Smoking, occupation, history of selected diseases and bladder cancer risk in Manisa, Turkey.

The aim of the study was to identify and quantify the reasons for the high bladder cancer rates in Turkey. We conducted a case-control study in Manisa, Turkey, in 2011. The study included 173 patients with incident, histologically confirmed bladder cancer and 282 controls who were frequency matched by age, sex and geographic area, admitted to the main hospital of Manisa for a wide range of acute diseases. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were derived from multiple logistic regression models. Compared with never smokers, the OR was 2.9 (95% CI 1.5-5.4) for moderate (<20 cigarettes/day) and 4.0 (95% CI 1.7-9.6) for heavy smokers. The association was stronger for unfiltered black tobacco (OR=5.4) and for longer duration of smoking (≥40 years, OR=5.3). There was a strong inverse correlation with social class indicators, with ORs of 0.2 (95% CI 0.1-0.4) for more-educated compared with less-educated individuals. There was no significant association with a group of five occupations a priori defined as being of high risk (OR=1.3), nor with farming (OR=1.2). Bladder cancer risk was directly related to the history of urinary tract infections (OR=1.9, 95% CI 1.2-3.1) but not to diabetes (OR=0.7) or kidney (OR=0.7) and prostate (OR=1.3) diseases. Tobacco is the major risk factor for bladder cancer in Manisa, being responsible for 56% of cases; urinary tract infections account for 19% of cases, whereas the role of occupational exposure is limited in this, predominantly rural, population.

The prevalence of intestinal parasites and nasal S. aureus carriage among food handlers.

Food handlers play a major role in the transmission of foodborne diseases. Nasal Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) carriage and intestinal parasitism are important risk factors in contamination. The purpose of the authors' study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites and nasal S. aureus carriage among food handlers in Manisa, Turkey. The authors investigated 8,895 people for nasal S. aureus carriage and intestinal parasites. Nasal swab materials and stool samples were examined, and anal cellophane band method was performed. The authors found that S. aureus was isolated in 69 (0.77%) samples. All S. aureus strains were oxacilline sensitive. Intestinal parasites were found in 784 (8.8%) samples. The most common parasites were Entamoeba histolytica (69.9%) and Giardia intestinalis (24.6%). The authors conclude that food handlers should be screened and treated from time to time and that a periodic program of health education on food safety and hygiene should be given.