The Prevalence, Serogroup Distribution and Risk Factors of Meningococcal Carriage in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults in Turkey Meningo-Carr-TR Study PART 3: COVID-19 Pandemic Situation.

Background: The prevalence of meningococcal carriage and serogroup distribution is crucial for assessing the epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease, forecasting outbreaks and formulating potential immunization strategies. Following the meningococcal carriage studies conducted in Turkey in 2016 and 2018, we planned to re-evaluate meningococcal carriage in children, adolescents and young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

Methods: In the MENINGO-CARR-3 study, we collected nasopharyngeal samples from 1585 participants 0-24 years of age, across 9 different centers in Turkey.

Two different diseases in two adolescent girls with the same clinic: Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a complex hypersensitivity reaction observed in asthma as well as cystic fibrosis (CF) patients due to the colonization of the airways by Aspergillus fumigatus. While ABPA is most commonly observed in CF patients (2-9%), it is seen at a rate of 1-2% in patients diagnosed with asthma. ABPA is mostly seen in steroid dependent adult asthma patients and has rarely been reported in pediatric asthma patients.

Impact of blood flow restriction intensity on pain perception and muscle recovery post-eccentric exercise.

Background: Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a well-established phenomenon characterized by ultrastructural muscle damage that typically develops following unfamiliar or high-intensity exercise. DOMS manifests with a constellation of symptoms, including muscle tenderness, stiffness, edema, mechanical hyperalgesia, and a reduced range of joint motion. In recent years, the application of blood flow restriction (BFR) has garnered attention for its potential impact on DOMS.

Demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics of extrapulmonary tuberculosis: Eight-year results of a multicenter retrospective study in Turkey.

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is an important public health problem due to its diverse clinical presentations, diagnostic complexities, and significant impact on patient outcomes and public health. Our study aimed to understand the sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics as well as diagnostic and treatment modalities of adult patients with EPTB. This is a multicentric retrospective study that covers patients with EPTB cases followed up from January 2015 to December 2022 among tuberculosis (TB) dispensaries and Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology clinics of 15 hospitals located in various regions of Turkey.

Task-based modulation of functional connectivity of dorsal attention network in adult-ADHD.

Recent studies have prompted a shift in the understanding of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) from models positing dysfunction of individual brain areas to those that assume alterations in large-scale brain networks. Despite this shift, the underlying neural mechanism of ADHD in the adult population remains uncertain. With functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), this study examined brain connectivity of dorsal and ventral attention networks.

Design of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) and poly(ethylene glycol) microneedle arrays for delivering glycosaminoglycan, chondroitin sulfate, and hyaluronic acid.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent joint disorder characterized by cartilage and bone degradation. Medical therapies like glucosaminoglycan (GAG), chondroitin sulfate (CS), and hyaluronic acid (HA) aim to preserve joint function and reduce inflammation but may cause side effects when administered orally or injection. Microneedle arrays (MNAs) offer a localized drug delivery method that reduces side effects.

Varicella-Zoster Virus Reactivation After Pediatric Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Single-Center Experience of Acyclovir Prophylaxis.

Background: Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) reactivation is the most common infectious complication in the late posthematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) period and is reported as 16%-41%. Acyclovir prophylaxis is recommended for at least 1 year after HSCT to prevent VZV infections. However, studies on the most appropriate prophylaxis are ongoing in pediatric patients.

Evaluation of the non-alcoholic fatty liver fibrosis score in predicting short-term outcomes and severe coronary artery disease in patients undergoing coronary computed tomography angiography.

Introduction: The correlation between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiovascular disease is well established.

Aim: The objective of this study was to assess the short-term associations of the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score (NFS) with various outcomes, including mortality, severe coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and the need for coronary angiography, among patients who underwent coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA).

Material And Methods: In this study, we assessed 499 patients who underwent 640-slice CCTA and evaluated their liver fibrosis using the NFS.

Allogeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes alleviate human hypoxic AKI-on-a-Chip within a tight treatment window.

Background: Acute hypoxic proximal tubule (PT) injury and subsequent maladaptive repair present high mortality and increased risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) - chronic kidney disease (CKD) transition. Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (hBMMSC-Exos) as potential cell therapeutics can be translated into clinics if drawbacks on safety and efficacy are clarified. Here, we determined the real-time effective dose and treatment window of allogeneic hBMMSC-Exos, evaluated their performance on the structural and functional integrity of 3D microfluidic acute hypoxic PT injury platform.

Neurocognition across bipolar disorder phases compared to healthy subjects.

Introduction: Bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with cognitive abnormalities that may persist during euthymia and are linked to poor occupational performance. The cognitive differences between phases of BD are not well known. Therefore, a cross-sectional study with a relatively large population was conducted to evaluate the differences among BD phases in a wide range of neurocognitive parameters.

Evaluation of the celiac trunk and its branching pattern by magnetic resonance angiography.

Objective: The study aimed to examine the celiac trunk (CT) in detail by magnetic resonance angiography, to determine the locations, positions and variations of the CT, to provide detailed information for surgeons and interventional radiologists, and to reduce the time spent in the catheter angiography.

Material And Methods: MR angiography images of 185 patients with abdominal imaging in PACS (Picture Archiving Communication Systems) were retrospectively analyzed. The level of origin of CT, according to the vertebral column, angle of origin, distance between CT and branches of the abdominal aorta (AA), and the branching pattern of CT were evaluated.

COVID-19 in hospitalized infants aged under 3 months: multi-center experiences across Turkey.

To investigate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in infants aged 0 to 3 months because there is currently a significant gap in the literature on the subject. A cross-sectional study was conducted with the involvement of 19 medical centers across Turkey and 570 infants. The majority of the patients were male (58.

Adrenomedullin has no effect on segmental bone defect healing but increases bone mineral density in rat model.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of adrenomedullin on the healing of the segmental bone defect in a rat model.

Methods: Thirty-six Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups based on follow-up periods and administered a dose of adrenomedullin hormone. In each group, bilaterally, a 2-mm bone defect was created at the diaphysis of the radius.

Early period intensive care follow-up after liver transplantation in children: a single center experience.

Background: Liver transplantation (LT) is a well-established, life-saving treatment for children with irreversible acute and chronic liver failure (LF). We aimed to evaluate the factors associated with morbidity and mortality in the early period of LT in children by reviewing our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) experience.

Methods: We reviewed children`s medical records followed in the PICU after LT between May 2015-August 2021, including demographic parameters, indications for LT, operative variables, respiratory and circulatory support requirements, LT-related complications and survival.

Community-acquired S. aureus infection in childhood: a multi-center study.

Background: The prevalence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) has been increasing worldwide. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of MRSA in community-acquired S.

Cardiovascular manifestations and cardiac magnetic resonance follow-up of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the cardiovascular manifestations and surveillance of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and to determine the correlation of echocardiographic findings with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging findings.

Methods: Forty-four children diagnosed as MIS-C with cardiac involvement were enrolled in this observational descriptive study. The diagnosis of MIS-C was made according to the criteria of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.