Aim: To investigate the relationship between khat consumption, UV radiation and pterygium among male population in Somalia.Materials and Methods: Between November 2019 and February 2020, 2,200 patients were examined. 146 patients who met the criteria among 335 patients with primary pterygium were included in the study. Ocular examinations were performed using slit-lamp biomicroscope. Patients were evaluated in terms of outdoor work, age, medical treatment history of pterygium, use of glasses or hats, family history, location of pterygium and eye with pterygium.Results: In this study, 146 patients with pterygium were examined. The cases were divided into two groups as grade 3 (42 patients, 28.8%) and non-grade 3 (104, 71.2%). The mean age of the patients was 43.5 ± 9.7 years. When the demographic findings of grade 3 and non-grade 3 patients were compared, khat use (p0.001) and outdoor work (p=0.001) were significantly increased in the grade 3 group. The use of sunglasses and / or hats (p=0.004) and medical treatment history (p=0.042) were significantly increased in non-grade 3 groups.Conclusion: Khat consumption may increase the likelihood of advanced grade pterygium. Khat and ultraviolet radiation may have synergistic effects on the pterygium grade.

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to determine the attitude and knowledge levels of the students of Harran University Faculty of Dentistry about novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and to evaluate their thoughts on distance education.Materials and Methods: An online questionnaire about COVID-19 was conducted to students studying in the Faculty of Dentistry (n=144). The questionnaire consisted of a series of questions such as the demographic features of dentistry students, their degree of knowledge about COVID-19, where they got this information, methods of protection related to COVID-19, their psychological status during this pandemic period and their thoughts about the distance education program. The data obtained from the questionnaires were statistically analyzed.Results: This current study consisted of 144 participants (mean age of 20±1.3) including 83 (57.6%) females and 61 (42.4%) males. The majority of the participants (76.4%) stated that they learned information related to COVID-19 from the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Turkish Dental Association (TDA). The most common individual measure was determined 'not to be in crowded environments' (86.1%). During this period, 124 (86.1%) participants, consisting of 43 (34.7%) male and 81 (65.3%) female, reported that they voluntarily put themselves into quarantine (p0.05). Of 87.5% the participants noted that they thought distance education system implemented due to COVID-19 is not enough. Conclusion: Dental students at Harran University Faculty of Dentistry were aware of the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even if this epidemic badly affected their psychology, they would not give up on their profession.