Pınar Okyay

Intestinal parasites prevalence and related factors in school children, a western city sample-Turkey

BackgroundIntestinal parasitic infections are amongst the most common infections worldwide. Epidemiological research carried out in different countries has shown that the social and economical situation of the individuals is an important cause in the prevalence of intestinal parasites. Previous studies in Turkey revealed a high prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection. The objectives of the current study were to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in Aydin among 7–14 years old school children and to identify associated socio-demographic and environmental factors, behavioral habits and also related complaints.MethodsMultistage sampling was used in the selection of the study sample. A questionnaire, cellulose adhesive and a stool specimen examination were done.ResultsA total of 456 stool specimens were collected. 145 students (31.8%) were infected with one or more intestinal parasites. 29 (6.4%) of the students were infected more than one parasite, 26 (5.7%) with two parasites and 3 (0.7%) with three parasites. The three most common were E. vermicularis, G. intestinalis and E. coli. Intestinal parasite prevalence was higher in rural area, in children with less than primary school educated mother, in children who use hands for washing anal area after defecation, and in children who use toilet paper sometimes or never. The relation between child health and mother education is well known. Children were traditionally taught to wash anal area by hand. Toiler paper usage was not common and might be due to low income or just a behavioral habit also. Most of the complaints of the study population were not significantly related with the intestinal parasitic infection.ConclusionsIntestinal parasitic infection is an important public health problem in Aydin, Turkey. Rural residence, mother education less than primary school, sometimes or never usage of toilet paper, and washing anal area by hands after defecation were the significant associations. Interventions including health education on personal hygiene to the students and to the parents, especially to mothers are required. The ratio of uneducated women should be declined with specific programs. A multisectoral approach is needed.

Seroprevalence and risk factors for toxoplasma infection among pregnant women in Aydin province, Turkey.

BackgroundThe aims of the present study were to determine the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women at first trimester of their pregnancy and to follow up the seroconversion for next two trimesters, and to identify the risk factors and possible contamination routes in Aydin province, Turkey.MethodThe sample size was calculated as 423 on a prevalence of 50%, d=0.05 at a confidence level of 95% with 10% addition. It was a cross-sectional study with multistage sampling. After a questionnaire applied to the pregnant women, anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies were studied with ELISA and IFA, values in conflict with DA test, where IgM antibodies were studied with ELISA and for borderline or positive values of IgM avidity test was used.ResultsThe mean age of 389 (92.9%) of pregnant women in the study was 24.28+/-4.56 years, the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies for toxoplasmosis was 30.1%. Seroprevalence was increased with age (p=0.001) and with drinking water consumption other than bottled water (p=0.042). No significant relations were observed between anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies and education level, being native or migrant, abortion history, consumption of meat, vegetable and milk/milk products, personal or kitchen hygiene habits, cat owning at home of the pregnant women. No IgM antibody was detected.ConclusionOne of every three pregnant women in Aydin was at risk of toxoplasmosis at the first trimester of their pregnancy. Increased seroprevalance with age was a predictable result because of increasing time of exposure. Increased seroprevalence with consumption of municipal and uncontrolled water (well/spring water) supplies was similar with latest epidemiological findings.

Effect of corneal drying on central corneal thickness.

PurposeTo determine the amount of corneal thinning induced by corneal drying, and to discuss its possible consequences on applanation pressure. Patients and MethodsTwo sets of central corneal thickness measurement from 100 eyes of 100 patients were taken by ultrasonic pachymeter at time settings of 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 seconds. During the first set (group 1), patients were asked to blink voluntarily between the measurements. During the second set (group 2), the same patients were prevented from blinking during the measurements. ResultsMean central corneal thickness at 0 second in groups 1 and 2 were 547.0 ± 37.4 &mgr;m, and 546.7 ± 37.6 &mgr;m, respectively. Corneal thickness did not change significantly in group 1, but did significantly decrease in group 2. Rate of thinning increased linearly during the first 30 seconds, and then leveled around 0.3 &mgr;m/s up to 60 seconds. Mean corneal thickness decreased 3.0% during the 60 second drying. The decrease in thickness was significant when each time point in group 2 was compared with the preceding one (P < 0.01). Neither age nor 0 second corneal thickness in group 2 showed a significant correlation with the amount of corneal thinning at 60 seconds. ConclusionCorneal thickness may significantly decrease during 1 minute of drying. Decreased thickness may result in underestimation of applanated pressure as well as central corneal thickness.

Does the EGFR and VEGF expression predict the prognosis in colon cancer

Background/Aim: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are frequently encountered with aggressive tumor phenotype and poor prognosis, but the relationship between EGFR/VEGF expression and survival remains unclear. The aim of our study was to further investigate the prognostic value of EGFR and VEGF expression in colon cancer. Materials and Methods: The pathological specimens of 60 colon carcinoma patients were retrospectively evaluated and grouped according to EGFR and VEGF staining intensity and percentage of stained neoplastic cells. A final score was assigned to each case by multiplying percentage and staining score. The patients were stratified into the following categories: negative (score 0), low expression (score 1 or 2), and high expression (score 4). The remaining patient data were filtered out from the institutional cancer database. Results: The mean survival time was 28.93 ± 14.1 (range 2–52) months in the EGFR-negative group, 23.92 ± 14.0 (range 6–46) months in the group with a low EGFR expression, and 17.00 ± 12.8 (range 10–40) months in the group with a high EGFR expression. The median survival time was 27.50 ± 14.7 (range 4–52) months in the VEGF-negative group, 29.33 ± 12.8 (range 6–48) months in the group with a low VGEF expression, and 14.50 ± 14.2 (range 2–40) months in the group with a high VGEF expression. The expression of EGFR and VEGF was not an independent factor that affects survival. Conclusions: The EGFR and VEGF expression rates of colon tumors do not predict the survival. In addition, the EGFR expression in the primary tumor was not predictive of metastatic lymph nodes. The prognostic value of EGFR/VEGF staining may be further questioned.

Orbital blood flow parameters in unilateral pseudoexfoliation syndrome.

Purpose The evaluation of orbital blood flow parameters in patients with unilateral pseudoexfoliation syndrome (XFS) and in age–sex-matched control subjects using color Doppler imaging. Methods This prospective, comparative case series included 33 unilateral XFS patients and 33 age–sex-matched control subjects. Color Doppler imaging was used to evaluate the XFS-affected (Group 1) and -unaffected (Group 2) eyes that were matched with the corresponding side (Groups 3 and 4) of control subjects. All subjects were given a complete ophthalmological examination. A masked radiologist obtained the peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end diastolic velocity (EDV) of ophthalmic (OA), central retinal (CRA), nasal posterior ciliary (NPCA) and temporal posterior ciliary arteries (TPCA) as well as mean velocity of central retinal vein (CRV). Resistivity indices (RI) were calculated. Results Analysis of peak systolic and end diastolic velocity (PSV, EDV) and RI between Groups 1–2 and 3–4 did not show any significant difference. Comparing Groups 1–3 (corresponding eyes of pseudoexfoliation-affected and control subjects) and Groups 2–4 (corresponding eyes of pseudoexfoliation-unaffected and control subjects) revealed significantly low values for OA, PSV and EDV in both eyes of the XFS patients. The OA RI value in Group 1 was found to be significantly higher than that in Group 3 with the cut-off value of 0.72. Conclusion These findings suggest that ophthalmic artery hemodynamic parameters change in both eyes of unilateral XFS patients, illustrating out the systemic nature of the disease. We conclude that XFS decreases OA blood flow velocities and increases vascular resistance through progressive build-up.

Prevalence of Demodex folliculorum in young adults: relation with sociodemographic/hygienic factors and acne vulgaris.

474 JEADV 2006, 20, 461–488

Expression of NF-κB in Helicobacter pylori Infection

Helicobacter pylori colonizes the gastric mucosa in humans and causes chronic gastritis. NF-κB has a key role as a mediator in mucosal inflammation. In this study, we examined the expression of NF-κB in the antral epithelial cells of H. pylori-infected and H. pylori-uninfected biopsies and examined these processes in relationship with grade and activity of gastritis, density of H. pylori, presence of the intestinal metaplasia, and atrophy.Fifty biopsies (35 H. pylori-positive patients and 15 H. pylori-negative controls) were studied. NF-κB immunohistochemical stain was performed. NF-κB activity in H. pylori-infected biopsies were markedly enhanced compared with uninflamed biopsies (P = 0.001). We also found positive correlation NF-κB expression with severity of gastritis (according to Sydney score) (P = 0.001), activity of gastritis (P = 0.046) and H. pylori load (P < 0.001), and atrophy (P = 0.004). We did not find a significant relationship between NF-κB and the presence of intestinal metaplasia (P = 0.355). These findings suggested that expression of NF-κB has an important role in H. pylori gastritis.

The reliability of long‐term storage of direct immunofluorescent staining slides at room temperature

Background:  Long‐term preservation of immunofluorescence is important for re‐examinations. We investigated whether the storage of direct immunofluorescent (DIF)‐positive slides at room temperature was reliable in daily practice.

Personality disorders in a community sample in Turkey: Prevalence, associated risk factors, temperament and character dimensions

Background: Data from Turkey on prevalence of personality disorders (PD) in the normal population are sparse. Aims: The present study conducted in a community sample aimed to investigate personality disorders in terms of prevalence, associated risk factors and personality dimensions. Methods: A stratified sampling procedure allowed us to compose a sample consisting of 774 participants residing in Aydin, Turkey. The DSM-IV and ICD-10 Personality Questionnaire (DIP-Q) and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) were used to assess PDs and personality dimensions, respectively. Results: Roughly 20% of the participants received a PD diagnosis. Among the individual PD categories, schizotypal and obsessive-compulsive PDs were the most prevalent diagnoses. Participants with PD were more likely to have higher self-directedness and cooperativeness scores. These risk factors and personality dimensions were most strongly associated with the cluster B disorders. Conclusion: New versions of the diagnostic systems should include schizotypal, obsessive-compulsive and cluster B PDs as separate diagnostic categories, and impaired self-directedness as well as cooperativeness as a general diagnostic criterion for the sake of backward and forward compatibility of the research in this field.

Interobserver Agreement in the Use of the ABCD Rule for Dermoscopy

To the Editor: Dermoscopic algorithms, which are the methods of analysis of dermoscopic data, include pattern analysis, the ABCD rule, the seven features of melanoma (7FFM), the eleven surface microscopic features method of diagnosis of invasive melanoma, and the new 7 point checklist based on pattern analysis (1–3). The main goal in the development of all of these algorithms is to help dermoscopical examination become an easily reproducible, sensitive, and specific diagnostic technique (4, 5). The most limiting factor in the use of dermoscopy remains its inability to be totally objective because it is a direct result of assessment by individuals. We aimed to investigate interobserver agreement in the commonly used ABCD rule of dermoscopy with special emphasis on the effect of its various (A, B, C and D) components and to discuss the possible contributory factors. One hundred fifteen melanocytic lesions were independently examined dermoscopically by four observers two of whom had completed a dermoscopy course and had more than 10 years of dermatology experience. Of the total 460 clinical diagnoses 450 were melanocytic nevi, 3 were melanoma and the remaining 7 were various benign disorders including seborrheic keratoses and lentigo simplex. None of the lesions was greater than 1 cm in diameter. Mean TDS (total dermoscopy score) values were between 3.11 ± 0.94 and 3.42 ± 1.17, and the differences in TDS scores among the observers were statistically significant (p=0.002, Friedman test). Table 1 shows the κ values referring to interobserver agreement in parameters A (asymmetry), B (abrupt cutoff of pigment pattern), C (difThe Journal of Dermatology Vol. 31: 1041–1043, 2004