Navigating Hope and Complexity: Turkish Parents' Experiences with Savior Siblings.

Background/aims: Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing represents a significant advancement in treating inherited hematological disorders, particularly thalassemia major. This technology enables the birth of healthy children who can serve as compatible stem cell donors for their affected siblings. Turkey is a world leader in both PGD+HLA typing technology and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from savior siblings born through PGD+HLA typing.

Identification of the molecular etiology in rare congenital hemolytic anemias using next-generation sequencing with exome-based copy number variant analysis.

Objectives: In congenital hemolytic anemias (CHA), it is not always possible to determine the specific diagnosis by evaluating clinical findings and conventional laboratory tests. The aim of this study is to evaluate the utility of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and clinical-exome-based copy number variant (CNV) analysis in patients with CHA.

Methods: One hundred and forty-three CHA cases from 115 unrelated families referred for molecular analysis were enrolled in the study.

The effect of virtual reality on pain, fear and emotional appearance during blood draw in pediatric patients at the hematology-oncology outpatient clinic: A randomized controlled study.

Objective: Invasive attempts can be very painful and stressful for pediatric patients. Virtual Reality (VR) can be used to distract patients undergoing such procedures in pediatric hematology oncology patients.

Methods: A parallel trial design approach was adopted for this randomized controlled trial, guided by the CONSORT checklist.

Central nervous system thrombosis in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Turkey: A multicenter study.

Background: In patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the risk of thromboembolism increases due to hemostatic changes secondary to the primary disease and due to treatment-related factors. In this multicenter study, we aimed to research the frequency of central nervous system (CNS) thrombosis occurring during treatment, hereditary and acquired risk factors, clinical and laboratory features of patients with thrombosis, treatment approaches, and thrombosis-related mortality and morbidity rates in pediatric ALL patients.

Procedure: Pediatric patients who developed CNS thrombosis during ALL treatment from 2010 to 2021 were analyzed retrospectively in 25 different Pediatric Hematology Oncology centers in Türkiye.

Evaluation of coagulation parameters and impact of transfusion on coagulation in patients with beta thalassemia major.

There have been several studies that have shown that patients with beta thalassemia major are at a higher risk of thrombosis due to the procoagulant activity of thalassemic erythrocytes, decreased liver synthetic function, increased platelet activity and vascular endothelial activation attributed to chronic oxidative stress, although there are no established tests to predict thrombotic risk in TM patients. In this study, we evaluated whether or not the platelet function analyser (PFA-200) and thrombin generation test (TGT) would be useful tools to identify hypercoagulability and risk of thrombosis in thalassemia major patients. The study included 50 patients with thalassemia major and 104 healthy control group.

[The Role of Anti-HBc Testing on Donor Selection and Its Contribution to Current Alghorithms; Can the Gülhane Experience Be a Model for Turkey?].

Additional or different test procedures can be applied to maximize transfusion safety by reducing the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections. Antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) is one of the most commonly used serologic marker in this context. The aim of the study was to analyse anti-Hbc test results performed within the scope of routine screening tests in our center and to examine the effect of the donor re-entry protocol established.

A Small Price to Pay: National Narcissism Predicts Readiness to Sacrifice In-Group Members to Defend the In-Group's Image.

Collective narcissism is a belief in one's in-group greatness that is underappreciated by others. Across three studies conducted in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we found that collective narcissism, measured with respect to the national group, was related to support of policies that protect the national image at the expense of in-group members' health. In Study 1, British national narcissism was related to opposing cooperation with the European Union (EU) on medical equipment.

A case of pediatric psoriasis achieving remission after allogenic bone marrow transplantation.

Background: Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease in which the cells and molecules of innate and adaptive immunity are involved in the pathogenesis. Aplastic anemia is a bone marrow deficiency syndrome that is characterized by an extreme reduction in the number of blood cells as a result of failure in hematopoiesis. Allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a promising treatment for Aplastic Anemia and it is important to note that other comorbid diseases like psoriasis- since both have some common pathogenetic mechanisims- might achieve remission after treatment.

Thrombin generation in children with febrile neutropenia.

Background: Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a common and serious complication in patients with leukemia. Hemostasis and inflammation are two interrelated systems in response to infection. We aimed to investigate the course of thrombin formation in febrile neutropenia attack of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Sequencing, de novo assembly and annotation of Digitalis ferruginea subsp. schischkinii transcriptome.

There is an increasing demand for elucidating the biosynthetic pathway of medicinal plants, which are capable of producing several metabolites with great potentials for industrial drug production. Digitalis species are important medicinal plants for the production of cardenolide compounds. Advancement on culture techniques is strictly related to our understanding of the genomic background of species.

Evaluating the effect of donor anxiety levels and lifestyle characteristics on the activation of platelet concentrates.

Background: Smoking, alcohol use, performing regular physical exercise, dietary habits, and anxiety level may cause platelet activation. We aimed to evaluate the anxiety levels, smoking status, alcohol intake, and sportive habits of donors, and determine their impact on the quality of apheresis-platelets.

Methods: State and Transient Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to determine the level of donors' anxiety.

Design of an optimal fractional fuzzy gain-scheduled Smith Predictor for a time-delay process with experimental application.

This study addresses an experimental investigation of a novel modified Smith Predictor (SP) based fractional fuzzy gain-scheduled control scheme in control of a time-delayed thermal process. The control strategy employees a fuzzy algorithm to adjust convenient controller parameters based on the system's operating conditions. Performance enhancement of the closed-loop system enables more robust behavior in the presence of disturbance while reducing energy consumption by producing a smooth control signal in comparison with the traditional integer order SP structures.

Thrombin lag time is increased in children with mild asthma.

Background: Inflammation and coagulation are closely linked events. Thrombin is the key enzyme in coagulation system and also has roles in inflammation.

Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate thrombin generation in children with mild asthma.

Bringing Packed Red Blood Cells to the Point of Combat Injury: Are We There Yet?

Objective: Hemorrhage is the leading cause of injury-related prehospital mortality. We investigated worst-case scenarios and possible requirements of the Turkish military. As we plan to use blood resources during casualty transport, the impact of transport-related mechanical stress on packed red blood cells (PRBCs) was analyzed.

The efficacy of platelet-rich plasma gel in MRSA-related surgical wound infection treatment: an experimental study in an animal model.

Introduction: The wound healing properties of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) gel have been documented in many studies. PRP gel has also become a promising agent for treating surgical site infections. In this study, we investigated the antibacterial activity and wound healing effectiveness of PRP in an animal model of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus subsp.

An Overview of Cardenolides in Digitalis - More Than a Cardiotonic Compound.

The genus Digitalis L. containing species, commonly known as the "foxglove", is the main source of cardenolides, which have various pharmacological properties effective against certain pathological conditions including myocardial infarction, arterial hypertension, cardiac dysfunction, angina, and hypertrophy. Togehter with a prime effect of controlling the heart rhythm, many workers demonstrated that lanatoside C and some other cardiac glycosides are effective in several cancer treatments such as prostate and breast cancers.

Relation of insulin resistance to neurocognitive function and electroencephalography in obese children.

Background: Childhood obesity may lead to neuronal impairment in both the peripheral and the central nervous system. This study aimed to investigate the impact of obesity and insulin resistance (IR) on the central nervous system and neurocognitive functions in children.

Methods: Seventy-three obese children (38 male and 35 female) and 42 healthy children (21 male and 21 female) were recruited.

Heavy metal levels in patients with ineffective erythropoiesis.

Objectives: Iron is taken into enterocytes at the duodenum via apical divalent metal-ion transporter 1 protein. Besides iron, divalent metal-ion transporter 1 also transports other divalent metals. We aimed to investigate blood heavy metal levels in patients with ineffective erythropoiesis.

Bleeding risk of surgery and its prevention in patients with inherited platelet disorders.

Excessive bleeding at surgery is a feared complication in patients with inherited platelet disorders. However, very few studies have evaluated the frequency of surgical bleeding in these hemorrhagic disorders. We performed a worldwide, multicentric, retrospective study to assess the bleeding complications of surgery, the preventive and therapeutic approaches adopted, and their efficacy in patients with inherited platelet disorders: the Surgery in Platelet disorders And Therapeutic Approach (SPATA) study.

Association of nerve conduction impairment and insulin resistance in children with obesity.

Aim: The objective of our study was to investigate nerve conduction in normoglycemic obese children.

Methods: A total of 60 children with obesity (30 female and 30 male) and 30 healthy children (15 female and 15 male) were enrolled in the study. Insulin resistance (IR) and other metabolic disturbances were investigated and nerve conduction was measured in all participants.

Tulipa cinnabarina subsp. toprakii (Liliaceae), a new subspecies from southwestern Anatolia.

A new subpecies, Tulipa cinnabarina subsp. toprakii (Liliaceae) from Turkey is described. Diagnostic characters, descriptions, detailed illustrations, geographical distribution, conservation status and ecological observations on the new taxon are provided.