Effect of MDR C3435T polymorphism on Varenicline treatment in quit smoking

Despite so many global efforts, smoking still remains to be one of the most common addictions worldwide. Even though most smokers wish to quit smoking, many of them fail. In this respect, genetic variants are thought to be remarkable factors in nicotine dependence and in treatment of smoking cessation. This is a paper investigating a single variant p-glycoprotein (P-gp) polymorphisms and its effect on Varenicline efficacy in the smoking cessation. 158 smokers and 52 non-smoker healthy volunteers were included. We determined the P-gp C3435T gene polymorphisms in all subjects. Face to face interviews with smokers were performed for smoking cessation and Varenicline was given for smoking cessation. Cessation success was evaluated in the 6th month and success rates were compared according to the P-gp genotype distributions. In our study, smoking cessation rate by Varenicline was 57.0%. This rate was 55.0% in females, and 57.2% in males (p=0.85). The P-gp C3435T gene distribution was similar in control, quitters and not-quitter groups. Cessation rate was at highest point in genotype CT (62.2%) and at the lowest in TT (47.6%). It was 53.8% in genotype CC and there was no statistically significant difference (p=0.27). Our results suggest that genetic variants of P-gp C3435T did not significantly affect Varenicline treatment for smoking cessation

Bir tekstil fabrikasında çalışan astımlı işçilerin değerlendirilmesi

Objective: Workers with asthma are one of the risk working groups. Being exposed to indoor air pollutants in the workplace makes it difficult to control asthma and can lead to asthma attacks. This study was conducted by a workplace physician of a textile factory in Denizli, 2009, and it was investigated whether workers with asthma were affected or not in the workplace. Material and Method: Some data about health/diseases status and individual characteristics of 41 workers who had previously been diagnosed with asthma were collected. Spirometric measurements were made. PEF (peak expiratory flow) meters recordings were made 4 times a day during 4 weeks to indicate the effects of the workplace. PEF rates were calculated using the measurements before and after the shift. Results: There were 1553 workers in the factory and 41 of them had asthma (2.6%). Twenty-eight of them were female. Nearly half of the workers with asthma were smoking more than 5 cigarettes per day. PFT (pulmonary function test) measurements were lower in workers with asthma. PFT measurements were lower in current smoker workers with asthma than in nonsmoker. When we evaluated PEF measurements; we found 8% decrease between the start and end of the shifts. Nearly half of the PFT results of asthma workers were found to be normal. Daily PEFR variability of more than 20% was 4.4%. Conclusion: The 75.6% of asthmatic workers were current smokers. Also, all workers having a daily PEFR variability higher than 20% were current smokers. These findings indicate that smoking is the most important problem that must be solved. A smoking cessation programme has been initiated for workers

Research Tendencies in the Discipline of Distance Education (2015-2022): Examination of Doctoral Theses in Higher Education in Turkey

The discipline of distance education is evolving and becoming mainstream, and this view requires examining research tendencies in the field. Motivated by this justification, it can be argued that understanding distance education to the fullest extent is possible partially through examining changes in theory and practice, as research conducted in the field reflects changes, dynamics, and perspectives. In this regard, the purpose of this paper is to present the research tendencies in doctoral theses in the Turkish higher education context with a specific focus on distance education. In line with this aim, a total of 265 doctoral theses published between 2015 and 2022 were examined through data mining and analytics approaches. The analysis of the titles through t-SNE analysis revealed four broad themes. These are: (1) more emphasis on learning processes; (2) the comparison of online technologies and online learning spaces; (3) a strong focus on educational technologies; and (4) the limitations emerging from comparative studies. The examination of the abstracts through text-mining identified the following themes: (1) the methodological vicious circle, the pursuit of methodological perfection, and lack of critical perspectives; (2) the tendency to use online [educational] technologies; (3) the comparison of distance and face-to-face education; and (4) the design of social interaction and communication in distance education processes. Finally, the analysis of the keywords through word clouds surfaced the following research tendencies: (1) Technology-supported distance education processes; (2) the wide use of educational technologies; (3) focusing on issues related to the learners in distance education. The paper concludes with implications and recommendations for future research directions

Relationship between symptom control and life quality in asthma

Objective: The aim of the asthma treatment is to have full symptom control. In this study, Interaction between life quality and symptom control on asthma patients were investigated. Also patient training and the other factors on asthma control are researched. Methods: Asthma patients (125) who were followed Chest Clinics of Denizli State hospital were included to the study. The questionnaire related with socio-demographic characteristics, Asthma Control Test (ACT) and life quality questionnaire (LQQ-SF36) were applied to the patients. Pulmonary function tests (PFT) were measured. Approximately one month later; ACT and PFT were repeated and pre and post treatment changes were statistically analyzed. Results: The mean age of the patients was 46.8 years and 77.6% of them were females. 12.8 % of the patients were smoker, and 34.4 % of them had at least one chronic disease/disorder. The initial ACT point was 18.4±5.3 and 13.6% of the patients had “complete symptom-control”. According to the LQQ; social function point was found as 67.9, mental health point as 67.7, and overall health point as 62.7. Significant positive correlations were found between life quality and ACT. Positive changes in the second ACT were determined. It was found as 23.7±2.4 and the increasing of ACT point was 5.3. The rate of the patients with “complete control” was 59.8% In addition, LQQ point and some PFT parameters was found significantly lower in patients with additional diseases (anxiety/depression, diabetes etc.). Conclusion: Significantly positive correlations were found between life quality and ACT. Our findings clearly show that the trainings of patients are effective in asthma control. It was seen that the presence of co-morbidity has a negative effect on asthma control and psychological status

The evaluation of the dust-related occupational respiratory disorders of dental laboratory technicians working in Denizli Province

INTRODUCTION: Dental laboratory technicians (DLTs) get exposed to fibrinogen dusts that are very risky dusts in terms of health. In this study, respiration complaints, pneumoconiosis frequencies and working conditions of the dental technicians in Denizli were investigated. METHODS: All of the registered DLTs working in Denizli were included in the study. A 30-item questionnaire was used to gather data about the participants and their working environments. Then, pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were carried out and standard chest X-rays were taken in order to detect how much the respiratory systems of the workers were affected. Standard chest X-rays were evaluated according to International Labour Organizations classification. Depending on the screening results, technicians who were found to have had pathologies and suspected cases were examined. "High-resolution computerized tomography (HRCT)" was taken from those who were found to have pathology in their chest X-rays and they were evaluated according to the classification of Hering et al. RESULTS: There are a total of 166 DLTs working in Denizli Province participated in the study. One hundred and forty-three (86.1%) of the participants were male, and 23 of them were female. The mean age of the participants is 33.5 ± 8.1. Average working time of the workers is 16 years. Total exposure time was calculated 36,177 h. Approximately, 56% of workers were smokers. When the working conditions were considered, it was found that 98.8% of laboratories had a ventilation system. Technicians′ use of personal protective equipment is low. Participants′ often or continuous use of masks, gloves, goggles, and vacuum device was found 69%, 36%, 47%, and 63% respectively while working. About 21.2% of the technicians have respiratory symptoms while 15.2% of them have eye complaints. At the analysis of PFT results, 27.7% restrictive type pulmonary disorder was determined. At the analysis of chest X-rays; 1/0 profusion sub-category was 25.5%, and the large opacity rate was 16.9%. Ten pneumoconiosis cases (6%) were diagnosed after the analysis of the HRCT results. The ratio of pneumoconiosis was found much higher among male technicians, particularly those who have been working for a long time in the profession and those working at the town hospitals and Department of metal leveling. DISCUSSION: Technicians′ use of personal protective tools is not enough and ratio of smoking is rather high. Pneumoconiosis cases clearly show this exposure. It is necessary to adopt comprehensive work health and safety precautions considering the determined risk factors

Association between household conditions and diarrheal diseases among children in Turkey: A cohort study

Background: This aim of the present study was to estimate the frequency of diarrheal diseases among children as well as investigating the relationship between diarrheal diseases and household conditions and other factors. Methods: The study was performed over 12 month period in Binevler Health Center, Gaziantep, Turkey. Five health stations were selected by using a sampling technique with probability proportional to size, and all households with children under the age of 5 years were visited. A questionnaire on diarrhea, household conditions, socioeconomic status of the family and individual characteristics of the children was applied to the mothers by doctors. Three composite indices, including household conditions, socioeconomic status of the family and individual status of the children, were prepared and a classification was made as good, mild or poor in order to better evaluate the results of the study. Daily recordings of diarrheal disease symptoms were made by the parents and these records were collected every month for 1 year. Results: The annual mean incidence of diarrheal diseases was found to be 1.09 per child per year (median = 1). The mean was higher in children with poor household conditions (1.48 ± 0.12) and with poor individual status (1.48 ± 0.14), compared with good household conditions (0.76 ± 0.07) and good individual status (0.71 ± 0.08). The mean was also higher in children aged between 6 and 11 months (1.51 ± 0.18), whose father graduated from primary school or lower (1.34 ± 0.09) and with parents having no habit of washing their hands before taking care of the child (2.00 ± 0.33). Person-month and case-month incidence rates of diarrhea were calculated to be 8.56 and 9.12%, respectively. Conclusions: Household conditions, individual status, age, education level of fathers and parents' habit of washing hands before taking care of the child were major factors affecting the incidence of diarrhea

Consanguineous marriages, and the relationship between consanguineous marriages and abortion, infant mortality in Acipayam, a rural area of Denizli, Turkey

Consanguineous marriages are common in Turkey. The rates and types of consanguineous marriages, and their relationship to abortions and infant mortality were investigated in Acipayam, a rural area of Denizli, Turkey. 795 families were interviewed using a pre-designed questionnaire. The total prevalence of consanguineous marriages is 17.5%. It is found that the first-cousin marriages are slightly higher (10.6%) than the second-cousin marriages (6.9%). Infant mortality and abortion rates in families were higher in the consanguineous marriages than non-consanguineous marriages (infant mortality 19.4%-> 3.5%, abortion 11.5%-> 2.6%, respectively). Also, positive relationship was found between the presence of infant mortality/abortions and consanguineous marriages (OR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.12-2.49). This study emphasizes the significant effect of consanguineous marriages on the early mortality of the offspring in Acipayam in Denizli, Turkey

Effect of mdr c3435t polymorphism on varenicline treatment in quit smoking

Despite so many global efforts, smoking still remains to be one of the most common addictions worldwide. Even though most smokers wish to quit smoking, many of them fail. In this respect, genetic variants are thought to be remarkable factors in nicotine dependence and in treatment of smoking cessation. This is a paper investigating a single variant p-glycoprotein (P-gp) polymorphisms and its effect on Varenicline efficacy in the smoking cessation. 158 smokers and 52 non-smoker healthy volunteers were included. We determined the P-gp C3435T gene polymorphisms in all subjects. Face to face interviews with smokers were performed for smoking cessation and Varenicline was given for smoking cessation. Cessation success was evaluated in the 6th month and success rates were compared according to the P-gp genotype distributions. In our study, smoking cessation rate by Varenicline was 57.0%. This rate was 55.0% in females, and 57.2% in males (p=0.85). The P-gp C3435T gene distribution was similar in control, quitters and not-quitter groups. Cessation rate was at highest point in genotype CT (62.2%) and at the lowest in TT (47.6%). It was 53.8% in genotype CC and there was no statistically significant difference (p=0.27). Our results suggest that genetic variants of P-gp C3435T did not significantly affect Varenicline treatment for smoking cessation. © 2019, Faculdade de Ciencias Farmaceuticas (Biblioteca). All rights reserved

Knowledge and attitudes of health professional students on smoking cessation techniques in Turkey

Introduction Smoking among adolescents and young adults is epidemic. This study aims to evaluate the rate of smoking and the knowledge and attitudes on smoking cessation techniques among health-profession students in a University. Methods This cross sectional study was conducted among 338 (70.4%) first 3-year students of the Faculty of Medicine (FM) and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation (SPTR) in Pamukkale University during January 2010. Results A total of 338 students participated in the study; 177(52.4%) from the FM and 161 (47.6%) from SPTR. Of all smokers (20.8%), 14.9% were current smokers. The prevalance of current cigarette smoking was higher among male students (22.9%) than female students (6.1%) (p<0.001). The prevalance of current cigarette smoking increased significantly with age (p<0.001) and grade (p=0.029). Students who had smokers in their family (19.3%) were more likely to smoke than others (10.1%) (p=0.001). 36 students (76.6%) have tried to quit smoking and 29 (60.4%) wanted to quit smoking in these days. 45.5% showed middle and higher nicotine dependence. 56.4% found useful to consider an on-campus smoking cessation clinic and 57.2% found the idea of peer-assisted smoking cessation useful. Conclusions On campus smoking cessation clinics, and besides physicians and psychologists, peer-assisted smoking cessations approach may be useful in the effort of smoking cessation of university students