Showing papers by "Trakya University published in 2000"

Diagnostic values of clinical diagnostic tests in subacromial impingement syndrome

Abstract: OBJECTIVE Subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS) is a frequent cause of shoulder pain. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic values of clinical diagnostic tests, in patients with SIS. METHODS 72 female, 48 male patients with shoulder pain were included in the study. Five had bilateral shoulder pain, so 125 painful shoulders were evaluated. Details were recorded about the patients9 ages and sexes, as well as characteristics of pain and related problems. Detailed physical examination and routine laboratory tests were performed. Conventional radiography and subsequent magnetic resonance imaging of the shoulder region of all patients were performed. Patients were divided into two groups according to the results of subacromial injection test, a reference standard test for SIS. Test positive patients constituted SIS group and test negative patients the non-SIS group. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive values of some clinical diagnostic tests such as Neer, Hawkins, horizontal adduction, painful arc, drop arm, Yergason and Speed tests for SIS were determined by using 2 × 2 table. RESULTS The most sensitive diagnostic tests were found to be Hawkins test (92.1%), Neer test (88.7%) and horizontal adduction test (82.0%). Tests with highest specificity were drop arm test (97.2%), Yergason test (86.1%) and painful arc test (80.5%) consecutively. CONCLUSION The highly sensitive tests seem to have low specificity values and the highly specific ones to have low sensitivity values. Although this finding suggests that these diagnostic tests are insufficient for certain diagnosis, it is suggested they play an important part in clinical evaluation.

Traumatic spinal cord injuries in Turkey: a nation-wide epidemiological study.

Abstract: Study design: An epidemiological study conducted all over the country. Objective: The present retrospective study was conducted to survey the new traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) cases during 1992 in Turkey. Setting: Intensive care units, emergency services and departments of orthopaedic surgery, neurosurgery and rehabilitation of state hospitals, rehabilitation centers, military and university hospitals. Methods: Postal questionnaires were used for data collection and the records from medical institutes nation-wide were reviewed for the analysis of the epidemiological factors. Results: Five hundred and eighty-one new traumatic SCI cases were reported in 1992. The annual incidence was found to be 12.7 per million population. Male to female ratio was 2.5 : 1 and the average age at injury was 35.5±15.1 (35.4±14.8 for males and 35.9±16.0 for females). The most common cause of injury was motor vehicle accidents (48.8%) followed by falls (36.5%), stab wounds (3.3%), gunshot injuries (1.9%) and injuries from diving (1.2%). One hundred and eighty-seven patients (32.18%) were tetraplegic and 394 patients (67.8%) were paraplegic. The most common level of injury was C5 among tetraplegics and T12 among paraplegics. The most prevalent associated injury was head trauma followed by extremity fractures. Severe head trauma resulting in death may obscure the real incidence of SCI and may cause underreporting of cases in epidemiological studies. Conclusion: Considering that motor vehicle accidents and falls were found to be the leading causes of traumatic SCI, it was concluded that the prevention measures should be focused mainly on these in order to reduce the frequency of SCI in Turkey.

The effect of environmental pollution on the heavy metal content of raw milk.

Abstract: This investigation was conducted to determine the contents of some heavy metals in milk samples collected from three different regions, an industrial region, a rural and a heavy traffic intensity region around Bursa, a province of Turkey. A total of 75 raw milk samples were collected from these different regions, and the contents of lead, arsenic, copper, zinc, mercury and iron were determined. The average amounts in the samples from these three regions were for Pb 0.032, 0.049, 0.018 mg/kg; for As 0.05, 0.009, 0.0002 mg/kg; for Zu 4.49, 5.01, 3.77 mg/kg; for Cu 0.58, 0.96, 0.39 mg/kg; for Fe 1.78, 4.27, 1.01 mg/kg, while no mercury was detected in the samples. The highest heavy metal content was found in the milk samples collected from industrial region followed by traffic intensive region and rural region.

Tarhana as a traditional Turkish fermented cereal food. Its recipe, production and composition.

Abstract: As a fermented product tarhana is the dry form of yogurt-cereal mixture and represents an important part of the diets of many people in Turkey. It is prepared by mixing wheat flour, yogurt, yeast and a variety of cooked vegetables (tomatoes, onions, green pepper etc.), salt, and spices (mint, paprika) followed by fermentation for one to seven days. Generally one part yogurt is mixed with two parts of wheat flour (w/w). In commercial production there are two methods for tarhana making. First method is called straight method and ingredients in the recipe is mixed and kneaded, fermented, dried and finally sieved. Second method is called sour dough method that contains three steps, each one has a different recipe. Throughout fermentation lactic acid bacteria and yeast give the characteristic taste and flavour of tarhana by producing lactic acid, ethanol, carbondioxide and some other organic compounds. Organic acids composed in fermentation period lower the pH (3.4-4.2), and low moisture content (6-10%) is a poor medium for pathogens and spoilage organisms. The nutrient content of tarhana depends upon yogurt and flour ratios as well as some other ingredients, and it is also considered to be a useful high-protein dietary supplement with average 15% protein content. Addition of set yogurt due to high dry matter content and baker's yeast increase protein content and enhances it's amino acid composition.

Reduction of Edema and Infarction by Memantine and MK-801 After Focal Cerebral Ischaemia and Reperfusion in Rat

Abstract: N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists have been found to be protective after cerebral ischemia. However most of these drugs have limited value as neuroprotectives in clinical therapy because of their side effects. Memantine is a noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist and it has been used for the treatment of various cerebral disorders with relatively few side effects. We investigated the beneficial effects of Memantine and compared its effect with MK-801 in a temporary focal cerebral ischemia model. As cerebral ischemia model three hours middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with intraluminal thread and three hours reperfusion was used. 78 male Spraque-Dawley rats were divided into three groups as follows: Control (Saline), treatment 1 (MK-801), and treatment 2 (Memantine) groups. In the treated groups, 15 minutes after MCAO, MK-801 and Memantine were administered in amounts of 1 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg intraperitoneally respectively. After a 3 hour period of reperfusion, the animals were examined for neurological deficits and then killed. The following values were measured; cerebral water content, blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability at the core and periphery of the ischemic hemisphere and contralateral hemisphere and infarct volumes. The severity of neurological deficit (p < 0.001) and infarct volume (p < 0.001) was reduced in both Memantine and MK-801 treated groups compared with saline treated groups. Memantine attenuated brain edema formation and BBB permeability at the periphery (p < 0.01), MK-801 both at the core (p < 0.05) and the periphery (p < 0.01) of the ischemia. These results demonstrated that the NMDA receptor antagonists Memantine and MK-801 were neuroprotective when given 15 min after MCAO in temporary focal cerebral ischemia.

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis and smoking.

Abstract: Background Several studies have reported cigarette smoking to have a beneficial protective effect on recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). In this study, we evaluated once again the incidence of smoking in RAS patients compared with controls. This study differs from most previous ones in that the patients were diagnosed by direct observation of active lesions by a dermatologist. Methods Thirty-four patients with RAS who were seen at the dermatology clinic during a period of 2 years were compared with 115 outpatients with other skin diseases and 20 healthy hospital personnel who had no history of aphthae, with regard to their smoking habits. Results Among the 34 patients with RAS, 8.8% were active smokers compared with a significantly higher percentage (25.2%) among the control subjects. Conclusions In agreement with others, we found a negative epidemiologic association between smoking and RAS. This finding can be used to clarify the cause and pathogenesis of the disease, and possibly to identify better treatment or preventive options than those currently available.

The relationship between Helicobacter pylori IgG antibody and autologous serum test in chronic urticaria.

Abstract: Background In chronic urticaria, suspicious factors are Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection and autoimmunity, as well as other etiologic agents. Autologous serum injection is the first step to identify autoimmune urticaria. Our study was performed to determine the prevalence of HP infection in patients with chronic urticaria, and to evaluate the results of autologous serum testing in chronic urticaria patients who had HP antibodies. Methods HP immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody was defined by an immunochromatographic method in 61 chronic urticaria patients and 15 healthy persons. Autologous serum testing was performed in 32 chronic urticaria patients. Results HP IgG antibody was found to be positive in 41% of chronic urticaria patients and 26% of healthy controls (χ2 = 7.82, P = 0.005). Autologous serum testing was positive in 40% of chronic urticaria patients who had HP IgG antibody. This ratio was 14.3% in chronic urticaria patients who did not have HP IgG antibody (χ2= 9.23, P = 0.002). Conclusions In this study, autologous serum testing was found to highly positive in chronic urticaria patients with HP IgG antibody, but the relationship between autoimmunity and HP infection requires further investigations.

Serum total and lipid-bound sialic acid levels following acute myocardial infarction.

Abstract: Although serum total sialic acid has been shown to be a cardiovascular risk factor, with elevated levels associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and also with cerebrovascular disease, the reason for the elevation in serum sialic acid content remains obscure. It has been shown that an increased output of serum proteins by the liver due to some type of acute phase reaction may be one of the possible sources of an increased serum sialic acid concentration in patients with myocardial infarction. An increase in the activity of sialidase, which cleaves the terminal sialic acid residues from oligosaccharides, glycoproteins and gangliosides, may also play an important role in the elevation of serum total sialic acid in myocardial infarction. Elevated serum total sialic acid in the blood might result either from the shedding or secreting of sialic acid from the cell membrane surface, or releasing of cellular sialic acid from the cell into the bloodstream due to cell damage after myocardial infarction. The purpose of the present study is to investigate serum total and lipid-bound sialic acid and the enzymes serum lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase in patients with acute myocardial infarction, at 24 h post-infarction (day 1), 48 h post-infarction (day 2) and 72 h post-infarction (day 3). A possible role of cell damage in the elevation of serum total and lipid-bound sialic acid levels in these patients was also evaluated. In this study, 40 patients with myocardial infarction ranging in age from 42 to 68 years, and 26 healthy volunteers ranging in age from 45 to 71 years were included. Serum total sialic acid determination was carried out by the thiobarbituric acid method of Warren and lipid-bound sialic acfd by the method of Katopodis. Our data shows that a) there is a gradual increase in the levels of serum total sialic acid and lipid-bound sialic acid during the first three days after the acute myocardial infarction and b) the elevation in serum total sialic acid levels correlates with the elevation in lactate dehydrogenase activity only on day 1 following infarction. Therefore, either the shedding or secreting of sialic acid from the cell or cell membrane surface may be partly responsible for an increased serum sialic acid concentration especially on day 1 following myocardial infarction.

Vibrations of angle-ply laminated circular cylindrical shells subjected to different sets of edge boundary conditions

Abstract: This paper studies the free vibrations of finite, closed, circular cylindrical shells, made of one or more monoclinic layers. The study is based on the Love-type version of a unified shear-deformable shell theory. This theory enables the trial and testing of different through-thickness transverse shear-strain distributions and, among them, strain distributions that do not involve the undesirable implications of the transverse-shear correction factors. For flexural vibrations, the analytical solution of the corresponding axisymmetric solution is obtained, as a particular case, when it is assumed that the free-vibration pattern is independent of the circumferential co-ordinate parameter. If the appropriate material simplifications are employed, the present analysis yields, as a further particular case, the corresponding free-vibration solution that has already been presented elsewhere for cross-ply laminated cylindrical shells.

Bilateral epidural hematoma.

Abstract: Bilateral epidural hematomas are very rare and are associated with high mortality. The purpose of this study is to identify the clinical features, mechanisms, and outcomes of bilateral epidural hematomas. This report considers 19 cases of bilateral epidural hematoma hospitalized between 1987 and 1997. All of the cases, with the exception of three, were diagnosed within the first 6 h. The neurologic evaluations on admission and during hospital stay were based on the Glasgow Coma Scale. Hematomas were determined by CT scans in all cases. The patients were evaluated using the Glasgow Outcome Scale after 6 months. In 13 patients, the bilateral epidural hematoma was in the midline. In six patients, hematomas were at different locations on either side. Surgical approach was chosen as the primary treatment modality in 18 patients. One was treated conservatively. The mortality rate was 15.7% in this series. With the widespread use of CT scan, diagnosis before deterioration of the neurological status affects the results of surgery and prognosis or even presents the possibility of a conservative treatment.

Use of the nine-step inflation/deflation test as a predictor of middle ear barotrauma in sports scuba divers.

Abstract: Middle ear (ME) barotrauma, the most common disorder encountered in diving, results from inadequate pressure equilibration between the ME and the ambient environment. Eustachian tube function plays a key role in the pathogenesis of barotrauma. This study was designed to investigate the predictive value and efficiency of tympanometric tests of Eustachian tube function (Valsalva test, Toynbee test and nine-step inflation/deflation test) in predicting ME barotrauma in 44 ears of 22 sports scuba divers who had normal audiometry, tympanometry and otorhinolaryngological examination without previous history of ear disease. The divers were counselled to refer to the investigators if any symptoms occurred during and/or after diving. All symptomatic ears were examined within 24 hours of diving by one investigator who was unaware of the pre-symptomatic test results. Decision matrix analysis was applied to the results of Eustachian tube function tests for predicting ears with barotrauma. Values were also evaluated for a battery of tests by 'Lax' (positive on A, B or C) and 'Strict' (positive on A, B and C) criteria. The nine-step test was found to be the most efficient (93%) test with highest predictive values (PPV 83%; NPV 95%), whereas the Valsalva and Toynbee tests were unreliable in predicting barotrauma, whereas the Valsalva and Toynbee tests were unreliable in predicting barotrauma (PPV of the Valsalva and Toynbee tests were 0% and 25% respectively). Combining the nine-step and Toynbee tests into a two-test battery in a strict approach increased the PPV (100%). It appears that the nine-step inflation/deflation test is a reliable method of predicting ME barotrauma sufferers, especially when applied with the Toynbee test. The nine-step test may have value in the evaluation of Eustachian tube function of sports scuba diving candidates after routine otorhinolaryngological, audiological and tympanometric evaluation.

Determination of fatty acid composition and total trans fatty acids of Turkish biscuits by capillary gas-liquid chromatography

Abstract: In this research, fatty acid composition and total trans fatty acid contents of six types of biscuit produced by four different Turkish companies were determined by capillary gas-liquid chromatography. Total fat contents of the biscuit samples ranged between 8.5% and 26.0%. The highest fat content was determined in sesame biscuits (average 24.4%) and the lowest in petit beurre biscuits (average 13.5%). Total fat contents varied even for the same type of biscuit as a result of the use of different recipes by each company. The major fatty acids in the samples were C16 : 0, C18 : 0, trans C18 : 1, C18 : 1, trans C18 : 2 and C18 : 2. Depending on the biscuit type, total unsaturated fatty acid contents were between 52.1% and 72.8%. The ranges of total trans fatty acid contents in biscuit types were petit beurre 1.9–29.0%, sesame 15.0–23.1%, baby 3.0–30.5%, oat 17.6–22.4%, cocoa 1.5–22.9% and finger 1.0–24.7%. It is clear from the results that the percentage of trans fatty acids in the total fat content is significant because of the use of hydrogenated vegetable oils in biscuit production.

Acetabular dysplasia in normal Turkish adults.

Abstract: The aim of this investigation was to examine normal hip joint morphometry and the acetabular dysplasia rate in Turkish adults. Center-edge angle, acetabular angle, acetabular depth, acetabular roof obliquity, and roof angle were measured in standardized pelvic radiographs of 495 adults without any hip symptoms. The center-edge angle was significantly different in the patients over the age of 70 than all other age groups except those in the 60 to 69 group. Additionally, there were differences between those in the 60 to 69 age group compared to those in the 20 to 29 age group. The acetabular angle showed a significant difference between gender and between the age groups over 60. The acetabular angle was negatively correlated with center-edge angle. Even though no significant differences were observed in the acetabular depth, differences in acetabular roof obliquity and roof angle were related to gender and age, all showed high standard deviations. The rate of acetabular dysplasia was 2.4% in the Turkish adult population aged 20 to 79. It is concluded that the center-edge angle may be a useful parameter in the evaluation of acetabular dysplasia if one is aware of its difference in patients over the age of 60.

Assessment of tissue viability after frostbite injury by technetium-99m-sestamibi scintigraphy in an experimental rabbit model.

Abstract: Frostbite causes injury to the tissue by direct ice-crystal formation at the cellular level with cellular dehydration and microvascular occlusion. Muscle that initially appears viable on reperfusion may subsequently become necrotic because of microcirculatory collapse. Since muscle is a sensitive tissue in frostbite injury, we used technetium-99m-sestamibi limb scintigraphy to assess tissue viability in an experimental rabbit model. Twelve rabbits were used for this investigation. The right hind limb of the rabbits was immersed to the ankle joint in a container filled with 90% ethanol at –25°C for 10 min. Frostbitten limbs were allowed to thaw in air at room temperature. Imaging and pathological examination of the affected limbs were performed 2 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after freezing. In 2-h images, initial hypoperfusion was seen that corresponded to circulatory collapse. In 24-h images, there was hyperperfusion (so-called period of temporary reperfusion), corresponding to circulatory restoration. In 48-h images, a second hypoperfusion corresponded to viable but ischaemic tissue. In 72-h images, there was non-perfusion of the limb that correlated with the pathologically determined diagnosis of necrosis. All scintigraphic patterns correlated with pathological findings. We suggest that these scintigraphic patterns in soft tissue may be helpful in distinguishing between frank infarction and reversible ischemia and therefore may be useful in selecting early therapeutic or surgical interventions to salvage bone and soft tissue. Further studies are needed to show the usefulness of 99mTc sestamibi scintigraphy in clinical frostbite cases.

Photon transmission method for studying film formation from polstyrene latexes with different molecular weights

Abstract: A photon-transmission method was used to probe the evolution of transparency during film formation from polystyrene (PS) particles with different molecular weights. The latex films were formed at room temperature from the PS particles having two different average molecular weights and annealed at elevated temperatures in various time intervals above the glass transition (Tg). Onset temperatures (TH) at given times (τH) for the optical clarity of films formed from low (LM) and high molecular (HM) weight PS particles were used to calculate the healing activation energies for the minor chains and found to be 22.0 ± 0.5 and 27.0 ± 0.6 kcal/mol, respectively. The increase in the transmitted photon intensity, Itr, above the TH was attributed to increase in the number of interfaces that disappeared. The Prager–Tirrell (PT) model was employed to interpret the increase in crossing density at the junction surface. The backbone activation energies (ΔE) were measured and found to be 127.8 ± 2.5 kcal/mol for a diffusing polymer chain across the junction surface for LM and HM latex films. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 866–874, 2000

The radiological analysis of pes cavus deformity in Charcot Marie Tooth disease.

Abstract: Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT) is a progressive hereditary peripheral neuropathy. The most prevalent subtype is CMT-1A, wherein patients develop a characteristic cavovarus deformity. We have reviewed a series of standing lateral foot radiographs of patients with foot deformity due to CMT, and found that the hind foot of these patients is in dorsiflexion, not equinus, and that the apparent equinus is due to plantar flexion of the forefoot on the midfoot, and actually represents a cavus deformity.

Drying kinetics of pumpkinseeds

Abstract: The drying of pumpkinseeds was investigated in the present study. Pumpkinseed has a thin liquid film on its surface and has rough-surfaced peel. The most important parameter affecting its drying kinetics and increasing the drying rate is the temperature of the drying air. Drying was carried out with the surrounding air first at ambient temperature, and secondly an experimental rig was built to increase air temperature by using solar energy. A single layer of the pumpkinseed was dried in two different ways by free and forced convection. In these methods, pumpkinseeds were either placed in the tray exposed to the natural environment or placed in sieves on the experimental rig. The drying curves and variation of drying rate curves obtained were dependent on product moisture content. The drying air velocity can take moisture until saturation has a secondary effect on the moisture transfer. In the analysis, pumpkinseed was considered like a measurable rectangular prism. Fick's analytical solution, including effective diffusion coefficient, was applied to the present model. The results obtained from the present analytical model were compared with the experimental data and a good agreement was found. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Composition of mixed anionic/nonionic surfactant micelles

Abstract: A proposed method of determining the composition of mixed micelles in equilibrium with monomer of known composition is described. The systems were sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyoxyethylene 23 lauryl ether (Brij 35) in water and in 0.1 M sodium chloride solution at 25°C. This technique applies the Gibbs-Duhem equation to the mixed micelle, which is treated as a pseudophase. This proposed methodology which needs only critical micelle concentration data as a function of monomer composition, is applied to an anionic/nonionic surfactant pair. The calculated monomer-micelle equilibrium is found to be very similar to the much-used regular solution for nonideal systems.

Laparoscopic versus open cholecystectomy: effect on pulmonary function tests.

Abstract: BACKGROUND/AIMS Operations often cause impairment in respiration due to pain This study was designed to compare the changes in pulmonary function tests after open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy METHODOLOGY Two groups of 35 patients were randomly set up Each patient had 3 pulmonary function tests performed and 2 postero-anterior grid chest roentgenograms taken All of these data were evaluated by the same group of investigators RESULTS After taking into consideration the difference between pulmonary function tests, values were not significant (P < or = 005) All pulmonary function test values decreased significantly on the 1st postoperative day (P < or = 005) When postero-anterior chest roentgenograms were compared no clinically evident atelectasis except 3 lineary was seen in the laparoscopic cholecystectomy group, whereas 5 lineary, 7 focal, and 3 segmentary atelectasia were encountered in the open cholecystectomy group (P < or = 005) CONCLUSIONS We believe that laparoscopic cholecystectomy has more advantages when speaking of postoperative pulmonary function tests and atelectasia

Involvement of NMDA receptors and nitric oxide in the thermoregulatory effect of morphine in mice.

Abstract: Morphine has long been known to have potent effects on body temperature. It has been suggested that both N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and nitric oxide (NO) pathway are involved in thermoregulation and also known to play important roles in some of morphine effects. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the contribution of NMDA receptors and NO to the thermoregulatory effect of morphine. Morphine produced a hypothermic effect, especially at the dose of 10 mg/kg. Ketamine (5–40 mg/kg, i.p.) and NG-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME, 1–100 mg/kg, i.p.) also produced hypothermic effects with their higher doses. At doses which themselves produced no effect on colonic temperature in mice, both ketamine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) and L-NAME (10 mg/kg, i.p.) enhanced the hypothermic effect of morphine (10 mg/kg, i.p.). These results further support the relationship between NO and NMDA receptors and suggest a possible role of NMDA-NO pathway in the thermoregulatory effect of morphine.

Evaluation of skeletal muscle metabolism and response to erythropoietin treatment in patients with chronic renal failure using 99Tcm-sestamibi leg scintigraphy.

Abstract: It is well known that uraemia affects skeletal muscle metabolism. This has been attributed to a variety of causes, including anaemia, vitamin D, carnitine deficiency and hyperparathyroidism. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether 99Tcm-sestamibi leg scintigraphy is useful in the evaluation o

Effects of microwave and conventional baking on the oxidative stability and fatty acid composition of puff pastry

Abstract: The effects of microwave and conventional baking on the fatty acid and trans fatty acid compositions of puff pastries, which contain high amounts of hydrogenated fat, were investigated. In addition, free fatty acids, peroxide value, and induction time for oxidative stability by the Rancimat method have been compared for microwave- and conventionally baked puff pastries. The data indicate there were considerable changes in acidity, peroxide value, and Rancimat induction time in both microwave- and conventionally baked samples. Although the content of saturated fatty acid such as palmitic and stearic and the ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids did not change significantly, an apparent increase was determined in trans oleic acid levels by both baking methods. In addition, a significant decrease in linoleic acid content of the samples was found by microwave baking.

The effects of growing conditions on oil content, fatty acid composition and tocopherol content of some sunflower varieties produced in Turkey.

Abstract: The properties of some extensively cultivated sunflower seed varieties in Turkey and their oils were investigated. 1991-1992 crop year sunflower varieties harvested from Trakya University, Tekirdag Agricultural Faculty, Experiment field of Crop Science Department were used as research materials. The oil content, fatty acid composition and tocopherol content of sunflower seeds in 1991 and 1992 crop years were determined as 44.2-51.2% (on dry weight basis), 43.0-51.5% (on dry weight basis); oleic acid 14.8-18.5%, 32.9-40.1%; linoleic acid 69.5-74.5%, 49.7-55.7% and tocopherol content (as alpha-tocopherol) 648-860 mg/kg, 524-880 mg/kg, respectively. It was determined that the growing conditions significantly affected the fatty acid compositions of sunflower varieties studied. While the oleic acid content of the 1992 crop increased, the linoleic acid content of the same crop decreased compared to the 1991 crop.