Effect of high aluminum concentration in water resources on human health, case study: Biga Peninsula, northwest part of Turkey

Widespread and intense zones of silicified, propylitic, and argillic alteration exist as outcrop around the Biga Peninsula, NW Turkey. Most of the springs in the study area surface out from these altered volcanic rocks. The concentrations of aluminum (Al) in these springs ranged from 13.17 to 15.70 ppm in this region. These high levels of Al were found to exceed the maximum allowable limits (0.2 ppm) depicted in national and international standards of drinking water quality. Therefore, the effect of high Al in water resources on human health was evaluated in this research. A total of 273 people aged above 18 years and living in the Kirazli region (whose water supply is from springs emerging from these alteration zones) and in the Ciplak-Halileli region (whose water supply is provided from an alluvium aquifer) were selected as the research group. For this group, a questionnaire was completed that contained questions on descriptive characteristics of humans and a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was administered by the authors using the face-to-face interview technique. A neurological examination was then performed by the neurology specialist as a second-stage investigation. Finally, 10 ml of venous blood samples were obtained from these people as a third-stage analysis to determine the serum Al levels together with vitamin B12, folic acid, and thyroid-stimulating hormone parameters. The result typically revealed that the MMSE score was less in 31.9% and there was no statistically significant difference between the two regions. However, the result also showed that neuropathy in the history (including a careful past medical history) was significantly higher in the Kirazli region. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.TÜBA; TÜBİTA

Reexamination of an outbreak after fortyseven years: Key lessons from the Sagmalcılar outbreak, 1970

In October of 1970, approximately 1,500 people were ill and 52 people died of a cholera outbreak in Sağmalcılar, Istanbul. The outbreak spread over a wide area, carried through the old waterways passing under the garbage-laden areas near the Habipler village and the open waterways in the region of Esenler, Sagmalcilar. The spread of the disease was stopped at the end of October. During this outbreak, all patients were followed up, isolated and treated by the local healthcare workers. A wide range of immunization studies were conducted and water resources and open water zones were chlorinated. The sale of unbottled water, soft drinks and ice in the region was forbidden, and the dead, as well as cemetery grounds were limed. The houses where outbreaks had occurred were marked with yellow papers. In this study, periodical newspapers, related works and official reports of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey were used as resources. In this article, valuable lessons from the Sagmalcilar outbreak were presented and discussed through an analysis of the studies conducted during this epidemic.Key words: Cholera, epidemic, Istanbul, Turkey </p

Halk Sağlığı bakışıyla Toxoplasma gondii/Toxoplasma gondii With Public Health’s Perspective

Toksoplazmoz dünyada en yaygın zoonoz hastalıklardan birisidir. Son yıllarda yapılan çalışmalar, farklı sağlık sorunlarının ortaya çıkışında da etkenin sorumlu olabileceği yönündedir. Toksoplazmoz gibi zoonoz hastalıkların azaltılmasında, kontrolünde ve bu hastalıklara karşı korunmada her ülkenin ve her bölgenin sosyo-kültürel yapısı gözönüne alınarak çiğ et-sebze-meyve tüketimi, el hijyeni, hayvan besleme alışkanlıklarını gözden geçirecek, tıp ve veteriner bilimlerinin ortak çalışmalarını içeren tek sağlık anlayışına ihtiyaç vardır. Bu yazıda, Dünyada ve Türkiye’de birçok bölgede önemli fakat bir o kadar da göz ardı edilen Toxoplasma gondii epidemiyolojisi ile ilgili güncel bilgilerin sunulması ve enfeksiyondan korunma ve kontrolde önemli olan koruyucu halk sağlığı yaklaşımlarının paylaşılması amaçlanmıştır.</p

Turkey’s Epidemiological and Demographic Transitions: 1931-2013

Background: The causes of death have changed with regard to the epidemiological and demographic events in society. There is no evidence of prior research into the epidemiological transition in Turkey. This transition in Turkey should be observed starting with the Ottoman Empire period (19th to early 20th century). However, information about the Ottoman Empire is quite limited. Aims: To discuss the epidemiological and demographic transitions in Turkey, using demographic, educational and urbanization data in our present study. Study Design: A descriptive archive study. Methods: Mortality statistics dating from 1931 and published by the Turkish Statistical Institute were analysed, and the causes of death were coded and classified according to ICD-10. Other data were obtained from the published reports and studies regarding the issue. Results: In the 1930s, Turkey’s life expectancy was low (aged 40 years), fertility and mortality rates were high (respectively 45% and 31%), and the main causes of death were infectious diseases. Nowadays, life expectancy is close to 80 years, the total fertility rate has dropped to 2.1 per woman, and the main causes of death are chronic diseases and cancer. The population rate in the urban areas has increased steadily from 24.2% in 1927 to 77.3% in 2012. level of education has also increased during this period. In 1935, less than 10% of women were literate, and in 2013 90% were literate. Qualitative and quantitative increase have been observed in the presentation and access of healthcare services compared to the early years of the Republic. Conclusion: Turkey has been undergoing a modernization period in the last 200 years, and it is believed that the epidemiological and demographic transitions result from this period. This process has led to urbanization and an increase in the level of education, as well as a decrease in premature deaths, lower fertility rates, and an increase in the elderly population and chronic diseases. It is therefore our conclusion that Turkey needs policies regarding the elderly population and the management of chronic disease

Is Single Measurement Enough to Get a Reliable Result with Optical Coherence Tomography?

Pur po se: To evaluate the repeatability and reliability of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measurements using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Ma te ri al and Met hod: Two hundred sixty-six eyes of 135 subjects (glaucoma, glaucoma suspects and healthy) were included in this study. Three sequential inferior, superior, nasal and temporal RNFL thickness measurements were performed using Spectral OCT [Opko/OTI, Inc., Miami, FL] by one operator at one session without pupillary dilatation. The differences between these three measurements of each quadrant in each eye were compared in microns and percentages. Repeated measures analysis of variance was performed for statistical analysis. Reliability is measured by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for each quadrant. Re sults: ICCs of all quadrants ranged between 0.77 and 0.92, with the measurements of nasal quadrant being the least reproducible and the inferior being the most reproducible of all quadrants. RNFL measurement errors over 20% were seen in 9.63% of nasal quadrant, 5.3% of temporal quadrant, 0.6% of superior quadrant and only 0.3% of inferior quadrant measurements. Dis cus si on: In order to get more repeatable and reliable results with OCT, sequential measurements more than one should be considered. We believe that special attention is required in the analysis of data of nasal and temporal quadrants. (Turk J Ophthalmol 2012; 42: 11-5

Anxiety and depression in primary and secondary dystonia: A burden on health related quality of life

Dystonia is a reason of visible chronic motor and/or psychological disability that may influence the quality of life. Our aim was to investigate depression and anxiety in patients with primary and secondary dystonia, and to evaluate their effects on the quality of life. Patients with primary and secondary dystonia, and age-matched healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. Anxiety and depression was evaluated with Hospital Anxiety Depression (HAD) scale. Short Form-36 was used to assess the quality of life in both study groups. Both mean anxiety and depression subscales scores were found to be increased in the patients with dystonia, when compared with the control group (p 0.05). When compared with controls, all domains of SF-36 were found to be decreased in patients with dystonia contributing to a deterioration in the HR-QoL (p < 0.05). Among dystonia patients, a statistically significant decrease was found in all domains of SF-36, except vitality and mental health in secondary dystonia (p < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis revealed that secondary dystonia, long term disease, depression and anxiety have a great impact on quality of life of patients with dystonia. Dystonia can be considered as an important risk factor for anxiety and depression which leads to a deterioration in the quality of life of patients. © 2013 Elsevier GmbH

THE RELATION OF GEOGENIC AND ANTROPHOGENIC FACTORS WITH BLOOD AND HAIR LEAD AND ARSENIC LEVELS IN WOMEN LIVING IN CAN AND BAYRAMIC DISTRICTS OF CANAKKALE PROVINCE

Objective: Mining areas and associated industrial activities carry considerable risks for human health due to multi-pathway exposure of heavy metals such as arsenic and lead. The objective of this study was to compare arsenic and lead levels it human blood and hair samples in all industrial mining area in northwestern Turkey with that of non-exposed group demonstrating similar sociocultural characteristics

THE PREVALANCE OF EPILEPSY AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS IN CANAKKALE, TURKEY

WOS: 000354229700003PubMed: 26058237The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of epilepsy among students of the Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University. This cross sectional epidemiological study was performed on 4762 of 19,988 Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University students in the academic year 2007-2008. Participants that answered "epilepsy" to the question "Do you have any disease diagnosed by a doctor?" in a questionnaire including 4 subgroups were identified. Data were transferred to the Epi-Info Version 6.0 statistics program and controlled data were analyzed in the SPSS 15.0 statistics program. There were 53.1% of female and 46.9% of male students, mean age 20.4 +/- 2.1 (range 17-43) years. Twelve (0.25%) students had epilepsy diagnosis, eight (66.7%) female and four (33.3%) male, mean age 20.8 +/- 1.8 years. In our study, epilepsy was detected in 0.25% of students (n=12). Age specific prevalence studies related to epilepsy epidemiology are extremely rare, especially in university students with average intelligence. Thus, we considered that it would be epidemiologically significant to share the results of our cross sectional study with all those involved in epilepsy epidemiology and management