Substance Use and Parent Characteristics Among High School Students: Edirne Sample in Turkey

ABSTRACT

The current study on substance use and family characteristics of adolescents is a part of the extensive research on substance use characteristics among high school students in Edirne, Turkey. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 8,483 high school students within the 2010–2011 academic year. Self-administered questionnaires were completed anonymously by the participants. The lifetime prevalence of alcohol use was 24.6% and tobacco use was 21.4%. The most commonly used illicit substance was cannabis (1%), followed by inhalants (0.5%) and ecstasy (0.4%). The use of alcohol, tobacco, and nearly all the illegal substances was significantly higher among males compared to females. The rates of lifetime substance use varied by family-related factors such as family structure, perceived parental attitudes and intrafamilial relationships, parental socioeconomic status, and parental substance use. The limitations and implications of these findings are discussed.     

Determining the Pain-Affecting Factors of University Students with Nonspecific Low Back Pain

[Purpose] This study was conducted on university students with nonspecific low back pain in order to determine the independent variables that affect their pain. [Methods] A total of 514 students were included in this study. Pain was evaluated using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). A special form was prepared in order to evaluate the following independent variables: gender, weight, height, Body Mass Index (BMI), working periods sitting straight (television, computer, seminar, etc.), working periods bending at a table (reading, writing, etc.), using lumbar support while sitting, the mean duration of pain within the last one year, type of pain, time of the pain, faculty, class, physical activity habits and smoking. The collected data were evaluated using the CHAID (Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detection) analysis method. [Results] The working hours bending at a table, physical activity, height, weight, BMI and educational departments were found not to affect the severity of the pain. The pain severity was affected by the duration of pain complaints within the last one year, the duration of working staying upright, smoking, classes, usage of lumbar support and age variables. [Conclusions] The results of this study show that nonspecific low back pain of university students is affected by many factors such as smoking, class, age, using a computer and lumbar support.Key words: Back pain, Risk factors, University students     

Cannabinoids blocks tactile allodynia in diabetic mice without attenuation of its antinociceptive effect

Diabetic neuropathic pain is one of the most commonly encountered neuropathic pain syndromes. However, the treatment of diabetic neuropathic pain is challenging because of partial effectiveness of currently available pain relievers. It is well known that diabetic animals are less sensitive to the analgesic effect of morphine, and opioids are found to be ineffective in the treatment of diabetic neuropathic pain. Cannabinoids are promising drugs and they share a similar pharmacological properties with opioids. It has been reported that cannabinoid analgesia remained intact and to be effective in some models of nerve injury. Thus, we investigated antinociceptive efficacy and the effects of cannabinoids on behavioral sign of diabetic neuropathic pain in diabetic mice by using WIN 55, 212-2, a cannabinoid receptor agonist. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ) (200mg/kg) and animals were tested between 45 and 60 days after onset of diabetes. Antinociception was assessed using the radiant tail-flick test. Mechanical and thermal sensitivities were measured by Von Frey filaments and hot-plate test, respectively. Tactile allodynia, but not thermal hyperalgesia developed in diabetic mice. Systemic WIN 55, 212-2 (1, 5 and 10mg/kg) produced a dose-dependent antinociception both in diabetic and control mice. WIN 55, 212-2-induced antinociception were found to be similar in diabetic mice when compared to controls suggesting efficacy of cannabinoid antinociception was not diminished in diabetic mice. WIN 55, 212-2 also produced a dose-dependent antiallodynic effect in diabetic mice. This study suggests that cannabinoids have a potential beneficial effect on experimental diabetic neuropathic pain.     

Acquired generalized lipodystrophy associated with autoimmune hepatitis and low serum C4 level

Lipodystrophies are a group of diseases characterized by loss of fat tissue and are associated with insulin resistance. A six-year-old girl followed with the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis showed a severe loss of fat tissue, hyperinsulinemia, impaired glucose tolerance, hypertriglyceridemia and low serum complement 4 (C4) levels. She had coarse facial features with generalized loss of subcutaneous fat and prominent muscularity. Remarkable acanthosis nigricans was present over the neck, axilla, and umbilicus. Two hours after glucose loading, the glucose tolerance test revealed a glucose level of 258 mg/dL, a HbA1c value of 6.8%, and an insulin level of 642.9 mIU/mL, documenting a state of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Acquired generalized lipodystrophy was diagnosed and metformin with dietary intervention was initiated. Low serum complement levels proved the autoimmune nature of the process. We conclude that the serum complement levels must be investigated in patients with acquired lipodystrophy, particularly when it is associated with autoimmune hepatitis.     

Regressing amphibian tail as a model for the cadherin/beta-catenin complex disruption and glycosylation alteration during epithelial apoptosis

Epidermis is one of the many tissues that are resorbed during metamorphosis in the regressing tail of amphibian tadpoles. Apoptotic mechanisms play an important role in this process. In this study, loss of intercellular contacts and alterations in plasma membrane glycosylation were observed during apoptosis. The cadherin/beta-catenin complex represents one of the major adhesive systems in multiple epithelial tissues. Here, we analysed the fate of cadherin/beta-catenin complex and alterations of plasma membrane glycoconjugate compositions in apoptotic epithelial cells. Our results showed that the cadherin molecules were cleaved into extracellular and beta-catenin associated cytosolic domains by an intracellular mechanism. However, the extracellular domains were probably removed completely by matrix metalloproteinases. Lectin histochemistry studies suggested that mannose and alpha(2-->6) linked (but not alpha(2-->3) linked) sialic acids were major sugar motifs in plasma membranes of apoptotic tadpole epithelial cells. Although previous studies indicated reduced levels of sialic acid residues during apoptosis, elevated Sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA) reactivity might be due to the degradation of high molecular weight glycoproteins (probably including cadherin) that masked the SNA-binding residues of the plasma membrane prior to apoptosis.     

Comparison of the results of different surgical techniques in the management of hydatid cysts of the liver

Between 1980 and 1985, a total of 260 patients with hydatid cysts of the liver have been treated surgically at the Department of Surgery of University Hospital of Ankara. All patients with organ cysts of other than the liver are excluded. In this retrospective study, the results of different surgical techniques were compared with respect to postoperative complications, morbidity, mortality, and recurrence of disease. Patients were divided into 2 groups retrospectively. The first group (I) involved patients treated without drainage (n=87), and the second group (II) involved patients treated with external drainage (n=173). Postoperative complication rates were 10.8% in group I, and 65.8% in group II. Mean postoperative hospital stay was 9.9±0.8 days in group I, and 20.6±1.1 days in group II. Most of the patients in group II had purulent or biliary discharge from the drainage site (average, 199±47 days). During the follow-up period, which varied from 1 to 6 years, recurrence rates were not significantly different in the 2 groups. The results strongly suggest that in the management of uncomplicated hydatid cysts of the liver, the surgical techniques which do not employ drainage of the cystic cavity are superior to those which use drainage.

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Resumen Entre 1980 y 1985 fue operado un total de 260 pacientes con quistes hidatfdicos del hfgado en el Departamento Quirúrgico del Hospital Universitario de Ankara. Pacientes con quistes en otros órganos diferentes del hfgado fueron excluidos de la investigation. En este estudio retrospectivo se comparan los resultados de diferentes técnicas quirúrgicas con respecto a complicaciones postoperatorias, morbilidad, mortalidad, y recurrencia de la enfermedad. Los pacientes fueron divididos en 2 grupos. En el grupo I se incluyeron los pacientes tratados sin drenaje (n=87), y en el grupo II los tratados con drenaje externo (n=173).La tasa de complicaciones postoperatorias fue de 10.8% en el grupo I, y de 65.8% en el grupo II. El promedio de estancia hospitalaria fue de 9.9±0.8 días en el grupo I, y 20.6±1.1 en el grupo II. La mayoría de los pacientes del grupo II presentaron drenaje purulento o biliar por el sitio de salida del dren (promedio 199±47 días). Durante el período de seguimiento, que varié entre 1 a 6 años, las tasas de recurrencia no fueron significativamente diferentes en los 2 grupos.Los resultados sugieren que en el manejo de los quistes hidatídicos no complicados del hígado, es mejor la técnica quirúrgica que no emplea drenaje externo de la cavidad quística, que aquella que sí la utiliza.

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Résumé Entre 1980 et 1985, 260 patients ont été traités pour kyste hydatique du foie dans le service de chirurgie de l'Hôpital Universitaire d'Ankara. Tous les patients avec des kystes dans d'autres organes que le foie ont été exclus de cette étude. Dans cette étude rétrospective, les résultats des différentes techniques chirurgicales ont été comparés: complications postopératoires, morbidité, mortalité, et récidive. Les patients ont été rétrospectivement divisés en 2 groupes: (a) dans le groupe I (n=87), les patients ont subi un geste chirurgical ne comprenant pas de drainage; (b) dans le groupe II (n=173), les patients ont subi un geste chirurgical comprenant un drainage externe.Le taux de complications postopératoires était 10.8% dans le groupe I, et 65.8% dans le groupe II. La durée moyenne du séjour à l'hôpital était de 9.9 ± 0.8 jours dans le groupe I, et de 20.6±1.1 jours dans le groupe II. La plupart des patients du groupe II ont eu un écoulement postopératoire soit purulent, soit bilieux (moyenne, 199±47 jours). Pendant la période de surveillance variant de 1 à 6 ans, les taux de récidive des 2 groupes ne différaient pas de façon significative.Ces résultats suggèrent que, dans le traitement des kystes hydatiques du foie non compliqués, les techniques chirurgicales ne comportant pas de drainage externe de la cavité kystique sont meilleures que les autres.