Evaluation of life quality and sleep problems in children presenting with headache to the pediatric neurology outpatient clinic

Aim: We aimed to investigate the quality of life (QL) and sleep habits (SH) of children presenting to the pediatric neurology outpatient clinic with headache. Methods: This prospective, cross-sectional and observational survey study included children aged 2-18 who presented to the pediatric neurology outpatient clinics of Dr. Ali Kemal Belviranlı Maternity and Children's Hospital or Konya City Hospital between April and August 2022. QL was assessed using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) and sleep characteristics were evaluated using the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire. Results: The study included 137 patients (56.2% girls) with a mean age of 153.54±34.5 months at presentation. All patients were diagnosed with primary headache; 51.8% had migraine and 48.2% had tension-type headache. Quality of life scores were 69.07±14.96 according to child self-assessment and 66.39±15.37 according to parental assessment. The mean score on the sleep habits questionnaire was 48.01±7.68, and 9.5% of the patients had good sleep quality. Subscale scores showed that the greatest adverse effects on QL were in the areas of emotional functioning and school functioning. Conclusions: Clinical assessment of patients’ QL and SH is important for individualizing treatment and approach in pediatric primary headache

Investigating the Visual Mathematics Literacy Self-Efficacy (VMLSE) Perceptions of Eighth Grade Students and Their Views on This Issue

The aim of this study was to investigate the VMLSE perception levels of eighth grade students and differentiations based on variables of gender, state of success, final grade and ability to relate mathematical concepts to daily life and examine their views on this issue. The exploratory design of mixed method, which includes both quantitative and qualitative methods, was used in the study. The survey method was used in the quantitative dimension of the study. In qualitative dimension, phenomenological design which is one of the qualitative research designs is used. The data obtained from the quantitative dimension by VMLSE perception scale were analyzed by t-test and one-way analysis of variance. The data obtained from the semi-structured interview form were analyzed by using the content analysis method for the qualitative dimension of the research. As a consequently, there was a significant difference in VMLSE perceptions based on the variables of final grade, finding one’s self successful in the field of mathematics and ability to relate mathematical concepts; however, there was no significant difference based on gender. Additionally, it was found, the students had the idea that having VMLSE perception would affect mathematics success positively.&nbsp

High admission levels of γ-glutamyltransferase predict poor myocardial perfusion after primary percutaneous intervention

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study aimed to investigate the relationship between admission levels of serum y-glutamyltransferase and poor myocardial perfusion after primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute myocardial infarction. INTRODUCTION: Reperfusion injury caused by free radical release and increased oxidative stress is responsible for the pathophysiology of the no-reflow phenomenon in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Serum ϒ-glutamyltransferase is an established marker of increased oxidative stress. METHODS: The study population consisted of 80 patients (64 men and 16 women, mean age = 67.5 + 6.6 years) with thrombolysis in myocardial infarction 0/1 flow pre-procedurally. The patients were divided into two groups according to thrombolysis in myocardial perfusion grades that were assessed immediately following primary percutaneous coronary intervention. The two groups (group 1 and group 2) each consisted of 40 patients with thrombolysis in myocardial perfusion grades 0-1 and thrombolysis in myocardial perfusion grades 2-3, respectively. RESULTS: Admission pain to balloon time, ϒ-glutamyltransferase and creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme levels of group 1 patients were significantly higher than those of group 2 patients. Pain to balloon time, ϒ-glutamyltransferase, peak creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme, low left ventricular ejection fraction and poor pre-procedural thrombolysis in myocardial infarction grade were significantly associated with poor myocardial perfusion by univariate analysis. However, only pain to balloon time and ϒ-glutamyltransferase levels showed a significant independent association with poor myocardial perfusion by backward logistic regression analysis. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated as 4.92 for pain to balloon time and 1.13 for ϒ-glutamyltransferase. CONCLUSION: High admission ϒ-glutamyltransferase levels are associated with poor myocardial perfusion in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention, particularly in patients with prolonged pain to balloon time

High admission levels of γ-glutamyltransferase predict poor myocardial perfusion after primary percutaneous intervention

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study aimed to investigate the relationship between admission levels of serum y-glutamyltransferase and poor myocardial perfusion after primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute myocardial infarction. INTRODUCTION: Reperfusion injury caused by free radical release and increased oxidative stress is responsible for the pathophysiology of the no-reflow phenomenon in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Serum ϒ-glutamyltransferase is an established marker of increased oxidative stress. METHODS: The study population consisted of 80 patients (64 men and 16 women, mean age = 67.5 + 6.6 years) with thrombolysis in myocardial infarction 0/1 flow pre-procedurally. The patients were divided into two groups according to thrombolysis in myocardial perfusion grades that were assessed immediately following primary percutaneous coronary intervention. The two groups (group 1 and group 2) each consisted of 40 patients with thrombolysis in myocardial perfusion grades 0-1 and thrombolysis in myocardial perfusion grades 2-3, respectively. RESULTS: Admission pain to balloon time, ϒ-glutamyltransferase and creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme levels of group 1 patients were significantly higher than those of group 2 patients. Pain to balloon time, ϒ-glutamyltransferase, peak creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme, low left ventricular ejection fraction and poor pre-procedural thrombolysis in myocardial infarction grade were significantly associated with poor myocardial perfusion by univariate analysis. However, only pain to balloon time and ϒ-glutamyltransferase levels showed a significant independent association with poor myocardial perfusion by backward logistic regression analysis. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated as 4.92 for pain to balloon time and 1.13 for ϒ-glutamyltransferase. CONCLUSION: High admission ϒ-glutamyltransferase levels are associated with poor myocardial perfusion in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention, particularly in patients with prolonged pain to balloon time

The relationship between L-arginine/ADMA ratio and coronary collateral development in patients with low glomerular filtration rate

Background: It is yet to be established which factors are responsible for differences among patients with the same degree of coronary artery disease in terms of coronary collateral development (CCD). Methods: Patients who had a greater than or equal to 95% stenosis in at least one epicardial coronary artery were classified into two groups according to their glomerular filtration rate (GFR) level. Afterwards, the degree of CCD was evaluated according to their plasma concentration of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and GFR levels. Results: Rentrop grade 2&#8211;3 was found more frequently in patients with GFR > 60 mL/min than in patients with GFR < 60 mL/min (68.6% vs 41.4%, p = 0.032). Then we divided patients into four groups according to their GFR levels and Rentrop grades; whereas we did not find any significant difference for L-arginine or ADMA levels (respectively p = 0.629 and p = 0.076), we did find a statistically significant difference between groups for L-arginine/ /ADMA ratio (p = 0.003) and this statistically significant difference was evident between patients with GFR 60 mL/min and Rentrop 2&#8211;3 (1.23 vs 1.69, p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that L-arginine/ADMA ratio was the only variable which had a significant effect on CCD (OR = 1.016; 95% CI 1.001&#8211;1.031, Wald = 4.565; p = 0.033). Conclusions: These results showed that CCD was poor in patients with GFR < 60 mL/min, presumably because of the adverse effect of decreased L-arginine/ADMA ratio on endothelial cells and angiogenesis. (Cardiol J 2012; 19, 1: 29&#8211;35

Prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility of Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum in pregnant women

SummaryBackgroundMycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum are important opportunistic pathogens implicated in urogenital infections and complicated pregnancy. We aimed to study the role of these pathogens in symptomatic and asymptomatic pregnant women and determine their clinical significance and antibiotic susceptibility.MethodsOne hundred pregnant women were included in the study, 50 symptomatic patients and 50 asymptomatic controls. Duplicate endocervical samples were taken from each individual and analyzed using the Mycoplasma IST-2 kit and A7 agar medium. Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested against doxycycline, josamycin, ofloxacin, erythromycin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, and pristinamycin using the Mycoplasma IST-2 kit.ResultsTwelve symptomatic pregnant women had spontaneous abortions. Of these, eight (66.7%) cases had been colonized with M. hominis and/or U. urealyticum. Of the pregnant women infected with M. hominis and/or U. urealyticum, 40.7% delivered a low birth weight infant. M. hominis was successfully cultured in five women (5%) and U. urealyticum in 27 (27%). Among positive cultures, 15.6% and 84.4% of isolates were M. hominis and U. urealyticum, respectively. M. hominis and U. urealyticum were uniformly susceptible to doxycycline, tetracycline, and pristinamycin, which may be successfully used in the empirical therapy of infected individuals.ConclusionsIt can be concluded that genital colonization with M. hominis and U. urealyticum may predispose to spontaneous abortion and low birth weight

Pozytonowa emisyjna tomografia komputerowa z 18F-FDG, ultrasonografia i tomografia komputerowa w łagodnych i złośliwych guzach jajnika w korelacji z pooperacyjnym wynikiem histopatologicznym

Abstract Objectives: The role of 18F-FDG (18F fluorodeoxyglucose) PET/CT** (Positron emission tomography) in the diagnosis, treatment and follow up of benign and malignant ovarian tumors had been investigated previously. The objective of the following study was to evaluate the predictive value of PET/CT in benign and malignant ovarian tumors and compare with computerized tomography and post-operative pathology. Materials and methods: In this retrospective study, a total of sixty nine cases with benign or malignant pelvic masses underwent laparotomy at our clinic. Postoperative pathology of the patients was recorded and PET/CT results were compared with ultrasonography, computerized tomography and postoperative pathology. Results: The ROCs and AUCs values four predictors were shown in Figure 1. The AUCs (95 % CI) values calculated for CA 125, ultrasonography (USG), PET/CT and CT were as follows: 0.855(0.752-0.958), 0.703(0.540-0.866), 0.681(0.514-0.848) and 0.631(0.463-0.799) respectively. CA 125 has the highest AUC value in order to predict the malignant potential of the patient. USG has the highest AUC value between the imaging techniques, following PET/CT and CT. Conclusion: According to this study, among four modalities that distinguish malignant potential preoperatively; CA125 is the best parameter. USG and PET provide similar benefits in detecting malignant ovarian masses preoperatively. Both of these parameters are superior to CT. Combination of CA125, USG and PET/CT may be useful in detecting malignant ovarian masses preoperatively, resulting in less invasive surgeries. ** 18F-FDG (18F fluorodeoxyglucose) PET/CT will be used as the PET/CT, later in this article.Streszczenie Cel pracy: Rola 18F-FDG PET w diagnozowaniu łagodnych i złośliwych guzów jajnika w diagnozowaniu oraz obserwacji po leczeniu była już tematem badań. Celem tej pracy jest ocena wartości predykcyjnej PET/CT w łagodnych i złośliwych guzach jajnika i porównanie tej metody z tomografią komputerową i pooperacyjnym wynikiem histopatologicznym. Materiał i metody: Badanie retrospektywne przeprowadzono na grupie 69 pacjentek z łagodną bądź złośliwą zmianą w miednicy mniejszej, które poddano laparotomii w naszej klinice. Wynik pooperacyjny histopatologiczny porównano z wynikiem badania PET/CT, USG, tomografią komputerową. Wyniki: Obliczone wartości AUC (95%CI) dla CA125, USG, PET/CT i tomografii komputerowej wyniosły odpowiednio: 0,855 (0,752-0,958), 0,703 (0,540-0,866), 0,681 (0,514-0,848) i 0,631 (0,463-0,799). Marker CA125 miał najwyższą wartość AUC dla przewidywania złośliwych zmian. USG miało najwyższą wartość AUC wśród technik obrazowania, następnie PET/CT i tomografia komputerowa. Wnioski: Według tego badania, spośród analizowanych czterech metod przedoperacyjnego prognozowania charakteru guza, CA125 jest najlepszym parametrem. USG i PET mają podobną siłę wykrywania zmian złośliwych przed operacją. Kombinacja badania CA125, USG i PET/CT może być przydatną metodą wykrywania złośliwych guzów jajnika przed operacją i wykonywania mniej inwazyjnych operacji

Acute effect of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor on serum oxidative status and prolidase activities in men with erectile dysfunction

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the acute effect of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor on erectile dysfunction by evaluating serum oxidative status and prolidase activity. METHODS: Serum samples of 36 patients with erectile dysfunction and 30 control cases were analyzed for total antioxidant status, total oxidant status, and prolidase activity, before and after the administration of tadalafil citrate. RESULTS: Before and after tadalafil citrate administration, serum total antioxidant status, total oxidant status, and prolidase were 1.1+0.0 vs. 1.6 + 0.0 umol H2O2 Eq/L, 10.3+1.1 vs. 6.9 + 1.2 umol H2O2 Eq/L, and 236.4+19.5 vs. 228.2 + 19.2 U/L, respectively (

Use of Shear Wave Elastography in Pediatric Musculoskeletal Disorders

Muscle shear-wave elastography (SWE) is an exciting and rapidly evolving ultrasound technique that allows quantification of muscle stiffness with a non-invasive, non-painful and non-irradiating examination. It has the potential of wider clinical use due to relatively low-cost, providing real-time measurement and, especially for the pediatric population, taking less time and sedation/anesthesia-free. Research indicate that muscle SWE shows promise as an adjunct clinical tool for differentiating between a normal and an abnormal muscle, monitoring the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions, altering the therapeutic intervention, or deciding treatment duration. This chapter will aim to provide an overview of the knowledge about the using of muscle SWE in common pediatric musculoskeletal disorders such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Cerebral Palsy, Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis, and Congenital Muscular Torticollis in the light of current evidence