Introduction: The aim of this study is to determine the effects of aerobic and stretching exercises on quality of life and depression levels of breast cancer patients. Methods: A total of 48 women (mean age 45.0±2.2 years) who were previously diagnosed with breast cancer and completed their treatment with no metastasis, were included in the study. Of these, 24 women who received the exercise program were assigned as the study group, while the remaining 24 women who did not receive the exercise program were assigned as the control group. The study group received a 12-week aerobic exercise program at the fitness club and home-based resistance exercise program designed by a sport scientist at the doctoral level. The control group was encouraged to maintain their normal level of physical activity and exercise habits throughout the study. The WHOQOL-BREF, EORTC-QLQ-C30 quality of life assessments and Beck depression inventory (BDI) were used to evaluate quality of life and the severity of depression before and after 12-week exercise programs. Results: EORTC QLQ-C30 scoring showed that in the study group aerobic exercise positively impacted quality of life on the functional scales (physical p=0.001, role p=0.039, emotional p=0.031, social functioning p=0.010) and symptoms (fatigue p=0.001, pain p=0.001, sleep disturbance p=0.038 and financial impact p=0.015). WHOQOL-BREF assessment areas, (general p=0.001, physical p=0.02, mental p=0.001 and social health p=0.017) relationships also improved as a result of exercise. BDI showed that severity of depression in the study group decreased significantly (p=0.001). Conclusion: This study showed that aerobic and resistance exercises improved quality of life and decreased depression levels of women who previously received breast cancer treatments.

Aims. Vascular access is of prime importance for hemodialysis patients. We aimed to study early complications of hemodialysis catheters placed in different central veins in patients with acute or chronic renal failure with or without ultrasound (US ) guidance.Material and Methods. Patients who were admitted to our unit between March 2008 and December 2010 with need for vascular access have been included. 908 patients were examined for their demographic parameters, primary renal disease, and indication for catheterization, type and location of the catheter, implantation technique, and acute complications.Results. The mean age of the patients was 60.6 ± 16.0 years. 643 (70.8 %) of the catheters were temporary while 265 (29.2%) were permanent. 684 catheters were inserted to internal jugular veins, 213 to femoral, and 11 to subclavian veins. Arterial puncture occurred in 88 (9.7%) among which 13 had resultant subcutaneous hematoma. No patient had lung trauma and there had been no need for removal of the catheter or a surgical intervention for complications. US guidance in jugular vein and experience of operator decreased arterial puncture rate.Conclusion. US-guided replacement of catheter to internal jugular vein would decrease complication rate. Referral to invasive nephrologists may decrease use of subclavian vein. Experience improves complication rates even under US guidance.

Objective Older adults with comorbidities have been reported to be at higher risk for adverse outcomes of Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19). The characteristics of COVID-19 in older patients and its clinical outcomes in different kidney disease groups are not well known. Methods Data were retrieved from a national multicentric database supported by Turkish Society of Nephrology, which consists of retrospectively collected data between April 17, 2020, and December 31, 2020. Hospitalized patients aged 18 years or older with confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis suffering from stage 3-5 chronic kidney disease(CKD) or on maintenance hemodialysis(HD) treatment were included in the database. Non-uremic hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were also included as the control group. Results We included 879 patients [388(44.1%) female, median age: 63(IQR:50-73) years]. The percentage of older patients in the CKD group was 68.8%(n=188/273), in HD group was 49.0%(n=150/306) and in the control group was 30.4%(n=70/300). Comorbidities were higher in the CKD and HD groups. The rate of presentation with severe-critical disease was higher in the older CKD and HD groups (43.6%, 55.3%, 16.1%, respectively). Among older patients, the intensive care unit(ICU) admission rate was significantly higher in the CKD and HD group than in the control group (38.8%, 37.3%, and 15.7%, respectively). In-hospital mortality or death and/or ICU admission rates in the older group were significantly higher in the CKD (29.3% and 39.4%) and HD group (26.7% and 30.1%) compared to the control group (8.6% and 17.1%). In the multivariate analysis, in-hospital mortality rates in CKD and HD groups were higher than control group [Hazard ratio(HR): 4.33([95% confidence interval(CI): 1.53-12.26] and HR: 3.09(95%CI: 1.04-9.17), respectively]. Conclusion Among older COVID-19 patients, in-hospital mortality is significantly higher in those with stage 3-5 CKD and on maintenance HD than older patients without CKD regardless of demographic characteristics, comorbidities, clinical and laboratory data on admission.

Background Each year, millions face natural disasters, encountering mass fatalities and severe medical issues such as crush injuries and crush syndrome. Crush syndrome, marked by acute kidney injury (AKI) and hyperkalemia, correlates with mortality. This study focuses on presenting epidemiological data on kidney disease resulting from the February 6, 2023 earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaras. Methods This retrospective analysis included patients diagnosed with crush syndrome after the 2023 Kahramanmaras earthquakes, treated in regional hospitals or referred elsewhere in Turkey. Patient data were documented using the web-based system developed by the Turkish Nephrology Association Renal Disaster Working Group. Results Of the 1024 analyzed patients from 46 centers, 515 (50.3%) were women. The mean age was 41 ± 16 years, with a median duration of 12 h under rubble, and the median presentation time to the first health facility was 4 h after extrication from the rubble. Upon admission, 79.8% received intravenous fluid therapy, all potassium-free. Initial serum creatinine, K⁺, and creatinine kinase levels averaged 2.59 ± 2 mg/dl, 5.1 ± 1 mmol/L 38,305 ± 54,303 U/L, respectively. Intensive care unit (ICU) admissions were 53.6%, with mean hospital and ICU stays of 20 and 11 days, respectively. Compartment syndrome occurred in 40.8% of patients, with 75.8% undergoing fasciotomy. Acute kidney injury developed in 67.9% of patients, with 70.3% undergoing hemodialysis, totaling 3016 sessions on 488 patients. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 9.8%. Conclusion Earthquakes have a significant impact on kidney health. Although our study indicates some progress compared to previous earthquake responses, there remains a crucial need for drills emphasizing post-earthquake initial response, fluid-electrolyte balance management, and emergency dialysis protocols. Graphical abstract

AAbstract Background/aim: Hospital-acquired acute kidney injury (HA-AKI) may commonly develop in Covid-19 patients and is expected to have higher mortality. There is little comparative data looking for the effect of HA-AKI on mortality of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and a control group of general population suffering from Covid-19. HA-AKI development was assessed in a group of stage 3-5 CKD patients and control group without CKD among adult patients hospitalized for Covid-19. The role of AKI development on the outcome (in-hospital mortality and admission to the intensive care unit [ICU]) of patients with and without CKD was compared. Among 621 hospitalized patients (age 60 [IQR:47-73]), women: 44.1%), AKI developed in 32.5% of the patients, as stage 1 in 84.2%, stage 2 in 8.4% and, stage 3 in 7.4%. AKI developed in 48.0 % of CKD patients, whereas in 17.6% of patients without CKD. CKD patients with HA-AKI had the highest mortality rate of 41.1 % compared to 14.3 % of patients with HA-AKI but no CKD (p<0.001). However, patients with AKI+non-CKD had similar rates of ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, and death rate as patients with CKD without AKI. Adjusted mortality risk of the AKI+non-CKD group (HR: 9.0, 95%CI:1.9-44.2) and AKI+CKD group (HR: 7.9, 95%CI:1.9-33.3) were significantly higher than non-AKI+non-CKD group. AKI frequently develops in hospitalized patients due to Covid-19 and is associated with high mortality. HA-AKI has worse outcome whether it develops in patients with or without CKD, but the worst outcome was seen in AKI+CKD patients.