Contrasting cardiovascular mortality trends in Eastern Mediterranean populations: contributions from risk factor changes and treatments

Background Middle income countries are facing an epidemic of non-communicable diseases, especially coronary heart disease (CHD). We used a validated CHD mortality model (IMPACT) to explain recent trends in Tunisia, Syria, the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) and Turkey. Methods Data on populations, mortality, patient numbers, treatments and risk factor trends from national and local surveys in each country were collated over two time points (1995–97; 2006–09); integrated and analysed using the IMPACT model. Results Risk factor trends: Smoking prevalence was high in men, persisting in Syria but decreasing in Tunisia, oPt and Turkey. BMI rose by 1–2 kg/m2 and diabetes prevalence increased by 40%–50%. Mean systolic blood pressure and cholesterol levels increased in Tunisia and Syria. Mortality trends: Age-standardised CHD mortality rates rose by 20% in Tunisia and 62% in Syria. Much of this increase (79% and 72% respectively) was attributed to adverse trends in major risk factors, occurring despite some improvements in treatment uptake. CHD mortality rates fell by 17% in oPt and by 25% in Turkey, with risk factor changes accounting for around 46% and 30% of this reduction respectively. Increased uptake of community treatments (drug treatments for chronic angina, heart failure, hypertension and secondary prevention after a cardiac event) accounted for most of the remainder. Discussion CHD death rates are rising in Tunisia and Syria, whilst oPt and Turkey demonstrate clear falls, reflecting improvements in major risk factors with contributions from medical treatments. However, smoking prevalence remains very high in men; obesity and diabetes levels are rising dramatically

Health-care reform in Turkey: far from perfect

This paper has been withdrawn

Factors Affecting Women's Participation in Breast Cancer Screening in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer type in Turkey and the rest of the world. Regular mammography screening leads to a significant decrease in breast cancer mortality rates. The aim of this study is to analyze the factors that affect Turkish women’s participation in screening. METHODS: This qualitative research design is grounded in a phenomenological approach. Fifteen women were selected using a purposive sampling method and participated in in-depth interviews. Interview data was analyzed using thematic content analysis. RESULTS: The breast has a special meaning for participants which is heavily associated with feminity. Breast cancer causes fear because of its potential to undermine women’s sense of feminity. Women’s knowledge about the screening services and the mammography procedure is insufficient with only one third of women obtaining information about screening from healthcare workers. Individual and social factors that affect women’s participation in screening are women’s roles in the family, knowledge and awareness of breast cancer and screening, fear of cancer, anxiety about getting a mammogram, need for spouse-family support, and concerns for privacy. Organizational factors that affect participation are accessibility of breast cancer screening services, guidance given by and communication with healthcare professionals. CONCLUSION: Women should be better informed about breast cancer and screening services by healthcare professionals. Accessibility of mammography screening should be increased by expanding mobile services. National and institutional policies should be implemented to overcome women’s anxiety and socio-cultural barriers to increase participation in screening

Determination of the position and orientation of rigid bodies by using single camera images

This study aims to present a new reconstruction method which enables reconstruction of 3D configuration of an object using single camera images. A secondary planar target which is a white circle with two internal black spots, one is located at the center, is used. The proposed reconstruction method is monocular and non-iterative. The elliptical contour and spot center locations of the target in an image is used to determine the 6-DOF configuration parameters of an object, on which the secondary target is rigidly attached. These six parameters represent the three basic translations and three basic rotations of the object with respect to camera coordinate system. The reconstruction algorithm is implemented and tested using an experimental setup composed of a digital imaging system and 6-DOF positioning unit. 512x512 pixels grayscale images are used to determine position and orientation of the secondary target with respect to the camera, which are controlled through the positioning unit. Theoretical accuracy limits of the reconstruction algorithm are evaluated and presented

Scheduling operations for multi-spindle and multi-machining unit machines

We address a scheduling problem which arises in the operations of multiple-spindle and multiple-machining unit machines with the objective of minimizing the makespan. These machines can process multiple workpieces simultaneously and perform multiple operations on the same workpiece simultaneously by using multiple tools. This characteristic of parallel machining tools leads to new practices which are not common in traditional scheduling literature. In addition to the precedence relationships, the inclusion/exclusion constraints determine which operations must/cannot be performed on the same spindle and machining unit. We first discuss the manufacturing environment and present the mathematical programming formulation of the problem. Since, this problem is NP-hard, we consider greedy construction algorithms based on dispatching rules. The greedy algorithms are effective in obtaining solutions fasts; however, the quality of the solutions is usually unsatisfactory. So, to improve the greedy solutions we implement scatter search approach with path relinking. We test the performance of the proposed method using synthetic and real data

Effects of attachment type and palatal coverage on oral perception and patient satisfaction in maxillary implant-supported complete denture patients

Aim: The effect of oral rehabilitation on the oral perception of implant-supported overdenture patients is a concern. This study evaluated the effects of the attachment type and palatal coverage on oral perception and patient satisfaction in maxillary implant-supported complete denture patients. Subjects and Methods: The correlation between oral perceptual ability (OPA) and patient satisfaction in three groups was investigated. Group I consisted of dentate individuals (n = 40), Group II consisted of maxillary implant-supported complete denture patients with bar attachments and palatal coverage (n = 12), and Group III of maxillary implant-supported complete denture patients with magnetic attachments and palatal coverage (n = 14). In addition, implant-supported maxillary overdentures with bar attachments, with (Group II; n = 12) and without (Group IV; n = 18) palatal coverage, were examined in terms of patient satisfaction and OPA. The relationship between OPA and patient satisfaction was assessed with the Turkish version of the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-TR-14) satisfaction survey. To compare oral sensory function among the groups, tactile awareness and pressure awareness were assessed. Results: There was no significant difference in OHIP-TR-14 scores between Groups II and III. In addition, there was no correlation between oral tactile function and patient satisfaction in Groups II and III. For patients with maxillary bar-retained implant-supported overdentures, palatal coverage did not affect the correlation between OPA and patient satisfaction, lateral pressure threshold, or tactile thickness threshold. Conclusion: According to the results of the study, whether maxillary implant-supported overdentures were made with a bar- or magnetic-type retainer, and whether bar-retained implant-supported overdentures had an open or closed palate did not affect the correlation between patient satisfaction and oral perception

Economic evaluation of appropriate duration of antibiotic prophylaxis for prevention of neurosurgical infections in a middle-income country

Background: Preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis is one of the preventive measures for surgical site infections (SSIs). Very little data about the cost effectiveness of the appropriate duration of antibiotic prophylaxis in low- and middle-income countries are available. We aim to assess the cost effectiveness of the use of antibiotic prophylaxis for <24 hours to prevent neurosurgical infections in a middle-income country, Turkey