Ocjective The aim of this study was to determine epidemiological and endoscopic aspects of PU disease in Van region. Method We performed upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in 2735 patients with dyspeptic symptoms during the past three and a half years from June 1994 to December 1997 in our endoscopy unit. Results Peptic ulcer (PU) disease was diagnosed at different locations in 298 (10.9 %) patients. A hundred and ninety two patients (64.4%) were males and 106 patients (35.6%) were females. The mean age was 41.1 (range: minimum 17- maximum 80). A hundred and twenty seven patients (42.6%) reported smoking, 12 patients (4.0%) reported alcohol consumption and 42 patients (14.1%) reported nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) use. Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection was diagnosed in 82 % of the patients with peptic ulcer. In this study, we determined that Duodenal ulcer/Gastric ulcer ratio was 4:1. The locations of ulcers were 80% in the first part of the duodenum (bulbus) especially at the anterior surface, and 20% in the stomach. Seventeen percent of GU with suspected malign appearance were confirmed as adenocarcinoma by biopsies. Housewife and officers were the most frequent (28-31%) professional groups with peptic ulcer disease. Conclusion PU disease was thought to be an important social health problem in Van region related to HP infection, possibly smoking and stress factors in the middle age and male gender particularly.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of radiofrequency (RF) and microwave (MW) on the people occupationally exposed to non-ionizing radiation. Method The study was carried out on 19 persons from 25 to 59 years old, 9 of them were radio-link technicians and the others were workers. We determined 22 biochemical parameters of blood serum. Results Headache, dizziness and inability to hear were observed clinically. An increase was observed in cholesterol, uric acid, total protein and creatin levels. The level of creatin kinase decreased. Conclusion The effect of low frequency radiation (e.g. radiofrequency and microwave) on serum biochemical parameters are variable. We belive that the effect of RF and MW on human must be investigated widely.

Objective Effects of noise on free radical production and antioxidant defence mechanism were investigated. Methods Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and ferritin levels were measured in weavers who worked at noisy workplace. Results MDA, GSH-Px and SOD levels were significantly higher in weavers than that of the controls. There was no significant difference in ferritine levels. Conclusions These data suggest that employees who work at noisy workplace may be under the risk of free radical mediated damage in long time duration.

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of socio-economic status on the distribution of intestinal parasites. Method A comparative study was applied to see the difference in the distribution of intestinal parasites. For this purpose, 268 immigrants representing low socio-economic group and 205 university residents representing high socio-economic group were included in the investigation. Stool samples were examined by native-lugol, iron-hematoxylin staining and flotation methods. Results One or more intestinal parasites in 149 (55.6%) out of 268 immigrants, and 55 (27.3%) out of 205 university residents were detected. Conclusion The finding of this study suggests that socio-economic status is an important factor on the distribution of intestinal parasites

Objective Peripheral blood T lymphocyte subpopulations of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) hospitalized at the 3rd clinic of Yedikule Thoracic Diseases Hospital with a clinical picture of respiratory tract infection were measured. Method Measurements were performed by flow cytometric method. CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8 results were compared with values accepted to be normal by employing student-t test. Results Ten of our cases (76.9%) possessed a CD4 percentage of over normal value. Median value was found to be 36.43. In 11 of our cases (84.6%) a CD8 percentage of over normal value was detected. Median value was 31.45. Ten of our cases (76.9%) had a CD4/CD8 value of over normal. Median value was 1.07. CD4 levels and percentages of our patients with COPD were found to be significantly high at p= 0.039 level compared to normals. CD8 percentages, however were found to be significantly high at p=0.001 compared to normals, whereas CD4/CD8 ratio did not manifest any significance compared to normals. Conclusion Our findings determined the increase in T cells following antigenic stimulus in exacerbation of respiratory tract infections in patients with COPD.

Objective In this study we investigated whether long-term administration of antiepileptic drugs effect thyroid functions. Methods Serum free thyroxine (FT4), serum free triiodothyronin (FT3) and serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations were measured in 93 epileptic patients receiving phenobarbital (30 cases) or phenytoin (9 cases) or carbamazepine (23 cases) or valproate (22 cases) or clonazepam (9 cases) who were admitted to Trakya University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, between July 1992 and May 1994. Results We found a significant reduction in FT4 levels receiving phenobarbital or phenytoin or carbamazepine or clonazepam compared to control group. FT3 and TSH levels were normal. However, in the valproat group there was not any significant difference in the levels of thyroid hormones between study and control groups. All patients were in euthyroid state, there were no clinical findings of hypothyroidism. Conclusion These data suggest that phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine and clonazepam decrease serum FT4 , hovever while valproat does not.

Objective We assessed the utility of a two-step PCR-based assay for the detection and identification of the etiology of bacterial meningitis directly in 46 CSF specimens. Method Bacterial DNA was extracted and detected using a set of universal primers that flank a 370-bp sequence on the 16S rRNA gene which was conserved among all bacteria. Identification of bacteria was done using genus/species-specific primers for Haemophilus spp., Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus, previously used as probes. These primers are complementary to a variable region within the 370-bp conserved sequence. Primers that amplify the Insertion Sequence IS6110 were used for the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. DNA extracted from ATCC strains were used as positive controls. Results Our data have shown that of the 46 CSF specimens collected from patients on admission, initially suspected to have bacterial meningitis. Ten specimens were positive by PCR and these were from patients shown to have bacterial meningitis as determined by the clinical picture (fever, headache, vomiting, neck stiffness and others), laboratory testing (CSF culture and cytochemical analysis) and neurodiagnostic testing. The remaining 36 PCR negative samples were shown later to have other diseases, such as febrile seizure, sepsis, fungal or viral meningitis or encephalitis. Accordingly, there was a correlation between PCR results for the presence of bacteria in CSF specimens and the final clinical and laboratory diagnosis. When these cases were identified using specific primers, 7 were found to be Haemophilus spp., 1 S. pneumoniae, 1 S. aureus, and 1 M. tuberculosis. Conclusion The test proved to be sensitive detecting bacteria down to 5 CFU/ml, specific since primers amplified exclusively specific target sequences and rapid since it was achievable in 9 to 10 hours.