Cemalettin Kalyoncu

Prevalence of dementia and associated risk factors in Middle Anatolia, Turkey.

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of various cognitive disorders in the older population (age 55 years and above) of Eskisehir, Turkey, by conducting a cluster sampled door-to-door survey. A total of 3100 inhabitants were screened with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and a questionnaire concerning demographic, occupational and social data. Individuals (n=320) with MMSE scores of 25 were assessed according to the 10th Revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) and were investigated in the more detailed phase 2 study. The overall prevalence of dementia was 8.4%, although it ranged from 2.2% among those aged 55-59 years to 5.3% among those aged 60-64 years, and to 30.4% among those aged 75 or above. Vascular dementia was the most common type (51.1%), followed by Alzheimers dementia (48.8%). In a very small proportion of individuals (0.1%), dementia was due to other causes such as B12 deficiency, a tumour or hydrocephalus. Significant risk factors for dementia were female sex, low education, age, living in a rural area and a family history of dementia.

Frequency and risk factors of dermatophytosis in students living in rural areas in Eskişehir, Turkey.

Our study included 2384 students from five villages around Eskişehir, Turkey. We asked every student for their personal identification and also for their sanitation in order to get an idea about dermatophytosis. Samples taken from suspicious lesion were collected and inoculated onto Sabouraud dextrose agar slants. For identification of fungi which were grown, macroscopic appearance of colonies, microscopic examination and biochemical tests were used. We found suspicious lesions in 245 (10.3%) and diagnosed dermatophytosis in 86 (3.6%) of the students. The dermatophyte species were Trichophyton rubrum 37 (43%) at first, Trichophyton mentagrophytes 17 (19.8%), Microsporum canis 11 (12.8%), Microsporum gypseum 8(9.3%), Epidermophyton floccosum 6 (7%), Trichophyton verrucosum 6 (7%) and Trichophyton violaceum 1 (1.1%). Tinea pedis (59.3%) was the most frequent clinic form of dermatophytosis, followed by tinea corporis (22.1%), tinea capitis (9.3%), tinea manum (7.0%) and tinea unguium (2.3%). Older age, male gender, poor hygiene, living in dormitory, low level mother education, history of dermatophytosis within family and sanitary conditions were computed as independently variables associated with dermatophytosis infection. For prevention and control of dermatophyte infection in children living rural areas, field studies should be done and sanitary conditions should be improved.

Nickel exposure and its effects.

The aim of the study was to determine the nickel concentrations of soil and plant specimens taken from a rural area exposed to cement factory emissions and also to determine the blood concentrations and sensitivity conditions observed in humans residing in this rural area. The study was carried out in Çukurhisar, a town in Eskişehir-Turkey, between May 2000 and March 2001. Beside the 108 soil (36 for control) and plant specimens, which were taken from 8 directions from the cement factory, blood samples of the individuals residing in this area were taken from 258 subjects (258 for control) following a physical examination, and patch tests were also applied. The nickel concentrations of the soil and plant specimens taken from different places in different directions of the factory were higher than in the control areas. The physical examination of subjects did not reveal results different from those of the control group except for the diagnosis of contact dermatitis. The analyses of venous blood samples showed that nickel concentrations were found to be within the reference values given for both groups, but higher in the subjects (p<0.001). According to the results of patch tests, sensitivity to nickel was found to be more frequent for the subject group than the control group (p<0.05). According to these results, clinical tools revealed no toxic effects for the subjects, except contact dermatitis. However, sensitivity to patch tests showed that this subject group has been affected compared to the control group and that this effect increased with age.

Hypertension Knowledge-Level Scale (HK-LS): A Study on Development, Validity and Reliability

This study was conducted to develop a scale to measure knowledge about hypertension among Turkish adults. The Hypertension Knowledge-Level Scale (HK-LS) was generated based on content, face, and construct validity, internal consistency, test re-test reliability, and discriminative validity procedures. The final scale had 22 items with six sub-dimensions. The scale was applied to 457 individuals aged ≥18 years, and 414 of them were re-evaluated for test-retest reliability. The six sub-dimensions encompassed 60.3% of the total variance. Cronbach alpha coefficients were 0.82 for the entire scale and 0.92, 0.59, 0.67, 0.77, 0.72, and 0.76 for the sub-dimensions of definition, medical treatment, drug compliance, lifestyle, diet, and complications, respectively. The scale ensured internal consistency in reliability and construct validity, as well as stability over time. Significant relationships were found between knowledge score and age, gender, educational level, and history of hypertension of the participants. No correlation was found between knowledge score and working at an income-generating job. The present scale, developed to measure the knowledge level of hypertension among Turkish adults, was found to be valid and reliable.

Acne: prevalence and relationship with dietary habits in Eskisehir, Turkey.

Background  Acne vulgaris is a common disease affecting adolescents. There is not comprehensive data on acne prevalence in the Central Anatolia Region in particular. Etiology of acne is not clarified yet. Acne might be related to environmental factors. There is increasing evidence supporting acne and diet relationship.

Environmental asbestos exposure in rural Turkey and risk of lung cancer

The aim of this study was to determine the risk of lung cancer in a cohort of villagers with environmental asbestos exposure. The study was carried out as a field-based epidemiological study. Information from 3143 individuals in 15 asbestos exposed villages and 2175 individuals in 12 control villages was obtained. Asbestos fiber type to which villagers were exposed mainly was tremolite or tremolite, actinolite, chrysotile mixtures. The cumulative fiber count of the villagers during their lifespan ranged from 0.19 to 4.61 fiber-years/ml. The annual average incidence ratio of lung cancer was 135.21/100,000 persons/year in men and 47.28 in women in the asbestos exposed villages. For the control villages, this ratio was 60.15/100,000 person/year in men and 15.06 in women. Being a male, advanced age, smoking and asbestos exposure were established to increase the risk of lung cancer. Environmental asbestos exposure in rural area is a risk factor for lung cancer independent of smoking.

Prevalence of osteoporosis in middle anatolian population using calcaneal ultrasonography method

BACKGROUND There are a few studies on the prevalence of osteoporosis in Turkey. Most of such studies have been performed using classical diagnostic methods. Quantitative calcaneal ultrasonography is a contemporary procedure used in the diagnosis of osteoporosis. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of the osteoporosis and risk factors in middle Anatolian population aged more than 40, using quantitative calcaneal ultrasonography. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The present study was carried out in rural and urban areas of primary health care units. Evaluation of skeletal status was based on calcaneal quantitative ultrasound measurement, carried out by the Sahara Clinical Bone Sonometer (Hologic Waltham, MA, USA). RESULTS There were 1437 individuals, 866 were females (60.3%) and 571 were males (39.7%), aged in between 40 and 89 years. Standardized prevalence rates using Segis population were found to be 14.0% in total, 17.1% in female and 9.2% in male. Osteoporosis prevalence increased with increasing ages. The highest prevalence value was determined in the individuals older than 70 years of age. Osteoporosis was more common among women compared to men. Osteoporosis prevalence increased in consistent with a decrease in the amount of milk, yoghurt and cheese consumption. CONCLUSION Based on current study, it is concluded that osteoporosis is an important health problem. Requiring health education about life styles (activity and nutrition) to avoid and even control osteoporosis.

The prevalence of tinea pedis and tinea manuum in adults in rural areas in Turkey.

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of tinea pedis and manuum (dermatophyte infections of the hands and feet) in adults in rural areas of Turkey, the risk factors and self-administered treatment options. A total of 2,574 people living in a rural area were enrolled in the study. Participants were asked demographic data, hygienic habits in a questionnaire. KOH preparations and culture were performed from suspicious lesions. Medical and alternative therapy methods and former dermatophytosis diagnosis history were taken from the respondents with suspicious lesions. Microbiological samples were taken from 285 (11.1%) participants. Culture was positive in 109 (4.2%) of those. The most common agent was Trichophyton rubrum. The predisposing factors were found as age older than 40, male gender and obesity. Forty-nine (44.9%) of patients had taken a medical therapy, 56 (51.4%) had performed non-medical methods (cologne, Lawsonia inermis-Henna and softener creams). Patients education about the treatment compliance is important.

Awareness of hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors in rural and urban areas in Turkey

This study aims to establish the rates of hypertension among individuals living in rural and urban areas in Turkey, and to compare their level of awareness concerning cardiovascular disease risk factors and lifestyle modifications. In total, 1679 people from urban areas and 1321 individuals from rural areas who were over 40 years of age were contacted. Hypertension standardized prevalence rate was 49% in males and 51.3% in females living in urban areas, and 55.3% in males and 59.6% in females living in rural areas. The risk of hypertension was higher in those people living in urban areas with a smoking habit, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, inappropriate salt intake or a diagnosis of hypercholesterolemia. The risk of hypertension was also higher in people living in rural areas with obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, an inappropriate consumption of fat and red meat or a diagnosis of hypercholesterolemia or diabetes. Awareness of the importance of all of the included cardiovascular risk factors and protection from those risk factors was higher in urban areas. We concluded that cardiovascular risk factor control programs should be conducted together with hypertension control programs in rural and urban areas.

Incidence of epilepsy in a defined area of central Anatolia, Turkey, after 15 years of age.

Background: The aim of this study was to establish the incidence rate, incidence-related characteristics, and epidemiological profile of epilepsy in Eskisehir, Turkey. Methods: Cases were prospectively recorded by utilizing multiple data sources, including case records obtained through the Hospital Information System, files kept by family physicians, and files kept by private neurologists. Patients diagnosed with epilepsy between July 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008, and above the age of 15 years were included in the study. Results: 219 new cases were diagnosed with epilepsy. The adjusted incidence rate was 33.51/100,000 cases in males and 42.22/ 100,000 cases in females, for a total of 37.59/100,000 persons. The incidence rates according to age were found to be highest in the 15–19-year age group and in the ≧70-year age group. Partial seizures were observed more than generalized seizures after the age of 40. Unknown etiology accounted for 77.2% of the epilepsies. Stroke was the most common etiological cause of epilepsy among the symptomatic group. Conclusions: The incidence rate of epilepsy in Eskisehir was comparable with the rates reported for developed countries.