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

Evaluation of Demographic, Clinic and Genetic Characteristics of Patients Admitted to Trakya University Hospital With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

DergiPark: 1020973tmsjAims: This study aims to evaluate the genetics, clinical characteristics, and functional abnormalities of patients diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Trakya University Hospital. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted with patients who were diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy between November 2009 - November 2019 in Trakya University Hospital. The data were obtained from the hospital’s database. Patients’ data (regarding age, gender, ge- netics, transthoracic echocardiogram findings, medications, types of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and first diagnoses) were examined. Numbers, percentages, means, and standard deviations were used as descriptive statistics. Results: Eleven patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were evaluated. Five (45.45%) were female and 6 (54.54%) were male. The mean age of the female patients was 58.20 ± 8.57 years. The most common type of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was found to be asymmetrical septal cardiomyopathy [7 (63.63%)]. Three (27.27%) patients presented with hypertension. There were gene mutations in three patients. Among these three patients, two (18.18%) patients have MYBPC3, and one (9.09%) patient has TTN gene mutations. Conclusion: Hypertrophic car- diomyopathy is usually accompanied by comorbidities such as arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease. Therefore, these patients must be paid attention to in these matters

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Caudal Nasal Septum and the Nasal Vestibule: a Case Report

DergiPark: 889389tmsjAims: The nasal septum is an unusual place for malignant tumors to occur. The condition may be accompanied by non-specific symptoms that may cause delays in seeking medical care or may misguide the physician due to the condition’s rarity. We hereby aim to present a rare case of a squamous cell carcinoma in a 65-year-old male patient with recently progressing symptoms. Case Report: A 65-year-old male patient was admitted to Private Keşan Hospital’s Ear- Nose-Throat Department with swelling and wounds in the nose, and inability to breathe complaints. After the biopsy, pathological examination revealed moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. The patient was operated with success; the mass was thoroughly dissected and a full-thickness skin graft from the left supraclavicular region was used in the reconstruction of defected areas. Recovery was uneventful due to early diagnosis and admission, with no relapse or cosmetic concern during monthly visits in the following years. Conclusion: As seen in this case, full-thickness skin grafts can be successfully used in intranasal and extranasal reconstructions, provided that they are obtained from areas with appropriate thickness. Early diagnosis and frequent monitoring are crucial in patients with squamous cell carcinoma since these tumors respond exceptionally well to treatment; although the recurrence rate is remarkably high

Analysis of Risk Factors in Patients Who Have Undergone Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery and Valve Replacement Surgery

DergiPark: 584639tmsjAims: The aim of the study is to investigate differences in usual cardiovascular risk factors’ and comorbidities between the patients who had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting surgery and valve replacement surgery at Cardiovascular SurgeryDepartment of Trakya University School of Medicine. Methods: In this study, patients who had coronary artery bypass graftingsurgery and valve replacement surgery at Cardiovascular Surgery Department of Trakya University School of Medicine between01.01.2018 and 31.12.2018 were analyzed retrospectively. All data regarding the type of cardiovascular operation, habits of smoking, alcohol consumption, family history, chronic diseases and laboratory findings were analyzed using R version 3.5.0. Results:The total number of patients in the study was 130. There were 106 patients who had coronary bypass grafting surgery, 90 (95.4%)of them were male and 16 (4.6%) of them were female. The number of the patients who had valve replacement surgery was 24where 15 (62.5%) of them were female and 9 (37.5%) were male. Differences in patients’ high-density lipoprotein levels, fastingblood glucose levels along with gender, habits of smoking, diabetes mellitus status and alcohol consumption between coronaryartery bypass grafting surgery and valve replacement surgery groups were found statistically significant. Conclusion: Risk factors for cardiovascular disease are very dynamic and multifactorial. In our analysis, there was a significant difference betweenrisk factors for coronary artery bypass and valve replacement surgeries including high-density lipoprotein levels, fasting bloodglucose levels, diabetes mellitus, gender and smoking status. The variability may alter according to the living standards, culture,educational status among patients. Keywords: Coronary disease, coronary artery, surgery, risk factor

Awareness of Symptoms and Signs in Spondyloarthritis Among Family Physicians in Edirne City Center

DergiPark: 584645tmsjAims: The aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge of signs and symptoms of spondyloarthritis among family physiciansworking in Family Health Centers in Edirne. Methods: In this study, a questionnaire consisting of 17 questions were applied tothe family physicians working in the Family Health Centers of Edirne Province. The data were analyzed using non-parametricSpearman Correlation test and Mann-Whitney U test on IBM SPSS version 20.0. Results: The total number of subjects in thestudy was 45. All subjects’ median age was 47 years (1st quartile, 42 years; 3rd quartile, 51 years). Five of the participants werefamily medicine specialist. The median duration of medical practice was 20 years (1st quartile, 13 years; 3rd quartile, 25.5 years).Four of the participants were trained in rheumatology. The median number of patients examined by the participants was 60 perday (1st quartile, 47.5; 3rd quartile, 70). Forty-one of the participants stated that they referred patients with back pain to thehospital for further examination. The median number of referral percentage was 15 (1st quartile, 5; 3rd quartile, 25). Conclusion:Spondyloarthritis is a disease that is diagnosed too late and reduces patients’ quality of life. In this study, it was investigated whichfactors could be related to spondyloarthritis awareness of family physicians in a limited area. The most important output of this isstudy is the relation between referrals to rheumatology and awareness of spondyloarthritis. These parameters are related to eachother and the physician. Keywords: Back pain, arthritis, family physician

The Investigation of Medical Student Journals

DergiPark: 963050tmsjAims: The aim of our study is to examine and evaluate data of medical student journals from around the world for the year 2020. Methods: In this observational study 20 medical student journals were examined. Data analyzed comprised of the year of foundation, country of origin, number of issues per year, types of articles published, and the total number of articles published in a year. Issues that were published in 2020 only were taken into consideration. Results: In 2020, the majority of medical student journals were based in the United States of America, followed by Canada. There were only four indexed (Scopus, Science Citation Index Expanded, PubMed) medical student journals; three were from the United States of America, and one from Canada. In comparison with other journals, the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine had the most published issues. They also have the most crowded editorial board. Overall, the median of people on the editorial boards and advisory boards were 17.5 and 14, respectively. The median for issues per year was 2. The median number of publications in medical student journals in 2020 was 23. Among them, 13.1% were original research articles, 10.8% review articles, 9.4% case reports, 4.9% editorials, and 2.9% letters to the editor. The remaining 59.0% were publications that fell into the "others" category. Conclusion: In conclusion, the majority of medical student journals are based in North America and Europe, and a substantial amount of the published articles falls into the “others” category. Considering the lack of effective guidance and regulations with relevance to indexing. Medical student journals face certain challenges regarding visibility, accessibility, and publishing articles. However, provided that the editors of medical student journals remain keen, motivated, and focused, medical student journals will contribute to the scientific community by creating a supportive and intellectual environment for aspiring researchers where they can enhance their understanding of scientific research and publishing skills

Retrospective Analysis of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients in Trakya University School of Medicine

DergiPark: 640239tmsjAims: This study aims to establish the data; including demographic features, molecular response status, disease characteristics, and survival rate of chronic myeloid leukemia patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors in Trakya University School of Medicine. Methods: In this study, the data of 102 patients over 18 years old who were diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia in Trakya University School of Medicine between January 2003-October 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. Data was analyzed using SPSS 23.0.0.0. Results: The total number of patients in the study was 102. There were 95 (93.1%) patients on chronic phase and 6 (5.9%) patients on accelerated phase. Eighty-three (81.4%) of the patients had at least a major molecular response and 17 (16.7%) patients could not achieve at least a major molecular response. Conclusion: As our study showed, first line treatment with imatinib may not be enough for some of the patients to recover and therefore different TKIs such as dasatinib, nilotinib, bo-sutinib, and ponatinib are being used in the treatment of CML. Inadequate response, drug side effects and incompliances are the causes of switching the drug choice. Further studies are needed to thoroughly reveal the epidemiology and treatment regimens.Keywords: Chronic myeloid leukemia, tyrosine kinase, neoplasm

Risk Factors and Management of Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation in Patients With Hematological Disorders

DergiPark: 420829tmsjAims: The aim of this study is to evaluate hepatitis B virus serological status and to categorize the risks of our treatmentmodalities in patients with both benign and malignant hematological disorders.Methods: This was a retrospective study of 552 patients who were admitted to the Trakya University Hospital Hematologyunit between 01.01.2017 and 31.12.2017. All data regarding the diagnosis, treatment and HBV serologicalstatus were collected from patient files. Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS V.20 using descriptive statistical analysis.Results: Hepatitis B surface antigen was positive in 45 (8.2%) patients, antibody to the hepatitis B surface antigenwas positive in 279 (50.5%) patients and antibody to the hepatitis B core antigen was positive in 247 (44.7%) patients.According to these results, 32 patients were found to be vaccinated for hepatitis B virus. Reactivation was observed in4 (0.7%) patients who have been hepatitis B surface antigen positive and have received adequate duration of antiviralprophylaxis with tenofovir. These 4 patients have received monoclonal antibody for immunosuppressive treatment.Conclusion: To conclude, although the rate of hepatitis B surface antigen reactivation is quite low, as many patientsas possible should be vaccinated to reduce the costs of antiviral treatments and monitorization. If there is notime to vaccinate, patients should be categorized according to guidelines by their hepatitis B surface antigen serologicalstatus and by the planned immunosuppressive treatments

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

EMDR Group Protocol With Children: A Field Study

The Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Group Protocol with Children (EMDR-GP/C) was first developed by Korkmazlar following the Marmara earthquake in Turkey in 1999 and can be adapted for different populations. This study focused on EM DR-GP with children who lost their fathers in the mine explosion that occurred in 2014 in Soma, Turkey. The EM DR-GP/C was used with 41 children (7-12 years old) in the early intervention, 3 weeks after the disaster, and used with 25 other children (6-13 years old) in the late intervention, 18 months after the disaster, when posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms had developed. The differences between the early and late implementations of EMDR-GP/C are presented in this article. In the early intervention, children processed the trauma by focusing on the "events" as they saw or heard them; however, 18 months after the disaster, children processed their "emotions" about the event in the desensitization phase. Results show a significant decrease in scores of subjective units of disturbance (SUDs) for both intervention periods. An analysis was also conducted, comparing decreases in SUD scores for younger and older children, with no differences found in their response to treatment. Pre and follow-up data were collected for the late intervention condition, using the Child Report of Posttraumatic Symptoms (CROPS), and showed a significant decrease at 18-month follow-up. Further studies are suggested to determine effectiveness of EMDR-GP/C with other populations