Plasma Exchange and N-Acetylcysteine Therapy in a Case of Congenital Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Presenting With Acute Renal Failure.

Congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (cTTP), which is associated with mutations in the gene for a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif member 13 (ADAMTS13), is a chronic and lifelong disease. The clinical course is variable. Regularly using ADAMTS13-containing products such as fresh frozen plasma (FFP) for long-term prophylaxis is the most important treatment to prevent thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) episodes.

Evaluation of the Vascular Network with Optical Coherens Tomography Angiography in Multiple Sclerosis and its Relationship with the Clinic.

Introduction: Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) is an examination that is increasingly used in neurodegenerative diseases. This study in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients; It aims to reveal the presence of vascular involvement in the retina and optic nerve and its relationship with disease-related clinical parameters with the help of OCTA.

Methods: One eye of 49 MS patients and 28 healthy controls were included in the study.

CYR61 as a Potential Apoptosis Biomarker in Osteoarthritis with Comorbidities.

Objective: Obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM) are major risk factors for osteoarthritis (OA), but it remains unclear how comorbidity affects apoptosis signaling in OA. This study investigated the effect of metabolic diseases on apoptosis and apoptosis-related intracellular and extracellular signaling in OA.

Methods: Excision materials of human articular cartilage from total knee arthroplasties were collected.

A Comparison of the First 60 Enucleation Cases Using a Thulium Fiber Laser without a Mentor to a Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) and Open Prostatectomy, and the Learning Curve.

: In the surgical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), laser enucleation of the prostate is recommended as an alternative to transurethral resection (TURP) and open prostatectomy (OP). The thulium fiber laser, with its superficial penetration depth, can offer a rapid learning process by causing less heat injury and capsule damage. This study compares the first 60 cases of an endourologist performing thulium fiber enucleation of the prostate (ThuFLEP) without a mentor to the results of OP and TURP performed by experienced surgeons.

Which Position for Novice Surgeons? Effect of Supine and Prone Positions on Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy Learning Curve.

: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is a current treatment method with high success rates and low complication rates in treating large kidney stones. It can be conducted in different positions, especially supine and prone positions. PCNL in the supine position is becoming increasingly common due to its advantages, such as simultaneous retrograde intervention and better anesthesia management.

Dominant Beta Thalassemia: A Very Rare Cause of Thalassemia in a Mediterranean Country.

Beta thalassemia is one of the monogenic disorders characterized by decreased production of β-globin chains and various types of mutations have been reported to cause thalassemia phenotype. On the other hand, rare mutations also affect and diversify the disease spectrum. Herein, we present an anemic patient from Turkey diagnosed with dominant β thalassemia due to a heterozygous mutation in exon 3 of the gene.

Pulmonary involvement in children with Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

Background: Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (pLCH) is a rare disease, mostly a component of multisystemic LCH. We aimed to investigate the clinical features and treatment results in children with pLCH.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical, radiological, and treatment data of 37 patients with pLCH, diagnosed from 1974 to 2022.

The Association between Exercise-Induced Ventricular Premature Contractions and Long-Term Mortality in Patients without Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: The treadmill exercise test is widely used to determine cardiovascular risk and mortality. Premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) are frequently observed during exercise stress testing. The literature on the role of PVCs observed during treadmill exercise testing in predicting prognosis is controversial.

Conspicuous Peripheral Retinal Hemorrhages with a Relatively Preserved Posterior Pole in Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

Background: Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a rare auto-antibody mediated disease of isolated thrombocytopenia (<100,000/μL) with normal haemoglobin levels and leukocyte counts. Only a small number of ITP cases have been reported with accompanying ophthalmological findings. Herein, we report an ITP case with demonstrative retinal haemorrhages.

Evaluation of corneal densitometry values with Pentacam in cases of ocular hypertension and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma.

Background: Examination of corneal densitometry measurements using the Pentacam Scheimpflug imaging system in cases of pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PEXG) and ocular hypertension (OHT).

Methods: The study included 50 eyes of 29 PEXG patients, 25 eyes of 16 OHT patients, and 76 eyes of 38 healthy control subjects followed in the glaucoma clinic. Corneal densitometry values of all cases were measured using the Scheimpflug imaging system (Pentacam, Oculus, Germany).

Could pain change position choice? Comparison of pain level, analgesic requirement and hospitalization time in supine and prone percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Purpose: Investigation of how position affects postoperative pain levels and hospitalization in patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) surgery.

Methods: Between August 2019 and December 2022, a total of 156 patients who underwent prone (pPNL) and supine percutaneous nephrolithotomy (sPNL) due to kidney stones were included in the study. Demographic data, preoperative CT scans, laboratory results, transfusion rates, operation durations, complication rates, stone-free rates, analgesic use, nephrostomy removal time, hospitalization duration, fluoroscopy time, hemoglobin decrease and postoperative Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores were evaluated for all patients.

Sex-related differences in within-subject biological variation estimates for 22 essential and non-essential amino acids.

Background: Measurement of serum amino acid (AA) concentrations is important in particular for the diagnosis and monitoring of inborn errors of AA metabolism. To ensure optimal clinical interpretation of AAs, reliable biological variation (BV) data are essential. In the present study, we derived BV data for 22 non-essential, conditionally essential, and essential AAs and assessed differences in BV of AAs related to sex.

Macula and optic disc vessel density analyses in systemic lupus erythematosus with optical coherence tomography angiography.

To evaluate the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) findings in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Twenty-eight eyes of 28 patients with SLE and 27 eyes of 27 age and sex matched healthy controls were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The vessel densities in the macula and optic disc were evaluated using the OCT-A (Optovue, Inc.

Evaluation of optic coherence tomography findings in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Ocular complications are known to appear in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Among these, posterior segment complications can lead to substantial morbidity. The aim of the study is to evaluate the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL), and macula thickness measurement in patients with IBD.

Left Ventricular Mass Index Predicts Pacemaker-Induced Cardiomyopathy in Patients with Dual Chamber Permanent Pacemakers Implanted Due to Complete Atrioventricular Block.

Background: Pacing-induced cardiomyopathy (PICM) occurs as a result of high-burden right ventricular (RV) pacing, which usually develops in patients with complete atrioventricular (AV) block. There is a paucity of data on the association between PICM and pre-implantation left ventricular mass index (LVMI). Thus, the purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of LVMI on PICM in patients who had dual chamber permanent pacemakers (PPMs) implanted secondary to complete AV block.

A rare case of Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome presenting with chronic myeloid leukemia.

Background: Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) is an overgrowth syndrome associated with capillary/venous/ lymphatic malformations with limb hypertrophy and cancer risk. Various cancers, mostly Wilms tumor, have been reported in patients with KTS, but not leukemia. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is also a rare disease in children, where there is no known disease or syndrome to predispose to CML.

A New Reactor Concept for Single-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cells and Possible Anti-Fouling Strategies for Long-Term Operation.

Microbial fuel cells are a promising technology for future wastewater treatment, as it allows cleaning and power generation simultaneously. The bottleneck of microbial fuel cells is often its cathodes because they determine the power output. Gas diffusion electrodes might overcome this bottleneck due to their low production costs and high oxygen reduction rates.