The present study aimed to investigate clinical, demographic and follow-up features of borderline personality disorder (BPD) in Turkey. Among 738 inpatients consecutively admitted to a university psychiatric clinic, we attempted to trace 75 patients diagnosed with BPD according to DSM-III-R criteria 2- to 4-years after their index discharge. Of 61 patients who could be traced, 2 had committed suicide and 45 were included in a follow-up study. A semi-structured interview confirmed the previous diagnosis in all but two patients. The mean Global Assessment Scale score of the follow-up sample showed a 13.4% increase during the follow-up interval. Affective disorders were concomitantly diagnosed in 76.7% of the BPD patients, and the lifetime prevalence rate for this diagnostic category was estimated at 100%. Substances abuse disorder emerged as the second common Axis I diagnosis. The data obtained in the present study were in agreement with findings of previous studies on BPD conducted mostly in Western countries.
Machine design is perhaps the most important course for Mechanical Engineering students. There are many diverse approaches to the design education in universities worldwide. This paper outlines some collaborative experiences for methodical design education in mechanical/industrial design engineering context at Turkish Universities. For this purpose, a case study based on a student project titled "the conceptual design of a new meatball forming machine" is utilized and the experiences of the conceptual design works made with project groups are presented. The design process outlined in this paper is based on the systematic design approach of Pahl and Beitz. The method applied includes problem definition, formulating (function diagram), creating and selecting of best design variants. The positive feedbacks received from student practices show that this work can be useful for industry followers, design lecturers and young engineers.
Amitriptyline is a very frequently prescribed antidepressant agent and is very often involved in attempted suicides. Amitriptyline intoxication necessitates primary therapeutic approaches that include gastric irrigation and recurrent administration of activated charcoal. In the case of pronounced anticholinergic findings, physostigmine is of proven benefit and hypertonic sodium bicarbonate can be used to shorten the QRS duration and AV interval. In cases of a comatosed state, hemoperfusion and plasma exchange can be used. In this case report we present a case of severe amitriptyline poisoning that we successfully managed with plasma exchange. We confirmed a 59.5% reduction in the amitriptyline plasma level in our patient after a single plasma exchange session. She was discharged by the third day of admission without any complications. According to current literature, our patient is the fifth patient treated with plasma exchange to be the subject of a publication.
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