Psychometric properties of a Turkish version of the oral health impact profile-14.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to analyze and evaluate a Turkish translation of the oral health impact profile-14 (OHIP-14) in a Turkish population to provide an objective standard for future studies. METHODS: This cross-sectional research study consisted of three independent studies. Data were collected utilizing a personal interview and a review of periodontal records. This study was performed on 1205 subjects who were visiting for routine medical check-ups. The OHIP-14 was administered to measure oral health related to the quality of life, along with a questionnaire addressing demographic information, such as age, gender, and education. RESULTS: The reliability coefficient (Cronbach's alpha) of the Turkish version OHIP-14-TR (OHIP-14-TR) was reported to be nearly perfect in all 3 parts of our study (alpha 1: 0.82; alpha 2: 0.76; alpha 3: 0.91); additionally, values were greater than the recommended 0.70 threshold. Spearman's correlation coefficients showed that both OHIP scores significantly correlated with periodontal parameters, serving as proof of convergent validity (P < 0.01, P< 0.001). The principal component analysis with varimax rotation revealed seven factors. The OHIP-14-TR was more than 95% comprehensible. CONCLUSION: The OHIP-14-TR is a reliable, valid, and comprehensible scale for measuring oral health-related quality of life in the Turkish population.

Role of ammonia secretion and pH modulation on pathogenicity of Colletotrichum coccodes on tomato fruit.

Colletotrichum coccodes was found to alkalinize the decaying tissue of tomato fruit via accumulation and secretion of ammonia. Alkalinization dynamics caused by ammonia secretion from growing hyphae was examined microscopically using the pH-sensitive fluorescent dye 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein. Values of pH of 7.9 observed in the host tissue close to the hyphal tips declined to pH 6.0 at 10 mm away from the hyphal tip, which was a value that was still higher than that detected in the healthy tissue, pH 4.2. Ammonia accumulation at the infection site depended on the initial environmental pH. Treatments with low (4.0) pH buffer at the infection site resulted in high levels of ammonia secretion and increased virulence of C. coccodes compared with similar treatments with buffer at pH 7.0. Significantly, mutants of C. coccodes defective in nitrogen utilization, nit-, and areA- were impaired in ammonia secretion and showed reduced decay development. The reduced infection rate of nit- mutants could be complemented by adding glutamine at the infection site. Thus, ammonia accumulation is a critical factor contributing to C. coccodes pathogenicity on tomato fruit. The results show that the initial acidic pH of the fruit is conducive to ammonia secretion and the subsequent alkalinization of the infection site, and facilitates fungal virulence and the transformation from the quiescent-biotrophic to active-necrotrophic state.

Ultrasonographic appearance of cervical pregnancy following successful treatment with methotrexate.

We report a case of cervical ectopic pregnancy successfully treated with systemic methotrexate. Conservative management with single-dose methotrexate was undertaken, but owing to the failure of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels to fall by 15% by day 7 and the persistence of fetal cardiac activity, two further doses of methotrexate were required. The patient's hCG levels were monitored, and repeat transvaginal ultrasonography was performed until complete resolution of the pregnancy by spontaneous miscarriage. We describe the ultrasonographic findings, which showed that the sac size increased despite treatment.

[Determination of blood alcohol level of people who are involved in a judicial event of medical importance (case report)]. / Kisilerin olay anindaki kan alkol seviyelerinin tespit edilmesinin adli-tibbi önemi (olgu sunumu).

In some cases, determination of blood alcohol level is very important. The alcohol level at the time of an event, can affect the court decision and may lead to aggravate the penalty or on the contrary an acquittal. In this article, a criminal action, in one of Turkish High Criminal Court is examined. The case was about the death of a drunk person who had fallen down from the window of his girl friend's house which is on the third floor of an apartment. This person's parent applied to public prosecutor saying that their child did not fall down but was murdered by his girl friend. During this trial, in the victim's autopsy, no alcohol detected in blood in contrast with his girl friend's testimony. Because of this contradiction, a reasonable doubt has emerged that she was the murderer in this suspicious death. However, in the further stages of trial, the reasons of no alcohol detection in the autopsy is investigated. In the basis of this case, the importance and techniques of alcohol detection in blood is discussed with literature.

[Problems encountered during natural disasters: a questionnaire study]. / Dogal afetler sirasinda karsilasilan sorunlar: bir anket çalismasi.

Human being has been encountering huge natural mass disasters since the dawn of existence. In the earthquake both Marmara region on August 17 1999 and Duzce region on November 12 1999, according to official records, 18.287 people were dead and 46.857 were injured. The purpose of this study is to get information by bilateral interviews with those who witnessed this big earthquake in different districts and to contribute in forming a prepared "disaster administration" consciousness for the prospective disasters, under the basis of these information. This study was made by interviewing with 262 people, 82 of whom witnessed the earthquake in the city of Yalova, 90 in Izmit, Bolu and Golcuk and 90 in Istanbul, used a questionnaire form consisted of multi choice and commentary questions. It is of very importance to diffuse educational programmes to increase social consciousness and sensibility about earthquake. Some projects to meet the basic requirements like communication, rescue, accommodation, nutrition and urgent medical support must be developed and embodied. Measures enabling to determine the identities of those who lose their lives in the earthquake must be determined and organized with the collaboration of forensic medical units.

The attitudes of medical students to autopsy.

To assess the attitudes of medical students to autopsy, 6th year students in the Medical Schools located in Istanbul, Edirne and Bursa in Turkey were asked to participate in a questionnaire. In the questionnaire, the main questions were on the number of autopsies they had attended, the number of autopsies they had participated in, their reaction to the first autopsy, whether they felt the conditions were adequate or not and what would their objectives be upon deciding to perform an autopsy. In the evaluation, it was detected that most of the participants had attended an autopsy, only a minority had participated in autopsy and most of them felt uncomfortable and inadequate on performing autopsy. The results were discussed with respect to the literature.

Medico-legal death investigations and autopsies in Istanbul, Turkey.

There are two different organizations in forensic medicine in Turkey: the universities and the Council of Forensic Medicine (CFM). The CFM is an official body of the Ministry of Justice and serves as an expert witness on technical and medical subjects. The basic duty of the universities is education in the medical schools with the cooperation of the CFM. This study examines 3064 medico-legal death investigations and 2548 autopsies performed in the CFM, Ministry of Justice, Istanbul and in the eleven units of CFM in Istanbul during 1996. The age and sex distributions, the incidence and causes of deaths were reviewed.