Determination of Anaerobic and Anoxic Biodegradation Capacity of Sulfamethoxasole and the Effects on Mixed Microbial Culture

status: publishe

GENERAL HEALTH AND DISABILITY STATUS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN NURSING HOME RESIDENTS AND ELDERLY LIVING AT THEIR OWN HOMES

Introduction: The objective of this study is to compare the general health and disability status of the elderly living in nursing homes or in their own homes. Materials and Method: The study was carried out in July, 2000 on 367 elderly, aged >= 60, living in two nursing homes in Ankara and at their own houses in three villages of Golbasi. A survey form including descriptive questions, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the Brief Disability Questionnaire (BDQ), and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was administered to participants. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the GHQ-12 and BDQ mean scores between those living in nursing homes and at home (p<0.05). Scores were higher for those living at nursing homes for both conditions. For those living in nursing homes, the risk factors for increased BDQ scores were being female, suffering from a chronic disease and to having a depression disorder. The risk factor for GHQ-12 was having a depression disorder (p<0.05). Conclusion: We found that the GHQ-12 and BDQ scores were higher for those living in nursing homes compared to those living at home. The GHQ-12 and BDQ should be used as screening tools for the early diagnosis of psychological problems, especially for those living in nursing homes

Triglyceride-glucose index levels in patients with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and the relationship with endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance

Introduction: The risk of cardiometabolic diseases is increased in patients with hypogonadism. The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a novel surrogate marker of insulin resistance and is associated with cardiovascular diseases. We investigated the TyG index levels and the relationship with endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance in patients with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH). Material and methods: A total of 98 patients with CHH (mean age 21.66 ± 1.99 years) and 98 healthy control subjects (mean age 21.69 ± 1.21 years) were enrolled. The demographic parameters, TyG index, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels were measured for all participants. Results: The patients had higher waist circumference (p &lt; 0.001), triglycerides (p = 0.001), insulin (p = 0.003), HOMA-IR (p = 0.002), ADMA (p &lt; 0.001), and TyG index (p &lt; 0.001) levels and lower HDL-C (p = 0.044) and total testosterone (p &lt; 0.001) levels compared to healthy control subjects. TyG index levels significantly correlated with the ADMA (r = 0.31, p = 0.003) and HOMA-IR (r = 0.32, p &lt; 0.001) levels. TyG index was also determinant of HOMA-IR levels (ß = 0.20, p = 0.018). Conclusion: The results of the present study show that patients with CHH had increased TyG index levels. Also, the TyG index is independently associated with insulin resistance in patients with CHH. Long-term follow-up studies are warranted to find out the role of the TyG index in determining cardiometabolic risk in patients with hypogonadism.

A Prospective Study of Etiology of Childhood Acute Bacterial Meningitis, Turkey

Vaccines to prevent bacterial meningitis in this region must provide reliable protection against serogroup W-135

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Parameters in Office Normotensive Obese and Non-Obese Children: Relationship with Insulin Resistance and Atherosclerotic Markers

&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Objectives:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; To determine differences in ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) parameters between office normotensive obese and non-obese children and to evaluate correlations of ABP parameters with insulin resistance and the lipid profile. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Subjects and Methods:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Thirty-eight obese [body mass index (BMI) above the 95th percentile] and 38 non-obese children aged 9-17 years were recruited. All subjects who were normotensive during office visits and who underwent 24-hour ABP monitoring were evaluated. Insulin resistance and the lipid profile were also evaluated. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; The mean daytime, night-time and 24-hour systolic blood pressure (SBP) and the daytime and 24-hour diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in normotensive obese children were significantly higher compared to the values in non-obese children (p &lt; 0.05). There was no difference in the frequency of nocturnal non-dippers and nocturnal hypertension (night-time SBP at or above the 95th percentile) between the two groups (p &gt; 0.05). Children with night-time SBP at or above the 95th percentile and non-dippers had higher atherosclerotic markers than children with night-time SBP below the 95th percentile and dippers (p &lt; 0.05). In logistic regression analysis, the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C):high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio and night-time SBP had significantly positive associations with being obese in adolescents (OR 6.54, 95% CI 1.15-37.07, p = 0.03, and OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.01-1.19, p = 0.02, respectively). &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Normotensive obese children had higher ABP parameters. A high LDL-C:HDL-C ratio and night-time SBP were associated with an increased risk of being obese. High LDL-C:HDL-C ratios and total cholesterol:HDL-C levels in children and adolescents may be risk factors for night-time hypertension.</jats:p

Factors affecting the interval from diagnosis to treatment in patients with lung cancer

Aims and background. We aimed to investigate the factors affecting the interval from the beginning of the symptoms until diagnosis and treatment in patients with lung cancer. Methods. Records of 119 lung cancer patients diagnosed in our pulmonary diseases clinic between 2004 and 2006 were evaluated retrospectively. Demographic data, histopathological tumor type, TNM stage, ECOG performance status, presence of endobronchial lesions, and radiological localization of the tumor were determined. Intervals from the first symptom to contacting a doctor, to diagnosis and to treatment were calculated. The interval from first admission to a clinic and referral to a chest physician was also calculated. Results. Of 119 patients, 74% were diagnosed as non-small cell and 26% were as small cell lung cancer. Forty-eight percent of the patients were at stage 3B and 36% were at stage 4. ECOG performance status was 0 in 6%, 1 in 52%, 2 in 36%, 3 in 3%, and 4 in 2%. Endobronchial lesions were observed in 50% of the patients, and the lesions had a central radiological localization in 59%. Fifty-four percent of the patients presented to a chest physician first. Patients who first presented to an internal medicine clinic were referred to our pulmonary disease clinic significantly later than those who presented to other clinics (P = 0.005). The median period from the beginning of the symptoms until contacting a doctor was 35 days (range, 1-387), until diagnosis was 49 days (range, 12-396), and until beginning the treatment was 57 (range, 9-397) days. The presence of endobronchial lesions, radiological localization, TNM stage and ECOG performance status were not found to be related to the intervals from the first symptom to presentation to a doctor, to diagnosis or to the beginning of the treatment. Conclusions. Lung cancer patients consult a doctor after a relatively long symptomatic period. Patient delays may be shortened by increasing the awareness of patients about lung cancer symptoms. Diagnostic procedures should be performed more rapidly to shorten doctor delays

Hepatic perfusion changes in an experimental model of acute pancreatitis: Evaluation by perfusion CT

Purpose: It is known that acute pancreatitis may cause secondary changes in several organs. Liver is one of these involved organs. In different experimental studies hepatic damages were shown histopathologically in acute pancreatitis but there are a few studies about perfusion disorders that accompany these histopathologic changes. Perfusion CT (pCT) provides the ability to detect regional and global alterations in organ blood flow. The purpose of the study was to describe hepatic perfusion changes in experimental acute pancreatitis model with pCT. Materials and methods: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats of both genders with average weights of 250 g were used. Rats were randomized into two groups. Twenty rats were in control group and 20 in acute pancreatitis group. pCT was performed. Perfusion maps were formed by processing the obtained images with perfusion CT software. Blood flow (BF) and blood volume (BV) values were obtained from these maps. All pancreatic and liver tissues were taken off with laparotomy and histopathologic investigation was performed. Student's t test was used for statistical analyses. Results: In pCT we found statistically significant increase in blood volume in both lobes of liver and in blood flow in right lobe of the liver (p < 0.01). Although blood flow in left lobe of the liver increased, it did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: The quantitative analysis of liver parenchyma with pCT showed that acute pancreatitis causes a significant perfusion changes in the hepatic tissue. Systemic mediators seem to be effective as well as local inflammatory changes in perfusion changes. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Factors affecting the interval from diagnosis to treatment in patients with lung cancer

Aims and background. We aimed to investigate the factors affecting the interval from the beginning of the symptoms until diagnosis and treatment in patients with lung cancer. Methods. Records of 119 lung cancer patients diagnosed in our pulmonary diseases clinic between 2004 and 2006 were evaluated retrospectively. Demographic data, histopathological tumor type, TNM stage, ECOG performance status, presence of endobronchial lesions, and radiological localization of the tumor were determined. Intervals from the first symptom to contacting a doctor, to diagnosis and to treatment were calculated. The interval from first admission to a clinic and referral to a chest physician was also calculated. Results. Of 119 patients, 74% were diagnosed as non-small cell and 26% were as small cell lung cancer. Forty-eight percent of the patients were at stage 3B and 36% were at stage 4. ECOG performance status was 0 in 6%, 1 in 52%, 2 in 36%, 3 in 3%, and 4 in 2%. Endobronchial lesions were observed in 50% of the patients, and the lesions had a central radiological localization in 59%. Fifty-four percent of the patients presented to a chest physician first. Patients who first presented to an internal medicine clinic were referred to our pulmonary disease clinic significantly later than those who presented to other clinics (P = 0.005). The median period from the beginning of the symptoms until contacting a doctor was 35 days (range, 1-387), until diagnosis was 49 days (range, 12-396), and until beginning the treatment was 57 (range, 9-397) days. The presence of endobronchial lesions, radiological localization, TNM stage and ECOG performance status were not found to be related to the intervals from the first symptom to presentation to a doctor, to diagnosis or to the beginning of the treatment. Conclusions. Lung cancer patients consult a doctor after a relatively long symptomatic period. Patient delays may be shortened by increasing the awareness of patients about lung cancer symptoms. Diagnostic procedures should be performed more rapidly to shorten doctor delays

Factors affecting the interval from diagnosis to treatment in patients with lung cancer

Aims and background. We aimed to investigate the factors affecting the interval from the beginning of the symptoms until diagnosis and treatment in patients with lung cancer