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Background: Prolonged sitting and poor posture can contribute to musculoskeletal pain and have a negative effect on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among young adults. Any prolonged posture leads to static loading of soft tissues and causes discomfort. Seated posture leads to inactivity causing an accumulation of metabolites, accelerating disk degeneration and musculoskeletal pain. Regular exercise has major contributions to the prevention and treatment of some health problems such as musculoskeletal disorders., Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of online posture exercises on musculoskeletal pain and health related quality of life among university students receiving distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic., Methods: This randomized controlled trial involved 72 students divided into intervention (n= 35) and control (n= 37) groups. The intervention group followed an 8-week online stretching and posture exercise program. Baseline and 8-week results were measured using the SF-36 QoL Questionnaire and Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ)., Results: Students spent an average of 5.4 ± 2.5 hours daily at computers. While there was no difference between the scores of any region in the CMDQ in the control group, there was a decrease in the neck, right shoulder, left shoulder, waist, left upper leg, right lower leg, and left lower leg discomfort scores in the intervention group (p< 0.05). There was a significant difference between the intervention and control groups in the total score of SF-36 and the sub-dimensions of vitality and mental health (p< 0.05)., Conclusion: The online posture exercise program led to notable reductions in musculoskeletal pain and improvements in QoL among university students. Examining the effectiveness of online exercise programs in different age groups is important for health benefits during quarantines.

Aim: There is increasing evidence that immunological and inflammatory dysfunctions play an essential role in the initiation and progression of major psychiatric disorders. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and mean platelet volume can be used as markers of systemic inflammation in different diseases. We aimed to investigate these blood count parameters in children and adolescents diagnosed with major depressive disorder., Methods: Designed as a case-control study, our sample consisted of patients aged 9-16 years referred to Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and pediatrics outpatient clinics for the first time and diagnosed with major depressive disorder according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition diagnostic criteria, and healthy children and adolescents matched at a ratio of 1 to 2. Data of 58 cases and 90 healthy controls evaluated between 01.07.2019 and 01.07.2020 were included., Results: Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio values were significantly higher in the case group. No significant difference was found between patient and control groups regarding other blood count parameters. When depression group was compared in terms of all parameters as those who committed suicide and those did not, significant difference was found between the 3 groups in terms of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio values. The intergroup difference in platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio was found between the depression group without suicide and the control group. No significant relationship was found between other parameters and Children's Depression Inventory Scale scores. We determined a cut-off value of 112.5 for platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (with sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 63%)., Conclusion: Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio might be an important parameter in the clinical follow-up of major depressive disorder., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: The authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (2021 authors.)

Objectives: Ischemia-reperfusion injury is an important cause of multiple organ failure in cardiovascular surgery. Our aim is to investigate the effect of the probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii on oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and lung injury in an experimental model of aortic clamping., Methods: Twenty-one Wistar rats were randomized into three groups (n=7). Control group animals received saline gavage for a week before undergoing median laparotomy. In other groups, supraceliac aorta was clamped for 45 minutes to induce ischemia followed by reperfusion for 60 minutes. In the ischemiareperfusion group, saline gavage was given preoperatively for one week. Ischemia-reperfusion+probiotic group rats received probiotic gavage for seven days before aortic clamping. The levels of oxidative stress markers and pro-inflammatory cytokines were determined in both serum and lung tissue samples. Ileum and lung tissues were harvested for histological examination., Results: Ischemia-reperfusion caused severe oxidative damage and inflammation evident by significant increases in malondialdehyde and cytokine levels (tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-1 beta) and decreased glutathione levels in both serum and lung tissues. There was severe histological tissue damage to the lung and ileum in the ischemia-reperfusion group. Probiotic pretreatment before aortic clamping caused significant suppression of increases in serum and lung tissue malondialdehyde and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels. Histological damage scores in tissue samples decreased in the ischemia-reperfusion+probiotic group (P<0,005)., Conclusions: Oral supplementation of probiotic S. boulardii before supraceliac aortic ischemia-reperfusion in rats alleviates lung injury by reducing oxidative stress, intestinal cellular damage, and modulation of inflammatory processes.