Gaziantep University Research Articles

Allergy skin test results of an outpatient pulmonary clinic in Gaziantep

Environmental factors play an important role in allergic sensitization. The aim of this study was to determine the spectrum of aeroallergen sensitivity of patients. The skin prick test results of patients with symptoms compatible with allergic diseases between March 2002 and December 2004 were retrospectively evaluated in Gaziantep University Pulmonary outpatient clinic. Of 1627 patients in whom skin prick tests (Stallergenes, France) were performed, 528 (32.5%) patients had at least one positive result among 8 allergens. The mean age of patients who had positive allergic skin test was 33.03 ± 11.80 (16-69), and 335 (63.4%) of those were female. Two hundred twenty five (52%) patients had positive skin prick test for one allergen tested, while 253 (48%) patients had positive skin prick test for multiple allergens. Phleum pratensis was the most common allergen found to be positive in 221 (41.8%) patients. The prevalence of positive tests were as follows; cockroach (32.9%), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (32.7%), Olea europea (27%), cat dander (14.9%), Parieteria officinalis (11.7%), Cladosporium (9.8%) and Alternaria (8.9%).Phleum pratensis and cockroach were the most common allergens causing a sensitivity reaction detected in our clinic.

A Case of Klippel-Feil Syndrome Causing a Mass Appearance in the Nape

Savas Guner1, Mehmet Hamdi Sahan2, Mehmet.Fethi Ceylan1, Fuldem Yildirim Donmez3, Akif Sirikci4 1Department of Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery, Medical School of Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, 2Department of Radiology, Kizilaslan Medical Center, Gaziantep, 3Department of Radiology, Medical School of Baskent University, Ankara,4Department of Radiology, Medical School of Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey A Case of Klippel-Feil Syndrome Causing a Mass Appearance in the Nape

Difficulties Encountered by Nursing Students in Practices and Their Views about Nurses

AIM: The clinical setting is a significant learning environment for nursing students. This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the problems experienced in clinical practices by the students studying in the Nursing Department of the Health Sciences Faculty of Gaziantep University and their views about clinic nurses. METHOD: Study consisted of 296 students who agreed to take part in the study and were attending the classes at the time when the questionnaire was administered became the sample of the study. Data were collected between 2-13 May 2011 using a questionnaire which was prepared by searching through the literature. The data obtained was electronically evaluated using quantification, percentage calculations and chi-square test. RESULTS: Most of the students stated that they worked with nurses (44.3%) and their friends (44.3%) during clinical practices, the major reason for their having problems was because they could not put into practice the theoretical knowledge they received in school (33.8%), 59.1% stated that nurses partially helped them use their conceptual knowledge in practice, and 53.0% said that they did not have any support from nurses when they experienced a problem during practice. When the students were compared by their grades, it was found that the 1st grade students received support from nurses in solving the problems they had in the clinic and in using the conceptual knowledge they had in practice, but this support decreased as their grades went up (p

Ligneous gingivitis: a case report

Ligneous gingivitis, also known as destructive membranous periodontal disease is a rare periodontal condition. While first case was published by Frimodt-Moller at 1973, ligneous conjunctivitis was first described in 1847 by Bouisson. It is characterized by nodular gingival enlargement with ulcerations. Usually conjunctival and gingival lesions were observed together and have same histopathological changes. A 32 month-old female patient with ligneous conjunctivitis, was referred to Gaziantep University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Periodontology clinic with the diagnosis of spread gingival enlargement at the mandible and maxilla. These gingival enlargements were painless, hyperemic, nodular, and woody-like and covered by pseudo membrane. Radiographic evaluation showed normal alveolar bone and no attachment loss. Hematological analyses showed an increase in white blood cells, and increase in lymphocytes but decrease in neutrophils. As far as we know this is the youngest case reporting ligneous gingivitis after Frimodt-Mollers' case. Although most of the case reports focused on histopathological change and level of plasminogen in these patients, up to now exact information about pathogenesis of ligneous gingivitis and conjunctivitis is not available in the literature. Question of the researchers about how to manage and effectively treat this disease remains unclear.

Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesindeki Çocuklarda Uyku Alışkanlıkları ve Uyku Problemleri ile İlişkili Faktörler

Objective: Sleep has an important role in child development and is necessary for supporting optimal health for lifetime. This study examined the sleep habits of children in southeastern Turkey and certain risk factors that contribute to sleep problems. Material and Methods: The study included 300 parents who visited the paediatric outpatient department of Gaziantep University Hospital and agreed to complete the questionnaire. The questionnaire was based on the significant variables found in a review of the previous literature on childhood sleep, and was examined tested in a pilot study. Statistical significance was determined as p<0.05. Results: The ages of the children (171 males, 129 females) included in the study ranged from 1 month to 12 years (median age 2.0 years). Fifty-three percent (128) of the children experienced night waking, 38.0% (114) had difficulty falling asleep and 39.3% (118) demonstrated bedtime resistance. Difficulty in falling asleep and bedtime resistance were more common among children whose parents did something to soothe them when they woke up crying, and whose bedtime varied each night (p<0.05). Night waking was affected by factors such as soothing the child when waking up crying, irregular bedtime and sleeping during the daytime (p<0.05). Parents were more likely to soothe the children who slept in the same room (p<0.001). The mean night sleep duration was longer among children whose parents did preparations before sleeping (p=0.010). Conclusion: Sleep problems are very common in childhood. Certain factors such as irregular bedtime routines, varying bedtimes, and soothing activities are important factors in the development of sleep problems. Therefore, sleep problems and sleep quality should be assessed in routine visits to the paediatrician.

Effects of Hydro and Osmo-Priming on Seed Vigor of Pea (Pisum sativum L)

Study was conducted to determine the effects of osmo-priming on germination of pea seeds (Pisum sativum L). Experiment was arranged under completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates. This study was conducted in germination cabinet at Gaziantep University Vocational School of Higher Education in Nurdagi during February-May 2013. Seeds were primed in various osmotic potential of polyethylene glycol-6000 (-0.3, -0.6, -0.9 and -1.2 MPa) and distilled water (2.5 μs/cm) at 20 0C for 24 hours and there was also a control treatment. In this study, 3 pea cultivars (Utrillo, Carina and Rondo) were used and germination tests were carried out in dark conditions in a germination cabinet held at 20 0C and 50% relative humidity for 8 days. The beneficial and harmful effects of priming depend on the organism physiology and aim of this study Hydro and Osmo-Priming effects on germination in pea (Pisum sativum L.) seeds. Seedling length, germination percentage, vigor index values varied between treatments 1.32-5.85cm, 48.33-86.39% and 73.54-543.89, respectively. Results showed that Carina cultivar is more resistant to osmotic stress than other pea cultivars (Rondo and Utrillo).

Listening Text Type as a Variable Affecting Listening Comprehension Anxiety

Every foreign language learner feels inadequate, ineffective or helpless at a certain period in the language learning process. Of the main reasons of these feelings, anxiety has been pronounced more frequently than the other affective variables in the literature. The primary concern of this research was to investigate the influence of listening text type on Foreign Language Listening Anxiety (FLLA), which is a skill-specific type of general language learning anxiety. The sample consisted of 130 students in the preparatory English classes of Gaziantep University. As a result of a series of one-way ANOVAs conducted on the data obtained from the FLLA scale and an anxometer (MacIntyre and Gardner, 1991), the current study demonstrated that listening text type is a distinctive factor for Foreign Language Listening Anxiety. Based on a comparison of text types in terms of their effects on listening anxiety, it was concluded that the authenticity of the listening text leads to more listening anxiety.

A surprising cause of recurrent delirium; gout attack

Z.A. Ozturk *, S. Kaya , E. Savas , M.E. Kuyumcu , Y. Yesil , Y. Kepekci a Gaziantep University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, 27100 Sahinbey, Gaziantep, Turkey Gaziantep University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, 27100 Sahinbey, Gaziantep, Turkey Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, 06560 Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey Available online at

The Relationship between Vocabulary Learning Strategies and Vocabulary Proficiency of English Language Learners

The current study was carried out to examine L2 learners’ VLS use habits and the relationship of VLS with their vocabulary proficiency levels. In addition, language learners’ beliefs about VLS in terms of usefulness were also studied to understand L2 learners’ VLS use habits more deeply. To examine these matters, a descriptive research design was employed. The participants included 252 preparatory students from different proficiency groups (Upper-Intermediate, Intermediate, Pre-Intermediate, Beginner) at Gaziantep University Higher School of Foreign Languages. To collect the related data, they were given “Vocabulary Learning Strategies Questionnaire” and “Vocabulary Levels Test”. The data analyses were conducted by descriptive and inferential statistics. The results of the study showed that the participants used a wide range of VLS, and there was an overlap between their beliefs about VLS in terms of usefulness and how often they used them to a large extent. Secondly, Memory Strategies correlated positively with the participants’ academic and general vocabulary proficiency levels. However, there were also some differences among the proficiency groups about which specific VLS are correlated with their vocabulary proficiency levels. As to the regression analysis results, none of the VLS predicted participants’ vocabulary proficiency levels.

Comparison of metabolic syndrome with growing epidemic syndrome Z in terms of risk factors and gender differences

The aim of this study is to compare metabolic syndrome with syndrome Z growing epidemic in terms of risk factors, demographic variables, and gender differences in our large cohort at southeastern area in Turkey. Data of patients admitted to sleep clinic in University of Gaziantep from January 2006 to January 2011 were retrospectively evaluated. ATP III and JNC 7 were used for defining metabolic syndrome and hypertension. Data of 761 patients were evaluated. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, pulmonary hypertension, and left ventricular hypertrophy were more common in patients with syndrome Z than in patients without metabolic syndrome. Age, waist/neck circumferences, BMI, triglyceride, glucose, and Epworth sleepiness scale score were detected higher, whereas the minimum oxygen saturation during sleep was lower in patients with syndrome Z. Metabolic syndrome was more common in sleep apneic subjects than in controls (58 versus 30 %). Female sleep apneics showed higher rate of metabolic syndrome than those of males (74 versus 52 %). Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and left ventricular hypertrophy were detected higher in males with syndrome Z than in males without metabolic syndrome. Snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness were detected higher in females with syndrome Z than in females without metabolic syndrome. Systemic/pulmonary hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and left ventricular hypertrophy were more common in females with syndrome Z than in females without metabolic syndrome. Complaints of headache and systemic/pulmonary hypertension were more common among females than males with syndrome Z. Female syndrome Z patients had lower minimum oxygen saturation than male patients with syndrome Z. Metabolic syndrome in sleep apneic patients is more prevalent than in controls. All metabolic syndrome parameters were significantly different among obstructive sleep apneic patients with respect to gender with more severe coronary risk factors in males.

Salinity Stress in Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Seed Germination

In this study, the effect of five different levels of salt (NaCl) on the germination of Phaseolus vulgaris L. seed was investigated. Laboratory experiment with completely randomized design comprising three replicates in Petri dishes was conducted at Gaziantep University Vocational School of Higher Education in Nurdagi to determine the salt effects on common bean germination. The germination of the cultivar (Tegmen) was studied using distilled water (control) and under osmotic potential of 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2, and 1.5 MPa NaCl. The results indicated that the Mean germination time (MGT), Germination index (GI), Coefficient of velocity of germination (CVG), Germination percentage (GP), and Seed vigor index (SVI) varied between 3.13 and 3.78 days, 6.88 and 3.93, 0.156 and 0.153, 90 and 60%, and 867.0 and 290.3, respectively. Significant differences were found among NaCl treatments in terms of GI, GP, and SVI. All the examined parameters were decreased with increasing NaCl concentration, except MGT. The max and min GI, GP, CVG, and SVI were observed at the control condition (0.0 MPa) and highest osmotic potential (1.5 MPa) of NaCl, respectively. Correlation coefficient between all possible combinations was estimated and the results indicated that MGT, GI, GP, CVG, and SVI had significant positive or negative correlation with each other.

Extreme alkaline phosphatase elevation in an asymptomatic geriatric patient

Y. Yes il *, M.E. Kuyumcu , Z.A. Ozturk , B. Sait , N.K. Yes il , M. Halil , M. Cankurtaran , S. Ariogul a Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, 06100 Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep University, 27100 Sahinbey, Gaziantep Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, 06100 Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey Department of Rheumatology, Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey Available online at

Massive Pulmonary Embolism with Mobile Right Atrial Thrombus in a Pregnant Patient Using Valproic Acid

Correspondence to / Yazisma Adresi: Ibrahim Sari, Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep University, 27310 Gaziantep, Turkey Phone: +90 505 355 67 97 Fax: +90 342 360 39 28 e.mail: drisari@yahoo.com doi:10.5152/jaem.2011.048 Hatice Ender Soydinc1, Murat Yuce2, Emine Sari3, Sema Yavuz2, Ibrahim Sari2, Vedat Davutoglu2, Remzi Yigiter4, Murat Akcay2 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey 2 Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey 3 Department of Pediatrics, Zeynep Kamil Women and Children Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey 4 Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey

Food Safety Awareness and Opinions of the Nursing and Medical Students at Gaziantep University

AIM: Food safety is defined as the prevention of any decay or contamination in food substances until they are ready for consumption. Foodborne diseases are a growing public health problem. Our research was conducted as a descriptive study to determine the food awareness and associated opinions of the students at the Faculty of Medicine and the Nursing Department of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Gaziantep University. METHOD: The research was conducted with the students at the Faculty of Medicine and the Nursing Department of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Gaziantep University between 8 March and 26 March 2010 and with 175 students who accepted to participate in the research. Verbal consent was obtained from the students before the initiation of the research. Data were collected by the researchers by face-to-face interview technique and by using a questionnaire of 20 questions which was prepared after a review of literature. Collected data were evaluated by using chi-square and student t-test analysis assessed by SPSS 11.0 program. RESULTS: Approximately 62.9% of the students were between 18-20 years of age. It was determined that 56.0% of the students were interested in food safety, 50.9% did not think that the food they consumed was safe, 41.7% paid attention to brand and nutrition values and whether the food is organic when they do food shopping. All students considered safety as a crucial factor in food consumption (100%), 60.0% paid attention to nutrition values, 58.3% paid attention to the expiry date and 41.8% paid attention to the brand on the package of food substances while shopping. Most of the students responded to the statement “food additives are carcinogen” as “yes” (70.9%); while 66.3% of the students responded as “I have no idea” to the statement “Additives with code E are not harmful to health”, and 55.4% of the students responded as “No” to the statement “all additives are harmful to human health”. It was also determined that 92.6% of the students agreed with the statement “spoiled food and meals should be discarded”. CONCLUSION: It was found that nursing students had a significantly greater interest in food safety

Analysis of seconder anal sphincter repair in patients with faecal incontinence

SUMMARY Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of seconder anal sphincter repair in patients with faecal incontinence. Design: Retrospective study Setting: Gaziantep University, Medical School, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Patients: Patients with fecal incontinence. Interventions: Seconder end-to-end repair of anal sphincter. Main outcome measures: Postoperative flatus and faecal incontinence Results: Twelve (75%) women had improvement for faecal incontinence in which 4 (25%) women had flatus incontinence. Conclusions: The results of seconder anal sphincter repair in Gaziantep University, Medical School, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology was observed in consistent with literature. Further randomised controlled trials to compare the effectiveness of different techniques including overlap repair, end-to-end repair in reducing anal incontinence are needed.

Botulinum toxin injections for blepharospasm prior to ocular surgeries

PurposeThe aim of this study was to show the efficiency of preoperative botulinum toxin A (Botox A) in patients with benign essential blepharospasm who were to undergo ocular surgery with local anesthesia.Materials and methodsTwenty-eight benign essential blepharospasm patients who were administered unilateral Botox A prior to ocular surgery between January 2004 and May 2011 were included in this study. Eleven cases had pterygiums, ten had cataracts, and four had glaucomas, while the remaining three had aphakia. All cases’ severity of spasm (stage 0–4) and eyelid closing forces (stage 1–4) were evaluated according to the Jankovic scale prior to the injection, at 3 days, 14 days, 1 month, and 3 months after Botox A injection.ResultsOf the patients enrolled in the study, 16 were female and 12 were male, with an average age of 55.52 ± 1.53 years (52–65). Average onset of the Botox injection’s effect was 2.8 ± 0.9 (2–5) days. Its effect lingered for about 11.5 ± 3.6 (8–22) weeks. The severity of spasm and eyelid closing forces of all the patients enrolled were compared prior to the injection at 3 and 14 days and the first and third months after the injection. There were statistically significant differences between prior to the injection and 3 days (P = 0.001), 14 days (P < 0.001) and 1 month after the injection (P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between prior to the injection and 3 months after the injection (P = 0.513). Fourteen days following the injection, the surgeries were successfully performed.ConclusionBotox A administered prior to ocular surgery will control both blepharospasm and lower the risks that can be encountered before and during surgery, thus increasing the comfort of the patient and the surgeon.

Effects of two commercial insulin immunoassays on insulin c-peptide correlation

The molar ratio of insulin to C-peptide in peripheral venous blood argues for surreptitious/inadvertent insulin administration or insulinoma/sulfonylurea ingestion as the cause of the hypoglycemia. Commercial immunoassays for insulin are prone to discrepancy because of heterogeneity in circulating forms that react with antisera and cross-reactivity with proinsulin. In this study we compared molar ratio of insulin to C-peptide analyzed by different assays in independent patient groups. In this retrospective study patients admitted to Gaziantep University Hospital Central Laboratory between 2010-2011 recruited the study group. Patients with unknown or positive history of insulin therapy were excluded. Study groups were constructed according to insulin analysis methods; 78 patients whose insulin levels have been assayed by Abbott Architech i2000 (group 1) and by Immulite2000 (n:132, group 2). C peptide levels of the both groups have been analyzed by Immulite2000. Insulin to C-peptide ratio is higher for group1 than group 2 (p>0.05). The correlation coefficient of group 1 was lower than group 2 (r: 0,46 vs. r: 0,65, p

Metabolic Syndrome Prevalence in Childhood Obesity and Assesment of Obesity Related Conditions

Childhood obesity is an important risk factor fort he development of metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to assess the childhood obesity and the related conditions, to investigate the frequency of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome and the possible related factors with these. The medical records of patients those referring to the Well-Child Outpatient Clinic of Gaziantep University, School of Medicine for routine health check-ups (medical examination) or to be vaccination were reviewed. 100 obese children, diagnosed according the International Obesity Task Force, included into the study. Relative weight ratio between 120-140 was classified as obesity, and a ratio above 140 was considered as morbid obesity. The average age of patients (55 female, 45 male) was 11.2 ±3.8 (3-17) years. Thirty three of the subjects were children and, 67 of them were adolescents. The 48% percent of the subjects were morbidly obese. Morbid obesity was higher in adolescents and in patients with a consanguinity between parents. Insulin resistance was determined 6.7% in children, 47.5% in adolescents. Free T4 levels were lower in patients with insulin resistance (p= 0.000). There was a negative correlation between fT4 and weight, body mass index and HOMA levels (p<0.05). Metabolic syndrome prevalence was 42.4% in children, 64.2% in adolescents according to the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III and 29.9% according to the International Diabetes Foundation (only adolescents). Metabolic syndrome prevalence was higher in adolescents (p=0.039). Conclusion: Being morbidly obese of half of the subjects and determination of metabolic syndrome in approximately more than half of the subjects are important conditions for the development of metabolic complications at the adulthood. Determination and measure of risk factors fort he development of metabolic syndrome in childhood obesity will provide a considerable contribution to public health.

Ischemia modified albumin in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusions

The differential diagnosis of pleural effusion often requires invasive procedures. Up to 25 percent of pleural effusions can remain undiagnosed with an unclear pathogenesis. Therefore new biological markers may increase diagnostic yield and provide better understanding of pathogenesis of pleural effusion. We hypothesized that new ischemia biomarker, "ischemia modified albumin (IMA)" would help in both the differentiation of the underlying etiologies and provide a better understanding of pathogenesis of pleural effusions. This study was done between December 2009 and September 2010 in the Department of Pulmonary Diseases of Gaziantep University Hospital. One hundred and sixteen subjects with pleural effusion were included. Pleural and blood IMA levels were measured by ELISA. The underlying etiologies of pleural effusions were as follows: transudates (n = 50), malignancy (n = 32), tuberculosis (n = 12), pulmonary thromboembolism (n = 6), pneumonia (n = 16). The median pleural IMA levels were significantly different between the groups (p < 0.000). There were no such differences in the blood levels of IMA. The most striking difference in the median pleural IMA levels was between transudates and exudates (7986 (25-75%, 5145-56.505) ng/mL; 3376 (25-75%, 1935-4660) ng/mL; respectively, p = 0.000). The area under the ROC curve was 0.837 ± 0.038 for the cut-off level higher than 4711 ng l/mL for the differentiation of transudates from exudates (sensitivity, 82%; specificity, 78%; 95% CI, 0.76 to 0.91; p = 0.0000). In conclusion, the pleural IMA levels are higher in transudates compared to exudates. No such differences were observed in blood levels of IMA suggesting that there are reasons other than ischemia that cause an increase in pleural fluid IMA levels.

No Association between DNA Repair Gene (XPD, XRCC1, and XRCC4) Polymorphisms and Nonsyndromic Microtia in Turkish Patients

Sir: Microtia is defined as a malformation of the auricle, ranging from minimal abnormalities to major structural alterations or even total absence of the external ear. The incidence of microtia is reported to vary from 0.83 to 17.4 per 10,000 births.1 XRCC1 (x-ray cross-complementing group 1 protein) is involved in the repair of DNA base damage and single-strand DNA breaks.2 The XPD (xeroderma pigmentosum group D) protein is an essential 5′-3′ helicase involved in the nucleotide excision repair pathway, and in regulation of transcription, the cell cycle, and apoptosis.3 X-ray repair cross-complementing group 4 (XRCC4) gene's protein functions together with DNA ligase IV and the DNA-dependent protein kinase in the repair of DNA double-strand break.4 The aim of this study was to investigate the links between DNA repair enzyme (XPD, XRCC, and XRCC4) variants and nonsyndromic microtia. Nineteen nonsyndromic microtia patients and 40 healthy controls were included in this study. We studied the polymorphisms of XPD (751), XRCC1 (-399), and XRCC4 (-1394 and variable number of tandem repeat in intron 3) genes. The study was approved by the local ethical committee, and informed consent was obtained from the patients. A chi-square test was used for statistical analysis of genotype and allele frequencies in the case and control groups. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was calculated using the de Finetti program. The distribution of GG, GA, and AA genotypes for XRCC1 (-399) polymorphism was 21, 31.5, and 47.5 percent (p = 0.161) in cases compared with 30, 32.5, and 37,5 percent in the controls (p = 0.028), respectively. The distribution of AA, AC, and CC genotypes for XPD (-751) polymorphism was 52.6, 26.3, and 21.1 percent in cases (p = 0.07) compared with 52.5, 14, and 5 percent in the controls (p = 0.291), respectively. The distribution of II, ID, and DD genotypes for XRCC4 variable number of tandem repeat polymorphism was 47.4, 26.3, and 26.3 percent in cases (p = 0.05) compared with 25, 60, and 15 percent in the controls (p = 0.179), respectively. Also, the distribution of TT, GT, and GG genotypes for XRCC4 (-1394) polymorphism was 52.6, 31.6, and 15.8 percent in cases (p = 0.24) compared with 37.5, 37.5, and 25 percent in the controls (p = 0.132), respectively (Table 1).Table 1: Analyzed DNA Repair Genes and Their Genotype Distributions in Patients and Control GroupsXPD, XRCC1, and XRCC4 are all genes involved in the DNA repair process. They are responsible for regulation of apoptosis and proliferation during development. Our aim was to investigate a possible association between the polymorphisms of these genes and nonsyndromic microtia. The statistical analysis of genotype and allele frequencies of case and control groups did not turn out to be statistically meaningful. DNA repair gene polymorphisms and their linkage to nonsyndromic microtia were not studied hitherto. Although no association was found between DNA repair gene polymorphisms and nonsyndromic microtia, designing such an experiment with a much larger patient group would yield more accurate results. For further studies, candidate genes that have a predominant cartilage expression and major impact on apoptosis and cell proliferation during development are good options. Tugce Sever, M.Sc.Bio. Department of Medical Biology and Genetics Berker Buyukgural, M.D. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Sacide Pehlivan, Ph.D. R. Ozgur Rosti, M.D. Department of Medical Biology and Genetics Mehmet Bekerecioglu, M.D. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine Gaziantep, Turkey