This study was performed to investigate the physicochemical quality characteristics of honey produced in Southeastern Anatolia of Turkey. A total of 68 honey samples collected from different beekeepers were analyzed for sugar components, moisture, pH, HMF, electrical conductivity, free acidity, proline values, and diastase number using the methods recommended by the International Honey Commission. The color value was determined by the Hanna HI 96785 color identification device using the Pfund scale. The mean values of fructose + glucose, fructose/glucose ratio, sucrose, and maltose were 70.97 ± 3.27%, 1.21 ± 0.15, 0.90 ± 1.35%, and 2.88 ± 1.42%, respectively. The moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, free acidity, diastase number, proline, and HMF values were 15.91 ± 1.05%, 4.10 ± 0.73, 0.21 ± 0.04 mS/cm, 14.94 ± 6.81 meq/kg, 10.68 ± 4.61, 420±, 174 mg/kg, and 18.5 ± 31.43 mg/kg, respectively. All of the samples met the international standards and legal limits set in Turkey for fructose + glucose, sucrose, moisture, electrical conductivity, and free acidity, whereas 20.58%, 25%, 10.29%, and 8.82% of the samples did not meet the standards and legal limits for the diastase number, proline value, HMF value, and fructose/glucose ratio, respectively. It has been considered to be important to raise awareness of the producer about good production practices and to ensure continuity of inspections for high-quality honey production.

Objective: Poisoning is a substantial public health problem preventable with basic precautions. This study aims to contribute to the literature by analyzing the demographic variables, epidemiological characteristics, and prognosis of children brought to the pediatric emergency department of our center due to poisoning in the last five years. Methods:We retrospectively evaluated the medical records of 1928 patients who were under-18 years old and admitted with acute intoxication diagnosis to our tertiary hospital's pediatric emergency department in Istanbul between 2016 and 2021. Patients were divided into two groups by poisoning factors: drug and non-drug substances. Results:We included all 1928 patients (55.1% male, 44.9% female). The median age was 30 (20-49) months, and 85.5% (n=1650) of patients were under 72 months old. There was a male gender dominance (62.4%) among patients aged 3-6, all of whom had accidental poisoning (100%). Poisonings among patients older than 12years of age were more common in girls (59.8%) and were mainly suicidal attempts (65.2%). We detected drug exposure in 58.9% (n=1047) of patients; the most common drugs were analgesics (13.5%, n=269), psychotropics (6.2%, n=102), and hormone preparations (4.5%, n=86). We also detected non-drug exposure in 41.1% (n=792) of patients; the most common non-drug substances were corrosive-caustic substances (14.6%, n=284), and detergent poisonings (5.5%, n=106). None of the patients died. Conclusion:Patients in the under 6 years old group admitted due to poisoning were predominantly male, and all cases were accidental. Whereas poisonings above the age of 12 were more common in girls and were usually due to suicide. Our study also showed that poisonings in children passed with milder symptoms, and we discharged most of the children after a short observation without the need for hospitalization. Well-balanced clinical management may prevent unnecessary hospitalization and unnecessary medical interventions.

Propolis is biologically highly active honey bee product. The popularity of propolis is increasingly growing because of its contribution to human health. Propolis composition is highly variable depending on its sources. Different honey bees subspecies can collect propolis having different anti-bacterial effect. Honey bees, collect propolis for a couple of different purposes such as narrowing the entrance of their own hives and airflow isolation. In this study, propolis collected from entrances (EC) and top of deep supper (FC) of six different hives, and the antioxidant properties of these propolis samples were compared. Average values of total phenolic content were 68.5 and 62.6 mg GAE/g propolis extract, IC50 value of DPPH were 0.14 and 0.16 mg/mL, and FRAP value were 43.5 and 38.4 mg TE/g propolis extract samples collected from EC and FC, respectively. Statistically significant differences have not been found in terms of antioxidant activity analysis between EC and FC collected propolis (P>0.05).