COVID-19 PANDEMİSİNİN İŞİTME KAYIPLI ÇOCUKLARIN YAŞAM KALİTESİ ÜZERİNE ETKİSİ

With the COVID-19 pandemic, it is observed that the quality of life of individuals worldwide has decreased. The pandemic may have affected children with hearing loss more negatively than their peers. With the quality of life scales that have been used frequently recently, speech-language development, social and educational status of children with hearing loss can be observed better. This study was carried out to evaluate how much their quality of life was affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to individuals with hearing loss between the ages of 6-13 and children with normal hearing in the same age range. The Turkish version of CHIP-CE (Child Health and Illness Profile) and PedsQL (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory) scales were used. In the study; there were 30 children with hearing loss the study group and 21 children with normal hearing in the control group. The Turkish version of CHIP-CE (Child Health and Illness Profile) and PedsQL 4.0 Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory questions were asked face-to-face to all children and the scale was administered. There was no significant difference between the study and contrl groups in the total scores of the CHIP-CE scale (p=0.14, p>0.05) and the PedsQL 4.0 inventory (p=0.35, p>0.05). However, in CHIP-CE, significant differences were found in the subscales of comfort (p=0.000), risks (p=001) and flexibility fields (p=0.000) (p0.05). In PedsQL 4.0 scale sub-functions, there was a significant difference in social domain (p=0.018) and school function (p= 0.015) (p0.05). As a result, the lack of significance in the total scores may be due to the small number of individuals, and the scale not being suitable for children with hearing loss. Significance in subdomains may be due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or other factors.COVID-19 pandemisiyle birlikte, dünya genelinde bireylerin yaşam kalitelerinin düştüğü gözlenmektedir. Pandemi işitme kayıplı çocukları, yaşıtlarına göre daha olumsuz etkilemiş olabilir. Son zamanlarda sıkça kullanılmaya başlayan yaşam kalitesi ölçekleri ile, işitme kayıplı çocukların, konuşma-dil gelişimi, sosyal ve eğitim durumları daha iyi gözlenebilir. Bu çalışma 6-13 yaş aralığındaki işitme kayıplı bireyler ile aynı yaş aralığında normal işiten çocuklara göre, COVID-19 pandemi sürecinde, yaşam kalitelerinin ne düzeyde etkilendiğini değerlendirmek amacıyla yapılmıştır. CHIP-CE (Çocuk Sağlığı ve Hastalık Profili) Türkçe versiyonu ve PedsQL (Pediatrik Yaşam Kalitesi Envanteri) ile değerlendirilmiştir. Çalışmada; işitme kayıplı 30 çocuk çalışma grubunu, normal işiten 21 çocuk kontrol grubunu oluşturmaktadır. Tüm çocuklara CHIP-CE (Çocuk Sağlığı ve Hastalık Profili) Türkçe versiyonu ve PedsQL 4.0 Pediatrik Yaşam Kalitesi Envanteri soruları, yüz yüze sorularak ölçek uygulandı. Çalışmanın bulguları doğrultusunda normal işiten çocuklar ile işitme kayıplı çocuklar arasında, CHIP-CE ölçek (p=0,14, p>0,05) ve PedsQL 4.0 envanteri (p=0.35, p>0.05) toplam skorlarında anlamlı bir farklılık elde edilemedi. Fakat CHIP-CE ölçek alt fonksiyonlarında; rahatlık(p=0,000), riskler(p=001) ve esneklik(p=0,000) alanında anlamlı derecede farklılık bulundu (p0.05). PedsQL 4.0 ölçek alt fonksiyonlarında ise sosyal alanda (p=0,018) ve okul fonksiyonu alanında (p= 0,015) anlamlı farklılık elde edilirken (p0,05). Sonuç olarak toplam skorlarda anlamlılık olmaması, birey sayısının az olmasına, ölçeğin işitme kayıplı çocuklar için uygun olmamasına bağlı olabilir. Alt alanlardaki anlamlılık ise, COVID-19 pandemi etkisi veya başka faktörlere bağlı olabilir

Changes in the hippocampal volume in chronic migraine, episodic migraine, and medication overuse headache patients

Background and purpose – Hippocampi are the structures located in the medial depths of both temporal lobes, mainly responsible for memory, navigation and reg- ulation of emotions, and activated during the processing of pain and the modification of nociceptive stimuli. Chronic pain is thought to have stress-like detrimental modulatory effects on the hippocampal neurogenesis, and adults with chronic pain have been showed to have lower hippocampal volumes. The present study aims to show the relation- ship between headaches and hippocampal volume by comparing the right, left and total hippocampal volumes of patients with Episodic Migraine (EM), Chronic Migraine (CM) and Medication Overuse Headache (MOH) to those of the healthy control group using the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technique, also by looking into the correla- tion between the number of painful days and attacks and the current hippocampal volumes. Methods – A total of 30 patients (10 EM, 10 CM, 10 MOH) from 18 to 45 years of age diagnosed with migraine and also followed up by the neurology out- patient clinic from February to May 2022 and 30 healthy volunteers of similar ages and sexes to the patient group were inclu- ded in the study. In addition to the routine cranial MRI protocols of all the participants, further cranial images were taken with the addition of the T1W 3D FSPGR sequence adjusted to the hippocampal body in the coronal plane and covering the whole brain. Hippocampal volumes were measured manually. Results – There were 27 females and 3 males in the patient group versus 28 females and 2 males in the control group, and no sta- tistically significant differences in age and sex were found between the groups. The control group had higher average right, left and total hippocampal volumes than the whole pa- tient group, but only the total hippocampal volume was significantly different between the groups. There was a negative correlation between the number of painful days and the measured right hippocampal and total hip- pocampal volumes; however, the measured values were not statistically significant. Conclusion – It was concluded that the changes in the hippocampal volume in migraine might be associated with the pain characteristics of the disorder

Evaluation of nitric oxide levels in chronic periodontitis patients treated with initial periodontal therapy and probiotic food supplements: a double blind, randomized controlled clinical trial

WOS: 000472514300001The aim of the present study was to analyse the nitric oxide (NO) levels in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) treated with probiotic-containing food supplements as an adjunct to initial periodontal therapy (IPT). The present study was a randomized, double blind clinical trial conducted in Yeditepe University Dental Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. Thirty-six CP patients, with >= 2 nonmolar teeth in each quadrant with probing depth (PD) of 5-7 mm at proximal sites and radiologically detectable horizontal alveolar bone loss were randomized into two treatment groups. The test group received IPT + probiotic-containing food supplements, whereas the control group received IPT + placebo. GCF sampling was performed at the baseline and 3 and 6 months after treatment. The biochemical evaluation of NO in GCF was performed using the Griess colourimetric method. Statistical analysis was performed by using statistical software. Significant reductions in GCF volume and GCF NO levels were detected in each group after the treatments (p < 0.05). Intergroup comparison of the NO levels revealed statistically significant differences in favour of the test group at both 3 and 6-month evaluation periods (p < 0.05). Adjunctive usage of probiotic comprising food supplements to IPT yielded significant reduction of the NO levels compared to the control for up to 6 months of follow-up. The present study is registered at Thai Clinical Trials Registry (TCTR identification number: TCTR20171114003)

Development Of Multidimensional Nil Hallux Valgus Scale: A Reliability And Validity Study

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a disease-specific multidimensional hallux valgus (HV) scale, as well as to establish the validity and reliability thereof. Methods: The 14-item Multidimensional Nil Hallux Valgus Scale was developed. The scale has a score range of 0-60, with higher score indicating increased HV symptoms, complaints, and functional disorder. Among the patients referred to our clinic with HV diagnosis based on anterior-posterior non-weight-bearing radiography of the affected foot, 129 feet of 66 patients (63 bilateral, 3 unilateral) were included in the study. In clinical evaluations of these HV patients, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Hallux Metatarsophalangeal Interphalangeal Joints Scale (AOFAS-MTFIF), Manchester Scale, and Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) were used to test the validity and reliability of the new scale. Results: From factor analyses, it was observed that the items clustered in 5 factors, which explained 73.2% of the variance. Floor and ceiling effects were observed to be within normal limits (floor effect: 3.1%; ceiling effect: 0.8%). The Cronbach's alpha level related with the overall internal consistency of the scale was estimated as 83.3%, and the Cronbach's alpha for the subheadings of the scale varied between 33.9% and 74.2%. High correlation was observed regarding test-retest reliability of the scale. Conclusion: This newly developed scale allows for the holistic evaluation of HV including the condition-specific parameters and is a valid and reliable scale that can be conveniently used by health care professionals.WoSScopu

Pregnancy and Epilepsy: Monitoring and Treating the Seizures

Objectives:Epilepsy is the second most common neurological disorder after migraine in pregnancy. The most suitable antiepileptic drug (AED) to be chosen in this period would minimize the possible maternal and fetal complications. The present study monitors the pregnancies and prognoses of pregnant patients with epilepsy, who were treated in our clinic, and evaluates the efficiency of the antiepileptic treatment.Methods:In this study, 50 pregnant patients were included who were examined and treated in the epilepsy clinic from January 2000 to May 2018. Seizure types and frequencies, AEDs used, and pregnancy processes of the patients were investigated retrospectively based on their medical file records.Results:Of the 1965 patients with epilepsy, the number of pregnant patients included in this study was 50 (2.54%), while the total number of pregnancies was 68 and 27 pregnant patients had generalized onset seizures. There were not any changes in the seizure frequency in 57.1% of the patients. In this study, 40 patients were treated with monotherapy. The most frequently preferred AED was valproic acid with 10 patients. During the pregnancy, the daily dose was increased for 10 patients, and the drug with the highest increment was lamotrigine with four patients. Considering the births concerning fetal malformation, only one infant had spina bifida, and there were no stillbirths.Conclusion:This hospital-based study showed that the course of seizure frequency during pregnancy is unpredictable. Following-up and monitoring the pregnant patients closely are of critical importance for pregnant women with epilepsy to have a healthier pregnancy with possible lowest complication rates

The Genetic Analysis of Cystic Fibrosis Patients with Seven Novel Mutations in the CFTR Gene in the Central Anatolian Region of Turkey

Background: Cystic fibrosis, a pulmonary disease which is an autosomal recessive, inherited, multisystemic genetic disease commonly seen in the Caucasian race, is the most frequent cause of mortality and morbidity. So far, more than 2000 disease-causing gene variants have been found and this number has been increasing with the studies conducted. Although there is not yet enough data that include the Turkish population, the recent increase of studies is noteworthy