Dinç, Kemal; Akyüz, Sumeyye

Objective: In our study, we aimed to examine the strains isolated from vaginal swab samples sent to our laboratory from various clinics with a pre-diagnosis of vulvovaginitis and antibiotic resistance rates, retrospectively. Methods: ethods: 90 vaginal swab samples of patientswere included into this study. Two samples were taken from each patient and one sample was used for Gram staining. The other sample was inoculated in 5% sheep blood, Eozine Methylene Blue agar and Saboraud dextrose agar. TIdentification of isolated colonies and antibiotic susceptibility studies were carried out with Vitek 2 Compact automated system. Result of the susceptibility testing are reported according to EUCAST criteria. Nugent scoring was used for bacterial vaginosis. Results: Normal vaginal flora elements were found in 66 (73.3 %) of the specimens, and 28 organisms were found in 24(26.7 %). The distribution of the organisms is as follows: 6 (21.4%) Escherichia coli, 5(17.9%) Streptococcus agalactiae, 5(17.9%) Gardnerella vaginalis, 3 (10.7%) Candida spp., 3(10.7%) Klebsiella pneumoniae, 3(10.7%) Enterococcus faecalis. Two of the E.coli strains and one of the K.pneumoniae strains are ESBL positive. Of the agents, 21 were isolated from outpatients and 7 from inpatients. All S. agalactiae strains were susceptible to penicillin and ampicillin. E.coli and K.pneumoniae strains, which are the most frequently isolated Gram (-) organisms, are most susceptible to amikacin, carbapenems and tigecycline. Conclusion: In patients with vaginal discharge and itching complaints, determining the organisms with microbiological culture and agent-directed treatment instead of empirical treatment will be more beneficial for cure.

Koç, Alparslan

Objective: Malnutrition, energy protein, and inadequate or excessive intake of other nutrients have measurable effects on tissues, body function, and clinical outcomes of patients. We aimed to determine the time to reach target calories, nutritional failures, and complications during feeding in measured and unmeasured gastric residual volume patients under ventilation in the intensive care unit. Methods: The study was completed with 62 patients under mechanical ventilatory support in the intensive care unit. According to the consultation order, patients were divided into 2 groups. Gastric residual volume was measured in the control group (gastric residual volume, n = 31) and not in the other (non-gastric residual volume, n = 31). Nutrition nurses continuously monitored all enteral-fed patients, and the results were recorded. Results: The feeding pause of the gastric residual volume group was longer than that of the non-gastric residual volume group (P < .001). The time to reach target calories was higher in the gastric residual volume group than in the non-gastric residual volume group (P = .010). The rate of vomiting as a complication was 9.7% (3 patients) in the gastric residual volume group and 6.5% in the non-gastric residual volume group, although the difference was not significant (P = .641). The observation rate of abdominal distension was 6.5% (2 patients) in the gastric residual volume group and the non-gastric residual volume group (P = .999). The positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) values were higher in patients who vomited, but the difference was not significant (P = .203). In patients with abdominal distension, PEEP values were higher than in patients without distension, but the difference was not significant (P = .282). Conclusion: In conclusion, gastric residual volume measurement in patients with mechanical ventilatory support prolonged nutritional breaks and extended the time required to reach target calories compared with patients without gastric residual volume measurement.

Çakir, Tayfun; Yücetas, Seyho Cem; Yazici, Gulce Naz; Sunar, Mukadder; Arslan, Yusuf Kemal; Kayaci, Selim; Süleyman, Halis

Objective: Benidipine is an antihypertansive agent which elicits vasodilatation of arteries by blocking Ca2+. The aim of this study is to investigate the neuroprotective effects of benidipine on rat sciatic nerves exposed to ischemia and reperfusion (I/R). Method: 30 male Wistar Albino rats were used in this study. The rats were divided into three groups(n=10 per group). I/R procedure was administered to the IR group, 10 mu g/kg/day, i.v. benidipine was given for 2 hours (h) to the BIR group before I/R procedure. And a sham group (SG) was created. Next, histopathological and biochemical investigations were performed on sciatic nerve tissues. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) were analyzed as oxidative stress markers; interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were analyzed as inflammatory stress markers in biochemical tests. Results: Axonal swelling, myelin loss and disorganisation were seen in the IR group. Schwann cells showed hypertrophy, hyperplasia, blood vessels were seen as congested. But these results were under normal values and almost similiar between BIR and SG groups. In the BIR group ischemic fibere degeneration score was significiantly lower than IR group. And MDA, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta values higher, GSH and SOD values were lower in the IR group, but in the BIR group all these values were kept within normal limits. Conclusion: This study showed that benidipine reduced oxidative stress and inflammation in rat sciatic nerve after I/R injury.

Elma, Bekir; Tunçözgür, Bulent; Sanli, Maruf; Isik, Ahmet Ferudun

Objective: We sought to obtain information on the number of thymic lesions, surgical method, histopathology. We also investigated the relationship between thymic lesions and myasthenia gravis. Methods: We retrospectively examined patients who underwent thymectomy for different thymic pathologies in our clinic between February 1998 and April 2014 according to their demographic characteristics, symptoms, surgical method, resection width, and histopathological diagnosis. Results: The proportion of men and women was similar. The average age was 40.6 +/- 14.7 years. The most common symptom was rapid fatigue and the most common surgical method was median sternotomy. During extended thymectomy, we resected and recontructed the anatomical structures. We found a high degree of association between thymoma and myasthenia gravis. The average life expectancy of the patients was 171.8 +/- 8.8 months. Conclusion: Although the indications of thymectomy are not well known, the surgical procedures vary. We would therefore continue developing ourselves as the center where these surgeries are most frequently performed in the Southeastern Anatolia Region.

Karakurt, Papatya; Asilar, Rabia Hacihasanoglu; Yildirim, Arzu; Sevinç, Hilmi

Objective: Diabetes is a serious health problem worldwide that leads to high morbidity and mortality rates. The current study was conducted to determine the knowledge levels and attitudes of diabetic patients about their disease. Methods: The population of this cross-sectional study comprised type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients who presented to the outpatient internal disease polyclinic of a public hospital. No sampling was done, and 335 diabetic patients who volunteered to participate and were able to communicate were included. Data were gathered using a personal information form that contained questions on the descriptive characteristics of the patients and disease features, using the Diabetes Attitude Scale (DAS), and using the face-to-face interview technique. To analyze data, percentages and arithmetic means were calculated and Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed. Results: When the knowledge levels of the patients about the disease were investigated, 70.4% of the patients did not know the organ that caused the disease and 37% did not know how often they should wash and control their foot. The mean DAS score of the patients was 3.58 +/- 0.30, and the patients developed a positive attitude about their disease. Further, there were significant differences between regular medicine use and the need for special training to provide diabetes care, blood glucose control and complications, patient autonomy, team care, and the DAS total score. Conclusion: The knowledge levels of the patients about the disease were not satisfactory, but the patients developed a positive attitude about the disease.