İzzettin Toktaş

Objective: This study examines the impact of surgical timing and suture materials on postoperative outcomes in penile fracture patients, particularly focusing on the development of penile curvature (PC). Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 63 patients treated for penile fractures between 2015 and 2024. Data on the time to surgery, suture materials, and postoperative complications such as PC were collected. Results: PC occurred in 27% of patients, with a significantly longer surgical delay in those with PC compared to those without. Suture material type (2-0 Prolene vs. 3-0 Vicryl) had no significant effect on PC or nodule formation. Conclusion: Delayed surgical intervention is associated with an increased risk of PC. Early surgery is recommended to reduce complications, while suture material does not influence outcomes.

This study aimed to determine the incidence of congenital hypothyroidism in Turkey’s Diyarbakir Province and assess the development and growth conditions of people with congenital hypothyroidism. Patients born between 2011-2019 and diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism within the scope of the newborn screening program were included. The medical records of these patients were retrospectively reviewed. The length and weight for age, weight for length, and body mass index standard deviation scores were calculated. We investigated the treatment status of the patients, whether their relatives had a similar disorder, and the presence of consanguinity between parents. Blood samples were collected from 380,592 newborns. As a result of further tests, 498 newborns were diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism (incidence: 1/764). Demographic and anthropometric data of 241 patients were analyzed. The patients comprised 46.9% (n = 113) females and 53.1% (n = 128) males. It was determined that 44.4% of the individuals had transient congenital hypothyroidism and 53.6% had permanent congenital hypothyroidism. The parents of 29.8% of the individuals diagnosed with transient congenital hypothyroidism and 44.2% of the individuals diagnosed with permanent congenital hypothyroidism were consanguineous (P = .02). According to the latest anthropometric assessment, 6.8% of individuals diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism had a weight z-score below −2 SD and 16.9% had a length z-score below −2 SD. The incidence of congenital hypothyroidism was higher in our region. The ratio of consanguinity between parents was higher in patients diagnosed with permanent congenital hypothyroidism than in those diagnosed with transient congenital hypothyroidism. According to the most recent follow-up, weight and age were found to be similar in patients with transient and permanent congenital hypothyroidism.

Concerns about a possible relationship between vaccination against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and menstrual disorders have been raised in the media. In addition, different studies have shown that the COVID-19 vaccine may be associated with menstrual changes. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of COVID-19 vaccines on the menstrual cycle in women. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between August 16 and September 17, 2021. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire via an online form sent to the participants through social media. Data of 586 women were included in this study. A total of 82.4% (n = 483) of the participants were aged between 31 and 50 years. The BioNTech vaccine (2 doses) was administered to 75.8% (n = 444), Sinovac (3 doses) to 9.0% (n = 53) of the participants. 53.1% (n = 311) of the women experienced changes in their menstrual cycles. The most common menstrual changes after vaccination were delayed menstruation (n = 176; 30.0%) and prolonged menstrual duration (n = 132; 22.5%). Menstrual delay, prolonged menstrual duration, heavy bleeding, and early menstruation were more common in women than prior to receiving the vaccine (P < .05). More than half of the women experienced menstrual cycle changes after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Women experienced significantly higher rates of menstruation delay, prolonged menstrual duration, heavy bleeding, and early bleeding compared to before vaccination.

Amaç: Kasa invaze olmayan mesane kanserli hastalarda mesane tümörlerinin tedavisinde Olimpus ve Karl Storz bipolar transüretral mesane rezeksiyonunun perioperatif sonuçlarını ve komplikasyonlarını karşılaştırmayı amaçladık. Materyal ve metod: Etik Kurulu onayı (Karar No. 2023/5-17) takibinde, 01 Ocak 2019 ile 28 Şubat 2023 tarihleri arasında Olimpus ve Karl Storz bipolar sistemleri ile transüretral mesane tümörü rezeksiyonu yapılan tüm hastalar değerlendirilmeye alındı. Bulgular: Olimpus grubunda hemoglobin (hbg) değişimi 1,11±0,61 iken Karl Storz grubunda 1,35±0,82 olarak görüldü ve anlamlı istatistiksel fark görülmedi (p= 0,180). Tümör boyutu Olimpus grubunda 3,20±1,55 cm olup Karl Storz grubunda 4,20±2,79 cm olarak değerlendirildi. Benzer şekilde obturator reflex, mesane perforasyon varlığı, kan tranfuzyonu, postoperatif pıhtı retansiyonunda da istatistiksel olarak farklılıklar saptanmadı. Sonuç: Kasa invaze olmayan mesane kanserinin transüretral rezeksiyonunda bipolar teknolojinin kullanımı güvenli ve etkili bir yöntemdir. Her iki tekniktede mesane perforasyon oranı, postoperatif pıhtı retansiyonu, postoperatif hemoglobin düşüşü, obturator reflex oranı benzer bulunmuş olup, istatistiksel olarak fark görülmemiştir.

Introduction: In this study, the patients diagnosed with breath holding spell (BHS) or anoxic epileptic seizures and initiated at least one out of iron or piracetam or levetiracetam therapies were evaluated. Material and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 194 BHS patients. Iron therapy was initiated in case of iron deficiency anemia or case of ferritin values under 12 ng/dl even if there was no anemia. The patients having no iron deficiency anemia, low ferritin and anoxic epileptic seizures were administered piracetam and the patients diagnosed with anoxic epileptic seizures were administered levetiracetam. Results: One hundred and eight patients (55.7%) were male. The mean age was 21.39±12.78 months. Iron therapy was initiated in 87 patients, piracetam to 96, and levetiracetam in 11 patients. Seizure numbers were manifestly decreased in all groups by the end of the first month after treatment concerning pretreatment levels (p<0.05). Conclusions: We determined that the spells were reduced or completely stopped in all groups. Levetiracetam seems to be considerably effective in patients developing anoxic epileptic seizures after BHS.

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence and transmission routes of COVID-19 in healthcare personnel working in the hospital and the compliance with control measures. Material and Methods: In this study, hospital employees who were tested positive for COVID-19 between April 2 and September 30, 2020, were included. Out of the 1100 employees in the hospital, 80 were tested positive for COVID-19. A face-to-face survey was conducted with 66 healthcare workers that had COVID-19 positive PCR test results but returned to work only after their test results became negative. Results: The prevalence of COVID-19 among the hospital employees was calculated as 7.3% (80/1100). In the study, 66 healthcare workers who were found to be positive for COVID-19, were included. The mean age of the employees was found to be 39.1 ± 8.3 (Min-Max: 23-57) and 71.2% of them were male. COVID-19 was detected most in nurses, emergency room workers (12.1%) and polyclinic workers (12.1%). It was determined that 30.3% (n=20) of COVID-19 positive employees had contact with infected colleagues in the hospital and 19.7% (n=13) had contact with infected household members. 78.7% of the employees had never worked in areas designated for COVID-19. Among employees, the level of compliance with measures of wearing a mask (94%) and ensuring hand hygiene (92%) was found high, while the level of compliance with 1.5-meters social distance (59%) was found low. Conclusion: In a short period of time like the first six months of the pandemic, 7.3% of the hospital workers were infected with COVID-19. Among employees, the level of compliance with the social distance rule was found low. It was determined that 78.7% of the infected employees had never worked in units designated for COVID-19. This shows that areas that are not designated for COVID-19 should not be ignored.

Background. Phenylketonuria (PKU) and biotinidase deficiency (BD) are autosomal recessive diseases. If they are not identified and treated early, severe intellectual disability and developmental delay occur. This study was conducted to calculate the ten-year incidence of PKU and BD in the Diyarbakır province of Turkey. Methods. This cross-sectional study included patients born between 2011-2020 and diagnosed with PKU and BD. Patients with a clear diagnosis had their records evaluated retrospectively. Results. Between 2011 and 2020, blood was taken from 417,525 newborns` heels in Diyarbakir province. As a result of further diagnostic testing, 53 PKU (Incidence: 1:7878) and 177 BD (Incidence: 1:2359) were detected. Of the patients with BD, 56% had profound BD and 44% had partial BD. The records of a total of 269 patients (PKU: 25; BD: 123; Hyperphenylalaninemia: 121) were examined. Parents of 65% (n=15) of the patients diagnosed with PKU and 46.6% (n=55) of the patients diagnosed with BD were consanguineous. Conclusions. The incidence of both PKU and BD was found to be high in our region. The high number of consanguineous marriages was regarded as the most important explanation for the high frequency of these illnesses.

Occupational accidents are health and safety issues specific to working life. The person, place and time characteristics of work accidents can be examined. Examination of these points will be beneficial in preventing accidents. The aim of this study is to investigate the causes of occupational accidents the healthcare workers in a children’s hospital are exposed to. In this descriptive study, healthcare workers who experienced occupational accidents in a children’s hospital, were included. Occupational accident forms of the Hospital Occupational Health and Safety Unit between 2015 and 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. A total of 100 occupational accidents were reported in the last five years. The mean age of the employees who were exposed to occupational accidents was 32.6±8.5 years. 63% of the employees were women. The mean years of employment of the employees was 8.7±7.3 years. In terms of profession, 70% of the employees were nurses and 19% were cleaning staff. 45% of the occupational accidents occurred in intensive care units and 26% in pediatric clinics. 60% of the accidents occurred in the morning hours. 72% of occupational accidents were needlestick injuries, 9% were falling or bumping, 8% were exposure to blood and other infectious fluids. Most of the NSIs in nurses occurred while applying treatment, drawing blood, establishing vascular access and due to patient movement, respectively. In conclusion, the most common occupational accidents in hospitals are needlestick injuries. Among the employees, those who are exposed to work-related injuries most frequently are nurses and cleaning staff.

Objective: Children with COVID-19 are reported to get the infection from an adult contact, with minimal secondary transmission from children. Children do not appear to be efficient transmitters of infection. Common symptoms in adults infected with COVID-19 include fever, dry cough and fatigue. The symptoms in children are more atypical than in adults, and coughing is lighter. Methods: Children aged 0-18 who was admitted to the emergency department from March 20 to September 15, 2020 and had confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 with a positive real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were included in the study. Results: RT-PCR tests were done in 835 children with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection and the test was positive in 178 (21.3%) children. The most common symptoms at the onset of illness were fever (67.4%), headache (41.1%), cough (36.6%), sore throat (25.7%), fatigue (22.9%), myalgia (22.9%) and diarrhea (20.6%). One hundred and seven (61.1%) of the patients were infected by close contact with family members diagnosed with COVID-19, 35 (20%) of the patients were infected via close contact with non-family members diagnosed with COVID-19, 11 (6.3%) of the patients had a history of exposure in an epidemic area, including wedding hall, condolence house and shopping center and 23 (13.1%) of the patients with unknown source of infection. Conclusion: COVID-19 infection is seen to be milder and cause less hospitalizations and patient deaths in children. Crowded indoor environments are the main centers of the spread of the outbreak and children are unlikely to be the main source of infection of the pandemic.