Evaluation of low back pain frequency and related factors among people over 18 years of age.

AIMS: The present study aimed to evaluate the incidence of LBP and related factors in over 18-year-olds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research was a cross-sectional study involving individuals over 18 years of age with any complaints in the period from May 2015-June 2016 at different hospitals. The research data were evaluated by the SPSS 15.0 statistical package program. Descriptive statistics were presented as mean (±) standard deviation, median (min, max), frequency distribution, and percentage. Pearson's Chi-square test, Yates corrected Chi-square test, and Fisher's test were used as statistical methods. Statistical significance was accepted as P < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 5,989 people admitted during that period and 50% unknown frequency were taken to reach 1715 subject persons with 2% deviation and 95% confidence interval which reached 1720. The sociodemographic status, occupational conditions, the frequency of low back pain, and risk factors have been evaluated. Around 92.9% of individuals of 65 years of age and older have lifelong LPB while 57.1% have present LBP. The difference was statistically significant for "the satisfaction of working people" and "individuals working more than 41 h a week." (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Low back pain is still a serious problem that can be avoided by ensuring optimal working conditions and a healthier life.

Surgical outcomes of sleeve resections performed for non-small cell lung cancer; A single center experience.

BACKGROUND: Although bronchial sleeve resections were performed instead of pneumonectomy in patients with insufficient pulmonary function initially, it is currently available as an alternative to pneumonectomy even in patients with adequate pulmonary reserve. AIMS: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the sleeve resections performed for lung cancer in terms of technical, postoperative complication mortality, survival rates and survival factors, complication and to compare them with the literature. METHODS: Patients who underwent sleeve lung resection with diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer at our department between January 2012 and December 2017 were included in the study. Patients' data were analyzed according to tumor size, tumor histopathology, hilar/mediastinal lymph nodes invasion status, postoperative complications, operative mortality, resection type, overall survival and diseases-free survival, tumor location, and length of stay in intensive care unit. RESULTS: A total of 71 patients included the study. Right upper sleeve lobectomy was applied to 40 (56.3%) patients and left upper sleeve lobectomy was performed to 19 (26.8%) patients. The most common histopathological diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma. The mean tumor diameter was 3.39 (SD: 2.25) cm. There was no nodal invasion in 41 (57.7%) patients and N1 nodal positivity was detected in 18 (25.4%) patients and N2 positivity in 12 (16.9%) patients. Median survival time was 43.6 months (35.4-51.8 months), the 3- and 5-year overall survival were 65.7% and 40.6%, respectively. There was a statistically significant correlation relationship between nodal invasion and recurrence, but this relation was not found in overall survival. CONCLUSION: In our study, no significant correlation was found between mediastinal lymph node invasion and overall survival. Supporting this result with multi-centered and prospective studies may encourage surgeons for sleeve resection in indicated patients had lung cancer with nodal invasion.

Memantine induces apoptosis and inhibits cell cycle progression in LNCaP prostate cancer cells.

Deregulated cancer cell metabolism plays an important role in cancer progression. Cancer cell metabolism has been in the centre of attention in therapeutical cancer cell targeting. Repurposed chemical agents, such as metformin and aspirin, have been studied extensively as preventive and therapeutic agents. Metformin is Food and Drug administration (FDA)-approved antidiabetic drug cheaper than other chemotherapeutic agents that were shown to have anticancer effects. Memantine is an FDA-approved Alzheimer's drug. Drug repositioning studies offer wide range of benefits, such as reduced time, cost and risk over de novo drug discovery. Therefore, we aimed to target glucose and glutamine metabolism in androgen-dependent LNCaP cells by using metformin and memantine and investigate these agents' effects on prostate cancer cell proliferation in vitro. We evaluated the effects of metformin and memantine on the protein expression levels of genes that play significant roles in apoptosis and cell cycle progression (Casp3, Casp9, Bcl-2, Survivin, Bax, c-Myc, HIF1A, CCND1, CDK4 and GAPDH) by Western blotting. Alzheimer's drug memantine exerted cytotoxic effects at 0.25 mM and metformin at 2.5 mM. We identified for the first time that memantine exerts antineoplastic activity (0.25 mM) by triggering Bax-dependent pathway of apoptosis. In addition to that both molecules have shown similar patterns on pro- and anti-apoptotic protein expression levels, such as Bcl-2, Casp3, Survivin and Bax. Our preclinic results indicate that memantine might be used as a new repositioned drug in cancer treatment. Beyond targeting glucose metabolism, glutamine metabolism also holds great promise for a potential treatment option.

Candesartan mediates microcirculation in acute necrotizing pancreatitis.

AIM: In the present study we aimed to determine the effect of an AT-II antagonist candesartan on pancreatic microcirculation in an experimental model of acute necrotizing pancreatitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: There were five study groups with 10 animals in each. Pancreatitis was induced by intravenous infusion of cerulein and coadministration of glycodeoxycholate into biliopancreatic canal. Candesartan is given at 6th and 18th hour to the 24th and 48th hour groups, respectively. At 24th and 48th hours; following anaesthesia laparotomy was performed and laser Doppler flowmetry was performed in the pancreatic tissue of the animals. Following scarification blood samples were obtained for amylase, myeloperoxidase, IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor alpha. Tissue samples from the pancreas were obtained for histopathological analysis, endothelial cell apoptosis (TUNEL assay) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Pancreatic microcirculation was higher in the candesartan treated groups (p < 0.05). Myeloperoxidase, IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor alpha was found to be lower in the candesartan treated groups (p < 0.05). The pancreatic edema and inflammation were found to be reduced in the candesartan treated groups (p < 0.05). Endothelial apoptosis was found to be reduced by cadesartan treatment but it did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). Tissue matrix metalloproteinase -9 levels were found to be reduced with candesartan treatment (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Treatment with candesartan in the early phases of acute necrotizing pancreatitis effective on microcirculation of pancreatic tissue (Tab. 3, Fig. 6, Ref. 28).