Recognition of COVID-19 with occupational origin: a comparison between European countries.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to present an overview of the formal recognition of COVID-19 as occupational disease (OD) or injury (OI) across Europe. METHODS: A COVID-19 questionnaire was designed by a task group within COST-funded OMEGA-NET and sent to occupational health experts of 37 countries in WHO European region, with a last update in April 2022. RESULTS: The questionnaire was filled out by experts from 35 countries. There are large differences between national systems regarding the recognition of OD and OI: 40% of countries have a list system, 57% a mixed system and one country an open system. In most countries, COVID-19 can be recognised as an OD (57%). In four countries, COVID-19 can be recognised as OI (11%) and in seven countries as either OD or OI (20%). In two countries, there is no recognition possible to date. Thirty-two countries (91%) recognise COVID-19 as OD/OI among healthcare workers. Working in certain jobs is considered proof of occupational exposure in 25 countries, contact with a colleague with confirmed infection in 19 countries, and contact with clients with confirmed infection in 21 countries. In most countries (57%), a positive PCR test is considered proof of disease. The three most common compensation benefits for COVID-19 as OI/OD are disability pension, treatment and rehabilitation. Long COVID is included in 26 countries. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 can be recognised as OD or OI in 94% of the European countries completing this survey, across different social security and embedded occupational health systems.

Incidence of Thromboembolism in COVID-19 Patients in Intensive Care Units: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection was declared a pandemic, causing high mortality and morbidity worldwide. It predisposes patients to both arterial and venous thromboembolism, which causes high mortality, and is one of the most serious complications of the disease. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the frequency of thromboembolic events in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit (ICU) and to identify the factors causing thromboembolism. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The digital records of patients admitted to the adult ICU of Derince Training and Research Hospital, Kocaeli, Turkey, with a diagnosis of COVID-19 between March 13, 2020, and December 31, 2021, were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Data of 484 patients, 248 (51.2%) female and 236 (48.8%) male, aged between 18-98 years were analyzed. The overall, arterial and venous incidence of thromboembolism was 14.8%, 11.3%, and 3.5%, respectively. There was no significant association between COVID-19 variants and the development of thromboembolism. The effect of various patient variables on the development of thromboembolism was evaluated, including cardiovascular disease (p<0.001), age (p=0.003), use of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) (p<0.001), antiplatelet therapy (p<0. 001), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score (p=0.003), D-dimer (p=0.015), fibrinogen (p=0.032), ferritin (p=0.015), prothrombin time (PT) (p=0.015), international normalized ratio (INR) (p=0.012), troponin (p=0.012) values at the ICU admission were found statistically significant. The cut-off values were 2.565 (µg/mL) for D-dimer, 435.51 (mg) for fibrinogen, 633.55 (ml/ng) for ferritin, 1.155 for INR, and 0.085 (ng/mL) for troponin. CONCLUSION:  Although low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is the first choice, it may be appropriate to add ASA and other antiplatelet agents to reduce the risk of thromboembolism in patients with high thromboembolic risk including advanced age, cardiovascular disease, and elevated levels of D-dimer, troponin, ferritin, and fibrinogen.

Push and Pull Factors of Why Medical Students Want to Leave Türkiye: A Countrywide Multicenter Study.

Phenomenon: Physician immigration from other countries is increasing as developed countries continue to be desirable destinations for physicians; however, the determinants of Turkish physicians' migration decisions are still unclear. Despite its wide coverage in the media and among physicians in Türkiye, and being the subject of much debate, there is insufficient data to justify this attention. With this study, we aimed to investigate the tendency of senior medical students in Türkiye to pursue their professional careers abroad and its related factors. Approach: This cross-sectional study involved 9881 senior medical students from 39 different medical schools in Türkiye in 2022. Besides participants' migration decision, we evaluated the push and pull factors related to working, social environment and lifestyle in Türkiye and abroad, medical school education inadequacy, and personal insufficiencies, as well as the socioeconomic variables that may affect the decision to migrate abroad. The analyses were carried out with a participation rate of at least 50%. Findings: Of the medical students, 70.7% had emigration intentions. Approximately 60% of those want to stay abroad permanently, and 61.5% of them took initiatives such as learning a foreign language abroad (54.5%) and taking relevant exams (18.9%). Those who wanted to work in the field of Research & Development were 1.37 (95% CI: 1.22-1.54) times more likely to emigrate. The push factor that was related to emigration intention was the "working conditions in the country" (OR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.56-2.28) whereas the "social environment/lifestyle abroad" was the mere pull factor for the tendency of emigration (OR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.45-2.06). In addition, the quality problem in medical schools also had a significant impact on students' decisions (OR: 2.20, 95% CI: 1.83-2.65). Insights: Although the percentage of those who want to emigrate "definitely" was at the same level as in the other developing countries, the tendency to migrate "permanently" was higher in Türkiye. Improving working conditions in the country and increasing the quality of medical faculties seem vital in preventing the migration of physicians.

Epoxy-Based Catalyst-Free Self-Healing Elastomers at Room Temperature Employing Aromatic Disulfide and Hydrogen Bonds.

In this paper, catalyst-free room-temperature healing epoxy vitrimer-like materials (S-vitrimer) are introduced. The S-vitrimer can be healed at room temperature without any external stimuli such as solvent, pressure, heat, and catalyst through an aromatic disulfide exchange reaction and a hydrogen bond because the glass transition temperature of the S-vitrimer is lower than room temperature. Self-healing materials are attracting widespread attention nowadays with their potential to increase the durability of the materials. However, there is still elevating need for research, considering the limitations of various self-healing methods. To the best of our knowledge, epoxy-based catalyst-free room-temperature healing materials have not been investigated until now, yet they are promising to make self-healing easier. Moreover, the S-vitrimer showed higher healing efficiency when healed for a longer time and at a higher temperature. Especially when healed at room temperature for 96 h, the S-vitrimer presented an 80% healing efficiency. The S-vitrimer also showed an 80% healing efficiency when healed at 60 °C for 48 h. To investigate the factors affecting self-healing behavior, three control experiments were carried out. Control experiments showed that the S-vitrimer is healed mainly due to a disulfide exchange reaction, but hydrogen bonds also contribute to self-healing behavior. Also, it was found that tightly packed segments can hinder self-healing through control experiments.

CNT-Reinforced Self-Healable Epoxy Dynamic Networks Based on Disulfide Bond Exchange.

The design and utilization of polymers with healing capability have drawn increasing attention owing to their enhanced chain mobility and opportunity to heal minor cracks in composites. Rehealable thermoset polymers promise reduction in the maintenance cost and thus prolonged lifetime, reshaping, and recyclability. Introducing reversible covalent bonds is the mainstay strategy to achieve such plasticity in crosslinked polymers. Herein, we report a dynamic epoxy, which includes associative covalent adaptive networks (CANs) based on disulfide exchange bonds. Epoxy resin is chosen to study rehealing, as it is one of the most critical thermosetting polymers for various industries from aerospace to soft robotics. This study enlightens us about not only the consequences of CANs in the epoxy but also various factors such as soft segments and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Epoxy dynamic networks are investigated in an attempt to explore the synergistic effect of the soft-segmented resins and CNTs on the healing and reshaping characteristics of epoxy networks along with varying stiffness. This research discusses epoxy dynamic networks in three main aspects: crosslink density, CAN density, and CNTs. Introducing soft segments into the epoxy network enhances the healing efficiency due to the increased chain mobility. A higher CAN density accelerates network rearrangement, improving the healing efficiency. It should also be noted that even with a low weight fraction of nanotubes, CNT-reinforced samples restored their initial strength more than neat samples after healing. The tensile strength of dynamic networks is at least 50 MPa, which is significant for their utility in primary or secondary structural components.

Determinants of Burnout among Teachers: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies.

We aimed to review the determinants of burnout onset in teachers. The study was conducted according to the PROSPERO protocol CRD42018105901, with a focus on teachers. We performed a literature search from 1990 to 2021 in three databases: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Embase. We included longitudinal studies assessing burnout as a dependent variable, with a sample of at least 50 teachers. We summarized studies by the types of determinant and used the MEVORECH tool for a risk of bias assessment (RBA). The quantitative synthesis focused on emotional exhaustion. We standardized the reported regression coefficients and their standard errors and plotted them using R software to distinguish between detrimental and protective determinants. A qualitative analysis of the included studies (n = 33) identified 61 burnout determinants. The RBA showed that most studies had external and internal validity issues. Most studies implemented two waves (W) of data collection with 6-12 months between W1 and W2. Four types of determinants were summarized quantitatively, namely support, conflict, organizational context, and individual characteristics, based on six studies. This systematic review identified detrimental determinants of teacher exhaustion, including job satisfaction, work climate or pressure, teacher self-efficacy, neuroticism, perceived collective exhaustion, and classroom disruption. We recommend that authors consider using harmonized methods and protocols such as those developed in OMEGA-NET and other research consortia.

Impact of trends and gender disparity in obesity on future type 2 diabetes in Turkey: a mathematical modelling analysis.

BACKGROUND: Using a previously developed and validated mathematical model, we predicted future prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and major modifiable risk factors (obesity, physical inactivity and smoking) stratified by age and sex in Turkey up to the year 2050. METHODS: Our deterministic compartmental model fitted nationally representative demographic and risk factor data simultaneously for Turkish adults (aged 20-79) between 1997 and 2017, then estimated future trends. Our novel approach explored the impact of future obesity trends on these projections, specifically modelling (1) a gradual fall in obesity in women after the year 2020 until it equalled the age-specific levels seen in men and (2) cessation of the rise in obesity after 2020. RESULTS: T2DM prevalence is projected to rise from an estimated 14.0% (95% uncertainty interval (UI) 12.8% to 16.0%) in 2020 to 18.4% (95% UI 16.9% to 20.9%) by 2050; 19.7% in women and 17.2% in men by 2050; reflecting high levels of obesity (39.7% for women and 22.0% for men in 2050). Overall, T2DM prevalence could be reduced by about 4% if obesity stopped rising after 2020 or by 12% (22% in women) if obesity prevalence among women could be lowered to equal that of men. The higher age-specific obesity prevalence among women resulted in 2 076 040 additional women developing T2DM by the year 2050. CONCLUSION: T2DM is common in Turkey and will remain so. Interventions and policies targeting the high burden of obesity (and low physical activity levels), particularly in women, could significantly impact future disease burdens.

Predictors of Occupational Burnout: A Systematic Review.

We aimed to review occupational burnout predictors, considering their type, effect size and role (protective versus harmful), and the overall evidence of their importance. MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Embase were searched from January 1990 to August 2018 for longitudinal studies examining any predictor of occupational burnout among workers. We arranged predictors in four families and 13 subfamilies of homogenous constructs. The plots of z-scores per predictor type enabled graphical discrimination of the effects. The vote-counting and binomial test enabled discrimination of the effect direction. The size of the effect was estimated using Cohen's formula. The risk of bias and the overall evidence were assessed using the MEVORECH and GRADE methods, respectively. Eighty-five studies examining 261 predictors were included. We found a moderate quality of evidence for the harmful effects of the job demands subfamily (six predictors), and negative job attitudes, with effect sizes from small to medium. We also found a moderate quality of evidence for the protective effect of adaptive coping (small effect sizes) and leisure (small to medium effect sizes). Preventive interventions for occupational burnout might benefit from intervening on the established predictors regarding reducing job demands and negative job attitudes and promoting adaptive coping and leisure.

Harmonized definition of occupational burnout: A systematic review, semantic analysis, and Delphi consensus in 29 countries.

Objective A consensual definition of occupational burnout is currently lacking. We aimed to harmonize the definition of occupational burnout as a health outcome in medical research and reach a consensus on this definition within the Network on the Coordination and Harmonisation of European Occupational Cohorts (OMEGA-NET). Methods First, we performed a systematic review in MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Embase (January 1990 to August 2018) and a semantic analysis of the available definitions. We used the definitions of burnout and burnout-related concepts from the Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED-CT) to formulate a consistent harmonized definition of the concept. Second, we sought to obtain the Delphi consensus on the proposed definition. Results We identified 88 unique definitions of burnout and assigned each of them to 1 of the 11 original definitions. The semantic analysis yielded a first proposal, further reformulated according to SNOMED-CT and the panelists` comments as follows: "In a worker, occupational burnout or occupational physical AND emotional exhaustion state is an exhaustion due to prolonged exposure to work-related problems". A panel of 50 experts (researchers and healthcare professionals with an interest for occupational burnout) reached consensus on this proposal at the second round of the Delphi, with 82% of experts agreeing on it. Conclusion This study resulted in a harmonized definition of occupational burnout approved by experts from 29 countries within OMEGA-NET. Future research should address the reproducibility of the Delphi consensus in a larger panel of experts, representing more countries, and examine the practicability of the definition.

Sixth-year follow-up of the effects of recreational activities found to eliminate the symptoms of social phobia and shyness.

BACKGROUND: The lack of 6-year follow-up studies that test the effect of recreational activities in the recovery of social phobia and shyness symptoms is the reason to conduct this study. AIM: The purpose is to follow the effect of the 12-week recreational activity program found to eliminate social phobia and shyness symptoms after the completion of university studies in its sixth year. METHODS: At the end of the 12-week recreational activity program that treats the symptoms of social phobia and shyness in university prep school students, 83 students who participated in the posttest both from intervention and control groups were invited to the study. In the sixth-year follow-up study, a total of 51 voluntary students - 32 from the intervention group and 19 from the control group - were administered the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, the Shyness Scale and the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory. RESULTS: When the pretests and the sixth-year scores are compared, it is seen that it still has an improving effect on social phobia and shyness; when the posttests and the sixth-year tests are compared, no difference is seen regarding social phobia whereas it is seen that recovery still continues regarding the symptoms of shyness, and a decrease is seen in self-esteem. DISCUSSION: While the improving effect of recreational activities on shyness and social phobia symptoms still continues, their effect on self-esteem decreases. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that recreational activities should be included in the programs at universities regarding personal and professional development, and the reasons for the decrease in self-esteem scores should be determined through more detailed studies.

Precarious employment in occupational health - an OMEGA-NET working group position paper.

Objectives The aims of this position paper are to (i) summarize research on precarious employment (PE) in the context of occupational health; (ii) develop a theoretical framework that distinguishes PE from related concepts and delineates important contextual factors; and (iii) identify key methodological challenges and directions for future research on PE and health. Methods This position paper is the result of a working group consisting of researchers from the EU, Turkey and the USA, who have discussed the issue over the course of six months (October 2018-April 2019), meeting both online and face-to-face on several occasions. Results The lack of a common theoretical framework of PE hinders it from becoming an established part of occupational and public health research. There are also issues regarding operationalization in surveys and registers. Further, previous research on PE and health suffers from methodological limitations including inadequate study designs and biased assessments of exposure and outcomes. PE is highly dependent on contextual factors and cross-country comparison has proven very difficult. We also point to the uneven social distribution of PE, ie, higher prevalence among women, immigrants, young and low educated. We propose a theoretical framework for understanding precarious employment as a multidimensional construct. Conclusions A generally accepted multidimensional definition of PE should be the highest priority. Future studies would benefit from improved exposure assessment, temporal resolution, and accounting for confounders, as well as testing possible mechanisms, eg, by adopting multi-level and intersectional analytical approaches in order to understand the complexity of PE and its relation to health.

Imiquimod 5% Cream Versus Cryotherapy in Classic Kaposi Sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Classic Kaposi sarcoma usually remains on the skin and has a slow progression; thus, local treatment methods are preferable. Imiquimod is an immunomodulatory agent with antiviral, antitumoural, and antiangiogenic properties that is expedient against Kaposi sarcoma. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to clarify whether imiquimod is effective on classic Kaposi sarcoma lesions by comparing imiquimod treatment with cryotherapy, which is the most-used treatment method in our department for this disease. METHOD: Patients with classic Kaposi sarcoma were included. All lesions of each patient were evaluated and measured by the blinded investigator considering infiltration and surface diameters. Then, lesions were categorized into 2 groups by the other investigator (nonblinded), and imiquimod 5% cream was administered 3 times per week without occlusion in 1 group. Cryotherapy was performed every 3 weeks in the other group. All lesions were reevaluated and measured at the end of 12 weeks by the blinded investigator. Initial and last measurements were compared between the treatment methods. RESULTS: Fifty lesions of 8 patients were included in this study. Imiquimod and cryotherapy were applied to 26 and 24 lesions, respectively. At the end of the study, statistically significant decreases were detected in all scores between weeks 0 and 12 with both treatment methods. Mean percentages of change in scores were not significantly different between the methods. CONCLUSIONS: Based on a limited number of patients and lesions treated, we believe imiquimod may be a suitable option to use for the treatment of classic Kaposi sarcoma.

Epidemiology of sepsis in intensive care units in Turkey: a multicenter, point-prevalence study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence and mortality of sepsis are largely unknown in Turkey, a country with high antibiotic resistance. A national, multicenter, point-prevalence study was conducted to determine the prevalence, causative microorganisms, and outcome of sepsis in intensive care units (ICUs) in Turkey. METHODS: A total of 132 ICUs from 94 hospitals participated. All patients (aged > 18 years) present at the participating ICUs or admitted for any duration within a 24-h period (08:00 on January 27, 2016 to 08:00 on January 28, 2016) were included. The presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), severe sepsis, and septic shock were assessed and documented based on the consensus criteria of the American College of Chest Physicians and Society of Critical Care Medicine (SEPSIS-I) in infected patients. Patients with septic shock were also assessed using the SEPSIS-III definitions. Data regarding demographics, illness severity, comorbidities, microbiology, therapies, length of stay, and outcomes (dead/alive during 30 days) were recorded. RESULTS: Of the 1499 patients included in the analysis, 237 (15.8%) had infection without SIRS, 163 (10.8%) had infection with SIRS, 260 (17.3%) had severe sepsis without shock, and 203 (13.5%) had septic shock. The mortality rates were higher in patients with severe sepsis (55.7%) and septic shock (70.4%) than those with infection alone (24.8%) and infection + SIRS (31.2%) (p < 0.001). According to SEPSIS-III, 104 (6.9%) patients had septic shock (mortality rate, 75.9%). The respiratory system (71.6%) was the most common site of infection, and Acinetobacter spp. (33.7%) were the most common isolated pathogen. Approximately, 74.9%, 39.1%, and 26.5% of Acinetobacter, Klebsiella, and Pseudomonas spp. isolates, respectively, were carbapenem-resistant, which was not associated with a higher mortality risk. Age, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II score at ICU admission, sequential organ failure assessment score on study day, solid organ malignancy, presence of severe sepsis or shock, Candida spp. infection, renal replacement treatment, and a nurse-to-patient ratio of 1:4 (compared with a nurse-to-patient ratio of 1:2) were independent predictors of mortality in infected patients. CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of sepsis and an unacceptably high mortality rate were observed in Turkish ICUs. Although the prevalence of carbapenem resistance was high in Turkish ICUs, it was not associated with a higher risk for mortality. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT03249246 . Date: August 15, 2017. Retrospectively registered.

The Effect of Sertraline on the Quality of Life for Children and Adolescents with Anxiety Disorder.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, we aimed to determine the changes in quality of life of children/adolescents with anxiety disorders during six months of sertraline treatment, to investigate parent-child/adolescent concordance in perception of quality of life and to examine the effect of treatment on children/adolescents. METHODS: In this study, 30 patients with anxiety disorders according to criteria specified in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th. Edition (DSM-IV) were assigned to sertraline treatment. The patients were evaluated using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI) and the Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) at 0th, 2nd and 6th months. RESULTS: PedsQL total scores increased significantly with the treatment in children and adolescents (p<.001), however, no differences were observed in parent proxy report (p=.326). The mean CGAS score was 59.85±7.73 at the beginning of treatment and 73.70±7.01 at the end of treatment (p<.001). The average CGI score decreased from 4.68±.96 to 2.27±.84. CONCLUSION: It was observed that perception of quality of life in children and adolescents with anxiety disorders increased with the treatment.

Effectiveness of systemic treatment agents on psoriatic nails: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Nails, one of the most visible sites of body, are frequently involved in psoriasis and accepted as the most difficult site for topical treatment because of their anatomical structure. Healing of the psoriatic nails usually occurs when systemic therapy is initiated to treat severe skin psoriasis or joint involvement, but sometimes systemic therapy is essential for severe nail psoriasis, although Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score is low or none of the joints are affected. In this case, knowing which systemic agent is most potent on nail findings is important. AIM: We aimed to evaluate the effect of systemic antipsoriatic agents on nail findings. METHODS: Eighty-seven psoriatis patients with fingernail involvement who required systemic treatment but had not used any systemic treatment in the previous 12 weeks were included in this study. Different systemic treatment agents were given to patients, considering factors such as age, sex, and joint involvement, but not nail involvement. The control group was recruited from psoriatis patients with nail involvement who were not receiving any systemic treatment. Baseline and week 16 Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI) and PASI were detected in all groups. At the end of the study, effects of the agents on both PASI and NAPSI were compared statistically. RESULTS: Patients were divided into 5 groups to receive either: 1) methotrexate, 2) narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy, 3) biological agents, 4) acitretin, or 5) no treatment (control group). None of the conventional treatment agents caused any significant difference on NAPSI at the end of week 16 compared with control group, although PASI decreased significantly. Rate of NAPSI changes were more prominent in the biological treatment group, and a statistically significant difference was detected when compared with the control group.

Effects of chronic kidney disease and type of dialysis on serum levels of adiponectin, TNF-alpha and high sensitive C-reactive protein.

BACKGROUND: In uremic patients, depending on their type, the T-cells produce a range of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and two different therapy methods of dialysis [hemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)] on adiponectin, TNF-alpha, and hs-CRP levels in human serum. METHODS: We measured the serum levels of hs-CRP, adiponectin, and TNF-alpha in 37 patients with CKD on conservative treatment, 34 patients maintained on CAPD, 35 HD patients, and 25 healthy volunteers. The statistical analysis of the obtained results was performed by commercial statistics PC software. RESULTS: The mean TNF-alpha levels were found to be significantly higher in patients in the predialysis, CAPD, and the HD groups, than in the control group (17.24 +/- 9.22, 31.57 +/- 10.56, 24.34 +/- 5.32, 7.64 +/- 4.12 pg/mL, respectively, p < 0.001). The mean TNF-alpha levels in the predialysis group were significantly lower than in both the CAPD and the HD group (p < 0.001). The mean TNF-alpha levels in the CAPD group were significantly higher than in the HD group (p = 0.001). The mean adiponectin levels in the control group were significantly lower than in the predialysis, CAPD, and HD groups (2.54 +/- 2.30, 4.10 +/- 3.12, 7.69 +/- 8.35, 5.97 +/- 6.20 ng/mL, respectively, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the mean adiponectin levels in the predialysis groups were significantly lower than in the CAPD group (p < 0.05). The mean hs-CRP levels were found to be significantly higher in patients in the predialysis, CAPD, and HD groups than in the control group (0.65 +/- 0.57, 0.82 +/- 0.71, 1.14 +/- 1.45, 0.30 +/- 0.19 mg/dL, respectively, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of this study, the levels of adiponectin, hs-CRP, and TNF-alpha were increased for all patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). Along with this, the highest level of increase in TNF-alpha levels were observed in patients with CAPD.

Traffic accidents resulting in death and injury on an international road passing through a city in Kocaeli, Turkey.

Deaths and injuries linked to traffic accidents are important public health issues. In this descriptive study, the accidents resulting in death and injury between 2000 and 2004 on the city portion of the D-100 were compared with those on the other roads within the city. The D-100 had a fatality risk approximately 2 times higher than that of the other roads within the city. The percentage of trucks of the total vehicles involved in accidents that occurred on the D-100 resulting in death and injury was 14.87% in 2002, 13.18% in 2003, and 9.88% in 2004. The main proposals of this study are to limit the use of the D-100's city portion to city traffic, and prevent heavy cargo vehicles from using the road as a transit route.

Working conditions and health status of child workers: cross-sectional study of the students at an apprenticeship school in Kocaeli.

BACKGROUND: Child labor remains a widespread phenomenon in today's world. The purpose of the present study was to describe the working conditions and health status of child workers in Kocaeli. METHODS: A cross-sectional research study has been carried out on 365 working children at the Kocaeli Occupational Training Center. Data were collected on working conditions, smoking habits, work accidents, perceived health status and psychological status using General Health Questionnaire-12. In order to evaluate the physical growth of children, their height and weight were measured. RESULTS: Most working children usually have a low level of education, low income and extended families. The mean age for children to start working was 14.8 +/- 1.5 years and their daily working periods were 11.3 +/- 1.3 h on average. Girls were found to have more psychopathology compared to boys on the GHQ-12 and the results were statistically significant. The height z score was less than -2 SD at 6.9% while the weight z score was less than -2 SD at 1.9%. According to body mass index (BMI) percentiles range, 3% of children were found to be underweight. A statistically significant and negative directional correlation was detected between body mass index z scores with age and daily working periods. Statistically significant but weak correlations were detected between height for age z scores and the starting age of work and also between weight for age z scores and chronological age. CONCLUSIONS: Both the mental and the physical health of children were found to be negatively affected, by having to work at an early age, and by long working hours. For this reason, immediate and direct intervention should be taken to eradicate child labor, and protect children from unsafe and exploitative working conditions.

Thrombophilic Risk Factors in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients have an increased risk for thromboembolism. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of thrombophilic risk factors in IBD patients and to assess the associations of these factors with disease activity. METHODS: Forty-eight patients with IBD (24 ulcerative colitis, 24 Crohn's disease) and 40 matched healthy control individuals were enrolled. In addition to routine biochemical analysis, fasting blood samples were studied for prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), fibrinogen, protein-C, protein-S, antithrombin III, factor VII, factor VIII, D-dimer, vitamin B12, folic acid and homocysteine. RESULTS: Levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, D-dimer and the number of platelets were significantly higher in patients with IBD. When compared to control group, in patients with Crohn's disease serum homocystein levels were significantly higher (p = 0.025) while serum folic acid levels were significantly lower (p < 0.019). Levels of fibrinogen, D-dimer, protein C, factor VIII, total homocystein and the number of platelets were found to be significantly higher in Crohn's disease patients who were in active period of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Thrombophilic defects are multifactorial and might be frequently seen in IBD patients. They might contribute to thrombotic complications of this disease.

"Figure of four" position improves the visibility of the sciatic nerve in the popliteal fossa.

OBJECTIVES: We studied the influence of patient positioning on the visibility of the sciatic nerve during ultrasound (US) examination in the popliteal region. METHODS: Using a linear broad band 7-12 MHz frequency probe, US examination of 24 sciatic nerves was performed by a blinded operator to obtain the best possible image at the level of the popliteal crease (PC) and at 4 and 8 cm above the PC in the prone position. Examinations were performed in neutral prone (Group N), with a silicone roller under the foot (Group R) and in "figure of four" (Group FOF) positions. "Figure of four" position was described as: the leg to be examined is flexed and abducted to allow the foot to rest on the ankle of the contralateral leg. A visibility score for the sciatic nerve was established as follows: Score I: Nerve is identified, but borders are not clear. Score II: Nerve is identified. Borders of the nerve are clearly distinguished from the surrounding structures. Three or less fascicles are visible. Score III: Nerve is identified. Borders of the nerve are clearly distinguished from the surrounding structures. Four or more fascicles are visible. RESULTS: The distance of nerve division from the PC was 6.9+/-1.6 cm. A higher visibility score was obtained in Group FOF (2.6+/-0.6 vs 1.7+/-0.8) at the PC and at 4 cm (2.3+/-0.5 vs 1.6+/-0.8) and 8 cm (2.3+/-0.7 vs 1.4+/-0.7) above the PC, compared to Group N (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: "Figure of four" position improves the visibility of the sciatic nerve and may have clinical impact.