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This research shows the results and conclusions of an experimental study that aims to shed light on the mechanical performance of Slurry Infiltrated Fiber Concrete (SIFCON) (i.e. compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, Poisson's ratio, elastic modulus, and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) and explore its efficiency at elevated temperature (i.e. 200, 400 and 600 °C) with different steel fiber ratios of 5 %, 7.5 %, and 10 % cured standard and in boiling water (accelerated curing). Hence, sets of cylinders and prisms are cast and tested under ASTM standard conditions. The results indicate that mechanical properties improve by increasing the steel fiber ratio up to 7.5 % in the case of a standard curing system, but more improvement is achieved with a steel fiber ratio up to 10 % in case of accelerated curing with boiling water. Also, the results indicate the superiority of the accelerated curing method for flexural and splitting tensile strength. Fly ash has a good contribution to the enhancement of mechanical performance of SIFCON with high steel fiber ratios. A decreasing and drastic reduction in compressive strength with increasing temperature above 200 and 400 °C for control specimens and SIFCON specimens with fiber ratios of 5 %, respectively are observed. While a dramatic gain in the strength of SIFCON samples with fiber ratios of 7.5 % and 10 % is concluded. High ratios of steel fiber can retard the spalling of concrete; hence it makes SIFCON the unique material for resisting explosive loads.

In this study it was investigated the behavior of class F fly ash based geopolymer mortars subjected to elevated temperatures. Geopolimer composites were prepared with CEN-sand, water, fly ash as the binder, nSiO2Na2O and NaOH mixture combination as alkali activator. After mixing fresh geopolymer mixture, prismatic specimens were prepared using 40 mm × 40 mm × 160 mm prism molds. After molding, fresh geopolymer mortar samples with their mold were subjected to heat curing at 50 °C, 60 °C, 70 °C, 80 °C, 90 °C and 100 °C temperature for 48 hours in an oven. After 48 hours initial heat curing, the hardened samples were taken out of their mold. Then, they were further cured by leaving them in laboratory environment at about 22 ± 2 °C temperature, until 28 days together with heat curing duration. At the end of 28 days, geopolymer mortar samples developed flexural strength values between 2,9 MPa and 8,51 MPa. Geopolymer mortar samples developed compressive strength values between 7,63 MPa and 50,64 MPa. High temperature experiments were conducted to observe behaviour of geopolymer mortars at elevated temperatures. The control cement mortar mixtures were also prepared and subjected to high temperature exposure in comparison to geopolymer mortar mixtures. Control cement mortars were cured at laboratory environment for 28 days without initial temperature curing. Control cement mortar mixtures and geopolymer mortar mixtures were exposed to elevated temperatures of 200 °C, 400 °C, 600 °C and 800 °C temperature. The unit weight, ultrasonic pulse velocity, flexural and compressive strength of all mixtures were measured before and after high temperature exposure. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the mixtures were taken and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer analyses were carried out. It was observed that there was an increase in the flexural and compressive strengths of some geopolymer mortars after high temperature exposure. In general, geopolymer mortars exhibited better performance at elevated temperatures in comparison to control cement mortar mixture. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ms.24.4.18829

İnsan tarihboyunca dünyaya hâkim olmak konusunda yoğun çalışmalar yapmaktadır. Buçalışmada, temelde insanı özünde vicdanını tanımlayıp, vicdani zekâsını ölçümleyecekgeçerli ve güvenilir bir ölçek geliştirmektir. Taslak ölçeğin geliştirilmesindeilgili literatür uzman ekip çalışanlarınca incelenerek 84 ifadeden oluşan maddehavuzu oluşturulmuştur. İlk olarak 446 kişiden oluşan örneklem üzerindenaçıklayıcı faktör analizi yapılmıştır. Faktörlerde madde yükleri düşük olan 52ifade çıkarılarak taslak ölçek 32 madde ile oluşturulmuştur. 32 maddedenoluşturulan taslak ölçek Kütahya ilinde yaşamakta olan değişik demografiközelliklere sahip 1546 kişiye 5’li likert tipinde anket olarak uygulanmıştır.Elde edilen bulgularla Vicdani Zekânın 7 faktörlü yapısının; “1. EtikDeğerler”, “2. Ahlâki Duyarlılık”, “3. Yaratıcıya Karşı Sorumluluk”, “4.Merhamet”, “5. Bilinçli Farkındalık”, “6. Toplumsal Duyarlılık” ve “7. Bilgelik”olarak adlandırılması uygun görülmüştür. Açımlayıcı Faktör Analizi’nden sonraDoğrulayıcı Faktör Analizi Yapısal Eşitlik Modellemesi ile test edilen ölçeğinCronbach’s Alpha katsayısı 0,851 olarak tespit edilmiştir. Yapılan analizlersonucunda ölçeğe ait toplam varyansın 0,5814’ünü açıklarken saptanan yedi altfaktörün yük değerlerinin 0,45 ile 0,86 arasında değiştiği tespit edilmiştir.

Amaç: Bu çalışmada firmaların finansal performans göstergelerinin KSS’yi etkileme düzeyini ortaya koymak amaçlanmıştır. Yöntem: Çalışma bulgularını elde etmek için Kurumsal sosyal sorumluluk başarısının bağımlı; cari oran, KVB/Toplam borç, Toplam borç/Toplam aktif, Nakit benzeri/Ortalama giderin bağımsız değişken olduğu regresyon analizi kurulmuştur. Bulgular: Bulgular sonucunda kurumsal sosyal sorumluluk başarısı üzerinde toplam borç içerisinde kısa vadeli borçların oranının ve ortalama giderler içerinde nakit benzerinin oranının olumlu etkisi varken cari oranın negatif etkisi olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.

Lif takviyeli polimer kompozitlerin betonarme yapılarda güçlendirme amaçlı olarak kullanımı son yıllarda oldukça yaygınlaşmıştır. Özellikle yüksek dayanımlı beton kullanılarak üretilen yapı elemanlarının yük etkisi altında sünek davranmasını sağlamak için, dışarıdan lifli polimer malzemeler kullanılarak sarılması alternatif bir güçlendirme yöntemi olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Yüksek çekme dayanımına sahip olan bu malzemeler, kolay uygulanabilmeleri ve hafif olmaları sebebiyle sıklıkla tercih edilmektedir. Bu çalışmada dayanımı 53.13-74.87 MPa arasında değişen silindir şeklindeki beton numuneler (tek veya çift kat) çift yönlü karbon lifli kumaş (CFRP) kullanılarak sarılmıştır. Söz konusu numunelerin eksenel basınç altında test edilmesiyle CFRP sargısının betonun basınç dayanımına ve sünekliğine olan etkileri araştırılmıştır. Ayrıca test edilen numunelere ait elde edilen gerilme-deformasyon ilişkileri literatürde mevcut olan CFRP ile güçlendirilmiş silindir numunelere ait modellerin sonuçları ile kıyaslanmıştır. Sonuç olarak CFRP sargılı numunelerin basınç dayanımlarında ve şekil değiştirme kapasitelerinde önemli artışlar elde edilmiştir. Özellikle çift kat CFRP sargılı durumda elde edilen gerilme-deformasyon değerlerinin, modellerden elde edilen değerler ile oldukça uyumlu olduğu gözlenmiştir.

The alkali activation of mortar blends containing Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag and Fly Ash, with activation based on sodium metasilicate, is investigated in this study. Two series are investigated, and compressive strength is measured. The results of the first series show that the compressive strength decreases considerably with a decrease in the slag and fly ash ratio. The 3-day compressive strength of mortar cured at the temperature of 100°C increases slightly up to the ratio of 60/40, but decreases considerably at the 40/60 ratio.

Objective:The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of unilateral transverse posterior cordotomy on the quality of life of patients with bilateral vocal fold paralysis.Methods:This study included 19 patients with bilateral vocal fold paralysis who underwent unilateral transverse posterior cordotomy between 2007 and 2012. Assessment of preoperative and postoperative quality of life of the patients was performed using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) quality of life survey.Results:The etiology of bilateral vocal fold paralysis was thyroid surgery in 18 patients. It was idiopathic in 1 patient. Cold knife was used in 12 patients and CO2 laser was used in 7 patients for posterior cordotomy. Acute upper airway obstruction developed in 1 patient who required tracheotomy. No other significant complications have been noted. We found a statistically significant improvement in all SF-36 subscale scores postoperatively (p

The purpose of this research is that the relationship between creativity and innovation concepts and examining innovative and creative personality and mindset of people as compared to assess and how the process of innovation can be used most effectively is to seek answers. The literature is searched for this study. As a result of this research, most of the innovative people is found to have similar properties to that of creative people. But innovative people show different properties from the creative people such as, taking more responsibility and initiative and extroversion. In addition to creative people’s properties are different from innovative’s such as, greater tolerance to uncertanity, and intellectual automony and indivuduality. Hence creative people show the horizontal thinking, as innovative people show the vertical thinking. In first step of innovation process, horizontal thinking skill is seen more then the vertical thinking. Therefore It is always in needed creative ideas at the begining of the innovation process. This study attempts to explain the innovation process has four phases.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of the different types of fly ash on the compressive strength properties of sintered briquettes. Thermal gravimetric (TG) analysis was carried out. The chemical composition and physical properties of the materials used were determined. Particle size distribution and microstructure elemental analyses of the materials used were carried out by a particle size analyzer (Mastersizer) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM-EDS). Following the characterization of the materials, briquettes were prepared by sintering at different temperatures. Compressive strength test results of the briquette samples indicated that briquettes with a compressive strength value of 47.45 N/mm2 can be produced. The results obtained exceed the Turkish standard (TS EN 771-1) requirements (9.8–23.54 N/mm2). SEM-EDS results showed that briquette samples made with Tunçbilek (T) fly ash had a higher percentage of the glassy phase than the other briquette samples. Due to this microstructure, it results in higher compressive strength value.

Background/aim: There are insufficient tools to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of vestibular migraine. Hence, the aim of this study was to perform the Turkish adaptation of the Vestibular Migraine Patient Assessment Tool and Handicap Inventory (VM-PATHI)., Materials and Methods: After the language and content validity was completed, a pilot study was conducted. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted to test construct validity, and as a result of the validity analyses, Cronbach's alpha internal consistency coefficient and test-retest analyses were conducted for reliability., Results: In the study, in which 289 participants were evaluated, the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin coefficient was calculated as 0.903. The percentage of variance explained by the EFA was 67.246% and the range of factor load change was 0.433-0.828. The scale structure was tested with CFA and the model was confirmed with adequate goodness of fit index values. The Cronbach's alpha internal consistency coefficient of the scale was 0.931., Conclusion: The VM-PATHI is a valid and reliable tool for the subjective evaluation of vestibular migraine in Türkiye., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (© TÜBİTAK.)

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of the February 6, 2023, earthquakes in Turkey and recurrent aftershocks on balance and post-traumatic stress in surviving victims., Methods: Our study included 1004 participants aged 18-65 years who were exposed to the February 6 earthquakes and aftershocks in Turkey. After obtaining online consent from all participants, the Vertigo Symptom Scale (VSS), the Dizziness Handicap Index (DHI), and the Posttraumatic Post-Traumatic Disorder Checklist Scale (PCL-5) were administered online, and the interactions between the variable sets were examined using a correlational screening model., Results: As a result of the structural equation model established with the observed variables, it was found that VSS total scores had a statistically significant positive effect on PCL-5 (β1 = 0.56; p = 0.001 < 0.05). In addition, statistically significant positive high-level correlations were found between VSS and DHI (cov VSS-DHI = 0.71), and a positive low level correlation with the number of days with dizziness (cov VSS-number of days with dizziness = 0.34), and a positive low level correlation with frequency of days with dizziness (cov VSS-frequency of days with dizziness = 0.37). A statistically significant positive low-level relationship was found between DHI and the number of days with dizziness (cov DHI-number of days with dizziness = 0.34) and a positive low-level correlation between DHI and the frequency of days with dizziness (cov DHI-frequency of days with dizziness = 0.29)., Conclusion: The structural equation modeling analysis showed that post-traumatic stress disorder had a significant effect on balance and dizziness., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background:  The concept of occupational self-esteem is the value judgment developed toward the chosen profession, whereas job satisfaction includes positive emotional attitudes toward the job. Professional self-esteem and job satisfaction levels of audiologists are a matter of curiosity., Purpose:  To determine the effect of the workplace types of audiologists in Türkiye on their professional self-esteem and job satisfaction levels., Study Sample:  The study included 307 audiologists working in various types of workplaces. Participation in the study was voluntary., Data Collection:  A Personal Information Form, Arıcak's Occupational Self-Esteem Scale, and the Minnesota Job Satisfaction Scale were administered to all individuals via Google forms and the scale scores were compared according to the workplace types., Results:  A statistically significant relationship was found between professional self-esteem and job satisfaction, age, satisfaction with workplace, satisfaction with working conditions, effect of workplace on professional development, and income satisfaction ( p  < 0.05). However, no statistically significant relationship was found between professional self-esteem and professional tenure and tenure in the current organization ( p  > 0.05). There was a strong positive statistically significant relationship between job satisfaction and professional self-esteem of audiologists working at state hospitals, hearing aid centers, university hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and cochlear implant centers and academics ( p  < 0.05)., Conclusion:  According to the present results, although the professional self-esteem of audiologists in Türkiye showed a small difference according to the type of workplace, their mean score was high. This shows that audiologists enjoy their profession. Job satisfaction levels were lower especially in rehabilitation centers and private hospitals. We think that improving the working conditions of audiologists in private institutions will be effective in improving the services provided to patients by leading to better job satisfaction., Competing Interests: None declared., (American Academy of Audiology. This article is published by Thieme.)

Background: It is reported that antiepileptic drugs have an effect on balance functions. The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the effects of valproic acid and levetiracetam monotherapy on balance functions in patients with generalized epilepsy using objective test methods., Methods: The study included 43 generalized epilepsy patients aged 18-60 years, including 20 patients receiving valproic acid monotherapy, 23 patients receiving levetiracetam monotherapy, and 25 healthy individuals as controls, in the Neurology Clinic of a university hospital in eastern Turkey. The demographic data form was filled out and the Video Head Impulse Test and Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials test were performed., Results: Statistically significant differences were obtained between the groups in lateral, posterior, and anterior semicircular canal gains and RALP and LARP asymmetry values in the V-HIT test (p < 0.05). Statistically significant differences were obtained between the groups in P1, N1 latency and asymmetry values in the C-VEMP test and in N1, P1 latency, amplitude, and asymmetry values in the o-VEMP test (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: Valproic acid and levetiracetam may affect the vestibulocular and vestibulocolic reflex pathways negatively. In this cohort, valproic acid had more pronounced adverse effects on balance functions as compared to levetiracetam., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the normative values of the functional head impulse test (fHIT) test in healthy young adults., Materials and Methods: The study included 100 individuals, 58 females and 42 males, aged 20-25 years. Beon Solution Zero Branco (TV) fHIT test was applied to all participants. FHIT results were analyzed in terms of lateral-posterior-anterior semicircular canals (SSCs), gender, and right-left ear., Results: In the fHIT test, for the lateral SSC the mean percent correct answer (%CA) values for 4,000-6,000°/s 2 and 1,000-7,000°/s 2 were 88.52 ± 9.04 and 89.91 ± 6.95, respectively; for the posterior SSC, the mean %CA values for SSC 3000-6,000°/s 2 and 1,000-7,000°/s 2 were 90.63 ± 8.69 and 91.16 ± 7.42, respectively; for the anterior SSC, the mean %CA values for 3,000-6,000°/s 2 and 1,000-7,000°/s 2 were 91.21 ± 7.96 and 91.49 ± 7.13, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the right and left ear in %CA values at all accelerations in all SSCs ( p  > 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between genders in the mean %CA values for 6,000-7,000°/s 2 , 4,000-6,000°/s 2 , and 1,000-7,000°/s 2 in the lateral SSC and 3,000-6,000°/s 2 in the anterior SSC ( p  < 0.05)., Conclusion: The FHIT is a noninvasive test battery that functionally evaluates the VOR of the six semicircular canals. In clinical use, the determination of normative values at all accelerations (1,000-7,000 degrees/s 2 ) constitutes an important database for future studies to distinguish pathologic results., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Cengiz, Erbek, Çolak, Kurtcu, Demirel Birişik, Karababa, Kuşman, Özdemir, Işık and Demir.)

Background: The aim of this study is to compare the possible functional involvement of the vestibulo-ocular reflex in the follicular and luteal phases., Methods: The research was carried out at a university located in eastern Turkey. The study included 37 healthy female volunteering students aged 18-25 years. The functional head impulse test was applied twice in the follicular phase and in the luteal phase, and the results in both phases were compared., Results: In the functional head impulse test, statistically significant differences were obtained between the follicular phase and the luteal phase at the stimulus to the lateral semicircular canal direction total and 6000°/s2 acceleration percentage of correct answers values, the posterior semicircular canal direction stimulations at 3000°/s2 and 5000°/s2 acceleration percentage of correct answers values, and the anterior semicircular canal direction stimulations at 5000°/s2 acceleration percentage of correct answers values., Conclusion: In the luteal phase, which corresponds to the period before menstruation, the vestibulo-ocular reflex is functionally negatively affected.

Background: To determine the anatomical proximity of the vestibular nuclei to the respiratory nuclei and the effect of susceptibility of the posterior labyrinth to a hypoxic state on the vestibular system., Objective: It was aimed to evaluate the possible effects of periodic hypoxia on vestibular reflexes and proprioceptive perception in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS)., Material and Methods: The study was conducted with 40 patients diagnosed with moderate and severe OSAS and 21 healthy individuals. All individuals were evaluated with Dizziness Handicap Inventory, ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP), cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP), video head impulse test ( vHIT), videonystagmography (VNG) and sportKAT 3000., Results: In the vHIT, a statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of anterior and posterior semicircular canal vestibulo-ocular reflex gains ( p  < .05). A negative correlation was found between the lateral gain asymmetry and RALP gain asymmetry and the awake blood oxygen level in the OSAS groups. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of wave response rates cVEMP 100 dB nHL and oVEMP 100-110 dB nHL ( p  < .05)., Conclusion and Significance: It was concluded that vestibular reflexes and proprioceptive perception were affected due to periodic/chronic hypoxia in patients with moderate and severe OSAS.

Background: The contribution and role of sensory systems in providing postural control may vary depending on the condition or activity. Vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) and proprioception might be affected by the type of sport., Objective: This study aimed to compare athletes engaged in combat sports and ball sports in terms of functional VOR and proprioception., Design: This study is a cross-sectional, comperative research., Method: Twenty-four athletes engaged in combat sports and 20 in ball sports were included in the study. Functional examination of VOR in athletes was performed with a novel Functional Head Impulse Test (fHIT). Proprioception analysis was evaluated using Laser Pointer Assisted Angle Reproduction Test (LPA-ART) in 90° shoulder flexion and abduction., Results: fHIT lateral and posterior % Correct Answer (CA) values and anterior SCC 6000°/s 2 values of athletes engaged in ball sports were found to be statistically significantly higher than athletes in combat sports (p < 0.05). Except for anterior SCC 4000°/s 2 value, scores of the ball players in all accelerations and directions were higher than combat sports athletes, although it was not statistically significant. The 90° shoulder flexion and abduction angle deviation values obtained from the LI-ATT were statistically lower in those who played ball sports (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: Participation in sports branches played with the ball is expected to provide gains for athletes who want to reach high-level performance in proprioceptive and vestibular functioning and those with vestibular/proprioceptive pathology. Maintaining clear vision in dynamic sports branches can be improved by training VOR function., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Objectives: The audio-vestibular equivalent of neurological symptoms secondary to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been discussed; however, it has not been fully clarified. Although it has been reported that the vestibulocochlear system is affected in adult coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients, there is no study in the literature in which the pediatric patient group with COVID-19 was evaluated comprehensively with auditory and vestibular tests. In this study, the short-term damage caused by SARS-CoV-2 in the vestibulocochlear system in pediatric patients was examined., Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the vestibulocochlear system of pediatric patients (aged 9-15 years) with a recent history of COVID-19. The study included 35 individuals with a recent history of COVID-19 and 35 age-gender-matched healthy individuals (control group). Pure tone audiometry, suppressed otoacoustic emission (OAE), video head impulse test (VHIT), and cervical and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (c/o-VEMP) tests were administered to all participants following their otoscopic examinations, and the obtained data were compared between the two groups., Results: When the data obtained with pure tone audiometry were compared, statistically significant differences were found between the groups at four different frequencies (1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz) in favor of the control group. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values obtained before noise at 2800 Hz and before and after noise at 4000 Hz. VHIT lateral gain, LARP gain, and RALP gain were statistically significantly lower in the COVID-19 group than in the control group (p < 0.05). VHIT lateral asymmetry parameter was measured higher in the COVID-19 group than in the control group, and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). In the VHIT test, the asymmetry parameter was significantly higher in the COVID-19 group (p < 0.05). In the o-VEMP test, n10 latency, p15 latency, n10-p15 interlatency, n10-p15 interpeak amplitude, and asymmetry parameters were measured, and no statistically significant difference was found between the COVID-19 group and the control group (p > 0.05)., Conclusion: Evidence was obtained that the cochleovestibular system was damaged in pediatric patients in the early post-COVID-19 period., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background/objective: There exists limited information in the literature on dominant hand preference in relation with vHIT applications. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between the clinician's dominant use of right- or left-hand and vHIT results., Methods: A Synapsys vHIT Ulmer device was used in the study. The tests were administered by 3 clinicians experienced in vHIT, 2 of whom were right-handed and 1 left-handed. The test was applied to the 94 participants three times, one week apart., Results: In this study, the correlation between right-handed clinicians and left-handed clinicians was examined, and in all SCCs, namely RA, LA, RL, LL, RP and LP, a moderate positive significant correlation was found between right-handed1 and right-handed2, between right-handed1 and left-handed, and between right-handed2 and left-handed., Conclusions: In this study, these findings suggested that measures were reliable across test sessions regardless of hand dominancy (right or left). Based on the vHIT results we obtained with three different right- or left-handed clinicians, the clinician should evaluate the results according to the dominant side.

Objective: To investigate the effects of dizziness on sleep quality and psychological status in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and to evaluate its relationship with falls., Methods: A Demographic Data Form, a Visual Vertigo Analog Scale, the Falls Efficacy Scale - International (FES-I), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were administered in 102 individuals diagnosed with BPPV by videonystagmography test. The same scales were applied to 75 healthy volunteers as the control group, and the two groups were compared. The BPPV group was divided into two groups as posterior canal and lateral canal BPPV. These two groups were compared among themselves and with the control group., Results: A statistically significant difference was found between the BPPV and control groups, the lateral canal BPPV and posterior canal BPPV groups, the lateral canal BPPV and control groups, and the posterior canal BPPV and control groups in terms of total scores of the PSQI, the FES-I, and the HADS (p<0.001). In the regression model, the FES-I score was fully explained by the PSQI and HADS scores (p<0.001)., Conclusion: BPPV significantly affects sleep quality, psychological state, and the risk of fall. The negative effects of BPPV restrict daily living activities, affect the prognosis of the disease, and increase the risk of falling. Considering that psychiatric issues and sleep problems increase the risk of falling in individuals with BPPV, counseling services on this issue would reduce the incidence of falls and related injuries., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (©Copyright 2022 by Official Journal of the Turkish Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery.)

Background: The short- and long-term effects of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on the medial olivocochlear reflex and outer hair cells in the cochlea remain largely unclear., Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the efferent auditory system effects in adult patients with COVID-19., Materials and Methods: The study included 18-50 years old 44 volunteers: 26 individuals (52 ears) with COVID-19 in the study group and 18 healthy individuals (36 ears) in the control group. Otolaryngological examination, immitancemetric evaluation, distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE), contralateral acoustic stimulation with DPOAE, audiometric evaluation, and high frequency audiometric evaluation were performed in all individuals participating in the study., Results: In our study, patients with COVID-19 had significantly lower DPOAE results with or without broadband noise at only 6 kHz frequency and contralateral suppression results at all frequencies compared to healthy individuals. A statistically significant difference was found between the study and control groups according to whether the participants had a response in the high frequency audiometry at 12 and 16 kHz frequencies., Conclusions: COVID-19 affects many systems in the body. As a result of the findings obtained in the present study, it is shown that the auditory efferent system may also be affected.

Purpose: It was aimed to investigate the effects of COVID-19 infection on hearing and the vestibular system., Methods: Twenty-six patients whose treatment had been completed and who had no previous hearing or balance complaints were included in the study. Patients diagnosed with the disease by PCR were included in the study. Patients with at least one month of illness were included in the study. The hearing of patients was evaluated with transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) and pure-tone audiometry. Bedside tests, the European Evaluation of Vertigo scale (EEV), Video Head Impulse Test (vHIT), Ocular Vestibular Myogenic Evoked Potential (oVEMP), Cervical Vestibular Myogenic Evoked Potential (cVEMP) and Videonystagmography (VNG) tests were applied to evaluate the vestibular system., Results: A statistically significant difference was found between the COVID-19 positive and control groups according to the mean values of the 4000 Hz and 8000 Hz in both the right and left ears (p < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was found in the other frequencies and TEOAE. No statistically significant difference was found between the COVID-19 positive and control groups in terms of their normal or pathological VNG saccade, optokinetic and spontaneous nystagmus values (p > 0.05). The normal and pathological VNG head shake values were found to be significantly different between the COVID-19 positive and control groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSıON: The high frequencies in audiometry in the COVID-19 positive group were worse than those in the control group. In the vestibular system, especially in oVEMP and cVEMP, asymmetric findings were obtained in comparison to the control group, and a low gain in vHIT was shown. This study shows that the audiovestibular system of people with COVID-19 infection may be affected., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The vHIT device, which has a mechanism based on measuring the VOR gain, helps us to quickly evaluate six semicircular canals., Aims/objectives: The aim of this study was to establish normative values for semicircular canal function with the video head impulse test (vHIT) battery in normal adolescents., Material and Methods: 100 (50 females, 50 males) individuals aged 11-18 years, with a mean age of 14.99 years, were included in the study., Results: As a result of the vHIT evaluations performed with vHIT Otometrics ICS Impulse A/S Taastrup, Denmark, the mean lateral canal vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain value was 0.96, the mean anterior canal VOR gain value was 0.89, and the mean posterior canal VOR gain value was 0.87, all of which were within the normal value range., Conclusion and Significance: While the VOR gain values and asymmetry values are within the normal value range and are similar to the literature, no statistically significant correlation was observed between these values and age. As a result, the vHIT battery is an easy, fast, and practical test method that can be used in adolescents.

Background/aims: To determine H. pylori eradication rate with lansoprazole-amoxicillin-clarithromycin treatment regimen, which is the most frequently used as first-line therapy, in the Kirikkale region., Methods: One hundred and five patients (44 male, 61 female) with H. pylori infection were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups based on the endoscopic findings: non-ulcer dyspepsia (n=84, 31 male, 53 female) and acute gastric or duodenal ulcer (n=21, 13 male, 8 female) groups. The diagnosis of H. pylori infection was confirmed if both the urease test and histological examination, which were performed on endoscopic biopsies, were positive. Lansoprazole 30 mg, amoxicillin 1 g, and clarithromycin 500 mg were given twice daily for 14 days to all patients. Endoscopic biopsies were repeated for the evaluation of eradication three months after the treatment., Results: Ninety-six patients completed the study. Eradication rates were found to be 45.8% (44 of 96) in all patients, 42.1% (32 of 76 patients) in the non-ulcer dyspepsia group and 60% (12 of 20 patients) in the gastric or duodenal ulcer group for per protocol analysis, and the difference between non-ulcer dyspepsia and gastric or duodenal ulcer groups was not statistically significant (p=0.208)., Conclusions: Lansoprazole-amoxicillin-clarithromycin treatment regimen, the most frequently preferred regimen in H. pylori eradication, is ineffective in our region. The low eradication rates observed with lansoprazole-amoxicillin-clarithromycin, at least in our region, bring into question its use as a first-line therapy. The use of alternative treatment protocols or antibiotic susceptibility test before the treatment may be helpful in achieving successful eradication with first-line therapy.