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Purpose: The process during and after heart transplantation is quite complicated, and studies addressing patient experiences are needed. Heart transplantation particularly affects the recipients' activities of daily living and exposes them to various complications. The aim of this study is to explore the experiences of heart transplant recipients during and after heart transplantation., Methods: This qualitative, phenomenological research was conducted with 11 heart transplant recipients in the university hospital, which is one of the 14 heart transplantation centers in Turkey. The data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews in a private room that ensured both the comfort of the participants and the necessary conditions for safe data collection. The interviews were recorded using an audio recorder, transcribed, and then analyzed using inductive content analysis. Data collection was terminated after the 11th interview when the data reached the saturation point., Results: The study data were categorized into the following three main themes and subthemes: (1) a new life with a new heart; an opportunity arising at an unexpected time, heart donation, and transplantation as a value, (2) challenges; management of medication therapy and side effects, emotion management, maintaining social relations, and social stigma, and (3) coping; faith in God and praying, responsibility of living with a blessing (donated heart), health professional support, family support, and peer counseling. In line with these themes, expressions of value given to new life and gratitude to heart transplantation were important. The availability and diversity of support sources came to the fore in coping. Social stigma expressions of especially male patients were remarkable in challenges., Conclusion: At the end of the study, the experiences of heart transplant recipients were obtained regarding a new life with a new heart, challenges, and coping. The study results provide an insight into the challenges that the heart transplant recipients face and their coping strategies, guiding the healthcare professionals. The challenges and relevant coping strategies of heart transplant recipients may be integrated into clinical practice and may help plan patient's care. The results may also be used to design and implement an intervention program to improve care for these patients.

There is concern about an emerging diabetes epidemic in Turkey. We aimed to determine the prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes, prediabetes and their 12-year trends and to identify risk factors for diabetes in the adult Turkish population. A cross-sectional, population-based survey, 'TURDEP-II' included 26,499 randomly sampled adults aged ≥ 20 years (response rate: 87 %). Fasting glucose and biochemical parameters were measured in all; then a OGTT was performed to identify diabetes and prediabetes in eligible participants. The prevalence of diabetes was 16.5 % (new 7.5 %), translating to 6.5 million adults with diabetes in Turkey. It was higher in women than men (p = 0.008). The age-standardized prevalence to the TURDEP-I population (performed in 1997-98) was 13.7 % (if same diagnostic definition was applied diabetes prevalence is calculated 11.4 %). The prevalence of isolated-IFG and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and combined prediabetes was 14.7, 7.9, and 8.2 %, respectively; and that of obesity 36 % and hypertension 31.4 %. Compared to TURDEP-I; the rate of increase for diabetes: 90 %, IGT: 106 %, obesity: 40 % and central obesity: 35 %, but hypertension decreased by 11 % during the last 12 years. In women age, waist, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, low education, and living environment; in men age, BMI, and hypertension were independently associated with an increased prevalence of diabetes. In women current smoking, and in men being single were associated with a reduced risk. These results from one of the largest nationally representative surveys carried out so far show that diabetes has rapidly become a major public health challenge in Turkey. The figures are alarming and underscore the urgent need for national programs to prevent diabetes, to manage the illness and thus prevent complications.

CYP 2E1 is involved in metabolic activation of carcinogenic N-nitrosamines, benzene, urethane and other low molecular weight compounds. CYP2E1 gene is present in the population in various polymorphic forms. We detected the RFLP of the human CYP2E1 gene with the restriction endonuclease PstI, RsaI and DraI in a group of 153 Turkish individuals. According to the results of the PstI/RsaI analysis, 96.07% of the subjects were of the c1/c1 genotype, and 3.93% were of the c1/c2 genotype. In the DraI RFLP analysis, 84.30% DD genotype, 15.03% CD genotype and 0.66% CC genotype were determined. The data obtained may be useful in epidemiological studies of the influence of CYP2E1 polymorphism on carcinogenesis., (Copyright 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)