Saliva/serum ghrelin, obestatin and homocysteine levels in patients with ischaemic heart disease.

Background: We aimed to compare ghrelin, obestatin, homocysteine (Hcy), vitamin B and folate levels in the serum and saliva of ischaemic heart disease patients.

Methods: Serum and saliva were collected from 33 ischaemic heart disease (IHD) patients and 28 age- and body mass index-matched healthy individuals. Levels of acylated and desacylated ghrelin, obestatin and Hcy were determined using the ELISA method.

Assessment of different folic acid supplementation doses for low-birth-weight infants.

Aim: The adequacy of 50 mcg folic acid supplementation given to low-birth-weight babies was investigated. The folate levels of the mothers and infants, and breastmilk, and the optimum dose for folic acid supplementation were also investigated.

Material And Methods: After obtaining blood from 141 low-birth-weight infants on the 1st day of life for serum and red cell folate levels, the infants were randomly allocated into three groups according to the folic acid supplement dose.

Maternal and neonatal outcomes in advanced maternal age: a retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To describe the effect of extremely advanced maternal age (EAMA) on maternal/neonatal outcomes.

Methods: This was a case-control study in which 127 women ≥40 years at the time of delivery out of 2853 singleton hospital deliveries in Ondokuz Mayis University between 1 January 2008 and 31 August 2010 constituted the study group. One hundred and twenty-seven else were chosen randomly out of 2412, 21-35 years old women, via a computer system as controls.

To Compare Time-Weighted Graphs to Evaluate the Inclination of the Acetabular Component of Patients Who Had Total Hip Replacement Surgery.

Time-weighted graphs are used to detect small shifts in statistical process control. The aim of this study is to evaluate the inclination of the acetabular component with CUmulative SUM (CUSUM) chart, Moving Average (MA) chart, and Exponentially Weighted Moving Average (EWMA) chart. The data were obtained directly from thirty patients who had undergone total hip replacement surgery at Ondokuz Mayis University, Faculty of Medicine.

The relationship of T helper-2 pathway components interleukin-4, interleukin-10, immunoglobulin e, and eosinophils with prognostic markers in non-hodgkin lymphoma: a case-control study.

Objective: Increased risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is associated with infections and environmental agents. We hypothesized that these factors chronically trigger the T helper-2 (Th2) pathway and result in lymphoma. We investigated the role of the Th2 pathway by exploring the relationships between components of the Th2 pathway, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-4, immunoglobulin E (IgE), and eosinophils, and prognostic markers of NHL.

A breast cancer nomogram for prediction of non-sentinel node metastasis - validation of fourteen existing models.

Background: To avoid performing axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for non-sentinel lymph node (SLN)-negative patients with-SLN positive axilla, nomograms for predicting the status have been developed in many centers. We created a new nomogram predicting non-SLN metastasis in SLN-positive patients with invasive breast cancer and evaluated 14 existing breast cancer models in our patient group.

Materials And Methods: Two hundred and thirty seven invasive breast cancer patients with SLN metastases who underwent ALND were included in the study.

[Infectivity-resistotype-genotype clustering of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains in the Central Blacksea Region of Turkey].

The increase in the prevalence of epidemic strains of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in hospitals and community requires special attention of infection control. The aim of this study was to determine the pathogenic phenotype (i.e.

Comparison of oversized artery and vein grafts for interpositional pedicle lengthening in rat femoral artery.

Vessel grafting is commonly used for revascularization or pedicle lengthening. Although veins are more commonly used, they can form aneurysms when bridging an arterial gap. This can lead to thrombosis, and the risk is increased when there is a size discrepancy.

The optimal dose of remifentanil for acceptable intubating conditions during propofol induction without neuromuscular blockade.

Study Objective: To determine the optimal remifentanil dose required to provide acceptable intubating conditions following induction of anesthesia with propofol without using neuromuscular blockade.

Design: Dose-response study.

Setting: Operating room of a university hospital.

Hsp 70, hsCRP and oxidative stress in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) like unstable angina (UA) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) can lead to the morbidity and mortality. The diagnosis and management of patients with ACS in the earliest times after symptom onset are considerably important in the emergency service. Study aimed to investigate the serum levels of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp 70), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), total creatine kinase (CK) activity, creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), leukocyte count (WBCs) and markers of oxidative stress in the first hours of ACS and to view their diagnostic values.

[Performance evaluation of VITEK 2 system in meropenem susceptibility testing of clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates].

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important opportunistic pathogen associated with various community-acquired or nosocomial infections. Multi-drug resistant P.aeruginosa strains increasingly cause epidemics and spread in various hospital wards and geographic regions.

Effectiveness of microwave diathermy on pain, functional capacity, muscle strength, quality of life, and depression in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical study.

The aim of this clinical trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic MD on pain, functional capacity, muscle strength, quality of life, and depression in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS). A total of 40 inpatient subjects with definite SIS were included in this study. These patients were sequentially randomized into 2 groups.

Treatment of melasma with a depigmentation cream determined with colorimetry.

Background: Melasma is a pigmentary disorder often recalcitrant to treatment. Few studies have objectively evaluated the efficacy of treatment colorimetrically.

Aim: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a depigmentation cream, including mainly glycolic acid and Rumex occidentalis.

Comparison of the 532-nm KTP and 1064-nm Nd:YAG lasers for the treatment of cherry angiomas.

Background: Laser therapy is the treatment of choice for cherry angiomas since it is more effective and has better cosmetic results. There is no comparative study about the treatment efficacies with KTP and Nd:YAG lasers for cherry angiomas.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and side effects of 532-nm KTP and 1064-nm Nd:YAG lasers for the treatment of cherry angiomas.

Environmental risk factors in pediatric psoriasis: a multicenter case-control study.

To analyze the effect of possible risk factors, including breastfeeding, on the development of childhood-onset psoriasis, a multicenter case-control study with prospective collection of data was performed. Using a standard questionnaire, personal and specific variables including family history of psoriasis, maternal and environmental tobacco smoke exposure, body mass index (BMI), exclusive and partial breastfeeding for at least 3 and 12 months, cow's milk intake before 1 year, birth delivery method, and stressful life events were collected during 2009 from 537 patients with psoriasis and 511 controls younger than 18. Overall, patients more frequently reported exposure to environmental tobacco smoke at home and stressful life events in the year preceding the diagnosis than controls.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha and beta and interferon gamma gene polymorphisms in Turkish breast cancer patients.

Cytokine genes are important for researching cancer predisposition to cancers that elicit anti-tumor immune response. In this study, we investigated the association between breast cancer and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) -308 (G>A), TNF-β +252 (A>G), and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) +874 (T>A) gene polymorphisms in a Turkish population. This study involved 204 female breast cancer patients and 204 healthy female controls.

Colorimetric-plate method for rapid disk diffusion susceptibility testing of Escherichia coli.

Here, we report a laboratory-developed colorimetric-plate method for rapid disk diffusion susceptibility testing of Escherichia coli. One hundred isolates were evaluated. Categorical agreement between the colorimetric plate and the standard disk diffusion method was 99%.

Clinical comparison of potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) versus neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser treatment for lower extremity telangiectases.

Background: The Nd:YAG laser has been considered the gold standard of treatment for leg veins, but pain and side effects have fueled physicians to use treatment alternatives.

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy of the long-pulsed 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser with KTP laser irradiation in the treatment of leg telangiectasia.

Methods: A series of 16 patients with size-matched superficial telangiectases of the lower extremities were randomly assigned to receive three consecutive monthly treatments with the long-pulsed 1064-nm Nd:YAG on one leg and 532-nm KTP laser irradiation on the other.

Narrow-band ultraviolet B as a potential alternative treatment for resistant psychogenic excoriation: an open-label study.

Narrow-band ultraviolet therapy has been used successfully for the treatment of inflammatory skin disorders and generalized pruritus. We have prospectively evaluated seven consecutive patients with resistant psychogenic excoriation (PE) treated with narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB). Approximately 70% of all patients showed improvement in their condition.

Evaluation of the relationship between passive smoking and salivary electrolytes, protein, secretory IgA, sialic acid and amylase in young children.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between passive smoking as determined by salivary cotinine levels and salivary electrolytes, protein, secretory IgA, sialic acid and amylase in children.

Design: Saliva was collected from 90 passive smoker (PS) subjects (the study group) and 90 healthy age-matched children (the control group). The study group was divided into three subgroups according the number of cigarettes smoked.

Effects of two exercise interventions on pulmonary functions in the patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of two different home-based daily exercise programs on pulmonary functions in the patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods: Fifty-one patients with AS were distributed into three groups. Group 1 (n=19) was given a conventional exercise regimen.

Verification test of sensory analyses of comb and strained honeys produced as pure and feeding intensively with sucrose (Saccharum officinarum L.) syrup.

The aims of the study were to discriminate comb and strained honeys produced by the standard beekeeping method (control), shaking method (pure blossom honey), and feeding intensively (100kg/colony) with sucrose (adulterated honey) syrup by using sensory analysis and to develop a method to be used in identification of unknown or suspicion honey samples. In the study, twenty trained panelists assessed honey samples in relation to their properties including taste, odor, color, aroma, viscosity, dissolution in mouth, inflammation in throat, attractiveness, flavor and general impression during four months. There were no differences in odor, viscosity, and dissolution in mouth between comb and strained honey samples which produced by different methods (P > 0.

CYP1A2, CYP2D6, GSTM1, GSTP1, and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms in patients with bladder cancer in a Turkish population.

Genetic differences in the metabolism of xenobiotics have recently been suggested as modifiers of individual susceptibility to bladder cancer (BC). The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between bladder tumor and variants of cytochrome p450 1A2 (CYP1A2) 734 C --> A, cytochrome p450 2D6 (CYP2D6) 1934 G --> A, glutathione S-transferase M1, (GSTM1 null), glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1 null), and glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) I105 V. We investigated the distribution of these polymorphisms in 135 BC patients and in 128 age and sex-matched cancer-free controls.

Characteristics of pruritus in children on peritoneal dialysis.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of pruritus in pediatric patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-seven patients (16 females, 11 males), aged between 5 and 18 years, were evaluated for the presence, intensity, onset, activation time, duration, characteristics, localization and increasing factors for pruritus. The intensity of pruritus was scored using a visual analog scale.

Dependence of computed tomography volume measurements upon section thickness: an application to human dry skulls.

Estimation of intracranial volume (ICV) using computed tomography (CT) scans has previously been described. However, we were not able to identify a gold standard study that analyzed the effect of section thickness on the estimation of ICV. Therefore, we conducted the present study, scanning five dry skulls in the coronal and axial planes using a multislice CT machine (Toshiba TSX-101A, Aquilion 16 Slice, Tochigi, Japan).