The Weight and Height Percentiles in 6−18 Year Old Children in Kayseri and Comparison with Istanbul Data

Background: One of the mostly used and preferred method in following the growth of children is to plot weight and height values of the children on standard percentile charts. It is essential for each country to use its own populations’ updated percentile curves. However, data on the growth of children living in different regions are also needed for comparison with the national standards

Insulin Resistance in Obese Children and Adolescents: HOMA−IR Cut−Off Levels in the Prepubertal and Pubertal Periods

Objective: Childhood obesity is associated with an increased risk for insulin resistance. The underlying mechanism for the physiological increase in insulin levels in puberty is not clearly understood. The aim of the present study was to determine the cut−off values for homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA−IR) in obese children and adolescents according to gender and pubertal status

Futbolculara akut sodyum bikarbonat yüklemesinin anaerobik güç üzerine etkisi

Sporcular performanslarını artırmak amacıyla ergojenik destek ürünlerini kullandıkları bilinmektedir. Bu maddelerden biride yorgunluğu geciktirmek için kullanılan Sodyum bikarbonattır. Bu çalışmanın amacı futbolcularda akut sodyum bikarbonat yüklemesinin anaerobik güç üzerine etkilerinin belirlenmesidir. Çalışmaya Erciyes Üniversitesinde öğrenim gören yaşları 18-30 arasında olan aktif futbol oynayan sporcular katılmıştır. Sporculara; deney grubu (n=17) sodyum bikarbonat (NaHCO3) (300 mg/kg) ve plasebo grubuna (n=19) kalsiyum karbonat (CaCO3) (300 mg/kg) verilmiştir. Grupların anaerobik güç ölçümleri wingate testi uygulanarak tespit edilmiştir. Çalışmaya katılan sporcuların kan gazı analizinde laktik asit, parsiyel oksijen (PaO2), parsiyel karbondioksit (PaCO2), bikarbonat (HCO3), Oksijen saturasyonu (SO2), pH, Hemotokrit (Hct), Oksihemoglobin (O2Hb) değişkenleri ölçülmüştür. Grupların kan gazları test öncesinde, testten hemen sonra ve test bittikten 5 dakika sonra heparinli insülin enjektörleri ile radial arterden 1-2 ml alınarak yapılmıştır. Bu çalışmada, plasebo ve deney gruplarının minimum güçleri ve yorgunluk indeksleri üzerine gruplar arasında anlamlı fark tespit edilmiştir. Grupların maksimum güçlerinde zaman içerisinde anlamlı fark tespit edilmiştir. Plasebo ve deney gruplarının PCO2, PO2, SO2, cHCO3, ölçümlerinde anlamlı bir fark tespit edilmiştir. Ancak plasebo ve deney gruplarının laktat ölçüm sonuçlarında anlamlı bir fark tespit edilmemiştir. Sonuç olarak kısa süreli akut sodyum bikarbonat kullanımın hem anaerobik güç üzerine ergojenik etkisinin olmadığı hem de laktat oluşumunu geciktirmediği tespit edilmiştir.</p

Determining the effect of Covid-19 disease on family physicians' social and daily activities in Kayseri/Türkiye

Objective: We aimed at determining the effects of Covid-19 disease on family physicians' (FPs) daily work and life. Methods: We searched for GPs who had Covid-19 by making inquiries in the Medical Chamber, Association of GPs in Kayseri, and local health authorities. Our study period covers the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic in Türkiye (March 11th, 2020 - March 11th, 2021). The descriptive characteristics, we looked into, were the use of preventive measures, location of family health centers, the transmission route of Covid-19, the symptoms they experienced, FP's general health status, and additionally details of isolation, diagnosis, and hospitalization procedures. Results: A total of 85 FPs (18.2% of all FPs in the Kayseri region) had Covid-19 in the first 12 months of the Covid-19 pandemic in Kayseri/Türkiye. FPs who gave consent to participate in our study made up 60.8% of Kayseri's FPs. Washing hands, keeping distance, using face masks, and frequent indoor ventilation were the most frequently used measures (&gt;75%). More than 2/3 of FPs stuck to the preventive measures. The most frequent symptoms experienced by the FPs were muscle and joint pain, weakness, and fever (more than 1/5 of FPs, respectively 35.4%, 30.4%, 29.1%). The transmission sites were mostly Family Health Centers. Conclusion: About 1/6 of FPs were infected with Covid-19. Almost all of them were working in the urban area. The mean hospitalization stay was 7.7 days and in more than 50% the symptoms of fever and cough were detected. The disease transmission was the most prevalent at the workplace and the most common concern of FPs was the protection of their families.</jats:p

Married men's opinions and involvement regarding family planning in rural areas

As men play a prominent role in reproduction, it is therefore extremely useful to assess and encourage them to be involved in contraception, particularly in developing countries, where contraceptive goals have not been reached. This study was carried out in Kayseri, Turkey, in order to determine the attitudes and behavior of married men concerning family planning. A questionnaire was presented to 123 married men. In our study, 91.9% of men approved of family planning, but only 54.4% actually used any contraceptive methods; 66.7% of the men said that the decision should be a joint one, 66.4% wanted to limit their family size. Approximately one fourth of the men had never heard of voluntary sterilization. No one in the study group was aware of the mini-pill, diaphragm or Norplant. In the study group, 26.8% of the men did not want their wives to use intrauterine devices and 31.7% of them did not agree with women using the contraceptive pills. Among those unwilling to use a condom (46.3%), 70.1% stated that it might interrupt intercourse. If a contraceptive pill for males could be used, 25.2% of members of the group would be prepared to use it. Only 17.5% men in the study group had contacted a doctor or a health foundation to obtain information. The main sources of family planning information were TV/radio, followed by friends and newspapers/magazines. In order to encourage men's involvement in family planning, the use of mass media and continual training programs, to try to reach both men and women, could be very useful. © 2003 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved

Fatty liver is a good indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis risk in obese children and adolescents regardless of liver enzyme elevation

Aim To investigate the presence of association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and subclinical atherosclerosis using carotid intima media thickness (c-IMT) in obese children and adolescents. Additionally, we wished to investigate the relationship between fatty liver and elevated liver enzymes. Methods A total of 157 obese patients (78 boys and 79 girls, mean age: 11.3 ± 2.6 years, age range: 6-16 years) were enrolled in the study. Aminotransferase, fasting glucose and lipid levels were determined. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed. The c-IMT was measured. Infectious and metabolic causes of elevated liver enzymes were excluded. The diagnosis of NAFLD was based on ultrasound scan. Results Obese patients with NAFLD had markedly increased carotid IMT (mean: 0.48 mm, 95% CI: 0.47-0.49) than those without NAFLD (mean: 0.45 mm 95% CI: 0.44-0.45, p < 0.001). The presence of NAFLD significantly increased c-IMT whether the patient had elevated liver enzyme or not (ANOVA, p < 0.001). In a multiple-regression model, only the presence of NAFLD was associated with increased c-IMT (β = 0.031, SE (β) = 0.008, p < 0.001). Conclusion Obese children and adolescents with NAFLD are at risk of early atherosclerotic changes. As liver function tests are not sufficient to identify patients with fatty liver, ultrasonographic evaluation of NAFLD might be considered in all obese children and adolescents. ©2012 The Author(s)/Acta Pædiatrica ©2012 Foundation Acta Pædiatrica