Search

A secondary analysis of a prospective multicenter cohort was performed in six intensive care units (ICU) in four European countries (France, Greece, Spain and Turkey). The main objective was to identify factors associated with ventilator-associated events (VAEs) in adults who underwent mechanical ventilation (MV) ≥ 48 h. Secondary objectives were to identify: variables influencing VAE in the subpopulation with endotracheal intubation and in those subjects who were ventilated > 7 days. Subjects who had undergone MV ≥ 48 h were included. In subjects with multiple episodes of MV, only the first one was eligible. The adult definitions for VAEs were adjusted to the 2015 update of the CDC’s 2013 National Healthcare Safety Network Association. Factors associated with VAE were estimated through multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis. Among 163 adults (42 tracheostomies), 76 VAEs (34.9 VAEs/1,000 ventilator-days) were documented: 9 were Ventilator-Associated Conditions (VAC) and 67 Infection-related Ventilator-Associated Complications (IVAC)-plus (9 only IVAC and 58 Possible Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia). VAEs developed after a median of 6 days (interquartile range: 4–9). VAEs were independently associated with long-acting sedative/analgesic drugs (Hazard Ratio [HR]: 4.30), selective digestive decontamination (SDD) (HR: 0.38), and surgical/trauma admission (HR: 2.30). Among 116 subjects with endotracheal tube, SDD (HR: 0.21) and surgical/trauma admission (HR: 3.11) remained associated with VAE. Among 102 subjects ventilated >7 days, only long-acting sedative/analgesic agents (HR: 8.69) remained independently associated with VAE. In summary, SDD implementation and long-acting analgesic/sedative agents restriction prescription may prevent early and late VAEs, respectively. Bundles developed to prevent VAEs should include these two interventions.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients in Turkey and to study related factors. Methods: This multicenter study was carried out between January 01 and April 15, 2015 in Turkey in 57 centers. Adults were enrolled and studied in three groups. Group 1: Inactive HBsAg carriers, Group 2: CHB patients receiving antiviral therapy, Group 3: CHB patients who were neither receiving antiviral therapy nor were inactive HBsAg carriers. Study data was collected by face-to-face interviews using a standardized questionnaire, Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Hepatitis B Quality of Life (HBQOL). Values equivalent to p < 0.05 in analyses were accepted as statistically significant. Results: Four thousand two hundred fifty-seven patients with CHB were included in the study. Two thousand five hundred fifty-nine (60.1 %) of the patients were males. Groups 1, 2 and 3, consisted of 1529 (35.9 %), 1721 (40.4 %) and 1007 (23.7 %) patients, respectively. The highest value of HRQOL was found in inactive HBsAg carriers. We found that total HBQOL score increased when antiviral treatment was used. However, HRQOL of CHB patients varied according to their socio-demographic properties. Regarding total HBQOL score, a higher significant level of HRQOL was determined in inactive HBV patients when matched controls with the associated factors were provided. Conclusions: The HRQOL score of CHB patients was higher than expected and it can be worsen when the disease becomes active. Use of an antiviral therapy can contribute to increasing HRQOL of patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients in Turkey and to study related factors. METHODS: This multicenter study was carried out between January 01 and April 15, 2015 in Turkey in 57 centers. Adults were enrolled and studied in three groups. Group 1: Inactive HBsAg carriers, Group 2: CHB patients receiving antiviral therapy, Group 3: CHB patients who were neither receiving antiviral therapy nor were inactive HBsAg carriers. Study data was collected by face-to-face interviews using a standardized questionnaire, Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Hepatitis B Quality of Life (HBQOL). Values equivalent to p < 0.05 in analyses were accepted as statistically significant. RESULTS: Four thousand two hundred fifty-seven patients with CHB were included in the study. Two thousand five hundred fifty-nine (60.1 %) of the patients were males. Groups 1, 2 and 3, consisted of 1529 (35.9 %), 1721 (40.4 %) and 1007 (23.7 %) patients, respectively. The highest value of HRQOL was found in inactive HBsAg carriers. We found that total HBQOL score increased when antiviral treatment was used. However, HRQOL of CHB patients varied according to their socio-demographic properties. Regarding total HBQOL score, a higher significant level of HRQOL was determined in inactive HBV patients when matched controls with the associated factors were provided. CONCLUSIONS: The HRQOL score of CHB patients was higher than expected and it can be worsen when the disease becomes active. Use of an antiviral therapy can contribute to increasing HRQOL of patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients in Turkey and to study related factors. Methods: This multicenter study was carried out between January 01 and April 15, 2015 in Turkey in 57 centers. Adults were enrolled and studied in three groups. Group 1: Inactive HBsAg carriers, Group 2: CHB patients receiving antiviral therapy, Group 3: CHB patients who were neither receiving antiviral therapy nor were inactive HBsAg carriers. Study data was collected by face-to-face interviews using a standardized questionnaire, Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Hepatitis B Quality of Life (HBQOL). Values equivalent to p < 0.05 in analyses were accepted as statistically significant. Results: Four thousand two hundred fifty-seven patients with CHB were included in the study. Two thousand five hundred fifty-nine (60.1 %) of the patients were males. Groups 1, 2 and 3, consisted of 1529 (35.9 %), 1721 (40.4 %) and 1007 (23.7 %) patients, respectively. The highest value of HRQOL was found in inactive HBsAg carriers. We found that total HBQOL score increased when antiviral treatment was used. However, HRQOL of CHB patients varied according to their socio-demographic properties. Regarding total HBQOL score, a higher significant level of HRQOL was determined in inactive HBV patients when matched controls with the associated factors were provided. Conclusions: The HRQOL score of CHB patients was higher than expected and it can be worsen when the disease becomes active. Use of an antiviral therapy can contribute to increasing HRQOL of patients. © 2016 The Author(s).

WOS: 000343871400010, PubMed ID: 25039423, This study aimed to isolate and identify the causal organism causing hyperplastic outgrowths (knots) on stems and branches of pomegranate trees in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey. Bacterial colonies were isolated from young knots on plates containing selective nutrient media. Biochemical tests, fatty acid analysis and PCR were performed to identify possible causal disease agent. Representative isolates were identified as Pseudomonas.pv.savastanoi (Psv) using biochemical tests, fatty acid profiling and PCR. Following inoculation of pomegranate plants (cv. hicaz) with bacterial suspensions, 25 of 54 bacterial isolates caused typical knots at the site of inoculation. PCR analysis, using specific primer for Psv, generated a single amplicon from all isolates. The similarity of the sequence of Turkish pomegranate isolate was 99% similar to the corresponding gene sequences of Psv in the databases. Based on symptoms, biochemical, molecular, pathogenicity tests and sequence analyses, the disease agent of knots observed on the pomegranate trees is Psv. To the best of our knowledge, this research has revealed pomegranate as a natural host of Psv, which extends the list of host plant species affected by the pathogen in the world and Turkey. Significance and Impact of the StudyPomegranate trees were affected by the disease with outgrowths (galls or knot) disease. Currently, there is no published study on disease agent(s) causing the galls or knots on pomegranate trees in worldwide. Bacterial colonies were isolated from young knots. The causal agent of the knot Pseudomonas savastanoi pv.savastanoi (Psv) was identified based on symptoms, biochemical, molecular methods, pathogenicity tests and sequence analysis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Psv on pomegranate as a natural host, which extends the growing list of plant species affected by this bacterium in the world and Turkey.

WOS: 000386954300001, PubMed: 27809934, Background: The aim of this study was to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients in Turkey and to study related factors. Methods: This multicenter study was carried out between January 01 and April 15, 2015 in Turkey in 57 centers. Adults were enrolled and studied in three groups. Group 1: Inactive HBsAg carriers, Group 2: CHB patients receiving antiviral therapy, Group 3: CHB patients who were neither receiving antiviral therapy nor were inactive HBsAg carriers. Study data was collected by face-to-face interviews using a standardized questionnaire, Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Hepatitis B Quality of Life (HBQOL). Values equivalent to p < 0.05 in analyses were accepted as statistically significant. Results: Four thousand two hundred fifty-seven patients with CHB were included in the study. Two thousand five hundred fifty-nine (60.1 %) of the patients were males. Groups 1, 2 and 3, consisted of 1529 (35.9 %), 1721 (40.4 %) and 1007 (23.7 %) patients, respectively. The highest value of HRQOL was found in inactive HBsAg carriers. We found that total HBQOL score increased when antiviral treatment was used. However, HRQOL of CHB patients varied according to their socio-demographic properties. Regarding total HBQOL score, a higher significant level of HRQOL was determined in inactive HBV patients when matched controls with the associated factors were provided. Conclusions: The HRQOL score of CHB patients was higher than expected and it can be worsen when the disease becomes active. Use of an antiviral therapy can contribute to increasing HRQOL of patients.

20. yüzyılın başlarında gelişmekte olan dünyanın en stratejik enerji kaynağı olarak kömürün yerini petrolün alması ile birlikte, zengin petrol kaynaklarına sahip olan Ortadoğu'nun önemi, coğrafî açıdan stratejik öneminin yanında daha da artmıştır. Bölgedeki zengin petrol yataklarının keşfinin bir sonucu olarak, bu topraklar batılı devletlerin hedefi haline gelmiştir. Tarih boyunca, barındırdığı etnik gruplar itibariyle Ortadoğu'nun bir minyatürü konumunda olan ve bölgenin neredeyse merkezinde bulunan Irak, tarihî süreçte pek çok önemli olaya şahit olmuş ve büyük güçlerin egemenliği altına girmiştir. 20. yüzyılın başlarında İngiltere'nin egemenliğine giren Irak, 2003 yılında bu kez ABD tarafından işgal edilmiştir.Zengin petrol yataklarıyla birlikte, önemli ölçüde su kaynaklarına ve bölgenin en fazla şehirli nüfusuna sahip tek Ortadoğu ülkesi olan Irak, bundan böyle de dünya gündeminden hiç düşmeyecekmiş gibi görünmektedir.Günümüzde petrol, enerji, mezhep çatışması, Kürt sorunu kavramları ile özdeşleşmiş olan Irak'ın parçalanması ve muhtemel bir iç savaş tehlikesi en çok tartışılan konulardan biridir. Irak içerisinde, ülkenin kuzey bölgesinde yoğunlaşmış Kürt nüfusun oluşturduğu Irak Kürt Bölgesel Yönetiminin (IKBY) varlığı ve attığı siyasî- ekonomik adımlar ile ülkedeki Şii varlığı, söz konusu tartışmaların kaynağını teşkil etmektedir.IKBY'nin benimsediği ve takip etmekte olduğu bu politikaların doğrudan etkileyeceği ülkelerin başında ise Türkiye gelmektedir. Bu nedenle bu çalışmada IKBY sosyo-ekonomik açıdan ele alınarak, bölgedeki gelişmelerin yansımaları Türkiye ve IKBY açısından incelenmeye çalışılmıştır.Çalışmanın hazırlanmasında, bu amaca yönelik incelemelerin yapılması ve mümkün olduğu kadar güncel bilgi ve gelişmeleri içermesi temel amaç olarak benimsenmiştir. Çalışmada devletten ve özel sektörden birinci elden bilgi toplama gayreti ve bu bölgede bulunmanın avantajının kullanılması hedeflenmiştir.Anahtar Kelimeler: Irak, Kuzey Irak, Uluslar Arası İlişkiler, Sosyo-Ekonomik İlişkiler Together with the oil?s taking the place of coil at the beginning of 20th century as the most important and critical energy resource of the developing world, the importance of Middle East, which has the richest oil reserves of the world, has increased much more, besides its strategic importance regarding the geography. As the result of exploration of the rich oil reserves in the region, these lands have become the target of western countries. It seems that Iraq, which has the %10 of world oil resources with its proved oil reserves, will continue to be the main topic of agenda also at the beginning of 21st century.Dismemberment of Iraq, which has been identified with the concepts of oil, energy, sectarian tension and Kurdish issue and the thread of a possible civil war are the ones among most discussed issues today. The existence of North Iraq Kurdish Regional Government formed by Kurdish population concentrated in the northern region of the country in Iraq and its politic and economic steps and the Shiite existence on the other hand, construct the main source of the aforesaid arguments.Turkey is the most important one among the countries which will be directly affected with these policies adopted and followed by North Iraq Kurdish Regional Government. Because of this reason North Iraq Kurdish Regional Government was considered in details within this scope and with the perspective of economic aspects and the reflections of developments in the region was tried to be analyzed from the point of Turkey and North Iraq Kurdish Regional Government.Which of the definitions stated above does North Iraq Kurdish Regional Government correspond with regarding the socio-economic scope or can all these definitions be applied to from the point of Turkey? This question is so important, critical and current issue for our country that it can not be answered at once as yes or no. North Iraq Kurdish Regional Government is certainly a formation that correct, realistic and objective analyses are required to be done for our country, which the concepts such as federation, autonomous administration is discussed regarding the solutions for Kurdish issue. Performing such analyses that may serve for these purposes and including up-to-date information and developments as much as possible are adopted as the primary objective during the preparation of the study.Keywords: Iraq, Northern Iraq, International Relations, Socio-Economic Relations 250