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Background The COVID‐19 pandemic has adversely affected the physical and mental health of individuals. The elderly are a special group that is affected by this condition. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the COVID‐19 pandemic on older adults in terms of disability, state–trait anxiety and life satisfaction. Methods The population of this cross‐sectional study consisted of individuals aged 65 and over who presented to a family health centre in Samsun a province of Turkey on the Black Sea coast (N = 3950). The study data were collected with the following five forms: Personal Information Form, Quality of Life Questionnaire, State–Trait Anxiety Inventory, Brief Disability Questionnaire and Life Satisfaction Scale. In the analysis of the study data, descriptive statistics, Student's t‐test, paired t‐test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis were used. Results The mean age of the participants was 70.88 ± 4.818 years. There was a significant difference between the participants' pre‐ and post‐pandemic health status and quality of life levels. In the study, a significant relationship was determined between the scores obtained from the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Brief Disability Questionnaire and between the scores obtained from the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory and the variables such as income and marital status (P < 0.05). Conclusion A significant result of the study is that the older adults' perceptions of health status and quality of life were adversely affected by the pandemic. Another significant result is that disability increased the level of anxiety. The other significant result of the study is that socioeconomic status was an important determinant of anxiety.

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© Bu dergide yer alan yazı, makale, fotoğraf ve illüstrasyonların elektronik ortamlarda dahil olmak üzere kullanma ve çoğaltılma hakları Türkiye Aile Hekimleri Uzmanlık Derneği'ne aittir. Yazılı ön izin olmaksızın materyallerin tamamının ya da bir bölümünün çoğaltılması yasaktır.

Introduction: Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is the chief regulator of calcium homeostasis in the human body. Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) occurs in a setting of excessive PTH secretion with an autonomous parathyroid gland which resulting in hypercalcemia [1]. Most patients with PHPT have a single adenoma (about 80% of cases), but multigland disease can occur in 10%-15% of cases and double adenomas in 4%-5% [2]. Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare cause (usually less than 1% of patients) of hyperparathyroidism [3,4]. There is a great variation in the manifestations of PHPT. The clinical presentation of PHPT is changing from a severe disease with nephrolithiasis and metabolic bone disease to mild asymptomatic disease [5,6]. The most common clinical presentation of PHPT is asymptomatic hypercalcemia with an elevated or high-or normal intact PTH level. Patients with hypercalcemia may present with vague constitutional symptoms, anorexia, lethargy, or polydipsia and polyuria [7][8][9]. Less specific features of PHPT are fatigue, proximal muscle weakness, mild cognitive disturbances, hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, valvular calcification, and cardiovascular mortality [2,10]. Classic skeletal lesions, which are bone resorption, bone cysts, brown tumors and generalized osteopenia, occur in less than 5% of cases [11]. PHPT affects compact bone more than trabecular bone with particular sensitivity in the cortices of long bones leading to subperiostal bone resorption (seen as periosteal elevation on plain radiography) [12]. PHPT is prone to cause loss of the lamina dura [13].

Paraquat is a pesticide which was started to be used in agriculture and gardening around the world since the middle of 1960's. Pesticides taken for suicide or by accident can have serious side effects on the body. Paraquat taken in the body mostly orally and transdermal, inhalation and although rarely intravenous way. Erythema, itching, swelling and bullae with exudative discharge in almost all of the left foot and leg was observed in a 56 year old man for fifteen days. On the day his complaints started, he used agricultural pesticide (paraquat) while it was raining. The patient was in a good general condition when he arrived. The patient was put on bed rest. Left leg elevation and ice compress for 15 minutes at least two times a day was given in order to decrease edema. In order to prevent infection and for sterilization, leg cleaning with tincture of iodine solution was recommended. Topical and systemic anti-biotherapy was started. Hemorrhagic lesions started to scab on the third days after resting and treatment were started. Edema became lower. The cure was completed in two weeks.

Background COVID-19 pandemic affected every single person on earth one way or the other. The healthcare personnel were no exception, their responsibilities as well as their risks being immense. Methods 4927 healthcare personnel all working in pediatric units at 32 hospitals from seven different regions of Turkey enrolled to the study to determine the seroprevalence of SARS Co-V-2 after the first peak wave. Point of care serologic lateral flow rapid test kit for IgM/IgG was used (Ecotest CE Assure Tech. Co. Ltd.). Seroprevalence and its association with demographic characteristics and possible risk factors were analyzed. Results Nearly 6.1% of healthcare personnel were found to be seropositive for SARS Co-V- 2. Seropositivity was more common among those who did not universally wear protective masks (10.6% vs 6.1%). Having a COVID-19 co-worker increased the likelihood of infection. The least and the most experienced personnel affected more. Most of the seropositive healthcare personnel (68%) did not have any suspicion that they had COVID-19 previously. Conclusions Health surveillance for healthcare personnel involving routine point-of-care nucleic acid testing as well as monitoring PPE adherence would be important strategies to protect healthcare personnel from COVID-19 and to reduce nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

Objective: In the early stages of any epidemic caused by new emerging pathogens healthcare personnel is subject to a great risk. Pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, proved to be no exception. Many healthcare workers died in the early stages of pandemic due to inadequate precautions and insufficient protection. It is essential to protect and maintain the safety of healthcare personnel for the confinement of pandemic as well as continuity of qualified healthcare services which is already under strain. Educating healthcare personnel on appropiate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is as essential as procuring them. Material and Methods: A survey is conducted on 4927 healthcare personnel working solely with pediatric patients from 32 different centers. Education given on PPE usage were questioned and analyzed depending on age, sex, occupation and region. Results: Among four thousand nine hundred twelve healthcare personnel from 32 different centers 91% (n= 4457) received education on PPE usage. Of those who received education only 36% was given both theoretical and applied education. Although there was no differences among different occupation groups, receiving education depended on regions. Conclusion: It is essential to educate healthcare personnel appropiately nationwidely for the continuity of qualified healthcare services during the pandemic.