Traditional and Complementary Medicines Methods Used by Patients Diagnosed with COVID-19.

AIM: This study aimed to determine traditional and complementary medicines (T&CM) methods used by patients before and after being diagnosed with COVID-19. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out between 27 March 2021 and 2 July 2021, in the community health services unit of Düzce Province, Central District, in the western Black Sea region. 547 people participated in the study. Two forms prepared by the researchers, the "Participant Identification Form" and the "Assessment Form for the Use of Traditional and Complementary Medicine Methods," were used to collect the data. RESULTS: Before the diagnosis of COVID-19, patients reported that they consumed the highest rate of medicinal plants (56.1%) and fruits (40.4%) and prayed (40.4%) to prevent disease. After the diagnosis of COVID-19, they stated that they consumed the highest percentage of medicinal plants (68.4%) and fruit (53.0%) and prayed (48.4%) to reduce disease symptoms. It was seen that herbal products/herbal mixtures (medicinal plants [p < 0.001], fruits [p < 0.001], and fruit vinegars [p < 0.001]), and T&CM methods such as supplements like C, E, D, and other vitamins (p < 0.001), prayer (p < 0.001), massage (p < 0.001), and apitherapy (p < 0.001) were found to be statistically significant after COVID-19 diagnosis compared to before. CONCLUSION: In this study, it was determined that the patients often used T&CM methods such as herbal products (especially medicinal plants and fruits) and prayer before and after COVID-19 diagnosis, and the use of these T&CM methods increased significantly after diagnosis.

The Effect of Prenatal Yoga on Pregnancy-Related Symptoms: A Pilot Quasi-Experimental Study.

INTRODUCTION: In the last decade, yoga has attracted much attention from researchers. Although there are many studies on yoga, research on the effect of prenatal yoga on pregnancy-related symptoms is limited. This study aimed to determine the effect of prenatal yoga on pregnancy-related symptoms. METHODS: The study was conducted at antenatal care services between June 2018 and October 2018 in Turkey. Simple random method was used to assign participants to the study arms. The yoga group attended a prenatal yoga program for 60 min once a week for 4 weeks. The control group received routine care. Data were collected before and after the intervention using the Descriptive Characteristics Form and Pregnancy Symptoms Inventory. Data analysis used descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation/standard error, and percentages), χ2, Mann-Whitney, and Wilcoxon tests. Significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The study was completed with 70 participants (the yoga group: 35; the control group: 35). The yoga group had a significantly lower posttest Pregnancy Symptoms Inventory Symptom Frequency Total Score than the pretest score (38.42 ± 18.76 vs. 32.77 ± 16.55, p < 0.05). The total score of the yoga group's gastrointestinal, respiratory, and mental health symptoms was reduced after the intervention (respectively, 6.74 ± 4.32 vs. 5.31 ± 3.38; 1.48 ± 1.26 vs. 1.05 ± 1.13; 7.08 ± 4.59 vs. 5.22 ± 3.48, p < 0.05). The yoga group had significantly lower mental health symptom scores than the control group (5.22 ± 3.48 vs. 7.34 ± 4.02, p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the control group's pretest and posttest Pregnancy Symptoms Inventory Symptom Frequency Scores. CONCLUSION: Pregnancy-related symptoms were significantly reduced in the yoga group. It is thought that prenatal yoga may be effective on pregnancy-related symptoms. Yoga can be recommended to cope with pregnancy-related symptoms and support activities of daily living.

Cacao Butter as Prophylaxis for Nipple Problems: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Study.

Objective: Cacao butter is a type of oil extracted from the fruit of the Theobroma Cacao plant. This study was conducted to compare the use of breast milk and cacao butter for the prevention of nipple problems in the early postpartum period. Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled study involved 72 participants, who were randomized into the cacao and mother's milk groups. Data were collected using Descriptive questionnaire, Nipple assessment form, and IMDAT (Amount of Urine Output, Condition of Breasts, Amount of Stool, Weight Increase and Satisfaction Status). Results: On postpartum day 10, the rates of nipple pain (11.40% cacao group versus 40.50% mother's milk group), rashes (14.30% cacao group versus 35.10% mother's milk group), and cracks (14.30% cacao group versus 43.20% mother's milk group) significantly reduced in the cacao group when compared with the mother's milk group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The application of cacao butter to the nipples is possibly a more effective method than the application of mother's milk for preventing nipple pain, rashes, or cracked nipples. Cacao butter can be used prophylactically to prevent nipple problems in the early postpartum period.

Investigation of the Online Game Addiction Level, Sociodemographic Characteristics and Social Anxiety as Risk Factors for Online Game Addiction in Middle School Students.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the online game addiction (OGA) level and the risk factors involved in OGA among middle school students. The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at seven middle schools in the province of Istanbul. The data were collected with a questionnaire, the Computer Game Addiction Scale for Children (CGASC) and the Social Anxiety Scale for Children (SASC); 1174 students who played online computer games were included in the study. It was found that 5.7% of the sample group were addictive users, that 44% were problematic users and that an older age, a higher level of social anxiety (SA), having a mother who is employed, having parents who completed high school or a higher level of education, and the time spent on the computer are risk factors for OGA.

Value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in predicting left ventricular recovery in patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in predicting left ventricular (LV) recovery in patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). METHODS: Patients with PPCM (n = 40), who were admitted to our tertiary reference hospital between 2007 and 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were followed-up for at least 12 months after the diagnosis. All patients had standard echocardiographic examination at baseline and the last follow-up visit. Recovery of LV function was defined as the presence of LV ejection fraction (EF) >45%. Data on blood parameters were also collected at baseline. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to assess the significant predictive variables for persistent LV systolic dysfunction. RESULTS: Of the patients 21 (52.5%) did not recover LV function at the last follow-up visit (nonrecovery group), while 19 of the patients (47.5%) exhibited LV recovery (recovery group). The LV EF and fractional shortening (FS) were significantly lower in the nonrecovery group. The baseline LV end-diastolic diameter, LV end-systolic diameter (LVESD) and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure were significantly increased in the nonrecovery group. The NLR, C­reactive protein and troponin levels were significantly higher in the nonrecovery group. In multivariate logistic regression analysis only NLR and LVESD were identified as independent predictors of persistent LV systolic dysfunction in patients with PPCM (p = 0.020 and p = 0.009 respectively). CONCLUSION: Elevated NLR and increased LVESD were independent prognostic factors in predicting persistent LV dysfunction in patients with PPCM. The NLR might assist in identifying high risk patients with PPCM.

Effect of acupressure on nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

UNLABELLED: This paper sought to determine the efficacy of acupressure application in pregnant women suffering from nausea, with or without associated vomiting, who were unable to receive conventional medication for these symptoms. Sampling consisted of pregnant women complaining of nausea with or without vomiting. The study was controlled by the Maternity and Child Hospital in Istanbul between March 2004 and March 2005. The treatment group comprised 26 women; 25 in the control arm and 24 women were assigned to the placebo arm. The study occurred over a 9-day period. During this time, the treatment group applied acupressure bands to P(6) acupressure point on days 4-6 of the study with the placebo group receiving acupressure bands to a sham acupressure point, on the upper side of their wrists. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Acupressure would appear to be effective in symptom control, and alleviation and placebo effects in reducing the symptoms of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.