Retrospective evaluation of ponticulus posticus prevalence, sella turcica types, and stylohyoid complex calcifications in a group of Turkish population.

The aim of this retrospective analysis was to assess the incidence of ponticulus posticus and stylohyoid ligament calcification and to evaluate the morphological variations of the sella turcica within the Turkish demographic using CBCT scans. Involving a retrospective review of 460 CBCT scans and utilizing the NewTom 3G system, the study analyzed high-quality CBCT images to investigate ponticulus posticus, stylohyoid ligament calcifications, and sella turcica morphology. The ponticulus posticus was examined for complete or partial formations, while the stylohyoid ligament was classified according to its elongation and calcification patterns. The sella turcica was categorized into six distinct morphological types, enhancing the understanding of structural variations in the context of the Turkish population. The calcification patterns of the styloid processes were examined on both sides of 380 individuals, revealing the highest prevalence in the 'd' and 'e' categories on the right, and similar findings on the left among 373 individuals. Symmetric calcification patterns were more common, with 68.4% symmetry observed. For the sella turcica, category 'a' was the most frequent among 363 individuals. Analysis of ponticulus posticus absence and presence showed a majority lacking this feature on both sides, with complete and partial forms less common. The study highlights the anatomical variability and bilateral symmetry of the styloid processes, sella turcica, and ponticulus posticus, illustrating that these structures do not significantly vary with gender or age. These results hold clinical significance for the diagnosis and treatment of related conditions, prompting further investigation into their impact on patient care.

Feelings and thoughts of midwifery students during their first birth suite placement: A qualitative study.

This descriptive qualitative study aimed to understand the feelings and thoughts experienced by 4th year midwifery students during the first birth they attended during clinical practice. Focus group interviews were conducted with 22 final year midwifery students in Istanbul, Türkiye December 2020. The transcribed data were analyzed by the descriptive qualitative analysis method. The students experienced not only negative feelings such as fear, torment, anxiety but also positive feelings such as hope, excitement, and curiosity during the first birth practice. The situations that caused negative feelings and thoughts were not only the feelings of the students but also the conditions that negatively affected the care provided to the patient in the clinic. The clinical practice environment affects the feelings and thoughts of midwifery students about the birth process. For this reason, improving the clinical practice environment and supporting students throughout the education process may contribute to the development of positive feelings and thoughts when attending as a student for their first birth suite placement.

The menstrual cup knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of Turkish women in reproductive age.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of Turkish women of reproductive age toward menstrual cup. METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted via online platforms with 301 Turkish women between March-June 2023. The Participant Information Form was used to collect the data. A p value of <0.05 was considered. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 26.42 ± 7.81 years. The most common used menstrual hygiene product was sanitary pad. Of the women, 72.1 % have heard of the menstrual cup before, however, only 6.6 % of the women used menstrual cups. The 42.9 % of the women who use the menstrual cup had difficulty in using it. The most common concern of women who did not use menstrual cups was that they thought they were uncomfortable and did not know how to use them. Factors such as age, marital status, place of residence, occupation, previous pregnancy and finding the menstrual hygiene product used comfortable was found statistically significantly correlated with the menstrual cup usage. CONCLUSION: In our study, very few of the women use menstrual cups, and nearly half of them stated that they had difficulty in using it. The participants who did not use the menstrual cup most frequently did not know how to use the cup and did not use it because they thought the cup was uncomfortable. It is essential to increase the awareness of reproductive age women about the menstrual cups.

Fractal analysis of the effects on mandibular bone of botulinum toxin therapy of the masseter muscle in patients with bruxism.

OBJECTIVE: We examined changes in the mandibular angle, ramus, and condylar neck of patients with bruxism after botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A) injection into the masseter muscle as calculated with fractal analysis (FA) on panoramic radiographs (PRs). METHODS: We examined the PRs of 3 groups of 22 patients each (n = 66) obtained upon presentation and 6 months later. One group included healthy controls without bruxism, one group included patients with untreated bruxism, and one group included patients with bruxism who had undergone BTX-A injection into the masseter muscle. We performed FA of the bilateral angle, ramus, and condylar neck of the PRs to calculate fractal dimension (FD). RESULTS: The FD values of the angle on the second PRs of the untreated bruxism group were significantly higher than those of the other groups (P = .026), specifically when compared to the BTX-A injection group (P = .017). The FD values in the angle and ramus of the bruxism group were significantly higher on the second PRs (P ≤..005)) Conversely, the FD values in the angle of the BTX-A injection group were significantly lower on the second PR (P = .039). CONCLUSIONS: Masseter muscle hyperactivity due to bruxism increases bone density in masseter muscle attachment regions. BTX-A injection restricts muscle activity, thereby chnging bone structure and decreasing FD.

The knowledge levels of midwifery students on contraceptive methods: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Effective contraceptives used correctly offer many benefits to both women's and children's health. However, public data reports that the rate at which women use an effective contraceptive method is still insufficient. Midwives, including the students, have an essential role in contraceptive counselling so there is a need to determine midwives' knowledge level on contraceptives. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate midwifery students' knowledge levels of contraceptive methods. DESIGN: Cross-sectional and descriptive study. SETTINGS: Online survey. PARTICIPANTS: 290 midwifery students who met the inclusion criteria. METHODS: The study was conducted between December 2020-March 2021 through Sociodemographic Form and Contraceptive Methods Information Form. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 20.93 ± 1.97. There were 7.72 ± 3.21 correct answers to 15 questions measuring knowledge level of contraceptive methods. The most known modern contraceptive method was the condom, and the most known traditional method was the calendar method. 59.7 % of the participants considered the post-coital contraceptive method as a family planning method. The knowledge level on contraceptives of students who had not received prior training before was lower; and the knowledge level of students who received information about contraceptives through their courses in the curriculum was higher than those who learned from other sources. The level of knowledge increased as age and grade increased. CONCLUSIONS: Midwifery students had insufficient level of knowledge about contraceptives. Since midwifery students play an active role in family planning, interventions are necessary to deliver more detailed and accurate information about contraceptive methods.

Determination of mothers' thoughts and adaptation behaviors regarding the infant: A descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: With motherhood, women focus on their new baby. They begin to develop new adaptation behaviors to provide the best care for the infant. The study aims to describe the adaptive behaviors and concerned thoughts of first-time and repeat mothers. METHODS: The study was designed in descriptive and cross-sectional type. Data were collected from mothers using a questionnaire and "The scale of being the mother of a baby." The study was completed with 112 mothers who were reached by snowball sampling method and agreed to participate. The data were analyzed at the 95% confidence interval at the p˂.05 significance level. RESULTS: 66.1% of the mothers had a baby for the first time, and 73.2% of the mothers received information/education about baby care. It was determined that they wanted to receive information on topics such as maternal and infant nutrition, diseases, and immunization. A statistically significant difference was found between the age of pacifier use (p = .032). It was determined that mothers got 130.7 points in total from the scale, 88.3 points from the evaluation of motherhood sub-dimension, and 42.3 points from the life change sub-dimension. A statistically significant difference was found between the baby care knowledge/training status and the scale scores. CONCLUSION: The importance and continuity of education during and after pregnancy has emerged. Nurses are competent people with a key role in this regard, and it is recommended to use individualized care protocols for the training provided.

Risk factors and stratification for recurrence of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer, elevated thyroglobulin and negative I-131 whole-body scan, by restaging 18F-FDG PET/CT.

OBJECTIVE: In nearly 20%-30% of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) relapse and 7% of them die during the next 10 years after initial diagnosis. In 10%-30% of patients with DTC after ablation therapy during the follow-up show a negative iodine-131 (131I) whole-body screening test (131I WBS) and increased serum thyroglobulin (Tg) level. Loss of ability of DTC metastatic lesions to trap 131I is associated with pure survival and often aggressive disease. Several studies have shown that in DTC cases non trapping 131I, fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) can detect recurrence or metastases with high sensitivity (80%-90%). The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinicopathologic features and other related risk factors of patients with DTC having elevated Tg levels and negative 131I WBS in which recurrence was detected by 18F-FDG PET/CT. We tried to study and stratify patients in this grey zone who could benefit from 18F-FDG PET/CT for the detection of metastases/recurrence according to predefined risk factors not investigated by other researchers. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We studied retrospectively 165 DTC patients with elevated Tg levels and a negative 131I WBS during their follow-up between 2004-2015. Metastases/recurrence was found in 49% of the patients on restaging with 18F-FDG PET/CT and were compared with nonmetastatic group according to predefined risk factors. These factors were also evaluated in true positive and false negative cases. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of 18F-FDG PET/CT for detecting recurrent/metastatic disease were 90% and 98.5%, respectively. No apparent predefined risk factor impacting a false negative 18F-FDG PET/CT was found. Findings in follicular carcinoma, Hürtle cell carcinoma and papillary carcinoma were not different from positive PET findings. The variants of papillary carcinoma also had no statistically difference with regard to 18F-FDG results. CONCLUSION: The most important factors affecting a true positive 18F-FDG PET/CT study were: ETE, high total 131I dose and the SUVmax values over 4.5.