Comprehensive analysis of yacht masters operating in Bodrum district in terms of fatigue, burnout, and job satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: Yacht tourism is a developing sector in the world and in Turkey as well. Yacht masters are the most important components of this sector. This study aims to investigate the factors affecting the fatigue, job satisfaction, and burnout levels of yacht masters, offer solutions according to the findings, and eliminate this deficiency in the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Maslach Burnout Scale (MBI), Minnesota Job Satisfaction Scale (MSQ) and Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS) were applied to yacht masters who are still actively working on yachts operating in the Bodrum district. Data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of the analysis, yacht masters have high emotional burnout perceptions and very high personal success perceptions. In addition, their depersonalisation levels are low and their overall job satisfaction is high. The general fatigue levels of the masters are moderate. As their job satisfaction rate increases, their perceived fatigue level decreases. As their age increases, their fatigue level decreases. As their fatigue level increases, their burnout level also increases.

The spectrum of diseases causing fever of unknown origin in Turkey: a multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this trial was to determine the spectrum of diseases with fever of unknown origin (FUO) in Turkey. METHODS: A prospective multicenter study of 154 patients with FUO in twelve Turkish tertiary-care hospitals was conducted. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 42+/-17 years (range 17-75). Fifty-three (34.4%) had infectious diseases (ID), 47 (30.5%) had non-infectious inflammatory diseases (NIID), 22 (14.3%) had malignant diseases (MD), and eight (5.2%) had miscellaneous diseases (Mi). In 24 (15.6%) of the cases, the reason for high fever could not be determined despite intensive efforts. The most common ID etiologies were tuberculosis (13.6%) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (3.2%). Adult Still's disease was the most common NIID (13.6%) and hematological malignancy was the most common MD (7.8%). In patients with NIID, the mean duration of reaching a definite diagnosis (37+/-23 days) was significantly longer compared to the patients with ID (25+/-12 days) (p=0.007). In patients with MD, the mean duration of fever (51+/-35 days) was longer compared to patients with ID (37+/-38 days) (p=0.052). CONCLUSIONS: Although infection remains the most common cause of FUO, with the highest percentage for tuberculosis, non-infectious etiologies seem to have increased when compared with previous studies.

A case of Weil's syndrome developing steroid resistant immune haemolytic anaemia.

Weil's syndrome is known in a serious clinical form, but the development of immune haemolytic anaemia related to Leptospira in human beings is a very rare clinical presentation, and we encountered only 1 case report in a literature scan. In this paper we present a case of Weil's syndrome in which immune haemolytic anaemia findings, and haemolysis could only be controlled by intravenous immunoglobulin (IvIg) treatment.

Accidental oral poisoning caused by RDX (cyclonite): a report of 5 cases.

The explosive RDX (hexogen, cyclonite) is usually used for the production of C-4 explosive. The rare occurrence of accidental and intentional RDX intoxications has been reported during manufacturing process or in wartime. In this article, the authors report 5 cases of accidental oral RDX poisoning. On admission, observed signs and symptoms included repetitive generalized tonic-clonic convulsions, postictal coma, lethargy, confusion, hyperreflexia, postictal amnesia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal tenderness, sinusal tachycardia, dysrhythmia with frequent ventricular premature beats, generalized muscle spasms, and myoclonus. Leukocytosis, mild anemia, methemoglobinemia, elevated levels of blood glucose, serum aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, lactic dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, amilase, hypokalemia, metabolic acidosis, proteinuria, glucosuria, and myoglobinuria were also noted. Plasma RDX concentrations were 268 to 969 ng/mL at 3 hours of ingestion. For management, supportive and symptomatic measures were taken. Whole-bowel irrigation might have been an effective therapeutic procedure due to probable slow gastrointestinal absorption of RDX. Three patients who developed severe metabolic acidosis underwent urgent hemodialysis. All patients were discharged 7 to 21 days after admission without any sequelae. Plasma RDX levels were strongly correlated with the clinical and laboratory manifestations. The available toxicological data on this rare accidental poisoning are reviewed in light of the literature.

Hypersensitivity vasculitis and cytokines.

OBJECTIVE: Hypersensitivity vasculitis (HSV) is secondary vasculitis due to an immune response to exogenous substances. Because of the relative rarity of the vasculitides there are no reports on the role cytokines. This report evaluates some of cytokines which might be involved in pathophysiological events of HSV. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with HSV ( n=20) were classified as active ( n=12) ornd inactive ( n=8) according to a vasculitis activity index for systemic necrotizing vasculitis (VAI). All the patients were males. A control group was formed from 20 healthy male employees of our department. We performed tests for serum interleukins 6, IL-10, sIL-2 receptor, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). RESULTS: The mean ESR value, CRP, and fibrinogen levels were significantly different in both active and inactive HSV from those in the healthy group; they were also significantly higher in the active than in the inactive group. There was no significant difference between healthy and inactive groups for serum IL-10, IL-6, sIL-2 receptor, and TNFalpha levels. However, it was also significantly higher for in active HSV patients than in the healthy group. Similar results were obtained comparing active and inactive groups, namely, all cytokine levels were significantly higher for all patients. The most striking finding is the high correlation of ESR (also for CRP, fibrinogen) with serum levels of TNFalpha and IL-10, but not with IL-6 and IL2R. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that serum TNFalpha and IL-10 levels can be studied in comparison to traditional markers of inflammation such as sedimentation rate or C-reactive protein. This may lead to new approaches to treating or managing HSV.

Mönckeberg's sclerosis: an unusual presentation--a case report.

Calcification of the media of peripheral arteries is referred to as Mönckeberg's sclerosis and occurs commonly in aged individuals. However, it also occurs in younger patients with diabetes mellitus and chronic renal failure. In diabetic patients, medial calcification appears to be a strong independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality. In this report, we have presented a 20 year-old-patient with extensive peripheral artery calcification. The etiology of calcification was not identified. It has been suggested that this was an unusual form of Mönckeberg's sclerosis.