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Objective: This study examined subclinical atherosclerosis in drug-naïve children with anxiety disorders using non-invasive measures to investigate the clinical features associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. Method: A total of 37 drug-naive children and adolescents with anxiety disorders and 37 healthy controls were included in the study. The Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T and STAI-S) were used to assess children's depression and anxiety levels. Carotid artery intima-media (cIMT), epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), and periaortic adipose tissue (PAT) thicknesses, which are indicators of subclinical atherosclerosis, were obtained by echocardiographic measurements. Results: Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) revealed a significant main effect on cIMT, EAT thickness, and PAT thickness, independent of confounding factors such as age, sex, body mass index, mean blood pressure, and family income (Pillai's Trace V =.76, F (1, 72) = 35.60, P <.001, ηp2 =.76). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed that cIMT, EAT thickness, and PAT thickness values were significantly higher in the anxiety disorder group compared to the the control group (P <.001). In partial correlation analysis, a positive correlation was observed between STAI-T and cIMT and EAT thickness. In linear regression analyses, age and STAI-T were significantly correlated with cIMT and EAT thickness levels. Conclusions: These results suggest that subclinical cardiovascular risk is significantly increased in children and adolescents with anxiety disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our aims in this study were to examine the construct/concurrent validity and internal/test-re-test reliabilities of both the self-report and parent-report questionnaires of a Turkish version of the KIDSCREEN-27 for adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP). We used a convenience sample of 135 children and adolescents with CP aged 8–18 years (65 males, 70 females; M age = 12.39, SD = 3.57) and their parents/caregivers (123 mothers, seven fathers, and five grandmothers). We explored structural construct validity via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Concurrent validity was examined via Spearman's correlations between the KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaires and the self-report and primary caregiver report forms of the Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life for Children (CP QOL-Child) and adolescents (CP QOL-Teen). We explored test-retest and internal consistency reliabilities utilizing intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Cronbach's alpha (α), respectively. CFA goodness-of fit indices verified that the predefined model of the KIDSCREEN-27 was a good fit for data from the CP population (X2/df<5, GFI >0.90, AGFI >0.90, RMSEA<0.80). Results showed the subdomains of both KIDSCREEN-27 forms to be significantly correlated with the matched subdomains of the CP QOL-Child and CP QOL-Teen questionnaires (ranges of r = 0.62–0.94). Overall, α and ICC coefficients for all subdomains of both KIDSCREEN-27 versions were acceptable (α and ICC >0.70). Both versions of the KIDSCREEN-27 have satisfactory psychometric properties for use in evaluating health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes in children and adolescents with CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to understand the postoperative nutritional experiences of parents of children who had undergone gastric transposition surgery after corrosive esophageal injury. The study had a descriptive qualitative research design, and used a structured interview form as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The population of the study consisted of the parents of 12 children who had undergone gastric transposition surgery at the pediatric surgery clinic of a university hospital in an urban area in Turkey. Thematic analysis was conducted on the transcripts using the MAXQDA program. Four main themes emerged and five supporting sub-themes were identified. The main themes were what we experienced in the postoperative nutrition process, coping with how we live, what we want to know, and our recommendations to healthcare professionals. Family-centered care should be a main focus when caring children who have had gastric transposition surgery, and children and their parents should be supported by a multidisciplinary team. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the effect of trunk training on trunk control, arm, and pulmonary function in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Design: A randomised controlled trial. Settings: Neuromuscular diseases clinic of university hospital. Subjects: Twenty-six children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy aged 5–16 were included in the study. Intervention: Participants were randomly allocated into two groups. The study group (N = 13) exercised with the trunk-oriented exercise program and the conventional exercise program, whereas the control group (N = 13) underwent the conventional exercise program for eight weeks. Main measures: The primary outcomes were trunk control was assessed using the Trunk Control Measurement Scale, the arm function was assessed using Performance of Upper Limb, and respiratory function using the pulmonary function test. Data collection was conducted at baseline, and eighth week. The differences in trunk control scores, arm function scores, and respiratory function values before and after the training were calculated for the intergroup comparison. Results: The mean age of the participants was 11.6 (2.6) in the study group and 10.6 (3.4) in the control group. The changes between trunk control score, arm function score (total and distal level score), and respiratory function value (Forced Vital Capacity, Forced Expiratory Volume in one second, and Peak Expiratory Flow Volume percentage values) were compared and significant differences were found after eight week periods in the study and control groups. Conclusions: Trunk-oriented exercise program in Duchenne muscular dystrophy might be effective for trunk control, arm, and respiratory function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the physical activity (PA) status of adolescents with visual impairment, their enjoyment of the PA, and their perception of barriers to PA. Design and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted with 110 adolescents with visual impairment. The data collection tools consisted of the (ALP-R2)-Physical Activity Subscale, the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PAES), Barriers to Physical Activity Questionnaires, and an Observation Form. The data were analyzed using frequencies, correlation, and Kappa tests. Results: It was observed that 60% of the participants stated that they did not engage in PA, 58.2% said they did not engage in PA to the extent of breaking out in a sweat and increasing their heartbeat, and 48.2% indicated that they never did PA 3 times a week for 20 minutes or more. The PAES mean score was 55.1 ± 5.5; the Physical Activity Subscale mean score was 12.5 ± 4.1 (r = 0.42; p < 0.01). Discussion: Our findings were consistent with the results of other studies in that the changeable external factors and parental attitudes perceived as obstacles were similar. Implications for practitioners: Most of the participants wanted to be more active. Most of the adolescents' answers to the questions about the perceived barriers to PA were contrary to what had been expected. Although the adolescents said they did not engage in PA, the number of adolescents who perceived changeable factors such as the environment and parents' attitudes as barriers was not negligible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim and Objectives. To describe the patient characteristics, clinical-epidemiologic-microbiologic profile, and treatment outcomes, and to draw attention to tuberculosis (TB) in Turkey. Methods. A retrospective, descriptive study was undertaken of 93 children aged 0 to 18 years who were admitted to Hacettepe University Pediatric Pulmonology Department for treatment from January 2005 to December 2015. Review of hospital records was performed for all children diagnosed as having TB. Results. Pulmonary TB was detected in 51.6% of the patients, extrapulmonary involvement in 33.3%, and pulmonary TB with extrapulmonary involvement in 15.1%. The history of contact with an adult with TB was found in 29% of cases. The most common extrapulmonary TB was TB lymphadenitis. The most common symptom was cough followed by fever and night sweats. One fifth of the patients had normal physical examinations at the time of diagnosis. One fifth (20.4%) of the patients had culture, 17.2% had polymerase chain reaction, and 15% had acid-resistant bacillus positivity. In 21.4% of patients with culture growth, at least one anti-TB drug resistance was found. The mean duration of treatment of patients treated according to the national guideline was 8.6 months (range = 6-36 months). Recovery was seen in 91.4% of patients. Conclusion. The most important way to prevent childhood TB is to fight adult TB through early diagnosis and effective treatment. The presence of contact history must direct us to search for TB. While evaluating children with persisted nonspecific symptoms, TB must be kept in mind even if physical examinations are normal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]