Blood-Based Biomarkers in Afp Normal/Stable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Diagnostic and Prognostic Relevance of Mir-10b for Patients on Liver Transplant List.

BACKGROUND: As a diagnostic criteria of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the exact threshold of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is controversial. In additional, not all HCC tumors are AFP positive or secrete elevated amounts of AFP into the serum. However, the diagnosis of HCC is quite important on the liver transplant list. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of circulating micro RNAs (miRNAs) in AFP-stable HCC patients. Thus, we aimed to determine a diagnostic biomarker in these patients. METHODS: Sixteen miRNAs were evaluated using a real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction system in AFP-stable HCC and AFP-trending HCC patients. RESULTS: In our study, 46.7% (n = 28) of the patients diagnosed with HCC had stable/normal AFP levels. We detected that high expression of miR-24, miR-10b and the low expression of miR-143 were independently and significantly associated with HCC in AFP-stable compared with AFP trending (P < .05). Additionally, we demonstrated that the overexpression of miR-10b was associated with poor disease-free survival in HCC (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although more clinical validations are needed for the diagnosis of HCC, our current results indicate that the coexistence of high expression of miR-10b and miR-24 may help clinicians adjust in the diagnosis of HCC in patients who are on the liver transplant list but awaiting biopsy for the diagnosis of HCC.

Domestic violence: a tragedy behind the doors.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the prevalence, type, frequency and causes of domestic marital violence among Turkish women in a socio-economically developed metropolitan setting. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in 2003. All married women, aged 18 years and over, who were visiting any of the 50 primary health care units for different purposes were asked to participate in the study. Of 1427 asked, 1010 gave consent and completed face-to-face interviews. Multiple correspondence analysis, and logistic regression were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: Domestic violence was statistically significantly associated with educational level. Illiterate women reported marital abuse 2.6 times more than university or more educated women. No statistically significant relationship was observed between domestic marital violence and women's age or occupation, marital duration or family income. The most frequently reported type of violence was physical, followed by psychological. Among women reporting domestic violence, those with the lowest educational level and income were experiencing all types of domestic violence frequently. CONCLUSION: Placing more importance on educating girls could be a key component of preventing domestic violence.

Domestic violence: a study among a group of Turkish women.

OBJECTIVES: With this study we attempt to explore the reality of domestic violence, its prevalence, type and frequency among a group of Turkish women. METHODS: This study was performed between October 2000 and May 2001 in the fourth largest city in Turkey. All women over the age of 15, who visited any of 50 health centres in different districts for different purposes, were asked to participate in the study. 506 of the participants who gave their consent were taken as a study group, and printed questionnaires were filled in during face-to-face interviews. RESULTS: 297 (58.7%) of the participants had experienced domestic violence at least once in their lifetime. The male partner was the primary violent person (49.5%), followed by mother and/or father (14.1%). The type of violence seen most was a combination of physical and psychological violence (45.5%). More than half of the women (58.6%) were experiencing domestic violence frequently and continuously. Reasons given for this violent behaviour were economic hardship (18.9%), followed by alcohol consumption by the violent person (18.5%), and inadequate family relations (15.8%). Of the victims 43.8% accepted this violence, but 26.6% reacted with violence. Women were not willing to abandon their relationships despite marital violence, because of their children (48.2%). Women's and men's higher educational attainments did indicate a decrease in the prevalence of domestic violence. CONCLUSION: Reasons for continuing the abusive relationship and the effectiveness of the scarce support resources should be evaluated more seriously. The potential role of the primary healthcare provider in eliminating barriers for identification and assessment of domestic violence should not be forgotten. Otherwise, domestic violence will still remain a 'family matter', hidden and neglected.