Amaç: Bu çalışmada çocuk acil servis başvurularında sodyum ve potasyum bozuklukları spektrumunun incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Araştırmamız kesitsel ve tek merkezlidir. 2017-2020 yılları arasında çocuk acil kliniğine herhangi bir nedenle başvurup tetkiklerinde sodyum ve/veya potasyum bozukluğu tespit edilen, 18 yaşından küçük hastalar çalışmaya dahil edildi. Hastaların başvuru tanıları ve elektrolit düzeyleri kaydedildi. Elektrolit bozuklukları hafif, orta ve şiddetli olarak gruplandırıldı. Bulgular: Çalışmaya toplam 757 hasta dahil edildi. Bunların 358 (%47.3)’i kız ve 399 (%52.7)’u erkekti. Katılımcıların 649 (85.8%)’nda tekli elektrolit bozukluğu saptanırken 108 (%14.2)’nde mikst tipte elektrolit bozukluğu saptandı. Hastalarda en sık rastlanan elektrolit bozukluğu hiponatremiydi (%56). Bunu sırasıyla hiperkalemi (%27.5), hipokalemi (%19.9) ve hipernatremi (%10.8) izledi. Akut gastroenterit, hem tek hem de mikst elektrolit bozukluğu gruplarında en sık altta yatan hastalıktı. Sonuç: Çalışmamız, çocuk acil servislerinde en sık elektrolit bozukluklarının gastroenteritli hastalarda meydana geldiğini saptamıştır. Bu bozukluklar genellikle hafif şiddetteydi. Hafif elektrolit bozuklukları subklinik olabilir, bu nedenle pediatrik acil serviste rutin elektrolit ölçümü erken tanı için önemlidir.

Purpose: We investigated the effects of hypokalemia on clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with Covid-19 pneumonia. Materials and Methods: In this single-center retrospective study, we recorded characteristics of hospitalized covid-19 pneumonia patients and laboratory test results on the first hospital day. Duration of hospitalization, requiring intensive care including mechanical ventilation and survival, were determined. Results: Our study included 185 patients and of them 111 male (60% male) patients with mean age of 64 ± 14.5 (23-90). Patients were grouped as hypokalemic (16.8%) and normokalemic patients (83.2%). The number of diabetic patients was higher in the normokalemic group. Serum total protein and albumin levels were lower in hypokalemic group, while alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, blood pH and bicarbonate level were higher. In multiple logistic regression analyses, alkalosis increased risk of hypokalemia 5.73 times. Duration of hospitalization, requirement of intensive care and hospital mortality were similar in hypokalemia and normokalemia patients. Conclusion: In patients with Covid-19 pneumonia, hypokalemia has been found to be quite common as high as 16.8% at the first presentation. Hypokalemia was related to metabolic alkalosis but unrelated to the duration of hospitalization, requirement of intensive care including mechanical ventilation and hospital mortality.

Objective: Internal consistency of scales is crucial for the quality of clinical practices, and scales that measure various aspects of clinical disorders must possess acceptable internal consistency. In the assessment of the internal consistency of the scales, the present study considered the Cronbach’s alpha’s coefficient. This study aims (1) to provide a practical sample size guide based on Cronbach’s alpha for medical researchers; (2) to investigate the factors related to the determination of the sample size needed for a correct estimation of Cronbach’s alpha. Method: The calculation steps of the two sample size approaches (desired precision and desired power) proposed by Bonett are detailed and the sample size tables of these approaches are tabulated. Results: Findings indicate that as the number of items in the scale increases, the sample size decreases to a certain level but reaches a plateau when the number of items is about 30. Furthermore, it is claimed that the sample size should be at least 45 (and more) in order to calculate a meaningful internal consistency coefficient. Conclusions: In the present study, we extracted detailed information about the key components of sample size calculation for Cronbach’s alpha and provided an easy and practical tables, which will enable clinicians to determine the appropriate sample size for their internal consistency studies.

conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, threaten the lives and physical well-being of healthcare workers (HCWs), and also their mental health, such as burnout, etc. which is often neglected. The aim of this review is to analyze published studies on the proportion of burnout among HCWs during the first wave of the COVID-19. Materials and Methods: We conducted a systematic review of studies that reported burnout (measured by Maslach Burnout Inventory) among HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic and searched PubMed, PsycINFO, and WOS of relevant articles up to Feb 25th, 2021. Out of 145 non-duplicate studies, 10 were included in the meta-analysis. Results: The overall estimated pooled proportion for emotional exhaustion (EE) was 31% (95% CI: 24%-40%), for depersonalization (DP) was 28% (95% CI: 23%-38%) and 22% (95% CI: 13%-34%) for personal accomplishment (PA). The results show that in countries where the number of cases is high and the number of beds and doctors is low, the level of EE appears to be slightly lower and PA is slightly higher. However, there were no significant differences according to subgroup analyses. Conclusion: Evidence from early studies highlight the fact that a significant proportion of HCWs suffers from burnout during this pandemic. It will be necessary to pay close attention to HCWs' mental health and identify ways to reduce risks and prepare a rehabilitation program for the HCWs during and after the pandemic.