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OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate pain management practices in the emergency departments (EDs) in Turkey and to evaluate the prevalence and etiologies of oligoanalgesia to identify possible improvement strategies. METHODS: This multicenter cross-sectional observational study was conducted in 10 tertiary care hospitals in Turkey. Patients who were admitted to the ED with pain chief complaints were included in the study. Both patients and physicians were surveyed with two separate forms by the research associates, respectively. The patient survey collected data about the pain and the interventions from the patients' perspective. The pain was evaluated using the Numerical Rating Scale. The physician survey collected data to assess the differences between study centers on pain management strategies and physician attitudes in pain management. RESULTS: Ten emergency physicians and 740 patients (male/female: 365/375) enrolled in the study. The median pain score at admission at both triage and ED was 7 (interquartile range: 5-8). The most frequent type of pain at admission was headache (n = 184, 24.7%). The most common analgesics ordered by physicians were nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (n = 505, 67.9%), and the most frequent route of administration was intramuscular injection (n = 396, 53.2%). About half of the patients (n = 366, 49.2%) received analgesics 10-30 min from ED admission. The posttreatment median pain score decreased to 3 (P < 0.001). About 79.2% of patients did not need a second analgesic administration (n = 589), and opioid analgesics were the most frequently administered analgesic if the second application was required. Physicians prescribed an analgesic at discharge from the ED in 55.6% of the patients (n = 414) and acute pain was present in 7.5% (n = 56) of the patients. CONCLUSION: Our study on the pain management practices in the EDs in Turkey suggested that high rate of intramuscular analgesic use and long emergency room stay durations are issues that should constitute the focus of our quality improvement efforts in pain management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effects of sexual education provided via WhatsApp on the level of sexual knowledge and sexual myths in midwifery students in Turkey. Methods: Students were randomly divided into WhatsApp education, conventional education, and control groups. Data were collected using a Questionnaire Form, the Sexual Health Knowledge Test, and the Sexual Myth Scale. Results: Post-education and one-month-follow-up the Sexual Health Knowledge Test medians in the control group (24.0 and 27.0 respectively) were significantly lower than those of the WhatsApp (31.0 and 32.5 respectively) and conventional education groups (30.5 and 32.0 respectively) and Sexual Myth Scale medians in the control group (70.0 and 67.0 respectively) were significantly higher than those of the WhatsApp (55.5 and 60.0) and conventional education groups (53.0 and 55.0, respectively) (p <.001). There was no difference between WhatsApp and conventional education groups in terms of the Sexual Health Knowledge Test and Sexual Myth Scale scores (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Sexual education provided by conventional methods and via WhatsApp increased sexual health knowledge and decreased sexual myths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This descriptive study was aimed to evaluate the attitudes of the engaged men and women who are of legal age to marry towards gender roles and acceptance of couple violence, and determine their sexual/reproductive health education needs. It was conducted in two marriage registry offices in Ankara, Turkey. The study sample consisted of 740 participants. Data were collected by using semi-structured form, Gender Roles Attitude Scale and Acceptance of Couple Violence Scale. It was found that the engaged couples had educational needs concerning sexual/reproductive health; socio-demographic characteristics such as gender, age, education, residence, and income level created significant differences in the attitudes related to accepting gender roles and violence; and having an egalitarian attitude towards gender roles decreased the rate of accepting violence between the couples. Results indicate that premarital counseling is a promising strategy to support engaged couples’ sexual/reproductive health needs, and increase their awareness about gender based couple violence in communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: To evaluate the fatty acid composition of six Centaurea species, viz, Centaurea behen, C. saligna, C. depressa, C. urvillei subsp. urvillei, C. urvillei subsp. hayekiana and C. aggregata subsp. aggregata, from Elazığ, Turkey. Methods: Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) of the oil extracts of four Centaurea species were prepared. The fatty acid compositions of Centaurea species were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC). Results: Saturated fatty acids (SFAs) in Centaurea species and subspecies ranged from 24.61 - 50.92% of their total fatty acid content, while monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) were in the range of 3.40 - 37.96% and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) 12.21 - 20.57%. Palmitic acid C 16:0, oleic acid C 18:1 ?9 and linoleic acid C 18:1 ?3 were the major fatty acids in all the species. Oleic acid was the main constituent of C. urvillei subps. urvillei and C. agrregata subsp. aggregata with a content of 26.92 and 50.92%, respectively. Conclusıon: The oil extracted from Centaurea species is a good source of essential fatty acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Better and more rapid tests are needed for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE), given the known limitations of conventional diagnostic tests. Objectives: To estimate diagnostic accuracy of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) test (and its components) using data-derived cutoffs in pleural fluid. Methods: The QFT-GIT test was performed on whole blood and pleural fluid from 43 patients with TPE and 29 control subjects (non-TPE). To achieve the objective, QFT-GIT test, estimating likelihood ratios and receiver operating curve analysis were performed. Results: The sensitivity and specificity using the QFT-GIT for the diagnosis of TPE were 48.8% and 79.3%, respectively, in pleural fluid. The best cutoff points for tuberculosis (TB) antigen, nil and TB antigen minus nil results were estimated at 0.70, 0.90 and 0.30 IU/ml, respectively. Area under the curve of TB antigen IFN-γ response was 0.86 (CI: 0.76-0.93), nil tube was 0.80 (CI: 0.69-0.89) and TB antigen minus nil tube was 0.82 (CI: 0.72-0.90). When the best cutoff scores of the nil tubes were set at this value, the results of a likelihood ratio of a positive and a negative test were 9.44 (7.4-12.0) and 0.37 (0.09-1.5), respectively. The percentages of indeterminate results in pleural fluid among the TPE cases were 42% (most of them caused by high nil IFN-γ values) using the QFT-GIT test. Conclusion: QFT-GIT test or its components have poor accuracy in the diagnosis of TPE, largely because of a high number of indeterminate results due to high background IFN-γ production in the TPE. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-ionic agents have pharmacological side effects, such as seizure, alteration of cerebral function, confusion, short-term memory loss, mental aberrations and ophthalmoplegia.In this report, we present two cases that developed contrast-induced encephalopathy following coronary angioplasty by the non-ionic contrast agent, iopromide (Ultravist® ). As a result, we concluded that iopromide-induced encephalopathy may occur during angioplasty in patients with no particular predispositions. In addition to that, contrast-induced encephalopathy should be considered as a new-onset neurological disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to identify possible relationships between biochemical- superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) of mussels ( Mytilus galloprovincialis) and chemical (Hg, Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe) contaminants from relatively clean area (Middle Bay) and heavily polluted area (Inner Bay) of the Izmir Bay. Sampling of mussels was performed in the beginning of May 2004. Mussel digestive glands have been used for biochemical assays. Trace metal content was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer using standard procedures. Metal contents in mussels collected at polluted site increased compared to the middle part of the bay. While there was a positive correlation between metals and SOD enzyme activity, there was a negative correlation between metals and GPx enzyme activity. An increase was observed in SOD enzyme activity and a decrease of GPx enzyme activity at the inner part of the bay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article a document of the concept of Model Support System (MSS) and modeling project cycle. It defines a pathway on how the modeling efforts should be organized towards an integrated watershed management goal. It stresses that establishing an MSS for rural non-point source (NPS) modeling is almost as challenging as developing a calibrated and validated model in the developing countries. A documentation on how to initiate and proceed with a project for "non-point source modeling" is also presented for the use of decision-makers, researchers, and modelers.

Soil is an important component of a watershed. Understanding soils and their interactions with the other components are, thus, considered to be critical and essential for conservation of resources and management of the watershed. Development of soil sampling and analysis programs are crucial for these purposes. Site-specific soil data are needed to identify current soil characteristics, as well as to validate datasets gathered for watershed-scale modelling of non-point sources (NPS) of pollutants arising from various land-use activities, hydrodynamics and water quality. The Koycegiz Lake–Dalyan Lagoon watershed, located in the southwest of Turkey along the Mediterranean Sea Coast, was selected as the study area for watershed modelling purposes. Development of soil sampling plans, their practical optimization, soil analyses and interpretation are presented in this article. The soil analyses conducted include physical, chemical and specific soil characteristics. Within the framework of this study, soil fertility parameters are presented and evaluated. Such an approach used is recommended for especially developing countries where up-to-date data sets are not fully available and/or centrally publicized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compare the performance of firms affiliated with diversified business groups with the performance of unaffiliated firms in Turkey, an emerging market. We address the question of whether group-affiliated firms create internal capital markets or control large cash flows. Our findings indicate that group affiliation improves a firm's accounting performance, but not stock market performance. Deviation of cash-flow rights from voting rights has a negative but insignificant effect on accounting performance, but a significant effect on market performance. We also find that a firm's accounting, but not stock market, performance increases with the level of group diversification. Our results show that internal capital markets play an important role for the existence of business groups in an emerging market context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to examine the impact of concentrated ownership and business group affiliation on the performance of Turkish firms during the financial crisis by controlling balance sheet currency exposure, international involvement and firm size. Our analysis focuses on a 12-month window encapsulating the February 2001 financial crisis. Our findings show that balance sheet exposure is the key determinant of the firm performance during the crisis periods. While we find evidence that firms with higher concentrated ownership experience lower stock market performance prior and during the financial crisis, business group affiliation does not have any impact on the performance. However, there is weak evidence that stock market performance increases with the level of business group diversification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the comparison of returns between value and growth, and between small and large capitalization portfolios for an emerging market, the Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE). We show that growth portfolios have superior performance over value portfolios. Thus, our results do not confirm the evidence from most developed and emerging markets. Moreover, inconsistent with the evidence from developed markets, monthly and annually small–large portfolio spreads favour large stocks. These results reflect that the structure of the market and the fundamental of stocks traded in the ISE differ from markets around the world. Time series regression results show that the average returns on value and growth portfolios are not sensitive to market movements. Size and B/M risk factors along with market risk premium produce better descriptions of the returns on value and growth portfolios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Providing clean water at relevant quality and quantity is a challenge that regulatory authorities have to face in metropolitan cities that seem to develop at their limits of sustainability. Istanbul strives to face such a challenge for its population of over 10 million, through six surface water resources. Two approaches of classification for the reservoirs are presented, one based on current regulations and an alternative based on a more detailed classification. The results have shown that nutrient control is the primary issue, and one of the reservoirs has already exceeded the limits of being eutrophic, one is at mesotrophic conditions, and the remaining four are at the limit of being eutrophic, indicating the significance of making the correct decision and taking pertinent measures for management and control. It has been observed that the only mesotrophic resource, which also has the best general quality class, has no industry and a very low population density, whereas the one that is already eutrophic is also the one with the lowest quality class, has the highest population density, and has the greatest percentage of urban land use within its watershed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a long-term management plan for the Omerli reservoir in Istanbul, Turkey. Development of protection strategy to prevent deterioration of the reservoir; Threat of eutrophication; Preparation of land use plans according to protection strategy; Suggestion of establishing an association to conduct technical, financial, and supervision work on the basin.

The article presents a study on the chemical composition of the essential oils of Anthemis coelopoda var. bourgaei and A. aciphylla var. aciphylla which used as traditional medicine in Turkey. The endemic species were collected from Izmir-Bozdag in May 2010 and identified by O. Secmen from Ege University using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The results found the compounds including Santolinatriene, Hexanal, and Myrcene.

• The first haplotype analysis of Echinococcus granulosus isolates in Turkey. • Specifical nucleotide differences in mt-nad5 gene between G1-G3 genotypes. • The first comparative morphometry results of G1-G3 genotypes. • Statistically significance of large hook width parameter between G1-G3 genotypes. Cystic echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease and the second most common foodborne parasitic infection worldwide. The aim of the present study was to investigate genetic variations in G1 and G3 genotypes of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto and determine the morphological differences between two genotypes. In total, 119 cystic samples were collected from 48 cattle and 71 sheep in slaughterhouses in four cities in three geographical regions of Turkey regions (Ankara, Central Anatolio region; Ordu, Black Sea region; and Adana, Mersin, Mediterranean region). For molecular characterization of the G1 and G3 genotypes, two gene regions (the complete mt-cox1 gene sequence and partial mt-nad5 gene sequence) were amplified. Haplotype analysis was conducted to determine the nucleotide differences between the complete sequences of the mt-cox1 gene for 47 samples. In addition, morphological parameters in protoscoleces of fertile cysts were measured to determine the relationship between the genotypes and morphometry. According to the obtained genotype and morphometry results, there were no statistically significant differences between the genotypes in terms of the number of hooks, total lengths of large and small hooks, blade lengths of large and small hooks, and widths of small hooks, although there was a statistically significant difference in large hook width (p > 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]