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OBJECTIVE: The high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the population causes physicians to request more vitamin D tests and increases laboratory costs. It is aimed at investigating the demanded numbers and cost analyzes of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) tests with the big data obtained from the national information health system of the Turkish Ministry of Health. METHODS: Between 2017 and 2018, all inpatient and outpatient tests and 25(OH)D tests in all medical biochemistry laboratories in Turkiye were determined based on department and institution type. The cost amount, distribution among health institutions, and test request rates were calculated. In both years, the top ten most expensive tests, according to health institutions, were evaluated. RESULTS: The total number of medical biochemistry tests performed in 2017 and 2018 was 1.424.948.155 and 1.713.134.326, respectively. The number of 25 (OH)D tests analyzed in the same years was 8.698.393 and 13.919.127, respectively. When the data of the 2 years are compared, the consumption of 25 (OH)D tests increased by 37% in General hospital laboratories, whereas it increased by 115.09% in primary health laboratories. When all health institutions were evaluated, the increase rate in 25 (OH)D test demand was 60%, while the cost increase rate was 23%. CONCLUSION: This report showed that the demands for 25(OH)D testing are increasing steeply, especially in primary health-care facilities. In this direction, laboratory information system test demand restrictions in accordance with national and international guidelines are important issues for policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in children and adolescents. Traditional diagnosis methods of ADHD focus on observed behavior and reported symptoms, which may lead to a misdiagnosis. Studies have focused on computer-aided systems to improve the objectivity and accuracy of ADHD diagnosis by utilizing psychophysiological data measured from devices such as EEG and MRI. Despite their performance, their low accessibility has prevented their widespread adoption. We propose a novel ADHD prediction method based on the pupil size dynamics measured using eye tracking. Such data typically contain missing values owing to anomalies including blinking or outliers, which negatively impact the classification. We therefore applied an end-to-end deep learning model designed to impute the dynamic pupil size data and predict ADHD simultaneously. We used the recorded dataset of an experiment involving 28 children with ADHD and 22 children as a control group. Each subject conducted an eight-second visuospatial working memory task 160 times. We treated each trial as an independent data sample. The proposed model effectively imputes missing values and outperforms other models in predicting ADHD (AUC of 0.863). Thus, given its high accessibility and low cost, the proposed approach is promising for objective ADHD diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, it is aimed to examine the knowledge levels of parents with children aged 0-3 regarding the criteria they consider when choosing a children's picture book. The study was carried out with a qualitative research approach. The study group consists of 69 parents with children aged 0-3, and the data of the study were collected through a semi-structured interview form developed by the researchers. After the data were subjected to content analysis, they were presented in tables. As a result of the research, it has been revealed that parents with 0-3 year old children should have quality children's books and the features they pay attention to when choosing children's books, the child's interest, internal structure and external structure. It has been found that when choosing a children's picture book, parents pay particular attention to its suitability for the age and development of the child, its plain language, the presence of vivid colors and its nonviolence. The content of the images is thick cardboard and the book is neatly bound with the appropriate font and image size. By looking at the outer coating and quality of quality paper, they think about whether it is educational, entertaining, creative and contains a concept of value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nigde Omer Halisdemir University Journal of Engineering Sciences / Niğde Ömer Halisdemir Üniversitesi Mühendislik Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Nigde Omer Halisdemir Universitesi (NOHU), Muhendislik Fakultesi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Turkish Studies - Educational Sciences is the property of Electronic Turkish Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Organic–inorganic hybrid nanoflowers have gained considerable attention over the last years due to their morphologies, enhanced enzymatic activities, and relatively high stability. The framework of these hybrid nanostructures has been associated with the formation of Cu3(PO4)2.3H2O (pure copper phosphate nanoflowers). In this study, we investigated the formation of pure copper phosphate nanoflowers (p-CPnfs), and their effects on hemocytes and enzymatic responses in Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) as a model organism. Therefore, the effects of p-CPnfs on G. mellonella hemocytes and on the activities of hemolymph acetylcholine esterase (AChE), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) enzymes were evaluated after a 24-h p-CPnfs treatment in the G. mellonella larvae. Different concentrations of p-CPnfs (100, 500, 1000, 2000, 6000 ppm) were cautiously force-fed to the fourth instar larvae through the mouth of the insect by means of a micro-fine insulin syringe without causing any physical damage. 1000, 2000, and 6000 ppm of p-CPnfs significantly increased the total hemocyte counts (THCs) of the G. mellonella larvae. 500, 1000, 2000, and 6000 ppm of p-CPnfs increased the SOD activity of the larvae. 1000, 2000, and 6000 ppm of p-CPnfs increased the CAT activity in the hemolymph of the larvae. Unlike the results seen in SOD and CAT enzyme activities, all concentrations of p-CPnfs decreased AChE activity in the larval hemolymph. In addition to these results, LC50 value was found to be 8410 ppm for the force-fed larvae at the end of the 24-h period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Journal of Audiology & Hearing Research (TJAHR) is the property of BAYT Ltd. Co and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

To assess the normative values of subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in healthy Turkish subjects using spectral -domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT, Spectralis®, Heidelberg Engineering, Germany) and its relationship with age and gender. One hundred sixty-nine emmetropic healthy subjects (84 men; 49.7%, 85 women 50.3%) underwent a detailed ophthalmological examination. The subjects were divided into 5 groups according to age; Group 1 (n = 42): 18-29 years, group 2 (n = 34): 30-39 years, group 3 (n = 33): 40-49 years, group 4 (n = 34): 50-59 years, group 5 (n = 26): 60 years and older. There were statistically significant differences in mean SFCT values among different age groups (p <0.05). Mean SFCT was highest in subjects under 30 years (364.87 ± 71.24 µm) and lowest in subjects over 60 years (261.25 ± 52.39 µm). There was a statistically significant negative correlation be tween age and SFCT values (r= -0.52, p< 0.001). Slope of change in SFCT over time in the subjects was -2.59 µm per year. When all subjects were evaluated, the mean SFCT value was 322.73 ± 64.00 µm in men and 310.47 ± 60.11 µm in women (p= 0.34). Except group 4, SFCT did not differ between men and women. SFCT decreases with aging and sex does not seem to alter the measurements. Our normative data according to age groups and gender might be used to demonstrate SFCT changes in various retinal and choroidal diseases in Turkish population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the research is to provide a general framework for POE used in biology education using meta-synthesis. In this research; studies on the use of the prediction-observationexplanation (POE) in biology education between the years 2000-2020 in Turkey and the World have been examined considering research type, distribution of the studies by years, the preferred research groups, the research methods used, the data collection tools used and the subject areas. The researches included in the research were obtained in Turkish and English by systematically scanning the literature covering the years 2000-2020 from the Google search engine, Web of Science, ERIC database, Google Academic Search, The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (ULAKBİM) database, ProQuest dissertation database and Higher Education Council's (HEC) National dissertation center. 27 studies were reached within the framework of inclusion criteria. It has been determined that the studies are distributed as 21 article, 5 master thesis and 1 doctoral dissertation according to the research type. Obtained data were interpreted on the basis of the frequency and were sometimes indicated with tables and graphs. According to the consequences; it was stated that most of the studies were in the type of research, pre-service teachers were preferred more than other samples, quantitative studies were more than qualitative studies, academic achievement tests were used the most as data collection tool and "Diffusion-Osmosis" subjects was studied the most. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incisional surgical site infections (SSI) are an important problem in patients undergoing surgery. The aim of the present study is to compare the effects of Jackson Pratt (JP) drain placement in patients with and without drains on incisional SSI after colorectal resection for cancer. The trial was designed as a prospective, randomized, controlled multicenter study. Patients who underwent colorectal resection for cancer were included in the study. Patients were randomized to subcutaneous JP drain group or control group (ND). The primary outcome was the presence of SSI. A total of 182 patients (89 in the JP group and 93 in the ND group) were analyzed. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of demographic and surgical characteristics. SSI developed in 5.6% of patients in the JP group and in 19.4% of those in the ND group (p < 0.005). Obesity, thick subcutaneous adipose tissue, long operation time, and being > 70 years of age were the identified risk factors for incisional SSI. This study showed that elderly and obese patients and those with thick subcutaneous fat tissue should be placed JP drains to prevent SSI in open colorectal resections for cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective  Severe preeclampsia complicates roughly 1% of all pregnancies. One defining feature of severe preeclampsia is new onset visual disturbance. The accessibility of the choroid to high-resolution, noninvasive imaging makes it a reasonable target of investigation for disease prediction, stratification, or monitoring in preeclampsia. This study aimed to compare subfoveal choroidal thickness between women with severe preeclampsia and those with normotensive pregnancies, and to investigate associations between such findings and other indicators of disease severity, including gestational age and serum angiogenic factors. Study Design  We designed a case-control study comprised of 36 women diagnosed with severe preeclampsia (cases) matched to 37 normotensive women (controls) by race/ethnicity and parity, all diagnosed in the postpartum period. All patients underwent enhanced depth imaging spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and serum analysis. Results  Cases showed no difference in subfoveal choroidal thickness compared with controls (p  = 0.65). Amongst cases, subfoveal choroidal thickness and gestational age at delivery were inversely related (r  = 0.86, p  < .001). There was a positive association of placental growth factor with subfoveal choroidal thickness amongst cases (r  = 0.54, p  = 0.002). Conclusion  This study suggests a relationship between the degree of disease severity and the magnitude of choroidal thickening. We also show an association between this index and placental growth factor level in the postpartum period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Harran University Medical Faculty / Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Harran University Medical Faculty and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Health & Nursing Management / Sağlık ve Hemşirelik Yönetimi Dergisi is the property of Logos Medical Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this review article is to summarize the available literature on physiologic and pathologic ocular changes during pregnancy and the effect of diseases in pregnancy. A literature search was conducted using PUBMED, MEDLINE, and Cochrane library in English. In addition, the cited references in the published articles were manually reviewed for the relevant results. Pregnancy encompasses a multitude of changes in all body systems, including the visual system of the female. The changes can be physiological, i.e., changes occurring in the lids and adnexa, cornea, conjunctiva, changes in tear film composition and intraocular pressure, retina, choroid, and visual field. Pathological changes in a pregnant woman's eye include changes related to preeclampsia and eclampsia, central serous chorioretinopathy, retinal artery or vein occlusions, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Preexisting diseases like diabetic retinopathy, Graves' disease, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, various inflammatory conditions can undergo changes in their course during pregnancy. Ophthalmic medications can have an effect on both mother and the baby and hence should be used cautiously. In addition, intrauterine infections play a major role in causing inflammation in the eye of the baby. Hence, vaccination of the mother prior to pregnancy plays an important role in preventing intrauterine infections in the neonate. A regular eye examination in the perinatal period plays a vital role in recognizing ophthalmic pathologies which might require a prompt medical intervention. Pathological ocular diseases should be discriminated from physiologic changes to establish an individualized treatment or preventive plan. This approach to ocular benefits of treatment to the mother should always weigh against the potential harm to the fetus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. To determine whether the area of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ), as a morphological indicator of the microcirculation of the perifoveal capillary network, changes in the carbohydrate metabolism disorders during pregnancy (the gestational age of patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and preexisting diabetes (PexD)). Methods. Ten normal individuals and 41 eyes of 41 patients, 28 with GDM and 13 with PexD, were studied. A 3 × 3 mm area of the FAZ of the superficial capillary plexus layer (SCP) and the deep capillary plexus layer (DCP) was determined by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA; RS-3000 Advance, NIDEK). The significance of the correlation between the size of the FAZ and the weeks of pregnancy was determined. Results. The area of the FAZ of the SCP was 0.38 ± 0.11 mm2 (normal eyes), 0.41 ± 0.16 mm2 (GDM), and 0.43 ± 0.10 mm2 (PexD). The area of the FAZ of the DCP was 0.78 ± 0.23 mm2 (normal eyes), 0.69 ± 0.16 mm2 (GDM), and 0.79 ± 0.25 mm2 (PexD). No significant difference in the FAZ sizes was observed between the groups. The average number of weeks of pregnancy was 24.1 ± 8.2 weeks in the eyes with GDM and 23.3 ± 11.4 weeks in the eyes with PexD (P>0.05). Significant correlations were found between the size of the FAZ of the SCP and the number of weeks (r = 0.37, P=0.04 for GDM, and r = 0.49, P=0.04 for PexD, Spearman's rank-order correlation coefficient). Conclusions. For GDM and PexD under established glycemic control, the area of the FAZ is not affected, but vascular changes occurred at the early phase of pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare the choroidal thickness (CT) measured by enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) in preeclamptic, healthy pregnant, and healthy nonpregnant women. Methods: Studies that focused on the CT evaluation of pregnant women were retrieved by searching PubMed, Embase, Ovid, Cochrane, and Web of Science. We used Stata 14.0 SE for the meta-analysis and presented the results as the weighted mean difference (WMD) with a corresponding 95% CI. Results: A total of 14 studies with 1,227 participants were included in our meta-analysis. The CT of the healthy pregnancies (μm, WMD = 34.19, 95% CI: 20.63–47.76) was significantly higher than that of the nonpregnancies (Test of WMD = 0: z = 4.94, p = 0.000), but the CT of the preeclampsia (μm, WMD = 54.30, 95% CI: –13.40 to 122.01) was not significantly different from the nonpregnancies (Test of WMD = 0: z = 1.57, p = 0.116). In the preeclampsia versus healthy pregnancy group, 3 studies found that the choroid was thinner with preeclampsia, only one study found the CT increased. Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggested that the CT of the healthy pregnant women was significantly higher than that of the nonpregnant women. The presence of preeclampsia might complicate this situation. Most studies found that the CT decreased in the preeclamptic patients because of the increases in the systemic vasospasm and the blood pressure, which led to no significant difference compared with the nonpregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The reporting of medical imaging with outsourcing is used by many hospitals in Turkey. The aim of this study was to evaluate outsourced computed tomography (CT) reports and determine any errors made. Material and Methods: The study was planned with a prospective design. The reports of the CT tests taken during 2017 by an outsourced company of 35 randomly selected patients were compared. In the comparison, findings which could lead to a change in diagnosis and treatment were labelled as "significant" and findings which would not lead to a change in diagnosis and treatment were labelled as "non-significant". Findings reported in the study comparison but not mentioned or written incorrectly in the outsourced company report were classified as "absence" and any finding that was written but not present was labelled as "extra". Results: The study included the examsimages and reports of 35 patients, comprising 18 (51.4%) males and 17 (48.6%) females with a mean age of 49.37± 23.66 years. A major error was found in 27 (77%) cases. No statistically significant difference was determined in the significant, non-significant, absent and extra data according to patient age (p>0.05). Conclusion: There should be an implementation of regulations for clinicians to be able to re-use the diagnostic algorithm. Residential employment of radiologists should be encouraged rather than outsourcing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. We aimed at measuring the choroid and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness with optic coherence tomography (OCT) in patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods. A total of 60 patients with COPD and 23 healthy controls were evaluated in the scope of this prospective, observational study. COPD patients were divided into two groups as those that were stable and those with an exacerbation based on the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) classification. Subfoveal choroid thickness (SFCT) of the patients and the control group was compared by measuring the choroid thickness at points 1000 µm nasal and temporal to the fovea and the mean retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness. Results. The subfoveal choroid thickness of the COPD patients in both the exacerbation and stable groups was found to be statistically significantly thinner than the control group (p=0.047 and p=0.046, resp.). No statistically significant difference was found between the subfoveal choroid thickness of the patients that were stable and those that had an exacerbation (p=0.813). No statistically significant difference was found between the mean RNFL, 1000 µm nasal, or 1000 µm temporal choroid thicknesses of the COPD patients and the control group (p=0.263, p=0.455, and p=0.611, resp.). Conclusion. Decreased subfoveal choroid thickness was found in the COPD patients both during an exacerbation and in the stable period, when compared to the control group. The mean RNFL thickness was similar in the exacerbation and stable period of the stable COPD patients when compared to the control group. This suggests that ocular findings might be important in terms of COPD morbidity. This trial is registered with www.chictr.org.cn/enIndex.aspx. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study is to evaluate Auditory Evoked Potentials (AEPs) in patients with hyperthyroidism and to compare their frequency components with those of healthy subjects. In this study the AEPs in hyperthyroidism were studied both in time and frequency domains rather than studying just in the time domain by peak scoring. This paper presents a method for filtering auditory oddball standard and target AEPs by using singular spectrum analysis (SSA) and feature extraction in the frequency domain via spectral analysis. AEPs were recorded during an auditory oddball paradigm in 25 newly diagnosed hyperthyroid patients and 15 healthy subjects. The signals are captured in the presence of ongoing background EEG activity so they are often contaminated by artifacts. This paper presents a method for filtering auditory odd-ball standard and target AEPs by using Singular spectrum analysis and feature extraction in frequency domain via spectral analysis. Information about the frequency composition of the signal is then used to compare normal and hyperthyroid states. While there was no significant difference either in the target or standard unfiltered signals between the hyperthyroid patients and the control group ( p > 0.05), there was a significant difference in the filtered signals between the two groups ( p < 0.01). In conclusion, our results revealed that SSA is an effective filtering method for AEPs. Thus, a much more objective and specific examination method was developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Journal of Public Health is the property of Turkish Journal of Public Health and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)