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Objective: Obesity has been associated with chronic low‐grade systemic inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of pentraxin‐3 (PTX‐3) with anthropometric measurements, dietary content and physical activity level in children. Design: A matched group study. Patients: This study was conducted with 91 children aged 6–17 years, divided into two groups: "non‐obese group" (Body Mass Index Standard Deviation Score [BMI SDS] <95th percentile) and "obese group" (BMI SDS ≥95th percentile). Measurements: Plasma PTX‐3 levels. Results: The mean age of 91 children included in the study was 12.34 ± 2.86 years. Plasma PTX‐3 levels were significantly higher in obese children (p =.028). No significant correlation was found between BMI SDS and plasma PTX‐3 values, but a weak positive correlation was found when physical activity level was controlled (r =.176, p =.049). In addition, it was found that fat mass was a partial mediator of plasma PTX‐3 level, and an increase in the amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue negatively affected plasma PTX‐3 level. Plasma PTX‐3 level showed a weak positive correlation (r =.223, p =.017) with physical activity score and dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid intake, while a weak negative correlation with neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio. One unit increase in physical activity score or polyunsaturated fatty acid level caused 0.730 and 2.061 unit increases in plasma PTX‐3 level, respectively; while one unit increase in dietary fat intake caused 0.413‐unit decrease. Conclusion: There was an indirect relationship between the amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue and PTX‐3 level. The results of our study suggested that plasma PTX‐3 was associated with lower levels of inflammation in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are hesitations about the use of surgical face masks, which are the main tools in protection from the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the biggest disasters of our age, in chronic airway diseases. The purpose of the study was to examine how stable patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) responded to short-term surgical mask use in terms of in-mask air quality, oxygen saturation, and pulmonary function. Forty-one patients with stable COPD, by clinical presentation and pulmonary function tests (PFTs), were included in a quasi-experimental study. Stable COPD patients' PFTs, in-mask air quality, and pollution measures were collected before and after wearing surgical masks for two hours at rest. The findings of simultaneous tests of peripheral-blood-oxygen saturation were also recorded. The mean age of participants was 67.1 years and 87.8% were male. The pre- and post-mask PFTs parameters for GOLD (A+B) group were FEV1 (ml), FEV1 (%), FVC (ml), FVC (%), FEV1/FVC (%) and DLCO (%) (p=0.067, p=0. 065, p=0.062, p=0.083, p=0.083, p=0.269, p=0.956, respectively), whereas in GOLD (C+D) group (p=0.340, p=0.538, p=0.728, p=0.044, p=0.105, p=0.054, respectively). In post-mask measurements, the respiratory function was not impaired in GOLD-2022 (A-B-C-D) COPD subgroups. Oxygen and carbon-monoxide concentrations in exhaled air and oxygen saturation decreased after surgical mask use. The difference was statistically significant, but the difference was unimportant in terms of clinical implications. Surgical masks don't appear to have a negative effect on pulmonary function and clinical parameters in stable COPD. This study may help provide evidence-based data to overcome hesitations in use of surgical masks in chronic airway diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Karya Journal of Health Science is the property of Karya Journal of Health Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccine schemes, homologous versus heterologous vaccine strategies, and vaccine-induced anti-S-RBD-IgG antibody response in preventing COVID-19 among 942 healthcare workers 1 year after vaccination with the inactivated and/or mRNA vaccines. All participants received the first two primary doses of vaccines, 13.6% of them lacked dose 3, 50.5% dose 4, and 90.3% dose 5. Antibody levels increased with the increase in number of vaccine doses and also in heterologous vaccine regimens. In both inactive, mRNA vaccines and mixed vaccination, infection rates were significantly higher in two-dose-receivers, but lower in four- or five-dose receivers and increasing the total number of vaccine doses resulted in more protection against infection: the three-dose regimen yielded 3.67 times more protection, the four-dose 8 times, and five-dose 27.77 times more protection from COVID-19 infection, compared to any two-dose vaccination regimens. Antibody levels at the end of the first year of four- or five-dose-receivers were significantly higher than two- or three-dose receivers. To conclude, an increased number of total vaccine doses and anti-S-RBD antibody levels increased the protection from COVID-19 infection. Therefore, four or more doses are recommended in 1 year for effective protection, especially in risk groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the mixed and homogeneous application of the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine CoronaVac (CV) and the mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 (BNT). This prospective cohort study included 235 health care workers who had received two prime shots with CoronaVac. They were divided into three cohorts after the third month: Cohort-I (CV/CV); Cohort-II (CV/CV/CV); and Cohort-III (CV/CV/BNT). Anti-S-RBD-IgG and total anti-spike/anti-nucleocapsid-IgG antibody concentrations were examined in vaccinated health workers at the 1st, 3rd, and 6th months following the second dose of the vaccination. The mean age of 235 health care workers who participated in the project was 39.51 ± 10.39 (min-max: 22–64). At the end of the 6th month, no antibodies were detected in 16.7% of Cohort-I participants, and anti-S-RDB IgG levels showed a decrease of 60% compared to the levels of the 3rd month. The antibody concentrations of the 6th month were found to have increased by an average of 5.13 times compared to the 3rd-month levels in Cohort-II and 20.4 times in Cohort-III. The heterologous vaccination strategy "CoronaVac and BNT162b2 regimen" is able to induce a stronger humoral immune response and it will help remove inequalities in the developing world where CoronaVac was the initial prime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Various COVID-19 vaccines are being developed around the world. Important questions to be answered regarding vaccines are efficacy, safety, and whether antibodies are protective when used in different communities. This study aimed to determine seroconversion rates of the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in healthcare workers in a hospital and short-term adverse events due to the vaccine. Materials and methods: The study carried out in Çukurova University, Turkey, comprised of 282 healthcare workers who received two doses of the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine administered in two 3 µg doses, 28 days apart. On day 28, after the second dose, antiS-RBD IgG and total anti-spike and anti-nucleocapsid IgM and IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were detected by using in vitro chemiluminescence immunoassay method. Results: The mean age of participants was 39.06±10.65 (min=21, max=65) with 43.6% males and 56.4% females. On day 28, after the second dose, the seroconversion rates were found to be 92.9% for total anti-spike and anti-nucleocapsid IgG and 15.2% for IgM and 98.2% for anti-S-RBD IgG antibodies and having natural COVID-19 prior to vaccination, age and comorbidity were found to be significant factors for immunogenicity. The incidence of at least one adverse event was found as 29.8% after the first dose and 24.1% after the second dose, with the most common adverse events of having pain at the injection site, weakness, fatigue, and headache. Conclusion: On day 28, after the second dose of 3 μg of the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine administration, a high rate of seroconversion was observed with no serious adverse event. Natural COVID-19 history, age, and comorbidity were significant contributors to the formation of a strong immune response. It can be concluded that a third dose may be considered in people aged 50 years and older and those with comorbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the COVID-19 pandemic, facemasks are widely used and it seems that they will be still with us for a longer time all over the world. There is an ongoing discussion about whether facemasks can be harmful to human health. Therefore, a series of quasi-experimental studies were planned to investigate the effect of masks both on breathing air quality and on physiological outcomes. This second step of the series aimed to investigate the effect of three mask types, commonly used in the community and by healthcare professionals, on breathing air quality, peripheral blood oxygen saturation and heart rate. This study included 30 healthy health workers and compared three types of facemasks: surgical face-masks, FFP2 facepiece respirators with and without exhalation valves. The measurements were made at rest and in room conditions. Oxygen, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds concentrations, humidity and temperature were measured in the room area, in the mouth-nose area before the mask was worn and in the same area inside the mask after the mask was worn, while simultaneous blood oxygen concentrations and heart rates were recorded. Significant alterations were observed in in-mask oxygen, volatile organic compounds, humidity and temperature parameters, but never causing inhaled oxygen concentrations to fall below 19.5%, which is the hazardous atmospheric environment oxygen level. The most prominent differences between atmospheric and in-mask values were observed in humidity and temperature (p<0.001). Measured blood oxygen saturations and heart rates were found not to be significantly different between three types of masks, being minimum and maximum values of both within physiological limits. It can be concluded that wearing surgical facemasks, FFP2 facepiece respirators with and without exhalation valves were found not to differ significantly by their physiological effect at rest, but the humidity and temperature in inhaled in-mask air to be above tolerable levels. Working to increase mask comfort can be recommended in order to increase the tolerance to wearing a mask. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effect of surgical masks (SM), which are widely used in the community in the fight against COVID-19, on breathing air quality and blood oxygen saturation among healthy people. This study included 45 healthy individuals. At rest and indoor conditions; blood oxygen concentrations and heart rates were recorded, while simultaneous oxygen (OO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SOO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), VOC (volatile organic compounds) concentrations, and humidity and temperature were measured both in the mouthnose area (MNA) in the indoor area before the mask was worn, and in MNA inside the mask (in-mask) after the mask was worn. The mean age of 45 healthy participants was 36.06 with a male to female ratio of 53.3% to 46.7%. When the indoor room air values in MNA without SM were compared with in-mask MNA values; inmask O2 saturation was observed to decrease, CO to increase in smokers, and VOC, humidity and temperature to significantly increase in all participants. SM wearing was observed not to significantly alter simultaneously measured peripheral blood O2 saturation and resting heart rate. The (measured) effect of SM wearing on O2 saturation and heart rate was found to be very small. Wearing a surgical mask was found not to impair blood O2 saturation in healthy individuals at rest. Further studies can be recommended to support the results in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cukurova Medical Journal / Çukurova Üniversitesi Tip Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Cukurova University, Faculty of Medicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Turkish Nephrology, Dialysis & Transplantation Journal is the property of Turkish Society of Nephrology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Physical, chemical, and bacteriological properties of municipally supplied water and well water in selected towns and the city centre (Niğde, population 76,000) of the province of Niğde, located in central Anatolia, in Turkey, were investigated in this study. A composition of 70 samples were collected, 31 from Niğde city centre; 17 from Bor; 8 from Ulukışla; 6 from Altunhisar; 6 from Çiftlik and 2 from Çamardı. Analyses showed that all the samples collected were found to have been chemically safe to consume for domestic purposes. Twenty-three water samples were found potentially unsafe because of the existence of coliform bacteria in them, which was probably caused by the inexistence of sufficient chlorination. Physical tests indicated that 11 water samples were found to have deposit; therefore, the use of such water causes risks where human health is a concern, based upon Turkish national standards (TSE, 1984). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]