Monitoring of environmental persistent organic pollutants in hair samples of cats and dogs.

This study investigated 32 persistent organic pollutants, including 9 organochlorine pesticides, 15 polychlorinated biphenyls, 6 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and 2 organophosphate pesticides in the hair samples of domestic cats and dogs living in an urban area in Samsun, Turkiye. Hair samples were collected from 35 cats and 38 dogs, grouped by sex and age (<3 or >3 years old). Samples were extracted using a liquid-liquid extraction method and analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The results revealed the presence of organochlorine pesticides (n = 58, 468.65 ± 92.30 ng/g), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (n = 57, 15.65 ± 3.91 ng/g), polychlorinated biphenyls (n = 55, 54.11 ± 9.47 ng/g), and organophosphate pesticides (n = 25, 568.43 ± 113.17 ng/g) in the samples. PCBs 81, 118, 128, 208, and 2,4-DDE were not detected in any samples. Only one sample did not contain any of the searched compounds. Fluorene was the most frequently detected pollutant (n = 53, 72.6 %), followed by ß-hexachlorocyclohexane (n = 34, 46.6 %). The highest maximum concentration was observed for hexachlorobenzene (2748.03 ng/g), followed by aldrin (2313.45 ng/g) and fenitrothion (2081.13 ng/g). Pollutant concentrations did not differ between cats and dogs, sexes, and ages (p > 0.05). This study highlights the significant threat that urban areas pose to pets, and therefore, POPs should be monitored periodically in hair and other samples. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to investigate POP levels in hair samples from cats and dogs in Turkiye.

Factors affecting sleep quality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the sleep quality and the factors affecting the sleep quality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: This was a descriptive and cross-sectional study conducted in 105 patients with SLE who were admitted to the rheumatology polyclinic of a university hospital between May and July 2017. The data were collected using a "Patient Description Form" and the "Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)." RESULTS: The total mean (standard deviation) PSQI score of the patients was 7.81 (3.11). Duration of disease, presence of comorbid diseases, side effects of drugs, and sleep disruption and related problems were identified as factors affecting sleep quality. The model of the regression showed that side effects of drugs, sleep disruption, and trouble falling asleep suffered higher PSQI score (bad sleep quality). CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study showed that the sleep quality was generally poor in patients with SLE. Sleep quality was affected by some disease and sleep variables. Therefore, comprehensive sleep evaluation is necessary in the planning of treatment and care of SLE patients and to implement initiatives to improve sleep patterns in these patients.