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Yasin Furkan K&inodot;l&inodot;ç,1 Tu&gbreve;ba Yard&inodot;mc&inodot; Gürel2 1Coronary Intensive Care Unit, Samsun Training and Research Hospital, Samsun, Turkey; 2Department of Nursing, Sinop University, Sinop, TurkeyCorrespondence: Tu&gbreve;ba Yard&inodot;mc&inodot; Gürel, Department of Nursing, Sinop University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Sinop, 57100, Turkey, Email yardimci.tugba@gmail.comPurpose: The study aimed to investigate the relationship between self-care management behaviors of individuals with chronic disease and their adaptation to chronic illness.Methods: This cross-sectional and correlational study was conducted with 312 patients treated at a Training and Research Hospital in Turkey between December 2023 and March 2024. The data were collected using a Sociodemographic Characteristics Form, the Self-Care Management Scale in Chronic Illness (SCMP-G) and the Adaptation to Chronic Illness Scale (ACIS).Results: Mean total scores of the participants for SCMP-G were 107.52 ± 12.51 and 77.00 ± 10.00 for ACIS. There was a low-level negative correlation between age and chronic disease adaptation (rh = − 0.201; P < 0.001). Adaptation to chronic illness decreased with increasing age. There was a low-level negative correlation between BMI and physical adaptation (rh = − 0.127; P = 0.026) and self-guarding (rh = − 0.114; P = 0.046). As BMI increased, physical adaptation and self-guarding decreased. Regression analyses revealed that age (β = − 0.115, t = − 0.511, P < 0.05) and economic status (β = 2.698, t = − 2.487, P < 0.05) had a significant effect on adaptation to chronic illness. Multiple regression analysis of the effect of self-guarding and social guarding variables on adaptation to chronic illness was significant (F = 3.504, P < 0.05).Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, self-care management behaviors have a significant effect on adaptation to chronic illness and individual characteristics affect the results. Individual assistance should be extended to the patients to develop self-care management behaviors, which can induce lifestyle changes and necessary trainings should be planned. Future research should prioritize evaluating nurse-led interdisciplinary interventions and exploring the impact of tailored strategies for specific chronic conditions to improve self-care and adaptation.Keywords: chronic illness, self-care, adaptation, nurses

Purpose: To investigate the awareness of the pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) and PFM exercises (PFME) knowledge, training and experience in community-dwelling women aged 60 and over and its relationship with urinary incontinence (UI)., Methods: This is a questionnaire based study which was carried out in 9 Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Centers, including a total of 500 women aged 60 and over and living in the community. The questionnaire included questions about awareness of PFMs, UI complaints and PFME knowledge, training and experience. Knowledge and awareness of PFMs and PFME knowledge, training and experience were compared in subgroups with or without urinary incontinence., Results: The mean age of the women included in the study was 67.8 ± 6.1 (60-88). Knowledge and awareness of PFMs and PFME knowledge, training and experience were low in the study population. Knowledge and awareness of PFMs were significantly low in the subgroup with urinary incontinence (p < 0.05). Kegel exercise training and experience were significantly low in the subgroup without urinary incontinence (p = 0.01, p < 0.01)., Conclusion: Knowledge and awareness of PFMs and PFME knowledge, training and experience are low in community-dwelling women aged 60 and over and training programs should be organized to teach the function of the PFMs and to perform PFME correctly in this population., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to European Geriatric Medicine Society.)

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the publication rates of physical medicine and rehabilitation specialty training theses, which are required to complete a residency in Türkiye, and determine the factors that affect publication., Materials and Methods: Residency theses involved in this descriptive study were detected from the database of Higher Education Council Thesis Center (tez.yok.gov.tr) between January 2010 and December 2020. Publication of theses and date of publication were investigated by the writer's and supervisor's names on PubMed and Google Scholar., Results: Three hundred eighty-eight of 1,130 theses were turned into publications. Two hundred seventy-seven (24.5%) were published in SCI (Science Citation Index)/SCI Expanded indexed journals. The publication rates of residents were 47.1% in private universities, 34.2% in public universities, and 32.3% in training and research hospitals. The trainees who published their theses were more likely to become associate and assistant professors., Conclusion: Although approximately one-third of the theses defended were published, this rate is insufficient for sharing the knowledge. Considering that publishing their theses affected the residents' current academic careers positively, supervisors should provide the residents supportive facilitation to give the knowledge in research and publish their theses., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article., (Copyright © 2024, Turkish Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.)

Objective: To compare the demographic, clinical, and radiological features of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) accompanying familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) to patients with each condition alone., Method: Hacettepe University Hospital database was screened regarding ICD-10 codes for FMF (E85.0) and axSpA (M45). The diagnosis of FMF was confirmed by Tel-Hashomer criteria, and axSpA by the presence of sacroiliitis according to the modified New York criteria or active sacroiliitis on magnetic resonance imaging. As control groups, 136 gender-matched, consequent FMF patients without axSpA and 102 consequent axSpA patients without FMF previously treated with any biological agents were included in the analysis., Results: In patients with FMF + axSpA compared to the axSpA group, age at axSpA symptom onset and age at diagnosis were lower [median with interquartile range (IQR): 21 (17-30) vs 27 (21-37), p < 0.001; 23 (21-38) vs 32 (24-43) years, p = 0.001], moderate to severe hip disease and total hip replacement were more prevalent (23.4% vs 4.7%, p < 0.001; 11.2% vs 2.8%, p = 0.016). In patients with FMF + axSpA compared to the FMF group, age at FMF symptom onset and age at diagnosis were higher [13 (6-30) vs 11 (5-18), p = 0.057; 23 (13-33) vs 18 (10-31) years, p = 0.033] and amyloidosis was more prevalent (6.6% vs 2.2%, p = 0.076). Although the M694V variant (in one or two alleles) was more prevalent in the FMF + axSpA group, the difference was not statistically significant., Conclusion: In patients with FMF + axSpA, the age of onset of axSpA was significantly earlier, moderate to severe hip involvement and amyloidosis were more common than in patients with each condition alone.

Uncontrolled use of antifungal drugs affects the development of resistance to existing drugs. Azole antifungals constitute a large part of antifungal therapy. Therefore, there is a need for new azole antifungals. Within the scope of this study, 17 new triazole derivative compounds were synthesized. Structure determinations were clarified by spectroscopic analysis methods ( 1 H-NMR, 13 C-NMR, HRMS). In addition, structure matching was completed using two-dimensional NMR techniques, HSQC, HMBC and NOESY. The antifungal effects of the compounds were evaluated on Candida strains by means of in vitro method. Compound 5d showed activity against Candida glabrata with a MIC 90 = 2 μg/mL. Compound 5d showed activity against Candida krusei with a MIC 90 = 2 μg/mL. This activity value, which is higher than fluconazole, is promising. In addition, the biofilm inhibition percentages of the compounds were calculated. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations performed with compound 5d are in harmony with activity studies., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Objectives: To identify the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with transverse myelitis (TM) and to compare functional status between those patients and a matched group with traumatic spinal cord injury (T-SCI)., Study Design: Retrospective study., Setting: A tertiary rehabilitation hospital., Participants: The demographic and clinical characteristics of 484 T-SCI patients and 25 TM patients were compared. Functional status was further analyzed by matching the two groups., Outcome Measurements: The matched patients were compared in terms of motor and sensory functions, bladder and bowel symptoms, ambulation level, the Rivermead Mobility Index, and SCI-related medical complications., Results: The mean age of the TM patients was 35.6 years and was similar to that of the T-SCI patients. There were significantly more females in the TM group (P = 0.017). Individuals with TM had fewer cervical injuries (P = 0.032) and a higher rate of paraplegia (P = 0.047) and were more often incomplete (P = 0.009) than those with T-SCI. Sensory function was significantly better in the TM group compared to the matched T-SCI group (P = 0.05). Independent ambulation frequency was higher in the TM patients. The SCI-related complications seen in the TM group were as common as those in the T-SCI group., Conclusion: The TM and T-SCI groups differed in terms of the demographic and clinical characteristics recorded. Additionally, when matched for these differences, functional status was slightly better in the TM group. However, like T-SCI, TM was a significant cause of disability and SCI-related complications were common.

Background: Manual wheelchair propulsion causes shoulder tendon pathologies in wheelchair users with spinal cord injury. Four different wheelchair stroke patterns can cause varying amounts of acute changes in the shoulder tendons., Objective: To evaluate and compare acute changes in the supraspinatus and biceps tendons and acromiohumeral distance (AHD) after propulsion between different stroke patterns in individuals with spinal cord injury. In addition, to associate tendon changes with demographic and biomechanical characteristics., Design: Prospective and comparative study between four groups., Setting: Tertiary rehabilitation hospital., Patients: Male wheelchair users with spinal cord injury., Interventions: Participants were divided into four groups according to stroke pattern (arcing, semicircular [SC], single-loop [SL], and double-loop [DL]), in which they used their wheelchair on a motorized treadmill at a speed of 1 m/s. A sample of 40 people was created, 10 in each group. All participants performed a propulsion test., Main Outcome Measures: Temporospatial variables and shoulder kinematics were analyzed. Supraspinatus tendon thickness (SSTT), long head of biceps tendon thickness (LHBTT), and AHD were measured before and after the propulsion test., Results: SC pattern had lower cadence and larger contact angle. A reduction in SSTT and LHBTT in arcing pattern, LHBTT and AHD in SC pattern, and LHBTT in DL pattern was observed (all p < .05). However, SL pattern did not differ significantly in all ultrasonographic measurements (all p > .05). Body mass index was associated with a decrease in SSTT. Age and number of daily push-ups were associated with a decrease in AHD., Conclusions: Fewer tendon changes after the propulsion in the SL pattern suggested that the supraspinatus and biceps tendons were preserved in this pattern. The SL pattern may be a better choice for male wheelchair users with supraspinatus and biceps tendon pathologies., (© 2021 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.)

Objectives: This study aims to compare the efficacy of the wrist splint and the injection of corticosteroid, autologous blood, and hypertonic dextrose in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis (LE)., Patients and Methods: A total of 120 patients (43 males, 77 females; mean age: 45.7±7.7 years; range, 18 to 65 years) diagnosed with LE between December 2013 and June 2015 were included in the study and randomized into four groups. The first group was administered 20 mg methylprednisolone acetate + 2 mL 2% prilocaine, the second group 2 mL venous blood + 0.5 mL prilocaine, and the third group 2 mL 30% dextrose + 0.5 mL prilocaine injections. A second injection was administered to the third group one month later. The fourth group was recommended to use only a wrist splint. Pre-treatment and post-treatment evaluations of the patients were carried out at one and six months by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) in terms of pain, by Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) questionnaire in terms of functional level, and by the Jamar dynamometer in terms of grip strength., Results: In all groups, VAS values at one and six months after treatment were found to be lower in comparison to baseline. Except for the splint group, a significant improvement was observed in all three injection groups in terms of grip strength and PRTEE values at six months compared to the baseline values. In the comparison of the groups, no significant difference was observed in terms of improvement in VAS scores and grip strength. While corticosteroid injection was significantly effective in terms of PRTEE pain, function, and total scores only at one month, the autologous injection was effective in terms of PRTEE function and total scores at only six months after treatment. There were no significant differences for splint and prolotherapy groups in terms of PRTEE scores., Conclusion: Corticosteroid injection, autologous blood injection, and prolotherapy are effective and safe long-term methods in LE treatment., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article., (Copyright © 2022, Turkish Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.)

Background/aim: Peritonitis attacks of Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) usually requires emergency medical admissions and it’s hard to distinguish a typical abdominal attack from surgical causes of acute abdomen. Therefore, history of abdominal surgery, particularly appendectomy, is very common in patients with FMF. However, history of appendectomy might also give some clues about the course of FMF in the adulthood. This study was to determine whether the history of appendectomy help to anticipate disease course of FMF in the adulthood., Materials and Methods: All patients recruited from FMF in Central Anatolia (FiCA) cohort, comprising 971 adult subjects. All patients fulfilled the Tel Hashomer criteria. Demographic data, FMF disease characteristics, co-morbid conditions, past medical history, surgical history and disease complications were meticulously questioned and laboratory features and genotype data (if available) were recruited from patient files., Results: Appendectomy history was evident in 240 (24.7%) subjects. Disease onset was earlier and peritonitis is strikingly more prevalent (97.1% vs. 89.6%, p < 0.001) in appendectomized patients. These patients had reported almost two fold more frequent attacks in the last year compared to appendix intact patients (median 3.5 vs. 2 attacks, p = 0.001) without a difference in frequency of musculoskeletal and skin attacks. Severe disease was more common (10% vs. 5.9%, p = 0.038) due to involvement of more attack sites throughout the life and more frequent attacks. Appendectomy patients had used higher daily doses of colchicine to control disease (1.43 ± 0.6 mg vs. 1.27 ± 0.52 mg, p = 0.002) but colchicine resistance was also more common in these patients, 15% vs. 6.7% respectively, p < 0.001., Conclusion: Appendectomy history is common in FMF patients and associated with frequent serositis attacks in adulthood. These patients require higher colchicine doses with a lower rate of response and more need for Interleukin-1 antagonist therapies., (This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.)

Fungal infections, which are named according to the body site involved, can affect any skin area, the fingernails, or the toenails. Numerous fungal agents are responsible for both superficial and deep fungal diseases. Dermatophytes and Candida spp are the most common causative organisms on the surface of the hands, feet, and nails of patients with superficial fungal diseases; however, although deep fungal infections of the skin are less common compared with superficial fungal diseases, their incidence is increasing worldwide due to cross-border travel. Most superficial fungal diseases are diagnosed clinically, but sometimes direct microscopic examination with potassium hydroxide and fungal culture may be necessary for diagnosis, especially in patients suspected of having tinea incognito. In cases of superficial fungal infections except for onychomycosis and tinea incognito, topical treatments are usually sufficient and effective, but systemic treatments may be required in recalcitrant cases. Deep fungal diseases may resemble each other clinically; therefore, the organism must be identified with laboratory methods and should be treated for a long period. We review the most important clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects of fungal diseases. This paper covers fungal problems encountered both in hospitals and in general practice., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Body composition parameters, such as weight, body mass index (BMI), and visceral fat rating, have been found to be associated with psoriasis. However, the associations of these parameters with psoriasis have not been demonstrated clearly., Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate body composition parameters in patients with psoriasis., Methods: The relationships between the various body composition parameters and psoriasis were retrospectively examined in 242 patients with plaque psoriasis (119 women, 123 men) over a 2-year period during 2010-2012. In addition, the correlations between body composition parameters and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score were evaluated in treated and untreated patients with psoriasis. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether or not they had received systemic therapy within the previous three months. Body composition values were measured using the Tanita SC-330 Body Composition Analyzer(®)., Results: Statistically significant differences were recorded in terms of weight (kg), body fat percentage, fat mass (kg), total body water (TBW) percentage, metabolic age, visceral fat rating, BMI, and degree of obesity among treated and untreated patients and control subjects. Differences in fat-free mass (FFM) (kg), muscle mass (kg), TBW (kg), and bone mass (kg) were found to be close to the limit for significance. The treated and untreated groups showed no significant differences in any of the parameters evaluated. The correlations between PASI score and the various parameters provided some evidence for such relationships., Conclusions: The present study provides evidence of a relationship between some body composition parameters and the occurrence of psoriasis. We suggest that body composition parameters should be analyzed not only in obese psoriasis patients but in all psoriasis patients upon their first diagnosis. Systemic therapy does not appear to cause any changes in body composition parameters., (© 2014 The International Society of Dermatology.)

Objective: Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a vascular tumor that affects the skin and other organs. Several therapeutic options are available, but the optimal therapy is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness and safety of cryotherapy in the treatment of KS., Materials and Methods: Thirty patients were evaluated. Cryotherapy was applied using liquid nitrogen. Each treatment consisted of two freeze-thaw cycles, with freezing times ranging from 15 to 40 seconds per cycle., Results: One hundred twenty-five lesions were treated in an average of 3.2 sessions. Complete response was observed in 19 (63%) of the 30 patients after cryotherapy treatment with no recurrence. The subjects tolerated cryotherapy well. Blistering occurred frequently, but local pain was limited. There were no secondary infections., Conclusion: Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy is safe and cost-efficient and can be readily adopted as an effective primary therapy for cutaneous KS lesions that respond slowly or show incomplete cosmetic improvement after systemic therapies., (© 2013 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)