Environmental study ofCryptococcus neoformans in and around Adana, Turkey

Fungal diseases affecting humans generally originate from the environment. Due to the rising of in human fungal infections in recent years, it is now extremely significant to know more about ecology in order to control fungal pathogens. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence ofCryptococcus neoformans in its well-known ecological niches in eight different locations, in Çukurova region, Turkey. For this purpose, for a total of 1835, 1508 vegetable material from tree of the genusEucalyptus trees, 119 pigeon droppings and 208 soil samples were examined for the presence of yeast in a nigerseed mediumCryptococcus spp. was not recovered from any of these samples. We believe that in our region there are elements affecting the life cycle ofCryptococcus neoformans, such as alkaline pH and high carbon ratio of the soil.     

Suicidal thought and behavior in high school students in Adana, Turkey

Fifty years ago adolescents mostly died of natural causes, whereas they now die from more preventable causes. Part of this change has been a worldwide rise in adolescent suicide rates in both developed and developing countries. Suicides are probably under reported due to cultural and religious stigma attached to self-destruction. Objectives of this study were to collect data about suicidal thoughts, plans and attempts and related sociodemographic details in high school students. The population comprised 2,480 randomly selected students among 46,271 students from 72 high schools in 1999-2000 in Adana and 2,352 (94.8%) students from 10 schools were reached and given a questionnaire modified using Youth Risk Behavior Survey Questionnaire (YRBSQ). Chi2 and Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests were used. Mean age was 16.5 +/- 1 (14-21) year, 1,187 (50.5%) students reported severe desperation, 526 students (22.4%) had suicidal thoughts, 332 (14.1%) planned committing suicide, 145 (6.2%) attempted suicide. The occurrence rate of desperation, suicidal thoughts, plans, attempts and the mean number of attempts were significantly higher in females than males. Adolescent suicide is a tragedy affecting individual, family, peers, and community. Families, teachers, and physicians should be aware of risk factors for suicide.     

Insecticide resistance gene frequencies in Anopheles sacharovi populations of the Çukurova plain, Adana Province, Turkey

In Turkey, the mosquito Anopheles sacharovi has been under field selection pressure sequentially with DDT, dieldrin, malathion and pirimiphosmethyl over a period of 30 years for the purpose of malaria control. In 1984, the field population of An.sacharovi in the malarious Cukurova plain of Adana Province contained an altered acetylcholinesterase-based resistance gene giving broad spectrum resistance against organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides. The cross-resistance spectrum from this mechanism conferred resistance to malathion but not to the organophosphorus insecticide pirimiphos-methyl. Over the 6 years that pirimiphos-methyl has been applied for malaria vector control in this area, the frequency of the altered acetylcholinesterase resistance gene has declined, although in 1989 and 1990 it was still present at measurable frequencies in An.sacharovi from Cukurova. In addition to the acetylcholinesterase resistance mechanism there is evidence of an increased level of glutathione S-transferase in some of the An.sacharovi populations tested. This is known to be correlated with DDT resistance in other anophelines. In Turkish An.sacharovi, DDT resistance and elevated glutathione S-transferase occur in the same populations at similar frequencies. The continued prevalence of resistance to DDT and dieldrin, long after the 1971 cessation of DDT spraying for malaria control in Turkey, suggests that the DDT resistance gene has insufficient reduced fitness associated with it to have been lost from the field population during the past two decades. The implications of the slow decline in resistance gene frequencies in this field population are discussed in relation to mathematical models for managing resistance.     

Focusing on the ethnobotanical uses of plants in Mersin and Adana provinces (Turkey)

This paper presents the result of a study on the herbal drugs in the herbal markets in Mersin and Adana. The data were collected through direct interviews with herbalists and customers between 2002–2005 and the popular medicinal plants were investigated. A total of 107 species belonging to 56 families were investigated and the samples were listedwith their local and Latin names. The investigation includes cross-checking the disorders and their herbal cures and their recommended use stated by the local herbalists, by the parts used, and by the preparations. The cultivated species and their ethno botanical uses, are documented and extensive inventory is presented. As a result, we observed that these plants are used especially for intestinal digestive disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, (21.68%), respiratory tract system disorders (10.43%), heart-blood circulatory system disorders (8.48%), urinary tract system disorders (7.70%), skin disorders (6.48%) and others.     

Length–weight relationships for 12 fish species caught in Seyhan Dam Lake in southern Anatolia, Adana, Turkey

Presented are the length–weight relationships of 12 fish species [ Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792); Cyprinus carpio, Linnaeus, 1758; Carassius carassius Linnaeus, 1758; Alburnoides bipunctatus (Bloch, 1782); Alburnus adanensis Battalgazi, 1944; Rutilus rutilus , Linnaeus, 1758; Squalis cephalus, Linnaeus, 1758; Tinca tinca (Linnaeus, 1758); Capoeta barroisi (Valenciennes, 1842); Silurus glanis Linnaeus, 1758; Gambussia affinis (Baird and Girard, 1853); and Sander lucioperca (Linnaeus, 1758)] from Seyhan Dam Lake, Turkey. This study provides the first estimation of length–weight relationships for two of the species ( A.   adanensis and C. barroisi ).     

Family planning/contraception

It is the position of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) that family planning advice and assistance should be readily available to all residents of Canada. This is viewed as a responsibility of practising physicians that is to be shared with other health and educational agencies. CMA has recommended the establishment of facilities in addition to physicians'' offices for the dissemination of advice on family planning. These facilities should be developed in consultation with and under the supervision of the medical profession. CMA believes induced abortion should not be an alternative to contraception as a method of responsible family planning. In the event of an unwanted pregnancy, full counselling services should be provided. Within the context of preventive medicine, CMA supports the development of educational programs in family living and the promotion of sex education in the school system by knowledgeable persons sensitive to the needs of students.     

The Turkey Ig-Like Receptor Family: Identification,Expression and Function

The chicken leukocyte receptor complex located on microchromosome 31 encodes the chicken Ig-like receptors (CHIR), a vastly expanded gene family which can be further divided into three subgroups: activating CHIR-A, bifunctional CHIR-AB and inhibitory CHIR-B. Here, we investigated the presence of CHIR homologues in other bird species. The available genome databases of turkey, duck and zebra finch were screened with different strategies including BLAST searches employing various CHIR sequences, and keyword searches. We could not identify CHIR homologues in the distantly related zebra finch and duck, however, several partial and complete sequences of CHIR homologues were identified on chromosome 3 of the turkey genome. They were designated as turkey Ig-like receptors (TILR). Using cDNA derived from turkey blood and spleen RNA, six full length TILR could be amplified and further divided according to the typical sequence features into one activating TILR-A, one inhibitory TILR-B and four bifunctional TILR-AB. Since the TILR-AB sequences all displayed the critical residues shown to be involved in binding to IgY, we next confirmed the IgY binding using a soluble TILR-AB1-huIg fusion protein. This fusion protein reacted with IgY derived from various gallinaceous birds, but not with IgY from other bird species. Finally, we tested various mab directed against CHIR for their crossreactivity with either turkey or duck leukocytes. Whereas no staining was detectable with duck cells, the CHIR-AB1 specific mab 8D12 and the CHIR-A2 specific mab 13E2 both reacted with a leukocyte subpopulation that was further identified as thrombocytes by double immunofluorescence employing B-cell, T-cell and thrombocyte specific reagents. In summary, although the turkey harbors similar LRC genes as the chicken, their distribution seems to be distinct with predominance on thrombocytes rather than lymphocytes.     

Men's involvement in family planning in rural Bangladesh

Contraceptive prevalence has risen markedly in rural Bangladesh due in part to a doorstep-delivery system initiated by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B). This study investigates effects of residence in the Matlab MCH-FP treatment area on men's involvement in family planning. The analysis compares for treatment and comparison areas knowledge of and attitudes toward contraception, as well as levels of contraceptive use, among 413 married men interviewed at the baseline of an ICDDR,B men's involvement project. Although residence in the MCH-FP area is associated with a higher overall contraceptive prevalence, it also is associated with a lower adjusted ratio of male-to-female method use, and lower odds of other indicators of men's involvement in family planning. Historical decisions to exclude men from contraceptive decision-making may place the 'burden' of contraception on women and may preclude the productive involvement of men. These and other implications and strategies for increased men's involvement are discussed.     

Family planning and the reduction of fertility and illegitimacy: a preliminary report on a rural southern program

The first family planning clinic in Louisiana was started in 1965 in Lincoln Parish, offering services to medically indigent residents. 719 women of the total 1055 eligible residents were contacted and 57% attended the clinic. Only 12% of the clinic patients come to the clinic on their own initiative, showing the importance of outreach. 74% of clinic attendees were aged 24 or younger. 44.9% had had 1 birth, 18.4% birth, and 36.7% had had 3 or more birth. Over 43% had experienced more than 1 out of wedlock birth. Between 1966 and 1967 there was a 21.6% decrease in births to medically indigent women 19 or younger, a 52.1% decrease for those 20-24, and 37.5% for those 25-29, compared with 16%, 7.9% and 7.7% for control parishes. There was a 30% drop in total out of wedlock births in 1967 in the study area. In 1967 the illegitimacy ratio dropped from 156.6 per 1000 to 121.4. The woman of second or higher parity were the most affected by the program since only women who had ever been married or pregnant were allowed to participate in the program.