Biomedical subjects

Abdullah Sayiner

Publications and source records attributed to Abdullah Sayiner.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Across-shift lung function variation in cottonseed oil workers.

BACKGROUND: The effects of cotton dust on pulmonary function among workers employed in cotton-spinning mills are well known. However, little data exist on the prevalence of this disorder in 'non-textile' cotton industries, including cottonseed oil mills, where high levels of exposure to dust have been demonstrated. AIMS: This study was performed in order to determine the across-shift and across-week decline of FEV(1) and respiratory symptoms among workers in a cottonseed oil mill. METHODS: Sixty-six exposed and 48 unexposed workers of a cottonseed oil mill in Turkey were investigated by questionnaire and lung function test (LFT). LFTs were performed before and after shift on all the working days of the week. Acute airway response was defined as an across-shift decline in FEV(1) of 5% or more on the first working day. RESULTS: Smoking was the only risk factor for having respiratory symptoms. Acute airway response was more frequently observed in the exposed group as compared to the unexposed group (OR = 6.2, 95% CI = 2.3-16.7). The median across-shift decline in FEV(1) on the first day (120 ml) significantly improved on the following days (10, 50, 60 and -30 ml). CONCLUSION: Smoking appears to be the main risk factor for having respiratory symptoms. Cottonseed dust may cause an acute pulmonary function decline on the first working day, but not on the following days of the week. This decline is associated with respiratory symptoms in exposed workers.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Description and evaluation of an innovative course on learning and study skills for the first year medical students.

The purpose of this study is to share educational structure and evaluation results of an innovative course on effective learning and study skills for the first year medical students. In Turkey, undergraduate medical education takes six years and each year nearly 5,000 high school graduates start medical schools. However, many students experience frustration and failure because of their lack in the learning and studying strategies. At the Ege University Faculty of Medicine, preclinical curriculum consists of the body function systems-based teaching blocks. Year one has three blocks. We implemented an effective learning and study skills course at the first and third blocks of the 2003-2004 curriculum. We evaluated the course by students' feedbacks derived from block questionnaires and students' homework performance analysis. At the first block questionnaire, out of 297, 163 students (54.8%) clearly stated that the course positively influenced their learning process. Structured analysis of the first block's students' homework showed that an average of 206 students (69.3%) can sufficiently describe their learning and studying approach, while 218 (73.4%) can identify the strengths and weaknesses of the curriculum. The average student scores were 74 +/- 10 and 68 +/- 11 out of 100 for first and third blocks, respectively. We interpreted these results as students enjoyed the course and learned the content. In conclusion, a course on effective learning and study skills is likely to assist first year medical students in improving their learning and adaptation to the school.

Clinical Competence↗

PubMed2006

[T-lymphocyte subgroups and tuberculin skin test reactivity in patients with chronic renal failure].

As anergy is common in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), the use of tuberculin skin test (TST) is controversial. Therefore, determination of the factors that affect the TST reactivity would increase the diagnostic value of the test. The aim of the present study was to investigate the factors affecting TST reactivity and evaluate the relationship between T-lymphocyte subsets and TST reactivity. We thus examined 44 patients (mean age 46.6 +/- 15.6 years, 25 males, duration of CRF 5.6 +/- 5.2 years), performed TST (an induration with a diameter of 5 mm or more was considered as positive) and measured Tlymphocyte subsets and biochemical parameters. Twenty-three patients were on hemodialysis, six were on peritoneal dialysis, seven were transplant recipients, and eight were on medical treatment. Eleven patients (25%) had immunosuppressive treatment. Eleven patients (25%) had two, 29 patients (66%) had one, and four patients (9%) had no BCG scars. Five patients (11%) had low body mass index (BMI). T-lymphocyte subsets were as follows: CD4= 40.7 +/- 7.6%, CD8= 32 +/- 8.9%, CD4/CD8= 1.7 +/- 2.5%, CD3= 71.4 +/- 9.4%, CD19= 6.3 +/- 5.1%, NK= 9.7 +/- 5.9. Twenty-two patients had positive TST reactivity. No relation was found between TST reactivity and age, gender, co-morbidity, BCG vaccination, BMI, immunosuppressive therapy, duration and treatment of CRF. Similarly, TST reactivity was not related to the biochemical parameters and Tlymphocyte subsets. These data provide that tuberculin reactivity does not seem to be associated with T-lymphocyte dysfunction and clinical features in patients with chronic renal failure.

Female↗

PubMed2005

Tuberculosis in renal transplant recipients on various immunosuppressive regimens.

BACKGROUND: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and tacrolimus (TAC) are more potent than conventional immunosuppressive drugs, i.e. azathioprine, cyclosporin and prednisolone, and may be associated with an increase in the incidence of infections in the post-transplantation (post-tx) period. The aim of this study was to determine if the use of either or both of MMF and TAC for immunosuppression in renal transplant recipients increases the prevalence or modifies the clinical presentation of tuberculosis (TB), when compared with conventional therapy. METHODS: The medical records of 443 adult patients who received a kidney transplant between 1994 and 2002 were reviewed retrospectively. Comparisons were made between patients who had conventional immunosuppressive treatments (cyclosporin, azathioprine and prednisolone) or an alternative regimen (including MMF, TAC or both). RESULTS: We found 20 patients (4.5%) to have post-tx TB. There were 13 cases of TB (age 38.9+/-10.6 years) among 328 patients who received conventional immunosuppressants (group I) (4.0%) and seven cases (age 24.2+/-7.4 years) among 115 (6.1%) who received an alternative immunosuppressive regimen (group II) (P>0.05). The patients in group II were younger than the patients in group I (P = 0.002). A significantly higher number of patients in group II developed TB within the first 6 months post-tx (P = 0.042). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding clinical and radiographic presentations or outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Immunosuppression with TAC or MMF is associated with the development of TB earlier in the post-tx period and in younger patients.

Adult↗