Performance Assessment of Public Hospitals with the Entropy-Weighted TOPSIS Method: The Case of Turkey.

Hospitals make up the main cost factor of health systems and also face increasing pressure to improve efficiency. Improving the performance of hospitals, which are vital for public health, is very important for developing countries such as Turkey. : We conducted this study to assess the performance of 544 secondary-level public hospitals in Turkey by geographical region.

Effect of Fixed and Removable Functional Therapy on Mandibular Anterior Bone Structures: A Fractal Analysis Study.

(1) Background and aim: The effects of functional therapies on dentoalveolar and skeletal structures have been investigated in orthodontics for many years. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the changes caused by fixed and removable functional therapy in the mandibular anterior trabecular structures using fractal dimension (FD) analysis. (2) Methods: A total of 60 patients with skeletal and dental class II malocclusion were included in the study and three groups were formed: the untreated control group (CG), the Forsus fatigue-resistant device group (FFRDG), and the Monoblock group (MBG).

Investigation of the Mesiodistal Angulations of Maxillary Canines and Central Incisors for Missing Bilateral Maxillary Lateral Incisor.

A missing bilateral maxillary lateral incisor (MBMLI) causes aesthetic and functional problems and a multidisciplinary approach is required for treatment. This study aimed to compare the changes in the mesiodistal axial angulations of the maxillary canines and central incisors with orthodontic treatment of MBMLI. A total of 56 patients with MBMLI were included in the study, and three groups were formed: the control group (Group 1, = 20) with untreated ideal occlusion and the space opening (Group 2, = 20) and space closure (Group 3, = 16) groups as treated study groups.

Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Novel Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase Inhibitors.

Aims: The present work describes the synthesis and the biological evaluation of novel compounds acting as pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) inhibitors. These drugs should become a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of pathologies improved by the control of the blood lactate level.

Methods: Four series of compounds belonging to N-(4-(N-alkyl/aralkylsulfamoyl)phenyl)-2- methylpropanamides and 1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxides were prepared and evaluated as PDK inhibitors.

Opinions of university students about female genital mutilation in Sudan.

Background: Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is an illegal tradition commonly practiced in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. Despite a globalized world and developing social media, this harmful practice is currently still being implemented.

Aims: We aimed to evaluate the opinions of university students regarding FGM/C.

Comparison of the prognostic value of F-18 FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters of primary tumors and MRI findings in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of metabolic parameters of pretreatment primary tumor and regional lymph nodes with F-18-FDG PET/CT compared with MRI findings for the prognostic value and disease-free survival (DFS) in locally advanced cervical cancer.

Material And Methods: From 2011 to 2016, 112 patients with a diagnosis of cervical cancer stages IB2-IVA treated with concomitant chemoradiation therapy with 3D intracavitary brachytherapy were analyzed. From this group, 50 patients who underwent pretreatment and posttreatment FDG PET/CT and MRI were enrolled.

Breath Methane Levels Are Increased Among Patients with Diverticulosis.

Background: Diverticulosis and its complications are important healthcare problems in the USA and throughout the Western world. While mechanisms as to how diverticulosis occurs have partially been explored, few studies examined the relationship between colonic gases such as methane and diverticulosis in humans.

Aim: This study aimed to demonstrate a significant relationship between methanogenic Archaea and development of diverticulosis.

Safety and efficacy of single-incision sling for female stress urinary incontinence: 3 years' results.

Introduction And Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to investigate the success and complication rates of single-incision sling for treating stress urinary incontinence (SUI), with a 3-year follow-up.

Methods: This study comprised 173 female patients with SUI or mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) with dominant SUI who underwent minisling procedure. All patients had positive cough stress test preoperatively; they were followed up for 3 years after surgery (1, 3, 6, 12 months, and yearly).

Retrospective analysis of third-line chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: First- and second-line chemotherapies have been demonstrated to be effective in treatment of patients with inoperable, advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), although the role of third-line chemotherapy remains unclear. The present investigation assessed treatment outcomes in patients with advanced NSCLC who received third-line and higher chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective study included consecutive patients with advanced NSCLC who received at least three lines of systemic chemotherapy.

Medical management of an ovarian ectopic pregnancy: a case report.

Background: Primary ovarian ectopic pregnancy is a rare type of ectopic pregnancy which has an estimated prevalence ranging from 1:7000 to 1:70,000 accounting for almost 3 % of all ectopic cases. Here we report the case of a 25-year-old woman who presented to our clinic with abdominal pain, 6 weeks' delay of menstruation and 3 days of vaginal bleeding, whose transvaginal ultrasonography showed an ectopic gestational sac with yolk sac inside, in her right ovary. This case shows that early diagnosis is very important particularly in places like the Sub-Saharan region of Africa.

Vulvar Epidermoid Cyst and Type 2 Radical Genital Mutilation.

About 100 million women are estimated to be circumcised globally. Various rates of complications have been encountered, especially after circumcision, such as bleeding, infection, shock, menstrual irregularity, difficulty in urination or common urinary tract infections, inguinal pain, difficulty in sexual intercourse, and genital circumcision scar especially at the vulvar region, and cystic or solid character mass in short and long term. Furthermore, the maternal-fetal morbidity and mortality increase due to bleeding and fistula, which develop after prolonged labor, travail, and difficult labors.

Factors affecting disease-free survival in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer who receive adjuvant trastuzumab.

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women worldwide and the second cause of cancer-related mortality. A total of 20-30% of patients with early-stage breast cancer develop recurrence within the first 5 years following diagnosis. Trastuzumab significantly improves overall survival and disease-free survival (DFS) in women with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive early and locally advanced breast cancer.

Chronic Total Uterine Inversion in a Young Adult Patient.

Background: Chronic uterine inversion is a very rare and life-threatening disease. It requires emergent treatment.

Case Report: We present the case of a 17-year-old patient with chronic uterine inversion.

Late relapse of testicular cancer: Recurrence after 24 years and treatment with chemotherapy alone.

Late relapse of testicular cancer, defined as >2 years interval between initial treatment and recurrence, is a rare disease with the incidence rate of 2.6%. Due to its chemoresistant features, treatment options of late relapses are controversial while surgical approach and cisplatin-based chemotherapies can be considered.

Youssef's Syndrome following Cesarean Section.

Youssef's syndrome is characterized by cyclic hematuria (menouria), absence of vaginal bleeding (amenorrhea), and urinary incontinence due to vesicouterine fistula (VUF), the least common of the urogynecological fistulas. Youssef's syndrome has a variable clinical presentation. A vesicouterine fistula is an abnormal pathway between the bladder and the uterus.

Prognostic factors in clinical stage T4N2 locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: Relatively few studies have focused on T4N2 (stage IIIB) locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, we tried to identify prognostic factors for patients with clinical stage T4N2 NSCLC.

Methods: We retrospectively identified 223 patients, of which 168 met the inclusion criteria.

Round ligament of uterus leiomyoma: an unusual cause of dyspareunia.

Round ligament of uterus leiomyoma is a rare, benign tumor of the vulva. Its incidence is not known exactly, and the mean age ranges from 13 to 70. Although clinical properties of benign and malignant diseases in the vulvar area are frequently similar, early diagnosis and treatment are essential.

Treatment outcomes and survival study of gastric cancer patients: a retrospective analysis in an endemic region.

Purpose: To present information about prognostic factors of gastric cancer patients treated in our Erzurum center including age, gender, tumour location, pathological grade, stage and the effect of treatment on survival.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study was performed on patients who applied to our clinic and diagnosed as gastric cancer. Age and gender of the patients, primary location, histopathological characteristics, TNM stage of the gastric cancers (GCs), treatment applied, oncological treatment modalities and survival outcomes were studied.

Dietary and demographical risk factors for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma in the Eastern Anatolian region of Turkey where upper gastrointestinal cancers are endemic.

Background: Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is endemic in the Eastern Anatolian region of Turkey. The present study was performed to identify risk factors for ESCC that specifically reflect the demography and nutritional habits of individuals living in this region.

Materials And Methods: The following parameters were compared in 208 ESCC patients and 200 control individuals in the Eastern Anatolian region: age, sex, place of living, socioeconomic level, education level, smoking, alcohol intake, nutritional habits, and food preservation methods.

The Optimal Treatment Modality in Patients with T4N2M0 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: The Best Choice May Be Definitive Chemoradiotherapy Followed by Consolidation Chemotherapy.

Background: Stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) consists of T4N2M0 and TXN3M0 NSCLC. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of different treatment strategies on the survival of patients with radiologically confirmed T4N2M0 NSCLC.

Methods: A total of 145 patients were evaluated in three groups according to the treatment protocol: induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy (induction group); chemoradiotherapy (CRT group), and chemoradiotherapy followed by consolidation chemotherapy (consolidation group).

Prolonged progression-free survival with maintenance metronomic oral cyclophosphamide and etoposide treatment in macroscopic residual disease or recurrent/advanced stage ovarian cancer.

Purpose: In ovarian cancer permanent remission may be provided with optimal cytoreductive surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. However survival is short in patients with residual macroscopic disease after surgery or recurrent ovarian cancer. Applicable maintenance therapies with low toxicity are required to prolong progression-free survival (PFS) for patients with no curative treatment options.

Use of chemotherapy at the end of life in Turkey.

Background: An increasing number of patients receive palliative chemotherapy near the end of life. The aim of this study is to evaluate the aggressiveness of chemotherapy in Turkish individuals near the end of life.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with solid tumors and died from 2010 to 2011 in the medical oncology department of Akdeniz University were included in the study.

Oral cyclophosphamide and etoposide in treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Background: Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is almost always fatal and few treatment options are available. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of oral cyclophosphamide and etoposide for patients who underwent standard treatment for advanced MM.

Materials And Methods: This study included 22 malignant pleural mesothelioma patients who were treated with oral cyclophosphamide and etoposide (EE).

Cancer pain prevalence and its management.

Pain is a public health problem affecting more than half of cancer patients. Despite the success of the protocols currently used, pain cannot still be reduced satisfactorily in the large majority of patients. In order to improve pain management, all healthcare professionals involved with pain should have sufficient knowledge on pain assessment and treatment, and should inform patients to prevent patient-related barriers.