Ahmet Yilmaz

P-436 - Noise pollution, psychiatric symptoms and quality of life: noise problem in the east region of Turkey

Introduction Noise is defined as unwanted sounds and can cause psychological symptoms such as anxiety, restlessness, irritability, sleep disturbances and difficulty concentrating. Transportation noise represents a large majority of external noise that affects people in large cities. Professional drivers are the highest risk group. Aim The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between noise pollution and, general psychological symptoms, quality of life in public transport drivers. Material and methods Bus drivers of varying bus brands (F, O and P) were subjected in this study. SCL-90-R and SF-36 questionnaire were used to assess the presence and severity of psychiatric symptoms and quality of life. Sound level meter (Smart Sensor AR844) was used for noise pollution measurements (dB(A)) within the buses and city main streets. Results F, O and P brand buses average 65.16xa0dB(A), 70.86xa0dB(A) and 75.33xa0dB(A) noise produces respectively. Especially, P brand mini-bus drivers were found to have worked under continuously high noise (75.33xa0dB(A), average 11.22xa0±xa03.86 hours daily). According to psychiatric SCL-90-R and SF-36 assessments, observed psychiatric symptoms were more pronounced between the high noise exposed group than other groups (Pxa0 Conclusion Psychologies and quality of life of bus drivers were affected by the noise pollution and noise pollution had cause to serious psychological symptoms on drivers such as anxiety, depression, hostility, etc., and noise had negative effects over the quality of life in the east region of Turkey, particularly, when drivers were exposed for longer working periods and above certain values.

High social anxiety and poor quality of life in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

AbstractPulmonary tuberculosis (PT) has been previously related with various psychosocial adverse consequences including stigmatization and social isolation.Social anxiety is a psychiatric condition that may be associated with social isolation and fear of social exclusion.To date no study has investigated social anxiety and its impact on quality of life (QoL) among patients with PT. Therefore, we aimed to determine the severity of social anxiety in a group of patients with PT.Among patients who were recently discharged from hospital with the diagnosis of PT 94 patients and 99 healthy control subjects who had similar demographical features have been included in the study. A psychiatrist interviewed all participants and a semistructured interview form, which was prepared by the authors, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), and Short Form-36 were administered to them.Patients with PT showed higher levels of performance avoidance and social avoidance than healthy control subjects. They reported lower QoL scores across all dimensions. Among patients women showed higher levels of LSAS subscale scores and total score. Fear of social exclusion was predicted by perceived illness severity and emotional role difficulty. On the other hand, perceived illness severity was predicted by fear of exclusion and sedimentation level.PT patients seem to experience higher levels of social anxiety and associated fear of social exclusion that add to their worse QoL during the earlier months of their disease. Among them fear of social exclusion is related with perceived illness severity.

Protective Effects of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester on Fluoxetine-Induced Hepatotoxicity: An Experimental Study

Background. The aim of the study was to analyse the effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on fluoxetine-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Materials and Methods. Group I served as control. Group II received CAPE intraperitoneally. Group III received fluoxetine per orally. Group IV received fluoxetine and CAPE. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), and liver enzymes including paraoxonase-1 (PON-1), aspartate transaminase, and alanine transaminase levels were measured. Liver tissues were processed histopathologically for evaluation of liver injury and to validate the serum enzyme levels. Results. An increase in TOS and OSI and a decrease in TAC and PON-1 levels in serum and liver tissues of Group III were observed compared to Groups I and II. After treatment with CAPE, the level of TOS and OSI decreased while TAC and PON-1 increased in serum and liver in Group IV. Histopathological examination of the liver revealed hepatic injury after fluoxetine treatment and reduction of injury with CAPE treatment. Conclusion. Our results suggested that CAPE treatment provided protection against fluoxetine toxicity. Following CAPE treatment with fluoxetine-induced hepatotoxicity, TOS and OSI levels decreased, whereas PON-1 and TAC increased in the serum and liver.

Environmental radioactivity and high incidence rates of stomach and esophagus cancer in the Van Lake region: a causal relationship?

This study examined the incidence rates of cancer cases (averages for 2006-2010) and relationships with environmental radioactivity levels. Soil and water samples were collected from provincial and district centers of Van city and the outdoor gamma doses were determined using a portable gamma scintillation detector. Gross alpha and beta, (226)Ra, (232)Th, and (40)K activities were measured in both tap water and soil samples. Although high rates of stomach and esophagus cancers have been reported previously in Van the underlying reasons have not hitherto been defined. Incidences of cancers were highest in the Gurpinar (326.0) and Ozalp (377.1) counties (p<0.001). As to the results of the gross alpha and gross beta radioactivity measurements in the drinking water, these two counties also had high beta radionuclide levels: Gurpinar (140 mBq/dm3) and Ozalp (206 mBq/dm3). Even if within the normal range, a relation between the higher rate of the incidence of stomach and esophagus cancers with that of the higher rate of beta radionuclide activity was clear. On Spearman correlation analysis, the relation between higher beta radionuclide levels and cancer incidence was found to be statistically significant (p<0.01). According to the results of the analysis, Van residents receive an average 1.86 mSv/y annual dose from outdoor gamma radiation, ingestion of radionuclides in the drinking water, and indoor 222Rn activity. Moreover, gross alpha and beta activities were found to be extremely high in all of the lakes around the city of Van, Turkey. Further investigations with long-term detailed environmental radiation measurements are needed regarding the relationship between cancer cases and environmental radioactivity in the city of Van.

Delayed diagnosis of selective immunoglobulin deficiency: A case report

Selective immunoglobulin A deficiency (SIgAD) is the most common of all primary immunodeficiency diseases; however, the pathogenesis has not been fully understood. Although most people with SIgAD are asymptomatic, some may present with recurrent infections; such as respiratory disorders, gastrointestinal tracts disorders, and allergic disorders. Herein, we report a case with SIgAD who presented with the complaints of pruritus, dental caries and chronic sinopulmonary infections.

Evaluation of the metabolic characteristics of patients with Acromegaly

Objective: xa0Acromegaly is a syndrome characterized by growth hormone (GH) and insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) over secretion. It was aimed to sharing detected metabolic disorders of the patients with acromegaly who have been under follow-up at our clinic. Methods: xa0One hundred five patients, who were diagnosed as acromegaly in our clinic between 2010 and 2015, were enrolled to the study. The age, gender, involvement feature additional systemic and metabolic diseases were recorded and laboratory findings. Results: xa0A total of 105 patients included in the study, 56 women (53.3%) and 49 men (46.7%), respectively. Patient’s’ ages ranged 23-78 (mean 42.1±16.7). 34 patients (32.3%), hypertension in 20 (19.04%), diabetes mellitus, and is 11 (10.4%) had impaired glucose tolerance. Conclusion:xa0 Somatic disfigurement (hand and foot enlargement etc.) is the major characteristic of the disease but the prognosis is determined by cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic complications. In acromegaly, hypertension and diabetes are common, cardiovascular disease is the principal cause of death. We believe that our study will contribute to the determination of our country’s data.xa0 J Clin Exp Invest 2015; 6 (4): 382-386 Key words: xa0Acromegaly, hypertension, diabetes