The prognostic significance of early troponin levels in patients undergoing aortic ridge surgery.

Subaortic stenosis is a CHD that can lead to left ventricular hypertrophy, heart failure, and aortic valve damage if left untreated. The gold standard treatment for subaortic stenosis is septal myectomy. However, there is no clear consensus on the surgical margins required for adequate muscle resection.

An Investigation of temporomandibular pain, headache, and fatigue in relation with long-term mask use during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

Objective: To investigate the effects of long-term mask use on temporomandibular pain, headache, and fatigue during the COVID-19 pandemic period via a survey.

Methods: The survey was sent online, and symptoms associated with mask use, perception of mask discomfort, temporomandibular dysfunction, fatigue, headache, and trigger points of temporomandibular joint were evaluated.

Results: For the study, 909 people were screened.

A gray zone in the literature: indications, options, and outcomes for surgical repair of pulmonary artery aneurysms.

Pulmonary artery aneurysms are rare. They are characterised by an aneurysmatic dilatation of the pulmonary vascular bed, including the main pulmonary artery or the accompanying pulmonary artery branches. Increases in pulmonary flow and pulmonary artery pressure increase the risk of rupture: when these conditions are detected, surgical intervention is necessary.

Outcomes of home mechanical ventilation with tracheostomy after congenital heart surgery.

Objective: After congenital heart surgery, some patients may need long-term mechanical ventilation because of chronic respiratory failure. In this study, we analysed outcomes of the patients who need tracheostomy and home mechanical ventilation.

Methods: Amongst 1343 patients who underwent congenital heart surgery between January, 2014 and June, 2018, 45 needed tracheostomy and HMV.

Cascade screening and treatment of children with familial hypercholesterolemia in Turkey.

Objectives Premature coronary artery disease is the most common preventable cause of death in developed countries, and familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is the most common monogenetic disorder of lipid metabolism, predisposing for premature coronary artery. FH is the most common preventable cause of death in developed countries. In 2016, the national lipid screening program in school-age children has been started in Turkey.

Pentoxifylline and Pentaglobin adjuvant therapies for neonatal nosocomial sepsis in neonates less than 1500g weight.

Objective: To compare different support therapies in very low birth-weight preterm neonates with nosocomial sepsis.

Methods: This clinical pilot study was conducted at the Bagcilar Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, from September 2015 to November 2016. Preterm infants appropriately sized for a gestational age of < 32 weeks and < 1,500g were included in the study.

Phosphatase PP2A is requisite for the function of regulatory T cells.

Homeostasis of the immune system depends on the proper function of regulatory T cells (T(reg) cells). Compromised suppressive activity of T(reg) cells leads to autoimmune disease and graft rejection and promotes anti-tumor immunity. Here we report a previously unrecognized requirement for the serine-threonine phosphatase PP2A in the function of T(reg) cells.

TRIF signaling is essential for TLR4-driven IgE class switching.

The TLR4 ligand LPS causes mouse B cells to undergo IgE and IgG1 isotype switching in the presence of IL-4. TLR4 activates two signaling pathways mediated by the adaptor molecules MyD88 and Toll/IL-IR domain-containing adapter-inducing IFN-β (TRIF)-related adaptor molecule (TRAM), which recruits TRIF. Following stimulation with LPS plus IL-4, Tram(-/-) and Trif(-/-) B cells completely failed to express Cε germline transcripts (GLT) and secrete IgE.

Health-related quality of life in Turkish patients with ankylosing spondylitis: impact of peripheral involvement on quality of life in terms of disease activity, functional status, severity of pain, and social and emotional functioning.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) affects sacroiliac joints at early stages and may involve the axial skeleton at later stages of disease. Peripheral involvement usually occurs in lower extremities. When it develops early in the disease course, it is a predictor of more aggressive disease.

Toll-like receptor 9, transmembrane activator and calcium-modulating cyclophilin ligand interactor, and CD40 synergize in causing B-cell activation.

Background: B cells receive activating signals from T cells through CD40, from microbial DNA through Toll-like receptor (TLR) 9, and from dendritic cells through transmembrane activator and calcium-modulating cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI). TLR9 and CD40 ligation augment TACI-driven B-cell activation, but only the mechanism of synergy between CD40 and TACI has been explored. Synergy between CD40 and TLR9 in B-cell activation is controversial.

Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Health Assessment Questionnaire for the Spondyloarthropathies.

The Health Assessment Questionnaire for Spondyloarthropathies (HAQ-S) was built by adding five new questions related with cervical and lumbar spine functions to HAQ by Daltroy et al. (in J Rheumatol 17(7):946-945, 1990). The aim of this study was to adapt the added five items into Turkish and then to test its reliability and validity.

Cdc42 interacting protein 4 (CIP4) is essential for integrin-dependent T-cell trafficking.

The F-BAR domain containing protein CIP4 (Cdc42 interacting protein 4) interacts with Cdc42 and WASP/N-WASP and is thought to participate in the assembly of filamentous actin. CIP4(-/-) mice had normal T- and B-lymphocyte development but impaired T cell-dependent antibody production, IgG antibody affinity maturation, and germinal center (GC) formation, despite an intact CD40L-CD40 axis. CIP4(-/-) mice also had impaired contact hypersensitivity (CHS) to haptens, and their T cells failed to adoptively transfer CHS.

The murine equivalent of the A181E TACI mutation associated with common variable immunodeficiency severely impairs B-cell function.

TNFRSF13B, which encodes TACI (transmembrane activator and calcium-modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor), is mutated in 10% of patients with common variable immune deficiency (CVID). One of the 2 most common TACI mutations in CVID, A181E, introduces a negative charge into the transmembrane domain. To define the consequence of the A181E mutation on TACI function, we studied the effect of its murine equivalent, mTACI A144E, on TACI signaling in transfected cells and on TACI function in transgenic mice.

Transmembrane activator, calcium modulator, and cyclophilin ligand interactor drives plasma cell differentiation in LPS-activated B cells.

Background: Transmembrane activator, calcium modulator, and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI) expression on B cells is upregulated by Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4.

Objective: We sought to examine whether TACI synergizes with TLR4 in driving immunoglobulin production by B cells and to examine the mechanism of this synergy.

Methods: Purified mouse naive B cells were stimulated with the TACI ligand a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) and with suboptimal concentrations of the TLR4 ligand LPS in the presence or absence of IL-4.

Primary immune deficiencies with aberrant IgE production.

IgE antibodies play a central role in the pathogenesis of atopic diseases and in host immunity against parasitic infections. IgE has potent activities on mast cells and basophils. IgE class switching is a very tightly controlled process, and serum IgE levels are very low compared with other immunoglobulin isotypes.

Transmembrane activator and calcium-modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor mutations in common variable immunodeficiency.

Purpose Of Review: TNFRSF13B, the gene which encodes transmembrane activator and calcium-modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI), is mutated in nearly 10% of patients with common variable immune deficiency (CVID), an antibody deficiency syndrome characterized by loss of memory B cells and plasma cells. This review discusses the normal function of TACI and the role of TACI mutants in CVID.

Recent Findings: TACI activates isotype switching, mediates immunoglobulin production in response to type II T-independent antigens, and plays an inhibitory role in B cell homeostasis.

Transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor enhances CD40-driven plasma cell differentiation.

Background: Transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI) is a receptor used by B cell-activating factor of the TNF family and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) to induce isotype switching independently of CD40 and is mutated in patients with common variable immunodeficiency.

Objective: We sought to determine whether TACI and CD40 cooperate in inducing class switch recombination and immunoglobulin production.

Methods: Naive mouse B cells were stimulated with suboptimal concentrations of anti-CD40 plus IL-4 in the presence or absence of APRIL or anti-TACI.