Evaluation of blood and tooth element status in asthma cases: a preliminary case–control study

Abstract Background Asthma is a common respiratory disorder; some data were present on the correlation between increased levels of trace elements and the risk of asthma development. It was aimed to evaluate the levels of 13 selected blood and tooth elements (magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, chromium, manganese, iron, copper, zinc, strontium, molybdenum, cadmium, lead, mercury) in a well-controlled asthma group and the control group. Methods During the study period, 17 asthma patients and 26 age and gender-matched healthy children donated shed deciduous teeth having neither decay nor filling and enrolled for the study. The element levels in blood and teeth matrixes were analyzed with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Differences in blood and tooth elements in groups were evaluated with generalized linear models after adjusting confounding factors. Results After adjusting the child’s “z scores of body mass index for age”, history of iron deficiency anemia, and status of parental smoking, the generalized linear model revealed significantly lower tooth magnesium levels, lower blood zinc levels, and lower blood zinc/copper ratio in the asthma group than the control group (p = 0.042, p = 0.034, p = 0.002, respectively). Other studied elements for tooth and blood matrixes were similar in groups. Conclusion Our study revealed some differences in tooth and blood element levels in the asthma group. Further studies on zinc and magnesium levels of severe asthma cases are necessary for the interpretation of the results

The Impact of Organizational Climate on Organizational Creativity in Educational Institutions

The present study aimed to investigate the impact of organizational climate on organizational creativity based on the perceptions of teachers employed in secondary education institutions. The study sample included 275 teachers assigned with the cluster sampling method. “Organizational Creativity Scale” and “School Climate Scale” were employed to collect the study data. Descriptive and hierarchical regression analyses were used to analyze the study data. The study findings demonstrated that organizational climate affects organizational creativity and sub-dimensions. It was found that organizational climate affects administrative creativity the most and individual creativity the least. Organizational climate dimensions that affected organizational creativity were leadership and interaction, and sincerity. Organizational climate dimensions that affected individual creativity were democracy and commitment to school, achievement factors, and conflict. The organizational climate dimension that affected administrative creativity was leadership and interaction. Organizational climate dimensions that affected social creativity were leadership and interaction, and sincerity

Evaluation of breastfeeding and infant feeding attitudes among syrian refugees in Turkey: observations of Syrian healthcare workers

Abstract Background The influx of Syrian refugees into Turkey has highlighted the importance of supporting breastfeeding practices among this vulnerable population. We aimed to evaluate the breastfeeding and infant feeding attitudes of Syrian mothers based on the observations of Syrian healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods An online form including 31 questions was prepared in Turkish, Arabic, and English languages and distributed to HCWs, working in refugee health centers via e-mail, WhatsApp, or text message with the help of Ministry of Health in Turkey between January 2020 and March 2020. The questions were about HCWs’ characteristics (occupation, region of employment, duration of employment, participation in breastfeeding counseling course) and about HCWs’ observations of Syrian mothers’ breastfeeding and infant feeding practices. Results A total of 876 HCWs were included in the study; about 37.3% were physicians. Only 40.0% of HCWs reported that babies were predominantly fed with breast milk in the first three days after birth, 45.2% of HCWs indicated that mothers typically used sugary water as a prelacteal food, and 30.5% believed that breastfeeding was discontinued before 12 months. The main barriers to breastfeeding identified by HCWs included the lack of education, mental and physical health issues in the mother, food insecurity, low income, inadequate housing, lack of family planning, sociocultural environment, and limited access to quality health services. For complementary feeding, 28.0% of HCWs stated early introduction and 7.4% remarked delayed. HCWs believed grains, fruits and vegetables, and dairy products as top three foods for starting complementary food (59.5%, 47.8%, and 30.3% respectively). Healthcare challenges of Syrian pregnant and lactating mothers were reported to be associated primarily with “food, finance, and housing difficulties”, low maternal education, and cultural and environmental issues. HCWs recommended various solutions, such as supporting breastfeeding, offering nutrition and health support, promoting family planning, improving healthcare systems through legislation, and addressing cultural barriers. Conclusions To address breastfeeding issues among Syrian mothers, it is crucial to provide breastfeeding training to both HCWs and mothers. Expanding interventions that support breastfeeding-friendly practices, including community support and food aid for breastfeeding mothers, should also be considered to address the social determinants of breastfeeding

Characteristics of picky eater children in Turkey: A cross-sectional study

WOS:000827743000006 PubMed ID:35854285Objective The aim of this study is to investigate the relations of picky eating habit of children with their nutrition, physical activity, screen time and sleep habits in the context of parental picky eating habit. Methods In a cross-sectional study a questionnare was applied to the parents of children aged 6-13 years in two provincies. The cases were analyzed as the overall group and the two subgroups in which both parents are not picky eater, and in which at least one parent was picky eater. Child's risk of being picky eater was analyzed by logistic regression. Results A total of 913 children and parent pairs were included in the study. The risk of picky eating of the child increases 2.85 (AOR: 1.67-4.88) times when only the mother was picky eater, 5.99 (AOR: 3.32-7.52) times when only the father was picky eater, and 22.79 (AOR: 6.95-74.71) times when both of the parents were picky eaters. In the subgroup in which at least one parent was picky eater, it was determined that children with physical activity duration of >= 1 h/day and sleep time of >= 9 h /day were less likely to be picky eater and the children with screen time of >= 2 h/day were more likely to be picky eaters. Conclusion Picky eating habit in childhood is related to the picky eating habit of the parents. In the context of this relationship, the picky eating habit of children is related to sleep, physical activity, screen time and other eating habits

Effects of Dietary Yeast Cell Wall Supplementation on Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Antibody Production and Histopathological Changes in Broilers

This study was carried out to determine the effects of dietary yeast cell wall supplementation on growth performance, carcass traits, antibody production to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and histopathological changes in broilers. A total of 272 Ross 308 male broiler chicks aged one day were allocated into one control group and three treatment groups each containing 68 chicks. A basal diet was supplemented with 0, 1, 2 and 3 g/kg yeast cell wall (InteMos) to obtain dietary treatments. The experimental period lasted 6 weeks. Dietary yeast cell wall increased body weight gain during the first three weeks (P<0.001). Feed conversion during the first three weeks (P<0.001) and during the overall experimental period (P<0.01) were improved with the dietary supplementation of yeast cell wall. No differences were observed in feed intake, carcass yield and the relative weights of gizzard, liver and heart. Yeast cell wall supplementation decreased the relative weight of abdominal fat (P<0.05) and increased antibody titres to SRBC (P<0.01) in broilers. Control and treatment groups had similar histological grade; hepatic lobular inflammation, steatosis and cell ballooning scores and, cardiac steatosis. It is concluded that yeast cell wall was an effective feed additive in broiler feeding due to the increased growth performance, increased humoral immune response and the reduction in abdominal fat.WoSScopu

Effects Of Dietary Sepiolite On Performance, Egg Quality And Some Blood Parameters In Laying Hens

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of dietary sepiolite on performance, egg quality, egg yolk cholesterol content and some blood parameters of laying hens during 22 weeks period. For this purpose a total of 135 Lohmann Brown laying hens, 38 weeks of age, were allocated to one control group and two treatment groups. Sepiolite was used at the level of 0, 0.5 and 1% for the diets of control group and the first and second treatment groups, respectively. Dietary sepiolite supplementation did not significantly affect feed intake, egg production, egg weight and feed conversion ratio. The values of egg breaking strength (p<0.01) and egg shell thickness (p<0.05) were increased, egg yolk cholesterol was decreased (p<0.05) by the usage of 1% sepiolite in the diet. Dietary treatments did not significantly affect egg shape index, egg albumen height, egg albumen index, egg yolk index and egg Haugh unit. Dietary sepiolite at 1% reduced cholesterol and triglyceride in serum (p<0.05) and increased total protein in serum (p<0.01). It was concluded that dietary supplementation of 1% sepiolite was effective feed additive in layer feeding due to the reduction in egg yolk cholesterol and improvement in egg shell quality.Wo

Effect of Sex on Carcass and Meat Characteristics of New Zealand White Rabbits Aged 11 Weeks

This experiment was conducted to determine and compare some characteristics of the meat and carcass of rabbits aged 11 weeks according to sex. In the experiment thirty male and thirty female New Zealand White rabbits were slaughtered. The weights and percentages of cold carcasses, skin with head and limbs, liver, kidney, heart, lung, fore legs, hind legs, breast and ribs, loin and abdominal wall were recorded. The values for carcass length, lumbar circumference, pH in the muscles of Biceps femoris and Longissimus dorsi, meat to bone ratio and cooking loss were also determined. The mean values for cold carcass weight and cold dressing percentage were 832 g and 48.77% in male and 849 g and 48.69% in female, respectively. In this study no significant differences were shown between male and female rabbits in the characteristics of carcass and meat except the value of pH of Longissimus dorsi muscle which was markedly higher in males than that in females meat. Slaughter weight was positively correlated with the weights of carcass, skin with head and limbs, lung, liver, kidney, heart and weights of joints (p<0.01) and dressing percentage (p<0.05).Scopu