Celal Bayar University Research Articles

Relationship Between Chronic Tinnitus and Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Gene rs3812047, rs1110149, and rs884344 Polymorphisms in a Turkish Population.

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) plays a key role in early development of central auditory pathway and the inner ear. However, the auditory pathway studies of GDNF gene polymorphisms are scarce in the literature, and the studies especially associated with tinnitus are limited. Our study aimed to identify whether GDNF gene polymorphisms play any roles in the pathophysiology of tinnitus by investigating the relationship between tinnitus and GDNF polymorphisms. A total of 52 patients with chronic tinnitus and ages ranging from 18 to 55 were admitted to the Ear-Nose-Throat outpatient clinic of Celal Bayar University Medical Faculty Hospital of Manisa, Turkey and constituted the study group. Another 42 patients of the same age range, without tinnitus symptoms and lacking any systemic disease, were also admitted to the clinic and formed the control group. The tympanometric, audiological, and psychoacoustic assessments of the subjects were performed. Deoxyribonucleic acid samples obtained using venous blood taken for routine inspections were used to investigate GDNF gene polymorphisms (rs884344, rs3812047, and rs1110149) by polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism method. No correlation could be detected between GDNF rs884344 and rs3812047 polymorphisms and subjects with tinnitus (p>0.05). Heterozygosity was significantly lower for GDNF rs1110149 polymorphism in tinnitus subjects compared to the controls (p<0.05). However, the allele frequencies for all 3 polymorphisms were not significantly different between tinnitus and control groups (p>0.05). Failure to detect correlations between tinnitus and GDNF gene polymorphisms suggests this may be due to the fact that the GDNF gene has a variable expression pattern in different tissues and pathologies. Therefore, the study should be improved and its scope should be expanded by including a larger group of patients and different tissues to investigate the expression pattern of GDNF.

Lifelong Learning Competency Perceptions of Teacher Candidates According to a Teacher Training Program

The purpose of this study is to analyze the competency perceptions of teacher candidates relating to life-long learning in terms of several variables within the scope of a teacher training program. The sample of this study consists of 965 teacher candidates having education in the 3rd and 4th grades in the Faculty of Education of Celal Bayar University in the 2014-2015 academic year. “The Life-long Learning Competency Scale”, developed by researchers as a data collection tool and Screening Model were used in the study. Analysis of the data was performed with an SPSS 17.00 program. From the results obtained from this study, it is seen that a significant difference has been created in the “personal enterprise and entrepreneurship competency perception” attitudes of teacher candidates in terms of the gender variable. Hence, the reasons for these differences should be sought in detail by studies carried out in the future.

The role of ultrasound guidance in pediatric caudal block.

Objectives:To compare the time interval of the procedure, possible complications, post-operative pain levels, additional analgesics, and nurse satisfaction in ultrasonography-guided and standard caudal block applications.Methods:This retrospective study was conducted in Celal Bayar University Hospital, Manisa, Turkey, between January and December 2014, included 78 pediatric patients. Caudal block was applied to 2 different groups; one with ultrasound guide, and the other using the standard method.Results:The time interval of the procedure was significantly shorter in the standard application group compared with ultrasound-guided group (p=0.020). Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale values obtained at the 90th minute was statistically lower in the standard application group compared with ultrasound-guided group (p=0.035). No statistically significant difference was found on the other parameters between the 2 groups. The shorter time interval of the procedure at standard application group should not be considered as a distinctive mark by the pediatric anesthesiologists, because this time difference was as short as seconds.Conclusion:Ultrasound guidance for caudal block applications would neither increase nor decrease the success of the treatment. However, ultrasound guidance should be needed in cases where the detection of sacral anatomy is difficult, especially by palpations.

Validity and reliability of The Diabetes Obstacles Questionnaire in type-2 diabetic patients

Objective: The Diabetes Obstacles Questionnaire (DOQ) helps to determine the problems encountered with their illness by type-2 diabetic patients in daily life and the purpose of this study was to adapt this questionnaire to Turkish and to perform validity and reliability analysis. Methods: This was a methodological study planned to adapt DOQ to the Turkish language and to carry out validity and reliability analysis. After obtaining the necessary permission and making the translation, the questionnaire was applied to 400 type 2 diabetes patients, who had been diagnosed at least one year previously, in the endocrinology polyclinic of Manisa Government Hospital and the endocrinology polyclinic of Hafsa Sultan Hospital in Celal Bayar University. The WHOQOL-8 quality of life questionnaire was applied along with the DOQ in order to examine the extent of correspondence with a scale which measures similar concepts. In order to assess the reliability of the scale, the coefficient of internal consistence (Cronbach’s alpha value) was examined and in order to evaluate the relation of each item to dimension, the item-total correlations and the internal consistence coefficients when items were deleted were evaluated. Also, the items of the questionnaire were applied again to 30 people after a gap of at most two weeks and test- retest analysis as performed. When this was done, intraclass correlation coefficients were examined. Results: The DOQ consists of eight scales and a total of 78 questions. Ten of these questions were excluded in our study as they were not applicable to Turkish society. Conclusion: The study was similar to the original study from the aspect of factors produced in the dimensions.

The Effect of Medical Education On Attitudes Towards Schizophrenia: A Five-Year Follow-Up Study

It has been widely acknowledged that the community and health professionals hold negative attitudes toward patients with impaired mental health. This constitutes a majör obstacle for those patients in coping with their disease, managing their care, and hence regulating their lives. Although studies carried out in Turkey document the presence of stigma, they provide limited information about the ways for solving this problem. Drawing on the litrature, the present study investigated the effect of medical education on stigmatization. During 2008/2009 academic year, 106 freshmen who were majoring in the Medical School at Celal Bayar University volunteered to participate in the present study. Participants have not yet received any theoretical or practical training on psychiatry. At the beginning of the study, they were informed about the purpose of the study and accordingly requested to fill a consent form. The 32-item schizophrenia subscale of the Attitude Questionnaire developed by Psychiatric Investigations and Education Center (PAREM) was administered to the participants. Along with the questionnaire, they were also requested demographic information. After 5 years, the participants who completed their psychiatry internship were reassessed with the same instrument. 106 volunteers participated in the present study. The majority of the participants were females (54.7%) with equal balance of income and expidentures (65.1%) having a mental disease percentage of 5.6%. Findings showed that students' attitudes towards schizophrenic patients changed significantly positive as they proceed from first year to the fifth year. Results demonstrated that as students move through the years they report more positive attitudes in the areas of etiology of schizophrenia (p<0.01), treatment options (p<0.01), approach to schizophrenic patients (p<0.01), and social interactions (p<0.01). We claim that the development of positive attitudes should be integrated in to the mental health curriculum not only in particular years but also throughout the whole years of education. Along this continuum, we believe that students would become more aware of the needs of the schizophrenic patients and gain an on going intuition toward the difficulties that the patients encounter. Viewed together, at the stage of acquiring medical/psychological skills students should be given the opportunity to have direct contact with patients in order to give adequate response to patients' needs and thus observe the improvement at the end of the treatment.

Frequency of Intestinal Parasites Detected in the Laboratory of Medical Parasitology in Celal Bayar University Hafsa Sultan Hospital Between 2011 and 2015

Frequency of Intestinal Parasites Detected in the Laboratory of Medical Parasitology in Celal Bayar University Hafsa Sultan Hospital Between 2011 and 2015

Effects of Computer-Assisted Instruction with Conceptual Change Texts on Removing the Misconceptions of Radioactivity

Training young scientists, enabling conceptual understanding in science education is quite important. Misconception is one of the important indications for whether the concepts are understood or not. The most important educational tools to remove misconceptions are conceptual change texts. In addition, one of the important methods to remove misconceptions is computer-assisted instruction. The goal of this study is to research the effects of the use of computer-assisted instruction (CAI), conceptual change texts (CCT), computer-assisted instruction with conceptual change texts (CAI+CCT), and use of traditional teaching method (TTM) on removing the misconceptions of science teacher candidates on the subject of radioactivity. Research sample was made of totally 92 students studying at four different groups of senior students in Celal Bayar University, Faculty of Education, Department of Science Education in 2011-2012 academic year. A different teaching method was used in each group. Experimental groups were randomly determined; in the first experimental group, computer-assisted instruction was used (23 students); in the second experimental group, conceptual change texts were used (23 students); in the third experimental group, computer-assisted instruction with conceptual change texts were used (23 students); and the fourth group, on which traditional education method was used, was called control group (23 students). Two-tier misconception diagnostic instrument, which was developed by the researcher, was used as data collection tool of the research. “Nonequivalent Control Groups Experimental Design” was used in this research in order to determine the efficiency of different teaching methods. Obtained data were analyzed by using SPSS 21.0. As a result of the research, it was determined that methods used on experimental groups were more successful than traditional teaching method practiced on control group in terms of removing misconceptions on radioactivity.

Effects of Depression on Treatment Motivation in Male Alcohol Dependence.

Treatment motivation in alcohol dependents is usually viewed as a strong predictor of seeking treatment and treatment success. The conditions affecting motivation in alcohol dependence, however, has not been clarified. In this study, it is aimed to determine the effects of depression on treatment motivation in male alcohol dependence. The present study included 34 male alcohol dependents presenting to outpatient clinics in Manisa Hospital of Mental Disorders and Hospital of Celal Bayar University. The patients underwent evaluation using the socio-demographic and clinical information form, DSM-IV SCID-I Clinical Version, Treatment Motivation Questionnaire (TMQ), and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). A significant relationship was found between the total score of TMQ and HDRS (p=.039). We believe that the present study, in which we examined the relationship between treatment motivation in male alcohol dependence and depression, would provide a significant contribution to literature. It is also important to investigate other factors that may affect treatment motivation in male alcohol dependence. Studies with larger samples are needed on this topic.

Distribution of nontuberculous mycobacteria isolated from clinical specimens and identified with DNA sequence analysis

The aims of the study were to perform the identification of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) isolated from different clinical specimens in the Mycobacteriology Laboratory of Celal Bayar University, Manisa (located at Aegean region of Turkey), by DNA sequence analysis, and to discuss the epidemiological aspects of the data obtained. Out of 5122 clinical specimens sent to the laboratory with the initial diagnosis of tuberculosis in the period April 2007 to July 2011, M.tuberculosis complex and NTM were identified in 225 (4.39%) and 126 (2.46%) samples, respectively. DNA sequence analysis by targeting hsp65 and 16S rDNA gene regions was performed on 101 of the NTM strains in Mycobacteriology Laboratory of Ege University, Izmir. DNA sequence analysis data was evaluated using RIDOM and GenBLAST data bases. NTM strains were identified as 40 M.porcinum (39.60%), 36 M.lentiflavum (35.65%), six M.abscessus (5.64%), five M.peregrinum (4.95%), four M.gordonae (3.96%), three M.fortuitum (2.97%), two M.chelonae (1.98%), and one for each M.alvei (0.99%), M.scrofulaceum (0.99%), M.kansasii (0.99%) species. Two strains which were both 95-98% compatible with other mycobacteria in the data bases could not be identified with certainty. Seventy-two (94.73%) strains of M.lentiflavum and M.porcinum, which were the most frequent (75.24%) species in the study, were isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens. The remaining 99 strains examined could not be proven as the cause of the disease due to absence of patients' clinical data, whereas two M.abscessus strains isolated from the sputum were considered as the cause of the disease according to the ATS/IDSA criteria. The isolation rate of NTM in 2010 was found significantly higher (5.33%) than previous years. Review of the 2010 data showed that all strains of M.porcinum and M.lentiflavum, which were the most frequently identified strains were isolated from BAL specimens. This situation is in line with the start of using of an automatic bronchoscope washing machine in our hospital in the same year. In conclusion, NTM were isolated in 2.46% of the clinical specimens of the patients with the initial diagnosis of tuberculosis and these strains belonged to 10 different NTM species. The two NTM species most frequently isolated in our study were M.lentiflavum and M.porcinum which are known for their potential to cause human infections and antibiotic resistance. As these strains were mostly isolated in BAL specimens, it is concluded that automatic bronchoscope washing machines and water delivery system in the hospitals should be examined in terms of contamination by NTM. The isolated NTM strains could not be distinguished as the cause of the disease or a contaminant, which is the limiting factor in this study. However, knowing that the environmental mycobacteria can cause hospital infections, the data obtained in this study can contribute to epidemiology of NTM infections in Turkey.

A Review of Relationship between Prospective Science Teachers' Attitudes towards Science Education and Their Self-Efficacy

In this research, we aim to review relationship between prospective science teachers' attitudes against science education (physics, chemistry, biology, laboratory) and their self-efficacy. Population of the research constitutes 497 students studying Education in Department of Elementary Education in Celal Bayar University Faculty of Education. In this research, general survey method is utilized, and Science Teaching Self-Efficacy Beliefs Scale developed by Enochs and Rings (1990) and adopted into Turkish by Ozkan, Tekkaya and Cakiroglu (2002) and Science Teaching Attituted Scale developed by researchers is used for data collection. For statistical analyses of data collected; descriptive statistical methods (arithmetic mean, ± standard deviation, frequency, percentage) as well as independent samples T-test, one-way anova LSD test and correlation analysis is used. As concluded from the analyses; a significant difference by gender as well as class level variations is observed in prospective teachers' attitudes towards science education in terms of their general attitude scores, while no observed significant difference is present with respect to variations of their success level and the high school they graduated. Prospective teachers' self-efficacy scores towards science teaching significantly differ by the class level variant, while variants of gender, success status and type of high school they graduated does not make a statistically significant difference. Moreover, a positively significant but low linear correlation between prospective teachers' attitudes towards science education and their self-efficacy points is identified.

Prognostic value of serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein A level at the initial ED presentation in elderly patients with CAP

ObjectiveThis study aims to compare serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) levels in surviving and nonsurviving elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), investigating whether PAPP-A is correlated with CAP prediction scores and whether PAPP-A can successfully predict 28-day mortality rates in elderly patients. MethodsThis prospective, observational, single-center, cross-sectional study was conducted at the emergency department (ED) of Celal Bayar University Hospital in Manisa, Turkey, between January and September 2014. All patients underwent follow-up evaluations 28 days after admission. The end point was defined as all-cause mortality. ResultsA total of 100 elderly patients (mean age, 77.3 ± 7.6 years [range, 65-94 years]); 60% men) with CAP were enrolled in this study. All-cause mortality at the 28-day follow-up evaluation was 22%. Admission PAPP-A levels were significantly higher in nonsurvivors compared with 28-day survivors (10.3 ± 4.5 vs 3.8 ± 2.6 ng/mL, P < .001). A significant and positive correlation between admission PAPP-A levels and pneumonia severity index; confusion, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and age 75 years or older; and confusion, urea, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and age older than 65 years scores was found (r = .440, P < .001; r = .395, P < .001; and r = .359, P < .001, respectively). Moreover, we determined that the optimal PAPP-A cutoff for predicting 28-day mortality at the time of ED admission was 5.1 ng/mL, with 77.3% sensitivity and 77.9% specificity. ConclusionsSerum PAPP-A level is valuable for predicting mortality and the severity of the disease among elderly patients with CAP at ED admission. Thus, PAPP-A might play a further role in the clinical assessment of the severity of CAP.

Investigating Academic Achievements and Critical Thinking Dispositions of Teacher Candidates

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between academic achievements and critical thinking dispositions of teacher candidates in Faculty of Education and to find out whether critical thinking dispositions and academic achievements scores of teacher candidates differ according to different variables. The population consists of the teacher candidates at the Department of Primary School Teaching, Social Science Teaching, Turkish Teaching and Science Teaching at Ege University and Celal Bayar University, Faculty of Education. The study group was determined by convenience sampling method. Scores of teacher candidates obtained through “Critical Thinking Dispositions Inventory” developed by Akbiyik (2002) and students’ overall grade point average were used in the study. SPSS 17.00 program was used for analysis of the data. Research design is survey and correlational model. By the findings; critical thinking dispositions of teacher candidates do not differ according to gender, but academic achievement differs according to the gender. Both critical thinking dispositions and academic achievements of teacher candidates do not differ according to type of school. Critical thinking dispositions of teacher candidates differ according to field of study. There is a positive and weak relationship between critical thinking dispositions and academic achievements of teacher candidates.

Primeri bilinmeyen karaciğer metastazlarında ince iğne aspirasyon biyopsi sonuçlarının değerlendirilmesi

Background and Aims: Five percent of all cancers in patients are unknown primary carcinoma, and 33% of the patients with unknown primary carcinoma have liver metastasis. Thus, the histopathological diagnosis is important. The aim of this study was to evaluate the histopathological data with liver metastasis retrospectively. Materials and Methods: Fifty-eight patients (40 males, 18 females) with unknown liver mass who were hospitalized in Celal Bayar University Faculty of Medicine, Gastroenterology Department between January 2000 and August 2009 were reviewed retrospectively. The biopsy was taken by Tru-cut technique with 18G X 200mm-22mm needle guided by ultrasonography. The mean age of the 58 patients was 63.05 (32-86) years. Age, sex, histopathological/cytological diagnoses, and primary focus of the malignancy, if found, were evaluated. Results: The histopathological spectrum of liver metastasis included: 43 (72%) adenocarcinomas, 4 (6.8%) small cell carcinomas, 4 (6.8%) indifferent tumors, and 3 (5.2%) neuroendocrine tumors. Primary focus of malignancy was found in 43.1% of patients as: 60% colon, 16% pancreas and 12% stomach and gallbladder. Conclusions: Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of liver metastasis is a method used in determining histopathology.

Dispeptik Şikayeti olan ve olmayan demir eksikliği anemisinde üst gastrointestinal endoskopik bulgular

Background and Aims:Background and Aims: Dyspepsia is often defined as pain or discomfort centered in the upper abdomen, and includes symptoms such as epigastric pain, postprandial fullness, and early satiation. Endoscopy is also recommended in patients who have a family history of gastric cancer and who have alarm symptoms, for example iron deficiency anemia. We de-signed a retrospective study to determine lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract in patients with iron deficiency anemia divided into two groups as with and without dyspeptic symptoms. Materials and Methods: The study inclu-ded 124 patients with iron deficiency anemia divided into two groups as with and without dyspeptic symptoms, selected from among 1247 patients who underwent upper endoscopy in Celal Bayar University Faculty of Medicine, Gastroenterology Department, between 2005 and 2009. Results: There were no differences in upper endoscopy between patients with iron deficiency ane-mia with and without dyspeptic symptoms. Conclusions: We concluded that the endoscopic examination should be done with uncertain reasons in iron deficiency anemia patients with and without dyspeptic symptoms

Forensic Psychiatric Evaluation of Sexual Crime Cases

Objective: Sexual crimes are one of the most offensive crimes committed against individuals. Given that individuals from every age and both genders are affected from this action. It appears as a serious problem that threatens society and preventive measures have to be taken against it. It is an undeniable fact that; mental health seriously affected by sexual assaulted or abuse. In this study, we aimed to evaluate forensic psychiatric examination reports of the cases that are send to examine whether or not any permanent psychiatric impairment after sexual assault or abuse. Methods: Findings from examination of cases which are sent to Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical Faculty of Celal Bayar University between October 2012 and February 2014 for determining permanent psychiatric impairment were evaluated. Results: Number of examined cases was 55 and number of diagnosed cases was 33. The age range of cases were from 7 to 77 years (SD=20.39±13.17). Of the cases; 57.6% (n=19) were younger than 18, 87.9% (n=29) were women, 63.7% (n=21) were simple sexual assaulted or abused, in the 72.8% offender was known by cases, in the 30.3% (n=10) crime happened at the home of offender or case. As a result of forensic psychiatric evaluation, in the %30.3 of cases (n=10) were detected permanent psychiatric impairment. Conclusion: Examination of cases has to be performed scrupulously because, permanent psychiatric impairment by sexual crimes, not only negatively affect case his/her social environment but also it is a country's laws punishment-enhancing factor. Key words: Sexual assault, sexual abuse, mental health, forensic psychiatry.

WITHDRAWN: Correlation of Volume Control Parameters With Health-Related Quality of Life in Renal Transplant Patients

H. Colak, I. Sert, C. Ekmekci, C. Tugmen, Y. Kurtulmus, S. Kursat, and H. Toz Department of Nephrology, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey; Department of General Surgery, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey; Department of Cardiology, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey; Tissue Typing Laboratory, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey; Department of Nephrology, Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey; and Department of Nephrology, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey

Urinary catheterization and catheter associated urinary tract infections in children

Purpose:Micturating cystourethrogram is an important technique used to visualize vesicoureteral reflux and the bladder’s anatomy. The catheters that are used during micturating cystourethrogram procedures are one of the risk factors that directly cause urinary tract infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of urinary catheterization in urinary tract infections. Materials and methods:102 patients (62 boys, 40 girls) who were evaluated at Celal Bayar University Hafsa Sultan Hospital Pediatric Nephrology Polyclinic for recurrent urinary tract infections and who underwent micturating cystourethrogram procedures, between July 2010and 2012 were included in the study. Urine cultures were taken from all the patients before and two days after the micturating cystourethrogram procedure. Results: Of the urine cultures taken right before the micturating cystourethrogram procedures 2.9% and 11.7% of urine cultures taken 2 days after the procedures were positive for significant bacteriuria. Gender had no significant influence (p=0.07) on catheter-associated urinary tract infection. A significant relationship was observed between catheter-associated urinary tract infection and age when the patients were divided into two groups according to their age as under and above 5 years old (p=0,01). Escherichia Coli was the major pathogen that grew on the urine cultures taken both before and after the micturating cystourethrogram procedures. Conclusion: Using the proper sterilization procedures in situations which require urinary catheterization and developing new diagnostic procedures that can replace micturating cystourethrogram which is still the gold standard in vesicoureteral reflux diagnosis would be effective in preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infection. Pam Med J 2015;8(1):31-34

Reliability and validity of Turkish form of SCOFF Eating Disorders Scale

Objective: There is no useful scale both in daily routine psychiatry practice and field trials in Turkish. The aim of the study is to perform the reliability and validity study of SCOFF Eating Disorders Scale. Methods: The study sample is consisted of female students of grade 5 of Celal Bayar University, School of Medicine. For the study, 62 volunteers were invited and 50 individuals who fulfilled all the study instruments constituted the study sample. All the study volunteers were female and the mean age was found to be 22.31±1.68. For concurrent validity, Eating Attitude Test was applied. Results: The forward and back translation of the SCOFF Eating Disoders Scale was performed, and linguistic equivalence was obtained with the scale prepared. In internal consistency, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was found to be 0.74 and item-total correlation coefficients were between 0.21-0.55. In the exploratory factor analysis, one dimension was observed and all the items were represented. The confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the one-dimension structure. In the correlation analysis with Eating Attitude Test, the coefficient was found to be r=0.52. Conclusion: It is suggested that the Turkish form of SCOFF Eating Disorders Scale can be used reliably and validly in order to screen eating disorders.

Schizophrenia and gastroesophageal reflux symptoms.

Background:Psychological factors and psychiatric disorders play a role in a variety of gastrointestinal illnesses, including esophageal diseases.Aim:The aim of the present study was to evaluate the frequency of gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms in patients with schizophrenia in Turkey.Patients and Methods:Ninety-eight patients with schizophrenia and one hundred control individuals were enrolled in the study, which was undertaken at the Manisa State Hospital for Mental Health and Neurological Disorders and Celal Bayar University Gastroenterology Department. Case and control subjects alike underwent 30–45 min oral interviews conducted by a designated study coordinator (E.K.). The coordinator gathered information about demographic characteristics, social habits, and a large variety of symptoms suggestive of reflux disease or other gastrointestinal conditions.Results:In terms of reflux symptoms, cough was the only significant association in schizophrenic patients than controls. Heartburn and regurgitation were more frequent in schizophrenic patients who smoked than in controls who were smokers. However, the prevalence of reflux symptoms in cigarette smokers versus nonsmoker patients with schizophrenia was similar. Heartburn and/or regurgitation occurred more frequently in patients with schizophrenic than controls with alcohol use.Conclusions:Psychiatric disorders might indirectly affect esophageal physiology through increased consumption of alcohol and nicotine.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of procalcitonin and sTREM-1 levels in sepsis

Sepsis is still a major cause of morbidity and mortality despite the improvements in diagnosis and treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the values of procalcitonin and soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) in the differential diagnosis of patients with sepsis and noninfectious systemic inflammatory response syndrome (NI-SIRS) and measure their importance in the prognosis of patients with sepsis. This prospective study included 41 NI-SIRS and 33 sepsis patients hospitalized in Celal Bayar University Hospital, Manisa, Turkey. Blood samples were taken from NI-SIRS patients on days 0 and 3 and from sepsis patients on days 0, 3, 4, 7, and 14. Clinical status of the patients was determined with the SOFA scoring system. The SOFA scoring system and procalcitonin and sTREM-1 measurements were significant in the differential diagnosis of sepsis and NI-SIRS patients. The SOFA scoring system was considered the most important indicator in determining the prognosis of sepsis patients. Procalcitonin and sTREM-1 levels increased progressively in nonsurvivors and decreased in survivors, but changes were statistically insignificant. In the differentiation of sepsis and NI-SIRS, and evaluation of the prognosis of sepsis, combined measurements of procalcitonin and sTREM-1 levels are important.