Haldun Sümer

The distribution of symptoms of attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder and oppositional defiant disorder in school age children in Turkey

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) in school age children in Sivas province centre and to examine the distribution of symptoms according to subtypes.MethodThe study population was made up of 1425 children between the ages of 6 and 15 from eight primary schools selected by random sampling method in Sivas province centre. All students were given a questionnaire prepared according to DSMIV criteria that was completed by their parents or teachers. This form includes 18 symptoms of ADHD and eight symptoms of ODD. Student’s t-test and variance analysis were used for statistical evaluation.ResultsA prevalence of 8.1% was found for ADHD in our study. According to subtypes, 32.2% of these were “inattentive”, 40% were “hyperactive” and 27.8% were combined type. A prevalence of 11.5% was found for ODD. The boy/girl ratio was > 1 for both ADHD and ODD, and 52.2% of those with ADHD were established as having ODD at the same time.ConclusionsThe prevalence of ADHD and ODD in primary school children was not considered to be small. Studies concerning the distribution of symptoms in different societies, cultures, and viewpoints and identification of children with this type of problem are beneficial for early diagnosis and prophylactic treatment.

Prevalence of known mutations in the MEFV gene in a population screening with high rate of carriers

The Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) shows an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance and affects certain ethnic groups. Disease is caused by mutations in MEFV gene and more than 180 mutations have been defined in affected individuals. Current study aimed to determine the frequency-type of the mutations for MEFV gene in Sivas—middle Anatolian city. The cohort was composed of 3340 patients. MEFV gene mutations were studied by multiplex PCR based reverse hybridization stripAssay method. Patients’ clinical features were; family history: 68%, erysipelas-like erythema: 17.6%, fever: 89.9%, abdominal pain: 84.2%, peritonitis: 90.2%, arthritis: 33%, pleuritis: 14.2%, parental consanguinity: 21.2%. Current results revealed that M694V is the most frequent mutation (43.12%), followed by E148Q (20.18), M680I(G/C) (15.00%) and V726A (11.32%). The study population has a high rate of carriers and the E148Q mutation frequency was found to be highest when compared to the other regions of Turkey and other Mediterranean groups.

Risk factors for depression in the first postnatal year: a Turkish study.

BackgroundThe aim of the study was to identify risk factors for depression and to estimate its prevalence in postnatal mothers.MethodsThis cross-sectional and multi-centre study was carried out on 1,350 Turkish women in their first postnatal year. Measures included a structured questionnaire and the Turkish version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).ResultsOf the women, 31.1% had a score of 13 or higher on the EPDS. The mean score and standard deviation was 9.8±5.7. In the multivariate analysis, EPDS scores were significantly associated with economic status, access to support from family members and close friends, emotional distress at the pregnancy, whether the pregnancy was planned, health problems during pregnancy, the perceived standard of baby care after delivery, and mental disorder before and during pregnancy.ConclusionThe prevalence of EPDS-based depression among Turkish women in postnatal the period was high, and was associated with several social, economic and demographical factors.

The association of biomass fuel combustion on pulmonary function tests in the adult population of Mid-Anatolia

SummaryObjectives:To assess the association of biomass as domestic energy source on respiratory function in rural areas of Mid-Anatolia in Turkey where biomass use is frequent.Methods:In a cross-sectional study, pulmonary functions measurements of 112 cow-dung users and 153 modern energy source users, all non-smokers, were assessed and compared. Several sociodemographic factors were assessed by questionnaire, and ventilatory function measurements included forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC ratio and the flow between the first 25 and 75 of forced expiratory flow (FEF25–75), and were compared, deploying univariate and multivariate methods, between the two groups.Results:The individuals in the biomass exposed and unexposed group were similar regarding demographic characteristics: 67.0% were female (exposed) vs 60.1% (unexposed) with an age range of 17 to 64 (exposed) and 18 to 70 years (unexposed), and with 36% of biomass users having had pulmonary tract infections (20% in non-users). For all pulmonary function test parameters FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, and FEF25–75 a highly significant (p<0.0001) reduction was observed in biomass users. A 12.4% (95% confidence interval: 7.0% to 17.7%) reduction in forced vital capacity was observed in multivariate linear regression.Conclusions:It is well known that biomass combustion is a relevant public health problem. The substantial differences in pulmonary functions associated with biomass use as an energy source observed in this cross-sectional study in non-smokers support that also in rural Turkey measures may be in need to reduce this public health problem.

Prevalence of asthma and related symptoms in Sivas, Central Anatolia

Background. In our clinical experience, asthma is an important health problem in our region, but we did not know its prevalence. Objective. The main objective of our study was to assess the prevalence of asthma in Sivas, a city in Central Anatolia. Methods. A cross-sectional study was performed using a screening questionnaire adopted from European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS). A total of 5448 adults of both genders between 20 and 107 yr of age living in Sivas, a city in the central region of Anatolia in Turkey, participated in the survey. Of the cohort, 2691 were men (49.4%) and 2757 (50.6%) were women. Results. The mean age was 38.2 yr (SD = 12.7 yr), almost half of the study population was at or younger than 40 yr of age. The prevalence of wheezing in the last 12 months, diagnosis of asthma, asthma attack in the last 12 months, and use of asthma medicine were 20.9%, 4.5%, 4.9%, and 3.4%, respectively. Awakening with chest tightness, with shortness of breath, or with cough were reported as 14.2%, 14.8%, and 22.7%, respectively. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms related to asthma was statistically higher in women than that of men (p = 0.000, OR 1.346, 95% CI: 1.228–1.475). Those who had asthma/allergic symptoms in their family members were significantly younger than others (p : 0.001). Conclusions. The results of this study demonstrate that symptoms suggestive of asthma are quite common and constitute a major health problem in Sivas, Turkey. This study also showed that, despite a high rate of reported symptoms exists, the rate of diagnosis and treatment of asthma is low among the adult population in Sivas.

Prevalence of refraction errors and color blindness in heavy vehicle drivers.

AIM To investigate the frequency of eye disorders in heavy vehicle drivers. METHODS A cross-sectional type study was conducted between November 2004 and September 2006 in 200 driver and 200 non-driver persons. A complete ophthalmologic examination was performed, including visual acuity, and dilated examination of the posterior segment. We used the auto refractometer for determining refractive errors. RESULTS According to eye examination results, the prevalence of the refractive error was 21.5% and 31.3% in study and control groups respectively (P<0.05). The most common type of refraction error in the study group was myopic astigmatism (8.3%) while in the control group simple myopia (12.8%). Prevalence of dyschromatopsia in the rivers, control group and total group was 2.2%, 2.8% and 2.6% respectively. CONCLUSION A considerably high number of drivers are in lack of optimal visual acuity. Refraction errors in drivers may impair the traffic security.

Does hydatid disease have protective effects against lung cancer

We hypothesized that solid tumors rarely occur in patients with hydatid disease. We obtained the serum of 14 patients diagnosed with hydatid disease, the serum of 10 patients who did not have a history of hydatid disease, and the hydatid cyst fluid from six patients. These sera and fluid samples were added at different concentrations to NCI-H209/An1 human lung small cell carcinoma cells and L929 mouse fibroblasts as a control group. Sera of patients with hydatid diseases had cytotoxic effects on NCI-H209/An1 cells, but they did not have cytotoxic effects on fibroblast cells. Sera from healthy subjects did not have a cytotoxic effect on the tumor cell line or control fibroblasts. Cyst fluid, also, did not have toxic effects on the NCI-H209/An1 cell line, but was toxic to fibroblasts up to a 1:32 dilution. Sera from patients with hydatid disease had cytotoxic effects on human small cell lung cancer cells in vitro.

The cytopathic effects of Trichomonas vaginalis on fibroblast cell culture alone and with C. albicans and E. coli.

OBJECTIVE In this study, the cytopathic effects of Trichomonas vaginalis were investigated in L929 mouse fibroblast cell cultures (FCC) under different conditions: only parasite, or coexistence with Candida albicans and Escherichia coli. METHODS The parasite was isolated from a symptomatic patient and cultured in Cysteine-Peptone-Liver infusion Maltose medium (CPLM). C. albicans strain 10235 and E. coli strain 25922 were used in the experiments. Five groups were created and inoculated on FCC. The groups were as follows; only T. vaginalis, C. albicans, E. coli, T. vaginalis+C. albicans and T. vaginalis+E. coli. The plates were incubated for 24 hours and cell viability was examined under an inverted microscope. Each experiment was repeated 11 times. RESULTS The fibroblast death rate was 19.1%, 21%, 40.9%, 96.5% and 89.6% in the five groups, respectively. CONCLUSION All fibroblasts were alive in the control group. T. vaginalis showed almost 100% cytopathic effects on FCC with C. albicans and parasites were very motile in this coexistence.

Nonspesifik semptomlu olgularda bruselloz sıklığı

Aim. Brucellosis, caused by Brucella spp. type bacterium is an endemic disease in our country like all over the world. In this study, we aimed analysing retrospectively the results of brucellacapt test and sedimantation in 1429 patient applicated to our laboratory with high temperature, joint pain, weakness and fatigue complaints between 2011 June and 2012 January from different services. Method. In the test, brucellacapt method was performed using Coombs test antigen. Sedimantations were evaluated with photometric tube method in autoanalyzer device. As a total, 7.2% positivity was detected in 103 patient 6.2% of patients detected positive were women (n=49) and, 8.5% of them are male (n=54). Result. There is no correlation for sedimantation between brucella positive and brucella negative patients (p≥0,195). Conlusion. Brucellosis disease that has high morbidity occurs in our region frequently. It must be thought and researched in the patients who have nonspecific symptoms.