We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of sarcopenia and associated outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This cross-sectional study was performed on 219 patients aged 50 years and over who were diagnosed with COPD according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines. The study included 196 (89.5%) male and 23 (10.5%) female patients. The mean age of patients was 66.9±10.1 years. To diagnose sarcopenia, muscle function was determined by a gait speed test, muscle strength was assessed with a hand dynamometer and muscle mass was measured with a bioelectrical impedance analysis device. Pulmonary function tests and six-minute walking tests were also performed. The modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnoea scale was used to evaluate all participants. Our sample consisted of sarcopenic patients at different stages (17 pre-sarcopeniac patients (7.8%), 32 patients with sarcopenia (14.6%), 65 patients with severe sarcopenia (29.7%) and 105 non-sarcopenic patients (47.9%). Age, BODE (body mass index (BMI), airflow obstruction, dyspnoea and exercise capacity) index, GOLD spirometric classification, mMRC dyspnoea scale score, BMI and education status were significantly associated with sarcopenia. Sarcopenia in COPD patients was firmly related to the severity of the disease and its prognosis. The prevalence of sarcopenia increased in severe and very severe COPD cases. Dyspnea score was higher, and exercise capacities were lower in sarcopenic patients. Sarcopenia in COPD patients was closely related to the severity of COPD and a negative prognosis. The frequency of sarcopenia increased in severe and very severe COPD cases. Dyspnoea scores were higher and exercise capacities were lower in patients with sarcopenia. In patients with COPD, a diagnosis of sarcopenia should be considered, and preventive measures should be taken before irreversable changes develop.

Background/Aim. The aim of this study is to evaluate serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels measured within one year at an Education and Research Hospital in Turkey to identify vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency (which is very commonly seen in the society) and to provide a current approach to treatment management. Materials and Methods. This retrospective descriptive study was carried out by examining the data relating to 35,667 individuals. Results. Of the individuals participating in the study, 94.47% had a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level less than 30 ng/ml, 76.25% had a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level less than 20 ng/ml, and 32.20% had a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level less than 10 ng/ml. The mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of all individuals included in the study was 15.2±8.8 ng/ml. The mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was 14.5±8.8 ng/ml among women and 18.1±8.4 ng/ml among men, respectively (p<0.001). Conclusion. Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency is widespread in the world and in Turkey. The data obtained from this study suggest that without measuring serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level will be cost-effective in every age group (except for those are at risk of toxicity) as in children aged 0-1 year old in Turkey and that making a decision in this direction will make a great contribution to the economy of the country.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought countries’ health services into sharp focus. It was drawn to our group’s attention that healthcare workers (HCWs) had a lower mortality rate against higher COVID-19 incidence compared to the general population in Turkey. Since risk of exposure to tuberculosis bacillus among healthcare workers are higher than the population, we aimed to investigate if there is a relationship between BCG and Mycobacterium tuberculosis exposure history with COVID-19 severity in infected HCWs. This study was conducted with 465 infected HCWs from thirty-three hospitals to assess the relationship between COVID-19 severity (according to their hospitalization status and the presence of radiological pneumonia) and BCG and Mycobacterium tuberculosis exposure history. HCWs who required hospital admission had significantly higher rates of chronic diseases, radiological pneumonia, and longer working hours in the clinics. Higher rates of history of contact and care to tuberculosis patients, history of tuberculosis, and BCG vaccine were observed in hospitalized HCWs. HCWs who had radiological pneumonia had a significantly increased ratio of history of care to tuberculosis patients and a higher family history of tuberculosis. The findings from our study suggest that the lower mortality rate despite the more severe disease course seen in infected HCWs might be due to frequent exposure to tuberculosis bacillus and the mortality-reducing effects of the BCG vaccine.

Amaç: Bu araştırmada obezite ile yeme davranışları, beden algısı ve benlik saygısı arasındaki ilişkinin değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır.Gereç ve Yöntem: Tanımlayıcı ve kesitsel tipteki bu çalışmaya Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi Meram Tıp Fakültesi Aile Hekimliği Polikliniğine başvuran 18 yaş üstü, gönüllü, beden kitle indeksine (BKİ) göre 64’ü obez, 58’i fazla kilolu ve 65’i normal kilolu olmak üzere toplam 187 kişi katılmıştır. Katılımcılara sosyodemografik özelliklerin sorgulandığı anket, Hollanda Yeme Davranışı Anketi, Beden Algısı ve Rosenberg Benlik Saygısı Ölçeği uygulanmıştır.Bulgular: Katılımcıların BKİ gruplarına göre benlik saygısı puanları incelendiğinde, gruplar arasında istatistiksel açıdan anlamlı bir farklılık bulunmadı. Obez olan grubun beden algısı ortalama puanı diğer gruplara göre düşük olmasına rağmen üç grup arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark yoktu. Fazla kilolu olan grupta kısıtlayıcı yeme davranışının, normal kilolu ve obez olan gruba göre anlamlı olarak daha yüksek olduğu görülürken, duygusal yeme ve dışsal yeme davranışları arasında ilişki saptanmadı. Çalışmaya katılanlara kendi kilolarını nasıl değerlendirdikleri sorulduğunda obez olanların yalnızca 19’u (%29,7) kend¬ini obez olarak değerlendirirken, 42’si (%65,6) kendini fazla kilolu olarak algılamaktaydı. Sonuç: Obezitenin nedenlerini, yol açtığı psikolojik ve sosyal sorunları dikkate alarak hastalarını değerlendirip sağlıklı yeme davranışına özendiren hekimler obezitenin önlenmesi, tedavisi ve izleminde daha etkin ve başarılı olabilirler.

The Family Life Cycle (FLC) is an important tool to understand the family and its functions that affect both the individual and society. FLC approach handles the family according to time variable. It is important to determine the periods of FLC, which is called the stages that the family has spent as a social unit throughout its life, and to understand the relationship between each period and the social events developing in the environment both socially and individually. Life cycle stages is different in Turkey than in other countries. In many western countries, children who have reached the age of 18 are now leaving the family, while family reunification in our country can continue until later ages. Family ties are much stronger in Turkish society than western societies. If the stage of FLC is defined by the family physicians it will be possible to handle the family and individuals biopsychosocially and to provide psychological support when the family needs it. The problems that make up the family's agenda can be defined periodically. When the next phase of FLC is predictable, it will be possible to warn families about the problems they may encounter and to take steps to prevent these problems. A comprehensive and holistic approach, which is one of the main elements of primary care, will result in the improvement of public health and well-being.