A Single Nucleotide Polymorphism of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Receptor Gene in Turkish Women with PCOS: A Cross-Sectional Study
Ümit Naykı, Altuğ Koç, Cenk Naykı, Özge Özer Kaya, Mehmet Kulhan, Murat Günay
J Clin Exp Invest 2017;8(2):32-37.
https://doi.org/10.5799/jcei.333378
Research Article
[Abstract]
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ABSTRACT
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate both the frequency of Asn680Ser polymorphism of follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and whether this polymorphism is associated with PCOS in a Turkish population.
Patients and Methods: 100 patients with PCOS and 100 controls were recruited from Eastern Turkey. Venous blood samples were obtained for genetic study, hormone profile, glucose and insulin assays. Asn680Ser polymorphism of FSHR was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and direct DNA sequencing. Two groups were compared for body mass index (BMI), modified Ferriman-Gallwey (mFG) score, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, insulin resistance, and hormone and lipid status. Then, all patients were divided into subgroups for genotypes of FSHR polymorphism. These subgroups were also compared for these mentioned parameters.
Results: The difference between women with PCOS and controls in allelic frequencies for Asn680Ser polymorphism of FSHR were not significant. When this single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at codon 680 was separately analyzed, no significant difference was found in the genotype frequency among the Asn680Asn, Asn680Ser, andSer680Ser subgroups. There were no significant differences in BMI, mFG score, levels of fasting glucose and fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, and also levels of FSH, LH, E2, PRL, TSH and TT among the PCOS patients carrying different genotypes of Asn680Ser polymorphism
Conclusion: there is no association between Asn680Ser polymorphism of FSHR and PCOS in Turkish women from eastern provinces of Turkey. In addition, this SNP seems not to be associated with BMI, IR and PCOS-associated endocrine hormones.
Keywords: Polycystic ovary syndrome, follicle stimulating hormone receptor, single nucleotide polymorphism
Relationship of Cardiac Structures and Functions with Adiponectin, C-Reactive Protein and Interleukin-6 Levels in Obese Children
Nuran Aşan, Güzide Doğan, Sadi Türkay, Meki Bilici, Nesibe Andıran, Cemile Koca
J Clin Exp Invest 2017;8(2):38-44.
https://doi.org/10.5799/jcei.333379
Research Article
[Abstract]
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ABSTRACT
Objective: Obesity in childhood is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in adulthood due to cardiovascular disease. C-Reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels are elevated in obese patients, whereas the adiponectin level is negatively correlated.
This study was conducted to determine the effects of obesity on cardiac structure and functions and to investigate the relationship of cardiac structures and functions with CRP, Il-6, and adiponectin levels.
Patients and Methods: A total of 38 obese and 30 healthy non-obese children were included. The anthropometric profiles of all the children were recorded. CRP, IL-6, adiponectin, and fasting glucose insulin levels were measured. The Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. The children were assessed using conventional transthoracic echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging.
Results: Serum CRP, IL-6, insulin, and HOMA-IR were higher, and adiponectin levels were lower in obese subjects. Left ventricular wall thickness and dimensions, and left atrial diameter were greater in the obese group and the myocardial performance index (MPI) was measured higher (P=0.001). These alterations of cardiac structure were found to be positively correlated with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, insulin and HOMA-IR, and negatively correlated with adiponectin.
Conclusion: These alterations in cardiac structure and functions in obese children indicate cardiovascular diseases in adulthood, and can be measured by Doppler echocardiography. In addition, BMI, waist circumference, insulin, and HOMA-IR are useful parameters for both cardiac structure and cardiac functions. Adiponectin, should also be considered as a new parameter for cardiac structure.
Keywords: cardiac functions, obesity, childhood, HOMA-IR, adiponectin, interleukin-6
Body image, self-esteem and quality of life in vitiligo patients
Feride Çoban Gül, Halil Kara, Hülya Nazik, Deniz Öztürk Kara, Betül Karaca
J Clin Exp Invest 2017;8(2):45-50.
https://doi.org/10.5799/jcei.333380
Research Article
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ABSTRACT
Objective: The present study aims to investigate the effects of vitiligo on quality of life (QoL), self-esteem (SE), and body image (BI).
Patients and Methods: This study included 64 patients diagnosed with vitiligo, and 87 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Sociodemographic characteristics of the participants were collected and hypopigmented lesion involvement regions were recorded to identify clinical severity of vitiligo. The Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DQoLI), Body Image Scale (BIS), and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) were completed.
Results: Comparison of DQoLI, SE, and BI between vitiligo and control groups demonstrated that vitiligo patients had a statistically significantly lower QoL (P<0.01), a lower SE (P<0.01), and a worse BI (P<0.01). Localization of lesions at one or multiple sites did not show a statistically significant impact on DQoLI, SE, or BI (P>0.05). The DQoLI, BIS, and RSES scores and the levels of QoL, SE, and BI were similar between the patients with vitiligo for ≤5 and >5 years (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Vitiligo can negatively affect the QoL, SE, and BI of patients, thereby, resulting in psychosocial problems. It can be concluded that the unfavorable skin appearance of the disease is not only a factor affecting the patients’ QoL, SE, and BI; however, its relation with neurobiological mechanisms should be further investigated. This study emphasizes that body image and self-esteem is affected independently of the location of vitiligo lesions, and consequently neurobiological mechanisms may be important.
Keywords: Vitiligo, self-esteem, body image, quality of life
Prevalence of Impacted Wisdom Teeth in Middle Black Sea Population
Ferhat Ayranci, Melih Mehmet Omezli, Efe Can Sivrikaya, Zeki Orhan Rastgeldi
J Clin Exp Invest 2017;8(2):50-53.
https://doi.org/10.5799/jcei.333381
Research Article
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ABSTRACT
Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional randomized study was to investigate the prevalence and angulation of third molar impaction in patients between 19‒26 years old who were living in the Middle Black Sea region of Turkey.
Patients and Methods: Total 1006 patients between 19 and 26 years of age who were referred to the Ordu University Faculty of Dentistry Department of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery between 2010 and 2015 were included in the study. Of these 1,006 patients, 410 were male and 596 were female. The prevalence and positions of the impacted third molar teeth from the 4th quadrant on the panoramic radiographs were documented according to the classifications of Pell and Gregory as well as that of Winter. In the Pell and Gregory classification, the teeth in class C were evaluated as impacted teeth.
Results: There was a total of 1,518 impacted molars. Of the included patients, 48.3% had impacted third molars. The most common angulation of impacted third molars was the vertical position in both mandible (28.4%) and maxilla (28.8%). The prevalence of impacted mandibular third molars (57.3%) was significantly higher than that of the impacted maxillary third molars (42.7%) (P<0.05). The prevalence and angulation of impacted third molars between genders was not significant (P>0.05).
Conclusion: The pattern of third molar impaction in the Middle Black Sea region was characterized by a high prevalence of level C impaction with a vertical position that was greater in the mandibles and had no sex predilection.
Keywords: Impacted teeth, Pell and Gregory, prevalence, Turkish population, Winter
The effect of periuretral care and follow-up on bacteriuria in patients with urinary catheter: A comparison of three solutions
Ayfer Kara, Pakize Özyürek
J Clin Exp Invest 2017;8(2):54-60.
https://doi.org/10.5799/jcei.333382
Research Article
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ABSTRACT
Objective: The aim of this study was to compare urinary colonization rates in subjects whose periurethral area was cleaned with sterile water or tap water versus povidone-iodine before and after urinary catheter insertion.
Patients and Methods: The study was conducted in intensive care, surgery and medical wards of a university hospital. The study assessed a total of 207 adult patients requiring urinary catheterization for bacteriuria. They were screened for eligibility by the supervising physician. 110 patients were excluded from the study. The study sample included a total of 97 patients. The only difference among the three groups was that sterile, tap water and povidone-iodine were used to clean the periurethral area. A urine specimen was collected immediately before and 72 hours after catheter insertion.
Results: The povidone-iodine group patients had a mean age of 67.9±12 years, the mean of the sterile group patients was 66.3±14 years, and the mean of the tap water group patients was 63.5±12 years. The Chi-Square test revealed no inter-group difference for age groups (P=0.483). Urinary tract infections occurred in 18% of the total sample. The percentage of infection for povidone-iodine, sterile water and tap water groups was 22.2%, 38.9%, and 38.9% respectively.
Conclusion: There were no significant differences in the rate of bacteriuria or urinary tract infections in the sterile water, tap water and povidone-iodine groups. Traditionally, povidone-iodine solutions have been used to clean the periurethral area is probably not useful than water solutions.
Keywords: Periuretral care, urinary tract infection, urethral catheter, antiseptic solution
The effects of Nurses' Empathy Skills on Attitudes towards Patients with Cancer
Ali Alkan
J Clin Exp Invest 2017;8(2):61-65.
https://doi.org/10.5799/jcei.333383
Research Article
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ABSTRACT
Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the predictors of empathy skills and attitude towards cancer patients and association between nurses’ empathy skills on attitudes towards patients with cancer
Patients and Methods: A structured questionnaire was used to evaluate the nurses’ empathy skills and their attitudes towards to patients with cancer. Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE) and Attitudes towards Cancer Scale (ATCS) were used. The predictors of JSE/ATCS scores and correlation between JSE and ATCS were analyzed.
Results: 305 nurses participated in the study (84.2% of all nurses). The median age was 33 (20-52) and most of the nurses were female (82.6%). Most of the participants were married (188, 61.6%) and 40.3% of nurses had a job experience more than 10 years. Female sex, being married, having job experience more than 10 years or caring more cancer patients were associated with higher JSE scores. Nurses caring more cancer patients weekly, experience with cancer patients, participation in educational activities about cancer care or presence of relative with a diagnosis of cancer were found to have more positive attitudes towards cancer patients. Spearman correlation analysis showed a positive, weak correlation between JSE and ATCS (r= 0.017, P= 0.38)
Conclusion: Empathy skills are important while caring patients, especially in oncology practice. Although a direct correlation between empathy skills and attitudes towards cancer patients couldn’t be demonstrated, health care workers caring cancer patients should be both evaluated for empathy skills and educated.
Keywords: Empathy skill, attitudes towards patients with cancer, nurse, oncology
Nurses' Knowledge Levels About Port Catheter Care (POCATH Study): a study of the palliative care working committee of the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG)
Ali Alkan, Turgut Kaçan, Nilüfer Avcı, İbrahim Türker, Selen Baloğlu Kaçan, Arzu Ergen, Arzu Yaşar, Özgür Tanrıverdi, Serdar Turhal, Filiz Çay Şenler
J Clin Exp Invest 2017;8(2):66-70.
https://doi.org/10.5799/jcei.333384
Research Article
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ABSTRACT
Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate nurses' levels of knowledge about port catheters (PCs), define factors effecting them and to define the subjects in which more education strategies should be developed.
Patients and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out in cancer centers in Turkey. Participants were evaluated with structured questionnaires to assess the levels of knowledge about PCs and management strategies of PC related complications. The questions were designed to evaluate their knowledge in different subscales.
Results: 363 nurses in 7 cancer centers in 4 different cities in Turkey participated in the study. While 147 (40.5%) nurses had a more than 10 years of experience, 13.8% of them had a less than 1 year of job experience in oncology. Knowledge about “Port catheter usage and complications” and “difficulties while using PC” was worse than other subscales. The effects of the job experience on knowledge showed a negative correlation between them (r= -168, p= 0.001). In addition, participants with an experience of more than 10 years have worse scores when compared with others ( 27.2±11.4 vs. 30.6±9.4, P=0.003). There was no significant difference between nurses working in a university hospital and public hospital (28.5 ± 10.9 vs. 30.4±10.4, P= 0.086).
Conclusion: The study concluded that experience in the field is negatively correlated with knowledge about PCs. Nurses actively caring PCs should be routinely updated, especially about complications of PCs and management strategies of them.
Keywords: Nurse, knowledge level, port catheters, port catheter care