Fostering teachers' career education competencies: test of a training programme

In this study, we aimed to develop and test the effectiveness of a training programme to foster teachers' competencies in the provision of career development learning (CDL) programmes for children. Forty-eight middle school teachers working with socioeconomically disadvantaged students in Eastern Turkey participated in the study. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test indicated the positive effects of the training on the teachers' efficacy in providing career education but no significant effect on the teachers' communication skills . The qualitative results addressed the improvements made in teachers' professional and personal development, and perceived self-efficacy in providing career programmes. The results revealed the need for upskilling of teachers to improve their facilitation of CDL for students and to support their own professional development

Platelet-rich plasma and platelet-derived lipid factors induce different and similar gene expression responses for selected genes related to wound healing in rat dermal wound environment

Although platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is the plasma fraction that contains higher levels of platelet-sequestered proteins such as growth factors and chemokines, it is also abundant in bioactive lipids whose role in wound healing has not been well characterized. This study provides a preliminary evaluation for the effect of the lipid component of PRP on selected genes related to wound healing. Sprague-Dawley rats were classified into four groups after induction of full thickness excisional wounds: the lipid fraction (LF) (lipid extract from PRP) group, PRP group, dimethyl sulfoxide group, and sham group. Subsequently, relevant groups were topically treated with test preparations. Healing wounds were collected on 3rd, 7th and 14th days, and expression levels of 12 genes were determined using qPCR. LF treatment-induced gene expression signature distinct from that induced by PRP treatment, although there are some overlaps in LF- and PRP-responsive genes. Differentially expressed all eight genes (Cxcl5, Cxc11, Egfr, Tgfb1, IL10, Tgfa, Mmp1, and Mmp7) to LF response were significantly down-regulated at either 3rd, 7th, or 14th days. Also, the comparison between LF- and PRP-treatment groups showed that the LF significantly decreased expression of Cxcl11, Mmp7, and Tgfa mRNA on day 7 of healing. This study revealed that PRP and its LF induced different and similar gene expression responses of the skin during the repair of full thickness excisional wounds. Identifying mRNA response to LF treatment at whole transcriptome level can be beneficial for comprehensive understanding of the role of platelet-derived lipid factors in wound healing processes

Glanzmann thrombasthenia: Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty experience

Aim: Glazmann thrombasthenia is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by a defect in platelet aggregation. Here we report the management of children with Glazmann thrombasthenia followed up at Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty Pediatric Hematology Department

The effect of chemotherapy on symptoms and nutritional status in children with cancer

Purpose: This observational study carried out to determine the incidence of poor nutritional status and symptom burden in children undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Methods: The research data collected from 187 children between the ages of 7-18 at pediatric hematology -oncology units in Izmir. The data of the study collected with Screening Tool for Risk of impaired Nutritional Status and Growth (STRONGkids), and the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS). Results: Patients reported a mean (SD) of 14.1 (8.1; range, 1-30) symptoms, and 43.9% were underweight. According to the STRONGkids, 62% had a high risk for malnutrition. The incidence of all symptoms increased as the Z-score of the patients worsens. There was a significant positive correlation between mean symptoms and STRONGkids malnutrition risk score, and Z-score (p < .001). Conclusion: Most of the patients were at high risk of malnutrition. It observed that chemotherapy treatment led to malnutrition. The patients with high risk for malnutrition according to the STRONGkids and severe malnutrition according to the Z-score experienced more symptoms

Evaluation of the in vivo wound healing potential of the lipid fraction from activated platelet-rich plasma

Previous in vitro studies suggest a direct relevance for the peptide–free lipid fraction (LF) of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in biological mechanisms related to wound healing. However, there are no scientific reports to date on the wound healing activities of this lipid component in vivo. Thus, the present study provides a scientific evaluation for the wound healing potential of the lipid portion of the activated PRP. For the wound healing activity assessment, in vivo full‐thickness excisional wounds were created on the dorsal skin of Sprague-Dawley rats. Lipid extract from pooled PRP was applied topically to the wounds on 0, 3, and 7 days after injury. Histological assessment of epidermal and dermal regeneration, granulation tissue thickness and angiogenesis by Sirius red and Masson’s trichrome staining, in addition to immunohistochemical staining for transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1), collagen type I (COL I), and collagen type III (COL III) were performed on skin biopsies at 3, 7 and 14 days. The total histological scores of the LF group were significantly higher than the 25% dimethylsulfoxide-control group. According to the immunohistochemical staining, the observed expression changes for TGF-β1, COL I and III at 3, 7, and 14 days after wounding were significantly better in the study group than the control group. Furthermore, COL I/III ratio in the lipid extract-treated group at day 14 was much higher than that of the control group. Meanwhile, analysis of the data also indicated that the LF has less positive effects on all evaluated parameters than PRP. From the present data, it could be concluded that the peptide–free LF of PRP has potent wound healing capacity in vivo for cutaneous wounds, although not as much as that of PRP. Strengthening our understanding of the wound healing potential of lipid components of PRP and platelet-derived lipid factors may provide new avenues for improving the healing process of a wound with elevated protease activity

Epicardial adipose tissue and risk of arrhythmia in nephrotic syndrome

Background: Patients with nephrotic syndrome (NS) are at a high risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and dyslipidemia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the formation of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and investigate electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters in patients. Methods: Thirty-two patients aged 0-18 years and 15 control patients were compared. In the patient group, physical examination and laboratory parameters were recorded. Atrial depolarization and ventricular repolarization parameters in ECG were compared between the groups. EAT was evaluated with M-mode measurements on echocardiography. Results: There was no difference between the groups in terms of sex, age, body mass index, systolic and diastolic BP. EAT was found to be significantly higher in the patient group. In ECG evaluations it was determined that atrial depolarization and ventricular repolarization parameters increased in the patient group. Conclusions: Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are high in kidney diseases. Measurement and follow-up of EAT and ECG findings as a noninvasive parameter can provide information in NS

Reliability And Validity Of The Schedule For Affective Disorders And Schizophrenia For School-Age Children-Present And Lifetime Version, Dsm-5 November 2016-Turkish Adaptation (K-Sads-Pl-Dsm-5-T)

Objective: The aim of this study was evaluate the reliability and validity of the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version, DSM-5 November 2016 -Turkish Adaptation (K-SADS-PL-DSM-5-T). Method: A total of 150 children and adolescents between 6 and 17 years of age were assessed with K-SADS-PL-DSM-5-T. The degree of agreement between the DSM-5 criteria diagnoses and the K-SADS-PL-DSM-5-T diagnoses were considered as the measure of consensus validity. In addition, concurrent validity was examined by analyzing the correlation between the diagnoses on K-SADS-PL-DSM-5-T and relevant scales. Interrater reliabilities were assessed on randomly selected 20 participants. Likewise, randomly selected 20 other participants were interviewed with K-SADS-PL-DSM-5-T three weeks after the first interview to evaluate test-retest reliability. Results: The consistency of diagnoses was almost perfect for eating disorders, selective mutism and autism spectrum disorder (K=0.92-1.0), substantial for elimination disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, depressive disorders, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (K=0.67-0.80). Interrater reliability was perfect for selective mucism (K=1.0), substantial for oppositional defiant disorder, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depressive disorders and social anxiety disorder (K=0.63-0.73). Test-retest reliability was almost perfect for autism spectrum disorder (K=0.82), substantial for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, depressive disorders and generalized anxiety disorder (K=0.62-0.78). Conclusion: The results of this study show that the K-SADS-PL-DSM-5-T is an effective instrument for diagnosing major childhood psychiatric disorders including selective mutism, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder and autism spectrum disorder which have recently been added to the schedule.WoSScopu

Factors Affecting Inadequate Empirical Antimicrobial Therapy and the Clinical Course of Upper Urinary Tract Infections in Elderly Patients: A Multicenter Study

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to determine the risk factors associated with inadequate empirical antibiotherapy (IEAT) and hospital-related mortality in elderly patients being treated for upper urinary tract infections (UTI)