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Oxidative stress status in patients with melasma

Abstract Background: Melasma is an acquired skin disease characterized clinically by development of gray–brown macules or patches. The lesions have geographic borders and most often seen on face and less frequently on the neck and forearms. Pathogenesis has not been completely understood yet. Although the disease constitutes a very disturbing cosmetic problem, it has not obtained an efficient treatment. There were not any studies in the literature that evaluates the role of oxidative stress in melasma. Objectives: The evaluation of the role of oxidative stress in melasma. Methods: Fifty melasma patients and 50 healthy volunteers were included in the study. The diagnosis was made clinically and the patients were evaluated by Melasma Area Severity Index. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) enzyme activities and malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, protein carbonyl levels were measured both in the melasma group and the control group. Results: SOD and GSH-Px enzyme activities were significantly higher in the patient group in comparison with the control group (p < 0.001). Protein carbonyl levels were significantly lower in the patient group (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The results show that the balance between oxidant and anti-oxidants was disrupted and the oxidative stress increased in melasma. These results improve the understanding of etiology–pathogenesis of the disease and its treatment.

Prevalence of Proteinuria in School-Aged Turkish Children, and Its Association with Obesity and Hypertension

The Journal of Pediatric Research, published by Galenos Yayınevi. Ad dress for Cor res pon den ce/Ya z›fl ma Ad re si Ali Gül MD, Gaziosmanpaşa University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Tokat, Turkey Phone: +90 505 347 29 61 E-mail: draligul@yahoo.com ORCID ID: orcid.org/0000-0001-5350-2192 Re cei ved/Ge liş ta ri hi: 10.07.2017 Ac cep ted/Ka bul ta ri hi: 05.09.2017 Okul Çağı Türk Çocuklarında Proteinüri Sıklığı ve Obezite ve Hipertansiyonla İlişkisi

The Evaluation of Awareness in Medical Students on Palliative Care

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the awareness of medical students on palliative care (PC) for terminal cancer patients. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Gaziosmanpaşa University Medical Faculty. A face-to-face questionnaire form was presented to all students (n=363), and 210 students (57.9%) completed the form. Descriptive features of the students were compared with their knowledge of and attitude toward PC. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis, and p<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: The mean age was 20.8±2.0 years, and 62.9% of the students were female. A total of 52.9% encountered terminal cancer patients, and 64.3% felt anxious to communicate with the patients and their families. 51.9% of the students never heard of PC, 9.7% of the students who were aware about PC believed that the known information was sufficient, 9% believed in not performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in terminal cancer patients, and 16.2% thought that euthanasia should be legally available for these patients. There was no significant difference among the students who did not hear about PC before, who believed in not performing CPR necessity, and who believed in euthanasia in terms of gender and age (p>0.05). 75.7% of the students emphasized on the need of PC education, and 44.8% wished to attend PC postgraduate training. Conclusion: More than half of the students had never heard of PC. Most students who had the knowledge about PC did not find it sufficient. The number of students who had an appropriate approach concerning CPR implementation to end-stage patients and euthanasia was low. Although three-quarters of the students considered attending PC education and nearly half of them considered working in the PC field, student awareness on PC was not at the desired level. Therefore, student needs to be indicated that the medical curriculum should contain PC subjects.

Prevalence and related factors of psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis: a community-based study

BACKGROUND/AIM We aimed to determine the prevalence of psoriasis (PS) and seborrheic dermatitis (SD) (erythematous-squamous diseases) in our region and reveal the frequently encountered associated factors to aid in planning appropriate healthcare. MATERIALS AND METHODS A community-based study was conducted with 85 sample groups that reflected the population rate and demography of Tokat Province in northern Anatolia. RESULTS In this community, the prevalence of PS in people older than 20 years of age was 1.2% and the prevalence of SD was 5.2%. SD rates were higher in patients who used tobacco and especially alcohol. SD prevalence was also higher in patients treated for depression and epilepsy. Furthermore, as education levels increased, SD prevalence increased proportionally. CONCLUSION In general, PS prevalence in this region was higher than in Asia and Africa but lower than in Europe and the United States. Whereas SD prevalence varies between 2% and 12% throughout the world, the average SD prevalence was 5.2% in this study.

Prevalence of hypercalciuria and urinary calcium excretion in school-aged children in the province of Tokat

AIM Hypercalciuria is an important cause of urinary tract symptoms, and also frequently results in urolithiasis. Urinary calcium excretion varies for geographic areas. We aimed to assess percentiles of urinary calcium excretion and prevalence of hypercalciuria for school-aged children in Tokat (city located in inner northern region of Turkey). MATERIAL AND METHODS One thousand three hundred seventy-five children aged 6 to 18 years were enrolled in the study. Urine samples were obtained randomly. The childrens variables as sex, age, length, and weight were recorded. Urinary calcium and creatinine determined from the urine samples and urinary calcium/creatinine ratios (mg/mg) were calculated. Percentiles of urinary calcium/creatinine ratios were also assessed for each age of the children. RESULTS Six hundred eighty-three of the 1 375 children were girls and 692 were boys. The mean age of the children was 11.68±3.43 years. Some 23.9% of the children were living in rural regions and 76.1% were were living in urban regions. The mean urinary calcium/creatinine ratio was 0.080±0.24 and the 95th percentile value of the urinary calcium/creatinine ratio was 0.278. The hypercalciuria prevalence for school-aged children was 4.7% when the urinary calcium/creatinine ratio value for hypercalciuria was accepted as ≥0.21. The prevalence of hypercalciuria in rural and urban regions was 7.60% and 3.82%, respectively (p<0.05). Hypercalciuria was present in 7 of 141 patients who were obese (4.96%) and 58 of 1 234 patients who were not obese (4.70%) (p>0.05). CONCLUSION The prevalence of hypercalciuria and urinary calcium excretion vary for different geographic areas, not only for countries. The percentiles of urinary calcium excretion should be assesed for every geographic region and the prevalance of hypercalciuria should be determined with these values. There is controversy as to whether obesity is a risk factor for hypercalciuria.