A retrospective analysis of cases with acute poisoning in Zonguldak, Turkey

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate etiological, demographical and clinical characteristics of cases with acute poisoning referred to the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) of Zonguldak Karaelmas University Hospital In Zonguldak, a City in the West Black Sea Region of Turkey. Materials and Methods: Two-hundred and ninety-five cases with acute intoxication referred to the Emergency Department of Zonguldak Karaelmas University Hospital between March 2003 and December 2006 were analyzed retrospectively. Result

Physical, chemical and microbiological analyses of water fountains in Villages, Zonguldak Central District

This study was conducted in 23 villages of the central district of Zonguldak in 2016, aiming to evaluate the compatibility of the quality of water which is used in villages. Samples obtained from the water resources of the villages and consumed in the fountains were analysed according to the physical, chemical, and microbiological standards specified in the legal regulations. 7 fountains per village were selected randomly and 161 samples were collected. All of the samples were in compliance with the standards of taste and odour qualities, pH and electrical conductivity. None of the samples were suitable for the amount of free residual chlorine. 34 (21.1%) of 161 samples for turbidity, 20 (12.4%) samples for aluminum, 3 (1.9%) samples for colour parameter, 129 (80.1%) samples for Coliform bacteria, 74 (46.0%) samples for Escherichia coli, 14 (8.7%) for Clostridium perfringens (+ spores) were not suitable according to standards. When all the parameters were evaluated together, 131 (81.4%) samples were not suitable for drinking and using. Coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli levels were significantly higher in fountains on roads than fountains in settlements. It was determined that the presence of a protected area around the water resource was not a significant effect on bacteriological pollution. As a result, it can be connoted that fountains in rural areas in Zonguldak should be controlled, monitored and disinfected in order to protect public health.This descriptive study was performed in 23 villages located in the central district of Zonguldak, and the budget of the study was financially supported by the Bulent Ecevit University Department of Scientific Research Projects. In this study, 161 water samples were collected on March-April 2016, from 7 fountains per village. The number of water samples was determined according to the budget of the research and fountains were selected by using simple random sampling. Of the fountains, 129 (80.1%) are in the settlement area and 32 (19.9%) are on the roads. Physical and chemical analyses (smell, taste, ammonium, free residual chlorine, pH, conductivity, turbidity, aluminum, colour ) were performed in Bulent Ecevit University Science and Technology Application and Research Centre and the microbiological analyses (Coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens) were performed in Public Health Laboratory of the Ministry of Health. The physical, chemical and microbiological analyses of the samples were conducted to find out whether they were conformed with the standards specified in the RWHC. Data were evaluated with SPSS for Windows 19.0, the descriptive data were presented as arithmetical mean ± standard deviation and frequencies. Independent samples t-test was used in comparison of groups, and p < 0.05 was accepted as significant

Acute effects of pentobarbital, thiopental and urethane on lung oedema induced by alpha-naphthythiourea (ANTU)

This study was designed to investigate the possible participation of urethane, pentobarbital sodium and thiopental sodium anaesthesia in the lung oedema induced by alpha-naphthylthiourea (ANTU), which is a well known noxious chemical agent in the lung. ANTU when injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) into rats (10 mg kg-1 i.p.) produced lung oedema as indicated by an increase in lung weight/body weight (LW/BW) ratio and pleural effusion (PE) reaching a maximum within 4 h. Administration of urethane prior to ANTU, at doses of 100 and 200 mg (100 g)-1, elicited a significant and dose-dependent inhibition in LW/BW ratio and PE. Thiopental sodium at doses of 25, 50 mg kg-1, also produced a significant and dose-dependent inhibition of both parameters. Prior i.p. injection of pentobarbital sodium at a dose of 40 mg kg-1 elicited a significant inhibition in both parameters. These results suggest that i.p. urethane, thiopental sodium and pentobarbital sodium pretreatment have a prophylactic effect on ANTU-induced lung injury in rats. The possible role of the anaesthetics in lung oedema induced by ANTU and the possible underlying mechanisms are discussed. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd

Descriptive characteristics of coal workers' pneumoconiosis cases in Turkey

[No abstract available

Attitudes of Turkish Nursing and Medical Students Toward Elderly People

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the attitudes of nursing and medical students toward older people in Turkey. Method: This was a cross-sectional and comparative descriptive study. The Turkish version of Kogan's Old People Scale was used to evaluate attitudes toward older people among 618 students. Results: Medical students showed more positive attitudes toward older people than nursing students. Students who were females, whose economic income was less than expenditure, and who were not interested in working with older people after graduation showed less positive attitudes. Conclusion: The results suggested that positive attitudes toward older people exist; despite this, it is obvious that more efforts are required to enhance these attitudes. Implications for Practice: Revision and improvement in curricula are needed to enhance the attitudes of students toward older people, and lecturers in schools should further consider the need to prepare students for their roles as caregivers for this particular group. © 2013, SAGE Publications. All rights reserved

The effects of two bathing methods on the time of separation of umbilical cord in term babies in Turkey

Background: Umbilical cord infection developing subsequent to bacterial colonization is one of the outstanding reasons of newborn mortality and morbidity in underdeveloped and developing countriesObjectives: This study aimed to evaluate the influence of sponge and tub bathing methods on umbilical cord separation time in full term babies in Turkey.Patients and Methods: This quasi-experimental and randomized controlled study was performed on 100 healthy term newborn babies and their mothers. One-hundred full-term babies (51 sponge bathing, 49 tub bathing) born at a state hospital between 14.03.2013and 18.05.2013 with gestational age of 38-42 weeks, weighing 2500 grams and above and met the selection criteria were included as the study sample. Two booklets were prepared about sponge bathing and tub bathing. Mothers were instructed about sponge bathing and tub bathing, umbilical cord care in prenatal and postnatal periods. The first postnatal visit was performed at the hospital. Home visits and telephone calls were continued until the day of cord separation. Number, percent, mean and standard deviation values, qui-square and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for data assessment.Results: The time of separation of umbilical cord in babies who were given sponge bathing (6.1 ± 1.4) was shorter compared to those given tub bathing (8.3 ± 2.5) (P < 0.005).Conclusions: Since wetting of umbilical cord during tub bathing delays the separation of umbilical cord, sponge bathing is recommended for newborns until the umbilical cord falls off. © 2015 Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal

The prevalence of mental retardation by gender, age of diagnosis and location in Zonguldak province, Turkey

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of mental retardation by gender, age of diagnosis, and location in Zonguldak, Turkey. Methods: The data of 1909 mentally retarded children recorded between 1995 and 2003 was obtained from the Learning Disability Guidance and Research Centre. Age, gender, IQ scores, the age of diagnosis, and living areas of cases were evaluated. Results: The distribution of mental retardation was as follows; 304 cases (15.9%) were profound and severe, 1060 (55.6%) were moderate and mild, and 545 (28.5%) were borderline. The prevalence of mental retardation was 12.1% (male: 15.1%, female: 9.1%). Of the cases, 1327 (69.5%) lived in urban areas. Conclusion: Most individuals with severe mental retardation become enrolled in the service system during early childhood, but children with mild mental retardation, especially those with no other neurological impairments, may never enter the system or may not do so until puberty. Most of our cases were diagnosed between the ages of 6 and 10. This proves the importance of school guidance of learning disability and their collaboration with The Learning Disability Guidance and Research Center

Cross-sectional internal diameters of radial, thoracodorsal, and dorsalis pedis arteries in children: Relationship to subject sex, age, and body size

The purpose of this study was to determine the average diameter of the radial, thoracodorsal, and dorsalis pedis arteries in a pediatric population and to evaluate the relationship of these measurements to the subject's age, sex, height, weight, and body mass index (BMI). The internal diameters of the radial, thoracodorsal, and dorsalis pedis arteries were non-invasively studied in 45 normotensive, presumed normal children of various ages (4 to 14 years) with the use of a Doppler system. The average diameters of the radial, thoracodorsal, and dorsalis pedis arteries in females and males were as follows: radial artery 1.39 (SD ± 0.18) mm and 1.57 (SD ± 0.18) mm; thoracodorsal artery 1.27 (SD ± 0.11) mm and 1.36 (SD ± 0.2) mm; and dorsalis pedis artery 1.22 (SD ± 0.08) mm and 1.34 (SD ± 0.12) mm. These were correlated with the age, height, weight, and BMI. Gender had a strong influence on the diameter of these arteries. In a linear regression model, weight was found to be statistically the best independent variable for predicting radial and dorsalis pedis diameters, whereas age was the best predictor for the diameter of the thoracodorsal artery. The diameters of these three arteries in an age group of 4 to 14 years ranged between 1 to 2 mm. The age and weight of the children predicted the diameters of the peripheral arteries. Copyright © 2006 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc

The prevalence of mental retardation by gender, age of diagnosis and location in Zonguldak province, Turkey

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of mental retardation by gender, age of diagnosis, and location in Zonguldak, Turkey. Methods: The data of 1909 mentally retarded children recorded between 1995 and 2003 was obtained from the Learning Disability Guidance and Research Centre. Age, gender, IQ scores, the age of diagnosis, and living areas of cases were evaluated. Results: The distribution of mental retardation was as follows; 304 cases (15.9%) were profound and severe, 1060 (55.6%) were moderate and mild, and 545 (28.5%) were borderline. The prevalence of mental retardation was 12.1% (male: 15.1%, female: 9.1%). Of the cases, 1327 (69.5%) lived in urban areas. Conclusion: Most individuals with severe mental retardation become enrolled in the service system during early childhood, but children with mild mental retardation, especially those with no other neurological impairments, may never enter the system or may not do so until puberty. Most of our cases were diagnosed between the ages of 6 and 10. This proves the importance of school guidance of learning disability and their collaboration with The Learning Disability Guidance and Research Center

Plasma total homocysteine levels in a healthy Turkish population sample

Objective - The objective of this study is to determine the reference values of homocysteine levels from a sample of healthy native Turks, and the relationship of these levels with gender, age and other risk factors. Methods and results - Plasma homocysteine level was measured in 159 healthy Turkish individuals. Homocysteine levels were determined by the HPLC method and differences between sex and age groupings (20-40 years, 41-60 years, and 61 and older) were compared. Mean homocysteine levels were 8.91 ± 1.41 µmol/l. The median homocysteine level was 8.35 µmol/l (men 8.80, women 7.0). Homocysteine levels significantly increased with age (r = 0.49) and higher in men than in women in each age group (p 60-year-old women manifested significantly higher increases in total homocysteine concentrations than 20 to 40-year-old premenopausal women. There were no significant correlations between homocysteine and body mass index, glucose, total and lipoprotein lipids, C-reactive protein, creatinine, smoking and alcohol consumption except blood pressure and uric acid. Conclusions - These data indicate the significance of sex- and age-associated differences of homocysteine levels in native Turkish subjects. Upper reference limits for the plasma total homocysteine concentration increased with age and were higher for men than for women at all ages. Focusing public health initiatives on this issue may reduce the high prevalence of cardiovascular disease in the Turkish population