Yoga versus home exercise program in children with enthesitis related arthritis: A pilot study

Purpose: The aim was to compare the effects of yoga and home exercise program on lower extremity functional status, pain, and quality of life in children with enthesitis related arthritis (ERA). Methods: Twenty-one children with ERA were divided into two groups as yoga (n = 11) and home exercise (n = 10). Yoga group performed supervised yoga exercises twice a week for eight weeks. Home exercise group performed video-based exercises for the same period. Pain in rest and activity, lower extremity functional status, and quality of life were evaluated at baseline and following eight weeks. Results: The groups were similar at baseline (p > 0.05). All the parameters, except parent reported quality of life, significantly improved in yoga group (p < 0.05), where only stair climb test times significantly improved in home exercise group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Yoga seems promising for improving lower extremity functional status, pain, and quality of life as an exercise intervention in rehabilitation programs of children with ERA

Numerical and Experimental Investigation of Aerodynamic Loads for Tall Buildings with Prismatic and Twisted Forms

Cantilevered from the ground, tall buildings reaching exceptional heights are inevitably exposed to severe lateral effects, particularly wind loads. As the structures get higher, slenderer and have larger strength-to-weight ratios, their design, both structural and architectural, is principally based on wind rather than gravity or seismic demands. Wind forces acting on this type of structures primarily depends on wind characteristics and the building form. Thus, creating distinctive forms that attract public interest and are aerodynamically efficient is an ambition of architects and engineers for decades. Recently, twisting tall buildings emerged by virtue of such a motivation. This study investigates wind effects on these complex forms through a case study research. Comparisons between wind loads on a twisted building model and those on its conventional prismatic counterpart were performed by making use of both numerical analyses and experimental measurements. The influences of facade texture, wind speed, and wind direction on separated turbulent flow around the model buildings and the aerodynamic loads acting on the buildings have been investigated. Comparisons highlighted that, wind loads around the bluff body of twisting structure is on a lower grade compared to the prismatic counterpart which is valid for both along wind and across wind directions

Distribution and Effects of CDKN2 p16 540 C > G and 580 C > T, and MDM2 SNP309 T > G Polymorphisms in Patients with Primary Brain Tumors

Background/Aim: Primary brain tumors are unique tumors due to their different pathobiological behavior, while they rarely metastasize outside the central nervous system. Regarding the oncogenesis of primary brain tumors, it was shown that changes in functions of p16 and mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) are related to tumor pathogenesis by enhancing cell proliferation and malign development. The present study aims to evaluate the possible associations between cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDKN2) p16 540 C>G and 580 C>T, MDM2 single nucleotide polymorphism 309 (SNP309) T>G polymorphisms and primary brain tumor. Materials and Methods: Using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique, we determined SNPs in 67 patients with primary brain tumors and 71 healthy volunteers without malignancy. Results: The frequency of CC genotype for CDKN2 p16 540 C>G was significantly two-fold higher (pT and MDM2 SNP309 T>G variants between cases and controls. CGT haplotype was significantly less frequent in patients with primary brain tumors and glioma cases (p= 0.009 and p= 0.028, respectively) than controls. CGG haplotype was significantly less frequent in patients with meningioma versus the control group (p= 0.023). Conclusion: These findings show that CDKN2 p16 540 C>G, CDKN2 p16 580 C>T and MDM2 SNP309 T>G variants and their haplotypes may be risk factors for the development of primary brain tumors, especially of glioma

Prognostic role of De Ritis and basal neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in patients with advanced stage pancreatic cancer [Izmir Oncology Group (IZOG) Study]

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), an indirect indicator for the immune response and AST/ALT ratio (De Ritis), liver enzymes that are commonly used in various clinical fields, in patients with advanced-stage pancreatic cancer

Post-stroke lower urinary system dysfunction and its relation with functional and mental status: a multicenter cross-sectional study

###EgeUn###Background: Review of the literature clearly reveals that little is known about the association between functional and mental status, and Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction (LUTD) in patients with stroke. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess functional and mental status in stroke patients and to identify possible associations with the prevalence, severity and bother of LUTD. Material and methods: This study was designed as a cross-sectional study and included 260 stroke patients enrolled from six different hospitals in Turkey. The patients were questioned using the Danish Prostatic Symptom Score (DAN-PSS) Questionnaire to evaluate LUTD, and evaluated using the Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire (I-QoL), and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Results: At least one LUTD finding was reported in 243 (93.5%) patients; the most commonly encountered complaint in these patients was nocturia (75.8%). The mean MBI, MMSE, and I-QoL scores were found to be significantly lower in LUTD (+) patients compared to LUTD (-) patients (p = 0.000, p = 0.005, and p < 0.01, respectively). Similarly all parameters (MBI, MMSE, and I-QoL scores) assessed were found to be significantly lower for patients with urinary incontinence than those without incontinence (p = 0.000, p = 0.000, and p < 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: LUTD is a common problem in patients with stroke. LUTD is associated with poorer cognitive and functional status and the quality of life in these patients. We, therefore, suggest that bladder dysfunction should not be overlooked during rehabilitation of stroke patients

The prevalence of childhood psychopathology in Turkey: a cross-sectional multicenter nationwide study (EPICPAT-T)

Conclusion: This is the largest and most comprehensive epidemiological study to determine the prevalence of psychopathologies in children and adolescents in Turkey. Our results partly higher than, and partly comparable to previous national and international studies. It also contributes to the literature by determining the independent predictors of psychopathologies in this age group

Prevalence of Childhood Affective disorders in Turkey: An epidemiological study

Aim: To determine the prevalence of affective disorders in Turkey among a representative sample of Turkish population. Methods: This study was conducted as a part of the "The Epidemiology of Childhood Psychopathology in Turkey" (EPICPAT-T) Study, which was designed by the Turkish Association of Child and Adolescent Mental Health. The inclusion criterion was being a student between the second and fourth grades in the schools assigned as study centers. The assessment tools used were the K-SADS-PL, and a sociodemographic form that was designed by the authors. Impairment was assessed via a 3 point-Likert type scale independently rated by a parent and a teacher. Results: A total of 5842 participants were included in the analyses. The prevalence of affective disorders was 2.5 % without considering impairment and 1.6 % when impairment was taken into account. In our sample, the diagnosis of bipolar disorder was lacking, thus depressive disorders constituted all the cases. Among depressive disorders with impairment, major depressive disorder (MDD) (prevalence of 1.06%) was the most common, followed by dysthymia (prevalence of 0.2%), adjustment disorder with depressive features (prevalence of 0.17%), and depressive disorder-NOS (prevalence of 0.14%). There were no statistically significant gender differences for depression. Maternal psychopathology and paternal physical illness were predictors of affective disorders with pervasive impairment. Conclusion: MDD was the most common depressive disorder among Turkish children in this nationwide epidemiological study. This highlights the severe nature of depression and the importance of early interventions. Populations with maternal psychopathology and paternal physical illness may be the most appropriate targets for interventions to prevent and treat depression in children and adolescents