Results:Sociodemographic variables have an impact on the coping styles of patients with MS. When the relationship between coping and quality of life is examined, there is a positive correlation between the use of problem-focused coping strategies and quality of life, whereas there is a negative correlation between the use of emotion-focused coping strategies and quality of life. The scores of active coping, planning, use of emotional support, and use of instrumental support of patients who received social support were higher, whereas their denial scores were lower. Conclusions:According to the findings of our study, the sociodemographic attributes and social support mechanisms of patients have an impact on their quality of life, as well as the way they cope with MS. Keywords:Multiple sclerosis, quality of life, coping, social support Amaç: Bu araştırmanın amacı multipl skleroz (MS) hastalarının sosyo-demografik özellikleri, sosyal destek sistemleri, kullandıkları baş etme stratejileri ve yaşam kaliteleri arasındaki ilişki hakkında bilgi edinmektir. Gereç ve Yöntem:Bu çalışma bir kesit alma araştırması şeklinde tasarlanmıştır. Çalışma, Türkiye MS Derneği'ne kayıtlı 214 MS hastasıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bulgular: Cinsiyet, medeni durum ve eğitim düzeyi gibi sosyo-demografik değişkenler MS hastalarının baş etme stilleri üzerinde etkilidir. Baş etme ve yaşam kalitesi ilişkisi incelendiğinde sorun odaklı baş etme stratejilerinin kullanımı yaşam kalitesiyle pozitif yönlü bir ilişkiye sahipken duygu odaklı baş etme stratejilerinin kullanımı ise yaşam kalitesiyle negatif yönlü bir ilişkiye sahiptir. Sosyal destek alan hastaların aktif baş etme, planlama, duygusal destek kullanımı, maddi destek kullanımı puanları daha yüksekken inkar puanı daha düşüktür. Original Article / Özgün Araştırma

In this study, we aimed to investigate whether degree of pneumonia and COVID-19 prognosis are associated with serum endocan levels at the early stage, when vascular damage has started. Patients between the ages of 18–85 years who were hospitalized and followed up with a diagnosis of COVID-19 were included in the study. A total of 80 patients were divided into 2 groups as mild/moderate pneumonia and severe pneumonia. Serum endocan levels were measured on the 8th day from the onset of symptoms in all patients. Of the 80 patients included in the study, 56.3% were female and 43.8% were male. There was no significant relationship between serum endocan levels and degree of pneumonia ( P = .220) and prognosis of the disease ( P = .761). The correlation analysis indicated a weak positive correlation between serum endocan levels and lactate level in venous blood gas (r = .270; P = .037). During the 28-day follow-up, the mortality rate was 3.75%. It was determined that the serum endocan levels was not associated with the degree of pneumonia and was not an early prognostic marker for COVID-19.

In this study, we aim to evaluate the presence of endothelial dysfunction in Gilbert syndrome patients with left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and endocan levels. The study included 60 patients who diagnosed with Gilbert syndrome and 60 healthy controls who did not have any known diseases. Human endocan levels were measured using a sandwich ELISA method. The endocan and LVMI levels were lower in the Gilbert syndrome group than in the healthy controls. In the Gilbert syndrome group, total bilirubin level was negatively correlated with LVMI (r = −0246; P = .007) and endocan levels (r = −.270; P = .046). In the Gilbert syndrome group, increasing age (β ± SE = 20.78 ± 7.47; P = .006), was a positive independent predictor of LVMI, and increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (β ± SE = −.27 ± .09; P = .007), and total bilirubin levels (β ± SE = −6.09 ± 3.02; P = .046) were found to be a negative independent predictor. These results support that endothelial dysfunction is decreased in Gilbert Syndrome patients with mild hyperbilirubinemia compared with the healthy control group.

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Present study has been conducted to investigate anxiety levels, coping strategies, social support systems among parents who have children with chronic kidney disease and interrelations among the three indicators. Methods: This study has been planned among parents of 180 children with a chronic kidney disease being admitted to Hacettepe University, Children's Hospital, Nephrology Polyclinic. Sociodemographic information form, state & trait anxiety inventory and short form of the assessment scale for coping strategies have been employed as data gathering tools. Results: With respect to gender it was detected that mothers resorted to selfdistraction coping strategy and with respect to educational level, parents with no formal educational background resorted to denial. Trait anxiety score was the highest among parents whose children were in the second stage of disease. As the coping strategies among parents receiving social support in the treatment process was examined, it surfaced that positive reframing, acceptance, humor and use of emotional support and similar problem-focused coping strategies were more frequently opted for. Contrary to that, it was identified that among parents receiving no social support from their relatives, scores of self-blame, substance use and state anxiety were relatively higher. Conclusion: At the end of this study it was concluded that parents having children with a chronic kidney disease were more effective in utilizing social support mechanisms as a problem-focused coping strategy when compared to the other group of parents.