Introduction This study aimed to evaluate the parents’ willingness and attitudes concerning the COVID-19 vaccine. Method This cross-sectional study was performed using a self-administered online survey, covering parents’ and their children's characteristics, parents’ willingness and attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine. A total of 1035 parents participated. Results Analysis showed that 36.3% of parents were willing to have their children receive the COVID-19 vaccine and that 59.9% were willing to receive it themselves. In addition, 83.9% were willing to have their children vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine if the mortality rates associated with COVID-19 in children increased following a mutation. After adjusting for significant variables, willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine (AOR = 24.91; 95% CI = 10.93-56.76), willingness for their children to participate in a COVID-19 vaccine trial (AOR = 11​.87; 95% CI = 2.41-58.40] and advising others to receive the COVID-19 vaccine [AOR = 7.82; 95% CI = 2.50-24.49] were associated with greater parents’ willingness for their children to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusions Parents’ willingness for their children to receive the COVID-19 vaccine was low. The only characteristics of either parents or children found to affect the parents’ willingness for children to receive the COVID-19 vaccine was the parents being healthcare workers. Parents’ willingness and positive attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine are factors that increase acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine for their children.

Background Increasing workloads and psychological pressure have led to fatigue among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Increasing stress and social isolation can also lead to sleep problems. The purpose of this study was to evaluate sleep quality and related factors among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey. Methods The data in this cross-sectional study were collected using an online questionnaire. This included sociodemographic data, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the National Stressful Events Survey PTSD Short Scale (NSESSS), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results Two hundred seventy-eight physicians, 104 nurses, and 52 dentists were enrolled. The total prevalence of poor sleep quality was 56.7%. The prevalence of poor sleep quality was 67.3% in nurses, 55.4% in physicians, and 42.3% in dentists. Poor sleep quality was more prevalent among women, nurses, hospital workers, frontline workers, individuals with <5 years of work experience, those with low social support, and individuals with increased traumatic stress levels. High levels of social support and family social support were identified as protective factors against poor sleep quality. Multivariate regression analyses showed that poor sleep quality was significantly associated with working in hospitals and high traumatic stress levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions Poor sleep quality was common among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Working in hospitals and high traumatic stress levels were identified as factors associated with poor sleep quality.

Amaç: Bu çalışmada son sınıf tıp öğrencilerinin sağlam çocuk izlemi hakkındaki bilgi düzeylerinin değerlendirilmesi ve eğitim ihtiyaçlarının saptanması amaçlanmıştır. Materyal ve Metot: Tanımlayıcı tipteki bu çalışmaya 01.02.2018 ile 01.09.2019 tarihleri arasında eğitim gören 145 son sınıf tıp öğrencisi katılmıştır. Sistematik örnekleme yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Verilerin toplanmasında anket formu kullanılmıştır. Ankette yaş, cinsiyet, medeni durum, pediatri stajı alma durumu ve sağlam çocuk izlemi ile ilgili 21 adet bilgi değerlendiren soru bulunmaktadır. Bulgular: Çalışmaya aile hekimliği stajını yapmakta olan 80’i (%55,2) kadın, 65’i (%44,8) erkek olmak üzere toplam 145 kişi katılmıştır. Katılımcıların yaş ortalaması 24,2±1,36 yıl idi. 86’sı (%59,3) pediatri stajını yapmış, 56’sı (%40,7) henüz pediatri stajını yapmamıştı. Bilgi düzeyini ölçmeye yönelik olan 21 sorunun toplam puanı 21 olarak değerlendirildi. Katılımcılar ortalama 7,32±2,63 puan aldı. Cinsiyet, medeni durum ve pediatri stajı yapma ile sağlam çocuk izlemi hakkındaki bilgi düzeyleri arasında istatistiksel bir fark saptanmamıştır. Sonuç: Katılımcılar sağlam çocuk izlemi ile ilgili bilgi sorularının ortalama olarak sadece üçte birini biliyordu ve tam puan alan yoktu. Ayrıca pediatri stajı yapmak ile de ortalama puanlarda bir artış görülmedi. Sağlam çocuk izlemi ile ilgili eğitim ihtiyacının olduğu net olarak ortaya konmuştur.

In this report, changes in the lipid profile of a 45-year-old female patient who regularly consumed Aronia melanocarpa (Aronia) fruit for one year were examined on a case-by-case basis. It was determined that the patient, who had no chronic diseases or medication use, consumed 30-40 grams of fresh frozen aronia berries in smoothie form five days a week for 12 months. The HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) level was initially 74 mg/dL; it increased to 88 mg/dL after 6 months and reached 94 mg/dL at the end of 12 months. Concurrently, triglyceride levels, which had a baseline of 173 mg/dL, decreased to 83 mg/dL, while LDL and total cholesterol levels experienced slight fluctuations. This case illustrates a possible association between Aronia intake and changes in the lipid profile, particularly HDL‑C, in a single individual. However, given the observational nature of the report, potential confounders, and the inconsistency with higher‑level evidence, these findings should be viewed as hypothesis‑generating rather than as a basis for clinical recommendations. Keywords: aronia melanocarpa, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides

This study aims to examine the structural characteristics of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) systems within global health systems and their association with socioeconomic indicators. Designed as an ecological study, the research evaluates TCIM indicators from 103 countries based on data obtained from the WHO TCIM Dashboard. Key variables include the presence of national legislation on TCIM, responsible national bodies, university-level education, national research institutes, and payment systems. Their associations with health expenditure per capita and the Human Development Index (HDI) were analysed. Data were analysed using SPSS v25.0; Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for group comparisons, while the chi-square test was applied to categorical variables. The findings revealed significant structural differences in TCIM systems across countries. Countries with national TCIM legislation had significantly higher HDI scores (p=0.027), and HDI was also higher in countries with national research institutes (p=0.008). Significant regional differences were observed in the distribution of TCIM structural indicators across WHO regions. In conclusion, the level of institutionalization of TCIM systems appears to be associated with countries’ development indicators, and integration into health systems is not equally distributed globally.

The human microbiome plays a critical role in immunity, metabolism, neurological function, and the pathophysiology of various diseases. Pioneering work by Prof. Jeffrey I. Gordon has led to the conceptualization of the gut microbiota as a functional “microbial organ”, prompting paradigm shifts in modern medicine. Through transgenic animal models, Gordon’s research has demonstrated the causal role of the microbiome in conditions such as obesity, malnutrition, and immune regulation. Microbiota-directed therapeutic foods show promising results, particularly in treating childhood malnutrition. Microbiome-based approaches now form the foundation of personalized medicine, opening new avenues in disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. In this letter, Gordon’s biography will also be briefly reviewed