Age- and region-specific hepatitis B prevalence in Turkey estimated using generalized linear mixed models: a systematic review

Toy M, Önder FO, Wörmann T, et al. Age- and region-specific hepatitis B prevalence in Turkey estimated using generalized linear mixed models: a systematic review. BMC infectious diseases. 2011;11(1): 337.BACKGROUND: To provide a clear picture of the current hepatitis B situation, the authors performed a systematic review to estimate the age- and region-specific prevalence of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Turkey. METHODS: A total of 339 studies with original data on the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in Turkey and published between 1999 and 2009 were identified through a search of electronic databases, by reviewing citations, and by writing to authors. After a critical assessment, the authors included 129 studies, divided into categories: 'age-specific'; 'region-specific'; and 'specific population group'. To account for the differences among the studies, a generalized linear mixed model was used to estimate the overall prevalence across all age groups and regions. For specific population groups, the authors calculated the weighted mean prevalence. RESULTS: The estimated overall population prevalence was 4.57, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.58, 5.76, and the estimated total number of CHB cases was about 3.3 million. The outcomes of the age-specific groups varied from 2.84, (95% CI: 2.60, 3.10) for the 0-14-year olds to 6.36 (95% CI: 5.83, 6.90) in the 25-34-year-old group. CONCLUSION: There are large age-group and regional differences in CHB prevalence in Turkey, where CHB remains a serious health problem

Resolving Language Barriers Within The Context Of Global Co-Habitation, With New Educational Support Strategies For Responsible Innovation

This paper focuses on resolving language barriers within the context of co-habitation for displaced communities, specifically between Syrian immigrant parents and Turkish teachers within the Turkish education system. It has been often reported that Syrian immigrant parents, the majority of immigrants in Turkiye, cannot be part of their children’s education period because of language problems which negatively affects immigrant students’ success as well as welfare of the community in a long-term period. This paper offers a framework of parameters for human centred design and information design, in addition to new educational support strategies, methods and mentoring, that can be relied upon to help students and graduates address current and future challenges for responsible innovation. The paper will expand on the detailed findings that Syrian parents and local teachers might not be able to maintain a dialogue due to language limitations, negatively affecting the success of Syrian students. Hence, this paper proposes an analysis of language barriers between Syrian parents and Turkish teachers including literature review and case studies. It has been reported that language barriers extend beyond language limitations, to other factors associated with ‘unfamiliarity with the issue’, ‘emotional barriers’, ‘cultural differences’, and ‘personal features’ according to context, that benefits from a design-led multi-perspective approach

The prevalence of brucellosis in adults in Northeastern region of Turkey

Background: Brucellosis is prevalent in the Mediterranean basin, the Indian subcontinent, the Arabian peninsula, and in parts of Central Asia, Africa, Central and South America. However it continues to be one of the major health problems in developing countries, including Turkey. Objectives: The current study aimed to determine the incidence of brucellosis, which is previewed to be very common in the northeastern region of Turkey, in order to emphasize the problem. Materials and Methods: Seroprevalence of brucellosis was examined in sera of 2913 patients who referred to Igdi{dotless}r State Hospital between February and December of the year 2010 by Standard Tube Agglutination Test method. Results: Results were statistically evaluated using chi-square trend analysis method. Significantly high level (1/40 dilution) of specific antibodies were detected in 525 (18 %) patient sera (P = 0.111). Conclusions: We hope that Turkey will be one of the brucellosis-free countries in near future with highlights from the current and further studies. © 2013, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences

A COHORT STUDY TO ASSESS THE CONTRIBUTION OF PATIENT COMPLIANCE PROGRAM ON PERSISTENCE TO DEFERASIROX IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC IRON OVERLOAD IN TURKEY (EX-PAT PROGRAM)

WOS: 000445782800868

Letter to the Editor - Diffuse pulmonary amyloidosis due to Familial Mediterranean Fever, a rare presentation

No Abstrac

Fulminant hepatic failure and serum phosphorus levels in children from the western part of Turkey

Background/aims: Clinical and laboratory predictors of recovery in children with fulminant hepatic failure are limited. Recently, hypophosphatemia has been reported as a laboratory indicator of recovering liver function in children with fulminant hepatic failure. We aimed to determine the incidence of hypophosphatemia and its association with clinical outcome in children in our center with fulminant hepatic failure. Methods: We analyzed 21 children who had been diagnosed with fulminant hepatic failure. Laboratory findings were recorded from admission date until the patient spontaneously recovered, underwent orthotopic liver transplantation or died. Results: Eight patients (38%) died, 6 (28.6%) underwent orthotopic liver transplantation, and 7 (33.3%) recovered without orthotopic liver transplantation. We identified hypophosphatemia in 57.1% of children with fulminant hepatic failure. Serum phosphorus levels were significantly lower in patients who recovered than in the orthotopic liver transplantation+death group. The presence of encephalopathy was determined at a much lower rate in the recovery group than in the orthotopic liver transplantation+death group. Serum phosphorus concentration >= 2.9 mg/dl and presence of encephalopathy were identified as independent risk factors for mortality. Conclusions: Hypophosphatemia can be identified as a marker of recovery in children with fulminant hepatic failure. Presence of encephalopathy and a serum phosphorus level >= 2.9 mg/dl appear to indicate a poor prognosis in children with fulminant hepatic failure