Under poverty and conflict:Well-being of children living in the east of Turkey

Children living in armed conflict zones are often exposed to political violence and other risk factors that may be caused or exacerbated by the conflict, such as poverty and family violence. If left untreated, these experiences may cause psychological problems throughout life. This study investigated the psychological well-being of children living in the low-intensity armed conflict zone in Turkey in relation to their adverse experiences. We collected data from 409 caregivers for their children (236 girls) aged 5.5 to 18 years (mean [M] = 11.50, standard deviation [SD] = 3.65). Caregivers provided information regarding their children’s emotional and behavioral problems (internalizing, externalizing, and total problems; posttraumatic stress symptoms [PTSS]), income, family violence, and armed conflict experiences. Caregivers reported moderate levels of problems among children. The prevalence of borderline/clinical (T ≥ 60) scores was 14.3% for internalizing, 12.6% for externalizing, and 14% for total problems and 7.9% for PTSS. Notably, almost all families resided in extreme poverty. The prevalence of family violence was 36%. Children were frequently exposed to conflict-related events. Hierarchical regressions showed that after controlling for the role of demographic variables and other risk factors, income predicted total problem level (β = -.10), and family violence (β's = .17 to .26) and armed conflict (β = .13 to .20) experiences predicted internalizing, externalizing, and total problems and PTSS levels. Our findings suggest that family violence and armed conflict pose a significant risk to children’s psychological well-being and inform intervention strategies and policy decisions to promote welfare in such disadvantaged contexts

Overview of Green Sample Preparation Techniques in Food Analysis

Nowadays, the significance of food analysis could be emphasized in consequence of growing world population besides the increased consumer demands for the safe food. The reliability and accuracy of analysis are highly affected by sample preparation, extraction, enrichment, and isolation of the analytes. Traditional sample preparation techniques are not only costly but also time-consuming and generally labor-intensive, and furthermore, these techniques required high solvent content, which generates waste, pollutes sample, and enriches the analyte for the food analysis. In recent years, new extraction techniques have been discovered as an alternative to the conventional sampling procedure. Simple, fast, cost-effective and green (environmentally friendly) techniques can be preferred gradually instead of traditional methodologies in order to the extraction of the sample. The aim of the chapter will be to compile and discuss the advantages, pro and cons, and use of some sample preparation techniques that are relevant to the green chemistry

Evaluation of Etiological Causes in Children with Symptomatic Hematuria

Hematuria is an important and common symptom of urinary system pathologies in children, and careful evaluation is required for its definitive diagnosis. In this study, we aimed to determine the demographic and clinical characteristics and etiological causes of patients who applied to our pediatric nephrology clinic with hematuria. In this study, the record of 434 patients who were followed up in our clinic for macroscopic and/or microscopic hematuria were evaluated retrospectively. Demographic data, clinical findings, laboratory and imaging examinations and final diagnosis of the patients were recorded. Out of 434 patients with hematuria, 239 (55%) were male and 195 (45%) were female. Of the patients, 291 (67%) had macroscopic hematuria and 83 (19.1%) had glomerular hematuria. Non-glomerular causes were found in 80.9%, with a significantly higher rate. Most of the causes of non-glomerular hematuria were urinary tract infection and renal stones. Acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) was found to be responsible for the majority of glomerular diseases. This study shows that most of the pathologies that may cause hematuria can be detected with a detailed history, careful physical examination and simple laboratory tests

A social pedagogical intervention to support children in care:Back on Track

This paper focuses on an intervention project, Back on Track (BoT), implemented as a part of the Resilience Revolution: HeadStart Blackpool (RR:HS) programme in the UK. Whilst it is a famous family holiday resort, Blackpool is also one of the most deprived towns in England. This makes life challenging for young people (YP) to maintain wellbeing and reach their potential. Blackpool also has an above average and growing proportion of children in care. They are at a higher risk of developing mental health difficulties and of being permanently excluded from school. BoT aimed to support fostered children who have been referred by schools or social workers to the project for having emotional and behavioural struggles. As a consequence of their difficulties, they were at risk of permanent exclusion from the school. The intervention was grounded in a social pedagogical approach and Resilient Therapy. Resilience Coaches (i.e., wellbeing practitioners) had the role of enhancing communication between YP, family, social care, and school, whilst working with YP to co-produce coping strategies. Between November 2016 and June 2021, 39 YP (61.5% male) aged 10 to 15 (M = 12.74, SD = 1.60) received BoT support over a period lasting between 4 months to 2.5 years (M = 14 months, SD = 6.8 months). Using a mixed-methods design, this paper explored the BoT implementation. YP completed questionnaires before and after BoT. Triangulation interviews were conducted with a randomly selected YP, foster parent and the Resilience Coach. Results showed the benefit of equipping YP with ‘resilient moves’ and joining up systems to work together and better support YP and families. YP reported reduced difficulties, improved strengths (i.e., prosocial behaviour) and educational outcomes. This helped build resilience and reduce the risk of permanent exclusions from school. Policy and practice implications for children in care are discussed

Bounce Forward:A School-Based Prevention Programme for Building Resilience in a Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Context

Socioeconomic status is a strong predictor of normative development and well-being in young people. It is well-known that growing up in a socioeconomically disadvantaged context may lead to negative outcomes, both in childhood and in adulthood. Early intervention and prevention programmes are crucial for building resilience and improving health, well-being and equity. Bounce Forward is a school-based prevention programme implemented in Blackpool, a town in the United Kingdom facing multiple challenges. It was part of a whole town resilience approach and nascent global social movement known as the "Resilience Revolution." Between 2017 and 2019, the programme was delivered in all Year 5 classes at every primary school in Blackpool (n school = 36), reaching out to 3,134 students (ages 9-10; 50.4% male). The programme aimed to increase resilience in young people by building knowledge and skills about mental health and resilience through 10 sessions. In the current study, we longitudinally examined a range of protective factors, which are relevant to young people's resilience, as well as their mental health outcomes at three time points: before they participated in Bounce Forward, at the end of the programme, and 3-5 months later, when they started Year 6. The current sample included 441 Year 5 students (54.2% male) from 11 primary schools in Blackpool. Nineteen teaching staff also participated in the study and provided qualitative data regarding the impact of the programme on their students. Results showed improvement in some areas of young people's resilience after taking part in Bounce Forward. We also identified gender differences in several protective factors, indicating that boys may need further support. Teaching staff highlighted improvements in various areas; and also observed that their students have been using the strategies that they learnt from the programme. Altogether, findings suggested that young people benefitted from Bounce Forward. The programme is sustainable, offering a free to download teacher resource pack that allows schools to self-deliver it

Çocuklarda primer böbrek tümörlerinin klinik özellikleri, tedavi yaklaşımları ve tedavi sonuçları

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, çocuklarda primer malign böbrek tümörlerinin klinik özellikleri, tedavi yaklaşımları ve tedavi sonuçlarının değerlendirilmesidir. Gereç ve Yöntem: 2006 ile 2020 yılları arasında primer malign böbrek tümör tanısı alan ve izlenen çocuk hastaların onkoloji dosyaları geriye yönelik incelendi. Hastaların demografik ve klinik özellikleri ile tedavi yaklaşımları ve izlemleri not edildi. Bulgular: Bu yıllar arasında izlenen 950 malign hastalıklı çocuğun 49’unda(%5,2) primer malign böbrek tümörü vardı. Hastaların yaşı üç gün ile 13 yıl arasında değişiyordu (ortanca, 3 yıl). Erkek kız oranı 25/24'dü. En sık görülen semptom ve bulgu karında kitle idi. İki hasta da bilateral hastalık vardı (%4,1). Patolojik tanılar, Wilms tümörü (n = 44, % 89,8), mezoblastik nefroma (n=2, % 4,1), böbreğin clear hücreli sarkomu (n=2, % 4,1) ve böbreğin primer sinovyal sarkomuydu (n=1, %2). Wilms tümörlü hastalardan sadece ikinde diffüz anaplazi vardı. Hastalarımızın risk grupları düşük (n = 4, % 8.3), orta (n = 35, % 72.9) ve yüksek riskli (n = 9, % 18.8) idi. Hastaların takip süreleri iki ay ile 15 yıl (ortanca, 5 yıl) arasında değişiyordu. Primer böbrek tümörlerinde genel ve olaysız sağ kalım oranları sırasıyla % 72,7 ve% 59,7 idi. Wilms tümörlü hastaların genel ve olaysız sağ kalım oranları %79 ve %63'dü. Sonuç: Primer malign böbrek tümörlerinde özellikle de Wilms tümöründe multidisipliner yaklaşımlarla başarı oranları yükselmiştir. Bundan sonra hem tedavi başarısının daha da artırılması hem de tedavi ilişkili yan etkilerin azaltılması üzerinde durulmalıdır

The role of cumulative risk and armed conflict exposure in adolescent psychological symptoms in Turkey

Exposure to risk factors and adversity may cause immediate, and sometimes prolonged, psychological symptoms in adolescents. Identifying universal and specific risk factors in a particular context and examining their cumulative effects is crucial for understanding the mechanisms underlying psychological symptoms and informing about strategies for intervention. Using concurrent measures, the current study aimed to examine the role of armed conflict experiences and cumulation of other risk factors (e.g., maternal psychological symptoms, socioeconomic indicators) in predicting adolescent psychological symptoms in an underresearched community. The sample included 161 adolescents (54.7% female) aged 11–14 years (M = 12.36, SD = 1.27) and their mothers living in the east of Turkey. The cumulative risk index was calculated by summing the standardized scores of the corresponding factors. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to predict internalizing and externalizing symptoms among adolescents by introducing demographic variables (age, gender) in the first step, armed conflict experiences and cumulative risk in the second step, and their interaction in the final step. Results showed that the levels of internalizing and externalizing symptoms were predicted by gender, armed conflict experience and cumulative risk. Being a girl was associated with higher levels of internalizing symptoms and lower levels of externalizing symptoms. Higher levels of internalizing and externalizing symptoms were predicted by exposure to armed and cumulative risk. After controlling for other factors, the interaction of armed conflict experience and cumulative risk significantly predicted externalizing, but not internalizing symptoms. These findings suggested that cumulative risk was a stronger predictor of psychological symptoms, and further amplified the strength of the association between armed conflict experiences and externalizing symptoms. These findings can be used in the formulation of intervention strategies and policies to promote psychological well-being in adolescents living in armed conflict zones under multiple risks