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Work-aggravated asthma is an important and common subtype of work-related asthma. Air pollutants in the workplace are important risk factors for triggering asthma symptoms. Air pollutants can be caused by the operating conditions of the work process, as well as by indoor and outdoor air pollution. In this study, a case of work-aggravated asthma is discussed. An office worker, who had been following up with a diagnosis of asthma for 6 years, was diagnosed with work-aggravated asthma. The reason underlying this diagnosis was the smoke and dust from nearby factories as well as the antiseptic substances used in the workplace. Following the diagnosis, the patient’s workplace was changed by the management. After such change, the patient’s symptoms have relieved and she needed less inhaler therapy than before. In summary, work-aggravated asthma can be exacerbated by factors in the workplace environment. Hence, the workplace environment should also be carefully questioned while assessing the risk factors at work.e

© Author(s).OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and evaluate the risk factors of work-related asthma among professional hospital cleaning workers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In total, 278 cleaning workers were interviewed (response rate: 75.7%), and pulmonary function tests were performed. The presence of asthma and its work-relatedness was evaluated. Serial peak expiratory flow measurements were planned according to symptoms increased at work or spirometric findings. RESULTS: Totally 40 cleaning workers had asthma (14.3%); of these, 17 (6.1%) had work-related asthma, and 23 (8.2%) had non-work-related asthma. Non-work-related asthma and work-related asthma were significantly associated with the females(odds ratio 95% CI: 3.0, 1.1-8.4, and 3.2, 1.0-10.3, respectively). Non-work-related asthma was significantly associated with a family history of asthma (odds ratio 95%CI: 5.1, 2.0-13.2 and 2.8, 0.99-7.9, respectively) and limescale remover use at work (odds ratio, 95% CI: 0.21, 0.04-0.97, and 1.7, 0.5-5.2, respectively). Only 7 (28.0%) of 25 cleaning workers who were suggested serial peak expiratory flow measurements could complete the measurements. Of those, measurements of 2 cleaning workers were consistent with occupational asthma. CONCLUSION: The negative association between limescale remover use at work and non-work-related asthma suggested health selec-tion bias (avoidance behavior) due to the asthmatic effects of these chemicals.

Determination of exercise capacity is crucial for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management since it is an indicator of life quality and mortality. Various previously defined tests, including the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), the 6-minute walking test (6MWT), and the incremental shuttle walk test, are used to determine COPD patients' exercise capacity. However, they all have some disadvantages, such as time, personnel, and equipment requirements, limiting their daily practice use. Here, it was aimed to investigate the role of 4-meter gait speed (4mGS) in evaluating exercise capacity in COPD.We included 40-to-70-year-old COPD patients with no contraindications for exercise testing. We performed the tests at standard intervals without affecting each other's results. We also performed spirometry. We used the modified Medical Research Council Scale, COPD Assessment Test, and BODE index to determine the current status of individuals.Twenty-three (female/male= 2/21) subjects aged 58.1 ± 7.3 were included in the study. A statistically significant correlation was observed between 4mGS and peak VO2 values. There was also a statistically significant relationship between 4mGS and 6MWT distance. 4mGS correlated with CAT and BODE scores to represent the general medical status of patients.Considering its easy applicability and reproducibility, 4mGS seems to be a strong candidate for daily clinical use in monitoring the exercise capacity of COPD patients. Further studies in larger patient groups are needed to support these results.

Amaç: Sigara önemli bir sağlık sorunudur. Sigara içicilerinin yaklaşık %70’i sigara bırakmayı istemektedir. Bu çalışmada; sigara bırakma polikliniğine başvuran ve davranışsal eğitim ve/veya farmakoterapi başlanan hastalarda sigara bırakma başarısını etkileyen faktörleri tespit etmeyi amaçladık. Yöntem: Ekim 2017-Şubat 2018 tarihleri arasında sigara bırakma polikliniğine başvuran hastaların demografik verileri, sigara içme durumları, daha önce sigara bırakma girişim durumları, Fageström nikotin bağımlılık test sonuçları, hastane anksiyete ve depresyon ölçek sonuçları, medikal öyküleri ve sigara bırakma farmakoterapisini ücretli/ücretsiz alma durumları hasta kayıtlarından elde edildi. Veriler istatistiksel olarak analiz edildi. Bulgular: Psikiyatrik hastalık öyküsü olan hastalarda 6 aylık sigara bırakma başarısı %14,8 iken psikiyatrik hastalık öyküsü olmayanlarda %39,1 bulunmuştur (p=0,035). Sağlık Bakanlığı sigara bırakma kampanyası bünyesinde ilaç temin eden hastalarda 6 ay sigara bırakma başarısı %30,9 iken ilacını ücretli temin eden hastalarda 6 ay sigara bırakma başarısı %18 bulunmuştur (p=0,006). Altıncı ayda sigarayı bırakabilmiş olan hastalarda ortalama kullanılan sigara bırakma ilacı kutu sayısı 1,9±0,922 iken sigarayı bırakamayanlarda 1,5±1,023 bulunmuştur (p

Obezite ile cinsel işlev bozukluklarının ilişkisi karmaşıktır ve tam olarak açıklığa kavuşmamaıştır. Önceki çalışmaların birçoğu küçük örneklemlerle gerçekleştirilmiştir ve birçok olası değişken kontrol edilmemiştir. Çalışmanın amacı, ulusal olarak temsil edici bir örneklemde yaş, kardiyovasküler sorunlar, diyabet, hipertansiyon, tiroid hastalıkları, uyku bozuklukları, anksiyete ve depresyon değişkenlerinin kontrol edilmesinden sonra, vücut kitle indeksi (VKI) ile şu andaki cinsel işlev bozukluklarının ilişkisinin kadın ve erkeklerde incelenmesidir. Örneklem 4162 olguyu içermektedir (2081 kadın ve 2081 erkek). Erkeklerde en sık raslanan cinsel işlev bozukluğu prematür ejekulasyon (8.8%) iken kadınlarda hipoaktif cinsel istek (13.9%) olarak saptanmıştır. Tek değişkenli analizler erkeklerde hipoaktif cinsel istek ve ereksiyon disfonksiyonunun; kadınlarda ise hipoaktif cinsel istek, cinsellikten zevk almama ve cinsel ağrı yakınmalarının obezite ile ilişkili olduğunu göstermiştir. Çok değişkenli analizler ise yaşın her iki cinsiyette de hemen hemen bütün cinsel işlev bozuklukları ile ilişkili olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Aktif cinsel yaşam olmaması, hipoaktif cinsel istek, cinsellikten zevk almama ve ereksiyon bozukluğu riskleri diyabetik erkeklerde daha yüksek bulunmuştur.Kadınlarda depresyon ve anksiyete belirtileri bütün cinsel işlev bozuklukları ile yakın bir ilişki gösterirken, erkeklerde hipoaktif cinsel istek, ereksiyon disfonksiyonu ve prematür ejekulasyon ile ilişkilidir. Her iki cinsiyette de diğer değişkenler kontrol edildikten sonra VKİ cinsel sorunlarla ilişkili değildir. Bu bulgular, obezite ile cinsel işlev bozuklukları arasındaki ilişkinin diğer faktörlerin etkisiyle ortaya çıkabileceğini düşündürmektedir. The association of obesity with sexual dysfunctions is complex and far from clear. Most former studies consisted of small samples and did not control several possible confounding factors. Our aim was to investigate the association of BMI with current sexual dysfunction in males and females in a nationally representative population sample after controlling for age, the presence of cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, hypertension, thyroid diseases, anxiety and depression and also menopause in women. The sample included a total of 4162 subjects (2081 females and 2081males). The most frequent sexual problem was premature ejaculation (8.8%) in males and hypoactive sexual desire disorder (13.9%) in females. Univariate analysis showed that hypoactive sexual desire and erectile dysfunction in males and hypoactive sexual desire, lack of pleasure from sexuality and sexual pain in females were associated with obesity. Multivariate analysis indicated that age was significantly associated with almost all types of sexual problems in both sexes. The risks of having no active sexual life, hypoactive sexual desire, lack of pleasure from sexuality and erectile dysfunction were higher in males with diabetes mellitus. Depression and anxiety were associated with all types of sexual problems in females and with no active sexual life, hypoactive sexual desire, erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation in men. In both sexes BMI was not associated with sexual problems after the confounding factors were controlled. The association of obesity with sexual dysfunction might be mediated by other factors.