Phosphorus fractions and its potential release in the sediments of Koycegiz Lake, Turkey

This study was conducted to find out the seasonal and spatial patterns of the phosphorus in the littoral sediment and its potential release into the Koycegiz Lake, south west Turkey, between November 2011 and March 2012 at two months intervals. The scanning electron microscopy was used for elemental compositions of the sediment. The amounts and forms of phosphorus (P) in surface sediments of Koycegiz Lake were examined using a not sequential chemical extraction procedure. Four fractions of sedimentary P, including organic bound phosphorus fraction (Org≈P), calcium bound phosphorus fraction (Ca≈P), iron+aluminium bound phosphorus fraction (Fe+Al≈P) and carbonate bound phosphorus fraction (CO3≈P) were separately quantified. The results indicated that the contents of different phosphorus fractions in the sediments varied greatly. The proportion of phosphorus fractions was estimated as Org≈P (90.20 %), this fraction was followed by Ca≈P) (9.06 %), Fe+Al≈P (0.47 %) and CO3≈P (0.27 %) in this study. The level of phosphorus release from the sediment to the lake is calculated as low. The sediment phosphorus release fluctuated between -6.647–75.883 μg/m2.d-1 and the total phosphorus (TP) concentrations of the sediment samples were changed between 980.39 μg/gDW (Dry Weight) - 1990.81 μg/gDW. The results show that it can be evaluation as eutrophic for Koycegiz Lake

COVID-19 Salgını Erken Dönemlerinde Genel Popülasyonda Uyku Kalitesini Etkileyen Etmenlerin Belirlenmesi

Objective: This study aimed to determine the factors affecting sleep quality in the general population during the early phase of the Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study and included 595 people who were surveyed online. The data were collected through the "socio-demographic characteristics form", "Pittsburgh Sleep Quality index" and "Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale-7". Results: In this study, sleep quality among individuals was found to be poor, and as the level of generalised anxiety increased, sleep quality decreased. Sleep quality was found to be poor those living in urban areas and those with chronic diseases. Conclusion: The results of the study can be used to develop therapeutic strategies and implement social policies to support people with sleep difficulties.Amaç: Bu çalışma Koronavirüs hastalığı-2019 (COVID-19) salgını erken dönemlerinde genel popülasyonda uyku kalitesini etkileyen etmenlerin belirlenmesi amacı ile planlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Bu çalışma kesitsel tipte olup “online survey” (çevrimiçi anket) ile ulaşılan 595 kişi ile tamamlanmıştır. Veriler ‘‘sosyodemografik özellikler formu”, “Pittsburgh Uyku Kalitesi indeksi”, “Yaygın Anksiyete Bozukluğu ölçeği-7” ile toplanmıştır. Bulgular: Bu çalışmada bireylerin uyku kalitesi kötü olup, yaygın anksiyete düzeyi arttıkça uyku kalitesi azalmaktadır. Kentsel bölgede yaşayanlarda ve kronik hastalığı olanlarda uyku kalitesi kötü bulunmuştur. Sonuç: Sonuçlar, bu süreçte uyku güçlüğü çeken bireyleri desteklemek için terapötik stratejilerin geliştirilmesi ve sosyal politikaların uygulanması için kullanılabili

Treatment adherence and short-term outcomes of smoking cessation outpatient clinic patients

INTRODUCTION Previous studies have shown that adherence to treatment is fundamental to success in smoking cessation. However, smoking cessation medication regimens are limited significantly by the struggle to adhere to them. This study was conducted to evaluate the factors associated with treatment adherence and quitting success in a group of patients that applied to our smoking cessation outpatient clinic (SCC). METHODS Patients that applied to SCC between April 2015 and December 2016 who were evaluated, found suitable for smoking cessation interventions and started pharmacological treatment were included in this study. Only those who could be reached by phone three months after their first application became participants. Those who had used the prescribed treatment for at least 30 days were grouped as treatment-adherent. RESULTS In total, data for 346 patients were evaluated. Mean (±SD) age was 44.3±13.9 years; most of them were male (63%), primary school graduated (36.1%), self-employed (43.7%), and had no comorbid diseases (71%). Bupropion was started in 52% of the patients, that rate was 35.8% for varenicline and 12.1% for a combination of the nicotine patch and gum. Mean days for treatment use was 20.9±18.5; 59% of the patients were non-adherent to their treatment and 51.7% had only one control visit number. Adverse reactions due to treatment were recorded in 25% of participants, and at their third month 37.9% of them had quit smoking. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, increase in control visit number, absence of adverse reaction, and varenicline use, were each associated with higher treatment adherence (p<0.001) and only being in the treatment-adherent group was associated with quit success (OR=3.01, 95% CI: 1.88–4.81, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS This study showed that most patients did not use their prescribed SC treatments adequately; a main factor that affects quit success is treatment adherence. There is a need for closer monitoring and follow-up to ensure adequate use of treatment of patients

Factors associated with current smoking in COPD patients: A cross-sectional study from the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey

INTRODUCTION Even though smoking is a major reason for the development and progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-and quitting smoking is the only way to stop its progression-a significant number of smokers still continue to smoke after being diagnosed with COPD. The aim of this study is to compare the clinical and demographic characteristics of COPD patients who are current and former smokers and to find factors associated with their current smoking status. METHODS For this study, data were collected between June 2015 and August 2016; COPD patients who had been regularly visiting Hopa State Hospital’s outpatient clinic over the last year or longer were included. Their demographic, clinical and functional data were recorded. Patients completed a pulmonary function test, six-minute walk test (6-MWT), COPD assessment test (CAT), and modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale. Comparisons were then made according to their smoking status. RESULTS In total 100 patients were included in the study; with a mean age of 63.4±10.7 years and mostly males (94%). Regarding smoking status, 49% were current smokers and 51% were former smokers. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that current smoking was negatively associated with age (odds ratio, OR=0.93, 95% confidence interval, CI=0.88–0.96) and Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage (OR=0.32, 95% CI=0.13– 0.79), and was positively associated with six-minute walk distance (OR =1.005, 95% CI=1.001–1.009) and CAT score (OR=1.07, 95% CI=1.009–1.13). CONCLUSIONS Nearly half of the COPD patients in the study continued smoking even after having been diagnosed with COPD. The younger patients, with better lung function, better exercise capacity and poor quality of life were associated with current smoking

Sigara içme durumlarına göre öğretmenlerin sosyodemografik özelliklerinin ve yaşam kalitelerinin değerlendirilmesi: Türkiye'nin Doğu Karadeniz bölgesinden kesitsel bir çalışma

Introduction: Smoking related health disorders are particularly common after long-term cigarette use and accordingly cumulative side effects of smoking usually do not appear in younger individuals. Therefore, for evaluating the contemporary effects of smoking in healthy individuals quality of life has become a fundamental criterion. In this study our aims are evaluating factors affecting school teachers' smoking status and comparing quality of life them according to their cigarette smoking status. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted between March 1 and June 30, 2015, included all government school teachers in Hopa. A sociodemographic data form and World Health Organisation Quality of Life-bref (WHOQL-bref) questionnaire were used. Statistical analysis was performed via SPSS 20. To evaluate the reliability of the WHOQOL-bref questionnaire, Cronbach's alpha co-efficiency was calculated for each domain separately. Results: Statistical analysis was performed on 327 participants' data. The mean age of the teachers was 34.2 +/- 8.73 and 50.2% of them were female. Most of the teachers were never smokers (67.8%) and current smokers' made up 20.1% of the population. Mean Fagerstrom score of current smokers was 4.1 +/- 1.96. Multinominal logistic regression analysis showed that there was a positive association between male gender and current smoking (OR= 2.25; 95% CI: 1.17-4.32; p< 0.05). Perception of quality of life and perception of health status scores were lower in the current smoker group as compared to never smokers (p< 0.05). However, other quality of life domains were not significantly different among smoking groups. Also, none of the quality of life domains differed significantly according to current smokers' nicotine dependence level. Conclusion: This study reflected a decrease in current smoking prevalence among school teachers compared to previous years. Also, the perception of quality of life and perception of health status scores were lower in the current smoker group as compared to never smokers.Giriş: Sigara ile ilişkili sağlık sorunları özellikle uzun süreli kullanımından sonra sık görülür ve dolayısıyla sigaranın kümülatif yan etkileri genç yaşlarda pek görülmez. Bu nedenle, sigaranın o andaki yan etkilerini değerlendirmede yaşam kalitesi temel bir kriter haline gelmiştir. Bu çalışmamızda amaçlarımız öğretmenlerin sigara içmelerini etkileyen faktörleri değerlendirmek ve sigara içme durumlarına göre yaşam kalitelerini kıyaslamaktır. Materyal ve Metod: Bu kesitsel çalışma 1 Mart 2015 ila 30 Haziran 2015 tarihleri arasında yapıldı ve Hopa'da bulunan bütün devlet okullarındaki öğretmenler çalışmaya dahil edildi. Sosyodemografik veri formu ve WHOQOL-bref ölçeği kullanıldı. İstatistiksel analiz için SPSS 20 kullanıldı. Ölçeğin güvenilirliğini değerlendirmek için her bir alanının Cronbach alfa değerleri hesaplandı. Bulgular: İstatistiksel analiz 327 kişinin verilerine uygulandı. Öğretmenlerin yaş ortalaması 34.2 ± 8.73 idi ve %50.2'si kadındı. Öğretmenlerin çoğu (%67.8) hiç sigara içmemişti, aktif içicilerin oranı %20.1 idi. Aktif içicilerin ortalama Fagerström skoru 4.1 ± 1.96 idi. Multinominal lojistik regresyon analizi erkek cinsiyet ile aktif içicilik arasında pozitif ilişki olduğunu gösterdi (OR= 2.25;95% CI: 1.17-4.32; p< 0.05). Yaşam kalitesi algısı ve sağlık durumu algısı aktif içicilerin hiç içmeyenlere göre daha düşüktü (p< 0.05). Ancak, diğer yaşam kalitesi alanlarında sigara içme durumlarına veya bağımlılık durumlarına göre farklılık saptanmadı. Sonuç: Bu çalışma öğretmenler arasında aktif sigara içiciliği oranında önceki yıllara göre bir düşüş olduğunu, ayrıca aktif içicilerin hiç içmeyenlere göre yaşam kalitelerini ve sağlık durumlarını daha kötü algıladıklarını göstermiştir

Procedural sedation protocols with or without ketamine in pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy: A retrospective cohort study

Objective: A considerable difference exists in pediatric endoscopy sedation practices with the optimal sedation protocol for gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy a subject of controversy and to investigate the safety and efficacy of sedation protocols with or without ketamine in procedural sedation for pediatric GI endoscopy. Materials and Methods: A total of 78 pediatric patients who received sedation anesthesia for GI endoscopy were included in this retrospective study. Anesthesia parameters include duration time, doses of anesthetic agents, Ramsay sedation score, respiratory and hemodynamic parameters, recovery time, modified Aldrete recovery scores, and side effects. Study parameters were evaluated with respect to ketamine dose (no ketamine group (NKG), low-dose ketamine group (LDKG, ≤0.75 mg/kg), and high-dose ketamine group (HDKG, ≥1 mg/kg). Results: The upper GI endoscopy rate (58.12% vs. 90.0%, p=0.001) was significantly lower in LDKG versus HDKG. No significant changes were observed in blood pressure levels, oxygen saturation, or heart rate compared to baseline levels. No significant difference was noted between study groups in terms of recovery time, modified Aldrete recovery scores, and nausea/vomiting. Final Ramsay sedation scores were significantly higher in NKG (p<0.05) and LDKG (p<0.01) than in HDKG. Conclusion: Our findings indicate a favorable safety and efficacy profile for ketamine as a useful adjunct to procedural sedation for pediatric GI endoscopy, enabling better quality of sedation with a low risk of cardiorespiratory suppression, or serious complications

N-(2,6-Dimethyl-3-oxo-1-thia-4-aza­spiro­[4.5]dec-4-yl)-2-hydr­oxy-2,2-di­phenyl­acetamide

In the title compound, C24H28N2O3S, the pendant methyl C atom bonded to the cyclo­hexane ring is disordered over two sites in a 0.580 (11):0.420 (11) ratio. The cyclo­hexane ring adopts a distorted chair conformation while the thia­zolidine ring has an envelope conformation. The two phenyl rings make a dihedral angle of 71.8 (2)° with each other. The conformation is stabilized by an intra­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bond. In the crystal structure, an inter­molecular hydrogen bond O—H⋯O occurs

Evaluation of the Genetic Analysis Results in Infertile Patients with Non-Obstructive Azoospermia

Objective:To evaluate the genetic analysis results of patients who referred to our clinic infertility and whom semen analysis revealed non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA).Materials and Methods:Among 994 patients who underwent a microscopic testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE) operation for NOA, 497 patients who were tested for karyotype analysis and 450 patients who were tested for chromosome Y microdeletion were included in our study. The rates of Klinefelter syndrome (KS) and Y chromosome microdeletion, sperm retrieval rates (SRR) in these genetic anomalies and the factors affecting them were investigated. Additionally, the association between the age, duration of infertility, testicular size, serum follicle stimulant hormone (FSH) and testosterone levels of patients and sperm extraction rates of micro-TESE operations were also evaluated.Results:The overall SRR of NOA patients who underwent micro-TESE was 47.5%. Among 104 patients with KS, sperm was successfully found after micro-TESE in 22 (21.2%). Fourteen patients were diagnosed with the Y chromosome microdeletion and sperm was successfully found in 4 (28.6%) of them; while the duration of infertility did not affect the SRR after micro-TESE (p=0.712); age, testicular volume serum FSH and testosterone levels had a significant effect on the SRR (p<0.005).Conclusion:In this study, the SRR of patients who have chromosome Y microdeletion or KS, was found to be lower than other studies in the literature. This difference could be derived from the genetically tested population’s structure, variance in the gene areas used for scanning and different demographic characteristics of different regions