Browsing by Author "Akkaya, N"

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    Preanalytical Phase Errors: Experience of a Central Laboratory
    Sonmez, C; Yildiz, U; Akkaya, N; Taneli, F
    Introduction: The study intends to observe the frequency of preanalytical phase errors both inside and outside the clinical laboratory according to certain quality indicators (QIs). Methods: The one-week observation focused on 73 nurses drawing blood from 337 patients. It was performed in two stages: the observation of blood collection up to the receipt of the samples, and the receipt of the samples up to the analytical phase. The data pertaining to the number of patients, tests, and rejection rates were obtained from the laboratory information system (LIS) for the one-week and the one-year period and compared with the observational data. Results: The process of blood sample collection from 337 patients taken into 1347 tubes was observed. Although the majority of the nurses (78%) used safety needles, the safety mechanism was properly activated only in 38% of the interventions. Evaluation of biochemistry tubes (n=971) revealed the following: the incorrect fill volume error was 40%; the hemolysis was seen by 17%, and the clotted sample and fibrin were observed by 6%. The incorrect fill volume error was 12% and 20% in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and citrated tubes, respectively. Clotted samples and platelet clumps were seen in 1% of EDTA tubes. Conclusion: The study confirms the relative frequency of preanalytical phase error occurring inside and outside of the laboratory.
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    Femoral cartilage thickness measurements in healthy individuals: Learning, practicing and publishing with TURK-MUSCULUS
    Özçakar, L; Tunç, H; Öken, Ö; Ünlü, Z; Durmus, B; Baysal, Ö; Altay, Z; Tok, F; Akkaya, N; Dogu, B; Çapkin, E; Bardak, A; Çarli, AB; Bugdayci, D; Toktas, H; Diraçoglu, D; Gündüz, B; Erhan, B; Kocabas, H; Erdenn, G; Günendi, Z; Kesikburun, S; Omaç, ÖK; Taskaynatan, M; Senel, K; Ugur, M; Yalçinkaya, EY; Önes, K; Atan, Ç; Akgun, K; Bilgici, A; Kuru, Ö; Özgöçmen, S
    BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Measurement of the femoral cartilage thickness by using in-vivo musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MSUS) has been previously shown to be a valid and reliable method in previous studies; however, to our best notice, normative data has not been provided before in the healthy population. The aim of our study was to provide normative data regarding femoral cartilage thicknesses of healthy individuals with collaborative use of MSUS. METHODS: This is across-sectional study run at Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Departments of 18 Secondary and Tertiary Centers in Turkey. 1544 healthy volunteers (aged between 25-40 years) were recruited within the collaboration of TURK-MUSCULUS (Turkish Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography Study Group). Subjects who had a body mass index value of less than 30 and who did not have signs and symptoms of any degenerative/inflammatory arthritis or other rheumatic diseases, history of knee trauma and previous knee surgery were enrolled. Ultrasonographic measurements were performed axially from the suprapatellar window by using linear probes while subjects' knees were in maximum flexion. Three (mid-point) measurements were taken from both knees (lateral condyle, intercondylar area, medial condyle). RESULTS: A total of 2876 knees (of 817 M, 621 F subjects) were taken into analysis after exclusion of inappropriate images. Mean cartilage thicknesses were significantly lower in females than males (all p < 0.001). Thickness values negatively correlated with age; negatively (females) and positively (males) correlated with smoking. Men who regularly exercised had thicker cartilage than who did not exercise (all p < 0.05). Increased age (in both sexes) and absence of exercise (males) were found to be risk factors for decreased cartilage thicknesses. CONCLUSION: Further data pertaining to other countries would be interesting to uncover whether ethnic differences also affect cartilage thickness. Collaborative use of MSUS seems to be promising in this regard.
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    Ultrasonographic Evaluation of the Flexor Pollicis Longus Tendon in Frequent Mobile Phone Texters
    Akkaya, N; Dogu, B; Ünlü, Z; Çarli, AB; Akkaya, S; Tekin, L; Özçakar, L
    Objective The aim of this study was to assess flexor pollicis longus tendon by using ultrasound imaging in frequent mobile phone texters. Subjects In total, 149 subjects, aged 18-40 yrs, were recruited as frequent mobile phone texters (n = 71) and infrequent texters (n = 78). Methods Demographic data and estimate frequency of texting were noted. Thumb pain during activity, range of motion for thumb joints, grip and pinch strengths, and Quick Disabilities of arm, shoulder, and hand were evaluated. Standardized bilateral ultrasound evaluations were performed using a linear array probe, and tendon area measurements were done with axial imaging at midthenar region and midproximal phalangeal region with manual trace technique. Results The groups were similar except for the mean estimate number of messages/month (P = 0.001). Whereas grip and pinch strength values were significantly higher (frequent texter group, P = 0.001; infrequent texter group, grip strength P = 0.018; pinch strengths, P = 0.001) on the texting side in both groups, flexor pollicis longus tendons were larger (P = 0.001) and the activity pain was higher (P = 0.005) on the texting sides only in the frequent texter group. Flexor pollicis longus thickness significantly correlated with messages/month only in the frequent texter group (r = 0.592, P = 0.001). Conclusions Flexor pollicis longus tendons seem to be thicker at the midthenar level in subjects who frequently use mobile phone texting. Because this increase in thickness parallels the number of messages per day, the authors believe that further studies are needed to elucidate whether such changes become problematic later on in life.