Religious Worship in Patients with Abdominal Stoma: Praying and Fasting during Ramadan

Background: Religion, which occupies an important place in culture, has an effect on not only the patient’s acceptance of the treatment but also his or her post-treatment life style.Aim: The purpose of this paper was to determine the performance of religious rituals in abdominal stoma patients and their views on the effects of stoma on religious worship.Methodology: A descriptive and cross sectional design was used in this study. The sample consisted of 66 patients. The researchers developed a set of questions regarding the individual's background and characteristics of stoma and prayer rituals and fasting during Ramadan. Frequency, percentages, mean, range and chi-square test was used to analyze. Results: It was found that 87.9% of the patients (n=58) fasted regularly before stoma-creation, which decreased to 43.9% (n=29) after stoma creation; 74.2% of the patients (n=49) prayed regularly before stoma creation, which decreased to 53% (n=35) after stoma-creation. The comparison of practices of fasting (χ2: 7.13; p<0.01) and praying (χ2: 25.85; p<0.001) before and after stoma surgery revealed a statistically significant difference. 69.0% of the participants, who were unable to fast after stoma creation, were afraid of causing damage to the stoma whereas 71.4% of the participants who were unable to pray reported not having performed their prayers due to feeling unclean. 27.6% of the participants who fasted after stoma creation reported having felt discomfort.Conclusions: In this study, we found that the performance of fasting and praying decreased in patients after stoma surgery. This finding indicates that stoma significantly affects fasting and praying in patients and that patients are unable to perform these religious duties or experience some difficulties in performing their religious worship

Cockroach allergy in a group of Turkish children with respiratory allergies

Exposure to cockroach may lead to exacerbations of bronchial asthma and/or allergic rhinitis in sensitized patients. Although there is a widespread belief that cockroach allergy is a common problem in patients with respiratory allergies, little is known in Turkish children. In order to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of cockroach allergy in respiratory allergic children, we performed a study in newly referred children with respiratory allergies. All patients underwent questionnaire-interview and skin prick tested with common inhalant allergens in addition to two cockroach allergens: Blatella germanica (Bg) and Periplaneta americana (Pa). A subgroup of patients was also serologically investigated for specific IgE against Bg and house dust mite. Three hundred- and thirty-seven children aged 2-16 years were recruited for the study and 77.7% of these were atopic, with the most common indoor and outdoor allergens of house dust mite (47.5%) and grass pollens (45.1%), respectively. According to the prick test results, allergies to Bg and Pa were 11.9% and 7.4%, respectively, and there was a weak correlation between size of the prick test and specific IgE levels for Bg allergen. Almost 30% of the cockroach-sensitive patients were allergic to both cockroach antigens. Seventy percent of cockroach-sensitive patients were also sensitive to house dust mite, and only 1% were monosensitive. Dwellings in the Middle Anatolia and Black Sea regions were less commonly infested by cockroach compared to the dwellings in other regions. In conclusion, our preliminary study showed that cockroach sensitization is common among children with respiratory allergies irrespective of infestation history, suggesting that addition of cockroach allergen to the routine allergy screening panel is critical

Correlation between calcium and phosphorus in cord blood and birth size in term infants

BACKGROUND: Calcium supplementation during pregnancy was suggested to affect fetal growth. We aimed to investigate the association between calcium and phosphorus in cord blood and birth size parameters in term infants. METHODS: The study included 70 pregnant women and their neonates. Birth weight, birth length and head circumference of the neonates were measured. Cord blood samples were obtained at delivery. Maternal and cord blood calcium, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone were measured. The association between variables was evaluated with Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Cord blood calcium levels were significantly positively correlated with birth weight, birth length and head circumference (r=0.308 P=0.009, r=0.324 P=0.006, r=0.296 P=0.013 respectively). Cord phosphorus was significantly positively correlated with birth length (r=0.358 P=0.002). In subjects with higher phosphorus levels cord calcium were more strongly correlated with birth weight, birth length and head circumference than in the overall group (r=0.487 P=0.003, r=0.515 P=0.002, r=0.396 P=0.018 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Cord blood calcium and phosphorus levels are associated with birth size parameters. There may be interactions between calcium and phosphorus to affect fetal growth

Screening of Wild Strawberry Germplasm for Iron-deficiency Tolerance Under Hydroponic Conditions

Cultivated strawberry has been developed from hybridization between Fragaria chiloensis and F. virginiana. The progenitor species exhibit significant genetic diversity. Growth attributes of progenitor species and their responses to several stress factors have been studied. However, iron deficiency tolerance (FeDT) of different species have merely been tested under hydroponic conditions. This study evaluated FeDT of 23 genotypes belonging to super-seed collection under hydroponic conditions. Two genotypes (one Fe-deficiency tolerant and one sensitive) were selected from screening experiment and their physiological and morphological mechanisms playing role in FeDT were determined. Plant parameters associated with FeDT, i.e., pH of the growth medium, root Fe reductase activity, total and active Fe concentration of shoot were recorded. The Fe efficiency of strawberry subspecies varied between 51% and 98%. Fe efficiency values also varied among subspecies. AukeLake and RCP37 belonging to F. chiloensis were highly resistant and sensitive to Fe deficiency, respectively based on Fe efficiency values. A highly significant relationship was observed between Fe concentration and FeDT of the genotypes. Acidification of nutrient solution and root Fe reductase activity were closely related to high shoot iron concentration. Our findings indicated existence of a close relationship between root uptake and root to shoot translocation of Fe, which ultimately contribute greatly to FeDT among tested strawberry genotypes.Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey [TOVAG 104O199]This work was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (Project No: TOVAG 104O199)

Effects of evening primrose oil and 5-fluorouracil on the healing of colonic anastomoses in rats

Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of evening primrose oil (EPO) on colonic anastomosis. Methods: Sixty rats with colonic anastomosis were randomly divided into six groups. EPO and 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) were administered at doses of 5 g/kg/day and 20 mg/kg/day, respectively.&nbsp; Group 1 served as sham control. The rats in Group 2 (EPO) received EPO (14 days preoperatively), in Group 3 (Extended EPO) received EPO (14 days preoperatively and 7 days postoperatively), in Group 4 (5-FU) received intraperitoneally 5-FU (5 days preoperatively), in Group 5 (5-FU+EPO) received EPO (14 days preoperatively), and 5-FU (5 days preoperatively), in Group 6 (5-FU+ extended EPO) received EPO (14 days preoperatively and 7 days postoperatively)&nbsp; and 5-FU (5 days preoperatively). Histopathological examination, bursting pressure, and hydroxyproline content were used for evaluation. Results: Significant differences were found between the Groups 1, 2, and 3 and Groups 4, 5, and 6 in bursting pressures. Polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) and lymphocyte infiltration was significantly less in group 3, compared to the control and group 2. The least PMNL infiltration was in group 6 compared to groups 4 and 5.&nbsp; The hydroxyproline level was different in group 3 compared to the control and group 2. Furthermore, groups 5 and 6 were different compared to group 4. Conclusion: EPO had favorable effects on colonic anastomosis even in groups where 5-FU was used

Immunohistochemical assessment of mda and 8-ohdg expression in the skin, lungs and kidneys of lambs naturally infected with sheeppox virus confirmed with pcr

This study aimed to assess the role of free radicals in the pathogenesis and progression of sheeppox with the immunohistochemical investigation of MDA and 8-OhdG expressions. The study material comprised of 24 lamb carcasses (suspected of being infected with sheeppox), which were referred to the Pathology Department for routine diagnosis, and 6 healthy lambs used for control purposes. Commercial MDA and 8-OHdG were used for labeling with the avidin-biotin-Peroxidase complex technique by the manufacturer"s instructions. By using PCR the correct-sized amplicon was obtained from eight of the samples. Characteristic pock nodules were detected in the skin, lung, and liver tissues. In histopathological examinations, sheeppox cells and Guarneri bodies, which are quite typical for the diagnosis of the disease, were found in the internal organs. All of the sheeppox-infected cases yielded positive results for MDA and 8-OHdG immunostainings. When compared to the control group, the sheeppoxinfected group displayed statistically higher levels of MDA and 8-OHdG expressions. In conclusion, increased MDA and 8-OHdG expressions in the visceral organs of lambs naturally infected with the sheeppox virus demonstrated that sheeppox is associated with the disruption of the antioxidant/oxidant balance and the occurrence of significant oxidative stress-induced damage to macromolecules such as lipids and the DNA. The positive correlation detected between the severity of the disease and the expression of these biomarkers showed that free radicals are actively involved in the development of pox lesions

The immunohistochemical evaluation of the expression of intermediary filaments, pcna, p53 and mmp-9 in feline fibrosarcomas

Aim: The present study was aimed at the immunohistochemical evaluation of the expression of cancer indicators; including the Proliferating Cell Nucleus Antigen (PCNA), Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), vimentin, alphasmooth muscle actin (?-SMA), S-100, desmin and pan-Cytokeratin (Pan- CK), as well as intermediary filaments, with a view to demonstrate the cell proliferation index, p53 tumour-suppressor gene status, tumour metastasis, invasion capacity and cellular origin of feline fibrosarcomas. Materials and Methods: The study material comprised of tumoral tissue samples from 7 cats, which were referred to the Pathology Department for routine histopathological examination. In order to evaluate the histopathological changes, the sections were stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin. Streptavidin-biotin peroxidase complex method was used for immunohistochemical staining. Results: Out of the seven spontaneous cutaneous fibrosarcoma cases, five were in stage I, one was in stage II, and one was in stage III. The presence of conspicuous collagen bands in the tumoral tissues was demonstrated by Masson's trichrome (MT) staining. All cases stained positively for vimentin and ?-SMA. The tumoral cells reacted negatively for pan-CK, S-100 and desmin. All cases were immunopositive for PCNA. Two cases stained positively for p53. These two cases were advanced stage. Only a single case of fibrosarcoma (stage III) presented with intracytoplasmic MMP-9 expression in neoplastic giant cells. Conclusion: Despite only very few tumour samples having been examined in the present study, it was concluded that PCNA, p53 and MMP-9 served as highly useful indicators for determining cell proliferation, grading malignancy, detecting tumour aggressiveness and behaviour, as well as predicting prognosis in spontaneous feline fibrosarcomas

Effects of Open and Closed Suctioning Systems on Pain in Newborns Treated with Mechanical Ventilation

This experimental study was conducted to compare the effects of open and closed suctioning systems on pain in newborns receiving ventilation support. The study sample consisted of 42 babies (23 female, 16 male) hospitalized in the unit between December 2010 and December 2011 who met the selection criteria established for the study. Using the random sampling method, 20 of the babies were included in the closed suctioning system group and the remaining 22 were analyzed in the open suctioning system group. The data collection tools of the study were intervention monitoring form, data collection form, and documentation of the personal information on the babies; and the Neonatal Pain, Agitation, and Sedation Scale (N-PASS) evaluated the babies' pain responses. The data were evaluated using SPSS 15 software. Most neonates were born preterm (<= 37 weeks' gestation at birth; 69% [n = 29]). The mean (SD) birth weight, gestational age, and intensive care unit stay were 1.82 kg (1.1 kg), 31.9 (5.3) weeks, and 25.3 (2.9) calendar days, respectively. Results of the study revealed no statistically significant difference between the open suctioning and closed suctioning groups (p = .194). However, the N-PASS pain scores obtained before and during the suctioning processes were significantly different (p < .001). In conclusion, babies seem to experience pain during the suctioning process, according to N-PASS scores, and although not significant statistically, the level of pain felt during open suctioning was observed to be slightly higher compared with closed suctioning. (C) 2015 by the American Society for Pain Management Nursin