The reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the constipation risk assessment scale.

The aim of this study is to translate into the Turkish language, and test the reliability and validity, of the Turkish version of the Constipation Risk Assessment Scale (CRAS). This study consisted of 245 adult in-patients who were hospitalized in the medical and surgical clinics of Celal Bayar University Hospital in January through May 2007. The patients were categorized into two groups (constipated and not constipated) according to Rome II criteria. All participants were assessed with the CRAS. The CRAS was retested on 32 patients selected randomly from among the initial constipated group (n =152). The statistical analysis consisted of reliability and validity analyses. Test-retest comparison and internal consistency were used to assess the reliability of the instrument. Divergence and known groups approaches were used to test for construct validity. Correlation analysis using the Pearson's coefficient was conducted to assess the test-retest. For testing of the criteria and known groups, Student's t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used. Cronbach's = value for the constipated respondents was r = 61.9. According to the effect size comparisons, the most effective variable on the CRAS score was perception of constipation risk requirement. The overall score and subsection score correlations were also found acceptable (r = 0.47-0.57).

A Comparison Study of Growth Factor Expression following Treatment with Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, Saline Solution, Povidone-Iodine, and Lavender Oil in Wounds Healing.

This study compared the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), saline solution (SS), povidone-iodine (PI), and lavender oil (Lavandula angustifolia) through expression of growth factors in a rat model of wound healing. Six experimental groups were established, each containing 8 rats: a healthy group with no incision wounds, an incision-control group, an incision and TENS group, an incision and SS group, an incision and PI group, and an incision and lavender oil group. Experiments continued for 5 days, after which the skin in the excision area was removed. Tissue concentrations of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-A were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Tissue expressions of EGF, PDGF-A, and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 were determined using immunohistochemistry. Wound closure progressed more rapidly in the TENS and lavender oil groups than in the control and other study groups. In particular, PDGF-A expressions in the dermis and EGF expression in the epidermis were significantly intense in the TENS group (P < 0.05). In addition, ELISA levels of growth factors such as PDGF-A and EGF were significantly higher in TENS group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). These immunohistochemical and ELISA results suggest that TENS may improve wound healing through increasing growth factors in the dermis and epidermis more than other topical applications.

The Turkish validity and reliability of the venous insufficiency epidemiological and economic study-quality of life/symptoms scales.

The aim of the study was to test Turkish validity and reliability of Venous Insufficiency Epidemiological and Economic Study-Quality of Life/Symptoms (VEINES-QoL/Sym) in patients with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). A total of 118 patients with CVI hospitalized in 3 different hospitals were enrolled in this study. VEINES-QoL/Sym, translated to Turkish with a standard methodology, was applied to the patients and was evaluated for acceptability, reliability, validity, and responsiveness. Cronbach α (including if item deleted) values were used for the reliability analysis. Construct and criterion validity approaches were used for validity analysis. Cronbach α values are .86 for the VEINES-QOL and .81 for the VEINES-Sym. No problematic items were observed for the scale. The VEINES-QoL/Sym was significantly sensitive to clinical, etiology, anatomy, and pathophysiology (CEAP) classification, indicating good criterion validity. Significant correlation was found between scores of SF-36 and VEINESQoL (r = .43-.66). Turkish version of the VEINES-QOL/Sym was found reliable and valid for Turkish patients with CVI.