Carnitine deficiency causes fatty liver and progressive muscle weakness. We evaluated the effect of long-term prednisolone treatment on free carnitine concentrations in body fluids and tissues. The female Wistar Albino rats were used in the study and were devided into four groups. Prednisolone was administered (2 mg/kg/d) orally for 15 days and 30 days to group I (n=8) and group III (n=9), respectively. Placebo was administered orally for 15 days and 30 days to group II (n=8) and group IV (n=10), respectively. Blood samples were obtained from abdominal aorta on day 15 in groups I and II, on day 30 in groups III and IV. Liver, heart muscle and skeletal muscle samples were also obtained on day 15 in groups I and II, on day 30 in groups III and IV following decapitation. Free carnitine concentrations of urine, serum, heart muscle, skeletal muscle were similar in all four groups (p>0.05). However, the free carnitine concentrations of liver in group I were significantly reduced as compared with groups II and III (p<0.05). The findings suggest that the long term prednisolone treatment reduced free carnitine concentration of liver tissue in early period of the treatment and this effect of prednisolone abolished in late period of treatment.

Aim: This resarch was conducted to determine family planning methods used by women during the first six months of the post partum period. Material-Methods: This resarch was conducted as descriptively to determine family planning methods used by women at the end of the post partum six months. Sample of the study was consisted of 230 voluntarily participating women who were at the end of the postpartum six months. Data were collected by phone call. X² test, Fisher Exact test and percentages, have been used as statistical analysis method for evaluating the data. Results: Of all the women in the resarch 85.7% had been informed about family planning methods before pregnancy. Among sources of information, media were in the first place with 40.9%. 72.6% of women had used one of the contraceptive methods before pregnancy period. It is determined that almost all of the women had used a contraceptive method at the end of the first post partum six months ( 94.3%). Although using condom was the most preferred method, (respectively 31.7 % and 42.0 %) withdrawal was second frequently used method during pre pregnancy period and post partum six months (respectively 16.1% and 26.7%). Having no side effects was the first reason for the methods prefered. It is determined that usage of contraceptive methods during post partum six months is not affected by education level, age, planned pregnancy and type of birth (p>0.05). On the other hand, it is affected during the period before pregnancy (p<0.05). Conclusion: Using family planning methods in the postpartum period is important for the health and health promotion of women. It can be said that, family planning counseling must be done most effectively especially being given by post partum clinic’s personel, in order to increase the usage of family plannig method.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine mortality and morbidity-rates for infants weighting ≤1500 g, admitted to the neonatal-intensive-care-unit of our hospital between February 2009 and 2010. Materials and Methods: The charts of 148 very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Of the patients, 52.7% were female (n:78), and 47.3% were male (n:70). The mean-gestational-age and birth-weight were 28.8±2.4 (23-37) weeks and 1280±273 (460-1500) g, respectively. 44.6% of infants were ≤28 gestational-weeks, 18.2% of them had ≤1000 g birthweight. The most important maternal-risk-factors were maternal-age (<20 and >35 years-old, 30.4%), multiple-birth (≥5, 19.6%), multiple-pregnancy (18.9%), and premature-rupture of membranes (>24 h, 10.1%). The mortality-rate was 29.1% and it was greater for the male than the female infants (62.8% vs 37.2%). The rates of transient-tachipnea of newborn, respiratory-distress-syndrome (RDS), intracranial-hemorrhage (ICH), sepsis, chronic-lung-disease, necrotizing-enterocolitis and retinopathy of prematurity were 50.7%, 41.2%, 22.2%, 16.9%, 6.1%, 2.7% and 2%, respectively. Major causes of death were extreme-prematurity and related to RDS, extremely-low-birth-weight, ICH and sepsis. Conclusions: Mortality-rate of VLBW infants in this study was higher than developed countries but comparable to the rates of our country. We conclude that the major-cause of high-mortality-rate depends on low-socio-cultural conditions associated with insufficient-prenatal-care, neonatal-care-unit and inaccurate-neonatal-transport in our region.

Aim: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of ketamine added as an adjuvant to levobupivacaine on sistolic, diastolic and mean blood pressures, heart rate, onset, peak and offset times of sensory and motor blocks, time of first postoperative pain, time of first analgesic requirement and total analgesic requirements. Methods: Fourty patients aged between 18-60 years and undergoing lower limb surgery from the ASA I-II risk group were included in the study. Patients were randomly assigned into two groups according to the used treatment drugs. First group received only 0.375% levobupivacaine and second group received a mixture of 0.375% levobupivacaine and 0.5 mg/kg ketamine. The patients were premedicated with i.v. 0.03 mg/kg midazolam before sciatic and femoral nerve block. Patients from both groups were treated with 20 and 15 ml of study drugs for sciatic and femoral nerve block with the same anesthetic technique, respectively. Onset times of sensory and motor blocks were recorded with 1 minute interval in the first 10 minutes, thereafter with 5 minutes intervals. Offset times of sensory and motor blocks were evaluated with one hour interval after the surgery. Vital signs such as sistolic, diastolic and mean blood pressures, peripheral oxygene saturation and heart rates were recorded with 5-minutes intervals. Postoperative first pain time, postoperative first analgesic requirement time and total analgesic consumption were recorded. Results: Sistolic, diastolic and mean blood pressures, heart rates, peripheral oxygene saturation, onset, peak and offset times of motor and sensory blocks, postoperative first pain time, postoperative first analgesic requirement time and total analgesic consumption during 24 hours were not statistically different between groups. Conclusion: We concluded that the addition of ketamine to levobupivacaine reduced onset and peak times and increased offset times of sensory and motor blocks, delayed first time of pain and analgesic requirement and also reduced total analgesic consumption, although these differences were not statistically significant.

Aim: The aim of this study was to establish the diagnostic value of serum cytokine levels (neopterin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interferon-gamma (IFN-ү)) in treatment follow up patients with brucellosis by comparing pre-treatment, mid-treatment and post-treatment values with healthy control group. Material and methods: Serum neopterin, IL-6, IL-12 and IFN-ү were measured by ELISA method. In statistical evaluation, SPSS program was used. P≤0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. Results: Thirty-two cases with brucellosis (22 acute, 5 chronic, 5 subacute brucellosis cases, 21 female, 11 male, mean age: 36.5 years) and a control group of 16 healthy persons (10 male, 6 female, mean age: 42.4 years) were included in the study. There was no statistical significance between pre-treatment, mid-treatment and post-treatment values of serum neopterin, IL-6, IL-12 and IFN-ү in brucellosis patients. Serum neopterin values showed statistically significance between patient and control group. Conclusion: In order to establish the importance of serum cytokines in treatment follow up and prognosis in brucellosis, we are in the opinion that in addition to serum cytokine levels, other controlled studies with more subjects and investigation of cytokine gene polymorphism are needed to be accomplished.

Aim: Gastric cancer is one of the most common gastrointestinal cancers. It has been estimated that patients younger than 40 years represent 2-8% of all patients with gastric carcinoma. We reviewed the charts of patients with gastric carcinoma younger than 40 years old. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of the young patients who were operated for gastric carcinoma at Ondokuz Mayıs University Medical Faculty between August 2004 and October 2009. Results: Seventeen patients were 40 years old or younger than 40 years. Thirteen of them were included in the study. There were 9 male and 4 female patients. Ten out of 13 were younger than 35 years old. The average age of the patients younger than 35 years old was 30 years. One patient was stage IV and remaining were stage III. The average follow up was 31.4 months and 4 patients died during the follow up. Conclusion: The incidence of gastric cancer in young patients is increasing. The poorer prognosis in young patients is related to the stage at the time of diagnosis. Young age is not an independent prognostic factor. Gastric cancer in young patients tends to be more advanced, but when matched for stage, the prognosis is similar to older patients.

treatment of lupus nephritis is still a significant problem. In this study, we aimed to investigation our remission rates, factors related to remission and the treatment results of lupus nephritis patients in our center. Materials and methods: We retrospectively investigated the laboratory and the treatment results of 20 patients with lupus nephritis. The patients were grouped in terms of urine protein levels; patients with urine protein <0,3 g/day were regarded as in remission group and patients with urine protein > 0,3 g/day were regarded as in non-remission group. The relationships among clinical, laboratory, demographic parameters and remissions were investigated. Results: Complete remission was achieved in 11 (55%) with lupus nephritis patients while 9 (45%) lupus nephritis patients had no-remission. Significant relationship was found between basal creatinine and patient remission (p<0.05). No relationship was found between other clinical and laboratory parameters and patient remission (p>0.05). Conclusion: According to our study, significant relationship was found between basal creatinine and patient remission. The results of our treatments were similar to in the literature. Despite new studies and new drugs, the treatment of lupus nephritis is still a significant problem.

Gastric perforation in the newborn are cases with high mortality more common in prematurity. Many cases are reported in the literature but the main mechanisms of the perforation and its pathogenesis are still not clear. Regardless of the cause, surgical correction with primary closure is an appropriate procedure. Mortality increases with coexisting conditions. We present a case of a male newborn with respiratory distress and bradicardia after birth who was intubated and developed abdominal distension with pneumoperitoneum on plain abdominal radiography. Conclusion: We suggest that iatrogenic gastric perforation due to mechanical ventilation early diagnosis and management are substantial in newborn gastric perforations.

Acute hepatitis, is the inflammation of the liver and necrosis of the liver cell. Many different causes such as viruses, drugs, alcohol, metabolic diseases, toxins, infectious diseases, ischemia and autoimmunity may lead to acute hepatitis. In recent years, as considered to have benefits for many diseases and slimming, herbal preperations and slimming tea consumption is increased. There is no sufficient information about the side effects of these products which contain many biologically active compounds. We presented a rare case who developed acute hepatitis due to use of herbal tea to lose weight.

An 18 years old girl was hospitalized with a diagnosis of Arterio-Venous Malformation (AVM) in the left hand fourth digit which was propagated in the last two years. The AVM was confirmed with MR angiography. With the surgical intervention afferent and efferent vascular portions were excised totally and the digit’s arterial vascular patency was preserved. After the operation period there was no ischemic compliants and symptoms in our patient and with the performed MR angiography it was confirmed that the AVM was vanished. There were no recurrence or complications after one year’s control. The surgery is an effective therapeutical modality in the AVMs localized in the upper extremities.

Left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) is a rare complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) even at the pre reperfusion era and has the responsibility of one-third of AMI related mortality. In reperfusion era free wall rupture is seen less frequently, so early diagnosis and emergent treatment is of importance. We represented a 63-year-old woman who was treated by streptokinase due to acute lateral MI. Subacute rupture of free wall which caused pericardial tamponade was revealed by echocardiography, and the rupture was operated successfully. Our case emphasizes the importance of appropriate tools for the diagnosis, which can be life rescuing.

Capnocytophaga spp. is Gram-negative, non-spore forming, capnophilic rod that produces yellow-orange pigmentation on the agar medias. Dysgonic fermenter group 2 species are a part of the oral flora of the cats and dogs. Dysgonic fermenter group 1 species are a part of the normal oral flora in healthy individuals. Capnocytophaga ochracea is recognized an unusual opportunistic pathogen causing severe disease (bacteriemia, endocarditis, peritonitis etc.) in immunocompromised patients. In this case report, describing Capnocytophaga ochracea bacteriemia in a 57-year-old male patient receiving chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia M1 is presented. In addition, the characteristic features of this microorganism are discussed together with a review of the literature.

Colchicine is a commonly used for acute gout, pseudogout, Behcet’s disease and Familial Mediterranean Fever. Colchicine intoxication is a uncommon, but may lead to potentially life-threatening events such as cardiovascular collapse, respiratory failure, pancytopenia or septicemia. Colchicine intoxication may cause unpredictable results, thus all such patients should be admitted to hospital for monitoring in intensive care unit. We presented a case with ileus due colchicine intoxication.

disorder of collagen tissue. Since any delay in diagnosis and treatment will lead to increased mortality and morbidity, early and accurate diagnosis is important. In systemic lupus erythematosus, rarely, renal involvement may be the only first finding. When histopathological findings of renal biopsy strongly support lupus nephritis, patients should be treated appropriately for a long period even the other clinical immunological findings are not found. We present systemic lupus erythmatosus case that histopathological findings were suggestive of lupus nephritis but were diagnosed accurately months later after clinical serological findings appeared.