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Cystinosis is a rare autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disease associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. The most distinctive ocular manifestations of cystinosis are photophobia, tearing, and blurred vision. Herein, we assessed the ocular involvement of four patients from two families diagnosed with infantile nephropathic cystinosis using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM). Anterior segment OCT demonstrated multiple hyperreflective punctate deposits, and IVCM revealed needle-shaped bright crystal deposits in the corneal stroma in all patients. Three patients also had crystal deposits in the epithelium, where epithelial cell disruption was observed. Crystal deposits around the subepithelial nerve plexus were noted in some sections. In one patient, round and needle-shaped bright deposits along with inflammatory cells were observed in the limbal region of the conjunctiva. Infrared fundus images of two female siblings revealed hyperreflective crystal-like deposits around the optic disc, macula, and peripheral retina, and enhanced depth imaging OCT showed accumulation of crystals in all layers of the retina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Direct-acting antivirals (DAA) improve clinical outcomes in chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Data about the long-term outcomes of patients with CHC treated with DAAs in Turkey. We aimed to analyze the characteristics and outcomes of patients with CHC who attended the 3-year follow-up visit after completing DAA therapy and to present their implications for clinical management and public health. Materials and Methods This single-center, single-arm, retrospective study included adult CHC patients treated with DAA ± ribavirin and attended the year 3 follow-up visit after completing treatment. Data on patient characteristics, laboratory parameters, recurrent/relapsing hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were collected from the hospital medical records and descriptively analyzed. Results Sixty-eight patients (55.9% women), including 15 patients (22.1%) of foreign origin, were included in the study. Forty-six patients (67.6%) had a known route of HCV transmission, and 27 (58.7%) were infected through blood transfusion and/or surgical intervention. Most participants (57.4%) were infected with HCV genotype (GT) 1b: all patients of European origin with GT1b, two-thirds of Syrian participants with GT4, and half of Asians with GT3. Three patients had cirrhosis (4.4%; all compensated) at baseline. No patient developed relapse, reinfection, cirrhosis, decompensation, or HCC. Conclusion Sustained virologic response, absence of new cases of cirrhosis, decompensation, or HCC during follow-up support the long-term clinical effectiveness of DAAs. Hepatitis C Prevention and Control strategies should include post-treatment follow-up of patients at high risk of progression, HCC, recurrence, and relapse, and individuals who could potentially spread the infection. Keywords:Hepatitis C, hepatocellular carcinoma, cirrhosis, death, sustained virologic response: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Usual gait speed is a fundamental component of sarcopenia and frailty. The current study aimed to assess the correlation between low gait speed (LGS), geriatric syndrome, and mortality. Methods: Of the 2,020 patients who attended the outpatient department of our university hospital between April 2012 and April 2023, a total of 661 participants with accessible gait speed data who were over 60 years of age were included in the study. LGS was defined as a gait speed of 0.8 m/s or less, whereas probable sarcopenia was assessed based on two different measurements: hand grip strength (HGS) and the chair stand test (CST). The cut-off values for HGS were 27 kg for women and 16 kg for men. For the CST, measurements of >15s or an inability to complete the test were considered indicators of probable sarcopenia. Results: The median age of the participants was 73 (60-96) years, and 455 (68.8%) were women. Among the participants, 56 (27.3%) died during the study period. Univarite analysis revealed no significant association between LGS and mortality, whereas regression analysis suggested that LGS was statistically associated with age, sex, congestive heart failure, frailty, malnutrition, and probable sarcopenia assessed by CST. Conclusion: In the presence of LGS, screening for malnutrition, frailty, and probable sarcopenia by CST was feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) still remains as an enigmatic phenomenon. In particular, long-term challenges (including clinical recurrence and persistent symptoms) and specific entities in the setting of TTS have been the evolving areas of interest. On the other hand, a significant gap still exists regarding the proper risk-stratification of this phenomenon in the short and long terms. The present paper, the second part (part-2) of the consensus report, aims to discuss less well-known aspects of TTS including specific entities, challenges after recovery and risk-stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent years, there has been a burgeoning interest in Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), which is renowned as a specific form of reversible myocardial dysfunction. Despite the extensive literature available on TTS, clinicians still face several practical challenges associated with the diagnosis and management of this phenomenon. This potentially results in the underdiagnosis and improper management of TTS in clinical practice. The present paper, the first part (part-1) of the consensus report, aims to cover diagnostic and therapeutic challenges associated with TTS along with certain recommendations to combat these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purulent pericarditis in children is a life-threatening condition causing cardiac tamponade and disrupting the hemodynamic status of the patient. It has been associated with high mortality if treatment is delayed. Furthermore, purulent pericarditis may lead to constrictive pericarditis in the long term if not fully treated. Acute purulent pericarditis should be seriously considered in every septic child presenting with signs of right heart decompensation. Echocardiography is important for diagnosis. Diagnostic pericardiocentesis should be performed. Recent experience shows that excellent results can be obtained when adequate surgical drainage and antibiotic therapy are combined. We report a case of purulent bacterial pericarditis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in an immunocompetent young child presenting with sepsis. The patient was successfully treated with a combined medical and early surgical approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Chemotherapeutic agents can produce neurodegenerative changes. This study was conducted to assess the therapeutic potential of agmatine, a neuromodulator, on methotrexate induced neurodegeneration in sciatic nerve. Materials and Methods: 40 male Wistar albino rats were assigned into four groups at random as control, methotrexate, agmatine and methotrexate-agmatine. Methotrexate was injected intraperitoneally at a 37.5 mg/kg/week dose for 3 weeks. Afterwards, agmatine was administered intraperitoneally twice a day at a 40 mg/kg dose for 7 days. Sciatic functional index, nociceptive pain perception and behavioral changes were analyzed every week. Nerve conduction velocity was evaluated. Apoptotic activity and mitophagy, histopathological changes in sciatic nerves were examined. Results: Methotrexate administration resulted in a prolonged escape time to the platform and decreased the time spent in the quadrant in the water maze test; elevated nociceptive latencies; decreased the number of frames passed in the open field test; reduced sciatic NCV and SFI score. Besides, methotrexate administration caused a reduction in myelin thickness and axon diameter in sciatic nerve and a more intense glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity. Methotrexate administration triggered an increase in the Bax/Bcl2 protein expression ratio without changing the expression level of Parkin, indicating a slight apoptotic activation. agmatine administration improved methotrexate induced changes in behavioral performances, nociceptive pain perception, nerve conduction, SFI scores and histopathological changes. Conclusion: Agmatine has been demonstrated to possess a therapeutic potential in methotrexate induced degeneration and peripheral neuropathy in the rat sciatic nerve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Namık Kemal Tıp Dergisi is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Sarcopenia is a serious cause of mortality and morbidity. Expressing that the quality of life of older adults may be a sign of sarcopenia. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between the Euro-Quality of Life Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS) and sarcopenia components in older adults. Methods: Patients aged over 60 years who visited geriatric outpatients between October 2016 and August 2021 were included in the study. The overall quality of life was evaluated using the EQ-VAS. Handgrip strength (HGS), Chair Stand Test (CST), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), usual gait speed (UGS), and timed up-go test were measured to assess sarcopenia components. Results: A total of 545 patients were included in the study. The median EQ-VAS score was 70 (10-100). Age, UGS, and HGS were found to be statistically significant determinants of the EQ-VAS (p=0.014, p=0.005, p<0.001) after adjusting for gender, diabetes, body mass index, SMM, and CST. Conclusion: Our study suggests that age, UGS, and HGS are associated with self-reported quality of life in older adults. The results highlight the importance of assessing the quality of life of older adults in clinical practice to improve sarcopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Adding targeted agents to chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer increases survival. There have been no clinical trials in older populations comparing the efficacy of the targeted agents. We aimed to compare the efficacy and tolerability of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-eGFR) and anti-vascular endotelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) in elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in the first-line setting. Methods: A total of 89 elderly patients diagnosed with KRAS wild metastatic colorectal cancer who received anti-eGFR or anti-VEGF therapy in the first-line setting were included in the study. Patients received anti-eGFR plus chemotherapy compared with anti-VEGF plus chemotherapy according to general characteristics, response rates, progression-free and overall survival (OS), and non-hematological toxicities. Results: The median age was 70 (65-81) years old in anti-eGFR group and 69 (65-78) in anti-VEGF group in our study. The progression-free survival was 11 months in the anti-eGFR group and 10 months in anti-VEGF group (p=0.053). OS was not reached at the median of 28 months in the anti-eGFR group and there were no statistically difference (p=0.77). Conclusion: Progression-free and OS rates were similar between the anti-eGFR and anti-VEGF groups in older patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Grade 3-4 rash is the most common adverse event in the anti-eGFR group. Pulmoner thromboembolism and diarrhea are the most common adverse events in the anti-VEGF group. Old age is not a barrier for use biological agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Anatolian Journal of General Medical Research is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: To assess the impact of surgical delay in localized prostate cancer (PCa) on adverse pathological features and oncological outcomes. Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent surgery for localized PCa were included from the Turkish Urooncology Association PCa database. History of previous treatment or active surveillance was considered an exclusion criterion. Patients were divided into two groups according to the time period between the diagnosis and surgery; less than or equal to 90 days (group 1) or longer than 90 days (group 2). Surgical pathology results and oncological outcomes were compared between the groups. Results: In total, 2454 out of 3646 patients were assessed. Pathological findings of radical prostatectomy specimens were similar between the two groups. However, there was slightly more seminal vesicle invasion in the final surgical pathology in group 1 (12.9% vs. 9.3%, respectively p=0.042). The 5-year biochemical recurrence-free survival times were similar across all D’Amico risk categories between the two groups. The regression analysis demonstrated seminal vesicle invasion as the only factor affecting the time to prostate-specific antigen progression in high-risk patients (p<0.001 HR=2.51 confidence interval=1.58-4.45). Conclusion: In conclusion, our results in this large cohort suggest that surgical delay does not cause a deterioration in PCa surgical outcomes, even in high-risk patients. These findings may be helpful for planning limited healthcare resources especially in conditions like the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic where the availability and optimal use of healthcare system resources are crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Sarcopenia is a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality, with unfavorable consequences. The present study investigated the prevalence of sarcopenia associated with obesity, referred to as sarcopenic obesity, and the associated factors. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, which was a type of retrospective observational study. The study included patients aged ≥65 years who were treated outpatiently between May 2020 and February 2022. The study population was divided into two groups: the SO group and the SO group alone. In the univariate analyses, we investigated the relationship between age, sex, number of medications, polypharmacy, comorbid conditions, frailty, and undernutrition in the two groups. The parameters found to be related to each group in the univariate analyses were further evaluated using multivariate analyses. Results: Among the 367 participants, the median age was 71 years (65-97). The proportion of cases with sarcopenic obesity was 15.3% (n=56), whereas the proportion of individuals with sarcopenia but without obesity was 16.6% (n=61). In the multivariate analysis, age (p=0.001) and frailty (p<0.001) were found to be factors associated with SO. Conclusion: The prevalence of sarcopenia in older adults with obesity is similar to that in those with obesity, although female sex and frailty stand out as factors with a particular association with sarcopenic obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Plant extracts are important natural resources that may have antimicrobial and antibiofilm effects against pathogens. This study was conducted to investigate the in vitro antimicrobial activities of methanol extracts of some medicinal plants (Achillea nobilis subspecies neilreichii (A. Kern.) Velen., Aetheorhiza bulbosa (L.) Cass, Allium paniculatum L, Asphodelus aestivus Brot., Ballota nigra L., Cistus laurifolius L., Cistus salviifolius L., Dioscorea communis (L.) Caddick and Wilkin, Galium verum L., Hypericum triquetrifolium Turra, Paliurus spina-christi Mill., Primula vulgaris Huds. subspecies rubra (Sm.) Arcang., Ranunculus arvensis L. and Teucrium polium L.) from Balıkesir province in Türkiye. Materials and Methods: Preliminary antimicrobial activity screening was conducted for all extracts. Antibiofilm activity studies were conducted on mature Candida albicans biofilms. Moreover, the cytotoxicities of A. paniculatum flower extract on A549 and Vero cell lines were determined using a colorimetric tetrazolium-based assay. Results: A. paniculatum flower, P. vulgaris root, C. laurifolius, C. salviifolius, and A. nobilis displayed good activity [minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC): 9.75, 156, 312, 312 and 312 µg/mL, respectively] against C. albicans American Type Culture Collection 10231. Biofilm studies were conducted on these plant extracts. The methanol extract of A. paniculatum flower decreased the number of C. albicans [colony-forming unit (CFU)/mL] in mature biofilm statistically at 32 x MIC and higher concentrations (p < 0.01). A. paniculatum flower extract had a cytotoxic effect (killing more than 50% of cells) at high concentrations, and its effect on Vero cells was similar to that on A549 cells. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the importance of the methanol extract of A. paniculatum flower as a natural alternative against C. albicans infections, including biofilms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Namık Kemal Tıp Dergisi is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: Home healthcare services play a crucial role in reducing health expenditure, providing tailored care, and improving the quality of healthcare, particularly for managing chronic diseases. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed the blood test and laboratory results of 1,461 patients who were evaluated by the home health services unit in Ankara between May 1, 2020, and July 31, 2020. The patients' ages, genders, and laboratory data were collected, and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The study included 1,461 patients, of whom 64.06% were female and 35.94% were male. Significant age differences were observed among the patients (p<0.001). Home visits were conducted for medical examinations and laboratory tests, and the results showed age-related variations in several parameters, such as albumin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase, creatine-kinase, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), calcium (Ca), free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, total protein, triglycerides, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, urea, uric acid, creatinine, and potassium. Gender differences were also observed, with varying levels of amylase, activated partial thromboplastin time, ALT, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, GGT, C-reactive protein, albumin, phosphorus, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, Ca, and unsaturated iron binding capacity. Conclusion: Considering age-related laboratory test results is crucial in home healthcare settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Pediatric Emergency & Intensive Care Medicine / Çocuk Acil ve Voğun Bakım Dergisi is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) are rare and aggressive members of the small round cell carcinoma family. Generally, PNETs are classified into two main groups: PNETs of the central nervous system and PNETs of the peripheral nervous system. Herein, we report the therapy response assessment of a rare case of isolated cardiac PNET using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging. Given that physiological cardiac FDG uptake is typically observed, assessing FDG avid lesions in the myocardium presents a challenge for [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inulin and fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are prominent functional components in the food industry due to prebiotic and other pharmaceutical properties. Inulin is a storage polysaccharide in various plants. FOS are naturally present in various plants and can be obtained by partial hydrolysis of inulin. In this study, ground and sieved chicory roots (Cichorium intybus L.) were used as starting material for inulin extraction under optimized conditions determined by Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with a Box-Behnken design. Optimum inulin extraction conditions from chicory roots were; temperature of 90 °C, extraction time of 30 min., and liquid-to-solid (LS) ratio of 10:1 mL/g. Inulin extract was further hydrolyzed to FOS by enzymatic or acid treatment, separately. Purification of inulin extract and FOS hydrolysate was performed by ultrafiltration with a 10 kDa membrane under the pressure of 2 bar with continuous stirring. As a result, inulin and FOS were obtained at 90% and 76% purity, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study's analysis of the maritime propeller blade structure in ice navigation was motivated by an incident that caused the tip of a propeller blade to bend. The aim of this study was to demonstrate how the ice layer's confined space effect causes propeller blade tips to bend. Using computer-based software, a three-dimensional model of the propeller was created. The geometry of the three-dimensional propeller model was imported using the finite element approach into another piece of software. The propeller model and the environment were constructed after designing the ice environment. Using the computational fluid dynamics method, flux was calculated, and the composed pressure was derived. Following the specification of the alloy material for the propeller, the static structural module applied pressure values acquired to the propeller to measure the total deformation and stress. The data comparing the results of the simulation study are based on full-scale measurements. The maximum deformation in Ansys was 2.7-3.5 cm, whereas in the incident, it was 12 cm, which can be explained by persistent pressure or repeated initial movement steps. Considering these findings, the reason for blade tip bend, preventive measures, and recommendations have been proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to report the demographic and clinical characteristics of diabetic macular edema (DME) patients treated with intravitreal injection (IVI) of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (anti-VEGF) and provide an overview of outcomes during routine clinical practice in Türkiye. Materials and Methods: This retrospective, real-world study included 1,372 eyes (854 patients) treated with a pro re nata protocol by 21 ophthalmologists from 8 tertiary clinics on the Asian side of the Marmara region of Türkiye (MARMASIA Study Group). Five cohort groups were established by collecting the patients' baseline and 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36-month follow-up data, where each subsequent cohort may include the previous. Changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA, approximate ETDRS letters) and central macular thickness (CMT, pm), number of visits and IVI, and rates of anti-VEGF switch and intravitreal dexamethasone implant (IDI) combination were evaluated. Results: The 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36-month cohorts included 1372 (854), 1352 (838), 1185 (722), 972 (581), and 623 (361) eyes (patients), respectively. The mean baseline BCVA and CMT were 51.4±21.4 letters and 482.6±180.3 pm. The mean changes from baseline in BCVA were + 7.6, +9.1, +8.0, +8.6, and +8.4 letters, and in CMT were -115.4, -140.0, -147.9, -167.3, and -215.4 pm at the 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36-month visits (p<0.001 for all). The median cumulative number of anti-VEGF IVI was 3.0, 3.0, 5.0, 7.0, and 9.0, respectively. The overall anti-VEGF switch and IDI combination rates were 18.5% (253/1372 eyes) and 35.0% (480/1372 eyes), respectively. Conclusion: This largest real-life study of DME from Türkiye demonstrated BCVA gains inferior to randomized controlled trials, mainly due to the lower number of IVI. However, with the lower baseline BCVA and higher IDI combination rates in our cohorts, these gains were relatively superior to other real-life study counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Ankara University Faculty of Medicine / Ankara Üniversitesi Tip Fakültesi Mecmuasi is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Namık Kemal Tıp Dergisi is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: On February 6, 2023, at 04.17, a powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck Kahramanmaraş, Turkey, causing extensive damage in 10 provinces. A state of emergency was declared in the 11 most severely affected provinces. The earthquake had significant global repercussions, leading the World Health Organization to declare a level 3 emergency, which calls for the mobilization of agency-wide resources. At the time of writing, official reports indicate that 50.096 people lost their lives and 107.204 were injured. Following the earthquake affected patients began seeking medical attention at hospitals in Mersin, one of the closest provinces not affected by the earthquake. This study aimed to examine the emergency department and hospital organization arrangements at Mersin University Medical Faculty Hospital, triage protocols, and interventions implemented to assist patients affected by the disaster. Materials and Methods: This observational study examines the measures taken after an extraordinary situation such as a disaster in our hospital, which serves as a tertiary university hospital, and the effectiveness of these measures. Results Over a 15-day period following the earthquake, 2.043 patients were treated in our hospital's adult emergency department with the diagnosis of earthquake victims. There were 1.115 traumatic injuries among these patients, while 928 were affected by the earthquake but were not physically injured and were presented to the hospital for other medical reasons. In the triage category of 1.115 patients with traumatic injuries, 52 were assigned to the red zone, 487 to the yellow zone, and 576 to the green zone. Conclusion: By ensuring an optimal match between patients and their treatment areas after the disaster, the health team working within the context of the disaster can work in harmony and coordination, preventing delays in post-disaster treatment and minimizing health-related effects. With proper team and area arrangements based on the type of disaster and the supply of materials and equipment that match the patient profile that may require hospitalization, it is possible to reduce morbidity and mortality due to the effects of the disaster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article celebrates the 50th anniversary of nuclear medicine in Turkey, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Republic. The recognition of nuclear medicine as a separate medical branch and residency program in Turkey preceded many other countries. The practice of nuclear medicine in Turkey has evolved over the years, with advancements in technology and the production of radiopharmaceuticals. The Turkish Society of Nuclear Medicine was founded in 1975 to support the discipline and its professionals. The article provides a brief history of nuclear medicine in Turkey and highlights the achievements and contributions of various individuals and organizations. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: The aim of the study was to test validity and reliability of the Human Papilloma Virus Knowledge Scale (HPV-KS) in Turkish. Material and Methods: The methodological study was conducted with 920 participants at a training and research hospital in Ankara, Turkey, between February and May 2019. The data collection form consisted of descriptive characteristics of the participants and HPV-KS. Guidelines for the Process of Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Self-Reported Measures were followed for the language and cultural adaptation of the scale. Content validity, exploratory, and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to test the validity of the scale. The scale's reliability was assessed using the item-total correlation, Cronbach's alpha, and test-retest analysis. Results: In line with the experts' suggestions, two item were excluded from the scale. The scale content validity index was found to be 0.96. The exploratory factor analysis determined the four subscales of the scale with 33-items. The explained variance was found to be 64.56%. In the confirmatory factor analysis, all the goodness of fit indexes had acceptable values. The item-total correlations determined that each item was positively correlated with the total scale ranging from 0.53 to 0.80. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient calculated for the overall scale was 0.96. It was found that there was a statistically significant positive relationship between test and retest (r=0.166; p=0.05). Conclusion: The scale was shown to be a valid and reliable standard measurement that can be used to accurately evaluate the efficacy of health education provided by healthcare professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE The present study aims to evaluate whether perfusion parameters in prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), (68)Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and PSA density can be used to predict the lesion grade in patients with prostate cancer (PCa). METHODS The study included a total of 137 PCa cases in which 12-quadrant transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (TRUSBx) was performed, the Gleason score (GS) was determined, and pre-biopsy multiparametric prostate MRI and (68)Ga-PSMA PET/CT examinations were undertaken. The patient population was evaluated in three groups according to the GS: (1) low risk; (2) intermediate risk; (3) high risk. The PSA, PSA density, pre-TRUSBx (68)Ga-PSMA PET/CT maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), perfusion MRI parameters [maximum enhancement, maximum relative enhancement, T0 (s), time to peak (s), wash-in rate (s-1), and wash-out rate (s-1)] were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS There was no significant difference between the three groups in relation to the PSA, PSA density, and (68)Ga-PSMA PET/CT SUV (P > 0.05). However, the values of maximum enhancement, max- max imum relative enhancement (%), T0 (s), time to peak (s), wash-in rate (s-1), and wash-out rate (s-1) significantly differed among the groups. A moderate positive correlation was found among the prostate volume, PSA (r = 0.490), and (68)Ga-PSMA SUVmax (r = 0.322) in the patients. The wash-out rate (s-1) and wash-in rate (s-1) had the best diagnostic test performance (area under the curve: 89.1% and 78.4%, respectively). CONCLUSION No significant correlation was found between the (68)Ga-PSMA PET/CT SUVmax and the GS. The washout rate was more successful in estimating the pretreatment GS than the (68)Ga-PSMA PET/CT SUVmax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Namık Kemal Tıp Dergisi is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Namık Kemal Tıp Dergisi is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Namık Kemal Tıp Dergisi is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: Sarcopenia, undernutrition and frailty are three interrelated geriatric problems with strong associations with mortality and morbidity. This study assesses coexistence of probable sarcopenia, undernutrition and frailty in patients admitted to outpatient clinics in our country. Materials and Methods: The study population consisted of participants over the age of 60 years who applied to the geriatric outpatient clinics of a university hospital between December 2012 and August 2021. All of the participants were screened for frailty using the FRAIL scale, while the mini nutritional assessment-short form was used for undernutrition screening. Hand grip strength was measured using a Jamar hydraulic hand dynamometer, based on the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People definition regional cut-offs (<35 kg <20 kg in males and females, respectively). Results: Included in the study were 438 participants with a mean age of 74+6.7, 129 of whom were male (29.5%). The prevalence of three clinical conditions (probable sarcopenia, undernutrition and frailty) was 48.8% (214), 24.2% (106) and 65.1% (285), respectively. Both probable sarcopenia and undernutrition were detected in 15.5% (68%), and 13.6% (60) of the sample had all three conditions. Conclusion: The majority of patients in the study were either frail (65.1%), probable sarcopenic (48.8%) or undernourished (24.2%), and the coexistence of all three clinical conditions was significant, affecting 13.6% of the total (60). Our study is the first to investigate the overlaps of the three interrelated geriatric syndromes in patients who applied to geriatric outpatient clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the fitting process, clinical performance, and patient satisfaction of hybrid contact lenses (HCL) in patients with keratoconus (KC). Materials and Methods: Sixty-eight KC patients (35 female, 33 male) who were prescribed HCL were included in the study. Corneal topographic parameters, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) with eyeglasses, the number of HCL trials, prescribed HCL base curve (BC), and visual acuity with HCL were recorded from hospital records. A contact lens satisfaction survey was sent to the patients via email or WhatsApp and the data was statistically analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 22.0. Results: The study included 110 eyes of 68 patients with a mean age of 27.34±8 years (range: 12-48 years). According to the Amsler-Krumeich classification, 35.5% of the eyes were stage 1, 50.9% were stage 2, and 13.5% were stage 3 or 4. Mean K1, K2, and Kmean values were 7.14±0.50 mm (range 5.72-8.30 mm), 6.63±0.49 mm (range 5.07-7.84 mm), and 6.89±0.48 mm (range 5.39-8.06 mm), respectively. The average number of lens trials was 1.59±0.82 (range 1-4). The mean BC of the prescribed HCL was 6.84±0.50 mm (range 5.60-8.00 mm). BCVA with glasses was 0.36±0.2 (range 0.05-0.8), and 0.80±0.14 (range 0.3-1.0) with HCL (p<0.0001). The overall survey score was 3.54 out of 5, the overall satisfaction score was 3.27, the average vision satisfaction score was 3.62, the average satisfaction score for lens insertion and removal was 3.01, and the average satisfaction score for lens comfort was 2.97. Conclusion: Prescribed HCL BC is usually close to the topographic Kmean value and in most of the patients, fitting was successful with the first or second CL trial. The overall satisfaction score was moderate to good and the disadvantages were low comfort compared to soft CL, difficulty with insertion and removal, short lens life, and high cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer type in women and may be inherited, mostly in an autosomal dominant pattern. The clinical diagnosis of BC relies on the published diagnostic criteria, and analysis of two genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, which are strongly associated with BC, are included in these criteria. The aim of this study was to compare BC index cases with non-BC individuals in terms of genotype and diagnostic features to investigate the genotype/demographic information association. Materials and Methods: Mutational analyses for the BRCA1/BRCA2 genes was performed in 2475 individuals between 2013-2022 from collaborative centers across Turkey, of whom 1444 with BC were designated as index cases. Results: Overall, mutations were identified in 17% (421/2475), while the percentage of mutation carriers in cases of BC was similar, 16.6% (239/1444). BRCA1/BRCA2 gene mutations were detected in 17.8% (131/737) of familial cases and 12% (78/549) of sporadic cases. Mutations in BRCA1 were found in 4.9%, whereas 12% were in BRCA2 (p<0.05). Meta-analyses were performed to compare these results with other studies of Mediterranean-region populations. Conclusion: Patients with BRCA2 mutations were significantly more common than those with BRCA1 mutations. In sporadic cases, there was a lower proportion with BRCA1/BRCA2 variants, as expected, and these results were consistent with the data of Mediterranean-region populations. However, the present study, because of the large sample size, revealed more robust findings than previous studies. These findings may be helpful in facilitating the clinical management of BC for both familial and non-familial cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Medeniyet Medical Journal is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Meandros Medical & Dental Journal is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Gazi Medical Journal is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of 5a-R inhibitor dutasteride added to standard Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) immunotherapy for preventing recurrence and progression in intermediate- and high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Materials and Methods: Patients received BCG immunotherapy in accordance with the European Association of Urology guidelines and dutasteride (0.5 mg) tablet were orally administered once a day. The participants were monitored for recurrence or progression for 24 months. Androgen receptor expression assay was performed on cystoscopic biopsy materials. According to the data from retrospective studies of patients with bladder cancer, the recurrence rate was 50% in patients with BCG immunotherapy without dutasteride, and 25% in those given dutasteride, with 23 patients included in the study. Results: A total of 14 (60.9%) patients could finish the follow-up. Ten patients completed the 24 months follow-up without recurrence and 4 patients had recurrence. Nine (39.1%) patients failed to complete the follow-up. Of these patients, 28.5% had recurrence. No patient progressed to MIBC and no low-grade tumor progressed to high grade. There was no statistical significance between recurrence and non-recurrence groups for AR mRNA, ARV7 mRNA, AR protein and ARV7 protein expression. But all expressions were higher in the non-recurrence group. Conclusion: Dutasteride failed to show predicted efficacy in recurrence in this prospective study, most likely due to the limited number of patients, however the decrease in recurrences after the 6th month of dutasteride treatment and the fact that the lack of progression during the treatment is promising for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: The study was conducted as a descriptive study in order to investigate the near-miss events that surgical team members encountered during the use of the Surgical Safety Checklist (SSC). Methods: The research was carried out between June 25, 2018 and September 7, 2018 in the surgical services and operating theaters of three public hospitals in Ankara. The sample of the study (n=387) was consisted of surgical team members working in the surgical services (n=94) andin the operating room (n=293) (anesthesiologist, nurse, surgeon, surgical technician, anesthesia technician). Data were obtained with the individual data sheet and SSC application form. Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis (p<0.05). Results: As a result of the research, it was determined that 27.1% of the surgical team members working in surgical service and operating rooms did not receive training on the SSC. It was found that 72.9% of surgical team members received training on SSC and 37.0% said that there were near-miss cases and medical errors that were prevented with the use of SSC. Although 90.2% of the participants knew the near-miss definition and 37.0% encountered them, the rate of those reporting the event was determined as 7.8%. The near-miss cases most commonly encountered by the participants in the study were found to be absence of side marking in 26.0%, not removing jewelry in 23.0%, and being full of the patient (eating before surgery) in 18.0%. In addition, carelessness in 26.2%, crowd in 10.1%, and lack of information in 14.8% were reported as the causes of medical errors. Conclusion: As a result of the study, it was determined that surgical team members, especially nurses with high rates of use faced with near-miss cases during the use of SSC. Early detection of these errors will prevent the occurrence of preventable medical errors. Increasing training and making positive feedback to surgical team members will increase the use of SSC form and event notifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Many patients experience anxiety during their first shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) experience. We investigated the effect of music therapy on anxiety and pain during SWL. Methods: This study was designed as a randomized controlled trial between June 2021 and December 2021. A total of 100 patients were evaluated prospectively. Fifty patients were assigned to each group using a simple randomization method. The study group was exposed to music therapy, while the control group was not exposed to it. Demographic data (age, gender, and body mass index), stone characteristics (size, location, and laterality), and SWL characteristics (SWL duration, energy, and number of shock waves) were recorded. The state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) was used to assess anxiety, and the visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess pain. After the SWL, general patient satisfaction and willingness to repeat the procedure were evaluated. Results: Baseline STAI-state (STAI-S) and STAI-T values measured before SWL were similar between the groups (p=0.51 and p=0.46, respectively). STAI-S after SWL was statistically significantly lower in the music group (p=0.02). In the music group, satisfaction and willingness to repeat were higher, while the VAS was lower (p=0.04, p=0.03 and p=0.03, respectively). Conclusion: Music therapy during SWL is an inexpensive and effective method to reduce patient anxiety and the patient's perception of pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This survey study of ophthalmologists investigated the prevalence and clinical manifestations of ocular surface disease (OSD) in glaucoma patients, assessment methods used, risk factors, glaucoma drugs considered responsible, and treatment approaches. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire prepared jointly by the Turkish Ophthalmological Association Cornea and Ocular Surface Society and Glaucoma Society using SurveyMonkey was sent to ophthalmologists via e-mail. The distribution of parameters was compared with chi-square test and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Forty-five percent of the ophthalmologists reported that OSD was evident in least 25% of their patients. The most common symptom was redness (91.9%), while the most common ocular surface finding was conjunctival hyperemia (75.6%). The tests considered to be the most important in ocular surface assessment were ocular staining (38.7%) and tear film break-up time (TBUT) (21.9%). Ninety percent of the physicians stated that the main cause of OSD was benzalkonium chloride (BAC) in medications. Prostaglandin analogs and alpha-2 agonists were reported to be the most common medications causing OSD. In case of OSD, the ophthalmologists often switch to a glaucoma drug from a different group (38%), a non-preservative glaucoma drug (33.7%) or a drug with a preservative other than BAC (20.4%). Most physicians prescribed artificial tears (84.6%). Conclusion: In this cross-sectional survey study, ophthalmologists detected varying rates of OSD in glaucoma patients depending on chronic drug use and BAC exposure. Although ocular surface examination was performed by physicians, tests such as TBUT and ocular surface staining were rarely used. Detecting OSD in glaucoma patients and planning personalized treatment increase patient comfort, drug compliance, and treatment effectiveness. For this reason, it is important to prepare an algorithm for the management of comorbid OSD in glaucoma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Caregivers of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) experience increased levels of psychological distress. This study investigated the impact of caring for patients with PD on the psychiatric health status of the caregivers by using Symptom Checklist 90 Revised (SCL-90-R) and described the relationship between various socio-demographic and clinical characteristics and psychological distress of caregivers. Materials and Methods: The SCL-90-R self-reported questionnaire was administered to 60 caregivers of PD patients and 50 healthy controls. Sixty patients underwent different scales including unified PD rating scale, Hoehn & Yahr scale, the Schwab-England activities of daily living scale and mini-mental state examination for the assessment of their motor and non-motor symptoms. Sleep disturbances in patients were assessed using the PD sleep scale and Epworth sleepiness scale. Results: All caregivers were family members. They got higher scores from the anxiety (ANX) of the SCL-90-R than the control group. Of the caregivers, 13 (22%) had a pathological score in the global severity index. Age and sleep scales scores significantly predicted psychological distress in interpersonal sensitivity, phobic ANX, psychoticism and obsessive - compulsive symptoms, ANX, depression and additional items dimensions in caregivers. Disease severity and other clinical findings did not affect psychological distress in caregivers. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that caregivers of patients with PD who are family members have higher ANX level as psychological distress. Sleep symptoms of patients with PD affect distress level of caregivers of patients with PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: There is no correlation between the preoperative bladder urine culture (PBUC) sensitivity test and the results of the renal pelvic urine culture (RPUC) test. Materials and Methods: A total of 129 patients who underwent f-URS included the study. Preoperatively, PBUC was collected in all cases, and RPUC was taken when starting the surgery. Results: In PBUC, there was growth in 25 (19.4%) patients and in RPUC, there were only in 35 (27.1%) cases. Preoperative tomographic urine density at the renal pelvis [odds ratio (OR): 0.848, p<0.001], grade ≥2 hydronephrosis (OR: 18.970, p=0.001), and lower calyceal stone location (OR: 0.033, p=0.017) were determined as independent predictive factors for RPUC growth. The ability of tomographic urine density to foresee positive RPUC positivity was determined to be 0.858 (0.780-0.936). The tomographic urine density threshold for RPUC positivity prediction was 4.5, with 80% sensitivity and 77.7% specificity. Conclusion: PBUCs do not necessarily mean accurate colonization. Obtaining renal pelvis urine samples is important for managing postoperative infectious complications. Patients that have preoperative hydronephrosis and nominal tomographic urine density could develop RPUC even if the preoperative bladder urine samples are negative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Viral Hepatitis Journal / Viral Hepatit Dergisi is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Gazi Medical Journal is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Wilms' tumour is a renal tumour mostly seen during the first 5 years of life and it accounts for 95% of renal malignancies during childhood. Its origin is primitive metanephric cells and, very rarely, it may occur in places other than the kidneys. The estimated rate of nephroblastoma outside the kidneys is approximately 0.5 to 1% of Wilms' tumour cases. In this article, we report on a 3-year-old female patient who first presented with spinal dysraphism and a mass in the lumbar spinal cord with a histopathological diagnosis of nephrogenic rest, and after one year, a Wilms tumour arose in this location. This is a very rare extrarenal Wilms' tumour location. Here, we report on a case with immature renal cells located in the lumber spinal cord associated with spinal dysraphism and the development of Wilms' tumour there after one year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Ankara University Faculty of Medicine / Ankara Üniversitesi Tip Fakültesi Mecmuasi is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)