Relationship between dysphonia and anxiety in fibromyalgia syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Our aim in conducting this study is to determine the relationship dysphonia and anxiety in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FS). METHODS: Between April 2021 and June 2021, 25 FS diagnosed patients (22 females, 3 males; mean age: 45.36 ± 7.68 years; range 27-65 years), and, for the control group, 25 healthy volunteers (20 females, 5 males; mean age: 42.60 ± 9.98 years; range 29-62 years) with similar demographic features were included in the study. Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Beck Anxiety Questionary (BAQ), and voice analyses were evaluated for all the participants. Acoustic parameters (AP), such as F0 (Hz), jitter (%), shimmer (%), and Maximum Phonation Time (MPT), were measured for dysphonia. The correlation between MPT and BAQ was evaluated. RESULTS: The demographic characteristics of the groups did not differ statistically significantly (p > 0.05). VAS and BAQ scores were statistically significantly higher in the FS group than healthy individuals. In the assessment of sound, there was no significant difference between F0 and jitteriness between the two groups. While shimmer scores were significantly higher in the FS group, MPT scores were statistically significantly higher in healthy individuals. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, we observed that FS patients had statistically significantly higher BAQ, VAS scores compared to the control group. The shimmer of voice was increased and MPT values were decreased statistically significantly in FS patients. This says that there may be weakness in the laryngeal muscles affecting the vocal cord and thus voice quality. In addition to this, increased anxiety in FS patients may be associated with dysphonia. There is need for more controlled studies with increased number of patients to investigate the dysphonia in FS patients.

Effects of Vapocoolant Spray Prior to SC LMWH Injection: An Experimental Study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of vapocoolant spray administration prior to subcutaneous (SC) low molecular weight heparin injection on local ecchymosis, hematoma, and pain. This randomized controlled study was carried out on 64 patients (n = 128 injections) in an orthopedics and traumatology clinic. After randomization, vapocoolant spray and then heparin injection was applied on one arm. The second necessary dose of heparin was applied to his or her other arm as a placebo by a water spray. Then, the pain of the patients was assessed. After 2 days, ecchymosis and hematoma were evaluated. Significant lower pain scores were determined in applications in which the vapocoolant spray was used. There was no statically significant difference between the mean diameter values of ecchymosis in both arm groups. There was no hematoma on the injection site after injections. However, this method did not create any significant reductive effect on ecchymosis. Nurses are advised to take advantage of vapocoolant spray effects prior to SC heparin injection.

Effectiveness of simulation-based cardiopulmonary resuscitation training programs on fourth-year nursing students.

BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training for nursing students is important. The aim of study is to examine the effectiveness of a simulation-based CPR training program on the knowledge, practices, satisfaction, and self-confidence of nursing students. METHODS: The study was conducted with a mixed-method design. The quantitative data were obtained by using the "CPR Knowledge Questionnaire," the "Students' Satisfaction and Self-Confidence Scale," and the "CPR Skills Observation Checklist", and the qualitative data were collected by using the "Semistructured Interview Form" in four focus group sessions, each consisting of six participants. RESULTS: The mean pretest CPR knowledge score of the students before the simulation-based CPR training was 5.66 ± 1.97 out of 10.0. The mean posttest CPR knowledge score (8.38 ± 1.30) increased significantly after the simulation (p < 0.001). In addition, the mean posttest CPR skills score was significantly higher than the mean pretest CPR skills score (p < 0.001). Themes from the qualitative data revealed that the students considered the simulation to be an interesting and useful teaching method. These themes were "worries before simulation" and "satisfaction following simulation". CONCLUSION: Simulation-based CPR training improved the levels of knowledge and skills of nursing students. In addition, after the simulation training, satisfaction and self-confidence scores were found to be high.

The Importance of Functional Hamstring/Quadriceps Ratios in Knee Osteoarthritis.

CONTEXT: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic joint condition. Muscle dysfunction plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of knee OA. OBJECTIVE: It has been suggested that the agonist-antagonist strength relationship for the knee may be better described by a functional hamstring/quadriceps (H/Q) ratio (Hconcentric/Qeccentric: the representative of knee flexion and Qeccentric/Hconcentric: the representative of knee extension). Therefore, in this study, the authors aimed to investigate this ratio and its importance for knee OA. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Research clinic. Patients or Other Participant(s): Twenty healthy women and 20 women with grade 2 or grade 3 primer knee OA between the age of 50 and 80 years were included in this study. INTERVENTION(S): Concentric and eccentric peak torque of quadriceps and hamstring muscles were evaluated for all individuals in patient and control groups with a Cybex isokinetic device. Functional H/Q ratio is calculated manually. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Functional H/Q torque ratios were analyzed between the patients with OA and healthy individuals by using the isokinetic system. RESULTS: The values of peak torque of hamstring concentric and eccentric and quadriceps concentric for the patient group were significantly lower than the control group (P < .05). No statistically important difference was found for quadriceps eccentric peak torque between 2 groups (P > .05). H/Q ratio for extension in the patient group was significantly higher than the control group (P < .05), whereas the H/Q ratio for flexion in the patient group was significantly lower than the control group (P < .05). CONCLUSION: This study showed the weakness of both quadriceps and hamstring muscles in patients with knee OA. The combination of functional H/Q ratio with hamstring and quadriceps muscles concentric and eccentric strength values can help to analyze the knee functions and develop preventive-therapeutic approaches for knee OA.

Comparison of splinting and Kinesio taping in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: a prospective randomized study.

The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the effectiveness of splinting and Kinesio taping (KT) as forms of treatment for patients with mild to moderate idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) by evaluating the symptoms and measuring the range of function and electrophysiological findings. This single-blind, randomized, prospective study included 44 patients (58 hands) suffering mild to moderate idiopathic CTS according to nerve conduction studies (NCS). The patients were randomized into two groups and evaluated before treatment and 6 weeks after treatment by means of physical examination findings, NCS, and the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) functional status and symptom severity scale scores. When the differences in both groups before and after treatment were compared, a significant improvement was observed in the KT group compared to the splint group in terms of electrophysiological changes, provocative test responses, BCTQ symptom severity, and functional status scores. KT may help prevent the disease from progressing further in mild and moderate idiopathic CTS when applied in time using the appropriate technique and be a good alternative to neutral splinting in terms of patient compliance.

Preoperative position splint versus skin traction in patients with hip fracture: An experimental study.

AIM: The aim of the study was to compare the effects of a preoperative position splint and skin traction on pain, comfort, complications, and satisfaction with the treatment and care for patients with hip fracture. METHOD: This randomized trial was conducted with a total of 68 patients with hip fracture in a tertiary care hospital in Turkey. Preoperatively, a position splint was applied to the patients in the intervention group (n = 34) and skin traction was applied to patients (n = 34) in the control group. Outcomes studied were pain, comfort, satisfaction and complications. RESULTS: Mann-Whitney U Test showed a significant difference between the position splint group and skin traction group regarding pain severity after the application (p < .05). A significant difference was demonstrated between the two groups concerning comfort levels after the application (p < .05). The position splint group was significantly more satisfied with the treatment and care than the control group in the later period after the application (p < .05). The number of preoperative complications in the position splint group was significantly fewer than that of the skin traction group in the preoperative period (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Preoperative position splint application in patients with hip fracture relieved pain and complications and increased comfort and satisfaction with treatment and care.

Preclinical evaluation and reverse phase protein Array-based profiling of PI3K and MEK inhibitors in endometrial carcinoma in vitro.

BACKGROUND: The phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) pathway is the most commonly activated pathway in cancers due to mutations at multiple nodes and loss of PTEN. Furthermore, in endometrial cancer (EC), PI3K and RAS/RAF/MEK/MAPK (RAS/MAPK herein) pathway mutations frequently co-exist. We examined the role of PI3K and RAS/MAPK pathway mutations in determining responsiveness to therapies targeted to these pathways in vitro in EC. METHODS: 13 EC cell lines were profiled for their PI3K pathway and KRAS mutational and PTEN protein status and treated with one MEK- and two PI3K- targeted inhibitors alone and in combination. Expression and phosphorylation of 66 proteins were evaluated by Reverse-Phase-Protein-Array (RPPA) in 6 EC cell lines to identify signalling changes in these pathways in response to therapy. RESULTS: PTEN protein loss and the absence of any tested pathway mutations are dominant negative predictors of sensitivity to MEK inhibition. KRAS-mutated cells were most sensitive to MEK inhibition, but significantly more resistant to PI3K inhibition than KRAS-wild-type cell lines. Combinations of PI3K and MEK inhibitors showed synergy or additivity in all but two cell lines tested. Treatment of KRAS-mutated cells with PI3K inhibitors and treatment of PTEN-low cells with a MEK inhibitor were most likely to induce activation of MEK/MAPK and AKT, respectively, likely indicative of feedback-loop regulation. CONCLUSIONS: MEK inhibition may be a promising treatment modality, not just for ECs with mutated KRAS, but also for those with retained PTEN. Up-regulation of MEK/MAPK signalling by PI3K inhibition, and up-regulation of AKT activation by MEK inhibition may serve as potential biomarkers of likely responsiveness to each inhibitor.

Effects of Self-Knee Massage With Ginger Oil in Patients With Osteoarthritis: An Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to assess the effects of self-knee massage with ginger oil on pain and daily living activities in patients with knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: Participants (N = 68) were asked about their sociodemographic characteristics, pain level in the last week using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and functionality in activities of daily living with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Standard treatment prescribed by a physician was given to the patients with osteoarthritis. In addition to the standard treatment, self-knee massage with ginger oil twice a week was recommended to the intervention group (n = 34). At the end of the first and fifth week, participants in both groups were assessed regarding pain and functional state. RESULTS: The mean VAS Pain scores of the intervention group were significantly lower at the end of the first and fifth weeks (p< .05). The mean total scores and mean Function subscale scores of the WOMAC were significantly lower in massage group in the first- and fifth-week assessments (p < .05). IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Self-massage of the knee with ginger oil may be used as a complementary method to standard medical treatment. Nurses can easily train patients and their caregivers on knee massage, and the intervention can be implemented by patients at home without any restrictions on location.

Care Burden and Self-Efficacy Levels of Family Caregivers of Elderly People in Turkey.

The aim of this research was to determine the level of burden and self-efficacy among family caregivers of elderly people in Turkey. This study is descriptive and cross-sectional. A total of 658 family caregivers of elderly people were included in the study. The data were collected with a caregiver's characteristics form, elderly people's characteristics form, the Zarit Burden Interview, the self-efficacy scale, and the Barthell Index. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16.0 program. What are care burden and self-efficacy levels of the caregivers? Is there a relationship between care burden and self-efficacy levels of the caregivers with variables such as age, duration of care, sex, status of education, type of relationship, and status of employment that belong to the caregiver? Is there a relationship between care burden and self-efficacy levels of the caregivers with variables such as age and Bartell Index that belong to the elderly? The caregiver burden score was 38.65 ± 13.73, which indicates a moderate level of burden. The self-efficacy score was 29.31 ± 6.09, which is in the low range of self-efficacy. There were statistically significant differences between the caregiver burden score and the sex of caregivers, status of education, type of relationship, and the elderly person's score on the Bartell Index (P < .05). The relationship between the employment status of caregivers (P = .01), the age of the elderly (P = .01), and the caregivers' score on the self-efficacy scale (P < .05) was found to be statistically significant. Study revealed that the majority of the caregivers experienced moderate levels of care burden and low levels of self-efficacy. These results will provide beneficial information for nurses to provide the holistic nursing care.

Effectiveness of the training material in drug-dose calculation skills.

AIM: The aim of study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the training material based on low-level environmental fidelity simulation in drug-dose calculation skills in senior nursing students. METHODS: A quasi-experimental design with one group. The sample included senior nursing students attending a nursing school in Turkey in the period December 2012-January 2013. Eighty-two senior nursing students were included in the sample. Data were obtained using a data collection form which was developed by the researchers. A paired-sample t-test was used to compare the pretest and post-test scores. RESULTS: The difference between the mean pretest score and the mean post-test score was statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the training material based on low-level environmental fidelity simulation positively impacted accurate drug-dose calculation skills in senior nursing students.

Four flap suspension technique for prevention of bottoming out after breast reduction.

PURPOSE: Bottoming-out deformity is accepted as the most important disadvantage of inferior pedicle breast reduction. For prevention of this deformity, different techniques are used in combination with inferior pedicle. In this study, we aimed to prevent bottoming-out deformity by producing an internal bra effect through combination of inferior pedicle technique with 2 superior and 2 inferior dermal flaps that were raised from each side of the pedicle. METHODS: Thirteen patients whose medical records became available during the follow-up period at Ankara Training and Research Hospital from January 2010 to January 2015 were included in this study. We retrospectively obtained patient medical records including demographic characteristics and clinical data. Superior dermal flaps were planned on both sides of the pedicle 2 cm inferior to the lower border of areola and inferior dermal flaps were planned 6 cm inferior to the superior dermal flaps. The superior and inferior dermal flaps were secured to the periosteum of the 2nd and 4th ribs respectively with permanent sutures. RESULTS: Preoperatively, the average distance between the inframammary fold and areola was 13.9 cm (range, 11-18 cm). The average amount of breast parenchymal resection was 745 g (range, 612-1,496 g). The average distance between the inframammary fold and the lower border of the areola was 7.9 cm (range, 7.5-9 cm) on the postoperative first-year measurements. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, according to our study, suspension technique to prevent bottoming-out deformity is associated with an easier technique without the need for alloplastic or allogenic materials. Since fixation is performed to the ribs instead of soft tissues like the pectoral fascia or muscle, we believe that this fixation is more long lasting and can be an effective alternative to other suspension techniques.

Turkish Senior Nursing Students' Communication Experience With English-Speaking Patients.

BACKGROUND: Simulation has been widely accepted as a valuable learning method in nursing education programs so that nursing students can learn and develop communication skills. The aim of this study was to evaluate nursing students' communication experience with an English-speaking standardized patient in the context of the Rational Administration of Medicines course. METHOD: Involving both quantitative and qualitative research designs, this descriptive study was conducted with 104 nursing students in Ankara, Turkey, from September 2012 to July 2013. RESULTS: The majority (98.1%) of the participants stated the necessity of improving their English to communicate with English-speaking patients. Three overarching categories, including seven themes, emerged from the description of nursing students' experience: recognition of emotions, experiences during the simulation, and gains. CONCLUSION: Standardized patient practice emphasized the significance of cultural differences, of knowing and using a foreign language, of communication, and of patient safety.

Alternative method for the reconstruction of meningomyelocele defects: V-Y rotation and advancement flap.

OBJECT: Skin grafts, skin flaps, fasciocutaneous flaps, muscle flaps, and musculocutaneous flaps have been used for closure of large meningomyelocele (MMC) defects that cannot be closed primarily. The V-Y rotation advancement flap technique has been used successfully for the reconstruction of defects in different areas of the body. In the present study, the authors report on their novel use of this technique in both a binary and a quadruple (butterfly) flap manner for closure of large MMC defects. They also present an algorithm that they developed for the evaluation of MMC defects. METHODS: Between January 2011 and November 2013, 17 patients (13 girls and 4 boys) with extremely large MMC defects that could not be repaired by direct primary closure underwent reconstruction of the defects with binary and quadruple V-Y rotation and advancement flaps. With the patient prone, the axillary apices, the most craniad point of the intergluteal sulcus, and the posterior axillary lines were marked, and a rectangular area on the back was designed. Edges of the rectangular area and the transverse and longitudinal diameters of the defect were measured and the presence of kyphosis was noted. These measurements and their proportions were used to develop an algorithm for patient assessment. While binary flaps were planned over the transverse diameter of the defects, quadruple flaps were planned over the bisectors of the defects, which were closed by elevating fasciocutaneous flaps. RESULTS: For patients whose defect diameter to back width ratio was between 0.30 and 0.50 and whose mean ratio of defect area to donor area was between 0.09 and 0.15, binary V-Y rotation and advancement flaps were used. When these values were in the range of 0.50-0.66 and 0.16-0.35, respectively, quadruple V-Y rotation and advancement flaps were preferred. The mean duration of postoperative follow-up was 10.4 months. With the exception of minor complications, such as partial necrosis of 0.5 × 0.5 cm in a quadruple flap, all the flaps healed uneventfully. CONCLUSIONS: With this study, closure of MMC defects with V-Y rotation and advancement flaps has been defined for the first time in the literature. The use of this technique with multiple flaps is an effective alternative to other flap options for the closure of large MMC defects. The algorithm developed in the course of this study should facilitate evaluation and reconstruction planning for patients with MMC defects.

Turkish Version of Kolcaba's Immobilization Comfort Questionnaire: A Validity and Reliability Study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Immobilization Comfort Questionnaire (ICQ). METHODS: The sample used in this methodological study consisted of 121 patients undergoing lower extremity arthroscopy in a training and research hospital. The validity study of the questionnaire assessed language validity, structural validity and criterion validity. Structural validity was evaluated via exploratory factor analysis. Criterion validity was evaluated by assessing the correlation between the visual analog scale (VAS) scores (i.e., the comfort and pain VAS scores) and the ICQ scores using Spearman's correlation test. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin coefficient and Bartlett's test of sphericity were used to determine the suitability of the data for factor analysis. Internal consistency was evaluated to determine reliability. The data were analyzed with SPSS version 15.00 for Windows. Descriptive statistics were presented as frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations. A p value ≤ .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A moderate positive correlation was found between the ICQ scores and the VAS comfort scores; a moderate negative correlation was found between the ICQ and the VAS pain measures in the criterion validity analysis. Cronbach α values of .75 and .82 were found for the first and second measurements, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study reveal that the ICQ is a valid and reliable tool for assessing the comfort of patients in Turkey who are immobilized because of lower extremity orthopedic problems.

Cardiovascular Surgery Patients: Intensive Care Experiences and Associated Factors.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the intensive care unit (ICU) experiences of cardiovascular surgery (CS) patients and to define the associations between their ICU experiences and related factors. METHODS: The study used a descriptive design. In total, 106 CS patients were interviewed at least 24 hours after discharge from an ICU in an educational research hospital in Ankara, Turkey between January and July 2012. Data were collected using the Intensive Care Experience Scale (ICES), a sociodemographic and clinical characteristics data form and two open-ended questions inquiring about smells and light. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 15.0. RESULTS: The patients were moderately aware of their ICU environments, partly recalled their ICU experiences, highly recollected frightening experiences, and expressed good satisfaction with care. Age, education, marital status, and pain were associated with ICU experiences. Patients who sensed smell had higher scores of frightening experiences than those who did not. Patients who were annoyed with excessive light reported less satisfaction with care than those who were not. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that measuring the patients' characteristics and environmental factors may be beneficial for healthcare teams to improve the recovery of CS patients in the ICU.

A tie-over dressing using a silicone tube to graft deep wounds.

BACKGROUND: The most common cause of skin graft failure is the collection of blood or serous fluid underneath the graft. In our study, we describe the use of silicone tube for tie-over dressing to secure the skin graft margins with the aim of decreasing loss of the skin graft, particularly in grafting of deep wounds. METHODS: Between March 2008 and July 2011, we used this technique in 17 patients with skin defects with depths ranging from 3.5 to 8 mm (mean, 5.5 mm). First, the skin graft was sutured with 3/0 silk suture material from its corners. Then, a silicone round drain tube was sutured with 3/0 absorbable polyglactin 910 over the margins of the graft. Finally, long silk threads were tied over the bolus dressing, and the tie-over dressing was completed in the usual fashion. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 7 months (range, 2-10 months) in the outpatient clinic. Graft loss on the graft margins due to hematoma or seroma was not developed. The results of adhesion between the graft and wound bed peripherally was excellent. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, we suggest that use of a silicone tube for additional pressure on the edges of skin grafts in case of reconstruction of deep skin defects.

Transcriptome analysis of porcine M. semimembranosus divergent in intramuscular fat as a consequence of dietary protein restriction.

BACKGROUND: Intramuscular fat (IMF) content is positively correlated with aspects of pork palatability, including flavour, juiciness and overall acceptability. The ratio of energy to protein in the finishing diet of growing pigs can impact on IMF content with consequences for pork quality. The objective of this study was to compare gene expression profiles of Musculus semimembranosus (SM) of animals divergent for IMF as a consequence of protein dietary restriction in an isocaloric diet. The animal model was derived through the imposition of low or high protein diets during the finisher stage in Duroc gilts. RNA was extracted from post mortem SM tissue, processed and hybridised to Affymetrix porcine GeneChip® arrays. RESULTS: IMF content of SM muscle was increased on the low protein diet (3.60 ± 0.38% versus 1.92 ± 0.35%). Backfat depth was also greater in animals on the low protein diet, and average daily gain and feed conversion ratio were lower, but muscle depth, protein content and moisture content were not affected. A total of 542 annotated genes were differentially expressed (DE) between animals on low and high protein diets, with 351 down-regulated and 191 up-regulated on the low protein diet. Transcript differences were validated for a subset of DE genes by qPCR. Alterations in functions related to cell cycle, muscle growth, extracellular matrix organisation, collagen development, lipogenesis and lipolysis, were observed. Expression of adipokines including LEP, TNFα and HIF1α were increased and the hypoxic stress response was induced. Many of the identified transcriptomic responses have also been observed in genetic and fetal programming models of differential IMF accumulation, indicating they may be robust biological indicators of IMF content. CONCLUSION: An extensive perturbation of overall energy metabolism in muscle occurs in response to protein restriction. A low protein diet can modulate IMF content of the SM by altering gene pathways involved in lipid biosynthesis and degradation; however this nutritional challenge negatively impacts protein synthesis pathways, with potential consequences for growth.

BRCA1/2 mutation analysis in 41 ovarian cell lines reveals only one functionally deleterious BRCA1 mutation.

Mutations in BRCA1/2 increase the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. Germline BRCA1/2 mutations occur in 8.6-13.7% of unselected epithelial ovarian cancers, somatic mutations are also frequent. BRCA1/2 mutated or dysfunctional cells may be sensitive to PARP inhibition by synthetic lethality. The aim of this study is to comprehensively characterise the BRCA1/2 status of a large panel of ovarian cancer cell lines available to the research community to assist in biomarker studies of novel drugs and in particular of PARP inhibitors. The BRCA1/2 genes were sequenced in 41 ovarian cell lines, mRNA expression of BRCA1/2 and gene methylation status of BRCA1 was also examined. The cytotoxicity of PARP inhibitors olaparib and veliparib was examined in 20 cell lines. The cell line SNU-251 has a deleterious BRCA1 mutation at 5564G > A, and is the only deleterious BRCA1/2 mutant in the panel. Two cell lines (UPN-251 and PEO1) had deleterious mutations as well as additional reversion mutations that restored the protein functionality. Heterozygous mutations in BRCA1/2 were relatively common, found in 14.6% of cell lines. BRCA1 was methylated in two cell lines (OVCAR8, A1847) and there was a corresponding decrease in gene expression. The BRCA1 methylated cell lines were more sensitive to PARP inhibition than wild-type cells. The SNU-251 deleterious mutant was more sensitive to PARP inhibition, but only in a long-term exposure to correct for its slow growth rate. Cell lines derived from metastatic disease are significantly more resistant to veliparib (2.0 fold p = 0.03) compared to those derived from primary tumours. Resistance to olaparib and veliparib was correlated Pearsons-R 0.5393, p = 0.0311. The incidence of BRCA1/2 deleterious mutations 1/41 cell lines derived from 33 different patients (3.0%) is much lower than the population incidence. The reversion mutations and high frequency of heterozygous mutations suggest that there is a selective pressure against BRCA1/2 in cell culture similar to the selective pressure seen in the clinic after treatment with chemotherapy. PARP inhibitors may be useful in patients with BRCA1 deleterious mutations or gene methylation.

High prevalence of obesity in Tokat, a northern province of Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the Tokat Region with demographic, socioeconomic and medical factors in the adult population. METHODS: A sample was selected from the province of Tokat. A total of 5162 participants over 18 years (1885 women and 3277 men) were included in the study. Demographic factors, family history of selected medical conditions, and lifestyle factors were obtained and blood pressure levels were measured for all participants. Obesity was defined as BMI > or = 30 kg/m2 and overweight as BMI between 25.0 to 29.9 kg/m2. RESULTS: The study demonstrated that the prevalence of overweight was 27.6% in men, 34.2% in women and 30% for overall. Obesity was prevalent in 33.6% men, 22.3% women, and 29.5% overall. The prevalence of obesity increased with age. Age, gender, educational level, marital status, hypertension, family histories of selected medical conditions were independently associated with obesity. Prevalence of hypertension increased with the degree of obesity. Results were in accordance with recent Turkish population-based obesity studies. CONCLUSION: The data obtained showed that obesity prevalence was high in the study area. Primary prevention through lifestyle modifications may have a critical role in the control of obesity.

Association between promoter polymorphisms in a key cytoskeletal gene (Ankyrin 1) and intramuscular fat and water-holding capacity in porcine muscle.

Ankyrin 1 (ANK1) is a positional and functional candidate gene for both bovine and porcine meat quality. The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine if the gene expression levels of ANK1 are associated with pig meat quality traits; (2) to examine polymorphisms in the promoter region of the porcine ANK1 gene for association with meat quality in diverse breeds; and (3) to search for putative transcription factor binding sites predicted to be altered by such polymorphisms. ANK1 gene expression was positively correlated with drip loss (%) in the Large White breed. Twelve novel SNPs were discovered in a 761 bp region of the ANK1 promoter in three phenotypically diverse F1 cross populations. Five were subsequently selected for association analysis with meat quality traits and genotyped in three pure pig breeds (Pietrain n = 98, Duroc n = 99 and Large White n = 98). Two of these five SNPs were associated with meat quality traits at the Bonferroni significance threshold: g.-606G>A with drip loss % in the Pietrain breed and g.-272G>A with intramuscular fat (IMF) in the LTL and SM. Following haplotype construction from SNP genotypes, Haplotype 3 was found to be associated with drip loss % at the Bonferroni level of significance in the Pietrain breed and Haplotype 5 was associated at the Bonferroni level with IMF in two muscles in the Large White breed. Further associations were observed at the nominal significance threshold. Our conclusion from this study is that SNPs in the ANK1 gene promoter could potentially contribute to genome-assisted selection SNP panels to improve IMF and water holding capacity on a breed basis.