Biomedical subjects

Yasemin Açik

Publications and source records attributed to Yasemin Açik.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Hearing in workers exposed to low-dose radiation for a long period.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate changes in hearing thresholds with standard and high frequency audiometry in workers exposed to low-dose ionizing radiation for a long period. A total of 57 (49 male and 8 female) technical staff working in radiology-related jobs who were exposed to occupational radiation were included in the study. The control group consisted of 32 (27 male and 5 female) volunteer subjects with normal hearing. The symptoms like tinnitus, vertigo, weakness and lack of appetite were evaluated. A standard ascending/descending method was applied to the subjects of the study and the control groups in order to determine their hearing thresholds at eleven different frequencies between 250 and 16,000 Hz. In the study group, the working duration of subjects ranged from 4 to 23 years, and the percentage of tinnitus, weakness, vertigo and lack of appetite were 47%, 28%, 24% and 17%, respectively. It was observed that pure tone hearing thresholds were markedly increased for 4,000, 6,000, 8,000, 14,000 and 16,000 Hz frequencies in the study group compared to the control group (p<0.01). Levels of static compliance and middle ear pressures of the study group were similar to the control group. Tinnitus, vertigo and hearing loss in high frequencies were observed in the subjects exposed to the radiation for a long period. Subjects under high risk should be evaluated periodically. We suggest that the use of standard and high frequency audiometry together could be beneficial in the evaluation of these subjects.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗

PubMed2004

Prevalence of otitis media with effusion in first and second grade primary school students and its correlation with BCG vaccination.

OBJECTIVE: The object of this study was to determine the prevalence of otitis media with effusion (OME) in first and second grade primary school students, to analyze the causes of the difference in the prevalence, to define the effect of OME on the academic performance of the children and to investigate a correlation between the prevalence of OME and Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination. STUDY PLAN AND METHODS: The study was conducted during the September-November, 2002 period in Elazig. A total of 3675 clinically healthy primary school children attending primary schools in the central district of Elazig, living in the same region and of a similar socioeconomic status and age group were included in the study. Of the 3675 children, 2042 were in their first and 1633 in their second grade of primary school. The routine ear-nose and throat examinations of the children were carried out at their schools by the same medical team. The tympanometric test was performed in children diagnosed with OME following otoscopic examination. A scale measuring the academic performance of the children was developed. This scale was filled in by the student's teachers prior to physical examination. RESULTS: OME was diagnosed in 64 out of 2042 (3.1%) first grade and in 25 out of 1633 (1.5%) second grade students. The difference between the percentages of OME in first and second grade students was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The frequency of other ear-nose and throat pathologies accompanying OME was similar to those in children without OME. There was no statistically significant difference between the academic performances of children with and without OME (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The analysis of risk factors for OME revealed no difference between first and second grade students. The reason for the difference in the prevalence of OME between first and second grade students may be the positive effect on the immune system of the BCG vaccine which had been administered to the second grade students 4 months previously.

BCG Vaccine↗

PubMed2004

The measurement of exhaled carbon monoxide in healthy smokers and non-smokers.

The measurement of exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) level may provide an immediate, non-invasive method of assessing smoking status. The aims of this study were to use a portable CO monitor to compare the exhaled CO levels in established smokers and non-smokers. The exhaled CO levels were measured in 322 subjects (243 healthy smokers, 55 healthy non-smokers, 24 passive smokers) who applied to healthy stand during the spring student activity of Firat University in Elaziğ. Exhaled CO concentration was measured using the EC50 Smokerlyser. The mean exhaled CO level was 17.13+/-8.50 parts per million (ppm) for healthy smokers and 3.61+/-2.15 ppm for healthy non-smokers, and 5.20+/-3.38 ppm for passive smokers. There were significant positive correlation between CO levels and daily cigarette consumption, and CO levels and duration of smoking in healthy smokers (r=+0.550, P<0.001, r=+0.265, P<0.001, respectively. Spearman's test). When smokers and non-smokers were looked at as a whole, a cutoff of 6.5 ppm had a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 83%. In conclusion, exhaled CO level provides an easy, an immediate way of assessing a subject's smoking status.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Level of knowledge and attitude of primary care physicians in Eastern Anatolian cities in relation to child abuse and neglect.

BACKGROUND: Child abuse and neglect is not a new phenomenon. It has always existed in every nation and culture in one form or another. The aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge and attitude toward child abuse and neglect of primary care physicians serving in eastern Turkish cities. METHODS: The study was done in four Eastern Turkish cities involving Elazig, Tunceli, Malatya, and Bingol. All the primary care physicians serving in these cities were contacted. Of 266 primary care physicians, 175 replied (65.8% reply rate) and participated in the study. RESULTS: Most of the participated primary care physicians did not have adequate knowledge about physical assessment of suspected child abuse and neglect. Those physicians serving in primary care centers had better knowledge than those serving in Mother-Child Health and Family Planning Centers. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study indicate that primary care physicians working in the eastern cities of Turkey do not have adequate knowledge and proper attitudes toward the identification and reporting of suspected child abuse. There is a need for educational programs to primary care physicians and other health personals working with child abuse and neglect to increase their knowledge and skills in detection, assessment, reporting, treatment, and prevention of child abuse and neglect.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

[The knowledge, attitude and behavior related to the tuberculosis and approaches of tuberculosis therapy by the physicians providing first step service].

Before a performed education of tuberculosis for physicians who give first step treatment in our city center, a questionnaire was applied to the participants to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, behavior and approach to the treatment. The 66 practicing physician having an employment period of 64.88 +/- 39.42 months were coming from tuberculosis eradication dispensers at the rate of 3%, and from heath center at the rate 97%. The percentage of facing with tuberculosis patients in physicians, exclude who work in tuberculosis eradication dispensers, per year was median 7.30 +/- 9.77 (0-50). 21.2%, of the physicians determine that disease could be spread by only with respiratory tract, 77.3% of them consider that other than respiratory tract and 59.1% of them deemed that the most important factor is living in the same place with a tuberculosis patient and 75.8% of them determine that for a certain diagnosis the sputum examination is enough. 80.3% of the participants said that in our country conditions PPD must be done for the diagnosis. When the most important 4 tuberculosis drugs are asked only 16.7% of the physicians include morphozinamide as a first choice tuberculosis therapy. 48.5% of the physicians deemed that the therapy duration must be at least 6 months. 74.2% of them determine that follow up the disease must be made by sputum plus another examination, 93.9% of them indicated that the tuberculosis patients must be reported to tuberculosis eradication dispensers. When the hepatotoxicity is occurred, only 27.3% of the physicians could interfere the necessary implementation. 74.2% of them determine that the most important problem in control of tuberculosis is about diagnosis, therapy and follow up. When the directly observed treatment short course (DOTS) strategy is asked 16.7% of them gave correct answer. 34.9% of the first step physicians think that tuberculosis eradication dispensers is the primary responsible center in the control of tuberculosis but 53% of them think that tuberculosis eradication dispensers is inadequate in this subject. In conclusion, the first step practice physicians who work in Elaziğ city center have insufficient knowledge and it is needed periodically postgraduate education.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The effect of hyperlipidemia on hearing function].

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the effects of hyperlipidemia on hearing function. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 274 hyperlipidemic patients (176 females, 98 males; age range 35 to 60 years) who manifested normal tympanic membrane findings, no history of noise exposure, and chronic systemic or ear diseases. Sixty healthy subjects (36 females, 24 males) with normal serum lipid levels were enrolled as controls. Subjects who had elevated serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels, and normal lipid levels were divided into four groups and their hearing functions were analysed with pure-tone audiometry. RESULTS: Evaluation of all groups showed significantly increased hearing levels at three frequencies in female patients, and at six frequencies in male patients (p < 0.05). Significant increases in hearing levels were observed both in females and males at 8000 Hz in three groups, at 6000 Hz in the VLDL group, and in males at 2000 Hz in the total cholesterol and VLDL groups (p < 0.05). When both female and male patients were evaluated together, the largest difference was detected in the VLDL group at five frequencies. CONCLUSION: The findings of our study suggest that hyperlipidemia may have a role on the occurrence of sensorineural hearing loss.

Adult↗