Phthalate ester levels in agricultural soils of greenhouses, their potential sources, the role of plastic cover material, and dietary exposure calculated from modeled concentrations in tomato.

Soil samples collected from 50 greenhouses (GHs) cultivated with tomatoes (plastic-covered:24, glass-covered:26), 5 open-area tomato growing farmlands, and 5 non-agricultural areas were analyzed in summer and winter seasons for 13 PAEs. The total concentrations (Σ13PAEs) in the GHs ranged from 212 to 2484 ng/g, wheeas the concentrations in open-area farm soils were between 240 and 1248 ng/g. Σ13PAE in non-agricultural areas was lower (35.0 - 585 ng/g). PAE exposure through the ingestion of tomatoes cultivated in GH soils and associated risks were estimated with Monte Carlo simulations after calculating the PAE concentrations in tomatoes using a partition-limited model. DEHP was estimated to have the highest concentrations in the tomatoes grown in both types of GHs. The mean carcinogenic risk caused by DEHP for tomato grown in plastic-covered GHs, glass-covered GHs, and open-area soils were 2.4 × 10-5, 1.7 × 10-5 and 1.1 × 10-5, respectively. Based on Positive Matrix Factorization results, plastic material usage in GHs (including plastic cover material source for plastic-GHs) was found to be the highest contributing source in both types of GHs. Microplastic analysis indicated that the ropes and irrigation pipes inside the GHs are important sources of PAE pollution. Pesticide application is the second highest contributing source.

Psychiatric Symptoms, Aggression, and Sexual Dysfunction Among Patients With Benign Anal Conditions.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of general psychiatric symptoms, aggression levels, and sexual dysfunction in patients with benign anorectal diseases and compare the results with those of healthy control subjects. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled consecutive adult patients who presented for treatment of benign perianal diseases and healthy control subjects between June 2017 and December 2018. All patients had either grade 3 or 4 hemorrhoidal disease or perianal fistula with active discharge who had not undergone previous anorectal surgery. We also included a control group with benign subcutaneous lumps presenting for minor surgery. We used the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised Form to evaluate general psychiatric symptoms, the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) to evaluate aggression levels, and the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale to evaluate sexual dysfunction. RESULTS: A total of 563 patients were assessed for eligibility; after exclusions, 94 with anal fistula, 89 with hemorrhoids, and 59 healthy control subjects were enrolled. The groups were similar with regard to age, gender, and educational level. Physical and verbal aggression, anger, and total BPAQ score were significantly higher in patients with perianal fistula than in those with hemorrhoidal disease and healthy control subjects (P < .001). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that patients with perianal fistula have higher levels of aggression than healthy control subjects and those with hemorrhoidal disease. One must bear this in mind during preoperative patient evaluations and obtaining informed consent. Further studies are needed to investigate the reason for this association and potential causality.

The reliability and validity study of the Turkish version of Two Track Model of Bereavement Questionnaire.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Two Track Model of Bereavement Questionnaire (TTBQ-T) (Rubin et al. 2009), a-70 items questionnaire for comprehensively evaluating the process of bereavement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The questionnaire was initially translated from English into Turkish, and then back translated. Subsequently, it was administered to 205 bereaved individuals that lost a significant other within the last 5 years. In order to assess the questionnaire's validity, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) were also administered to the participants. The factor structure, total reliability, and test-retest reliability of the TTBQ-T were evaluated. RESULTS: Factor analysis yielded results that were, for the most part, similar with those yielded by the original study; however, there were some cross loading items that yielded a 5-factor solution (Relational active grieving, Close and positive Relationship with the Deceased, Traumatic perception of the loss, Conflictual relationship with the deceased and Social Dysfunction). Cronbach's Alpha coefficients for these 5 factors were 0,91, 0,88, 0,82, 0,78 and 0,65 respectively. In order to determine if the responses were loaded under 2 tracks, a higher order factor analysis was conducted. The relationships between BDI and IES-R, and TTBQ-T total scores were examined in order to determine the construct validity of the TTBQ-T. The present findings indicate that TTBQ-T has construct validity. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that TTBQ-T is a reliable and valid the questionnaire for use in Turkey. The findings are discussed in the light of the literature.

Attachment style and perceived social support as predictors of biopsychosocial adjustment to cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Social support is associated with a decrease in psychological symptoms and a better quality of life in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of attachment dimensions on social and psychological adjustment to cancer and to explore the social and psychological adjustments, and medical adherence, among patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted with 68 cancer patients, between 18 and 74 years of age. The measures taken were the Demographic Information Form, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R), and Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS-SR). RESULTS: The results showed that an avoidant attachment style was related to difficulties in social relationships and an increase in psychological distress following cancer diagnosis. People who perceive more social support orient to health care more easily than people who perceive less social availability. It was shown that a higher level of perceived social support has a positive impact in adjustment to family relationships and leads to experiencing less psychological distress than in people who perceived less social support. CONCLUSION: Considering the complicated nature of cancer, a multi-perspective approach should be applied during the treatment process, and it is important to determine the psychosocial factors, and the causal pathways by which they lead to a better adjustment, in developing effective interventions.