Can environment or allergy explain international variation in prevalence of wheeze in childhood?

Asthma prevalence in children varies substantially around the world, but the contribution of known risk factors to this international variation is uncertain. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Phase Two studied 8–12 year old children in 30 centres worldwide with parent-completed symptom and risk factor questionnaires and aeroallergen skin prick testing. We used multilevel logistic regression modelling to investigate the effect of adjustment for individual and ecological risk factors on the between-centre variation in prevalence of recent wheeze. Adjustment for single individual-level risk factors changed the centre-level variation from a reduction of up to 8.4% (and 8.5% for atopy) to an increase of up to 6.8%. Modelling the 11 most influential environmental factors among all children simultaneously, the centre-level variation changed little overall (2.4% increase). Modelling only factors that decreased the variance, the 6 most influential factors (synthetic and feather quilt, mother’s smoking, heating stoves, dampness and foam pillows) in combination resulted in a 21% reduction in variance. Ecological (centre-level) risk factors generally explained higher proportions of the variation than did individual risk factors. Single environmental factors and aeroallergen sensitisation measured at the individual (child) level did not explain much of the between-centre variation in wheeze prevalence

multiple sclerosis patients

Background: The aims of this study were to test the validity, test-retest reliability, and internal consistency of Turkish version of FIS; the variables affecting FIS score.Materials and methods: 71 MS patients and 68 healthy subjects were included to the study.Results: Total FIS score and subscale scores were different statistically between MS patients and healthy volunteers in both first and second FIS applications (p 0.05). To assess the test-retest reliability, the scores of two FIS applications did not differ statistically (cognitive t= 1.948 p > 0.05, physical t= 1.420 p=0.160, social t= 1.470 p=0.146, total t= 1.990 p=0.05). Intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.89 (99% confidence interval: 0.79-0.94) for cognitive, 0.95 (0.91-0.97) for physical, 0.91 (0.83-0.95) for social, and 0.93 (0.86-0.96) for total FIS scores (p < 0.001). EDSS Correlated with physical subscores in both applications of FIS.Conclusion: Turkish version of FIS, which is valid and reliable, seems an appropriate tool for the assessment of the effects of fatigue in Turkish MS population. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Turkish translation of Fatigue Impact Scale: a psychometric study

21st Congress of the European-Committee-for-Treatment-and-Research-in-Multiple-Sclerosis/10th Annual Meeting of Rehabilitation in MS -- SEP 28-OCT 01, 2005 -- Thessaloniki, GREECEWOS: 000232249900338European Comm Treatment & Res Multiple Sclerosi

The validity and reliability of the Fatigue Severity Scale in Turkish multiple sclerosis patients

The aims of this study were to investigate the Fatigue Severity Scale's Turkish version's validity, reproducibility, internal consistency and parameters. Multiple sclerosis patients' disability levels were determined by the Expended Disability Status Scale and depression status was established with the Beck Depression Inventory. The Fatigue Severity Scale and Beck Depression Inventory were administered through self-report methods and assistance, without guidance, given where needed. An interval of 1 week was allowed between the applications. Seventy-two definitely diagnosed multiple sclerosis patients and matched 76 healthy controls were included. The multiple sclerosis patients' median Expended Disability Status Scale score was 4.0 (1.0-9.5). There were statistically significant differences between multiple sclerosis patients' and healthy controls' Fatigue Severity Scale scores (P<0.001). After controlling for depression, Fatigue Severity Scale scores were lowered, but there was still a significant difference between them (P<0.001). There was no significant difference between the interviews for Fatigue Severity Scale1 and Fatigue Severity Scale2 (P=0.719). Internal consistency for Fatigue Severity Scale was good for multiple sclerosis patients (ICC=0.81, P<0.001). Cronbach's ? of Fatigue Severity Scale1 was 0.89; Fatigue Severity Scale2 was 0.94. Expended Disability Status Scale scores (P<0.05) and Beck Depression Inventory scores (P<0.001) have a significant effect on the Fatigue Severity Scale. In conclusion, scales have a great importance in following up and assessing the results of treatment strategies. The Turkish validation of the Fatigue Severity Scale is reliable and valid, and is an appropriate tool to assess fatigue in the Turkish multiple sclerosis population. © 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc

Traumatic spinal cord injuries in Turkey: a nation-wide epidemiological study

Study design: An epidemiological study conducted all over the country

A study on the effect of the duration of subcutaneous heparin injection on bruising and pain

WOS: 000252397000012PubMed ID: 17931375Aim. This study was carried out to determine the effect of injection duration on bruising and pain following the administration of the subcutaneous injection of heparin. Background. Although different methods to prevent bruising and pain following the subcutaneous injection of heparin have been widely studied and described, the effect of injection duration on the occurrence of bruising and pain is little documented. Design.This study was designed as within-subject, quasi-experimental research. Method. The sample for the study consisted of 50 patients to whom subcutaneous heparin was administered. Heparin was injected over 10 seconds on the right abdominal site and 30 seconds on the left abdominal site. Injections areas were assessed for the presence of bruising at 48 and 72 hours after each injection. Dimensions of the bruising on the heparin applied areas were measured using transparent millimetric measuring paper. The visual analog scale (VAS) was used to measure pain intensity and a stop-watch was used to time the pain period. Data were analysed using chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U, Wilcoxon signed ranks tests and correlation. Results. The percentage of bruising occurrence was 64% with the injection of 10 seconds duration and 42% in the 30-second injection. It was determined that the size of the bruising was smaller in the 30-second injection. Pain intensity and pain period were statistically significantly lower for the 30-second injection than for the 10-second injection. Conclusions. It was determined that injection duration had an effect on bruising and pain following the subcutaneous administration of heparin. This study should be repeated on a larger sample. Relevance to clinical practice. When administering subcutaneous heparin injections, it is important to extend the duration of the injection

The effects of modified atmosphere and vacuum packaging on quality of chub mackerel

Quality and shelf life of filleted chub mackerel packaged in air, vacuum (VP) and modified atmosphere packing (MAP) (O-2/CO2/N-2, 5%/70%/25%) conditions and stored at +4 degrees C were investigated by measurement of sensory, chemical and microbiological analyses. Acceptability scores for odour, taste and texture of cooked air packaged, VP and MAP chub mackerel decreased with storage time. The sensory scores of chub mackerel stored in air, VP and MAP at +4 degrees C were 10 and 12 days, respectively. Total volatile basic nitrogen and trimethylamine nitrogen values gave acceptable results for up to 9 days for the chub mackerel stored in air, VP and 11 days for MAP storage. VP fillets presented the lowest thiobarbituric acid values. Mesophilic counts for air-VP and MAP samples exceeded 6 log CFU g(-1) after 7 and 11 days of cold storage, respectively. The results obtained from this study showed that the shelf life of chub mackerel stored in cold storage (+4 degrees C), as determined by overall acceptability of all data, is 9 days for air-packaged and VP fish and 12 days for MAP fish