Person: KARAVUŞ, MELDA
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KARAVUŞ
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MELDA
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Publication Metadata only The Prevalence of Headache and Its Association With Socioeconomic Status Among Schoolchildren in Istanbul, Turkey(WILEY, 2009) TOPUZOĞLU, AHMET; Isik, Ugur; Topuzoglu, Ahmet; Ay, Pinar; Ersu, Refika Hamutcu; Arman, Ayse Rodopman; Onsuz, M. Fatih; Karavus, Melda; Dagli, ElifObjective.-The etiology and pathogenesis of migraine and other types of headache are still under discussion. An interaction of organic, psychological, and psychosocial factors is operative. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of headache and its association with socioeconomic status among schoolchildren. Study Design.-A cross-sectional study was performed on 2669 schoolchildren via a parental questionnaire. Socioeconomic status was determined according to the Turkish socioeconomic status scale. Results.-The mean age of the students was 8.2 +/- 2.4 years. The headache prevalence was 46.2% (95% CI: 44.3-48.1). The prevalence of migraine was 3.4% ( 95% CI: 2.8-4.1), the prevalence of probable migraine was 8.7% (95% CI: 7.6-9.8), and that of non-migraine headache was 34.1% (95% CI: 32.3-35.9). Multivariate analysis revealed that older age, being a girl, having a family history of headache, and exposure to passive smoking at home were independently associated with headache. There was an inverse association between socioeconomic status and all 3 types of headaches after adjusting for age, sex, family history of headache, and presence of passive smoking. When the group with the lowest socioeconomic status was taken as the reference category, the odds ratios for the highest socioeconomic group were 0.33 (95% CI: 0.16-0.69, P = .003) for the migraine, 0.30 (95% CI: 0.11-0.89, P = .029) for the probable migraine, and 0.34 (95% CI: 0.16-0.72, P = 0.005) for the non-migraine headache. Conclusion.-Headache is more common among children with lower socioeconomic groups. Social causation can play a role in the pathogenesis of headache.Publication Metadata only Acid proteinase, phospholipase and adherence properties of Candida parapsilosis strains isolated from clinical specimens of hospitalised patients(WILEY, 2005) KARAVUŞ, MELDA; Dagdeviren, M; Cerikcioglu, N; Karavus, MIn this study, we investigated the presence of virulence factors in a total of 33 Candida parapsilosis strains, including adherence, acid proteinase and phospholipase production capabilities. Of the 33 strains, 19 were isolated from blood cultures of hospitalised fungaemic patients (study group 2). We also investigated the importance of other factors present in the development of fungaemia. The mean adherence values of 19 blood isolates and 14 non-blood isolates were found to be 52.63 and 57.96, respectively; these values did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). Nine non-blood strains (64.29%) of study group 2 and five blood strains (26.31%) of study group 1 were found to be positive for acid proteinase production; this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Phospholipase production was found in five strains (26.31%) of the 19 blood isolates. None of the 14 non-blood strains exhibited phospholipase activity; this difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). In this study, correlations between adherence-phospholipase, and adherence-acid proteinase properties of strains were detected as well. In the present study, it has been observed that phospholipase production can be an important virulence factor in bloodstream infections caused by C. parapsilosis.Publication Metadata only Resistance against contraception or medical contraceptive methods: a qualitative study on women and men in Istanbul(TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD, 2004) KARAVUŞ, MELDA; Save, DC; Erbaydar, T; Kalaca, S; Harmanci, H; Cali, S; Karavus, MObjectives This research was carried out to reveal the attitudes of men and women about contraception in the Umraniye district of Istanbul. Methods Focus group discussions were used for data collection. Data from 20 groups of married people (ten groups of men and ten of women) living in Umraniye were analyzed. Results Most people attending the focus groups in the study were against having `too many' children. Economic constraints appear to be a leading influencing factor for limiting the number of children. Urbanization also seems to have a strong influence on people's knowledge and attitudes about contraception. Culture and religious beliefs were not found to be major barriers to contraception in general, but they would influence the selection of the type of a certain contraceptive method. More specifically, culture and religious beliefs were barriers to use of medical methods, and they were the main reasons for use of the withdrawal method, which is the most common method used in Turkey. Conclusions Men and women are not resistant to contraception, but they are reluctant to use medical methods. The provision of contraceptive services, with special attention to cultural and religious beliefs and values, and the inclusion of appropriate counseling and education sessions during service delivery, may give clients new options and increase the use of medical methods.Publication Metadata only Radionuclide concentrations in soil and lifetime cancer risk due to gamma radioactivity in Kirklareli, Turkey(ELSEVIER SCI LTD, 2009) TOPUZOĞLU, AHMET; Taskin, H.; Karavus, M.; Ay, P.; Topuzoglu, A.; Hidiroglu, S.; Karahan, G.The objective of this study is to ovaluate and map soil radionuclides' activity concentrations and environmental outdoor gamma dose rates (terrestrial and cosmic) in Kirklareli, Turkey. The excess lifetime cancer risks are also calculated. Outdoor gamma dose rates were determined in 230 sampling stations and soil samples were taken from 177 locations. The coordinates of the readings were determined by the Global Positioning System (GPS). The outdoor gamma dose rates were determined by Eberline smart portable device (ESP-2) and measurements were taken in air for two minutes at I m from the ground, The average outdoor gamma close rate was 118 +/- 34 nGy h(-1). Annual effective gamma dose of Kirklareli was 144 mu Sv and the excess lifetime cancer risk of 5.0 x 10(-4). Soil samples were analyzed by gamma spectroscopy. The average Ra-226, U-238, Th-232, Cs-137, and K-40 activities were 37 +/- 18 Bq kg(-1), 28 +/- 13 Bq kg(-1), 40 +/- 18 Bq kg-1, 8 5 Bq kg(-1) and 667 +/- 281 Bq kg(-1), respectively. The average soil radionuclides' concentrations of Kirklareli were within the worldwide range although some extreme values had been determined. Annual effective gamma doses and the excess lifetime risks of cancer were higher than the world's average. (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.