SCREENING FOR HEPATITIS B AND C SEROPREVALENCE AND PREVALENCE OF HIV INFECTION AMONG AFGHAN REFUGEES NEWLY ARRIVED IN COASTAL REGION TURKEY IN 2018: A SYSTEMATIC SINGLE-CENTRE ANALYSIS

Introduction: Previous studies showed that refugee status have been associated with various deteriorated effects on human health including higher prevalence of hepatitis B, C and HIV infections. In this study we aim to bridge the gap between Afghan immigrants and naive Turkish population by identifying HBV, HCV and HIV profiles. In addition, a large number of laboratory parameters was collected for all participants, including hematologic and biochemical test results. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective review of laboratory records at a tertiary center in Northern Turkey from January 1, 2018, to April 15, 2018. Our population based study comprising hospital data of 403 Afghan refugees and 400 naive Turkish citizens. Results: Afghan refugees had higher anti-HIV seropositivity than Turkish citizens.(p<0.05).There were no difference between the two groups according to HbsAg and anti-HCV seropositivity. Also Afghan refugees had statistically lower ALT levels, higher hemoglobin levels and higher mean TSH level (p<0.05). Mean T4 level did not show significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: We need further investigations to find out the risk of infections that originated from immigration

Attitudes and Behaviors Regarding Smoking in Friends and Relatives of Patients in Emergency Room: A New Frontier in the Fight against Tobacco

Background: Emergency rooms (ERs) are usually crowded with friends and relatives (F&Rs) of the patients. This experience may result in changes in smoking behaviors and create opportunities for smoking cessation interventions. The study aims to investigate these changes and offers a new frontier in the fight against smoking.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the ERs of two universities in different cities. A questionnaire consisting of 18 questions was applied to F&Rs of the emergency patients. Statistical analysis was performed using Jamovi program.Findings: A total of 603 respondents were included in the study. Of them, 71.3% were first-degree relatives, 51.7% waited 5 or more times in ER before, and 68.6% spent 0-2 hours in a day around the ER. Upon witnessing patients in the ERs, 53.4% of the F&Rs had the idea of quitting smoking and 42.9% wanted to have smoking cessation therapy during their wait in the hospital. While 76.1% of the participants were not using different brands of cigarettes when offered in normal life, this rate was lower around the ERs (64.6%) (P < 0.001). Participants smoked 0.82 ± 0.34 cigarette per hour in normal life excluding sleeping time; this number raised almost 6 folds during the wait (4.85 ± 2.11) (P < 0.001).Conclusion: F&Rs smoked more during waiting around ERs. However, they also expressed desire to quit smoking and receive smoking cessation intervention during the wait. Providing smoking cessation counseling to F&Rs in the ER may be a valuable intervention

Laparoskopik Kolesistektomi Sonrası Gelişen Ciddi bir Komplikasyon: Akut Batına Neden Olan Dev Biloma

Laparoskopik kolesistektomi sonrası gelişebilecek komplikasyonlar nadirdir. Enfeksiyon, kanama ve safra yolları hasarı bu komplikasyonlar arasında sayılabilir. Biloma, safra yollarının travmatik veya spontan hasarı sonrası intrahepatik veya ekstrahepatik yerleşim gösterebilen içi safra dolu iyi sınırlı, kapsüllü ya da kapsülsüz kistik bir lezyonudur. Laboratuvar bulguları spesifik olmayan bu hastalığın teşhisi tipik öykü (sağ üst kadran ağrısı, ateş, geçirilmiş cerrahi veya abdominal travma öyküsü ) ve doğrulayıcı radyolojik görüntü ile konur. Biz bu olgu sunumu ile akut karın etiyolojisinde laparoskopik kolesistektomi işlemi sonrasında gelişebilecek cerrahi bir bilomanın da düşünülmesi gerektiğini vurgulamak istedik

Spontaneous subscapular haematoma in a patient using warfarin therapy

Warfarin is widely used. Spontaneous bleeding is one of the complications of warfarin treatment. A 70-year-old man was admitted to the emergency room with right back pain. There was no history of trauma. He was using warfarin following a bypass graft. The patient's vital signs were stable. On physical examination, swelling at the level of the right scapula was detected. Laboratory findings showed that the international normalised ratio (INR) was → → (a very high reading) (1.47 1 month previously). There was no melena on rectal examination. A chest CT was performed to differentiate the swelling of the right scapula. Warfarin was stopped and vitamin K was administered. Fresh frozen plasma was initiated and the patient was hospitalised to the cardiovascular surgical service. The fact that use of warfarin in the elderly may increase the risk of spontaneous bleeding should be especially kept in mind. Copyright © 2013 BMJ Publishing Group. All rights reserved