Oral health-related quality of life of preschool-aged Turkish children with congenital heart disease

Background. Dental caries and poor oral hygiene can affect the quality of life (QoL) of patients with con -genital heart disease (CHD). Information about the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of Turkish preschool children with CHD is scarce.Objectives. The aim of the present study was to assess the OHRQoL, and the presence of caries, plaque and gingivitis in Turkish preschool children with CHD as compared to children without CHD (control group).Material and methods. Children aged 3-6 years with CHD (n = 75) and a control group (n = 75) were included in the study. Examinations were conducted using the plaque index (PI), the gingival index (GI) and the World Health Organization (WHO) caries diagnostic criteria. The Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) questionnaire was completed by the children's families.Results.The amount of caries and plaque, as well as the number of missing teeth were higher in children with CHD. The OHRQoL was lower in children with CHD. However, the differences between the 2 groups were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The number of filled teeth was significantly higher in the con-trol group (p < 0.05).Conclusions. According to the findings of the present study, the high amount of caries and plaque in both groups demonstrates that caries continues to be a major public health problem. Although there was no significant difference in terms of QoL scale scores between the 2 groups, the study showed that OHRQoL was lower in children with CHD

Civil Society in Turkey: At a Turning Point

Civil society in Turkey is going through a rapid transformation. Civil society's building blocks, civil society organisations, are emerging as important actors in Turkey's development and democratisation agendas, while increasing in their numbers and impact. In this context, generating a useful and comprehensive knowledge base has a crucial role to play in promoting the health of the third sector in Turkey. TUSEV has strengthened the sector through its Publications and Research Programme, which has produced over 50 valuable publications on the third sector in Turkey. The CIVICUS Civil Society Index (CSI) project holds a special place among these initiatives. Not only did the first CSI implementation result in the first comprehensive and internationally comparative study on civil society in Turkey, but now the second implementation expands its scope even further and offers readers an opportunity to make comparisons over a five year period

The effects of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis on serum homocysteine and C-reactive protein levels.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed to investigate plasma homocysteine (Hcy) and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in hemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients, and the relation among them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was carriedout on 52 HD patients, 26 CAPD patients and a control group of 22 healthy persons. Blood samples were taken from the patients for Hcy and CRP measurements. RESULTS: Serum CRP level was found to be high in 48.1% of HD patients, 69.2% of CAPD patients and 4.5% of the healthy control group. Plasma Hcy level was found out to be above the normal limits in 73.1% of HD patients, 65.4% of CAPD patients and 9% of the healthy control group. There was a significant positive relation (r = 0.384, p < 0.001) between the levels of plasma Hcy and serum CRP in HD and CAPD patients. CONCLUSION: The high levels of Hcy and CRP were found out to be higher in HD and CAPD patients than in the control group. In order to determine the risk rate of Hcy and CRP for coronary artery disease, extensive investigations are required in patients with chronic renal failure that also have coronary artery disease

The effects of peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis on serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, interleukin-10 and C-reactive-protein levels.

BACKGROUND: Markers of an acute phase reaction, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin (IL)-6, are predictive for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in normal subjects and in chronic renal failure patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate serum TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10 and CRP levels in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and hemodialysis (HD) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10 and CRP levels were measured in 30 patients who were just diagnosed with end-stage renal failure and treated, with 16 CAPD (nine female, seven male) and 14 HD (eight female, six male) patients, before CAPD or HD treatment and after 3 months from the beginning of CAPD or HD in patients with no clinical signs of infection. The control groups were 20 healthy persons of similar age and sex. Serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10 and CRP were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in stable CAPD and HD patients and in healthy persons. RESULTS: The mean serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10 and CRP showed no significant differences between the CAPD and HD patients for the beginning values and the third month of treatment. However, serum TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10 and CRP levels were higher than the control group in the CAPD and HD patients regarding the beginning values and the third month of treatment (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: CAPD and HD of the renal replacement therapy have no effects on serum CRP and cytokines

Knowledge levels of senıor nursing students about epilepsyHemşirelik son sınıf öğrencilerinin epilepsi hakkındaki bilgi düzeyleri

Aim: This study was conducted to determine knowledge levels and the factors affecting of  senior nursing students about epilepsy.Method: The study was conducted descriptively and cross-sectional between 17-27 January 2017 with 168 nursing senior students who agreed to participate in the study. The data was collected on social media with questionnaire which was composed of the literature review by the researchers. 15 of the questions were about socio-demographic characteristics and 20 of questions were about epilepsy. Analysing of data were carried out in a computer program by using percentage, Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis-H test.Results: It was determined that mean score of the students' knowledge level about epilepsy is 81,10±7,27. There was a statistically significant relationship between where they got the information about epilepsy, care a patient previously had a seizure and mean scores of epilepsy knowledge level (p&lt;0,05). It was determined that students ,who got information about epilepsy from the health personnel and those who care a patient previously had a seizure, had high mean scores.Conclusion: In the study, ıt was determined that nursing senior students’ knowledge level about the epilepsy is high; where they got the information about epilepsy, care a patient previously had a seizure affects epilepsy knowledge.Extended English abstract is in the end of PDF (TURKISH) file. ÖzetAmaç: Bu çalışma, hemşirelik son sınıf öğrencilerinin epilepsi hakkındaki bilgi düzeylerini ve etkileyen faktörleri belirlemek amacıyla yapıldı.Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışma, 17-27 Ocak 2017 tarihleri arasında çalışmaya katılmayı kabul eden 168 hemşirelik son sınıf öğrencisiyle tanımlayıcı ve kesitsel olarak yapıldı. Çalışmanın verileri sosyal medya aracılığı ile toplandı. Verilerin toplanmasında araştırmacılar tarafından literatür taranarak oluşturulan, 15’i sosyo-demogrofik özellikleri, 20’si epilepsi hakkında bilgi durumlarını ölçmeye yönelik sorudan oluşan soru formu kullanıldı. Veriler; bilgisayar ortamında, yüzdelik, Mann-Whitney U ve Kruskal Wallis-H testleri kullanılarak değerlendirildi.Bulgular: Öğrencilerin epilepsi bilgi düzeyleri toplam puan ortalamalarının 81,10±7,27 olduğu belirlendi. Öğrencilerin epilepsi hakkında bilgiyi nereden aldığı ve daha önce nöbet geçiren hastaya bakma durumları ile epilepsi bilgi düzeyi toplam puan ortalamaları arasında istatiksel olarak anlamlı ilişki olduğu saptandı (p&lt;0,05). Sonuç: Çalışmada hemşirelik son sınıf öğrencilerinin epilepsi hakkındaki bilgi düzeylerinin yüksek olduğu; epilepsi hakkında bilgiyi nereden aldığı ve daha önce nöbet geçiren hastaya bakım vermenin epilepsi bilgi durumunu etkilediği belirlendi

Mean platelet volume in children with hepatitis A

Background: Mean platelet volume (MPV), which is commonly used as a measure of platelet size, indicates the rate of platelet production and platelet activation. We aimed to evaluate the mean platelet volume in children with hepatitis A. Methods: In this retrospective case-controlled study, the study population consisted of 62 children with hepatitis A and 62 healthy control subjects. Results: MPV values, aspartate transaminase (AST), and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels on admission were significantly increased in patients with hepatitis A when compared to controls whereas white blood cell (WBC) counts were significantly lower. Two weeks after admission, the MPV values showed a significant decrease from 9. 47 \ub1 1.62 to 8.84 \ub1 1.48 fL in patients with hepatitis A, but these values were still significantly higher than the controls. There was a significant difference in terms of MPV, WBC, AST, and ALT values between the controls and the patient group 2 weeks after admission. Conclusions: This study is the first to evaluate the MPV levels in children with hepatitis A. MPV values were found to be increased in children hospitalized with hepatitis A

Kablosuz Çoklu Ortam Duyarga Ağlarında Gözetleme Uygulamaları için Füzyon-Tabanlı Çatı Tasarımı ve Geliştirilmesi

TÜBİTAK MFAG Proje15.07.2018Bu proje kapsamında, kablosuz çoklu ortam duyarga ağları için özellikle aşağıda verilen ikikonuda çözüm üreten bir yaklaşım ve çatı (framework) geliştirilmesi amaçlanmıştır:- Halen kullanılan ağlara göre daha az enerji tüketen bir kablosuz duyarga ağı kümelemealgoritmasının geliştirilmesi: Proje kapsamında yeni bir kümeleme algoritması geliştirilmiştir.Geliştirilen algoritma, gözetleme uygulamaları da dahil olmak üzere uygulamadan bağımsızve enerji-etkin çalışabilecek şekilde tasarlanmıştır. Geliştirilen algoritma, gerçek duyargadüğüm donanımları üzerinde de kolaylıkla çalışabilir nitelikte dağıtık ve hafif bir yapıdatasarlanmış eşit olmayan bir kümeleme yaklaşımı sergilemektedir. Tasarlanan kümelemealgoritması ile, çeşitli metotlarla konuşlandırılmış düğüm noktaları içeren kümelenmemiş birkablosuz duyarga ağdan, etkin olarak veri toplayabilecek kümelenmiş bir duyarga ağı eldeedilebilmektedir. Kümeleme için uygun parametreler belirlenmiş ve bulanık mantık tabanlı biralgoritma geliştirilmiştir. Kümeleme yarı çapı tespitinde ana istasyona uzaklık, düğüm noktasıkalan enerjisi ve düğüm noktası göreli bağlanabilirlik parametreleri, yönlendirme için ise linkortalama kalan enerjisi ve göreli uzaklık parametreleri algoritma içerisinde kullanılmıştır.- Ana istasyona taşınacak bilginin miktarını azaltırken doğruluk oranını artıracak yöntemleringeliştirilmesi: Duyarga düğümlerinden ana istasyona kadar üç seviyede değişik veri füzyonyöntemleri kullanarak nesne çıkarımı yapan ve bu sayede taşınan veri miktarını azaltarakduyarga ağın ömrünü uzatan bir yöntem geliştirilmiştir. Bu çerçevede, ilk seviyede PKÖ,sismik ve akustik duyargalardan elde edilen veriler kullanılmıştır. Söz konusu skalerduyargalardan gelen veriler füzyon işlemine sokularak duyarganın kontrol ettiği alanda insanve araç gibi bir nesnenin olup olmadığı konusunda ilk karar oluşturulmaktadır. Bu karara göreikinci seviyede çoklu ortam duyargalarının (kamera ve mikrofon) uyandırılmasıgerçekleştirilmektedir. Kamera tarafından alınan görüntü ve mikrofon tarafından alınan sesişlenerek nesne tespiti yapılmaktadır. İkinci seviye füzyonu kapsamında görüntü ve sestençıkarılan bilgiler bir füzyon işleminden geçirilerek nesne sınıflandırılması doğruluk oranıartırılmaktadır. Duyarga düğümü üzerinde gerçekleştirilen bu işlemlerin ardından üretilen özetbilgi ana istasyona iletilmektedir. Üçüncü seviye füzyon ve sınıflandırma işleminde farklıkiplerden elde edilen veriler ile kip içi ve kipler arası korelasyonlar da kullanılarak, dahagelişmiş bir tanıma işlemi gerçekleştirilmektedir. Bu işlem enerji ve kaynak kullanım maliyetigerektirdiği için ana istasyonda yapılmaktadır.Bu projenin özgün değeri, skaler duyargalara ilave olarak çoklu ortam duyargaları tarafındantoplanan görüntü ve ses verilerinin duyarga düğümü içerisinde işlenerek ve füzyon edilerekpotansiyel tehditlere yönelik anlamlı bilgiler üretilmesi ve bu sayede taşınacak verininboyutunun azaltılması ile taşınacak verinin ağ üzerinde daha etkin taşınmasını sağlayanözgün kümeleme algoritmasının geliştirilmesinde yatmaktadır.Proje öneri dokümanında yer alan planlı faaliyetlerin tamamı gerçekleştirilmiş ve projebaşlangıcında hedeflenen noktaya ulaşılmıştır. Proje kapsamında, 6 adet uluslararasıdergilerde (4 adet SCI-E, 1 adet SSCI, 1 adet ESCI indeksli) ve 9 adet konferanslarda(tamamı uluslararası konferans) olmak üzere toplam 15 adet yayın gerçekleştirilmiştir. Projekapsamında projenin değişik süreçlerinde görev alan 6 doktora ve 2 lisansüstü öğrencisinintez çalışmasına imkân sağlanmıştır (iki doktora tezi tamamlandı, altısı devam ediyor).Bu proje, BİLİMSEL VE TEKNOLOJİK ARAŞTIRMA PROJELERİNİ DESTEKLEMEPROGRAMI kapsamında TÜBİTAK tarafından 114R082 kod numarasıyla desteklenmiştir.In this project, a wireless sensor network clustering algorithm which consumes less energythan currently used networks and methods that increase the accuracy rate while reducingthe amount of information to be transferred to the base station have been studied. In thiscontext, a new distributed and lightweight fuzzy logic-based clustering algorithm withunequal clustering approach has been developed. In order to reduce the amount ofinformation to be transferred to the base station and to increase the accuracy, a methodextracting objects using data fusion methods at three different levels from sensor nodes tothe base station and reducing the amount of data carried in this way has been developed toextend the lifetime of a sensor network. At the first level, the data from scalar sensors arefused to decide whether or not there is an object in the controlled area. In the context of thesecond level fusion, information extracted from visual and audio data are fused to increaseobject classification accuracy. In the third level fusion and classification process performed inthe main station, a more advanced recognition process is performed using intra and intermode correlations between data obtained from different channels.The project has been terminated in 39 months with a three-months extension. In the project,five researchers, who are experts on multimedia applications, fuzzy logic and wirelesssensor networks, have been worked. An opportunity is provided for 6 PhD and 2 MSstudents, who have contributed to the project during different terms of the project, to work onand finish their thesis successfully. It is evaluated that the studies done in the project fill a biggap in the academic literature. During project, 6 journal papers and 9 internationalconference papers, which make 15 in total, are published

Hematological Parameters and Inflammatory Markers in Children with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome

Abstract Objective: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), is a newly recognised life-threatening complication of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Early determination of clinical severity of the disease is important for early decision of treatment regimens. The aim of this study is to investigate the severity classification value of a number of hematological parameters, inflammatory markers and biochemical tests in patients with MIS-C during the acute stage and after anti-inflammatory treatment. Material and Methods: In this retrospective case-controlled study, 64 children with MIS-C and 95 healthy age and gender matched children were included. Patients were divided into three clinical severity groups; mild, moderate, and severe. Results: Mean platelet volume (MPV), MPV to lymphocyte ratio (MPVLR), D-dimer, ferritin, interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels were significantly higher, while albumin levels were lower in the severe MIS-C group compared to all the other groups on admission. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and derived (d) NLR (d-NLR) levels were significantly higher in the moderate group compared to the mild group. In the pre-treatment period of MIS-C patients had higher MPV, platelet distribution width (PDW) values while they had lower white blood cell, lymphocyte, monocyte, haemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), red cell distribution width (RDW), plateletcrit and platelet values compared to the post-treatment group. Lymphocyte, platelets, and haemoglobin levels were significantly higher in the control group compared to the pre-treatment group. Acute phase reactants, NLR, NMR, PLR, d-NLR, MPVLR and systemic inflammatory index were significantly higher in all MIS-C patients on admission compared to the control group. Conclusion: Specific routine laboratory test results may be useful in determining disease severity of MIS-C, possibly predict the prognosis and allow early initiation of the appropriate treatment

EVALUATION OF HOPE, SYMPTOM CONTROL, AND MEDICATION COMPLIANCE/ADHERENCE IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Amaç: Hemodiyaliz tedavisi alan hastalar, hastalığın ilerleyici ve tedavi yöntemlerinin kısıtlayıcı olması nedeniyle umutsuzluk yaşayabilir. Bu durum, hastaların semptom kontrolünü ve tedaviye uyumunu güçleştirebilmektedir. Araştırma hemodiyaliz tedavisi alan hastaların umut düzeylerini, semptom kontrolünü ve tedaviye uyumlarını belirlemek, umut düzeyi ile semptom kontrolü ve tedaviye uyum arasında ilişkiyi saptamak amacıyla yapılmıştır. Yöntem: Tanımlayıcı ve ilişki arayıcı tasarımda gerçekleştirilen araştırmanın örneklemine 73 hasta dâhil edilmiştir. Veriler, hasta tanılama formu, Hert Umut Ölçeği veKronik Hemodiyaliz Hastalarında Diyaliz Semptom İndeksi ile toplanmıştır. Verilerin değerlendirmesinde yüzdelik, ortalama, Pearson korelasyon analizi, Mann-Whitney U testi ve Kruskal-Wallis testi kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Hastaların Hert Umut Ölçeği puan ortalamasının ortalama değerin üzerinde ve semptomlara bağlı sıkıntı düzeylerinin düşük olduğu saptanmıştır. Hastaların %83,6’sının doktorun önerdiği tarihte düzenli olarak sağlık kontrollerine gittiği, %94,5’inin ilaçlarını düzenli kullandığı, %56,2’sinin hastalığının yönetimi konusunda diyetini düzenli uyguladığı, %78,1’inin sıvı kısıtlaması ya da sıvı alımına dikkat ettiği belirlenmiştir. Hert Umut Ölçeği puan ortalaması ile Kronik Hemodiyaliz Hastalarında Diyaliz Semptom İndeksi puan ortalaması arasında negatif yönde ilişki saptanmıştır. Umut düzeyi yüksek olan hastaların doktorun önerdiği tarihte düzenli olarak sağlık kontrollerine gitme, kan tahlili, kan basıncı ölçümü gibi rutin kontrolleri eksiksiz yaptırma, hastalığının yönetimi konusunda diyetini düzenli uygulama ve sıvı kısıtlaması ya da sıvı alımına dikkat etme gibi tedaviye uyum oranlarının daha iyi olduğu bulunmuştur. Sonuç: Hemodiyaliz tedavisi alan hastaların umut düzeyi arttıkça, semptomlarla ilişkili sıkıntı düzeylerinin azaldığı ve tedaviye uyumlarının yükseldiği belirlenmiştir.Objectives: Hemodialysis patients may experience hopelessness since their disease is progressive, and requires restrictive treatment methods. This situation may make it difficult to control symptoms and medication compliance. The current study aimed to determine hope, symptom control and medication compliance in hemodialysis patients, and to investigate the associations between the level of hope, symptom control, and medication compliance. Methods: The sample of this descriptive and correlational study consisted of 73 patients. Data were collected using the patient identification form, the Herth Hope Index, and the Dialysis Symptom Index in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients. Data were analyzed using percentiles, means, Pearson correlation, Mann-Whitney U test, and Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: Mean Herth Hope Index score was above the average value, and the level of symptom-related distress was low. Among the patients, 83.6% attended routine follow-up visits on dates recommended by their doctors, 94.5% regularly used their medicine, 56.2% adhered to their diet for disease management, and 78.1% adhered to fluid restriction or monitored liquid intake. There was a negative correlation between the mean Herth Hope Index score and the mean Dialysis Symptom Index in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients score. It was found that patients who had high levels of hope had attended routine follow-up visits on the dates that were recommended by their doctors; ensured that caregivers performed routine controls such as blood analysis, blood pressure, etc.; and exhibited medication compliance (adherence to diet and liquid restriction for disease management) at better rates. Conclusion: It was determined that symptom-related distress reduced, and medication compliance increased as the level of hope increased in hemodialysis patients

Atrioventricular Septal Defects Repair: Comparison of Classic Single Patch and Double-Patch Techniques

Objective: Different patch techniques were virtually always used in the surgery of pediatric patients with complete atrioventricular septal defects. In this study, we described our single center, single surgeon experiences and results about the classic single patch and double patch techniques to repair complete atrioventricular septal defects. Materials and Methods: This retrospective descriptive study included 30 patients who underwent intracardiac repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect in Ankara Bilkent City Hospital Department of Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery. The study was conducted between February 2019 to December 2021. Patients in group S underwent surgery using the traditional single-patch method, while group D included patients who underwent repair using the double patch approach (n = 10). Patients’ demographic and clinical information was taken from institutional databases and medical records. Postoperative complications were recorded. Results: When the preoperative/postoperative insufficiency levels of the valves were compared with the Wilcoxon Signed rank test, the findings were not statistically significant for the left atrioventricular valves, but were statistically significant for the right atrioventricular valves. (p=0.02) When we compared postoperative valve regurgitation of both techniques with the Kruskall-Wallis test, no significant difference was found between postoperative valve regurgitation and function, independent of preoperative findings. Conclusion: Both operation techniques did not make a difference between operative or late mortality and morbidity. Depending on the surgeon’s experience, ventricular septal defect size does not play a restrictive role in the selection of the technique to be used. The single-patch and double patch method as described here is methodical, comprehensible, repeatable, and reasonably long-lasting