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BACKGROUND Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a common inflammatory rheumatic disease that affects the axial skeleton which can lead to structural and functional impairments. It has a negative impact on the person's daily life activities. Early diagnosis, exercise and patient education are factors playing a major role on prognosis. OBJECTIVE The purpose of the present study was to compare the structured theoretical and exercise educational program with routine policlinic education's effects on the parameters of the disorder in the short-term follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was performed on 41 AS patients. The patients were randomly allocated into two groups. Structured education and exercise programs were applied to the first group patients in subgroups consisting of four to five patients each. Patients had group exercises throughout the education program. The second group followed the routine outpatient department program. The effectiveness of the treatment was assessed by Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Global (BAS-G), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI), chest expansion, Short Form-36 (SF-36), Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life Scale (ASQoL) and laboratory parameters in all patients. Patients were evaluated on admission and at the end of 3 months. RESULTS Significant improvements in terms of BASFI, BASDAI and BAS-G, chest expansion, SF-36 and ASQoL indices were observed in first group patients undertaking structured education, at the end of the study. No difference could be found in BASMI and chest expansion. CONCLUSION Educational programs have positive effects on the functional status, activation of the disease, general well-being and quality of life. It also shows that education programs should be within the routine treatment program for AS.

Introduction : Myocardial injury after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) occurs in approximately 30% of procedures, and is related to worse prognosis. Effects of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) on reperfusion injury have been investigated before, yielding conflicting results. Aim : To assess the impact of a single episode of RIPC on myocardial injury after elective PCI. Material and methods : One hundred and four patients undergoing elective PCI, with normal baseline cardiac troponin-I (cTn-I) values, were randomized to two groups. Two patients were excluded due to data loss, and 102 patients were analyzed. Five minutes of ischemic preconditioning was delivered just before the intervention to the preconditioning group, by inflating the blood pressure cuff up to 200 mm Hg on the non-dominant arm. Postprocedural 16th hour cTn-I, cTn-I (difference between the 16th h and baseline cTn-I values) and the prevalence of type 4a myocardial infarction were compared between the two groups. Results : Median cTn-I values after the procedure were compared. 16th hour cTn-I was insignificantly lower in the preconditioning arm (0.026 µg/l vs. 0.045 µg/l, p = 0.186). The incidence of cTn-I elevation 5-fold above the upper reference limit (URL) (> 0.115 µg/l) was lower in the preconditioning group, but it was also not significant (21.6% vs. 11.8%, p = 0.184). Conclusions : A single episode of RIPC before elective PCI demonstrated less troponin elevation but failed to show a significant effect.

One of the most important conditions for individuals to be happy and productive in workplaces is job satisfaction. In this study, it was aimed to determine the levels of job satisfaction in physicans and nurses who worked in hospitals in Edirne and to evaluate the effects of potential influencing factors on job satisfaction. The population of the study was composed of a total of 1376 individuals. The sample group was composed of a total of 385 healthcare staffs including 192 physicians and 193 nurses (28% of the population). The data were collected using a questionnaire form and Minnesota Job Satisfaction Scale and evaluated by SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) 20.0 package program. Job satisfaction levels were found better in the healthcare staffs who worked in private hospital. When assessed by profession, the highest level of job satisfaction was found in academic member. This study was found that 82% of the health staffs reported that they did not feel safe while working, 75% were exposed to verbal or physical abuse. When the satisfaction of the participants related to the institution where they worked and the occupation they had was examined, it was observed that approximately 37% reported that they thought to leave the institution where they worked and 25% even reported that they thought quitting their jobs. The general job satisfaction was better in individuals who were experts in their areas, who worked in private hospital, who loved their profession, whose working hours were regular, who felt themselves safe in their institutions and who worked free from violence. The worst level of job satisfaction was found in general practitioners. The job satisfaction of healthcare staffs who thought that the performance-based payment system applied in Turkey was unfair was low.

The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and risk factors of domestic violence against married women in Edirne, Turkey. This is a cross-sectional study which included a representative sample of the married women living in the Provincial Center of Edirne. The total past year prevalence of some forms of physical domestic violence is 34% in the last 12 months. 93% of women reported that they have been experiencing different forms of verbal and psychological domestic violence. The important risk factors for physical domestic violence were being Roma woman (OR = 2.97, 95% CI: 1.44-6.12), living with more than four people in the household (OR = 2.29, 95% CI: 1.21-4.36), being unemployed (OR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.06-4.37), and got married only with her families’ decision (OR = 4.60, 95% CI: 1.42-14.80). Our findings conclude that patriarchal and traditional values, women’s lack of financial autonomy, and low socioeconomic status are the risk factors for physical domestic violence.

The coagulation system is activated and coagulation activation markers are elevated in acute ischemic stroke with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). The etiology, severity, and prognosis of the ischemic stroke might be estimated with the level of the activation of the coagulation system. In this study, prothrombin F1+2 (F1+2), D-dimer, and fibrinogen levels were measured in patients with acute ischemic stroke with and without NVAF, and stroke severity was compared with these hemostatic parameters. Of 55 patients, 29 had sinus rhythm (group I), 26 had NVAF (group II); 20 healthy subjects (group III) were included in the study. Subtypes of cerebral infarction were classified. The patients underwent stroke severity, electrocardiography, echocardiography, cranial computed tomography, cervical duplex ultrasonography, and hemostatic parameter studies. In group II, F1+2 level (2.83±0.89) was significantly higher than in group I (2.33±0.80) and III (1.94±0.64) (p values: group I-II, 0.036; groups II-III, 0.001; groups I-III, 0.104). In group III, fibrinogen level (251.64±60.96) was significantly lower than that in groups I (347.97±111.49) and II (364.04±86.20) (p=0.001). D-dimer was not significantly different between groups. In group I, lacunar syndrome (LACS), and in group II, partial and total anterior circulation syndrome (PACS+TACS) were more common (p=0.013, p=0.001, respectively). In group II, Scandinavian Stroke Scale scores were lower than those in group I (group I=45.2±14, group II=35.4±18.9, p=0.02). In conclusion, activation of coagulation, demonstrated by increment F1+2, is more abundant in the stroke patients with NVAF than in the stroke patients with sinus rhythm. Our results also showed that activation of the hemostatic system might be related to stroke subtype and stroke severity. It is suggested that the oral anticoagulation treatment as prophylaxis is important in the prevention of stroke in patients with NVAF.

Background: It is known that oxygen-derived free radicals play an important role in the pathogenesis of brain injury. Melatonin is a powerful scavenger of the oxygen free radicals. In this study, the protective effect of melatonin against the damage inflicted by reactive oxygen species during brain hypoxia was investigated in newborn rats using biochemical parameters. Methods: For biochemical analyses, the levels of lipid peroxidation product (malondialdehyde ([MDA]), levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were estimated. Results: After the third day of brain hypoxia, the brain levels of MDA increased. Pretreatment of animals with melatonin abolished the rise in MDA induced by hypoxia. GSH concentration did not increase by pretreatment with melatonin. Additonally, the activities of two antioxidative enzymes (SOD and CAT) decreased after the experimental period with melatonin only preventing the change of CAT. The activity of SOD was not influenced by melatonin administration as expected. Conclusion: In this experimental study, exogenously administered melatonin effectively protected against brain injury by oxidative stress. This protective effect of melatonin may be due to its direct scavenger activity and activation of CAT. Thus, melatonin may potentially be useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions that may involve free radical production, such as perinatal hypoxia.

Objectives.—The aim of our study is to determine the prevalence of migraine in Provincial Center of Edirne. Methods.—A systematic random sample of 386 inhabitants over 14 years old were interviewed face to face. Diagnosis of migraine was based on the International Headache Society (IHS) classification. Results.—Migraine was identified in 77 subjects (60 female, 17 male). The lifetime prevalence of migraine was found to be 19.9% (95% CI: 18.3–21.5) (9.34% (95% CI: 8.6–10) in males, 29.3% (95% CI: 27–31.6) in females). Conclusions.—These results show that while migraine prevalence in Turkish females is higher than that reported in previous studies from Europe and United States, lifetime prevalence is similar in all populations.

Previous literature investigating bone pain in osteoporosis has prominently focused on painful conditions following osteoporotic fractures. "Is osteoporosis really a silent disease without bone pain and tenderness unless a fracture occurs?" Our aim in this study was to answer the question by assessing the questionable tenderness on tibia bones of fracture-free patients with low bone density and to compare the findings with a normal population. One-hundred-thirty-three consecutive postmenopausal female patients with the mean age of 56 years admitted to our clinic for bone mass measurement were included in the study. Bone mineral density (BMD) values of lumbar spine (L2-L4) and right proximal femur (neck, trochanter, Ward's triangle) were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Patients with T scores lower than -1 formed the osteopenic-osteoporotic group of patients (low BMD group) whereas those with T scores higher than -1 constituted the normal BMD group according to the osteoporosis definition regarding T score for DXA. Mechanical pressure was applied by a hand algometer on the middle points of three equally divided sections on the anterior part of tibia, and the pressure levels starting the pain sensation (POPL) were recorded. Although the patients in the normal BMD group reported consistently high POPL at all regions of tibia for all BMD measurement sites, this difference reached to a statistical significance level only for the femur neck region. Only mean POPL for the whole tibia had independent association with only femur neck BMD by multiple linear regression analysis. These results are encouraging for assessing the significance of pressure-induced tibial pain as an indicator of low BMD in the future.

Background: The presence of increased numbers of nucleated red blood cells (NRBC) and increased levels of erythropoietin (EPO) in the circulation of neonates has been associated with states of relative hypoxia. The aim of this study is to assess the pattern of NRBC counts and EPO levels in a group of high-risk neonates under stress conditions and determine the short-term outcome for these babies by using these parameters. Methods: There were 69 high-risk neonates; 14 intrauterine growth retarded (IUGR), 25 preterm infants, 18 term infants with asphyxia and 12 infants of diabetic mothers. Control groups included healthy, term infants delivered either vaginally (n = 18) or with cesarean section (n = 19). Three blood samples were obtained from each infant within 12 h (initial), 3 days and 7 days after birth to measure NRBC counts and EPO levels. Neonatal and short-term outcomes at 3 and 6 months of age were determined. Results: There was no significant difference among the groups with regard to the initial serum EPO concentrations. The initial NRBC counts were significantly lower in the control groups compared with the study groups (P = 0.002). While there was no significant difference between patients with good and poor outcome in terms of EPO concentrations of initial samples, a significant difference existed in terms of NRBC counts (P = 0.038). Conclusions: Both serum EPO level and NRBC count provide limited clinical benefit in the detection of pathological conditions of the neonatal period, but NRBC count determination seems to be especially helpful in predicting short-term neurodevelopmental outcome.

To investigate the initial overall cognitive ability and its components as a predictor of functional improvement and ambulation during rehabilitation. Initial cognitive status is widely known to be a predictive factor in functional recovery in patients with stroke although some reports have found no such relationship.Baseline cognitive status was scored by Minimental State Examination and its subsections with such headings as "orientation," "registration," "attention and calculation," "recall," and "language" in 43 patients with postacute stroke, aged between 51 and 68 yr. Function was evaluated in terms of motor FIM and functional ambulation as categorized in "Adapted Patient Evaluation and Conference System" functional scale at the time of admission and discharge.Only total baseline Minimental State Examination score showed a significant correlation with discharge motor FIM improvement (r = 0.31, P = 0.04) and baseline orientation score correlated significantly with functional ambulation score improvement (r = 0.31, P = 0.03). In stepwise linear regression model, the same variables had an effect on similar outcome parameters.Cognitiveion evaluation should be taken as a whole to predict functional outcome in patients with postacute stroke, except for the baseline orientation score that seemed more predictive for ambulation.

Objectives To investigate the effects of strontium ranelate, raloxifene and misoprostol on bone mineral density (BMD) in ovariectomized rats to contribute to the individualization of the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Study design Sixty sexually mature female Sprague–Dawley rats weighing 250g were used. The 60 rats were divided into six groups of 10 rats each: SR, MISO, RAL, SHAM, DW and OVX. All except the SHAM rats were subjected to bilateral ovariectomy. Three days after surgery, rats were administered strontium ranelate (Protelos ® , 2g, Servier, Istanbul), 1800mg/kg/day; misoprostol (Cytotec ® , 200mcg, Ali Raif, Istanbul), 200mcg/kg/day; raloxifene (Evista ® , 60mg, Lily and Company, Istanbul), 3mg/kg/day and 1cc of distilled water by gavage for 8 weeks. Bone mineral density measurements were then performed. Results The strontium ranelate (SR) group had significantly higher vertebral BMD than all other groups. Femoral density in the SR group was also significantly higher than in other groups and there was no difference between femoral density in the strontium ranelate and sham groups. Conclusions Strontium ranelate, raloxifene and misoprostol can prevent bone loss in the vertebrae, whereas strontium ranelate can also prevent bone loss in the femur of ovariectomized rats. Strontium ranelate increases greater than raloxifene and misoprostol BMD in the vertebrae. Condensation Strontium ranelate may increase both vertebral and femur BMD in ovariectomized rats while raloxifene and misoprostol may only increase lumbar spine BMD.

The relation between fibronectin and coronary artery disease (CAD) according to previous study results is controversial. The aim of the present study is to investigate the predictive value of fibronectin in determining the presence and severity of CAD. Patients with stable angina (n = 62) who had angiographically documented CAD, and control patients (n = 31) who had normal coronary angiograms, were included in the study. Plasma fibronectin levels were determined in all patients. Plasma fibronectin level (milligrams per liter) in patients with CAD was higher than normal controls (364.2 ± 171 vs 265.1 ± 135.5, p = 0.006). The severity of CAD determined according to Gensini score and fibronectin level did not show any correlation (r = 0.13, p = 0.311). If fibronectin level 240 mg/l was determined as cutoff, it showed 76% sensitivity, 46% specificity, 46% negative predictive value, and 72.3% positive predictive value for predicting CAD. The present study showed that plasma fibronectin level in CAD is significantly higher than normal control subjects. However, it has no role in predicting the severity of CAD.

A high incidence of iron-deficiency is a common observation among adolescent girls, whereas only limited data are available regarding the folic acid status of this group. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of biochemical folic acid deficiency in a group of Turkish adolescent girls.We surveyed the serum folic acid, complete blood count, and dietary folic acid intake of Turkish adolescent girls after using three-day self-reported food intakes in urban and rural areas of Edirne, Turkey.A sample population was composed of 704 adolescent girls; their serum folic acid levels were found to be adequate for 37.6% (or = 6 ng/mL), marginal for 46% (3 to 5.9 ng/mL), and at deficient levels for 16.3% (3 ng/mL). Folic acid deficiencies were found in 20.1% (36 of 179) and 14.7 % (61 of 416) of adolescent girls from rural and urban areas, respectively. Self-reported three-day folic acid intakes were correlated with the corresponding blood values for this nutrient. In the logistic regression analysis, three factors emerged as significant independent predictors of folic acid deficiency: low income (odds ratio [OR]: 2.4, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3-4.2, p.001), low vitamin C (OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1-3.5, p.05), and folic acid intake (OR: 4.8, 95% CI: 2.8-8.1, p.001).Data from the present study may indicate that serum folic acid is low in a group of Turkish adolescent girls. These low values appear to be associated with low income, and low dietary intakes of folic acid and vitamin C.

Objectives: Progression of the cell cycleis regulated by the interactions of cyclins,cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs) and CDKinhibitors (CDKIs). p27 is a member of theuniversal cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitorfamily. The level of p27 protein expressiondecreases during tumor development andprogression in some epithelial, lymphoid andendocrine tissues. It has been suggested thatp27 is an independent prognostic factor invarious human cancers. The prognostic value ofp27 protein expression is not completelyunderstood in bladder cancer yet.Aims: To investigate theimmunohistochemical expression of p27 intransitional cell bladder cancers and itsrelationship with clinicopathological data,proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) andp53 oncoprotein immunoreactivity.Methods: The expression of p27 proteinwas immunohistochemically analyzed inparaffin-embedded specimens of 75 patients withtransitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. p27expression was compared with tumor grade,stage, growth pattern, disease-free survival,progression, PCNA and p53 immunoreactivity.Results: Expression of p27 was notsignificantly related to clinicopathologicparameters, disease-free survival, progression,PCNA and p53 immunoreactivity.Conclusion: The results indicate that p27is not a good predictor for outcome oftransitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

This study was designed to define the epidemiology of a food-borne outbreak caused by Salmonella enteritidis that affected only one squadron of a military battalion located in the vicinity of the city of Edirne in Turkey. The outbreak was analyzed by a standard surveillance form of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The relationship between the eaten foods and cases was analyzed by Fisher's exact chi-square test, and odds ratios were calculated by a case-control study. The outbreak affected 60 of 168 soldiers in the squadron, 16 of whom were hospitalized. S.enteritidis was cultured in stools from 13 of the hospitalized soldiers and from 3 soldiers who had prepared the food. All strains were completely susceptible to antibiotics; their plasmid profiles were also identical. The highest attack rate detected was 55.7% in an omelet eaten 24 hours before (p < 0.001). Furthermore, it was the riskiest food according to the case-control study (OR=7.88; 95% CI=3.68-16.89). The food samples were unobtainable because they had been discarded. All of the hospitalized cases recovered, and none of the control cultures of stools yielded the pathogen after three weeks. In conclusion, although our results didn't indicate the exact source of the outbreak microbiologically, the omelet was considered to be the source based on the epidemiological proofs.

A predisposition to occlusive vascular diseases has been reported in patients with psoriasis and it has been suggested that some of these patients have some disorders of lipid metabolism. In this study, serum lipid levels were investigated in psoriatic patients to explore to the knowledge of this relationship. One hundred psoriatic patients and 100 non- psoriatic controls were included in the study. Total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol), and very low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-cholesterol) levels were measured. In patients with psoriasis, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels were found to be significantly higher than those of controls. No significant differences were found in the other parameters. We concluded that psoriatic patients should be evaluated and followed up for the risk of hyperlipidemia and obstructive vascular diseases.

Ozdemir F, Birtane M, Tabatabaei R, Kokino S, Ekuklu G. Comparing stroke rehabilitation outcomes between acute inpatient and nonintense home settings. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2001;82:1375-9. Objective: To compare outcomes in stroke survivors who received rehabilitation services in an acute inpatient rehabilitation setting (multidisciplinary rehabilitation team) with outcomes in survivors in a home-based setting (family caregivers, limited team supervision). Design: Randomized clinical trial, with mean follow-up after 60 days. Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation setting and home-based settings. Patients: Sixty patients (age range, 43-80yr) who had a stroke between 1996 and 1999 and had been referred after medical stabilization, randomly divided into 2 groups: group 1, inpatient rehabilitation; group 2, home-based rehabilitation. Interventions: Group 1: therapeutical and neuromuscular exercises with occupational therapy with professional supervision; group 2: conventional exercises with family caregiver and limited professional supervision. Main Outcome Measures: Spasticity was evaluated with the Ashworth Scale, motor status with Brunnstrom's stages, functional status with the FIM™ instrument, and cognitive status with the Mini-Mental State Examination before and after rehabilitation. Results: Patients rehabilitated in acute inpatient settings had better motor, functional, and cognitive outcomes ( p Conclusion: Intense inpatient rehabilitation services for stroke survivors provide significantly more favorable functional and cognitive outcomes with relatively low complications than did nonintense rehabilitation efforts in home settings. © 2001 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Background Primary knee osteoarthritis (PKO) leads functional degenaration of knee joints and cause disability in general population. There are a lot of faýctors that effect on the intensity and functional status of PKO in various degrees. Objectives To investigate the efficacies of age, body mass index (BMI), the Kellgren Lawrence Radiological Osteoarthiritis Index (KLOAI), medial tibiofemoral joint space (MTFJS) on the intensity and functional status of PKO. Methods Fifty subjects (ages 56 to 69), 40 female (%80) and 10 male (%20), diagnosed as PKO according to American College of Rheumotology were admitted to the study. AP knee radiography of the patients were taken while standing up and MTFJS were measured. Those films were evaluated according to the KLOAI. Lequesne index (LI), Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), painless walking duration (PWD1) and painless walking distance (PWD2) were used with purpose to determine the clinical status and intensity of the PKO. Results We found these formulas according to Backward Lineer Regression Model. SIP = 202.2 + (63.9 × KLOAI) PWD1 (minutes) = 14 + (0.37 × BMI) + (3.1 × Sex) ? (3.1 × KLOAI) PWD2 (metres) = 1417 + (217.7 × Sex) Conclusion KLOAI correlated with SIP and PWD1 moderately. However, we think that all of these factors should be evaluated in clinical status of PKO. References Mc Alindon TE, Cooper C, Kýrwan JR. Determinants of disability in osteoarthritis of the knee. Ann Rheum Dis. 1993;52:258–62 Hochberg MC, Cejku ML, Scott WW. The association of body weight, body fatness and body fat distribution with osteoarthritis of the knee: data from the Baltýmore longitudinal study of aging. J Rheumatol. l995;22(3):488–93 Mankin HJ. Clinical features of osteoarthritis. In: Kelly, Harris, Rudd, Sledge, eds. Textbook of rheumatology. Vol. 4. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Company, 1993: 1374–84 Lequesne MG, Samson M. Indicis of severity for OA. Eular Balot No:3, 85, 1992 Wade DT. Measurement in neurological rehabilitation. Oxford University Press, 1992: 208 Sowers M, Zobel D, Weis FF. Progression of osteoarthritis of the hand and metacarpal bone loss. Arthritis Rheum. 1991;34(1):36–42 Dequeker J, Dieppe P. Disorders of bone, cartilage and connective tissue. In: Klippel JH, Dieppe PA, eds. Rheumatology. Philadelphia: The Mosby Company, 1998: 8.1.1–8.12.16

Aim The aim of this study is to reveal demographic, etiological and clinical characteristics of our cerebral palsy cases and to underline differences peculiar to Thrace region of Turkey. Methods One hundred and thirty five cerebral palsy cases, followed by Medical Faculty of Trakya University, Department of Pediatrics, Division Pediatric Neurology, were evaluated retrospectively. Data were obtained through out patient clinic files and patient discharge forms. Interviews by the phone were carried on in order to complete the necessary information. Demographic, etiological, laboratory and clinical characteristics of the cases were recorded. Results The mean age of the cases was 112.65±47.02 months (2–18 years) and boy/girl ratio was 1.8. The majority of the case etiologies were perinatal risk factors accounted for 61.5%. Forty per cent of the cases were term AGA. Spastic type cerebral palsy constituted 91.9% of all cases with cerebral palsy while 46% of them were quadriplegic. Quadriplegic type was encountered most (46.2%) in term deliveries, while diplegic type was the most common form in preterms (47.4%). Speech problems (77.8%) and mental retardation (75.6%) were the most accompanying problems. Epilepsy accompanied 72.6% of the cases. An increasing rate of malnutrition was detected parallel to increasing age groups. Conclusions Cerebral palsy cases showed certain differences in terms of demographic, etiological and clinical characteristics in Thrace region comparing to other regions.

Purpose Efforts for the early detection of bone loss and subsequent fracture risk by quantitative ultrasound (QUS), which is a non-invasive, radiation free, and cheaper method, seem rational to reduce the management costs. We aimed in this study to assess the probable correlation of speed of sound (SOS) values obtained by QUS with bone mineral density (BMD) as measured by the gold standard method, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), and to investigate the diagnostic value of QUS to define low BMD. Materials and Methods One hundred twenty-two postmenopausal women having prior standard DEXA measurements were included in the study. Spine and proximal femur (neck, trochanter and Ward's triangle) BMD were assessed in a standard protocol by DEXA. The middle point of the right tibia was chosen for SOS measurement by tibial QUS. Results The SOS values were observed to be significantly higher in the normal BMD (t score > - 1) group at all measurement sites except for the lumbar region, when compared with the low BMD group (t score < - 1). SOS was negatively correlated with age (r = - 0.66) and month since menopause (r = - 0.57). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for QUS t score to diagnose low BMD did not seem to be satisfactory at either of the measurement sites. Conclusion Tibial SOS was correlated weakly with BMD values of femur and lumbar spine as measured by DEXA and its diagnostic value did not seem to be high for discriminating between normal and low BMD, at these sites.