Evaluation of patients receiving treatment at palliative care centers

Introduction: Palliative care centers (PC centers) provide multidisciplinary care for patients with multiple comorbid conditions. This study aimed to assess and compare patients’ diagnoses, length of hospital stays, and demographic data and coordination with home health care services.Methods: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional and retrospective study. Patients who were hospitalized in PC centers of secondary and tertiary care hospitals between 01.08.2018 and 01.08.2018 were retrospectively assessed. Patients’ demographic characteristics diagnoses of hospitalization, and length of hospital stays and centers where they received treatment were recorded. Results: Median age of 830 patients included in the study was 79 (24-102). Out of 830 patients, 48.9% were male and 51.1% were female. Mean length of hospital stay was 14 days and median length was 8.7 (0.6-112) days. The three most common comorbid diseases followed up were malignancy (21.8%), cerebrovascular disease (15.2%) and malaise-fatigue-senility (10.7%). The group with Alzheimer's disease was the oldest patient group. The group with nutritional deficiency-malnutrition was the patient group with the longest hospital stay (p=0.030). The number of patients who were hospitalized for cerebrovascular diseases was the highest in secondary care centers and the number of patients who were hospitalized for malignancy was the highest in tertiary care centers. Patients hospitalized in secondary PC center were older. The hospital stays were longer in tertiary PC center. Patients receiving treatment at a tertiary PC center had a significantly higher rate of mortality. The number of patients who were discharged was lower in the tertiary PC centers. Hospitalization to a secondary PC center through home care units was significantly higher. Conclusion: In this study, the rate and diagnoses of hospitalization and length of hospital stays were different in secondary and tertiary PC centers. Our study has made an assessment about palliative care centers at various levels of health care and can be considered as prior knowledge for other studies

Evaluation of Central Venous Catheterization Complications and Related Risk Factors in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Objective: In this study, we aimed to evaluate central venous catheter insertion related complications and related risk factors in a pediatric intensive care unit

Death and COVID-19 Anxiety in Home-Quarantined Individuals Aged 65 and Over During the Pandemic

Urgent measures were taken for those at the age of 65 and over who were at the risk group all over the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is known that many individuals at the age of 65 and over have experienced anxiety due to the uncertainties. This study aimed to determine the anxiety and death anxiety in individuals aged 65 and over who were isolation at home due to being diagnosed with COVID-19 or being in contact during the pandemic process. The study is descriptive and cross-sectional. It was performed with 656 home-quarantined individuals aged between 65-80 years with positive or negative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result. A form including questions about the death anxiety and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale Short Form prepared by the researchers were administered to the individuals by phone call. Of the participants, 49.5% were male. Median COVID-19 anxiety score was 4 (0-18). Anxiety scores of the male and female participants were similar. Participants with negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results and those with death anxiety had higher COVID anxiety scores. Death anxiety has increased by 1.661 times in male gender, 1.983 times in RT-PCR positivity and 0.146 times in the presence of symptoms. Individuals with positive COVID-19 test results or those aged 65 and over who had death anxiety and negative COVID-19 test result but who were in home-isolation due to being a contact had higher anxiety score. For this reason, those with death anxiety can be supported in line with their religious beliefs to reduce anxiety. Those with negative PCR test results in quarantine can be adequately informed about the COVID-19

Assessment of Hair Zinc in the School Children in Kayseri, Turkey

Zinc is an essential micronutrient for the organism and is critical for the functional and structural integrity of cells. Determination of the amount of trace element concentrations in tissues such as hair samples have been used for the evaluation of the metabolic status especially in children. Unlike serum zinc, concentrations of zinc in hair are more stable and indicative of variations over time. The purpose of this study is to assess the zinc status of healthy school-age children in Kayseri (Turkey) by measuring the zinc level in hair samples and its association with BMI and the frequency of intake of zinc-rich foods. A total of 527 healthy children, including preadolescent (n = 360) aged 6-10 years and adolescent (n = 167) aged 11-15 years were included in this study. Hair samples were analyzed for zinc content by the inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrophotometry. Analysis of 527 healthy children showed that the mean hair zinc level was 186 +/- 77 mu g/g. Mean hair zinc level was lower in preadolescent age group than adolescents. There was no significant relationship between the monthly income of the family and the zinc-rich food intake and the zinc level of the hair. Our study shows that samples for analysis of zinc can be obtained with a noninvasive method for determining cases of deficiency during periods of rapid growth. However, further studies are needed to determine the normal tissue zinc level in healthy children, especially in our country and including different geographical regions

Evaluation of patients receiving treatment at palliative care centers

Introduction: Palliative care centers (PC centers) provide multidisciplinary care for patients with multiple comorbid conditions. This study aimed to assess and compare patients’ diagnoses, length of hospital stays, and demographic data and coordination with home health care services.Methods: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional and retrospective study. Patients who were hospitalized in PC centers of secondary and tertiary care hospitals between 01.08.2018 and 01.08.2018 were retrospectively assessed. Patients’ demographic characteristics diagnoses of hospitalization, and length of hospital stays and centers where they received treatment were recorded. Results: Median age of 830 patients included in the study was 79 (24-102). Out of 830 patients, 48.9% were male and 51.1% were female. Mean length of hospital stay was 14 days and median length was 8.7 (0.6-112) days. The three most common comorbid diseases followed up were malignancy (21.8%), cerebrovascular disease (15.2%) and malaise-fatigue-senility (10.7%). The group with Alzheimer's disease was the oldest patient group. The group with nutritional deficiency-malnutrition was the patient group with the longest hospital stay (p=0.030). The number of patients who were hospitalized for cerebrovascular diseases was the highest in secondary care centers and the number of patients who were hospitalized for malignancy was the highest in tertiary care centers. Patients hospitalized in secondary PC center were older. The hospital stays were longer in tertiary PC center. Patients receiving treatment at a tertiary PC center had a significantly higher rate of mortality. The number of patients who were discharged was lower in the tertiary PC centers. Hospitalization to a secondary PC center through home care units was significantly higher. Conclusion: In this study, the rate and diagnoses of hospitalization and length of hospital stays were different in secondary and tertiary PC centers. Our study has made an assessment about palliative care centers at various levels of health care and can be considered as prior knowledge for other studies

Comparison of Therapeutic Effectiveness between Kinesio Taping Technique and Static Resting Splint in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Objective: We aimed to compare the kinesio taping (KT) technique and static wrist resting splint therapy in terms of clinical symptoms, hand grip strengt and daily living activities in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome

Reduction in mean platelet volume in children with acute bronchiolitis

Aim: Platelets which are known to play a role in inflamation change their shapes when they are activated and this change is reflected in mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width values. Therefore, the mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width values are considered to be beneficial parameters for the diagnosis and treatment of many inflammatory diseases. The aim of the study was to evaluate platelet volume indices in children with acute bronchiolitis

Bullous Dermatitis and Skin Necrosis Developing after Adrenalin Extravasation

Extravasation of vasopressors can have serious complications varying from simple local reactions to skin necrosis and compartment syndrome. Here, we presented bullous dermatitis and skin necrosis which developed due to extravasation of adrenalin infusion in a Hodgkin lymphoma patient with septic shock who was admitted due febrile neutropenia