Unveiling Microbiota Profiles in Saliva and Pancreatic Tissues of Patients with Pancreatic Cancer.

The pancreas, previously considered a sterile organ, has recently been shown to harbor its own microbiota that may influence tumor biology and patient outcomes. Despite increasing interest in the impact of the microbiome on cancer, the relationship between pancreatic tissue and oral microbiomes in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains limited. In this study, the oral and pancreas tissue microbiomes of patients with PDAC were compared to patients with other periampullary cancers (DC/AC) and a healthy control group using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis.

Cryptosporidiosis as an opportunistic infection in colorectal cancer patients.

Cryptosporidium spp. is an opportunistic protozoan parasite that primarily affects immunocompromised individuals, including those with colorectal cancer (CRC). This study investigates the prevalence and clinical significance of Cryptosporidium spp.

Association of 3'UTR variations of EGFR and KRAS oncogenes with clinical parameters in lung cancer tumours.

Bacground Information: Lung cancer is one of the leading types of cancer deaths worldwide, with approximately 2 million people diagnosed with lung cancer each year. In this study, we aimed to determine the exonic and 3'UTR sequences of EGFR, PIK3CA and KRAS genes in 39 sporadic lung cancer tumors and to reveal the changes in the miRNA binding profile of tumors with somatic variation in the 3'UTR region and to examine the relationship of these changes with clinical parameters.

Results: A statistically significant correlation was found between the presence of miRNA that could not bind to the 3'UTR region due to variation in at least one of the EGFR or KRAS genes and the presence of metastasis in the tumor.

A novel gene variant in a Turkish family with juvenile-onset open-angle glaucoma.

Background: Juvenile-onset open-angle glaucoma (JOAG) is a rare form of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) with an early age of onset before 40 years. Latent transforming growth factor-beta binding protein 2 (LTBP-2) is an extracellular matrix protein with a multi-domain structure and homology to fibrillins. LTBP2 gene variants have been associated with JOAG in a small number of patients.

Variant Analysis of miRNA Regulatory Genes in 35 Sporadic Lung Carcinoma Tumors.

Unlabelled: Lung cancer is one of the cancer types with the highest mortality worldwide. The most frequently mutated genes known to be clinically important in lung cancers are EGFR, BRAF, and KRAS genes. Therefore, the therapeutic agents developed are directed against variants that cause over-activation of the EGFR-KRAS-BRAF-BRAF-MEK/ERK signalling pathway.

Detection of Pneumocystis jirovecii by PCR in patients with lung cancer: A preliminary study.

Introduction: Infection complications in lung cancer (LC), one of the most common cancers in the world, are still among the most important causes of death. Of them, P. jirovecii, which is as an opportunistic infection, causes a life-threatening type of pneumonia in cancer patients.

Chromosome 1p status in neuroblastoma correlates with higher expression levels of miRNAs targeting neuronal differentiation pathway.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is characterized by acquired segmental and numerical chromosome aberrations. Although deletions of distal 1p and 11q are frequent alterations, no candidate tumor suppressor gene residing in these chromosomal sites could be identified so far. In the present study, we detected the genomic imbalances of six neuroblastoma cell lines using the multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) technique and the microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles of the cell lines by a microarray study.

Ammonia concentrations, litter quality, performance and some welfare parameters of broilers kept on different bedding materials.

1. Litter quality has been related to broiler performance, behaviour, welfare, dust and ammonia (NH) emissions. Drier litter leads to a reduction in NH emissions and reduces the formation of foot- and hock lesions.

Reduction of dietary crude protein and feed form: Impact on broiler litter quality, ammonia concentrations, excreta composition, performance, welfare, and meat quality.

Nitrogen (N) excreted by poultry is converted to ammonia (NH), presenting an environmental risk and a health risk to the farmer and animals. A study was performed to investigate the effect of reduced CP and feed form on broiler performance and welfare, meat and litter quality, N utilization, and NH concentrations at litter level. A total of 2,232 Ross 308 male broilers was divided into 6 treatments and 6 replicates, which was fed diets in both pellet and mash forms with different CP levels of 205.

Neonatal Outcomes of Premature Infants Born to Women with the Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) Infection: A Case Control Study.

Objective: Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease associated with atypical pneumonia caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first cases of COVID-19 were reported in Wuhan at the end of 2019. Transmission usually occurs via infected droplets and close personal contact; the possibility of vertical transmission is still under debate.

Severity of Maternal SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Pregnancy Predicts Neonatal Outcomes.

Objective: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak had an enormous global impact. Pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 appear to have higher morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the severity of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection on neonatal outcomes.

Purification and biochemical characterization of polyphenol oxidase extracted from Kirmizi Kismis grape (Vitis vinifera L.).

The purification of the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzyme from Kirmizi Kismis grape (Vitis vinifera L.) was performed 61.23 times using affinity chromatography.

Vitamin D deficiency and its effect on respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants: results from a prospective study in a tertiary care centre.

Background: The positive effects of steroids on lung development are well known, and 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D has been shown to exert positive effects on fetal lung development.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature infants.

Methods: Infants aged ≤32 gestational weeks who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during 1 year were enrolled in this prospective study.

The Role of Low 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels in Preterm Infants with Late-Onset Sepsis.

We investigated the association between low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels and late-onset sepsis (LOS) in preterm infants (<37 weeks). Infants with culture-proven LOS were the study group, infants without LOS were the controls. 25-OHD levels were compared between these groups.

The effectiveness of serum amyloid A for prediction of neonatal cholestasis associated with parenteral nutrition in premature infants.

Özkan H, Köksal N, Doğan P, Güney-Varal İ, Bağcı O, Özgür T. The effectiveness of serum amyloid A for prediction of neonatal cholestasis associated with parenteral nutrition in premature infants. Turk J Pediatr 2019; 61: 26-33.

Mannose-Binding Lectin Levels in Late-Onset Sepsis in Preterm Infants: Results from a Prospective Study in a Tertiary Care Center.

This study aimed to determine the association between serum mannose-binding lectin (MBL) levels, gene polymorphisms and late-onset sepsis (LOS) in preterm infants. Infants with <37 gestational weeks were categorized into two groups according to the presence of LOS during their hospitalization. An MBL level <700 ng/ml was defined as deficiency, <400 ng/ml as severe deficiency.

Mannose-binding lectin gene polymorphism and its effect on short term outcomes in preterm infants.

Objective: Mannose-binding lectin, which belongs to the collectin family, is an acute-phase reactant that activates the complement system. This study aimed to investigate the effect of MBL2 gene polymorphism on short-term outcomes in preterm infants.

Method: Infants of <37 gestational weeks who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit during a two-year period were enrolled in this prospective study.

New-generation fish oil and olive oil lipid for prevention of oxidative damage in preterm infants: Single center clinical trial at university hospital in Turkey.

Background: Parenteral nutrition (PN) has been widely used in preterm infants. The lipid solutions used for PN, however, are associated with oxidative stress and morbidity. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a new-generation lipid emulsion (SMOFLipid) and olive-oil based lipid emulsion for prevention of PN-associated oxidative damage.

Potential use of multi-strain synbiotics for improving postnatal head circumference.

Background & Objective: Preterm infants need nutritional and medical requirements in accordance with the physiologic maturity at birth and maintaining optimal postnatal corporal and cerebral growth is one of the main targets of medical caregivers. However, only a few strategies exist to improve the outcomes of infants in a pathogen-rich and nutrient-poor neonatal intensive care unit environment. In this pilot study, we hypothesize that synbiotics may enhance brain growth, which is reflected indirectly by an increase in head circumference through several signalling molecules.

Low serum IGF-1 and increased cytokine levels in tracheal aspirate samples are associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Yılmaz C, Köksal N, Özkan H, Dorum BA, Bağcı O. Low serum IGF-1 and increased cytokine levels in tracheal aspirate samples are associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Turk J Pediatr 2017; 59: 122-129.

The effect of early administration of combined multi-strain and multi-species probiotics on gastrointestinal morbidities and mortality in preterm infants: A randomized controlled trial in a tertiary care unit.

Güney-Varal İ, Köksal N, Özkan H, Bağcı O, Doğan P. The effect of early administration of combined multi-strain and multi-species probiotics on gastrointestinal morbidities and mortality in preterm infants: A randomized controlled trial in a tertiary care unit. Turk J Pediatr 2017; 59: 13-19.

Novel Zinc Finger Protein Gene 469 (ZNF469) Variants in Advanced Keratoconus.

Purpose: Common polymorphic variants upstream of Zinc finger protein gene 469 (ZNF469) have been associated with central corneal thickness. Rare ZNF469 variants have been shown in keratoconus patients. The aim of the current study was to investigate the frequency of ZNF 469 gene variants in rapidly progressive advance keratoconus patients who underwent corneal transplant surgery by the age of 30, compared to their frequency in the normal Turkish population.

R202Q/M694V as novel MEFV gene mutations in chronic periodontitis and familial Mediterranean fever.

Background And Objective: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and chronic periodontitis are inflammatory diseases leading to an increase in the number of inflammasomes. To date, no published studies have reported on mutations in the Mediterranean fever (MEFV) gene in patients with chronic periodontitis, although the roles of MEFV gene mutations in FMF and FMF-associated amyloidosis (FMF-A) are well known. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the frequencies of MEFV gene mutations and serum amyloid A (SAA) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in patients with chronic periodontitis, FMF and FMF-A.

Next-generation sequencing analysis of the ARMS2 gene in Turkish exudative age-related macular degeneration patients.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in developed countries. It is a complex disease with both genetic and environmental risk factors. To improve clinical management of this condition, it is important to develop risk assessment and prevention strategies for environmental influences, and establish a more effective treatment approach.

Is There A Systemıc Inflammatory Effect of Cholesteatoma?

 Inflammation causes squamous epithelial transformation of the mucosa in the middle ear cavity and plays a role in the onset, growth, spread, and recurrence of cholesteatoma.  The objective of this study is to investigate the systemic inflammatory effect in chronic otitis with cholesteatoma.  The study included a total of 311 patients comprising 156 patients with a pathology diagnosis of cholesteatoma and a control group of 155 with no active inflammation.