Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of three-month DHA+choline supplementation on infection-related outpatient visits and antibiotic use in children aged 7–15 years.Materials and Methods: This retrospective, observational, two-group cohort study was conducted at 13 independent pediatric centers between January 1 and March 31, 2026. Group 1 (n=75) received daily DHA 308 mg + Choline 41 mg (total omega-3: 444 mg); Group 2 (n=75) was the untreated control group. Assessments were performed at T0, T1, T2, and T3 using a 50-item, 10-subscale Likert questionnaire (0–200 points). Mann-Whitney U, Wilcoxon, and Chi-square tests were applied (p
Background/Aims: Elevated fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in the vocal cords observed on PET/CT scans may result from tumors, vocal cord paralysis, inflammation, or normal phonatory activity. Therefore, cervical MRI is valuable for assessing the anatomical correlates underlying these metabolic changes in clinical practice. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed involving patients with elevated FDG uptake in the vocal cords on PET/CT scans from 2020 to 2025. Patients with head and neck cancers or MRI scans with artifacts were excluded. Cervical MRI results from 38 PET-positive patients were compared with those of a control group of 17 individuals without vocal cord uptake. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was measured for both vocal cords, and vocal cord-to-muscle signal intensity ratios were calculated on T1- and T2-weighted images. Demographic, clinical, and imaging data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests. Results: The study included 38 patients and 17 controls. No significant differences were observed between the groups in SUVmax, ADC, or T1/T2 signal intensity ratios. No strong associations were identified between underlying conditions, sex, MRI findings, or history of chemotherapy or radiotherapy and the imaging parameters. However, age demonstrated a moderate positive correlation with ADC values in the right vocal cord and a weak-to-moderate correlation in the left vocal cord. Conclusion: Increased FDG uptake in the vocal cords on PET/CT cannot be reliably identified using quantitative MRI measurements alone. These data indicate that comprehensive anatomical assessment, clinical evaluation, and endoscopic examination, when indicated, are necessary for interpreting vocal cord FDG uptake rather than relying solely on MRI metrics.
Aim: Parents of newborns admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) often experience great anxiety arising from uncertainties about their child's health and their capacity to provide care. Teaching parents is essential for improving their caregiving skills, boosting their confidence as caregivers, and allowing their safe participation in their children's care. This study examines how QR-code aided digital education apps in NICUs affect parents' mental well-being and their caregiving outcomes. Materials and Methods: This study consisted of a review of the literature. Keywords "neonatal intensive care unit," "digital education," "QR code," "mobile health," "parent education," and "self-efficacy" were used in a thorough search of the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Google Scholar databases. Thematically examined were papers that satisfied the inclusion criteria. Results: Research reveals that QR code-supported digital education programs can reduce anxiety and stress levels, raise parental self-efficacy, and increase parents' understanding of parenting techniques. Video-based digital educational tools help to develop caring abilities as well, therefore empowering parents to more assuredly assist in infant care. Moreover, these resources boost parents' self-confidence and caregiving ability during post-discharge care. Conclusion: An original and simple way for NICU parent education support is provided by QR code-supported digital education programs. But more randomized controlled studies are required to assess the long-term impacts of these instructional strategies on parental and newborn results.
Background and Aims: Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) has become a critical adjunct in the rapid recognition of hemodynamic instability and life-threatening conditions in trauma management. Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (eFAST) is the standard protocol for detecting major thoracoabdominal pathologies. However, the requirement for operator expertise often limits its use in prehospital set-tings. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of eFAST per-formed by inexperienced paramedics via real-time tele-ultrasonography (Tele-USG) guidance in real trauma patients. Methods: This prospective diagnostic accuracy study included patients presenting to the emergency department with trauma. All patients initially underwent a reference eFAST examination performed by an experienced emergency medicine specialist (Reference Standard). Subsequently, paramedics with no prior ultrasound experience performed Tele-USG eFAST on the same patients under identical conditions. During the Tele-USG application, paramedics were guided in real time by a second remote emergency medicine specialist who was blinded to the initial findings. Diagnostic accuracy metrics were calculated by comparing the tele-USG find-ings with the reference standard. Results: A total of 194 patients were initially enrolled, and a final analysis was performed on 147 patients. The tele-USG method demonstrated high diagnostic capability across individual anatomical zones, with sensitivity rates ranging from 75% to 100% and specificity rates ranging from 93.1% to 98.6%. For the overall determination of eFAST-positive status, the sensitivity and specificity were 90.3% and 74.1%, respectively. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that inexperienced healthcare providers can perform effective ultrasound examinations on actual trauma patients following basic training, provided they are supported by real-time remote guidance. Tele-USG represents a valuable strategy for extending advanced diagnostic capabilities to prehospital Emergency Medical Services (EMS), particularly in rural areas, disaster zones, and environments with limited access to expert sonographers.
Background/Aims: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a leading cause of global mortality, often associated with atherosclerosis. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a validated, non-invasive ultrasonographic marker for the early diagnosis and monitoring of subclinical atherosclerosis. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of atherosclerosis and related pathologies in the residents of Tokat city in the central Black Sea region using CIMT measurement on ultrasound. Methods: The study was conducted as a prospective field study. Carotid ultrasound examinations were performed on 822 participants living in Tokat province between September 2012 and July 2013. Data regarding demographics, lifestyle habits (smoking, alcohol, diet, exercise), and medical history were collected via questionnaires. Additionally, participants underwent physical examinations and laboratory analyses, including lipid profiles, fasting blood glucose, and HbA1c levels. Results: The average age of the participants was 47.2 years (45.2% male, 54.8% female). Increased CIMT was significantly associated with advanced age and male gender . Statistical analysis revealed that higher CIMT values correlated significantly with high LDL-C, high triglycerides, low HDL-C, smoking and elevated Body Mass Index (BMI) Furthermore, participants with hypertension and diabetes mellitus showed significantly higher CIMT values compared to those without these conditions .No significant relationship was found between CIMT and alcohol consumption or dietary characteristics. Conclusion: Advanced age, male gender, dyslipidemia, smoking, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes are major risk factors for increased CIMT in this population. Ultrasonographic measurement of CIMT remains an effective, non-invasive, and easily applicable method for the early detection and monitoring of subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic individuals at risk.
Background/Aims: This study aimed to investigate the differences in mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values between choroid fissure cysts (CFCs) and arachnoid cysts (ACs) and to evaluate the contribution of these measurements to radiological differential diagnosis. Methods: Seventy-two patients diagnosed with CFC (n=36) and AC (n=36) via brain MRI were retrospectively reviewed. Measurements were performed independently by two radiologists with 15 years of experience. Inter-observer agreement was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). ADC measurements were obtained using standardized regions of interest (ROIs) placed at the cyst centers. Demographic data, cyst sizes, mean ADC values and MR signal characteristics were examined. Results: Cyst sizes and mean ADC values were significantly higher in the AC group compared to the CFC group (p<0.001). Inter-observer agreement was excellent in cyst size measurements (0.99-1.00) and high in ADC measurements (0.972 for CFC, 0.717 for AC). To differentiate CFC from AC, the optimal ADC cut-off value was determined as ≤2.85×10⁻³ mm²/s (sensitivity 63.9%, specificity 100.0%, AUC=0.831, p<0.001). Conclusions: Uncomplicated CFCs and ACs are benign cystic lesions that do not show diffusion restriction. Lesions such as epidermoid cysts and abscesses, which can be confused with CFC and AC, show diffusion restriction, which is diagnostic in these lesions. The higher ADC values found in ACs compared to CFCs are useful in resolving diagnostic confusion, especially in AC located near the choroid fissure. The ADC cut-off value determined for CFCs in this study is one of the rare quantitative data in the literature and may guide future studies.
Objective: The primary goal of this research is to evaluate how the physical characteristics of feldspathic porcelain are influenced and its mechanical durability reinforced through the incorporation of talc, titanium oxide, and zirconium oxide—materials frequently utilized in the ceramics sector—at various concentrations. Materials and Methods: Talc, zirconium dioxide, and titanium dioxide were added to the base feldspathic porcelain powder at concentrations of 2 wt% and 5 wt%. The investigation aimed to assess color stability, flexural strength, hardness, and crack propagation. Subsequent microstructural analysis was conducted using SEM. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey HSD, and Tamhane T2 tests (p<0.05). Results: Mechanical testing revealed that while all experimental groups demonstrated increased flexural strength relative to the control, this elevation was statistically significant only for the 2% zirconium dioxide group (p<0.05). With respect to hardness, every experimental group containing additives yielded significantly superior results compared to the control samples (p<0.05). Conversely, concerning crack propagation, a decrease (improvement) relative to the control was observed exclusively in the 5% talc group, whereas all other variations resulted in greater crack lengths. Conclusions: The obtained results revealed that all reinforcement materials used improved the hardness and flexural strength of feldspathic porcelain. Particularly, talc-reinforced groups presented more advantageous data compared to other groups in terms of color stability and crack propagation. Statistical analyses confirm that there are significant differences.
Abstract Aim: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain a major public health concern among adolescents and young adults. Persistent knowledge gaps and misconceptions among university students highlight the need for feasible, learner-centered educational approaches. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a medical student–led, peer-supported STI education session on university students’ STI knowledge. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest study was conducted within a Special Study Module at Faculty of Medicine. The intervention consisted of a single, in-person, interactive session delivered by trained medical students under faculty supervision. STI knowledge was assessed immediately before and after the session using a validated 25-item instrument. Pretest–posttest matching was performed via anonymous self-generated codes. Total score changes were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and item-level changes in correct responses were examined with exact McNemar tests. Results: Twenty-nine participants with matched pretest and posttest data were included. Mean knowledge scores increased from 10.24 ± 5.17 to 17.79 ± 4.27 after the intervention (Z = −4.319, p < 0.001). Item-level analyses demonstrated significant improvements in key domains, including HIV–STI co-risk, hepatitis B transmission risk, HPV-related cancer risk, treatment availability for gonorrhea and chlamydia, and correction of common misconceptions (exact McNemar p-values < 0.05 for multiple items). Conclusion: A single-session, medical student–led peer-supported educational intervention was associated with a substantial improvement in university students’ STI knowledge. This pragmatic model may represent a scalable approach for strengthening sexual health literacy in university settings.
AbstractRapid advancements in digital health technologies have led to fundamental changes in the delivery of healthcare services, and telemedicine has emerged as one of the core components of this transformation. By enabling the provision of healthcare services through information and communication technologies in cases where distance is a critical factor, telemedicine supports the continuity of care, particularly in regions where access is limited. In this review, the conceptual framework of telemedicine, its historical development, its prevalence at global and national levels, and its current areas of application are addressed.While telemedicine offers significant advantages such as increasing access to healthcare services, reducing costs, and improving patient comfort; it also encompasses various challenges such as physical examination limitations, data security risks, technological infrastructure requirements, and disparities in legal regulations. Nevertheless, the increasing integration with artificial intelligence, big data, and mobile health technologies will allow telemedicine to provide more predictive and personalized healthcare services in the future.It is not possible for healthcare services to remain behind this transformation in the face of the requirements of the digital age. The fact that telemedicine does not remain merely a technological innovation but becomes an integral part of the healthcare system depends on seamless digital infrastructure, inclusive legal regulations, and the adoption of this practice by healthcare personnel. In this regard, providing training is essential to foster adoption and increase awareness among healthcare professionals. Otherwise, the adaptation of healthcare systems to digital transformation will not be sustainable.
Objective: This study was conducted to compare the levels of postpartum bonding, maternal blues and insufficient milk perception in adolescent and adult mothers and to examine the relationships between these variables.Method: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 160 mothers, including 44 adolescents and 116 adults, who attended postpartum check-ups at an education and research hospital in eastern Turkey. Data were collected using an introductory information form, the Inadequate Milk Perception Scale, the Postpartum Bonding Scale, and the Maternal Blues Scale. Descriptive statistics, intergroup comparison tests, and correlation analyses were used in the analysis of the data; effect sizes were calculated.Findings: It was determined that adolescent mothers had lower levels of education and income, and higher rates of living in rural areas, unplanned pregnancies, premature births, and lack of breastfeeding education (p
Abstract Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to offer innovative solutions to long-standing problems in gynaecology and obstetrics, such as understanding foetal physiology, improving pregnancy monitoring, and unravelling the molecular complexity of gynaecological cancers. This study comprehensively examines the growing role of AI in this field of medicine and its reflections in scientific literature. Methods: In this study, scientific publications addressing the applications of AI in gynaecology and obstetrics were analysed using bibliometric methods. The articles obtained from the Web of Science database search were examined based on key indicators such as publication numbers, citation trends, collaboration networks, main research areas, and the most influential countries/institutions. Analyses were performed using Vosviewer. Results: A total of 701 articles reviewed and the majority of publications (more than 90%) were published after 2020, respectively, China and the United States were leading the publications. International cooperation was common, with Harvard and Oxford among the institutions mentioned. Most articles were OA, with the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) as the major funding organization. Based on topics and keywords we can concluded that the authors have focused on deep learning workout, foetal monitoring, and gynaecological cancers. Conclusions: Focusing on critical issues such as foetal monitoring and gynaecological cancers, the global importance of this field is demonstrated by intensive international collaboration led by China and the United States. Keywords: bibliometric analysis; artificial intelligence; gynaecology; obstetrics
Serous retinal detachment (SRD) is a rare but potentially vision-threatening ocular complication of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, particularly severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. It typically presents bilaterally and is believed to result from choroidal ischemia and endothelial dysfunction secondary to systemic vasospasm. Despite its dramatic clinical presentation, SRD is generally reversible with timely and appropriate management. We present a case series of four patients with SRD associated with HELLP syndrome to illustrate the clinical spectrum, imaging findings, management, and visual outcomes of this rare complication. All patients were managed conservatively after delivery with strict blood pressure control, resulting in complete anatomical resolution and full visual recovery in every case. These cases underscore the favorable prognosis of HELLP-related SRD when promptly recognized and appropriately managed, and highlight the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration.
AbstractBackground/Aims: Children's color preferences serve as significant projective indicators of their internal emotional states and sensory experiences.This study aimed to investigate the relationship between localized pain (joint, chest, throat, head, and abdominal) and color selection among pediatric patients diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF).Methods: In this cross-sectional clinical study, 93 pediatric FMF patients visiting a Pediatric Dentistry clinic were evaluated. Participants were questioned regarding the presence and localization of pain characteristic of FMF.Color preferences during both symptomatic and asymptomatic periods were recorded. Initial data categorization included a broad spectrum (white, red, blue, purple, yellow, black, and green), which was subsequently refined into reduced color clusters (white, red, blue, and black) for advanced statistical modeling.Results: Statistical analysis revealed no significant correlation between unique color preferences and the presence of joint, chest, head, or abdominal pain (p>0.05). Similarly, color choices remained consistent during pain-free intervals. However, when utilizing reduced color groupings, a statistically significant association was identified specifically between the presence of throat pain and color preference (p=0.038).Observations indicated a notable shift toward the color red during episodes of pharyngeal discomfort.Conclusion: While the presence of generalized FMF-related pain does not universally dictate color choice, the specific correlation between sore throats and an increased preference for red suggests that certain physiological stressors trigger distinct emotional and perceptual associations.These findings indicate that color-based assessment tools can serve as valuable non-verbal adjuncts for dental and medical practitioners in decoding the subjective pain experiences of children.
Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown etiology that most commonly affects the lungs and lymphatic system, while central nervous system involvement is rare and diagnostically challenging. We report a case of multisystem sarcoidosis presenting with facial nerve palsy and a solitary enhancing brain lesion. A 41-year-old woman presented with right-sided facial paralysis. Contrast-enhanced brain MRI revealed right lateral ventricular enlargement with irregular walls, pituitary gland thickening and enhancement, a 6 mm enhancing nodular lesion in the left parietal lobe, and bilateral lacrimal gland enlargement. Axillary lymph node biopsy demonstrated granulomatous inflammation. Thoracic CT showed lymphadenopathy, perilymphatic nodules, and lytic rib lesions indicating osseous involvement. Elevated ACE levels supported the diagnosis. Based on clinical, radiological, and histopathological findings, multisystem sarcoidosis with neurosarcoidosis was diagnosed. This case highlights the importance of considering sarcoidosis in patients with solitary brain lesions and cranial neuropathies, especially in the presence of systemic involvement.
Background Public interest in the use of anesthesia during circumcision has increased, yet the reliability of freely available artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots in addressing such medical questions remains unclear. This study aimed to comparatively assess the accuracy, safety, and citation reliability of three widely used AI chatbots—ChatGPT, Gemini, and DeepSeek—when responding to common public queries related to circumcision anesthesia. Methods Five high-interest questions were derived from global Google Trends data and submitted to each chatbot using two different input formats: unstructured lay-language queries and structured prompts explicitly based on current clinical guidelines. All generated responses were independently reviewed by a urologist and an anesthesiologist and scored for guideline concordance, citation accuracy, and the presence of potentially harmful information. Results Across both query formats, DeepSeek produced responses that were more closely aligned with established guidelines compared with ChatGPT and Gemini (P<0.05). Under structured prompting, DeepSeek also demonstrated higher citation accuracy than ChatGPT (P=0.049). Importantly, none of the evaluated responses contained advice deemed unsafe or clinically harmful. The use of structured, guideline-oriented prompts was associated with a consistent improvement in response quality across all evaluated AI platforms. Conclusion Freely accessible AI chatbots show heterogeneous performance in providing information on circumcision anesthesia. Although these systems may offer supplementary educational value, their outputs vary in reliability and should be interpreted with caution. Expert clinical oversight remains essential to ensure patient safety and adherence to evidence-based guidelines.
Aims: This study aimed to examine the relationship between healthcare demand procrastination and perceived access to healthcare services and health literacy among young adults, and to determine whether these variables predict healthcare demand procrastination. Methods: This cross-sectional and correlational study was conducted with 362 young adults. Data were collected using a Sociodemographic Information Form, the Healthcare Demand Procrastination Scale, the Perceived Access to Healthcare Services Scale, and the Health Literacy Scale. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analyses were used for data analysis. Results: Correlation analyses indicated no significant association between healthcare demand procrastination and health literacy or perceived access to healthcare services. In contrast, significant and positive relationships were identified between health literacy and perceived access to healthcare services and their subdimensions. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that perceived access to healthcare services and health literacy did not significantly predict healthcare demand procrastination or its subdimensions. Conclusion: These findings suggest that healthcare demand procrastination among young adults may occur independently of perceived access to healthcare services and health literacy. It is considered that procrastination in healthcare demand within this age group may be more strongly associated with individual and contextual factors, and that access and health literacy variables alone may not be sufficient to explain healthcare utilization.
Background/Aims:Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric disorder in which treatment adherence plays a critical role in disease management. This study aimed to examine the effects of antipsychotic drug side effects and sexual dysfunction on treatment adherence among married outpatients with schizophrenia.Methods:This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 70 patients receiving outpatient treatment at three different healthcare institutions in Sivas. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, the Liverpool University Neuroleptic Side Effect Rating Scale, and the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale. Statistical analyses included Chi-square, correlation, t-test, Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis H, Durbin–Watson, and linear regression tests.Results:All patients experienced at least one side effect, with psychological, extrapyramidal, red herring, and hormonal side effects being the most common. Among participants, 64.3% showed moderate adherence and 27.1% showed low adherence to treatment. Sexual dysfunction was observed in both genders, and a weak but statistically significant negative correlation was found between sexual dysfunction and treatment adherence, particularly in female patients (r = −0.341, p < 0.05). Additionally, treatment adherence decreased as the severity of side effects increased (p < 0.05).Conclusions:Antipsychotic drug side effects and sexual dysfunction negatively affect treatment adherence in patients with schizophrenia. Identifying and managing these factors may contribute to improving treatment adherence and clinical outcomes.
Aim: In this study aims to Examine parents ' knowledge levels regarding childhood vaccines, their attitudes towards immunization services, and their hesitancy towards vaccination ; and to determine the vaccination rates of children . Material and Method: Correlation analysis was used to Examine the relationship between the mean scores obtained from the scales. The study included 250 participants were 73.2% female and 26.8% were male. Participants ' ages ranged from 18 to 65. 68.8% of participating parents received information about vaccination from nurses and other healthcare personnel, 22.8% from doctors, and 8.4% from newspapers and magazines. Higher scores on the scales indicate greater vaccine hesitancy. Higher scale scores indicate higher vaccine hesitancy. Results: As a result, the vaccine level instability in newspaper and television vaccine-related information is higher than that of doctors, nurses and other medical personnel. Conclusion: The level of behavior hesitant about vaccination varies Accordingly to gender, marital status, family type, education status, co-education status, location of vaccination, income status.
Abstract Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the neurosurgery clerkship on fifth-year medical students’ perceptions of the medical profession, professional identity, and learning experiences. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study included 116 fifth-year medical students who had completed their neurosurgery rotation. A structured survey instrument was used to assess students’ demographic characteristics, perceptions of neurosurgery, sources of motivation, factors influencing the learning process, perceptions of burnout, and anticipated changes in their outlook on the medical profession following the rotation. Comparisons between groups were performed using the Chi-square test. Results: A total of 60.3% of participants reported that they expected a positive change in their perspective on the medical profession following completion of the neurosurgery clerkship. Neurosurgery was perceived as highly satisfying, particularly due to its association with life-saving surgical interventions and the management of complex clinical cases. The most challenging component of surgical practice was identified as making rapid intraoperative decisions. The presence of an experienced mentor was the most influential factor enhancing the learning experience, whereas burnout was most commonly associated with disruption of work–life balance. Conclusion: The neurosurgery clerkship provides medical students with a transformative educational experience that contributes not only to technical learning but also to the strengthening of professional identity and attitudes toward the medical profession. These findings suggest that clerkship models incorporating mentorship and structured clinical responsibility may play a critical role in supporting professional identity formation in medical education.
Aims: As the elderly population grows, so does the number of geriatric patients admitted to emergency departments. This highlights the need for new, accessible markers to assess mortality. This study investigates serum bilirubin as a potential marker.Methods: This retrospective study included 240 patients over 65 years old who presented to a university hospital emergency department over 3 months. Patients with trauma, liver or biliary tract diseases, or using hepatotoxic drugs were excluded.Results: Of the patients, 178 survived and 62 died within 30 days. Significant differences were observed between the two groups in direct bilirubin, age, albumin, lactate, BUN, and creatinine levels (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed BUN and lactate as independent predictors of mortality.Conclusion: Bilirubin levels, in addition to established markers like BUN and lactate, may be helpful in evaluating mortality risk in geriatric patients presenting to emergency departments.
