This study failed to demonstrate significant relationship between serum vitamin D levels and the severity and extent of coronary artery disease. Further studies with more participation and homogenous groups with comparable individual and environmental features are needed to evaluate the association of serum vitamin D levels and cardiovascular diseases.

Background: Increasing breastfeeding duration may help physician mothers better counsel their patients. To improve the breastfeeding duration of physician mothers, the factors that may influence their breastfeeding duration should be known. Research Aim: To investigate the breastfeeding behavior and duration among physician mothers and to determine the factors that influence breastfeeding practices. Methods: This was an online prospective cross-sectional self-report survey. A 26-item author-created data-collecting tool inquiring sociodemographic and work characteristics, medical history of delivery, and breastfeeding history was sent to female physicians who had infants between 12 and 60 months of age via an online social group, “Physician Mothers,” with 11,632 members. Participants ( N = 615) responded, and descriptive statistics were analyzed. Results: Participants’ mean duration of exclusive breastfeeding was 4.8 months ( SD = 1.9). The total breastfeeding length was a mean 15.8 months ( SD = 7.6). The rate of breastfeeding duration for at least 24 months was 17.8% ( n = 75). The most common reason for weaning from breastfeeding was workplace-related conditions (23.6%, n = 145). Participants reported that the mean time of resuming night shifts after delivery was 8.6 months ( SD = 4.7). The rate of participants who were unable to use their breastfeeding leave rights partially or completely was 43.6% ( n = 268). Conclusion: Although legislation is in place to allow working mothers to breastfeed their infants, these legal rights were not used properly. Physician mothers should be fully supported in using their breastfeeding leave rights, and workplace conditions should be improved to enable physician mothers to breastfeed their infants for extended periods.

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Objective: The aim of this study is to define the health knowledge, cigarette smoking behaviors, attempts and successes to quit smoking and obstacles indicated by the ones who still smoke among a Training and Research Hospital staff four years after the application of the law "Smoke Free Air Zone". Methods: A questionnaire developed by the researchers is used for this cross sectional research. It questions the sociodemographic features and thoughts and attitudes about the "Smoke Free Air Zone" and "Smoke Free Hospital" applications. Fagerstrom Nicotine Dependence Test is also applied to the smoking attendants to define the level of dependence. Results: It was found that 29.6% of the participants still smoke. Among the still smoking ones; 29.4% did not ever attempt to quit, 28.2% attempted before starting work in the hospital, 20% attempted after starting work in the hospital and 22.4% attempted on both periods. Regarding the questions about application of "Smoke Free Hospital" it was found that 70.7% of the hospital staff support the application, 53.3% think that violators should be punished with a penalty, 48.1% think that it should be punished by the administration, 30.1% think that passive smoking is an intrusion to the personal rights and 59.1% think that quitters increased with this application. Conclusion: Reducing the smoking rates among healthcare staff is extremely important in the struggle against smoking. Establishment of applications with institutional education programs and easing access to the related services may be helpful for healthcare personnel quit smoking.

Objective:Previous studies have suggested that there is a relationship between coronary artery disease (CAD) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. Here, we aimed to evaluate the association between PTH levels and severity of CAD.Methods:Patients were divided into two groups based on their serum PTH values. Patients with PTH levels ≤72 pg/mL were accepted as Group 1 (n=568) and >72 pg/mL as Group 2 (n=87). Gensini score system and >50% stenosis in any coronary artery with conventional coronary angiography were used to determine the extensiveness of CAD. This study was designed as a prospective and cross-sectional study.Results:Baseline characteristics except for age, gender, and blood pressure were similar between groups. Mean serum PTH levels of the entire cohort was 43.4±29.5 pg/mL. Median Gensini score was 19.5 in Group 1 and 14.5 in Group 2 (p=0.75). On the other hand, PTH levels were weakly correlated with Gensini score (Spearman’s Rho=0.11, p=0.003). Additionally, we did not observe a statistically significant difference between PTH levels and the number of stenotic vessels (p=0.14). This study was designed as a prospective and cross-sectional study.Conclusion:There is no association between serum PTH levels and extensiveness of CAD.