele alınmış, sonu&ccedil; b&ouml;l&uuml;m&uuml;nde ise konuya ilişkin bazı &ouml;nerilerde bulunulmuştur

TURKISH JOURNAL of ONCOLOGY A Study of Uro-oncology Patient Perceptions of Social Support and Hope Levels

OBJECTIVE The present study measured social support perceptions and hope levels of uro-oncology patients diagnosed with cancer and examined how they vary according to sociodemographic variables. METHODS Research was conducted on 143 uro-oncology patients in Konya, Turkey, using a sociodemographic information form, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the Hope Scale. RESULTS Patient mean multidimensional perceived social support score was quite high at 62.14±14.99, and mean hope level score was 20.62±4.50. Hope level score was significantly higher in male patients. It was also higher for patients with dependents and for patients who believed their cancer was treatable. Perceived social support levels of patients with dependents and patients who believed their cancer was treatable were also significantly higher. CONCLUSION Hope levels of uro-oncology patients are affected positively by high levels of perceived social support. Women, patients with dependents, and patients who develop a positive attitude toward their cancer treatment were more hopeful than others

Restless-legs syndrome and insomnia in hemodialysis patients

Aim/background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological movement disorder which is commonly seen in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Insomnia, depression, and anxiety disorders frequently show concurrence. In this study, we aimed to investigate RLS and insomnia prevalence and related factors in HD patients. Subjects and methods: Patients who were under HD treatment and healthy controls with similar mean age, sex ratio, and hypertension and diabetes mellitus frequency were included in this study. Depression, insomnia, and daytime sleepiness assessments were performed by using Beck Depression Inventory, Insomnia Severity Index, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale. The diagnosis of RLS was made using the International RLS Study Group consensus criteria. Results: About 156 HD patients and 35 controls were enrolled. The mean age was 50.6 in the HD group and 49.7 in the control group. Female sex was 43.9% in the HD group and 57.1% in the control group. RLS was significantly more frequent in HD patients compared with controls. The rate of sub-threshold insomnia and insomnia with moderate severity was higher in HD patients. While insomnia severity score and diabetes mellitus were significantly associated with the presence of RLS, depression, RLS, older age, and being under HD treatment were independently associated with insomnia severity. Conclusions: HD patients commonly have RLS and insomnia. Insomnia and diabetes mellitus seem to be major factors underlying RLS in HD patients. Furthermore, depression and RLS seem to be closely related to insomnia in these patients. Treatment of depression, insomnia, and RLS may be beneficial to improve quality of life in HD patients

Comparison of Post Biopsy Pathology and Post Radical Prostatectomy Pathology in Patients with Prostate Cancer Detected After Fusion Biopsy

Aims: To compare the post-radical prostatectomy (RP) final pathologies and post-biopsy pathologies of the patients diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) after fusion biopsy according to the International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grading system. Material and Methods: In this retrospective study, data of 182 patients who underwent fusion biopsy and concomitant systematic biopsy between January 2020 and August 2022 was reviewed. All these patients were biopsy naive with PIRADS-3 lesions according to the multiparametric MRI (mp-MRI) imaging. A total of 89 patients with PCa detected by biopsy were included in the study. Age, PSA, PSA density, and lesion grades according to PI-RADS were analysed. The post-biopsy (fusion and systematic biopsy) pathology results of 60 patients who underwent RP were compared with the final pathology results after RP. Results: Pathological results after fusion biopsy and RP were compared. The individual agreement between RP and fusion biopsy for each ISUP grade was moderate to almost excellent (0.558 to 0.848). When the overall agreement between RP and fusion biopsy was evaluated, the weighted kappa was calculated as 0.721 (95% CI: 0.577 to 0.865), which was determined as substantial significant agreement. On the other hand, the overall agreement between systematic biopsy and pathology results after RP was calculated as weighted kappa 0.544 (95% CI: 0.405 to 0.683) and this agreement was determined as moderate agreement. Conclusion: Our study showed that the concordance between the pathology result after fusion biopsy and the final pathology after RP was higher than the standard TRUS prostate biopsy. We think this compliance is crucial in the regulation and follow-up of the treatment of the patients

Evaluation of low tidal volume with positive end-expiratory pressure application effects on arterial blood gases during laparoscopic surgery

Abstract Background: Pneumoperitoneum (PNP) and patient positions required for laparoscopy can induce pathophysiological changes that complicate anesthetic management during laparoscopic procedures. This study investigated whether low tidal volume and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) application can improve ventilatory and oxygenation parameters during laparoscopic surgery. Methods: A total of 60 patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery were randomized to either the conventional group (n ¼ 30, tidal volume ¼ 10 mL/kg, rate ¼ 12/minute, PEEP ¼ 0 cm H 2 O) or the low tidal group with PEEP group (n ¼ 30, tidal volume ¼ 6 mL/kg, rate ¼ 18/minute, PEEP ¼ 5 cm H 2 O) at maintenance of anesthesia. Hemodynamic parameters, peak plateau pressure (Pplat) and arterial blood gases results were recorded before and after PNP. Results: There was a significant increase in the partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO 2 ) values after PNP in the conventional group in the reverse Trendelenburg (41.28 mmHg) and Trendelenburg positions (44.80 mmHg; p ¼ 0.001), but there was no difference in the low tidal group at any of the positions (36.46 and 38.56, respectively). We saw that PaO 2 values recorded before PNP were significantly higher than the values recorded 1 hour after PNP in the two groups at all positions. No significant difference was seen in peak inspiratory pressure (Ppeak) at the reverse Trendelenburg position before and after PNP between the groups, but there was a significant increase at the Trendelenburg position in both groups (conventional; 21.67 cm H 2 O, p ¼ 0.041, low tidal; 23.67 cm H 2 O, p ¼ 0.004). However, Pplat values did not change before and after PNP in the two groups at all positions. Conclusion: The application of low tidal volume þ PEEP þ high respiratory rate during laparoscopic surgeries may be considered to improve good results of arterial blood gases

Türkiye'de koroner yoğun bakım ünitelerindeki hastane içi mortalite (MORCOR-TURK) çalışmasında hasta temel karakteristikleri ve öngördürücüleri

OBJECTIVE: The MORtality in CORonary Care Units in Türkiye (MORCOR-TURK) trial is a national registry evaluating predictors and rates of in-hospital mortality in coronary care unit (CCU) patients in Türkiye. This report describes the baseline demographic characteristics of patients recruited for the MORCOR-TURK trial. METHODS: The study is a multicenter, cross-sectional, prospective national registry that included 50 centers capable of 24-hour CCU service, selected from all seven geographic regions of Türkiye. All consecutive patients admitted to CCUs with cardiovascular emergencies between September 1-30, 2022, were prospectively enrolled. Baseline demographic characteristics, admission diagnoses, laboratory data, and cardiovascular risk factors were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 3,157 patients with a mean age of 65 years (range: 56-73) and 2,087 (66.1%) males were included in the analysis. Patients with arterial hypertension [1,864 patients (59%)], diabetes mellitus (DM) [1,184 (37.5%)], hyperlipidemia [1,120 (35.5%)], and smoking [1,093 (34.6%)] were noted. Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) was the leading cause of admission [1,187 patients (37.6%)], followed by ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in 742 patients (23.5%). Other frequent diagnoses included decompensated heart failure (HF) [339 patients (10.7%)] and arrhythmia [272 patients (8.6%)], respectively. Atrial fibrillation (AF) was the most common pathological rhythm [442 patients (14%)], and chest pain was the most common primary complaint [2,173 patients (68.8%)]. CONCLUSION: The most common admission diagnosis was acute coronary syndrome (ACS), particularly NSTEMI. Hypertension and DM were found to be the two leading risk factors, and AF was the most commonly seen pathological rhythm in all hospitalized patients. These findings may be useful in understanding the characteristics of patients admitted to CCUs and thus in taking precautions to decrease CCU admissions

Honey Plants of Düzce University Ornamental and Medicinal Plants Botanical Garden

In this study, melliferous plants that the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) can benefit from among the taxa planted in Düzce University Ornamental and Medicinal Plants Botanical Garden, are presented. Among the 451 taxa planted in the botanical garden, those with these characteristics were determined by reviewing studies on the subject. Of the 165 taxa (36.58%) included in the honey plant class; 119 contain both nectar and pollen, 25 contain pollen, 13 contain nectar, 4 contain both pollen and insect secretion (IS) or sweet sap (SS), 2 contain pollen, nectar and IS or SS, 1 contain both nectar and SS, 1 contain only IS. In order to prevent the decrease in pollinator and pollinator insects, whose numbers are decreasing due to global climate change, a "Bee and Insect Hotel" was placed in the botanical garden. For this reason, the majority of the plants selected for planting were chosen from taxa with honey plant properties. The main purpose here is both to pollinate the plants in the botanical garden and to show and explain the effects of insect species on pollination through nature education

Laboratuvardan Kliniğe Transplantasyon Pratiği

Transplantasyon; Temel Tıbbi Bilimler, Moleküler Tıp, Genetik ve İmmünolojiden klinik uygulamalardan destek alan multidisipliner bir tıp dalıdır. Temel bilimlerdeki başarılı çalışmaların kliniğe uygulanması, klinikte karşılaşılan sorunların da, oluşturulan deneysel hayvan modellerinde irdelenmesi, elde edilen bilgilerin klinik uygulamalara aktarılması; diğer deyişle tecrübelerin “Translational” özellikli olması günümüz transplantasyon çalışmalarında bir gerekliliktir. İmmün sistemin bileşenlerinin ve reaksiyonlarının iyi bilinmesi, hücreler arası ilişkilerde greftin reddi ya da kabul edilmesinin şartlarını doğru anlamak ve uygun laboratuvar yöntemleri ile klinik durumun aydınlatılması transplantasyonda stratejik önemdedir. Bu nedenle, klinik transplantasyon çalışmaları yapanlar temel bilimler bilgileri ile de donanımlı olmalıdırlar. Multidisipliner bir dal olma bilinci ile yapılan klinik transplantasyon çalışmalarında başarı yakalanmaktadır. Laboratuvardan Kliniğe Transplantasyon kitabımızda tüm yönleri ile transplantasyonun organizmaya etkileri ve bunların klinik sonuçlarını, çalışmalarımızın ışığında sunmayı ve tartışmayı hedefledik. Editör: Prof.Dr. Mesut İzzet TİTİZ Yardımcı Editör: Doç.Dr. Pınar AT