BackgroundHealth outcomes of electromagnetic fields (EMF) from mobile phones and their base stations are of concern. Conducting multidisciplinary research, targeting children and exploring dose-response are recommended. Our objectives were to describe the mobile phone usage characteristics of high school students and to explore the association between mobile phone usage characteristics, high school EMF levels and self-reported symptoms.MethodsThis cross-sectional study’s data were collected by a survey questionnaire and by measuring school EMF levels between November 2009 and April 2011. A sample size of 2530 was calculated from a total of 20,493 students in 26 high schools and 2150 (85.0%) were included in the analysis. The frequencies of 23 symptoms were questioned and analysed according to 16 different aspects of mobile phone use and school EMF levels, exploring also dose-response. School EMF levels were measured with Aaronia Spectran HF-4060 device. Chi square and trend tests were used for univariate and logistic regression was used for multivariate analyses.ResultsAmong participants, 2021 (94.0%) were using mobile phones and 129 (6.0%) were not. Among users, 49.4% were speaking <10 min and 52.2% were sending/receiving 75 or more messages per day. Headache, fatigue and sleep disturbances were observed respectively 1.90 (95% CI 1.30–2.77), 1.78 (1.21–2.63) and 1.53 (1.05–2.21) times more among mobile phone users. Dose-response relationships were observed especially for the number of calls per day, total duration of calls per day, total number of text messages per day, position and status of mobile phone at night and making calls while charging as exposures and headache, concentration difficulties, fatigue and sleep disturbances as general symptoms and warming of the ear and flushing as local symptoms.ConclusionsWe found an association between mobile phone use and especially headache, concentration difficulties, fatigue, sleep disturbances and warming of the ear showing also dose-response. We have found limited associations between vicinity to base stations and some general symptoms; however, we did not find any association with school EMF levels. Decreasing the numbers of calls and messages, decreasing the duration of calls, using earphones, keeping the phone away from the head and body and similar precautions might decrease the frequencies or prevalence of the symptoms.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12940-017-0257-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

BackgroundUse of mobile phones has rapidly risen among adolescents despite a lack of scientific certainty on their health risks. Risk perception is an important determinant of behavior, and studies on adolescents’ risk perceptions of mobile phones or base stations are very scarce. This study aims to evaluate high school students’ risk perceptions on mobile phones and base stations, their trust to authorities, their opinions regarding incivility while using mobile phones and to assess associated factors.MethodsFor this cross-sectional study, 2530 students were chosen with stratified cluster sampling among 20,493 high school students studying in Bornova district of Izmir, Turkey, among whom 2240 (88.5%) participated. Risk perceptions and opinions were questioned with a 5-point Likert scale for 24 statements grouped under four dimensions. The mean responses to the four dimensions were categorized as <3.5 (low) and ≥3.5 (high) and the determinants were analyzed with logistic regression.ResultsMean risk perception scores for the mobile phone, base station, trust to authority and incivility dimensions were 3.69 ± 0.89, 4.34 ± 0.78, 3.77 ± 0.93, 3.16 ± 0.93 and the prevalence of high risk perception was 65.1%, 86.7%, 66.2%, 39.7%, respectively. In the mobile phone dimension; students attending industrial technical high school had lower risk perceptions while female students, lower mothers’ education groups and students not using mobile phones (OR = 2.82, 95% CI = 1.80-4.40) had higher risk perceptions. In the base station dimension girls had higher risk perceptions (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.20-2.37). Girls and students attending industrial technical high school had significantly lower risk perception however 11-12th grade group perceived the risk higher (OR = 1.45 95% CI = 1.15-1.84) in the trust to authority dimension. For the incivility dimension, female students (OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.14-1.82), illiterate/only literate mothers (OR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.04-2.75) and students not using mobile phones (OR = 2.50, 95% CI = 1.62-3.87) perceived higher risk.ConclusionsUnderstanding the effects of these determinants might aid in developing more effective educational interventions to specific subgroups on this topic. As debates on the health consequences of electromagnetic fields continue, it would be cautious to approach this issue with a preventive perspective. Efforts should be made to equalize the varying level of knowledge and to ensure that students are informed accurately.

BackgroundAccording to the surveillance system in Turkey, most diseases are notified only by clinicians, without involving laboratory notification. It is assumed that a considerable inadequacy in notifications exists; however, this has not been quantified by any researcher. Our aim was to evaluate the completeness of communicable disease surveillance in the province of Izmir, Turkey for the year of 2003 by means of estimating the incidences of diseases.MethodsData on positive laboratory results for the notifiable and serologically detectable diseases hepatitis A, B, C, brucellosis, syphilis, measles and HIV detected in 2003 in Izmir (population 3.5 million) were collected from serology laboratories according to WHO surveillance standards and compared to the notifications received by the Provincial Health Directorate. Data were checked for duplicates and matched. Incidences were estimated with the capture-recapture method. Sensitivities of both notifications and laboratory data were calculated according to these estimates.ResultsAmong laboratories performing serologic tests (n = 158) in Izmir, 84.2% accepted to participate, from which 23,515 positive results were collected. Following the elimination of duplicate results as well as of cases residing outside of Izmir, the total number was 11,402. The total number of notifications was 1802. Notification rates of cases found in laboratories were 31.6% for hepatitis A, 12.1% for acute hepatitis B, 31.8% for brucellosis, 25.9% for syphilis and 100% for HIV confirmation.ConclusionsIt was discovered that for hepatitis A, B, C, brucellosis and syphilis, there is a considerable under-notification by clinicians and that laboratory data has the potential of contributing greatly to their surveillance. The inclusion of laboratories in the surveillance system of these diseases could help to achieve completeness of reporting.

220 SummaryCystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the cestode Echinococcus granulosus, is potentially dangerous for humans. The aim of this study was to examine serological and clinical findings regarding cysts localisation and individual responses in 54 patients with CE. The majority of patients in this study were females (63 %) and the average age was 46.3 years. Most of the patients lived in rural areas or kept a dog (46 %) for a long time. The most frequent symptoms were hypochondrial pain (48.9 %), epigastrial discomfort (27.7 %), vomiting (21.3 %), minor cough (12.8 %), urticaria (6.3 %), weakness (4.3 %), fever (2.1 %), side-or backache (4.3 %). However, 17 % of the patients showed no symptoms. In every case, the ultrasound (USG) and/or computer tomography (CT) investigations were positive. In most cases (53.2 % of the patients) a single cyst was found but 46.8 % of the patients had multiple cyst formations (from 2 to 9 cysts) located in the liver. Sporadic lung, splenetic, mesenterial, tibial and cerebral localisations were also found. The patients were individually treated with albendazol (10 -15 mg/kg) five days prior and six months after the surgical treatment. Serum samples were investigated by the serological techniques: IHAT, ELISA and Western blot using hydatid fluid antigen. In the patient sera, the specific antibody levels were mostly increased after surgery. Different results were obtained only in two patients. In the first case, seroconversion was delayed. In the other case all ELISA results were negative, however, the Western blot analysis and surgery proved the presence of CE. The results suggest that the different antibody response of patients depends on the individual immune response. Multiple localization and various stages of CE cysts demonstrate the necessity of a complex approach for the confirmation of a correct diagnosis.

ÖZET Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı Ege Üniversitesi Atatürk SağlıkHizmetleri Meslek Yüksek Okulu (SHMYO) öğrencilerinde sigara, nargile ve sarma tütün içme sıklığını ve ilişkili faktörleri belirlemek, sigara içen ve içmeyen öğrencilerin, içmeyi tetikleyen ve devam etmeyi etkileyen nedenlerini, nargile ve sarma tütüne iliş-kin görüşlerini değerlendirmektir. Gereç ve Yöntem:Kesitsel olan araştırmaya 151 öğrenci dahil edilmiştir. Bağımsız değişkenler yaş, cinsiyet, lise tipi, anne baba eği-tim durumu, anne baba çalışma durumu, gelir ve gelir algısıdır. Sigara, nargile ve sarma tütün kullanımı, sigara içenlerin ve içme-yenlerin sigaraya başlama ve içmeye devam etme nedenleri ve nargile ile sarma tütün konusundaki görüşleri özbildirimle doldurulan anket ile sorgulanmıştır. Ki-kare analizinde sigara, nargile ve sarma tütün kullanımı ile ilişkili bulunan bağımsız değiş-kenler lojistik regresyon analizine alınmıştır.Bulgular: Sigara içme sıklığı %40,3'tür (erkek %57,1, kadın %35,1). Sigaraya başlama nedeni, başlamayı ve devam etmeyi etkileyen ortamlar açısından arkadaşların etkisi dikkati çekmektedir. Sigara içme riski arkadaşlarının sigara içmesiyle (10,1 kat), alkol kullanı-mıyla (7,8 kat), yaşla (1,7 kat) artmaktadır. Nargile içme riski ise alkol kullananlarda (7,8 kat) ve sigara içenlerde (7,1 kat) daha fazladır. Sarma tütünde de risk sigara içmeyle (6,3 kat), erkek olmayla (4,1 kat), arkadaşlarının sigara içmesiyle (3,4 kat) artmaktadır (p<0,05). ABST RACTAim: To determine the smoking prevalence and related factors for cigarette, narghile and hand-rolled tobacco among Ataturk Medical Technology Vocational Training School students and evaluate the opinions about factors which stimulate initiation and continuing.Material and Methods: 151 students were included in this crosssectional study. Independent variables were age, sex, type of high-school, parental education and working status, income and income perception. A self-administered questionnaire was used for cigarette, narghile, hand-rolled tobacco smoking, the factors to initiate and continue smoking, opinions about narghile and hand-rolled tobacco. The variables in relation with cigarette, narghile and hand-rolled tobacco smoking in c 2 tests were included in the logistic regression analysis. Results:Smoking prevalence was 40,3% (male 57,1%, female 35,1%). 'The effect of peers' was among the leading factors and environments to initiate and continue smoking. Cigarette smoking risk increased with having smoker peers (10,1 times), alcohol use (7,8 times), age (1,7 times). Narghile smoking risk was more among alcohol users (7,8 times) and cigarette smokers (7,1 times). Hand-rolled tobacco smoking risk increased for cigarette smokers (6,3 times), males (4,1 times), having smoker peers (3,4 times) (p<0,05). Solunum Dergisi t Hür Hassoy ve ark. 91