Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma Amaçları
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- MakaleYalnız künye2026Scopus SJRQ1Feeding problems in Turkish children with down syndrome and parental quality of life: A cross-sectional study
Okyar, Ferit; Kemer, Duygu
Background Children with Down syndrome (DS) often have feeding problems, which may negatively affect the quality of life (QoL) of their parents. This study aimed to identify feeding problems in children with DS and to examine the relationship between these feeding problems and parental QoL. Methods This cross-sectional study included 105 parents of children aged 10–18 years with DS in Turkey. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using the Screening Tool of Feeding Problems (STEP) and the SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36). Results This study indicated that the mean STEP scale scores were below the average level across all frequency × severity subscales. Parents' mean scores on the SF-36 QoL scale were above the reference mean (x̄ = 50.00) for the physical functioning, vitality, mental health, social functioning, pain, and general health perception subscales, whereas scores for the physical role limitation and emotional role limitation subscales were below the reference mean. In this study, a moderate negative correlation was found between STEP subscale scores and parents' mean SF-36 subscale scores ( p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions In this study, a significant negative correlation was found between the STEP subscale scores and the parents' mean SF-36 subscale scores. Implications to practice: Routine feeding assessments using the STEP scale should be conducted for children with DS, and nurse-led parent education programs addressing feeding problems should be implemented.
- MakaleAçık Erişim2012Scopus SJRQ2Changes in nitric oxide levels and erythrocyte arginase activities in patient with Down syndrome
Ozbey, Ulku; Seyran, Ayse; Erisir, Mine; Benzer, Fulya; Savucu, Yuksel
Down syndrome is a chromosome abnormality with specific clinical symptoms and mental retardation caused by trisomy of chromosome 21. There is evidence that oxygen free radicals play an important role in the pathophysiology of many neuropsychiatric disorders. Although, it has not been investigated yet, several recent studies proposed that nitric oxide related to oxidative stress and arginase may have a pathophysiological role in mental retardation. The purpose of this study was to determine plasma nitric oxide levels and erythrocyte arginase activities in patients with Down syndrome and in healthy children. Plasma nitric oxide levels and erythrocyte arginase activity were measured in 20 patients with Down syndrome (median age: 15.6 +/- 7.5) and 20 age-matched healthy subjects (median age: 16.2 +/- 7.4). Significant differences were found between erythrocyte arginase activity of the patients with Down syndrome (35.2 +/- 2.7 U/g hemoglobin (Hb)) and those of healthy children (43.5 +/- 2.9 U/g Hb), (P < 0.05). But we have not found any statistical difference between persons with Down syndrome and control group for nitric oxide (P > 0.05). It was concluded that the level of erythrocyte arginase activity could be considered as a useful marker for assessing the level of mental retardation in children with Down syndrome.
