Carotid artery stenting for symptomatic carotid near occlusions: Feasibility, safety and outcome analysis.

Introduction: Extracranial internal carotid stenosis (EICS) is a well-established cause of stroke. Carotid near-occlusion (CNO), either distally collapsed or not, is a rare sub-type of EICS with conflicting data regarding the necessity for treatment. The aim of this study is to evaluate the results of carotid artery stenting (CAS) for patients with symptomatic CNOs.

The Effect on Constipation of Abdominal Massage Applied to the Elderly in the Nursing Home: A Randomized Controlled Experimental Study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate how abdominal massage affects the constipation of the elderly in the nursing home. This randomized controlled experimental study was conducted with an intervention group ( n = 30) and a control group ( n = 31) in the nursing home of a government institution. A 15-minute abdominal massage was applied to the intervention group once a day, 5 days a week for 1 month.

Molecular Detection of Dermatophytes and Nondermatophytes in Onychomycosis in Antalya, Turkey.

Background: Onychomycosis is a chronic nail infection, and dermatophytes, yeasts, and nondermatophytic molds may be the causative agents. This study aimed to determine the etiological agents of onychomycosis by using conventional and molecular methods.

Methods: Between June 2020 and July 2021, 37 patients with a presumptive diagnosis of onychomycosis and mycological evidence (culture and/or EUROArray Dermatomycosis assay) were included in the study.

Long-range frequency-domain optical delay line based on a spinning tilted mirror for low-cost ocular biometry.

Optical biometers are routinely used to measure intraocular distances in ophthalmic applications such as cataract surgery planning or myopia monitoring. However, due to their high cost and reduced transportability, access to them for screening and surgical planning is still limited in low-resource and remote settings. To increase patients' access to optical biometry we propose a novel low-cost frequency-domain optical delay line (FD-ODL) based on an inexpensive stepper motor spinning a tilted mirror, for integration into a time-domain (TD)-biometer, amenable to a compact footprint.

Candidemia Cases Caused by Candida parapsilosis Complex Species: Epidemiology and Antifungal Susceptibility of Strains.

Background: Candida parapsilosis is a common non-albicans Candida species isolated from blood cultures. The increase in fluconazole-resistant C. parapsilosis complex isolates is worrying, especially in strains with Y132F changes in the ERG11 gene since this ultimately leads to outbreaks.

Optical beam scanner with reconfigurable non-mechanical control of beam position, angle, and focus for low-cost whole-eye OCT imaging.

Whole-eye optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging is a promising tool in ocular biometry for cataract surgery planning, glaucoma diagnostics and myopia progression studies. However, conventional OCT systems are set up to perform either anterior or posterior eye segment scans and cannot easily switch between the two scan configurations without adding or exchanging optical components to account for the refraction of the eye's optics. Even in state-of-the-art whole-eye OCT systems, the scan configurations are pre-selected and cannot be dynamically reconfigured.

Evaluation of the BD Phoenix CPO Detect Test for the detection of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales.

This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the BD Phoenix CPO Detect Test (BD Diagnostic Systems) for the detection and classification of carbapenemase-mediated carbapenem resistance. A total of 447 Enterobacterales strains were included in the study. All strains were tested with the BD Phoenix CPO Detect Test and the modified carbapenem inactivation method.

In vitro Activity of Cefiderocol and Ceftazidime-Avibactam, Against Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacterales.

Background: Carbapenemase production is an issue of significant clinical and public health concern, because of the shortage of effective antimicrobial agents available for treatment. Here, we present antimicrobial susceptibility data of ceftazidime-avibactam, cefiderocol, and other clinically relevant antibiotics for carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales bloodstream isolates, in accordance with European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) guidelines.

Methods: A total of 133 carbapenemase producing Enterobacterales bloodstream isolates from May 2010 to September 2018 were included in the study.

Terror-related injuries in Somalia: a retrospective cohort of 2426 hospitalized cases along 7 years.

Terrorism-related injuries and deaths have become a major threat to the Somalian population, as in the rest of the world. We aimed to characterize and compare firearm and explosion injuries caused by terrorist acts. This retrospective study reviewed the data of all patients injured by explosions and firearm attacks over seven years.

Molecular Dynamics and Structure of Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) Chains Grafted from Barium Titanate Nanoparticles.

Core-shell nanocomposites comprising barium titanate, BaTiO (BTO), and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) chains grafted from its surface with varied grafting densities were prepared. BTO nanocrystals are high-k inorganic materials, and the obtained nanocomposites exhibit enhanced dielectric permittivity, as compared to neat PMMA, and a relatively low level of loss tangent in a wide range of frequencies. The impact of the molecular dynamics, structure, and interactions of the BTO surface on the polymer chains was investigated.

Analysis of the demographic characteristics and clinical profile of acute ischemic strokes admitted to the emergency centre in the Somalia population.

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of death and chronic disability worldwide. In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), which includes Somalia, stroke represents a significant part of the chronic disease burden. However, there is relatively little data on risk factors, demographics, and clinical profiles.

Prevalence of Acute Kidney Injury in Covid-19 Patients- Retrospective Single-Center Study.

Introduction: In December 2019, a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease outbreak started in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and spread rapidly to other regions of the world. Although diffuse alveolar injury and acute respiratory failure were the most prominent characteristics, further investigation of organ involvement is essential.

Aim: In this study, we aim to determine the prevalence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in covid-19 patients and also the relationship between inflammatory markers, the severity of lung involvement, and acute kidney injury in COVID-19 patients.

Function of the waterfowl nests as reproduction and living areas for leeches (Annelida: Hirudinea).

Some species of leeches migrate into waterfowl nests and use these both as general habitats and to deposit cocoons, but ecological associations between leeches and birds are not well understood. In the present study, characteristics of waterfowl nests both as living area for leeches (Hirudinea) and as reproduction areas for select hirudinid leeches (Hirudo verbana and Haemopis sanguisuga) was investigated in both natural and controlled laboratory conditions. A total of 48 leeches were detected in 23 of the 51 nests surveyed in natural habitats.

Information and Communication Theoretical Understanding and Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries: State-of-The-Art and Research Challenges.

Among the various key networks in the human body, the nervous system occupies central importance. The debilitating effects of spinal cord injuries (SCI) impact a significant number of people throughout the world, and to date, there is no satisfactory method to treat them. In this paper, we review the major treatment techniques for SCI that include promising solutions based on information and communication technology (ICT) and identify the key characteristics of such systems.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening: A pilot study in Turkey.

Background: This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in Turkish men aged 60 years and older and the factors associated with AAA.

Methods: Through sixty-two family health centers located in the Kecioren district of Ankara, 239 male volunteers of the target age were recruited for this pilot study. The volunteers were scanned using B-mode ultrasonography.

The Effect of Abdominal Massage on Enteral Complications in Geriatric Patients.

Introduction And Purpose: Geriatric patients, who are fed by nasogastric tube (NG), may suffer from complications. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of abdominal massage on Gastric residual volume (GRV), distension, vomiting, and defecation in geriatric patients, who were hospitalized in intensive care unit and fed by NG.

Methods: The quasi-experimental study was conducted in intensive care units.

Iliocaval outflow obstruction in patients with venous ulcers in a small comparison study between patients with primary varicose veins and chronic deep vein disease.

Objective: Iliocaval outflow obstruction was investigated in patients with venous ulcers caused by primary superficial disease and chronic deep vein disease METHODS: After clinical assessment, patients with healed or active venous leg ulcers underwent lower extremity duplex ultrasound examination to identify the presence of venous disease in the superficial, deep and perforating systems. Bilateral contrast venography and intravascular ultrasound examination were then performed to determine the presence and degree of iliocaval obstructive lesions.

Results: This retrospective study included a total of 59 patients with 71 legs presenting active or healed ulcer.

Treatment of hard-to-heal leg ulcers with hyaluronic acid, sodium alginate and negative pressure wound therapy.

Objective: Hard-to-heal lower extremity ulcer is a common healthcare problem and can lead to a poor quality of life (QoL). Despite the advances in wound care, conventional therapies, such as necrotic tissue debridement, cleansing, treatment of infection and local treatment with dressing application are still considered the standard of care in patients with hard-to-heal leg ulcers. However, managing hard-to-heal ulcers that do not respond well to these methods has led to new treatment strategies.

Intralesional epidermal growth factor application is a potential therapeutic strategy to improve diabetic foot ulcer healing and prevent amputation.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of intralesional epidermal growth factor (EGF) in preventing the extremity from a major amputation and its effects on wound healing in chronic diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs).

Material And Methods: Thirty-three patients with DFUs were treated with intralesional EGF application between January 2013 and January 2017. The first endpoint was to determine the prevention rate of major amputation within 12 months following treatment.

Evaluation of an Automated Yeasts Identification System for Identification of Yeast Isolates.

Background: Invasive candidiasis is the most important health-care-associated fungal infection worldwide. In the last two decades, the cause of the increase of fungal infections is immunosuppression or serious underlying diseases. Additionally, Rhodotorula species, Blastoschizomyces capitatus, and Trichosporon species are emerging as important human pathogens in immunocompromised patients with hematological malignancy.

Popliteal Access in the Supine Position for Endovenous Management of Deep Vein Thrombosis.

Introduction: The preferred venous access site for percutaneous management of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is the popliteal vein, with the patient in the prone position. Owing to the need for additional venous access, including the jugular or femoral veins, popliteal access in the prone position requires supine repositioning of the patient. A technique for puncturing the popliteal vein in the supine position is proposed, which allows for additional venous access in the same position in patients with DVT.

The Predictive Value of the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Patients with Recurrent Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the inflammatory parameters including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and the prognosis of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM).

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective study, a total of 41 patients with IGM who had no malignant disease or inflammatory pathologies were included between January 2010 and December 2017. The patients were divided into two groups according to presence or absence of recurrence.