Effect of an online posture exercise program during the COVID-19 pandemic on students' musculoskeletal pain and quality of life.

BACKGROUND: Prolonged sitting and poor posture can contribute to musculoskeletal pain and have a negative effect on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among young adults. Any prolonged posture leads to static loading of soft tissues and causes discomfort. Seated posture leads to inactivity causing an accumulation of metabolites, accelerating disk degeneration and musculoskeletal pain. Regular exercise has major contributions to the prevention and treatment of some health problems such as musculoskeletal disorders. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the impact of online posture exercises on musculoskeletal pain and health related quality of life among university students receiving distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial involved 72 students divided into intervention (n= 35) and control (n= 37) groups. The intervention group followed an 8-week online stretching and posture exercise program. Baseline and 8-week results were measured using the SF-36 QoL Questionnaire and Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ). RESULTS: Students spent an average of 5.4 ± 2.5 hours daily at computers. While there was no difference between the scores of any region in the CMDQ in the control group, there was a decrease in the neck, right shoulder, left shoulder, waist, left upper leg, right lower leg, and left lower leg discomfort scores in the intervention group (p< 0.05). There was a significant difference between the intervention and control groups in the total score of SF-36 and the sub-dimensions of vitality and mental health (p< 0.05). CONCLUSION: The online posture exercise program led to notable reductions in musculoskeletal pain and improvements in QoL among university students. Examining the effectiveness of online exercise programs in different age groups is important for health benefits during quarantines.

Probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii Alleviates Lung Injury by Reduction of Oxidative Stress and Cytokine Response Induced by Supraceliac Aortic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats.

OBJECTIVES: Ischemia-reperfusion injury is an important cause of multiple organ failure in cardiovascular surgery. Our aim is to investigate the effect of the probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii on oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and lung injury in an experimental model of aortic clamping. METHODS: Twenty-one Wistar rats were randomized into three groups (n=7). Control group animals received saline gavage for a week before undergoing median laparotomy. In other groups, supraceliac aorta was clamped for 45 minutes to induce ischemia followed by reperfusion for 60 minutes. In the ischemiareperfusion group, saline gavage was given preoperatively for one week. Ischemia-reperfusion+probiotic group rats received probiotic gavage for seven days before aortic clamping. The levels of oxidative stress markers and pro-inflammatory cytokines were determined in both serum and lung tissue samples. Ileum and lung tissues were harvested for histological examination. RESULTS: Ischemia-reperfusion caused severe oxidative damage and inflammation evident by significant increases in malondialdehyde and cytokine levels (tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-1 beta) and decreased glutathione levels in both serum and lung tissues. There was severe histological tissue damage to the lung and ileum in the ischemia-reperfusion group. Probiotic pretreatment before aortic clamping caused significant suppression of increases in serum and lung tissue malondialdehyde and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels. Histological damage scores in tissue samples decreased in the ischemia-reperfusion+probiotic group (P<0,005). CONCLUSIONS: Oral supplementation of probiotic S. boulardii before supraceliac aortic ischemia-reperfusion in rats alleviates lung injury by reducing oxidative stress, intestinal cellular damage, and modulation of inflammatory processes.

Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire.

Health literacy is a public health priority which refers to individual's knowledge, motivation and competence to access, understand, appraise and apply health information to prevent disease and promote health in daily life. This study aimed to adapt European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q47) into Turkish and to investigate its psychometric properties. The questionnaire was translated into Turkish by using both group translation and expert opinion methods. Forward translation-back translation method was used for language validity and the final Turkish version (HLS-TR) was formed. HLS-EU-Q47 and Health Awareness Scale (HAS) were administered to 505 respondents. The scale reliability was examined using Crohnbach's alpha coefficient and the construct validity was assessed by principal axis factoring procedure. The convergent validity was obtained by Pearson correlation coefficients between HLS-TR and HAS scores and discriminant validity was examined comparing the scores of participants who were stratified according to ages, educational status, gender, general health status and social status. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the whole scale was 0.95. Principal axis factoring extracted nine factors which eigenvalues were >1 and explained 50.01% of total variance. Factor matrix displayed that all items gave greater load in factor 1, showing that health literacy measured with one factor. Positive and significant correlation was found between HLS-TR and HAS. Significant relations were found between HLS-TR scores and selected determinants of health. This study revealed that the HLS-TR was a valid and reliable measuring instrument with appropriate psychometric characteristics.

Oral health status and oral health related quality of life in adolescent workers.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Oral health status and oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) of working adolescents has been very little reported in literature. Therefore, this study aimed to determine oral health status and OHRQoL in a group of adolescent workers. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in an apprentice training center in western Turkey between December 2016 and January 2017. The study group population was 585, and the sample size was 514 students between 14 and 18 years old. The Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) Index, the Turkish version of the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14), and a form requesting the socio-demographic information of the students were used as data collection tools. Permissions were obtained from the relevant school, parents, students, and ethical committee. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Student's t-test, and the Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The results showed significant relationships between the tooth brushing frequency, dental visit frequency, dental trauma history, smoking, and the OHIP-14 subdomains (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Poor oral health and a lack of good oral health attitudes may have negative impact on the oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) of working adolescents. Dental health education programs in collaboration with schools and dental health services may be beneficial for promoting oral health and improving the OHRQoL of working adolescents.

Relationship between premenstrual syndrome and basic personality traits: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Although many studies have investigated premenstrual syndrome and related factors, there is still only a limited number of studies investigating the relationship between premenstrual syndrome and basic personality traits. This study was conducted to investigate the association between premenstrual syndrome and basic personality traits among university students. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional analytical study conducted in a city in western Turkey. METHODS: The Premenstrual Syndrome Scale, the Basic Personality Traits Scale and a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics developed by the present researchers were applied to 490 female students at the College of Health Sciences of a state university. RESULTS: Premenstrual syndrome was more common among students living in rural areas (65.1%), students with chronic diseases (74.1%), students who suffered from menstrual cramps (61.1%), students who used cigarettes (72.1%) and students with alcohol intake (65.5%). In the final model of the logistic regression analysis, presence of pain during the menstrual period increased the risk of presence of PMS by a factor of 1.554 (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.033-2.336; P = 0.034) and high scores on the total basic personality traits scale increased it by a factor of 1.016 (95% CI: 1.002-1.030; P = 0.029). The prevalence of premenstrual syndrome was found to be higher among students who were less extrovert (P = 0.007) and less conscientious (P = 0.001); and among students with higher neuroticism (P = 0.000) and negative valance (P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that personality may be associated with premenstrual syndrome.

Relationship between premenstrual syndrome and basic personality traits: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Although many studies have investigated premenstrual syndrome and related factors, there is still only a limited number of studies investigating the relationship between premenstrual syndrome and basic personality traits. This study was conducted to investigate the association between premenstrual syndrome and basic personality traits among university students. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional analytical study conducted in a city in western Turkey. METHODS: The Premenstrual Syndrome Scale, the Basic Personality Traits Scale and a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics developed by the present researchers were applied to 490 female students at the College of Health Sciences of a state university. RESULTS: Premenstrual syndrome was more common among students living in rural areas (65.1%), students with chronic diseases (74.1%), students who suffered from menstrual cramps (61.1%), students who used cigarettes (72.1%) and students with alcohol intake (65.5%). In the final model of the logistic regression analysis, presence of pain during the menstrual period increased the risk of presence of PMS by a factor of 1.554 (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.033-2.336; P = 0.034) and high scores on the total basic personality traits scale increased it by a factor of 1.016 (95% CI: 1.002-1.030; P = 0.029). The prevalence of premenstrual syndrome was found to be higher among students who were less extrovert (P = 0.007) and less conscientious (P = 0.001); and among students with higher neuroticism (P = 0.000) and negative valance (P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that personality may be associated with premenstrual syndrome.

General Health Status, Music Performance Anxiety, and Coping Methods of Musicians Working in Turkish State Symphony Orchestras: A Cross-Sectional Study.

AIMS: This study assessed the general health, music performance anxiety (MPA), and coping methods of musicians working in six state orchestras in Turkey. METHODS: All musicians working in the state symphony orchestras (n=384) were invited to participate in the study. In face-to-face interviews, the authors administered a questionnaire, which consisted of five sections: sociodemographic information, history of musical performance, health status, general health questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12), and MPA scale. Mann-Whitney U-test, Student's t-test, and Spearman's correlation test were used to analyze the questionnaire data. RESULTS: The 220 musicians who participated included 121 (55%) males and 99 (45%) females, with a mean age of 42.4±11.3 yrs. For musculoskeletal symptoms, 87.6% reported at least one symptom with the most common being pain. For general health status, the GHQ-12 showed 64% of musicians were at low risk, 18.7% at moderate risk, and 17.3% at high risk in terms of mental health. The prevalence of MPA before or during performance was 81.8%, and 60% of musicians stated that performance anxiety negatively affected their performances. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that musicians working in Turkish state symphony orchestras encounter numerous health problems (tinnitus, hearing loss, musculoskeletal symptoms, etc.) due to their profession. No specific health support is provided, especially education and health service provision.

The effects of ozone on bacterial growth and thiol-disulphide homeostasis in vascular graft infection caused by MRSA in rats.

PURPOSE:: To investigate the microbiological, inflammatory and oxidant effects of adjuvant ozone administration in experimental rat vascular graft infection model which has not been previously investigated. METHODS:: Forty adult Wistar rats were divided into Sham, Control, Vancomycin, Ozone, Vancomycin+Ozone groups. Grafts were inoculated with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain and implanted subcutaneously. Rats were treated intraperitoneally with ozone and /or intramuscularly with vancomycin for 10 days. Grafts were evaluated by quantitative bacterial cultures. Blood samples were harvested for determination of thiol-disulphide and cytokine profiles. RESULTS:: There was no significant difference in bacterial counts between Control and Ozone Groups. In the Ozone Group median colony count was significantly higher than the Vancomycin and Vancomycin+Ozone Groups. Total thiol and disulphide levels increased and disulphide/native thiol and disulphide/total thiol ratios decreased in Ozone Group significantly. Albumin levels decreased significantly in Vancomycin and Vancomycin+Ozone Groups compared to the Sham Group. IL-1 and TNF-alpha levels significantly increased in infected rats. Decreased levels of VEGF due to infection reversed by ozone therapy in control and vancomycin groups. CONCLUSIONS:: We didn't observe any benefit of the agent on MRSA elimination in our model. Likewise, effects of ozone on thiol-disulphide homeostasis and inflammatory cytokines were contradictory.

The effects of ozone on bacterial growth and thiol-disulphide homeostasis in vascular graft infection caused by MRSA in rats

Abstract: Purpose: To investigate the microbiological, inflammatory and oxidant effects of adjuvant ozone administration in experimental rat vascular graft infection model which has not been previously investigated. Methods: Forty adult Wistar rats were divided into Sham, Control, Vancomycin, Ozone, Vancomycin+Ozone groups. Grafts were inoculated with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain and implanted subcutaneously. Rats were treated intraperitoneally with ozone and /or intramuscularly with vancomycin for 10 days. Grafts were evaluated by quantitative bacterial cultures. Blood samples were harvested for determination of thiol-disulphide and cytokine profiles. Results: There was no significant difference in bacterial counts between Control and Ozone Groups. In the Ozone Group median colony count was significantly higher than the Vancomycin and Vancomycin+Ozone Groups. Total thiol and disulphide levels increased and disulphide/native thiol and disulphide/total thiol ratios decreased in Ozone Group significantly. Albumin levels decreased significantly in Vancomycin and Vancomycin+Ozone Groups compared to the Sham Group. IL-1 and TNF-alpha levels significantly increased in infected rats. Decreased levels of VEGF due to infection reversed by ozone therapy in control and vancomycin groups. Conclusions: We didn't observe any benefit of the agent on MRSA elimination in our model. Likewise, effects of ozone on thiol-disulphide homeostasis and inflammatory cytokines were contradictory.