The effectiveness of training for breast cancer and breast self-examination in women aged 40 and over

Background. Training on breast health is required to increase awareness of early detection of breast cancer, especially in countries with limited resources.Methods. Of the 784 invited women, 462 participated in the study (58.9%). The training included both theoretical and breast self-examination (BSE) training between preeducation and posteducation tests. Following the theoretical presentation, breast examination training was performed using a breast simulator. The competency of the participants on breast examination was assessed by an evaluation guide.Results. All breast cancer symptoms were stated at significantly higher rates compared to those before education (P<.05). The most commonly stated risk factor in both preeducation and posteducation tests was “no breast-feeding,” with ratios of 15.2% and 56.3%, respectively. Early detection modalities for breast cancer were also stated more often in the posteducation test compared to the preeducation (P<.05). In the preeducation test, only 4.3% to 18.7% of the participants women could state most of the BSE steps. After BSE training, 85% to 92% of the participants were competent in BSE steps.Conclusions. Theoretical education on breast cancer and BSE training in low-educated women, even illiterate, is highly effective.     

Comparison of contrast sensitivity and visual acuity between deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty and penetrating keratoplasty in patients with keratoconus

AIM: To evaluate postoperative visual acuity and contrast sensitivity results following deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) and penetrating keratoplasty (PK) in patients with keratoconus (KC). METHODS: All the patients’ records with KC who had PK or DALK surgery between May 2010 and May 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Sixty patients who underwent successful corneal transplantation for KC: 30 eyes underwent DALK and 30 eyes underwent PK were included in this study. Preoperative and postoperative mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), logMAR best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) and intraocular pressure (IOP) were evaluated. Contrast sensitivity tests (CS) were done preoperative and 2 months after all sutures had removed. All surgeries were performed under regional anesthesia (retrobulbar anesthesia) by 1 surgeon (B.K.) who was experienced in penetrating and lamellar keratoplasty techniques.RESULTS: The mean age of the DALK group was 29.67±4.95 (range 18-40) years and the PK group was 28.7±3.53 (range 18-39) years. Preoperatively there was no significant difference in the logMAR UCVA, logMAR BSCVA and IOP between the DALK (1.281±0.56; 0.97±0.85; 12.07±2.12mmHg) and PK (1.34±0.21; 0.98±0.21; 13±2.12mmHg) groups. One-year after surgery there was no significant difference in the mean logMAR UCVA and IOP between the DALK (0.46±0.37; 11.73±2.1mmHg) and PK (0.38±0.21; 12±2.12mmHg) groups. The mean contrast sensitivity was evaluated by CC-100 Topcon LCD at 1.5, 2.52, 4.23, 7.10 and 11.91 cycles per degree (cs/deg) spatial frequencies before and 2 months after the all sutures had removed. CONCLUSION: All patients with keratoconus in both DALK and PK groups performed good visual function postoperatively. The mean contrast sensitivity increased considerably at all spatial frequencies compared with preoperative levels in the DALK and PK groups. The mean post-operative evaluation of contrast sensitivity measurements was not significantly different between the two groups.     

Condolence houses in Sanliurfa: fading away of a tradition and a creative attempt to preserve it

This article reports the results of qualitative research conducted to investigate the change in the traditional manner of giving and accepting condolences in Sanliurfa, a city with a unique sociocultural structure in the southeastern part of Turkey. Our methodology was based on direct observation of behavior and detailed, open-ended interviews with participants. This article aims to investigate the reasons for moving the condolence tradition from family homes to specially built condolence houses a decade ago and discusses the functional significance of the ceremonial events in giving and accepting condolences.     

The influence of marginal zinc deficient diet on post-vaccination immune response against hepatitis B in rats.

AIM: To evaluate in vitro T lymphocyte proliferation and specific antibody response to hepatitis B vaccination in two groups of rats fed with normal and marginal zinc content. METHODS: Twenty-two Wistar-Albino rats were randomly assigned into two groups and were fed with constant diet. Zinc was suplemented 10mg/kg dry weight in group I (marginal zinc content) (n=14) and 30mg/kg dry weight in group II (n=8). Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix B, 4mug) was administered intramuscularly after 8 weeks on feeding and a booster dose was applied 4 weeks after the first injection. Rats were killed 3 weeks after the second injection. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated in vitro by PHA (2.5mug/ml) and hepatitis B surface antigen (2.5, 5, 10mug/ml). Proliferation was evaluated by ELISA (celltiter-96 aqueous one solution cell proliferation assay). Serum zinc, anti-HBs titer and zinc per dry liver weight were also measured. Two groups were compared with respect to antigen specific antibody and lymphocyte proliferation responses. Proliferation response to HbsAg were expressed as net percent increase (pci) in lymphocyte proliferation from the baseline activity. RESULTS: Rats' mean body weight and weight gain per month were similar. Median serum zinc was 39 (23-75) and 76(64-115)mug/dl of groups I and II rats, respectively (p<0.05), while there was no difference in liver zinc content between the two groups (37mug/g dry weight versus 32mug/g dry weight). Median anti-HBs levels of groups I and II were 741 (0-10,000)IU/l, 5791 (558-10,000)IU/l, respectively (p<0.05). In lymphocyte proliferation assays, mean net pci with HbsAg of 5 and 10mug/ml were 9.4% and 11.3% in group I rats; while they were 25.3% and 26.1% in group II rats (p<0.01 and p<0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: In vitro cell-mediated immune response and in vivo specific antibody response to hepatitis B vaccine was decreased in rats fed a diet with marginal zinc content. These observations have shown that marginal Zn deficiency might influence the efficacy of hepatitis B vaccination in humans.     

Accuracy of specific free air distributions in predicting the localization of gastrointestinal perforations

Emergency Radiology - To evaluate the role of specific distributions of free air in predicting the location of gastrointestinal (GI) tract perforation. One hundred and fifteen patients with...