Biomedical subjects

Haluk Ince

Publications and source records attributed to Haluk Ince.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Occupational accidents and forensic medicine in Turkey.

In Turkey, evaluation of the ratio of loss of working capacity is made according to various laws and regulations. These laws and regulations use different standards in computing the above-mentioned ratio depending on the professional status of the worker, whether he or she is a member of SSK (Social Security Institution) or ES (The Retirement Pension Institution) system. The aim of this study is to point out at the differences and deficiencies in computing the degree of disability and at the need to bring common standards to these computations. This prospective descriptive research is based on the cases of occupational accidents and occupational diseases brought to the 3rd specialized branch of the Institution of Forensic Medicine (which is the highest ruling instance concerning the decision on this field). Of the 164 accident cases included in this research, 95.1% are males, and 4.9% females. According to distribution by age of the cases, the modal group is respectively (30-39) years for men and (12-19) years for women. 43.8% of the injuries were localized at the hand or wrist. No meaningful statistical relationship could be found between the level of qualification of the workers (skilled-unskilled) and the proportion of those suffering from total disability. For the cases included in the categories 3, 4 and 5 is the ES system; the ratio of disability was similar to those computed according to the SSK system. In conclusion, we would like to insist on the need for our country to amend our laws and regulations according to changing and prevailing conditions and sex differentials and to bring homogeneous standards for all workers.

Accidents, Occupational↗

PubMed2006

The effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on short-term acute myocardial ischemia.

BACKGROUND: We previously showed that caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) attenuated NO production, reduced apoptosis, diminished serum CK and AST activities, and is cardio-protective in rat heart subjected to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). We now studied the short-term cardio-protective effect of CAPE in an I/R rat heart model. MATERIAL/METHODS: Wistar rats were divided into four groups: (i) sham-operated, (ii) I/R, (iii) I/R+CAPE, and (iv) I/R+glutathione. CAPE (10 micromol/kg) was infused i.v. 10 min before occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (8 min) followed by reperfusion (8 min). RESULTS: SOD (p < 0.010) and CAT (p < 0.014) activities were increased and GSH-Px (p < 0.019) activity decreased in the I/R group in cardiac tissues compared with the sham-operated group. There were no effects of CAPE on antioxidant enzyme activities after I/R. Glutathione administration led to decreased SOD activity (p < 0.024) and increased GSH-Px (p < 0.014) activity after I/R. The most prominent effects of CAPE were seen in XO and ADA activities, which were increased after I/R compared with the sham-operated group (p < 0.029 and p < 0.001, respectively). When CAPE was administered, XO and ADA activities were decreased compared with the I/R group (p < 0.045 and p < 0.001). ADA activity was also decreased in the I/R+glutathione group compared with the I/R group. No differences in basal heart rate or systolic or diastolic pressure were noted among the experimental groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that CAPE exerts cardio-protective effects in short-term I/R of rat heart. This protective effect may be mediated by a combination of decreased XO activity and direct antioxidant effects.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2006

[A different approach to trauma scoring].

BACKGROUND: We have compared the Injury Severity Score (ISS) at admission to Emergency Surgery and Trauma Center (ES&TC) with the ISS during autopsy. Cases with ISS less than 14 (defined as preventable deaths) were evaluated and the results were compared with those in other countries. METHODS: The study was performed between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2002 at Istanbul Medical Faculty TS&ES and the Turkish Council of Forensic Medicine. The 160 autopsies of trauma deaths which could have been performed within this three year period were evaluated. RESULTS: The average age of trauma victims in the study was 32,9+/-15,6 (r=1-79); the majority of victims were males 78,1% (n=125). In four autopsies (3%) ISS were rated as "preventable death" (ISS < or =14). The severely injured (ISS: 16-66) patients with lower survival rates were 96% (n=155). In addition, one case (1%) had an ISS score of 75. In clinical evaluations, ISS scores were found to be between 16-66 (68%), 75 (20%, n=32), and < or =14 (12%; n=19). CONCLUSION: Although it is widely used, difficulties in the applications of ISS still exist. Alcohol, drug, pregnancy and the presence of underlying diseases are the factors contributing to death but not being reflected by ISS. Moreover a difficulty exists in the evaluation of anatomical injuries which are not accompanied by physiological changes. ISS should be improved according to updates. In this way, evaluation of clinics' care quality and standardization of trauma centers can be done more accurately.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Workrelated risks and health problems of working children in urban Istanbul, Turkey.

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to identify the work-related risks and health problems of working children. The sample included 167 working boys. These boys were chosen from schools giving occupational education in the industrial part of Istanbul. A questionnaire and worksite assessment checklists, developed by the researchers, were used as data gathering tools. Data were collected from the boys' schools and workplaces. From this data, it was found that 24.6% of the boys were jewelers, 32.3% were car mechanics and 43.1% were hairdressers. Findings revealed that 30.5% of the boys, who were engaged in child labor, were poor and dropped out of school to assist their families. Boys, whose mean age was 17.6 +/- 1.2, had been working since they were 13 yr old. The boys were also found to work 66.4 h a week, which was an unexpectedly high result considering the 35 hours limitation set by the laws of Turkey for working children. As for work-related risks, chemical risks for boys working as hairdressers (p<0.01), and using sharp tools and accidents for boys working as car mechanics were more common than the other groups (p<0.001, p<0.001). Boys working as hairdressers mostly had respiratory system problems, skin problems, and headache (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001). Those working as car mechanics had nose/throat problems, and musculoskeletal system problems (p<0.001, p<0.01). Among those working as jewelers, eye-related problems were common (p<0.001). It was concluded from the findings of the present study that child labor creates an unhealthy environment for children.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

A model in environmental training--The University / Elementary School / Municipality Cooperation.

This study targets development of an effective training scheme model that can be implemented at elementary school level with focus on recovery and recycling of wasted papers in Turkey. For this purpose, three schools were chosen from a district within Istanbul. They were separated from one another as full intervention (FI), semi-intervention (SI) and control (C) schools. Different levels of educational activities carried out in the schools, mostly in the FI school, were directed toward being informative as regards recycling and the development of a positive attitude. Afterwards, in order to evaluate the effects of the training, paper wastes were collected in recycle bins placed at appropriate points in schools and weighed on a weekly basis. Quite a significant result was found (p = 0.0001), when the difference was calculated through the Kruskal Wallis Variance Analysis method, regarding the weekly average amount of paper in each of the three schools against per person. Furthermore, when the results were evaluated and compared as to the ones before the 2.5 months summer vacation and the ones after it, the seven measurements taken before (p = 0.001) and the eight taken afterwards (p = 0.0001), were found to have valid differences, once again, as against schools. The results show that the approach we provided to education is an effective method not only for the collection of paper wastes but also for applications in various areas of health education.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2003

Filicide cases in Turkey, 1995-2000.

AIM: To determine socio-demographic features and criminal liability of individuals who committed filicide in Turkey. METHOD: The study involved 85 cases of filicide evaluated by the 4th Specialized Board of the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Istanbul in the 1995-2000 period. We assessed the characteristics of parents who committed filicide (age, sex, education level, employment status, and criminal liability) and children victims (age, sex, own or stepchild), as well as the causes of death. RESULTS: There were 85 parents who committed filicide (41 fathers and 44 mothers) and 96 children victims. The mean age of mothers who committed filicide (52% of filicides) was 26.5-/+7.7 years, and the mean age of fathers (48% of filicides) was 36.1-/+10.0 years (t=-5.00, p<0.001). Individuals diagnosed with psychiatric disturbances, such as schizophrenia (61%), major depression (22%), imbecility (10%), and mild mental retardation (7%), were not subject to criminal liability. Almost half of parents who committed filicide were unemployed and illiterate. CONCLUSION: Filicide in Turkey was equally committed by mothers and fathers. More than half of the parents were diagnosed with psychiatric disorders and came from disadvantageous socioeconomic environments, where unemployment and illiteracy rates are highly above the average of Turkey.

Adolescent↗