The data on long-term efficacy, safety and drug survival rates of conventional systemic therapeutics in pediatric psoriasis is lacking. The primary aim of this study is to investigate acitretin, methotrexate, cyclosporin efficacy, safety and drug survival rates in pediatric patients as well as predictors of drug survival. This is a multicenter study including 289 pediatric cases being treated with acitretin, methotrexate and cyclosporin in four academic referral centers. Efficacy, adverse events, reasons for discontinuation, 1, 2- and 3-year drug survival rates, and determinants of drug survival were analyzed. A 75% reduction of Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score or better response rate was obtained in 47.5%, 34.1% and 40% of the patients who were treated with acitretin, methotrexate and cyclosporin, respectively. One-year drug survival rates for acitretin, methotrexate and cyclosporin were 36.3%, 21.1% and 15.1%, respectively. The most significant determinant of drug survival, which diminished over time, was treatment response whereas arthritis, body mass index and sex had no influence. Although all three medications are effective and relatively safe in children, drug survival rates are low due to safety concerns at this age group. Effective disease control through their rational use can be expected to improve survival rates.

Babies who received more painful stimuli during the first few days of life showed greater pain responses during a subsequent heel prick.

No abstract

A utism spectrum disorder (ASD) defines a neurodevelopmental disorder cluster. ASD mainly interferes with social interaction and communication [1-3], but through early diagnosis and special treatment, children with ASD are able to attend school and participate in social activities with their peers [1-3]. ASD was first suspected of being caused by parental neglect; however, ASD is now accepted that the disorder that arises from neurobiological factors with increasing prevalence [4-7]. Several surveys have demonstrated that the diagnosis of ASD in children can be as late as 5 or 6 years of age [8, 9]. Sufficient knowledge and awareness regarding childhood ASD in healthcare professionals can ensure early ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: Many checklists and scales have been developed to diagnose the autism spectrum disorder in childhood. However, self-applied questionnaires/scales that can be filled out by health professionals for assessing their knowledge and consciousness of this disorder are still limited. The Knowledge about Childhood Autism among Health Workers self-administered survey was developed by Bakare et al. in 2008. This survey was recruited by many study groups in developing countries. In these countries, knowledge regarding childhood autism is inadequate within community healthcare professionals. METHODS: In our study, the agreed-upon Turkish version of the questionnaire was distributed to the 61 primary care physicians working in Maltepe District of Istanbul Province for the adaptation and validation. RESULTS: The internal consistency coefficient (Kuder-Richarson coefficient of reliability-KR20) of the measurements attained from the Turkish version of the questionnaire was 0.70. The split-half reliability analysis demonstrated that the Guttman Split-half value was 0.84. According to the principal factor analysis of the tetrachoric correlation matrix, the three factors with the highest Eigenvalues were associated with (i) Relatively easy clinical observations, (ii) the signs which require a longer observation time and detailed anamnesis, and (iii) the signs, which require detailed examination and observation. The factors explained cumulatively 65.98% of the total variance. CONCLUSION: The findings obtained in this study showed that the adapted questionnaire addressed in the scope of this study is a valid measure for Turkish society.

We assume that regular antenatal follow up can reduce preterm labor among late adolescents.

Objective: In Turkey, tuberculosis (TB) is considered to be one of the formerly known social diseases. Similar researches exists for AIDS in many countries. There are very few publications about the tuberculosis stigma in our country at international level. This study aimed to assess tuberculosisrelated stigma levels and associated factors in patients with tuberculosis applying to tuberculosis dispensaries. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in two different tuberculosis dispensaries at Istanbul. We used the stigmatization scale for patients with tuberculosis to assess and compare stigma levels of our study population. Nonparametric statistical tests were used for comparison of stigma scores. Results: In our study population, stigmatization because of tuberculosis was found to be related to low income, pulmonary involvement, occupation, and nonexistence of a relative with tuberculosis in the close environment. Conclusion: Combating the causes of stigmatization can assist patients in accessing their healthcare provider. Patients would be more likely to abide by the treatment schedule, thus reducing tuberculosis resistance in the community and decreasing its spread.

Objectives: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often starts in childhood and adolescence and can be a chronic disorder with high persistence rates. The prevalence of OCD in this group is between 0.5-4%. It may occur in children as young as 6-7 years of age. The aim of the present study is to explore suggestive OCD in adolescents in a public high school and factors related with suggestive OCD. Patients and Methods:Ninth, 10th, 11th and 12th grade students attending a public high school were included in the study. In our study, we used a questionnaire made up of a sociodemographic survey form and the Leyton's Obsessional Inventory. The inventory was applied as a self-report questionnaire.Results: A high suggestive OCD prevalence was found among students (14.3%). Students who declared to be traumatized in childhood had 3,55 times higher odds to exhibit suggestive OCD than those who declared to be not traumatized. Also students who reported to possess a psychological disorder had 2,22 times higher odds to exhibit suggestive OCD than students who reported not having a psychological disorder. Conclusion:The prevalence of suggestive OCD was high in students who participated to our study. More comprehensive studies are needed to be done. Keywords:Suggestive obsessive-compulsive disorder, Superstition, Trauma, High school ÖZ Amaç: Obsesif-kompulsif bozukluk (OKB) genellikle çocukluk ve ergenlik döneminde başlayabilir ve kronik bir rahasızlık haline gelebilir. OKB'nin çocuk ve yetişkinlerdeki prevelansı 0,5% ile 4% arasında değişmektedir. OKB 6-7 yaşlarında başlayabilmektedir ve her iki cinsiyet grubunda eşit oranda gözlenmektedir. Amacımız bir devlet lisesine kayıtlı öğrencilerde muhtemel OKB sıklığını ve ilişkili faktörleri incelemektir. Hastalar ve Method:Bir devlet lisesindeki 9, 10, 11 ve 12. sınıf öğrenciler araştırmaya dahil edilmiştir. Öğrencilere sosyodemoğrafik değişkenleri ve Leyton obsesyon skalasını da içeren bir soru formu uygulanmıştır. Anketler öğrencilerin kendi bildirimlerine göre doldurulmuştur. Bulgular: Çalışmamızda muhtemel OKB sıklığı öğrencilerde yüksek bulunmuştur (14,3%). Çocukluk çağında travma yaşayan öğrencilerde diğerlerine göre 3,55 kat daha yüksek oranda muhtemel OKB mevcut idi. Ayrıca psikolojik bozukluğu olduğunu ifade eden öğrencilerin psikolojik bozukluğu olmadığını bildiren öğrencilere göre muhtemel OKB görülme oranı 2,22 kat daha fazla bulunmuştur.Sonuç: Araştırmamıza katılan öğrencilerde muhtemel OKB sıklığı beklenenin üzerinde çıkmıştır. Bu sonuç ülkemiz genelinde daha kapsamlı bir çalışmaya ihtiyaç olduğunu göstermektedir.

<p><strong>OBJECTIVE:</strong> The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in sexual function between trimesters, and factors (in addition to pregnancy) that influence sexual function during pregnancy.</p><p><strong>STUDY DESIGN:</strong> This observational study was conducted at a tertiary referral center with 372 pregnant women. Seventy-two of the women did not complete the questionnaire (rejections or missing data) and the overall response rate was 80.6%. Among the remaining women, 43 of them excluded due to depression. Beck Depression Inventory was used to evaluate depression. Index of female sexual function questionnaire was used to assess sexual function. Index of female sexual function had a total and six sub-domain scores which assess the quality and frequency of sexual intercourse, desire, overall satisfaction, ability to achieve orgasm, and degree of clitoral sensation (c.sensation).</p><p><strong>RESULTS:</strong> Total index of female sexual function and quality, satisfaction, orgasm, and c.sensation sub-domain scores were lowest in the third trimester. Older age, lower level of education, and lower level of income negatively affected total index of female sexual function scores. Quality scores were lowest in older women and women with lower education. Frequency scores were highest during the second trimester. Desire scores were highest in women aged between 18 and 25 years, in women who were newly married (1-3 years), and during the second trimester. Satisfaction scores were lowest in women older than 35 years, and highest in newly married women. Orgasm scores were highest in women aged 18-25 years, in newly married women. </p><p><strong>CONCLUSIONS:</strong> Sexual function in women during the third trimester of pregnancy is generally affected negatively.</p>