A technology acceptance analysis for mhealth apps: the case of Turkey

The acceptance of mHealth (mobile health) apps has been on the increase throughout the world as well as in Turkey. There are two main indicators of mHealth success and acceptance, such as mHealth apps users’ satisfaction level and intention to use mHealth apps. In this context, the factors, including ease of use, trust, privacy, usefulness, and information quality are critical to analyze how they affect the acceptance of the mHealth apps by the Turkish users, and their satisfaction level with mHealth apps. Thus, the main objectives of this study are to (1) to explain how users perceive and use mHealth apps with technology acceptance analysis, (2) investigate whether the usefulness or uselessness of mHealth apps depends on user feelings about mHealth apps, (3) analyze the impacts of ease of use, trust, privacy, usefulness and information quality on mHealth users’ satisfaction and intention, and (4) identify users’ attitudes towards mHealth apps and their satisfaction level with mHealth apps in Turkey. A total of 282 participants from Turkey completed a survey analyzing the ease of use, trust, privacy, usefulness and information quality of mHealth apps to specify the reasons for mHealth acceptance. Statistical techniques were employed for data analysis. This study provides some managerial implications and scholarly recommendations to increase the acceptance of mHealth apps as well as helping mHealth apps designers to recognize the factors that influence the intention to adopt mHealth

A new imaging sign in COVID-19 pneumonia: vascular changes and their correlation with clinical severity of the disease

PURPOSEIt has come to our attention that specific vascular changes (VCs) appear more frequently in chest computed tomography (CT) of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this study, we aimed to investigate if these specific VCs in chest CT correlate with clinical severity of the disease.METHODSCT images of 102 patients who underwent low-dose noncontrast chest CT due to COVID-19 between 11 March 2020 and 11 April 2020 were evaluated retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups based on the presence of VCs in CT images. VCs in chest CT of patients with COVID-19 were defined using the following descriptors: decreased lumen caliber, vascular wall irregularity, angulation in the course of the vessel, vascular disruption, and/or interruption. The relationship of these VCs with disease symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath), comorbid conditions (diabetes, hypertension, asthma), smoking habit, disease-specific laboratory changes (white blood cell-lymphocyte count, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein [CRP], D-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], ferritin, procalcitonin), lung parenchymal infiltration pattern (ground-glass opacity, crazy-paving pattern, consolidation) and its distribution (peripheral, central, mixed, upper lobes, lower lobes, right middle lobe) on CT were investigated by comparison of these variables between patients with and without VCs in chest CT.RESULTSVCs were observed in 18 out of 102 patients (18%) with typical parenchymal involvement for COVID-19. There was no significant difference in terms of age and sex. We found an irregularity in the wall of the vascular structures in the distal branches and decreased lumen caliber of the vessels related to ground-glass opacities in 15 patients, concentric luminal narrowing in annular form in 4 patients, angulation/traction or springiness in the vascular structures towards the active lesions in 3 patients, and interruptions along the vascular course in 1 patient. VCs were significantly correlated with fever (12/18, 66.7%) and shortness of breath (7/18, 39%). These changes were significantly more remarkable in common disease involving both upper and lower lobes (10/18, 56%). In these cases, there was a substantial increase in CRP (15/18, 83%; mean, 5.7±6.3 mg/dL) and LDH (8/18, 44%) values compared to those who did not have any VCs.CONCLUSIONThe results of this study suggest that specific VCs observed in chest CT may predict the disease severity in cases of COVID-19 pneumonia. These changes may be related to respiratory distress in the disease

Immunocompetent Young Patient Presenting with Unilateral Lip Abscess Due to Peeling Exfoliated Lip Skin

Lip abscess is a rare condition encountered in clinical practice. Generally, it may be due to an infective agent, such as virus, bacteria, entering through a skin wound, or it can be seen through hematogenous spread when there is a serious underlying condition such as a general condition disorder or immunodeficiency. It requires rapid diagnosis and treatment as it may cause significant complications in terms of localization and lymphovascular drainage. In this case report, an 18-year-old male patient with unilateral lip abscess that regressed rapidly with external drainage and antibiotic therapy is presented with imaging and clinical-laboratory findings

Duygusal Zekâ Özelliği Ölçeği–Kısa Formu: Geçerlik ve Güvenirlik Çalışması

Bu çalışmanın amacı, Petrides ve Furnham (2000a, 2001) tarafından geliştirilen Duygusal Zeka Özelliği Ölçeği–Kısa Formu’nun (DZÖÖ-KF) Türkçe versiyonunun geçerlik ve güvenirliğinin incelenmesidir. Çalışma 464 üniversite öğrencisi üzerinde yürütülmüştür. Ölçeğin dil geçerliği ve eşdeğerliği İngilizce ve Türkçe formlardan elde edilen puanlar arasındaki pozitif korelasyonla desteklenmiştir. Ölçeğin yapı geçerliğini incelemek için yapılan Açıklayıcı Faktör Analizi sonucunda, 20 maddeden oluşan dört faktörlü bir yapı elde edilmiştir. Elde edilen bu yapının örneklem verisine iyi uyum gösterip göstermediğini anlamak amacıyla yürütülen Doğrulayıcı Faktör analizi sonuçları ise ölçeğin uygulandığı örnekleme uyumunun iyi olduğunu göstermiştir. DZÖÖ-KF’nun iç tutarlılık güvenirlik katsayısı ölçeğin tamamı için .81, test-tekrar test güvenirlik katsayısı ise .86 olarak bulunmuştur. Bu sonuçlar DZÖÖ-KF’nun Türkçe formunun geçerli ve güvenilir bir ölçme aracı olduğunu göstermektedir.Bu çalışmanın amacı, Petrides ve Furnham (2000a, 2001) tarafından geliştirilen Duygusal Zeka Özelliği Ölçeği–Kısa Formu’nun (DZÖÖ-KF) Türkçe versiyonunun geçerlik ve güvenirliğinin incelenmesidir. Çalışma 464 üniversite öğrencisi üzerinde yürütülmüştür. Ölçeğin dil geçerliği ve eşdeğerliği İngilizce ve Türkçe formlardan elde edilen puanlar arasındaki pozitif korelasyonla desteklenmiştir. Ölçeğin yapı geçerliğini incelemek için yapılan Açıklayıcı Faktör Analizi sonucunda, 20 maddeden oluşan dört faktörlü bir yapı elde edilmiştir. Elde edilen bu yapının örneklem verisine iyi uyum gösterip göstermediğini anlamak amacıyla yürütülen Doğrulayıcı Faktör analizi sonuçları ise ölçeğin uygulandığı örnekleme uyumunun iyi olduğunu göstermiştir. DZÖÖ-KF’nun iç tutarlılık güvenirlik katsayısı ölçeğin tamamı için .81, test-tekrar test güvenirlik katsayısı ise .86 olarak bulunmuştur. Bu sonuçlar DZÖÖ-KF’nun Türkçe formunun geçerli ve güvenilir bir ölçme aracı olduğunu göstermektedi

Anatomical and visual outcomes of ranibizumab injections in retinal pigment epithelium tears

ABSTRACT Purpose: To report the anatomical and visual results in patients diagnosed as having retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) tears after receiving ranibizumab injections. Methods: Eyes diagnosed as having RPE tears with a minimum 6-month follow-up were retrospectively evaluated. Each eye was treated with at least three doses of ranibizumab at monthly intervals. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), anterior segment findings, intraocular pressure, and fundus examination results were evaluated during control visits. Color fundus photography, fundus fluorescein angiographies, fundus autofluorescence, and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) images were obtained. The height of pigment epithelial detachment (PED) was measured by SD-OCT. Results: Twelve eyes with RPE tears were studied. Nine eyes (75%) developed RPE tears during ranibizumab injections for choroidal neovascularization (eight eyes with vascularized PED and one eye with choroidal osteoma), and tears occurred in three eyes before any injections. The median number of ranibizumab injections after diagnosis of RPE tears was 3 (min 2, max 5). In the most recent follow-up visit, there was no statistically significant correlation between the grade of RPE and logMAR of BCVA (p>0.05, r=0.112). Eight of twelve eyes had PED, and seven of these had irregular PED contours before injection therapy. The mean PED height was 447 ± 122 µm. Conclusions: In this series, RPE tears developed mostly after intravitreal anti-VEGF injections for vascularized PED. Increased vertical height and irregular contours of the PEDs can be risk factors for the formation of RPE tears. The continuation of anti-VEGF therapy after tear formation is beneficial for vision improvement in eyes with RPE tears

Isolated subclinical right ventricle systolic dysfunction in patients after liver transplantation

Although hemodynamic alterations in end-stage liver disease (ESLD) and its association with porto-pulmonary hypertension have been well-established, the long-term effects of ESLD on RV systolic function in patients without porto-pulmonary hypertension remain disregarded. Here we aimed to assess the long-term effect of ESLD on RV function and its relationship with the use of NSBBs and clinical, laboratory and imaging parameters in end-stage liver disease. The use of NSBBs is still controversial due to concerns about reduced cardiac contractility and the possibility of increased mortality. Thirty-four liver transplant recipients were included. Demographic characteristics, laboratory and baseline echocardiography measures were obtained. Patients were recalled for transthoracic echocardiographic evaluation after transplantation. Right ventricle dysfunction was identified by having at least one value below the reference levels of RV S', or TAPSE. Isolated subclinical RV dysfunction was observed at 20.6% of the sample population. The present study demonstrates hemodynamic circulation in cirrhosis and increased preload and afterload might have long-term effects on RV function, even the lack of porto-pulmonary hypertension. These findings underline the significance of cardiac function follow-up in cirrhotic patients after transplantation. In this study, patients treated with propranolol seemed to have better RV function and less gastrointestinal bleeding. We speculated that preoperative propranolol treatment might help preserve RV function by providing RAS suppression, improving endothelial function and hyperdynamic circulation seen in ESLD. This potential protective relationship between the use of propranolol and RV function might improve mortality or graft-failure during OLT and after liver transplantation in patients with cirrhosis

The influence of road traffic and industrial plant-induced air pollution on the physical, mechanical, chemical and morphological properties of the black pine wood

Road traffic pollution and industrial plant-induced pollution affect negatively the development of forest trees. How forest trees are affected by their growing environment is important for sustainable environment. The study aimed to investigate the physical, mechanical, chemical, and morphological properties of the Pinus nigra (black pine) tree which grows under different conditions. Tree samples were chosen from three different lands where were inside the forest (O), near the roadside (Y), and near the factory (F). It was studied whether there were any significant differences among the “O”, “Y” and “F” in terms of their wood properties such as physical, mechanical, chemical, and morphological. As a result, the “O” samples demonstrated more regular annual ring structure. On the other hand, it was observed that the “Y” samples had longer and wider tracheid cells. In addition, “Y” samples had better mechanical strength than “O” and “F”. Environmental pollution caused the presence of some different elements (chlorine and iron) in “Y” and “F”. As a result, it was determined that the trees growing near the roadside or near industrial plants have significant differences from forest trees which are far away from pollutions. It is possible to say that Pinus nigra (black pine) is resistant to environmental stress. For this reason, it can be recommended to use it as a barrier to reduce air pollution on the roadsides