Family Planning Attitudes, Religious Orientation and Fatalistic Tendency Levels: A Descriptive-Correlational Study in Turkey.

This research was conducted to examine the relationship between family planning attitudes, religious orientation, and fatalistic tendency levels of individuals aged 15-49 in Igdir, Turkey. This descriptive-correlational research was conducted on individuals living in Igdir between March-July 2020. The sample size of our study is 384 participants. It was found that there was a significant negative correlation between family planning attitude scale scores and religious orientation scale behavior subscale scores, fatalistic tendency scale total scores and all subscale scores, age, and number of children (p < 0.05). It was found that there was a significant negative correlation between religious orientation scale total scores and the attitude toward family planning and attitude toward birth subscale scores of the family planning attitude scale (p < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between religious orientation scale total scores and all subscale scores, fatalistic tendency scale total scores, and predetermination and self-control subscales (p < 0.05). There was also a significant negative correlation between fatalistic tendency scale total scores and family planning attitude scale total scores and the attitude toward family planning and attitude toward family planning methods subscale scores (p < 0.05). We also found a significant positive correlation between fatalistic tendency scale total scores and all subscale scores, religious orientation scale total scores and all subscale scores, age, and number of children (p < 0.05). It is recommended to apply the study in larger groups.

Endoscopic versus open approach of bladder cuff and distal ureter in the management of upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Nephroureterectomy with the removal of the ipsilateral ureteral orifice and bladder cuff en bloc remains the gold standard treatment for upper urinary tract urothelial cancer. The distal ureter can be removed with the open surgical technique or endoscopic approach. We compared the outcomes of the endoscopic approach with those of conventional open surgery on the distal ureter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected data from the charts of 30 patients who underwent radical nephroureterectomy at our clinic from January 1997 to January 2007 for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma. The patients were divided into two groups according to procedure performed on the distal ureter. Group I (n:12) was comprised of patients who underwent an open surgical procedure, and group II (n:18), was comprised of patients who underwent an endoscopic approach. Both groups were compared in terms of operative time, blood loss, transurethral catheter duration and duration of hospital stay. RESULTS: Patient age and tumor location showed no significant differences between the two groups. The operative time was significantly longer in group I than group II (181 versus 128 minutes; p<0.05). On the other hand, the estimated blood loss, transurethral catheter duration and duration of hospital stay were significantly lower in group II (205 mL versus 435 mL, 5 versus 8.5 days and 5.6 versus 9.2 days, respectively; p <0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of our study show that the endoscopic approach is less invasive than open surgery on the distal ureter. This procedure can easily be performed in the management of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma.

The effects of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary circulation on serum total and free prostate specific antigen levels.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not there is an increase in serum total and free prostate specific antigen levels (t-PSA, f-PSA) in patients with and without benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) undergoing extracorporeal circulation during cardiovascular bypass. The study included a total of 50 men. Of these, 35 patients underwent elective coronary artery bypass grafting with extracorporeal circulation [with (n=20, group I) and without (n=15, group II) BPH]. Another 15 patients underwent renal or ureteral surgery (group III) and served as a control group. Serum t-PSA and f-PSA levels were measured before surgery and 3 h and 3 days after surgery. All patients underwent urethral catheterization 24 h before surgery. In groups I and II, patients had an increase in t-PSA 3 h after surgery compared to baseline values (p=0.0001 and p=0.011, respectively). Also, 3 days after surgery, mean t-PSA levels were higher than baseline levels (p=0.004) in group I. Serum t-PSA levels were higher at 3 h than at day 3 in groups I and II (p=0.003 and p=0.02, respectively). Mean serum f-PSA levels obtained 3 h after surgery were increased in both groups I and II when compared to baseline values (p=0.0001 and p=0.001, respectively). There was no significant difference between f-PSA values before and 3 days after surgery in all groups. In the control group, there was no significant increase in either serum t-PSA or f-PSA levels obtained at different times. There was a modest increase in the percentage of free prostate specific antigen (% f-PSA) 3 h after the operation in group II (p=0.025); the values returned to baseline within 3 days. It was suggested that t-PSA and f-PSA serum levels increase due to extracorporeal cardiopulmonary circulation as a consequence of ischemic damage to the prostate. In patients with BPH, this rise may be higher than in those without BPH, because BPH patients generally have larger prostate volumes that may be more vulnerable to ischemic damage. Because f-PSA has a shorter half-life, postsurgical levels of f-PSA may not show this ischemic damage to the prostate during the late postoperative period and f-PSA appears to be cleared more rapidly than t-PSA.