The affecting factors and prevalence rate of sick building syndrome in healthcare workers

Sick building syndrome (SBS) is defined as symptoms that occur while living or working in a certain building but disappear after moving away from the environment. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of indoor air pollutants on the health of employees, the prevalence of SBS in healthcare workers at the university hospital, its relationship with environmental and personal factors and the respiratory system. A questionnaire was applied to 951 healthcare workers who agreed to participate in the study. Having at least one general, one mucosal and one skin symptom every week in the last 3 months was accepted as SBS. Temperature, CO and CO2 levels and relative humidity were measured in different areas of the hospital. The prevalence of SBS was 62.1%. There was a statistically significant relationship between SBS and having a chronic disease (p [Med-Science 2023; 12(1.000): 87-93

Comparison of Urinary Tract Dilatation and Society of Fetal Urology systems in the detection of vesicourethral reflux and renal scar

Purpose: The presence and degree of hydronephrosis is very important in the management of many diseases of the urinary tract. In this study, we aim to compare the sensitivity and specificity of 2 classification systems that are used for hydronephrosis grading in ultrasound, for reflux and scar detection. The classification systems were the Society of Fetal Urology (SFU) and Urinary Tract Dilatation (UTD). Material and methods: Ultrasounds and dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphies (DMSA) of all patients who underwent voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) due to urinary tract infection were examined retrospectively. DMSA was accepted for scar detection and VCUG for reflux detection as reference methods. SFU classification was used for hydronephrosis in ultrasound reports, and UTD classification was made over the reports. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of UTD and SFU classification systems for reflux and scar detection were calculated, and these 2 systems were compared. Results: 103 (39%) of the patients were male and 162 (61%) were female. Pathologies were detected in 192 (35%) of 530 kidneys in ultrasound. In 110 (42%) of the children, reflux was detected in VCUG. Scars in DMSA were detected in only 16% (44) of 266 kidneys. Sensitivity, positive and negative predictive values of the UTD classification system were statistically significantly higher than the SFU system for scar and reflux detection (p < 0.01). Conclusions: If we use the UTD system in ultrasounds of patients with urinary tract infections, children reported as UTD 0 may not need VCUG, which reduces radiation exposure to children and the cost of the diagnostic interventions

Categorization of COPD patients in Turkey via GOLD 2013 strategy document: ALPHABET study

WOS: 000366030500001PubMed ID: 26622176Objective: To determine distribution of COPD assessment categories and physicians' adherence to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 2013 strategy in Turkish COPD patients. Methods: A total of 1,610 COPD patients (mean [standard deviation] age: 62.6 [9.9] years, 85.7% were males) were included in this multicenter, non-interventional, cross-sectional study. Patients were categorized via GOLD 2013 strategy document. Consistency between reported and re-classified GOLD categories, and measures used for symptom evaluation and exacerbation was analyzed. Results: Overall, 41.1% of patients were assigned to GOLD A, while 13.2% were assigned to GOLD C categories. Long-acting beta-2 agonist + long-acting muscarinic antagonist + inhaled corticosteroid regimen was the most common treatment (62.0%). Over-treatment was noted in > 70% of GOLD A, B, and C patients. A high consistency between measures of symptom evaluation (Kappa coefficient = 0.993, P < 0.0001) and a low-moderate consistency between exacerbation risk measures (Kappa coefficient = 0.237, P < 0.0001) were noted. Conclusion: Our findings revealed GOLD A as the most prevalent category in Turkish cohort of COPD patients. Group assignment was altered depending on the chosen measure for symptom and risk assessment. Physician non-adherence to treatment recommendations in GOLD 2013 document leading to over-treatment in patients assigned to GOLD A, B, and C categories was also detected.Novartis Pharmaceuticals TurkeyThe study is funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Turkey. We thank Cagla Ayhan, MD and Prof Sule Oktay, MD, PhD from KAPPA Consultancy Training Research Ltd, Istanbul who provided editorial support and Mehmet Berktas, MD, MICR from KAPPA Consultancy Training Research Ltd, Istanbul who performed statistical analysis funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Turkey

Categorization of COPD patients in Turkey via GOLD 2013 strategy document: ALPHABET study

Objective: To determine distribution of COPD assessment categories and physicians' adherence to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 2013 strategy in Turkish COPD patients. Methods: A total of 1,610 COPD patients (mean {[}standard deviation] age: 62.6 {[}9.9] years, 85.7\% were males) were included in this multicenter, non-interventional, cross-sectional study. Patients were categorized via GOLD 2013 strategy document. Consistency between reported and re-classified GOLD categories, and measures used for symptom evaluation and exacerbation was analyzed. Results: Overall, 41.1\% of patients were assigned to GOLD A, while 13.2\% were assigned to GOLD C categories. Long-acting beta-2 agonist + long-acting muscarinic antagonist + inhaled corticosteroid regimen was the most common treatment (62.0\%). Over-treatment was noted in > 70\% of GOLD A, B, and C patients. A high consistency between measures of symptom evaluation (Kappa coefficient = 0.993, P < 0.0001) and a low-moderate consistency between exacerbation risk measures (Kappa coefficient = 0.237, P < 0.0001) were noted. Conclusion: Our findings revealed GOLD A as the most prevalent category in Turkish cohort of COPD patients. Group assignment was altered depending on the chosen measure for symptom and risk assessment. Physician non-adherence to treatment recommendations in GOLD 2013 document leading to over-treatment in patients assigned to GOLD A, B, and C categories was also detected