Saliva levels of caspase-1, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in primary Sjögren's syndrome: oral mucosal abnormalities revisited.

Background/aim: Abnormalities in oral mucosal immunity contribute to complex pathogenesis of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSjS). We aimed to measure saliva and serum levels of caspase-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in patients with pSjS. Materials and methods: We studied 43 pSjS patients fulfilling the AECG criteria and 30 age/sex-matched healthy controls, as well as 39 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients as a disease control group.

Evaluation of infectious diseases and clinical microbiology specialists' preferences for hand hygiene: analysis using the multi-attribute utility theory and the analytic hierarchy process methods.

Background: Hand hygiene is one of the most effective attempts to control nosocomial infections, and it is an important measure to avoid the transmission of pathogens. However, the compliance of healthcare workers (HCWs) with hand washing is still poor worldwide. Herein, we aimed to determine the best hand hygiene preference of the infectious diseases and clinical microbiology (IDCM) specialists to prevent transmission of microorganisms from one patient to another.

Criteria sets for primary Sjogren's syndrome are not adequate for those presenting with extraglandular organ involvements as their dominant clinical features.

Patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) may go undiagnosed or be misclassified due to the insidious nature and wide spectrum of the disease. The available several classification criteria emphasize glandular findings. We aimed to analyze the efficiency of various classification criteria sets in patients diagnosed on the clinical basis by expert opinion and to compare those pSS patients who fulfilled these criteria with those who did not.

Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in a country with a high occurrence of .

Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with additional symptoms, relationship with (. ) of this country-wide study.

Methods: Data from 3214 adults were obtained with validated questionnaire.

In vitro fertilization-induced pregnancies predispose to gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Background: Women conceiving following in vitro fertilization (IVF) likely have a variety of risk factors that predispose them to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in the future.

Objective: We aimed to investigate whether pregnancy through IVF may predispose to subsequent GERD compared with pregnancies without IVF. We also evaluate whether twin IVF pregnancies lead to additional risk for having GERD compared with singleton IVF pregnancies.

Treatment of head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) infestation: is regular combing alone with a special detection comb effective at all levels?

Head lice infestation (HLI) caused by Pediculus humanus capitis has been a public health problem worldwide. Specially designed combs are used to identify head lice, while anti-lice products are applied on the scalp for treatment. In the present study, we aimed to test whether combing only by precision detection comb (PDC) or metal pin comb (MPC) could be effective alternatives to the use of anti-lice products in children.

Comparison of Different Techniques in Breast Cancer Radiotherapy Planning.

Objective: This study aimed to minimize the radiation dose to organs other than the target tissue during adjuvant therapy applied for breast cancer, by using different planning methods.

Materials And Methods: 30 women with T1-2 N1-3 M0 breast cancer were included in the study. Planning was performed using four different methods to the supraclavicular area, internal, and external tangential fields.

Assessment of genetic markers and glioblastoma stem-like cells in activation of dendritic cells.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive intraparenchymal primary brain tumor in adults. The principal reasons for the poor outcomes of GBM are the high rates of recurrence and resistance to chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to determine the role of tailored cellular therapy for GBM with a poor prognosis and compare the activity of dendritic cells (DCs) that have encountered GBM cells.

The effectiveness of the liquid-based preparation method in cerebrospinal fluid cytology.

Objectives: Since malignant cells were first detected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), numerous methods have been used for CSF examination. The cytocentrifugation and liquid-based cytology (LBC) methods are two of these. We aimed to investigate whether the results from the LBC method were different from the results of the cytological diagnosis of the CSF materials that were prepared using the cytocentrifugation method.

Cigarette smoking in primary Sjögren's syndrome: positive association only with ANA positivity.

Smoking is well known to contribute to the pathogenesis and severity of some systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases and especially to the production of certain autoantibodies. Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune disease, affecting primarily the exocrine glands. It may also cause extraglandular involvement in some cases.

Evaluation of quality of life in relation to anxiety and depression in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

The aim of this study was to evaluate health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) using both Short-Form 36 (SF-36) and World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaires and to determine the effects of anxiety and depression on HR-QOL using the Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale (HADS). In this cross-sectional study, 107 female patients with pSS (mean age 54.10 ± 10.

Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background And Aim: It is speculated that the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) might increase with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of GERD in patients with asthma and COPD in an area representative of developing countries.

Methods: A validated GERD questionnaire was conducted face-to-face with 308 consecutive asthma (240 women) and 133 COPD (35 women) patients in the tertiary referral pulmonary outpatient clinic, and 694 controls from the research area.

Efficacy of SLZ and MTX (alone or combination) on the treatment of active sacroiliitis in early AS.

Sacroiliitis is an important sign of spondylarthritis (SpA) of which the prototype disease is ankylosing spondylitis. The radiographic changes required for diagnosing AS occur as late as 8-11 years after the onset of clinical symptoms. Nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been the main treatment for spondylitis of AS.

Are emergency department visits really a teachable moment? Smoking cessation promotion in emergency department.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of smoking cessation counseling in the emergency department (ED) versus in outpatient clinics (OCs) setting.

Methods: Over a 3-month period, smokers and recent quitters presenting to ED or OCs were questioned about their smoking habits and desire to quit. They also completed the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) questionnaire and Prochaska's stages of change (PSC) survey.

Portal hyperfusion or hepatic venous congestion: which one affects Kupffer cell function more?

Objectives: Because of their effects on the liver parenchyma after surgery, portal hyperperfusion and hepatic venous congestion are challenging problems for hepatobiliary surgeons. However, the effects of those conditions on Kupffer cells have not been established. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of vascular streams modified by portal hyperperfusion and hepatic venous congestion on Kupffer cell function.

Low prevalence of erosive esophagitis and Barrett esophagus in a tertiary referral center in Turkey.

Background/aims: The purpose of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in gastroesophageal reflux disease is to detect the complications; both Barrett esophagus and erosive esophagitis are common in developed countries. We aimed to investigate the ratio of esophageal complications in gastroesophageal reflux disease and the relationship between reflux symptoms and erosive esophagitis.

Methods: Six hundred forty-five consecutive adult patients presenting to the Reflux Outpatient Clinic were evaluated prospectively.

Turkish health professional's attitude toward euthanasia.

The cross-sectional study was administrated between April and September 2006. Participants are doctors, nurses, and midwives. Between these dates we met only 750 health staff (doctor, nurse, and midwife).

Effectiveness and tolerability of mirtazapine and amitriptyline in alcoholic patients with co-morbid depressive disorder: a randomized, double-blind study.

Objective: Studies indicate that serotoninergic and noradrenergic pathophysiological mechanisms may underlie both alcohol abuse/dependence and depressive disorder. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness and tolerability of two serotonergic and noradrenergic antidepressant drugs-mirtazapine and amitriptyline, for the treatment of patients with alcohol dependence co-morbid with depressive disorder in a randomized, double-blind treatment setting.

Methods: Forty-four patients were included in the study.

Association of heartburn during pregnancy with the risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Background & Aims: Heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) during pregnancy are accepted as an innocent condition. The effect of heartburn during pregnancy on the initiation or progress of GERD is not known. We aimed to determine the predisposition effect of heartburn during pregnancy for presenting with GERD in the future.

Overlap of symptoms of dyspepsia and gastroesophageal reflux in the community.

Background/aims: Dyspepsia and gastroesophageal reflux disease are common chronic diseases. In the clinical setting, some patients express both problems together; however, little is known about the real prevalence of the presence of the two symptoms. Turkey is particularly interesting because of differences observed from developed countries.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease in a low-income region in Turkey.

Objectives: Detailed population-based data regarding the prevalence and symptom profile of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in underdeveloped and developing Caucasian countries are lacking. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and clinical spectrum of GERD in a low-income region in Turkey.

Methods: We used a previously validated reflux questionnaire, which was translated into Turkish and culturally adapted.