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As muscle and bone are closely-related, we have explored the association between sarcopenia-related measurements and bone mineral density (BMD) (and osteoporosis) in postmenopausal women. Grip strength, anterior thigh muscle thickness and chair stand test were found to be related with BMD. Additionally, grip strength 22 kg increased the odds ratio of osteoporosis 1.6 times.As muscle and bone are two closely related tissues, we aimed to investigate the association between sarcopenia-related measurements (i.e., sonographic anterior thigh muscle thickness, grip strength, chair stand test (CST), gait speed) and clinical factors, lumbar/femoral BMD, and the presence of osteoporosis (OP) in postmenopausal women.Community dwelling postmenopausal women from two physical and rehabilitation medicine outpatient clinics were consecutively included in this cross-sectional study. Demographic data, age, weight, height, education/exercise status, smoking, and comorbidities were registered. BMD measurements were performed from lumbar vertebrae (L1-4) and femoral neck using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). A T-score of ≤ -2.5 SD in the lumbar vertebrae (L1-L4) and/or femoral neck was accepted as OP. Anterior thigh muscle thickness (MT) at the midthigh level was measured sonographically using a linear probe. Grip strength was measured from the dominant side. Physical performance was assessed by CST and gait speed.Among 546 postmenopausal women, 222 (40.7%) had OP. Among sarcopenia-related parameters, grip strength and anterior thigh MT were positively associated with lumbar vertebral BMD. CST performance was positively associated with femoral neck BMD. After adjusting for confounding factors, low grip strength ( 22 kg) increased 1.6 times the risk of OP.Loss of muscle mass/function (i.e., sarcopenia) can coexist with loss of trabecular and cortical bone. To this end, grip strength and anterior thigh MT seem to be associated with the lumbar vertebral BMD, while CST is associated with the femoral neck BMD. Lastly, low grip strength might have an association with postmenopausal OP.

This paper presents a compact implantable antenna’s design, fabrication, and measurement for biotelemetry applications. The proposed design with the size of 255 mm3 provides a triple-band operation that covers all the Medical Implant Communication Service (MICS: 402 MHz), Medical Device Radiocommunications Service (MedRadio: 405 MHz), and Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM: 433, 915 and 2450 MHz) bands simultaneously. The compact structure with triple- band performance is essentially achieved by using a spiral-like radiator loaded with meandered and internal gear-shaped elements excited by a vertical coaxial probe feed. Also, the slots-loaded partial ground plane is utilized to improve impedance matching at the desired frequency bands. The design and analysis of the antenna were carried out using the Ansoft HFSS software in a homogenous skin model and the CST Microwave Studio in a realistic human model. The proposed antenna was fabricated to validate the simulated results, and characteristics of its return loss and radiation patterns were measured in minced pork meat. Moreover, realized gains and specific absorption rate (SAR) values of the antenna were numerically computed using the simulators. Based on the simulated and measured results, the proposed antenna performance was found to be comparable to the limited number of multiband implantable antenna designs reported in the recent literature.

Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the effects of genetic characteristics on the survival in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).Methods:This retrospective study reviewed the data on epidemiological features, main laboratory tests, International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) and revised-IPSS risk categories, genetic anomalies, genetic risk categories, and survival in patients who are diagnosed with MDS in our center. According to the IPSS risk categories, patients were classified into three groups as follows: “low risk,” “intermediate-1,” and “intermediate-2 risk and high risk.” The groups were compared using the ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests.Results:The study reviewed the data of 99 patients. The mean age was 66±11.6 years. A genetic anomaly was detected in 30.3%, of which the most common was del20q (26.7%). The median survival was 61 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 50.9-71] in the study population. The 5-year survival rate was calculated as 64%, 41%, and 33% in “low risk,” “intermediate-1,” and “intermediate-2 risk and high risk” groups, respectively. The predicted median survival rate was 96 months (95% CI: 47.7-144.2), 56 months (95% CI: 34.1-77.8), and 18 months (95% CI: 15.1-20.8), respectively, which indicate a significant difference (log-rank chi-square: 6.6; p=0.035). The risk for mortality was 3.3-folds higher in the “intermediate-2 and high risk” group compared to the “low risk” group (RR: 3.3; 95% CI: 1.2-8.6; p=0.017).Conclusion:Our study supports that risk groups that are determined by several parameters, including genetic characteristics, provide predictive information about survival in MDS.

Kan glukozunun yükselmesiyle karakterize olan diyabet, pankreastaki fonksiyon bozukluğu neticesinde oluşmaktadır ve bu durum insülin etkisine karşı dirence veya insülin üretiminin azalmasına neden olmaktadır. Diyabet, Tip-I ve Tip-II olmak üzere iki grupta incelenmektedir. Tip-I diyabet, pankreasın beta hücresinden salınan insülin hormonundaki yetersizlik neticesinde gelişim göstermektedir. Burada T-hücresi aracılığıyla gerçekleşen otoimmün yanıtın, pankreasın beta hücre fonksiyonunu etkilediği bilinmektedir. Tip-II diyabet sağlıksız beslenme, hareketsizlik, genetik-çevresel faktörlerden kaynaklı gelişim göstermektedir. Prevalansı yüksek Tip-II diyabette, insülin direnci oluşumu, beta hücre fonksiyonunda kayıp ile hiperglisemi gelişmektedir. Tümör nekroz faktör ilişkili apoptoz indükleyici ligand (TRAIL), tümör nekroz faktör (TNF)-süper ailesinin üyesi olup; Tip-II transmembran proteini olarak ifade edilmektedir. İmmün yanıt ve inflamasyonun düzenlenmesinde önemli fonksiyonlara sahiptir. Biyolojik etkilerini, hücre yüzeyindeki reseptörleri sayesinde gerçekleştirmektedir. TNF-alfa’nın senteziyle oluşan lenfosit infiltratları, Tip-I diyabete yol açmaktadır. TRAIL’in diyabet gelişimindeki rolüyle ilgili çalışmalar ilk olarak hayvan modellemeleriyle başlamıştır. TRAIL eksikliği olan hayvan çalışmalarında, otoimmün kaynaklı diyabetin ve pankreatik adacık inflamasyonunun arttığı kaydedilmiştir. Bu bulgular TRAIL’in diyabet patofizyolojisinde önemli bir rol oynadığını göstermektedir. Klinik veriler neticesinde TRAIL ekspresyonunun sağlıklı bireylerde yüksek olması obezite ve diyabette koruyucu bir rolü olduğunu düşündürmektedir. Bu derlemede, elde edilen bulgular temelinde TRAIL’in diyabetteki koruyucu rolünün incelenmesi hedeflenmiştir.

Introduction Trastuzumab emtansine (TDM-1) is an antibody–drug conjugate effective in human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 - expressing advanced breast cancer. Pulmonary complications of TDM-1 are rarely reported. TDM-1-associated interstitial lung disease is referred to as pneumonitis. Case report A 47-year-old female patient who underwent modified radical mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection operations due to a palpable mass in the right breast and axillary region. The patient who had received multiple chemotherapy was last receiving TDM-1 treatment. Fatigue, dyspnea, and tachypnea were detected for the first time on 20 days after the 6th treatment. Menagement and outcome In our case, we first considered metastasis, pneumonia and fungal infection based on radiological findings, but the lack of response to the treatments and the results of the investigations suggested drug-induced pneumonia and steroid treatment was started. Our case had a complete radiological recovery and complete response to sterod therapy. In such cases, it is important to first exclude infections and metastasis. In cases of drug-induced pneumonia, the first treatment option is systemic corticosteroids and generally responded well. Discussion Unlike other cases of interstitial pneumonia, lung imaging of our case was resembling a metastasis, pneumonia and fungal infection. With increasing use of TDM-1, we will have more experience in both efficacy and complications of TDM-1. Although TDM-1 is a well-tolerated drug, clinicians should be aware of rare pulmonary complications and prepared to respond appropriately.