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To employ educational games in education as intended, it is required to show students' cognitive structures for this concept. As a result, the purpose of this research was to reveal the cognitive structures of secondary school students regarding educational games. The research was a survey-based descriptive study. A total of 340 secondary school students were included for this research, which included fifth graders (n = 80), sixth graders (n = 95), seventh graders (n = 69), and eighth graders (n = 96). Simple random sampling was used to choose the participants. Data were gathered using the Word Association Test and a drawing test. Six categories are used to organize the students' responses to the educational game's concept. "Individual gains," "lessons," "sports," "lesson tools/applications," "games," and "features of games" were all of these. Four categories were used to categorize the drawings made by the students to represent the concept of educational games: "physical ability games," "intelligent and strategy games," "puzzle," and "mixed games." As a result of this research, it is possible to conclude that students' cognitive structures for the concept of educational games include games played in classes, and educational games highlight the game aspect more. Besides that, there was little vocabulary diversity in their cognitive structures for the educational dimension. To enhance students' cognitive structures toward educational games, focus should be given to the instructional feature of educational games in research to be undertaken in the relevant field.

The aim of this study was to investigate the opinions of teachers of the hearing-impaired children about serving as a special education teacher. The research was designed as a descriptive case study within the framework of qualitative research methods. Two criteria that the participants to be included in the study should have were determined as follows: graduating from universities' hearing-impaired teaching programs and serving as a special education classroom teacher in schools affiliated to the MNE. The participants consist of 51 teachers meeting the specified criteria. Semi-structured interviews were held with 5 of the participants, and data were collected from 46 of them through an open-ended questionnaire. Given the pandemic period conditions we currently experience, the e-interviews were conducted using Zoom, while open-ended questionnaires were collected via Google Forms. Descriptive analysis technique was used in the analysis of the research data. The descriptive analysis process consists of four stages: creating a thematic framework, processing of data according to the thematic framework, identification of findings, and interpretation of findings. Study findings revealed that the fact that teachers serve out-of-field they graduated from led them to feel insufficient in terms of professional knowledge and competency. Besides, it was observed that they failed to provide sufficient benefit to the students, they had difficulties communicating with families, they failed to cooperate with the school administrators or other colleagues and could not find the necessary support.

Copyright of Fenerbahce University Journal of Health Sciences (FBU-JOSH) / Fenerbahçe Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Fenerbahce University Journal of Health Sciences (FBU-JOSH) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is a complex and heterogeneous clinical syndrome, poses significant diagnostic challenges. The HFA-PEFF [Heart Failure Association of ESC diagnostic algorithm, P (Pretest Assessment), E (Echocardiographic and Natriuretic Peptide score), F1 (Functional testing in Case of Uncertainty), F2 (Final Aetiology)] and H2FPEF [Heavy (BMI>30 kg/m² ), Hypertensive (use of ≥2 antihypertensive medications), atrial Fibrillation (paroxysmal or persistent), Pulmonary hypertension (Doppler Echocardiographic estimated Pulmonary Artery Systolic Pressure >35 mm Hg), Elderly (age >60 years), Filling pressure (Doppler Echocardiographic E/e’ >9)] scoring systems were developed to aid in diagnosing heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. This study aimed to assess the concordance and clinical accuracy of these scoring systems in the “A comPrehensive, ObservationaL registry of heart faiLure with mildly reduced and preserved ejection fractiON” cohort. Methods: A comPrehensive, ObservationaL registry of heart faiLure with mildly reduced and preserved ejection fractiON study was conducted as a multicenter, cross-sectional, and observational study; to evaluate a group of Heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction patients who were seen by cardiologists in 13 participating centers across 12 cities in Türkiye. Results: The study enrolled 819 patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, with high probability heart failure with preserved ejection fraction rates of 40% and 26% for HFA-PEFF and H2FPEF scorings, respectively. The concordance between the 2 scoring systems was found to be low (Kendall’s tau-b correlation coefficient of 0.242, P < .001). The diagnostic performance of both scoring systems was evaluated, revealing differences in their approach and ability to accurately identify heart failure with preserved ejection fraction patients. Conclusion: The low concordance between the HFA-PEFF and H2FPEF scoring systems underscores the ongoing challenge of accurately diagnosing and managing patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Clinicians should be aware of the strengths and limitations of each scoring system and use them in conjunction with other clinical and laboratory findings to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. Future research should focus on identifying additional diagnostic factors, developing more accurate and comprehensive diagnostic algorithms, and investigating alternative methods of diagnosis or stratification of patients based on different clinical characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The researchers' aim was to evaluate the impact of laughter yoga on pregnancy symptoms, mental well-being, and prenatal attachment. They carried out this study on 85 pregnant women randomized in a maternity hospital in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey. The researchers collected data using the Pregnant Introduction Form, Pregnancy Symptom Inventory (PSI), Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS), and Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI). After applying the laughter yoga practice, they found that mental well-being and prenatal attachment levels were higher in pregnant women in the experimental group and the difference was statistically significant. Thus, they concluded that laughter yoga was an effective practice in reducing the frequency of pregnancy symptoms and limiting daily activities by pregnancy symptoms and increasing mental well-being and prenatal attachment levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the awareness of pneumococcal vaccination (PCV13, PPSV23) in general cardiology outpatient clinics and impact of physicians' recommendations on vaccination rates. Methods: This was a multicenter, observational, prospective cohort study. Patients over the age of 18 from 40 hospitals in different regions of Turkey who applied to the cardiology outpatient clinic between September 2022 and August 2021 participated. The vaccination rates were calculated within three months of follow-up from the admitting of the patient to cardiology clinics. Results: The 403 (18.2%) patients with previous pneumococcal vaccination were excluded from the study. The mean age of study population (n = 1808) was 61.9 ± 12.1 years and 55.4% were male. The 58.7% had coronary artery disease, hypertension (74.1%) was the most common risk factor, and 32.7% of the patients had never been vaccinated although they had information about vaccination before. The main differences between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients were related to education level and ejection fraction. The physicians' recommendations were positively correlated with vaccination intention and behavior in our participants. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a significant correlation between vaccination and female sex [OR = 1.55 (95% CI = 1.25–1.92), p < 0.001], higher education level [OR = 1.49 (95% CI = 1.15–1.92), p = 0.002] patients' knowledge [OR = 1.93 (95% CI = 1.56–2.40), p < 0.001], and their physician's recommendation [OR = 5.12 (95% CI = 1.92–13.68), p = 0.001]. Conclusion: To increase adult immunization rates, especially among those with or at risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), it is essential to understand each of these factors. Even if during COVID-19 pandemic, there is an increased awareness about vaccination, the vaccine acceptance level is not enough, still. Further studies and interventions are needed to improve public vaccination rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Art History / Sanat Tarihi Dergisi is the property of Ege University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Health & Nursing Management / Sağlık ve Hemşirelik Yönetimi Dergisi is the property of Logos Medical Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging for clinically significant prostate cancer and to determine whether applying Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data Systems version 2.1 score could improve the diagnostic pathway besides the biochemical characteristics. Materials and methods: In this study, 199 patients with clinically suspected prostate cancer who underwent multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging were included. Logistic regression analyses and receiver operating characteristic curve were performed to determine independent predictors and to compare diagnostic performance of indicators for clinically significant prostate cancer. Two models were established. In model 1, the diagnostic performance of prostate-specific antigen- and prostatespecific antigen density-derived parameters were evaluated. In model 2, the prediction potential of model 1 plus Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data Systems version 2.1 score was analyzed. Results: Sixty-four patients were positive for clinically significant prostate cancer by histopathological analysis (32.1%). In model 1, a prostate-specific antigen density >0.15 was labeled as the strongest predictor of malignancy. In model 2, a prostatespecific antigen density >0.15, a Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data Systems score =3, and a Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data Systems score =4 demonstrated the strongest association with malignancy. Among these parameters, a Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data Systems score =4 (P = .003) was found to be the most robust predictor for malignancy, followed by a Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data Systems score =3 (P = .012). The multivariate analysis revealed higher accuracy in model 2 (76.9%) than in model 1 (67.8%). The area under curve values with respect to prostatespecific antigen, prostate-specific antigen density, model 1, and model 2 were 0.632, 0.741, 0.656, and 0.798, respectively. Conclusion: These results indicated that Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data Systems version 2.1 score and prostate-specific antigen density are independent predictors for the presence of clinically significant prostate cancer. Both prostate-specific antigen density and Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data Systems version 2.1 score should be risen to prominence in the decision of biopsy instead of PSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Boğaziçi Journal: Review of Social, Economic & Administrative Studies is the property of Bogazici University, Faculty of Economics & Administrative Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Rapidly developing technological data in the current age affects the field of building materials. Glass is a transparent and fragile building material that is often preferred with traditional materials in restorations. In this study, it is aimed to determine the architectural compatibility of the glass used in the restoration of historical buildings and to reveal the advantages and disadvantages. In this context, Kızlar Monastery, which is located Trabzon in Turkey, has been discussed. The study consists of three stages. In the first stage, the theoretical infrastructure for the subject was created through literature research. The data related to the study area were obtained in the second stage, and the current situation features were examined. In the third stage, glass usage areas were analyzed in the re-using process in Kızlar Monastery. In the findings of the study, it was seen that the interventions made for Kızlar Monastery to connect the past and the future of the building greatly contributed to the original value of the building. As a result, it has been determined that the interventions made by paying attention to the preservation of the original space flow of historical buildings contribute to the sustainability of the values of the building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study was carried out to examine the effects of education on “Non-Functional Practices and Prevention of Early Childhood Diarrhea” on non-functional practices of mothers for child care and maternal self-efficacy in preventing early childhood diarrhea. Materials-Methods: The research was carried out as a pretest-posttest quasi-experimental model with a control group. The sample of the study consisted of mothers who met the research criteria and had at least one child between the ages of 0-5 who applied to 5 Family Health Centers in the city center of Erzincan in Turkey between the dates of the research. The study was completed with a total of 128 mothers (64 in the control group, 64 in the experimental group). Results: It was found that mothers' mean scores from the maternal self-efficacy scale for preventing early childhood diarrhea after training were higher than before training. After the training given, it was determined that there was a general decrease in the non-functional practices of mothers for child care. Conclusions: It was concluded that the education given reduced the non-functional practices for child care and increased maternal self-efficacy for prevent early childhood diarrhea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to determine academics' user resistance to distance learning, their perceptions of the distance learning systems and factors affecting their perceptions of the changes in the education system during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study's population consists of 440 academics working in 43 different universities in Turkey. The research sample were determined through convenience and snowball sampling methods. The data were collected using an online questionnaire form created within Google Forms. After validity and reliability analyses on the data, eight different hypotheses were tested using structural equation analysis. All eight hypotheses proposed within the study were accepted after receiving the results of this analysis. The results of the study show that user resistance has a significantly negative effect on the users that utilise distance learning. However, the perceived ease of use and usefulness have a significantly positive effect on attitude and behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the coronavirus anxiety and caregiving burden of parents of children with cancer during the COVID‐19 outbreak. Methods: This descriptive and cross‐sectional study, including 136 parents of children with cancer, was administered through an online survey at a university hospital from 1 to 31 January 2021. Participants completed a questionnaire form, the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale. Results: This study identified a significant difference in the caregiving burden scores of parents according to whether their relatives had been diagnosed with COVID‐19, whether they were exposed to coronavirus in their environment and whether their children had other illnesses. A significant difference in the coronavirus anxiety scores of parents was observed according to their child's sex and the time elapsed since their child's cancer diagnosis. No correlation was identified between the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale scores and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale scores. Conclusion: Oncology nurses and other health professionals should be aware of and consider the factors that influence the caregiving burden and coronavirus‐related anxiety experienced by parents of children with cancer during the COVID‐19 outbreak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) is commonly used with various indications, especially in the elderly population. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of polypharmacy and aspirin use in patients aged ≥80 years. Methods: The ASSOS trial is a cross-sectional, national registry study. This nonrandomized study was conducted by 30 cardiologists in 14 cities on the elderly (over the age of 80 years) who used aspirin (80–325 mg). Polypharmacy is described as an intake of five or more medicines daily. Results: A total of 309 patients were included in the study, and 146 (47.2%) of them were females. Aspirin treatment for primary prevention (PP) was reported to be given to 101 (32.7%) patients, and polypharmacy was detected in 198 (64.1%) patients. Major gastrointestinal bleeding was reported in 7 (3.5%) patients in the polypharmacy group and 0 (0.0%) patients in the without polypharmacy group (p=0.043). Minor bleeding was reported in 58 (29.3%) patients in the polypharmacy group and in 8 (7.2%) patients in the group without polypharmacy (p<0.001). Conclusion: Aspirin was reported to be used commonly among patients aged ≥80 years for PP although the current guidelines do not recommend aspirin for PP in Turkey. Polypharmacy is still critical in the very elderly population and should be carefully considered in terms of complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Health & Nursing Management / Sağlık ve Hemşirelik Yönetimi Dergisi is the property of Logos Medical Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: SMYRNA-HF study is a prospective multicenter registry study to determine the profiles of patients with heart failure (HF) in Turkey. This study aimed to present the baseline characteristics of preliminary cohort by comparing them according to different HF phenotypes. Methods: The first SMYRNA-HF cohort included outpatients with HF from 9 centers. Patients were classified into three HF phenotypes as HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), mildly reduced EF (HFmrEF), and preserved EF (HFpEF) as recommended by guidelines. Results: Overall, 298 patients were included in this preliminary analysis that 57% of the patients were classified as having HFrEF, 33.3% as having HFpEF, and 9.7% as having HFmrEF. Female gender was more common in HFpEF (p = 0.003). Age, frequency of diabetes mellitus, use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blocker, use of beta-blocker, use of daily loop diuretic, heart rate, blood urea nitrogen levels, lipid profiles, hemoglobin, white blood cell, platelet levels were similar among three HF phenotypes. Body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.001), frequency of hypertension (HT) (p < 0.001), and atrial fibrillation (AF) (p = 0.015) were higher in HFpEF. Ischemic etiology (p < 0.001) was less frequent in HFpEF. Use of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist was higher in HFrEF (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our study presented the baseline characteristics of outpatients with HF in Turkey. There were significant differences among HF phenotypes in terms of gender, BMI, frequency of HT, AF, and ischemic etiology. Treatment implementations seem to follow the guidelines. Although the rates are low, new treatment approaches recommended in the most recent guidelines seem to enter clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Firat Tip Dergisi is the property of Firat University, Faculty of Medicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the effect of shyness levels of women on early diagnosis attitudes towards cervical cancer. Design and Methods: The study was planned as descriptive. Data were collected from women in the 18–49 age group who applied to family health centers in Sivas. The descriptive information form of women, the Shyness Scale, and the Attitude Scale for Early Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer were used. A total of 303 women were included in the study. Findings: A significant negative correlation was detected between shyness levels of women and the perceived benefit, while a significant positive correlation was determined between shyness levels and perceived severity. Practice Implications: In this study, the perceived benefit increased as the shyness levels of women decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's world, the brand is addressed in a multi-dimensional context that includes marketing and design strategies as well as branding and marketing of individuals and cities. One of the most important factors contributing to the branding of a city is the language used in visual communication. Visual language is a field where graphic design is put into service with all its components and is the most important tool of being visible, recognizable and remembered. Designing products reflecting the city's economic, social and cultural values have significant influence on the promotion of the city and enhances its reputation considerably. The main purpose of this study is to examine the role of graphic design while establishing a brand city using reallife examples and additionally presenting design proposals that will contribute to Eskişehir's branding by demonstrating its cultural, historical and geographical characteristics in order to create its visual identity. A research concerning visual identities of brand cities and brand city candidates in Turkey was carried out based on "survey model" with a conceptual framework. It has been observed that the existing designs oriented toward the visual identity of Eskisehir do not ensure a language unity and most of them don't possess a sufficient level in terms of quality. Within the scope of this research graphic design proposals to improve Eskişehir's visual identity were presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Indications and appropriateness of aspirin use have not been well investigated in Turkey. Aims: To investigate the prescription patterns and appropriateness of aspirin in a real-world clinical setting. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The Appropriateness of Aspirin Use in Medical Outpatients: A Multicenter, Observational Study (ASSOS) is a cross-sectional and multicenter study that included 5007 consecutive patients aged 18 or over who presented to 30 different cardiology outpatient clinics from 14 cities throughout Turkey. Only patients using aspirin (80-325 mg) were included. The study population was divided into 2 groups regarding the use of aspirin: primary prevention (PP) group and secondary prevention (SP) group. The indication of aspirin use was evaluated following the 2016 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the 2016 United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPTF) guidelines in the PP group. Results: A total of 5007 patients (mean age 62.15 ± 11.05, 39% female) were enrolled. The PP group included 1132 (22.6%) patients, and the SP group included 3875 (77.4%) patients. Of the 1132 patients, inappropriate use of aspirin was determined in 100% of the patients according to the ESC guidelines, and 71% of the patients according to the USPTF guidelines. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed age OR: 0.98 CI (0.97-0.99) P = .037, smoking OR: 0.60 CI (0.44-0.82) P = .001, heart failure OR: 2.11 CI (1.14-3.92) P = .017, hypertension OR: 0.51 CI (0.36-0.74) P < .001, diabetes mellitus OR: 0.34 CI (0.25-0.47) P < .001, oral anticoagulant use OR: 3.01 CI (1.10-8.25) P = .032, and female sex OR: 2.73 CI (1.96-3.80) P < .001 were independent predictors of inappropriate aspirin use in PP patients. Conclusion: Although there are considerable differences between the USPTF and the ESC guidelines with respect to recommendations for aspirin use in PP, inappropriate use of aspirin in Turkey is frequent in real-world practice for both guidelines. Besides, heart failure, oral anticoagulant use, and the female sex of the patients were independent predictors of inappropriate use of aspirin. INSET: 183. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of the Institute of Science & Technology / Iğdır Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi is the property of Igdir University, Institute of Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: In this study, the cyber aggression in relationships scale (CARS) was intended to be adapted to Turkish. Design and Methods: The study was designed as a methodological study with 426 students. Findings: The best fit index values for both the cyber perpetration and cyber victimization scales (CVSs) were obtained through confirmatory factor analysis. Cronbach's α internal consistency coefficients for the overall and sub‐dimensions of the cyber perpetration scale and CVS were found to range from 0.88 to 0.92 and 0.85 to 0.91, respectively. Practice Implications: In the study, CARS was found to be a valid and reliable instrument for Turkish society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Itobiad: Journal of the Human & Social Science Researches / İnsan ve Toplum Bilimleri Araştırmaları Dergisi is the property of Itobiad: Journal of the Human & Social Science Researches and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

INTRODUCTION The aim of the present study is to determine how often women perform breast self-examination (BSE) and undergo mammography and Pap test, and how healthcare professionals affect them to do so. METHODS This descriptive study was carried out with 1025 women, aged 20-82 years and living in the central district of Sivas, who presented to the Gynecology and Obstetrics Outpatient Clinics of Hospitals between January and December 2010, and who volunteered to participate in the study and gave their verbal agreement to the researchers. RESULTS Out of the participants, 46.9% lacked mammogram knowledge, 13.2% received advice from healthcare professionals, and 20.1% thought that they were healthy and thus did not need mammography. Out of the participants, 45.9% lacked knowledge about the Pap test, 11.8% received advice from healthcare professionals, and 18.9% thought that they were healthy and thus did not need a 'Pap test'. CONCLUSIONS While one-fourth of the participants stated that they performed BSE and underwent mammography at least once, more than half reported that they did not have a Pap test. In preventive healthcare services, periodic health examinations and screenings for the most common types of women cancers should be increased; midwives should give education and counseling, and the importance of practices aimed at raising social awareness should be emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to determine the effects of a postpartum sexual health education programme structured according to Levine's conservation model on postpartum women. Methods: The interventional study was completed with 67 postpartum women. The intervention group was given the postpartum sexual health education programme structured according to Levine's conservation model. The control group received routine discharge training. The data were collected using a personal information form, The Index of Female Sexual Function, Arizona Sexual Experience Scale and Golombok–Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction. Results: It has been determined that the decrease in sexual arousal and desire is the first among postpartum sexual problems experienced by women. This study demonstrated that sexual function, sexual satisfaction and sexual response were higher in nonbreastfeeding women, women who had sexual intercourse one to three times a week and women who could talk to health care professionals on sexual matters. After the programme, the intervention group had more adequate sexual function, and they developed a strong, easy and satisfactory sexual response than the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This programme was effective in increasing the sexual functions and satisfaction of the postpartum women. Models provide guidance to nurses for provision of care in a systematic manner. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about this topic? Sexual health is influenced by physical and mental health status, neurological and hormonal changes and life cycles that lead to changes in body structure or functions. Postpartum period is also one of these life cycles.Studies on care practices for the improvement of sexual health in postpartum women are limited. What this paper adds? This study is important because an important theory of nursing discipline has been used to improve sexual health in postpartum women at the first time. This study presents beneficial and generalizable results for women in different life cycles.The sexual health education programme implemented on the basis of the Levine's model can contribute to the formation of easier/satisfactory sexual response by partners and increase the quality of sexual functions/intercourse. The implications of this paper: Perinatal nurses have many opportunities to prevent sexual dysfunction, to diagnose early and to develop culturally sensitive interventions to improve sexual health.Nurses must benefit from various nursing models to systematize health care during the fulfilment of these responsibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Heart failure (HF) is a progressive clinical syndrome. SELFIE-TR is a registry illustrating the overall HF patient profile of Turkey. Herein, all-cause mortality (ACM) data during follow-up were provided. Methods: This is a prospective outcome analysis of SELFIE-TR. Patients were classified as acute HF (AHF) versus chronic HF (CHF) and HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), HF with mid-range ejection fraction, and HF with preserved ejection fraction and were followed up for ACM. Results: There were 1054 patients with a mean age of 63.3±13.3 years and with a median follow-up period of 16 (7-17) months. Survival data within 1 year were available in 1022 patients. Crude ACM was 19.9% for 1 year in the whole group. ACM within 1 year was 13.7% versus 32.6% in patients with CHF and AHF, respectively (p<0.001). Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker, beta blocker, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist were present in 70.6%, 88.2%, and 50.7%, respectively. In the whole cohort, survival curves were graded according to guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) scores =1 versus 2 versus 3 as 28% versus 20.2% versus 12.2%, respectively (p<0.001). Multivariate analysis of the whole cohort yielded age (p=0.009) and AHF (p=0.028) as independent predictors of mortality in 1 year. Conclusion: One-year mortality is high in Turkish patients with HF compared with contemporary cohorts with AHF and CHF. Of note, GDMT score is influential on 1-year mortality being the most striking one on chronic HFrEF. On the other hand, in the whole cohort, age and AHF were the only independent predictors of death in 1 year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Nursing Sciences is the property of Turkiye Klinikleri and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Early Childhood Diarrhea has been observed to be an important health problem in Turkey. However, no scale is currently available to evaluate Maternal Self-Efficacy for Preventing Early Childhood Diarrhea in Turkey. Aim: This study aims to test the reliability and validity of the Maternal Self-Efficacy Scale for Preventing Early Childhood Diarrhea. Method: The methodological research model was used in the study. The study was conducted in five Family Health Centers between June 17, 2016 and March 19, 2018. The study population consisted of mothers of at least one 0-5-year-old child, who admitted to one of the five Family Health Centers located in the province of Erzincan, Turkey. The sample of the study consisted of mothers selected from the specified population, who meet the research criteria and agreed to participate in the research. 274 mothers were included in the research. For the test-retest reliability, 105 mothers from the same sample group were tested again after four weeks. In the collection of research data, the "Introductory Information Form", "Maternal Self-Efficacy Scale for Preventing Early Childhood Diarrhea" were used. Results: The Maternal Self-Efficacy Scale for Preventing Early Childhood Diarrhea was adapted to Turkish and found to be a valid and reliable measurement instrument. The scale's Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was found to be 0.74. The scale consists of 22 items and 3 sub-scales. Conclusion: The Maternal Self-Efficacy Scale for Preventing Early Childhood Diarrhea found to have an adequate validity and reliability for Turkish society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Gynecologic examination makes early diagnosis and follow-up possible in the event of gynecologic cancer. Healthcare professionals (midwives, nurses and doctors) have the critical responsibility of ensuring that women are psychologically prepared for examinations and get examined regularly. Aim of the Study: The aim of this study is to determine the factors affecting women's approach to gynecologic examination for cancer prevention. Methodology: The study was performed with 635 women consenting to participate from among the patients admitted to the Family Health Center No. 1 in the Kiraz county of Izmir province, Turkey. The subjects were given a questionnaire of 46 questions on their socio-demographic characteristics, gynecologic complaints, and reasons for having or not having gynecologic examination. Results: According to study results, the mean age of the women was 34.91±11.00 and 72.3% of them were married. It was found that 64.1% of them did not undergo regular gynecologic examinations and 35.9% did. By their own admission, 37.5% of these women sought gynecologic examination when their problems became unbearable, 35.9% underwent regular examination and 26.6% did this only when they had a complaint. A statistically significant (p<0.001) correlation was found between the regular gynecologic examination status of women and the caring attitude, respect for privacy and lack of negative attitudes by the healthcare personnel. Conclusion: It is important to know about the thoughts and experiences of women on gynecologic examination, as well as the factors affecting their habit of undergoing this on a regular basis so that healthcare professionals can provide information and raise awareness about early diagnosis and screening and ensure that they provide enough care to women, respect their privacy, and refrain from negative attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities are the most important residential spaces where comfortable living facilities and extensive employment opportunities are provided for inhabitants. Due to these characteristics, preference of urban spaces leads to immigration and urban sprawl. Today, urban transformation projects have become prominent in rehabilitation and restoration of these urban spaces. Urban transformation projects in Turkey were usually conducted in slum areas, historical quarters and quiescent urban spaces for conservation, improvement and development purposes since the 1950s. In the present study, the effects of the urban transformation project implemented in Zağnos Valley in Trabzon Province, Turkey, on landscape quality were determined with a survey study. Study findings demonstrate that the rate of green spaces increased after the transformation project by enhancing environmental quality and recreational opportunities. As a result, it was proved that the study area became more attractive than it was before, based on quantitative user preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: There are lack of studies considering the suboptimal management of dyslipidemia especially in cardiology outpatient clinics. This study was conducted to assess the patient adherence to cholesterol treatment recommendations and attainment of low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals.Methods: EPHESUS (NCT02608645) is a national, observational and multicenter registry which has been designed as a cross-sectional study to allow inclusion of all consecutive patients with hypercholesterolemia in cardiology outpatient clinics. The present subgroup analyses of the EPHESUS trial included patients with known peripheral artery disease or atherosclerotic cerebrovascular disease, and coronary heart disease namely secondary prevention.Results: The present analysis of the EPHESUS study included 1482 patients (62.79 ± 10.4 years, 38.2% female) with secondary prevention from 40 sites in Turkey. Regarding recommended lipid targets for LDL-C, only 267 patients (18%) were below the target of 70 mg/dL. Females were significantly more off-target when compared with male patients (396, 85.5% vs 67, 14.5%; P = 0.017). Moreover, the achievement of LDL-C goal was significantly decreased with illiteracy (233, 19.2% vs 35, 13.1%; P = 0.02). Patients who think that the cholesterol treatment should be terminated when the cholesterol level of a patient has normalised were higher in the off-target group (34.0% vs 24.7%, P < 0.001). Besides, physician perceptions about LDL-C goal for secondary prevention were significantly related with LDL-C target attainment.Conclusions: EPHESUS is an important study with large population in terms of representing real-life practice of the adherence to dyslipidemia guidelines in secondary prevention patients in Turkey. Perceptions, knowledge, and compliance with the guidelines for secondary prevention have increased, but it is far below from the desired levels even in cardiology outpatient clinics. There is a need for patients' and physicians' education regarding the treatment of hyperlipidemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinical characteristics of patients with heart failure may vary geographically. However, limited data are available regarding the geographical differences of patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction. Aims: The present subgroup analysis aims to investigate the geographical differences in clinical characteristics, management, and primary etiology of patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction in Turkey. Study Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: A comPrehensive, ObservationaL registry of heart faiLure with mid-range and preserved ejection fractiON (APOLLON) is a multicenter and observational study conducted in seven regions of Turkey (NCT03026114). The present study is a post-hoc analysis of the APOLLON registry. In this substudy, we compared the clinical characteristics of 819 consecutive patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (mean age, 67 years; 57.8% women) admitted to cardiology outpatient units in different geographical regions. Results: Based on the geographical distribution of the entire Turkish population, the highest number of patients enrolled were from Marmara (271 patients, 33.1%). All demographical characteristics, clinical and laboratory findings, comorbidities, primary etiology, and medications prescribed were significantly different between the regions. Furthermore, inter-regional gender differences were identified. Comparatively, the Aegean and Mediterranean regions had older patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (p<0.001), and the Black Sea, Southeast, and East Anatolia regions had predominantly male patients (51.2, 54.5, and 56.9%, respectively; p=0.002). Notably, the Mediterranean and Southeast Anatolia had more symptomatic patients, and history of hospitalization for heart failure was more prevalent in Southeast Anatolia (33.3%, p<0.001). Prevalence of atrial fibrillation was higher in the Mediterranean and Southeast Anatolia regions (51 and 48.5%, p<0.001), and patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction had a higher prevalence of hypertension in the Mediterranean, Southeast Anatolia, and Black Sea regions (p=0.002). Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were more frequently prescribed in East Anatolia (52.3%, p=0.001), and the prevalence of patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction using loop diuretics (48.8%, p=0.003) was higher in the Black Sea region. Conclusion: This study was the first to show geographical differences in clinical characteristics of patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction in Turkey. Determination of the clinical characteristics of the heart failure and preserved ejection fraction population based on the geographical region may enables physicians to adopt a regionspecific clinical approach toward heart failure and preserved ejection fraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted in the vine sapling production unit of "Kazova Vasfi Diren Agricultural Enterprise" located in central town of Tokat province in Turkey. The article attempted to graft five wine grape cultivars (Narince, Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah, Öküzgözü) with five different American grapevine rootstocks (1103 Paulsen, 5BB, 41B, 110 R, 140 Ru) in order to combat mainly Phylloxera, but also provide protection against nematodes, lime and salinity-like soil-borne problems. Sapling yields of different cultivar/rootstock combinations were investigated. While the greatest sapling yield was observed in Narince/1103 Paulsen combination (98.03%), the lowest sapling yield was observed in Chardonnay/110R combination (43.64%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Among all health personnel, nurses are the most exposed to mobbing. It is important for victims of mobbing to acquire skills that would help them cope with and solve problems individually. Individuals with higher levels of learned resourcefulness are reported to be more successful in dealing with problems. Objective: This study was performed to mobbing encountered by nurses and learned resourcefulness levels of nurses, as well as socio-demographic characteristics that affecting these concepts and the correlations between the concepts. Methods: The data were collected from 298 nurses that work in three different regions of Turkey between June-August 2017. The data collection tool involved an information form and two scales. The data were analysed by using psychometric, descriptive, comparative and correlational analyses in the IBM SPSS Statistics 21.00. Results: Positive, highly significant and low strong correlation was determined between concepts. (r=0.225, p<0.001). There was a statistically significant difference in terms of the questionnaire on the mobbing according to the year of professional experience, number of work places in professional life and age level (p<0.05). There was also a statistically significant difference between Comparison of the Mean Scores in RLRS according to gender and number of work places in professional life (p<0.01). Conclusion: Findings of this study demonstrated that learned resourcefulness could be developed as a personality trait to resist mobbing. It could be recommended to develop and apply nurse managers in nursing services should address this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to examine gender-based differences in epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and management of consecutive patients with heart failure with mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Methods: The APOLLON trial (A comPrehensive, ObservationaL registry of heart faiLure with mid-range and preserved ejection fractiON) is a multicenter, cross-sectional, and observational study. Consecutive patients with HFmrEF or HFpEF who were admitted to the cardiology clinics were included (NCT03026114). Herein, we performed a post-hoc analysis of data from the APOLLON trial. Results: The study population included 1065 (mean age of 67.1±10.6 years, 54% women) patients from 11 sites in Turkey. Compared with men, women were older (68 years vs. 67 years, p<0.001), had higher body mass index (29 kg/m2 vs. 27 kg/m2, p<0.001), and had higher heart rate (80 bpm vs. 77.5 bpm, p<0.001). Women were more likely to have HFpEF (82% vs. 70.9%, p<0.001), and they differ from men having a higher prevalence of hypertension (78.7% vs. 73.2%, p=0.035) and atrial fibrillation (40.7% vs. 29.9%, p<0.001) but lower prevalence of coronary artery disease (29.5% vs. 54.9%, p<0.001). Women had higher N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (691 pg/mL vs. 541 pg/mL, p=0.004), lower hemoglobin (12.7 g/dL vs. 13.8 g/dL, p<0.001), and serum ferritin (51 ng/mL vs. 64 ng/mL, p=0.001) levels, and they had worse diastolic function (E/e'=10 vs. 9, p<0.001). The main cause of heart failure (HF) in women was atrial fibrillation, while it was ischemic heart disease in men. Conclusion: Clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and etiological factors are significantly different in female and male patients with HFmrEF and HFpEF. This study offers a broad perspective for increased awareness about this patient profile in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Economic & Social Research is the property of Abant Izzet Baysal University, Faculty of Economics & Administrative Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Healthy lifestyle behaviors (HLB) is described as the acquisition of knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and skills that aim to promote health and is the beliefs, perceptions and practices of the individuals to stay healthy and to protect themselves from diseases. It is an important responsibility to reach university students, who can easily adopt health lifestyle behaviors. It is believed that raising awareness on HLB and sexual health within the scope of informative and instructional programs will promote the community health. Aim: This cross sectional study has been conducted to determine the relationship between sexual health behaviors and HLBs of female students. Methodology: 802 voluntary female students were included in the research. The research data was collected via face-to-face interview method by means of "Personal Information" and "Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Scale" forms. Results: It has been determined that the mean age of the students 20.71 ± 1.68. A statistically significant difference (p <0.05) was found between students who did and did not perform a vulvar self examination (VSE), breast self examination (BSE) and all the sub-dimensions when the total scores of HLB scale of the students were analyzed. Between the total scores of students in HLB scale and undergoing gynecological examinations, health responsibility, physical exercise, nutrition and stress management there is a significant difference (p <0.05). A statistically significant difference (p = 0.046 <0.05) was found between the infection status of the students and the HLB scale total mean score. It was determined that 99.7 % of the students had no experience of sexual intercourse and 0.1 % of the students had experienced their first sexual intercourse at the age of 17. Conclusion: Raising awareness about sexual health behaviors and HLB in university students, may contribute to the health promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses the efficacy of simulation-based episiotomy training (SBET) with beef tongue and sponge models in terms of the self confidence of midwifery students while performing episiotomy. Third-year midwifery students from Cumhuriyet University in the fall semesters of 2011 and 2012 were enrolled in the sponge and beef tongue model groups (n = 36 and n = 37, respectively). A checklist was prepared on the required skills for performing episiotomy which can be broken into three main parts, namely preparation, cutting and repairing and completion. According to the checklist, a Likert type questionnaire was developed including 5 items for preparation, 11 items for cutting and repairing, and 6 items for completion. After SBET with the sponge and beef tongue models in our laboratories of Midwifery Department, the students performed episiotomy steps in laboring women in Sivas State Hospital and then they filled in the questionnaire to indicate whether they gained self-confidence in performing episiotomy or not. Although, participants of both groups have successfully completed all the steps of episiotomy, overall, beef tongue model was found to be more successful regarding their self-confidence (p < 0.05), including the skills in performing local anesthesia; choosing needle holder, suture material and scissor for cutting; identifying apex, hymen and skin; using needle holder properly while penetrating into the skin, suturing vaginal mucosa until hymen, knotting, and suturing perineal muscles and skin. Our results suggest that while SBET with both models are applicable for episiotomy training of midwifery students in the laboratory setting, SBET with beef tongue model provides an additional increase in their self-confidence in the clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Tradional practices, have been keeping up-to-date against modernized medical applications. The purpose of this study is to determine the knowledge, traditional beliefs and practices of mothers with 0-24 month-old children concerning child care. METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted with 207 mothers who applied to five family health centers located in the city center of Erzincan due to any reason between October 2014 and February 2015, had an infant aged between 0 and 24 months, and met the inclusion criteria.The data were collected by face-to-face interview method using the description form. Descriptive statistics was given as number, percentage and average. RESULTS: Approximately 40,1% of the children were between 0 and 6 months, 65,2% of the mothers received information on childcare and 49,6% of these received such information from a nurse/doctor. Some 2,9 % of the mothers used creams and powders for umblical cord falling off, 39,1% of them used procedures to protect their child from jaundice, 27,2% took their child for a stroll after the first forty days of birth, 22,7% salted their child to prevent bad odors, 48,8% rocked their child to sleep, and 58% swaddled their babies. The mean age of the mothers was 27,14±5,50 (min: 18 - max: 45). DISCUSSION and CONCLUSION: According to these results, mothers seem to use some traditional practices which may harm their babies' health. Therefore, nurses should provide childcare training and counseling to mothers during antenatal and postnatal follow-ups and awareness should be raised in the society about these matters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Nursing Sciences is the property of Turkiye Klinikleri and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this study, the interrelationship between oil consumption and economic growth is examined via ANFIS modeling that is used to obtain long term forecasting results for oil consumption of Turkey through predetermined inputs, which are specified as population, gross domestic product (GDP), import and export. The data samples from 1965 to 2000 are conducted for developing the ANFIS model indicating the relationship between the oil consumption and the four inputs. Triangular types of membership functions are defined as low, medium and high for each input parameter in the ANFIS prediction system. Afterwards, oil consumption of Turkey is predicted from 2012 to 2030 using double exponential forecasting technique. Hence, this study can act as a guideline for long term forecasting of future oil consumption of any other country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to investigate the reference intervals for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in healthy individuals with normal levels of serum free thyroxine (fT4) and without sonographic pathologies, and determine the effects of age, gender, and residence on the TSH reference intervals. Subjects and methods: This research was a population-based study conducted in 70 regions. The random sampling method was used to select the 1095 subjects of the study among inhabitants aged 18 and above. Patients who had a previous history of thyroid disease and had been taking medication were excluded from the study as this may have affected their fT4 or TSH levels. In addition, subjects who had serum fT4 without a reference range and abnormal ultrasonography findings were also excluded. A total of 408 subjects were used for establishing the reference intervals for TSH. Results: The data for TSH in the study group were not normally distributed according to the Kolmogorov-Smirnov index. The geometric mean was 1.62 mIU/L, the median was 1.40 mIU/L, and the 95% reference intervals were 0.38-4.22 mIU/L. The median TSH level was higher in females compared to males ( p < 0.05). In the female subjects 2.5th percentile of TSH was lower and 97.5th percentile was higher than those of males. The reference intervals of TSH were of lower values in subjects over 50 years old ( p < 0.001). Discussion: Studies suggest that determination of the TSH reference intervals may differ due to environmental influences or due to age, gender, and race. It is suggested that the lower limit of normal TSH for the adult Turkish population would be 0.38 mIU/L and the upper limit similar to the traditional value of 4.2 mIU/L. If each clinician uses their population-specific reference interval for TSH, thyroid function abnormalities can be accurately estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives. The aims of the present study were to identify the levels of preoperative anxiety in patients undergoing elective surgery and the relationship between preoperative anxiety and social support. In addition, predictors of preoperative anxiety were studied in surgical inpatients. Background. Major life changes are significant factors that cause anxiety; hospitalisation and surgery are among such changes. Social support may decrease the anxiety associated with surgery. Design. This is a descriptive study that included 500 patients in a surgery clinic. Methods. The data collected included: A Patient Information Form, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the Surgical Anxiety Scale. The results were analysed using the Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. Results. Five hundred patients participated in this research: 59·6% were female, 54·6% were 65 years of age or older, 80·6% were married, 70·4% were literate and 62% of the patients had moderate level surgery. There was a significant relationship between the sociodemographic patient features, the level of preoperative anxiety ( p < 0·05), the presence of social support and the severity of anxiety ( p = 0·001). The age and level of anxiety were not significant factors. The mean anxiety score for all patients was 31·91 (SD 6·30) and the mean social support score was 66·38 (SD 13·69). Conclusion. The results of this study showed that the preoperative anxiety of patients awaiting surgery was associated with demographic characteristics as well as social support resources. Relevance to clinical practice. Anxiety testing is feasible during the preoperative period. Such testing allows for the detection of patients with high anxiety, and for clinicians to take the appropriate steps to ameliorate this problem. Identification of patient anxiety allows for providing a focus on social support in an attempt to reduce the level of anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Turkey, investments in production and use of wood drying kilns have developed as the export rates and quality expectations increased in recent years. In this study, data obtained via semi-structured interviews from wood drying kiln producers and users were used. The results reveal that there are 16 kiln producers and importers in Turkey, and 60 firms use 205 kilns that have 20401,5 m3 drying capacity. Wood drying kiln producers and users were also benchmarked in terms of crisis management and technology policies. Statistical analyses demonstrated that technology management policies of producers and users are different from each other, and they both prefer cost control strategy to get out of economic crises in turbulent times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that may act as an endogenous tumor promoter. A genetic polymorphism of TNF-α gene at position −308 promoter region is involved in the regulation of expression level and has been found to be associated with susceptibility to various types of cancer. Methods: To determine the association of the TNF-α gene G-308A polymorphism on the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a Turkish population, a hospital-based case-control study was designed consisting of 110 diagnosis subjects with hepatocellular carcinoma and 110 cancer-free control subjects matched on age, gender, smoking and alcohol status. The genotype frequency of this polymorphism was determined by using a polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay. Results: The distribution G-308A genotype was significantly associated with the risk of HCC (p <0.001, odds ratio [OR]=4.75, 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.25–9.82 for −308 AA/GA genotypes versus GG genotype). Conclusion: We suggested that the presence of the high producer allele −308A in the TNF-α gene appears to be associated with an increased risk for the development of HCC in Turkish population. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract Background To determine and compare the demographic characteristics, clinical profile and management of patients with heart failure with mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in a Turkish cohort. Methods The APOLLON trial (A comPrehensive, ObservationaL registry of heart faiLure with mid-range and preserved ejection fractiON) is an observational and multicenter study conducted in Turkey. Consecutive patients admitted to the cardiology clinics who were at least 18 years of age and had HFmrEF or HFpEF were included (NCT03026114). Results The study population included 1065 (mean age of 67.1 ± 10.6 years, 54% women) patients from 12 sites in Turkey. Among participants, 246 (23.1%) had HFmrEF and 819 (76.9%) had HFpEF. Compared to patients with HFpEF, those with HFmrEF were more likely to be male (57.7 vs 42.2%; p < 0.001), had higher N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels (853 vs 528 pg/ml, p < 0.001), were more likely to have ECG abnormalities (72.4 vs 53.5%, p < 0.001) and hospitalization history for heart failure (28 vs 18.6%; p = 0.002). HFmrEF patients were more likely to use β-blockers (69.9 vs 55.2%, p < 0.001), aldosterone receptor antagonists (24 vs 14.7%, p = 0.001), statins (37 vs 23%, p <.001), and loop diuretics (39.8 vs 30.5%, p = 0.006) compared to patients with HFpEF. Conclusions The results of APOLLON study support that the basic characteristics and etiology of HFmrEF are significantly different from HFpEF. This registry also showed that the patients with HFmrEF and HFpEF were younger but undertreated in Turkey compared to patients in western countries. Highlights • Clinical profile and pathophysiology of HFmrEF and HFpEF are heterogeneous. • Basic characteristics and etiology of HFmrEF are significantly different from HFpEF. • HFmrEF and HFpEF is now occurring increasingly in younger age groups. • HFmrEF and HFpEF treated less aggressively in Turkey compared with western countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to examine the apoptotic effects of high-dose toluene on rat brain cortex and cerebellum tissues during the acute phase. Fourteen albino Wistar rats (180-200 g) were divided into two equal groups (n : 7). While Group I was used as a control group, Group II was applied to a high dose of toluene (5200 mg / kg / gavage). At the end of a three-hour experimental period brain tissue samples were taken from the killed animals and tissues were fixed in % 10 neutral formalin, then, embedded in paraffin and sectioned (thickness, 5 μm) to determine the immune reactivity of Bax, sections were stained immunohistochemically with avidin biotin-peroxidase method. At the same time the TUNEL method was used for detection of apoptosis in the brain cortex and cerebellum. As a result of the study, increased Bax immune reactivity was seen in the brain cortex (+++) and cerebellum (++++) of toluene treated rats compared to control. The numbers of TUNEL-positive cells were significantly higher in the cerebellum tissues of animals exposed to toluene than the control. Nevertheless there was not a significantly difference in terms of TUNEL positivity between the brain cortex of control and toluene exposed animals. As a result of this study it was shown that a high-dose of toluene can trigger apoptosis of the brain cortex and cerebellum in a very short period of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) gene represents one of the central nodes in the p53 pathway. A naturally occurring T/G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the intronic promoter of MDM2, SNP309 (rs2279744), was shown to influence MDM2 expression and p53 activity. SNP in the promoter region of MDM2 gene has recently been shown to be associated with accelerated tumor formation in both hereditary and sporadic cancers in humans. In this study, we aim to evaluate the association of SNP309 with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development among Turkish population.Methods: MDM2 SNP309 polymorphism was investigated in 110 confirmed subjects with HCC and 110 cancer-free control subjects matched on age, gender, smoking and alcohol consumption by using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay.Results: The allele frequencies of case subjects (T, 0.48; G, 0.52) were significantly different from those of control subjects (T, 0.65; G, 0.35) (p=0.003). The proportion of GG genotype of the SNP309 in patients with HCC (26%) was significantly higher than that in patients without HCC (14%). We observed that compared with the TT genotype, the genotypes containing G allele [TG (OR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.18-4.07; p=0.013) or GG (OR, 3.63; 95% CI, 1.65-8.00; p=0.001)] were associated with significant increased susceptibility to HCC.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the MDM2 promoter SNP309 G allele is associated with presence of HCC in Turkish population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine the Wnt and SHH subtypes at the molecular level, and to compare them clinically by examining the changes in CTNNB1, AXIN, PTCH1, SMO, SUFU, and GLI1 mRNA expression in the medulloblastoma of a Turkish population determined according to patient selection criteria. In this context, the clinical distinction between Wnt and SHH groups are realized by considering the age, gender, survival time, location of the lesion, and radiological features of the patients., Material and Methods: Molecular separation was performed by RT-PCR analysis of CTNNB1, AXIN, PTCH1, SMO, SUFU, and GLI1 mRNA expression changes., Results: About 17.8% and 22.2% of the cases were included in the Wnt and the SHH group, respectively. When comparing group differences based on clinical and molecular data, 72.7% and 66.6% of matches were observed in the Wnt and the SHH group, respectively., Conclusion: It has been revealed that molecular analysis and grouping of patients with medulloblastoma can provide support for clinically determined subgroups.