Pro-fibrogenic and adipogenic aspects of chronic muscle degeneration are contributed by distinct stromal cell subpopulations.

Chronic skeletal muscle degeneration is characterized by fiber atrophy accompanied by deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) components and fatty infiltration. Excessive accumulation of ECM leads to fibrosis via the contribution of fibro-adipogenic precursors (FAPs). Fibrosis also accompanies disuse atrophy and sarcopenia without significant inflammation. The present study aimed to comparatively analyze heterogeneous population of FAPs during acute injury and immobilization (tenotomy and denervation). The comparative analysis was accomplished based on the following 3 stromal cell subpopulations: i) CD140a(+)/Sca1(+); ii) CD140a(+)/Sca1(-); iii) CD140a(-)/Sca1(+). RNASeq analysis was employed to characterize and compare their quiescent and activated states. Whereas CD140a(-)/Sca1(+) was the most predominant activated subpopulation in tenotomy, denervation stimulated the CD140a(+)/Sca1(+) subpopulation. Immobilization models lacked myofiber damage and exhibited a minute increase in CD45(+) cells, as compared to acute injury. Transcriptome analysis showed common and discordant regulation of ECM components, without profound proliferative activation. Herein, we suggest unique surface markers for further identification of the investigated cell subpopulations. FAP subpopulations show similar activation kinetics in an inflammatory environment but the present findings highlight the fact that inflammation may not be a prerequisite for FAP activation. Delayed proliferation kinetics indicate that signals beyond inflammation might trigger FAP activation, leading to irreversible stromal changes.

Role of echocardiography on early diagnosis of atrial remodelling and fibrosis in elite athletes.

There is emerging data indicating that long-standing vigorous exercise may be associated with atrial structural remodelling. This remodelling process is may be the cause of the increasing frequency of atrial arrythmias in athletes. Early diagnosis of atrial remodelling by atrial imaging could have a role in management of atrial arrythmias in elite athletes. In this study we aimed to diagnose early phases of atrial remodelling in elite athletes. Two groups of athletes including professional weight lifters (n = 33), professional marathoners (n = 32) and sedentary participants (n = 30) were enrolled. We also studied patients who received cardiotoxic chemotherapy (n = 10) for comparison. Serum TGF-beta level as a marker of fibrosis was measured. Both left atrial (LA) 3D volume and strain values were analysed. There was a positive correlation between serum TGF-beta levels and LA volumes and negative correlation between TGF-beta levels and strain values. TGF-beta levels were higher among chemotherapy and weight lifter groups, compared to control and marathoner groups [mean 0.57 ± 0.3 and 0.55 ± 0.2 vs. 0.45 ± 0.2 and 0.47 ± 0.2, respectively, p = 0.005]. LA volumes were higher among chemotherapy and weight lifter groups [median 33 (26-38) and 31 (23-36) respectively, p = 0.005], and strain values were lower in these two groups [mean 20.3 ± 2.5 and 24.6 ± 4.5, respectively, p < 0.005] compared to control and marathoner groups. Total exercise volume was higher in weight lifter group compared to marathoners [13,780 (2496-36,400) vs. 4732 (780-44928), respectively, p = 0.001]. There wasn't any difference between any group regarding left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions. Vigorous exercise causes atrial remodelling and fibrosis in elite athletes. Strength exercise carries higher risk for atrial fibrosis than endurance exercise. Burden of exercise is correlated with the severity of cardiac fibrosis. Echocardiographic evaluation of the left atrium and TGF-beta levels may help to detect subclinical cardiac remodelling and fibrosis.

Traditional Methods and Practices Used in Society to Prevent COVID-19.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the traditional methods and practices used during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. METHOD: This descriptive study was conducted between July 11 and 25, 2020, with volunteers above 18 years of age registered in the population of a district located in a rural district in Turkey. For the implementation of the study, permission was obtained from the Selçuk University Ethics Committee of Non-Interventional Scientific Research. The data collection form consisted of two parts. In the first part of the data collection form, there are seven questions concerning about characteristics of the participants. In the second part of the form, there are 13 questions concerning about characteristics of the participants. During the research application, data were collected from 500 participants. Data of the study were summarized in numbers, percentage, mean, and standard deviation and Fisher's exact and Chi-square tests were performed. RESULTS: Participants mostly used disinfectant (2.97 ± 1.18) and cologne (2.87 ± 1.09) in their personal hygiene for protection against coronavirus disease 2019 infection, in addition to home ventilation (3.77 ± 0.54) and use of bleach (2.78 ± 1.36) for home/environmental hygiene. Around 80.4% of those who did not take precautions did not work in healthcare and the status of taking precautions against coronavirus disease 2019 varied according to the field of employment (p = .000). The traditional method total score changed between the age groups 18-45 and 46-76 years, and the use of traditional methods increased with age (p = .000). CONCLUSION: It was determined that the rate of using protective measures recommended by experts during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic was high in the research group, while the scores of using traditional methods were also high. In addition, the rate of using protective measures was high among health sector workers. Results from this study may suggest further research to reveal the traditional methods and practices used during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in order to take precautions for methods and practices known to be detrimental to human health and to increase the use of those known to be useful, in line with the results obtained.

The Effects of Mobile Electronic Devices Use on the Sleep States of University Students.

Objective: In this study, the purpose was to evaluate the effect of mobile electronic devices (MEDs) use on the sleep states of university students. Methods: The study was conducted in a cross-sectional fashion between April 21, 2019 and May 31, 2019 with the participation of the students registered in a public university at medical faculties and faculty of health sciences. Television viewing, MED and desktop computer use form, Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and Sleepiness Severity Index (SSI) were used as data collection tools. The data of 752 students (56.5% girls, mean age: 20.57 [SD = 1.54] years) were analyzed. Results: In this study, overall MED use times and PSQI, ESS, and SSI total scores were higher in students who had an evening-oriented chronotype. There was a negative relationship between overall and evening MED use times and the chronotype scores of the students. As a result of the regression analyses applied to the PSQI, ESS, and SSI dependent variables, a positive and significant relationship was detected with smartphone use times (P < 0.05, P = 0.05, and P < 0.001, respectively). In addition, there was a positive relationship between PSQI and ESS variables and iPod touch use times (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively). Conclusion: Overall MED use times were determined to be higher in students who had Type E chronotype. It was also determined that their sleep quality was poorer and their insomnia severity was higher, and there was more sleepiness in the students with chronotype E. Comprehensive interventions must be planned by professional healthcare staff for students on the topics of sleep hygiene and conscious media use.

Turkish reliability and validity study of the medical outcomes study (MOS) sleep scale in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

Background/aim: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the Turkish reliability and validity of the medical outcomes study (MOS) sleep scale in patients who have obstructive sleep apnea. Materials and methods: The data of the study were collected from 120 adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea and from 90 healthy individuals between March 04 and May 31, 2019. Results: The Cronbach's α internal consistency reliability coefficient of the MOS sleep scale was found as 0.82. The test-retest reliability was acceptable (r = 0.76-0.94). Six factors were identified by the factor analysis. These were the same as those in the original MOS-Sleep. The correlations between the MOS-Sleep and other instruments administered in this study provided evidence for structural validity. A significant relation was determined between MOS sleep scale and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) severity and the healthy group ( P < 0.05). In addition, the Cronbach α internal consistency reliability coefficient of the healthy group in MOS sleep scale was found as 0.78. The items of the six factors that were obtained with the confirmatory factor analysis for the MOS sleep scale of the healthy group were found to be the same as in the original MOS-Sleep. Conclusion: Turkish MOS sleep scale is a measurement tool that consists of 12 items and 6 subdimensions with adequate validity and reliability indicators.

What are the factors that contribute to aggression in patients with co-occurring antisocial personality disorder and substance abuse?

Abstract Background A significant number of individuals with high levels of aggression have substance use disorder problems. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the effect of substance use disorder on aggression in young men with Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Methods This cross-sectional study included 328 patients and were diagnosed with ASPD with a comorbidity of substance use disorder, along with 111 healthy young male subjects. Results The total aggression scores of the patients with a diagnosis of ASPD were significantly higher than those of the healthy group (p < 0.001). Mean scores of aggression subscale, except for indirect aggression, were higher in patients diagnosed with ASPD (p < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between aggression scores and total API scores in patients diagnosed with ASPD (p < 0.001). Aggression scores were higher when subjects were using volatile substances compared to other substances (p < 0.05). Aggression scores increased with duration of substance use disorder (p < 0.001). Discussion Substance use disorder should be treated first to mitigate aggression in individuals with ASPD. Patients with severe addiction to volatile substances should be given treatment priority. Further studies are necessary to determine the cause of aggression in individuals who abuse substances.

The effect of computer game playing habits of university students on their sleep states.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of computer game playing habits of university students on their sleep states. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study was conducted cross-sectionally with the online survey method. FINDING: In this study, it was determined that the students who played games for an average of ≥2 hours per day had later bedtime and later wake-up time, poorer sleep quality, and higher daytime sleepiness. It was found that as the level of game addiction increased, sleep quality decreased, the severity of daytime sleepiness increased, and the wake-up time shifted to a later time. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Nurses should develop effective intervention strategies involving technology management and sleep hygiene studies to reduce game-playing time of students.

The Effect of Motivational Interviewing with Mothers on Media Interaction and Aggression Behaviours of Preschool-Aged Children.

This study evaluates the effect of motivational interviewing with mothers on media interaction and aggression of preschool-aged children. This study was conducted as a quasi-experimental/pre-experimental research in order to evaluate the effect of motivational interviewing with mothers on media interaction and aggression of preschool-aged children. The motivational interviews conducted with the mothers focused on the stages of change and were performed as two face-to-face sessions and two telephone call sessions. While the pre and post-intervention prosocial behavior sub-dimension scores of the children were shown to increase, the overt physical aggression and relational aggression sub-dimension scores were found to decrease. Motivational interviewing technique can be effective for mothers who need to increase control of their children and set limits on media interaction. Nurses in this field can apply the MI technique and help parents to develop behavioral changes.

The influence of media on the sleep quality in adolescents.

Akçay D, Akçay BD. The influence of media on the sleep quality in adolescents. Turk J Pediatr 2018; 60: 255-263. This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of media devices on sleep quality in adolescents. Applying a descriptive design, the study was carried out with 9th, 10th and 11th grade students (N=392, 52.0% female, average age 16.04±0.86) who were attending Konya High School between the dates of January 18 and 22, 2016. Changes were seen to occur in the wake-up times of those who had either a television or a computer in their bedrooms (p < 0.005, p < 0.05, respectively). Overall, it was determined that the students who participated in the study had poor sleep quality (66.6%). A positive correlation was detected between the amount of time the adolescents spent watching TV, using the internet, and playing games on their mobile phone, and the wake-up times (r=0.154, p < 0.005; r=0.152, p < 0.005; r=0.258, p < 0.001; r=0.232, p < 0.001, respectively). A negative correlation was detected between playing computer/console games and listening to music and sleep duration in the adolescents (respectively, r=-0.149, p < 0.005; r=-0.107, p < 0.05). The results showed that as the adolescents spent more time with their media products (except TV watching), their sleep quality deteriorated. In adolescents, the duration and quality of sleep were found to be affected by certain aspects of media use. It is therefore recommended that families regulate the intended purpose and content of their children's media use and limit the time spent with media. Moreover, media products should be removed from their bedrooms. More training and intervention studies on sleep patterns and media literacy should be conducted with this study group.

Effects of subjective sleep quality on the quality of life in patients with chronic anorectal disorder.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the subjective sleep quality in patients with anorectal disorder, to determine the factors associated with subjective sleep quality, and to explore the relationship between subjective sleep quality and quality of life. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted between April 8, 2015 and April 12, 2016. The research population consisted of 284 patients who attended the general surgery outpatient clinics of Konya Military Hospital and were subsequently diagnosed with one of the four most common anorectal disorders (hemorrhoidal disease, anal fissure, anorectal abscess/fistula, and sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease). Data were collected from 114 patients who volunteered to participate in the study. After establishment of the diagnosis based on proctological anamnesis and physical examination, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Short-Form Health Survey, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory were administered to the patients, along with a questionnaire on sociodemographic data, via a face-to-face interview technique. RESULTS: Ninety-six (84.2%) patients had poor sleep quality, whereas 18 (15.8%) patients had good sleep quality. Among the patients with poor sleep quality, 16 were diagnosed with anorectal abscess and fistula (100.0%), 40 with hemorrhoidal disease (90.9%), 16 with sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease (80.0%), and 24 with anal fissure (70.6%). Overall, all patients with poor sleep quality (n=96) had low scores in all subcomponents of the quality of life scale. CONCLUSION: The sleep quality in patients with chronic anorectal disorder is significantly impaired, thus negatively affecting quality of life. Therefore, improvement in quality of life by improving sleep quality should be one of the main objectives in treating chronic anorectal disorders.