Olfactory dysfunction and quality of life in patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia.

Transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) is a group of thalassemia syndromes that require regular blood transfusions for survival. It is unknown whether the sense of smell of patients with TDT is affected, and if so, whether smell loss has an adverse effect on quality of life (QOL). Olfactory thresholds were measured using Snap & Sniff® wands. QOL was assessed via the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire. Forty-two TDT patients from the Thalassemia Center in Istanbul Medical Faculty were tested (mean age 26.6 years), along with 42 healthy controls (mean age 28.0 years). Mean olfactory sensitivity was lower in the TDT patients than the controls (p < 0.0001). TDT was associated with lower mean QOL scores on the domains of physical function (p < 0.0001), physical role limitation (p = 0.011), and general health (p < 0.0001). Within the TDT group, significant correlations were present between the threshold scores and physical function, physical role limitation, emotional role limitation, and general health. Patients with TDT are less sensitive to odors than healthy controls and the lower olfactory test scores are related to lower quality of life, suggesting that decreased smell function is an additional complication of this disease.

Parenting Challenges in Families of Children with a Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Qualitative Research Study in Istanbul.

Introduction: This qualitative research study examines problems experienced by families with children who have received a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) living in Turkey. Background: In recent years, Turkey has moved to expand services to children who have received a diagnosis of ASD and their families. However, families still experience hidden issues that are crucial to consider while developing appropriate policies. Method: In this study, we interviewed 10 families whose children attended special education schools in the Bagcilar and Bahçelievler districts of Istanbul. We used semistructured interviews conducted via phone, WhatsApp video chat, and Zoom and a phenomenological approach to gain an in-depth understanding of the caregivers' experience. Themes were obtained by utilizing descriptive analysis. Results: Parents expressed a variety of concerns including financial burden, intrafamilial conflict, mental health problems, and community-related issues. Conclusions: Moving forward, the emerging social work profession should assist children who have been given a diagnosis of ASD and their parents in accessing mental and behavioral health and community-level resources, especially mothers, as they often bear the most responsibilities in Turkey.

Nonlocal Free Vibration of Embedded Short-Fiber-Reinforced Nano-/Micro-Rods with Deformable Boundary Conditions.

An efficient eigenvalue algorithm is developed for the axial vibration analysis of embedded short-fiber-reinforced micro-/nano-composite rods under arbitrary boundary conditions. In the formulation, nonlocal elasticity theory is used to capture the size effect, and the deformable boundary conditions at the ends are simulated using two elastic springs in the axial direction. In addition, to determine the reinforcing effect of restrained nano-/micro-rods, a new system of linear equations with the concept of the infinite power series is presented. After performing the mathematical processes known as Fourier sine series, Stokes' transformation and successive integration, we finally obtain a coefficient matrix in terms of infinite series for various rigid or deformable boundary conditions. Some accurate eigenvalue solutions of the free axial vibration frequencies of the short-fiber-reinforced micro-/nano-composite rods with and without being restrained by the means of elastic springs are given to show the performance of the present method. The presence of the elastic spring boundary conditions changes the axial vibration frequencies and corresponding mode shapes.