Can HALP (Hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet) score distinguish malignant and benign causes of extrahepatic cholestasis in patients with extrahepatic bile duct obstruction?

Objective: Cholestatic diseases are common and classified as benign or malignant based on their etiology. HALP is a unique nutritional immune marker that combines indicators of nutritional status, including hemoglobin and albumin, with immune function markers like lymphocyte and platelet counts. We investigated the HALP score's ability to differentiate between benign and malignant causes in extrahepatic cholestasis patients.

Traditional and nontraditional lipid parameters in infection.

This study sought to evaluate the relationship between infection and traditional and nontraditional lipid parameters, including atherogenic index of plasma, cardiogenic risk ratio, atherogenic coefficient and remnant cholesterol. After the application of exclusion criteria, 309 patients were allocated according to the absence (n = 52) or presence (n = 257) of infection. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) levels were nonsignificantly higher, and HDL-C levels were nonsignificantly lower, in the -infected patient group.

Turkish Pediatrician Beliefs About Third-hand Smoking.

Introduction: Although third-hand smoke (THS) is a relatively new concept, it emerges as an important health problem. This study evaluated the beliefs of Turkish Pediatricians about THS.

Method: The survey, designed to be self-filled by pediatricians, provided information on demographic data, lifestyle factors, and beliefs about THS.

Effect of Obesity on the Recovery Profile After General Anesthesia in Children: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Obesity has become a serious problem not only in adult patients but also in pediatric patients.

Aim: To evaluate whether obesity affects the recovery profile after general anesthesia in children.

Participants: 40 children (aged 2-12 years) who underwent surgery under general anesthesia and had an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical I and II.

Evaluation of Effects of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus on the Vestibular System by Using the Video Head Impulse Test.

Objective: Some studies have suggested that the human immunodeficiency virus causes dizziness and other balance problems; however, the exact effects on the vestibular system in acute and chronic phases of the disease are not clear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of the human immunodeficiency virus on semicircular canals using a video head impulse test.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-two cases were included in the study.

A Real-life Turkish Experience of Venetoclax Treatment in High-risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Introduction: Venetoclax is a selective B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) inhibitor, which is approved to treat elderly patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in combination with either low-dose cytarabine (ARA-C) or hypomethylating agents. We aimed to collect and share data among the efficacy and safety of venetoclax both as a monotherapy or in combination with other drugs used to treat high-risk MDS or AML.

Materials And Methods: A total of 60 patients with a median age of 67 (30-83) years from 14 different centers were included in the final analysis.

Temporal Trends in the Epidemiology of HIV in Turkey.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the temporal trends of HIV epidemiology in Turkey from 2011 to 2016.

Methods: Thirty-four teams from 28 centers at 17 different cities participated in this retrospective study. Participating centers were asked to complete a structured form containing questions about epidemiologic, demographic and clinical characteristics of patients presented with new HIV diagnosis between 2011 and 2016.

Prevalence and mortality of cancer among people living with HIV and AIDS patients: a large cohort study in Turkey.

Background: Cancer is responsible for elevated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related mortality but there are insufficient data about cancer in HIV-positive patients in Turkey.

Aims: We aimed to investigate the prevalence and mortality of cancer among people living with HIVand AIDS patients in Istanbul, Turkey.

Methods: Between January 1998 and December 2016, people living with HIVand AIDS patients were enrolled in this study by the ACTHIV-IST Study Group, which consists of 5 centres to follow-up HIV-positive patients in Istanbul.

Detection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA in the sweat of HIV-infected patients.

Objective: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a significant health problem. Many studies reported that HIV was mainly transmitted through parenteral exposure, sexual activity, and body secretions, such as saliva and semen. Many people, including health-care providers and patient relatives, may easily contact with the sweat of HIV-infected patients.

Late presentation among patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection in Turkey.

Objective: Late presentation of the patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with less favourable treatment responses, more accelerated clinical progression, and a higher mortality risk. Although HIV prevalence is low in Turkey, it is steadily increasing and the information about late presentation among HIV-positives is limited. We aimed to analyze the status of late presentation among HIV-positive patients in Turkey.

Assessment of the 24th Week Success of Anti-Retroviral Therapy in the Action against HIV in Istanbul Database: Results from a Region with Increasing Incidence.

We aimed to assess the 24-week virological and immunological success of the treatment of treatment-naive and treatment-experienced patients included in the Action against HIV in Istanbul (ACTHIV-IST) database. The ACTHIV-IST database was screened retrospectively from January 2012 to January 2014. The data for these patients such as age, sex, treatment-naive or treatment-experienced status, date of diagnosis, date of commencing antiretroviral therapy, antiretroviral therapy regimen, CD4+ cell count, and viral load before and after therapy were analyzed.

Risk factors for recurrences in patients with hepatitis C virus after achieving a sustained virological response: a multicentre study from Turkey.

In this study, we aimed to determine the late relapse rate in hepatitis C patients with sustained virological response after interferon-based regimens, and evaluated the predictors of late relapse while comparing the real-life data of our country with that of others. A multicenter retrospective study was performed to investigate the data of patients infected with HCV who obtained sustained virological response after classical or pegylated interferon alpha (PegIFNα) and ribavirin (RBV) for 48 weeks. Sustained virological response was based on negative HCV RNA level by PCR at the end of six months after the therapy.

Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in Turkey: Results from the ACTHIV-IST Study Group.

Maintaining optimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is essential for optimizing the management of HIV infection. The aim of this study is to explore ART adherence rates in Turkey. Included in this study were a total of 263 HIV-infected patients followed up by the ACTHIV-IST (ACTion against HIV in Istanbul) Study Group affiliated with four tertiary hospitals.

HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men in Istanbul.

Objectives: The re-emergence of the HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM) represents a serious health issue. This study aimed to assess the HIV prevalence among MSM in a very low prevalence population of a large city.

Methods: A public campaign to raise awareness of HIV infection and to provide access to anonymous testing was conducted in places frequented by MSM and through a mobile phone application.

Impact of antimicrobial drug restrictions on doctors' behaviors.

Background/aim: Broad-spectrum antibiotics have become available for use only with the approval of infectious disease specialists (IDSs) since 2003 in Turkey. This study aimed to analyze the tendencies of doctors who are not disease specialists (non-IDSs) towards the restriction of antibiotics.

Materials And Methods: A questionnaire form was prepared, which included a total of 22 questions about the impact of antibiotic restriction (AR) policy, the role of IDSs in the restriction, and the perception of this change in antibiotic consumption.

Lasting hepatotoxic effects of prenatal mobile phone exposure.

Objective: In this study, the livers of rats born to mothers exposed to electromagnetic field (EMF) were examined 60 days postpartum for biochemical and histopathological changes.

Methods: Pregnant rats were exposed to radiation (900 MHz EMF, 24 h/day for 20 days) using a digital signal generator by placing the device centrally under the cage, which formed the study (EMF) group, while untreated matching rats served as controls. Livers and blood were obtained from litters (seven males and seven females) of both groups 60 days after birth, which were used for biochemical and histopathological analyses.

Changes in HIV demographic patterns in a low prevalence population: no evidence of a shift towards men who have sex with men.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the changes in HIV demographics over time in an exceptionally low prevalence population, with particular emphasis on men who have sex with men (MSM).

Methods: A total of 1292 newly diagnosed HIV-positive patients registered in the ACTHIV-IST Study Group database between 2000 and 2014 were included. The changes occurring over time in the characteristics of patients at the time of initial admission were examined retrospectively.

Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors (INSTIs) Resistance Mutations in HIV-1 Infected Turkish Patients.

Objectives: Integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) is a new class of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs designed to block the action of the integrase viral enzyme, which is responsible for insertation of the HIV-1 genome into the host DNA. The aim of this study was to evaluate for the first time INSTI resistance mutations in Turkish patients.

Methods: This study was conducted in Turkey, between April 2013 and April 2015 using 169 HIV-1-infected patients (78 ARV naive patients and 91 ARV-experienced patients).

HIV-1 Transmitted Drug Resistance Mutations in Newly Diagnosed Antiretroviral-Naive Patients in Turkey.

HIV-1 replication is rapid and highly error-prone. Transmission of a drug-resistant HIV-1 strain is possible and occurs within the HIV-1-infected population. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of transmitted drug resistance mutations (TDRMs) in 1,306 newly diagnosed untreated HIV-1-infected patients from 21 cities across six regions of Turkey between 2010 and 2015.

Impact of JAK2V617F Mutational Status on Phenotypic Features in Essential Thrombocythemia and Primary Myelofibrosis.

Objective: The JAK2V617F mutation is present in the majority of patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). The impact of this mutation on disease phenotype in ET and PMF is still a matter of discussion. This study aims to determine whether there are differences in clinical presentation and disease outcome between ET and PMF patients with and without the JAK2V617F mutation.

Predictors for limb loss among patient with diabetic foot infections: an observational retrospective multicentric study in Turkey.

We aimed to investigate the predictors for limb loss among patients with diabetes who have complicated skin/soft-tissue infections. In this observational study, consecutive patients with diabetic foot infection (DFI) from 17 centres in Turkey, between May 2011 and May 2013 were included. The Turkish DFI Working Group performed the study.

Predictors of response to pegylated interferon treatment in HBeAg-negative patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Introduction: Although pegylated interferons (pegIFNs) alpha-2a and alpha-2b have been used in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treatment for many years, there are few studies concerning predictors of sustained virologic response (SVR) to pegIFN therapy. In this study, we aimed to investigate the predictors of response to pegIFN treatment in cases with HBeAg-negative CHB infection.

Methodology: Seventeen tertiary care hospitals in Turkey were included in this study.

Does cerumen have a risk for transmission of HIV?

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is mainly transmitted via sexual activity, mother-to-child transmission, and contact with body fluids, such as saliva and semen. Cerumen, however, has not been investigated for its capability to transmit HIV. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of cerumen for transmission of HIV infection.