Effects of Lycopene in Intestinal Ischemia Reperfusion Injury via Intestinal Immunoglobulin A.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal ischemia causes an inflammatory response that may become intense by reperfusion and result in bacterial translocation. Intestinal immunoglobulin A is known to be a barrier against bacterial translocation. Lycopene is a compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. We hypothesized that lycopene has positive effects in ischemia-reperfusion of the intestine through the intestinal IgA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-eight Wistar albino rats were separated into four groups: sham, control, lycopene-administered-before-ischemia (L-pre), and lycopene-administered-after-reperfusion groups. Histopathologic changes, intestinal immunoglobulin A levels, and bacterial translocation were evaluated after the ischemia-reperfusion period of 0.5-12 h. RESULTS: Histopathologic changes, intestinal immunoglobulin A, and bacterial translocation levels in the L-pre group were similar to those in the sham group. Administration of the lycopene after reperfusion showed just a slight protective effect. However, the L-pre group had significantly fewer histopathologic changes when compared with changes in the control (P = 0.011). Intestinal immunoglobulin A level in the L-pre group was found to be higher than that in the control group (P = 0.014). Bacterial translocation levels in the blood and mesenteric lymph nodes, in the L-pre group, were lower than those in the control group (P = 0.0027 and P = 0.0097, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Lycopene limited intestinal damage, reduced loss of intestinal immunoglobulin A and decreased bacterial translocation when administered before the ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Is appendectomy a simple surgical procedure?

OBJETIVO: La apendicitis aguda es uno de los procedimientos quirúrgicos más aplicados en todo el mundo. Una de las complicaciones de la apendicectomía es la apendicitis del muñón. El diagnóstico de apendicitis del muñón suele retrasarse. MÉTODOS: En nuestro estudio recopilamos casos de apendicitis del muñón tras apendicectomía. Todos los casos con apendicectomía abierta y laparoscópica fueron incluidos en nuestro estudio. RESULTADOS: Entre 2008 y 2020 se examinaron 5620 pacientes apendicectomizados que fueron operados en la clínica de cirugía general. Se realizó apendicectomía en 5 pacientes por apendicitis del muñón. Uno de los pacientes con apendicitis del muñón presentó síntomas de peritonitis generalizada, otro con síntomas de íleo, el otro con síntomas de hernia de incisión encarcelada en la incisión de Mc Burney y los otros dos pacientes con síntomas de apendicitis aguda. CONCLUSIONES: Como se desprende de nuestro estudio, si bien la apendicectomía es el procedimiento quirúrgico más común y fácil de ver en la práctica quirúrgica general, es un procedimiento que aumenta la morbilidad como vemos en los pacientes con apendicitis del muñón. La tomografía abdominal parece ser el estándar de oro en el diagnóstico de la apendicitis del muñón. Los cirujanos definitivamente deben sospechar apendicitis del muñón en pacientes cuyos síntomas han mejorado, incluso con cicatrices de apendicectomía abierta. OBJECTIVE: Acute appendicitis is among the most applied surgical procedures around the world. One of the complications of appendectomy is stump appendicitis. The diagnosis of stump appendicitis is usually delayed. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In our study, we compiled cases with stump appendicitis after appendectomy. All cases with open and laparoscopic appendectomy were included in our study. RESULTS: Between 2008 and 2020, 5620 appendectomy patients who were operated in the general surgery clinic were examined. Appendectomy was performed in five patients due to stump appendicitis. One of the patients with stump appendicitis presented with symptoms of generalized peritonitis, another with symptoms of ileus, the other with symptoms of incarcerated incision hernia at the McBurney incision, and the other two patients with symptoms of acute appendicitis. CONCLUSION: As it can be understood from our study, although appendectomy is the most common and easily seen surgical procedure in general surgical practice, it is a procedure that increases morbidity as we see in patients with stump appendicitis. Abdominal tomography appears to be the gold standard in diagnosis in stump appendicitis. Surgeons should definitely suspect stump appendicitis in patients whose symptoms have improved, even with open appendectomy scarring.

Detection Rate of Thyroid Papillary Micro-carcinoma in Multinodular Goiter Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of papillary thyroid micro-carcinoma (PTMC) in multinodular goiter (MNG) surgery, as well as in opposite thyroid lobule of the dominant nodule. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: General Surgery Department, Abant Izzet Baysal University Hospital, between January 2010 and December 2016. METHODOLOGY: The data of 1300 patients who underwent thyroidectomy analyzed. Patients with single nodule in preoperative sonography, and patients with malignancy or suspected malignancy in fine needle aspiration cytology were excluded. PTMC was labelled as less than 10 mm in diameter. RESULTS: After exclusion of such patients, 1,197 subjects with benign MNG were included in the study. There were 1,134 patients in benign group and 63 subjects in PTMC group, according to the postoperative pathology results. In PTMC group, 53 (84%) of subjects had one tumor and 10 (16%) has more than one cancerous nodules. Thirty-six (57%) of cancers in PTMC group were right sided and 27 (43%) were left sided. Cancer and dominant nodule were in the same thyroid lobe in 62% (n = 39) subjects in PTMC group. However, 24 subjects had cancer in the lobe opposite to the largest nodule. CONCLUSION: Total bilateral thyroidectomy should be preferred in MNG surgery due to high probability of multicentric disease.

Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio is Useful in Differentiation of Malign and Benign Thyroid Nodules.

OBJECTIVE: Significant amount of thyroid nodules are malignant. Inflammation plays crucial role in the pathogenesis of many disorders, including cancer. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), has been suggested as an index of inflammatory response and association between increased NLR and cancer has also been reported. In this retrospective analysis, we aimed to study NLR levels in patients with malign and benign thyroid nodules and healthy control subjects. METHODS: The patients who underwent surgery for nodular goiter in general surgery clinics of our university hospital between June 2012 and June 2015 and 68 healthy volunteers were included. Patients with thyroid nodules divided into malign or benign nodule groups according to the pathology report. Thyroid carcinomas other than micropapillary tumor were excluded. Preoperative hemogram parameters of these groups were compared. RESULTS: Mean NLR of malign nodule group (2.1±0.9%) was significantly higher than both those in benign nodule (1.7±0.9%) and control groups (1.7±0.6%). CONCLUSION: We suggest that elevated NLR in patients with thyroid nodules in preoperative period may be an indicator of underlying malign nodular disease. Increased NLR in such patients should encourage physician to perform cancer screening in thyroid gland.

MEAN PLATELET VOLUME: AN OVERLOOKED HERALD OF MALIGNANT THYROID NODULES.

Physicians and surgeons pay much attention to evaluating thyroid nodules due to the malignant potential of these growths. Inflammation has a crucial role in the development of cancer. Increase in the mean platelet volume (MPV) has been described in various inflammatory conditions. Since some of thyroid nodules are malignant, we aimed to compare MPV values between patients with malignant and benign thyroid nodules after precise pathologic diagnosis. We retrospectively analyzed hemograms of patients having undergone thyroid surgery for thyroid nodule between January 2013 and January 2015, and compared them to those recorded in healthy subjects. MPV was higher in the malignant thyroid nodule group than in the benign nodule group (9.1±1 fL vs. 7.8±0.8 fL). The difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). Increased MPV should be considered as an assistive diagnostic tool in differentiating malignant and benign thyroid nodules. However, further prospective studies are required to confirm its usefulness in this population.

Elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in the diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis

Summary Objective: Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder. The purpose of this study was to determine the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a novel marker of inflammation, in patients with HT and to compare these values with those from healthy subjects. Method: A total of 154 participants were included in the study, 90 HT patients and 64 healthy volunteers. Retrospectively, demographic and laboratory data of the subjects were obtained from our institution's database. Patients with active infection, diabetes mellitus, malignancy, other chronic inflammatory diseases, hematologic disorders and patients on aspirin or steroid treatment were excluded from the study. Values for complete blood count (CBC) and serum laboratory parameters of HT patients were the baseline values obtained at the time of HT diagnosis. Control subjects consisted of healthy volunteers who visited our institution for a routine check-up. Results: Age, gender and CBC parameters were not different between the HT group and the control group; however, the NLR of HT group (2.1 [1.3-5.8]) was significantly higher than the control group (1.9 [0.6-3.3]), p=0.04. Conclusion: Increased NLR may be useful as an indicator of the presence of HT, especially in complicated cases. NLR is inexpensive and easy to determine. Larger, prospective studies are required to determine its usefulness in assessing diagnostic potential and treatment outcomes in HT patients.

Could Red Cell Distribution Width be a Marker of Thyroid Cancer?

OBJECTIVE: To study red cell distribution width (RDW) values, a novel inflammatory marker in routine hemogram, of patients with benign or malignant thyroid nodules and to compare with healthy population. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Abant Izzet Baysal University Hospital, Bolu, Turkey, from November 2015 and February 2017. METHODOLOGY: The hemogram values of patients undergone thyroid surgery for thyroid nodule between November 2015 and February 2017 were retrospectively analyzed, and compared to those in healthy subjects. Subjects with infectious or inflammatory diseases were excluded. Patients' characteristics and laboratory data were obtained from institutional computerized database. Preoperative hemogram values of thyroid nodule patients were recorded. One-way ANOVAand Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed to compare variables with significance at p<0.05. RESULTS: Median RDW of malignant nodule group was 15.8 (12.9-19.5) and was significantly higher than both of those in benign nodule (15) and control groups (14), (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Elevated RDW in patients with thyroid nodules in preoperative period should alert the physician for possible malignancy and this cost-effective marker also can help support other modalities (ultrasound scan, and fine needle aspiration biopsy) to distinguish malignant from benign nodules.

Elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in the diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

OBJECTIVE: Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder. The purpose of this study was to determine the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a novel marker of inflammation, in patients with HT and to compare these values with those from healthy subjects. METHOD: A total of 154 participants were included in the study, 90 HT patients and 64 healthy volunteers. Retrospectively, demographic and laboratory data of the subjects were obtained from our institution's database. Patients with active infection, diabetes mellitus, malignancy, other chronic inflammatory diseases, hematologic disorders and patients on aspirin or steroid treatment were excluded from the study. Values for complete blood count (CBC) and serum laboratory parameters of HT patients were the baseline values obtained at the time of HT diagnosis. Control subjects consisted of healthy volunteers who visited our institution for a routine check-up. RESULTS: Age, gender and CBC parameters were not different between the HT group and the control group; however, the NLR of HT group (2.1 [1.3-5.8]) was significantly higher than the control group (1.9 [0.6-3.3]), p=0.04. CONCLUSION: Increased NLR may be useful as an indicator of the presence of HT, especially in complicated cases. NLR is inexpensive and easy to determine. Larger, prospective studies are required to determine its usefulness in assessing diagnostic potential and treatment outcomes in HT patients.

Analysis of tractor-related deaths.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the properties of tractor-related death cases and discuss the precautions in order to prevent such events. For this aim, reports made between 2006 and 2009 by the First Specialty Board of Council of Forensic Medicine (FSBCFM), Turkey, were evaluated retrospectively. Forty-one tractor-related death cases were included in this study. Thirty-five (85.4%) of the cases were male. The mean age was 42.52 ± 25.1 (with a range between 1 and 84 years old). The average time interval between the incident and death was 13.76 ± 33.53 days (range: 0-176 days) and 20 (48.8%) cases died on the incident spot or during transportation to the hospital. Among the cases, 34.1% (n = 14) were drivers, whereas 39.0% (n = 16) were passengers and the remaining were pedestrians (26.9%, n = 11). The accident was caused by the tractor rolling over in 34.1%, the victim being run over in 22.0%, and the victim falling from the tractor or trailer in 22.0% of the cases. Most of the events (56.1%) occurred on the road. In conclusion, tractors must not be used as a transportation vehicle for passengers. Periodic training of drivers can be useful for reducing tractor-related accidents.

A combination of plasma DAO and citrulline levels as a potential marker for acute mesenteric ischemia.

INTRODUCTION: There is no valid and reliable diagnostic test for early diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI). The aim of this study was to measure the plasma levels of diamine oxidase (DAO) and citrulline in AMI to gain insight into its early diagnosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 21 Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups, that is, control group, short-term ischemia group, and prolonged ischemia group. The superior mesenteric artery was occluded for 15 min in the short-term ischemia group and for 12 h in the prolonged ischemia group. Twelve hours later, the experiment was terminated and plasma DAO and citrulline levels were measured. Intestinal tissue was evaluated for the histopathological changes. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the short-term and prolonged ischemia groups showed significant increases in the plasma levels of DAO, whereas the plasma citrulline levels decreased significantly. Prolonged ischemia caused a larger increase in the plasma DAO levels and a larger decrease in the plasma citrulline levels compared to the short-term ischemia (p=0.011 and p=0.021, respectively). Intestinal damage was shown to develop more in the prolonged ischemia group (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: In the early period of AMI, the plasma DAO levels increase while citrulline levels decrease, and the extent of these changes depends on the duration of ischemia.

Gender differences in trauma mechanisms, and outcomes in a rural hospital which is not designed as trauma centre.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate how trauma characteristics and outcomes differ between genders in a rural hospital. METHODS: Records of trauma patients admitted to a state emergency department (ED) in eastern Turkey, between January 2006 and December 2007 were reviewed and data were analysed based on gender. RESULTS: In total, 5379 (87.0%) men and 806 (13.0%) women, totalling 6185 patients, were assessed. Mean age was 26.5 (1 month - 80 years) years for men and 24.7 (2 month - 81 years) years for women. Men comprised 90.2%, 81.3% and 77.3% of the patients injured by assault, motor vehicle incidents and falls, respectively. Women comprised a significantly larger share of suicide attempts (70.8%) than men. Of the men injured, 90.6% were discharged after treatment in the ED. The per cent of hospitalised women (5.8%) was increased compared with the per cent of hospitalised men (p=0.011). There was a higher frequency of transfer among women (8.6%) when compared with men (p<0.001). Women had a mortality frequency of 1.2%, which was similar to the mortality per cent calculated for men. CONCLUSIONS: Men were at an increased risk for trauma, especially assault. The percentage of women injured and admitted to the ED due to assault was low compared with statistics reported in the literature. However, assault is the most common cause of trauma among women. The high per cent of hospitalisation and transfer among women may indicate that women are exposed to more severe trauma, and therefore experience increased morbidity compared with men.

A new model of reversible obstructive jaundice using rapidly absorbable suture materials.

PURPOSE: Reversible obstructive jaundice models have some limiting features, including the need for a second anaesthesia, re-laparotomy and surgical intervention after common bile duct ligation. The present study investigates the feasibility of a new application that can eliminate these limitations. Rapidly absorbable suture materials were used for ligation; therefore, spontaneous biliary decompression was anticipated by the self release of these rapidly degrading materials. METHODS: Common bile ducts in Wistar Albino rats were ligated with silk, polyglytone 6211, or irradiated polyglactine 910 (n=7 for each group). Rats were grouped according to both the suture materials and the experiments termination date: 5 days (sham, silk5, polyglytone5, polyglactine5) and 21 days (silk21, polyglytone21, polyglactine21) after the ligation. Biochemical and morphologic changes of liver were assessed. RESULTS: The group polyglactine21 showed significantly lower mean ALT, AST, GGT, total and direct bilirubin values when compared with the group polyglactine5 (p=0.004-0.037). Morphologic changes did not correlate with the biochemical amelioration. In the group polyglytone21, not only the biochemical but also the morphologic changes significantly ameliorated when compared with the group polyglytone5 (p=0.003-0.043). No procedure associated mortality was observed. CONCLUSION: Common bile duct ligation with polyglytone offers a new reversible model for prolonged obstructive jaundice which abolishes the need for relaparotomy and a second surgical intervention and significantly reduces mortality.

Effect of beta-glucan in lung damage secondary to experimental obstructive jaundice.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study aimed at investigating the protective effects of beta-glucans on the lungs in obstructive jaundice. METHODS: In total, five groups -Sham (1), control (2) and treatment groups (3,4,5)- were established; each comprising randomly selected seven Wistar Albino rats. Beta-glucan was given after choleduct ligation in Group 3 while it was given before and after the choleduct ligation in Group 4. As pre-treatment beta-glucan was given before ligation in Group 5. Beta-glucan was administered in a single dose of 50 mg/kg/day by gavage for a ten-day period. Superoxide dismutase, and myeloperoxidase levels in serum; malondialdehyde, lipid hydroxyperoxidase and glutathione levels in lung tissue; lactate dehydrogenase levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were measured. RESULTS: The blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes level was highest in the control group and lower in the sham and treatment groups. Serum superoxide dismutase and tissue glutathione values were significantly higher in Groups 3 and 4 (p≤0.04) whilst Groups 3 and 4 did not differ from each other. In Groups 3 and 4 malondialdehyde, lipid hydroxyperoxidase, and myeloperoxidase values were significantly lower. However, Groups 3 and 4 did not differ for malondialdehyde or lipid hydroxyperoxidase values. Lactate dehydrogenase level in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was significantly lower in all of the treatment groups (Groups 3,4,5) (p≤0.008). When compared to the control group, it was observed that lung damage was much more limited in the treatment groups (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that beta-glucan exhibits protective effect in pulmonary tissue against oxidative damage in obstructive jaundice.

Analysis of trauma patients in a rural hospital in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: There is a grey zone about the epidemiology of trauma in eastern Turkey. The present study was aimed at obtaining data on this subject. METHODS: Trauma patients who applied to the emergency department (ED) between January 2006 and December 2007 were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 6183 patients, of whom 87% were male. The mean age was 26.2 ± 13.6 years. Assault was the most common cause (63.2%). Motor vehicle injury (MVI) and fall were encountered at frequencies of 21.2% and 6.5%, respectively. The most frequently injured body regions were head-neck and extremities. The majority of patients were managed and discharged from the ED (89.8%) with no consultation (81.8%). Interestingly, the discharge rate of assault cases was 98.7%. Patients were hospitalized (4.2%) mostly for MVI (32.6%) and fall (19%); however, hospitalization rates for firearm and piercing/cutting injury (36.1% and 16.7%) were significantly high. Among the transported patients (5.3%), the rates of MVI and fall were high (41.5% and 24.3%, respectively). In groups, for burn and firearm injuries, these were 42.1% and 24.1%, respectively. Forty-eight patients (0.8%) died, mostly from MVI by number, but by self-infliction and firearm by rate (8.3% and 6%). CONCLUSION: Assault cases caused an excessive trauma patient density in the ED, as 98.7% were discharged from the ED. Further studies are needed regarding the high rate of assault cases.

[Effects of beta-glucan on hepatic damage caused by obstructive jaundice]. / Tikanma sariliginda beta glukanin karaciger hasarina etkisi.

BACKGROUND: Beta-glucans are known as macrophage stimulators and antioxidants. This study aimed to investigate the effects of beta-glucans on oxidative damage to the liver during obstructive jaundice. METHODS: Sham, control and treatment groups (7 Wistar Albino rats in each) were designed. In the treatment group, beta-glucan was given through gavages for 10 days after bile duct ligation. All groups were sacrificed on the 11th day. Liver function tests, superoxide dismutase (SOD), myeloperoxidase (MPO), malondialdehyde (MDA), lipid peroxide (LPO), glutathione (GSH), and histopathological examination of the liver were investigated. RESULTS: In the treatment group, the levels of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases (AST, ALT), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total and direct bilirubin, MPO in the serum, and the levels of MDA and LPO in the liver tissue were significantly lower when compared with the control group. Moreover, SOD and GSH levels were relevantly high in the treatment group. Histopathological examination of the liver revealed less damage in the treatment group. CONCLUSION: These results show that beta-glucan induced the phagocytic and anti-oxidative effects and also reduced the liver damage and oxidative stress in obstructive jaundice. Advanced studies are required for the clinical use of beta-glucan in obstructive jaundice.

Surgical approach to extensive hidradenitis suppurativa.

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic suppurative disease of skin with high recurrence. OBJECTIVE: To determine factors affecting complications and recurrence of HS in patients who underwent surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We operated on 15 patients with HS at 36 sites between 1999 and 2009. The affected areas were classified as groin, axilla, buttocks, nuchae, perianal, and perineal. All patients were treated using wide surgical excision under general anesthesia. The methods of reconstruction varied depending on the size and location of the defect. RESULTS: The female:male ratio of patients was 4:11. Mean age was 41.8 ± 10.6. Twenty-eight (77%) of the lesions were Stage III according to Hurley's staging system. Mean follow-up was 42 months. Radical excision was performed on all lesions; 20 were reconstructed with primary closure, nine with fasciocutaneous flaps, and five with split-thickness skin grafts. The overall complication rate was 25% (9/36) and complications occurred mostly in perineal, perianal, and buttocks sites. Two (5.5%) recurrences were seen only in buttocks site. CONCLUSION: To prevent complication, avoid recurrence of HS, and improve patients' quality of life, early and wide surgical excision is important and effective. The recurrence and complications are mostly related to the location of the disease. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.

The effects of low thyroid hormone levels on the formation of stress gastritis: an experimental study on the rats.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of low circulating thyroid hormone levels on the development of acute stress gastritis in rats. METHODS: Sixty adult Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups: Control group, surgically thyroidectomized group, stressed group, surgically thyroidectomized + stressed group, surgically thyroidectomized + T4 + stressed group, and surgically thyroidectomized + T3 + stressed group. Damage to the gastric mucosa was studied using millimetric acetate papers on photographs enlarged 3.5 times and the number and the size of the lesions was recorded. RESULTS: Acute stress gastritis was significantly increased in stress + surgically thyroidectomized rats as compared to rats that were only put under stress (group III) (stress gastritis scores; group IV: 44, group III: 16, p<0.001). The stress gastritis score in group VI was significantly decreased compared to rats in group IV (stress gastritis scores; group VI: 10, group IV: 44, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Low circulating thyroid hormone levels in rats increased the development of stress gastritis. This effect could be prevented by thyroid hormone replacement therapy.

Aggression and violence towards health care providers--a problem in Turkey?

Health care providers are increasingly concerned about the escalating incidence of verbal and physical abuse to healthcare staff. Factors, such as long wait in hospital areas, which lead to client frustration over an inability to obtain needed services promptly, are influencing these situations. Nonetheless, incidents of this nature can cause immense psychological harm as well as physical damage among medical employees. The current study aimed to ascertain from staff members aggressive experiences in the workplace, and the effects on the individual. The results of this study mirrored those of similar surveys in Turkey. Non-reporting was revealed as a major problem. Respondents believed they were treated less seriously than similar incidents involving private citizens. Accordingly, staff criticized hospital managers, the police, and the courts for their attitude about assaults towards hospital employees. They reported feeling vulnerable to abuse and there was a general desire for training in preventing and protection. These include teaching staff breakaway techniques, increasing the number of trained security officers on duty, issuing personal alarms, and encouraging staff to officially report all incidents.

Collision tumour of trichofolliculoma and basal cell carcinoma.

A 52-year-old woman presented with a 2-year history of a reddish nodule on the right nasolabial sulcus. Histopathological examination revealed that the nodule was composed of trichofolliculoma and basal cell carcinoma. There was no transitional zone between the two neoplasms. The diagnosis was made as a collision tumour of trichofolliculoma and basal cell carcinoma.

STR data for the AmpFlSTR identifier loci from an old settlement in northwestern Turkey.

The polymorphism of 15 STR loci has been studied in a population sample of 193 healthy unrelated individuals from the population of Duzce, a city in the northwestern Turkey. The most valuable loci, from forensic point of view according to their power of discrimination values, were D2S1338, D18S51, FGA, and D19S433 where CSF1PO appeared to be the least powerful one. From paternity point of view, FGA, D21S11 were found to be the loci with highest exclusion value whereas D3S1358 and TPOX were the locus with the lowest exclusion.