Associations between red reflex abnormality, consanguinity and intensive care hospitalization of newborns in Turkey

Background: Red reflex screening is the primary but unheeded test for the detection of vision- and life-threatening eye conditions.

Aims: To evaluate the red reflex of newborns, percentage of ocular diseases resulting in red reflex abnormality, and their relation with consanguinity in Southeast Turkey.

Methods: Newborns [n = 1358] were examined with pencil light and direct ophthalmoscopy.

Results: Eight hundred of these newborns were hospitalized in a rooming-in unit. [RIU] and 558 were in the neonatal intensive care service [NICS]. In the RIU there were 7 [0.88%] newborns with abnormal red reflex and in the NICS there were 14 [2.51%]. Sensitivity of pencil light examination was 71.4%. Studies from the Middle East have shown potential recessive genetic causes of common paediatric ocular conditions. In our study, consanguineous marriage was found to have a significant association with red reflex abnormality [P = 0.017].

Conclusions: Red reflex screening test is important in the early diagnosis of vision- and life-threatening eye disorders in Southeast Turkey where consanguinity is common

Patients' knowledge and awareness of dental implants in a Turkish subpopulation

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the patients' knowledge on dental implants in a Turkish subpopulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five hundred twenty seven Turkish adults referred to Yeditepe University Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul, Turkey, were presented with a questionnaire including 20 questions regarding the level of information and awareness about the dental implants. The data were collected and statistical analyses were performed with Chi square test to compare the descriptive data. RESULTS: Among 527 subjects, 54% were female and 46% were male with a mean age of 42.2 years. The rate of patients' implant awareness was 27.7%. When the patients were questioned about the treatment options for rehabilitation of tooth missing, 60.9% of patients were informed about fixed partial denture, followed by conventional complete denture (32.5%) and removable partial denture (24.9%). Six percent reported that they were very well informed about the dental implants whereas 48.2% were poorly informed. The information sources of the implants were from the dentist (44.5%), printed media (31.6%) and friends and acquaintances (17.3%), respectively. Sixteen percent of the population believed that their implants would last forever. CONCLUSION: The dentists should give more detailed information to the patients about dental implants and tooth-supported fixed partial dentures in the future.