The effect of clay therapy on hopelessness and depression levels in chronic stroke patients in addition to physical therapy.

BACKGROUND: Clay art therapy can be used as part of rehabilitation for chronic stroke patients. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to examine the effect of clay therapy on hopelessness and depression levels in chronic stroke patients who receive physical therapy and compare them to patients who only receive physical therapy. METHODS: This randomized controlled study was conducted between August 1st - September 28th, 2022 in Turkiye, with 60 patients who agreed to participate in the study and met the inclusion criteria, which were chronic stroke patients who received physical therapy. The patients were divided into two groups (30 in the experimental group, 30 in the control group) with the control group receiving only their routine physical therapy and rehabilitation (5 days a week, 40 sessions in total), while the experimental group received their routine physical therapy and rehabilitation program as well as clay therapy twice a week, 60 min per session, for 8 weeks. Demographic information of all the participants was recorded, and the Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Hopelessness Scale were administered before and after treatment. RESULTS: The patients' depression posttest scores (t(58) = -11.386; p = 0.000 < 0,05), and hopelessness posttest scores (t(58) = -10.247; p = 0.000 < 0,05) differed significantly based on their groups. The control group's depression posttest scores (x¯ =25,033) and hopelessness posttest scores (x¯ =15,000) were higher than the experimental group's depression posttest scores (x¯ =9,067) and hopelessness posttest scores (x¯ =8,000). The control group's feeling about the future posttest scores (x¯ =2,967) were higher than the experimental group's posttest scores (x¯ =0,967). The control group's loss of motivation posttest scores (x¯ =6,400) were higher than the experimental group's posttest scores (x¯ =2,667). CONCLUSION: It was seen that clay therapy, in addition to physical therapy, was effective in reducing depression and hopelessness in chronic stroke patients.

Maximizing Pharmacological Treatment Adherence of Children and Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Study.

The aim of the current randomized controlled study was to evaluate treatment adherence of children and adolescents who visited an outpatient psychiatry clinic and started medication for the first time, with telehealth application. This study was performed with parents of patients who visited the clinic from October 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021. Data were collected using a personal information form, Medication Control Form, and Morisky Medication Adherence Scale via telephone after verbal and written consent were obtained. It was found that 96.7% of participants in the experimental group had high medication adherence, whereas 93.3% of participants in the control group had low medication adherence. Results show that telehealth application is effective in maximizing adherence to treatment among children and adolescents. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 61(1), 16-24.].

Colonizations on biofilm layers of D-J catheters under sterile urine conditions. / Colonización de las capas de biofilm de los catéteres doble J en condiciones de orina estéril.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate colonizations onbiofilm layers of Double J (D-J) catheters implanted forkidney stones or ureteral stones under sterile conditions. METHODS: D-J catheters implanted between January2012 and February 2014 and removed in 0-90 days,were examined in microbiology laboratory prospectively.Fifty two patients divided into three groups regardingthe duration of the D-J catheters as; 0-30 days, 31-60days, 61-90 days. The colonization (≥1.000 colony)was reported after biofilm layer on D-J catheter was holdin culture media. The upper, middle and lower parts ofthe catheters were analyzed seperately. RESULTS: Thirty five patients had symptomatic urinarytract infection or positive urine culture after implantationwere excluded from the study. Colonization on biofilm layer was detected in 11 patients (21.15%) [Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS): 3, Escherichia coli (E. coli): 3, Candida species (Candida spp.): 3, Klebsiella species (Klebsiella spp.): 2]. The rates of colonization according to the duration of the catheterization were; 12.5% in 0-30 days, 18.51% in 30-60 days, 29.4% in 60-90 days (Group 1 vs 2; .696 , group 1 vs group 3; .356 , group 2 vs group 3; .401). The rates of colonization according to the location of the catheter were; 100% in upper and lower parts, 54.4% in middle part (Group 1 vs 2; .011, group 1 vs group 3; , group 2 vs group 3; .011). CONCLUSIONS: Colonization on catheters is possibleeven in the sterile urinary conditions according to thepresent findings. The risk of colonization increases 1.5times in 30-60 days and 2.5 times in 60-90 days comparedto the first 30 days. Besides the risk of colonizationincreases about 2 times in the convoluted edges ofthe catheter compared with the middle part. Thus, D-Jcatheter should be removed as soon as possible and therisk of colonization should be minimalized.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la colonización de las capas de biofilm de los catéteres doble J (DJ) implantados por litiasis renal o ureteral bajo condiciones estériles.MÉTODOS: Los catéteres DJ implantados entre enero 2012 y febrero 2014 y retirados en 0-90 días fueron examinados de forma prospectiva en el laboratorio de microbiología. Cincuenta y dos pacientes fueron divididos en tres grupos conforme al tiempo del DJ: 0-30 días, 31-60 días y 61-90 días. La colonización (>100.000colonias) fue comunicada tras el cultivo de la capa de biofilm del catéter. Se analizaron por separado las zonas superior, media e inferior de los catéteres DJ. RESULTADOS: 35 pacientes que tenían infección urinaria sintomática o cultivo de orina positivo después del implante fueron excluidos del estudio. Se detectó colonización de la capa de biofilm en 11 pacientes (21,5%) [estafilococo coagulasa negativo (SCN): 3, Escherichia coli (E.coli): 3, Cándida especies (Cándida spp: 3, Klebsiela especies (Klebsiela spp.): 2] Las tasas de colonización de acuerdo con el tiempo de catéter fueron 12,5% en 0-30 días, 18,51% en 30-60 días, 29,4% en 60-90 días (Grupo 1 vs 2; ,696 , grupo 1 vs grupo 3; ,356, grupo 2 vs grupo 3; ,401). Las tasas de colonización de acuerdo con la localización del catéter fueron del 100% en las porciones superior e inferior y 54% en la porción media (Grupo 1 vs 2; ,011, grupo 1 vs grupo 3; , grupo 2 vs grupo 3; ,011). CONCLUSIONES: La colonización de los catéteres es posible incluso en condiciones de orina estéril de acuerdo con los hallazgos presentes. El riesgo de colonización aumenta 1,5 veces en 30-60 días y 2,5 veces en 60-90 días comparado con los primeros 30 días. Además, el riesgo de colonización aumenta unas 2 veces en los extremos espirales del catéter en comparación con la porción media. Así, los catéteres DJ deben ser retirados tan pronto como sea posible y el riesgo de colonización debe ser minimizado.

Colonizations on biofilm layers of d-j catheters under sterile urine conditions / Colonización de las capas de biofilm de los catéteres doble J en condiciones de orina estéril

Objetive: To evaluate colonizations on biofilm layers of Double J (D-J) catheters implanted for kidney stones or ureteral stones under sterile conditions. Methods: -J catheters implanted between January 2012 and February 2014 and removed in 0-90 days, were examined in microbiology laboratory prospectively. Fifty two patients divided into three groups regarding the duration of the D-J catheters as; 0-30 days, 31-60 days, 61-90 days. The colonization (≥1.000 colony) was reported after biofilm layer on D-J catheter was hold in culture media. The upper, middle and lower parts of the catheters were analyzed seperately. Results:Thirty five patients had symptomatic urinary tract infection or positive urine culture after implantation were excluded from the study. Colonization on biofilm layer was detected in 11 patients (21.15%) [Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS): 3, Escherichia coli (E. coli): 3, Candida species (Candida spp.): 3, Klebsiella species (Klebsiella spp.): 2]. The rates of colonization according to the duration of the catheterization were; 12.5% in 0-30 days, 18.51% in 30-60 days, 29.4% in 60-90 days (Group 1 vs 2; p=0.696 , group 1 vs group 3; p=0.356 , group 2 vs group 3; p=0.401). The rates of colonization according to the location of the catheter were; 100% in upper and lower parts, 54.4% in middle part (Group 1 vs 2; p=0.011, group 1 vs group 3; p=1, group 2 vs group 3; p=0.011). Conclusions: Colonization on catheters is possible even in the sterile urinary conditions according to the present findings. The risk of colonization increases 1.5 times in 30-60 days and 2.5 times in 60-90 days compared to the first 30 days. Besides the risk of colonization increases about 2 times in the convoluted edges of the catheter compared with the middle part. Thus, D-J catheter should be removed as soon as possible and the risk of colonization should be minimalized

Objetivo: Evaluar la colonización de las capas de biofilm de los catéteres doble J (DJ) implantados por litiasis renal o ureteral bajo condiciones estériles. Métodos: Los catéteres DJ implantados entre enero 2012 y febrero 2014 y retirados en 0-90 días fueron examinados de forma prospectiva en el laboratorio de microbiología. Cincuenta y dos pacientes fueron divididos en tres grupos conforme al tiempo del DJ: 0-30 días, 31-60 días y 61-90 días. La colonización (>100.000 colonias) fue comunicada tras el cultivo de la capa de biofilm del catéter. Se analizaron por separado las zonas superior, media e inferior de los catéteres DJ. Resultados: 35 pacientes que tenían infección urinaria sintomática o cultivo de orina positivo después del implante fueron excluidos del estudio. Se detectó colonización de la capa de biofilm en 11 pacientes (21,5%) [estafilococo coagulasa negativo (SCN): 3, Escherichia coli (E.coli): 3, Cándida especies (Cándida spp: 3, Klebsiela especies (Klebsiela spp.): 2] Las tasas de colonización de acuerdo con el tiempo de catéter fueron 12,5% en 0-30 días, 18,51% en 30-60 días, 29,4% en 60-90 días (Grupo 1 vs 2; ,696 , grupo 1 vs grupo 3; ,356, grupo 2 vs grupo 3; ,401). Las tasas de colonización de acuerdo con la localización del catéter fueron del 100% en las porciones superior e inferior y 54% en la porción media (Grupo 1 vs 2; ,011, grupo 1 vs grupo 3; , grupo 2 vs grupo 3; ,011). Conclusiones: La colonización de los catéteres es posible incluso en condiciones de orina estéril de acuerdo con los hallazgos presentes. El riesgo de colonización aumenta 1,5 veces en 30-60 días y 2,5 veces en 60-90 días comparado con los primeros 30 días. Además, el riesgo de colonización aumenta unas 2 veces en los extremos espirales del catéter en comparación con la porción media. Así, los catéteres DJ deben ser retirados tan pronto como sea posible y el riesgo de colonización debe ser minimizado

The Role of Dynamic Retinoscopy in Predicting Infantile Accommodative Esotropia and Influencing Emmetropization.

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE: To investigate the role that dynamic retinoscopy can play in reducing the occurrence of infantile accommodative esotropia and facilitating emmetropization in infants with high hyperopia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 211 orthotropic infants under 1 year of age (3.5 to 12 months) identified as having ≥5 diopters of hyperopia in their more hyperopic eye on a routine eye exam. On enrollment, infants underwent an assessment of accommodation using dynamic retinoscopy as well as a cycloplegic refraction. Infants who showed normal accommodation were followed without spectacles. If dynamic retinoscopy showed subnormal accommodation, partial hyperopic correction that allowed for full binocular accommodative responses at near were prescribed. Main outcome measures were the occurrence of esotropia, changes in refractive error, and visual acuity. RESULTS: Of the 211 infants enrolled, 146 showed normal accommodation and were followed without glasses (Group 1). None of these patients developed strabismus. Sixty-five patients showed subnormal accommodation and received partial hyperopic correction (Group 2). Thirty-four of the 65 (52%) in Group 2 did not develop strabismus (Group 2A) and 31 of the 65 (48%) developed strabismus (Group 2B). All 3 groups showed a reduction of hyperopia of 0.37D ± 0.25/year, 0.50D ± 0.28/year, and 0.60D ± 0.20/year in groups 1, 2A, and 2B, respectively. None of the differences between groups were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Normal accommodation on dynamic retinoscopy in orthotropic hyperopic infants is a predictor of continued good alignment and such infants can be followed without spectacles. Partial spectacle correction based on dynamic retinoscopy may have a beneficial effect on reducing the development of strabismus without impeding emmetropization. Early binocular accommodative behavior seems to be predictive of infants at risk of developing strabismus.

Effective and safe mannitol administration in patients undergoing supratentorial tumor surgery: A prospective, randomized and double blind study.

OBJECTIVES: Although osmotic diuresis with mannitol is commonly used to provide brain relaxation, there is no consensus regarding its optimal dose and combination with loop diuretics. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effects of mannitol and combination of furosemide with different doses of mannitol on brain relaxation and on blood electrolytes, lactate level, urine output, fluid balance and blood osmolarity in patients undergoing supratentorial tumor surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study included 51 patients (ASA I-III) scheduled for elective supratentorial craniotomy. Different doses and combinations of diuretics were administered after the bone flap removal. The Group 1 received mannitol at 0.5gkg-1 and furosemide at 0.5mgkg-1, the Group 2 received mannitol at 1gkg-1 and furosemide at 0.5mgkg-1, and the Group 3 received mannitol at 0.5gkg-1 and placebo. The primary end-point of the present study is to evaluate the effects of mannitol and combination of furosemide with different doses of mannitol on brain relaxation and the secondary end-points are to evaluate their effects on blood electrolytes, lactate level, urine output, fluid balance and blood osmolarity. RESULTS: This study shows that mannitol alone (0.5gkg-1), and the combinations of furosemide (0.5mgkg-1) with different doses of mannitol (0.5gkg-1-1gkg-1) provides adequate brain relaxation. However, administration of furosemide with low or high doses of mannitol may cause reduction in the sodium and chloride levels as well as rise in the lactate level. Moreover it may cause high urine output and negative intra-operative fluid balance. CONCLUSION: Administration of 0.5gkg-1 mannitol provides adequate brain relaxation without causing systemic side effects in patients undergoing supratentorial tumor surgery. This study is registered to clinical trials (Clinical Trials.gov identifier NCT02712476).

Apical extrusion of Enterococcus faecalis in different canal geometries during the use of nickel titanium systems with different motion types.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Extrusion of intracanal bacteria leads to treatment failures. Compare the apical extrusion of intracanal bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis) during canal preparation with three different instrumentation techniques [RECIPROC, One Shape (OS), and Twisted-File Adaptive (TFA)] with different motion types. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety teeth with different canal morphologies were divided into three main groups, each including 30 teeth (10 mandibular incisors, 10 mandibular premolars, and 10 curved roots). Roots were resected until 13-mm working length was obtained and fixed to glass vials filled with brain-heart infusion broth. Each canal was filled with E. faecalis suspension. The three main groups were further grouped into three subgroups. Each group was further subgrouped into three, with each subgroup including 10 roots from each type of teeth (10 incisors/subgroup, 10 premolars/subgroup, and 10 curved canals/subgroup). These subgroups were prepared with one of RECIPROC, OS, or TFA. Bacterial colonies extruded into each vial were incubated in brain-heart infusion agar at 37°C for 5 days and counted using a colony counter as the number of colony-forming units per milliliter. Statistical analyses were performed using one-way analysis of variance, post hoc Tukey honest significant difference, and Kruskal-Wallis tests. RESULTS: Apically extruded bacteria were not statistically different from each other (P > 0.05). The amount of apically extruded bacteria was statistically similar for both different instruments in the same type of tooth (P > 0.05) and same instrument in different types of teeth (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Neither the motion type of instrument nor the canal morphology affected the degree of bacterial extrusion.

Postoperative analgesia for supratentorial craniotomy.

OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of moderate to severe pain is high in patients following craniotomy. Although optimal analgesic therapy is mandatory, there is no consensus regarding analgesic regimen for post-craniotomy pain exists. This study aimed to investigate the effects of morphine and non-opioid analgesics on postcraniotomy pain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study included eighty three patients (ASA 1, II, and III) scheduled for elective supratentorial craniotomy. Intravenous dexketoprofen, paracetamol and metamizol were investigated for their effects on pain intensity, morphine consumption and morphine related side effects during the first 24h following supratentorial craniotomy. Patients were treated with morphine based patient controlled analgesia (PCA) for 24h following surgery and randomized to receive supplemental IV dexketoprofen 50mg, paracetamol 1g, metamizol 1g or placebo. The primary endpoint was pain intensity, secondary endpoint was the effects on morphine consumption and related side effects. RESULTS: When the whole study period was analyzed with repeated measures of ANOVA, the pain intensity, cumulative morphine consumption and related side effects were not different among the groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed that the use of morphine based PCA prevented moderate to severe postoperative pain without causing any life threatening side effects in patients undergoing supratentorial craniotomy with a vigilant follow up during postoperative 24h. Although we could not demonstrate statistically significant effect of supplemental analgesics on morphine consumption, it was lower in dexketoprofen and metamizol groups than control group.

Effective automated prediction of vertebral column pathologies based on logistic model tree with SMOTE preprocessing.

This study develops a logistic model tree based automation system based on for accurate recognition of types of vertebral column pathologies. Six biomechanical measures are used for this purpose: pelvic incidence, pelvic tilt, lumbar lordosis angle, sacral slope, pelvic radius and grade of spondylolisthesis. A two-phase classification model is employed in which the first step is preprocessing the data by use of Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE), and the second one is feeding the classifier Logistic Model Tree (LMT) with the preprocessed data. We have achieved an accuracy of 89.73 %, and 0.964 Area Under Curve (AUC) in computer based automatic detection of the pathology. This was validated via a 10-fold-cross-validation experiment conducted on clinical records of 310 patients. The study also presents a comparative analysis of the vertebral column data with the use of several machine learning algorithms.

Perioperative Temperature Monitoring and Patient Warming: A Survey Study.

OBJECTIVE: Hypothermia is defined as the decrease of core body temperature under 36°C. Hypothermia is observed at a rate of 50-90% in the perioperative period. In our study, we aimed to measure the perception of hypothermia in our country, to evaluate the measures taken by physicians to intercept hypothermia, to determine the frequency and the methods used to monitor body temperature and the techniques used in warming the patients. Another aim was to develop a guideline for preventing perioperative hypothermia. METHODS: The questionnaire consisted of 26 multiple-choice questions. The time needed to answer the questions was 8-10 minutes. RESULTS: Of the 1380 individuals, 312 (22.6%) answered the questions in the questionnaire. Of these, 148 (47.4%) declared they were working in university hospitals, 80 (25.6%) in training and research hospitals, 51 (16.4%) in government hospitals and 33 (10.6%) in various private hospitals. Of the 312 individuals, 134 (42.9%) were specialists, 107 (34.3%) were resident physicians, 71 (22.8%) were academics. In addition, 212 (67.9%) reported working in operating rooms, 49 (15.7%) in intensive care units and 42 (13.5%) both in operating rooms and intensive care units. In the answers, there was variation among the hospital types in applications of body temperature monitoring and warming the patient. Another finding was that the individuals had different approaches to the concepts on perioperative hypothermia and its consequences. CONCLUSION: The perceptions of physicians and the allied health personnel in government and private hospitals should be enhanced by informing them about the passive and active heating systems to prevent hypothermia. Although the situation in university and training and research hospitals seems to be better, defects are still observed in practice. Preparation of a national guideline for prevention of perioperative hypothermia is needed.

Effective diagnosis of coronary artery disease using the rotation forest ensemble method.

Coronary Artery Disease is a common heart disease related to disorders effecting the heart and blood vessels. Since the disease is one of the leading causes of heart attacks and thus deaths, diagnosis of the disease in its early stages or in cases when patients do not show many of the symptoms yet has considerable importance. In the literature, studies based on computational methods have been proposed to diagnose the disease with readily available and easily collected patient data, and among these studies, the greatest accuracy reached is 89.01%. This paper presents a computational tool based on the Rotation Forest algorithm to effectively diagnose Coronary Artery Disease in order to support clinical decision-making processes. The proposed method utilizes Artificial Neural Networks with the Levenberg-Marquardt back propagation algorithm as base classifiers of the Rotation Forest ensemble method. In this scheme, 91.2% accuracy in diagnosing the disease is accomplished, which is, to the best of our knowledge, the best performance among the computational methods from the literature that use the same data. This paper also presents a comparison of the proposed method with some other classifiers in terms of diagnosis performance of Coronary Artery Disease.