Hamiltonian model for multidimensional epistasis

We propose and solve a Hamiltonian model for multidimensional epistastatic interactions between beneficial mutations. The model is able to give rise either to a phase transition between two equilibrium states, without any coexistence, or exhibits a state where hybrid species can coexist, with gradual passage from one wild type to another. The transition takes place as a function of the "tolerance" of the environment, which we define as the amount of noise in the system.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures (in seperate files) spelling corrected and a reference adde

Comparison of Resilience and Depression in Children and Adolescents with Epilepsy and Healthy Controls

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the depression and resilience scores of children and adolescents with epilepsy and healthy controls. Furthermore, its purpose was to investigate whether resilience mediates the relationship between epilepsy and depression. Methods: 100 children and adolescents (46 patients and 54 healthy controls) were included in the study. Questionnaire on sociodemographic data was administered to the all participants at the time of application to our center and all participants were asked to complete the Anxiety and Depression Scale in Children-Revised (RCADS-CV) and Child and Adolescent Psychological Resilience Scale (CYRM-12). Results: 46 epilepsy patients had higher RCADS-CV depression scores (P=0.008) and lower psychological resilience scores (P= 0.001) compared to the control group. Although there was a negative correlation between psychological resilience scores and RCADS-CV depression scores in epilepsy patients and the control group, this correlation was not statistically significant. Conclusion: We found that children and adolescents with epilepsy had lower psychological resilience and higher depression symptoms compared to healthy controls

Substance Use Characteristics and Attitudes of Students in a Faculty of Health Sciences

Amaç: Bir Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesinde okuyan öğrencilerin madde kullanım özelliklerini ve madde kullanımı ile ilgili damgalayıcı tutumlarını belirlemektir. Yöntem: Çalışma tanımlayıcı tiptedir. Evren 1154 öğrenciden, örneklem 271 öğrenciden oluşmuştur. Veriler bilgi toplama formu ve Alkol ve Madde Bağımlılığı Damgalayıcı Tutumlar Ölçeği ile toplanmıştır. Bulgular: Öğrencilerin %79,3'ü kadın, yaş ortalaması 20,84±1,58 idi. Öğrencilerin %8,9’u sigara, %5,2’si alkol ve bir öğrenci de madde kullandığını ifade etti. Alkol ve sigara içen öğrenciler, başlama nedeni olarak en çok arkadaş ortamının etkilediğini belirttiler. Bu öğrencilerin %59,4’ü sigaraya, %64,3’ü ise alkole 17 yaş ve üzerinde başladığını belirtti. Öğrencilerin %42,4’ü madde kullanımıyla ilgili bilgilerinin yetersiz olduğunu ve üniversitede bu konuda aktiviteler yapılırsa %14,8’inin bu aktivitelere gönüllü olarak destek verebileceklerini ifade ettiler. Öğrencilerin Alkol ve Madde Bağımlılığı Damgalayıcı Tutumlar ölçek puanı ile yaş, cinsiyet ve okudukları bölüm arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark bulunmazken, sınıflar arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark olduğu ve sınıflar arttıkça damgalayıcı tutumların arttığı görüldü. Sonuçlar: Alkol ve sigara kullanımına başlamada öğrencilerin arkadaş ortamından etkilendikleri ve bu maddelere başlamalarının üniversite yıllarında olduğu belirlendi. Madde kullanımı ile ilgili dördüncü sınıf öğrencilerinin daha fazla damgalayıcı tutum içinde oldukları söylenebilir.Objective: The objective is to assess substance use characteristics of students attending to a Faculty of Health Sciences and their stigmatizing attitude to substance use. Methodology: The study is of descriptive type. The universe consists of 1,154 students and the sample size is 271 students. Data were collected by using the form “Scale of Stigmatizing Attitudes in Alcohol and Substance Addiction.” Findings: 79.3% of students were women and their average age was 20.84±1.58. Of responding students, 8.9% stated that they smoke, 5.2% take alcohol and 1 student said he uses substance. Students who smoke and have alcohol state that they started these as a result of their circle of friends. 59.4% of smokers and 64.3% of alcohol users started these after age 17. 42.4% of students say their information about substance use is inadequate and 14.8% say they will voluntarily support if there are activities in the university in this regard. No statistically significant relationship was found between students’ scores in Scale of Stigmatizing Attitudes in Alcohol and Substance Addiction and their ages, gender and departments they are attending to. However, grade levels in the school make statistically significant difference as stigmatizing attitudes increase as grade levels get higher. Conclusion: ıt was found that smoking and alcohol use start in university years under the influence of friends. It can be said that stigmatizing attitude to substance use is adopted more widely by senior level students

Laryngoscopic Examination During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Turkish Voice Speech and Swallowing Disorders Society and Turkish Professional Voice Society Recommendations

COVID-19 is highly transmissible and spreads rapidly in the population. This increases the occupational risk for health care workers. In otolaryngology clinic practice, patients with upper respiratory tract infection symptoms are common. Also, routine head and neck examinations such as oral cavity examination, nasal/nasopharyngeal examination, or video laryngostroboscopic evaluation are highly risky because of the aerosol formation. To emphasize this issue, two leading otolaryngology organizations in Turkey; 'Voice Speech and Swallowing Disorders Society', and 'Professional Voice Society' gathered a task force. This task force aimed to prepare a consensus report that would provide practical recommendations of the safety measurements during routine clinical care of laryngology patients. To fulfill this, universal aim, on the 2nd and 9th of May 2020, two web-based meetings were conducted by 20 expert physicians. This eighteen items list was prepared as an output

Comparison of the catheter-technique psoas compartment block and the epidural block for analgesia in partial hip replacement surgery

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the intra- and postoperative analgesia provided by the catheter-technique psoas compartment block and the epidural block in hip-fractured patients. We also compared hemodynamic stability, motor blockade, ease of performing the technique, and complications. Methods: Thirty patients who underwent partial hip replacement surgery were included in this prospective single-blind study. Subjects were randomly assigned to Group E (n=15; general anesthesia plus epidural block with 15 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine) or Group P (n=15; general anesthesia plus psoas compartment block with 30 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine). Hemodynamic parameters were recorded at 10-min intervals intraoperatively. Regional anesthesia procedure time, number of attempts at block, intraoperative blood loss, and need for supplemental fentanyl and/or ephedrine were noted. Postoperatively, a patient-controlled analgesia device delivered an infusion and boluses of bupivacaine/fentanyl. Pain, motor blockade, ambulation time, patient satisfaction with analgesia, and complications were recorded postsurgery. Results: The epidural required significantly more attempts than the psoas block, thus procedure time was longer in this group. Group E also showed significantly greater drops in mean arterial blood pressure from baseline at 30, 40 and 50 min after the start of general anesthesia. Significantly more Group E patients required epinephrine supplementation. The groups were similar regarding pain scores (at rest and on movement) and patient satisfaction, but Group E had higher motor blockade scores, longer ambulation time, and significantly more complications. Conclusion: The continuous psoas compartment block provides excellent intraoperative and postoperative analgesia with a low incidence of complications for partial hip replacement surgery

Education of healthcare personnel working with pediatric patients during covid-19 pandemic within the framework of infection control Covid-19 pandemisinde enfeksiyon kontrol çalışmaları çerçevesinde çocuk hastalarla çalışan sağlık personeli eğitimi

© 2020, AVES. All rights reserved.Objective: In the early stages of any epidemic caused by new emerging pathogens healthcare personnel is subject to a great risk. Pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, proved to be no exception. Many healthcare workers died in the early stages of pandemic due to inadequate precautions and insufficient protection. It is essential to protect and maintain the safety of healthcare personnel for the confinement of pandemic as well as continuity of qualified healthcare services which is already under strain. Educating healthcare personnel on appropiate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is as essential as procuring them. Material and Methods: A survey is conducted on 4927 healthcare personnel working solely with pediatric patients from 32 different centers. Education given on PPE usage were questioned and analyzed depending on age, sex, occupation and region. Results: Among four thousand nine hundred twelve healthcare personnel from 32 different centers 91% (n= 4457) received education on PPE usage. Of those who received education only 36% was given both theoretical and applied education. Although there was no differences among different occupation groups, receiving education depended on regions. Conclusion: It is essential to educate healthcare personnel appropiately nationwidely for the continuity of qualified healthcare services during the pandemic

SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity among pediatric health care personnel just after the first peak of pandemic: A nationwide surveillance.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic affected every single person on earth one way or the other. The healthcare personnel were no exception, their responsibilities as well as their risks being immense. METHODS: 4927 healthcare personnel all working in pediatric units at 32 hospitals from seven different regions of Turkey enrolled to the study to determine the seroprevalence of SARS Co-V-2 after the first peak wave. Point of care serologic lateral flow rapid test kit for IgM/IgG was used (Ecotest CE Assure Tech. Co. Ltd.). Seroprevalence and its association with demographic characteristics and possible risk factors were analyzed. RESULTS: Nearly 6.1% of healthcare personnel were found to be seropositive for SARS Co-V- 2. Seropositivity was more common among those who did not universally wear protective masks (10.6% vs 6.1%). Having a COVID-19 co-worker increased the likelihood of infection. The least and the most experienced personnel affected more. Most of the seropositive healthcare personnel (68%) did not have any suspicion that they had COVID-19 previously. CONCLUSIONS: Health surveillance for healthcare personnel involving routine point-of-care nucleic acid testing as well as monitoring PPE adherence would be important strategies to protect healthcare personnel from COVID-19 and to reduce nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 transmission