Yusuf Haydar Ertekin

Effect of Topically Applied Azithromycin on Corneal Epithelial and Endothelial Apoptosis in a Rat Model of Corneal Alkali Burn.

Purpose: To investigate the antiapoptotic effect of topically administered azithromycin (AZM) on corneal epithelial and endothelial cells in a rat model of corneal alkali burn. Methods: Twenty-four Wistar albino rats were divided into 4 equal groups as pseudovehicle (group 1), control (group 2), alkali burned (group 3), and treatment (group 4) groups. Alkali injury was induced only in the right corneas of rats belonging to groups 3 and 4 using 1N NaOH. The rats in group 3 and the rats in group 4 were respectively treated either with an artificial tear gel or with 1.5% AZM eye drops for 5 days. At the fifth day of the experiment, the apoptosis in the corneal epithelium and endothelium of all rats was assessed using a terminal dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. In addition, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-&agr;) density in the corneal epithelium was measured in all rats. Results: The mean numbers of TUNEL+ cells in the corneal epithelium and endothelium of rats in group 3 were 117.1 ± 23.8 and 34.6.± 11.3, respectively, whereas in group 4, they were 75.8 ± 15.7 and 14.7 ± 3.5, respectively. Also the mean TNF-&agr; densities in the corneal epithelium in group 3 and group 4 were 2.65 ± 1.3 and 1.65 ± 1.1, respectively. There was a significant decrease in the mean number of TUNEL+ cells in the corneal epithelium and endothelium and in the mean TNF-&agr; density in the corneal epithelium of rats in group 4, when compared with group 3. Conclusions: Topically applied AZM can decrease TNF-&agr;–induced apoptosis in corneal alkali burn.

Vision screening in children: Is 7-9 years of age a threshold for visual impairment?

Objective: The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of decreased visual acuity, strabismus, and spectacle wear in children aged 5 to 13 years. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in primary education schools. A total of 1938 participants, including 940 females (48.5%) and 998 males (51.5%) with a mean age 8.96 ± 2.31 (5-13 years old), were screened. The comparisons were performed with gender, age, and age groups. The children attended to vision screening were assigned to three age groups as 5-6 years, 7-9 years, and 10-13 years. Results: The prevalence of the parameters was detected as decreased visual acuity 12.4%, strabismus 2.2%, and spectacle wear 6.9%. The prevalence of decreased visual acuity was significantly higher in girls and in children aged 7-9 years old (p = 0.013, p < 0.001). The prevalence of spectacle wear was significantly higher in girls and in children aged 7-9 years old (p = 0.019, p < 0.001). There was a visual acuity decrease in 33 of 106 (31.1%) children despite wearing own spectacle. There was no significant difference among three age groups for strabismus. Conclusion: Increased prevalence of decreased visual acuity, as well as the higher frequency of spectacle wear in children at ages of 7-9 years old may point out a threshold for visual impairment.

Screening cardiovascular risk in patients with high depression scores

Objective: Protection against cardiovascular diseases is provided by the dynamics of risk screening and counseling of primary health care services. Depression is known to pose a risk for cardiovascular diseases. The aim of our study was to determine which specific features of well-known depressed people who had not yet experienced a cardiovascular event were associated with cardiovascular risk. Methods: This study was conducted in patients at the Corum Gulabibey Family Health Center between June 2016 and June 2017. Patients without a known cardiovascular disease were subjected to Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Framingham risk scale. Framingham risk scores were compared by dividing the participants into two groups according to having Beck depression scores of equal/above 10 points (high BDI = HBDI) and below 10 points (low BDI = LBDI). Results: Age, LDL, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and blood pressure were all correlated with risk scores. In contrast, HDL and body mass index were only correlated with the risk scores in HBDI participants. From the HBDI patients, those who were obese had higher risk scores than those without obesity. Conclusion: Obesity is a high cardiovascular risk predictor that can be screened at one site in depression. While the body mass index of depressed individuals was correlated with the cardiovascular risk, this index being above 30 was indicative of high cardiovascular risk.

Metabolic syndrome and vaspin in patients with bipolar disorder

Metabolic disorders and abnormal levels of circulating adipokines have been reported in patients with bipolar disorder (BD). The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in the correlations of vaspin plasma levels and metabolic parameters between two groups: patients with BD and mentally healthy persons. We measured plasma levels of vaspin, metabolic parameters, and metabolic syndrome (MS) in 101 patients with BD and 90 healthy control (HC) subjects. Patients with BD were evaluated with the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) to assess manic symptoms and the Hamilton Depression Scale (HDS) to assess depressive symptoms. The Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) was used to evaluate the general functions of the patients. Body mass index (BMI), weight, waist circumference (WC), fasting glucose, and triglyceride levels of the study group were statistically higher than those of the healthy controls (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.027, and p = 0.001 respectively). Plasma levels of vaspin were 0.978 ng/ml in patients with BD and 0.292 in the HC group (p < 0.001). Our study revealed associations between metabolic parameters/metabolic syndrome and vaspin plasma concentrations in patients with BD. Vaspin can play a specific role in the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders in these subjects and can be a specific indicator substance in BD.

Prevalence of skin disorders in primary and secondary school age children in Canakkale, Turkey: a community-based survey

Introduction Skin lesions may be of dermatological importance, affect appearance, and cause problems communicating with peers and may be especially more significant in childhood. Aim Information on the prevalence of pediatric dermatoses in Western Turkey. This study was aimed to define the existing data. Material and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Canakkale, Turkey, in September-December 2013. It involved 1,957 students from five randomly selected primary and secondary schools. Each student was interviewed for age, gender, and family history, and a dermatologic examination was performed by a dermatologist. Data were coded and analyzed. Results Of the students, 79.9% revealed at least one dermatosis. The most common disease was benign neoplasms (76%), followed by pigmentary disorders (26.8%), and xerosis (5.8%). In primary schools, the acquired melanocytic nevus, hypopigmented macule, and xerosis; in secondary school the acne was statistically significantly more common. Acne and xerosis was more common in girls, and pityriasis alba was statistically more common in boys. Students who had at least one dermatosis were positively correlated with monthly income. Conclusions In Turkish school age children, the prevalence of dermatosis is 79.9%. It may be due to not using preventive means for adequate protection from the sun and other environmental factors. Infectious dermatosis and atopic dermatitis are rare and it may depend on the adequacy of public health work.

Are blood pressure values compatible with medication adherence in hypertensive patients

BACKGROUND AND AIM In the management of hypertension (HT), maintaining the medication adherence with treatment is as important as starting treatment. Studies have shown that the majority of patients taking medication do not reach their target values. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the patient medication adherence and blood pressure (BP) values and reflection to general well-being. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 259 primary HT patients. The patients with BP measurements completed the Medication Adherence Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form 13 and the World Health Organization-5 (WHO-5) well-being index. A Holter device was attached, and 24 h BP monitoring was completed. RESULTS The mean points for medication adherence scale was 29.2 ± 10.3 (1-40) and mean WHO-5 points was 13.7 ± 4.6 (4-25) for patients. Clinical mean systolic BP was 140.0 ± 12.6 and diastolic 84.8 ± 9.0 mm Hg, while 24 h mean BP was systolic 119.5 ± 10.6 and diastolic 73.3 ± 8.1 mm Hg. While there was negative correlation between medication adherence scale scores and clinical systolic BP (r = -0.171; P = 0.006), there was no correlation with other BP readings. There was no correlation with the WHO-5 score and clinical readings, though there was a positive correlation between ambulatory mean systolic and diastolic BP (r = 0.141; P = 0.023 and r = 0.123; P = 0.049, respectively). There was positive correlation between the patients medication adherence scores and the WHO-5 scores (r = 0.141; P = 0.023). CONCLUSION When clinicians assess medication adherence of patients, they should benefit from objective BP measurements and scales. Subjective and objective findings are important while making clinical decision.

Çocuklarda kulak burun boğaz muayene sonuçları ve etkileyen faktörler: Okul tabanlı-kesitsel çalışma

Giris: Calismada okul cagi populasyonunda kulak burun ve bogaz muayenesi yaparak sik gorulen patolojileri ve bu durumlarla iliskili faktorleri saptamak amaclanmaktadir. Yontem: Kesitsel desendeki calisma Eylul-Aralik.2013 tarihleri arasinda Canakkale il merkezindeki ilk ve ortaokullarda yapildi. Ogrencilerin ve ailelerinin hastalik oykulerini ve aliskanliklarini sorgulayan anket uygulandi. Kulak, burun ve bogaz muayeneleri yapilarak, ogrencilerin muayene formlarina not edildi. Bulgular: Calismaya toplam 1938 ogrenci alindi. Ogrencilerin 1369 (%70,6)’u ilkokul, 569 (%29,4)’u ortaokulda egitim gormekteydi. Ogrencilerin yas ortalamasi 8,6 ± 2,3 idi. Calismada sirasiyla tonsiller hipertrofi %25,2, kepce kulak %14,8, otitis media %3,3, anterior nazal deviasyon %10,4 siklikta gozlendi. Kepce kulak erkek ogrencilerde daha fazlaydi (p0,05). Sonuc: Okul cocuklarinda sirasiyla tonsiller hipertrofi, anterior nazal deviasyon ve otitis media en sik saptanmistir. Ogrencilerin ve ailelerinin tibbi oyku ozellikleri ile ailelerin tibbi oyku ve aliskanliklari, kulak, burun ve bogaz patolojisinin varligi icin risk faktoru degildi.

Psychiatric disorders and demographic characteristics among geriatric outpatients in Canakkale State Hospital

Psychiatric disorders and demographic characteristics among geriatric outpatients in Canakkale State Hospital Objective: The elderly population in Turkey and in the world is progressively increasing and the increase is expected to be more prominent in the future. As the elderly population grows, there will be an increasing demand on health services, resulting in rapidly rising medical, psychiatric, and social healthcare problems. The aim of the present study is to determine the distribution of psychiatric illness, including gender-based differences, demographic characteristics and prevalence within all elderly age groups, among patients visiting the general psychiatry outpatient clinic. Method: This was a retrospective study using data from the patient registry system for elderly patients who visited the general psychiatry outpatient clinic between September 2013 and February 2014. Patients were ≥65 years of age. Patients’ demographic characteristics and their Axis I diagnoses according to DSM-IV-TR were recorded. Results: Of the 1044 patients who visited the general psychiatry outpatient clinic during the 6-month period, 15% (n=158) were aged ≥65 years; 62% of the 158 patients included in the study were female and 38% were male. Depression was present in 41% of patients; 21% had generalized anxiety disorder (GAD); 8% had adjustment disorder (AD), and 7% had schizophrenia. GAD was statistically significantly higher in females and AD was statistically significantly higher in males. Conclusion: Assessing demographic data including common diagnoses and diagnostic differences between genders in elderly patients is important to improve new diagnosis and treatment strategies.