Trakya University

About: Trakya University is a education organization based out in Edirne, Turkey. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 2727 authors who have published 5490 publications receiving 76048 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Thrace & Trakya Üniversitesi.

Neuron-specific enolase as a marker of the severity and outcome of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate serum concentrations of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) as a marker of the severity of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and to elucidate the relation among the concentrations of NSE, grade of HIE and short-term outcome. Forty-three asphyxiated full-term newborn infants who developed symptoms and signs of HIE (Group 1) and 29 full-term newborn infants with meconium-stained amniotic fluid but with normal physical examination (Group 2) were studied with serial neurological examination, Denver developmental screening test (DDST), electroencephalogram and computerized cerebral tomography (CT) for neurological follow-up. Thirty healthy infants were selected as the control group. In the patient groups, two blood samples were taken to measure NSE levels, one between 4 and 48 h and the other 5-7 days after birth. Serum NSE levels were significantly higher in infants with HIE compared to those infants in Group 2 and control group. The mean serum concentrations of the second samples decreased in all groups studied but they were significantly higher in Group 1 compared to those in Group 2. Serum NSE concentrations of initial samples were significantly higher in patients with stage III HIE than in those with stages II and I. The sensitivity and specificity values of serum NSE as a predictor of HIE of moderate or severe degree (cut-off value 40.0 microg/l) were 79 and 70%, respectively, and as a predictor of poor outcome (cut-off value 45.4 microg/l) were calculated as 84 and 70%, respectively. The predictive capacity of serum NSE concentrations for poor outcome seems to be better than predicting HIE of moderate or severe degree. However, earlier and/or CSF samples may be required to establish serum NSE as an early marker for the application of neuroprotective strategies.

Intravenous regional anesthesia using lidocaine and magnesium.

Abstract: We conducted this study to evaluate the effects of magnesium, when added to lidocaine for IV regional anesthesia (IVRA), on tourniquet pain. Thirty patients undergoing elective hand surgery during IVRA were randomly assigned to two groups. IVRA was achieved with 10 mL of saline plus 3 mg/kg lidocaine 0.5% diluted with saline to a total of 40 mL in group C or with 10 mL of 15% magnesium sulfate (12.4 mmol) plus 3 mg/kg lidocaine 0.5% diluted with saline to a total of 40 mL in group M. Injection pain, sensory and motor block onset and recovery time, tourniquet pain, and anesthesia quality were noted. Patients were instructed to receive 75 mg of IM diclofenac when the visual analog scale (VAS) score was >4, and analgesic requirements were recorded. Sensory and motor block onset times were shorter and recovery times were prolonged in group M (P < 0.05). VAS scores of tourniquet pain were lower in group M at 15, 20, 30, 40, and 50 min (P < 0.001). Anesthesia quality, as determined by the anesthesiologist and surgeon, was better in group M (P < 0.05). Time to the first postoperative analgesic request in group C was 95 +/- 29 min and in group M was 155 +/- 38 min (P < 0.05). Postoperative VAS scores were higher for the first postoperative 6 h in group C (P < 0.05). Diclofenac consumption was significantly less in group M (50 +/- 35 mg) when compared with group C (130 + 55 mg) (P < 0.05). We conclude that magnesium as an adjunct to lidocaine improves the quality of anesthesia and analgesia in IVRA.

Effect of psychological stress on the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway and semen quality

Abstract: It has been reported that mental stress causes abnormality of spermio-gram parameters. We investigated the effect of psychological stress onthe L-arginine-nitric oxide (NO) pathway. Semen samples were col-lected from 29 healthy fourth semester medical students just before(stress) and 3 months after (non-stress) the final examinations. Psy-chological stress was measured by the State Anxiety Inventory ques-tionnaire. After standard semen analysis, arginase activity and NOconcentration were measured spectrophotometrically in the seminalplasma. Measurements were made in duplicate. During the stressperiod, sperm concentration (41.28 ± 3.70 vs 77.62 ± 7.13 x 10 6 /mL),rapid progressive motility of spermatozoa (8.79 ± 1.66 vs 20.86 ±1.63%) and seminal plasma arginase activity (0.12 ± 0.01 vs 0.22 ±0.01 U/mL) were significantly lower than in the non-stress situation,whereas seminal plasma NO (17.28 ± 0.56 vs 10.02 ± 0.49 µmol/L)was higher compared to the non-stress period (P < 0.001 for all).During stress there was a negative correlation between NO concentra-tion and sperm concentration, the percentage of rapid progressivemotility and arginase activity (r = -0.622, P < 0.01; r = -0.425, P < 0.05and r = -0.445, P < 0.05, respectively). These results indicate thatpsychological stress causes an increase of NO level and a decrease ofarginase activity in the L-arginine-NO pathway. Furthermore, poorsperm quality may be due to excessive production of NO underpsychological stress. In the light of these results, we suggest that thearginine-NO pathway, together with arginase and NO synthase, areinvolved in semen quality under stress conditions.

The prevalence of allergic diseases in primary school children in Edirne, Turkey

Abstract: Summary Background Allergic diseases present a major health burden for children as shown by the rising morbidity and increased mortality from asthma. Information on the prevalences of allergic disorders and contributing factors as well will help to establish feasible measures to change this trend, and more efficient assignment of the limited health resources. Objective To assess the prevalences of asthma and other allergic diseases and the contribution of various risk factors in primary school children in Edirne, Turkey. Methods Children aged 7 to 12 in primary schools in the municipality and 24 villages of Edirne were surveyed via a questionnaire completed by the parents. The cumulative (lifetime) and current (last 12 months) prevalences of allergic diseases and the presence of passive smoking, atopic family history, animal contact and breast-feeding in infancy were determined. Results A total of 5412 children (70.1% from the metropolitan and 29.9% from the rural area) were enrolled. The cumulative and current prevalences of all allergic diseases were 24.6% and 9.9% respectively. The cumulative (lifetime) prevalences of bronchial asthma, wheezing, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis were 16.4%, 18.9%, 12.3% and 2.2%, and the current (last 12 months) prevalences were 5.6%, 5.8%, 4.5% and 0.9% respectively. Three-fourths of the children were exposed to tobacco smoke at home. Atopic heredity appeared the most prominent risk factor for any allergic disorder. Neither age, breast-feeding nor place of habitation affected the occurrence of allergic disorders. Animal contact was a significant risk factor for asthma and wheezing (adjusted odd ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for current prevalences are 1.38 (CI= 1.04–1.83) and 1.35 (CI= 1.02–1.78) respectively), exposure to indoor tobacco smoke for wheezing (OR =1.52, CI= 1.10–2.09), and male gender for asthma (OR = 1.50, CI= 1.16–1.93). Current prevalences for all allergic diseases were significantly lower than those previously reported in Ankara, Turkey. Conclusions Allergic diseases are a major health burden for primary school children in Edirne, Turkey. Although atopic heredity appears to be the foremost important risk factor, reduction of exposure to indoor tobacco smoke and animal contact, especially for those with atopic family history, are important preventive measures. The impact of environmental exposures on distinguishing prevalences of allergic diseases in Ankara and Edirne should be further investigated.

Effect of watertable depth on evaporation and salt accumulation from saline groundwater

Abstract: When the evaporative demand is greater than the ability of the soil to conduct water in the liquid phase, the soil profile above a watertable exhibits a liquid-vapour discontinuity, known as the evaporation front, that affects the depth of salinisation and the rate of evaporation. We conducted experiments on a sandy loam with shallow saline watertables under high isothermal evaporative demand (24 mm/day), monitoring rates of evaporation from the soil and upward movement of groundwater, and observing profiles of soil water and salinity over periods of up to 78 days. Three zones were distinguished in the soil profile: a zone of liquid flow above the watertable, a zone of vapour flow close to the surface, and an intermediate transition zone in which mixed liquid-vapour flow occurred. The vapour-flow zone above the evaporation front appeared after a few days and progressed downward to depths of 40, 60, and 120 mm, while eventual steady-state rates of evaporation were 1.3, 1.1, and 0.3 mm/day for watertable depths of 300, 450, and 700 mm, respectively. Salts mainly accumulated in the transition zone, suggesting that the depth of the evaporation front should be a criterion to locate and prevent salinisation as a result of capillary flow from a watertable in arid regions.