• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.1241-1245
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• 2012

Aim: In this study we aimed to investigate the healthy life-style behaviour of Turkish women and establish influencing features. Methods: This descriptive study performed by a questionnaire method was conducted in a primary health care centre, in an urban region in Kayseri, Turkey. Every midwife region belonging to the health care centre was accepted as a cluster, and a sample of 450 women between ages 18-64, was gathered from 9 midwife regions. The Health Promotion Life-style Profile (HPLP) was applied to evaluated the healthy lifestyle behaviour of 421 women that could be reached. T test, Tukey HSD with ANOVA, and chi square tests were used for analysis. Results: The mean total HPLP was $126.8{\pm}19.2$ (interpersonal support subscale, $74.3{\pm}14.1$; nutrition subscale, $73.6{\pm}12.6$; self-actualisation subscale, $70.6{\pm}11.9$; stress management subscale, $63.4{\pm}13.0$; health responsibility subscale, $61.2{\pm}13.2$; and exercise subscale, $47.1{\pm}15.0$). There was no statistically significant variation when evaluated for age, marital state, family type, economic status, and perception of self-health, smoking, and BMI. HPLP was high in people with an education of primary school and lower in university graduates, in people who lived mostly in the city centre and in individuals with chronic diseases. In conclusion, it was established that the health promoting behaviour in Turkish women is, in general, at a medium level, and women should be enlightened in order to develop and increase the habit of health preservation and promotion.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.1463-1470
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• 2012

Objective: The aims of this study were to explore Turkish women's knowledge, behavior and beliefs related to cervical cancer and screening. Methods: The study was performed in two cities in the East of Turkey between September 2009 and April 2010, with a sampling group of 387 women. Data were collected by means of an interview form with the Health Belief Model Scale for Cervical Cancer and Pap Smear Test - Turkish Version. Results: Women in the research group were found to have poor knowledge, inadequate health behavior and low/medium level false beliefs regarding cervical cancer screening. There was relation between health beliefs and characteristics of women and particularly education (F = 10.80, p = 0.01). Similarly, it was found that Pap smear barriers were influenced by demographic characteristics and that women with low-level education (p = 0.001), divorced women (p = 0.05), women with low-income(p = 0.05), women who gave their first birth when they were 18 or younger (p = 0.05) and women not applying any contraceptive method at all (p = 0.01) were determined to have negative Pap smear barriers. Conclusions: Primarily the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of women in the target group should be evaluated to increase their participation in cervical cancer screening and to prepare effective education strategies.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.1693-1697
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• 2014

Background: The Bahcesehir Breast Cancer Screening Project is the first organized population based breast cancer mammographic screening project in Turkey. The objective of this prospective observational study was to demonstrate the feasibility of a screening program in a developing country and to determine the appropriate age (40 or 50 years old) to start with screening in Turkish women. Materials and Methods: Between January 2009 to December 2010, a total of 3,758 women aged 40-69 years were recruited in this prospective study. Screening was conducted biannually, and five rounds were planned. After clinical breast examination (CBE), two-view mammograms were obtained. True positivity, false positivity, positive predictive values (PPV) according to ACR, cancer detection rate, minimal cancer detection rate, axillary node positivity and recall rate were calculated. Breast ultrasound and biopsy were performed in suspicious cases. Results: Breast biopsy was performed in 55 patients, and 18 cancers were detected in the first round. The overall cancer detection rate was 4.8 per 1,000 women. Most of the screened women (54%) and detected cancers (56%) were in women aged 40-49. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and stage I cancer and axillary node positivity rates were 22%, 61%, and 16.6%, respectively. The positive predictivity for biopsy was 32.7%, whereas the overall recall rate was 18.4 %. Conclusions: Preliminary results of the study suggest that population based organized screening are feasible and age of onset of mammographic screening should be 40 years in Turkey.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권7호
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• pp.4415-4419
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• 2013

Background: Measuring effects of cancer on family caregivers is important to develop methods which can improve their quality of life (QOL). Nevertheless, up to now, only a few tools have been developed to be used in this group. Among those, the Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer Scale (CQOLC) has met minimum psychometric criteria in different populations in spite of conflicting results. The present study was conducted to evaluate reliability and validity of CQOLC among Turkish cancer family caregivers. Materials and Methods: The CQOLC was administered to 120 caregivers, along with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Medical Outcomes Study MOS 36- Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Internal consistency and test-retest stability were used to investigate reliability. Construct validity was examined by using known group method, convergent, and divergent validity. For the known group method, we hypothesized that CQOLC scores would differ between depressed and non-depressed subjects. We investigated convergent validity by correlating scores for CQOLC with scores for other similar measures including SF-36 and STAI. The MSPSS was completed at the same time as CQOLC to provide divergent validity. Results: The values for internal consistency and test-retest correlation were 0.88 and 0.96, respectively. The CQOLC discriminated those who were depressed from those who were not. Convergent validity supported strong correlations between CQOLC scores and two main component scores (PCS, MCS) in SF-36 although there was a weak correlation between CQOLC and STAI scores. Regarding divergent validity, the correlation between CQOLC and MSPSS was in the low range, as expected. Conclusions: The Turkish CQOLC is a reliable and valid tool and it can be utilized to determine QOL of family caregivers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권20호
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• pp.9021-9025
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• 2014

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among females in Turkey. Predictors affecting the breast self-examination (BSE) performance vary in developing countries. Objective: To determine the frequency of BSE performance and predictors of self-reported BSEs among women in the capital city of Turkey. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 376 Turkish women using a self-administered questionnaire covering socio-demographic variables and BSE-related features. Results: Of the participants, 78.7% (N=296) reported practicing BSE, whereas 9.5% (N=28) were implementing BSE regularly on a monthly basis, and only 5.7% (N=17) were performing BSE regularly within a week after each menstrual cycle. Multivariate logistic regression modeling revealed that BSE performance was more likely in younger age groups [20-39 years] (p=0.018, OR=3.215) and [40-49 years] (p=0.009, OR=3.162), women having a family history of breast disease (p=0.038, OR=2.028), and housewives (p=0.013, OR=0.353). Conclusions: Although it appears that the rates of BSE performers are high, the number of women conducting appropriate BSE on a regular time interval basis is lower than expected. Younger age groups, family history of breast diseases and not being employed were identified as significant predictors of practicing BSE appropriately. Older age and employment were risk factors for not performing BSE in this sample.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권20호
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• pp.8963-8967
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• 2014

Background: Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Apoptosis is a necessary physiological process for cell elimination which is very important both cellular homeostasis and cell proliferation and differantiation. Dysregulation can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and tumor development. Survivin, a member of the IAP family, plays a key role in promotion of cell proliferation as well as inhibition of apoptosis in cancer cells. The aim of this study was to investigate whether specific genetic polymorphisms of survivin could be associated with colon cancer development and progression in a Turkish population. Our study is the first to our knowledge to investigate the relationship between colon cancer risk and survivin gene polymorphisms. Materials and Methods: The relation between colon cancer and survivin -31 G/C (rs9904341), -241 C/T (rs17878467) and -625 C/G (rs8073069) polymorphism in promotor site of survivin gene associated with apoptosis was investigated using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Results: Individuals with -31C allele and CC genotype were found to have a higher risk of developing colon cancer (OR=13.4, p=0.01). The -241 CT genotype considerably increased the risk of colon cancer (OR=12.0, p=0.0001). However, there was no significant varaition of the survivin -625 C/G polymorphism among colon cancer patients and controls in our study. Conclusions: This study provides the first evidence that survivin -31 G/C and -241 C/T SNP significantly contribute to the risk of colon cancer in the Turkish population.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.3143-3149
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• 2013

Background: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in Turkey and around the world. Treatment adversely affects women's physical, psychological, and social conditions. The purpose of this study was to identify the experiences of Turkish women with breast cancer and the facilitating coping factors when they receive chemotherapy. Methods: A phenomenological approach was used to explain the experiences and facilitating factors of breast cancer patients during the treatment period. Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews. The sample comprised 11 women with breast cancer receiving treatment. Results: At the end of the interviews conducted with women with breast cancer, two main themes were identified: adjustment and facilitating coping factors. The adjustment main theme had two sub-themes: strains and coping. Women with breast cancer suffer physical and psychological strains as well as stress related to social and health systems. While coping with these situations, they receive social support, turn to spirituality and make new senses of their lives. The facilitating coping factors main theme had four sub-themes: social support, disease-related factors, treatment-related factors and relationships with nurses. It has been determined that women receiving good social support, having undergone preventive breast surgery and/or getting attention and affection from nurses can cope with breast cancer more easily. Conclusions: Women with breast cancer have difficulty in all areas of their lives in the course of the disease and during the treatment process. Therefore, nurses should provide holistic care, teaching patients how to cope with the new situation and supporting them spiritually. Since family support is very important in Turkish culture, patients' relatives should be informed and supported at every stage of the treatment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권9호
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• pp.5489-5494
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• 2013

In the current study we aimed to show the common YMDD motif mutations in viral polymerase gene in chronic hepatitis B patients during lamivudine and adefovir therapy. Forty-one serum samples obtained from chronic hepatitis B patients (24 male, 17 female; age range: 34-68 years) were included in the study. HBV-DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of the patients using an extraction kit (Invisorb, Instant Spin DNA/RNA Virus Mini Kit, Germany). A line probe assay and direct sequencing analyses (INNO-LIPA HBV DR v2; INNOGENETICS N.V, Ghent, Belgium) were applied to determine target mutations of the viral polymerase gene in positive HBV-DNA samples. A total of 41 mutations located in 21 different codons were detected in the current results. In 17 (41.5%) patients various point mutations were detected leading to lamivudin, adefovir and/or combined drug resistance. Wild polymerase gene profiles were detected in 24 (58.5%) HBV positive patients of the current cohort. Eight of the 17 samples (19.5%) having rtM204V/I/A missense transition and/or transversion point mutations and resistance to lamivudin. Six of the the mutated samples (14.6%) having rtL180M missense transversion mutation and resistance to combined adefovir and lamivudin. Three of the mutated samples (7.5%) having rtG215H by the double base substituation and resistance to adefovir. Three of the mutated samples (7.5%) having codon rtL181W due to the missense transversion point mutations and showed resistance to combined adefovir and lamivudin. Unreported novel point mutations were detected in the different codons of polymerase gene region in the current HBV positive cohort fromTurkish population. The current results provide evidence that rtL180M and rtM204V/I/A mutations of HBV-DNA may be associated with a poor antiviral response and HBV chronicity during conventional therapy in Turkish patients.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제44권4호
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• pp.409-416
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• 2006

Clarithromycin resistance in Helicobacter pylori is a principal cause of failure of eradication therapies, and its prevalence varies geographically. The IceA gene is a virulence factor associated with clinical outcomes. The objective of this study was to determine the current state of clarithromycin resistance prevalence, and to investigate the role of iceA genotypes in 87 Turkish adult patients (65 with functional dyspepsia and 22 with duodenal ulcer). A2143G and A2144G point mutations were tested by PCR-RFLP for clarithromycin resistance. Among the patients in the study, 28 patients were tested by agar dilution as well. Allelic variants of the iceA gene were identified by PCR. A total of 24 (27.6%) strains evidenced one of the mutations, either A2143G or A2144G. IceA1 was found to be positive in 28 of the strains (32.2 %), iceA2 was positive in 12 (13.8 %) and, both iceA1 and iceA2 were positive in 22 (25.3 %) strains. In conclusion, we discovered no relationships between iceA genotypes and functional dyspepsia or duodenal ulcer, nor between clarithromycin resistance and iceA genotypes. clarithromycin resistance appears to be more prevalent in Turkish patients.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.23-26
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• 2008

2일간의 구토와 침울을 동반한 후지마비를 주증상으로 내원한 2년령의 암칫 터키 앙고라 고양이에서 약한 대퇴 동맥 맥박, 후지의 청색증이 관찰되었으나 흉부 청진, 흉부 방사선, 심초음파 상에서 이상소견을 보이지 않았으며 복부 초음파상에서 복부 대동맥내의 색전으로 판단되는 고에코성 물질이 확인되었다. 대동맥 혈전의 원인이 될 수 있는 다양한 진단 검사를 시행한 결과, 특발성 안장 색전혈전증으로 진단하였다. Heparin sodium, aspirin 및 diltiazem으로 4주간 치료하였으나 양쪽 후지의 병변은 진행적이고 비가역적으로 괴사되어 대퇴부를 절단한 결과, 30개월 이상 임상적으로 건강한 생활을 하고 있다.