Determination of natural radionuclides and some metal concentrations in human tooth samples in the Rize province, Turkey

The main purpose of this study was to identify the concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides (²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K) and some metals (Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd) in tooth samples collected from humans living in the Rize province of Turkey. It was found that the activity concentrations ranged from 8.1 to 114.51 Bq kg^-1 for ²²⁶Ra, from 10.44 to 97.3 Bq kg^-1 for ²³²Th and from 14.53 to 489.27 Bq kg^-1 for ⁴⁰K. The mean activity concentration values of ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th in tooth samples were higher than the average world values for bones. Furthermore, when the metal concentrations were examined, there was no regular increase or decrease according to age or sex. The results of the metal analysis on the tooth samples were compared with the results of similar studies and were generally found to be consistent.

Cutaneous metastasis of endometrial carcinoma with hemorrhagic nodules and papules

BACKGROUND

Endometrium cancer is the fourth most frequent malignancy in women. However, skin metastasis from endometrium cancer is a very rare entity.

CASE

A 58-year-old multiparous woman postmenopausal for ten years presented with multiple metastatic, nodular, hemorrhagic skin lesions located at the initial surgery and radiotherapy site 14 months after the original diagnosis was made. Combination chemotherapy was instituted, but the patient died after the second cycle of chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Although endometrial cancer is one of the most frequent malignancies in women, skin metastasis from endometrial cancer is very rare. In reported cases metastasis from endometrial cancer has been most commonly noted at the initial surgery and radiotherapy site. Therefore, the initial surgical and radiotherapy site must be examined carefully for skin metastasis.

Mode of administration of international prostate symptom score in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms: physician vs self

International prostate symptom score (IPSS) was claimed to be complicated for patients. The aim of this study was to measure differences in IPSS when introduced by a physician vs self-administration. Patients with lower urinary tract symptoms completed two IPSS questionnaires: one self-administrated and the other by a physician 1 week apart. Results with 75 patients in each group suggested that there was no statistically significant difference between patient and physician administration, although the mean scores of patients' administration were higher in both groups. In conclusion, when assessing IPSS before treatment, we found no difference between patient administration and physician administration.

The efficacy of an abbreviated model of the International Prostate Symptom Score in evaluating benign prostatic hyperplasia

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the acceptability to patients in Turkey of the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) for evaluating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and to devise a possible abbreviated model, saving time when administered by a physician.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The IPSS questionnaire was initially self-administered in 200 consecutive patients aged> 50 years and with lower urinary tract symptoms. Patients were instructed only to mark questions which they clearly understood. The IPSS was then administered to 500 consecutive patients by the same physician. Subsequently, each of the seven questions was separately correlated with the IPSS and quality-of-life (QoL) score. The first five questions with the highest correlation coefficient for both the total IPSS and QoL score were identified, and every possible combination of these questions produced and correlated.

RESULTS

In the first group, 29% of the patients did not complete the form and 44% could not mark at least one item; the effect of educational level was significant (P < 0.05). In the second group a combination of the first three items had a Pearson's correlation of 0.90 with the total IPSS; similarly, four questions combined (2, 3, 6 and 7) also correlated well (r = 0.92). Both combinations took significantly less time to administer (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The abbreviated form of the IPSS consisting of three or four items may be used to assess symptoms in patients with BPH, especially in underdeveloped countries.