Determination of the relationship between self-care agency and sleepiness in chronic hemodialysis patients

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between self-care agency and sleepiness in chronic hemodialysis patients. METHODS: The study was conducted with 75 patients with chronic renal failure in the hemodialysis unit of a training and research hospital in our country. In the descriptive study, the data were collected through a face-to-face questionnaire. The IBM SPSS Statistics 22.0 program was used to evaluate the data. RESULTS: It was determined that there was no significant relationship between self-care agency and sleepiness total scores in chronic hemodialysis patients (p>0.05) and a significant relationship between sleepiness and drug use compliance and mental status in female patients and between diet compliance and sleepiness in patients younger than 52 years of age (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: As a result, it was observed that there was no relationship between self-care agency and sleepiness in chronic hemodialysis patients. We think that working with a larger sample group can lead to clearer results.

Determination of the risk of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in individuals aged 18 years and above

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to increase awareness by determining the risk of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in individuals aged 18 years and above. METHODS: The study is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. A total of 633 individuals aged 18 years and above participated in the study. The data were collected online from individuals in the form of describing the demographic characteristics of individuals and with the Berlin survey. The IBM SPSS statistics 26.0 program was used in the analysis of the data. RESULTS: In this study, 38.9% of individuals were found to be at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. A significant relationship was found between the risk of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and gender, age, body mass index, education level, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, hypertension, presence of cardiovascular diseases, and smoking (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that male gender, increasing age, obesity, presence of chronic disease, and smoking increase the risk of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Defining the risk of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, especially in risky groups, will be effective in planning health care, increasing the effectiveness of treatment, and improving the quality of life. It is recommended to include this diagnosis in health care protocols and to expand its use in order to plan and repeat trainings that will emphasize its importance.

Assessment of serum endocan levels in patients with beta-thalassemia minor

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Beta-thalassemia minor is a blood disease caused by a hereditary decrease in beta-globin synthesis, frequently leading to hypochromic microcytic anemia. Formerly called endothelial cell-specific molecule 1, endocan is a proteoglycan released by vascular endothelial cells in many organs. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between the beta-thalassemia minor patients and the healthy control group in terms of serum endocan level. METHODS: The study was performed in a total of 80 subjects. They were divided into two groups, the beta-thalassemia minor group (n=40) and the healthy control group (n=40). Serum endocan levels, age, sex, body mass index value, and tobacco use data of these groups were compared. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was detected between the two groups in terms of age, sex, and body mass index values (p>0.05). Endocan levels were measured to be 206.85±88.1 pg/mL in the beta-thalassemia minor group and 236.1±162.8 pg/mL in the control group with no significant difference between the groups in terms of serum endocan levels (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, there was no change in endocan level in beta-thalassemia minor. This might be because serum endocan levels are affected by multi-factorial reasons. Serum endocan levels may be altered secondarily to decreased beta-globin chain, increased sympathetic activity due to anemia, or platelet dysfunction induced by oxidative stress in beta-thalassemia minor. Further multicenter studies involving more patients are necessary to demonstrate this.

Thorax computed tomography findings and anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G levels in polymerase chain reaction-negative probable COVID-19 cases

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels after 6 months of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) negative but assumed to be COVID-19 positive cases to investigate the relationship between IgG levels and thoracic computed tomography (CT) findings. METHODS: This was a single-center study that included patients whose PCR test results were negative at least three times using nasopharyngeal swabs but had clinical findings of COVID-19 and thoracic CT findings compatible with viral pneumonia. Six months after discharge, the IgG antibodies were analyzed. The cutoff value for negative and positive serology was defined as <1.4 (index S/C) and ≥1.4 (index S/C), respectively. In addition, the patients were categorized according to their thoracic CT findings as high (typical) and low (atypical). Also, the patients were grouped into classes as <5% lung involvement versus ≥5% lung involvement. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 49.78±12.96 years. PCR was negative, but patients with COVID-19 symptoms who had SARS-CoV-2 IgG positive were 81.9% (n=95). The antibody titer and lung involvement ≥5% were statistically significantly higher in SARS-CoV-2 IgG positive cases (p<0.001 and p=0.021). Age and chest CT findings were the risk factors for lung involvement (OR=1.08, p<0.001 and OR=2.19, p=0.010, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study is valuable because increasing severity (≥5%) of lung involvement appears to be associated with high and persistent IgG antibody titers. In probable cases of COVID-19, even if the PCR test is negative, high IgG titers 6 months after discharge can predict the rate of lung parenchymal involvement.

Phobia of COVID-19 on people who aged 18 and older

SUMMARY OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to evaluate the participants with the COVID-19 scale in order to see the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on people, which has affected the whole world along with our country, to be able to take the necessary precautions for the current pandemic and similar pandemics and to minimize the negative aspects globally. METHODS: A total of 1010 people who aged 18 and older (between the ages of 18-76) were included in the research. Besides from the personal information of people who aged 18 and older such as a city of residence, age, gender, profession, education, the number of people who live in the same house, their chronic illnesses, marital status, and the existence of a child, a 20-question phobia of COVID-19 scale was carried out. The results were 95% reliable, and their significance was evaluated to be on p<0.05 level. RESULT: The COVID-19 Phobia Scale point for women was 54.97±14.44 while it was 51.28±14.06 for men, and between the two groups, there is a high level of significant difference (p<0.05) statistically, COVID-19 Phobia Scale point of people who have chronic illnesses is 56.51±15.84, meanwhile, the point of people who have no chronic illnesses was found to be 52.96±13.99, and it was detected that this difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Besides the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the whole society, we see that the women population and people who have chronic illnesses are going through much more fear and anxiety.

An evaluation of the relationship between vitamin D level and CTRP-9, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, thiol-disulfide hemostasis in women

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Many chronic diseases such as malignancy, cardiovascular diseases, endothelial dysfunction, and autoimmune diseases, which have been shown to be related to vitamin D in various studies; have similar relations with CTRP-9, TNFα, and thiol-disulfide hemostasis. We aimed to contribute to the literature by evaluating the relationship between CTRP-9, TNFα, and thiol-disulfide hemostasis and vitamin D levels, which we thought may have some effects on the pathogenesis of vitamin D deficiency. METHODS: In our study, 78 female volunteers older than 18 years were included. Volunteers were divided into three groups according to the reference values of vitamin D levels. Biochemical parameters, CTRP-9, TNFα, and thiol/disulfide hemostasis tests taken from all volunteers were studied. RESULTS: In this study, there was a significant difference in CTRP-9, TNFα, total thiol (TT), native thiol (NT), DIS (disulfide), TT/DIS, and NT/DIS levels in vitamin D groups (p<0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between vitamin D and TNFα and DIS, while a significant positive correlation was found with CTRP-9, TT, NT, TT/DIS, and NT/DIS (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It was determined that vitamin D deficiency causes a significant decrease in CTRP-9 level and a significant increase in TNFα level, as well as an increase in thiol/disulfide hemostasis in favor of disulfide, which may be a risk factor for increased oxidative stress. We considered that these changes may play mediator roles for many chronic diseases and metabolic disorders that are increasing in frequency due to vitamin D deficiency.