Coskun Bakar

Statistical Analysis of Causes of Death (2005–2010) in Villages of Simav Plain, Turkey, With High Arsenic Levels in Drinking Water Supplies

The purpose of this research was to compare the causes of death in 5 villages situated in Simav Plain, Turkey, during 2005–2010 where different arsenic levels were detected in drinking water supplies. Since groundwater in Simav Plain had arsenic concentrations that ranged between 7.1 and 833.9 ppb, a two-phase research was formulated. In the first phase, public health surveys were conducted with 1,003 villagers to determine the distribution of diseases. In the second phase, verbal autopsy surveys and official death records were used to investigate the causes of death. In total, 402 death cases were found in the study area where cardiovascular system diseases (44%) and cancers (15.2%) were major causes. Cancers of lung (44.3%), prostate (9.8%), colon (9.8%), and stomach (8.2%) were comparably higher in villages with high arsenic levels in drinking water supplies. Furthermore, the majority of cases of liver, bladder, and stomach cancers were observed in villages with high arsenic levels.

Prevalence and related risk factors of tobacco, alcohol and illicit substance use among university students

Background and Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of cigarette, alcohol and substance use and the possible associations between different types of substance use and various risk factors among university students. Methods: A self-assessment questionnaire was administered to 4762 students from Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University. The risk factors associated with cigarette, alcohol and substance use were investigated with logistic regression analysis. Results: The frequencies of regular or occasional tobacco and alcohol use were 38.6% and 46.3% respectively. The frequency of using substance at least once in life time was 6.3% among students. In the present study, male gender was found to be a statistically significant risk factor associated with all of the three dependent variables. The statistically significant risk factors for using alcohol were studying in college and vocational schools, having a parent with high school and above educational level, having a family income of 1226 USD�s and above, having tried tobacco once or a couple of times and using tobacco occasionally or regularly, and having used another substance at least once. Substance use risk was found to be higher in those with higher depression scores, in those who tried tobacco once or a couple of times and who were not using regularly, and who were using tobacco or alcohol occasionally or regularly. Conclusions: The practices and activities of the health center incorporated in the university should be enhanced for the establishment of effective control programs related to tobacco, regular alcohol and substance use.

Single-nucleotide polymorphism in Turkish patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: Curve progression is not related with MATN-1, LCT C/T-13910, and VDR BsmI

The role of genetics in the etiopathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is unclear. In this study, we investigated the relationship between AIS and polymorphisms in MATN‐1, LCT C/T‐13910, and VDR BsmI genes. 53 Turkish adolescents with diagnosed AIS and 54 healthy adult individuals were included in the study. MATN‐1, LCT C/T‐13910, and VDR BsmI gene mutations were analyzed with real‐time PCR. We did not detect a statistically significant difference between AIS and control groups in respect to those three different gene polymorphisms (p < 0.05). We next evaluated the associations of all three SNPs with scoliosis curve severity. There was no significant difference between curve severity and gene polymorphisms (p < 0.05). In terms of gene polymorphisms, AIS patients with a family history of AIS did not significantly differ from AIS patients who did not have history (p < 0.05). AIS might be caused by many different gene mutations, biomechanical mechanisms that have been modified by environmental factors, different biological interactions, modulation of growth, or a synergy of different factors causing abnormal control of growth. However, the existing knowledge is still not enough to explain the etiopathogenesis of AIS.

Perceptions of epilepsy of three different groups in Turkey

OBJECTIVE Our aim was to investigate epilepsy-related knowledge, behavior, perceptions, and attitudes of people with epilepsy, their relatives, and a control group (390 participants in total) at the State Hospital Neurology Clinic, Yuksekova City, Turkey. METHODS The Survey of Epileptic Patient Relatives on the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior Regarding the Disorder was used and included questions about descriptive characteristics, familiarity with epilepsy, attitudes toward epilepsy, and understanding of epilepsy. Data on SPSS 15.0 software were analyzed with the χ(2) test. RESULTS Patients (95.3%), their relatives (89.2%), and controls (63.3%) felt primarily fear when they heard the diagnosis of epilepsy. Most participants would not let their child marry a person with epilepsy, with no statistically significant difference between groups (P>0.05). Patients (66.7%) and relatives (70%) saw no problem in people with epilepsy having children; there was a statistically significant difference between groups on this point because of the control groups response (31.5%) (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Patients and relatives showed similar attitudes and behaviors, perhaps because they had common information and experience regarding the disorder.

Prevalence of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis among primary school children in Canakkale, Turkey

Materials and methods The universe of our study was chosen from primary school students. The sample size was calculated separately for provinces and districts, 1321 and 1420, respectively. We chose 12 schools totally by cluster sampling method. Presence of AIS was evaluated with scoliometre and posture analysis. Students who have skeletal deformity or major skeletal surgery history were excluded. SPSS 15.0 was used for analysis.

Seroprevalence of anti- Toxoplasma gondii and anti- Borrelia species antibodies in patients with schizophrenia: a case - control study from western Turkey

Abstract Objectives. We examined IgG antibody seroprevalence and risk factors for anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Borrelia sp. in schizophrenic patients. Methods. This case–control study included 30 schizophrenic patients and 60 healthy individuals. Serological analyses were identified by using ELISA technique. Results. In the case group the Toxoplasma seropositivity was 33.3% and Borrelia seropositivity was 13.3%, while in the control group the Toxoplasma positivity was 21.7% and Borrelia seropositivity was 15.0%. There was no significant difference with regard to seroprevalence between the groups (P = 0.232; P = 0.832, respectively). There was statistically significant difference between case and control groups related to hand and kitchen utensil hygiene after dealing with raw meat (P = 0.001). Conclusions. Our data showed the rate of Toxoplasma antibodies was higher in the case group, while the rate of Borrelia antibodies was higher in the control group. In both groups the high rates of seropositivity for Toxoplasma gondii and Borrelia sp. is thought to be due to neglect of personal hygiene. The present study also is the first to examine the association between Borrelia sp. and schizophrenia. Further studies are needed to determine whether there is an association between Borrelia sp. and schizophrenia or not.

The Health Risk Associated with Chronic Diseases in Villages with High Arsenic Levels in Drinking Water Supplies

This study is intended to compare and assess the distribution and possible causes of current chronic diseases in villages with high arsenic levels in drinking water supplies. It is a cross-sectional epidemiological research that analyzes the frequency and underlying risk factors of chronic diseases in villages with varying levels of arsenic exposure through drinking water. Sample space of study included 1003 individuals, 614 of whom were from villages with high arsenic levels in drinking water and remaining 389 were from two control villages with below-limit arsenic levels in drinking water. While nutritional habits and living environments of two groups were similar, cigarette smoking and alcohol use were higher in villages with low arsenic levels. Mini mental state examination test results in 60+ age group were lower in villages with high arsenic levels. Although no statistically significant differences were detected in chronic disease occurrence between the groups, the number of cases was higher in villages with higher percentage of cigarette smoking and alcohol use. Moreover, cases of lung, colon, and stomach cancers were higher in villages with high arsenic levels in drinking water supplies.

Tıp fakültelerinde ders ölüyor mu

Sayin Editor, Uzunca bir zamandir bu soruyu ben de surekli olarak kendime soruyorum. Ancak bastan sunu belirtmek istiyorum: bu yazi pesinen sinif derslerine karsi olmak amaciyla kaleme alinmiyor. Gozlemledigim bir durum var ki o da genc insanlari yeterince egitemiyoruz. Tip egitiminde ise konusulmasi gereken oldukca fazla konu var. Anlasilan o ki bu sadece bizim sorunumuz degil. “The New England Journal of Medicine”nin Agustos sayisinda Schwartzstein ve Roberts imzali makale bu konuyla ilgili. “Tip Okulunda derslere veda etmek – paradigma degisikligi ya da gecici bir heves/moda” baslikli yazida yazarlar, pasif bir sekilde bilgiyi emen ogrencilerin karsisinda bir profesorun yer aldigi ders formatlarinin terk edilmesi gerektigini dusunuyorlar.

Suramin, Genistein and Collagen Matrix (DuraGen) for Delayed Adjustment after Strabismus Surgery: Which One is Best?

Abstract Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of suramin, genistein and collagen matrix for the prevention of inflammation, the reduction of fibrosis and the delay in adjustment after strabismus surgery on a rabbit model. Methods: By using an adjustable suture technique, a recession of the superior rectus muscle (SRM) was made in 36 eyes of 18 rabbits. Three study groups were created using genistein, suramin and collagen matrix (n = 6 per group). Two control groups utilized dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) (n = 6) and balanced salt solution (n = 12). The adjustments and measurements were made on days 2, 7, 14. After enucleation was done on day 21, the degree of inflammation was evaluated quantitatively in histopathological sections and immunohistochemical investigations were performed for tissue expression of cytoplasmic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), MAC 387, TGF-β and bFGF. Results: The adhesions between conjunctiva and SRM were significantly less in the collagen matrix and suramin groups (p = 0.002) and adhesions between the sclera and SRM were considerably reduced in the genistein and DMSO groups (p = 0.006) on day 7. Force exerted for adjustment was significantly less in the collagen matrix and suramin groups on day 14 (p = 0.006). Expression of b-FGF was significantly lower in the conjunctival epithelium in the suramin and genistein groups (p = 0.0001 for both). TGF-β was significantly lower (p = 0.001) in the suramin group and VEGF expression was totally absent. MAC 387 expression was lower in the genistein and suramin groups (p = 0.0001). Conclusion: Suramin, genistein and collagen matrix successfully reduce adhesions, and facilitate adjustment following recession surgery. Both suramin and genistein effectively suppress growth factor expression, while collagen matrix offers the longest time interval for adjustability after strabismus surgery.