Giant cavernous haemangioma in an infant.

Cavernous haemangiomas are benign vascular lesions of the central nervous system. Their size varies from a few millimetres to several centimetres. Giant and paediatric cases are rare. This report presents a 10-month-old baby with a giant multilobular cavernous haemangioma in the left parietal lobe who presented with seizures.

Radon measurements in the Catalagzi Thermal Power Plant, Turkey.

The Catalagzi Thermal Power Plant (CTPP) (41(0)30'48.4('')N and 0.31(0)53'41.5('')E) is located at nearly 13 km North-east of Zonguldak city, which is located at the West Black Sea coast in Turkey. The middling products with high ash content of bituminous coals are used in this plant. Seasonal radon concentration measurements have been carried out by using CR-39 plastic track detectors in and around the CTPP. The annual average radon concentration has been found to vary from a minimum of 39.8 +/- 28.9 Bq m(-3) in the ash area to a maximum of approximately 75.0 +/- 15.7 Bq m(-3) in the service building of the power plant. The annual average radon concentration in the dwellings of the thermal power plant colony of the plant is 71.0 +/- 33.4 Bq m(-3). The effective dose has been found to vary from 0.38 to 0.71 mSv y(-1) with a mean value of 0.56 mSv y(-1), which is lower than the effective dose values 3-10 mSv given as the range of action levels recommended by International Commission on Radiological Protection: Protection against radon-222 at home and at work, ICRP Publication 65 (1993).

Radon measurements in the caves of Zonguldak (Turkey).

There are approximately 20 caves of limestone origin in Zonguldak (Turkey). In this study, the results of atmospheric radon measurements performed for two caves are presented. These caves, Gökgöl and Cehennemagzi, are open to tourism. Gökgöl Cave is the longer, at nearly 3,200 m in length. Cehenennemagzi is a pit-type cave with a total length of 85 m. The radon measurements were performed for 2 months between July 2004 and September 2004 using passive polycarbonate detectors. The mean radon concentrations were recorded as 1,918.8 Bq m(-3) in Gökgöl Cave and 657 Bq m(-3) in Cehennemagzi Cave. The maximum value corresponds to a site located 400 m from the entrance of Gökgöl Cave. Mean effective dose values for tourists of 0.86 microSv per visit to Cehennemagzi Cave and 3.76 microSv to Gökgöl Cave were obtained. These results show that protection against radiological hazards would not be necessary for visitors to these two caves.

Radon concentration measurements in the Amasra coal mine, Turkey.

In this study, the results of atmospheric radon measurements that were performed for the Amasra underground coal mine in Zonguldak bituminous coal basin (Turkey) are presented. The radon measurements were performed for 40 days between November 2004 and December 2004 using passive nuclear etched track detectors. The radon concentrations vary from a minimum value 49 Bq m(-3) in a site located at +40 m to a maximum value 223 Bq m(-3) in a site located at -100 m. Mean concentration is 117 (Bq m(-3)). This value is well below the action level of 500-1,500 Bq m(-3) recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) (1993). The mean effective dose value for workers of this mine of 3.4 microSv per day was obtained. This result shows that protection against radiological hazards would not be necessary for workers of this mine((2)).

The comparison of reproductive health data in a rural district in Turkey (1981-2001).

OBJECTIVES: The main objective was to compare new reproductive and family planning data with data from the 1981 survey. METHODS: All 15-49-year-old married women living in seven villages of Gemlik were interviewed and the data were compared with the 1981 data of the same villages. RESULTS: In 1981, 66.8% used a family planning method, 6.8% used an intrauterine device, 10.2% used oral contraceptives and 10.0% used condoms. In 2001, these values were 93.0%, 36.5%, 6.0% and 14.8%, respectively. In 1981, 51.5% and in 2001 35.5% used coitus interruptus. CONCLUSION: In 20 years, users of both current family planning methods and modem methods have increased; users of traditional methods have decreased.

Family planning choices and some characteristics of coitus interruptus users in Gemlik, Turkey.

The objectives of this study were to gain information about some fertility issues, contraceptive method choices, and the reasons for coitus interruptus (CI) use among married women aged 15-49, in Gemlik, Turkey. One thousand nine hundred ten women were interviewed for this cross-sectional study. The pregnancy rate per woman was 2.9. 716 women (37.5%) had at least one unwanted pregnancy. Of the study population, 79.6% were using a contraceptive method (45.1% were using a modern method, 34.5% a traditional method). CI was the most preferred method (33.7%). Fertility measures of women who had used CI continuously were compared with other women. It was found that most CI users were content with the method.

Regional distributions of beta-thalassemia mutations in Turkey.

The distributions of twelve beta-thalassemic mutations in samples (n = 139 chromosomal samples) from four regions of Turkey were determined. The frequencies of these mutations did not reveal a notable region specific heterogeneity. In particular, the four mutations, IVS.1/nt.110(G/A), IVS.1/nt.6(T/C), IVS.1/nt.1(G/A) and nonsense codon.39(C/T), with country-scale frequencies of 35.9%, 21.6%, 13.0% and 7.2%, respectively, were found to be distributed with rather similar frequencies also on a regional scale.

The characteristics and mode of detection of the new patients encountered in the leprosy endemic province of Van within the last five years.

Between 1983-1987, the Istanbul Leprosy Centre (ILC) organized in Van a leprosy education program for medical personnel and the local population, subsequently whole population surveys and case contact surveys were carried out independently in different regions. 66 new cases were detected during those years 56 (85%) patients were diagnosed by ILC teams at the field and at the hospital. In 49 (74%) of the 66 there was one or more close contact within the family, in 17 (26%) there was none, but old patients in the village or nearby. It is concluded that the education of the local medical authorities and the population is of utmost importance for the early diagnosis and patient-close contact surveys are the best for our country.