Dear JPR Readers,
You are reading the first issue of the JPR of 2023. In this issue of the journal, we include 12 original articles and 1 case report. While we were preparing for this issue, we experienced a great tragedy in our country and the effects of this continue heavily on us. We are in mourning.
In Turkey, two earthquakes struck with magnitudes of 7.8 Mw and 7.5 Mw, taking place on February 6th, 2023, just 9 hours apart, with epicenters in the Gaziantep’s Şehitkamil district and the Kahramanmaraş’s Ekinözü district, respectively. As a result of these earthquakes, tens of thousands of people have lost their lives in Turkey and Syria, and hundreds of thousands have been injured. These two earthquakes in Turkey affected about 15 million people in an area of one thousand square kilometers. The Turkish Government has announced the highest level of emergency in this affected region, including calls for help from international organizations and foreign governments with expertise in emergencies such as natural disasters and epidemics. The World Health Organization has also declared a level 3 emergency for the earthquakes that shook Turkey. These earthquakes were the most destructive earthquakes causing the highest death toll among all the earthquakes which have occurred in Turkey. Health workers and volunteers from Turkey and many other countries have mobilized to assist in this great disaster.
In this issue of the journal, we include 12 original articles and 1 case report. Original studies covering current issues in many areas of pediatrics have been included. These are in the fields of neonatalogy, oncology, neurology, rheumatology, gastroenterology and pulmonology. You can also read original studies on the COVID-19 infection, which continues to affect the whole world. Again, in this issue, we have included a very rare case with neonatal lupus erythematosus, which we think will contribute to the literature.
With science, our loss of life and suffering will decrease, and our world will become more beautiful.
Best wishes
Samim Özen
