[Attitudes and side effects related to pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccination in healthcare personnel].

The aims of this study were to evaluate the attitudes towards H1N1 vaccination and to determine the safety and side effects following 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccination. Pandemic influenza vaccine had been administered to the healthcare personnel in our research and training hospital in December 2009. The rate being vaccinated was established as 40% (800/2000).

Antileishmanial effect of silver nanoparticles and their enhanced antiparasitic activity under ultraviolet light.

Leishmaniasis is a protozoan vector-borne disease and is one of the biggest health problems of the world. Antileishmanial drugs have disadvantages such as toxicity and the recent development of resistance. One of the best-known mechanisms of the antibacterial effects of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) is the production of reactive oxygen species to which Leishmania parasites are very sensitive.

Thoracic paravertebral block for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: single injection versus multiple injections.

Objective: Thoracic paravertebral blocks (PVBs) have been shown to be effective for analgesia after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) with single- and multiple-injection techniques. The efficacy of single-injection PVB was compared with multiple-injection PVB on postoperative analgesia in VATS was studied.

Design: Prospective, randomized study.

Contributing factors to aggressive behaviors in high school students in Turkey.

Violence among young people is an important public health topic as a universal problem. One of the recent issues concerning both the media and parents is the aggressive behavior among the high school students in Istanbul and the worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the types and rates of aggressive behavior and the contributing factors to this behavior among high school students.

Mobilization of hepatic mesenchymal stem cells from human liver grafts.

Extensive studies have demonstrated the potential applications of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) as regenerative or immunosuppressive treatments in the setting of organ transplantation. The aims of the present study were to explore the presence and mobilization of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in adult human liver grafts and to compare their functional capacities to those of BM-MSCs. The culturing of liver graft preservation fluids (perfusates) or end-stage liver disease tissues resulted in the expansion of MSCs.

Comparison of epithelial and fibroblastic cell behavior on nano/micro-topographic PCL membranes produced by crystallinity control.

In this study, the relationship between the cellular morphology and the material surface topography was investigated. Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) membranes were prepared in a wide range of surface wettabilities by means of crystallinity-controlled solvent casting process. Membrane surfaces were characterized by atomic force microscope (AFM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and static/dynamic water contact angle measurements.

Comparison of peritonsillar levobupivacaine and bupivacaine infiltration for post-tonsillectomy pain relief in children: placebo-controlled clinical study.

Objectives: To compare the effects of preincisional peritonsillar infiltration of levobupivacaine and bupivacaine on post-tonsillectomy pain in children.

Methods: Sixty children undergoing elective tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy were randomly allocated into three groups before tonsillectomy: peritonsillar infiltrations with 0.25% levobupivacaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine (group levobupivacaine, n=20), 0.

Incidence, etiology and risk factors associated with mortality of nosocomial candidemia in a tertiary care hospital in Istanbul, Turkey.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence, etiology and risk factors for mortality of patients with nosocomial candidemia.

Subjects And Methods: This observational study was performed at Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, a tertiary care hospital with 750 beds, between the years 2004 and 2007. Fifty defined cases with a nosocomial bloodstream infection caused by Candida species were included in the study.

Rib approximation without intercostal nerve compression reduces post-thoracotomy pain: a prospective randomized study.

Objective: One of the most important considerations in the care of thoracic surgery patients is the control of pain, which leads to increased morbidity and relevant mortality.

Methods: Between February and May 2009, 60 patients undergoing full muscle-sparing posterior minithoracotomy were prospectively randomized into two groups, according to the thoracotomy closure techniques. In the first group (group A), two holes were drilled into the sixth rib using a hand perforator, and sutures were passed through the holes in the sixth rib and were circled from the upper edge of the fifth rib, thereby compressing the intercostal nerve underneath the fifth rib.

Ascorbic Acid and gene expression: another example of regulation of gene expression by small molecules?

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C, AA) has long been considered a food supplement necessary for life and for preventing scurvy. However, it has been reported that other small molecules such as retinoic acid (vitamin A) and different forms of calciferol (vitamin D) are directly involved in regulating the expression of numerous genes. These molecules bind to receptors that are differentially expressed in the embryo and are therefore crucial signalling molecules in vertebrate development.

Prevalence of phenotypic resistance of Staphylococcus aureus isolates to macrolide, lincosamide, streptogramin B, ketolid and linezolid antibiotics in Turkey.

The incidence of drug-resistant pathogens differs greatly between countries according to differences in the usage of antibiotics. The purpose of this study was to investigate the phenotypic resistance of 321 methicillin resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and 195 methicillin susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) in a total of 516 S.

Induction of anesthesia in coronary artery bypass graft surgery: the hemodynamic and analgesic effects of ketamine.

Objective: The aim of this prospective, randomized study was to evaluate the hemodynamic and analgesic effects of ketamine by comparing it with propofol starting at the induction of anesthesia until the end of sternotomy in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

Introduction: Anesthetic induction and maintenance may induce myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary artery disease. A primary goal in the anesthesia of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery is both the attenuation of sympathetic responses to noxious stimuli and the prevention of hypotension.

Intravenous dexmedetomidine, but not midazolam, prolongs bupivacaine spinal anesthesia.

Purpose: Midazolam has only sedative properties. However, dexmedetomidine has both analgesic and sedative properties that may prolong the duration of sensory and motor block obtained with spinal anesthesia. This study was designed to compare intravenous dexmedetomidine with midazolam and placebo on spinal block duration, analgesia, and sedation in patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate.

Internal jugular vein cannulation: an ultrasound-guided technique versus a landmark-guided technique.

Objectives: To compare the landmark-guided technique versus the ultrasound-guided technique for internal jugular vein cannulation in spontaneously breathing patients.

Methods: A total of 380 patients who required internal jugular vein cannulation were randomly assigned to receive internal jugular vein cannulation using either the landmark- or ultrasound-guided technique in Bursa, Uludag University Faculty of Medicine, between April and November, 2008. Failed catheter placement, risk of complications from placement, risk of failure on first attempt at placement, number of attempts until successful catheterization, time to successful catheterization and the demographics of each patient were recorded.

Fascin expression in uterine smooth muscle tumors.

The diagnosis of malignant, uncertain malignant potential, and benign uterine smooth muscle tumors is derived from histologic criteria such as tumor cell necrosis, mitotic activity, and cytologic atypia. Morphologically, some variants of leiomyoma can be confused with leiomyosarcoma (LMS). In this study, we compared fascin expression in cases of leiomyoma, leiomyoma variants (LVs), uterine smooth muscle tumor of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP), and LMS, and sought to determine the potential role of fascin in differential diagnosis.

Database of queryable gene expression patterns for Xenopus.

The precise localization of gene expression within the developing embryo, and how it changes over time, is one of the most important sources of information for elucidating gene function. As a searchable resource, this information has up until now been largely inaccessible to the Xenopus community. Here, we present a new database of Xenopus gene expression patterns, queryable by specific location or region in the embryo.

Adipocyte differentiation defect in mesenchymal stromal cells of patients with malignant infantile osteopetrosis.

Background: Malignant infantile osteopetrosis (MIOP) is a disorder of osteoclasts characterized by defective bone resorption and death in infancy. The multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) and their progeny (osteoblasts) are major components of the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment and are found in close contact with cells of hematopoietic origin, including osteoclasts. We hypothesized that MSC defects may be associated with osteoclast dysfunction and osteopetrosis phenotype.

Antiproliferative effect of ascorbic acid is associated with the inhibition of genes necessary to cell cycle progression.

Background: Ascorbic acid (AA), or Vitamin C, is most well known as a nutritional supplement with antioxidant properties. Recently, we demonstrated that high concentrations of AA act on PMP22 gene expression and partially correct the Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease phenotype in a mouse model. This is due to the capacity of AA, but not other antioxidants, to down-modulate cAMP intracellular concentration by a competitive inhibition of the adenylate cyclase enzymatic activity.

Investigation into the long-term effects of static and PNF stretching exercises on range of motion and jump performance.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the long-term effects of two different stretching techniques on the range of motion (ROM) and on drop jump (DJ). DJ scores were assessed by means of a contact mat connected to a digital timer. ROM was measured by use of a goniometer.

Bilateral twinned teeth and multiple supernumerary teeth: a case report.

Dental twinning can result from the fusion of the developing dental germinal elements or the gemination of a single germ. In bilateral anterior and posterior dental twinning, problems such as poor esthetics, dental caries, arch-length problems, and periodontal disease often occur as a result of the irregular morphology. Several treatment methods have been described in the literature with respect to the different types and morphologic variations of twinned teeth, including endodontic, restorative, surgical, periodontal, and orthodontic treatment.

[Thoracoscopic bullectomy and pleural abrasion in the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax].

Although spontaneous pneumothorax is the most common problem seen by the thoracic surgeon, there is no universal agreement in its management. Thoracoscopic bullectomy is preferred to open bullectomy because of minimal trauma, less pain, early recovery and discharge with comparable results. Seventy thoracoscopic bullectomy and apical pleural abrasion in 65 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax were retrospectively reviewed.

Effect of oral gabapentin on the intraocular pressure and haemodynamic responses induced by tracheal intubation.

Background: Laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation may cause undesirable increases in blood pressure, heart rate (HR) and intraocular pressure (IOP). Gabapentin has been used effectively to attenuate the pressor response to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. We investigated whether the pre-treatment with gabapentin attenuates the IOP in addition to a haemodynamic response to tracheal intubation.

Ascorbic acid is a regulator of the intracellular cAMP concentration: old molecule, new functions?

Recently, using an animal model of Charcot-Marie-Tooth human disorder, we showed that ascorbic acid (AA) represses PMP22 gene expression by acting on intracellular cAMP concentrations. In this work, we present kinetics data on the inhibitory effect of AA upon adenylate cyclase activity. The data show that this molecule acts as a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme, a finding that opens new pharmacological avenues.

Comparison of different operation techniques and suture materials in pyloric exclusion, in an animal model.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to compare the results of different operating techniques and suture materials for pyloric exclusion procedures.

Methods: The study was conducted on a sample of 125 rats. Transgastric pyloric exclusions with gastrojejunostomy were performed on the first 50 rats, which were divided into two groups each of 25: a resorbable (polyglactin) suture material was used in the first group and a nonresorbable (silk) material was used in the second group.