Study design: An epidemiological study conducted all over the country.Objective: The present retrospective study was conducted to survey the new traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) cases during 1992 in Turkey. Setting: Intensive care units, emergency services and departments of orthopaedic surgery, neurosurgery and rehabilitation of state hospitals, rehabilitation centers, military and university hospitals. Methods: Postal questionnaires were used for data collection and the records from medical institutes nation-wide were reviewed for the analysis of the epidemiological factors. Results: Five hundred and eighty-one new traumatic SCI cases were reported in 1992. The annual incidence was found to be 12.7 per million population. Male to female ratio was 2.5 : 1 and the average age at injury was 35.5+15.1 (35.4+14.8 for males and 35.9+16.0 for females). The most common cause of injury was motor vehicle accidents (48.8%) followed by falls (36.5%), stab wounds (3.3%), gunshot injuries (1.9%) and injuries from diving (1.2%). One hundred and eighty-seven patients (32.18%) were tetraplegic and 394 patients (67.8%) were paraplegic. The most common level of injury was C5 among tetraplegics and T12 among paraplegics. The most prevalent associated injury was head trauma followed by extremity fractures. Severe head trauma resulting in death may obscure the real incidence of SCI and may cause underreporting of cases in epidemiological studies. Conclusion: Considering that motor vehicle accidents and falls were found to be the leading causes of traumatic SCI, it was concluded that the prevention measures should be focused mainly on these in order to reduce the frequency of SCI in Turkey. Spinal Cord (2000) 38, 697 ± 701

Objective:This study aimed to determine the correlates of in-hospital costs for angina pectoris (AP), myocardial infarction (MI), and heart failure (HF) in a university hospital setting.Methods:This is a retrospective cost-of-illness study using data from the records of patients who were admitted with AP, MI, or HF to Dokuz Eylül University Hospital during 2008. Direct medical costs were calculated from the Social Security Institute perspective using a bottom-up approach. Socio-demographic and clinical information was abstracted from patient files. Costs were presented in Turkish lira (TL). A generalized linear model was used in the multivariate analysis.Results:We included 337 in-patients in total in the study. AP was present in 26.4% (n=89), MI was present in 55.8% (n=188), and HF was present in 17.8% (n=60) of patients. MI was the most costly disease (2760 TL), followed by HF (2350 TL) and AP (1881 TL). The largest proportion of the total cost was formed by medical interventions (27.5%), followed by surgery (22.2%). Presence of DM, smoking, diagnosis of MI, HF, need for intensive care, and resulting in death were strong predictors of treatment costs.Conclusion:Both preadmission characteristics of patients (diabetes mellitus, smoking, use of anti-aggregant before admission) and in-patient characteristics (diagnosis, coronary artery bypass grafting, intensive care need, death) predicted the hospital cost of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) independently. Our results may be used as input for health-economic models and economic evaluations to support the decision-making of reimbursement and the cost-effectiveness of public health interventions in healthcare.

Background/aim: Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the world. There is growing evidence of the need for communitybased programs on smoking cessation. The main purpose of this study is to establish the rate of smoking cessation and restarting in 1 year at the Balçova Smoking Cessation Center. Materials and methods:This is a prospective study with a study group of 359 individuals who quit smoking at the Balçova Smoking Cessation Center for at least 4 weeks between October 2009 and April 2010. The outcomes of the study were 1-year cessation rate and relapse rate. Individuals who reported restarting and/or had CO measurements above 6 ppm were accepted as quitters who had relapsed. Results:The 1-year rate of smoking cessation was 30.1% for the study group. Of the subjects who quit smoking, 50.1% started smoking again during the 1-year follow-up. Relapse rate was also higher in nicotine addicts. Pharmacological treatment was associated with increased success rates in smoking cessation. Conclusion:Nicotine dependency was shown to be associated with lower rates of smoking cessation and higher rates of relapse. Therefore, it is important to begin smoking cessation attempts before individuals become serious addicts.

oBJeCTIVe: The aim of this research was to determine the views of both smokers and non-smokers on smoking and cessation of smoking. MATerIAL ANd MeTHods:This research was the focus group study performed with 33 subjects participating in the Balcova Heart Project (BHP). resULTs:The smokers described smoking mostly as a friend whereas non-smokers described smoking as illness and unsoundness and associated with death. The smokers indicated that the causes of cigarette smoking were a way of coping in difficulty and being accepted as friends; however, non-smokers indicated the cause of smoking was "pretension". All of them reported that the basic factor for cessation of smoking is self-control. Smokers signified that service for cessation of smoking should be free, continuous, and applied by experts. Informational meetings should have explanations of methods of cessation of smoking, affectivity in smoking cessation process, and health differences after cessation smoking. CoNCLUsIoN:Perceptions of smokers and non-smokers on cigarette were different. Services related to cessation of smoking should be free, continuous, and given by experts. Key words: Smoking, smoking cessation, qualitative research INTrodUCTIoNSmoking is the leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. More than five millions of smokingrelated early deaths occur every year throughout the world. This number is estimated to reach up to eight millions until 2030 [1]. It is predicted that 80% of the early deaths will occur in developing and underdeveloped countries [1]. The success proven prevention policies should be introduced to control this outbreak. The World Health Organization (WHO) introduced six measures called "MPOWER". These measures include Monitor -tobacco use and prevention policies, Protect -people from tobacco smoke, Offer -help to quit tobacco smoke, Warn -about the dangers of tobacco, Enforce -bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, Raise -taxes on tobacco [2].It is important to determine the needs and opinions of smokers in order to achieve a proper and effective way in attempting to quit smoking which is one of those policies against tobacco outbreak. It is also important for the individuals to feel ready for quitting tobacco to benefit effectively from the quit-smoking programs. According to the transtheoretical model (TTM), an individual progresses through a series of stages during quitting smoking; reluctance/pre-awareness, awareness, preparation for action (planning), action (implementation of the plan), maintenance, relapse, and re-entrance to the cycle [3]. This model which has been reported as appropriate for community based interventions has been shown to have high rates of success and maintenance as it allows planning for the needs of individuals [4].According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 26.5% individuals who used to smoke regularly in a period of their life span quitted smoking. Of the individuals who smoke currently and quitted smoking within the past 12 months, 44.8% had an attempt...

ÖzetAmaç: Koroner kalp hastalığı için bilinen değiştirilebilir risk etmenlerinden birisi de yüksek kan basıncıdır. Yüksek kan basıncı sıklığının izlenmesi, koroner kalp hastalığı riskinin ve sıklığının belirlenmesi açısından önemlidir Bu çalışmada Türkiye'de kan basıncı ile ilgili verisi olan toplum tabanlı çalışmalar sistematik olarak incelenmiş ve erişkinlerde kan basıncı düzeylerinin yıllar içindeki değişimi değerlendirilerek gelecek yıllar için çıkarımlarda bulunulması amaçlanmıştır. oranında azalma göstermiştir. Sonuç: Türkiye'de hipertansiyon sıklığının kadınlarda daha yüksek olduğu ve azalmanın daha fazla olmasına karşın toplamda sıklığın yine erkeklere göre daha yüksek olduğu görülmektedir. Bu konuda toplanan veri kapsayıcılık, sıklık bakımından yetersiz görülmektedir. Türkiye'de hipertansiyon sıklığı ve sistolik kan basıncı ortalamaları kadınlarda ve düşük bir oranda da olsa erkeklerde azalma eğilimindedir. Var olan çalışmaların sonuçlarına göre bu azalma eğiliminin kontrol programları ile hızlanacağı düşünülmektedir. Hipertansiyon sıklığının yıllar içindeki değişimini değerlendirmek için ulusal boyutta, karşılaştırılabilir yöntemlere dayanan ve belli aralarla tekrarlanan çalışmalara gereksinim vardır. Yöntem:

The aim of this study was to identify probable intermediate biomarkers of disturbed pathways and their link between smoking. Methods Un-stimulated whole saliva and serum samples were collected from a total of 30 systemically healthy participants with periodontally healthy smokers (S) (n=15) and nonsmokers (n=15). Periodontal indices (plaque index, gingival index, probing depth, bleeding on probing, clinical attachment level) were recorded to confirm periodontal health. Saliva was purified, and a total of 28 amino acids and metabolites were analyzed by liquid chromatographymass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Smoking status was validated measuring serum cotinine levels. Intergroup comparisons were assessed using the Mann Whitney U test. Results When 28 amino acids were evaluated, smokers had statistically significantly higher cystathionine levels than non-smokers (p <0.05). Conclusions Saliva cystathionine is associated with smoking in periodontally healthy individuals, and is possibly related to altered sulfuration pathway.

ÖzetAmaç: Bu çalışmada amaç, KKH riski olup Toplum Tabanlı Sigara Bırakma Merkezi'ne davet edilenlerin başvurusuna etki eden faktörlerin belirlenmesidir. Yöntem: Balçova'da yaşayan 30 yaş üzeri kişilerin KKH risk durumlarının belirlendiği ve buna yönelik girişimlerin planlandığı Balçova'nın Kalbi(BAK) projesi kapsamında 2008 yılında yapılan durum saptama çalışmasında belirlenen Framingham risk düzeylerine göre KKH riski orta ve yüksek düzeyde riski olup sigara içen kişiler (1390 kişi) veri tabanından seçilmiştir. Projede eğitimli yedi kişiden oluşan Toplum Sağlığı Destek Grubu (TSDG) hedef gruba ev ziyaretleri ya da telefonla ulaşarak projeye katılmaları için merkeze davet etmişlerdir. Sigara Bırakma Merkezi'nde tüm hizmetler ücretsiz olarak sunulmuştur. Araştırmanın bağımlı değişkeni, Sigara Bırakma Merkezi'ne başvuru durumudur. Bağımsız değişkenleri ise yaş, cinsiyet, öğrenim durumu, medeni durum, sosyal güvence durumu, düzenli sigara içmeye başlama yaşı, günlük içilen sigara sayısı, sigara bırakmayı deneme, sigara bırakmayı düşünme, sigara bırakma hizmeti almak istemedir. Bulgular: Hedef grup olan 1390 kişiden %49'una(681) evinde ulaşılmıştır. Sigara Bırakma Merkezi'ne davet edilip randevu alan 444 kişiden %68.2'si başvurmuş, randevu almadığı halde başvuran 28 kişi de izleme alınmışlardır(n=330). Hedef grubun başvurusunu yaş, cinsiyet, medeni durum, öğrenim durumu, sosyal güvence durumu anlamlı olarak etkilememektedir. Sigarayı bırakmayı düşünenlerde, daha önce bırakmayı deneyenlerde ve sigara bırakma hizmeti almak isteyenlerde merkeze başvuru anlamlı olarak daha yüksek bulunmuştur. Sonuç: Toplum tabanlı olarak çalışmaya başlayan, KKH riski orta ve üzerinde olan kişilerin davet edilerek, ücretsiz hizmet sunulan bir sigara bırakma merkezinde davete yanıt verme düşüktür. Sigara bırakmada, KKH riski olanlarda bile, bireyin bu konudaki isteği hizmete ulaşmada önemli bir etkendir.Anahtar Kelimeler: Sigarayı bırakma programı, koroner kalp hastalığı.The factors that affect registration at a community-based cigarette cessation center of persons at risk of coronary heart disease Abstract Objective: The aim was to evaluate the factors that affect attendance at a community based smoking cessation center by people who are at risk of coronary heart disease.