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There was a dramatic and significant decrease in number of prescribed antibiotics in 2017 compared to 2015 and 2016 (p less then 0.05). CONCLUSION This study shows that there has been a significant decrease in antibiotic prescription in 10 Family Medicine departments in 2017 in comparison to February, March, and April 2015 and 2016. The use of RAT resulted in a decrease in antibiotic prescription rates in 2017.BACKGROUND AND AIM Intra-abdominal hypertension is a common clinical condition with high mortality and morbidity in pediatric intensive care units. The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of regional tissue oxygenation (rSO2) measurement using near-infrared spectroscopy and to assess the correlation between rSO2 and perfusion markers of intra-abdominal hypertension in high-risk pediatric patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS A prospective observational cohort study in a tertiary pediatric intensive care unit in Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine, A total of 31 patients with a risk of intra-abdominal hypertension were included between May 2017 and May 2018. Mesenteric and renal rSO2 measurements were taken and correlations with other tissue perfusion markers including mean arterial pressure, pH, lactate, intra-abdominal pressure, abdominal perfusion pressure, mixed venous oxygen saturation, vasoactive inotropic score were assessed. Intra-abdominal pressure was measured as ?10 mmHg in 15 patients (48.3%) and these patients were defined as the group with intra-abdominal hypertension. RESULTS In the group with intra-abdominal hypertension, mixed venous oxygen saturation was lower (p=0.024), vasoactive inotropic score was higher (p=0.024) and the mean abdominal perfusion pressure value was lower (p=0.014). In the ROC analysis, the mesenteric rSO2 measurement was the best parameter to predict intra-abdominal hypertension with area under the curve of 0.812 (P = 0.003) 95% CI [0.652 – 0.973]. CONCLUSIONS Monitoring of mesenteric rSO2 is feasible in patients at risk for intra-abdominal hypertension. this website Moreover, both mesenteric regional oxygen and perfusion markers may be used to identify pediatric patients at risk for intra-abdominal hypertension.BACKGROUND AND AIM This study aimed to evaluate the effect of successful percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty (PMBV) on left ventricular systolic functions using strain and strain rate echocardiography in moderate-severe mitral stenosis (MS) patients with normal left ventricular systolic function confirmed by conventional echocardiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients with moderate-severe MS, who had undergone successful PMBV, were included. Conventional echocardiographic parameters were evaluated before and after PMBV. Peak systolic strain and strain rate values of basal, mid, and apical segments of the left ventricular anterior, inferior, septum, and lateral walls were determined. RESULTS After PMBV, significant decreases were determined in the peak and mean gradients of the mitral valve and pulmonary artery pressure, but a significant increase in the mitral valve area. Significant increases (improvement) were determined in the peak systolic strain and strain rate in the basal, mid and apical segments of the left ventricular septum, lateral, anterior, and inferior walls and in the left ventricular global peak systolic strain (-17.32±0.58% vs. -12.38±1.06%) and strain rate (-1.65±0.07 vs. -1.22±0.12). CONCLUSION Strain and strain rate echocardiography can be used for quantitative evaluation of the effect of PMBV on the left ventricular systolic functions in moderate-severe MS patients.BACKGROUND/AIM Malnutrition is an important and commonly seen prognostic factor in patients with cirrhosis. The diagnosis of malnutrition in cirrhosis may be difficult and challenging, and an easily measured and widely usable marker is lacking. Because prealbumin is an easily measured marker, we aimed to measure prealbumin levels in cirrhotic patients with no clinically apparent malnutrition, and to use it as a malnutrition marker. Another aim was to evaluate the effect of nutritional support on the patients with low prealbumin levels. METHODS Fifty two patients with Child A and B cirrhosis were selected for the study. The prealbumin levels were studied, Child and MELD Scores were calculated. The patients with prealbumin level less than 180 mg/L were considered as having malnutrition, and two different types of nutrition products were given to the patients. The patients with nutrition support were investigated a month later, and parameters were compared. RESULTS According to prealbumin threshold of 180 mg/L the malnutrition frequencies were 59.3% for Child A and 95% for Child B cirrhosis. After nutritional support statistically significant improvement in albumin and INR levels were detected. Also the MELD score decreased, but it was not statistically significant (p0.088). A statistically significant decrease in the MELD score was only obtained in patients with Child B cirrhosis (p0.033). When oral replacement therapies were investigated separately, a statistically significant decrease in MELD score was detected with product 1 (p0.043). CONCLUSION Prealbumin can be used as an easily measured parameter for earlier detection of malnutrition in patients with cirrhosis, who have no clinically apparent malnutrition. Oral nutritional support, especially with relatively high carbohydrate and low protein products, may have a favorable effect on MELD score.BACKGROUND/AIM This study aimed to evaluate the demographic, clinical, angiographic and prognostic characteristics of Takayasu arteritis (TA) in Iran. METHODS Total of 75 patients with TA based on the American College of Rheumatology 1990 criteria for TA classification referred to the Rheumatology Centers, were followed-up from 1989 to 2019. Demographic, clinical, angiographic and prognostic characteristics were collected at baseline and last visit. RESULTS The mean age was 31.9±9.8 years at the disease onset. Female to male ratio was 14. The median latency in diagnosis was 24 months. Pulse discrepancy in the arms, blood pressure discrepancy in the arms, limb claudication, hypertension and constitutional symptoms were the most common clinical features. The most common angiographic type at the time of diagnosis was Type I (42.7%). The most frequent arterial lesion was stenosis (89.4%). Subclavian, carotid and aortic arteries were the most commonly involved arteries. New lesions developed in 28.6% of patients during the 5.