Thymic carcinoma presenting with overlap polyarthritis and myositis: A rare paraneoplastic syndrome in childhood.

Thymic tumors are very rare neoplasms in children and account for less than 1% of mediastinal tumors in pediatric patients. One-third of the pediatric patients present with symptoms related to the compression of the tumor mass on the surrounding anatomic structures, and paraneoplastic syndromes such as myasthenia gravis, pure red cell aplasia, acquired hypogammaglobulinemia, and connective tissue disorders, which rarely occur in children with thymic tumors. Herein, we report a case of thymic carcinoma mimicking the symptoms of a connective tissue disease with symmetrical polyarthritis accompanying myositis, fever, weight loss, and malaise in a 15-year-old male patient.

The etiologies and management of spinal cord compression in childhood cancers: Are we aware of the emergency of cord compression?

Background: The spinal cord compression causes irreversible long-term permanent neurological sequelae. This study aims to increase awareness of childhood cancers that cause cord compression by comparing histopathological diagnosis, treatments, and survival rates to the literature.

Methods: Seventy-three patients (38 male, 35 female) with spinal cord compression, among 1085 patients diagnosed with solid tumors at Gazi University Department of Pediatric Oncology between 1991 and 2021 were retrospectively evaluated.

Clinical and genetic characteristics of retinoblastoma patients in a single center with four novel variants.

Aim: To assess the clinical and genetic characteristics of children diagnosed with retinoblastoma (RB) at Gazi University Faculty of Medicine's Department of Pediatric Oncology.

Methods: All cases diagnosed with RB and received treatment and follow-up in the Ophthalmology and Pediatric Oncology Department, October 2016 to May 2021 were evaluated retrospectively. The gene was analyzed by next-generation sequencing (NGS) technique in DNAs obtained from peripheral blood samples of the patients.

Prognostic Values of Primary Tumor Textural Heterogeneity and Blood Biomarkers in High-risk Neuroblastoma.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of textural parameters of primary tumors, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), D -dimer, and ferritin in high-risk neuroblastoma patients.

Patients And Methods: The imaging findings of 22 neuroblastoma patients (14 girls and 8 boys; age, 36.6 ± 34.

Differentially expressed genes related to lymph node metastasis in advanced laryngeal squamous cell cancers.

Understanding the molecular mechanisms and gene expression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) may explain its aggressive biological behavior and regional metastasis pathways. In the present study, patients with locally advanced LSCC tumors were examined for differential gene expression in the normal mucosa (non-tumoral mucosa), tumors and lymph node tissues. The aim was to identify possible predictive genes for lymph node metastasis.

Prognostic value of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography derived metabolic parameters and textural features in pediatric sarcoma.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of PET-derived metabolic features and textural parameters of primary tumors in pediatric sarcoma patients.

Methods: The imaging findings of 43 patients (14 girls and 29 boys; age 11.4 ± 4.

Assessment of PD-L1 expression in patients with neuroblastoma and renal tumors.

Background: Programmed death 1 (PD-1) is a co-receptor which is located at the surface of cells like natural killer, monocytes, T and B cells. It has two ligands including programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) and ligand-2 (PD-L2). T cell functions are inhibited by activation of PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and this pathway is used by viruses and some tumor cells in order to escape from immune eradication.

The comparison and diagnostic accuracy of different types of thermometers.

Background: Fever is one of the leading causes of hospital admissions in children. Although there are many ways to measure body temperature, the optimal method and the anatomic site are still controversial. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the performance of new methods of measuring body temperature and to compare the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of these methods.

Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome in Children with Nonmalignant Organomegaly, Chronic Immune Cytopenia, and Newly Diagnosed Lymphoma.

This study investigated the frequency of and predictive factors for autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) in children with lymphoma, chronic immune cytopenia, and nonmalignant organomegaly. Thirty-four children with suspected ALPS (n=13, lymphoma; n=12, immune cytopenia; n=9, nonmalignant organomegaly) were included. Double-negative T-cells, lymphocyte apoptosis, and genetic findings were analyzed.

Cross-sectional study: long term follow-up care for pediatric cancer survivors in a developing country, Turkey: current status, challenges, and future perspectives.

Aim: The main purpose of this study is to determine the current status of long-term follow-up (LTFU) for childhood cancer survivors and the challenges of LTFU for pediatric cancer survivors at pediatric oncology institutions in Turkey.

Material And Methods: A questionnaire was e-mailed to the directors of 33 pediatric oncology centers (POCs) registered in the Turkish Pediatric Oncology Group (TPOG). Of these 33 active TPOG institutions, 21 participated in the study and returned their completed questionnaires.

Neonatal Bladder-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Ameliorate Bladder Dysfunction in Diabetic Rat Models.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of a new mesenchymal stem cell type derived from the neonatal bladder (nMSC-B) on diabetic bladder dysfunction (DBD).

Materials And Methods: nMSC-B were harvested from neonatal male Sprague-Dawley rat's bladder and expanded in culture. nMSC-B were transferred to Type-1 diabetic rats which were induced by a single dose 45 mg/kg Streptozocin (STZ).

Neonatal Bladder-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Ameliorate Bladder Dysfunction in Diabetic Rat Models.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of a new mesenchymal stem cell type derived from the neonatal bladder (nMSC-B) on diabetic bladder dysfunction (DBD).

Materials And Methods: nMSC-B were harvested from neonatal male Sprague-Dawley rat's bladder and expanded in culture. nMSC-B were transferred to Type-1 diabetic rats which were induced by a single dose 45 mg/kg Streptozocin (STZ).

HNF1A gene p.I27L is associated with co-existing preeclampsia in gestational diabetes mellitus.

The association of the FTO gene and HNF1α gene on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and preeclampsia remains unclear. This is the first study to examine whether HNF1α gene and FTO gene were associated with having GDM and preeclampsia in Turkish women. Healthy pregnant women ( = 101) and women with GDM ( = 169) were included.

HNF1A gene p.I27L is associated with early-onset, maturity-onset diabetes of the young-like diabetes in Turkey.

Background: The molecular basis of the Turkish population with suspected maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) has not been identified. This is the first study to investigate the association between HNF1A-gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and having early-onset, MODY-like diabetes mellitus in the Turkish population.

Methods: All diabetic patients (N = 565) who presented to our clinic between 2012 and 2015 with a clinical suspicion of MODY were included in the study.

The VDR gene FokI polymorphism is associated with gestational diabetes mellitus in Turkish women.

Background: The association between the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has not been investigated in Turkish pregnant women. We aimed to investigate associations between VDR gene BsmI (rs15444410), ApaI (rs7975232), FokI (rs19735810), and TaqI (rs731236) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and GDM.

Material-methods: This case-control study comprised 100 women with GDM and 135 pregnant women without GDM.

Preparation and characterization of novel albumin-sericin nanoparticles as siRNA delivery vehicle for laryngeal cancer treatment.

Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based gene silencing strategy has high potential on suppressing specific molecular targets, involved in cancer progression. However, the lack of an effective nanocarrier system that safely delivers siRNA to its target still limits the clinical applications of siRNA. This study aimed to develop albumin-sericin nanoparticles (Alb-Ser NPs) as a novel siRNA delivery system for laryngeal cancer treatment.

Comparison of FDG PET/MRI and FDG PET/CT in Pediatric Oncology in Terms of Anatomic Correlation of FDG-positive Lesions.

The aims of our study were to compare F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron-emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) and PET/computed tomography (CT) in pediatric oncology patients in terms of anatomic correlation of FDG-positive lesions, and also to compare diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with PET to assess the correlation between apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and standardized uptake value (SUV). Sequential PET/CT and PET/MRI images and/or whole-body DWI and ADC mapping in 34 pediatric patients were retrospectively analyzed. FDG-positive lesions were visually scored for CT, T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and DWI images separately in terms of anatomic correlation of FDG-avid lesions.

Melanocortin 3 receptor gene polymorphism is associated with polycystic ovary syndrome in Turkish population.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a frequent complex disorder with an ill-defined etiology. Genetic factors seem rather effective at the occurrence of the disease, however, the evidence of established various studies results are unsatisfied. We aimed to make a contribution to the genetic baseline of the disease by investigating melanocortin 3 receptor gene polymorphism in affected patients.

Utility of 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in children with relapsed/refractory leukemia.

Objective: Few data are available on the clinical significance of 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET/CT) results in patients with leukemia. We investigated the utility of FDG-PET/CT at the time of relapsed/refractory disease in pediatric patients with leukemia.

Methods: Medical records of 28 children with suspected leukemia progression or recurrence during/after chemotherapy or allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) were retrospectively reviewed to determine the utility of FDG-PET/CT.

Determination of the effects of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells and ovarian stromal stem cells on follicular maturation in cyclophosphamide induced ovarian failure in rats.

Objective: Chemotherapy causes depletion of primordial follicles that leads to premature ovarian failure in female cancer survivals. We investigated the effect of bone marrow derived mesenchymal (BMMSCs) and ovarian stromal stem cells (OSSCs) on follicle maturation in chemotherapy induced ovarian failure.

Material And Methods: Thirty six Wistar Albino female rats were divided into three groups.

Efficacy of stem cell therapy in ambulatory and nonambulatory children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy - Phase I-II.

Purpose: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive pediatric disorder that ultimately leads to progressive muscle degeneration. It has been known that cell-based therapies were used to promote muscle regeneration. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of allogeneic Wharton jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells therapy in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

VDR gene FokI polymorphism as a poor prognostic factor for papillary thyroid cancer.

This is the first study to investigate the effect of vitamin D receptor ( VDR) gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms on the clinicopathologic features of papillary thyroid cancer in Turkey. A total of 165 patients with papillary thyroid cancer and 172 controls were included in this case-control study. VDR gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms FokI (rs2228570), BsmI (rs1544410), ApaI (rs7975232), and TaqI (rs731236) were evaluated using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.