Medical Art Therapy

Art therapy is a form of expressive therapy that uses art materials. Art therapy combines traditional psychotherapeutic theories and techniques with an understanding of the psychological aspects of the creative process, especially the affective properties of the different art materials. Medical art therapy has been defined as the clinical application of art expression and imagery with individuals who are physically ill, experiencing physical trauma or undergoing invasive or aggressive medical procedures such as surgery or chemotherapy and is considered as a form of complementary or integrative medicine. Several studies have shown that patients with physical illness benefit from medical art therapy in different aspects. Unlike other therapies, art therapy can take the patients away from their illness for a while by means of creative activities during sessions, can make them forget the illness or lost abilities. Art therapy leads to re-experiencing normality and personal power even with short creative activity sessions. In this article definition, influence and necessity of medical art therapy are briefly reviewed

Determining the effect of student-content interaction, instructor-student interaction and student-student interaction on online education satisfaction level

The aim of this research is to introduce the factors that affect the online education satisfaction level. The related data was obtained from 208 people via online platforms using the random sampling technique. Exploratory factor analysis was performed for verifying dimensions. Multiple linear regression analysis was applied in order to determine the factors affecting the online education satisfaction level. As a result of the analysis four dimensions of online education satisfaction were determined and it was concluded that student-content interaction, instructor-student interaction, and student-student interaction have a significant effect on online education satisfaction. Findings of research contribute to literature and suggestions for online education system how interaction can be raised during the online course

PSYCHOLOGICAL RESILIENCE OF TOURISM EMPLOYEES: THE CASE OF ANTALYA

Psychological resilience is the state of being able to exhibit the demanded/expected positive behaviour when the individual is faced with difficulties. In the tourism sector where intensive labour is involved, the psychological resilience of the employees who provide the service directly to the customer against the intensive working conditions remains crucial. The aim of this study is to determine whether psychological resilience levels of accommodation employees differ according to demographic characteristics and job characteristics. The population of the research consists of the employees of five-star hotel businesses in Antalya. In the research, two-part questionnaire was used to determine the individual characteristics of the employees and psychological resilience scale for adults (PRSA). For the evaluations made on 570 questionnaires, percentage and frequency analysis, t test, Anova tests were applied. As a result of the analysis, it was concluded that perceptions of marital status, sector experience, status, education level and income level were determinant on psychological resilience levels of employees

N-acetylaspartate concentration in corpus callosum is positively correlated with intelligence in adolescents

The corpus callosum is the largest white matter bundle in the brain and integrates inter-hemispheric cortices during sensory-motor and high-order cognitive processes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the associations between the metabolite concentrations in the corpus callosum and intelligence among adolescents. Thirty male adolescents aged between 14 and 16 years were included into the study. We measured the intelligence quotient (IQ) scores of the subjects by using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (verbal, performance and full-scale IQ) test. We used proton MR spectroscopy to measure the absolute concentrations of N-acetylasparate (NAA), creatine (Cr) and choline (Cho) in the genu, midbody and isthmus/splenium regions of the corpus callosum. We also measured the whole brain parenchymal size and used it as a confounding factor in the statistical analyses. We assessed the correlations between neurometabolite concentrations and verbal, performance and full-scale IQ scores. We found a significant positive correlation between the whole brain parenchymal size and the full-scale IQ scores. And, the NAA concentration in the isthmus/splenium region was positively correlated with the performance IQ and full-scale IQ scores. NAA is a marker of neuro/axonal integrity. NAA concentration in white matter is related to the structural and functional integrity of axonal fibers. The positive correlation of the IQ scores with the NAA concentrations in the isthmus/splenium region indicates that more efficient inter-hemispheric data transfer between parieto-occipital cortices may enhance intellectual performance. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

The effects of physiotherapy methods combined with respiratory and relaxation exercises on patients with major depression

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of physiotherapy methods combined with respiratory and relaxation exercises on patients with major depression. This randomized, controlled trial included 42 patients with a sedentary lifestyle, comprising 21 males and 21 females with a mean age of 37.78±11.67 years (range, 20-60 years). The experimental (n:22)and control groups (n:20) were evaluated using the Beck Depression and Anxiety Score, Visual Analog Score, Patient Health Questionnaire-15, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Items, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9. In both the experimental group and control group, a statistically significant difference was found in all parameters over time, with greater improvements made in the experimental group than in the control group in all the parameters. A rehabilitation program combined with respiratory and relaxation exercises applied in addition to standard treatment, can obtain more successful outcomes in major depression treatment. [Med-Science 2020; 9(4.000): 837-43

Anti-icing Properties on Surfaces through a Functional Composite: Effect of Ionic Salts

This study reports the potential of a unique functional composite for anti-icing applications. To date, various ionic salt formulations have been applied to prevent ice accumulation on surfaces. However, salt can be removed by external factors and large amounts must be used to attain anti-icing properties. Incorporating hydrophilic salts into hydrophobic mediums and controlled release of specific agents can provide effective solution to reduce ice accumulation on surfaces. Here, we developed functional polymer composites with salt pockets of altered ionic salts consisting of potassium formate (KCOOH), sodium chloride (NaCl), or magnesium chloride (MgCl₂). We dissolved ionic salts in hydrophilic gel domains and dispersed in a hydrophobic styrene–butadiene–styrene polymer matrix. Na⁺ and Cl^– ions delayed ice formation by 42.6 min at −2 °C compared to that for unmodified surfaces. Functional composites prepared with the NaCl ionic salt exhibited better anti-icing behavior at −2 °C because of their high concentration compared to that of the composites prepared with KCOOH and MgCl₂ ionic salts. We also characterized the release of ionic salts from composite-modified hydrophobic medium separately up to 118 days. Furthermore, we monitored freezing of water on composite-incorporated or composite-coated hydrophobic surfaces in a camera-integrated cold chamber with a uniform temperature (−2 °C). The results demonstrated significant increases in the delay of freezing on composite-incorporated or composite-coated surfaces compared to that on controls. We observed altered effects of each ionic salt on the mechanical, morphological, and functional properties of the composite-incorporated or composite-coated hydrophobic surfaces. Our results suggested that the efficiency of a polymer composite to promote anti-icing behavior on a surface is directly related to the type and concentration of the particular ionic salt incorporation into the composite. This approach is promising and demonstrates significant potential of the ionic salt embedded within polymer composite-modified hydrophobic surfaces to attain delayed icing function

Molecular Epidemiological Analysis of HIV-1 pol Gene Sequences Isolated in Istanbul, Turkey

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) characterized by a high genetic variability includes two genotypes namely HIV-1 and HIV-2. A major proportion of the infections worldwide is caused by HIV-1 which includes four groups (M, N, O and 13). Group M being responsible for the HIV pandemic is further divided into nine genetically distinct subtypes (A, B, C, D, F, G, H, J, and K). Additionally, more than 49 circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) have been recognized up to now. The aim of this study was to determine the subtype characterization and prevalence of HIV strains isolated from patients inhabiting in Istanbul, Turkey. The study was carried out between June 2009 and June 2012 and a total of 72 patients [58 male, 14 female; age range: 20-57 (median: 37) years; CD4(+) T cell count range: 3-813 (median: 243)/mm(3); HIV-RNA load range: 1.5+E3-1.0+E7 (median: 5.8+E5) IU/ml] were included in the study. Fortysix of the patients (64%) have acquired the infection via heterosexual and 23 (32%) via homosexual contact. Of the patients 57 were newly diagnosed and antiretroviral (ARV) therapy-naive patients, while 15 were under different ARV therapies. For HIV-1 subtyping the most widely known algorithm (HIVdb-Stanford University Genotypic Resistance Interpretation Algoritm) was used. The population-based sequencing of the reverse transcripta ise region (pol) of HIV-1 indicated that CRFs (36/72; 50%) were the most commonly identified strains, followed by subtype B (31/72; 43%) among Turkish patients. Sub-subtypes A1 (3/72; 4.2%) and F1 (2/72; 2.8%) were also detected as low prevalent. The recombinant forms of HIV-1 circulated in Istanbul, Turkey were found as follows, respectively; CRF02_AG [%25 (18/72), West Africa, Central Africa and Middle East/North Africa origin], CRF12_BF [%12.5 (9/72), South America origin], CRF03_AB [%9.7 (7/72), Eastern Europe and Central Asia origin] and CRF01_AE [%2.8 (2/72), South-East Asia, East Asia and Central Africa origin]. Since molecular epidemiologic studies are important tools for tracking the transmission and spread patterns, and for the control of the HIV infections, HIV molecular studies should be expanded in HIV-1 infected Turkish patients. Furthermore, the determined subtypes and CRFs of HIV-1 in Turkey may be expected to contribute to global HIV surveillance systems

Molecular Epidemiological Analysis of HIV-1 pol Gene Sequences Isolated in Istanbul, Turkey

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) characterized by a high genetic variability includes two genotypes namely HIV-1 and HIV-2. A major proportion of the infections worldwide is caused by HIV-1 which includes four groups (M, N, O and 13). Group M being responsible for the HIV pandemic is further divided into nine genetically distinct subtypes (A, B, C, D, F, G, H, J, and K). Additionally, more than 49 circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) have been recognized up to now. The aim of this study was to determine the subtype characterization and prevalence of HIV strains isolated from patients inhabiting in Istanbul, Turkey. The study was carried out between June 2009 and June 2012 and a total of 72 patients [58 male, 14 female; age range: 20-57 (median: 37) years; CD4(+) T cell count range: 3-813 (median: 243)/mm(3); HIV-RNA load range: 1.5+E3-1.0+E7 (median: 5.8+E5) IU/ml] were included in the study. Fortysix of the patients (64%) have acquired the infection via heterosexual and 23 (32%) via homosexual contact. Of the patients 57 were newly diagnosed and antiretroviral (ARV) therapy-naive patients, while 15 were under different ARV therapies. For HIV-1 subtyping the most widely known algorithm (HIVdb-Stanford University Genotypic Resistance Interpretation Algoritm) was used. The population-based sequencing of the reverse transcripta ise region (pol) of HIV-1 indicated that CRFs (36/72; 50%) were the most commonly identified strains, followed by subtype B (31/72; 43%) among Turkish patients. Sub-subtypes A1 (3/72; 4.2%) and F1 (2/72; 2.8%) were also detected as low prevalent. The recombinant forms of HIV-1 circulated in Istanbul, Turkey were found as follows, respectively; CRF02_AG [%25 (18/72), West Africa, Central Africa and Middle East/North Africa origin], CRF12_BF [%12.5 (9/72), South America origin], CRF03_AB [%9.7 (7/72), Eastern Europe and Central Asia origin] and CRF01_AE [%2.8 (2/72), South-East Asia, East Asia and Central Africa origin]. Since molecular epidemiologic studies are important tools for tracking the transmission and spread patterns, and for the control of the HIV infections, HIV molecular studies should be expanded in HIV-1 infected Turkish patients. Furthermore, the determined subtypes and CRFs of HIV-1 in Turkey may be expected to contribute to global HIV surveillance systems