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.

The cause of dysphagia in patients with esophageal atresia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Dysphagia is the most common symptom in patients with esophageal atresia (EA) of all ages. There is no study addressing the direct relation between dysphagia and surgical results. Therefore, a systematic review was performed to define the relationship between surgical complications and dysphagia in patients with EA. METHODS: The systematic review was drafted under PRISMA guidelines. Systematic literature search was performed for the period 2000 (Jan) to 2019 (Dec)-20 years-in the databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PubMed. Statistical analysis was performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Version 3.0 software. RESULTS: Among 767 articles, 486 abstracts were screened for the inclusion criteria. The full-texts of 64 articles were assessed for eligibility. The sub-group analysis could be performed in 4 articles for anastomotic strictures. Heterogeneity was calculated by I2 statistic as 18,487 and pooled odds ratio was measured under the fixed effect model (Q = 3.68; P = 0.298, I2 = 18,487). There was no significant relationship with an odds ratio of 1.37 between anastomotic stricture (AS) and dysphagia (95% CI 0.631-2.973, p = 0.426). There was no publication bias for the data (Begg's test, p = 0.496; Egger's tests, p = 0.335). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis did not reveal a significant relationship between AS and dysphagia in children with EA. Since many other factors contribute to dysphagia, comprehensive variable information such as detailed standardized registry systems for rare diseases for pooling analysis is needed regarding other potential factors including surgical complications.

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.

Environmental exposure in the etiology of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the occupational and environmental factors in the etiology of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS). METHODS: Protocol was drafted according to the PRISMA guidelines and registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020152460). A search for a combination of terms related to IHPS, fetus and neonates, and environmental exposure was performed for studies published between 2000 and 2020 in the EMBASE, Pubmed, and MEDLINE databases. RESULTS: Overall, 2203 abstracts were identified and 829 were screened. The full text of the selected articles (N = 98) was assessed for eligibility. Fifteen studies were included in quantitative synthesis. IHPS risk was significantly lower in black and Hispanic mothers than in white mothers [OR 0.47 (95% CI 0.44-0.51, p < 0.001), OR 0.85 (95% CI 0.77-0.94, p = 0.002), respectively]. Lower maternal education level and maternal smoking were risk factor for IHPS. We further observed a non-significant association between maternal folic acid usage and IHPS risk. Data were insufficient to evaluate occupational exposure. CONCLUSION: This review provides an understanding of the role of environmental exposures in IHPS etiology. Lower maternal educational level, maternal smoking, and white ethnicity are associated with a significantly increased risk of IHPS, while folic acid use seems non-significantly associated with IHPS risk. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

The differentiated roles of health in the transition from work to retirement - conceptual and methodological challenges and avenues for future research.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this discussion paper is to (i) identify the differentiated roles of health in the work-retirement transition, and, with respect to these, (ii) highlight topics related to conceptual and methodological problems and challenges in research, and (iii) present avenues for future research. METHODS: This discussion paper summarizes an OMEGA-NET working group discussion ongoing from November 2018 to September 2021 with face-to-face and online meetings as well as a written online discourse. RESULTS: 'Health' and 'retirement' are ambiguous concepts. With respect to both, in retirement research, the choice of concept and indicator influences the findings. In addition, the impact of health on retirement is not necessarily a direct one, but can be influenced by further factors such as the ability, motivation and opportunity to work. The strong overall association of poor health with retiring early (path 1) bears the risk of masking distinct and deviating mechanisms in subgroups. In fact, there is evidence that also good health may lead to early retirement (path 2), while both poor health (path 3) and good health (path 4) may also make people retire later. CONCLUSIONS: An increased awareness of the differentiated roles that health may have in the work-retirement transition as outlined in this discussion paper may support research to address questions relevant for policy and practice and increase the impact of research. Recommendations for occupational health and social research are given.

Prevalence of Anosmia in 10.157 Pediatric COVID-19 Cases: Multicenter Study from Turkey.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19-related anosmia is a remarkable and disease-specific finding. With this multicenter cohort study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of anosmia in pediatric cases with COVID-19 from Turkey and make an objective assessment with a smell awareness questionnaire. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This multicenter prospective cohort study was conducted with pediatric infection clinics in 37 centers in 19 different cities of Turkey between October 2020 and March 2021. The symptoms of 10.157 COVID-19 cases 10-18 years old were examined. Age, gender, other accompanying symptoms, and clinical severity of the disease of cases with anosmia and ageusia included in the study were recorded. The cases were interviewed for the smell awareness questionnaire at admission and one month after the illness. RESULTS: Anosmia was present in 12.5% (1.266/10.157) of COVID-19 cases 10-18 years of age. The complete records of 1053 patients followed during the study period were analyzed. The most common symptoms accompanying symptoms with anosmia were ageusia in 885 (84%) cases, fatigue in 534 cases (50.7%), and cough in 466 cases (44.3%). Anosmia was recorded as the only symptom in 84 (8%) of the cases. One month later, it was determined that anosmia persisted in 88 (8.4%) cases. In the smell awareness questionnaire, the score at admission was higher than the score one month later (P < 0.001). DISCUSSION: With this study, we have provided the examination of a large case series across Turkey. Anosmia and ageusia are specific symptoms seen in cases of COVID-19. With the detection of these symptoms, it should be aimed to isolate COVID-19 cases in the early period and reduce the spread of the infection. Such studies are important because the course of COVID-19 in children differs from adults and there is limited data on the prevalence of anosmia.

The Awareness and Empowerment Aspects of the Needlesticks and Other Sharps Injuries and Reporting in Nursing Education: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

BACKGROUND: Occurrence and underreporting of needlesticks and other sharps injuries (NSIs) are still immediate concerns among nursing students. This study examined the relationship between occupational health and safety (OHS) awareness and empowerment levels of nursing students and the occurrence and reporting of NSIs. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among purposively selected 840 students in a nursing school in 2018-2019. A self-report questionnaire was used to collect data about students' sociodemographic characteristics, OHS awareness and empowerment levels, and NSIs characteristics. After bivariate analyses, multivariate logistic regression was used. RESULTS: The number of evaluated questionnaires was 469, for a response rate of 55.8%. Participants, 21.2% (n = 99), had suffered NSIs, and 47.8% had reported their injuries. The NSIs were statistically related to age, academic year, working night shift, OHS awareness level of students, and the number of clinical placements completed by students. The odds of experiencing NSIs was 2.3 (95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.0, 5.3]) times higher in male students, 4.3 (95% CI = [2.4, 7.4]) times higher in those beyond the second academic year, and 2.5 (95% CI = [1.4, 4.4]) times higher in those who had received OHS training for a shorter period than the average duration. CONCLUSION/APPLICATION TO PRACTICE: The levels of awareness and empowerment were higher in students who received OHS and NSIs prevention training and those who received OHS training for the above-average duration. Increasing awareness and empowerment levels of nursing students through training can reduce the occurrence and the underreporting of NSIs.

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.

Occupational Health Could be the New Normal Challenge in the Trade and Health Cycle: Keywords Analysis Between 1990 and 2020.

This brief report aims to establish the keyword content of studies on occupational health and safety-the key framework of the world of work in the trade and health domain. Data were collected from the SCOPUS database, focusing on articles on occupational health and safety and related keywords, with an emphasis on abstracts and titles. Data were analyzed and summarized based on keywords included from the MeSH database. There were 24,499 manuscripts in the domain and 1,346 (5.40%) occupational health-related keywords, including those that overlapped. The most frequently referenced occupational health-related keyword was "occupational health" (452 articles), followed by "occupational safety" (141 articles). There were fewer keywords on occupational health in the trade and health literature. As the world of work has been prioritized because of the recent new normal of work life since the COVID-19 pandemic, examining the focus of occupational health priorities within the global perspective is crucial.

Protocol: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the role of fetal and infantile environmental exposure in etiopathogenesis of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.

Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) is one of the hallmark pediatric surgical diseases. However, its etiology remains incompletely understood. By systematically reviewing the literature, we aim to clarify the effect of the effect of occupational and environmental factors and role of nitric oxide (NO) metabolism in the etiopathogenesis of IHPS. The systematic review is drafted with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis statement (PRISMA) and the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE). Systematic literature search will be performed for the period 2000 (Jan) to 2020 (Dec) in the databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed. The systematic search will cover the literature in English and Turkish language and will be limited to studies on human subjects. Four investigators will independently search the databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed) according to the defined search strategy. The full-text of the selected articles will be screened independently by four reviewers, against the inclusion criteria. Descriptive data will be extracted from each study regarding: study details, methods, participants, outcomes and calculations of association for potential further statistical analysis. If meta-analysis could not be undertaken, systematic approach to analyzing the findings of included multiple studies will be described. Heterogeneity will be assessed by quantifying the inconsistency across studies using I2 statistic. Statistical analysis will be performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Version 3.0 software. The p values lower than 0.05 will be considered statistically significant for all analyses.

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.

A neglected issue in hospital emergency and disaster planning: Non-standard employment in hospitals.

Work organization and relationships have changed over recent decades. Following the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the norms concerning work-related standards will likely change even more significantly. There has been a shift away from standard employment to non-standard employment (NSE), which includes fixed-term, part-time, on-call, agency-related employment, dependent self-employment, dispatch, and temporary employment, etc. In nearly every sector. The health sector is no exception. However, the effects of non-standard employment on the disaster preparedness of health systems, particularly on hospitals' emergency and disaster plans, have not yet been adequately studied. Most crucial themes are engagement of non-standard employees in emergency and disaster planning and response, and the impact of non-standard employees in expanding hospitals' capacity in large-scale events. This short communication paper aims to discuss this neglected issue in hospital emergency and disaster planning. In order to see whether NSE is considered in hospital disaster and emergency plans, two hospital disaster and emergency planning guidelines-the Hospital Incident Command System, and the Hospital Emergency Response Checklist developed by the World Health Organization-were assessed regarding NSE in their respective contexts. Although these guidelines are comprehensive tools for hospital preparedness, NSE is not specifically considered in any of them. However, it is essential that NSE, with its trade-offs, is considered in disaster plans to maintain an effective implementation of them. Further research and actions are necessary, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, to identify how this reflection should be conducted and to supply evidence for further measures and revising emergency and disaster planning guidelines.

Evaluation of hair cotinine and toxic metal levels in children who were exposed to tobacco smoke.

Tobacco or tobacco products (TTP) are harmful because they contain nicotine and some heavy metals. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate whether the responses of parents to questionnaires were compatible with the hair cotinine levels of their children, and to investigate whether exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and living conditions increased the levels of cotinine, lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd) in the hair samples of the children. Questionnaires were administered to the parents questioning household consumption of TTP and living conditions. Children were grouped as "exposed to ETS" (E-ETS) and "not exposed to ETS" (NE-ETS). This grouping was performed through a questionnaire-based evaluation, and a hair cotinine cut-off value-based evaluation. According to the questionnaire-based evaluation, there were no significant differences in hair Pb, As, and Cd levels between the groups (P-values: .337, .994, and .825, respectively). The hair cotinine of the E-ETS group was higher (0.24 ± 0.21 vs 0.22 ± 0.15 ng/mg), but the difference was not statistically significant (P = .317). According to the cotinine evaluation, cotinine, Pb, and As levels were statistically higher in the E-ETS group (P < .001, <.001, and .036, respectively), but there was no statistical difference between the groups in terms of Cd levels (P = .238). Our results showed that exposure to ETS increased the levels of cotinine, Pb, and As in the hair samples of children, and the questionnaire responses of the parents about their smoking habits might not be compatible with the hair cotinine levels of the children.

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.

The development of a globally acceptable national model for occupational hygiene in Turkey: a modified Delphi study.

BACKGROUND: Although various organizations working in developed countries established the standards and approaches used in occupational hygiene, occupational hygiene professional interests and needs continue to develop in a global context. There is thus an urgent need for expanded occupational hygiene models. For successful field implementation, these models should be based on several sets of criteria, including those related to international standards, various national requirements, and multidisciplinary approaches. This is particularly important for countries in which no occupational hygiene model has been developed. This study thus examined the consensus on occupational hygiene standards among stakeholders in Turkey regarding the development of a national model. A modified Delphi study was conducted among key occupational health experts in Turkey who could aid in the relevant implementation, policy-making, and educational processes for such a model. Participants were selected from various governmental institutions, non-governmental organizations, trade unions, universities, and occupational health practices. RESULTS: The first-round findings were obtained from open-ended questions. The results revealed several requirements, including the adoption of an international hygiene definition, the official recognition of professional and practical areas in Turkish occupational hygiene, hygienist training methods, priorities, and competent institutions. Second-round findings indicated a consensus rate of over 80% regarding the need for implementation standards, training and education standards, requirements and priorities, and competent institutions for professionals working in the field of occupational hygiene. A third-round and SWOT analysis was also conducted among the group to confirm the consensus issues. CONCLUSIONS: The search for solutions and developmental expectations increases when awareness of internationalization and the need for common global standards increase. This developmental process may provide the basis for an appropriate model in developing countries.

Absenteeism and Delay to Work Due to Sleep Disorders in the Turkish Adult Population: A Questionnaire-Based National Survey.

Sleep problems may have negative effects on work-life balance, overall health, and safety. We aimed to investigate the association between sleep disorders and absenteeism and delay to work (being late or tardy) among the working adult population. The study was conducted by using data from a large survey of working adults who participated in the Turkish Adult Population Epidemiology of Sleep Study (TAPES) managed by Turkish Sleep Medicine Society (TSMS). Secondary analyses was employed to examine absenteeism and delay to work and their associations with sleep problems, including sleepiness by Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), parasomnias, sleep apnea (by Berlin Questionnaire), sleep quality (by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), and restless leg. History of any absenteeism and delay to work was observed in 276 (18%) and 443 (29%) out of 1,533 working adults, respectively. In the multivariate analyses, absenteeism was associated with younger age, female gender and poor sleep quality, while delay to work was associated with younger age, poor sleep quality, parasomnia, and sleepiness. In the presence of absenteeism and delay to work, sleep disorders including sleepiness, poor sleep quality, and parasomnia should be considered. Such evaluation may improve worker well-being and provide some additional benefits in terms of increasing productivity and lowering work-related costs.

Knowledge and awareness of optimal use of reporting guidelines in paediatricians: A cross-sectional study.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate pediatricians' ideas and awareness of reporting guidelines of scientific researches, as well as the use of these guidelines in routine practice. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted among pediatricians working at two of the largest pediatric hospitals in Ankara. The pediatricians were asked to complete a 13-item questionnaire in Turkish about reporting guidelines and the Enhancing the Quality and Transparency of Health Research internet network, and their level of knowledge, awareness, and use of these guidelines were investigated. Results: A total of 224 physicians from both centers agreed to participate in the study (56.4% of the target population). The average age of the participants was 34±9.24 years, their median age was 31 (min-max: 24-63) years, and 71.4% were female physicians. The participants' median duration in their careers was 6 (min-max: 1-39) years and 63.8% had participated in a scientific study as a researcher. Forty-five (20%) of the participants had known about the reporting guidelines before and reported that they had most frequently heard about them via journals, congresses, and seminars. Twenty (26.6%) of these physicians had used the guidelines. Sixty-five (29%) of the participants had served as a reviewer for a scientific article, but only three (4.6%) stated that they had made use of the guidelines while reviewing the articles. Some 83.5% of the participants reported that they would like to be informed about reporting guidelines. Both centers had similar knowledge levels about the use of the guidelines. Conclusion: The awareness and use of reporting guidelines of scientific researches by pediatricians is insufficient.

[A Population-Based Study for the Standardization of the Turkish Version of the Modified Mini Mental State Examination (3MS) and Assessment of Certain Environmental Risk Factors for Dementia: Methodology and Sample Characteristics]. / Modifiye-Mini-Mental Test (3MS) Türkçe Formu’nun Standardizasyonu ve Demansla Iliskili Bazi Çevresel Risk Etmenlerinin Tespiti için Toplum Temelli bir Çalisma: Metodoloji ve Örneklem Özellikleri.

OBJECTIVE: Objective assessment of the cognitive status and activities of daily living are required for the diagnosis of neurocognitive disorders. No cognitive screening test with normative values exist in Turkey. This study aims to standardize a widely applicable cognitive screening test, determine the activities of daily living in a population-based sample as well as identifying certain individual and environmental risk factors for cognitive disorders. METHOD: Since Mini-Mental-State-Examination (MMSE) is widely used in primary and secondary care and a version for the uneducated exists, an expanded and modified version of MMSE, Modified Mini Mental Test (3MS) was selected for standardization. After the adaptation and pre-testing processes, a population-based study including the individuals over the age of 55 was planned to determine the normative values using the primary health care system in Ankara, Turkey, An age-based stratification procedure was applied. Data were collected through a survey form that was developed to identify certain healthrelated, occupational and environmental risk factors associated with cognitive disorders among with the cognitive evaluation. The study was funded by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, Grant No: 214S048. RESULTS: The population-based study was conducted between January and June 2016. The data of a total of 2158 participants were analyzed. The geographic distribution of the final sample was representative of the total population in Ankara. Of the study sample, 51,3%were female, and 60% had over 5 years of education. Approximately 25% of all participants were 'screening-positive' for neurocognitive impairment and age was inversely related with daily functioning. CONCLUSION: We were able to reach a population-based sample to determine the normative values of a widely applicable cognitive screening test and the activities of daily living as well as evaluate dementia-related risk factors in Turkey. The findings of the study indicated that 3MS-Turkish form is a cognitive secreening test, which can be widely used in Turkey.

Nerve conduction study and gastrocnemius H reflex response in rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate nerve conduction studies and gastrocnemius H reflex responses in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and compared to the healthy adult subjects. METHODS: Twenty-six RA patients and twenty-two healthy adult subjects were included in the study. The nerve conduction study (NCS) findings and bilateral gastrocnemius H reflex responses were evaluated in all the groups. Age, gender, subcutaneous nodules, joint deformities, laboratory parameters, duration of disease, anti-rheumatic drug and steroid usage were recorded. Activity of disease was assessed using a 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28).The functional status was measured using the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), pain intensity measured using a visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: The rate of electroneuromyographic (ENMG) abnormalities was 73% in RA patients. The most common diagnosis was carpal tunnel syndrome (61.4%). There were no significant correlations between ENMG findings and clinical and laboratory features evaluated. Right H reflex latencies were statistically longer in RA patients (p=0.03). According to calculated cut-off levels, there were more subjects with longer H reflex latencies in RA patients. CONCLUSION: In this study, entrapment neuropathies were found common as independent identity from duration and severity of disease in RA patients. For H reflex latencies, cut-off values were longer in RA patients. It may provide information about the early neuropathic involvement of long peripheral nerves in RA patients. But this findings are needed to be supported by larger population study.