Juvenile idiopathic arthritis in a center in the Western Anatolia region in Turkey.

AIM: To demonstrate the demographic data, subgroup distributions, responses to treatment and outcomes of long-term follow-up in patients who were followed up and treated in our clinics with a diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and to compare these data with national and international data. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The files of 116 patients who had been diagnosed as having juvenile idiopathic arthritis, were initiated on treatment and presented for regular follow-up visits between January 2012 and January 2018, were examined. Their demographic findings, treatments, active/inactive disease states (on-medication and off-medication) and treatment response states were evaluated. RESULTS: According to the International League of Associations for Rheumatology criteria, the subtypes were specified as enthesitis-related arthritis (n=38), oligoarticular (n=37), rheumatoid factor (-) polyarticular (n=17), systemic (n=15), rheumatoid factor (+) polyarticular (n=5), and psoriatic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (n=4). In total, the female/male ratio was found to be 1.5. The mean delay time between the first complaint and the diagnosis was found to be 5.7±5.2 months. The patients with systemic type were diagnosed at the earliest, while the patients with polyarticular and enthesitis-related subtypes were diagnosed at the latest. Thirty-two percent of the patients were treated with methotrexate alone, and 38% were given additional biologic drugs. In both treatment groups, the time to achieve inactive disease was the shortest in the oligoarticular group and the longest in the enthesitis-related arthritis group. In the study period, 38 patients were in remission off-medication (the highest rate (53.3%) was observed in the systemic group) and 71 patients were in remission on-medication (the highest rate (70.2%) was observed in the oligoarticular group). Remission was obtained in 94% of the patients. CONCLUSION: Enthesitis which is the remarkable finding of enthesitis-related arthritis, should not be overlooked in routine physical examination. Awareness of enthesitis can contribute to the prevention of diagnostic delay in children with enthesitis-related arthritis.

The subscales and short forms of the dizziness handicap inventory: are they useful for comparison of the patient groups?

PURPOSE: Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) is one of the most frequently used surveys for vertigo. The aim of the study was re-analyze the consistency of subscales and correlation between original and different short forms. METHOD: The data of 2111 patients were analyzed. Original three subscales, screening form of DHI and short form of DHI were evaluated. The suitability of the data set for factor analysis and factor structure was analyzed with Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) coefficient, Bartlett's Sphericity Test, and Varimax method. Pearson correlation analysis was performed. RESULTS: Factor analysis showed that two factor solutions are more prominent in our data. The factors proposed in different studies are not in harmony with each other. There is high correlation between the original and screening and short forms of DHI. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that the factor structure of the scale was not consistent. It is not advised to use subscale scores for comparison especially in international level. Therefore, total score should be used rather than the scores of the subscales. Using DHI screening form instead of original 25 questions is more convenient, because it is highly correlated with the original one and has fewer questions. Implications for rehabilitation Factor structure of the DHI is not consistent enough for comparison of the international studies. Total score of DHI is reliable. Using the screening version of DHI is better, because it is highly correlated with the original form and has fewer questions (10 questions).

Adiponectin and Cardiac Hypertrophy in Acromegaly.

BACKGROUND: Adiponectin is an adipocytes-derived hormone which has been shown to possess insulin-sensitizing, antiatherogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties. In acromegaly, the data on adiponectin is contradictory. The relationship between adiponectin levels and cardiac parameters has not been studied. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to find out how adiponectin levels were affected in acromegalic patients and the relationship between adiponectin levels and cardiac parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included 30 subjects (15 male, 15 female), diagnosed with acromegaly and 30 healthy (10 male, 20 female) subjects. Serum glucose, insulin, GH, IGF-1 and adiponectin levels were obtained and the insulin resistance of the subjects was calculated. Echocardiographic studies of the subjects were performed. RESULTS: We determined that adiponectin levels were significantly higher in the acromegalic group than the control group. In the acromegalic group, there was no statistically significant relation between serum adiponectin and growth hormone (GH), or insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels (p = 0.3, p = 0.1). We demonstrated that cardiac function and structure are affected by acromegaly. IVST, PWT, LVMI, E/A ratio, DT, ET, IVRT, VPR, and LVESV values were increased and the results were statistically significant. In the acromegalic group, adiponectin levels were positively related with left ventricle mass index (LVMI) but this correlation was found to be statistically weak (p = 0.03). In our study, there was a positive correlation between VAI and LVM. We also could not find any correlation between VAI and adiponectin levels. CONCLUSIONS: Although insulin resistance and high insulin levels occur in active acromegaly patients, adiponectin levels were higher in our study as a consequence of GH lowering therapies. Our study showed that adiponectin levels may be an indicator of the cardiac involvement acromegaly. However, the usage of serum adiponectin levels in acromegalic patients as an indicator of cardiac involvement should be supported with other, wide, multi-centered studies.

Glomerular and tubular functions in children with different forms of beta thalassemia.

BACKGROUND: Although there are many available data about renal involvement in patients with beta thalassemia major (TM), the changes in renal functions of other types, such as thalassemia intermedia (TI) and thalassemia minor (TMin), were reported less. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate renal tubular and glomerular functions in patients with three types of beta thalassemia. METHODS: This prospective case-control study was conducted on 118 beta-thalassemia patients (49 in TM, 18 in TI and 51 TMin) and 51 healthy controls. Glomerular functions [estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR), serum cystatin C and urinary protein creatinine ratio] and tubular functions [fractioned sodium excretion (FENa), tubular reabsorption of phosphorus, urinary excretion of uric acid, levels of retinol-binding protein, alpha-1 macroglobulin (alpha-1M), and beta-2 microglobulin, calcium creatinine ratio] were assessed in all patients and controls. RESULTS: The mean ages of the groups and controls at presentation were similar. Although GFR was similar in all patients and control groups, serum levels of cystatin C in patients with TM and TI were significantly higher compared to TMin and controls. Alpha-1M, FENa, urinary excretion of uric acid, and urine protein/creatinine ratio in TM and TI groups were significantly higher than the others. Mean cystatin C level was also higher in patients with TMin compared the controls. However, there were no significant differences according to all tubular and other glomerular functions between TMin and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although all types of beta thalassemia patients should be closely monitored to prevent further decrease in renal functions, the patients with TI should be considered to have a higher risk of glomerular and tubular deterioration as well as TM.

[Psychiatric evaluation in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome]. / Obstrüktif uyku apne sendromlu hastalarin psikiyatrik açidan degerlendirilmesi.

INTRODUCTION: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) might cause neuropsychiatric problems as well as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications. Daily life of the patients are effected and their quality of life decreases. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate anxiety and depression and to test their ability to cope with strees in patients with OSAS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patients with OSAS suspect admitting to our sleep laboratuary, were classed as simple snoring, mild-moderate and severe OSAS according to their apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Hospital anxiety and depression, stres coping and skill loss scales were applied to the patients accepted to participate to the study. RESULTS: Fifty four patients participated into the study. Forty-one (75.9%) were OSAS and 13 (24.1%) were simple snoring (control group). Mean age was 52.3 ± 9.2 years in OSAS group, while it was 50.5 ± 9.9 years in control group. Snoring was found in every patient of two groups. Thirty-one (79.5%) patients with OSAS had witnessed apneas and 23 (60.5%) had exceesive OSAS patients had excessive daytime sleepiness. There was no significant differences in age, BMI, sleep efficency, HAD and skill loss scales between both groups. Autism was found higher in OSAS group with stres coping test (p= 0.031). Moreover, social support necessicity was found higher in moderate and severe OSAS patients. CONCLUSION: We found that neuropsyhiatric problems are highly seen in moderate and severe OUAS patients.

The effect of L-carnosine on erythrocyte deformability and aggregation according to the cell age in young and aged rats.

This study aimed to investigate alterations in hemorheology induced by L-carnosine, an anti- oxidant dipeptide, and to determine their relationship to oxidative stress in density-separated erythrocytes of aged and young rats. 28 male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups as aged (Aca), young (Yca) L-carnosine groups (250 mg/kg L-carnosine, i.p.) and aged (As), young (Ys) control groups (saline, i.p.). Density separation was further performed to these groups in order to separate erythrocytes according to their age. Blood samples were used for the determination of erythrocyte deformability, aggregation; and oxidative stress parameters. Erythrocyte deformability of Yca group measured at 0.53 Pa was lower than Aca group. Similarly, deformability of least-dense (young) erythrocytes of Yca group was decreased compared to least-dense erythrocytes of Aca groups. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of Aca group was higher and oxidative stress index (OSI) lower than As group. Although L-carnosine resulted in an enhancement in TAC of aged rats, this favorable effect was not observed in erythrocyte deformability and aggregation in the dose applied in this study.

Occupational exposure and thoracic malignancies, is there a relationship?

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of occupational exposure in the occurrence of lung cancer. METHOD: Three-hundred lung cancer cases diagnosed between September 1, 1999, and September 31, 2007, and 300 healthy controls were enrolled in this case-control study. Life-long occupational history, gender, age, exposure to asbestos, comorbidities, and smoking status were collected. RESULTS: The mean age of the 300 lung cancer cases was 60.3 ± 9.9 year (91.7% male and 8.3% female), and the mean age of healthy control group was 60.4 ± 10.5 year (95.0% male and 5.0% female). The most frequent histological types were squamous (172, 57.3%), adeno (69, 23.1%), and small cell (37, 12.3%). There was an increased risk of lung cancer occurrence among agriculture workers (OR=1.89, 95% Cl=1.17-2.98) (p=0.009). Inorganic dust exposure (OR=1.81, 95% Cl=1.0-3.25) (p=0.049) and organic dust exposure (OR=1.89, 95% Cl=1.0-3.59) (p=0.05) were found to be related with high frequency of having lung cancer. CONCLUSION: Workers who had occupational exposure to organic and inorganic dust, especially in the agricultural field, had higher risk of lung cancer occurrence when compared with office workers.

A single-center large-volume experience in the surgical management of hydatid disease of the lung with and without extrapulmonary involvement.

BACKGROUND: We compared the number of incisions, surgical procedures, hospital duration, and complications in hydatid cyst patients with unilateral or bilateral thoracic involvement and concomitant involvement of the extrathoracic organs. METHODS: A total of 76 hydatid cyst cases surgically treated between the years 2007 and 2012 were divided into three groups according to radiological evidence of other organ involvement and surgical procedures: group 1 had only unilateral thoracic involvement and a single incision; group 2 had additional involvement of the contralateral thoracic side or extrathoracic organs and at most two incisions were performed at the same session; and group 3 had two or more incisions performed at separate sessions in addition to the involvement features of group 2. RESULTS: We had 46 (60.5 %) cases with only thoracic involvement and 30 others (39.5 %) with extrathoracic organ involvement. Complications were seen in only one patient each in the first and second groups, and in 6 patients in the third group. Duration of hospital stay was 7.04 ± 0.86 (5-9) days in group 1.8.33 ± 1.87 (7-13) days in group 2, and 13.95 ± 2.03 (9-18) days in group 3. CONCLUSIONS: Although multiple session surgery is used to decrease the risk of complications, contamination, and infection in multiple or bilateral pulmonary hydatid cyst cases, or in patients with other organ involvement, single-session surgery can be used in selected cases taking into account the operative trauma, financial consequences, and psychological profile.

Resistin and leptin levels in acromegaly: lack of correlation with echocardiographic findings.

PURPOSE: To find out how resistin and leptin levels were affected in patients with acromegaly and whether there is a relation between resistin levels and cardiac parameters. We also aimed to investigate whether resistin and leptin may be a link between insulin resistance and cardiac functions as well as these affected cardiac functions in the patients with acromegaly. METHODS: We included 30 subjects (15 men and 15 women) who had a diagnosis of acromegaly and 30 healthy (10 men and 20 women) subjects. Serum glucose, insulin, growth hormone, insulinlike growth factor 1 (IGF-1), resistin, and leptin levels were obtained, and insulin resistance of subjects were calculated. Echocardiographic studies of the subjects were performed. RESULTS: Resistin levels of the patients with acromegaly were found lower than controls. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.001). Leptin levels were lower in the patients with acromegaly than in the controls, but this difference was not statistically significant. Resistin and leptin levels were not correlated with growth hormone, IGF-1, and with insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 levels. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance was positively correlated with resistin levels. (P = 0.03; r = 0.531) but not correlated with leptin levels. There was a positive correlation between body mass index and leptin levels in the patients with acromegaly (P = 0.007; r = 0.482). Interventricular septum thickness, posterior wall thickness, left ventricle mass index, peak early mitral inflow velocity-peak late mitral inflow velocity ratio, deceleration time, ejection time, isovolumetric relaxation time, velocity propagation, and left ventricular end-systolic volume values were significantly greater in the patients with acromegaly. Leptin levels in the acromegalic patients were not correlated with any of them. CONCLUSIONS: We found biventricular hypertrophy and impairment of diastolic and systolic function in the patients with acromegaly. We conclude that changes in resistin and leptin levels are unlikely to account for the insulin resistance of acromegaly. They do not also seem to be contributing factors of cardiovascular changes in patients with acromegaly.

The effect of pramipexole therapy on balance disorder and fall risk in Parkinson's disease at early stage: clinical and posturographic assessment.

The aim of this study was to determine balance problems and severity and ratio of postural instability of newly diagnosed, early stage Parkinson's patients who did not receive any antiparkinson treatment before, to evaluate fall risk clinically and posturographically and to examine the effects of pramipexole on these signs and symptoms. Detailed posturographic assessments which involved central vestibular, visual, peripheric vestibular somatosensory field tests were applied to both patient and control subjects and fall risk was determined. There was not statistically significant difference between patients and control subjects before and after drug therapy in the assesment of fall risk in posturography and there was not any improvement with drug usage in the patient group. However, in the analysis of subsystems separately, only the involvement in central vestibular field was more severe and could appear at all positions in Parkinson's patients comparing with the control group, and pramipexole was partially effective in improving this disorder. Central vestibular field is the subsystem that should be examined with first priority. Posturography is relatively reliable in defining fall risk and postural instability ratio in Parkinson's disease. But it should be considered that clinical assessment tools can be more sensitive in the evaluation of balance and postural disorders and in the follow-up of the response to drug therapy.

Determination of pain intensity risk factors among school children with nonspecific low back pain.

BACKGROUND: Low back pain (LBP) is a common disease among people under the age of 20. To the best of our knowledge few studies have been carried out on LBP among school children in Turkey, and none of them studied the correlation between pain intensity and related variables with LBP. MATERIAL/METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out to investigate the risk factors and their correlations with pain intensity among 222 school children (106 girls and 116 boys) aged 10-18 years in the city of Denizli. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect the data. The regression tree method (RTM) was used to determine the risk factors by using the STATISTICA program package. Pain intensity was the outcome variable, and 8 independent variables (body mass index (BMI), sex, regular exercise habit, studying posture, transportation to/from school, duration of studying, bag handling, and type of bed) were used to detect their effect on pain intensity. RESULTS: The results showed that pain intensity is significantly affected by 4 independent variables: duration of studying, type of bed, transportation to/from school, and BMI. The overall mean and standard deviation of pain intensity was 2.58 ± 0.86 (minimum=1, maximum=5). CONCLUSIONS: Results from the literature, as well as our study, show that taking parents' and teachers' concerns seriously is of vital importance. Our results indicate that parents and teachers should be informed about duration of studying, type of bed, transportation and obesity as risk factors predicting NLBP in school children.

Trends, characteristics, and outcomes of adolescent pregnancy in eastern Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the proportion of adolescent births in Van, Turkey, and to identify characteristics and related outcomes. METHODS: Mothers who gave birth at three maternity centers in Van, Turkey, were chosen randomly and were invited to complete a face-to-face questionnaire. Participants were asked for demographic information and pregnancy history. Pregnancy outcomes were obtained from the birth records. RESULTS: Of 1872 mothers who completed the questionnaires, 211 (11.3%) were younger than 19 years. Adolescent mothers showed significantly more inappropriate education for age (82.5% vs 70.1; P<0.001) and were married to less educated partners (76.3% vs 59.4%; P<0.001) following unofficial matrimonies (25.6% vs 10.7%; P<0.001) than older mothers. There were no differences between the age groups in rates of arranged marriages with relatives, income, and household structure. Adolescent mothers reported higher rates of intimate partner violence (17.1% vs 10.8%; P=0.008) and inadequate prenatal care use (28.4% vs 17.6%; P<0.001) compared with older mothers. Adolescent births were associated with an increased risk for preterm delivery (P<0.001) and low birth weight (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Cultural factors rather than economic factors seem to be related to early age at marriage and adolescent childbearing, which are associated with poor birth outcomes.

Peripheral neuropathy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and characteristics of peripheral nervous system involvement in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and its relation with proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha, IL-6, IGF-1 and CRP. Forty chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with a mean age 62.8 +/- 5.5 years and 33 healthy controls with a mean age of 61.8 +/- 7.4 were included into this study. All subjects were evaluated with standard motor and sensory nerve conduction studies. Serum TNF-alpha, IL-6, CRP and IGF-1 were measured. The muscle strengths of three muscle groups (knee extensors, shoulder abductors and flexors) were assessed with a hand-held dynamometer. Peripheral neuropathy was detected at 15% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Ulnar motor and sensory nerves, left sural nerve distal latencies were found significantly prolonged than healthy volunteers (p = 0.011), peroneal nerve conduction velocities was found lower in patients than in healthy controls (p = 0.021), tibial nerve amplitudes was found lower in patients than healthy controls (p = 0.046). CRP and TNF-alpha were found significantly higher in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients and IGF-1 was found significantly lower in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. There was no correlations between proinflammatory cytokines, CRP and electrophysiological findings. Left sural nerve's sensory nerve action potential amplitude was correlated positively with FEV(1)% (r = 0.425; p = 0.009). Muscle strength at the shoulder and knee were significantly reduced in patients with COPD when compared with controls. The frequency of neuropathy was higher in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease when compared with the healthy controls. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients have subclinical peripheral nerve involvements.

Retroperitoneal approach via paramedian incision for aortoiliac occlusive disease.

Aortoiliac occlusive disease is a frequently encountered occlusive arterial disease. Different surgical approaches to the infrarenal abdominal aorta have been reported. We retrospectively studied the postoperative outcomes of patients who were treated for aortoiliac occlusive disease via a retroperitoneal versus a transperitoneal surgical approach.From January 2005 through May 2009, 47 patients underwent surgery at our hospital for the correction of aortoiliac occlusive disease: 30 via a paramedian incision and retroperitoneal approach, and 17 via a midline sternotomy and transperitoneal approach. In the retroperitoneal group, the surgical procedures involved iliofemoral bypass in 15 patients, aortofemoral bypass in 12, aortoiliac bypass in 2, and aortobifemoral bypass in 1. All 17 patients in the transperitoneal group underwent aortobifemoral bypass. The preoperative characteristics and perioperative data of the patients were analyzed. We believe that the retroperitoneal aortoiliac approach with a paramedian incision may be considered as a surgical option for aortoiliac revascularization.

Relationship between hemorheology and Glu(298)Asp polymorphism of endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene in patients with coronary artery disease.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between endothelial nitric oxide synthase Glu(298)Asp gene polymorphism and hemorheological parameters. Red blood cell (RBC) deformability, aggregation were measured using an ectacytometry, whole blood, plasma viscosities were determined by a viscometer. Restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to detect polymorphism. Plasma nitrite, nitrate concentrations were determined by Griess method. The genotype distribution of the control group was as follows: 50 (67.5%) GG, 21 (28.4%) GT, 3 (4.1%) TT. A 48 (57.8%) of the patients with CAD had GG, 28 (33.7%) GT, 7 (8.5%) of them TT genotype. RBC aggregation index of CAD patients with G allele was higher and t(1/2) lower compared to controls carrying the same allele. The amplitude of RBC aggregation of healthy subjects with T allele, who are under increased cardiovascular risk was lower compared to control subjects with G allele. The results of this study indicate that, alterations in RBC aggregation seem to be a consequence of CAD, more than being a preexisting cause. Additionally, some compensatory mechanisms by causing decrements in RBC aggregation, may help regulation of circulation in healthy individuals with high cardiovascular risk.

Does hypothyroidism affect gastrointestinal motility?

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal motility and serum thyroid hormone levels are closely related. Our aim was to analyze whether there is a disorder in esophagogastric motor functions as a result of hypothyroidism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group included 30 females (mean age +/- SE 45.17 +/- 2.07 years) with primary hypothyroidism and 10 healthy females (mean age +/- SE 39.40 +/- 3.95 years). All cases underwent esophagogastric endoscopy and scintigraphy. For esophageal scintigraphy, dynamic imaging of esophagus motility protocol, and for gastric emptying scintigraphy, anterior static gastric images were acquired. RESULTS: The mean esophageal transit time (52.56 +/- 4.07 sec for patients; 24.30 +/- 5.88 sec for controls; P = .02) and gastric emptying time (49.06 +/- 4.29 min for the hypothyroid group; 30.4 +/- 4.74 min for the control group; P = .01) were markedly increased in cases of hypothyroidism. CONCLUSION: Hypothyroidism prominently reduces esophageal and gastric motor activity and can cause gastrointestinal dysfunction.

[The characteristics of smoking habit among patients evaluated at our outpatient clinic]. / Gögüs hastaliklari poliklinigine basvuran olgularin sigara içme özellikleri.

To determine the prevalence of cigarette smoking, to examine the risk factors affecting smoking amongst adults and to assess the opinion of patients about quitting smoking who were evaluated at our outpatient clinic. Six hundred fifty-nine patients who were evaluated at our outpatient clinic between June 2005 and June 2006 were included in the study. This is a cross-sectional study that evaluates prevalence of smoking. Data gathered by applying face to face questionnaires. The mean age of 659 participants [417 (63.3%) males and 242 (36.7%) females] was 53.1 +/- 16.2 years. The prevalences were; 33% (n= 218) smokers, 39% (n= 258) ex-smokers and 28% (n= 183) non-smokers. Smoking prevalence under age of 50 was significantly higher (p= 0.0001). There was a positive significant relation between education and smoking amongst women, but this relationship was not significant amongst men. The most common reason for beginning smoking was because of friends (72%). 86% wanted to quit smoking. 48.9% tried to quit smoking but couldn't be successful. The prevalence of active smoking and quit smoking among patients who applied to pulmonary medicine outpatient clinic were 33% and 28%, respectively. The ratio of smoking and smoking pack-years was higher among men. Eighty-six percent of patients wanted to quit, 25% tried to quit but could not be successful, and 49% quit smoking but began smoking again. According to these findings, patients who were smoking wanted to quit but couldn't be successful without a professional help. We planned to found a smoking cessation outpatient clinic at our department.

Comparison of the physical and non-physical functioning between the patients with multiple sclerosis and healthy subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between physical functioning, non-physical functioning, and upper extremity functional abilities in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy subjects. METHODS: A total of 63 patients with MS [Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score; 3-8] and 52 healthy subjects attending the Pamukkale University, School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation in Denizli, Turkey were studied in the period from February 2006 to June 2006. To allow further evaluation, 63 individuals with MS were divided into 2 groups according to their ambulation ability level. The physical functioning was assessed with the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), the Purdue Pegboard Test, and the Jebsen Hand Function Test, and the non-physical functioning was assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). RESULTS: Depressive symptoms were significantly elevated in the MS group versus the control group based on the BDI (p<0.0001). In MS subjects, while there was good positive correlation between EDSS and BDI scores, there was a good negative correlation between EDSS and FIM scores (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Non-physical functioning, especially depression, is strongly associated with activities of daily living and decreases functional abilities in MS patients. For this reason, we recommend that non-physical functioning should also be evaluated in patients with MS to plan the most suitable physical therapy program.

Balance performance, aging and falling: a comparative study based on a Turkish sample.

The effects of aging and gender on balance performance (BP) among ambulatory adults were investigated in the current work. If there was a relation between the BP and a history of falling, this was also detected. Two hundred and forty ambulatory subjects were divided into two groups depending on their age: (1) 125 middle-aged subjects (50-64 years); (2) 115 elderly subjects (65-75). The functional reach (FR) test, the timed up and go (TUG) test, the sit to stand (STS) test and the step test (ST) were used to evaluate the BP. The fall rate (1-2 in the last year) was 8% for the middle-aged group and was 13.9% for the elderly group. Middle-aged adults had better scores on all tests in comparison to the elderly people. There have been differences found between genders regarding the BP in both groups, except the FR scores in the middle-aged group. The FR distance of the faller subjects was rather low in comparison to non-faller elderly subjects. However, there were no significant differences between the faller and non-faller subjects in both groups regarding other tests' scores. The results of this study indicate that aging affects the BP year by year. The information in this paper can provide normative data to be used as a comparison to clinically obtained information.

Genetics and genetic counseling: practices and opinions of primary care physicians in Turkey.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the educational needs of physicians relating to genetics and genetic counseling in the Denizli region of Turkey. METHODS: Data were collected by questionnaire about physicians' approaches to genetics and genetic counseling. RESULTS: A total of 60 (60.0%) of 100 physicians working in Denizli province returned a questionnaire. Physicians described "their most knowledgeable subjects" in basic genetic information as chromosome abnormalities (41.8%), in genetic disorders as xeroderma pigmentosum (80.0%), and in genetic counseling as directing the parents of and couples with a risk for having a child affected by a genetic disease to an expert or a genetic counseling center (94.8%). Only 20.7% knew the ethical regulations and techniques related to genetic counseling. Physicians thought that they did not have sufficient knowledge about genetics or genetic counseling, and 83.9% would like to attend an educational course. CONCLUSIONS: As a result of this study, a genetics course is planned for physicians so they can actively participate in the prevention and early diagnosis of genetic diseases.