İstanbul'daki fırın işçilerinin idrarlarında okratoksin a'nın immunoaffinite kolon-yüksek basınçlı sıvı kromatografisi yöntemi ile araştırılması

Okratoksin A (OTA), Penicillium ve Aspergillus türleri tarafından üretilen, okratoksin grubu içindeki en toksik özellikli mikotoksindir. Bu mikotoksinin karsinojen, nefrotoksik, teratojenik ve immunotoksik etkileri bilinmektedir. Bu çalışmada İstanbul’daki fırın işçilerinin idrarlarında OTA varlığının ve düzeyinin belirlenebilmesi için NaHCO₃ dilüsyon, İAK (immünoaffinite kolon) temizleme yöntemi, fluoresans dedektörlü Yüksek Basınçlı Sıvı Kromatografisi (YBSK) ile teşhis ve tayin yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Toplanan idrar örneklerinde kreatinin ve malondialdehit (MDA) seviyeleri spektrofotometrik olarak ölçülmüştür. Ayrıca idrar örneklerinde DNA hasarının bir göstergesi olan 8-hidroksi 2-deoksiguanozin düzeyi Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbant Assay (ELISA) yöntemi ile tayin edilmiştir. Çalışmamız sonucunda yönteme ait en düşük tespit limiti (LOD) ve en düşük ölçüm limiti (LOQ) sırasıyla 0,06 ngmLˉ¹ ve 0,20 ngmLˉ¹ olarak tespit edilmiştir. Toplanan 185 idrar örneğinin %4,9’unun OTA ile kontamine olduğu saptanmıştır. Ayrıca kontrol grubu olarak imalat dışında çalışan grup ile imalat bölümünde çalışan fırın işçilerinin idrarlarında OTA düzeyleri arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir farklılık tespit edilmemiştir (p>0,05). Fırın işçilerinde OTA’ya maruziyeti ölçmek amacıyla çalışmaya katılan gönüllülere uygulanan anket soruları ile aynı zamanda maruziyetin profili de ortaya çıkarılmıştır. Ancak cinsiyet, yaş, sigara ve alkol kullanımı, kahve tüketimi, beslenme alışkanlıklarına ait sorulardan elde edilen cevaplara bağlı olarak OTA maruziyeti ile anlamlı bir korelasyon bulunamamıştır (p>0,05). Çalışmanın sonucu, istatistiksel olarak anlamlı OTA varlığı saptanmamış olmakla birlikte, fırın işçilerinin idrarlarında OTA saptanmış olması, periyodik takibin gerekliliğini göstermiştir. Anahtar kelimeler: İdrar, Kreatinin, Malondialdehit, OTA, YBSK yöntemi SUMMARY Ochratoxin A (OTA), is the most toxic mycotoxin in the ochratoxins produced by Penicillium and Aspergillus species. It is known that this mycotoxin has carcinogenic, nephrotoxic, teratogenic and immunotoxic effects. In this study, OTA occurence and level in urine samples collected from bakers in Istanbul was analyzed by NaHCO₃ dilution, IAC (Immmunoaffinity Column) clean-up and high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescent detection. Creatinine and malondialdehyde levels were measured spectrofotometrically in collected urine samples. Also 8-hydroxy 2-deoxyguanosine that is a biomarker of DNA damage was tested by ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbant Assay). As a result of our study, limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of the method were measured as 0,06 ngmLˉ¹ and 0,2 ngmLˉ,¹ respectively. From the total collected urine samples of 185, 4,9% was contaminated with OTA. Also statistically significant difference between OTA levels has not been determined in urine samples of bakers working at the production department and the bakers working at the other departments of bakery (p>0,05). In order to define the exposure profile of OTA in bakers a questionarie was conducted among the volunteers as well. But after the evaluation of the answers related to the gender, age, dietary habits, coffee consumption, smoking and alcohol consumption, no correlation was found with the OTA exposure (p>0,05). In conclusion, in the present study although OTA presence was not statiscally significant, OTA detection in urine of bakers’ indicates the necessity of regular follow up for these workers. Key Words: Creatinin, HPLC method, Malondialdehyde, Ochratoxin A, Urine

A Retrospective Evaluation of Self-Reported Adverse Events Following Immunization with Different COVID-19 Vaccines in Türkiye

Background: The Sinovac and BioNTech vaccines were the first to be introduced in Türkiye to fight the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. As these vaccines had shown some side-effects in its clinical trial, we aimed to conduct a survey study to assess the short-term adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) in Türkiye. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted using social and electronic media platforms by delivering a pre-formed and validated online questionnaire among people who had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This survey study focused on mass populations from different regions in Türkiye. A total of 603 responses were collected. Among these, 602 were selected based on complete answers and used for the assessment. The collected data were then analyzed to evaluate the various parameters related to the AEFIs of the respondents. Results: Among the total 602 participants, 20.8% were male, and 78.7% were female, actively answering all of the constructive questions. Most of the respondents were between 18–30 years of age. We found that a total of 23.3% of the total respondents had been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Our survey revealed that out of 602 volunteers, the rate of experiencing physical discomfort was higher in participants who had received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at all three doses than in those who had received the Sinovac vaccine. When all vaccine types were examined, the most common side effect was pain at the injection site, reported by 75.19% participants. When the side effects were compared according to vaccine types, there was a significant difference only in terms of fever. Fever rates in those who had received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (20.96%) were found to be significantly higher than those who had received the Sinovac vaccine (8%). Conclusions: The studied vaccines showed minor side effects and there was no significant difference between the vaccines in terms of other side effects. Moreover, further research is needed to determine the efficacy of the existing vaccines in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections or after-infection hospitalization

A Retrospective Evaluation of Self-Reported Adverse Events Following Immunization with Different COVID-19 Vaccines in Türkiye

Background: The Sinovac and BioNTech vaccines were the first to be introduced in Türkiye to fight the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. As these vaccines had shown some side-effects in its clinical trial, we aimed to conduct a survey study to assess the short-term adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) in Türkiye. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted using social and electronic media platforms by delivering a pre-formed and validated online questionnaire among people who had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This survey study focused on mass populations from different regions in Türkiye. A total of 603 responses were collected. Among these, 602 were selected based on complete answers and used for the assessment. The collected data were then analyzed to evaluate the various parameters related to the AEFIs of the respondents. Results: Among the total 602 participants, 20.8% were male, and 78.7% were female, actively answering all of the constructive questions. Most of the respondents were between 18–30 years of age. We found that a total of 23.3% of the total respondents had been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Our survey revealed that out of 602 volunteers, the rate of experiencing physical discomfort was higher in participants who had received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at all three doses than in those who had received the Sinovac vaccine. When all vaccine types were examined, the most common side effect was pain at the injection site, reported by 75.19% participants. When the side effects were compared according to vaccine types, there was a significant difference only in terms of fever. Fever rates in those who had received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (20.96%) were found to be significantly higher than those who had received the Sinovac vaccine (8%). Conclusions: The studied vaccines showed minor side effects and there was no significant difference between the vaccines in terms of other side effects. Moreover, further research is needed to determine the efficacy of the existing vaccines in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections or after-infection hospitalization

Assessment of Contributing Factors and Treatment Practices for Therapeutic Efficacy and Drug-Related Problems in Suicidal Psychotic Patients

Suicide, a deliberate act of self-harm with the intention to die, is an emerging health concern but, unfortunately, the most under-researched subject in Pakistan, especially in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KPK). In this study, we aimed to identify risk factors that can be associated with suicidal behavior (SB) and to evaluate the prevailing treatment practices for therapeutic efficacy and drug-related problems (DRPs) in psychotic patients among the local population of KPK. A prospective, multicenter study was conducted for suicidal cases admitted to the study centers by randomized sampling. Socio-demographics and data on suicidal behavior were assessed using the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), socioeconomic condition by Kuppuswamy socioeconomic scale (KSES) and treatment adherence by Morisky Medication-Taking Adherence Scale (MMAS-4). Drug-related problems and the therapeutic efficacy of prevailing treatment practices were assessed at baseline and follow-up after 3 months of treatment provided. Regarding suicidality (N = 128), females reported more ideations (63.1%), while males witnessed more suicidal behavior (66.6%, p p p = 0.004); dissatisfied with their life and had a previous history (p p = 0.001) than pharmacotherapy (p = 0.006) or psychotherapy (p = 0.183), alone. DRPs were also detected, including drug-selection problems (17.88%), dose-related problems (20.64%), potential drug–drug interactions (24.31%), adverse drug reactions (11.46%) and other problems like inadequate education and counseling (21.55%). Furthermore, it was also found that psychotic patients with suicidal ideations (SI) were significantly (p = 0.01) more adherent to the treatment as compared to those with suicidal attempts. We concluded that suicide attempters differed significantly from patients with suicidal ideations in psychotic patients and presented with peculiar characteristics regarding socio-demographic factors. A combination of therapies and adherence to the treatment provided better outcomes, and targeted interventions are warranted to address drug-related problems