Mortality and Associated Factors in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis Associated Pulmonary Hypertension with and without Interstitial Lung Disease: A Long-Term Follow-up Study.

Objectives: We aimed to analyze the prevalence, mortality, and prognostic factors in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) with or without interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Methods: The associations between mortality and demographics, transthoracic echocardiography, right heart catheterization (RHC), pulmonary functional parameters at baseline, and treatment modalities in two groups; patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH, PH without significant ILD) and PH + ILD were evaluated.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 56.

(18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake by positron emission tomography in patients with IPAH and CTEPH.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is driven by pathologies associated with increased metabolism such as pulmonary revascularization, vasoconstriction and smooth muscle cell proliferation in pulmonary artery wall. 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18FDG-PET) is an imaging technique sensitive to glucose metabolism and might be considered as a non-invasive method for diagnosis due to significant role of inflammation in idiopathic pulmonary artery hypertension (IPAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). The present study aimed to investigate the role of PET/CT imaging of patients with IPAH and CTEPH as an alternative diagnosis method.

Rebound pain after interscalene brachial plexus block for shoulder surgery: a randomized clinical trial of the effect of different multimodal analgesia regimens.

Background: Rebound pain is characterized by sudden, significant acute postoperative pain occurring after the resolution of inter-scalene block (ISB); it affects the quality of recovery postoperatively. Dexamethasone increases ISB resolution time and decreases opioid consumption and the incidence of rebound pain.

Objective: Evaluate whether multimodal analgesia including intravenous dexamethasone administration with preoperative ISB reduces the incidence of rebound pain.

Dynamics of Feline Coronavirus and FIP: A Compartmental Modeling Approach.

The investigation of infectious agents invading human and nonhuman populations represents a rich research domain within the framework of mathematical biology, captivating the interest of scientists across various disciplines. In this work, we examine the endemic equilibrium of feline coronavirus and feline infectious peritonitis by using a modified susceptible-infected-susceptible epidemiological model. We incorporate the concept of mutations from FCoV to FIP to enrich our analysis.

Postoperative quality of recovery with erector spinae plane block or thoracolumbar interfascial plane block after major spinal surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: Major spinal surgery causes severe postoperative pain. The present randomized, controlled, prospective study tested the short- and long-term effects of thoracolumbar interfascial and erector spinae plane blocks on patient-centered outcomes for major lumbar spinal surgery.

Methods: Sixty adult patients were randomly assigned to receive either bilateral thoracolumbar interfascial plane or erector spinae plane block after anesthesia induction using bupivacaine 0.

Examining the effect of weight self-stigma on attitudes toward sexuality during pregnancy using structural equation modeling.

Obesity can cause psychiatric, medical, sexuality and relationship problems. Thus, this study aimed to examine the effect of weight self-stigma on attitudes toward sexuality during pregnancy using structural equation modeling. This cross-sectional study and correlational design was conducted and included 328 pregnant women pre-pregnancy body mass index greater than 30 kg/m2.

Bilateral external oblique intercostal plane block (EOIPB) in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: To measure tramadol intake in the first 24 hours post-surgery. In addition, pain scores and quality of recovery were evaluated as secondary outcomes.

Methods: A total of 80 adult patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized into 2 groups (with and without external oblique intercostal plane block [EOIPB]).

Robustness of privacy-preserving collaborative recommenders against popularity bias problem.

Recommender systems have become increasingly important in today's digital age, but they are not without their challenges. One of the most significant challenges is that users are not always willing to share their preferences due to privacy concerns, yet they still require decent recommendations. Privacy-preserving collaborative recommenders remedy such concerns by letting users set their privacy preferences before submitting to the recommendation provider.

Efficacy of the Erector Spinae Plane Block for Quality of Recovery in Bariatric Surgery: a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Postoperative pain management after bariatric surgery is difficult due to different physiological properties and high sensitivity toward opioids in patients with obesity. It has been reported that erector spinae plane block (ESPB) contributes to postoperative analgesia when applied together with multimodal analgesia.

Methods: Eighty patients were randomized either bilateral ESPB (group E) each side or no block (group C).

The effects of dexamethasone added to ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric nerve (IIN/IHN) block on rebound pain in inguinal hernia surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of IV dexamethasone added to one single injection Ilioinguinal/Iliohypogastric Nerve (IIN/IHN) block on tramadol consumption and Modified Rebound Pain Score (MRPS) in the first postoperative 24 h in inguinal hernia surgery.

Methods: Five mg IV dexamethasone as an analgesic adjunct in the multimodal analgesia was administered to the patients who were scheduled for Inguinal Hernia Surgery and randomized to Group Dex and normal saline was administered to the patients who were randomized to the Control Group in addition to IIN/IHN Block. Postoperative tramadol consumption, Modified Rebound Pain Score (MRPS), the incidence of Rebound Pain, Rebound Pain time, postoperative 48-h opioid consumption, Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores, Quality of Recovery Score (QoR-15), Sleep Quality, and adverse events were evaluated in the patients.

Comparing ultrasound-guided modified thoracoabdominal nerves block through perichondrial approach with oblique subcostal transversus abdominis plane block for patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized, controlled trial.

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC) causes significant postoperative pain. Oblique subcostal transversus abdominis plane(OSTAP) block was described for postoperative analgesia, especially for upper abdominal surgeries. Modified thoracoabdominal nerves block through perichondrial approach(M-TAPA) block is a new technique defined by the modification of the thoracoabdominal nerves through perichondrial approach (TAPA) block, in which local anesthetics are delivered only to the underside of the perichondral surface.

Negativity of the electromechanical window: relation to frequent premature ventricular complexes.

Objective: The electromechanical window (EMW) was investigated as a new predictor of arrhythmia in the presence of long QT. However, the use of EMW to predict idiopathic frequent ventricular premature complexes (PVCs) in those with normal QT intervals has not been clarified.

Patients And Methods: This single-center study included consecutive patients who presented to the Cardiology Clinic with palpitations and were found to have idiopathic PVC on 24-hour Holter monitoring.

Gastric emptying times of obese and non-obese school-aged children after preoperative clear fluid intake: A prospective observational study.

Background: Liberal fasting regimens, which support clear fluid intake up to 1 h before surgery in children scheduled for elective surgery, are taking their place in guidelines. However, because of the lack of publications that investigate the gastric emptying time in preoperative obese children, the practice of 1-hour clear fluid fasting in obese children remained at the level of recommendation with weak evidence.

Aims: The primary aim was to investigate whether there is a difference in gastric emptying times between obese and non- obese children after preoperative intake of 3 mL/kg clear liquid containing 5% dextrose by using ultrasound.

Ultrasound-guided bilateral modified-thoracoabdominal nerve block through a perichondrial approach (M-TAPA) in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized double-blind controlled trial.

Background: Modified thoracoabdominal nerve block through the perichondrial approach (M-TAPA) is a new technique that provides effective analgesia of the anterior and lateral thoracoabdominal walls by administering local anesthesia only to the underside of the perichondral surface. The primary purpose of the present study was to investigate the postoperative analgesic efficacy of M-TAPA block performed before surgery in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).

Method: The present study was designed as a double-blind, randomized, controlled, prospective study.

Biomechanical Comparison of Headless Compression Screws, Kirschner Wires and Bioabsorbable Pins in Distal Oblique Metatarsal Osteotomy for Correction of Hallux Valgus.

Background: Distal osteotomy of the first metatarsal is a widely used method for the correction of mild-to-moderate hallux valgus deformities. The objective of this study was to compare the stability of headless compression screws, kirschner wires and absorbable pins in terms of stiffness and maximum load in distal oblique metatarsal osteotomy.

Methods: A total of 30 4th generation first metatarsal synthetic bone models were divided into three groups according to the fixation techniques.

The optimum time for intravenous cannulation after induction with sevoflurane in children premedicated with dexmedetomidine.

Background: Inhalation anesthesia is a frequently used method for anesthesia induction, especially in young children. No information is available on the optimum time for safe intravenous cannulation after inhalational induction in children with dexmedetomidine premedication. The purpose of the present study was to determine the optimal time for intravenous cannulation after induction of anesthesia with sevoflurane and nitrous oxide in children premedicated with intranasal dexmedetomidine.

Intracardiac electrogram characteristics of intramural outflow tract ventricular arrhythmias.

Background: Annotation of earliest depolarization which depends on maximum dV/dt of unipolar-electrograms and unipolar QS morphology identify site of origin for ventricular premature contractions (VPC). However, identification of unipolar QS morphology has limitations due to low spatial resolution. This study aims to compare electrogram characteristics at successful ablation site in patients with outflow tract (OT) VPC.

The use of STOP-BANG questionnaire and other difficult airway determinants in difficult airway prediction and correlation.

Background: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the use of STOP-BANG questionnaire in prediction of difficult airway. The secondary aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation of the questionnaire and other difficult airway determinant tests in predicting difficult airway.

Methods: Two hundred American Society of Anesthesiologists' Status I, II, and III patients under general anesthesia were enrolled in this prospective randomized study.

Cortical thickness and surface area in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder and their unaffected siblings.

Little is known about the underlying neurobiological mechanisms in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We aimed to examine cortical thickness and surface area in individuals with OCD and their unaffected siblings, comparing them to healthy controls. 30 patients with OCD, 21 unaffected siblings (SIB) and 30 controls underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging.

Prognostic value of lactate to hematocrit ratio score in patients with severe thoracoabdominal trauma.

Background: Significant portion of trauma-related deaths occur in the 1st h; therefore, rapid diagnosis and adequate resuscita-tion in trauma patients are essential preventing mortality. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the role of lactate-to-hematocrite ratio (LHR) score for predicting mortality in patients with severe thoracoabdominal trauma.

Methods: In this retrospective, cross-sectional study, we evaluated patients who applied to the emergency room between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2019, due to multiple trauma.