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Yurday Ozdemir,1 Erkan Topkan,1 Huseyin Mertsoylu,2 Ugur Selek3,4 1Department of Radiation Oncology, Baskent University Medical Faculty, Adana, Turkey; 2Department of Medical Oncology, Baskent University Medical Faculty, Adana, Turkey; 3School of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey; 4MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas, Houston, TX, USACorrespondence: Yurday OzdemirDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Baskent University Medical Faculty, Adana 01120, TurkeyTel +90 505 594 2169Fax +90 322 344 4452Email yurdayozdemir@gmail.comPurpose: To investigate the prognostic utility of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in stage IIIB non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT).Methods: A total of 358 stage IIIB NSCLC patients who received a total dose of 60– 66 Gy (2 Gy/fraction) radiotherapy and ≥ 1 cycle(s) of platinum-based chemotherapy were analyzed. The receiver operating curve analysis was utilized to identify the optimal PNI cut-off value demonstrating a significant connection with the overall survival (OS), locoregional progression-free survival (LRPFS), and progression-free survival (PFS).Results: At a median follow-up time of 22.5 months (range: 2.4– 123.5), 30.2% and 14% of the patients were still alive and free of disease progression, respectively.The median OS, LRPFS, and PFS were 25.2 [95% confidence interval (CI): 36.3– 46.6 months], 15.4 (95% CI: 26.6– 35.3 months), and 10.7 (95% CI: 36.8– 69.9 months), individually, for the whole study accomplice. The ROC analysis revealed an optimum rounded cut-off that associated meaningfully with each of the OS [area under the curve (AUC): 84.1%; sensitivity: 75.9%;72.4% specificity], LRPFS (AUC: 92.4%; sensitivity: 87.9%; 85.1% specificity), and PFS (AUC: 80.1%; sensitivity: 73.7%; 71.6% specificity) at a value of 40.5. Comparative analyses revealed that the patients presenting with PNI≤ 40.5 had significantly inferior OS (16.8 vs 36.7; P< 0.001), LRPFS (11.5 vs 19.5; P< 0.001), and PFS (8.6 vs 13.6; P< 0.001) outcomes compared to patients with PNI> 40.5. In univariate analyses, lower T-stage (1– 2 vs 3– 4; P< 0.001), lower N-stage (N2 vs N3; P< 0.001), anemia status (absent vs present; P< 0.001), weight loss status (< 5% vs ≥ 5%; P< 0.001), and PNI group (≤ 40.5 vs > 40.5; P< 0.001) were the factors found to be associated with OS, LRPFS and PFS results. The results of multivariate analysis exhibited that the PNI was independently associated with each of the OS (P< 0.001), LRPFS (P< 0.001), and PFS (P< 0.001) outcomes.Conclusion: The pretreatment PNI appears to be a robust novel prognostic factor that stratifies patients with stage IIIB NSCLC into two significantly distinct survival groups after CRT.Keywords: prognostic nutritional index, non-small-cell lung carcinoma, prognosis, chemoradiotherapy, survival results

Erkan Topkan,1 Huseyin Mertsoylu,2 Yurday Ozdemir,1 Ahmet Sezer,2 Ahmet Kucuk,3 Ali Ayberk Besen,2 Ozgur Ozyilkan,2 Ugur Selek4,5 1Department of Radiation Oncology, Baskent University Medical Faculty, Adana, Turkey; 2Department of Medical Oncology, Baskent University Medical Faculty, Adana, Turkey; 3Department of Radiation Oncology, Mersin City Hospital, Mersin, Turkey; 4Department of Radiation Oncology, Koc University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey; 5Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USACorrespondence: Erkan TopkanDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Baskent University Medical Faculty, Adana 01120, TurkeyTel +90-533-7381069Fax +90-322-3444452Email docdretopkan@gmail.comBackground/Aims: Previously advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) has been demonstrated to have prognostic utility in the stratification of patients into distinctive survival groups, but the prognostic value of ALI has never been explored in the setting of locally advanced pancreatic carcinomas (LAPC) treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). Hence, we aimed to investigate the prognostic value of pre-treatment ALI in LAPC patients who underwent radical CCRT.Methods: Present retrospective cohort analysis incorporated 141 LAPC patients who received radical CCRT. Accessibility of baseline ALI cutoff(s) impacting survival outcomes was sought by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Interaction between the ALI and overall- (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) comprised our primary and secondary endpoints, respectively.Results: At a median follow-up of 14.4 months (range: 3.2–74.2), the median PFS and OS were 7.5 (%95 CI: 5.9–9.1) and 14.6 months (%95 CI: 11.6–17.6), respectively. ROC curve analyses set the ideal ALI cutoff value at 25.3 (AUC: 75.6%; sensitivity: 72.7%; specificity: 70.3%) that exhibited significant associations with both the OS and PFS results. Patient stratification into two groups per ALI [≤25.3 (N=75) versus>25.3 (N=66)] showed that the ALI>25.3 group had significantly superior median OS (25.8 versus 11.4 months; P90 U/mL; P

Contractions play a considerable role in the theory of fractals. However, it is not easy to find contractions which are not similitudes. In this study, it is shown by counter examples that an affine transformation of the plane carrying a given triangle onto another triangle may not be a contraction even if it contracts edges, heights or medians. Then, a sufficient condition is given for such a transformation to be a contraction. (Contains 6 figures.)

aimed to examine the relationships between parental bonding, alexithymia, and GPPPD. Patients and Methods: Sixty-four patients with GPPPD were enrolled in the study, and 60 controls were matched for demographic features. Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) was used to evaluate alexithymia, the Bonding to Parents Scale (BPS) was used to assess parental bonding, and sexual functions were assessed via Golombok–Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS). Results: The rate of alexithymic traits was statistically higher in the GPPPD group than in the controls (p = 0.005). Patients with GPPPD obtained higher scores on the maternal care/control (p = 0.003) and maternal overprotection (p = 0.008) compared to controls. Difficulty describing feelings factor of alexithymia (p = 0.012) emerged as a predictor of group membership (GPPPD vs controls). To test whether alexithymia was significantly associated with parental bonding, all subjects were divided into two subgroups, alexithymic and non-alexithymic. When the subgroups were compared in terms of parental attitudes, maternal (p = 0.034) and paternal (p = 0.006) overprotection subscale scores were higher in the alexithymic group than in the non-alexithymic group. Discussion: According to the results, alexithymic traits are characteristic of patients with GPPPD; however, although patients with GPPPD may experience difficulties with perceived parental bonding, this factor does not appear to be a predictor of GPPPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olives can be used both for table consumption or oil production. For table consumption, curing olives is an ancient process that turns the naturally bitter raw fruit into a deliciously salty, tart snack. This study is aimed to investigate table olive characteristics of raw and processed olives from six cultivar candidates. Cultivar candidates were developed by cross breeding between Gemlik and Edinciksu cultivars. Olive from Gemlik cultivar, genitor and widespread produced table olive cultivar in Turkey, was used for comparison. Fruit and seed size with weight, water content, titratable acidity, pH, hardness, color along with oleuropein absorbance (K345) value, salt, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and sensory analysis were studied on both raw and processed olives. Results showed that the average fruit weight, titratable acidity, oleuropein absorbance value, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of raw and processed olives of genotypes were found between 4.3-6.5 and 3.9-6.0 g, 0.27-0.38% and 0.33-0.59%, 1.08-2.52 and 0.16-0.26, 175.22- 463.15 and 91.00-113.23 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g, 2618.73-4296.23 and 130.29-147.26 µM trolox/kg, respectively. Statistically significant difference was observed between raw and processed olive for salt, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, oleuropein absorbance and hardness. It might be caused by genetic factors, which affect skin and tissue permeability of olives during processing. Result of this study showed that there were differences on physical and chemical characteristics og genotypes and GE379 had highest total phenol content, GE397 had highest fruit weight and second highest total sensory scores and GE366 had highest sensory appearance, taste general appreciation and total scores among processed olives. GE366 and GE397 had more remarkable characteristics for production with spontaneous fermentation than other samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of kinesio taping compared to compression garment in treatment of early stage breast cancer-associated lymphedema (BCAL). Patients between 18-70-years old who had unilateral stage 1 BCAL were randomized into group I kinesio taping (KT) and group II compression garment (CG) for this single blinded study. KT was applied with a lymphatic correction technique in three-four day intervals for four weeks. At the end of the fourth week, patients were suggested to wear CGs. Patients in group II were treated daily for 23-hours in CGs. Education, preventive measures, and exercises were given to both groups. All patients were evaluated before the treatment (T0), immediate post treatment (T1), and three months after treatment (T2). Circumference differences were measured between the extremities with a nonelastic tape at five levels. Additionally, shoulder range of motion (ROM) was measured, and pain, heaviness, and sensation of tightness were evaluated with a visual analog scale (VAS). Thirty-five patients with stage 1 BCAL were included and randomized to the KT (n= 16) and CG (n= 19) groups. Demographic data and baseline clinical characteristics were similar. Both groups had reductions in all levels of arm circumference differences at immediate post-treatment and three months after treatment. Pain, tightness, and heaviness scores significantly decreased for both groups at immediate post-treatment and third month. Patients in the KT group had significantly lower pain sores than patients in the CG group. Results demonstrated that both modalities had similar effects in the treatment of early stage BCAL. For patients with early stage BCAL, KT can be an alternative treatment to CG for patients who have difficulties in obtaining and wearing CGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) as a substitute for manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) in complete decongestive therapy (CDT) for treatment of advanced stages of breast cancer-related lymphedema. In this randomized, single-blind, controlled study, 46 patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema were divided into 2 groups. Both MLD with compression bandage (CB) group (n=24) and IPC with CB group (n=22) received treatment 3 days a week for 5 weeks. Home exercise program was also given to all patients. At the end of the 5th week, patients were treated with a daily 23-hour compression garment and home exercise routines. Assessments were taken at baseline, the fifth week, and the third month. Arm circumference was measured at 5 different areas, shoulder range of motion (ROM) was evaluated with a goniometer, pain, and tightness, and heaviness sensations were assessed with visual analog scale. Both groups had similar demographic and clinical characteristics (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between groups and both groups showed significant improvement (p < 0.05) in the five measurement levels of the arm circumference at the fifth week and third month. Similarly, shoulder ROM, pain, tightness, and heaviness sensations improved in both groups (p < 0.05). Both MLD and IPC as a component of CDT were found successful at 5 weeks and 3 months without superiority to each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents several scientific studies on hydrogels and fibers as biomaterials. 'Characterization of Gamma Radiation Initiated, Highly Swellable Poly(N-vinyl 2-pyrrolidone) Hydrogels,' by S. Çinar and V. Hasirci; 'Surface Modification of Polyurethane Membranes,' by Y. Ö zdemir and N. Hasirci; 'Usage of Hollow Textile Fibres in Artificial Kidney,' by E.K. Bayraktar and A.S. Hockenberger.

The prolidase activity in serum and in erythrocytes was measured in 28 healthy mothers and in the cord blood of their newborn babies in using a modified Chinard method. 45 healthy non-pregnant women aged between 15-36 years formed a control group. Biochemical parameters (CK, BUN, C-peptid, AFP, Uric acid) were also measured. The serum and erythrocyte prolidase activities in maternal blood were 45.8+/-13.4 U/L and 37.8+/-2.7 U/g Hb respectively. There was no significant difference in the enzyme activities between pregnant women and the control group (p>0.05). However serum and erythrocyte prolidase activity in cord blood (20.3+/-8.2 U/L and 31.6+/-7.3 U/g Hb) was significantly different when compared with control group (53.4+/-14.7 U/L in serum and 42.3+/-10.3 U/g Hb in erythrocyte, p<0.001). There was a significant correlation between maternal and cord blood serum enzyme activity (r: 0.76 p<0.01). This correlation was also shown in erythrocyte prolidase activities of both groups (r: 0.49, p<0.05). Cord blood prolidase activity was positively correlated with birth weight (r: 0.89, p<0.01). Prolidase activity in cord blood was low even though collagen turnover is increased in fetal growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented about the clinical case of a 68-year-old male patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus who experienced non-invasive blood pressure cuff induced lower extremity wound.