Big Five and Dark Triad personality traits as predictors of multicultural attitude and efficacy.

BACKGROUND: The advances in communication and transportation facilities have accelerated the formation of multicultural societies worldwide. Personality traits may be one of the most important indicators of adapting to multicultural environments. Educational environments are multicultural in terms of the composition of students they serve. The present study investigated the predictive role of Big Five and Dark Triad personality traits on multicultural attitude and efficacy (MAE) among teacher candidates. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE: The study population comprised of teacher candidates (N = 404) studying in Turkey. In order to collect data, Big Five personality and the Dark Triad, the Adjective Based Personality Scale and the Dark Triad Dirty Dozen Scale were used respectively. In addition, data regarding MAE were collected through the Multicultural Efficacy Scale. RESULTS: The results showed that openness to new experience positively (ß = .16, p < .01) and psychopathy negatively (ß = -.16, p < .01) predicted multicultural attitude. On the other hand, multicultural efficacy was positively predicted only by openness to new experience (ß = .32, p < .001). Therefore, openness and psychopathic traits can play an important role in explaining multicultural attitude and efficacy. Also, there is no significant difference with regard to teacher candidates' multicultural efficacy and attitudes according to their grade level. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with openness to new experiences personality trait have a positive attitude towards multiculturalism, and they view themselves as competent to get involved in multicultural environments. On the other hand, individuals with the psychopathy personality trait have negative attitudes towards multiculturalism.

Aortic Flow Propagation Velocity in Patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever: an Observational Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Systemic inflammation has an important role in the initiation of atherosclerosis, which is associated with arterial stiffness (AS). Aortic flow propagation velocity (APV) is a new echocardiographic parameter of aortic stiffness. The relationship between systemic inflammation and AS has not yet been described in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). We aimed to investigate the early markers of AS in patients with FMF by measuring APV and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixty-one FMF patients (43 women; mean age 27.3±6.7 years) in an attack-free period and 57 healthy individuals (36 women; mean age 28.8±7.1 years) were included in this study. The individuals with atherosclerotic risk factors were excluded from the study. The flow propagation velocity of the descending aorta and CIMT were measured to assess AS. RESULTS: APV was significantly lower (60.2±16.5 vs. 89.5±11.6 cm/sec, p<0.001) and CIMT was significantly higher (0.49±0.09 vs. 0.40±0.10 mm, p<0.001) in the FMF group compared to the control group. There were significant correlations between APV and mean CIMT (r=-0.424, p<0.001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (r=-0.198, p=0.032), and left ventricle ejection fraction (r=0.201, p=0.029). APV and the ESR were independent predictors of FMF in logistic regression analysis (OR=-0.900, 95% CI=0.865-0.936, p<0.001 and OR=-1.078, 95% CI=1.024-1.135, p=0.004, respectively). Mean CIMT and LVEF were independent factors associated with APV in linear regression analysis (β=-0.423, p<0.001 and β=0.199, p=0.017, respectively). CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that APV was lower in FMF patients and is related to CIMT. According to our results, APV may be an independent predictor of FMF.

A Rare Presentation of Follicular Lymphoma: Cerebellar Involvement, Successfully Treated with a Combination of Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

The central nervous system (CNS) is an important area of involvement for both high-grade, aggressive primary and secondary lymphomas. Although follicular lymphoma represents a low-grade histology, it may rarely present with CNS involvement. Here, we describe a patient diagnosed with follicular lymphoma who was presented with cerebellar involvement.

Nosocomial Oral Myiasis by Sarcophaga sp. in Turkey

We present a case of oral myiasis in a 15-year-old boy with tuberculosis meningitis. The diagnosis was based on the visual presence of wriggling larvae about 1 cm in size and on the microscopic features of the maggots, especially those relating to stigmatic structures. The larvae were identified as third stage larvae of Sarcophaga sp.