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In this paper Black Sea Region and Black Sea Synergy initiated by the European Commission in 2007 are discussed in terms of security and defence policies that have been occupying the Union's agenda in expost Cold War period. Good neighbourhood relations the European Union has maintained since 2004 are managed in accordance with the European Neighbourhood Policy, which the EU pursues with a view to deriving security, political and economic benefits and to putting them at the disposal of the member states. In that regard the EU has identified Mediterranean, Middle East, Africa and Black Sea Region as areas that are of importance to the union. With Romania and Bulgaria's accession and Turkey's membership to the Union, the EU's border with Black Sea Region expanded, which aroused the need for making new strategies and policies in the fields of politics and security. Issues such as energy pipelines running to Europe via Turkey and human trafficking have been subjects that the EU has attributed great importance lately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the psychometric properties of the Myocardial Infarction Dimensional Assessment Scale (MIDAS). METHODS: This is a methodological cultural adaptation study. The MIDAS consists of 35-items covering seven domains: physical activity, insecurity, emotional reaction, dependency, diet, concerns over medication, and side effects which are rated on a five-point Likert scale from 1: never to 5:always. The highest score of MIDAS is 100.Quality of life (QOL) decreases as the score of scale increases. Overall 185 myocardial infarction (MI) patients were enrolled in this study. Cronbach alpha was used for the reliability analysis. The criterion validity, structural validity, and sensitivity analysis approach was used for validity analysis. New York Heart Association (NYHA) and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Functional Classifications (CCSFC) for testing the criterion validity; SF-36 for construct validity testing of the Turkish version of the MIDAS were used. RESULTS: The range of Cronbach alpha values is 0.79-0.90 for seven domains of the scale. No problematic items were observed for the entire scale. Medication related domains of the MIDAS showed considerable floor effects (35.7%-22.7%). Confirmatory Factor analysis indicators [Comparative Fit Index (CFI) =0.95 and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) =0.075] supported the construct validity of MIDAS. Convergent validity of the MIDAS was confirmed with correlation of SF-36 scale where appropriate. Criterion validity results was also satisfactory by comparing different stages of the NYHA and the CCSFC (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Overall results revealed that Turkish version of the MIDAS is a reliable and valid instrument. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Any disease specific Health Related Quality of Life Instrument for Chronic Heart Failure (CHF) is lacking in Turkey. The aim of this study is to adapt the Chronic Heart Failure Questionnaire (CHQ) into Turkish and probe the reliability and validity of this questionnaire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Narrowband ultraviolet B, with its nonspecific immunmodulatuar actions, is a potential treatment alternative in many skin diseases. Various studies have shown its effects in psoriasis and vitiligo, treatment protocols have been developed especially for psoriasis. Apart from these, narrowband ultraviolet B is used as first-line therapy in skin conditions that are common in clinical practice. However, its efficacies in such diseases are not very well-known. The effects of narrowband ultraviolet B in atopic dermatitis, pityriasis lichenoides, lichen planus, pruritus, chronic urticaria, symptomatic dermographism and polymorphic light eruption are discussed here in light of the literature data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, it has been determined the dynamics of consumer behaviours of individuals who live in rural and urban areas concerning food products and it analyses the effective factors on consumers food consumption choice in families, based in Trakya Region (Tekirdag, Edirne, Kırklareli). The study was conducted with a total of 770 households 385 people in towns and 385 people in rural areas, 770 people in total of which 385 was from rural areas, and 385 from urban areas. The effective factors on consumer behaviour when purchasing food products have been evaluated by Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) and T-Test and Factor Analysis Methods in rural and urban areas in Trakya Region. This study indicates that families who live in urban areas of Trakya Region give more importance to food consumption compared to the ones living in rural areas. Also families living in urban and rural areas are concerned about "the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Mad Cow (BSE) and Avian Influenza". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Design: Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are severe drug reactions characterized by an extensive skin rash with blisters and exfoliation, accompanied by mucositis. The aim of this paper was to evaluate demographic and clinical features, prognosis and treatment in our patient group. Material and Method: A total of 20 consecutive patients with SJS and TEN diagnosed between 2000 and 2008 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Among the 20 cases, 3 had SJS (15%), 5 had SJS-TEN overlap (25%) and 12 had TEN (60%). Oral mucosae was the most commonly affected site (%95) which was followed by conjunctivae ( 85%) while all mucosal surfaces were affected in 2 patients. Causative drugs, anticonvulsive drugs (5 cases), sulfasalazine and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (6 cases), allopruninol (2 cases), anti-cancer therapy drugs (3 cases), amifostine (1 case) and ampicillin (1 case), were identified in 18 patients. Five of 20 patients died of severe sepsis and irreversible multiple organ failure. The age above 60 years, percentage of epidermal detachment above 70% of body surface area and associated malignancy were found to be statistically correlated with poor prognosis (p=0.035, p=0.005, p=0.015; respectively). Fourteen patients were treated with short courses of medium-dose corticosteroids. An objective response to corticosteroids therapy was observed in all patients and the survival rate was 100%. The mean delay between occurrence of eruption and the withdrawal of suspected drug was 2.2 days and the first dose of corticosteroids was 3.4 days. Conclusion: In our patients, the suspected causative agents were the most frequently implicated high-risk drugs for the disease. Old age, extensive skin lesions and associated malignancy were found to be correlated with poor prognosis. Our treatment results indicate that beside rapid withdrawal of suspected drug short courses of medium-dose corticosteroids may be an effective approach in the management of SJS and TEN patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Castleman disease is an uncommon lymphoproliferative disorder of unknown cause. In most cases, afflicted patients present with a mediastinal mass, although the disease may rarely manifest in different visceral organs. The most typical structural finding is hypervascularity which can be well demonstrated both by MRI and CT. We present the findings of CT, CT angiography, MRI and histopathology in a 38-year-old man with mediastinal Castleman disease. Hypervascularity of the lesion was shown with noninvasive CT angiography scans before surgery. In conclusion, radiological findings might be helpful to avoid inappropriate biopsy and to choose the surgical approach in terms of control of the profuse bleeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thyroid papillary carcinomas are diagnosed histopathologically. Histomorphologic features of some benign lesions may imitate papillary carcinomas, which is why sometimes immunohistochemical markers are needed to help to diagnose papillary carcinomas. In our study, we aimed at investigating the CD117 immunoreactivity in papillary carcinomas and normal thyroid tissues. Methods: In the present study, 57 cases diagnosed as papillary thyroid carcinoma between 2002-2009 in Department of Pathology were examined. Results: On the immunohistochemical examination with CD117, positive immune reaction was found in thirty nine of the tumor tissues and ten of normal thyroid tissues. In the papillary carcinoma cases, a statistically significant correlation was established between the classical type and the follicular variant and normal thyroid tissue in terms of CD117 immunoreactivity (P<0,001). Both the classical type and the follicular variant of the papillary carcinoma were more positively stained compared to normal thyroid tissue. No statistically significant correlation was found between the classical type and the follicular variant of papillary carcinomas in terms of CD117 immunoreactivity(p>0,05). Conclusions: In conclusion, CD117 is found to stain the papillary carcinoma in a higher percentage compared to normal thyroid tissue. As for the classical type and the follicular variant of the papillary carcinoma, no statistically significant correlation was established between the two. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In this study, we aimed to present the epidemiological, clinical and microbiological features of community acquired/onset pyelonephritis cases followed in our clinic. Methods: One hundred ninety adult patients with pyelonephritis followed in our clinic between 1989-2008 were analysed retrospectively. Results: Of the patients, 75 were male (39.5%) and 115 were female (60.5%) and mean age was 55.5 years (18-93). In total, 55 of the patients had had urinary tract infections within the last year. Complicated urinary tract infection was diagnosed in 137 patients. Escherichia coli was isolated in the urine culture of 119 (62.6%) patients and extended spectrum-ß-lactamase production was positive in 20% of the isolates. Blood culture was also positive in 44 (23.1%) patients. Nine patients (4.7%) died. Conclusions: The local epidemiology and antibiotic susceptibility results are very important for appropriate empiric antibiotic treatment of pyelonephritis. The upper urinary system ultrasonography should be carried out especially in female patients with pyelonephritis to diagnose complicated urinary tract infections. Klimik Dergisi 2010; 23(1): 10-4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]