Evaluation of smoking habits among Turkish family physicians.

Smoking is still a major public health problem in Turkey. It was aimed to investigate smoking prevalence and habits among Turkish family physicians. Cross-sectional study among physicians working in primary care settings was established.

Factors affecting exhaled carbon monoxide levels in coffeehouses in the Western Black Sea region of Turkey.

The aim of this study was to evaluate indoor air quality and factors affecting expired carbon monoxide (CO) levels in a coffeehouse environment. This cross-sectional study was conducted at 16 randomly selected coffeehouses in Duzce, Turkey, during November 2007 to March 2008. A total of 547 people, average age 46.

[The effect of firearms in inducing stress in high school students in the city of Düzce (Turkey)].

Objective: This study aimed to examine the behaviors of high school students exposed to firearms and firearms- related violence, which they had perpetrated or witnessed, and whether or not these events were related to stress.

Method: The study was conducted in Düzce province, which is characterised by the widespread use of firearms. A questionnaire was prepared to ascertain students' attitudes and behaviors towards owning firearms, their thoughts about firearms- related violence, and whether or not they had been a victim or witness to firearms- related violence.

Childhood trauma and dissociation in women with pseudoseizure-type conversion disorder.

Background: Conversion disorder is thought to be associated with psychological factors because of the presence of conflict and other stressors prior to the condition.

Aim: The aim of this study is to compare adult patients with pseudoseizure-type conversion disorder with healthy control group in terms of childhood trauma, dissociative disorder and family history of psychiatric disorders.

Method: 56 female patients were admitted to the general psychiatry hospital outpatient clinic between January and July 2005.

Hematologic effects of levothyroxine in iron-deficient subclinical hypothyroid patients: a randomized, double-blind, controlled study.

Context: In patients with coexisting iron-deficiency anemia and subclinical hypothyroidism, anemia does not adequately respond to oral iron therapy.

Objective: We studied whether iron-deficiency anemia might indicate treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism.

Design: PATIENTS were assigned to a control or experimental group: 240 mg/d oral iron alone (iron group) or 240 mg/d oral iron plus 75 microg/d levothyroxine (iron/levothyroxine group).

Breastfeeding practices in Duzce, Turkey.

Exclusive breastfeeding among infants less than or equal to 6 months old and continued breastfeeding (20-23 months) are high-priority indicators of infant health. We aimed to assess breastfeeding practices, using standardized breastfeeding indicators, and to determine the causes of early discontinuation of breastfeeding (< or = 6 months) in children aged 0 to 24 months in Duzce, Turkey. In this cross-sectional study, the study group consisted of 158 children, and questionnaires were completed by face-to-face interviews with the mothers.

Changing patterns of hepatitis A and E sero-prevalences in children after the 1999 earthquakes in Duzce, Turkey.

Aim: Hepatitis A and E are enteric viral diseases that are characteristically found in developing countries. Sero-epidemiological data about both infections showed higher prevalence rates soon after the 1999 earthquakes in Duzce, Turkey. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the data 4 years after the earthquakes.

Assessment of psychopathological aspects and psychiatric comorbidities in patients affected by tinnitus.

The aim of present study was to determine the psychiatric symptoms and comorbidities in patients affected by tinnitus. The study sample, between June 2004 and September 2005, consisted of 180 Turkish adults living in Elazig. Ninety consecutive tinnitus patients were enrolled on their first visit to the outpatients clinic.

Do baby wet wipes change periurethral aerobic flora?

There is massive enteric bacterial colonization in the periurethral region during infancy. Fecal soiling is considered to be responsible for this colonization. We hypothesized that baby wet wipes containing chemical cleansing compounds, which are used for the cleaning of babies after diaper soiling, could be a contributing factor in this colonization.

Evaluation of the thyroid blood flow with Doppler ultrasonography in healthy school-aged children.

Objective: To determine the relationship between thyroid blood flow and anthropometric measurements, pubertal stage, and thyroid and gonadotropic hormones.

Materials And Methods: We examined 123 healthy school-aged children prospectively (69 boys (56.1%) and 54 girls (43.

Helicobacter pylori infection in epileptic patients.

It is well known that there might be an epidemiological association between Helicobacter pylori infection and extraintestinal diseases. This study aimed at determining H. pylori infection in epileptic patients.

The efficacy of cystatin C assay in the prediction of glomerular filtration rate. Is it a more reliable marker for renal failure?

We determined the sensitivity, specificity, receiver operating characteristics and correlation between cystatin C (cysC) and two widely used markers of renal function, creatinine clearance and serum creatinine, in 244 patients (84 diabetics, 84 hypertensive and 76 healthy subjects). Renal failure was defined as creatinine clearance of less than either 80 or 60 mL/min. Variables were evaluated for two definitions of renal failure and compared between patient groups.

Sonographic assessment of the normal limits and percentile curves of liver, spleen, and kidney dimensions in healthy school-aged children.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the normal standards of liver, spleen, and kidney dimensions and the relationship of each with sex, age, body weight, height, body mass index, and body surface area in healthy school-aged children.

Methods: Seven hundred twelve healthy school-aged children (7-15 years) in 2 neighboring cities, including rural areas and city centers, were evaluated prospectively. Sex, age, weight, height, body mass index, and body surface area were determined for each case.

Role of transforming growth factor-β2 in, and apossible transforming growth factor-β 2 gene polymorphism as a marker of, renal dysfunction in essential hypertension: A study in Turkish patients.

Background: Many studies have shown that transforming growth factor(TGF)-β has a major role in renal scarring in many renal diseases and hypertension.

Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to investigate both the relationship between hypertension and serum and urinary levels of TGF-β2 (a more sensitive isoform for glomeruli than TGF-β1), and the effects of combination therapy with perindopril + indapamide on microalbuminuria, which becomes an early indicator of hypertensive benign nephropathy, and serum and urinary TGF-β2 levels in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. In addition, we examined the possible relationship between TGF-β2 gene polymorphism and essential hypertension.