The effect of parity, breastfeeding history, and duration on clinical and pathological characteristics of breast cancer patients.

Background/aim: The study is aimed to determine the relationship between the delivery and breastfeeding history of the patients and the clinicopathological properties of breast cancer.

Materials And Methods: A questionnaire was utilized for the study, which included the age of diagnosis, the number of children at the time of diagnosis, the age of the children, and the breastfeeding period of each child.

Results: The study included 828 patients.

Predictors of high-grade residual disease after repeat conization in patients with positive surgical margins.

Objectives: No consensus exists on the subsequent management strategy of patients who exhibit positive surgical margin (PSM) after re-excision of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). The aim of the study is to examine the predictors related to the persistence of high-grade CIN lesions after re-excision, where PSM was left behind.

Material And Methods: The present retrospective study included patients with PSM who underwent repeated conization due to residual high-grade CIN lesions between January 2005 and December 2019.

Outcomes of thymoma after multimodal therapy and determinants of survival: A 16-year experience of a tertiary cancer center.

Background: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the factors that contribute to survival outcomes in patients with thymoma treated with multimodal approaches.

Methods: A total of 203 patients (105 males, 98 females; median age: 49 years; range, 17 to 77 years) with Masaoka-Koga Stage II-IV thymoma between January 2002 and December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Data including diagnosis of myasthenia gravis, diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, disease stage, histological type of tumor, capsule invasion and surgical margin status, lymphadenectomy, adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy, time from surgery to the first day of adjuvant treatment, length of hospital stay, and overall and disease-free survival rates were recorded.

Assessment of death risk of breast cancer patients with joint frailty models.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of risk factors on recurrence and death in breast cancer patients, taking into account the dependence between recurrence and death as well as the heterogeneity among individuals. The other aim of this study was to make predictions of death risks with a dynamic model that includes patient's history and different horizons. Methods: The data of 465 patients who had undergone surgery at the Istanbul University Oncology Institute,  Istanbul, Turkey, between 2009 and 2016 were used.

Prognostic significance of carbonic anhydrase IX overexpression in stage III non-small cell lung cancer patients after neoadjuvant treatment.

Background: To assess the prognostic importance of carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX), a hypoxic biomarker, after neoadjuvant treatment in Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Methods: Tissue CA IX expression was examined after surgical resection in 77 patients who had undergone neoadjuvant treatment. The effects of CA IX overexpression and other clinical factors on disease-free survival and overall survival were investigated.

Roles of Biopsychosocial Factors in the Development of Breast Cancer.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the roles of biopsychosocial risk factors in the development of breast cancer.

Materials And Methods: This hospital-based case-control study included 491 women with breast cancer (study group) and 512 women who did not have cancer or other serious diseases (control group). Biological, psychological, and social risk factors were compared between the two groups.

Spa therapy adjunct to pharmacotherapy is beneficial in rheumatoid arthritis: a crossover randomized controlled trial.

This study aims to investigate whether 2-week spa therapy, as an adjunct to usual pharmacological therapy, has any beneficial effect in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this single-blind crossover study, 50 patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 manner to receive usual pharmacological therapy plus 2-week spa therapy or usual pharmacological therapy alone (period 1.6 months); after a 9-month washout, patients were crossed over to the opposite assignment (period 2.

Effect of spa therapy with saline balneotherapy on oxidant/antioxidant status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a single-blind randomized controlled trial.

Oxidative stress has been shown to play a contributory role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recent studies have provided evidence for antioxidant properties of spa therapy. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether spa therapy with saline balneotherapy has any influence on the oxidant/antioxidant status in patients with RA and to assess clinical effects of spa therapy.

Spa therapy for elderly: a retrospective study of 239 older patients with osteoarthritis.

Very few studies tested the effectiveness of spa therapy in older patients with osteoarthritis. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the short-term effects of spa therapy in patients aged 65 years and older with generalized, knee, hip, and cervical and lumbar spine osteoarthritis. In an observational retrospective study design at the Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology Department of Istanbul Medical Faculty, we analyzed the records of 239 patients aged over 65 years with the diagnosis of all types of osteoarthritis who were prescribed a spa therapy course in some spa resorts in Turkey between 7 March 2002 and 31 December 2012.

Epidemiology of colorectal cancer in Turkey: A cross-sectional disease registry study (A Turkish Oncology Group trial).

Background/aims: This study aimed to determine the epidemiological characteristics of colorectal cancer in Turkey.

Materials And Methods: In this multicenter, prospective, and cross-sectional registry study, data for 968 patients with colorectal cancer from 21 centers in 7 geographic regions were analyzed.

Results: Diagnosis was colon cancer in 662 (68.

The association of PTPN22 R620W polymorphism is stronger with late-onset AChR-myasthenia gravis in Turkey.

A functional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the PTPN22 gene encoding a protein tyrosine phosphatase has been associated with autoimmune disorders including myasthenia gravis (MG). As the PTPN22 R620W polymorphism has a wide variation of allele frequencies among different populations, this polymorphism was investigated in MG in Turkey. An emphasis is put on MG subgroups according to autoantibody (Abs) production and presence of thymoma.

Thickness of palatal masticatory mucosa and its relationship with different parameters in Turkish subjects.

Background: The aim of the study was to clinically investigate the mucosal variations in different parts of hard palate subject to soft tissue harvesting and its relationship with selected parameters in patients with gingival recessions.

Materials & Methods: Fifty periodontally healthy, dentate subjects (13 males) with gingival recessions were enrolled into the study. After initial periodontal therapy they were scheduled for surgical procedures.

Abundant circulating microRNAs in breast cancer patients fluctuate considerably during neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Previous studies have revealed the aberrant expression of a number of microRNAs (miRNA/miRs) in the blood circulation of patients with breast cancer (BC). The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the levels of a panel of BC-associated miRNAs, which are at relatively low (let-7, miR-10b, miR-34, miR-155, miR-200c and miR-205) or abundant (miR-21, miR-195 and miR-221) levels in the circulation. Patients with primary operable or locally advanced BC were enrolled in the study.

The behavior of Turkish cancer patients in fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.

Objective: Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan is one of the major obligations for all adult Muslims. We performed a survey of Turkish Muslim cancer patients to examine the extent of their fasting status and to compare various clinical characteristics of fasting and non-fasting cancer patients during the month of Ramadan.

Methods: This study was conducted on 701 adult cancer patients who attended ambulatory patient care units answered the questionnaires.

Serum levels of LDH, CEA, and CA19-9 have prognostic roles on survival in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer receiving gemcitabine-based chemotherapy.

Purpose: Serum LDH, CEA, and CA19-9 levels are important tumor markers in pancreatic cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of serum LDH, CEA, and CA19-9 levels in metastatic pancreatic cancer (MPC) receiving gemcitabine-based chemotherapy.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed the outcome of 196 MPC patients who are treated with gemcitabine-based chemotherapy in our clinic.

Prevalence of asthmatic smokers: Turkish experience (PASTE Study).

Background: Although both asthma and smoking are major health problems worldwide, smokers are often excluded from asthma studies.

Objectives: It was aimed to verify the prevalence of asthmatic smokers in Turkey and assess the effects of smoking based on clinical parameters, exacerbations and hospitalizations because of lack of national data about the prevalence of smoking among asthmatics.

Methods: The study protocol was comprised of a retrospective questionnaire.

Effect of increased body mass index (BMI) on time to tumour progression (TTP) in unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients treated with bevacizumab-based therapy.

High BMI is a well-known risk factor for the development and recurrence of several solid tumours, including CRC. Obesity is associated with increased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Bevacizumab is the main targeted therapy for inhibiting tumour angiogenesis by blocking the VEGF/VEGF receptor pathway.

Serum M65 as a biomarker for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Introduction/background: Effective cancer biomarkers for early detection, prognosis, or therapy response prediction are urgently need in metastatic RCC. M30 and M65 are released during apoptotic cell death and precisely reflect epithelial tumor cell death. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of plasma M30 and M65 levels in predicting survival rates for patients with metastatic RCC.

The role of antibiotic prophylaxis in totally implantable venous access device placement: results of a single-center prospective randomized trial.

Background: This study evaluated whether prophylactic treatment with a cefazolin could prevent infections in patients who had a surgically inserted totally implantable venous access device (TIVAD).

Methods: We conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial comparing wound infection rates in 404 patients (203 received prophylactic cefazolin, 201 received a placebo) undergoing TIVAD insertion. Infections were evaluated 3, 7, 14, and 30 days after discharge and outcomes were compared and analyzed.

Correlation of clinical and MRI staging in cervical carcinoma treated with radiation therapy: a single-center experience.

Purpose: To correlate clinical and MRI findings in patients with cervical carcinoma treated with radiation therapy (RT).

Materials And Methods: Forty-two patients with pretreatment IB-IVA cervical carcinoma were included in this retrospective study. Pre- and post-treatment MRI findings of the patients were reevaluated and compared with clinical staging.

Breast cancer risk factors in Turkish women--a University Hospital based nested case control study.

Background: Breast cancer has been increased in developing countries, but there are limited data for breast cancer risk factors in these countries. To clarify the risk for breast cancer among the Turkish women, an university hospital based nested case-control study was conducted.

Methods: Between January 2000 and December 2006, a survey was prospectively conducted among women admitted to clinics of Istanbul Medical Faculty for examination and/or treatment by using a questionnaire.

Elevated ghrelin levels in preterm born children during prepubertal ages and relationship with catch-up growth.

Background: Ghrelin, the natural ligand of the GH secretagogue receptor, has potent orexigenic effect. Ghrelin levels are negatively associated with insulin secretion, increased in anorexia, and reduced in obesity. Increased ghrelin levels may be associated with early postnatal growth in preterm born children.

Insulin, adiponectin, IGFBP-1 levels and body composition in small for gestational age born non-obese children during prepubertal ages.

Background: Being small for gestational age (SGA) at birth and postnatal growth pattern may have an impact on insulin resistance and body composition in later life. Adiponectin is a strong determinant of insulin sensitivity.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate insulin resistance and adiponectin levels in SGA born children with catch-up growth (CUG) in the absence of obesity in prepubertal ages and relations with body composition and insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-1.

Insulin resistance and body composition in preterm born children during prepubertal ages.

Background: Premature born children may show insulin resistance in childhood which may be due to intrauterine or postnatal adverse environmental factors.

Objective: Aim of this study was to evaluate insulin resistance and body composition in preterm born children born appropriate for gestational age (AGA) or small for gestational age (SGA) and relations with IGF-I, IGFBP-3 axis.

Methods: Ninety-three preterm born children grouped as premature SGA (n = 30) and premature AGA (n = 63) were evaluated at age 4.