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Objectives: This study aims to contribute to the literature by presenting an overview of a 10-year experience by retrospectively examining the cases with a parotid mass from a tertiary referral center Methods: Two hundred fourteen patients were diagnosed with a parotid mass in the Otorhinolaryngology Clinic of HSU Izmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital between January 2009 and January 2019. Sociodemographic characteristics, diagnostic methods, surgical operations and complications, pathology results, and long-term follow-up results were retrospectively analyzed over the patients' files. SPSS Version 21.0 computer for data analysis. Results: Of 214 parotidectomies, 140 (75%) were male, 74 (35%) were female, mean age was 55 ± 14 years (15-85 years). The most common diagnoses were 87 (40.7%) pleomorphic adenomas and 48 (22.4%) Wharton tumors. The most prevalent malignant tumors were reported as 18 (8.1%) mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The main type of surgery was superficial parotidectomy, performed in 192 (90%) patients. Facial paralysis was observed in 11 (5.1%) patients as the main postoperative complication. Conclusions: Considering the histopathological diagnosis of parotid tumors, the stage and grade of the tumor, surgery is generally preferred for treatment. More males are affected than women, especially in the middle ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study includes the results of a 2-day education project titled "Molecular Biology Laboratory Summer School, MoBiLYO." The project was held at a University Research Center by scientists from Department of Pharmacology and graduate students. The project was composed of introductory lectures, model construction, DNA isolation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and gel electrophoresis. The participants were 13-year-old eighth-graders attending primary schools affiliated with Ministry of National Education in urban and rural areas of Izmir, Turkey. The purpose of this study was to introduce basic molecular biology concepts through individually performed experiments such as PCR and gel electrophoresis integrated with creative drama. The students were assessed at the beginning and the end of each project day via mini-tests, experimental and presentation skills evaluation forms. Data showed that students' knowledge about DNA structure and basic molecular biology techniques significantly increased. On the basis of experimental and presentational skills, there was no significant difference between kids from urban and rural schools or between public and boarding public schools, whereas the average score of girls was significantly higher than that of boys. In conclusion, individually performed experiments integrated with creative drama significantly increased students' perception of complex experimental procedures on basic molecular biology concepts. Data suggests that integration of these concepts into the science and technology curriculum of Turkish primary education may support the recruitment of future scientists who can handle rapidly developing genomic techniques that will affect our everyday life.