Technique to reduce blood loss during open abdominal myomectomy: transverse or vertical incision?

OBJECTIVE: To determine if there is a difference between uterine incision techniques (vertical vs. transversal) in terms of clinical results. METHODS: All women with leiomyomas who underwent open abdominal myomectomy (n=61) between March and August 2016 at the Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic at the Women's Health Research and Training Hospital Zekai Tahir Burak were included, and the clinical results were included and prospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The estimated blood loss during myomectomy increased in the transversal group compared with the vertical group (809.33±483.34 versus 405.32±180.95 mL, p<0.001). The average operation duration was 60 min, and the patients got discharged on the second day after surgery. No intergroup statistical differences were observed in the surgical procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons should give preference to the most viable incision depending on the size and location of the leiomyoma.

Comparison of familial Mediterranean fever and juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients according to family origin.

AIM: Familial Mediterranean fever is an inherited condition that is more prevalent in some regions of Turkey. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most common chronic arthritis of childhood. There is lack of studies on the frequency of mentioned conditions across different regions of Turkey. We aimed to compare the Familial Mediterranean fever and juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients according to their family origin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever and juvenile idiopathic arthritis followed up at the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology were assessed. Data regarding the family origin of patients were noted from their medical records. Both groups were compared according to their origins. RESULTS: A total of 704 patients with Familial Mediterranean fever, 204 patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis were enrolled. The main age of the patients at the study time was 12.3±4.4 years and 12.1±4.8 years, respectively. The frequency of familial Mediterranean fever was significantly higher in subjects with the origin of Black Sea and Central Anatolia regions (z score 2.69, and 3.69, respectively). Juvenile idiopathic arthritis was significantly more common in subjects from Marmara and Southeastern Anatolia regions (z score -4.11 and -2.54, respectively). CONCLUSION: The familial Mediterranean fever is more common among subjects from the Black Sea and Central Anatolia regions of Turkey, especially Kastamonu, Sivas and Tokat provinces. Whereas, patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis more commonly originate from Marmara and Southeastern Anatolia regions of Turkey.

Frequency of cigarette smoking among psychiatric inpatients evaluated by the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence.

BACKGROUND: In this study our aim was to determine the rate of smoking in a sample of psychiatric in-patients with diagnoses of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression and to examine factors related to smoking status and the level of dependence in this population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 160 people were included in this descriptive study. 80 were inpatients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression and 80 people without any psychiatric diagnoses were included as a control group. The participants were interviewed face-to face using a semi-structured questionnaire and Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence was used to define smoking habits. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 37.24 ∓ 12.19 years ranging from 18 to 81 years, 54.4% of the participants were (n=87) female, and 45.6% cases (n=73) were male. 70% (n=56) of the patients and 55% of the control group were smoking and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.01). Total score of Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence in the patient group was statistically significantly higher than in the control group (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In our sample, the frequency of cigarette smoking and nicotine dependence among psychiatric inpatients was high, posing a high risk for smoking related diseases including cancers; therefore there should be counseling on tobacco control and smoking cessation programming targeting this population.

Association analyses of depression, anxiety, and physical fitness parameters in Turkish obese adults.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the associations among depression, anxiety, aerobic exercise capacity, body fat percentage, sum of skinfolds, abdomen circumference, and waist to hip ratio on the basis of body mass index (BMI) in adults. METHODS: The subjects of the study were 60 obese participants (30 women, 30 men) with BMIs over 30 kg/m{2}and 60 healthy controls (30 women, 30 men) with BMIs of 18-25 kg/m{2}. Body fat percentage was calculated from the skinfold thicknesses using the formula. Body circumference measurements were performed using a tape measure. Maximal aerobic capacity (VO(2)max) was determined by Astrand submaximal exercise protocol. Two self-reported questionnaires, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), were administered to all participants. RESULTS: BMI, body fat percentage, sum of skinfolds, abdomen circumference, and waist to hip ratio were found to be higher in obese groups as compared to the controls, while VO(2)max (ml/kg/min) values were lower in both genders. In males, BAI scores and mild-level anxiety percentage values were higher in the obese group than in the control group. There was no significant difference for BDI scores and levels between the obese and control groups in both genders. There was also no significant difference in BAI scores and levels between the obese and control groups in women. CONCLUSION: The fact that physical fitness being found poor in obese shows the existence of a condition that might constitute an increased tendency for obesity-related disorders. In addition, it was suggested that, in Turkey, attitudes toward obesity change depending on gender.