The Prevalence of Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy in an Outpatient Hepatology Clinic.

Background: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy can only be detected by specific psychometric or neuropsychological tests. We aimed to determine the prevalence of minimal hepatic encephalopathy in a hepatology outpatient clinic of a tertiary center.

Methods: A total of 82 patients with chronic liver disease were involved prospectively in this study.

A Way to Increase the Sensitivity and Specificity of the Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Scales.

Objective: The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17) and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS-14) have been acknowledged as gold standards in evaluating the severity of depression and anxiety. The specificity and sensitivity of these scales in predicting somatic complaints of depression and anxiety are issues in both clinical and research areas. The present study proposes a new model to enhance the sensitivity and specificity of HDRS-17 and HARS-14 for predicting symptoms of insomnia, inappetence, and loss of libido in psychiatric patients.

Temporary Implant Irradiation: Survey of Turkish Society of Radiation Oncology Breast Cancer Study Group.

Objective: To understand the clinical approach of radiation oncologists during the treatment of patients with breast reconstruction.

Materials And Methods: A questionnaire survey was emailed to 105 active members of the Turkish Radiation Oncology Society, the Breast Cancer Study Group. The factors associated with radiation oncologists and their current practice was identified.

Erectile dysfunction in prostate cancer patients treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy.

Background: Sexual dysfunction is an important side-effect after radiotherapy (RT) for prostate cancer (PCa). The aim of this study was to compare sexual functions of PCa patients before and after intensity-modulated RT and to analyze their correlation with penile bulb (PB) doses and patient characteristics.

Materials And Methods: Forty-two patients who underwent RT ± hormone therapy for PCa between 2010 and 2013 were analyzed.

Comparison of changes in renal function with dosimetric parameters in gastric cancer patients treated with adjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Purpose: Our objective was to analyze kidney damage using glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and dynamic renal scintigraphy (DRS) compared with dose volume histogram (DVH) parameters in gastric cancer patients.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-two gastric cancer patients treated with postoperative chemoradiotherapy were retrospectively evaluated. Student's t test was used to compare pre- and posttreatment GFR and creatinine values.

Increased Caseload Volume is Associated With Better Oncologic Outcomes After Laparoscopic Resections for Colorectal Cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of caseload volume on the outcomes of open and laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer.

Methods: Between April 1999 and January 2011, patients who underwent open or laparoscopic resection for colorectal adenocarcinoma with curative intent were identified. There were 2 groups of surgeons, whose primary practice is gastrointestinal surgery (n=5, group A) and general surgery (n=14, group B).

Utility of left lateral supine position for myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography compared with other methods of correcting inferior wall attenuation.

Introduction: Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging is an accepted method for reflecting the pathophysiological significance of lesions detected by coronary angiography. However, it has an inherent drawback in terms of false-positive perfusion defects for the inferior myocardial wall. To overcome this problem, different acquisition techniques have been proposed, including the computed tomographic-based attenuation correction method.

Fate of abstracts presented at the annual scientific meeting of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society.

Introduction: The full-text publication of abstracts presented at any given scientific meeting in peer-reviewed journals is accepted as a measure of scientific quality of that particular meeting. The aim of this study is to determine the full-text publication rate of abstracts presented at the 2005 Scientific Meeting of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS).

Methods: We identified the scientific abstracts presented at the 2005 UHMS meeting and searched the PubMed database (June 2005 to July 2010) for their corresponding full-text publication.

Dendritic cell sarcoma: a pooled analysis including 462 cases with presentation of our case series.

Dendritic cell tumors are extremely rare and current knowledge on these tumors is limited. The characteristics of three dendritic cell sarcoma subtypes and their optimal treatment approaches are not fully clarified. We aimed to make a systematic review of the literature and enrich the current data with five new cases.

Impact of Helicobacter pylori infection on severity of psoriasis and response to treatment.

The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of H. pylori seropositivity in patients with psoriasis, to evaluate the relationship between PASI (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) scores and H. pylori infection, and to assess the impact of H.

Recurrence patterns of locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma after 3D conformal (chemo)-radiotherapy.

Background: To establish recurrence patterns among locally advanced head and neck non-nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients treated with radical (chemo-) radiotherapy and to correlate the sites of loco-regional recurrence with radiotherapy doses and target volumes

Method: 151 locally advanced HNSCC patients were treated between 2004-2005 using radical three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy. Patients with prior surgery to the primary tumour site were excluded. The sites of locoregional relapses were correlated with radiotherapy plans by the radiologist and a planning dosimetrist.

The prevalences of some rheumatic diseases in western Turkey: Havsa study.

To study the prevalence major rheumatic diseases in western Turkey. This survey was conducted in Havsa which have a total population of 18,771. Physicians and interns visited every household, interviewed face to face a questionnaire about the symptoms of rheumatic disorders.

Prevalence of peripheral neuropathy and painful peripheral neuropathy in Turkish diabetic patients.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and neuropathic pain in diabetic patients attending university outpatient clinics in Turkey. In this multicenter cross-sectional study, neurologic examinations and nerve conduction studies along with clinical diabetic neuropathy score, and Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs pain scale were performed on 1,113 patients (46.2% male) from 14 centers.

The impact of diabetes and coronary artery disease on mortality and morbidity in patients with hypertension.

Objectives: We evaluated the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) and/or coronary artery disease (CAD) on cardiovascular endpoints in a cohort of hypertensive patients.

Study Design: The Vascular Risk Study is a cross-sectional, multicenter, observational study conducted among 5,600 patients from various regions of Turkey. This analysis included 2,664 patients (1,643 women, 1,021 men; mean age 65.

Comparative study of adhesion molecule expression in nodular lesions of Behçet syndrome and other forms of panniculitis.

Adhesion molecules have a role in many vasculitic disorders. Our aim was to evaluate the status of adhesion molecules in nodular lesions of Behçet syndrome (BS) and compare them with results for the 2 most common types of panniculitis, erythema nodosum (EN) and nodular vasculitis (NV). We included the data for 28 patients with nodular lesions of BS, 24 with EN, and 22 with NV.

Assessing the quality of randomized controlled trials from two leading cancer journals using the CONSORT statement.

Background: No study has been conducted on the scientific quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the cancer field. Our objective was to determine whether adherence to the Consolidated Standards for Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement is associated with scientific properties of RCT reports from two leading cancer journals.

Methods: We conducted an observational study of RCTs published between 2002 and 2004 in two leading cancer journals that did not endorse the CONSORT statement during that period.

Evaluating "superiority", "equivalence" and "non-inferiority" in clinical trials.

Clinical studies are usually performed with the aim of justifying that a new treatment approach is "superior" to the common standard approach (active control) with respect to benefits. In a general sense, this justification is carried out on the basis of the "null hypothesis significance test" with the P value based on this test used for justification. Today, new drugs differ so little from existing ones that factors such as cost and side effects affect the choice of therapy, when the bioavailability of treatment methods are found equivalent.

Hidden female urinary incontinence in urology and obstetrics and gynecology outpatient clinics in Turkey: what are the determinants of bothersome urinary incontinence and help-seeking behavior?

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of female urinary incontinence (UI) and risk factors of bothersomeness and help-seeking behavior of hidden female UI in urology and obstetrics and gynecology outpatient clinics. This multicentric and cross-sectional study was conducted as a part of the Turkish Overactive Bladder Study. Female patients (n = 5,565) who were referred with complaints other than UI and overactive bladder symptoms were surveyed using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-SF) with supplementation of five more questions.

The prevalence and the age at the onset of menopause in Turkish women in rural area.

Objective: To find out the prevalence of natural menopause among Turkish women according to age and certain demographic variables in a specific rural area.

Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out in Silivri district of Istanbul, Turkey between January and May 2000. Included in the study were 845 women between the ages of 30-60 years, not undergoing any hormonal replacement, living in the villages of Silivri district, Istanbul, Turkey.

[Reliability and validity of the schedule for deficit syndrome in schizophrenia].

Objective: The Schedule for Deficit Syndrome (SDS) is an instrument for categorizing schizophrenic patients as those with and without deficit syndrome. This schedule has been translated and adapted into the Turkish language in order to study its reliability and validity.

Method: 30 male schizophrenic patients were included in the study.

Sinonasal distribution of topically applied particles: computerized tomographic detection and the effects of topical decongestion.

Objective: Determine the efficacy of computerized tomography (CT) in detecting the intranasal distribution of sprayed radio-enhanced particles and the effects of topical decongestion on particle distribution.

Study Design: Sinonasal distribution of a radio-enhanced spray solution was studied using CT imaging in 14 adults with no sinonasal symptoms. One nostril was sprayed with oximetazoline 5 minutes prior to particle application.

Which patients have the highest cardiovascular risk? A follow-up study from Turkey.

Background: Recent guidelines target individuals at highest risk as a priority. However, implementation of guidelines even in this group is sub-optimal.

Design: A multicenter, observational follow-up study.

Results of the Leeds assessment of neuropathic symptoms and signs pain scale in Turkey: a validation study.

Unlabelled: Classification of pain and identification of the specific pain mechanisms through utilization of clinical data are helpful to the physician in choosing the appropriate treatment model. For discrimination between different pain types, various tests could be used. The Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS) Pain Scale is a scale based on the analysis of data obtained during bedside examination.