The Effect of Play Activities for COVID-19 Positive and MIS-C Pediatric Patients on the Anxiety and Fear of Children and Their Parents

Cilj: Ova studija imala je za cilj utvrditi učinke igre na anksioznost i strah pedijatrijskih pacijenata pozitivnih na COVID-19 i pacijena- ta s MIS-C-om te njihovih roditelja Metode: Ovo je eksperimentalna studija koja je pripremljena putem STROBE smjernica. Ispitanu populaciju činilo je 38 djece koja su liječena u odjelu sveučilišne COVID-19 bolnice. Dječji mjerač anksioznosti Rezultati: Utvrđene su značajne razlike dječje anksioznosti i straha u eksperimentalnoj skupini prije i nakon igre te značajne razlike između rezultata anksioznosti roditelja i djece (<0,05). Međutim, nije pronađena značajna razlika između rezultata anksioznosti i straha nakon igre djece u eksperimentalnoj skupini i rezultata kontrolne skupine. Diskusija: Eksperimentalna skupina imala je niske prosječne rezultate anksioznosti i straha nakon igre.Aim: This study aims to determine the effects of play activities for COVID-19 positive and MIS-C pediatric patients on the anxiety and fear of children and their parents. Methods: This is an experimental study that was prepared through STROBE. The study population consisted of 38 children treated in a university hospital COVID-19 unit. The Children’s Anxiety Meter-State and the Children’s Fear Scale were administered before and after the play activities. The parents’ fear and anxiety were assessed using the COVID-19 Phobia Scale and the Beck Anxiety Inven- tory. The book and coloring set was prepared in advance and delivered to the experimental group in a package. After the sets were given to the parents, the parents read the book to their children the same day. Afterward, they were asked to color pictures of coro- navirus precautions together with the children. SPSS 22.00 package program was used to analyze the study data. The Mann-Whit- ney U test was used to compare independent groups, and Wilcoxon analysis was used to analyze dependent variables before and after the play activities. Results: Based on the children’s anxiety and fear scores in the experimental group, significant differences were found before and after the play activities and significant differences between the anxiety scores (<0.05) of parents and children. However, no significant difference was found between post-play anxiety and fear scores of children in the experimental group and the scores of the control group. Discussion: The experimental group had low mean anxiety and fear scores after the play activities. Play activities should be used to reduce the anxiety and fear of children who are treated in isolation in hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even if children are restricted to isolation rooms, their daily routines should be maintained, and their parents should be supported

Characterization of stress induced by copper and zinc on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seedlings by means of molecular and population parameters

WOS: 000304788000008PubMed ID: 22480449Contamination of plants with heavy metals could result in damage in DNA, such as mutations and crosslinks with proteins. These altered DNA profiles may become visible in changes such as the appearance of a new band, or loss of an existing band, in the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay. In this study, various concentrations of copper and zinc salts were applied to cucumber seedlings during germination. Results displayed abnormalities in germination and also changes in root elongation, dry weight and total soluble protein level. All treatment concentrations (40, 80, 160, 240, 320, and 640 mg/L) used in the study caused a decrease/delay in germination of the cucumbers to different extents. Inhibition or activation of root elongation was considered to be the first effect of metal toxicity in the tested plants. Application of the metal salts and the combined solutions on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L) seedlings revealed similar consequences for total soluble protein level, dry weight and ultimately in inhibitory rates as well. The data obtained from RAPD band-profiles and genomic template stability (GTS) showed results that were consistent with the population parameters. In this regard, we conclude that molecular marker assays can be applied in combination with population parameters to measure genotoxic effects of heavy metals on plants. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

A comparison of bond strength and adhesive remnant index of 3D-printed and metal orthodontic brackets attached using different adhesives

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the shear bond strength (SBS) and adhesive remnant index (ARI) scores of two different adhesive applications of aesthetic brackets produced from permanent crown material using 3D-printing technology

The Effect of Proton-Pump Inhibitors on the Frequency and the Course of the Community Acquired Pneumonia

Objective: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the primary drugs with proven efficacy in gastrointestinal diseases. The effectiveness of these drugs causes unneccessary use and potential risks. The aim of the study was to evaluate the rates of PPI use and its effect on the course of the disease in patients with community aqcuired pneumonia (CAP). Methods: The patients who were hospitalized due to pneumonia were asked about the use of PPIs, whether they were a current user, user in the last 3 months or never used. The rates of PPI use and the effect of PPI use on clinical and radiological improvement, duration of treatment and hospitalization, development of complication, need of intensive care unit and mortality were evaluated. Results: Sixty-eight patients were included in the study. The mean age of patients was 70.7 +/- 12.5 years. The rates of PPI use (current use, use in 3 months and never used) were as follows: 39%, 11.8% and 48.5% respectively. The duration of treatment and hospitalization, duration of clinical and radiological improvement were found longer in patients who were using PPI currently compared to never used (respectively; p=0.08, p=0.024, p=0.007, p=0.016). The rate of complications was higher in the current users than never users (14.8% vs 6.1%). Conclusion: Thirty-nine percent of the patients with CAP were using PPI currently. The course of pneumonia was more severe in this group. The unneccessary use of PPIs should be avoided in order to decrease the incidence and morbidity of CAP

Thiol-Disulfide Balance in Fibromyalgia: A Case-Control Study

Aim. We aimed to examine the thiol-disulfide (SS) balance, a recognized marker of oxidative stress, in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Methods. The study comprised 98 female participants (61 newly diagnosed patients and 37 patients under treatment) with FMS, along with 82 apparently healthy female volunteers. In both groups, assessments were conducted using the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Short Form-36 (SF-36), Tender Point Count, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Native thiol (NT) and total thiol (TT) levels were measured, SS levels and SS/NT ratio were calculated. Results. FMS patients demonstrated significantly lower NT levels, higher SS levels, and an elevated SS/NT ratio compared to the control group (p< 0.05 for all groups). In FMS patients, a statistically significant correlation was found between SS level and the SS/NT ratio, as well as the number of tender points (r=-0.24, p=0.02; r=-0.21, p=0.04), SF-36 pain subscales (r=0.22, p=0.032; r=0.21, p=0.04), and BAI scores (r=-0.22, p=0.01; r=-0.23 p=0.03). In the subgroup analysis, all health assessment scales were observed to exhibit statistically significant differences between the under-treatment group and newly-diagnosed group when compared to the control group (p< 0.05 for all groups). The FIQ, VAS, FSS, and BAI scores were found to be significantly lower in the under-treatment group as compared to the newly-diagnosed group (p< 0.05 for all groups). In the newly-diagnosed group, NT was significantly lower and the SS/NT ratio was significantly higher than those in the control group (p< 0.05). In the under-treatment group, SS levels and SS/NT ratio were significantly higher as compared to the control group (p< 0.05). In the multivariate regression analysis, which incorporated age, health assessment scales, patient subgroups, tender points, and duration of symptoms to predict the SS/NT ratio, variabes such as being in the under-treatment group, tender points, and BAI score were identified as significant predictors (p< 0.05). Conclusions. The thiol-SS balance was observed to shift in the oxidative direction, and oxidative stress was higher in the FMS group. The absence of a significant difference between the under-treatment group and the newly-diagnosed group in terms of thiol-SS balance parameters suggests a shift to oxidative stress in patients, independent of the treatment status