The effects of air pollution and smoking on placental cadmium, zinc concentration and metallothionein expression.

This study is designed to determine the placental zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) levels in mothers who were smokers, mothers who were thought to be exposed to air pollution, and mothers who were non-smokers and to investigate the relationship between the expression of placental metallothionein (MT) binding these metals and blood progesterone level. Placental Zn and Cd levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. Presence of placental MT was determined immunohistochemically. Placental changes were examined by light microscope after H&E and PAS staining. Immunohistochemical MT staining of syncytiotrophoblastic and villous interstitial cells were scored as positive or negative. Among the 92 mothers included in the study, 33 were smokers (Group I), 29 had been exposed to air pollution (Group II) and 30 were non-smoker rural residents who had never been exposed to air pollution (Group III). Mean off-spring birth weight of 3198.62+/-380.01 g and mean placenta weight of 561.38+/-111.55 g of Group II were lower when compared with those of other two groups. In Group I, mean placental Cd and Zn were 0.063+/-0.022 microg/g and 39.84+/-15.5 microg/g, respectively, being higher than in other groups. In Group II, mean placental Cd and Zn levels were higher than those of Group III. Blood progesterone levels of subjects in Group I (121 ng/ml) were the lowest of all groups. While the mean count of villi was the highest in Group III; the highest mean count of syncytial knots was in Group II. Thickening of vasculo-syncytial membrane was most prominent in Group I. Similarly, MT staining was positive and very dense in 72.7% (24/33) of cases in Group I (p

Factors affecting responsiveness to hepatitis B immunization in dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are widespread health problems all over the world and have high morbidity and mortality. Hemodialysis patients are more frequently exposed to these viruses as they have poor immune system and frequently undergo parenteral interventions. The vaccination against HBV prevents infection and it has been recommended for the prevention of HBV infection in all susceptible dialysis patients. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV infections and analyzed the factors affecting inadequate response to HBV vaccine in dialysis patients. METHODS: The data for 584 dialysis patients that were followed up at seven dialysis centers were analyzed. The patients received four doses of 40 µg recombinant hepatitis B vaccine at 0, 1, 2, and 6 months and were tested for anti-HBs titer after one month of completion of vaccination. If patients showed a titer of anti-HBs <10 IU/mL, an additional 40 µg in four vaccine doses was administered immediately and they were retested for the anti-HBs following the same schedule. The patients were divided into two groups: responders and non-responders. RESULTS: HBsAg and anti-HCV seroprevalence was 3.4% and 10.3%, respectively. After vaccination schedule, 264 (83.5%) patients had antibody response to HBV vaccine and 52 (16.5%) had no response. Hepatitis B vaccine unresponsiveness is more common in the patients with hepatitis C positivity (p = 0.011), BMI >30 (p = 0.019), over the age of 65 years (p = 0.009), and duration of dialysis treatment >5 years (p = 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between gender, causes of renal disease, erythropoietin treatment, and the type of dialysis. CONCLUSION: Hepatitis C infection, obesity, being elderly, and having long hemodialysis period reduced the hepatitis B vaccination response in hemodialysis patients.

Genetics and genetic counseling: practices and opinions of primary care physicians in Turkey.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the educational needs of physicians relating to genetics and genetic counseling in the Denizli region of Turkey. METHODS: Data were collected by questionnaire about physicians' approaches to genetics and genetic counseling. RESULTS: A total of 60 (60.0%) of 100 physicians working in Denizli province returned a questionnaire. Physicians described "their most knowledgeable subjects" in basic genetic information as chromosome abnormalities (41.8%), in genetic disorders as xeroderma pigmentosum (80.0%), and in genetic counseling as directing the parents of and couples with a risk for having a child affected by a genetic disease to an expert or a genetic counseling center (94.8%). Only 20.7% knew the ethical regulations and techniques related to genetic counseling. Physicians thought that they did not have sufficient knowledge about genetics or genetic counseling, and 83.9% would like to attend an educational course. CONCLUSIONS: As a result of this study, a genetics course is planned for physicians so they can actively participate in the prevention and early diagnosis of genetic diseases.

Nurses' professed knowledge of genetics and genetic counseling.

All over the world, the increased awareness of the importance of early diagnosis of genetic diseases has given them priority in primary health care. However, more recent surveys indicate that genetics content is still lacking in nursing curricula. This survey aimed to measure the current status of primary care nurses' knowledge about genetics and genetic counseling, and the educational needs of nurses related to human genetics in the Denizli region of Turkey. This area in western Turkey has an 11.7% rate of consanguineous marriages; about 3.5% of the population are hemoglobinopathies carrier and 3.2% are thalassemia carriers. Data were collected on forms that aimed to obtain information about nurses' approaches to genetics and genetic counseling. A total of 86 of 106 nurses working in Denizli province returned the questionnaire (response rate of 81.1%). Phenylketonuria, at 61.5%, and Cooley's anemia, at 60.0%, were identified as the subjects these nurses were most knowledgeable about in terms of genetic disorders. A high percentage of nurses admitted they had insufficient knowledge about the genetic basis of diseases (96.4%), inheritance patterns (98.9%), ethical and legal issues (100.0%), genetic counseling (100.0%), gene testing (95.9%), and genetic engineering (97.9%). About 67% of nurses stated they would like to attend a training course on these subjects. As a result of this study a genetics course is planned for nurses so they can actively participate in the prevention and early diagnosis of genetic diseases.

Midwives' approach to genetic diseases and genetic counseling in Denizli, Turkey.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate Denizli midwives' self-reported knowledge of genetic diseases and genetic counseling. Data was collected on forms that obtained information about midwives approaches to basic genetics, genetic disorders, and genetic counseling (response rate = 70.1%). The highest response rate of midwives describing themselves as "knowledgeable" about basic genetic information was for mitosis and meiosis with 4.8%, about genetic disorders was for phenylketonuria with 61.1%, and about genetic counseling was for recommending ultrasonography during pregnancy with 98.1%. The source for basic genetics information for 56.4% of participants was in their school level classes. None of the midwives felt that they had sufficient knowledge about genetic counseling or screening and 76.4% would like to attend an educational course. Even though the midwives have recognized their knowledge deficit they occasionally give genetic counseling. As a result of this study a genetics course is planned for midwives so they can actively participate in the prevention and early diagnosis of genetic diseases.