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Introduction: Religious people suffer less from depression disorder than less or non-religious people. According to a longitudinal study investigating religiousness and negative life events, religious participants demonstrated fewer depressive symptoms than nonreligious. Furthermore, depressed patients with higher religiosity scores show lower values of depression symptoms. Objectives: The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between religiosity and patients with depression symptoms in the Neuro-Psychiatric Center in Riem (NPZR). The correlation between religiousness and life satisfaction as well as anxiety level was analyzed. Additionally, possible gender differences are also assesed. Methods: The patients of the NPZR were selected as sample of the study (N =106, F=61, M=45). The participants were provided with three surveys including the life satisfaction questionnaire, state trait anxiety inventory and the Centrality Scale. A Pearson Correlation was conducted to investigate the association between life satisfaction, level of anxiety and religiousness. T-Test was carried out to find out the differences between female and male patients. Results: There was a positive relationship between religiousness and life satisfaction of the depressed patients (r = .608, p= .001). There was also a significant relationship between religiosity and anxiety level (r = - .548, p < .001). However there was no significant difference between male and female patients with regard to their religiousness (t= .149, p= .882). Conclusions: The findings indicate that while there is a significant relationship between life satisfaction, level of anxiety and religiousness of the patients, the gender of the patients has no impact on the religiosity of participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The tumour suppressor gene product, p16, is often inactivated during melanoma malignant progression. Although the importance of p16 in melanomas is well documented, its relationship with cyclin D1, β-catenin and ultraviolet radiation (UVR) remains unclear. Aim. To determine the role of these cell cycle-related proteins and high-risk sun exposure in the biological behaviour of melanocytic lesions. Methods. We used immunohistochemistry to examine 28 melanocytic naevi (MN; 9 congenital and 19 acquired types) and 24 primary cutaneous malignant melanomas (CMM; 19 nodular melanomas, 3 lentigo maligna melanomas, 1 acral lentiginous melanoma and 1 superficial spreading melanoma) for the presence of p16, cyclin D1 and β-catenin. The melanocytic lesions were classified into two groups to examine the effects of UVR on these three proteins: high risk of sun exposure (chronically sun damaged; CSD), or low risk of sun exposure (nonchronically sun damaged; non-CSD). We evaluated the relationship between the production of these proteins and the histopathological and clinical characteristics of the lesions. Results. Production of p16 was repressed in most CMM, but not in MN ( P < 0.0001). Cyclin D1 was overproduced in CMM but not in MN, and β-catenin was frequently overproduced both in MN and CMM. Overproduction of β-catenin was not common in CSD melanocytic lesions, but was more frequent in non-CSD melanocytic lesions ( P = 0.027). Conclusion. An immunohistochemical panel including melanocytic markers enriched by p16 and cyclin D1 could be used to differentiate some borderline melanocytic lesions. In addition, the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was more frequently activated in non-CSD than in CSD melanocytic lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen therapy, which is ordered frequently for patients with chronic pulmonary disease, remains a cornerstone of modern medical practice. This study was conducted to compare the efficiency and comfort of a binasal cannula versus a face mask during oxygen therapy. Sixty hypoxemic patients participated in this randomized controlled study. While each patient was hypoxemic, arterial blood gas analysis was performed before oxygen supplementation was begun. Arterial oxygen saturation was continuously monitored during oxygen therapy with a face mask or a binasal cannula. Subjects were allowed to return to their oxygen saturation level in room air before the device for oxygen treatment was changed. The same procedure was then repeated with the other device. Patient comfort was evaluated through the use of a questionnaire that was completed after each treatment period. The mean age+/-standard deviation was 62+/-13 y. No statistically significant difference was noted in oxygen saturation levels achieved with the 2 devices. The binasal cannula reached target oxygen levels (P=.007) more quickly than the face mask. The binasal cannula was reported to be significantly more comfortable (P=.0001), and had significantly fewer reports of dyspnea and restlessness, and was less of a nuisance (P=.019, P=.0001, and P=.0001, respectively). The binasal cannula was preferred for oxygen therapy by 71% of study patients. Although the efficiency of the 2 devices did not differ remarkably, the binasal cannula was regarded as a more comfortable and time-saving device for delivery of oxygen therapy to hypoxic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most current statistical strategies for determining risk factors for hypertension (HT) among certain populations have proved inconclusive. In this study, the classification tree method, which is more practical and easy to understand than other statistical methods, was used to determine the risk for HT among outpatients in a clinic in Denizli province, western Turkey, between January 2002 and July 2004. The effects of 14 risk factors (body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, age, serum total cholesterol, serum triglycerides, sex, HT in first-degree relatives, diabetes mellitus, smoking, stress factors, alcohol consumption, dyslipidemia in first-degree relatives, dyslipidemia [previously diagnosed], and saturated fat consumption) on HT were evaluated in this population. In all, 1761 adults at the outpatient clinic were recruited for lipid and HT measurements. The classification tree method revealed 7 main risk factors (body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, sex, serum triglycerides, serum total cholesterol, HT in first-degree relatives, and saturated fat consumption) for HT. The findings of the present study suggest that the classification tree is a valuable statistical method for evaluating multiple risk factors for HT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate Denizli midwives' self-reported knowledge of genetic diseases and genetic counseling. Data was collected on forms that obtained information about midwives approaches to basic genetics, genetic disorders, and genetic counseling (response rate = 70.1%). The highest response rate of midwives describing themselves as 'knowledgeable' about basic genetic information was for mitosis and meiosis with 4.8%, about genetic disorders was for phenylketonuria with 61.1%, and about genetic counseling was for recommending ultrasonography during pregnancy with 98.1%. The source for basic genetics information for 56.4% of participants was in their school level classes. None of the midwives felt that they had sufficient knowledge about genetic counseling or screening and 76.4% would like to attend an educational course. Even though the midwives have recognized their knowledge deficit they occasionally give genetic counseling. As a result of this study a genetics course is planned for midwives so they can actively participate in the prevention and early diagnosis of genetic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the study 1000 families were interviewed during 1996 in the city of Denizli, which is situated in Western Anatolia and has a population of 79 211 families. The overall rate of consanguinity was 11.7%, with a mean inbreeding coefficient of 0.00873. The principal type of consanguineous marriage recorded was between first cousins, which accounted for 49.6% of all unions. For both sexes, a significant negative association was observed between consanguinity and mean age at marriage and level of education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in relation to the pulmonary involvement in the early stage ankylosing spondylitis.