Comparison of three different induction regimens for nasopharyngeal cancer.

Background: The standard treatment of local advanced nasopharyngeal cancer is chemoradiotherapy. There is a lack of data concerning induction therapy. In this study we retrospectively examined patients treated with induction therapy and chemoradiotherapy.

The effects of point pollutants-originated heavy metals (lead, copper, iron, and cadmium) on fish living in Yeşilırmak River, Turkey.

In this study, the association between heavy metals in water and cyprinids sampled from the Yeşilırmak River stretch, which is frequently exposed to pollutant sources (a sugar production factory (Turhal) and solid wastes dump area (Taşlıçiftlik) was explored, and the oxidative effects of heavy metals on cyprinids were evaluated through analyzing some liver enzymes, namely, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), and cortisol. The heavy metal concentrations of both fish and water, collected from three different locations along the river during the summer of 2011 and winter of 2010 (Turhal, Taşlıçiftlik, and Gümenek), were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). The water and fish liver heavy metal concentrations exhibited increasing trends from upstream (Gümenek) to downstream (Turhal).

Assesment of the patients presenting with severe anemia to the emergency internal medicine clinic.

Objective: Etiological evaluation of the patients who were hospitalized with the diagnosis of severe anemia (Hb<7 gr/dl) in the emergency internal medicine clinic between January and July, 2013.

Methods: In this study, 112 patients who were hospitalized in Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Kartal Education and Research Hospital emergency internal medicine clinic with severe anemia between January and July 2013 were retrospectively analyzed.

Markers of subclinical atherosclerosis in premenopausal women with vitamin D deficiency and effect of vitamin D replacement.

Background: Recent studies have revealed a relationship between vitamin D deficiency and atherosclerosis. This study aims to investigate the impact of vitamin D deficiency and replacement on markers of subclinical atherosclerosis in young premenopausal women in whom vitamin D deficiency is prevalent.

Methods: Thirty-one premenopausal vitamin D deficient women and 27 age and gender-matched control subjects were enrolled in this study.

Potential role of interleukin-18 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis-associated carotid intima-media thickness but not insulin resistance.

Objective: Plasma interleukin-18 (IL-18) has been reported to be associated with homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). It also has been described as one of the factors that, in addition to insulin resistance, may also contribute to atherosclerosis. Parameters of systemic inflammation are also significantly associated with circulating IL-18.

Assessment of cricopharyngeal muscle aging with apoptotic markers.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to evaluate histochemical markers of apoptosis in the cricopharyngeus muscle, which is the gatekeeper of the pharyngoesophageal region during the swallowing process; to investigate the effects of primary aging on this muscle; and to determine whether a relationship exists with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Materials And Methods: The study included 30 fresh cadavers with a time of death of 12 hours or less obtained from the Turkish Ministry of Justice Forensic Medicine Unit. All cadavers were dissected with routine postmortem skin incisions to extract specimens from the cricopharyngeus muscle and the esophagocardiac junction mucosa.

Relation between hand grip strength, respiratory muscle strength and spirometric measures in male nursing home residents.

Adverse-outcomes related to sarcopenia are mostly mentioned as physical disability. As the other skeletal muscles, respiratory muscles may also be affected by sarcopenia. Respiratory muscle strength is known to affect pulmonary functions.

Outcomes of elderly burn patients requiring hospitalization.

Background: The elderly population is more likely to be affected by accidents, such as burns, compared to younger populations because of their diminished host defense. There is limited data about the outcomes of elderly burn patients requiring hospitalization.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we assessed the epidemiology and outcomes of burn injuries in elderly patients (>60 years old) admitted to a burn unit of a tertiary medical center based on patient characteristics, type and extent of burns, treatment, hospital stay and mortality rates.

A novel targeted therapy in breast cancer: cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Understanding the biology of this tumor is a prerequisite for selecting an appropriate treatment. Cell cycle alterations are seen in many cancers such as breast cancer.

Symptoms after hospital discharge following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Aims: The purposes of this study were to assess the symptoms of hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients after hospital discharge, and to determine the needs of transplant patients for symptom management.

Materials And Methods: The study adopted a descriptive design. The study sample comprised of 66 hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients.

Low prevalence of growth hormone deficiency in Turkish patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Background: Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (HT) is frequently isolated, but may also be associated with other autoimmune disorders. Autoimmune hypophysitis can result in growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Various prevalences of GHD have been reported in HT in several different ethnic populations.

Quality of life during chemotherapy and satisfaction with nursing care in Turkish breast cancer patients.

This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate quality of life for breast cancer patients (n = 105) undergoing chemotherapy, and to assess their satisfaction with nursing care. It also explored relationships between quality of life, satisfaction with nursing care, and demographic and disease-related characteristics. Ethics approval for this study was provided.

Treatment of recurrent temporomandibular joint dislocation.

Temporomandibular joint dislocation is defined as the movement of condyle out of the fossa and the advancement of the posterior surface of the condyle in front of the articular eminence. If this condition becomes chronic, surgical treatment is the only option. The goal of surgical treatment is to reposition the condyle and prevent further recurrences.

Corticosteroid treatment normalizes QTc prolongation and improves heart block in an elderly patient with anti-Ro-positive systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystemic disease which potentially involves various organs including the skin, joints, kidneys, liver, hematopoetic system, and serous membranes. It is rarely seen in elderly males. The most common cardiovascular involvement type is pericarditis.

Limited utility of adipokine levels in the diagnosis of malnutrition in the elderly.

Background And Aims: Adipokine levels may have a role in the diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of malnutrition. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the correlation between malnutrition score and leptin, other biological markers, and body mass index (BMI) in the diagnosis of malnutrition in the elderly.

Methods: In this cross-sectional observational study, we enrolled subjects over 70 years.

Comparison of the symptoms reported by post-operative patients with cancer and nurses' perception of patient symptoms.

The purpose of this study was to compare the symptoms reported by patients with cancer after palliative surgery and mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit (ICU) with their primary nurses' perception of the symptoms. The study adopted a descriptive and correlational study design. The sample comprised 60 Turkish patients with cancer who had been mechanically ventilated for 1-12 h at the ICU following palliative surgery.

Turkish nursing students' knowledge of and attitudes towards patients with HIV/AIDS.

Aims And Objectives: To assess nursing students' knowledge of and attitudes towards such patients and to determine the variables associated with students' knowledge and attitudes towards them.

Background: Improving nurses' and nursing students' knowledge and attitudes towards patients with HIV/AIDS is vital for providing quality care for such patients.

Design: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at three nursing schools located in two different cities in Turkey.

Prognostic role of microRNA polymorphisms in advanced gastric cancer: a translational study of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Internistische Onkologie (AIO).

Background: To determine the prognostic role of selected microRNA (miRNA) polymorphisms in advanced gastric cancer (AGC).

Patients And Methods: Six hundred and seventy-four AGC patients received 5-fluorouracil (F), leucovorin (L), oxaliplatin (O) or FL + cisplatin (P) or additional docetaxel (T) to FLO (FLOT) within four clinical trials. Polymorphisms of mir-26a1 (rs7372209), mir-27a (rs895819), mir-100 (rs1834306), mir-146a (rs2910164), mir-196-a2 (rs11614913), mir-219-1 (rs107822) and mir-423 (rs6505162) were genotyped.