Increased P-wave dispersion in patients with newly diagnosed lichen planus.

Objective: Lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune mucocutaneous disease. Recent research has emphasized the strong association between inflammation and both P-wave dispersion and dyslipidemia. The difference between the maximum and minimum P-wave durations on an electrocardiogram is defined as P-wave dispersion.

Overlapping photodegradable and biodegradable organic nitrogen in wastewater effluents.

Photochemical degradation of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in final effluent of trickling filter and activated sludge wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) was studied. Inorganic N, mostly nitrite, was produced from the photodegradation of DON for samples from both WWTPs. Photodegradable DON (PDON), biodegradable DON (BDON), and overlapping photodegradable-biodegradable DON (OPBDON) were determined.

Flurbiprofen-induced generalized bullous fixed drug eruption.

Fixed drug eruption (FDE) is an unusual drug-related side effect that results in recurrent lesions whenever the causative drugs are used. FDEs usually occur as a single, sharply demarcated, round erythematous patch or plaque, occasionally with localized bullae. The most common offending agents include antimicrobials, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and antiepileptics.

Role of initial and day 4 human chorionic gonadotropin levels in predicting the outcome of single-dose methotrexate treatment in women with tubal ectopic pregnancy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the initial and day 4 beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) levels as a predictor of methotrexate (MTX) therapy success for ectopic pregnancy.

Methods: Retrospective study of 87 patients with tubal ectopic pregnancy treated with a single dose of 50 mg/m(2) MTX at Bursa Şevket Yılmaz Research and Education Hospital between January 2011 and July 2012 was performed.

Results: The overall success rate is measured as 72.

Increased risk of atrial and ventricular arrhythmia in long-lasting psoriasis patients.

Background: Several reports have demonstrated an association between psoriasis and cardiovascular diseases. P wave dispersion (PWD) is the most important electrocardiographic (ECG) markers used to evaluate the risk of atrial arrhythmias. QT dispersion (QTD) can be used to assess homogeneity of cardiac repolarization and may be a risk for ventricular arrhythmias.

Late autoimmune hepatitis after hepatitis C therapy.

Background: De-novo or reactivated autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) has been reported during or a short time after administration of interferon (IFN) in patients treated for hepatitis C (HCV). Reports on AIH during long-term follow-up after IFN treatment are scarce.

Patients And Methods: Patients diagnosed with both HCV and AIH were identified in clinical databases of four gastroenterology departments.

Does Kinesio taping in addition to exercise therapy improve the outcomes in subacromial impingement syndrome? A randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Kinesio taping (KT) application added to the exercise treatment of subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS).

Methods: Thirty-eight (25 female, 13 male) patients with SIS were randomly divided into therapeutic KT (n=19) and sham KT (n=19) groups. All patients received the same exercise therapy in addition to therapeutic or sham KT at 3-day intervals for 12 days.

The geographic diversity of nontuberculous mycobacteria isolated from pulmonary samples: an NTM-NET collaborative study.

A significant knowledge gap exists concerning the geographical distribution of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) isolation worldwide. To provide a snapshot of NTM species distribution, global partners in the NTM-Network European Trials Group (NET) framework (www.ntm-net.

Bioavailable and biodegradable dissolved organic nitrogen in activated sludge and trickling filter wastewater treatment plants.

A study was carried out to understand the fate of biodegradable dissolved organic nitrogen (BDON) and bioavailable dissolved organic nitrogen (ABDON) along the treatment trains of a wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) equipped with an activated sludge (AS) system and a WWTF equipped with a two-stage trickling filter (TF) process. A mixed culture bacterial inoculum was used for BDON determination, while a pure cultured algal inoculum (Selenastrum capricornutum) and a combination of the bacterial and alga inocula were used for ABDON determination. Results show that BDON and ABDON varied significantly within the treatment facility and between the two facilities.

A novel echocardiographic method as an indicator of endothelial dysfunction in patients with coronary slow flow.

Background: To improve clinical outcomes, noninvasive imaging modalities have been proposed to measure and monitor atherosclerosis. Endothelial dysfunction is considered the first stage in the development of atherosclerosis. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) has been impaired in patients with coronary slow flow (CSF).

Clinical and echocardiographic follow-up in pregnant patients with valvular heart disease.

Objectives: Pregnancy associated cardiovascular changes may result in a significant hemodynamic burden and can lead to morbidity and even mortality in women with cardiac disease. The present study aimed to evaluate clinical and echocardiographic follow-up in pregnant patients with valvular heart disease (VHD).

Study Design: The medical records of pregnant patients diagnosed with VHD from January 2004 to January 2011 were screened.

Is there a role for on-site evaluation of thyroid fine needle aspiration to reduce the nondiagnostic rate?

The use of immediate on-site evaluation of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) specimens can determine the adequacy of specimens and provides a specific preliminary diagnosis. In this prospective study, we evaluated the impact of on-site assessment of thyroid FNAB performed under ultrasound guidance. Totally, 204 (170 female, 34 male) patients (102 on site, 102 control group) were included.

Diagnostic difficulties, therapeutic strategies, and performance of scoring systems in patients with autoimmune hepatitis and concurrent hepatitis B/C.

Background: The diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is already difficult, and that of AIH with chronic viral hepatitis including hepatitis B (HBV) or hepatitis C (HCV) is even more challenging. To date, only a few case-based studies have described this association.

Aim: The aim was to retrospectively assess diagnostic difficulties, therapeutic approaches, and performance of the scoring systems in AIH patients with concurrent HBV and HCV.

A novel echocardiographic method for the detection of subclinical atherosclerosis in newly diagnosed, untreated type 2 diabetes.

Background: Diabetes accelerates the natural process of atherosclerosis and is a predictor for progression of atherosclerotic lesions. To improve clinical outcomes, noninvasive imaging modalities have been proposed to measure and monitor atherosclerosis. Recently, it has been shown that the color M-mode-derived propagation velocity of the descending thoracic aorta (aortic velocity propagation [AVP]) was associated with coronary and carotid atherosclerosis.

Concomitant tubercular and fungal cerebellar abscess in an immunocompromised girl.

Concomitant tubercular and fungal cerebellar abscess is rare and we report the first concomitant recurrent multi-lobulated tubercular and fungal cerebellar abscess in an immunocompromised girl with Histiocytosis-X. She presented with cerebellar abscess history diagnosed during the ongoing treatment for tuberculous meningitis. The abscess was drained.

Impact of earthquakes on sex ratio at birth: Eastern Marmara earthquakes.

Objective: Previous reports suggest that maternal exposure to acute stress related to earthquakes affects the sex ratio at birth. Our aim was to examine the change in sex ratio at birth after Eastern Marmara earthquake disasters.

Material And Methods: This study was performed using the official birth statistics from January 1997 to December 2002 - before and after 17 August 1999, the date of the Golcuk Earthquake - supplied from the Turkey Statistics Institute.

Decomposing socioeconomic inequalities in self assessed health in Turkey.

Introduction: This study aimed to measure socioeconomic inequalities in Self Assessed Health (SAH) and evaluate the determinants of such inequalities in terms of their contributions amongst the Turkish population.

Methods: We used data from the Turkish part of World Health Survey 2003 with 10,287 respondents over 18 years old. Concentration index (CI) of SAH was calculated as a measure of socioeconomic inequalities in health, and contributions of each determinant to inequality were evaluated using a decomposition method.

[Evaluation of the distribution of non-tuberculous mycobacteria strains isolated in National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory in 2009-2010, Turkey].

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are commonly encountered environmental bacteria, and most of them are associated with lung diseases. Diagnosis of infections caused by NTM is based on clinical, radiological and microbiological findings. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of non-tuberculous mycobacterial species isolated from clinical specimens as etiologic agents.

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency in patients with chronic hepatitis.

Background/aims: Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency causes accumulation of mutant alpha-1 antitrypsin molecules in hepatocytes, and is attributed to severe liver injury even in heterozygous state. However, there is a question as to whether alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is only a cause of liver injury or has a worsening effect on the underlying liver disease. We aimed to determine the role of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency in the ongoing chronic hepatitic process.

High prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in a Western urban Turkish population: a community-based study.

Objective: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the largest cause of morbidity and mortality in Turkey and in the World. Heart of Balçova Project is a community- based health promotion project that aims to reduce CVD incidence and prevalence through risk factor modification in the individual and population level. This paper presents results of the baseline survey that aimed to define CVD risk factors and risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD) in the Balçova population.

Surgical results of degenerative spondylolisthesis patients over 70 years old: a single-center experience and clinical outcomes.

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate results of surgery in Degenerative Spondylolisthesis (DS) patients over 70 years old.

Material And Methods: This is a non-randomized retrospective analysis of the clinical outcome of 34 patients older than 70 years who underwent surgery. At the end of two-year follow-up period, preoperative and postoperative courses were assessed by Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Visual Analog Scales (VAS).

[Evaluation of antibiotic susceptibilities and VISA-VRSA rates among MRSA strains isolated from hospitalized patients in intensive care units of hospitals in seven provinces of Turkey].

The aim of this study was to determine whether vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) and vancomycin intermediate susceptible S.aureus (VISA) strains were present among methicillin-resistant S.aureus (MRSA) strains isolated from patients hospitalised at intensive care units (ICU) of hospitals located at different regions of Turkey and to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of teicoplanin, linezolid, tigecycline, quinupristin-dalfopristin and daptomycin, which are alternative drugs for the treatment of MRSA infections.