Relationship of radiometabolic biomarkers to KRAS mutation status and ALK rearrangements in cases of lung adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: Rapid diagnosis of genetic mutations is important for targeted therapies such as EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. KRAS mutation and ALK rearrangement are also important in determining treatment. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of 18F-FDG PET to predict KRAS mutation and ALK rearrangement in order to determine the frequency of these genetic markers in our lung adenocarcinoma cases and contribute to forthcoming meta-analysis studies.

P-glycoprotein polymorphism and levothyroxine bioavailability in hypothyroid patients.

Objectives: P-glycoprotein (P-gp) contributes to the disposition of a wide variety of drugs; therefore, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the P-gp coding gene might affect its activity. It is well known that personalized medicine, instead of empirical treatment, is a clinically important approach for enhancing responses among patients. Indeed, there is a need to evaluate the association between SNPs of P-gp encoded multidrug resistance genes (, ), and the dosage requirements of these drugs.

Evaluation of the effects of subcostal transversus abdominis plane block on acute and subacute pain development following inguinal herniography: Randomized clinical study.

Objectives: The effect of subcostal transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block on postoperative pain is contradictive. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of subcostal TAP block on subacute pain in patients who have undergone inguinal herniography.

Methods: Patients aged between 18 and 75 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists 1-3 and who were to undergo elective unilateral inguinal herniography with mesh under general anesthesia were included.

The effect of the pooling method on the live birth rate in poor ovarian responders according to the Bologna criteria.

Objective: Pooling is an alternative method to achieve in vitro fertilization outcomes. This study was to investigate the effect of pooling method on pregnancy outcomes in poor responder patients according to Bologna criteria.

Materials And Methods: Two hundred-fifty five poor responder patients were enrolled in this study.

Effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on pilonidal disease surgery.

Surgical excision and lay-open is a well-known technique for the treatment of sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease, which impairs a patient's quality of life considerably since wound healing takes a substantial amount of time. It is known that with this method total healing period is longer, but recurrence rate of the disease is lower. The beneficial effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO₂) therapy on wound healing have been well established since it was first put into in clinical use.

Serum vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 levels in patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer.

Aim: Esophageal cancer is one of the most aggressive tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. In this study, we quantified the serum vascular endothelial growth factor-3 (VEGFR-3) expression in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) to evaluate the role of VEGFR-3 in ESCC.

Materials And Methods: Ninety five patients with ESCC were studied.

Relationship of Radiometabolic Biomarkers to KRAS Mutation Status and ALK Rearrangements in Cases of Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Purpose Rapid diagnosis of genetic mutations is important for targeted therapies such as EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. KRAS mutation and ALK rearrangement are also important in determining treatment. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of 18F-FDG PET to predict KRAS mutation and ALK rearrangement in order to determine the frequency of these genetic markers in our lung adenocarcinoma cases and contribute to forthcoming meta-analysis studies.

Does Metastatic Lymph Node SUVmax Predict Survival in Patients with Esophageal Cancer?

Objective: We aimed to investigate the SUVmax of primary tumor and metastatic lymph node in predicting survival in patients with esophageal cancer.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients with esophageal cancer between 2009 and 2011 who had FDG positron-emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT). All patients were followed-up to 2013.

Effects of mesenchymal stem cells and VEGF on liver regeneration following major resection.

Purpose: The study aims to determine the effects of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy and a combination therapy of MSCs transfected with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for liver regeneration after major resection.

Methods: Thirty-eight rats were divided into four groups: group 1: control (sham operation); group 2: control (70 % hepatic resection); group 3: 70 % hepatic resection + systemically transplanted MSCs; and group 4: 70 % hepatic resection + systemically transplanted MSCs transfected with the VEGF gene. MSCs were injected via the portal vein route in study groups 3 and 4.

Utility of DN4 questionnaire in assessment of neuropathic pain and its clinical correlations in Turkish patients with diabetes mellitus.

Aim: We aimed to assess the utility of DN4 questionnaire (Douleur Neuropathique en 4 questions) to define the frequency and severity of neuropathic pain (NP) and also its clinical correlation to daily clinical practice.

Methods: We included 1357 patients with diabetes (56.5% women, 90.

The effects of fresh embryo transfers and elective frozen/thawed embryo transfers on pregancy outcomes in poor ovarian responders as defined by the Bologna criteria.

Objective: To compare the effects of fresh embryo transfers (ET) and elective frozen/thawed embryo transfers (eFET) on implantation, clinical pregnancy, and live birth rates in poor ovarian responders, as defined by the Bologna criteria.

Materials And Methods: All electronic databases of embryo transfers between January 2011 and January 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Two hundred fifty-nine of all the fresh ET and 96 of all eFET were included into the study.

Comparison of the effects of chronic intra-articular administration of tenoxicam, diclofenac, and methylprednisolone in healthy rats.

Objective: Lyophilized drug manufacturing and intra-articular (IA) applications have increased to address gastrointestinal side effects resulting from chronic treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for degenerative joint disease. Accordingly, we histologically examined joint and stomach tissues from rats to determine and compare the effects of long-term treatment with an IA corticosteroid (methylprednisolone acetate), lyophilized NSAID (tenoxicam), and non-lyophilized NSAID (diclofenac) following application to the knee joint.

Methods: One hundred Wistar albino rats were divided into 4 groups of 25 rats: control, methylprednisolone, tenoxicam, and diclofenac.

Preoperative serum levels of mesothelin in patients with colon cancer.

Background: Screening for biochemical markers is important for diagnosing colon cancer. In this study, the reliability of serum mesothelin levels as a potential diagnostic and screening instrument was evaluated concerning colon cancer.

Methods: Ninety-five patients who had undergone colonoscopic examination and who were diagnosed with colon cancer were included in the study.

A novel screening test for colon cancer: Talin-1.

Objective: Cell adhesion and angiogenesis within the extracellular matrix involve special signaling molecules, such as integrins and the actin binding protein Talin-1. The aim of this study was to investigate and describe the expression of Talin-1 for the early detection of colon cancer.

Patients And Methods: Blood serum samples were collected from 50 healthy volunteers and from 90 patients with colon cancer.

[Twenty-five years of intestinal parasite prevalence in İstanbul University, İstanbul Faculty of Medicine: a retrospective study].

Objective: The aim of our study is to determine the general intestinal parasite prevalence in İstanbul University İstanbul Faculty of Medicine Hospital, which is located in European and Asian geographical features of Turkey.

Methods: Between January 1988 and December 2012, a total of 111,889 stool samples from patients who were admitted to the İstanbul University İstanbul Faculty of Medicine Hospital were examined microscopically by using native lugol and formalin-ether concentration technique; in addition, the cellophane tape test technique was used to examine the perianal area.

Results: The prevalence of intestinal parasites was found to be 5% (5486/111,889) in İstanbul.

Coagulation parameters in inflammatory bowel disease.

Thromboembolic events represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and they may occur both at the gastrointestinal tract and at extraintestinal sites. This study aimed to examine the alterations in coagulation parameters involved at different steps of hemostasis in patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, in comparison with healthy individuals. Fifty-one patients with inflammatory bowel disease and 26 healthy controls were included in this study.

The relationship between serum tumor-associated trypsin inhibitor levels and clinicopathological parameters in patients with gastric cancer.

Background: Tumor-associated trypsin inhibitor (TATI) is expressed with trypsinogen in tumors. We studied the clinical-pathologic association and significance of preoperative serum levels of TATI in gastric cancer patients.

Patients And Methods: Pre-treatment serum levels of TATI in patients with gastric cancer and healthy controls were analyzed by a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Evaluation of the effects of hyperbaric oxygen treatment and enoxaparin on left colon anastomosis. An experimental study.

Background: Surgical interventions on left colon lead to high morbidity. The problems in wound healing are the main cause of this morbidity. Hypoxia retards wound healing and hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) has an anti-hypoxic effect.

The assessment of high sensitivity C-reactive protein as a systemic marker in moderate asthma patients and changing levels by inhaled corticosteroids.

Objectives: To see if high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels increase even in the early stages of asthma, and to evaluate if corticosteroid therapy affects the levels in asthma patients.

Methods: The case-control pilot study was conducted at Yedikule Chest Disease and Surgery Education and Research Hospital, Turkey, from February to April 2011. Patients newly diagnosed with asthma who reported symptoms that occurred six months before diagnosis were included in the study.

Immunohistochemical expression of telomerase in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: prediction of metastasis and prognostic significance.

Aim: To detect telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) expression in tissue and metastatic and non-metastatic lymph node samples from patients with non-small cell lung cancer; to evaluate whether TERT expression is correlated with pathological and clinical features, and/or patient survival times; to determine differences between TERT expression in metastatic and non-metastatic lymph nodes.

Patients And Methods: Tumor tissue samples from 17 patients with squamous cell lung cancer and 11 patients with adenocarcinoma diagnosed between 2003 and 2004 were included in this study. All patients were diagnosed at our hospital and had samples stored in the pathology archive.

Comparison of phenol matricectomy and nail-splinting with a flexible tube for the treatment of ingrown toenails.

Background: The treatment of ingrown toenail is usually bothersome for patients and doctors.

Objectives: To compare two treatment techniques of ingrown toenails-phenol matricectomy (PM) and nail-splinting using a flexible tube (FT)-in terms of efficacy, postoperative pain, postoperative cosmetic satisfaction, amount of tissue damage, and recurrence.

Methods And Materials: One hundred twenty ingrown toenails were randomized and divided into PM and FT groups.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease in our asthma patients: the presence of dysphagia can influence pulmonary function.

Background: The prevalence of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) in Turkey is reported as 11.6%. Studies of pulmonary function in asthmatics have demonstrated a correlation between lung resistance and the occurrence of spontaneous gastroesophageal reflux.

Differences in Mucociliary activity of volunteers undergoing Ramadan versus Nineveh fasting.

This study, aimed to evaluate the difference in mucociliary clearance among volunteers who underwent Ramadan versus Nineveh fasting regimens as well as the difference between the fasting period and 4 weeks following the fasting period in both groups. In this study, two different fasting groups were established: Ramadan (fasting for an average of 15 h for 29 consecutive days, n = 40) and Nineveh (60 h of nonstop fasting, n = 26). Subjects in each group underwent saccharin testing twice: at the end of the fasting period prior to resumption of eating and at 4 weeks after the end of Ramadan or Nineveh fasting.