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Welding is anindustrial process that materials are joined by fusion. The health hazardsrelated to welding are well discussed andthe toxic effects of welding to the lungs are already known. But theeffects of heavy metals exposureduring welding on the lungs are currently equivocal. In this study weinvestigated the associationbetween lead and cadmium levels and pulmonary function among welders.This is adescriptive study. Two hundred seven non-smoker male participants includedcontrols and welders who presentedAnkara Occupational Disease Hospital for annual medical examination were included to the study. Three groupswere classified; which 61 of themwere controls, 96 of them were exposed workers, working less than 4 hours a dayand 50 of the participants were exposed workers, working more than 4 hours aday. Existence of recent acute or chronic diseases, having medications andsmoking used for exclusion. We assessed symptoms, performed spirometry,measured serum Cd and lead levels in all study subjects. Also we tested theassociation between serum Cd and lead levels and lung function using multipleregression analysis.FVC and FEV1increased and FEV1/FVC decreased in welders who were exposed to metal fumesless than 4 hours a day (p

• Objective: This study included 1226 pregnant women who gave birth in our hospital's Department of Obstetrics and their newborns to evaluate the effects of maternal smoking on neonatal anthropometric measurements. • Material and Method: Information about daily cigarette smoking patterns were collected by a questionnaire and the neonatal anthropometric measurements were recorded. The mothers with high risk pregnancies, multiple births and chronic diseases and the preterms, neonates with congenital anomalies and hospitalized neonates were excluded. • Results: Of the 1226 women 940 (76.6%) never smoked; while 286 (23.4%) were smoker. Two hundred and five mothers smoking 1-5 cigarettes daily were classified as mild smokers, whereas 81 women smoking more than 5 cigarettes daily as heavy smoker. Eighty one heavy smokers constituted 28.3% of the 286 mothers who smoked and the 6.7% of the whole study population. There as no statistical difference between smokers and non-smokers regarding to socio-cultural and economic status. The average weight, height, chest and head circumference of children born from heavy smoker mother group was 160 gr, 0.65 cm, 0.38 cm and 0.28 cm smaller than the non-smoker group respectively. A statistically significant difference was found regarding height and weight, but not for head and chest circumference. • Conclusion: It was found that as the number of cigarettes smoked increased by mother, especially the weight of the newborn decreased and the height also is adversely affected.

Aim: Blood donors are screened for various pathogens including hepatitis and cytomegalovirus. Screening for toxic metal levels is not routine process. The aims of our study were to determine the whole blood levels of toxic metals, cadmium and lead, and levels of the trace elements iron, zinc, and copper, of non-exposed Turkish subjects and also to identify individuals living under the risk of chronic metal toxicity. Material and Method: Whole blood lead and cadmium levels were analyzed by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Metal levels were determined in the whole blood and serum samples of 211 male blood donors (aged 19 to 55; 33.71±8.69 years). Statistical analysis was performed by SPSSv16. Results: Average levels of cadmium, lead, zinc, copper and iron were found to be 1.27±0.88 µg L-1, 25.1±12.44 µg L-1, 0.97±0.16 mg L-1, 1.10±0.21 mg L-1, and 476.53±42.41 mg L-1, respectively. Donor age had a statistically significant positive correlation only with copper levels (p0.05). A statistically significant association was found between smoking and cadmium levels (p

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Background: Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis C (HCV) are blood borne pathogens which are the major cause of viral hepatitis. And they are important occupational hazards for health care workers. In this we investigated the seroprevalance of HBV and HCV among dental technicans. Materials and method: Sera samples were analyzed for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B antibody (Anti-HBs) and hepatitis C antibody (Anti-HCV) in dental technicans who work in Ankara. Results: Total of serology results of 583 dental technicans were evaluated. HBsAg, Anti-HBs and Anti-HCV were detected in 3.08%, 45.9% and 0%, respectively. Conclusion: Dental technicans are not at risks for HBV and HCV more than the normal population.

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Objective: The study aimed to assess tendon thickness in patients with chronic occupational lead exposure by using ultrasonography. Methods: Twenty-seven male workers (mean age 32.9 +/- 6.2 years, range 25-44 years) with occupational lead exposure and 27 age-and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy male subjects (mean age 33.1 +/- 5.6 years, range 25-44 years) were enrolled. Ultrasonographic measurements were obtained from the supraspinatus and Achilles tendons by using a linear probe (5-10 MHz). Results: Mean Achilles tendon values at long axis (p = 0.034) and tendon cross-sectional area (p = 0.013) were significantly smaller in the lead-exposed group than the control group. On the other hand, no significant difference was found regarding the thickness of the supraspinatus tendon (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Our preliminary results imply that subjects with occupational lead exposure have smaller Achilles tendons than healthy subjects. Chronic lead exposure may affect the tendons due to reduction of collagen synthesis. Further studies are definitely needed to confirm our initial findings.

BACKGROUND As shown in several studies, besides being used in breast cancer, tamoxifen is also known for its antifibrotic effects via reducing the serum TGF-beta levels. We investigated the possible preventive effect of tamoxifen in rats exposed to silica particles depending on the antifibrotic effect. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 102 adult female Wistar Albino rats were divided into five groups. First two groups (control and tmx) were free of silica and the last three groups (slc, tmx1 and tmx 10) were exposed to crystalline silica. The rats in tmx, tmx1 and tmx10 groups received 10 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg of body weight tamoxifen, respectively. On day 84, all rats were sacrified and tissue samples were obtained together with blood samples. The differences in serum TGF-β levels, histological grades of fibrosis and inflammation in the lung and liver tissues together with addional biochemical markers were calculated between the groups. RESULTS Silicosis occurred in slc, tmx1 and tmx10 groups in 100%, 91.7% and 52.1%, respectively. Liver fibrosis did not occur. The highest mean lung fibrosis scores were obtained in slc group while the scores were lower in tmx1 group and the lowest in tmx10 within silica-exposed rats. Nevertheless, the inflammation scores were higher in tamoxifen-administered rats in a dose-dependent pattern. CONCLUSION Silica inhalation did not result in liver fibrosis. Tamoxifen is found to prevent lung fibrosis and reduce serum TGFβ-1 levels while increasing lung inflammation (Tab. 3, Fig. 3, Ref. 27).

The current study aims to explore both personal and team-related sports behavior dimensions of Turkish children soccer players. It has been argued that several personal dispositions such as achievement motivation, fear of failure, and aggression levels (Wann, Haynes, McLean, and Pullen, 2003) could be at play when the child is trying to achieve in a sports context. Among related outcomes of these personal dispositions, sports performance, teamwork (Martin, Carron, Eys, and Loughead, 2012), fairplay and sportsmanship behaviors (Arthur-Banning, Wells, Baker, and Hegreness, 2009) have been widely researched and discussed in the literature. The current study will try to explore the relationships between these dimensions from a personal disposition perspective using an observational method. The sample consisted of 79 selected male soccer players. A total of 6 teams were observed during soccer play competition games. The results revealed interesting findings regarding the relationships between several personal and team-related behavior dimensions.

Grape seed extract (GSE) is one of the strongest known antioxidants. GSE actively prevents the formation of free radicals and assists in their elimination. Our aim was to investigate the effects on epileptiform activity of GSE administered concurrently with swimming exercises. A total of 35 male albino Wistar rats were used in this study. Epileptiform activity was induced in rats through the injection of penicillin (500 IU) into the left cerebral cortex. Thirty minutes after the application of penicillin, 200 mg/kg of GSE dissolved in normal saline was administered intraperitoneally. Based on the results of the statistical analysis, a significant decrease in spike frequency was observed after 60 minutes in the 15-minute group (67%), after 40 minutes in the 30-minute group (43%), and after 40 minutes in the 60-minute group (42%), while no significant decrease was identified in the amplitude values of the groups. According to the study results, in rats performing short-, medium-, and long-term swimming exercises, GSE administration allowed epileptiform activity to decrease within a shorter period of time. Thus, patients with epilepsy can potentially perform swimming exercises more safely by regularly using antioxidant substances.

PubMed: 21196946 The aim of the present study is to understand the basic relationship between swimming exercise and natural course of epilepsy in animals by performing an electrophysiological study. For this purpose, male Wistar rats were submitted to daily swimming exercise program of three different durations. Animals were swim-exercised for 90 days with either 15 minutes, 30 minutes or 60 minutes/day. Thereafter, the epileptiform activity was induced by a single microinjection of penicillin (500 units) into the left somatomotor cortex. Short-duration swimming exercise (15 min per day for 90 days) decreased the mean frequency and amplitude of penicillin-induced epileptiform activity in the 70 and 90 minutes after penicillin injection compared to penicillin administered group, respectively. Moderate-duration (30 min per day for 90 days) and long-duration (60 min per day for 90 days) swimming exercise did not alter either the frequency or amplitude of epileptiform activity. The results of the present study provide electrophysiologic evidence that short-duration swimming exercise partially inhibits penicillin-induced epileptiform activity. These data also suggest that moderate and long-duration swimming exercise do not increase either the frequency or severity of seizure in the model of penicillin-induced epilepsy. © 2010 by Polish Neuroscience Society - PTBUN, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology.

The Effects of Unilateral Forced Nostril Breathing on Intraocular Pressure in Healthy SportsmenNasal cycle, which is regulated by sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system, is a simultaneous congestion-decongestion response in the nasal cavity. This shows a dynamic latéralisation of the autonomic nervous system. It is suggested that unilateral forced nostril breathing (UFNB) selectively produced hemispheric stimulation in the opposite side. In this study, we investigated the effects of unilateral forced nostril breathing (UFNB) on intraocular pressure (IOP) in healthy sportsmen. After baseline applanation tonometric testing with prior instillation of topical anesthetic 43 voluntairs underwent 10 minutes right UFNB with the left nostril completely blocked by cotton packing. We measured IOPs and the voluntairs underwent 10 minutes left UFNB with the right nostril completely blocked by cotton packing. We measured IOPs again. There was a statistically significant decrease in IOPs after right UFNB and increase in IOPs after left UFNB.Nazal siklus, otonom sinir sisteminin sempatik ve parasempatik dallan tarafından düzenlenen, burun boşluğundaki simültane konjesyon-dekonjesyon cevabıdır ve otonom sinir sisteminin dinamik lateralizasyonunu yansıür. Tek taraflı zorlu burun solunumunun (TZBS) seçici olarak, karşı tarafta hemisferik uyanın oluşturduğu ileri sürülmektedir. Bu çalışmada, sporcularda tek taraflı zorlu burun solunumunun (TZBS) göz içi basıncına (GİB) etkisi prospeküf olarak incelendi.43 sağlıklı sporcuda topikal anestezi altında aplanasyon tonometresi ile başlangıç GİB'lan ölçüldü. Sol burun deliği nemli pamukla kapatılarak, 10 dakika sağ burunla TZBS yapürıldı. GİB'lan ölçüldü. Sonra sağ burun deliği kapatılarak, sol burunla TZBS yaptırıldı ve yeniden GİB'lan ölçüldü. Sağ burunla TZBS yapanların GİB'lannda istatistiksel olarak oldukça anlamlı bir düşüş gözlendi. Sol burunla TZBS yapanlarda ise istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir artış tespit edildi

Arı kuşu(Merops apiaster L.),Gugukgiller(Coccygomorphae ) takımının Meropidae(Bee-eaters:Arı kuşugiller)familyasındandır. Göçmen kuşlardan olan M.apiaster,Orta Anadolu Bölgesinin hemen her yerine yayılmıştır.Fakat genellikle Sakarya nehri vadisi boyunca uygun biyotoplarda Mayıs-Ekim ayları arasında daha yoğun olarak bulunmaktadır. Ergene(l945)!e göre Arı kuşları sinekler,kın kanatlılar, küçük kelebekler,çekirgeler,kız böcekleri ve zar kanatlı(iğneli ve iğnesiz)böceklerle beşlenirler.Genelde böcekcil olmaları nedeniyle faydalı bir kuş olarak kabul edilmektedirler.Ancak yoğun olarak bulundukları yerlerde,Bal arısı(Apis mellifica L.)kolonilerinde her zaman önemli zararlar meydana getirmektedir.Hatta bazen çiftleşme uçuşuna çıkmış ana arı namzetlerine saldırarak kovan neslinin geleceğini tehlikeye sokmaktadırlar.Bu nedenle Arı kuşunun zararlı olduğu alanlarda arıcılık yapmak imkansız hale gelmekte çaresiz kalan bir kısım arıcıların kovanlarını başka yerlere taşıdıkları bilinmektedir. Ankara ilinin Polatlı ilçesine bağlı Beyliköprü köyü arı - cılarından Baha Güravcı,1979 yılında bir Arı kuşu kapanı geliştirmiş ve çevredeki köylerde bal arılarında zarar yapan M.apiaster erginlerini canlı olarak yakalamaya başlamıştır. Bölgede yaz aylarında Arı kuşu populasyonu,bal arılarında zarar yapamayacak düzeye düşürüldüğü zaman kapan uygulamasına son verilmektedir.

Klorlandırılmış hidrokarbonlar, organik fosforlu bileşikler ve diğer bazı geniş $£ektfunllu ilâçların zararlı böceklere karşı, gelişi güzel kullanılması, tarımsal £gvaşı ,zor bir safhaya getirmiştir. Bunun sonucu olarak; insektisitlere karşı dayanıklı ırkların meydana gelmesi, asalak ve avcı böceklerin azalması, insan ve hayvan besini olan çeşitli bitkilerde ilâç bakiyelerine rastlanması, yeni yeni zararlıların hakim duruma gelmeleri ve fitotoksisite gibi çözüm bekleyen bir çok problem ortaya çıkmıştır. Zararlılarla savaşta yeni bazı teknik yöntemlerin geliştirilmesi, integre savaşmetodlarının uygulanmasını daha geniş ve etkili bir hale getirmektedir. Örneğin son yıllarda böceklerle kimyasal savaş yerine, radyasyonun böceklere olan etkilerinden yararlanma yoluna gidilmektedir.

Nasal cycle, which is regulated by sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system, is a simultaneous congestion-decongestion response in the nasal cavity. This shows a dynamic lateralisation of the autonomic nervous system. It is suggested that unilateral forced nostril breathing (UFNB) selectively produced hemispheric stimulation in the opposite side. In this study, we investigated the effects of unilateral forced nostril breathing (UFNB) on intraocular pressure (IOP) in healthy sportsmen. After baseline applanation tonometric testing with prior instillation of topical anesthetic 43 voluntairs underwent 10 minutes right UFNB with the left nostril completely blocked by cotton packing. We measured IOPs and the voluntairs underwent 10 minutes left UFNB with the right nostril completely blocked by cotton packing. We measured IOPs again. There was a statistically significant decrease in IOPs after right UFNB and increase in IOPs after left UFNB.

Objectives: Occupational lead (Pb) exposure is still an important health problem in the world. Long-term Pb exposure causes several adverse effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of inflammation markers with chronic Pb exposure by analyzing neopterin levels and kynurenine (Kyn) to tryptophan (Trp) ratio that reflects indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity and to compare with healthy volunteers' parameters. Methods: Blood lead levels (BLLs) were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. Urinary neopterin and serum Kyn and Trp levels were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: According to our results, mean BLL of the 29 workers was 20.4±9.6 μg/dl. Urinary neopterin levels, serum Kyn levels, and Kyn/Trp of Pb workers (188±52 μmol/mol creatinine, 2.70±0.66 μM, and 43.19±10.38 μmol/mmol, respectively) were significantly higher than controls (144±35 μmol/mol creatinine, 2.08±0.34 μM, and 32.24±7.69 μmol/mmol, respectively). Pb-exposed workers were divided into further three groups according to their BLLs: as 10-19 μg/dl (n=18), 20-29 μg/dl (n=8), and 30-49 μg/dl (n=3). Neopterin levels of the workers with BLL of 30-49 μg/dl were significantly higher than those of BLL with 10-29 μg/dl, while Trp levels decreased. Kyn/Trp of workers with BLL of 30-49 μg/dl were elevated significantly compared with the workers with BLL