A Comparison of Transnasal Versus Ultrasound-Guided Suprazygomatic Approaches for Sphenopalatine Ganglion Blocks in Persistent Idiopathic Facial Pain.

Background And Objectives: The majority of patients with persistent idiopathic facial pain (PIFP) do not respond to conservative treatment and thus require alternative therapeutic modalities. This study compared the effects of transnasal and ultrasound (US)-guided suprazygomatic approaches for sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) block on pain management in refractory PIFP.

Methods: This study included 38 patients with PIFP who underwent transnasal (Group T, n = 18) and US-guided suprazygomatic (Group U, n = 20) SPG block.

Eligibility of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) modulator therapies: cohort of cystic fibrosis registry of Türkiye.

Background: Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) variants are essential for determining eligibility for CFTR modulator drugs (CFTRms). In contrast to Europe and the USA, the treatment eligibility profile of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients in Türkiye is not known. In this study we aimed to determine the eligibility of CF patients in Türkiye for the CFTRms.

Transverse Force Distributions in the Proton from Lattice QCD.

Single-spin asymmetries observed in polarized deep-inelastic scattering are important probes of hadron structure. The Sivers asymmetry has been the focus of much attention in QCD phenomenology and is yet to be understood at the quark level. In this Letter, we present a lattice QCD calculation of the spatial distribution of a color-Lorentz force acting on the struck quark in a proton.

Evaluation of drug-related anaphylaxis in children: multi-center study.

The aim of the study is to elucidate demographic characteristics, risk factors, clinical presentations, causative agents, and management approaches pertaining to drug-related anaphylaxis in the paediatric population. This study is a multicenter retrospective study that included paediatric patients aged between 1 month and 18 years, who were admitted to the Pediatric Allergy and Immunology outpatient clinics of 11 participating centres with a presumptive diagnosis of drug-induced anaphylaxis, that fulfilled the standardised criteria for anaphylaxis, between January 2017 and December 2022. A total of 293 anaphylactic episodes presented among 265 patients, of which 48.

Genome-wide association study for resistance to Macrophomina phaseolina in maize (Zea mays L.).

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a frequently used food source in human and animal nutrition. Macrophomina phaseolina is a fungal pathogen causing charcoal rot disease in many plants, especially maize.

Diaphragm thickness and physical performance in regular smokers and non-smokers: A pilot study.

Background: Despite the understanding of the role of diaphragm role as a crucial element in trunk stabilizer performance, limited research has been carried out on the diaphragmatic features particularly in smoking population.

Objectives: It was aimed to compare the diaphragm structure beside trunk stabilizer performance & body balance of young regular smokers and non-smokers and investigate the relationship between diaphragmatic features and physical performance in regular smokers.

Methods: Asymptomatic regular smoker (n = 22) and nonsmoker (n = 22) young male subjects (21.

The effect of oral nutrition on diabetic ketoacidosis resolution time: Retrospective Cohort study.

Purpose: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious disease that requires urgent and aggressive intervention. Although the medical treatments and protocols are well established, the role of oral nutrition during DKA treatment remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the effect of oral nutritional status on the resolution rate of DKA.

Desensitization to colecalciferol in 18 patients with immediate hypersensitivity reactions.

Introduction: Hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) to colecalciferol (vitamin D) have been rarely reported and the mechanism is unknown. As an alternative treatment was not recommended for vitamin D deficiency, a desensitization protocol with colecalciferol can be performed. We found that there is no standard desensitization protocol for vitamin D.

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Relapsed Refractory Multiple Myeloma.

Objectives: Allo-Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) offers a curative option for relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma in younger aged and fit patients with high-risk cytogenetic properties.

Material And Methods: This study retrospectively enrolled the medical data of 30 patients who had undergone allogeneic stem cell transplantation at the Gazi University Adult Stem Cell Transplant Unit between 2005 and 2020.

Results: Before allo-SCT, 6 (20.

A BAG-1-inhibitory peptide, GO-Pep, suppresses c-Raf activity in cancer.

BAG-1 interacts with multiple partners, particularly with c-Raf, and promotes cancer cell survival. Hence, modulating the BAG-1-associated interactions with novel inhibitors could provide benefit for cancer therapy. Using HDX-MS, we first demonstrate the higher-order structure of BAG-1S and identify a potential "druggable" site on its BAG domain.

Circulating biomarkers and neuroanatomical brain structures differ in older adults with and without post-traumatic stress disorder.

The aim of this study was to advance post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) understanding in older adults (48-77 years) by determining if circulating cytokines (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-12p70, IL17A and TNFα), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) and neuroanatomical brain volumes (grey and white matter, hippocampus, and amygdala) significantly differed in those with versus without PTSD. While none of the tested cytokines showed a significant difference, serum BDNF and VEGF-A levels were found to be significantly higher in the PTSD cohort. The assay used for BDNF quantification was important, with differences in general BDNF detected, but not when pro- and mature BDNF were measured specifically.

Design, Synthesis, and Mechanistic Anticancer Evaluation of New Pyrimidine-Tethered Compounds.

Despite recent breakthroughs in cancer treatment, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and breast cancer remain major causes of death from all malignancies. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is an important mediator of the pathways involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. Thus, its overexpression triggers several types of cancer, including NSCLC and breast cancer.

Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Virtual Reality for Reducing Anxiety in Pediatric Endoscopy.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted virtual reality (VR) applications on preoperative anxiety levels and vital signs in children undergoing endoscopy. A randomized controlled trial design was employed, including a total of 80 children aged 8-17 years (40 in the intervention group and 40 in the control group). Children in the intervention group were exposed to VR applications featuring space and underwater themes, while the control group received standard procedures.

Predicting Mortality in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patients Using Big Data and Machine Learning: A Nationwide Study in Türkiye.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates, necessitating prognostic algorithms to guide decisions. Our study evaluates the use of machine learning (ML) models for predicting 1-month and 1-year mortality among SAH patients using national electronic health records (EHR) system. Retrospective cohort of 29,274 SAH patients, identified through national EHR system from January 2017 to December 2022, was analyzed, with mortality data obtained from central civil registration system in Türkiye.

Mitochondrial HMG-CoA Synthase Deficiency in Vietnamese Patients.

Mitochondrial 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase deficiency (HMGCS2D) is a rare metabolic disorder that impairs the body's ability to produce ketone bodies and regulate energy metabolism. Diagnosing HMGCS2D is challenging because patients typically remain asymptomatic unless they experience fasting or illness. Due to the absence of reliable biochemical markers, genetic testing has become the definitive method for diagnosing HMGCS2D.

Protease-Resistant, Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Peptides with High Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a diverse group of small, naturally occurring molecules that orchestrate the innate immune response of various organisms, from microorganisms to humans. Characterized by their broad-spectrum activity against bacteria, fungi and viruses, AMPs are increasingly recognized for their potential as novel therapeutic agents in the face of rising antibiotic resistance. Here, we present several newly designed AMPs, one of which, DTN6, exerts significant activity against several organisms with MIC values as low as 0.

Contribution of tubarial salivary gland function detected through 68Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen PET/computed tomography to total salivary gland function.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the contribution of tubarial salivary glands to total salivary gland function using quantitative parameters obtained from 68Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/computed tomography (PET/CT), including salivary gland volume (SV) and salivary gland function (SF).

Method: This retrospectively designed study included 102 patients with prostate cancer (PCa) who had undergone 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT for staging purposes between January 2022 and December 2023. Patients with missing data, those with tumors in the head and neck region, those who received radiotherapy to the head and neck region, those who underwent surgery in the head and neck region, those with any salivary gland-related disease, those previously treated with radioactive iodine, and those who received lutetium-177 (177Lu) therapy were excluded from the study.

The effects of the urotensin-II receptor antagonist palosuran treatment on the corpora cavernosa of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of treatment with palosuran, a urotensin receptor blocker, on molecular changes in the corpora cavernosa (CC) in diabetic rats.

Methods: Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were treated with palosuran 300 mg/kg per day for 6 weeks. Contraction of CC induced by potassium chloride, phenylephrine, and NG-nitro--arginine methyl ester and relaxation of CC induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent stimuli, respectively), and Y-27632 (Rho-kinase inhibitor) were examined in organ baths.

Shared interactions of six neurotropic viruses with 38 human proteins: a computational and literature-based exploration of viral interactions and hijacking of human proteins in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Introduction: Viral infections may disrupt the structural and functional integrity of the nervous system, leading to acute conditions such as encephalitis, and neuropsychiatric conditions as mood disorders, schizophrenia, and neurodegenerative diseases. Investigating viral interactions of human proteins may reveal mechanisms underlying these effects and offer insights for therapeutic interventions. This study explores molecular interactions of virus and human proteins that may be related to neuropsychiatric disorders.

Effects of immune related adverse events and corticosteroids on the outcome of patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Immune related adverse events (irAEs) occur due to the inflammatory side effects of immune check point inhibitors (ICIs) and irAEs have been associated with improved efficacy in advanced non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Corticosteroids can reduce the efficacy of ICIs due to their immunosuppressive effects. In this study, we aimed to show the effects of the development of irAEs and the use of ≥ 10 mg prednisone and equivalent steroids on treatment response.

Comprehensive tissue homogenization and metabolite extraction for application in clinical metabolomics.

Background: Metabolomics and lipidomics analysis of various biological samples offer insights into potential mechanisms of health and disease development. Tissue samples, compared to other biological samples, are less elucidated due to challenges in sample collection and lack of standardized sample preparation protocols for reproducible tissue homogenization and broad-range metabolite extraction.

Results: Pork tissue samples were homogenized with six different solvent mixtures with increasing lipophilicity, followed by metabolites extraction using methanol for polar and methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in methanol (MeOH) for highly lipophilic compounds.

Large-scale study of human memory for meaningful narratives.

The statistical study of human memory requires large-scale experiments, involving many stimulus conditions and test subjects. While this approach has proven to be quite fruitful for meaningless material such as random lists of words, naturalistic stimuli, like narratives, have until now resisted such a large-scale study, due to the quantity of manual labor required to design and analyze such experiments. In this work, we develop a pipeline that uses large language models (LLMs) both to design naturalistic narrative stimuli for large-scale recall and recognition memory experiments, as well as to analyze the results.

A predictive study on HCV using automated machine learning models.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection represents a significant contributor to chronic liver disease on a global scale. The prompt identification and management of HCV are imperative in order to avert complications and to maintain control over the disease. Nowadays, medical decision support systems that incorporate advanced diagnostic methods and effective treatment strategies are of great importance in order to make significant progress in the fight against HCV.

Predictive value of the FIB-4 index, APRI, ALBI score, and GPR for overall survival in treatment-naïve metastatic colorectal cancer patients.

Background: The prevalence of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is increasing and is linked to poor overall survival (OS). Previous studies have aimed to determine the predictive value of scores and laboratory tests for OS in mCRC patients, but their findings have been inconclusive. In this research, we focused on determining the prognostic significance of the fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index, the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to platelet (PLT) ratio index (APRI), the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score, and the gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase to PLT ratio (GPR) with respect to OS in treatment-naïve mCRC patients.