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Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive disease involving the loss of several cognitive functions. In the etiology there are mutation deficits in some genes and resultant mutational changes in amyloid precursor protein, presenilin 1 and 2, apolipoprotein E and low-density- lipoprotein-bound receptor protein (1).

Objective: The aim of this study is to identify frequency of hand discomfort and probable carpal tunnel syndrome cases in order to create awareness among workers, also at trade union level.Methods: A screening program for carpal tunnel syndrome was carried out at a medium-size workplace in the Industiral area of Umraniye Istanbul, from March to May in 1997.Two hundred and thirty-nine workers at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome due to the nature of their occupation were screened using standardized physical examination, a hand pain diagram and a questionnaire. The response rate was 99.3%.Results: Eighty-six of the workers were found to have positive hand symptoms. The cases were mostly people with occupations such as sewing machine operators. Seventeen cases with high priority for carpal tunnel syndrome were reported to the physician of the workplace to be referred to the hospital for further evaluation.Conclusion: In order to observe to know the real dimensions of the problem, prevelance studies are necessary. Taking into account the working conditions and detected frequency of hand problems, an "ergonomic awareness program" could be introduced for employers, employees and trade union representatives at the Umraniye Organized Industry Area of Istanbul.Key Words: Carpal tunnel syndrome,Screening, Hand discomfort.

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Antrodia juniperina is one of the most common Antrodia genus species in Turkey, which is regarded as a medicinal plant in some countries. The aim of this study is to determine the volatile aroma compounds (compounds) of A. juniperina. The volatile aroma compounds of A. juniperina were analyzed by headspace gas chromatography (GC-MS). 22 volatile compounds such as alcohols, aldehyde, acids, ketones, terpenes, ester, 11,13-dihydroxy-11.β.H-arbusculin benzofuran, 2H-1-benzopyran, 6-α-cadina-4,9-diene, and diethyl phthalate were determined. Nerolidol (alcohol), 11,13-dihydroxy-11.β.H-arbusculin benzofuran, 3-methoxy-5-methyl-benzaldehyde (aldehyde), 3-octanone (ketone), 3,7-dimethyl-1,6-octadien-3-ol (alcohol), and 3-octanol (alcohol) were identified as major aroma components in A. juniperina with 76.22%. Key words: Nerolidol, 3-Octanol, headspace, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

OBJECTIVE To assess the usage, knowledge and attitudes of elderly individuals living in residential homes in the Anatolian region of Istanbul, with particular reference to analgesic/nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antihypertensives. METHODS This cross-sectional study was carried out with 247 representative individuals who were >or= 65 years old, and were living in residential homes in Istanbul. They scored >or= 24 in a Mini Mental Status Examination and were not suffering from speech, understanding or expression disorders, nor was any serious disease included in the study. Each medication that participants held, was recorded at sight. After asking about the dose, frequency, duration, purpose and side effects related with antihypertensives and analgesic/NSAIDs, the individual's weight, height and blood pressure were measured and activities of daily living and falling status were evaluated. RESULTS 47% of the participants were male and the mean age was 76 +/- 7.2 years. 47% of the participants were using antihypertensives and 45% of them were using analgesic/NSAIDs. 30% of subjects who declared that they had hypertension were not on therapy. There was a statistically significant relationship between NSAID usage and having hypertension (p = 0.013, OR 2.064, 95% CI 1.16 - 3.65). 78 of the antihypertensive and 88% of the analgesic/NSAIDs users explained the purpose of the drug usage properly. However, only 9 and 18% were aware of the effects, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Although these results suggest that regarding the antihypertensive and analgesic/NSAIDs administration, individuals were treated with proper drugs and doses, but a considerable number of old people are not sufficiently aware about their diseases and drugs.

Background Middle income countries are facing an epidemic of non-communicable diseases, especially coronary heart disease (CHD). We used a validated CHD mortality model (IMPACT) to explain recent trends in Tunisia, Syria, the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) and Turkey. Methods Data on populations, mortality, patient numbers, treatments and risk factor trends from national and local surveys in each country were collated over two time points (1995-97; 2006-09); integrated and analysed using the IMPACT model. Results Risk factor trends: Smoking prevalence was high in men, persisting in Syria but decreasing in Tunisia, oPt and Turkey. BMI rose by 1-2 kg/m2 and diabetes prevalence increased by 40%-50%. Mean systolic blood pressure and cholesterol levels increased in Tunisia and Syria. Mortality trends: Age-standardised CHD mortality rates rose by 20% in Tunisia and 62% in Syria. Much of this increase (79% and 72% respectively) was attributed to adverse trends in major risk factors, occurring despite some improvements in treatment uptake. CHD mortality rates fell by 17% in oPt and by 25% in Turkey, with risk factor changes accounting for around 46% and 30% of this reduction respectively. Increased uptake of community treatments (drug treatments for chronic angina, heart failure, hypertension and secondary prevention after a cardiac event) accounted for most of the remainder. Discussion CHD death rates are rising in Tunisia and Syria, whilst oPt and Turkey demonstrate clear falls, reflecting improvements in major risk factors with contributions from medical treatments. However, smoking prevalence remains very high in men; obesity and diabetes levels are rising dramatically. The MedCHAMPS project and data collection were funded by EC FP7 grant no. 223705 . JC and SC are supported by the UK Higher Education Funding Council . MOF was partly funded by the European Union and the UK Medical Research Council ( NPR3, Project 45 ). This study was funded by the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement no. 223075 - the MedCHAMPS project. MOF was also supported by the UK MRC . Scopus

Objective.To determine the incidence of and identify risk factors for sternal surgical site infection (SSI).Design.Prospective cohort study. Data on potential risk factors, including the type of operating theater and infection data, were collected prospectively and analyzed by multivariate analysis.Setting.Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Hospital, a 700-bed teaching hospital and the largest center for cardiac surgery in Turkey. The cardiothoracic unit performs approximately 3,000 cardiac operations per year.Patients.All adult patients who underwent cardiac surgery with sternotomy between January 14, 2002, and July 1, 2002, and who survived at least 4 days after surgery were included in the study.Results.Potential risk factor data were complete for 991 patients. There was sternal SSI in 41 patients (4.1%). Female sex, diabetes mellitus, operation performed in the older operating theaters, and duration of procedure exceeding 5 hours were identified as independent risk factors for sternal SSI.Conclusions.Female and diabetic patients are at higher risk for sternal SSI and should be followed up carefully after cardiac surgery to prevent the development of sternal SSI. Reducing the duration of surgery could reduce the rate of postoperative sternal SSI. The operating theater environment may have an important role in the pathogenesis of sternal SSI, and appropriate ventilation of the operating theaters would be critical in the prevention of sternal SSI.

Dr Kalaca will talk about learning pathways of blended learning in digital learning ecosystems. He wishes the session would inspire participants about how local authorities may use these ecosystems in developing policies for the public in an open and collaborative way. The traditional model of requirements analysis focuses on functions (input, processing, output) and generally does not offer an integrated vision suitable to the profile and context of today’s people/learners, and to today’s collaboration paradigms. And, what are today’s learning paradigms like? Here a brief summary: Learning happens by doing, by interacting with learning objects; learning happens by making, by constructing and building projects; learning occurs when you interact with others; the learner needs to be in the position of an author; the learner needs to be the protagonist and needs to have an active role in the learning process; learning does not only occur in schools and in classrooms, but it occurs in formal and informal spaces. So it is a high time to talk about the Digital Learning Ecosystems and try to convince you that, today, learning tools need to be conceived as biological beings integrated in digital ecosystems.

A good understanding of the learning styles of students is necessary for optimizing the quality of the learning process. There are few studies in Turkey on the subject of the learning characteristics of medical students.The aim of this study was to define the learning patterns of Turkish medical students based on the Turkish version of Vermunts Inventory of Learning Styles (ILS).The Turkish version of the ILS was developed and administered to 532 medical students. Learning patterns were investigated using factor analysis.Internal consistencies of scales ranged from 0.43 to 0.80. The Turkish version of the ILS identified four learning styles among medical students. In comparing the pre-clinical and clinical phases of medical students related to mental models of learning, statistically significant differences (p.01) were found between the two groups for the learning characteristics: lack of regulation; certificate; self-test and ambivalent orientation; intake of knowledge; and use of knowledge.The Turkish version of the ILS can be used to identify learning styles of medical students. Our findings indicate an intermediate position for our students on a teacher-regulated to student-regulated learning continuum. A variety of teaching methods and learning activities should be provided in medical schools in order to address the range of learning styles.

Izmaiņas Eiropas sabiedrības reliģiskajā sastāvā rosināja diskusijas kā par reliģiskās identitātes saglabāšanu, tā arī par reliģisko minoritāšu aizsardzību. Pēdējā laikā asas diskusijas radīja tieši reliģisku simbolu, it īpaši krucifiksa, atrašanās publiskajās skolās. Darba pirmajā nodaļa tiks komentētas tiesības un jautājumi, kas izriet no reliģijas brīvības principa. Otrajā nodaļā tiks sniegta juridisko domstarpību analīze, kas parādās sakarā ar normatīvo regulējumu par krucifiksu atrašanos valsts skolu mācību klasēs. Šājā nodaļā tiks izpētīts kā nacionālās tiesas un Eiropas Cilvēktiesību tiesa izskata analoģiskus jautājumus saistībā ar valsts neitralitāti publiskās izglītības jomā kopsakarā ar vecāku tiesībām kontrolēt savu bērnu reliģisko izglītību, kā arī saistībā ar skolēnu tiesībām būt brīviem no reliģiskās piespiešanas un indoktrinācijas. Reliģisko simbolu obligāta atrašanās valsts skolu mācību klasēs var tikt uzskatīta par neitralitātes pārkāpšanu izglītības jomā un līdz ar to var pārkāpt kā vecāku, tā arī viņu bērnu tiesības. Lai atrisinātu šo problēmu, darba autore piedāvā divus risinājumus: aizliegt jebkuru reliģisku simbolu izvietošanu valsts skolās, pieļaujot to atrašanos mācību telpās, kurās notiek reliģijas mācība, vai arī atļaujot skolēniem, vecākiem un skolotājiem izvietot dažādus reliģiskus simbolus uz speciālās sienas vai atsevišķā telpā., Changes in the religious composition of European societies raised debates both about safeguarding religious identity and protecting religious minorities. Recently widespread debates gave the presence of religious symbols particularly crucifixes in public schools. The thesis will begin with a commentary on rights and issues deriving from principle of religious freedom. The second chapter will offer a comparative analysis of the legal controversies engendered by the laws requiring the display of crucifixes in public school classrooms. In this chapter will be examined how national courts and European Court of Human rights dealt with the common issues of the state neutrality in education linked with parental rights to steer the religious education of their children, as well as pupil’s rights to be free from religious coercion and indoctrination. Obligatory presence of religious symbols in public school classroom may be considered as a breach of neutrality in educational sphere and may infringe both parental rights and pupil’s rights. To solve this problem author of this thesis proposes two solutions. According to the first solution, neutrality in public schools can be ensured by prohibiting any display of state-sanctioned religious symbols, except classrooms where religious instruction take place. The second solution allows pupils, their parents and teacher to put their religious symbols on the special wall or room.

High levels of anxiety and stress during medical education may have negative effects on students' learning and may also influence students' performance, decision-making and caring capabilities. This study aims to compare the anxieties of clerkships of two medical schools that apply two different preclinical curricula; one is problem-based and the other is integrated. Dokuz Eylul University School of Medicine (DEUSM) has the basic clinical and communication skills education by the first year of medical education. However, the students of Marmara University School of Medicine (MUSM) had not any preclinical training about these issues at the time we performed this study. In order to evaluate the perceived anxiety, we used a questionnaire which comprises 39 issues presented as 4-point Likert-type scales. Eighty-six clerkships from MUSM and 115 clerkships from DEUSM participated in the study. According to the students of both of the schools, fear of making mistakes that could harm the patients was at the top of the list of sources of anxiety. The students of MUSM have additional anxieties related to the core clinical skills such as suturing patients, taking blood from patients and giving injections. On the other hand, the students of DEUSM have anxieties mostly related to difficult issues in communication such as breaking bad news. The study has revealed that medical students might have anxiety related to the clinical practice in the beginning of their clerkships. It was also shown that sources of anxiety may vary among students exposed to different preclinical curricula and different educational environment. If basic clinical and communication skills courses are integrated in preclinical curriculum, the students would meet some clinical task in the early year and would be orientated through clinical period.

This study introduced the Standard Days Method (SDM), a fertility awareness-based method of family planning, to couples in a region of Istanbul, Turkey who were using a method of low effectiveness or no family planning method. The objective was to determine potential demand for, and satisfaction with, the SDM.A total of 657 couples were selected by systematic sampling and offered the SDM. Those accepting this method were interviewed 1 and 3 months after starting the SDM.Some 47% of the participants were satisfied with the method and intended to continue using it.Potential demand for the SDM was 80.3% (278/346 eligible women) among couples who were using a method of low effectiveness or no family planning method. Our results suggest that adding the SDM to the contraceptive method mix may benefit Turkish women.