The Use of New Hematological Markers in the Diagnosis of Alopecia Areata.

INTRODUCTION: Alopecia areata (AA) is a non-cicatricial inflammatory and autoimmune hair loss disease. In recent studies, it has been reported that hematological parameters can be used as oxidative stress markers in the diagnosis of many inflammatory diseases due to their low cost and widespread use. OBJECTIVES: In this study, it was aimed to reveal the significant cut-off points of hematological inflammatory markers in AA that can guide clinicians in clinical practice and determine how many times they increase the risk of disease. METHODS: The present study is retrospective case-control type. Seventy patients with AA and seventy healthy controls were included in the study. The hematological parameters in both groups were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Hemoglobulin, monocyte, platelet, monocyte high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (MHR), monocyte lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were high in patients with AA, while the number of lymphocytes was low. In ROC analysis, the optimal cut-off values for the diagnosis of AA were as follows: MLR 0.216, MHR 0.010, and PLR 111.715. In regression analysis, being above the following values of MLR 0.216, MHR 0.010, and PLR 111.715 increased the risk of developing AA by 6.3, 3.8, and 2.7 times, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: It was seen that MHR and PLR, especially MLR, can significantly increase the risk of developing the disease in AA and can also be used as diagnostic markers.

Retrospective Analysis of Dermatological Diseases in Geriatric Patients During Dermatology Outpatient Department Visits.

Introduction: The elderly population is vulnerable to experience a great number of dermatological diseases thanks to the intrinsic and extrinsic process of aging. Objectives: The aim of this study is to retrospectively investigate the prevalence of dermatological diseases in geriatric patients, their distribution by age and gender, and to provide a reference for studies on aging and skin problems. Methods: In the present study, patients who reported to the dermatology outpatient clinic between January 1 2019, and January 1 2021, were evaluated retrospectively. As a result of examining the records of patients, 887 patients over the age of 65 who met the study protocol were included. Results: The three most common diseases in all geriatric patients were fungal infections, eczematous dermatitis, and pruritus. Fungal infections were frequent in males and the 65-74 age group. In the males, the more frequent were precancerous lesions and malignant neoplasms, whereas in the females it was urticaria and adverse drug reactions. In the logistic regression model, the risk of fungal infection in geriatric patients was increased by being male (odds ratio 1.55, P = 0.006) and being in the range of 65-74 years old (odds ratio 1.46, P = 0.025). Male patients were at significantly higher risk for precancerous and malignant lesions (OR:2.81 P < 0.001) and actinic keratosis (odds ratio 3.26, P < 0.001) in this disease group. Conclusions: Men are more vulnerable to life-threatening skin diseases. It is important to determine risk factors for individuals who are more sensitive to environmental factors in terms of increasing the quality of life and protection from diseases.

Do patients with psoriasis are at higher risk for atherogenity? A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease that is common in both adult and childhood. Patients with psoriasis are at significant risk for the development of many comorbid conditions, including cardiovascular diseases. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the cardiovascular risk status and serum lipid parameters in patients with psoriasis and to determine the risk of cardiovascular disease by atherogenic indices obtained accordingly. METHODS: This retrospective case-control study was conducted with a total of 142 individuals, 72 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 70 healthy volunteers over the age of 18 who were admitted to the dermatology outpatient clinic. Demographic information and laboratory values were retrieved from the hospital database. Afterward, atherogenic indexes such as Atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), Castelli Risk Index I and II (CRI-I and II), and Atherogenic coefficient (AC) were calculated. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in lipid profile between the psoriasis patients and the control group. In patients with psoriasis, triglyceride level (140.09 ± 71.20 mg/dl vs. 116.10 ± 63.95, p = 0.037) was higher, while HDL level (44.34 ± 11.77 mg/dl vs. 50.31 ± 11.62, p = 0.003) was lower. Regarding atherogenic indices; AIP (0.10 ± 0.24 vs. -0.04 ± 0.27, p = 0.001), CRI-I (4.63 ± 1.40 vs. 3.94 ± 1.02, p = 0.001), CRI-II (2.98 ± 1.01 vs. 2.61 ± 0.82, p = 0.019) and AC (3.63 ± 1.40 vs.. 2.94 ± 1.02, p = 0.001) were significantly higher in patients with psoriasis. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that patients with psoriasis have higher pro-atherogenic lipid profile and atherogenic indexes at a high risk level. Patients with psoriasis have an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Effects of immunization program on morbidity and mortality rates ofvaccine-preventable diseases in Turkey

Background/aim: This study aims to serve as a unique consolidated source in Turkey's vaccination history and as an example for other countries by objectively revealing the change in mortality and morbidity rates in Turkey following the beginning of vaccination without asserting any claim on the benefits or risks of vaccines. This unbiased research will also help health professionals identify the challenges more easily when they face with the people who hesitate to vaccinate their children. Materials and methods: Descriptive research design is adopted in this study. The coverages of vaccinations, mortality, and morbidity rates were identified through a retrospective analysis of the data provided from the Ministry of Health of Turkey. The data provided by the Turkish Statistical Institute were used for the identification of the population by the year. Mortality and morbidity rates were calculated based on these data Results: Morbidity rates, mortality rates, and vaccine coverages are all presented in years. Successful interventions have been observed in the eradication of polio, the elimination of maternal neonatal tetanus, and also in combating with other diseases. A decline in pertussis mortality from 0.59 to 0.06 along with a decline in diphtheria morbidity under to 0.0001 were recognized; additionally the last death due to poliomyelitis was observed in 1998. Only 4 deaths occurred in the measles epidemic in 2013. With the initiation of vaccination, both the morbidity of the rubella with the ratio of 3.12/100,000 and the mortality of pumps with the ratio of 25/100,000 fell to zero. Also, no death due to neonatal tetanus has been recorded since 2014. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that many possible diseases and deaths have been prevented through vaccination studies. In this regard, this study demonstrating the importance of vaccination presents that all individuals in the society have a responsibility in this scope when the communicable diseases and wars are taken into consideration. The main responsibility is to ensure that they and their children are vaccinated against communicable diseases that are risky for society's health.

Knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of women regarding breast and cervical cancer in Malatya, Turkey.

The aim of this study is to gather information about the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of women regarding breast and cervical cancer, to increase the knowledge level of the relevant age group and to begin including the relevant age group in screening programs. This cross-sectional study is composed of 6910 women aged 30-69 years in Malatya, Turkey. The study aimed to reach 1782 women with a survey, and all of them were reached. The questionnaire form was completed with face-to-face interview. For statistical analysis, data were evaluated as number and percentage distributions. The average age of the women was 45.6±11.4. Nearly half of the women (46.4%) did not know that scans for early detection of breast and cervical cancers were free. Only 22.2% of women knew that breast cancer could be diagnosed early by mammography. 72.7% had never received a mammogram. One third (31.6%) of women did not know it was possible to recognize cervical cancer early, and two thirds (64.5%) of women had not received a Pap smear test. It has been determined that Turkish women do not have adequate knowledge about cancer diagnosis, early cancer diagnosis, and screening.

Assessment of rational use of drugs and self-medication in Turkey: A pilot study from Elazig and its suburbs.

The concepts of "essential drugs" and "national drug policy" described by the World Health Assembly in 1975 were the first steps taken towards the rational use of drugs (RUD). According to WHO, more than half of all medicines worldwide are prescribed, dispensed or sold inappropriately and half of the patients fail to take them appropriately. The aim of this study has been to evaluate the habits of patients related to RUD with a specific aim to investigate the factors associated with self-medication. This descriptive survey study was carried out in Elazig, located at the Southeastern region of Turkey. A Rational Usage of Drug Questionnaire", querying the socio-demographic characteristics, health status, knowledge and manners of people with respect to rational drug use and insensible consumption of over the counter (OTC) drugs was applied to a total of 3521 patients during 19.09.2014 to 26.09.2014.The number of females and males were almost equal and the majority were in the range of 25-45 years of age. It was found that 58.9% of patients were practising some form of self-medication, 29.4% of the patients were reported using antibiotics without prescriptionand55.5% of them discontinued antibiotherapy. Self-medication was found to be more common among males, more educated patients and less frequent among patients under 18 years and over 65 years of age and patients with a chronic disease. Patient awareness about RUD is inadequate in Turkey as in many countries. Considering the high rates of haphazard use of drugs, drug usage without prescription, i.e. OTC drugs, should be discouraged. It is possible to take significant steps towards increasing awareness in terms of RUD with the cooperation of physicians, health organizations, educational institutions, non-governmental organizations and media. Might then be possible to achieve the expected benefits of the drugs.

Does Body Image Affect Quality of Life?: A Population Based Study.

Body image (BI) can be described as the assessment of both positive and negative emotion for one's own body parts and their characteristics by himself or herself. Current research has concentrated mostly on the status of negative BI as a risk factor for mental health problems rather than as a public health problem, thereby little is known about the effects of BI on quality of life. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess the BI and Quality of Life (QoL) of individuals and to investigate the relationship between the two. Individuals over 15 living in Isparta city center constitute the universe of this cross-sectional analytical study, carried out in 2014. The BI of individuals was measured by the Body Image Scale and The QoL of individuals was measured using the World Health Organization (WHO) Quality of Life Scale Short Form. The mean age of the participants was 31.9 ± 13.0 and 56.0% were female, 36.8% were married and 81.7% had education above high school. 25.7% had at least one chronic disease and 17.7% received medication regularly. Having good-very good health perception, having higher income than expenses, making regular exercises were predictors in enhancing the quality of life in certain aspects, however having a good body image came out as a predictor enhancing the quality of life in all sub-domains. BI was found closely related with QoL in all sub-domains. Our findings suggest that greater attention should be to be given to BI as a strong predictor of QoL.

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.