The opinions of adults about the ban on cigarette sales to minors

BACKGROUND

Selling of tobacco products to minors has been banned since 1996 by the tobacco control law in Turkey. However, it is also important for the public to support practices that prevent the access of tobacco products to minors. In addition, every individual has the responsibility of carrying out society based programs that restrict access to tobacco products especially to children and the youths. Social sensitivity is considered an important factor in the prevention of tobacco use. This study aims to learn about the opinions and attitudes of adults with regards to minors access to tobacco products.

METHODS

The study was a descriptive study conducted in nine city centers in Turkey. The total number of participants reached was 3241. The questionnaire was developed by the research team and consisted of 22 questions concerning knowledge and behaviors of adults on restriction of tobacco sales to minors and their observations with regards tobacco sales to minors. Data was collected through face to face interview. Pearson chi-square test was used for the bivariate analysis whereas logistic regression was investigate the relationship between "the participant's response against tobacco sales to minors" and the following explanatory variables; "age", "educational status", "income level", "working status", "minors access to cigarettes", "smoking ratio in high school" and "sales of tobacco to minors".

RESULTS

More than half of the participants (60.5%) belonged to the age group 25-44 years, 61.3% graduated from high school or university. Most of the participants were smoker (39.2%) or ex-smoker (19.1%), and 41.7% of the participants was non-smoker. A greater proportion of the participants (76.2%) believed that smoking prevalence was greater than 40% among high school students. One in four (27.8%) adults did not know that tobacco control law bans sell of tobacco products to minors in Turkey. More than half of the participants (57.1%) ever witnessed tobacco sales to minors and 63.6% of them did not act when confronted with the event. Almost all (96.8%) of the respondents thought that access of minors to tobacco products was not difficult. The results of logistic regression of participant's response against tobacco sales to minor and related factors for current smokers showed that respondents who believed smoking ratio in high school was 4-5 adolescent out of 10 (aOR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.09-2.34) were more likely to give a warning or informing the police or other people as compared to respondents whose perception on the smoking ratio among high school students was 6-7 adolescents out of 10. The results of logistic regression of non-smokers' response against tobacco sales to minor were who are from higher educational level, higher economic status, working status and who believed smoking ratio in high school was 4-5 adolescent out of 10 and 2-3 adolescent out of 10 were more likely to give a warning or informing the police or other people as compared to the others.

CONCLUSIONS

Although laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to the under age group is very important with regards to accessibility of minors to tobacco products, most of the study participants believed that minors can still easily access tobacco products, and more than half of the participants did not act when confronted with the event. The education, information and monitoring program most especially as it concerns salesman, should be reviewed and strengthened to obey the rules on sales of tobacco products to minors. Education program should be carried out to increase the knowledge and awareness of the community for sale of tobacco to minors. Social sensitivity is important for the prevention of tobacco use and every individual have a responsibility in carrying out this society based program, most especially as it related to prevention of tobacco usage among children and youths.

Effective number of clones in seed orchards of Cedrus libani A. Rich

Numbers of clone and ramet/clone were studied and discussed based on effective number of clones and relative effective number of clones in seed orchards of Taurus cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.). While, seed orchards had similar number of clones (15, 30 and 33), there were large differences for number of graft/clone within and among orchards. Number of ramets per clone varied between 4 and 43 in an orchard and between 4 and 106 in all orchards considered. Effective number of clones ranged from 24.6-31.4 and relative effective number from 0.82 to 0.99. The results of the study showed that ramet number had moderate variation among clones. It was important that establishment and thinning of seed orchards and estimation of gene diversity in seed orchard crop.

Influence of growth on reproductive traits and its effect on fertility and gene diversity in a clonal seed orchard of scots pine, Pinus Sylvestris L

This study was carried out in a clonal seed orchard of scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), to determine the difference and interaction for reproductive and growth characters among clones and its impact on fertility variation and gene diversity Numbers of female and male strobili, and height and diameter at breast height were studied on six grafts chosen randomly in each of the 27 clones for the purpose. One-way analysis of variance revealed large differences in both reproductive and growth characters among clones. The differences were higher in growth characters than in reproductive traits. There was significant phenotypic correlation among growth and reproductive characters. So, growth characters had a greater effect on male and female fertility Estimates of total fertility variation (Sibling coefficient = 1.012), status number (26.8) and relative gene diversity (0.981) were computed. Fertility variation among clones was low, which caused a high relative population size (99% of census number). The positive phenotypic correlation between growth and reproductive characters showed that enhanced growth rate could be effective in improving fertility and gene diversity of seed orchard crop. The results of the study have implications in breeding and selection of plus tree and populations, establishment and thinning of seed orchards of the species.

Growth variation of Paulownia Sieb. and Zucc. species and origins at the nursery stage in Kastamonu-Turkey

The present study was carried out on Paulownia tomentosa (6), Paulownia elongate (4), Paulownia fortunei (5) and Paulownia fortunei x tomentosa (1) origins at Kastamonu Forest Nursery. The seedling height growth (SH), root collar diameter (RCD), dry root percentage (DRP) and seedling percentage (SP) of one-year old seedlings of the origins were studied for comparing growth performance of the species and origins and discussing for guidance to field stage based on nursery stage. As a result, P. tomentosa x fortunei hybrid has the highest SH (72.62 cm) among the used species. Significant difference was determined among the origins as to the SH and DRP. The maximum SH were determined for P. tomentosa Beijing-Daxin (81.32 cm) and P. elongata Beijing-Daxin (80.76 cm) origins. The maximum DRP were determined for P. tomentosa Anhui-Tongling (77%) origin. There were no significant differences based on RCD and SP among the species and the origins. Among the parents, there were important diversities for SH and RCD. As a final remark, observations and evaluations of the Paulownia studies should be included with the clonal variation for further studies because of the observed growth variations within the population.

Intracranial angioblastic meningioma and an aged appearance in a woman with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome

Here we report on a 39-year-old woman with severe mental retardation, short stature, unusual face with prominent nose, broad thumbs, and broad first toes diagnostic of the Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome. Following admission because of headache and anorexia, a bifrontal lobe neoplasm was excised and diagnosed as an angioblastic meningioma. The unusual tumor and aged appearance of the patient add 2 facets to the natural history of Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome.

Ambulance times of Ankara emergency aid and rescue services' ambulance system

The aim of this study was to determine various times related to the ambulance activities of Ankara Emergency Aid and Rescue Services (EARS) and if necessary contribute to the improvement of them. A descriptive study was planned to determine various times related to the ambulance activities of Ankara EARS. The data was collected by one of the researchers. The study was conducted between 1 October 1995 and 30 September 1996. The variables of the study were: delay time, response time, time at the scene (scene time), round trip time, transport time and total run time of Ankara EARS ambulance activities. Ankara EARS Emergency Call Registry Forms (5638 forms) were evaluated for the above stated variables. The computer program EPI-INFO 5.0 was used in the study. The median response time of Ankara EARS was found to be 9 minutes. In the research year, the median delay time was 2 minutes. Median arrival to patient contact time of Ankara EARS was 2 minutes. Median time at the scene was 7 minutes. Median round trip time of the system was 44 minutes. The median time to arrive at the scene from the ambulance station was 8 minutes. The median transport time was 10 minutes. The median total run time was 30 minutes. As the median response time was found to be 9 minutes it is concluded that there should be more ambulance vehicles to improve this time of Ankara EARS. Due to financial problems, times were recorded manually by the ambulance crew and dispatchers of Ankara EARS. If digital and electronic recording systems are used, these times might be more precise.

Costing of an ambulance system in a developing country, Turkey: costs of Ankara Emergency Aid and Rescue Services' (EARS) ambulance system

The purposes of the study were to determine the total cost of Ankara Emergency Aid and Rescue Services (EARS), to calculate the cost of a single ambulance response and the cost per patient responded to. A descriptive study was planned to find out the cost of Ankara EARS, conducted between 1 October 1995 and 30 September 1996. The main variables of the study were the capital and recurrent costs of the system. The data relating to the costs were obtained from financial registries of various health institutes and personnel working in the system. The data was collected by two of the researchers. The total and average costs--cost per one ambulance run and cost per one patient--were determined. The total cost of Ankara EARS ambulance system in the period between 1 October 1995 and 30 September 1996 was US$918,877.90. The total capital costs of Ankara EARS was US$85,171.10 (9.3% of the total cost). The total recurrent costs of Ankara EARS was US$833,706.80 (90.7% of the total cost). The cost per one ambulance run was US$163.00. On the other hand the cost per patient or injured person was US$180.50. In Ankara, Turkey, the costs of such ambulance services could not be afforded by the private sector. The ambulance service activities should continue to be a part of primary health care services and the Ministry of Health should continue to serve in this field.

Emergency aid and rescue services in Turkey (ambulance services)

This article outlines the recent status of ambulance services provided by Emergency Aid and Rescue Services (EARS) in the Republic of Turkey. EARS would seem to be the future model of emergency medical systems (EMS) in Turkey.

A germline substitution in the human MSH2 gene is associated with high-grade dysplasia and cancer in ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The DNA mismatch repair gene human MSH2 shows a germline mutation in certain family members with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer. There is an increased risk of colorectal cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) with extensive disease of > 8 years' duration; however, specific constitutional predisposing genetic abnormalities have not yet been identified.

METHODS

A germline human MSH2 abnormality was sought in patients with UC with high-grade dysplasia or carcinoma.

RESULTS

After direct sequencing of exon 13 and flanking regions of human MSH2, a germline T to C substitution was shown at the -6 intronic splice acceptor site of exon 13. This substitution was found in 14 of 53 patients with UC with high-grade dysplasia or carcinoma (26%) compared with 4 of 36 high-risk patients with UC without dysplasia or cancer (11%) (P < or = 0.04) and in 7 of 80 healthy adult blood donors (9%) (P < or = 0.003). The patients with UC who had the substitution were three times more likely to develop neoplasia than patients with UC who did not carry it.

CONCLUSIONS

An intronic splice-site substitution in the human MSH2 gene is present in the general population but may predispose to cancer in the setting of UC.

CT findings in malignant pleural mesothelioma related to nonoccupational exposure to asbestos and fibrous zeolite (erionite)

Endemic malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) in Turkey is related to two mineral fibers, tremolite asbestos and fibrous zeolite (erionite). Thirteen cases of MPM from the Cappadocian area, where the soil is rich in erionite, and 29 cases of MPM, from villages whose occupants have high asbestos exposure, were examined by CT. The CT findings of the two groups of MPM were compared with respect to the configuration of the pleural lesions, stage of disease, fissural involvement, pleural effusion, presence of calcified pleural plaques, and chronic fibrosing pleuritis. In erionite-related MPM the pleural lesions were flat and smooth in 69.1%; in asbestos-related MPM the lesions were nodular in 55.1%. Stage IV disease, calcified pleural plaques, and chronic fibrosing pleuritis were more common in the erionite-related MPM. The rest of the findings were similar in both groups. The early radiological diagnosis of erionite-related MPM may be even more difficult because of the similarity of the pleural lesions to chronic fibrosing pleuritis.

Protein phosphorylation in pancreatic islets induced by 3-phosphoglycerate and 2-phosphoglycerate

We have shown previously that 3-phosphoglycerate, which is a glycolytic metabolite of glucose, induces protein phosphorylation in bovine and rat brain and in rat heart, kidney, liver, lung, and whole pancreas. Since glycolytic metabolism of glucose is of paramount importance in insulin release, we considered the possibility that 3-phosphoglycerate may act as a coupling factor, and we searched for evidence for the existence of 3-phosphoglycerate-dependent protein phosphorylation systems in freshly isolated normal rat pancreatic islets. Membrane and cytosol fractions were incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP and appropriate test substances and were subjected to NaDodSO4/PAGE and autoradiography. As little as 0.005 mM 3-phosphoglycerate or 2-phosphoglycerate stimulated the phosphorylation of a 65-kDa cytosol protein by as early as 0.25 min. The phosphate bond of the 65-kDa phosphoprotein was sufficiently stable to withstand dialysis; the radioactivity could not be chased out by subsequent exposure to ATP, ADP, 3-phosphoglycerate, or 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate. Moreover, cAMP, cGMP, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, or calcium failed to stimulate the phosphorylation of the 65-kDa protein. Phosphoglycerate-dependent protein phosphorylation in islets may have relevance to stimulation of insulin secretion.

Epidemiological case-control study on the etiology of bladder cancer in Turkey

A case-control study of 194 patients with bladder cancer and the same number of age- and sex-matched hospital controls were interviewed to estimate the role of various factors on the etiology of bladder cancer in Turkey. There was a significant difference between the case and control groups on cigarette smoking (p less than 0.001), alcohol intake (p less than 0.001), Turkish coffee consumption (p = 0.01), and artificial sweeteners (p less than 0.05). The risks for alcohol and tobacco users increased in correlation with the duration of exposure. The risk of bladder cancer increased directly with the quantity and frequency of alcohol intake. Alcohol and coffee drinking was found to be a promoting factor when adjusted to smoking habits (p less than 0.05). No statistical comparisons could be made to clarify the risks attributed by occupation and place of residence due to small figures in each group. However, in farmers, there was a significant difference between the cases and controls on the use of artificial fertilizers and insecticides (p less than 0.01). People who were exposed to unspecified chemical substances were more prone to develop bladder cancer (p less than 0.001). We conclude that both personal habits and exogenous carcinogens play a role in the etiology of bladder tumors.

An epidemiological study in an Anatolian village environmentally exposed to tremolite asbestos

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