Bektas Murat Yalcin

Anthropometric risk factors for elevated blood pressure in adolescents in Turkey aged 11-17.

To investigate the relationship between anthropometric parameters and elevated blood pressure in adolescents, we measured blood pressure (BP), height, weight, triceps skinfold (TSF) thickness, waist circumference (WC), and mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) in 2,860 student volunteers aged 11–17 years in Kayseri, Turkey. Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist-to-arm-span ratio (WASR), body mass index (BMI), arm-fat area (AFA), and fat percentage (FP) were also calculated. Participants were divided into two groups: hypertensive [systolic blood pressure (SBP) or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 95th percentiles, n = 246] and normotensives (SBP or DBP < 95th percentiles, n = 2614). Multiple logistic regression models were produced within these groups for the examined risk factors, and cutoff points were investigated for SBP or DBP ≥ 95th percentiles using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. BMI, WC, WHtR, WASR, MUAC, and BMI had statistically significant cutoffs among boys. Whereas BMI, WHtR, WASR, WC, MUAC, AFA, and TSF were statistically significant for girls younger than 15, only BMI and WC were statistically significant for participants older than 15. The independent risk factors for elevated BP were determined according to BMI and WC. Although several anthropometric measurements were significant in our participants, BMI and WC were significant among all participants irrespective of age and sex.

Effects of a Couple Communication Program on Marital Adjustment

Background: Couples are usually advised to improve their communication skills to increase harmony and avoid conflicts. However, studies aimed at increasing marital adjustment in primary care are limited. Methods: A Couple Communication Program was announced at the Ondokuz Mayis University Permanent Education Center, and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale was administered to 67 couples who volunteered. Twenty-eight persons (14 couples) with the lowest test scores were randomized into study and control groups. At the end of the program (post-test), the scale was again administered to the study group. Afterward, the pretest and post-test scores of the study and control groups were compared. The study group’s pretest, post-test, and follow-up test scores were also examined. Results: No difference in marital adjustment was found between the study and control groups before the start of the program (P > .05). The post-test scores of the couples attending the Couple Communication Program proved to be higher in total than the scores of those who did not attend (P < .001). The post-test and follow-up scores of the study group were significantly higher than their pretest scores (P < .001). There was no significant difference between the post-test and follow-up scores of the study group (P = 1.0). Conclusion: This program may have a positive effect on marital adjustment levels by improving communication skills and may lead to long-term behavioral modifications in couples.

Four Patients With Different Characteristics in Smoking and Cessation-Case Series

Smoking is one of the worst habits adversely affect health. Various reasons can play a part in starting smoking. Addictions are difficult to combat for various reasons. In our manuscript, four patients with different characteristics in smoking and cessation were presented. Sigara, sagliga olumsuz etkide bulunan en kotu aliskanliklardandir. Sigaraya baslama nedenleri cok cesitli olabilmektedir. Bagimliliklarla cesitli nedenlerle mucadele edilmesi zordur. Makalemizde, sigarayi icme ve birakma konusunda farkli ozellikte dort hasta sunulmustur.

DOES SELF-CONTROL MEAN EVERYTHING FOR SMOKING CESSATION? -

Rutin kontrol amaciyla aile sagligi merkezine basvuran, esansiyel hipertansiyon tanisi ile takip edilen 58 yasindaki erkek hastaya sigara icip icmedigi soruldu. Hasta 18-53 yaslari arasinda gunde 4 paket (140 paket/yil) sigara ictigini, son 5 yildir sigara icmedigini belirtti. Sigarayi birakma kararini bir anda verdigi, herhangi bir tibbi veya alternatif/ tamamlayici tibbi oneri almadigi ogrenildi. Bu karari aldigi gunku dis etken olarak, yaptiklari bir ev ziyareti esnasinda ev sahibinin, yemekten sonra sigara icen hastamiza yonelttigi sigara icmesi ile ilgili kirici sozler oldugu not edildi. Hastamizin, oldukca yogun sigara icme gecmisine ragmen, tibbi destek almadan sadece iradesiyle sigarayi birakmasinin sasirtici oldugu dusunuldu. Her ne kadar sigarayi birakmada kisinin karari ve bu konudaki tutum, davranislari belirleyici rol aliyorsa da, bu surecin profesyonelce yonetilmesi ve gerektigi durumlarda farmakoterapi uygulanmasi basarili bir sigara birakma sureci icin gereklidir.

Science Fiction or Fictional Science in Medical Education

We designed a class titled “Medicine in Science Fiction” in the Medicine in the Future selective rotation (for 3 weeks) of 40 first-year students at the Ondokuz Mayis University Medical Faculty. This class consisted of presentations, discussion sessions and a group project. Students attended active presentations enriched by various clips from science-fiction movies. These were selected based on their scientific value, questioning important ethical problems or challenging the development of technology, or just because they are popular. In the discussion sessions students evaluated these clips in terms of whether they are logical, whether or not they conflict with the general laws of science, and whether they are compatible with daily medical procedures or ethical principles. Finally, the students prepared group presentations concerning a science fictional medical technology and the obstacles (scientific or ethical problems, etc.) to this being developed today. The first group’s project concerned the medical ‘tricorder’ in Star Trek, second group’s was about biological autograft (stem cell) or mechanical prosthetic limp technology and the third group’s was about nanotechnology.

A Patient Having Recurrent Aphtous Stomatitis After Three Years of Smoking Cessation

Cigarette smoking is the foremost health risk issue affecting individuals of all age groups globally. It is the most important causes of the preventable deaths and diseases. Aware of these facts many smokers wish to quit. However smoking cessation is though for smokers who experiences many unpleasant and troublesome physiological or psychological problems. After cessation oral ulcers and other oral aphtous lesions which are considered as mild and expected to disappear in time, can be seen. These problems are attributed with either nicotine withdrawal or nicotine replacement therapy. Recurrent oral aphtous stomatitis however can be very severe and diminish quality of life even some years after cessation. There are growing epidemiologic evidences for the effects of tobacco use and tobacco cessation therapy on a variety of oral diseases and conditions. In this case report we would like to introduce an ex-smoker patient who had severe recurrent aphtous stomatitis attacks for three years after he had quitted and the current data about the management of oral ulcers and aphtous stomatitis.