The evaluation of perceived sources of stress and stress levels among Turkish dental students

Objective : The purpose of this study was to identify sources of stress and to evaluate stress levels among Turkish dental students and also to investigate the role of year of study and gender on perceived stressors. Methods : This study included 308 dental students. Dental Environment Stress (DES) questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were used to collect data. Also, some factors considered to be effective on stress levels of dental students were questioned. Data were statistically analysed with Kruskal Wallis and Mann Whitney U tests. Results : The most stress provoking factors were fear of failing the year, completion of clinical requirements and amount of assigned work. Statistically significant differences were found between years of study and gender for many stressors. There was statistically significant difference between years of study and gender for mean DES scores but no statistically significant differences were found between years of study for mean BDI, STAI scores. There was statistically significant difference between genders for STAI‐1. Choice rank of dental school has affected stress levels of dental students. Conclusion : This study showed that perceived sources of stress of clinical students were very similar and stress levels of these students were lower than preclinical students, also gender was effective on stressors and stress levels.     

Bromodeoxyuridine Inhibits Cancer Cell Proliferation In Vitro and In Vivo

The thymidine analog bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) is incorporated into newly synthesized DNA and has been shown to increase the susceptibility of incorporating cells to ionizing radiation. However, in the absence of secondary stressors, BrdU is thought to substitute relatively benignly for thymidine and is commonly used to “birth-date” proliferative cells. We report a novel antiproliferative effect of BrdU on cancer cells, which is independent of its role in radiosensitization. A single, brief in vitro exposure to BrdU induces a profound and sustained reduction in the proliferation rate of all cancer cells examined. Cells do not die but variably up-regulate some senescence-associated proteins as they accumulate in the G₁ phase of the cell cycle. Bromodeoxyuridine also impairs the proliferative capacity of primary tumor-initiating human glioma cells and may therefore represent a means of targeting cancer stem cells. Finally, conservative in vivo BrdU regimens—in the absence of any other treatment—significantly suppress the progression of gliomas in the highly aggressive, syngeneic RG2 model. These results suggest that BrdU may have an important role as an adjunctive therapeutic for a wide variety of cancers based on new insights into its effect as a negative regulator of cell cycle progression.     

Nitric oxide and octreotide in retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury

This experimental study was performed to investigate the role of ischemia–reperfusion injury on retinal nitric oxide activity and to determine whether octreotide, the synthetic analogue of natural somatostatin, modifies the nitric oxide activity during retinal ischemia–reperfusion in a quinea pig model. Three groups of seven pigmented male quinea pigs were formed; Control, Ischemia and the Ischemia/Octreotide groups. 90 minutes of pressure-induced retinal ischemia and 24 h of reperfusion were established in the ischemia and ischemia/octreotide groups. Saline for the ischemia group and 50 g/kg of octreotide for the ischemia/octreotide group were administered intraperitoneally five times with 6-h intervals. At the end of the reperfusion period both eyes of the animals of the three groups were enucleated. One eye of each animal was randomly selected for biochemical assay and the other for histopathological analysis. Retinal nitrate levels were measured and histopathological changes were evaluated in the groups. The mean retinal nitrate levels of the control, ischemia and ischemia/octreotide groups were 157.6±25.2, 106.4±20.1 and 96.4±17.7 mol/l, respectively. Nitrate levels decreased significantly both in the ischemia (p<0.01) and ischemia/octreotide (p<0.01) groups versus control. In the ischemia group, retinal histopathological changes, which were different from the control group, were prominent edema, polymorphonucleated leukocytes infiltration and vacuolated spaces in the inner retina. No significant change was observed in the histopathological specimens of the ischemia/octreotide group. Significant increase in the thickness of the inner plexiform layer of the retina of the ischemia group was observed versus the control and ischemia/octreotide groups (p<0.01 and p<0.01, respectively).The thickness of the inner plexiform layer of the retina of the ischemia/octreotide group did not change versus the control group. It was concluded that nitric oxide activity decreased during retinal ischemia–reperfusion and, although octreotide prevented the histopathological damage, it could not ameliorate the nitric oxide activity of the retina.This study was presented in part at the 23rd Congress of the European Society of Ophthalmology.     

Salivary function in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in salivary gland function in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) undergoing hemodialysis. METHODS: The group consisted of 23 patients with CRF (13 female, 10 male; mean age: 40 +/- 13 yr) and 14 healthy control subjects (mean age: 40 +/- 13 yr). All underwent dynamic salivary gland scintigraphy with gustatory stimulation. After intravenous administration of 99mTc pertechnetate, first, perfusion images at 2 seconds per frame were acquired for 1 minute, then dynamic images at 1 minute per frame were acquired for 45 minutes. At 30 minutes after injection, 10 ml lemon juice was given for 15 minutes as a gustatory stimulus. We obtained time-activity curves derived from regions of interest centered over the four major salivary glands. The following functional indices were calculated for each gland: the time of maximum radioactivity (Tmax) for the prestimulated period, the time of minimum radioactivity (Tmin), as an indicator of velocity of secretion after stimulation, and the Lem E5% value as an indicator of the secretion function. RESULTS: When the patients with CRF undergoing hemodialysis were compared to the controls, there were statistically significant differences in Tmax, Tmin and Lem E5% values for bilateral parotid glands, and Tmin values for bilateral submandibular glands (p < 0.05), there were no statistically significant differences in Tmax and Lem E5% values for bilateral submandibular glands. There were also significant differences in Tmax and Lem E5% values for bilateral parotid glands between mild oral problems and severe oral problems in patients with CRF (undergoing hemodialysis). CONCLUSION: In this study, prolonged Tmax and Tmin values, and decreased Lem E5% values for parotid glands and prolonged Tmin values for submandibular glands on salivary scintigraphy pointed out decreased parenchymatous and excretory function in patients with CRF undergoing hemodialysis.     

KAP Survey of Turkish University Students on Sexuality, reproductive Health, Drug Addiction and Violence

Adolescence is a physical phenomenon and, as such, must be recognized as an inevi- table step going to be an adult. The second decade of life is a period of personal development almost as rapid as the first[1]. Adolescents are a very special group as with…     

Prevalence of metallo-beta-lactamase among Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from burn wounds and in vitro activities of antibiotic combinations against these isolates

The prevalence of metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs) produced by isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii and the activities of various antmicrobial combinations against MBL producer strains were investigated. During the period from June 2003 till July 2004, 120 P. aeruginosa and 9 A. baumannii nonduplicate isolates were obtained from burn wounds. Forty strains (37 P. aeruginosa, 3 A. baumannii) were selected because of resistance to carbapenems. Screening for MBL production was performed in the latter isolates by the combined disk method which depends on comparing the zones given by disks containing imipenem with and without ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Of imipenem resistant P. aeruginosa strains, 21 and 1 of A. baumannii were found metallo-beta-lactamase producers. Disk approximation studies were then performed to test for in vitro activities of various antimicrobial combinations. For a total of 21 P. aeruginosa strains, synergy was demonstrated predominantly by ciprofloxacin in combination with ceftazidime and imipenem, by ofloxacin in combination with astreonam. Against MBL producer A. baumannii strain, synergy was detected only with imipenem-ofloxacin combination. None of the combinations were antagonistic. These results suggest that MBL producing P. aeruginosa and A. baumanni strains have been introduced into burn centers, and to prevent the further spread of MBL producers, it is essential for carbapenem resistant isolates to be screened for MBLs.     

Long-term ultrasonographic follow-up of plantar fasciitis patients treated with steroid injection

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term efficacy of steroid injection for plantar fasciitis using clinical parameters and high-resolution ultrasonography. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty patients (27 female and three male) with plantar fasciitis and 30 healthy controls matched by age, gender and body mass index (BMI), were enrolled in this study. Seventeen of the patients had bilateral and 13 had unilateral (six right, seven left) plantar fasciitis. Palpation-guided steroid injection was applied to the 47 heels of 30 plantar fasciitis patients. Ultrasound examination and pain intensity with visual analog scale (VAS) were assessed three times in each plantar fasciitis patients; before injection and at 1 and 6 months after steroid injection. Ultrasonography was performed to the controls at initial assessment. RESULTS: The plantar fascia was remarkably thicker in the plantar fasciitis group than in controls (P < 0.001). The thickness of the plantar fascia and mean VAS values in the plantar fasciitis group decreased significantly 1 month after steroid injection (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively) and a further decrease was noted 6 months postinjection (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively). Strong correlation was found between the changes of plantar fascia thickness and VAS values 1 month after (P < 0.001, r: 0.61) and 6 months after (P < 0.001, r: 0.49) steroid injection. The incidence of hypoechoic fascia was 73% in the plantar fasciitis group before steroid injection. It decreased significantly at 1 and 6 months postinjection (33% and 7%, respectively, P < 0.001). Gross fascia disruption or other side effects were not observed after steroid injection. CONCLUSION: Steroid injection could be used in plantar fasciitis treatment for its positive long-term effects.