Reflectance confocal microscopy as a useful diagnostic tool for monitoring of skin containing vascularized composite allograft rejection: A preliminary study on rats.

Vascularized composite allografts can undergo immune-mediated rejection, and skin biopsies are needed for monitoring of the transplant. However it is an invasive method, and requires processing time and pathological assessment. The purpose of this study is to use a new noninvasive monitoring method of the reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) to determine severity of the allograft rejection on rats. Five groin flap allotransplantation were performed between 10 male Sprague-Dawley rats. Immunosuppressive therapy with cyclosporine A was given to the recipients during 10 days after surgery and was ended at the 10th postoperative days to allow acute transplant rejection. Following cessation of CsA, concomitant RCM evaluation and skin biopsy was performed every other day from each animal until total rejection of the allograft. Complete rejection of the allograft took nearly about 10 days and 4 or 5 RCM evaluation and skin biopsy was performed from each rat during this period. A total of 17 specimens were evaluated. A scoring system was developed based on the RCM findings. Skin biopsies were evaluated according to the Banff 2007 working classification criteria. RCM evaluation revealed epidermal irregularity and collagen destruction, however mild perivascular inflammation and degeneration of the basal epidermal layer were observed in early and late rejection period respectively with histopathologic evaluation. High correlation was found between the RCM scores and histopathologic grading. The RCM may be the useful tool to reduce the need for skin biopsy for monitoring of the skin containing vascularized composite allograft.

Evaluation of the current disease severity scores in paediatric FMF: is it necessary to develop a new one?

OBJECTIVES: Modified adult disease severity scoring systems are being used for childhood FMF. We aim to test the clinical consistency of two common severity scoring systems and to evaluate the correlation of scores with the type of FMF mutations in paediatric FMF patients since certain mutations are prone to severe disease. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty-eight children with FMF were cross-sectionally studied. Assessment of the disease severity was performed by using the modified scoring systems of Mor et al. and Pras et al. Genetic analysis was performed using PCR and restriction endonuclease digestion methods for the presence of 15 FMF gene mutations. FMF mutations were grouped into three based on well-known genotypic-phenotypic associations. Correlation between the mutation groups and the severity scoring systems was assessed. The consistency of the severity scoring systems was evaluated. RESULTS: The results of two scoring systems were not statistically consistent with each other (κ = 0.171). This inconsistency persisted even in a more homogeneous subgroup of patients with only homozygote mutations of M694V, M680I and M694I (κ = 0.125). There was no correlation between the mutation groups and either of the scoring systems (P = 0.002, r = 0,196 for scoring systems of Mor et al.; P = 0.009, r = 0.162 for Pras et al.). CONCLUSIONS: The inconsistency of the two scoring systems and lack of correlation between the scoring systems and mutation groups raises concerns about the reliability of these scoring systems in children. There is a need to develop a scoring system in children based on a prospective registry.

Serum lactate dehydrogenase levels significantly correlate with radiological extent of disease and spirometric values in patients with silicosis due to denim sandblasting.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate serum lactate dehydrogenase (LD) levels in patients with silicosis due to denim sandblasting (SDDS) and also to investigate possible correlations between serum LD levels and the degree of radiological extent of disease (RED) and pulmonary function tests. METHODS: Forty-four males with SDDS and 32 healthy male subjects were included in the study. Patients and healthy controls were compared for serum LD levels. Correlations between serum LD levels, RED and spirometric values were investigated. RESULTS: Patients with SDDS had significantly higher serum LD levels than healthy controls. Patients with complicated SDDS had significantly higher serum LD levels than patients with simple SDDS. Significant correlations were found between serum LD levels and RED values. Significant correlations were found between serum LD levels and spirometric parameters. CONCLUSIONS: High serum LD levels might be considered as a marker of pulmonary parenchymal involvement in patients with SDDS. This study also suggests that the increase in serum LD levels might be closely related to the degree of pulmonary involvement in SDDS patients.

Predictors of coping in a group of Turkish patients with physical disability.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To describe coping strategies used and determine the influence of demographic/health-related variables and perceived social support to the prediction of coping strategies in patients with physical disabilities. BACKGROUND: The period of psychosocial adaptation following a physical disability is very stressful. The use of effective coping strategies may be helpful in adapting to disability. However, no information is available about the coping strategies used by Turkish patients with physical disability. DESIGN: The study was designed as a cross-sectional survey. The data were obtained from 51 patients with physical disability in a rehabilitation centre in Ankara, Turkey between May 2004-September 2005. METHODS: Data were collected using a questionnaire form, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the Coping Strategy Indicator. Descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, Mann-Whitney U tests, Kruskal-Wallis test, chi-square test, Pearson's correlation coefficients and stepwise multivariate regression analysis were conducted. RESULTS: The most frequently used coping strategy was problem-solving, followed by avoidance coping and seeking social support. Significant predictors of overall coping strategies were age, financial status, the caregiver's presence and perceived social support, after controlling for specific variables. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that patients who were older and had a caregiver were more likely to use problem-solving strategy. Seeking social support was more common among patients who had a caregiver and those with more perceived support from friends, whereas patients who had financial difficulties used more avoidance coping. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Better understanding the coping strategies used by individuals with physical disabilities and factors affecting coping is provide interventions that reduce the stress and support their adaptation. Nurses should be aware of the factors that affect to coping strategies used to deal with stress.

The demonstration of the number, course, and the location of nutrient artery canals of the femur by multidetector computed tomography.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the number, course, width and location of nutrient artery canals of the femur by using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). METHODS: Sixty-six adult (35 right and 31 left) dry femurs were included in this study and scanned by MDCT. Nutrient artery canals were evaluated on the multi-planar reformatted and volume rendered images which were reproduced on the basis of axial images. RESULTS: The median value of nutrient artery canals was two (minimum 1 and maximum 6). We determined that there was a negative correlation between the number of nutrient canals and the canal diameters. The outer ostia of the nutrient artery canals were most frequently located at the middle third segment of femoral diaphysis (65%). While the vast majority of the canals were showing upward courses (95%), only a few canals were having transverse (3%) or downward (2%) courses. Most encountered location of outer ostia of the canals according to linea aspera was the medial lip of the linea aspera (44%). Various variations were demonstrated in the number, course, and location of nutrient artery canals using MDCT. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the knowledge of the topographic features of the nutrient artery canals may be useful in various clinical implications such as bone grafting or radiologic evaluation for the fracture lines.

Health Belief Model Scale for Cervical Cancer and Pap Smear Test: psychometric testing.

AIM: This study is a report of the development and psychometric testing of the Health Belief Model Scale for Cervical Cancer and the Pap Smear Test. BACKGROUND: While the Champion Health Belief Model scales have been tested extensively for breast cancer and screening for this, evaluation of these scales in explaining the beliefs of women with regard to cervical cancer and the Pap Smear Test has only received limited attention. METHODS: This methodological research was carried out in Turkey in 2007. The data were collected with 237 randomly selected women who met the criteria for inclusion and agreed to participate in this study. The Champion Health Belief Model scales were translated into Turkish, adapted for cervical cancer, validated by professional experts, translated back into English and pilot-tested. FINDINGS: Factor analysis yielded five factors: Pap smear benefits and health motivation, Pap smear barriers, seriousness, susceptibility and health motivation. Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficients for the five subscales ranged from 0·62 to 0·86, and test-retest reliability coefficients ranged from 0·79 to 0·87 for the subscales. CONCLUSION: The Health Belief Model Scale for Cervical Cancer and the Pap Smear Test was found to be a valid and reliable tool in assessing the women's health beliefs. Understanding the beliefs of women in respect of cervical cancer and the Pap Smear Test will help healthcare professionals to develop more effective cervical cancer screening programmes.

Effect of nail polish and henna on oxygen saturation determined by pulse oximetry in healthy young adult females.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of different colour nail polishes and henna on the measurement of oxygen saturation and the differences among the measurements of three pulse oximetry devices. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 33 healthy females with a mean age of 19±1.0 years and no complaints or known disease were included into the study. All the participants applied henna to one of their fingers a day before the study. Just before the study, one finger was left empty as control and the other fingers were dyed using various colours of nail polish (red, blue, beige, purple, brown, white, pink, green, colourless polish, light blue, light green and yellow). There were more than eight colour nail polishes and some fingers were used for the other colours after being completely cleaned. The same brand nail polishes were used for the study. Oxygen saturation measurements were done using three different pulse oximetry devices (device I, II, III) from the control, different colour nail polished and henna applied fingers. The measurements of different devices, different colour nail polishes, henna and control were statistically compared. RESULTS: The mean saturations obtained from blue, beige, purple and white nail polished fingers were significantly lower than those of control and the other coloured fingers. In addition, the mean measurement of device II was significantly lower than those of other devices. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that blue, beige, purple and white nail polished fingers might cause pulse oximetry devices to make incorrect measurements.

Anatomic survey of arachnoid foveolae and the clinical correlation to cranial bone grafting.

INTRODUCTION: When performing in situ harvesting of cranial bone grafts, there is a risk of entering the pericranial-intracranial venous system, either directly or indirectly through the arachnoid foveolae. The aims of this study were to investigate the size and location of arachnoid foveolae and to provide an anatomic road map to prevent penetrating these structures. METHODS: Three hundred dry skulls were selected from the Hamann-Todd osteological collection (Cleveland, OH); skulls were collected between 1912 and 1938. Our study skulls were limited to whites or African American adults. Exclusion criteria included children (<18 y), ethnic groups other than African Americans and whites, skulls demonstrating fracture or craniofacial abnormalities, or any skull whose age, ethnicity, and sex could not be confirmed. From the 300 skulls in the collection, 200 met the criteria and were included in our review. The mean age of these 200 individuals was 43.86 years, with a male-to-female proportion of 100:100, and a white-to-African American proportion of 144:56. A 500-W candescent light was used to transilluminate the arachnoid foveola, and digital photographs with scale were obtained. The location and diameters of foveolae for arachnoid granulations relative to the coronal and sagittal suture were measured. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 90% of major arachnoid foveolae are located within 2.5 cm of the coronal and 1.5 cm of the sagittal suture for the left and right parietal bones. Major arachnoid foveolae are located at closer distances to the superior sagittal suture and the coronal suture in the right and left parietal bone than minor foveolae. The results of this study imply that potential complications can be minimized by avoiding these areas and by harvesting in situ bone grafts from the absolute and relative safe zones described in this study.

[The relationship between antibiotic resistance and virulence factors in urinary Enterococcus isolates]. / Üriner Enterokok Izolatlarinin Antibiyotik Direnci ile Virülans Faktörleri Arasindaki Iliski.

Increasing multidrug resistance in nosocomial Enterococcus strains from all over the world recently enhances the need for further investigation of enterococci, especially their virulence factors. There are still many lacking parts about virulence factors of clinical enterococcus isolates. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the antibiotic resistance and the presence of potential virulence factors of 91 Enterococcus strains (59 E.faecalis, 31 E.faecium and 1 E.gallinarum) isolated from urine cultures of inpatients between January 2008-June 2010 in our hospital and also to evaluate whether a correlation existed between antibiotic resistance and potential virulence factors. The genes which encoded virulence factors of enterococci; aggregation substance (AS), enterococcal surface protein (ESP) and hyaluronidase (HYL) (asa1, esp, hyl respectively) were studied by molecular methods and haemolysin production and gelatinase activity were studied by phenotypic methods. Vancomycin resistant strains were checked for the presence of vanA and vanB genes. Eight (25.8%) E.faecium isolates were found glycopeptide resistant. In seven of these isolates resistance type was vanA and in one it was neither vanA nor vanB. High-level gentamicin and high-level streptomycin resistance rates were 74.2% and 61.3% in E.faecium strains and were 22% ve 27.1% in E.faecalis strains, respectively. Beta-lactamase production and linezolid resistance were not detected in any of the strains. E.faecium isolates were more resistant (p< 0.001-0.013) than E.faecalis isolates to all tested antibiotics except tetracycline, minocycline, doxycycline and streptogramin (p< 0.001). hyl gene positivity (p< 0.001) was found higher in E.faecium isolates whereas esp (p= 0.003) and asa1 (p< 0.001) gene positivity, haemolysin production (p=0.014) and gelatinase activity (p= 0.029) were higher in E.faecalis isolates. AS and ESP were the most frequent virulence factors, with the rates of 26.7% and 25.6%, respectively. There were 32 (35.6%) strains without any of the investigated virulence factors. We have also detected that asa1 gene positive E.faecalis isolates were more resistant to ciprofloxacin (p= 0.001), norfloxacin (p= 0.006) and levofloxacin (p= 0.001) than asa1 gene negative isolates; esp gene positive E.faecalis isolates were more resistant to doxycycline (p= 0.043) than esp gene negative isolates and hyl gene positive E.faecium isolates were more resistant to nitrofurantoine (p= 0.011) than hyl gene negative isolates. This was the first clinical sample originated study, investigating the corelation between antibiotic resistance and virulence factors in urinary Enterococcus isolates in Turkey.

Vascular endothelial growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, insulin-like growth factor-I and platelet-derived growth factor levels in human milk of mothers with term and preterm neonates.

Human milk is a complex biological fluid. It contains many nutrients, anti-infectious and biologically active substance. Human milk also contains many angiogenic polypeptides. We have determined four of these: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF), insulin-like growth factor- I (IGF-I) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). The aim of this study was to compare the concentrations of VEGF, b-FGF, IGF-I and PDGF in human milk collected from mothers with preterm and term neonates. Human milk samples were collected from 29 mothers of preterm (<37 weeks) and from 29 mothers of term (38>weeks) infants at days 3, 7 and 28 postpartum. Milk samples were analyzed for VEGF, b-FGF and PDGF by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and IGF-I was measured by radioimmunoassay method. Human milk levels of VEGF, IGF-I and b-FGF were significantly higher (p<0.001). Furthermore, within-preterm group concentrations of VEGF, IGF-I and PDGF significantly differed during postpartum days 3-7-28 (p<0.001, p<0.05, p<0.001, respectively), but did not do so for b-FGF concentrations. In term groups, concentrations of IGF-I and VEGF significantly differed (p<0.05, p<0.001, respectively), but did not do so for concentrations of b-FGF and PDGF. This is the first report of simultaneous measurements of four major angiogenic factors in human milk collected from mothers with preterm and term. Our results suggest that three of four angiogenic factors, VEGF, b-FGF and IGF-I, are higher concentration in human milk which collected from preterm mothers than those of terms.

Comparison of the effects of inhalation, epidural, spinal, and combined anesthesia techniques on rat cremaster muscle flap microcirculation.

BACKGROUND: This experimental study was designed to investigate and compare the effects of different anesthesia techniques on rat cremaster muscle flap microcirculation. METHODS: Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats (130-150 g body weight) were divided into five experimental groups containing ten animals each. Group I, group II, and group III were designated as inhalation, epidural, and spinal anesthesia groups, respectively. Group IV was designated as a combination group for inhalation and epidural anesthesia. Group V was a combination group of inhalation and spinal anesthesia. RESULTS: Group III and group V showed significant increases in the number of rolling and sticking leucocytes and in RBC volume (peripheral stasis) when compared with group I. Blood flow and velocity significantly increased without peripheral stasis in groups II and IV when compared with group I. Although there was no statistically significant difference in the numbers of rolling, sticking, and transmigrating leucocytes or in functional capillary perfusion, group IV had better flow hemodynamics in the peripheral microcirculation when compared with group I. CONCLUSIONS: The inhalation and epidural anesthesia combination was determined to be the ideal anesthesia technique for improved peripheral microcirculation. Spinal anesthesia, either separately or in combination with inhalation anesthesia, has adverse effects on microcirculation.

Health beliefs and breast self-examination in a sample of Turkish nursing students and their mothers.

AIM: To describe health beliefs and breast self-examination practice of Turkish female nursing students and their mothers. BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among Turkish women. Breast self-examination is one of the primary methods for early detection of breast cancer in asymptomatic women. DESIGN: The study was designed as a cross-sectional and comparative survey. The data were obtained from 392 participants, including female nursing students (n = 196) and their mothers (n = 196) in Ankara, Turkey. METHODS: Data were collected by using a personal data form and the Champion's Health Belief Model Scale. Descriptive statistics, paired samples t-test, chi-square test, reliability analysis, Pearson correlation coefficients and logistic regression analysis were conducted. RESULTS: The percentage of nursing students who performed breast self-examination regularly was statistically higher than that of their mothers. The scores of health motivation, benefits and confidence were significantly higher in nursing students. The mothers' perceived susceptibility and barriers were significantly higher than their daughters. The frequency of breast self-examination practice was affected by the level of education, the mother's or daughter's monthly performance of breast self-examination and the level of perceived barrier to breast self-examination. CONCLUSIONS: There were differences in health beliefs related to breast self-examination and its practice between nursing students and their mothers. The results of this study showed that monthly performance of breast self-examination was more common among women who graduated from high school and university, whose mother or daughter performed breast self-examination regularly every month and those with lower levels of perceived barriers. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: It is essential that nurses be aware of the factors that contribute to monthly performance of breast self-examination. Cultural factors should be considered in planning educational programmes about breast self-examination practice. Interventions should be designed to enhance nursing students' proficiency in performing breast self-examination.

Do zinc and selenium prevent the antioxidant, hepatic and renal system impairment caused by aspirin in rats?

Aspirin is widely used as an antiinflammatory drug especially in children with rheumatic fever arthritis. The diminishing effects of aspirin on antioxidant enzymes and hepato-renal systems at high doses are well-known. It is now evident that the damage at antioxidant system worsens the clinical picture of the disease and prolongs the treatment time. Thus, we investigated the effect of antioxidant enzyme cofactors-zinc and selenium-supplementation on superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (erythrocyte and liver) and hepato-renal toxicity during aspirin treatment at therapeutic doses. The rats were divided into five groups. The first and second groups were given aspirin 75 mg/kg/day and aspirin plus selenium (Selenium 200, selenium 200 mg tablet as selenium yeast, GNC) and zinc (Zinc 100, zinc 100 mg tablet as zinc gluconate, GNC), respectively, the third and fourth take 50 mg/kg/day aspirin and aspirin plus selenium and zinc twice a day, respectively. The fifth group was control. The rats were treated with aspirin for 5 weeks as in the treatment of rheumatic fever arthritis in children. Erythrocyte SOD and MDA levels were preserved with supplementation, whereas there was no change for GSH-Px levels. Liver SOD, GSH-Px, and MDA levels were not changed. In zinc- and selenium-supplemented groups, the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase, uric acid, and direct bilirubin levels were found statistically decreased compared with nonsupplemented groups. There was no significant histopathologic change in specimens of hepatic and renal tissues. Trace element supplementation may prevent free radical damage and shorten treatment time in children using long-term aspirin treatment.

Genetic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates at the Military Medical Academy in Ankara, Turkey.

Genotyping of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from infected individuals can play an important role in tracking the source of infection and unraveling the epidemiology of a tuberculosis pandemic. A total of 114 M. tuberculosis isolates were genotyped by spoligotyping and results were compared with an international spoligotype database (SpoIDB4). Twenty-one spoligotyping-defined clusters including 97 patients were established, and an additional 17 unique patterns were found. Ninety-eight (85.9%) isolates belonged to previously defined shared types (STs). The ST53 (ill-defined T1 superfamily, n=31), ST41 (LAM7-TUR family, n=9), ST118 (T undefined, n=8) and ST50 (Haarlem 3, n=6) were four major clusters of our isolates. After comparison with the international SpoIDB4 database, two new intrafile clusters, ST2136 and ST2139, were created and two new interfile clusters, ST2135 and ST2140, were defined. Eight (7%) of the 17 isolates with unique patterns were found to be orphans, whereas the STs of 9 isolates had previously been deposited in the international SpoIDB4 database. In addition, two isolates with an ST pattern characteristic of the Beijing family of M. tuberculosis were found. This study shows that, although ubiquitous spoligotypes are common, several spoligotypes specific to Turkey also exist. Thus, our study may help us to better understand the spread of M. tuberculosis genotypes to Turkey.

Outcome of in vitro fertilization and ovarian response after endometrioma stripping at laparoscopy and laparotomy.

OBJECTIVE: To add further data on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome and ovarian response after endometrioma stripping via either laparoscopy or laparotomy. STUDY DESIGN: IVF outcome and ovarian response parameters in patients who had undergone unilateral endometrioma stripping at laparoscopy (n=28) or laparotomy (n=10) before IVF were retrospectively compared. RESULTS: Fertilization rates, number of embryos transferred and pregnancy rates did not differ between the groups. Significantly more recombinant FSH was used to induce folliculogenesis, and fewer metaphase II oocytes were retrieved in the laparotomy group. The laparotomy-postcystectomy ovaries were significantly smaller and malpositioned. In both stripping groups, significantly smaller operated-on ovaries with lower numbers of antral and mature follicles were observed as compared to intact ovaries. CONCLUSION: A higher amount of FSH is needed to achieve an acceptable IVF outcome after unilateral endometrioma surgery. Indications for surgical treatment of patients having larger and bilateral cysts with an expectation for future fertility should be cautiously reviewed

Reproductive health education of conscripts in Turkish Armed Forces: first evaluation of training courses.

BACKGROUND: In the frame of the Reproductive Health Program of Turkish Armed Forces, conscripts have been given 1-day participatory, interactive courses by the field military medical trainers in all military garrisons. METHODS: Pre- and posttest knowledge levels of soldiers were tested by 25 true-false questions. Demographic characteristics and test scores were routinely transferred from the training rooms to the reproductive health database by authorized field trainers using the network of the army. Two hundred forty-eight thousand seven hundred ninety-six soldiers with perfect entrance of data have been selected for descriptive analyses. RESULTS: Of all the soldiers, 39.2% were born in 1984. Primary school graduates have constituted the largest group with 34.4%. Only 7.4% of the soldiers were married. The mean precourse score was 65.7% +/- 15.4%, while the postcourse score was 83.5 +/- 12.73% (SD) (p < 0.001). Those who used to live in the east region of Turkey have obtained significantly lower scores on both pre- and posttests in comparison to scores of those who used to live in other regions (p < 0.001). Groups based on five educational levels have obtained significantly different scores, ascending gradually from uneducated to the higher educational level (p < 0.001). The ratio of increase in knowledge was highest in the groups with the lowest educational level and unmarried (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Training courses seem to succeed in increasing the knowledge of conscripts, particularly of those with a low socioeconomic and cultural status. However, it requires time to determine whether this increase in knowledge level with promote behavioral change positively and will improve young males' own and their partners' reproductive health status.

The predictive value of serum procalcitonin levels in adult patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis.

The aim of our prospective study was to evaluate the predictive value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) level in comparison with C-reactive protein level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) on admission and 6 months after the administration of anti-tuberculous chemotherapy (ATCT). Seventy-five adult male patients with active PTB who were mycobacteriologically diagnosed (smear and culture positivity) were examined in this study. As a control group, 75 healthy adult males were enrolled. The measured serum PCT levels were within the normal range both in healthy individuals and in patients 6 months after ATCT. Serum PCT levels had been slightly high on admission in patients with PTB in comparison with controls (P = 0.01) and patients who had ATCT (P = 0.001), and this difference was statistically significant, but the PCT levels of most cases with PTB (58.7%) were below the usual cut-off level (0.5 ng/mL). We conclude from this study that the serum PCT level was not a reliable indicator in the diagnosis of active PTB because of its low sensitivity (41.3%), and in most cases it was not capable of overcoming the cut-off level even if statistically meaningful results were obtained. The PCT test for the presumptive diagnosis of PTB cannot be substituted for microbiological, epidemiological, clinical and radiological data.

Some sociodemographic and diagnostic characteristics of military patients treated in the Department of Medical Oncology, Gülhane Military Medical Academy.

Today, chronic diseases have increased importance. Cancer, for which 10 million new cases are diagnosed around the world each year, is in the lead of such diseases. This study included military personnel with cancer who applied to the Department of Medical Oncology, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, in the period between 1998 and 2003, and it aims to describe some sociodemographic and diagnostic characteristics of the patients. The total number of cases was 938, which included both active duty and retired military personnel with diagnoses of cancer who were given medical care between 1998 and 2003 in the Department of Medical Oncology. For the study group, the five most common diagnoses were lung cancer, colorectal cancer, testicular cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and Hodgkin's disease. Although the first three diagnoses among officers were lung cancer, testicular cancer, and Hodgkin's disease, those among retired officers were colorectal cancer, lung cancer, and prostate cancer. Among noncommissioned officers, the first three diagnoses were colorectal cancer, testicular cancer, and Hodgkin's disease for active duty patients and lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and gastric cancer for retired patients. In the group of privates, testicular cancer, Hodgkin's disease, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were the first three diagnoses. When we consider the characteristics of cancers, such as high costs of treatment, loss of manpower, and high mortality rates, prevention of cancers and early diagnosis are very important. Because the frequent types of cancers differed for groups according to age and occupation, those characteristics should be considered when cancer screening programs are being developed for the Armed Forces.

Evaluation of the dental health of the young adult male population in Turkey.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of dental caries in military recruits and to assess the relation of dental caries with socioeconomic and demographic factors, and sugar consumption behavior, and to generalize the findings for the young adult male population to draw a picture of dental health status of this population segment in Turkey. In this cross-sectional study conducted between August and October 2000 in a military basic training center in Turkey, 2,766 male recruits of the age of 20 were examined by dental specialists to determine their mean number of decayed, missing, or filled teeth (DMFT) scores and were administered a questionnaire for capturing their demographic characteristics and sugar consumption behavior. The mean DMFT score for the 20-year-old male population in Turkey was found to be 5.97. DMFT scores were weakly correlated with income level and urbanization. Sugar consumption was strongly correlated with DMFT scores. The mean number of teeth with fillings component was strongly correlated with income level, moderately with the subject's education, and weakly with the mother's education, father's education, and urbanization. DMFT scores for the young adult male population in Turkey were strongly associated with sugar consumption behavior, whereas they were weakly or not at all associated with demographic factors such as education level, income level, and urbanization.