Background/Aims: Chronic constipation is an important public health problem and significantly affects women’s lives. It is important to investigate nonpharmacological applications that can be used in the treatment of chronic constipation. The aim is to assess how abdominal massage and Kinesio taping impact constipation severity, quality of life (QOL), and perception of subjective improvement in women with chronic constipation. Methods: Following the Rome IV diagnostic criteria, women with constipation were randomly sorted into 3 distinct groups for study: massage group (lifestyle recommendations + abdominal massage, n = 22), taping group (lifestyle recommendations + Kinesio taping, n = 22), and control group (lifestyle recommendations, n = 22). Constipation Severity Instrument (CSI) (for constipation severity), 7 days bowel diary (for bowel function), Patient Assessment of Constipation QOL (PAC-QOL) questionnaire (for QOL), 4-item Likert-type scale (for perception of subjective improvement) was used. Results: The group x time interaction effect was significant in all CSI, bowel diary and PAC-QQL parameters, except for incomplete evacuation and PAC-QOL-worries/concerns, and a large effect size was found (Partial η 2 > 0.14). Improvement scores of all parameters (except CSI-obstructive defecation, incomplete evacuation, PAC-QOL-worries/concerns) were similar in the massage and taping groups andwere better than the control group. Noteworthy perceptions of subjective improvement and normalization of stool type predominantly manifested in the massage group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Abdominal massage and Kinesio taping are recommended as initial conservative interventions for managing chronic constipation within the therapeutic spectrum.

Background/Aims: Chronic constipation is an important public health problem and significantly affects women’s lives. It is important to investigate nonpharmacological applications that can be used in the treatment of chronic constipation. The aim is to assess how abdominal massage and Kinesio taping impact constipation severity, quality of life (QOL), and perception of subjective improvement in women with chronic constipation. Methods: Following the Rome IV diagnostic criteria, women with constipation were randomly sorted into 3 distinct groups for study: massage group (lifestyle recommendations + abdominal massage, n = 22), taping group (lifestyle recommendations + Kinesio taping, n = 22), and control group (lifestyle recommendations, n = 22). Constipation Severity Instrument (CSI) (for constipation severity), 7 days bowel diary (for bowel function), Patient Assessment of Constipation QOL (PAC-QOL) questionnaire (for QOL), 4-item Likert-type scale (for perception of subjective improvement) was used. Results: The group x time interaction effect was significant in all CSI, bowel diary and PAC-QQL parameters, except for incomplete evacuation and PAC-QOL-worries/concerns, and a large effect size was found (Partial η 2 > 0.14). Improvement scores of all parameters (except CSI-obstructive defecation, incomplete evacuation, PAC-QOL-worries/concerns) were similar in the massage and taping groups andwere better than the control group. Noteworthy perceptions of subjective improvement and normalization of stool type predominantly manifested in the massage group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Abdominal massage and Kinesio taping are recommended as initial conservative interventions for managing chronic constipation within the therapeutic spectrum.

Background/Aims: Chronic constipation is an important public health problem and significantly affects women’s lives. It is important to investigate nonpharmacological applications that can be used in the treatment of chronic constipation. The aim is to assess how abdominal massage and Kinesio taping impact constipation severity, quality of life (QOL), and perception of subjective improvement in women with chronic constipation. Methods: Following the Rome IV diagnostic criteria, women with constipation were randomly sorted into 3 distinct groups for study: massage group (lifestyle recommendations + abdominal massage, n = 22), taping group (lifestyle recommendations + Kinesio taping, n = 22), and control group (lifestyle recommendations, n = 22). Constipation Severity Instrument (CSI) (for constipation severity), 7 days bowel diary (for bowel function), Patient Assessment of Constipation QOL (PAC-QOL) questionnaire (for QOL), 4-item Likert-type scale (for perception of subjective improvement) was used. Results: The group x time interaction effect was significant in all CSI, bowel diary and PAC-QQL parameters, except for incomplete evacuation and PAC-QOL-worries/concerns, and a large effect size was found (Partial η 2 > 0.14). Improvement scores of all parameters (except CSI-obstructive defecation, incomplete evacuation, PAC-QOL-worries/concerns) were similar in the massage and taping groups andwere better than the control group. Noteworthy perceptions of subjective improvement and normalization of stool type predominantly manifested in the massage group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Abdominal massage and Kinesio taping are recommended as initial conservative interventions for managing chronic constipation within the therapeutic spectrum.

Objective: To examine the effects of human bocavirus type 1 (HBoV1) on the course of lower respiratory tract infections in cases of monoinfection and coinfection, and the effects of HBoV1 viral load on the disease in children under six years old hospitalized with a diagnosis of HBoV1-associated lower respiratory tract infections. Methods: Children under six years of age, who were hospitalized with the diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infection due to HBoV1 between 1 January 2021 and 1 January 2022 were included in the study. Laboratory confirmation of the respiratory pathogens was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Fifty-four (16.4%) children with HBoV1 among 329 children whose PCR was positive with bacterial/viral agent in nasopharyngeal swab samples were included in the study. There were 28 (51.9%) males and 26 (48.1%) females with a median age 23.4 months [interquartile range (IQR): 13.2, 30.0 months] (min-max:1 month-68 months). HBoV1 was detected as a monoinfecton in 26 (48.1%) children, and as a coinfection with other respiratory agents in 28 children (51.9%). In multiple regression analysis, coinfection (P=0.032) was associated with the length of hospitalization (P<0.001; R 2 =0.166). There was a negative correlation (r= 0.281, P=0.040) between cough and cycle threshold. Fever was found to be positively correlated with C-reactive protein (r=0.568, P<0.001) and procalcitonin (r=0.472; P=0.001). Conclusions: Although we found a higher HBoV1 viral load in children with more cough symptoms in our study, it had no effect on the severity of the disease, such as length of hospital stay and need for intensive care. Coinfection was found to affect the length of hospitalization.