Turk J Med Sci
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Rapid antigen test (RAT) is a practical test to detect the presence of Group A beta hemolytic streptococcus antigens in throat swab samples. The aim of this study is to investigate the changes in the empiric antibiotic prescribing behavior of 10 family physicians in Kırıkkale Province after using RAT in 2017. ⋯ This study shows that there has been a significant decrease in antibiotic prescription in 10 Family Medicine departments in 2017 in comparison to February, March, and April 2015 and 2016. The use of RAT resulted in a decrease in antibiotic prescription rates in 2017.
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Muslims worship by fasting from predawn (suhoor) until sunset (iftar) for 30 days in the religious month of Ramadan. In addition to prolonged hunger, patients fasting with a diagnosis of hypothyroidism take their doses of levothyroxine (LT4) outside of daytime fasting hours. The purpose of our study is to compare the values of hypothyroid patients which have been obtained through thyroid function tests before and after Ramadan. ⋯ Our study demonstrates a significant increase in serum TSH levels after Ramadan but no significant change in serum free thyroxine (fT4) levels in hypothyroidism patients who are fasting. It may be appropriate to take precautions by making a small increase in LT4 dose before Ramadan in some hypothyroid patients wishing to fast.
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Sepsis is a condition caused by infection followed by unregulated inflammatory response which may lead to organ dysfunction. The aim of this study is to be the first in the literature and it has been designed to show the thiol/disulphide changes in patients with sepsis and septic shock and their correlation with acute phase reactants. ⋯ Thiol/disulphide homeostasis is impaired in patients with sepsis and septic shock. Understanding the role of thiol/ disulphide homeostasis in sepsis and septic shock may provide different therapeutic intervention strategies for patients.