Fear of Covid-19 Among Medical Students and Associated Factors

DergiPark: 889299tmsjAims: To determine the level of COVID-19 fear among Turkish medical students, and show the relationship the types of education (online, hybrid, face to face), age, gender, grade, and level of fear. Methods: The study was conducted with 536 medical students from 30 different universities in Turkey. The questionnaire comprised 1 open-ended and 6 multiple choice questions for assessment of the demographic structure, in addition to 7 Likert-type questions within the 'Fear of COVID-19 Scale'. Results: Participants comprised 352 (65.7%) female and 184 (34.3%) male students, with a mean age of 20.04 ± 2.59 years and they showed significantly different Fear of COVID-19 Scale scores with regard to gender. The past or current presence of COVID-19 was determined as another variable that created a significant difference in the Fear of COVID-19 Scale scores. However, no relation between the past or current presence of COVID-19 in a family member and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale scores were found. Conclusion: In this study, it is demonstrated that fear of COVID-19 is higher among females and non-infected medical students compared to males and infected ones, respectively. These results can be used in assessing the fear level of COVID-19 among med- ical students concerning their gender their gender and infection history

The relations between climatic fluctuations and the sunspot number for the last period of 5000 years

Dünya ikliminde degisime neden olan faktörler arasında atmosferokyanus iliskisi, volkanik aktiviteler, planeter faktörler, cografi konum belirtildigi halde, günes aktiviteleri ve onun sonucu olan günes lekelerindeki degisiklikler üzerinde yeterince durulmamıstır. Günes aktivitelerinde meydana gelen degisiklikler ve bunların global iklim üzerindeki etkisi Degisken Yıldız Hipotezi ile açıklanmaya çalısılmıs, ancak bu iliski tam olarak açıklıga kavusturulamamıstır. Ayrıca 20. yüzyılda, küresel ısınma ve nedenleri ile ilgili pek çok görüs ortaya atılmıs olmasına ragmen günes aktivitelerinin iklim degismelerine etkisi üzerinde yeterince durulmamıstır. Bu çalısmada M.Ö. 3000 ile M.S. 2000 yılları arasında günes lekeleri ile sıcaklık verileri arasındaki iliskiler incelenmis, sıcaklık degisimleri ve onun bir göstergesi olan buzul ilerleme ve gerilemeleri karsılastırılmıstır. Günes lekeleri sayısı M.Ö. 3000-1600, M.Ö. 100-M.S. 300, M.S. 900-1300 (Ortaçag sıcak dönemi veya rönesans), M.S. 1850-2000 yılları arasındaki dönemlerde artmıs bunun paralelinde sıcaklıklar da artmıs, buna karsılık buzullar gerilemis ve incelmistir. Günes lekeleri sayısı M.Ö. 1600-200, M.S. 300-800 ve 1350-1850 (Küçük Buzul Çagı) yılları arasındaki dönemlerde azalmıs, sıcaklıklar düsmüs, buzullar kalınlasmıs ve ilerlemistir.Altough many toughts were discussed about global warming in 20 th century, climatologists didn’t give importance to the role of sunspots and solar activities which is the one of factors about climatic changes in the earth in climatological studies. These important factors are atmosphere-ocean relations, volcanic activities, planetar factors, geographical position. The changes in solar activities and the effects of these changes on global climate are explained by means of the title which is called variable star hypothesis. However, the relations between climatic changes and sunspots can not be explained clearly. In this study, the relations of the data of temperature and sunspots are analysed, the number of sunspots and the changes of temperature are comparisoned with each other. At the same time glacial activities are also discussed in terms of retreat and advance between the years B.C. 3000 and 2000. The number of sunspots were maximum in B.C. 3000- B.C.1600,B.C. 100-A.C. 300, A.C. 900-1300 (Medieval warm period) and in the years 1850-2001. On the other hand, because of the fact that the number of sunspots decreased, temperatures declined, seriously, glaciers advanced, steadily in B.C.1600-B.C.200, A.C. 300-800 and 1350-1850 (Little Ice Age

Meteorological differences in Afyonkarahisar urban area

Kentsel yapıların örüldüğü, konutların bir duvar gibi yükseldiği, geniş asfalt yolların inşa edildiği, toprak zeminlerin yerini asfalt yolların aldığı kent alanlarında bölgesel klima içinde şehir iklimi ortaya çıkmıştır. Çatı örtüleri renk ve desenleri albedoyu etkilemiş, egzoz emisyonu, fosil yakıt kullanımı ve artan sanayi faaliyetleri kentlerde atmosfer bileşenlerini değiştirmiştir. 2000 yılı sonrasında Afyonkarahisar’da şehirsel alan hızla büyümüş, özellikle kent merkezi ile hemen yakınındaki yeni iskân alanlarından üniversite yerleşkesi arasında 8 km çaplı bir alanda meteorolojik farklılıklar ortaya çıkmıştır. Şehir merkezi ile periferik arasında iki meteoroloji istasyonu verileri analiz edilmiş, karşılaştırmalar yapılarak meteorolojik farklılıklar değerlendirilmiştir. Meteoroloji Genel Müdürlüğü tarafından Afyon Merkez meteoroloji istasyonu 1929 yılında Kocatepe mahallesinde kurulmuş, günümüzde 38°44´16.8´´N, 30°33´37.4E´´ konumunda, 1013 m rakımında meteorolojik gözlemler yapmaktadır. Şehir merkezindeki bu rasathaneye ek olarak, 2015 yılında, Erenler mahallesinde Ahmet Necdet Sezer Kampüsünde 38°50´05.6´´N, 30°31´54.8E´´ konumunda, 1021 m rakımında yeni bir meteoroloji istasyonu Kocatepe Üniversitesi Rasathanesi yapılmıştır. Böylece, iki istasyonun meteorolojik verilerini karşılaştırmak mümkün olmaktadır. İki meteoroloji istasyonu arasında 9 km. mesafe vardır. Sıcaklık, yağış ve nem gibi meteorolojik parametrelerde önemli farklılıklar mevcuttur. Şehir merkezinde yer alan istasyon ile kırsal alandaki istasyon karşılaştırıldığında şu tespitleri yapmak mümkündür. 2015 yılında temmuz ve ağustos ayları dışında eylül, ekim, kasım ve aralık aylarında şehir merkezinin ortalama sıcaklık değerleri üniversite bölgesine göre daha yüksektir. 2016, 2017 ve 2018 yıllarına ait ortalama, Minimum ve maksimum sıcaklık değerleri yıllık bazda şehir merkezinde genel olarak kampüs bölgesine göre daha yüksek olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Ancak 2018 yılının sıcaklık değerleri her iki istasyonda birbirine çok yakındır. Bunun nedeni 2017 yılından itibaren Kocatepe Üniversite kampüsünde hız kazanan yoğun yapılaşma olarak gösterilebilir. Yağış değeri olarak şehir ısı adasının etkisi ile artan buharlaşma şartları ve havada yer alan fazla miktarda partiküller yağış miktarını özellikle de konveksiyonal yağışları şehir merkezinde arttırmıştır. Mayıs, haziran, temmuz ve ağustos aylarında şehir merkezinde yağış değerleri şehir merkezine göre üniversite kampüsünde daha yüksektir. Merkez ile üniversite bölgesi arasında yaklaşık 7-8 mm. yağış farkı mevcuttur. 2016 yılının yıllık toplam yağış miktarı şehir merkezi istasyonunda 355.6 mm iken, kampüs istasyonunda 297.8 mm, 2017 yılında ise merkezde 286.4 mm, Kampüste 182.3 mm ölçülmüştür. Bu çalışmada, Afyonkarahisar’da kısa mesafede yer alan şehir ve kırsal alandaki istasyonların meteorolojik farklılıkları 2016-2018 yılları rasatları, Man-Kendall ve Pearson korelasyon analizleri ile ortaya konulmuştur.Urban Climate appeared in urban area where urban buildings are built, residences are improved like a Wall, large asphalt roads are made and asphalt roads are in placed instead of soil ground. The colour and patterns of roof covers affected albedo, exhaust emission, fossil fuel use and growing industrial activities changed atmospheric components in cities. Urban area in Afyonkarahisar growed sharply after the year 2000, meteorological differences appeared in particularly between urban center and campus of new settlements area in near hear. The distance between urban center and campus is approximately 8 km. The data of two meteorological stations have been analysed between city center and peripheric. And meteorological differences have been evaluated by making comparisons. The meteorology station where is in the centre of Afyonkarahisar, established in Kocatepe Neighbourhood in 1929 by Turkish State Meteorological Service. It makes meteorological observations in location 38°44´16.8´´N, 30°33´37.4E´´ in the altitude of 1013 m. In addition to this station in the downtown, A new meteorology station, Kocatepe University meteorology station, established in Ahmet Necdet Sezer Campus in 2015 by Turkish State Meteorological Service. It makes meteorological observations in location 38°50´05.6´´N, 30°31´54.8E´´ in the altitude of 1021 m. Thus, it is possible to compare the meteorological data of the two stations. There is 9 km. distance between these two meteorological stations. And also there are important differences between these two stations in terms of meteorological parameters such as temeperature, precipitation, wind, moisture. Annual mean temperature of downtown is higher than that of university region in september, october, november and december except for july and august in 2015. Annual Average, minimum and maximum temperature values of 2016, 2017 and 2018 are higher in downtown than that of university region. However, temperature values of 2018 are similar, clearly in these two meteorological stations. Because intense formation in university region started to be common in 2017. Because of the Urban Heat Island Effect and intense particle in the air, the ratio of precipitation, particularly convectional precipitation increased, clearly in downtown. The precipitation value in downtown in may, june, july and august are higher than that of university region in the same period. There are differences of 7-8 mm. in terms of precipitation value between downtown and university region. While Annual total precipitation value of 2016 is 355.6 mm. in downtown, this value is 297.8 mm. in university region. Annual total precipitation value of 2017 in downtown is 286.4 mm. This value is 182.3 mm. in university region. In this study, meteorological differences of the stations which are in short distance in rural and urban area in Afyonkarahisar, have been produced by using MannKendall and Pearson statistical methods

Hidden Danger: Superbug Escherichia coli Isolated from Urine Isolates of Outpatient Women with Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infection

BACKGROUND/AIMS Escherichia coli (E. coli) is responsible for the vast majority of uncomplicated bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI) cases in women. The high ability of the isolates to develop antimicrobial resistance makes the treatment difficult. In this study, we investigated the presence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes in E. coli isolates and their relationship with extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL). MATERIAL and METHODS A total of 300 E. coli isolates from urine specimens of women, including 108 ESBL producers and 192 non-ESBL producers, were analyzed. The ESBL production was examined using the E-test ESBL strips, and the carbapenemase activity was examined using the CarbaNP test. The presence of PMQR genes (qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, and aac (6´)-Ib) among urine isolates was investigated using polymerase chain reaction. Conjugation experiments were performed to detect the horizontal transferability of the PMQR-positive plasmid. RESULTS Among the ESBL-EC isolates, ciprofloxacin resistance was determined at 69%. Eight isolates were resistant to carbapenems. The aac(6’)-Ib-cr variant was found in 40% of ciprofloxacin-resistant E. coli isolates. None of the isolates harbored the qnrA, qnrB, or qnrS gene. The transferability was 14% for aac(6’)-Ib-cr. The MICs of transconjugants showed increased resistance to fluoroquinolones compared with the recipient E. coli J53AzR. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the frequency of PMQR genes in ESBL-producing superbug E. coli isolates reduced therapeutic options for treating community-acquired UTIs in affected women and that a careful use of antibiotics is very important

Resolution of Autoimmune Oophoritis after Thymectomy in a Myasthenia Gravis Patient

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by autoantibodies against acetylcholine receptors. MG is generally an isolated disorder but may occur concomitantly with other autoimmune diseases. We describe an eighteen-year-old girl with MG who was admitted to our clinic with secondary amenorrhea and diagnosed as autoimmune oophoritis. Since her myasthenic symptoms did not resolve with anticholinesterase therapy, thymectomy was performed. After thymectomy, her menses have been regular without any hormonal replacement therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first report on a patient with autoimmune ovarian insufficiency and MG in whom premature ovarian insufficiency resolved after thymectomy, without hormonal therapy

Geomorphological factors in location selection of the settlements in Dinar county

Dinar County which is the subject of research depends on Afyonkarahisar province. While Dinar is located in the southwest of Afyonkarahisar province, it is located in the North of Denizli province. After Efes, Dinar was one of the big settlements in antique agent accommodated population as over 300.000. However, with the changes of geography’ roles, its population started to decrease more and more and the population as approximately 50.000 at present. The aim of this study is to emphasize or indicate the effects of slope, exposure, elevation, geology and geomorphological characters or features over settlements area within the boundary of Dinar County. The center of Dinar province which was founded or builded on a fertile plain, was usually exposed to earthquake disasters throughout history. 94 people dead and also the people which were more than 200, injured in an earthquake whose Richter scale is 5,9 in an active fault zone which is NW-SE strike on 1th October 1995. 4340 buildings were damaged heavily, 3712 buildings were damaged moderately and 6104 buildings were damaged slightly in the earthquake. Dinar’s Geography, the selection settlement’s location, foundation and development have important roles particularly in terms of risk and advantages and fairly they determine the future of Dinar. In this study, the relations among basic parameters of geomorphology such as slope, expose, elevation and settlements on Numerical Elevation Model of Dinar County have been analysed by using Geographical Information Systems. The location of 66 settlements in the center of Dinar county have been analysed by using “Extract Values to Point” function in ArcGIS (10.2) in term of slope, expose, elevation, geological and geomorphological characters. These characters are divided into attribute or feature classes in themselves. In Dinar County a serious and clear relation among physical geographical conditions, the foundation and development of settlements, the development potential and natural disaster risk is seen.Araştırmaya konu olan Dinar ilçesi Afyonkarahisar iline bağlı, ilin güneybatısında, Denizli ili kuzeyinde yer almaktadır. Dinar, antik dönemde Efes’ten sonra bölgenin büyük yerleşme merkezlerinden biri olup üçyüzbinden fazla nüfus barındırmıştır. Ancak, coğrafyanın rolünün değişmesi ile birlikte bu nüfus azalarak günümüzde elli binlere gerilemiştir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Dinar ilçesi sınırları içinde eğim, bakı, yükselti, jeoloji ve jeomorfoloji özelliklerinin yerleşim alanları üzerindeki etkilerini ortaya koymaktır. Verimli ova üzerine kurulan merkez tarihsel dönemlerde sık sık deprem afetlerine maruz kalmıştır. KB-GD doğrultulu, aktif Dinar fayı üzerinde geçmişte yıkıcı depremler oluşmuş, en son 1 Ekim 1995’te 5,9 büyüklüğündeki depremde 94 kişi hayatını kaybetmiş 200 den fazla kişi yaralanmıştır. 4340 bina ağır hasar, 3712 bina orta derecede ve 6104 binada hafif derecede hasar görmüştür. Dinar’ın coğrafyası, yerleşimlerin yer seçimi, kuruluşu ve gelişmesi, riskleri ve avantajları açısından önemli rol oynamakta, adeta geleceğini belirlemektedir. Bu çalışmada, Coğrafi Bilgi Sistemleri (CBS) ile Dinar İlçesi’ne ait Sayısal Yükseklik Modeli (SYM) üzerinden jeomorfolojinin temel parametrelerinden eğim, bakı, yükseklik ile yerleşmeler arasındaki ilişkiler değerlendirilmiştir. Dinar İlçesinde bulunan 66 yerleşim merkezinin bulunduğu konumların eğim, bakı, yükselti, jeoloji ve jeomorfoloji özellikleri ArcGIS (10,2) yazılımında bulunan ”Extract Values to Points“ fonksiyonu kullanılarak belirlenmiştir. Bu özellikler kendi içerisinde öznitelik sınıflarına ayrılmıştır. Dinar İlçesinde fiziki coğrafya şartları ile yerleşimlerin kuruluşu ve gelişmesi, gelişme potansiyelleri ve doğal afet riskleri arasında sıkı bir ilişki olduğu görülmüştür

An anatomical study on scabiosa hispidula boiss. (Caprifoliaceae)

Taksonomik açıdan karışıklıklar içeren Scabiosa L. cinsi, Caprifoliaceae familyasının en önemli cinslerinden biridir ve ülkemizde yaklaşık 36 takson ile temsil edilmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı Mayıs-Eylül ayları arasında çiçeklenen ve tek yıllık bir bitki olan Scabiosa hispidula Boiss. türünün, anatomik özelliklerinin belirlenmesidir. Bu amaçla kök, gövde ve yapraklardan alınan enine kesitler incelenerek fotograflandırılmıştır. Gövde enine kesitinde gözlenen salgı tüyleri ve hidatotlar karakteristiktir.Scabiosa L. genus contains taxonomic confusions is one of the most important genus of the family Caprifoliaceae and is represented by 36 taxon in Turkey. The aim of this study was to determine the anatomical features of Scabiosa hispidula Boiss. with an annual and flowering between May and September. For this purpose, cross-sections of root, stem and leaf parts of the plant were examined and demonstrated by photographs. The glandular hairs and hydathode was observed in the cross-section of stem are characteristics for S. hispidula

Can the Gleason score be predicted in patients with prostate cancer? A dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, (68)Ga-PSMA PET/CT, PSA, and PSA-density comparison study

PURPOSEThe present study aims to evaluate whether perfusion parameters in prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), (68)Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and PSA density can be used to predict the lesion grade in patients with prostate cancer (PCa).METHODSThe study included a total of 137 PCa cases in which 12-quadrant transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (TRUSBx) was performed, the Gleason score (GS) was determined, and pre-biopsy multiparametric prostate MRI and (68)Ga-PSMA PET/CT examinations were undertaken. The patient population was evaluated in three groups according to the GS: (1) low risk; (2) intermediate risk; (3) high risk. The PSA, PSA density, pre-TRUSBx (68)Ga-PSMA PET/CT maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), perfusion MRI parameters [maximum enhancement, maximum relative enhancement, T0 (s), time to peak (s), wash-in rate (s-1), and wash-out rate (s-1)] were retrospectively evaluated.RESULTSThere was no significant difference between the three groups in relation to the PSA, PSA density, and (68)Ga-PSMA PET/CT SUVmax (P > 0.05). However, the values of maximum enhancement, maximum relative enhancement (%), T0 (s), time to peak (s), wash-in rate (s-1), and wash-out rate (s-1) significantly differed among the groups. A moderate positive correlation was found among the prostate volume, PSA (r = 0.490), and (68)Ga-PSMA SUVmax (r = 0.322) in the patients. The wash-out rate (s-1) and wash-in rate (s-1) had the best diagnostic test performance (area under the curve: 89.1% and 78.4%, respectively).CONCLUSIONNo significant correlation was found between the (68)Ga-PSMA PET/CT SUVmax and the GS. The wash-out rate was more successful in estimating the pretreatment GS than the (68)Ga-PSMA PET/CT SUVmax

Peer relations linking overweight and obesity, and mediator factors among Turkish adolescents

Depending on the individual’s body height and frame structure and body weight, obesity is considered both as a socially accepted norm in a society and as exceeding the accepted upper limits. The present study aimed to determine the associations between overweight and obesity, peer relationships, and nutritional and physical activity behaviour among Turkish adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Ankara, and the sample consisted of 402 adolescents (171 boys and 231 girls) aged between 12 and 17 years. A physical examination was conducted to collect anthropometric measurements (height, weight, BMI, and body fat using bio-impedance analysis), and detailed information was collected on adolescents’ behaviour (Peer Relationship Scale with four sub-scales of commitment, trust and identification, self-disclosure, and loyalty), diet (24h recall dietary questionnaire), physical activity, self-reported weight, parental attitudes, and socio-economic circumstances. BMI was evaluated using IOTF cut-off points, and simple mediation analyses were performed using ordinary least squares path analysis by the PROCESS macro for SPSS. The results showed that according to the weight status by BMI using IOTF cut-offs, thinness was more prominent in girls (9.5%), overweight was higher in girls (19%), while obesity was higher in boys (8.8%). Total body fat percentage was found to be higher in girls in all weight groups (p < 0.001). The Peer Relationship Scale and, commitment, self-disclosure, and loyalty sub-scales were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.001); girls tend to have higher scores except for the loyalty sub- scale. According to the results, self-reported and actual weight differences were found to be significant in both sexes (p < 0.001), and among IOTF weight groups overweight girls tended to report their weight approximately 2 kg lower than their actual weight and obese girls more than 5 kg lower. In conclusion, the mediation analysis showed that fat percentage, self-reported weight difference, and BMI were significant predictors of Peer Relationship Score where fat percentage partially mediated the relationship between the Peer Relationship Scale and BMI, and full mediation effect of self-reported weight difference was also significant. The relation of the high level of fat accumulation and overweight/obesity with Peer Relationship Scores and its sub-domains should be carefully monitored

The effects of Covid-19 on physical medicine and rehabilitation in Turkey in the first month of pandemic

Objectives: The outbreak of novel coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) has affected Turkey very seriously, as well as all around the world. Many urgent and radical measures were taken due to the high contagious risk and mortality rate of the outbreak. It is noteworthy that isolation recommendations and the provision of health services for pandemic have a negative impact on Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) services. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of COVID-19 on the PMR services and physiatrists immediately after the first month of pandemic in Turkey. Patients and methods: An online survey consisting of 45 items was sent to the members of the Turkish Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The main goal of the survey was to evaluate the changes in the provided service of PMR and conditions of physiatrists one month after the first reported COVID-19 case in Turkey. Results: A total of 606 PMR specialists and residents responded to the survey. The mean number of the patients visited the outpatient clinics was 148.2 +/- 128.5 per week before the pandemic, it significantly decreased to 23.4 +/- 33.1 per week after the first month of the reported first COVID-19 case. Similarly, the mean number of the patients of inpatient service significantly decreased from 21.7 +/- 39.3 per week to 2.5 +/- 10.0 per week after the first month of the pandemic. Most of the residents (69%) reported that their training was seriously affected due to pandemic. From the economic aspect, 69.2% of the participants who were working at private hospitals reported a decrease in their monthly salary, and 21% of them were sent to an unpaid vacation. A total of 21.9% of private-practice institutions paused their services. During the first month, 46.9% of the participants were assigned to the different services such as COVID-19 inpatient service, emergency or COVID-19 outpatient clinics. According to the Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Health guideline and algorithm, 15.7% of the physicians were in the category of healthcare workers with suspected COVID-19. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic affected seriously both the services and the PMR physicians as early as the first month. This effect is expected to become worse, when the duration of pandemic prolongs. Proper arrangements and measures should be planned to ameliorate the negative effects of the pandemic on the patients and PMR physicians