RESUMO
Methanol is a highly toxic substance that is commonly used as an industrial solvent and antifreeze in automobiles. Methanol intoxication usually occurs following inhalation or topical exposure of spirit, homemade alcohol, or eau de cologne. The goal of this study was to examine methanol fatalities and methanol poisoning characteristics in our region and to contribute to form a database concerning methanol intoxication cases in our country. The records of the Morgue Department, Council of Forensic Medicine Adana Group Administration, were reviewed retrospectively for all methanol poisoning deaths for the period of January 1, 1997, to December 31, 2003. Age, gender, death places, methanol blood levels of the cases, and consumed products were recorded. Total number of deaths between 1997 and 2003 was 4725 and the number of deaths due to methanol poisoning was 41 (0.86%) during this period; 38 (92.68%) of the total methanol fatality cases were male and three (7.32%) female, with an age range of 16 to 54 years.
RESUMO
Fetal cells can enter maternal blood during pregnancy but whether they can also cross the blood-brain barrier to enter the maternal brain remains poorly understood. Previous results suggest that fetal cells are summoned to repair damage to the mother's brain. If this is confirmed, it would open up new and safer avenues of treatment for brain damage caused by strokes and neural diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether a baby's stem cells can enter the maternal brain during pregnancy. Deceased patients who had at least one male offspring and no history of abortion and blood transfusion were included in this study. DNA was extracted from brain tissue samples of deceased women using standard phenol-chloroform extraction and ethanol precipitation methods. Genomic DNA was screened by quantitative fluorescent-polymerase chain reaction amplification together with short tandem repeat markers specific to the Y chromosome, and 13, 18, 21 and X. Any foreign DNA residues that could be used to interpret the presence of fetal stem cells in the maternal brain were monitored. Results indicated that fetal stem cells can not cross the blood-brain barrier to enter the maternal brain.
RESUMO
AIM: to determine the level of awareness of patients' rights among midwives and nurses working in the third and fourth largest cities in Turkey. METHODS: cross-sectional descriptive survey conducted among participants working in university hospitals, state hospitals and village clinics. Questionnaires were distributed to 150 midwives and 350 nurses working in university hospitals (n = 200), state hospitals (n = 100) and village clinics (n = 100); 60% (n = 298) of the forms were returned. FINDINGS: fifty-one per cent (n = 152) of midwives and nurses stated that they had not read any legislation related to patients' rights. Seventy-five per cent (n = 222) of respondents were aware of the legal arrangements. Only 34% (n = 74) of participants who knew of any legal basis for patients' rights said that legislation was in the form of a directive. No significant differences were observed in midwives' answers compared with nurses' answers. CONCLUSION: violation of patients' rights and health professionals' ignorance of appropriate practice means that there is an urgent need to reconsider how to approach this issue. It should be included in continuing education programmes at both graduate and postgraduate midwifery and nursing schools, and also demands more research.