Role and Importance of Vitamin D in Asthma and Other Allergic Diaseases

Vitamin D is a steroid hormone that has important effects on bone metabolism and neuromuscular functions. Recent research has indicated that it also has a role in the development and treatment of allergic diseases by affecting the immune system through different mechanisms. After vitamin D is activated by liver and kidney in the body, it shows its effect by attaching to its receptor on the cell membrane. The vitamin D receptor is expressed on all tissue cells, particularly on those of the respiratory and intestinal epithelium by which extra-skeletal functions of vitamin D such as anti-inflammatory effects and immunomodulation are mediated. As a consequence, it is assumed that vitamin D and its receptor have effects on various systems in the human body. Some researchers suggest that deficiency or excess of vitamin D in the diet causes an increase in asthma and allergic diseases. Therefore, vitamin D supplementation is currently advised by some authors for the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases. It has commonly been reported that vitamin D is particularly found to be useful in preventing asthma attack and in managing resistant asthma. Currently, there has been an increase in the literature regarding the role of vitamin D in the treatment of atopic dermatitis and chronic urticaria-angioedema

The Relationship Between Nomophobia and Anxiety Levels in Healthy Young Individuals

The current study was performed to determine whether there is a relationship between nomophobia (i.e., fear of being without a mobile phone or disconnected from mobile phone communication) levels and anxiety among healthy young individuals and whether nomophobia affects work or academic life. Three hundred sixty young individuals with no health problems were included in the study. The Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were used to measure participants' nomophobia levels. There was a statistically significant relationship between NMP-Q and BAI scores in the male group. As NMP-Q scores increased, BAI scores also increased. However, we could not find such a relationship in the female group. We have shown that individuals who do not have their mobile phones with them experience anxiety that affects their work and/or academic life. Efforts should be made to raise awareness of nomophobia, which concerns not only individuals but society as a whole

The effect of diet and regular exercise on psychological resilience in obese or overweight women

Aim This study aimed to investigate the effects of diet and regular exercise on resilience in obese or overweight women

The association of metabolic syndrome components with anthropometric measurements

© 2021, Eurasian Society of Family Medicine. All rights reserved.Aim: This study aims to research the association of metabolic syndrome components with anthropometric measurements like arm circumference, neck circumference, hip circumference, waist-hip ratio, and waist-to-height ratio, which are applied rarely. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 292 patients in November-December 2019. The arm circumference, neck circumference, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio, and body mass index measurements of the patients were made. Glucose, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure measurements were also recorded. The association between metabolic syndrome components and anthropometric measurements was analyzed. Results: Metabolic syndrome is diagnosed in 32.8% of the participants. According to body mass index, 18.6% of the patients were normal, 34.2% were overweight, and 47.2% were obese. There was a significant difference between the patients with and without metabolic syndrome in terms of laboratory parameters, blood pressure values, and anthropometric measurements. In the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome, optimal cut-off values for arm circumference, neck circumference, hip circumference, waist-hip ratio, and waist-to-height ratio were determined as 31.75 (AUC=0.703), 34.85 (AUC=0.763), 113.75 (AUC=0.757), 0.90 (AUC=0.701), 0.61 (AUC=0.769) for females while they were 35.75 (AUC=0.573), 39.75 (AUC=0.795), 111.5 (AUC=0.607), 0.96 (AUC=0.888), 0.61 (AUC=0.888) for males respectively. Conclusion: A significant correlation was detected between arm circumference, neck circumference, hip circumference, waist-hip ratio, and waist-to-height ratio, and metabolic syndrome components. However, low-density lipoprotein was not correlated with neck circumference and high-density lipoprotein with waist-to-height ratio

Comparison of sociodemographic features, psychopathy and aggression levels of criminal and non-criminal schizophrenia patients

Objective: The aim of our study is to examine factors associated with involvement in crime in schizophrenia patients. Methods: One hundred and twenty consecutive patients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) were included in the study. Based on their history of crime, the sample was divided into criminal (n=60) and non-criminal (n=60) groups. Sociodemographic Data Form, Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), Psychopathy Checklist-revised (PCL-R) and Buss-Warren Aggression Questionnaire (BWAQ) were administered to each patient. Results: The criminal group was older than noncriminal group. It was observed that criminals tend to be more likely to be hospitalized. Smoking and self-harm were more common in criminal group. All PCL-R subscores were higher in criminals than non-criminals, however, PANSS and BWAQ scores were similar in both groups. In criminal group, substance abuse and self-harm were more common in patients involved in multiple crimes. Similarly, all PCL-R subscores and BWAQ-physical aggression subscore were higher in patients involved in multiple crimes. All BWAQ subscores have been shown to correlate positively with PANSS and PCL-R scores in criminal group. Conclusion: In schizophrenia patients, psychopathy, smoking, substance abuse, self-harm were associated with criminal behaviors. Therefore, these factors needs to be recognized as a formal and essential aspect of clinical management

Clinical approach in the diagnosis of hyperkeratosis cases in pigs

The study has been carried out on 36 pigs with skin lesion and 6 healthy pigs of mean age, 1-2 years and weighting 70-120 kg, fed with restaurant leftover around Ayazaga and Arnavutkoy districts of Istanbul. It has been observed that zinc level decreased significantly in the disease pigs, clinically pityriasis, thickening of skin and orthokeratosis were detected in 14 of diseased pigs. in addition, dermatitis was seen in different degree in 13 skin biopsies apart from clinical signs of parakeratosis