Attitudes and Beliefs of 4th Grade Primary School Students towards Social Studies Course

The social studies course can be described as an ongoing process that is attempted to prepare the individuals for life through transfer of culture and ensures the socialization of the individuals. It is thought that students’ beliefs and attitudes towards this course are essential for achieving the objectives of the course. The objective of this research is to determine the attitudes and belief levels of 4th grade students towards the social studies course with respect to various variables and to review the relationship between attitudes and belief levels towards the social studies course. During the research, descriptive survey and relational survey models, which are both quantitative research methods, were used in combination. The study population consists of primary school students throughout Turkey in their 4th grade during the 2022-2023 academic year. 1326 primary school students in the 4th grade were selected from 7 geographical regions of Turkey by utilizing the simple random method and constitute the sample group of the study. The research data were collected using the “Social Studies Course Attitude Scale” and the “Social Studies Course Belief Scale”. As a result of the study, it was determined that there was a positive and moderate relationship between the students’ attitudes and beliefs towards the social studies course, and it was noted that students’ attitudes and beliefs towards social studies course were significantly high.

Does Sinapic Acid Provide Neuroprotection Against Cisplatin-Induced Toxicity in HT-22 Cells

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to explain the beneficial effects and possible protective mechanisms of Sinapic acid(SA) against cisplatin-induced oxido-inflammatory damage in HT-22 rat hippocampal cells by biochemical and molecular methods. METHODS: Primarily, different concentrations of SA (100, 400 and 800 µM) were applied to HT-22 cells under in vitro conditions before cisplatin application in order to produce neuroprotective activity. Half an hour after the SA application, 5.5 µM cisplatin (CP) was applied to all wells except the control group and incubated for 24 hours under appropriate conditions. Cell viability was determined with routinely used 3-(4,5-Dimethyl Thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT) and cytotoxic activity was determined by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays. Oxidative stress was evaluated by total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) assays. In addition, the effect of SA on Caspase-3 gene regulation in HT-22 cells was investigated by Real-Time PCR. RESULTS: Cisplatin decreased cell viability by approximately 40% and increased LDH level in HT-22 cells. In SA administered groups, cell viability increased and LDH level decreased regardless of dose. SA showed its neuroprotective effect by stopping the cytotoxic activity of cisplatin and increasing its antioxidant action mechanism in cells. Similarly, caspase-3 up-regulated by cisplatin approached the control value with SA administration. SA abolished the neurotoxicity of cisplatin and significantly reduced cell death and oxidative stress levels (p<0.05 and p<0.001). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These findings show that SA protects HT-22 cells against cisplatin by preventing both oxidative stress formation mechanisms and apoptosis induction of cells

Waist Circumference and Mid−Upper Arm Circumference in Evaluation of Obesity in Children Aged Between 6 and 17 Years

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the cut−off values for waist circumference (WC) and mid−upper arm circumference (MUAC) and to assess their use in screening for obesity in children

Evaluation of bone marrow functions and new inflammatory markers in patients with immunocompetent herpes zoster

Background and Design: Herpes zoster (HZ) is a viral infection characterized by dermatomal vesicles caused by the reactivation of the latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV). There are conflicting reports regarding the effects of VZV on bone marrow functions. In this study, we aimed to evaluate bone marrow function and systemic inflammation in immunocompetent HZ patients. Materials and Methods: This study included patients aged ≥18 yr diagnosed with HZ and admitted to a dermatology outpatient clinic between June 2011 and June 2021. Hematological parameters in routine hemogram tests of patients with HZ and new inflammatory markers, such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune inflammation index, and platelet-neutrophil ratio (PNR), were determined and compared with healthy control groups. Results: Thrombocytopenia was observed in 6.1% and lymphopenia in 8% of 461 HZ patients. The mean leukocyte (white blood cell), lymphocyte, neutrophil, eosinophil, and platelet (PLT) counts in HZ patients were statistically significantly lower than in the control group (p<0.05). NLR and PLR values were statistically significantly higher in HZ patients than in the control group (p<0.05). PLT, eosinophil count, and PNR values were statistically lower in HZ patients aged ≥65 yr than in patients aged <65 yr, whereas mean platelet volume and NLR values were higher (p<0.05). Conclusion: Thrombocytopenia and lymphopenia may occur in immunocompetent HZ patients. NLR and PLR values increase in HZ patients. The increase in inflammatory markers and decrease in platelet count are more evident in HZ patients aged ≥65 yr

Management of Far-Advanced Otosclerosis: Stapes Surgery or Cochlear Implant

Objective: The aim of this report is to share our experience and treatment outcomes with far-advanced otosclerosis (FAO) patients.Methods: Patients that underwent surgery from 2003 through 2014 at a tertiary referral center were retrospectively reviewed. Nineteen FAO patients were included in the study. Audiological results and the ability to communicate face to face and over telephone were considered as the main outcome measures.Results: Six FAO patients benefited well from stapedotomy with an average of 5.9-decibel (dB) air-bone gap and 86% median speech discrimination. Cochlear implantation (CI) was performed in 13 patients; two had disease progression after stapedotomy, five had failed stapes surgeries elsewhere, and six preferred CI as primary treatment. Median speech discrimination score of CI patients was 78.4%. Overall, all patients had satisfactory face-to-face communication and 90% could use telephone.Conclusion: Bilateral stapedotomy and wearing hearing aid is an effective and cost-effective solution for restoring natural binaural hearing and requires no specific training. Should stapedotomy fail, cochlear implantation is always a successful back-up option

Auditory Brainstem Response Measurements in Newborns: Which Electrode Placement Is Better?

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the fastest and the most effective auditory brainstem response (ABR) measurement protocol for audiological diagnosis in babies up to three months of age.Methods: Twenty-two newborns (aged 0 to 63 days) who passed the newborn screening test in at least one ear were evaluated in the study. The ABR were recorded with click stimulus using two different electrode montages (1st montage: ipsilateral mastoid, contralateral mastoid, vertex. 2nd montage: nape of the neck, vertex, cheek). Latencies of waves I, III, V and duration of the test were recorded and analyzed.Results: Wave V latencies from both electrode montages were statistically shortest at the level of 70 dBnHL and longest at the level of 20 dBnHL (p=0.00). When the duration of the test at three different intensity levels were compared between the two electrode montages, only the test durations at 50 dBnHL were significantly different (p=0.017). The test times at 70 dBnHL in the first montage were observed to be significantly different in babies aged 1 to 30 days and aged 31 to 63 days (p=0.005).Conclusion: In protocols to evaluate the hearing of pediatric groups, it is very important to complete the ABR, which has significant value in early diagnosis, in a short time and reliably. It is concluded that in terms of practicality, the second montage is more advantageous and comfortable for both audiologists and newborns in single channel ABR systems

Blau Syndrome and Early-Onset Sarcoidosis: A Six Case Series and Review of the Literature.

Objectives: This study aims to discuss the clinical, laboratory and genetic findings, and treatment options for six patients who were diagnosed with Blau syndrome (BS)/early-onset sarcoidosis (EOS). Patients and methods: The study included four patients (2 males,2 females; mean age 7 years; range 4 to 10 years) with EOS and two siblings (1 male, 1 female; mean age 10 years; range, 9 to 11 years) with BS. Age, age of initial symptoms, age of diagnosis; articular involvement, presence of uveitis, dermatitis, or fever, other organ involvement, laboratory findings, results of metabolic tests for mucopolysaccharidosis and mucolipidosis, results of genetic, pathologic, and immunologic tests, radiologic findings to evaluate skeletal dysplasia, and treatment options were collected. Results: The median age at diagnosis of all patients was 6 years (range, 1 to 10 years). Five patients had camptodactyly and bilateral boggy synovitis in the wrists and ankles, one had granulomatous inflammatory changes in the liver and kidney biopsy, and one had attacks of fever and granulomatous dermatitis. None had uveitis. The detected mutations in nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing 2 (NOD2) were P268S (rs2066842), M513T (rs104895473), R702W (rs2066844), V955I (rs5743291), H343Y (rs199858111), and M491L (16:50745293). The treatments of patients included corticosteroids, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, methotrexate, infliximab, adalimumab, anakinra, and canacinumab. Conclusion: Camptodactyly and boggy synovitis are important signs of BS/EOS. Methotrexate and tumor necrosis factor blockers are more effective in patients with predominantly articular symptoms. In patients 5 and 6 and their mother, we determined a novel M491L mutation in the NOD2 gene. Currently, this work is in progress towards identifying the pathogenesis and treatment options for this disease

Assessment of Factor Affecting the Quality of Life in Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Abstract Introduction and Objectives: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a frequently seen chronic rheumatoid disease in childhood, which may cause disability and severely affect quality of life (QoL). The aim of present study was to assess relationships between disease activation and socio-cultural status of family, QoL, anxiety level, and depression level in patients with JIA and their parents. Methods: The study included 100 patients with JIA. The socio-demographic data were obtained from all patients. Child- and parent-reported PedsQL, Beck depression inventory (BDI), Kovacs' Child Depression Inventory (CDI), SCARED child version, CHAQ discomfort and disability scales were applied and JADAS-27 score was calculated in a cross-sectional manner. Then, we compared the characteristics of patients with the scales’ results. Results: JADAS-27, BDI, and CHAQ discomfort scores were higher and child- and parent-reported PedsQL scores were lower in patients with active disease than patients on remission (p<0.05). The SCARED score was higher in girls than boys. The CHAQ disability score was high in children aged 8-12 years (p<0.05). JADAS-27 and CHAQ disability scores were significantly low in patients with better compliance to treatment. Parental statements about changes in mental health after diagnosis were consistent with results of depression and anxiety scales of children. Conclusions: Quality of life is adversely affected in children with JIA, which may result in depression and anxiety. In management of JIA, one of our goals should be maintaining QoL. Further comprehensive studies in relationships between QoL and depression, anxiety, socio-demographic parameters, disease activation and social circle of patient are needed