Evaluación de las prácticas tradicionales de lactancia materna, alimentación complementaria y aumento de la leche materna en madres con lactantes de 0 a 24 meses: Un estudio transversal

Introduction: To evaluate the traditional practices of breastfeeding, complementary feeding, and increasing breast milk in mothers with 0-24 month-old infants. Material and methods: The study sample includes 215 mothers with 0-24 month-old infants. The mothers’ socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge and behaviors regarding breast milk, complementary feeding, and traditional practices for increasing breast milk were questioned. Results: 60.0% of the infants were exclusively breastfed in the first six months. There was a significant difference between the mothers’ educational levels and the frequency of breastfeeding (p<0.001). A significant difference was observed between the educational level of the mothers and the first complementary food given to the infants (p=0.046). The rate of mothers who breastfed less frequently after introducing to complementary feeding was significantly lower in the group with a low level of education compared to the group with a high level of education (p=0.040). The rate of receiving training from a healthcare professional specialized in breastfeeding before and after birth was significantly higher in the group with a high level of education (41.1% and 52.8%, respectively) than the group with a low level of education (17.3% and 15.4%) (p=0.002 and p<0.001, respectively). The rate of those who knew that breast milk alone was sufficient for feeding the infant in the first six months was significantly higher in the group with a high level of education (96.3%) than the group with a low level of education (86.5%) (p=0.017). Percentage of mothers with a high educational level who consume herbal tea (17.8%) is higher than those with low educational level (4.0%). There is a statistically significant difference between the educational status of mothers and traditional practices to increase breast milk (p<0.001). Conclusions: Mothers had imperfect knowledge regarding breastfeeding and complementary feeding. They should be educated by healthcare professionals to eliminate deficiencies and correct their current practices.Introducción: Evaluar las prácticas tradicionales de lactancia materna, alimentación complementaria y aumento de la leche materna en madres con bebés de 0-24 meses. Material y métodos: La muestra del estudio incluye 215 madres con bebés de 0-24 meses. Se utilizó un cuestionario sobre las características sociodemográficas, los conocimientos y comportamientos de las madres con respecto a la leche materna, la alimentación complementaria y las prácticas tradicionales para aumentar la leche materna. Resultados: el 60,0% de los lactantes fueron amamantados exclusivamente en los primeros seis meses. Hubo una diferencia significativa entre los niveles educativos de las madres y la frecuencia de la lactancia materna (p<0,001). Se observó una diferencia significativa entre el nivel educativo de las madres y el primer alimento complementario dado a los lactantes (p=0,046). La tasa de madres que amamantaron con menor frecuencia después de la introducción a la alimentación complementaria fue significativamente menor en el grupo con bajo nivel educativo en comparación con el grupo con alto nivel educativo (p=0,040). La tasa de formación de un profesional sanitario especializado en lactancia materna antes y después del parto fue significativamente mayor en el grupo con alto nivel educativo (41,1% y 52,8%, respectivamente) que en el grupo con bajo nivel educativo (17,3% y 15,4%) (p=0,002 y p<0,001, respectivamente). La tasa de quienes sabían que la leche materna sola era suficiente para alimentar al lactante en los primeros seis meses fue significativamente mayor en el grupo con un alto nivel de educación (96,3%) que en el grupo con un bajo nivel de educación (86,5%) (p=0,017). El porcentaje de madres con alto nivel educativo que consumen té de hierbas (17,8%) es superior al de madres con bajo nivel educativo (4,0%). Existe una diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre el nivel educativo de las madres y las prácticas tradicionales para aumentar la leche materna (p<0,001). Conclusiones: las madres tenían conocimientos imperfectos sobre la lactancia materna y la alimentación complementaria. Deben ser educados por profesionales de la salud para eliminar las deficiencias y corregir sus prácticas actuales

Effect of vitamin D level and polypharmacy on the risk of falls in the elderly

Aim: To investigate the effects of polypharmacy and vitamin D levels on the risk of falls in the elderly. Methods: The prospective study included 201 patients (F/M: 155/46) aged 65 years and older who presented with nonspecific musculoskeletal pain. The demographic and laboratory data of the patients, as well as the results of a single leg stance test (SLST), a timed up and go (TUG) test and levels of vitamin D were recorded. Results: The percentage of patients with polypharmacy is 15.9 percent and 29.4 percent used no medications. The SLST score was the lowest and the TUG test score was significantly higher in the polypharmacy group (p<0.05). Vitamin D levels were significantly higher in patients with normal SLST times than those with abnormal SLST times (p<0.05). The risk of falls was significantly higher among patients with a previous history of a fall (p<0.05). Polypharmacy and the female gender appeared as the most significant factors affecting the risk of falls (p<0.05), while vitamin D level was found to have no effect (p>0.05). Conclusion: Medical therapies for the treatment of diseases in the elderly should have a rational basis, as this may reduce falls, particularly in the elderly population, that can have serious consequences, and may even lead to death

Evaluation of the traditional practices of breastfeeding, complementary feeding and increasing breast milk in mothers with 0-24 month-old infants: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: To evaluate the traditional practices of breastfeeding, complementary feeding, and increasing breast milk in mothers with 0-24 month-old infants. Methodology: The study sample includes 215 mothers with 0-24 month-old infants. The mothers’ socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge and behaviors regarding breast milk, complementary feeding, and traditional practices for increasing breast milk were questioned. Results: 60.0% of the infants were exclusively breastfed in the first six months. There was a significant difference between the mothers’ educational levels and the frequency of breastfeeding (p<0.001). A significant difference was observed between the educational level of the mothers and the first complementary food given to the infants (p=0.046). The rate of mothers who breastfed less frequently after introducing to complementary feeding was significantly lower in the group with a low level of education compared to the group with a high level of education (p=0.040). The rate of receiving training from a healthcare professional specialized in breastfeeding before and after birth was significantly higher in the group with a high level of education (41.1% and 52.8%, respectively) than the group with a low level of education (17.3% and 15.4%) (p=0.002 and p<0.001, respectively). The rate of those who knew that breast milk alone was sufficient for feeding the infant in the first six months was significantly higher in the group with a high level of education (96.3%) than the group with a low level of education (86.5%) (p=0.017). Percentage of mothers with a high educational level who consume herbal tea (17.8%) is higher than those with low educational level (4.0%). There is a statistically significant difference between the educational status of mothers and traditional practices to increase breast milk (p<0.001). Conclusions: Mothers had imperfect knowledge regarding breastfeeding and complementary feeding. They should be educated by healthcare professionals to eliminate deficiencies and correct their current practices

Relationship between epicardial fat tissue thickness and CRP and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in metabolic syndrome patients over 65 years

Objective: There are no data evaluating the association of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) with epicardial fat tissue thickness (EFTT) in elderly metabolic syndrome (MS) patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship of EFTT with CRP and NLR in patients with MS over 65 years. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed. Fifty patients (patient group) with MS and 25 subjects (control group) without MS were allocated in the study. All parameters were compared in patient and control groups. The correlations between NLR, CRP, and EFTT were evaluated. Results: White blood cell and neutrophil levels were higher in MS group (p=0.020 and p=0.019, respectively). Both transverse and longitudinal EFTT were increased in MS patients (p<0.001). There was a significant correlation between the EFTT and NLR but not with CRP in the MS group (r=0.4, p=0.003). Conclusion: Our study showed that both longitudinal and transverse EFTT are associated with NLR in patients older than 65 years with MS. In geriatric MS patients, higher NLR level may be an indicator of increased visceral fat around the myocardium

The effectiveness of specific exercise types on cardiopulmonary functions in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a systematic review

The aim of this review was to assess the effectiveness of specific exercise types on pulmonary functions, aerobic and functional capacity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). A systematic search of Cochrane Database of Systematic Review, MEDLINE (EBSCO), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), CINAHL (EBSCO), PUBMED, AMED, EMBASE (OVID) was conducted in January 2016. The outcome measures were spirometric measurements, chest expansion, 6 minute walk distance (6MWD), pVO(2), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI). The search strategy was applied with limitation of date and language and this initial electronic search resulted in 143 relevant studies. After duplicates were removed, the titles and abstracts of 52 articles were screened. Of these, 14 full-text articles met initial criteria and were retrieved for review, with eight studies meeting final inclusion criteria. Both specific and conventional exercise groups showed significant improvements in BASDAI and BASFI scores (p 0.05). Specific exercises are an effective adjuvant therapy to enhance cardiopulmonary functions in patients with AS; therefore, it is assumed that in addition to the medical treatments, specific exercise therapy might reduce the cardiopulmonary complications related with AS

Psychosocial Adaptation and Depressive Manifestations in High-Risk Pregnant Women: Implications for Clinical Practice

Background: High-risk pregnancy research has focused primarily on psychological well-being