Browsing by Author "Guvenc, Isil Adadan"

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    Better Knowledge and Regular Vaccination Practices Correlate Well with Higher Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Uptake in People at Risk: Promising Survey Results from A University Outpatient Clinic
    (2017) Guvenc, Isil Adadan; Parildar, Hulya; Sahin, Mustafa Kursat; Erbek, Selim Sermed; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4825-3499; 28449918; S-2103-2016; B-7604-2019
    Background: The knowledge, beliefs, opinions, and attitudes of patients and their relatives regarding seasonal influenza vaccination were evaluated. Methods: This descriptive study was undertaken in the outpatient clinics of Baskent University Hospital. There were 566 responders who completed a self-administered questionnaire. Results: The mean age of participants was 48.35 years, and 16.8% were >= 65 years. Of the responders, 21.7% were vaccinated this year, whereas 57.8% did not desire to get it. Vaccination rates were significantly higher among responders >= 65 years of age (56.4%), those having at least 1 chronic illness (46.5%), and those who were vaccinated regularly every year (22.2%). Half of the responders did not know that the vaccine was reimbursed for people at risk. The most common reason for refusing the influenza vaccine was not getting the flu frequently (51.2%). Fear of side effects, concerns about vaccine's effectiveness, and belief that vaccine causes the flu were other common reasons for not being vaccinated. Of the responders, 77% believed that getting official information or a recommendation from a physician would influence their decision about seasonal influenza vaccination. Conclusions: People who are at risk or vaccinated regularly display a higher vaccine uptake and better knowledge of influenza and vaccination. The opinions and attitudes of this study population may assist in developing strategies for changing attitudes of the public toward influenza vaccination. (C) 2017 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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    Do Probiotics Have A Role in the Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis? A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
    (2016) Guvenc, Isil Adadan; Muluk, Nuray Bayar; Mutlu, Fezan Sahin; Eski, Erkan; Altintoprak, Niyazi; Oktemer, Tugba; Cingi, Cemal; 0000-0002-4784-3342; S-2103-2016; AAD-5458-2021; AAA-1951-2021
    Objective: To investigate clinical evidence for the efficacy of probiotics in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR). Methods: A systematic search was conducted to review the results of all randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials by following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement. Primary outcome measurements were total nasal and ocular symptom scores (SS) and quality of life (QoL) questionnaires. Secondary outcome measurements were individual nasal SS and immunologic parameters. Results: Twenty-two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies were included. Seventeen trials showed significant benefit of probiotics clinically, whereas eight trials showed significant improvement in immunologic parameters compared with placebo. All five studies with Lactobacillus paracasei (LP) strains demonstrated clinically significant improvements compared with placebo. Probiotics showed significant reduction in nasal and ocular SS (standardized mean difference [SMD], -1.23, p < 0.001; and SMD, -1.84, p < 0.001; respectively), total, nasal, and ocular QoL scores compared with placebo (SMD, -1.84, p < 0.001; SMD, -2.30, p = 0.006; and SMD, -3.11, p = 0.005; respectively). Although heterogeneity was high, in subgroup analysis, SMD for total nasal and ocular symptoms with patients with seasonal AR and for nasal QoL scores for studies with LP-33 strain were significant and homogenous. Scores of nasal blockage, rhinorrhea, and nasal itching were significantly lower in the probiotic group compared with placebo. The meta-analysis studies SS the Japanese guidelines revealed a significant, homogenous SMD score of -0.34 for individual nasal SS, above the minimal important clinical difference value of 0.3. The T-helper 1 to T-helper 2 ratio was significantly lower in the probiotic group compared with placebo (SMD, -0.78; p = 0.045). Conclusion: Despite high variability among the studies, synthesis of available data provided significant evidence of beneficial clinical and immunologic effects of probiotics in the treatment of AR, especially with seasonal AR and LP-33 strains. With the rising pool of studies, the most promising strains in specific allergies can be revealed and adjuvant therapy with probiotics can be recommended for the treatment of AR.