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Introduction: This study aimed to determine the variables that predict whether WHO's global recommendation for physical activity (PA) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic can be met among adults. Material and Methods: A total of 921 adults voluntarily participated in this study. A demographic information form and the Physical Activity Assessment Questionnaire for Turkish people were administered by self-report. The participants were also asked whether they regularly do PA and if the duration of PA is over 150 minutes. Results: The number of adults doing regular PA at the level recommended by WHO significantly decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the rate of not doing regular PA significantly increased compared to the period before the COVID-19 pandemic (p<0.05). Variables that reduce the likelihood of doing regular PA at the recommended level include being male, being under 45 years old, being married, having high school education or below, having a moderate and low-income, having a high BMI, and having a high recreational sedentary screen time (RSST) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: The results of this study provide a priori information for implementations aimed at improving the recommended PA level for adults during social isolation or lockdown.
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Objective: This study aims to determine the demo-graphic and clinical characteristics of patients admitted to the emergency department of a training and research hos-pital within 72 hours of the diagnosis of COVID-19. Materials and Methods: The study was designed as descriptive and single-centered. The data of patients who presented to the emergency room with the diagnosis of COVID-19 were obtained retrospectively from the Hospi-tal Information Management System. Results: 56.497 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 presented to our emergency room, and 0.4% returned to the emergency room with similar complaints within 72 hours. Among those who returned, 51.4% were female, and the mean age was 41.67. This study found that 30.8% of readmitted people had at least one comorbidity. It was found that 30.8% of the readmission had at least one comorbidity;nausea and cough were the most common reasons for admission in patients with comorbidities. Conclusion: There is a need to design further studies to establish the criteria for the safe return of COVID-19 pa-tients to home, to reduce the re-admission rates, and in-crease the quality of care.
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Canned fish products are of great economic importance for many countries and are preferred by consumers due to their rich nutritional composition and beneficial health effects. The steps of canning process and formulation vary depending on the species processed and the desired end product. This work is an overview of the current research investigating the effects of canning process, several preprocessing treatments and formulation on the nutritional composition, sensory characteristics and microbial quality of the end product. Key findings of recent studies on health effects and potential risk factors associated with the consumption of canned fish products are presented. Moreover, the global demand for canned fish products is increasing due to the changing consumption behavior and healthy eating habits of consumers after the pandemic. This review summarizes the major challenges that need to be addressed for meeting the increasing demand for canned fish products. Finally, based on the findings of current studies reviewed, the perspectives and research gaps for canned fish products are stated. Copyright © 2022-IOS Press. All rights reserved.
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Objective: Individuals with chronic diseases are at the forefront of groups that are most affected psychologically by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Psychological changes which are experienced in this process may affect the self-care management of patients with chronic diseases in the risk group. This study aimed to determine the effect of anxiety and fear experienced in individuals with chronic diseases on self-care management during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Methods: The research is a descriptive cross-sectional study that was conducted at a public hospital between between April and June 2021. Data were obtained from 150 outpatients with chronic diseases using the Patient Information Form, Self-Care Management Process in Chronic Illness Scale, Fear of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Scale, and Coronavirus Anxiety Scale. Results: A positive, weak, and moderately strong and significant correlation between the total score of the Self-Care Management Process in Chronic Illness Scale, self-protection and social protection sub-dimension scores, and Fear of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Scale (r = 0.286, P< .001;r = 0.512, P< .001;r = 0.423, P=< .001, respectively) was noted. A very weak and significant relationship was found between Coronavirus Anxiety Scale and social protection sub-dimension scores (r = 0.176, P= .031). Also, it was found the Fear of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Scale score affected the Self-Care Management Process in Chronic Illness Scale total score and sub-dimension scores. Conclusion: The findings reveal that the self-care management of patients with chronic diseases was above the moderate score, their fear levels were close to medium, and their anxiety levels were low. Moreover, a medium level of fear positively affected the self-care management of those patients. © 2022 AVES. All Rights Reserved.
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Community pharmacists have been on the frontlines during the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Although the mental health and anxiety levels of many other health workers are studied in this period, literature is very limited to understand the experience of pharmacists. This study aims to define the anxiety level of community pharmacists in Istanbul during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify possible influencing factors. The population of the study is community pharmacists from pharmacies in Istanbul. In this cross-sectional study, 348 pharmacies are selected by simple random sampling. Participants are approached via telephone and inquired with questions about sociodemographic information, work conditions, COVID-19 specific concerns, and the Beck Anxiety Inven-tory. 239 (68.7%) pharmacists responded. This study identifies that, by the 6th month of the pandemic, the mean anxiety score of the pharmacists in Istanbul is 9.4±10.6, and 54.8% (n=134) of the participants is experiencing “minimal” anxi-ety. However, they have some COVID-19 specific concerns (becoming infected and transmitting the disease to family or environment) at high and extreme lev-els. Those concerns significantly increase the anxiety score. The findings of this study are promising for public health, as they show that community pharmacists could cope with the psychological effects of the pandemic. © 2021, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Pharmacy. All rights reserved.
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Aim: During our routine work at the Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) laboratories, human deficiency virus (HIV) 1/2 antibody false-positive results were observed among Coronavirus disease-2019 convalescent plasma (CP) donors more frequently than healthy donors. We aimed to determine anti-HIV 1/2 antibody false-positivity rates among the CP donors and healthy blood donors. Methods: The present study was designed as a cross-sectional study which was a type of observational study. Total 3689 donations from 2593 donors donated CP to the TRC between 11 April-06 July 2020, were screened by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay for the presence of antibody against HIV ½. The confirmation tests were performed with line immunoassay. All of the donors were non-remunerated CP donors between the ages of 18-60. For the control group, 411078 donations from 407363 healthy blood donors were received on the same days. Results: Repeated reactivity rates (1.87%) were significantly higher than the control group (0.13%, p<0.05). However, there was not a statistically significant difference between the confirmed reactivity rates of the study group (0.03%) and the control group (0.01%, p=0.217). Conclusion: In our study, it was determined that the false-positive results obtained from serologic HIV screening tests of CP donors were significantly higher when compared to the healthy blood donors. © 2021 by The Medical Bulletin of Ístanbul Haseki Training and Research Hospital The Medical Bulletin of Haseki published by Galenos Yayınevi.
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Aim: To investigate if there is an association between the blood groups of convalescent plasma (CP) donors and Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2 infection risk. Methods: Blood groups of 30605 CP donors were compared with 1316676 Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) whole blood donors. Software data of TRC for the period between 07 April 2020 and 11 December 2020 was analyzed as a retrospective cohort study. Results: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection risks were higher in A (46.1% vs. 41.6%, p=0.001), AB (8.3% vs. 7.6%, p=0.001), Rh (+) (89.2% vs. 87.5%, p=0.001), A Rh (+) (41.1% vs. 36.6%, p=0.001) and AB Rh (+) (7.4% vs. 6.6%, p=0.001) groups;they were lower in O (29.8% vs. 34.4%, p=0.001), B (15.9% vs. 16.4%, p=0.008), Rh (-) (10.8% vs. 12.5%, p=0.001), B Rh (-) (1.7% vs. 2.0%, p=0.001), O Rh (+) (26.6% vs. 29.9%, p=0.001) and O Rh (-) (3.2% vs. 4.5%, p=0.001) groups. Conclusions: There might be an increased COVID-19 risk in A, AB, Rh (+) and A Rh (+) and AB Rh (+) groups as well as a decreased risk in O, B, Rh (-) and O Rh (+), O Rh (-) and B Rh (-) groups.
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Aim: During our routine work at the Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) laboratories, HIV 1/2 antibody false positive results were observed among immune plasma donors more frequently than healthy donors. We aimed to determine anti-HIV1/2 antibody false positivity rates among the convalescent plasma donors and healthy blood donors. Methods: 2593 donors donated 3689 donations of immune plasma to the TRC between 11 April-06 July 2020, and were screened by eCLIA for the presence of antibody against HIV1/2. The confirmation tests were performed with LIA. All of the donors were non-remunerated immune plasma donors between the ages of 18 and 60. For the control group, 41 078 donations from 407 363 healthy blood donors received on the same days. Results: Repeated reactivity rates (1.87%) was significantly higher in immune plasma donors than the control group (0.13%, p < 0.05). However, there was not a statistically significant difference between the confirmed reactivity rates of the study group (0.03%) and the control group (0.01%, p: 0.217). Conclusion: Serologic and NAT screening tests are performed in the laboratories of the TRC to prevent transfusion transmitted infections. In our study, it was determined that the false positive results obtained from serologic HIV screening tests of convalescent plasma donors were significantly higher when compared to the healthy blood donors.
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The virus COVID-19, which emerged in China in December 2019, was announced by the World Health Organization as a pandemic in January 2020. It is known that infection is not severe and may even progress without symptoms in patients who have come into contact with COVID-19. Although various organizations have been informed about how to take measures to protect the patient and the surgeon in case of diseases requiring urgent or elective surgery in people infected with COVID-19 or in cases with high suspicion, there is still no definite judgment between patients, physicians and health authorities. In this study, which was prepared with the initiative of the Turkish Surgical Association, we tried to shed light on what should be done and how surgeons should act in patients whose operation is mandatory in light of the available data.