Smell identification scores of patients with essential tremor

It has been reported that patients with essential tremor have a much higher risk of Parkinson’s disease; moreover, olfactory dysfunction is common in Parkinson’s disease and becomes apparent early in the disease process. We aimed to investigate the olfactory function of essential tremor patients using the Short Smell Test Battery of GATA Haydarpaşa (GULTEST), which consists of five odors (banana, lemon, mint, rose, and chocolate). The participants in the study were 155 male essential tremor patients, 20–36 years of age (mean age: 21.2), and 290 male control subjects, 20–35 years of age (mean age: 21.1). The two groups were similar in terms of age, gender, and smoking history; their mean GULTEST scores were 3.41 and 3.4, respectively. Our results showed no loss of olfactory function in young male essential tremor patients.

Prevalence and risk factors of onychomycosis in primary school children living in rural and urban areas in Central Anatolia of Turkey.

Background: Onychomycosis is a world-wide public health concern in children, requiring epidemiological data for different regions for control and prevention. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the predominant pathogens and risk factors for onychomycosis in school children living in Kayseri, Turkey. Methods: This study included 8122 school children, aged 5-16 years, living in the rural and urban areas around Kayseri. Onychomycosis was clinically classifi ed as distal and lateral subungual (DLSO), proximal subungual, superfi cial white, endonyx and totally dystrophic onychomycosis. Nail samples from children with clinically diagnosed onychomycosis were collected, examined by direct microscopy and inoculated for culture study. The demographic features and possible risk factors were recorded and assessed by logistic regression models. Results: We clinically diagnosed onychomycosis in 152 out of 8,122 (0.18%) school children. DLSO was the most frequent clinical diagnosis (120/152, 78.9%). Culture-positive onychomycosis was detected in 27/152 (17.7%) children. The prevalence of culture-positive onychomycosis was determined as 0.33%. All culture-positive samples were only from toenails. The onychomycosis causative agents were dermatophytes in 17/27 cases (62.9%), including Trichophyton rubrum 12 (44.4%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes 1 (3.7%), Trichophyton tonsurans 1 (3.7%) and Trichophyton spp. 3 (11.1%) and yeasts in 10/27 cases (37.1%), including Candida glabrata 4 (14.8%), Candida parapsilosis 1 (3.7%), Trichosporon 2 (7.4%) and Rhodotorula 3 (11.1%). Age, father’s occupation, number of siblings and rooms were statistically associated with the frequency of onychomycosis. Conclusions: Although to be prevalence of onychomycosis in school children in central Anatolia of Turkey seems very low degree, pediatric onychomycosis is a growing public health concern all over the world. Children having more siblings or unemployed fathers and children living in small house as well as older children should be examined carefully for onychomycosis.

prevalence of disorders causing disability in young adult males in Turkey between 2009-2011

Objective: Disability is one of the significant problems that the public faces as regards social aspects, economics, public health and politics. Our aim was to review the prevalence of diseases causing disabilities in young adult men who are declared "unfit for military service" in Turkey after medical examination

Methods: We reviewed the prevalence of diseases among 113,175 young adult men who were referred for medical examination between 2009 and 2011

Results: Prevalence of unfitness for military service was 5.56% in 2009, 6.74% in 2010 and 6.77% in 2011. Leading causes for young adult men to be rejected from military service was intellectual disability 6.88, hearing loss 3.71, epilepsy 1.59, schizophrenia 1.54 and diabetes mellitus 1.47 per thousand people

Conclusion: Screening for the prevalence of disability conditions is an important data source for policies to be developed. Supporting such survey with community based studies in different populations in future shall be beneficial for improvement of policies in social and health fields

Sexual perception: an overlooked psychological barrier to nursing

Patient care is one of the most important functions of nursing. Nurses are responsible legally and ethically to take care of male patient without any discrimination. Sexuality perceptions and embarrassment effect negatively on intimate care particularly between male patients and female nurses. In this study we aimed to; determine nurses' attitudes, towards male patient and evaluate some factors that can improve this situation. This cross sectional study was performed from March-June 2009, in Gulhane Military Medical Academy School of Nursing. A total of 300 female nursing students voluntarily participated out of 310 students, and responded to the questionnaires. The questionnaire comprised of 29 questions 8 questions were about socio-demographic characteristics of participants, and 21 questions were about attitude towards male patient. Results showed that [71.3%] students indicated that performing any application to a male patient was as easy as performing on a female patient 78.3% indicated that same age male patients were the most difficult age group for taking care. Calculated attitude point of Year III students about body cleaning, rectal lavage, perineal cleansing, rectal tube application, and naso-gastric tube applications are higher than other students'. Similarly; the attitude was more positive among the students that chose their school intentionally, than others as regards taking care of a male patient which was considered as easy as performing to a female patient. Many students have negative attitudes towards specific physical care needs of male patients, especially genital area related applications. Applied education methods, professionalism and providing ethical information and insight can resolve this gap

Knowledge and attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine amongst Turkish nursing students

To evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of the Nursing School Students on Complementary and Alternative Medicine [CAM]. This cross-sectional study was conducted among students of Gulhane Military Medical Academy Nursing School during March/April 2010. The sociodemographic characteristics of participants and their knowledge and attitudes towards CAM were collected by using a structured questionnaire developed by researchers. Out of a total of 354 students, only 91.2% of those students [n=323] participated in the study. The sources of information were stated as television and radio 80.3% [n=265], internet69.0% [n=223], newspapers and magazines 68.1% [n=220], friends 48.6% [n=157], and books 32.5% [n=105] by participants. While the mostly known first three CAM practices were hypnosis [59.4%], prayer [58.5%], and herbal therapies [52.6%], those which were stated as most effective were massage [81.4%], herbal therapies [69.3%], and prayer [56.0%]. Almost five out of six students [82.7%, n=267] stated that CAM therapies should be included into their curriculum. The distribution of the responses for the item, "Complementary therapies are a threat to public health" had statistically significant difference between the classes [p<0.001]. The first year, second year and third year class students had more positive attitude for CAM than the fourth year class students. It is suggested that the lectures on CAM practices should be included into the curriculum of the nursing students who are enthusiastic about learning them which will have a positive impact on their education and training

Analysis of patients followed-up at the emergency internal medicine outpatients department of Gulhane military hospital in 2003 for suicide attempt

To retrospectively evaluate the suicide attempt cases monitored and treated at a training hospitals emergency medicine department internal medicine clinic. A total of 151 cases were monitored and treated for a suicide attempt between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2003. Cases were evaluated for sociodemographic characteristics, diagnoses made, suicide method used and time of suicide attempts and for significant relations between these variables. Of the study group, 59.6% were male, 70.2% were single, 60.3% were retired or unemployed, 51.75% were privates [Non Professional Soldiers] and 36.4% were high school graduates. The mean age was 27.36 +/- 11 for the females and 22.27 +/- 4.56 for the males. No diagnosis was made in 54.3% of the cases while 25.2% had depressive disorder and 14.6% had antisocial personality disorder. Antidepressants made up 27.8% and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs 21.2% of the drugs taken for suicide. Suicide is an increasing health problem in Turkey. Establishing a suicide surveillance program based on technology provides collection of detailed and standardized data. Analyzing this data will improve effective suicide prevention efforts

Does the type of resuscitative fluid affect healing of colonic anastomosis in experimentally induced hemorrhagic shock in rats?

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of different resuscitative fluids on the healing of intestinal anastomosis in a hemorrhagic-shock rat model. Closed-colony Wistar male rats [n = 40; 8 rats per group] were subjected to volume-controlled hemorrhagic shock, followed by a 30-min shock phase. The animals were then resuscitated with one of the following fluids [which also corresponds to their respective groups]: lactated Ringer's solution [LR], hydroxyethyl starch [HES], 7.5% hypertonic saline [HS] and autologous blood [AB]. There was also a control group [CL], which did not experience hemorrhagic shock or receive any resuscitative fluids. All rats underwent laparotomy, segmental resection and anastomosis of the left colon. Five days later, a 2nd laparotomy was performed and the anastomotic bursting pressure was measured in vivo. Thereafter, the anastomosed segment was resected to measure the tissue hydroxyproline level and the grade of anastomotic fibrosis. All experimental groups [LR, HES, HS and AB] exhibited lower anastomotic bursting pressures than the CL group; however, nointergroup differences achieved statistical significance. The mean tissue hydroxyproline level and fibrosis grade also were similar across all 5 groups. In traumatic hemorrhagic shock, anastomosis safety does not appear to be affected by the type of fluid used for resuscitation. Moreover, LR, HES and HS all seemed to reinforce healing as effectively as transfused blood