Early initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by witnesses increases survival after cardiac arrest. In Turkey, our country, it is rare that basic life support (BLS) is initiated by a layperson. In our study, we aimed to use a survey to research awareness, level of knowledge and attitudes of the public to CPR and BLS. A 21-question survey was administered to individuals aged ≥18 years on a busy street in a city of a western region of Turkey. Topics such as knowledge about cardiac arrest findings, previous experience of CPR, knowledge of BLS and concerns related to CPR were questioned. The fully completed forms of 533 people were evaluated. There were 40.7% who stated that they had received training in CPR. For signs of cardiac arrest, 40.7% answered loss of consciousness, 49.3% answered cessation of breathing and 60.7% answered cessation of circulation. It was found that 35.5% could perform only chest compressions, 27.6% could perform mouth-to-mouth ventilation and 28.7% able to perform both. While 52.0% knew the location for performing chest compressions, 34.3% knew the correct depth and 15.6% knew the correct compression-ventilation rate. Bystander CPR was performed by 3.6%. In conclusion, 40.7% of people living in a highly educated region in the western part of Turkey had received CPR training and 3.6% performed bystander CPR. A majority of participants stated that they were willing to correct and develop their knowledge and skills related to CPR. Effective public CPR training programmes may increase the knowledge and awareness of CPR in the adult population.

Background. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of local ischemic preconditioning using biochemical markers and histopathologically in the diabetic rat renal IR injury model.Methods. DM was induced using streptozotocin. Rats were divided into four groups: Group I, nondiabetic sham group (n=7), Group II, diabetic sham group (n=6), Group III, diabetic IR group (diabetic IR group,n=6), and Group IV, diabetic IR + local ischemic preconditioning group (diabetic IR + LIPC group,n=6). Ischemic renal injury was induced by clamping the bilateral renal artery for 45 min. 4 h following ischemia, clearance protocols were applied to assess biochemical markers and histopathologically in rat kidneys.Results. The histomorphologic total cell injury scores of the nondiabetic sham group were significantly lower than diabetic sham, diabetic IR, and diabetic IR + LIPC groups. Diabetic IR group scores were not significantly different than the diabetic sham group. But diabetic IR + LIPC group scores were significantly higher than the diabetic sham and diabetic IR groups.Conclusion. Local ischemic preconditioning does not reduce the risk of renal injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion in diabetic rat model.