Banu Bayar

Association of the ABCB1 3435C>T polymorphism with antiemetic efficacy of 5‐hydroxytryptamine type 3 antagonists

Resistance to antiemetic treatment with 5‐hydroxytryptamine type 3 (5‐HT3) receptor antagonists is still a major problem resulting in patient discomfort and poor compliance to chemotherapy. We hypothesized that clinical resistance to 5‐HT3 antagonists is associated with the single‐nucleotide polymorphism (3435C > T) in the gene that codes for the drug efflux transporter adenosine triphosphate–binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1).

Frequency and enzyme activity of the butyrylcholinesterase K-variant in a Turkish population

ObjectiveAmong variants of the butyrylcholinesterase gene (BChE), the K-variant causing Ala539Thr substitution is the most common one associated with about one-third reduction in the enzyme activity. This study aimed to detect the frequency of the K-variant allele in a Turkish population sample and also to evaluate how the plasma BChE activity was influenced by this variant.MethodsPatients administered for elective surgery (n=77) were examined for the presence of the K allele. The enzyme activity was determined in plasma.ResultsThe K-variant of BChE is a common allele with a frequency of 0.266 (CI95% 0.196–0.336) in our sample from a Turkish population. Mean enzyme activity in subjects homozygous for the K-variant was about 40% lower than other subjects.ConclusionThe frequency of the BChE K-variant was significantly higher in a Turkish population than those reported for other populations and it is associated with a diminished enzyme activity.

Reliability and validity of the Functional Rating Index in older people with low back pain: preliminary report.

Background and aims: The Functional Rating Index (FRI) was developed to provide an assessment instrument which has not only clinical usefulness but also quantifies the patient’s current state of pain and dysfunction in a reliable and valid manner for spinal conditions. There is no study on the FRI applied to older people with low back pain (LBP). The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the FRI in older people with LBP. Methods: A total of 76 subjects aged 65 to 90 years with LBP, of which 37 were cognitively intact and were followed up on a second occasion, were assessed by the FRI, numeric rating scale (NRS), Roland Morris Questionnaire (RMQ) and spinal movement test. Reliability was assessed by statistical analysis of test results for test-retest and internal consistency. To assess construct validity, the FRI was compared with the RMQ. Concurrent validity was assessed using the NRS and spinal mobility test. Results: The FRI demonstrated high internal consistency, with al-pha=0.921 for test and alpha=0.901 for retest. Item-scale correlations were between 0.549–0.871. Test-retest correlation was 0.913 (p=0.000). There was very good construct validity between the FRI and the RMQ for test (r=0.663, p<0.000) and retest (r=0.603, p<0.000). The FRI showed high correlation with the NRS (r=0.701, p<0.000 for test; r=0.743, p<0.000 for retest) and no correlation with the spinal movement test (r=0.173, p=0.307 for test; r=0.024, p=0.888 for retest). Conclusions: In this preliminary report, the FRI appears to be easy to administer, seems to have significant validity and reliability, and may be useful in geriatric assessment of older people with LBP.

Reliability and validity of reverse visual analog scale (right to left) in different intensity of pain

AbstractThe objective of the study was to assess the reliability and validity of the reverse visual analog scale (RVAS—right to left) in the measurement of pain. Design: Three measurements (visual analog scale (left to right)—VAS, RVAS and numeric rating scale—NRS) were used for severe and mild pain intensity with a one hour interval. Subjects: Fifty-one normal volunteers were included in the study. Methods: Pain threshold and pain tolerance were obtained by pressure algometry over the trigger point of the trapezius muscle. From these scores, severe and mild pain perceptions of each subject were calculated. Pressure algometry was applied with a one hour interval. The subjects were asked to rate pain intensity by placing a mark on a VAS, RVAS and NRS in each session. Results: The construct validity showed that there was a high correlation between VAS, RVAS and NRS (which ranged from r = 0.767 to r = 0.943, p = 0.000). The test-retest reliability of RVAS in severe pain was higher than that of VAS (ICC = 0.7...

Reliability and construct validity of the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire in the elderly with low back pain

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (ODQ) in the elderly with low back pain (LBP). Design: Validation of the ODQ in the elderly with LBP. Subjects: Twenty-nine elderly with LBP were included in the study. Methods: ODQ, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMQ), lumbar mobility testing and visual analogue scale (VAS) were used as validity study for each elder and tests were repeated seven days later. Results: Scores of the two ODQ were 48.76 (SD = 17.02) on day one and 51.24 (SD = 15.20) on day seven, respectively, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.93 (p = 0.000). Cronbachs α was 0.722 on day one and 0.717 on day seven. Concurrent validity was measured by comparing ODQ responses with the result of VAS and flexibility were r = 0.53, p = 0.003 and r = 0.03, p > 0.05 for day one, and r = 0.48, p = 0.002, r =-0.03, p > 0.05 for day seven respectively. Construct validity, tested by the correlation ...

A nationwide evaluation of off-label drug utilization in Turkey

Background/aim: Off-label drug use (OLDU) is under the control of the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (TMMDA) in Turkey. It was aimed to investigate demographic and medical features of patients with OLDU applications in Turkey. Materials and methods: A total of 4426 electronic OLDU application records of the TMMDA were evaluated retrospectively. Information regarding patients? demographic characteristics, diagnoses, requested drugs, institutions, and specialties of the physicians were evaluated. Results: OLDU applications were mostly made by rheumatologists (21.5%) and 95.2% of them were approved by the TMMDA. The mean age of the patients was 35 years and 54.4% of them were female. Off-label drugs were mostly prescribed for patients aged 18?64 years (62.1%) and were most frequently prescribed by physicians from university medical centers (81.0%). Systemic lupus erythematosus (10.1%) was the most common diagnosis. Mycophenolate (16.1%) and rituximab (10.1%) were the most frequently prescribed off-label drugs. There were differences regarding some characteristics of patients and their physicians among most frequently prescribed off-label drugs (P < 0.05). Conclusion: It is noteworthy that OLDU applications showed demographical and institutional differences. It is expected that this study will provide important contributions to physicians working in the relevant area with respect to treatment alternatives of diseases with treatment challenges.

Effect of ocular compression on intraocular penetration of systemic ofloxacin.

Intraocular levels of ofloxacin are documented after topical and systemic administration, but systemic administration of ofloxacin in ocular compression has not yet been studied. This study was undertaken to determine the intraocular penetration of systemic ofloxacin into aqueous and vitreous humor after the application of ocular compression in rabbit eyes. Ocular compression with the Honan balloon was applied for 30 min to the right eyes of 11 albino New Zealand white rabbits. After the application of ocular compression, 2 mg/mL of ofloxacin was administered intravenously. Samples from aqueous and vitreous humor were collected 30 min after infusion. Ofloxacin concentrations were determined through high-performance liquid chromatography. The mean aqueous level of ofloxacin was significantly higher in the compression group (2.40±1.00 gmg/mL) than in the no-compression group (1.61 ±1.06 μg/mL) (P < .05). The mean vitreous concentrations of ofloxacin were 0.70+-0.33 μg/mL and 0.50±0.18 μg/mL in the compression and no-compression groups, respectively. A significant difference was observed between vitreous levels of ofloxacin in the compression and nocompression groups (P < .05). Ocular compression enhanced the penetration of ofloxacin in both aqueous and vitreous humor. The drug level in the aqueous humor was sufficient for the minimum inhibitory concentration for 90% of isolates (MIC90) to inhibit most microorganisms. Although the mean vitreous ofloxacin concentration was increased by previous ocular compression, it was not sufficiently above the MIC90 for most ocular pathogens that caused endophthalmitis.