Evaluation of the effect of therapeutic plasma exchange on serum cytokine levels in pediatric intensive care unit.

Introduction: Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is crucial for saving lives when used appropriately. This study aimed to assess TPE's impact on tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) protein and IL-6 levels in critically ill pediatric patients.

Methods: Conducted between May 2022 and December 2022, the study observed pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients undergoing TPE, recording demographics, lab results, TWEAK, and IL-6 levels pre- and post-procedure.

Predictive Role and Clinical Value of Serum Cytokines in COVID-19.

Objective: are clinically relevant for severity prediction and treatment of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2. We aimed to demonstrate the potential cytokines for severity prediction in the five days after symptom onset and describe the importance of serum cytokine levels for patients with different disease severity.

Materials And Methods: Hospitalized COVID-19 patients and healthy control participants were recruited, and serial sera were collected from COVID-19 patients.

Miniscrew-assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion Before Orthognathic Surgery for a Patient With Laterognathia.

In this case report, a 19-year-old male patient with maxillary transverse deficiency, concave profile, and facial asymmetry is presented. In the case of transversal insufficiency, nonsurgical maxillary expansion was performed with the miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) appliance to reduce the number of surgeries and provide both dentoalveolar and skeletal expansion. The periodontal soundness and short-term stability of the maxillary expansion were confirmed both clinically and radiologically.

Enhancing human phenotype ontology term extraction through synthetic case reports and embedding-based retrieval: A novel approach for improved biomedical data annotation.

With the increasing utilization of exome and genome sequencing in clinical and research genetics, accurate and automated extraction of human phenotype ontology (HPO) terms from clinical texts has become imperative. Traditional methods for HPO term extraction, such as PhenoTagger, often face limitations in coverage and precision. In this study, we propose a novel approach that leverages large language models (LLMs) to generate synthetic sentences with clinical context, which were semantically encoded into vector embeddings.

A simple HPLC method for the determination of plasma progesterone levels in the third trimester of human pregnancy.

Progesterone is a steroid hormone primarily associated with pregnancy. A simple, rapid, and reliable high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method has been developed and validated for the quantification of progesterone in human plasma. The method consists of a simple liquid-liquid extraction of progesterone and internal standard (estriol) from human plasma using a mixture of hexane and diethyl ether.

Risk factors for neurologic sequelae in children and adolescents with hemophilia after intracranial hemorrhage.

Background: Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is reportedly rare but has high morbidity and mortality risk in persons with hemophilia. Although the risk factors that facilitate bleeding are known, the factors affecting the sequelae are not well known.

Objectives: We planned to investigate the risk factors for neurologic sequelae in children and adolescents with hemophilia suffering from ICH.

Dealing With the Complexity of Effective Population Size in Conservation Practice.

Effective population size () is one of the most important parameters in evolutionary biology, as it is linked to the long-term survival capability of species. Therefore, greatly interests conservation geneticists, but it is also very relevant to policymakers, managers, and conservation practitioners. Molecular methods to estimate rely on various assumptions, including no immigration, panmixia, random sampling, absence of spatial genetic structure, and/or mutation-drift equilibrium.

Investigation of the effects of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) skin mucus against indomethacin-induced gastric damage in rats.

A peptic ulcer is a stomach lesion. It is generally caused by malnutrition, the use of anti-inflammatory medications, and an imbalance between mucosal defense systems. In fishes, the lubricous substance that called mucus secreted from the skin, prevents the entry of microorganisms that can enter the body through the skin.

The Role of Pectin Hydrogel Systems Plus Iodine and Phyto Extract in Second-Degree Burn in Rats.

Skin injuries, such as burns, can result in an open wound that can lead to the deterioration of the skin, which acts as a protective barrier against external agents, and can cause serious health problems. Pectin, a plant-derived polysaccharide, is a suitable candidate for wound care due to its gel-forming ability and biocompatibility. Pectin absorbs wound exudates to form a soft gel and is known for its strong anti-inflammatory efects.

Dodder ( sp.) extract prevents cognitive deficits in a rat model of hepatic encephalopathy.

Objective: In our study, the protective effect of dodder plant extract against encephalopathy induced by cholestatic liver disease model was investigated.

Methods: Spraque Dawley rats were used in the study. For the cholestatic liver disease model, the bile duct ligation (BDL) was applied.

Inhibitor development upon switching from plasma-derived to recombinant factor VIII in previously untreated patients with severe hemophilia A: the PUP-SWITCH study.

Background: The SIPPET randomized clinical trial showed that in previously untreated patients (PUPs) with severe hemophilia A, treatment with plasma-derived factor (F)VIII (pdFVIII) within the first 50 exposure days (EDs) was associated with a lower cumulative incidence of inhibitors than with recombinant FVIII (rFVIII). Switching to rFVIII beyond 50 EDs with pdFVIII is a treatment often implemented by many centers. The question is whether or not this switch may induce a risk of inhibitor development.

Multidisciplinary Approach to Smile Design of a Patient With Osteogenesis Imperfecta With Clear Aligners and Prosthetic Restorations.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is an autosomal dominant disease that affects the teeth and the musculoskeletal system. Orthodontic treatment in OI patients may be risky due to the fragility of dental hard tissues. Clear aligners may be considered a suitable orthodontic treatment method for these patients.

Assessment of tibialis anterior tendon insertion variations in relation to hallux valgus utilizing magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Hallux valgus is a deformity characterized by lateral deviation of the big toe and medial deviation of the first metatarsal, causing difficulty in walking and requiring various treatments. Despite its multifactorial etiology, the role of the tibialis anterior tendon in hallux valgus and its variations in the morphology of tibialis anterior tendon distal insertion sites have not been fully explored. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of such variations on hallux valgus using magnetic resonance imaging.

Retrospective analysis of hemophilia B in Turkey: identifying main characteristics and treatment options.

Background: Hemophilia B (HB), an X-linked recessive inherited bleeding disorder, exhibits a high prevalence among males.

Objectives: To present the first national cohort of persons with HB to define the demographics, clinical characteristics, and treatment patterns in Turkey.

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective study included 433 alive persons with HB registered in 35 centers between 1961 and 2018.

Pulsus Alternans: Caught in Action.

Pulsus alternans describes an arterial pulse waveform that shows alternating strong and weak beats despite a regular rhythm. Either discovered during physical examination or catheterization, pulsus alternans indicates severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and poor prognosis. There has been considerable debate about the underlying mechanism.

Improved kidney function is associated with Colchicine treatment in COVID-19 patients.

Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 virus) has been a major cause of significant morbidity and mortality. Acute kidney injury (AKI) has been seen in COVID-19-infected subjects, and it has frequently resulted in an abnormal estimated glomerular filtration rate. Colchicine, an immunomodulatory drug, was used in several studies in the early stages of the pandemic.

Precise Geoid Determination in the Eastern Swiss Alps Using Geodetic Astronomy and GNSS/Leveling Methods.

Astrogeodetic deflections of the vertical (DoVs) are close indicators of the slope of the geoid. Thus, DoVs observed along horizontal profiles may be integrated to create geoid undulation profiles. In this study, we collected DoV data in the Eastern Swiss Alps using a Swiss Digital Zenith Camera, the COmpact DIgital Astrometric Camera (CODIAC), and two total station-based QDaedalus systems.

Survival Outcomes of Patients with Primary Plasma Cell Leukemia in the Era of Proteasome Inhibitors and Immunomodulatory Agents: A Real-Life Multicenter Analysis.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to obtain real-life data on the use of antimyeloma agents, which significantly increase overall survival (OS) in multiple myeloma (MM) patients, in primary plasma cell leukemia (pPCL) patients with poor prognosis.

Materials And Methods: Data from 53 patients who were diagnosed with pPCL between 2011 and 2020 and who used at least one proteasome inhibitor (PI) and/or immunomodulatory (IMID) agent were analyzed retrospectively. Depending on the year of the pPCL diagnosis, 20% leukocytes or ≥2x10/L plasma cells in the peripheral blood was used as a diagnostic criterion.

Impact of oral isotretinoin on the inflammatory markers: can lymphocyte/HDL-C and platelet/HDL-C ratios be new indicators of inflammation in acne vulgaris patients?

Introduction: The effect of isotretinoin on inflammatory markers has been reported with conflicting results. No studies have been reported on the relationship between isotretinoin and lymphocyte/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] ratio (LHR), neutrophil/HDL-C ratio (NHR), or platelet/HDL-C ratio (PHR) in acne patients.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate how isotretinoin affects the inflammatory markers, including LHR, NHR, and PHR, in acne vulgaris patients.