The prevalence of goiter and hypothyroidism among school children 6 years after introduction of a mandatory salt iodination program in a severely iodine-deficient area of the West Black Sea region of Turkey.

The objective of the current study was to determine the prevalence and the degree of iodine deficiency after mandatory salt iodization in Yigilca's school-aged children. A total of 806 school children aged 6-19 years were evaluated. The prevalence of goiter in children aged 6-12 and 13-19 years was 20.3 and 23.8%, respectively. The prevalence of hypothyroidism in children aged 6-12 and 13-19 years was 10.4 and 18.9%, respectively. The median serum free tetraiodothyronine (fT4) levels in children aged 6-12 and 13-19-years were 1.16 ng/dL and 0.91 ng/dL, respectively. The median urinary iodine concentration levels in children aged 6-12 and 13-19 years were 83 µg/l and 78 µg/l, respectively. The frequency of autoimmune thyroid disease was 2.1% in Yigilca's SAC. Goiter and iodine deficiency problems remain in rural areas of the West Black Sea Region of Turkey.

Breastfeeding practices in Duzce, Turkey.

Exclusive breastfeeding among infants less than or equal to 6 months old and continued breastfeeding (20-23 months) are high-priority indicators of infant health. We aimed to assess breastfeeding practices, using standardized breastfeeding indicators, and to determine the causes of early discontinuation of breastfeeding (< or = 6 months) in children aged 0 to 24 months in Duzce, Turkey. In this cross-sectional study, the study group consisted of 158 children, and questionnaires were completed by face-to-face interviews with the mothers. The rate of exclusive breastfeeding (< or = 6 months) was 22.4%. The rate of continued breastfeeding (20-23 months) was 10.0%. The 2 primary causes of early discontinuation of breastfeeding were inadequate milk supply (38.1%) and baby not latching on (14.3%). Half of the individuals who recommended infant formula to mothers with infants less than or equal to 6 months old were physicians.

Preliminary study among truck drivers in Turkey: effects of ultraviolet light on some skin entities.

In this study, we aimed to compare driver (left) and opposite (right) sides for some skin entities in drivers. We also evaluated the effect of occupational duration, age and skin type among this population. One hundred and forty-eight truck drivers were included in this study. Sun exposed areas were classified. Dermatological entities such as actinic keratosis, solar lentigo, seborrheic keratosis, melanocytic nevus, spider angioma, ephelid, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma were compared to driver and right sides. In addition, drivers were divided into two subgroups according to: (i) age (subgroups A1, 20-40 years, and A2, >40 years); (ii) occupational duration (subgroups O1, 1-10 years, and 02, >10 years); and (iii) skin type (subgroups S1, skin types I and II, and S2, skin types III and IV. Each of the two subgroups were compared with respect to the total prevalence (left and right sides) of lesions excluding the location. Seborrheic keratosis and lentigo solaris were found to be increased on the driver side of the face (P = 0.00) and ear (P = 0.013), respectively. Statistically significant increases of lesions on the driver side were determined according to the subgroups: melanocytic nevi were found to be increased on the driver side in A1 (P = 0.00), A2 (P = 0.00), O2 (P = 0.00), S1 (P = 0.00) and S2 (P = 0.006) groups; actinic keratoses were found to be significantly increased on the driver side in A2 and O2 groups (P = 0.03 for both).

The relationship between iron status and thyroid hormones in adolescents living in an iodine deficient area.

BACKGROUND: Iron may be only one of many nutritional factors that influence thyroid hormone metabolism in iodine-deficient areas. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of iron status on thyroid hormone profile in adolescents living in a mild iodine-deficient area in Turkey. SUBJECTS: Three hundred and thirty school-aged children with mean age 14 years were examined. METHODS: Free triiodothyronine, free tetraiodothyronine and thyrotropin levels were analyzed by chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay. Hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume were measured with a Hemocounter. Iron and total iron binding capacity concentration were determined by colorimetric photometric methods. Ferritin level was determined by immunoturbidimetry. RESULTS: Thyroid hormone levels of the children with anemia were not significantly different compared to children without anemia. No significant correlation was found between thyroid hormones and iron status. CONCLUSION: The thyroid hormone profile was not significantly affected in this area. This survey showed no correlation between iron status and thyroid hormone levels.

Respiratory symptoms and peak expiratory flow rates among furniture-decoration students.

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of furniture production, mainly including fir tree (aberia mulleriana), on respiratory health of young workers and to compare the results with those obtained from previous studies. Sixty-four furniture-decoration students (57 males and 7 females) and 62 controls (54 male, 8 female) from different departments in the same school were included into the study. All participants were assessed with a questionnaire (concerning history of occupational exposure, work-related respiratory and other symptoms, smoking history, previous asthma history), full physical examination, spirometric evaluation and chest radiograph. Participants then performed serial monitoring of peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR) at work and away from work within a month. Mean age of students was 20.9 +/- 3.7 years, 20.5 +/- 2.6 years in controls. There was no difference between study and control groups with regard to age, gender, smoking status and previous asthma history. Reported cough (23.4 % vs. 8.1 %) and shortness of breath (18.8 % vs. 6.5 %) were significantly higher in furniture-decoration students than in controls (p = 0.016 and p = 0.034, respectively). Furniture-decoration students had higher conjunctivitis (34.4 % vs. 9.7 %, p = 0.001) and rhinitis (34.4 % vs. 19.4 %, p = 0.044) history when compared with controls. Both students and controls were normal in terms of respiratory examination. PEF recordings were performed for approximately one month. Diurnal variability greater than 20 % was seen in 12/64 (18.7 %) of students at work, whereas it was detected in 4/62 (6.4 %) of controls (p = 0.034). When comparing for the presence of diurnal variability greater than 20 % in weekends, no difference was found between groups (p = 0.457). In conclusion, early detection of work-related respiratory changes by serial monitoring of peak expiratory flows should save the workers from hazardous respiratory effects of the furniture production, especially in young population.

Unrecognized abrasions and occupational exposures to blood-borne pathogens among health care workers in Turkey.

AIMS: To evaluate the prevalence of exposures to potentially infective biological material, the use of gloves and the presence and awareness of skin abrasions amongst health care workers (HCWs). METHODS: Analysis of reported exposures during a 12 month period, questionnaire and skin examination by a dermatologist on HCWs at the University Hospital in Duzce, Turkey. RESULTS: Out of 415 HCWs, 278 responded to the questionnaire giving a response rate of 67%. There were 152 potentially infectious exposures reported on the questionnaire. Only 14% (21) of exposures were recorded between October 2001 and October 2002 at the time of the incident. Sharps injuries (57%) were reported most frequently in nurses, while splashes to mucous membranes occurred most frequently in physicians (36%). The operating theatre was the major location of incidents (56%). The frequency of abrasions on the hands was higher in female HCWs (60%) (P < 0.05). Wearing gloves for all procedures was most common in laboratory workers (60%). Abrasions were found on the hands of 142 (51%) of 278 HCWs. Sixteen per cent of the HCWs were unaware of abrasions on their hands. CONCLUSION: There appears to be under-reporting of potentially infectious exposures by HCWs. HCWs are not always aware of abrasions on their hands. This study reinforces the need to report exposures and to use personal protective equipment.

Effect of two consecutive earthquakes on outbreaks of alopecia areata.

The pathogenesis of alopecia areata (AA) is still unknown. We investigated whether two consecutive earthquakes in Duzce, Turkey within a 3-month interval could precipitate AA. Patients who developed AA after the first earthquake in Duzce were included in this study. The admittance rate and demographic characteristics of AA patients admitted in the same period of the previous year (BE=before earthquake group) were compared to that of AA patients admitted after the earthquake (AE=after earthquake group). The admittance rate and onset of AA after the first earthquake were investigated retrospectively. In addition, possible relationships between the earthquake and age at the first attack, severity of the disease, and ophiasis were studied. The ratio of AA patients in the BE group was 12/1,121 (0.9%), while this value was 26/1,430 (1.8%) in the AE group (p=0.07). There were no significant differences with regard to sex, age of the first attack, severity of the disease, or ophiasis between the two groups. AA appeared between 18-28 weeks after the first earthquake in 14 (53.8%) of the patients. The earthquake did not increase the admittance rate of AA significantly. This finding suggests that a stressful event such a natural disaster is not a unique factor in AA outbreaks.