Why the EU should work with opposition parties to avoid democratic backsliding

Policymakers and scholars of the European Union have been increasingly more concerned about democratic backsliding in member countries where the EU no longer possesses the ‘membership’ carrot for continued reforms. But is the EU really hopeless when it comes to helping members safeguard and promote good governance? Mert Kartal presents findings from a recent study ... Continue

Halkımızın teratoloji hakkındaki farkındalığı

Amaç: Bu çalışma ile çevresel etkenlerden kaynaklanan doğumsal bozuklukları ve anormal prenatal gelişmeyi inceleyen ve doğumsal defektleri önlemenin araştırmalarını yapan bilim dalı olan teratoloji hakkında halkımızın neler bildiğini ve konu ile ilgili farkındalıklarını araştırmayı amaçladık. Gereç ve Yöntem: Selçuk Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Hastanesi’ne sağlık hizmeti almak üzere başvuran hasta ve hasta yakınlarından oluşan, yaşları 18 - 79 arasında değişen, eşit sayıda kadın ve erkekten oluşan toplam 400 katılımcıya anket uygulaması yapıldı. Elde edilen veriler ortalama ± standart sapma ve yüzde olarak özetlendi. Bulgular ve Sonuç: Yapılan anket çalışmasında homojen olmayan sonuçlar elde edildi. Bu verilere göre katılımcıların ölü ya da sakat doğumların sebepleri, röntgen, tomografi vb. kullanımının anne karnındaki bebeğe etkileri, ilaçların yan etkilerine dikkat etme, akrabalık derecesinin hastalıklı doğumlara etkisi konularında belirli düzeyde fikir sahibi oldukları saptandı. Anne karnındaki bebeğin hastalıklara karşı en duyarlı olduğu gebelik dönemi hakkında ise yeterli bilgi düzeyine sahip olmadıkları belirlend

Real-world efficacy and safety of Ledipasvir plus Sofosbuvir and Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir/Ritonavir +/- Dasabuvir combination therapies for chronic hepatitis C: A Turkish experience

Background/Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the real-life efficacy and tolerability of direct-acting antiviral treatments for patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with/without cirrhosis in the Turkish population.Material and Methods: A total of 4,352 patients with CHC from 36 different institutions in Turkey were enrolled. They received ledipasvir (LDV) and sofosbuvir (SOF)+/- ribavirin (RBV) ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir +/- dasabuvir (PrOD)+/- RBV for 12 or 24 weeks. Sustained virologic response (SVR) rates, factors affecting SVR, safety profile, and hepatocellular cancer (HCC) occurrence were analyzed.Results: SVR12 was achieved in 92.8% of the patients (4,040/4,352) according to intention-to-treat and in 98.3% of the patients (4,040/4,108) according to per-protocol analysis. The SVR12 rates were similar between the treatment regimens (97.2%-100%) and genotypes (95.6%-100%). Patients achieving SVR showed a significant decrease in the mean serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels (50.90 +/- 54.60 U/L to 17.00 +/- 14.50 U/L) and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores (7.51 +/- 4.54 to 7.32 +/- 3.40) (p<0.05). Of the patients, 2 were diagnosed with HCC during the treatment and 14 were diagnosed with HCC 37.0 +/- 16.0 weeks post-treatment. Higher initial MELD score (odds ratio [OR]: 1.92, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22-2.38; p=0.023]), higher hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels (OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.31-2.28; p=0.038), and higher serum ALT levels (OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.21-1.83; p=0.042) were associated with poor SVR12. The most common adverse events were fatigue (12.6%), pruritis (7.3%), increased serum ALT (4.7%) and bilirubin (3.8%) levels, and anemia (3.1%).Conclusion: LDV/SOF or PrOD +/- RBV were effective and tolerable treatments for patients with CHC and with or without advanced liver disease before and after liver transplantation. Although HCV eradication improves the liver function, there is a risk of developing HCC.Turkish Association for the Study of The Liver (TASL

The relationship between mental well-being and healthy lifestyle behaviors of seasonal agricultural worker women

The study was conducted to examine the relationship between the mental well-being of Seasonal Agricultural Worker (SAW) women and their Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors (HLBs). The study utilizes the descriptive research design. The study was conducted between November 2020 and December 2020 in Turkey, in a Family Health Center-supervised region, where SAW women were concentrated. The sample includes 355 women. The Personal Information Form, Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS), and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale II (HLBS II) were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics (number, percentage, mean), independent samples t-test, Mann Whitney U test, one-way analysis of variance, Kruskal Wallis analysis, Pearson Correlation Test, and Simple Linear Regression Analysis were also used in the analyses of the data. There was a positive, strong, and significant correlation between mental well-being and HLBs of SAW women. There was a significant difference between the WEMWBS total mean scores of SAW women according to their economic status and family type. There was a significant difference between the total mean score of the HLBS II according to income level and family type of SAW women (p [Med-Science 2023; 12(1.000): 100-7