Predictors of mortality in patients with geriatric trauma in the emergency service

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: In our study, it was aimed to compare the power of trauma scores (Glasgow Coma Score, Revised Trauma Score, Abbreviated Injury Scale, Injury Severity Score, and Trauma Score-Injury Severity Score) in order to predict mortality in patients with geriatric trauma and to determine the predictive values of these scores in mortality. METHODS: Demographic data, clinical features, etiological causes, laboratory results, and trauma scores of the patients were statistically analyzed. SPSS 20 for Windows was used for this evaluation. RESULTS: It was determined that as the Glasgow Coma Score value of the patients increased, the Abbreviated Injury Scale and Injury Severity Score scores decreased and the Trauma Score-Injury Severity Score score increased. Abbreviated Injury Scale and Injury Severity Score values increased and Revised Trauma Score and Trauma Score-Injury Severity Score values decreased as the lactate levels of the patients increased. It was determined that the Abbreviated Injury Scale and Injury Severity Score scores of the patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit were significantly higher, while their Trauma Score-Injury Severity Score scores were lower. CONCLUSION: Glasgow Coma Score, Revised Trauma Score, Trauma Score-Injury Severity Score, Abbreviated Injury Scale, and Injury Severity Score scores and blood lactate levels are important parameters that can be used in the emergency department for the early detection of high-risk patients in geriatric trauma and the evaluation of the prognosis of geriatric trauma patients.

Otorhinolaryngological symptoms among smokeless tobacco (Maras powder) users.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the relationship between smokeless tobacco (maras powder) consumption and otorhinolaryngological symptoms. METHODS: This descriptive study was carried out on 599 participants. The participants were divided into two groups. Of these, 299 (49.9%) patients aged over 18 years were the first group; they used smokeless tobacco for at least 5 years. The remaining patients comprised the second group, which included 300 (50.1%) healthy volunteers who did not use tobacco or its products and demonstrated some similarities with the first group. For the purpose of data collection, a questionnaire consisting of 45 questions was administered to the participants. RESULTS: Cough, sputum, shortness of breath, dysphagia, snoring, and apnea-hypopnea were found to be significantly increased in smokeless tobacco users. The highest odds ratio (OR) found was for sputum at 2.615. Similarly, other oral cavity symptoms such as mouth tickling, dryness of throat, mouth sores, halitosis, taste disorders, and toothache were found to be significantly increased in smokeless tobacco users. It is noteworthy that halitosis was 9.4 times more prevalent among smokeless tobacco users than in the non-tobacco users. Sinonasal symptoms such as sneezing, headache, facial fullness, and anorexia were found to be significantly increased in smokeless tobacco users. However, there were no differences between the groups in terms of ear symptoms. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the negative effects of smokeless tobacco consumption were particularly higher in the oral cavity, which in turn gave rise to a number of serious upper respiratory tract complaints.

The relationship between body mass index and pain, disease activity, depression and anxiety in women with fibromyalgia.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a possible factor which affects severity of symptoms and disease activity in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). The aim of our study was to determine the association between body mass index (BMI) and pain, tender point count (TPC), disease activity, anxiety and depression in patients with FMS. METHODS: This was a descriptive study. A total of 124 female FMS patients between 18 and 55 years of age were enrolled. FMS patients were evaluated with visual analog scale (VAS), fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ), Hamilton anxiety scale (HAM-A) and Hamilton depression scale (HAM-D). Patients were divided into three groups according to BMI levels: normal weight, overweight and obese. Normal weight was defined as BMI 18.5-24.9, overweight as BMI 25.0-29.9 and obesity as BMI ≥ 30. We assessed the BMI status and its association with symptom severity in patients with FMS. RESULTS: Significant differences were detected in VAS, TPC, FIQ and HAM-D among the groups (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the groups in HAM-A (p = 0.328). The highest scores were found in the obese group. Significant positive correlations were determined between BMI levels and VAS, TPC, FIQ and HAM-D (r = 0.277, p = 0.002; r = 0.384, p < 0.001; r = 0.292, p = 0.001; r = 0.357, p < 0.001). DISCUSSION: Obese female FMS patients had higher levels of pain, TPC, disease activity and depression. BMI was significantly and positively correlated with clinical manifestations of FMS. Therefore, FMS treatment programs should include weight loss strategies.

Cervical Cancer Screening in an Early Diagnosis and Screening Center in Mersin, Turkey.

Cancer is a major public health problem due to the jeavy disease burden, fatality and tendency for increased incidence. Of all cancer types, cervical cancer is reported to be the fourth most common cancer in women, and the seventh overall, with an estimated 528,000 new cases worldwide in 2012. It features a long preclinical phase with slowly progressing precancerous lesions such as CIN 2 and 3 and adenocarcinoma in situ. Therefore, screening programs such as with Pap smear tests may play an important role in cervical cancer prevention. The purpose of this study was to present results of a Pap smear screening survey for cervical cancer targeting women living in an urban area in the province of Mersin, located in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. This community- based descriptive study included women living at Akdeniz county of Mersin province. A total of 1,032 screened women between 30 and 65 ages within the routine screening programme constituted the study population. The mean age of the participants was 43.8 ± 8.6 (min. 30, max. 65) years. The percentage of the participants who had previously undergone smears was 40.6%. Epithelial cell changes were found in 26 (2.5%) participants, with ASC-US in 18 (1.7%), ASC-H in 2 (0.2%), LSIL in 5 (0.5%) and HSIL in 1 (0.1%). The most common clinical presentation together with epithelial changes was abnormal vaginal discharge. Taking into account the presence of women who had never undergone Pap test; it should be offered at primary level of health care in the form of a community-based service to achieve reduced morbidity and mortality rates.