Changes in adolescent mental health during the covid pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Previous pandemics around the world have shown that negative emotions are intensified in individuals when restrictions are imposed on human daily life activities. This study aims to draw attention to the pandemic-specific factors that might be associated with the severity of depression, anxiety, and COVID-19 phobia of high school students. METHODS: A total of 1,431 high school students aged 14 to 18 years were invited to participate in thisstudy using online survey forms. They were asked to fill out a questionnaire about themselves and the changes in their lives during the pandemic. They completed the COVID-19 Phobia Scale (C19P-S) and the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS). RESULTS: Findings showed that being a girl is an increased risk factor for anxiety, depression, and COVID-19 phobia. In addition, following the official daily COVID-19 data and having a healthcare professional in the building of residence are significant risk factors for COVID-19 phobia. Having a psychiatric disorder, having a chronic disease, losing anyone due to COVID-19 infection, undergoing a COVID-19 diagnostic test, and meeting friends in person are increased risk factors for anxiety or depression during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in adolescents' lives caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are negatively affecting their mental health. Studies are needed to maintain the mental well-being of adolescents under the conditions of this pandemic.

A study to develop clinical decision rules for the use of radiography in wrist trauma: Karadeniz wrist rules.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with wrist trauma using physical examination findings and functional tests and to identify findings with high sensitivity and specificity among the parameters assessed in patients with fracture in the wrist. The ultimate objective was thus to establish a reliable and widely usable clinical decision rule for determining the necessity of radiography in wrist trauma. METHODS: This prospective, multicenter study was performed in 8 hospitals. The relation between radiologically determined fracture and clinical findings consisting of physical examination findings and functional tests was assessed in terms of whether or not these were markers of radiography requirement, with the aim of identifying predictive values for fracture. RESULTS: A total of 603 eligible trauma patients presented to the participating EDs during the study period. Fracture was identified in 24.5% of patients (n = 148). The 4-way combination with the highest sensitivity was identified as axial compression and the positive distal radioulnar drawer test, and pain with radial deviation and dorsal flexion. Sensitivity at distal ulna palpation was added as a fifth parameter, and sensitivity and negative predictive value thus increased to 100%. CONCLUSION: With their 100% sensitivity and 100% negative predictive values, the Karadeniz wrist rules may represent a clinical decision rule that can be used in practice in EDs. If all 5 findings are negative, there is no indication for wrist radiography.

The effect of ethyl pyruvate and N-acetylcysteine on ischemia-reperfusion injury in an experimental model of ischemic stroke.

INTRODUCTION: Reperfusion therapies play an important role in early-period treatment for patients presenting to the emergency department due to stroke. However, the ischemia-reperfusion injury that may occur with reperfusion must then be considered. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and ethyl pyruvate in preventing ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHOD: This study is a randomized, controlled experimental study. In group 1, rats' left main carotid arteries were clamped. Reperfusion was established by releasing the clamp after 1.5 hours. In group 2, the left main carotid artery was clamped, and 20 mg/kg intraperitoneal NAC was administered after 1 hour. The clamp was released 0.5 hour after NAC administration. In group 3, rats' left carotid arteries were clamped, and 50 mg/kg ethyl pyruvate was administered intraperitoneally after 1 hour. The clamp was released 0.5 hour after ethyl pyruvate administration. All tissue samples were collected 2.5 hours after reperfusion. Brain tissues were compared histopathologically. RESULTS: A higher percentage of degenerative neurons was determined in group 1 compared with groups 2 and 3 (P values: P(a) = .003 and P(c) = .003, respectively). A significant difference was also observed between groups 2 and 3 (P(b) = .003), with the percentage of degenerative neurons being lower in the NAC group than in the ethyl pyruvate group. CONCLUSION: The use of NAC and ethyl pyruvate reduces injury resulting from ischemia-reperfusion in an experimental animal model of acute ischemic stroke and subsequent reperfusion.

Determination of radiography requirement in wrist trauma.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate predetermined physical examination and function tests recommended to identify severe injury among patients presenting with wrist injury to the emergency department and to establish a reliable clinical decision rule capable of determining the need for radiography in wrist injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a multicenter prospective derivation study of wrist injuries. All patients were assessed in terms of mechanism of trauma, inspection findings, heart rate, sensitivity at palpation, presence of pain with active movement, grasp strength, and functional tests using an examination form under main headings. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were expressed for each sign and each examination finding. RESULTS: One hundred nineteen adult patients were enrolled during the 6-month study period. Fracture was identified in 24.3% (n = 29). Presence of pain on the radial deviation, dorsal flexion, distal radioulnar drawer, and axial compression tests exhibited high sensitivity (82.8%, 89.7%, 82.8%, and 86.2%, respectively) and high negative predictive values (88.6%, 81.3%, 87.5%, and 93.6%, respectively) for wrist fracture. Sensitivity of 96.6% was observed when these 4 tests were evaluated together. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of one of these examination findings increases the likelihood of fracture and is adequate to recommend wrist radiography. In addition, there is a strong possibility of radiography being unnecessary if all 4 test results are negative in patients presenting with wrist injury, potentially preventing many nonessential radiographs being performed.

The Prevalence of Allergic Diseases and Associated Risk Factors in School-Age Children and Adults in Erzurum, Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: Allergic diseases are a major public health problem, owing to their socioeconomic burden and high frequency. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of allergic diseases in adults and children in the province of Erzurum. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Primary school students aged 11-12 years old filled out the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) phase II questionnaire, and their parents filled out the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) questionnaire by themselves. We enrolled 494 questionnaires for ISAAC and 946 for ECRHS. RESULTS: The survey response rates were 91.8% for ISAAC and 87% for ECRHS. The frequencies of doctor-diagnosed asthma, allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, atopic dermatitis, and food allergy in children were 11.9%, 8.9%, 27.3%, 3.6%, and 6.5%, respectively. In adults, the rates of wheezing in the chest, accompanying shortness of breath, and wheezing in the absence of flu within the last 12 months were 8%, 8%, and 5.5%, respectively, whereas the rate of asthma attack in the last 12 months was 2.9%, the rate of asthma medication usage was 2.6%, and the frequency of allergic rhinitis was 1.6%. The determined risk factors for childhood were "duration of attending a nursery" for asthma (p=0.02, OR=2.51, 95% CI=1.14-5.53), "having ever been to a nursery" for atopic dermatitis (p=0.02, OR=3.83, 95% CI=1.24-11.8), and "a family history of rhinitis" for food allergy (p=0.01, OR=2.94, 95% CI=1.13-6-57). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of allergic diseases in children and adults in Erzurum was found to be lower than in studies conducted throughout Turkey and in western regions of the Country. Going to a nursery, the length of nursery education, and a family history of rhinitis were identified as the risk factors for allergic diseases in children. The identification of regional risk factors and taking preventive measures in this regard may provide a reduction in the incidence of allergic diseases.

Food allergy knowledge and attitude of restaurant personnel in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of food-induced allergic reactions is gradually increasing. Most of these allergic reactions occur in restaurants. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the awareness of restaurant personnel about food allergy. METHODS: The training, knowledge levels on food allergy, and comfort level in providing safe food of 351 restaurant personnel in Erzurum Province, Turkey, were assessed through a face-to-face survey. RESULTS: Among the participants, 81.5% were male (mean age 28.5 ± 8.5 years). Among them, 17.1% were chefs, 11.1% managers, 5.7% owners, and 66.1% waiters. Food allergy training was reported by 17.1% of the participants. The rates of restaurant personnel who gave the correct answers to the 4 questionnaire items, "Customers with food allergies can safely consume a small amount of that food/Food allergic reaction can cause death/If a customer is having an allergic reaction, it is appropriate to immediately serve them water to 'dilute' the allergen/Removing an allergen from a finished meal (eg, taking off nuts) may be all that is necessary to provide a safe meal for an allergic customer," which measure food allergy knowledge levels, were 46.4%, 65.7%, 55.0%, and 65.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: According to our study, there are gaps in the food allergy knowledge of restaurant personnel. Because preparing and serving safe meals to patients with food allergy in restaurants is important, the training of restaurant personnel in food allergy is necessary.