Burcu Akkurt

Background: Respiratory dysfunction is common after stroke, but its relationship with chronic phase walking capacity and balance is unclear. We explored associations between spirometry and walking and balance performance. Methods: In this exploratory cross-sectional study, 27 outpatients with chronic ischemic stroke underwent spirometry, including peak expiratory flow (PEF); six-minute walk test (6MWT) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) data were available for 25. We used Spearman correlations (Bonferroni α = 0.005), rank-based partial correlations, and linear regression. Results: PEF correlated with 6MWT distance (ρ = 0.568, 95% confidence interval [0.21, 0.82], p = 0.003; B = 23.92 m per L/s, R² = 0.297). The association persisted after adjustment for age, body mass index, and time since stroke (partial r = 0.558, p = 0.007), although adjusted analyses did not meet the Bonferroni threshold. In 13 participants with high-quality spirometry, the correlation was similar in size but not significant (ρ = 0.360, p = 0.226). No other parameter correlated with 6MWT distance, and none with BBS scores. Conclusions: Higher PEF was associated with longer walking distance in this small exploratory sample, but effort-dependent measurement error and confounding by motor impairment cannot be excluded. PEF should not replace functional assessment; larger studies are needed.

Aim: This study aimed to examine the associations between screen exposure, sedentary behavior, circadian rhythm, sleep, physical activity, and health anxiety among university students during the online education period.Method: A total of 130 healthy university students participated. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, sleep onset latency, wake-up times, nighttime light exposure, and screen time were collected. Participants also completed the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and the Short Health Anxiety Inventory.Results: The sample included 101 females (78%) and 29 males (22%). Weak positive correlations were found between wake-up time and sleep onset latency, phone use and sleep duration, PSQI and several sleep parameters, ESS and phone use, and health anxiety with both PSQI and ESS. Weak negative correlations were observed between phone use and computer time, circadian rhythm and both sleep duration and phone use, and between circadian rhythm and PSQI and ESS. There was a moderate positive association observed between the ESS and PSQI scores.Conclusion: The findings suggest that lifestyle changes associated with online education may be linked to alterations in students’ circadian rhythm, sleep quality, and health anxiety. However, most associations were weak, indicating that these outcomes are likely influenced by multiple interacting factors.

Access to digital health information has increased for women diagnosed with breast cancer; however, searching, understanding, and interpreting this informa

Aim: Regular physical activity (PA) is essential for maintaining health and preventing chronic diseases. However, global evidence shows a consistent decline in PA during adolescence, with Turkish adolescents similarly experiencing increasing levels of inactivity over the last decades. Adolescence represents a critical developmental stage where PA habits are established and influence long-term health outcomes, yet longitudinal evidence from Türkiye remains limited. This study aimed to examine 18-month changes in PA among Turkish adolescents using a prospective cohort design. Method: This study was planned as a prospective cohort study.296 adolescents (grades 5–8, aged 11–13 years) who completed the baseline survey between November – December 2022, a randomly selected subsample of 192 students from one school was followed up in May-June 2024.PA levels were assessed at both time points using anthropometric measures and the validated Turkish version of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C). Results: A total of 157 participants (boys, n=74; girls, n=83) completed assessments at both time points. Significant decreases were observed in six of nine PAQ-C items for boys and two of nine items for girls (p < 0.05). School-time PA (items 2–4) showed significant reductions, while spare-time and extracurricular PA (items 1 and 5–9) remained largely unchanged (p > 0.05). Gender differences indicated greater reductions among boys compared with girls. Conclusions: Over an 18-month period, PA levels among Turkish adolescents declined, with reductions most evident in school-time PA and more pronounced among boys. These findings underscore the need for longitudinal monitoring of adolescent PA in Türkiye. There is limited study estimating the follow-up on physical activity in the Turkish adolescent population.

Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a complex disease characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, emotional disturbances, and autonomic dysfunction. Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) has emerged as a potential noninvasive approach to modulate FMS-related symptoms. To compare the effects of left and bilateral taVNS on pain, mood, functionality, and autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity in individuals with FMS. Forty female individuals with FMS were assigned to either a left (n = 20) or a bilateral (n = 20) taVNS group. Both received 11 sessions of taVNS targeting the tragus and concha regions (30 minutes each, 25 Hz, 300 µs) over nonconsecutive days, excluding weekends and menstrual periods. Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) were assessed. ANS activity was evaluated via heart rate variability (HRV). After 11 sessions of taVNS, a 2-week follow-up was performed. No significant differences were observed between groups except for FIQ and BAI on day 28 (p = .002-0.008). Both groups showed significant within-group improvements in VAS (r = 0.87-0.94; p < .001), BDI (r = 0.46-0.71; p < .001), FIQ (r = 0.95-0.99; p < .001), and BAI (r = 0.69-0.94; p < .001) scores. Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) (p = .365-0.776) and Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) (p = .598-0.880) indices, which are the subparameters of HRV, showed no significant between-group differences, with small effect sizes (r < 0.15). Both stimulation protocols effectively reduced pain and improved mood and functionality in fibromyalgia, indicating a safe, noninvasive adjunctive treatment option. (Identifier: NCT06871306).

Aim: This study aimed to examine the relationship between frailty, successful aging, and physical activity levels in older individuals. Method: Data were collected from 99 volunteer participants aged ≥65. The questionnaire was delivered online via its Google Forms link. In the study, the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI) was used to evaluate participants’ frailty levels, the Successful Aging Scale (SAS) was utilized to determine their successful aging status, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) was employed to measure their physical activity levels. Results: The results of the study revealed a moderate, significant negative correlation between the TFI and SAS total scores. Additionally, a weak, significant positive correlation was found between the SAS and the IPAQ-SF total scores (s=0.982; p<0.001). A weak, negative correlation was detected between the physical component score of the TFI and the IPAQ-SF total score. There was a significant, highly negative correlation between the TFI total score and the healthy lifestyle sub-parameter score of the SAS (s=-.0634; p<0.001). Conclusion: It has been determined that more active individuals exhibit both a healthier lifestyle and lower levels of frailty. The women have been found to be statistically more frail and less active compared to the men. It has been observed that frailty increases with age.