Eventhough hydrocephalus has been known for many years, there has not been a consensus on the treatment and follow up methods. Ventriculoperitoneal shunting is the most frequently used technique in the treatment. But complications such as infection, overdrainage and obstruction cause increase in dysfunction rate of ventriculoperitoneal shunt which ends in revision or replacement of the shunt. In this study we retrospectively analyzed the patients admitted to Neurosurgery Clinic of the Yüzüncü Yıl University Medical School, with the diagnosis of hydrocephalus. There were 33 patients operated on, of which 17 were female and 16 were male. All of them underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunting. 11 revision operations were performed with the diagnosis of shunt dysfunction. Revision rate was 11% per year. 11 hydrocephalic patients had also spinal dysraphism. 2 patients died in the postoperative period infection has been reported as the leading cause of shunt replacement, but we have found that the obstruction due to any reason is the primary cause for the shunt replacement.

In this study, the distribution of intestinal parasites in pregnant women in Van city where socio-economical level is low was evaluated. In the mean time, the importance of parasites during pregnancy was emphasized. Stool samples taken from 132 pregnant women living in Van city center and surrounding were investigated using the methods namely native-lugol, iron-hematoxylin, sedimentation and flotation in the Parasitology Laboratory of Yüzüncü Yıl University, Medical School. The parasites were found in 70 of 132 subject (53.03%). The rates for each parasite were as follows: Entamoeba histolytica 0.76%, Entamoeba coli 21.97%, Iodamoeba butschlii 9.85%, Blastocystis hominis 10.6%, Giardia intestinalis 3.79%, Ascaris lumbricoides 21.97%, Trichuris trichiura 3.03%, Taenia saginata 1.52% and Hymenolepis nana 0.76%. Having considered that the use of many drugs are dangerous for fetus, intestinal parasites are much more important in pregnant women; therefore these people should be very careful in their food.

Since maternal smoking causes fetal circulatory abnormalities, as well as disturbances of the maternal endocrin equilibrium, we measured the free triiodothyronin, free thyroxine, thyroid stimulating hormone, insulin, cortizol, growth hormone, free testosterone and testosterone concentrations in the cord blood of neonates of smoking mothers to determine whether or not the tobacco smoking affects the endocrine status of the neonate. Thirty-two newborns of smoking and one-hundred newborns of non-smoking mothers were investigated. All of them were fullterm. Free triiodothyronin, free thyroxine, thyroid stimulating hormone, insulin, cortizol and growth hormone values were similar in both group. In the group of smokers, significantly lower free testosterone and testosterone values were noted as compared to the group of non-smokers. Free testosterone values were 7.3 ± 3.4 pg/ml and 11.9 ± 7.0 pg/ml respectively (p<0.05) and testosterone values 3.7 ± 0.9 ng/ml and 6 ± 0.2 ng/ml respectively (p<0.05). The findings indicate that the maternal tobacco smoking doesn’t affect free triiodothyronin, free thyroxine, thyroid stimulating hormone, insulin, cortizol, growth hormone concentrations, whereas significantly decreases free testosterone and testosterone concentrations in the cord blood of neonates of smoking mothers. For this last purpose, we need more detailing investigations.

Because of tuberculosis incidence increases in our country in recent years, extensive area studies are being done, especially in the pediatric population. PPD skin test that is used to detect tuberculosis immunity is easy and valuable method for diagnosis and screening. This study was performed on the 5237 children whose ages were between 6-14 years old, by using multipuncture PPD test, in the primary schools of center of Edirne, between December 1993 and January 1994. Age, sex, numbers of BCG scars and PPD enduration reactions were analysed in each case. While there was no BCG scar in 749 (%14.4) of cases, 2655 (50.6%) ones had one scar and 1669 (31.9%) ones had two scars. We accept as a positive response when the PPD enduration was above 2 milimeters. Ages, numbers and diameters of scars were detected significantly decreased in 1198 cases whose PPD responses were lower than 2 milimetres. Diameters of PPD endurations were bigger in the older children. Finally we detected 75.8% positive responses and 24.2% negative responses in the primary school chilren whose ages were between 6-14 years old, by using multipuncture skin test. Multipuncture skin test is a useful test to screen the children population because it is done easily and had less false results.

In this study, activities of certain enzymes such as erythrocyte Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione Peroxidase (GSH-Px), plasmic Glutathione Reductase (GR) and Catalase were examined and compared between asthmatic patients and normal induviduals. Plasma levels of Melatonin were also examined and compared. Among all these measurements, activities of erythrocyter enzymes SOD and GSH-Px were found significantly different. Activities of these enzymes were significantly lower in patient with bronchıal asthma than Control Group with (t=-2.19, p=0.013) and (t=-2.53, p=0.015) respectively. On the other hand, positive correlation were found between plasma melatonin rates and erythrocyter GSH-Px activities of asthmatic patients (r=0.5721, p=0.0036). Anti-oxidant response that have been developed against the patologies involved asthma bronchiale may account for the impairment in activities of the enzymes mentioned above.

Lumbar disc disease which gives rise to the symptoms of backache, leg pain and decreased muscle strenght, causes socioeconomic problems by decreasing effectiveness of the working personnel. In another means it is a public health problem. In this study we retrospectively analysed the patients admitted to Neurosurgery Clinic of the Yüzüncü Yıl University Medical School, with the diagnosis of lumbar disc disease. The patients were evaluated in their initial complaints, ages, sexes, clinical and surgical findings. 46 patients were surgically treated in between the march 1995 and march 1998. Of the patients 38 were male and 8 were female. Their mean age was 35 years old. 51 operation were performed to these 46 patients. As a result, 94% of the patients were found to have good outcome of the surgical treatment.

In this study, 81 patients admitted to our hospital with malignancy of childhood were evaluated according to the type of malignancy, sex and age groups. Results were discussed with literature findings. The distribution of the type of malign diseases showed similarity with those of the other cancer centers in Turkey and other countries. The frequencies of the type of malign disease in childhood were found to be leukemia 46.8 %, lymphoma 30.4 %, central nervous system tumors 6 %, Wilm’s tumor 3.6 %, neuroblastoma 2.4 %, soft tissue tumors 2.4 %, retinoblasoma 1,2 %, other types 4.8 %. However geographical and socioeconomic status are different, our results which are similar to those of the other centers of Turkey revealed that the epidemiological factors of childhood malignancies may have influenced on our patients as well.

The aim of this study is to investigate the association between maternal smoking and both placental and fetus affects. One hundred non-smokers women and thirty-two smokers women who smoked mean 15.3 cigarettes a day, and their fullterm newborns were admitted to study. In the group of smokers, significantly lower birth weight and placental weight were noted as compared to the group of non-smokers. Birth weights were 2917 ± 633 g and 3242 ± 469 g respectively (p < 0.05) and placental weights 488.1 ± 57 g and 591 ± 143 g respectively (p < 0.05). No differences were found between smokers and non-smokers in placental diameter and birth height, head circumferences. As a result, smoking during pregnancy affects plasental weights and birth weights.

In this study, prevalence of malaria in Van city center and surrounding towns was investigated by the records between 1990 and 1997 obtained from Administration of Health, Malaria Struggle Department. Malaria cases were most commonly encountered in Çatak town. No malaria case was seen in Başkale between 1990 and 1997 and in Gürpınar and Çaldıran towns after 1995. Malaria cases were totally determined in Van city and surrounding towns between 1990 and 1997 as 46, 92, 82, 129, 126, 81 and 65, respectively. In conclusion, despite of low temperature and long winter season, malaria cases were infrequently seen in Van because of widespread irrigation areas. Having not been seen of malaria cases in Başkale may be attributed to higher altitude and lower temperature compared with other areas .

Behçet’s disease is a multisystem disorder presenting with recurrent oral and genital ulcerations as well as uveitis, and which may also have dermal, renal, central nervous system, gastrointestinal system and skeletal system involvements. It was reported that tuberculosis, which takes the first row among diseases that might develop as a result of decreased immune resistance due to partial or total supression of cellular immunity, might be encountered with concomittantly though rarely, during the cause of Behçet’s disease. Our clinical, radiological and bacteriological evidences in our case as well as concomittance of pulmonary tuberculosis with Behçet’s disease suggested possible cellular immunosupression due to Behçet’s disease. In conclusion attempts were made by this report to emphasize adequate observation of cellular immunity during the course of Behçet’s disease which should not be ignored in our country.

In this article, 3 child patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia showing transient spontaneous complete remission (SCR) were presented. The role of blood transfusion and/or infection in obtaining transient SCR have been emphasized, and possible mechanisms have been discussed. Induction treatment could not continued in these patients because of refusing or discontinuing chemotherapy of their parents. Because relaps occured in all patients we have noticed that chemotherapy should be continued in patients presenting SCR.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is widespread in the South East of Anatolia. It is also sporadicly seen in the other parts of Turkey. In this study, a 32 year old male patient who attended to Yüzüncü Yıl University, Faculty of Medicine, Dermatology Policlinics suffering from ulcers located on the face, the lid of left eye and right deltoid region was introduced.. The forediagnosis for the case cutaneous leishmaniasis was approved by the division of Parasitology. According to the history reported by the patient, the ulcers were appeared during his visit to Turkmenia, from where he immediately returned to Turkey and applied to our hospital. 0,2 mm serum physiological was injected around the ulcer on the deltoid region, and then a part of the liquid was drawn back to prepare the smears. The amastigote forms of the parasite was investigated in the macrophage cytoplasm, staining with giemsa soon after the determination of smears with methyl alcohol. The amastigotes were found as groups of two or three outside the macrophage. To treat the patient, 1 ml glucantime (85 mg sb/ml) was injected around each lesion with two days interval between the injections. This case suggests that cutaneous leishmaniasis might be sporadicly seen in Turkish patients coming from abroad.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) has long been used to relieve pain. Epidural spinal cord stimulation (ESCS) is also an established surgical procedure for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease and motor disorders as well as the management of extensive and bilateral persistent pain. Caos in this field sometimes misleads this otherwise clinically accepted method. In this study, the relevant scientific basis and the findings of previous studies, that have to be considered for safe and effective neurostimulation therapy, are reviewed. Several medical imaging technics, such as ultrasound Doppler, Thermography, Scintigraphy with 201Tl, Xenon-CBF, SPECT and PET, employed to evaluate the results of ESCS, are also presented.