The importance of thrombotic risk factors in the development of idiopathic sudden hearing loss.

Impaired cochlear blood circulation has been suggested to cause sudden hearing loss. In this study, the role of factor V 1691 G-A (FV 1691 G-A), prothrombin 20210 G-A (PT 20210 G-A), methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase 677 C-T (MTHFR 677 C-T), factor V 4070 A-G (FV 4070 A-G), endothelial cell protein C receptor (EPCR) gene 23-bp insertion, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) 4G/5G mutation was assessed. Fifty-three patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss and 80 individuals comprising the control group were included in this study. The frequency for FV 1691 A was 6.2% in the patient group and 3.7% in the control group, PT 20210 G-A was 1.2% in the patient group and 1.9% in the control group, and FV 4070 A-G was 7.5% in the patient group and 11.3% in the control group. The frequency of MTHFR 677 C-T was significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group, with a P value of .03. PAI-1-675 4G/5G polymorphism was found to be 71.2% and 69.8%, in the control group and the patient group, respectively. The EPCR 23-bp insertion was 0% in the control group and was found in 3 patients (3.7%), which needs further study.

Prothrombin G20210A and A19911G mutations in Turkish pediatric stroke patients.

Effects of PT A19911G polymorphism in Turkish pediatric stroke patients were investigated. The case-control study included 107 patients with cerebral infarct and 83 healthy unrelated controls. Distribution of PT A19911G and data on the combined effect of PT 19911G and PT 20210A alleles do not indicate that they constitute a risk in this group of patients.

Frequency of five thrombophilic polymorphisms in the Egyptian population.

This study was conducted to evaluate the frequency of FV1691 G-A, FV4070 A-G, PT20210 G-A, EPCR 23 gene bp insertion and ACE gene 300 bp deletion among healthy Egyptians. One hundred and eighty eight healthy Egyptians were included to the study. Previously reported molecular techniques were used for the determination of mutations. Thirthy one individuals had FV1691 G-A (16.5%) mutation with an allele frequency of 0.09. R2 and R3 haplotypes were found in 21 (11.2%) and 4 (2.1%) individuals, respectively. Only one healthy individual had EPCR gene 23 bp insertion (0.53%) and two individuals (1.06%) had PT20210 G-A mutation, respectively. The ACE gene -300 bp del in homozygous state was present in 92 (48.9%) individuals. The frequency of D allele was 0.718. Our preliminary data revealed that FV1691 G-A mutation is very frequent among Egyptians and it will be meaningfull to study the mutation also in the thrombotic events in Egypt.

Effects of training about skin cancer on farmers' knowledge level and attitudes.

BACKGROUND: Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. As farmers stay under sun for a long time and handle many different chemicals, they are at risk. This study was carried out to examine the effects of training for protection on their knowledge level and attitudes. METHOD: The subjects were 194 farmers living in a village in Marmara region which most benefits from the sun in Turkey. No sampling was performed. Data were collected before and after six months of training through a personal description form and skin cancer attitude-knowledge form and analyzed using percentage calculations, McNeamer test and t-test in dependent groups. RESULTS: Knowledge level of farmers on skin cancer and the protection from skin cancer was significantly increased after the training (p<0.01) regarding use of sun cream, umbrellas, swimming and traditional behavior (p<.01) but not use of hats, sunglasses and long-sleeved shirts (p>0.01). A significant decrease was also determined in tampering with moles, acnes and scars (p<.01). CONCLUSION: The training given to farmers for protection against skin cancer was found effective for improving knowledge levels and attitudes. Planned and regular education should decrease the skin cancer rate among farmers.