Psychological Distress, Depression, and Anxiety in Nursing Students: A Longitudinal Study.

The aim of this longitudinal study is to determine how stressful life events, psychological distress, depressive symptoms, and anxiety change in a cohort of students from one nursing faculty during the education process and to document the factors related to psychological distress, depressive symptoms, and anxiety during the fourth year of education. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were applied to students within the faculty of nursing within the first week of the 2018-2019 academic year. All students were asked to answer a questionnaire measuring their possible stressful life events (first timepoint). The process was repeated for the same students again in the fourth year (second timepoint). The changes between the two timepoints were examined. Nursing students' GHQ-12 and STAI scores and averages increased significantly from first timepoint to second timepoint (p < 0.05). There was a significant increase in the prevalence of depressive symptoms for the ≥21 cut-off point of BDI in the fourth year of the study cohort. A significant increase in perceived stress levels between the two timepoints was also found for numerous stressful life events. As a result of linear regression, "dissatisfaction with major" was found as a determinant on all scale scores. The psychological indicators increased significantly in nursing students during their education. Interventions to reduce stress, anxiety, and psychological distress are needed to improve the mental health status of nursing students.

The importance microRNAs as a biomarker in lung cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Lung cancer (LC) is the most common cancer  in the world.Well known  causes are  long term  smoking, environmental influences and genetic variations. LC  is divided into two main types based on their histological phenotypes; small cell lung cancer (SCLC), and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The high specificity of these new screening methods, which are non-invasive, safe, inexpensive and simple to perform, is important in the early diagnosis and prognosis of cancer. MicroRNAs are  significant biomarkers on the diagnosis metastasis and targeted therapies of NSCLC. In our study, we aimed to investigate the potential of using microRNAs as a biomarker in the early diagnosis of lung cancer. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Twenty patients diagnosed with lung cancer and  twenty healthy individuals of the same age and gender were selected as the control group.  Sixteen microRNAs were studied from blood samples. RESULT: Sixteen miRNAs (Let -7c, Let-7g, miR-1, miR-21, miR-29a, miR-31, miR-34a, miR 103a, miR-141, miR-155, miR-193b, miR-200b, miR-205, miR-340, miR-486, miR-708) were selected for tests and MiR 181 and miR 192 were used as the endogenous control group in line with their binding potentials and gene expression levels. The most specific and sensitive miRNAs were mirR-29a, miR-103a, and miR486 according to endogen controls in patients and healthy subjects. DISCUSSION: A meta-analysis study showed that circulating miRNAs could be promising biomarkers for early diagnosis of lung cancer. Overall, 17 studies were included evaluating 35 miRNA markers and 19 miRNA panels in serum or plasma. The potential role of circulating miRNAs for non-invasive lung screening has been highlighted. In conclusion, there is a need for further validation studies for the use of three  miRNAs as a biomarker in the early diagnosis and prognosis of lung cancer.

Psychological Changes of Music and Fine Arts Students in the Education Process: A Comparative Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the changes in psychological distress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in students from the fine arts faculty in the first 2 years of their education in Turkey, in comparison with students from other faculties, and to reveal the causes of psychological distress, anxiety, and depression in fine arts students. METHODS: The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were applied to students from Faculty of Fine Arts and the Faculties of Economics and Sport Sciences (controls) in the first week of the 2017-2018 academic year. Students also completed a questionnaire measuring their possible stressful life events (at timepoint T1). The process was repeated for the same students in the second year (T2). The changes between the two time¬points were examined prospectively. RESULTS: A total of 96 fine arts students agreed to participate at T1 and 66 at T2 (68.8%); for the controls, it was 259 at T1 and 182 (70.3%) at T2. The fine arts students at T1 included 15 music majors, 45 cinema and television, and 36 handi¬crafts, sculpture, and painting. Their average age at T1 was 21.0 yrs (SD 5.8) and 54.2% were male; for the other students, it was 19.4 yrs (2.7) and 56.0% male. Fine arts students' GHQ-12 score averages increased significantly from T1 to T2 (11.7 to 14.3, p=0.002). Their BDI score averages increased from 10.3 to 12.3 (p=0.044). Moreover, their S-Anxiety score averages increased from 41.1 at T1 to 44.1 at T2 (p=0.008). However, the increase in T-Anxiety scores was not statistically significant. None of the control students' test scores varied between the two timepoints (p>0.05). At T2, for fine arts students, there was no significant difference between female and male students in terms of GHQ-12, BDI, and S-Anxiety scores. However, T-anxiety scores were higher in female students. By linear regression analysis, "worrying about the future (individual)" was found to be a determinant on all scale scores in fine arts students. CONCLUSION: The psychological indicators increased significantly in fine arts students during the first year of their education.

Use of MicroRNAs as biomarkers in the early diagnosis of prostate cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common type of cancer in western countries and prominent cause of mortality in men. The aim of the study was to analyze circulating miRNAs as biomarkers in the sera of healthy individuals and prostate cancer cases without biopsy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty prostate cases, age (mean and range) 61,4±12.1 (45-73), and twenty healthy men, age 59,3±11.2 (44-70) were included to the study. The mean and range of prostate spesific antigen (PSA) in cancer cases and healthy individuals were 6.79±2.84 ng/ml (2.25-14.7) and 3.8±2.2 ng/ml (1.3-7.8) respectively. RESULTS: Seven miRNAs including two internal controls (Let7c, miR125b, miR141, miR145, miR 155, miR181 ve miR192) were evaluated in two groups. The level of miR141 was significantly lower in PCa cases than healthy individuals (p=0,004), and miR155 was significantly higher (p=0,005) in PCa cases. Both miRNAs were explored sensitive and spesific in the ROC analysis. Tumor mass were found to be associated with the level of miR-125b and miR-145. Conclusion; validation studies are required in wider patient groups in the subject of tumor effect and miRNA biomarkers in prostate cancer.

Depression and Psychological Distress in Medical Students, A Prospective Study.

Introduction: The aim of the study is to determine the changes in psychological distress and depressive symptoms of medical students in the first two years of their education process, in comparison with other faculty students. Methods: All first-year students in the Faculties of Medicine, Economics and Sport Sciences were asked to fill out a detailed self-reported questionnaire aimed at measuring possible stressful life events and habits, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) during the first week of their first semester in 2017-2018. This process was repeated to the same students again in the second year, and the change was examined prospectively. Results: The GHQ-12 score average increased from 11.19 to 13.7 in medical students (p<0.001). The prevalence of psychological distress increased from 53.8% to 61.8%. The BDI score average was 8.04 in the beginning and reached 10.1 in the second year (p<0.001). Depressive symptom prevalence increased from 8.8% to 19.5%. No significant increase was observed in the GHQ-12, BDI score average, depressive symptoms, and psychological distress prevalence of other faculty students. The incidence of depressive symptoms in medical students was 15.9%. As a result of multivariate analysis, "dissatisfaction with social activities" and "exposure to psychological pressure and violence" which were stressful life events were statistically associated with both GHQ-12 and BDI. Conclusion: It was determined that the mental health of the students was negatively affected in the first year of medical school education. It is recommended to raise awareness for medical students at risk of mental illness and to plan interventions that will protect their mental health.

MicroRNAs as biomarkers for breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women and the most frequent cause of death due to cancer among women. The lack of standard biomarkers in the early diagnosis of breast cancer, microRNAs (miRNA) have been of interest recently. Although, miRNAs are 19-24 nucleotide-long non-coding RNA species, they have crucial roles in many areas from organogenesis to carcinogenesis. This study has been conducted to investigate miR 21, miR 27b, miR 125a, miR 155, miR 200c, miR 335 miR373 as biomarkers in the early diagnosis of breast cancer; a selection based on the literature. Two miRNAs, miR 181 and miR 192 were selected as the endogenous control. MiRNAs were obtained from 5 cc blood samples taken from 20 breast cancer patients and 20 healthy people. 10 microRNAs were studied using Real Time PCR method. As a result, the quantities of miR 21, miR155 and miR125 ​​were significantly higher in the breast cancer group than in healthy controls. We suggest that performing validation studies in wider populations can help the use of miRNAs as biomarkers in the early diagnosis of breast cancer.