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Aims: Coeliac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder with a prevalence ≤2% that causes an immune reaction to gluten. Growth retardation (GR) generally accompanies CD due to gastrointestinal complications and should be treated as early as possible along with initiation of a glutenfree diet. The aim of this study was to determine the indicators of GR in patients with CD. Methods: This single-centre retrospective study included paediatric outpatients with CD. All patients were diagnosed with CD via serological analysis and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy if necessary. Patient records were obtained from Adana City Training and Research Hospital. Patients that were diagnosed with GR accompanying CD were given oral nutritional supplements and followed-up every 3-6 months. Statistical relationships between demographics, and anthropometric measurements, duration of breastfeeding, gluten contact time, diet duration, presenting complaints and serological findings were evaluated. Results: This study included 169 paediatric outpatients between ages 1 and 18. Longer symptom duration and shorter breastfeeding duration were significantly correlated with GR accompanying CD (P = 0.007 and P = 0.029, respectively). Vomiting was the only symptom that was correlated with the presence of GR (P = 0.010). Helicobacter pylori infection was not correlated with the presence of GR (P = 0.277). Conclusions: GR should be treated as early as possible to reduce the severity of CD and a 6 months sole breastfeeding followed by solid foods accompanied by breastfeeding for 2 years is crucial for preventing GR. Moreover, vomiting as a presenting complaint in patients with CD might be indicative of the presence of GR.

The problem of the connection between theoretical knowledge and practical knowledge leads to the inadequate training of physicians that results in inaccurate prescriptions. Case-based learning (CBL) is a universal paradigm often used within the medical curriculum, and it encourages self-assessment while enabling the learner to generate analytical and diagnostic solutions to a real scenario. However, its applications are limited and more research is needed to test its compatibility with students with different learning styles.Methods: CBL-based pharmacology courses have been integrated into the 3rd year curriculum of Bahcesehir University Faculty of Medicine. A 15-question questionnaire was filled out by 67 students who were informed in advance to evaluate the CBL-based lessons. In addition, 37 of the participants were asked to complete an approved VARK questionnaire. In this way, traditional education systems were evaluated in terms of learning styles with CBL. Results:According to the majority of the students participating in the study, CBL is a very useful learning method compared to traditional learning methods by making it easier to direct real life cases. In addition, no significant difference was found between the answers of students with various preferences, such as multi-modal or single-modal learning styles, in terms of the evaluation of CBL. Conclusion:The students' survey results showed that the CBL-based curriculum was a useful motivating method. This study shows that CBL is a teaching system that can be adapted to each type of student regardless of the learning style and it is a learning method that can be applied in other fields besides Clinical Pharmacology.

To analyze the rates and types of ongoing urological surgery clinical trials (CTs) in the Middle East (ME) and worldwide. Materials and Methods: The number of urological surgery CTs was identified via the ClinicalTrials.gov database. Studies were further analyzed using different filters present in ClinicalTrials.gov. Results: Vast majority of urological surgery CTs are progressing in North America and Europe with 71.53%. The ME accounts for only 6.19%. In the ME, only Turkiye hosts studies of pediatric urological surgery. Additionally, the vast majority of adult studies were also belongs to Turkiye with 64%. Further, the large portion of conducted CTs in the ME is phase 3 studies and studies with no phase indicated. Similarly, all urological surgery CTs conducted in Turkiye are in later phases or with no phase indicated. Moreover, industry resources are not directed upon these studies in the ME. Few countries use the advantages of industry resources for conducting urological surgery CTs. Conclusion: The ME should be considered as a fertile land for adopting urological surgery CTs due to high population despite low ongoing studies. The lack of industry support in the ME is another problem, which may improve via rendering the ME more attractive for sponsors by adopting new regulatory guidelines for some of the countries.

IntroductionCow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) is the most commonly encountered food allergy in the world, usually seen in infants under the age of 2 years. This study aims to determine the factors including COVID-19 affecting formula compliance of CMPA patients.MethodsThis study is a prospective, observational study based on 10 different Paediatric Allergy-Immunology clinics in Turkey. Patients aged between 6 months and 2 years, who were followed up with IgE-mediated CMPA treatment or newly diagnosed and using breast milk and/or formula were included in the study. The sociodemographic characteristics of the patients, their symptoms, the treatments they received, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on adherence to formula were evaluated with a questionnaire administered to the parents.ResultsThe compliance rate for formula-based treatment was 30.8% (IQR: 28.3, SD: 21.86). The number of patients with a single and multiple food allergy was 127 (51.6%) and 71 (28.9%), respectively. Breastfeeding duration, daily amount of prescribed formula and addition of sweetener to the formula were found to reduce compliance (p = 0.010, p = 0.003, and p = 0.004, respectively). However, it was determined that the patient's height, weight, age at diagnosis, and age of formula onset did not have a significant effect on compliance.ConclusionIt was found that the duration of breastfeeding, the increase in the daily amount of formula requirement, and the addition of sweeteners had adverse effects on formula compliance. There was no significant correlation between the formula adherence of CMPA patients and the pandemic.