Family health history and self-rated health: a study from the Turkish countryside.

Self-rated health is a good indicator for mortality and morbidity, and many of the factors affecting self-rated health are well known. However, the effect of familial disease history on an individual's health perception has not been investigated. This study examined the effects of chronic and serious diseases in mothers, fathers, and siblings, and familial deaths, on self-rated health. A history of familial cancer or stroke affected men's health perceptions negatively, and the presence of familial heart disease affected women's health perception negatively.

Nine-month course of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in individuals with COVID-19 infection.

BACKGROUND: The continual course of the pandemic points to the importance of studies on the rate and durability of protective immunity after infection or vaccination. AIMS: In this study, we aimed to monitor anti-nucleocapsid (N) and anti-spike (S) antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 nearly 9 months duration after infection. METHODS: Anti-nucleocapsid (N) (at 11-15-20-29-38 weeks) and anti-spike antibodies (at 11 and 38 weeks) against SARS-CoV-2 were monitored during 38 weeks after the initial symptoms of COVID-19. RESULTS: Of 37 cases between 18 and 57 years old, 54% were women. The findings showed that anti-N antibodies decreased significantly after the 15th week (between 15 and 20 weeks, p = 0.016; 20-29 weeks, p = 0.0009; and 29-38 weeks, p = 0.049). At the 38th week, mean antibody levels decreased 35% compared to the 11th week, and 8% of the cases turned negative results. Anti-N antibody average level was 56.48 on the 11th week (the cut-off index threshold ≥ 1). It was estimated statistically that it would decrease to an average of 20.48 in weeks 53-62. In females, average antibody levels of all measurements were lower than males (p > 0.05). Anti-S antibody levels 14% increased at 38th week compared to 11th week (quantitative positivity threshold ≥ 0.8 U/ml), and no cases were negative at 38th week. CONCLUSIONS: Patients had ≥ 90% positivity after at least 9 months of symptoms, both anti-N and anti-S antibodies. In all samples, both anti-N and anti-S antibody levels were lower in females. The findings suggest that the quantitative values of anti-S antibodies remained high for at least 9 months and could provide protection.

Socioeconomic and health inequality in two regions of Turkey.

This study investigated health inequalities between two areas within the city of Bursa, Turkey from a socioeconomic perspective. Information was gathered from 582 subjects >15 years old using self-assessed health of the respondents, a general health questionnaire, and disability records. Health service access and health inequalities with respect to demographic and socioeconomic data are reported. The study indicates that the health of people living in socioeconomically less advantaged neighborhoods of Bursa is worse than that of people in more affluent areas. However, socioeconomic status has no effect on disability, as ascertained with a Brief Disability Questionnaire. The results of this large-scale study provide a contemporary view of regional health disparity in a major urban setting in Turkey.

Trends in occupational injuries and fatality in Turkey.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the trend of occupational injuries in Turkey using epidemiologic criteria such as incidence mortality and fatality/all injuries recorded - rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Safety and health data were obtained from the Annual Statistic Books of the Social Insurance Institution (1988-2006) and Social Security Institution (2007-2011) of Turkey. RESULTS: The results from the official data showed that although total employment is increasing the number of occupational injuries and incidence and mortality rates are decreasing. The results also demonstrate that occupational fatality/all injuries recorded - rate is increasing. The fatality/all injuries recorded - rate per 1000 injuries increased to 25.5 in 2011 from 8.6 in 1988. Each work day an average of five people died because of occupational injuries. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The fatality/all injuries recorded - rate (the number of fatal cases per 1000 occupational injuries) is an important indicator of the injury rate for a country. Systems of occupational injury and illness surveillance constitute a critical resource for the management and reduction of occupational injuries and illness.

Evaluation of respiratory functions of residents around the Orhaneli thermal power plant in Turkey.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the health and respiratory function of residents around the Orhaneli thermal power plant in Turkey. The study was conducted using face-to-face interviews, and respiratory functions were measured with a spirometer. The respiratory functions of 2350 residents, 15 years and older, living in communities near the coal-fired Orhaneli thermal power plant in Turkey were measured. The control group consisted of 469 persons from similar communities without a nearby power plant. The FEV1 (forced expiratory volume after 1 s) and FVC (forced vital capacity) values of the study participants were significantly lower than those of the control group, and residents directly downwind of the plant's smokestack showed greater impairment of respiratory functions compared with residents upwind.

Occupational lead exposure: blood lead levels of apprentices in Bursa, Turkey.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare the blood lead levels of apprentices working in lead-related industries with those of non-apprentice controls and to evaluate the influence of such occupational exposure. The study was conducted between October 2004 and June 2005 in Bursa, Turkey. Subjects included 231 apprentices and 252 male controls, age ranging from 14-19 yr old. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to analyze blood lead levels. The overall mean blood lead level was 3.62 microg/dl (95% CI 3.39-3.85), the apprentice mean was 4.99 microg/dl (95% CI 4.60-5.38), and the control group mean was 2.37 microg/dl (95% CI 2.22-2.51). The blood lead level of apprentices was significantly higher than that of controls (p<0.05). Results show that occupational exposure increases the blood lead levels of apprentices, although the impact on their immediate health is low. Measurement of blood lead levels of apprentices should be taken periodically, and a regular medical surveillance program should be established.