Intrauterine Growth References for Turkish Infants.

Fetal growth is known to be affected by ethnic and environmental factors; therefore, intrauterine growth references for each community vary and need to be determined individually. This study aimed to construct intrauterine growth references for Turkish infants. This prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study was performed in collaboration with the Turkish Ministry of Health and the Turkish Neonatology Society, in coordination with Mersin University.

Shear wave elastography findings in Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy patients: is it more specific and sensitive for interstitial fibrosis or interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy?

Prediction of prognosis in Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy (IgAN) and taking appropriate precautions may reduce annual incidence of chronic kidney disease. This may be possible by close follow-up for the development and progression of interstitial fibrosis (IF) or interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy (IFTA) in IgAN patients. To investigate whether Young's elastic modulus (YM) which measured shear wave elastography (SWE) might be used for follow-up of IF or IFTA in IgAN patients.

Surgical Treatment of Rhinosinusitis-Related Orbital Complications: Factors Affecting Irreversible Blindness.

If left untreated, rhinosinusitis can rarely cause a devastating complication irreversible blindness (IB). Despite new technologies in endoscopic sinus surgery and use of new broad-spectrum antibiotics, IB outcome is still a problem for surgically treated orbital complication of paranasal sinus infection (OCPSI) patients, and factors leading to IB outcome are not actually known. The aim of this study was to assess the factors leading to the IB outcome for surgically treated OCPSI patients.

Stapler Esophageal Closure During Total Laryngectomy.

Mechanical esophageal closure with stapler during total laryngectomy has been used by various authors to decrease the surgical time and pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) rates. In a few of the studies, surgical site infection (SSI) rates are mentioned and none of the studies emphasize the effect of decreased surgical time on postoperative cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications. In this study, the authors compared the PCF rates, SSI rates, operation times between 30 mechanical stapler and 40 manual esophageal closure during total laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer patients.

[Characterization of basal core promoter/precore gene mutations in chronically infected patients with hepatitis B virus genotype D in Mersin Province, Turkey].

The basal core promoter (BCP) and precore (PC) gene regions of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome are important for the viral replication and synthesis of "e" antigen. Genetic variability has been described in PCP and PC gene regions, commonly in HBeAg negative patients. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of the predominant mutation patterns of BCP/PC gene regions and their correlations with HBeAg status, HBV-DNA levels, and liver biochemical profiles in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients infected with genotype D, in Mersin province which is located at Mediteranean part of Turkey.

Diagnostic evaluation and risk factors for drug allergies in children: from clinical history to skin and challenge tests.

Background: Parent or self-reported drug allergy claims frequently overestimate the real incidence of hypersensitivity reactions. A detailed and algorithmic diagnostic evaluation of drug reactions may allow a proper diagnosis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the confirmation rates and risk factors for confirmed allergic drug reactions in children.

Is the red cell distribution width strong predictor for treatment response in primary glomerulonephritides?

Background: Novel biomarkers are needed to predict the response to treatment in patients with nephrotic syndrome (NS) due to primary glomerulonephritides (PGN). We aimed to test the predictive value of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) for estimation of response to therapy in adult patients with NS. Study design, setting & participants, and intervention: We performed a prospective study including 176 patients with NS due to PGN.

Comparison of diagnostic accuracy of Doppler USG and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography and selective renal arteriography in patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis.

Background: There are many systemic complications of conventional selective renal arteriography (SRA), such as contrast-mediated nephropathy. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE-MRA) and renal artery Doppler ultrasonography (DUSG) have been used increasingly for renal artery stenosis (RAS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of CE-MRA and DUSG as used for diagnosis of RAS.

Serum levels of cancer biomarkers in diabetic and non-diabetic proteinuric patients: a preliminary study.

Background: Cancer biomarkers (CBs) can be used in early detection of several cancers as well as in detection of recurrence and following response to treatment. We aimed to investigate the levels of CBs in proteinuric patients with primary glomerular disease (PGD) and diabetes mellitus, and compare them with healthy controls.

Methods: One hundred and two patients with untreated PGD, 62 proteinuric patients with diabetic nephropathy, and 84 healthy controls were enrolled.

Community-acquired hypernatremia in elderly and very elderly patients admitted to the hospital: clinical characteristics and outcomes.

Background: The clinical features, outcome and cost burden of community-acquired hypernatremia (CAH) in elderly and very elderly patients are not well known. Our aim was to investigate the etiologies, reasons for admission, clinical courses, outcomes, complications, and cost assessments of the elderly patients with CAH.

Material/methods: We conducted a retrospective study in our tertiary hospital.

Mean platelet volume and related factors in patients at different stages of diabetic nephropathy: a preliminary study.

Introduction: Mean platelet volume (MPV) is an independent cardiovascular disease predictor, and characteristics of MPV in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) are not well known.

Aim: To determine the MPV levels in patients at different stages of DN.

Patients And Methods: The MPV levels were investigated in healthy participants (group 1, n = 157), patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus without complication (group 2, n = 160), diabetic patients with clinical proteinuria (group 3, n = 144), and in patients with chronic kidney disease due to DN (group 4, n = 160).

The effects of pentoxifylline on lung inflammation in a rat model of meconium aspiration syndrome.

To examine the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) on regional pulmonary and systemic inflammation after meconium aspiration, we studied 26 anesthetized and ventilated adult rats for 3 hours. Seventeen rats were instilled with human meconium (1.5 mL/kg, 65 mg/mL) intratracheally.

The influence of HER2 genotypes as molecular markers on breast cancer outcome.

Alterations of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) protooncogene have been implicated in the carcinogenesis and prognosis of breast cancer. A polymorphism has been identified at codon 655 (ATC/isoleucine to GTC/valine [I655V]) in the transmembrane domain-coding region of this gene, which may be associated with the risk of breast cancer. In this study we aimed to determine whether the risk of breast cancer is associated with the I655V polymorphism of HER2 transmembrane domain-coding region at codon 655.