New CagL Amino Acid Polymorphism Patterns of Helicobacter pylori in Peptic Ulcer and Non-Ulcer Dyspepsia.

Background and Objectives: Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with chronic gastritis, ulcers, and gastric cancer. The H. pylori Type 4 secretion system (T4SS) translocates the CagA protein into host cells and plays an essential role in initiating gastric carcinogenesis. The CagL protein is a component of the T4SS. CagL amino acid polymorphisms are correlated with clinical outcomes. We aimed to study the association between CagL amino acid polymorphisms and peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD). Materials and Methods: A total of 99 patients (PUD, 46; NUD, 53) were enrolled and screened for H. pylori by qPCR from antrum biopsy samples. The amino acid polymorphisms of CagL were analyzed using DNA sequencing, followed by the MAFFT sequence alignment program to match the amino acid sequences. Results: Antrum biopsy samples from 70 out of 99 (70.7%) patients were found to be H. pylori DNA-positive. A positive band for cagL was detected in 42 out of 70 samples (PUD, 23; NUD, 19), and following this, these 42 samples were sequenced. In total, 27 different polymorphisms were determined. We determined three CagL amino acid polymorphism combinations, which were determined to be associated with PUD and NUD. Pattern 1 (K35/N122/V134/T175/R194/E210) was only detected in PUD patient samples and was related to a 1.35-fold risk (p = 0.02). Patterns 2 (V41/I134) and 3 (V41/K122/A171/I174) were found only in NUD patient samples and were linked to a 1.26-fold increased risk (p = 0.03). Conclusions: We observed three new patterns associated with PUD and NUD. Pattern 1 is related to PUD, and the other two patterns (Patterns 2 and 3) are related to NUD. The patterns that we identified include the remote polymorphisms of the CagL protein, which is a new approach. These patterns may help to understand the course of H. pylori infection.

Gender, sexual experiences and sexual behavioural differences in Turkish university students.

This study was conducted to determine sexual experiences and gender differences in sexual behaviour in university students. In this cross-sectional and descriptive study conducted between 1st February and 12th November 2017. A total of 491 volunteer students were selected at a state university in the Mediterranean region of Turkey using a systematic sampling method. Questionnaires were distributed to the students in sealed envelopes and collected on completion. The data were collected using a socio-demographic form and a sexual experiences and sexual health behaviours form. A total of 414 students (78 males; 336 females) were included in this study. The prevalence of sexual intercourse among these was 4.3%, and total oral and anal sex experiences were 35% and 16.7%, respectively. A significantly higher number of female students of those who reported having sexual intercourse (n = 9; 50.0%), oral sex (n = 81; 55.9%) and anal sex (n = 60; 87.0%), also reported not telling anyone about his/her partner (77.2%), not talking about sex (82.4%) and not buying contraceptive products, even when necessary (78.3%). Hidden sexuality was seen to affect female students more often and this may lead to risky sexual behaviours, sexually transmitted diseases, an unhealthy sexual life with multiple partners and even unplanned, unwanted pregnancies.

The anxiety levels of midwives and nurses working for filiation during COVID-19: A sample of Turkey.

This study examines the anxiety levels of midwives and nurses working for filiation during management of the COVID-19 pandemic(n = 205) The cross-sectional data were collected using State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-I and II). Having COVID-19 test done and provision of protective equipment affected their STAI-I and II. High anxiety status was found to be those who did not experience fear of carrying the coronavirus to their families (O.R: 1.128), who had diagnosis tests done (O.R:0.888), who had good feeling states before COVID-19 process (O.R:1.076). Information about infection spreads, required equipment and providing social support will lead to a reduction in their anxiety levels in working filiation.

Violent Discipline Behaviors in Mothers of Preschool Children in Malatya, East Anatolia.

Violent parenting behavior, whether physical or psychological, give harms to child well-being. This study was conducted to describe and compare the prevalence of discipline methods used by mothers of 2- to 5-year-old children in Malatya, Turkey. This is a cross sectional study and 552 mothers were administered a face-to-face questionnaire describe the methods they use to discipline their children in the year previous the survey. It was observed that nine of 10 women used violence on their children physically and psychologically. The study showed that nine of 10 mothers used physical and/or psychological punishment toward their children in the previous year. Nonviolent discipline was less prevalent than punitive discipline, such as psychological and physical punishment. The most commonly used method was psychological punishment. Significant sociodemographic associations with discipline methods were found. Mother's educational level, family income, child gender, and child age were the independent predictors that explained discipline methods used by mothers. Starting parenting classes and strengthening the child protection systems at national level were suggested.

Why have the numbers of cesareans increased globally? The factors that affect women's decisions about cesarean delivery in Turkey.

Purpose: The aim of this research is to investigate the factors that prevent women choosing vaginal delivery, and to identify the reasons underlying the increasing rate of cesarean births.Materials and methods: The study was carried out as descriptive cross-sectional research. The sample group consists of 591 women who gave birth via cesarean delivery at a state hospital. Research data was collected using a questionnaire and through face-to-face interviews by researchers. The data was presented as frequency, mean, and analyzed chi-square test, binary logistic regression.Results: The average age of the participating women was 26.49 ± 0.2, the majority were primary-secondary school graduates (70.6%) and housewives (97.0%). About 87.3% of the participants opted for cesarean delivery following medical advice due to medical reasons, and others intentionally chose this method for specific reasons including fear of vaginal delivery, tubal ligation, or a desire to plan a specific birthdate. The findings of the logistic regression model indicate that the increase in number of prenatal care appointments and the time of deciding on the type of delivery approaches the time of delivery increased the medical advice-based cesarean delivery rate (respectively; OR: 1.390, p = .001; OR: 1.850, p = .000), and that having had a previous delivery with the aid of a midwife reduced the likelihood of medical advice-based cesarean delivery (0.233, p = .001). These correlations were also found to be significant in the chi-square test (p < .05).Conclusions: The attitudes of health professionals, women's demands and the time allowed for making decisions about cesarean delivery have an effect on preferences regarding cesareans.

Maternal smoking and newborn sex, birth weight and breastfeeding: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: Today, it is acknowledged that smoking during pregnancy and/or the postnatal period has significant risks for a foetus and newborn child. This research examines the relationship between smoking only postnatally, both during pregnancy and postnatally, and the newborn sex, birth weight and breastfeeding. METHODS: Total 664 women of randomly selected five primary healthcare centres between the dates 20 February 2010 and 20 July 2010 were included in the research. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS for Windows 19.0 (Statistical Package for Social Sciences software package). Data were described as mean, standard deviation, percentages and Chi-square tests and backward stepwise logistic regression were analysed. RESULTS: It was found that the percentage of smoking women with daughters is 2.5 times higher than women with sons. Women who smoke are 3.9 times more likely to start feeding their baby with supplementary infant foods at 4 months or earlier than those who do not smoke. Finally, the risk of a birth weight under 2500 g is 3.8 times higher for maternal smokers. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that women who expect a girl smoke more heavily than those who expect a boy. The birth weight of maternal smokers' newborns is lower. Those women who smoke while breastfeeding start feeding their babies with supplementary infant foods at an earlier age.