Epidemiological profile of naive HIV-1/AIDS patients in Istanbul: the largest case series from Turkey.

The aim of the study was to report the epidemiological profile of HIV-1 positive patients from, Istanbul, Turkey, which has one of the lowest HIV-1/AIDS prevalences in Europe. The patients were followed by ACTHIV-IST group which was established by the Infectious Diseases Departments of five teaching hospitals (three university hospitals and two public hospitals) in Istanbul, Turkey. The HIV-1 positive patients were added to the standard patient files in all of the centers; these files were then transferred to the ACTHIV-IST database in the Internet.

Allergic sensitization to ornamental plants in patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma.

Ornamental plants (OPs) can lead to immediate-type sensitization and even asthma and rhinitis symptoms in some cases. This study aimed to evaluate sensitization to OPs in patients with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis and to determine the factors affecting the rate of sensitization to OPs. A total of 150 patients with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis and 20 healthy controls were enrolled in the study.

Effects of tamoxifen on survival of cutaneous and myocutaneous flap (experimental study).

Objectives: Breast cancer is the most common non-skin malignancy in women. In breast cancer, the basic principle of endocrine therapy is to deprive tumor cell from the growth-stimulating effect of estrogens. The oldest, best-known and most widely used endocrine therapy medicine is tamoxifen, which is a selective estrogen receptor blocker.

Positive correlation of serum parathormone and prostate specific antigen levels in prostate cancer.

Objectives: Clinical and experimental observations reveal the exact role of vitamin D in prostate cancer. Yet, a complete understanding of the issue necessitates the evaluation of the exquisite mechanisms that involve full actors of the calcium homeostasis in relation.

Background: Besides the role of vitamin D, parathyroid hormone (PTH) is now understood to be a mitogen for prostate cancer cells, and calcium has already been known for such role.

Liver involvement in patients with brucellosis: results of the Marmara study.

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that primarily affects the reticuloendothelial system. But, the extent of liver damage in due course of the disease is unclear. This study included 325 brucellosis patients with significant hepatobiliary involvement identified with microbiological analyses from 30 centers between 2000 and 2013.

Diminished arylesterase enzyme activity and total thiol levels in bladder cancer patients.

Background: It is difficult to think of a disease in the etiology of which free radicals would not be involved. The human body has a number of endogenous free-radical scavenging systems to avoid harm that can lead to any disease including cancer. This study aims to measure the total anti-oxidative status (TAS), in particular the activities of HDL-associated anti-oxidative enzymes paraoxonase (PON1), arylesterase (ARE), and total thiol levels (Ttl) in bladder cancer (BC) patients for the first time in literature.

Primary adrenal lymphoma with secondary central nervous system involvement: a case report and review of the literature.

Unlabelled: Approximately 10%-20% of all systemic lymphomas have central nervous system (CNS) involvement, which has been correlated to a worsened prognosis. It is well known that secondary involvement of the adrenal glands may occur in up to 25% of patients during the course of diffuse lymphoma. Primary adrenal lymphoma (PAL), however, is a different entity, and it is defined as the presence of adrenal lymphoma without evidence of either nodal involvement or leukemia.

Invagination of the appendix due to endometriosis presenting as acute appendicitis.

Appendicitis and endometriosis are commonly encountered surgical problems. Endometrial involvement of the appendix is rare and very few cases have been reported in the literature. True diagnosis of appendix invagination is highly difficult due to variable symptoms.

Successful emergency endovascular treatment of iatrogenic giant hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm.

Visceral artery aneurysms and visceral artery pseudoaneurysms frequently present as life-threatening emergencies. Hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm (HAP) is a very rare disease but in cases of complication, there is a very high mortality. The most common cause of HAP is iatrogenic trauma such as liver biopsy, transhepatic biliary drainage and cholecystectomy.

Endoscope-assisted transoral approach to parapharyngeal space tumors.

Background: Parapharyngeal space (PPS) tumors are rare tumors for which the surgical management differs widely. The purpose of this study was to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the endoscope-assisted transoral approach over the traditional approaches.

Methods: This prospective study included 4 patients who were diagnosed with PPS tumors and treated with the endoscope-assisted transoral approach.

The resistance rates of urinary tract infections: Our data from year 2010.

Objective: More than 95% of all urinary tract infections are caused by a single bacterium. Although E. coli is the most common bacterium causing community-acquired infections, Klebsiella spp.

Massive cerebrovascular air embolism during posttraumatic cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Air embolism is known to be a complicating factor in several clinical settings, including thoracic, cardiovascular, and neurosurgical operations; central line placement; and penetrating thoracic and cranial trauma. There are, however, only few case descriptions for cardiopulmonary resuscitation massive cerebral air embolism, and the frequency of this supposedly rare complication is unknown. Computed tomography is useful for showing cerebral air embolism.

Drug allergy in tertiary care in Turkey: results of a national survey. The ADAPT study: adult drug allergy perception in Turkey.

Background: No data are available on the incidence of drug hypersensitivity (DH) reactions in outpatient settings of tertiary allergy/immunology clinics. Our aims were to document the frequency of outpatient hospital admissions due to DH reactions to allergy/immunology clinics in adults and the management of these reactions in real life. We also investigated whether drug allergy affected social and medical behaviours of the patients.

Salmonella enteridis Septic Arthritis: A Report of Two Cases.

Introduction. Nontyphoidal salmonellosis causes significant morbidity, is transmitted via fecal-oral route, and is a worldwide cause of gastroenteritis, bacteremia, and local infections. Salmonella is a less common etiologic factor for septic arthritis compared with other gram-negative bacteria.

Rapid spontaneous recovery after development of a spinal epidural hematoma: a case report.

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma is a very rare clinical emergency. A permanent neurological deficit or even death may result if diagnosis and treatment are delayed. Many cases can be diagnosed upon detailed neurological examination and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

Functionally defective high-density lipoprotein and paraoxonase: a couple for endothelial dysfunction in atherosclerosis.

The endothelium is the primary target for biochemical or mechanical injuries caused by the putative risk factors of atherosclerosis. Endothelial dysfunction represents the ultimate link between atherosclerotic risk factors that promote atherosclerosis. HDL-C is thought to exert at least some parts of its antiatherogenic facilities via stimulating endothelial NO production, nearby inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation.

Multiple myeloma: relationship to antioxidant esterases.

Objective: To investigate the status of the oxidant/antioxidant balance in patients with multiple myeloma compared to healthy controls.

Materials And Methods: This study was conducted on 40 multiple myeloma patients and 40 healthy controls of matched age and sex. Serum total thiol, oxidative stress index (OSI), total oxidant status (TOS), and total antioxidant status (TAS) were measured using colourimetric methods; paraoxonase-1 and arylesterase enzyme activities were also quantified.

Fuzzy assessment of health information system users' security awareness.

Health information systems (HIS) are a specific area of information systems (IS), where critical patient data is stored and quality health service is only realized with the correct use and efficient dissemination of this data to health workers. Therefore, a balance needs to be established between the levels of security and flow of information on HIS. Instead of implementing higher levels and further mechanisms of control to increase the security of HIS, it is preferable to deal with the arguably weakest link on HIS chain with respect to security: HIS users.

A radioanatomic study of the internal mammary artery and its perforators using multidetector computed tomography angiography.

The Internal Mammary Artery (IMA) and its perforators play an important role in coronary bypass grafting and reconstructive breast, head, and neck surgery. This study aimed to obtain anatomic data pertaining to these vessels using Multi Detector Computed Tomography Angiography (MDCTA) and to demonstrate that the MDCTA could be a considerable assessment tool prior to surgery. In 50 outpatients (27 males and 23 females), the above-mentioned arteries were bilaterally evaluated with a 16-detector spiral computed tomography scanner.

Prevalence and risk factors of osteopenia/osteoporosis in Turkish HIV/AIDS patients.

Background: Recent studies showed a high frequency of low bone mineral density (BMD) in HIV-infected patients and no reports have been issued in Turkey. Our aim was to evaluate BMD and risk factors for osteopenia/osteoporosis in HIV-infected patients that attended an outpatient clinic in Istanbul, Turkey.

Method: In order to determine the prevalence of BMD, 126 HIV-infected patients had been studied with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).

Effects of Ankaferd on anastomotic healing of colon.

Background: Ankaferd (Ankaferd blood stopper®, ABS) is a recently developed topical hemostatic agent. ABS is a standardized mixture of the plants Thymus vulgaris, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Vitis vinifera, Alpinia officinarum, and Urtica dioica. Through its effects on the endothelium, blood cells, angiogenesis, cellular proliferation, vascular dynamics, and cell mediators; Ankaferd plays a part in inflammation and hemostasis processes.