The effect of primary hyperparathyroidism on pancreatic exocrine function.

BACKGROUND: Elastase-1 is a proteolytic enzyme secreted by pancreatic acinar cells, and measurements of the concentration this enzyme are used to evaluate pancreatic exocrine function. We aimed to determine whether pancreatic exocrine function declines due to chronic hypercalcemia by measuring fecal elastase levels. METHODS: 75 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (18 men and 47 women) and 30 healthy subjects (11 men and 19 women) participated in this study. Renal function tests, lipid parameters, bone mineral density, and serum calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, parathormone, glucose, and thyroid stimulating hormone levels as well as fecal elastase concentrations, were determined in these patients and controls. RESULTS: The mean fecal elastase level was 335.3 ± 181.4 µg/g in the PHPT group and 317.4 ± 157.3 µg/g in the control group. There was no significant difference in fecal elastase levels between the two groups (p = 0.5). CONCLUSIONS: Chronic hypercalcemia in primary hyperparathyroidism did not decrease the fecal elastase level, which is an indirect indicator of chronic pancreatitis; therefore, chronic hypercalcemia in PHPT may not cause chronic pancreatitis.

Radon concentrations in water in the region of Tokat city in Turkey.

The aim of this study is to measure the radon ((222)Rn) concentrations in drinking water and river water in the region of Tokat city in Turkey. The measurements were performed by analysing the water samples collected from tap water, spring water and Yesilirmak river water flowing through the centre of the city of Tokat. The obtained radon concentrations ranged from 0.48 ± 0.22 to 1.30 ± 0.27 Bq l(-1) in tap water, from 0.13 ± 0.17 to 1.20 ± 0.29 Bq l(-1) in spring water and from 0.09 ± 0.12 to 0.83 ± 0.17 Bq l(-1) in the Yesilirmak river water. The results are presented and compared with other studies. From these data, the average effective dose equivalent from radon in tap water and in spring water has been estimated as 5.0 and 3.0 µSv y(-1), respectively.

The measurements of radon concentrations in drinking water and the Yesilirmak River water in the area of Amasya in Turkey.

This paper presents the results of radon ((222)Rn) concentrations in drinking water and river water. In this respect, water samples were collected in the city of Amasya, inner parts of the Median Black sea region in Turkey and the Yesilirmak River flowing through Amasya city centre. It was found that the concentrations in tap water, spring water and the Yesilirmak River water in Amasya ranged from 0.42 +/- 0.14 to 2.4 +/- 0.32 Bq l(-1), 0.39 +/- 0.19 to 1.17 +/- 0.21 Bq l(-1) and 0.28 +/- 0.04 to 1.08 +/- 0.30 Bq l(-1), respectively. From these data, the average effective dose equivalent from radon in tap water has been estimated as 5.87 microSv y(-1).

Investigation of photon attenuation coefficients for marble.

The total linear attenuation coefficients micro (cm(-1)) have been obtained using the XCOM program at photon energies of 1 keV to 1 GeV for six different natural marbles produced in different places in Turkey. The individual contribution of photon interaction processes to the total linear attenuation coefficients for marble has been investigated. The calculated results were also compared with the measurements. The results obtained for marble were also compared with concrete.