Roles of White Blood Cells and Subtypes as Inflammatory Markers in Skin Cancer

Baykan, Halit,Cihan, Yasemin Benderli,Ozyurt, Kemal Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.6

Objective: Skin tumors are the most commonly seen cancer type worldwide. Regarding pathogenesis, it is thought that disruption of kinetics through T lymphocyte-mediated development of chronic inflammation may be involved. The present study was intended to identify role of inflammatory cells such as neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes in the determination of risk for skin cancer. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed charts of 569 cases diagnosed as having primary skin tumors. Data regarding age, gender and histopathological subtype were recorded. Blood parameters studied on the day before surgery including WBCs, neutrophils, and lymphocyte counts, neutrophil:lymphocyte and neutrophil:monocyte ratios were also recorded. Two-hundred and two healthy individuals presented for check-up in an outpatient clinic were selected as the control group. Parameters studied in cases with skin cancer were compared to those healthy individuals. Findings: Of the cases with skin cancer, 401 were basal cell carcinoma (BCC) while 144 were squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and 13 were malignant melanoma (MM). WBC, neutrophil and monocyte counts and the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio were found to be lower in the patient group than in the healthy control group (p<0.001) while no significant difference was found in other parameters reviewed (p>0.05). No significant difference was found in WBC, neutrophil, neutrophil: monocyte ratio according to gender (p>0.05). Monocyte count was found to be $0.68{\pm}0.61$ in men and $0.55{\pm}0.25$ in women, indicating strong statistical significance (p<0.001). WBC, neutrophil and monocyte values were highest in control group while lowest in BCC. When BCC and SCC groups were compared to controls, significant differences found (p<0.001). There were no significant differences in lymphocyte counts among groups (p=0.976). Neutrophil:lymphocyte ratios were 3.24 in BCC, 3.59 in SCC, 3.44 in MM and 5.06 in control group (p<0.001). Conclusions: In our study, it was found that there were significant differences in complete blood count, neutrophil, monocyte and neutrophil:lymphocyte levels among groups. Neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio was found to be lowest in BCC among skin cancers.

Health Promoting Lifestyle Behaviour in Medical Students: a Multicentre Study from Turkey

Nacar, Melis,Baykan, Zeynep,Cetinkaya, Fevziye,Arslantas, Didem,Ozer, Ali,Coskun, Ozlem,Bati, Hilal,Karaoglu, Nazan,Elmali, Ferhan,Yilmaze, Gulay Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.20

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the predictors of health promoting lifestyle behaviour among medical students attending seven of the medical schools in Turkey. Materials and Methods: This crosssectional descriptive study was performed during the second semester of the first and last (sixth) years of study from March to May 2011. A questionnaire with two sections was specifically designed. The first section contained questions on demographic characteristics; the second consisted of the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP) Scale. From a total of 2,309 medical students, 2,118 (response rate 91.7%) completed the questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t, Anova, Tukey test and binary logistic regression analysis. The research was approved by the Ethics Committee of Erciyes University. Results: The mean age was $20.7{\pm}2.9$ years and it was found that 55.1% were men, 62.3% were in the first year. The overall prevalence of smoking was 19.1%, and for drinking alcohol was 19.4%. HPLP point averages of the first year students were $129.2{\pm}17.7$, and for last year $125.5{\pm}19.0$. The overall mean score for the HPLP II was $2.5{\pm}0.4$. They scored highest on the spiritual growth subscale ($2.9{\pm}0.5$), interpersonal relations ($2.8{\pm}0.5$), health responsibility subscale ($2.3{\pm}0.5$), nutrition subscale ($2.3{\pm}0.5$), stress management subscale ($2.3{\pm}0.4$), and the lowest subscale physical activity ($2.0{\pm}0.5$). It is established that student's grade, educational level of parents, economic status of family, marital status, smoking and general health perception of the students resulted in a significant difference in HPLP Scale total score average and the mean score of majority of subscales. There was no statistically significant difference between the total HPLP when evaluated for gender, chronic disease, alcohol drinking status and BMI. Conclusions: Based on these results, particularly in the curriculum of medical students in order to increase positive health behaviours including physical activity, health promotion issues, and giving more space to aim at behaviour change in these matters is recommended.

Relationships between Skin Cancers and Blood Groups - Link between Non-melanomas and ABO/Rh Factors

Cihan, Yasemin Benderli,Baykan, Halit,Kavuncuoglu, Erhan,Mutlu, Hasan,Kucukoglu, Mehmet Burhan,Ozyurt, Kemal,Oguz, Arzu Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.7

Background: This investigation focused on possible relationships between skin cancers and ABO/Rh blood groups. Materials and Methods: Between January 2005 and December 2012, medical data of 255 patients with skin cancers who were admitted to Kayseri Training and Research Hospital, Radiation Oncology and Plastic Surgery Outpatient Clinics were retrospectively analyzed. Blood groups of these patients were recorded. The control group consisted of 25701 healthy volunteers who were admitted to Kayseri Training and Research Hospital, Blood Donation Center between January 2010 and December 2011. The distribution of the blood groups of the patients with skin cancers was compared to the distribution of ABO/Rh blood groups of healthy controls. The association of the histopathological subtypes of skin cancer with the blood groups was also investigated. Results: Of the patients, 50.2% had A type, 26.3% had O type, 16.1% had B type, and 7.5% had AB blood group with a positive Rh (+) in 77.3%. Of the controls, 44.3% had A type, 31.5% had 0 type, 16.1% had B type, and 8.1% had AB blood group with a positive Rh (+) in 87.8%. There was a statistically significant difference in the distribution of blood groups and Rh factors (A Rh (-) and 0 Rh positive) between the patients and controls. A total of 36.8% and 20.4% of the patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) had A Rh (+) and B Rh (+), respectively, while 39.2% and 27.6% of the controls had A Rh (+) and B Rh (+), respectively. A significant relationship was observed between the patients with BCC and controls in terms of A Rh (-) (p=0.001). Conclusion: Our study results demonstrated that there is a significant relationship between non-melanoma skin cancer and ABO/Rh factors.

Hazardous Health Behaviour among Medical Students: a Study from Turkey

Nacar, Melis,Cetinkaya, Fevziye,Baykan, Zeynep,Yilmazel, Gulay,Elmali, Ferhan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.17

Background: Hazardous health behaviour in young people is an important factor that affects the individual risk for non-communicable diseases and other disorders later in life. This study aimed to determine the hazardous health behaviour of first and last class medical students of Erciyes University. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was carried out with 240 medical students from the first and 130 students from the last (sixth) class. Data were obtained by questionnaire between March-April 2012. In total, 339 students were included with a response rate of 91.6%. Socio-demographic characteristics, school success, self-reported economic difficulties, health perceptions, hazardous health behaviour related to chronic disease, tobacco, alcohol, substance use, body weight, height, traffic, violence and nutrition were assessed in line with the literature. Results: Of the participants; 64.0% were from first and 36.0% were from the last class. Mean ages for the first and last classes were $19.4{\pm}1.5$ and $24.0{\pm}1.5years$, respectively. In the current study, males exhibited more hazardous behaviour than females. Sime 19.8% of the students in the study group used alcohol, 35.4% used a waterpipe, and 24.8% used tobacco at least once. These rates increased in both genders in the last class and the increase in males was significant. Some 3.8% of the students in the current study used pleasure-inducing illegal substances at least once. All the students participating in the current study were single, the number of males reported not using condoms (8.6%) was 4.56 times higher compared to females. Some 64.0% of the students did not perform physical activity lasting at least 30 minutes for five times a week, 13.0% did not sleep for mean 7-8 hours daily, males having a 2.9 times higher risk. More than 1/3 of the students did not consume cooked vegetable dishes and 1/4 did not consume fresh fruits and salads, the rates were higher among males. Conclusions: In the current study, hazardous health behaviour was prevalent among medical students, with higher risks among males and last class students. According to these results, medical curriculum may be focused on decreasing hazardous health behaviour. In addition, in order to prevent unhealthy behaviour, the number of youth-friendly health facilities should be increased.

Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Left Ventricular Remodeling in Patients with ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction treated with Primary Percutaneous Intervention

Abdurrezzak Börekçi,Mustafa Gür,Caner Türkoğlu,Ahmet Oytun Baykan,Taner Şeker,Durmuş Yıldıray Şahin,Hazar Harbalıoğlu,Zafer Elbasan,Mustafa Topuz,Murat Çaylı 대한심장학회 2016 Korean Circulation Journal Vol.46 No.1

Background and Objectives: It has been demonstrated that the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) might be a useful marker to predict cardiovascular risk and events. We aimed to investigate the role of the NLR to predict ventricular remodeling (VR) in patients with anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who were treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Subjects and Methods: We prospectively included 274 consecutive anterior STEMI patients. Echocardiography was performed during admission and at six months after myocardial infarction. VR was defined as at least 20% increase from baseline in left ventricular end- diastolic volume. Patients were divided into two groups according to their VR status: VR (n=67) and non-VR (n=207). Total and differential leukocyte count, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and other biochemical markers were measured at admission and 24 hours later. Results: Compared with the non-VR group, peak creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), NT-proBNP (24 h), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, presence of diabetes, no-reflow frequency and wall motion score index were significantly higher in patients with VR (p<0.05 for all). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, NLR (β=2.000, 95% confidence interval=1.577-2.537, p<0.001) as well as peak CK-MB, NT-proBNP (24 h), WMSI and diabetes incidence were associated with VR. The cutoff value of the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio obtained by receiver operator characteristic curve analysis was 4.25 for the prediction of VR (sensitivity: 79 %, specificity: 74%). Conclusion: In patients with anterior STEMI, initial NLR and NT-proBNP measured 24 hours after admission may be useful for predicting adverse cardiovascular events including left VR.

Teratogenicity of Antiepileptic Drugs

Betül Tekin Güveli,Rasim Özgür Rosti,Alper Güzeltaş,Elif Bahar Tuna,Dilek Ataklı,Serra Sencer,Ensar Yekeler,Hülya Kayserili,Ahmet Dirican,Nerses Bebek,Betül Baykan,Ayşen Gökyiğit,Candan Gürses 대한정신약물학회 2017 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.15 No.1

Objective: Antiepileptic drugs (AED) have chronic teratogenic effects, the most common of which are congenital heart disease, cleft lip/palate, urogenital and neural tube defects. The aim of our study is to examine teratogenic effects of AED and the correlation between these malformations and AED in single or multiple pregnancies. Methods: This is a retrospective study of malformations in children born to mothers currently followed up by our outpatient clinics who used or discontinued AED during their pregnancy. Their children were then investigated using echocardiography, urinary ultrasound, cranial magnetic resonance image, and examined by geneticists and pediatric dentists. Results: One hundred and seventeen children were included in the study. Ninety one of these children were exposed to AED during pregnancy. The most commonly used AED were valproic acid and carbamazepine in monotherapy. The percentage of major anomaly was 6.8% in all children. Dysmorphic features and dental anomalies were observed more in children exposed especially to valproic acid. There were 26 mothers with two and four mothers with three pregnancies from the same fathers. No correlation was found between the distribution of malformations in recurring pregnancies and AED usage. Conclusion: Our study has the highest number of dysmorphism examined in literature, found in all the children exposed to valproic acid, which may account for the higher rate of facial dysmorphism and dental anomalies. On lower doses of valproic acid, major malformations are not seen, although the risk increases with polytherapy. Our data also indicate possible effects of genetic and environmental factors on malformations.