Ayşegül Alpcan

Aim: This study aimed to examine the associations between selected obesity-related dietary behaviours and body mass index (BMI) and to investigate the association between BMI and depressive symptoms among university students. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 632 university students aged 18–24 years in Türkiye. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics, dietary behaviours, physical activity, and screen time. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Participants were classified according to the World Health Organization BMI criteria. Logistic and linear regression analyses were performed. Results: Higher dietary behaviour scores were associated with lower odds of belonging to the increased BMI category (OR=0.91, p<0.001), whereas higher caloric intake from sugar-sweetened beverages was associated with increased BMI (OR=1.02, p<0.001). Physical activity level was significantly associated with BMI (p=0.010). No significant association was found between BMI and fruit consumption, vegetable consumption, or screen time. BMI was significantly associated with depressive symptoms (ß=0.15, p=0.004). Conclusion: Selected obesity-related dietary behaviours, sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, and lower physical activity levels were associated with higher BMI among university students. Furthermore, higher BMI was associated with greater depressive symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of integrated interventions targeting both healthy lifestyle behaviours and mental well-being in young adults.

This retrospective study evaluated prognostic factors affecting outcomes in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) treated with acute intermittent hemodialysis (IHD). Medical records of 193 patients treated between 2014 and 2024 were reviewed. Patients were categorized as recovered, deceased, chronic kidney disease without dialysis (CKD-ND), or chronic kidney disease with dialysis (CKD-D). The main indications for dialysis were hypervolemia (64.8%) and uremia (24.9%). Overall mortality was 50.8%, while 23.8% recovered, 21.2% developed CKD, and 4.1% became dialysis-dependent. Significant differences among outcome groups were found in age and serum concentration of serum creatinine, urea, sodium, phosphorus, calcium, C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified lower creatinine and calcium levels, as well as higher sodium, urea, and CRP concentrations, as independent predictors of mortality. In conclusion, our findings highlight the prognostic importance of biochemical and inflammatory markers in AKI patients undergoing IHD. Early identification and correction of electrolyte and inflammatory disturbances may improve patient outcomes.

Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome (PLS) is a rare genetic disorder with autosomal recessive inheritance, typically manifesting in childhood. The hallmark features include palmoplantar hyperkeratosis and premature loss of teeth. Additional associated findings may include psoriasiform plaques on the knees and elbows, hyperhidrosis, recurrent pyogenic infections, intracranial calcifications, and both physical and mental developmental delays. This case report presents a 5-year-old child who was admitted to the Faculty of Dentistry at Kırıkkale University with tooth loss and was subsequently diagnosed with Papillon-Lefèvre Syndrome, accompanied by a review of the relevant literature.

Nutcracker syndrome is defined as the compression of the left renal vein between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery, accompanied by clinical findings. Here, we present an adolescent patient diagnosed with Nutcracker syndrome during the investigation of secondary causes of arterial hypertension. A 13-year-old female patient presented to our outpatient clinic with complaints of headache and a home-measured blood pressure of 160/100 mmHg. In the clinic, her blood pressure was measured at 150/100 mmHg in the right arm and 160/100 mmHg in the left arm. CT-Imaging revealed compression of the left renal vein between the superior mesenteric artery and the aorta. The angle between the superior mesenteric artery and the abdominal aorta was measured as 18.3 degrees. In conclusion blood pressure should be routinely monitored in the follow-up of patients with Nutcracker syndrome, and clinicians should be aware that hypertension may develop in these patients.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate serum zinc concentrations in individuals diagnosed with FMF and to explore whether zinc status may influence the inflammatory episodes characteristic of the disease. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with FMF, who were under the follow-up of our nephrology-rheumatology center between 2018 and 2025. Results: One hundred twelve FMF patients (M/F=52/60) with a mean age of 11.9±5.1 years were included in this study. 35 (31.3%) of the patients have compound heterozygous mutation and 77 (68.8%) have heterozygous mutation. There was no difference in mean of leucocyte count and zinc level between these mutation groups. The mean pre-treatment sedimentation was signifanctly higher in patients with frequent attacks (p=0.021). However there was no difference between the attack frequency groups in mean of gender age, both of pre and post-treatment CRP, zinc, leucocyte count and post- treatment sedimentation.(p>0.05). There was a positive correlation between mean zinc and mean leucocyte, CRP levels (p=0.019, r=0.334 and p=0.016,r=0.344 respectiely), but not with sedimentation. Conclusion: Notably, in our current study, while zinc level correlate with inflammatory markers, serum zinc levels demonstrated a significant relationship with them.

Aims: Acute appendicitis (AA) is one of the most frequent clinical pathologies for urgent surgery in children We aimed to investigate the occurrence and distribution of pathological findings in appendectomy specimens from patients initially diagnosed with AA. Methods: The demographic information and histopathological findings of patients who underwent appendectomy at our center between 2011 and 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: A total of 259 patients were included in the study. The patients were aged 38-212 months (mean 143±39), with 180 (69.5%) male patients. Based on the histopathological results, 63 (24.3%) patienst had lymphoid hyperplasia (LH), 109 (42.1%) AA, 11 (4.2%) suppurative appendicitis (SA), 46 (17.8%) phlegmonous appendicitis (PA), and 30 (11.6%) gangrenous/necrotizing appendicitis (GA). Twenty (31.7%) patients with LH and 16 patients (53.3%) with GA had an invisible appendix on ultrasound. The leucocyte count and appendix diameter were significantly lower in LH than in the other groups (for all comparisons, p<0.001). CRP level was significantly higher in the complicated groups (GA, PA,SA) than the LH and AA groups. The appendix diameter was significantly higher in the GA group than in the PA group (p=0.049). We found a positive correlation between AD and preopertaive leucocyte count, and the duration of hospitalization in days (r=0.265, p=<0.001;r=0243, p=0.001). On the other hand, there was no correlation between appendix diameter and CRP. The binary logistic regression analyses showed that high appendix diameter was a risk factor fo CA (OR:0.206, CI: 95%, 1.061-1.422, p= 0.006). Conclusion: The high rate of complicated cases (33.5%) we found in our study shows that appendicitis can still be complicated. Additionally, the conclusion has been drawn that even in serious cases such as GA, US may overlook appendicitis at a high rate. Finally new diagnostic methods should be developed for cases that do not require surgical intervention, such as LH and eosinophilic gastrointestinal pathologies (colitis).

Aims: Diseases such as obesity. diabetes. hypertension. which develop as a result of the deterioration in the diet quality of adolescent individuals in our country and around the world and unhealthy eating habits acquired during this period. pose a risk for future health. Adolescents need to correctly perceive. evaluate and apply nutrition-related information for healthy food consumption. For this reason, studies have been conducted in recent years on nutrition literacy. which is defined as the ability to acquire. understand and adopt basic nutrition information. This study was designed to determine whether the adolescents nutritional literacy (ANL) is effective in the eating behaviors of individuals. Methods: This cross-sectionally planned study was conducted between June April-June 2022 at Kırıkkale University Faculty of Medicine Department of Child Health and Diseases. The sociodemographic characteristics. nutritional literacy and eating behaviors of adolescents were determined by face-to-face interview method and their anthropometric measurements were examined. These measurements were evaluated with the height length of adolescents according to age, body mass index (BMI) Z scores. The participants' nutritional literacy was revealed with the ‘ANL Scale‘ and their eating behaviors were revealed with the ’Adolescent Eating Habits Checklist' (AEHC). Results: Of the 220 volunteer adolescents who participated in the study. 62.3% were girls and 37.7% were boys. The Functional Nutritional Literacy (FNL) score of girls was higher than that of boys (p=0.01). The total score of the Adolescent Nutrition Literacy (ANL) Scale. Interactive Nutrition Literacy (INL). Critical Nutrition Literacy (CNL) and Adolescent Eating Habits Checklist (AEHC) scores were lower for adolescents who did not do regular physical activity (p<0.05). The total score of the ANL Scale. CNL and AEHC scores of the adolescents who did not consume fast food were higher than those of the adolescents who consumed fast food (p<0.05). There was a negative correlation between the frequency of fast food consumption and AEHC score (p<0.05). Conclusion: As a result of the study. it was found that adequate nutrition literacy of adolescents can have a positive effect on their eating habits. For this reason, it was considered necessary to provide education to adolescents in order to increase awareness of nutritional literacy.

Infectious diseases are common in underdeveloped and developing countries. Malnutrition plays an important role in disease etiology, remarkably increasing morbidity and mortality risks during the early stages of life, such as infancy and childhood. Nutrients such as glutamine, arginine, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, zinc, selenium, iron, vitamins A, C, E, D and B6, components of breast milk, and adequate energy intake strengthen the immune system, reduce infection risk, and play a key role in combating diseases. This review highlights the importance of nutrition for the treatment of infectious diseases.