Performance evaluation of nine reference centers and comparison of DNA extraction protocols for effective surveillance of Leishmania-infected Phlebotomine sand flies: Basis for technical recommendations.

Background: Leishmaniasis, caused by Leishmania protozoan parasites transmitted by Phlebotomine sand flies, is a significant public health concern in the Mediterranean basin. Effective monitoring of Leishmania-infected sand flies requires standardized tools for comparing their distribution and infection prevalence. Consistent quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) parameters and efficient DNA extraction protocols are crucial for reliable results over time and across regions.

Development of Lacosamide-loaded In-Situ Gels through Experimental Design for Evaluation of Ocular Irritation In Vitro and In Vivo.

Lacosamide (LCM) selectively increases the slow inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) and is a N-methyl D-aspartate acid (NMDA) receptor glycine site antagonist. Therefore, it can be used in dryness-related hyperexcitability of corneal cold receptor nerve terminals. Ocular in-situ gels remain in liquid form until they reach the target site, where they undergo a sol-gel transformation in response to specific stimuli.

A study on the mechanical and radiation shielding characteristics of concrete samples reinforced with brass alloy and boron carbide.

In this study, the gamma radiation shielding properties of concrete samples reinforced with 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% of the cement weight of brass alloy were investigated. To test gamma shielding performance of the samples, mass and linear attenuation coefficients, half and tenth value layers, effective atomic number and radiation protection efficiency parameters were determined experimentally, theoretically and Monte Carlo simulations (GEANT4 and FLUKA). The studies were performed at 11 different gamma energies that range from 59.

Analyzing emergency department presentations linked to secondary earthquake effects.

Objective: The earthquakes that struck Türkiye on February 6, 2023, significantly impacted the province of Hatay. A portion of the patients presenting to emergency departments (ED) following the earthquake were exposed to secondary effects without experiencing direct physical trauma. This study aims to evaluate the demographic, clinical, and psychosocial characteristics of patients presenting to the ED during the early post-earthquake period due to secondary effects, as well as to examine the challenges encountered during this process.

Comparison of the Cone Beam Computed Tomography-Based Analysis of the Masseter Muscle Between Epilepsy Patients and Healthy Subjects.

It is important to investigate the changes in the masseter muscle, one of the chewing muscles, in epilepsy patients and to determine whether epilepsy can be effectively predicted on muscle. The aim of this study is to measure masseter muscle thickness, circumference and cross-sectional area in individuals with epilepsy and healthy individuals. This study was performed with 128 individuals (64 epilepsy patients and 64 healthy subjects) aged between 18 to 59 years.

The effect of gene dosage and age at the disease onset on the severity of familial Mediterranean fever.

Objective: To compare the demographic and clinical characteristics of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patients according to age at disease onset and evaluate the dose effect of the number of pathogenic or likely pathogenic exon 10 mutations of the MEFV gene on disease severity.

Methods: This medical record review study was performed on 485 pediatric FMF patients with uni- or biallelic exon 10 mutations of the MEFV gene (M694V, M694I, M680I, V726A, R761H, T267I). Patients were grouped according to age at disease onset (Group 1:<6 years; Group 2:6-11 years; and Group 3:>11 years).

Repeated Radiosynovectomy in Haemophilia: Revealing Long-Term Effectiveness and Safety.

Introduction: Radiosynovectomy (RS), which uses beta particle-emitting radiocolloids, has proven highly effective in significantly reducing the occurrence of haemarthroses and breaking the cycle of bleeding and synovitis. This study now presents the long-term outcomes of repeated RS in individuals with haemophilia.

Materials And Methods: Repeated RS was administered to 48 joints in 37 people with haemophilia (PwHs) diagnosed with chronic haemophilic synovitis.

Investigation of the Relationship Between ACTN3 rs1815739 Polymorphism and Openbite Cases: A Prospective Study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine whether ACTN3 rs1815739 polymorphism, which causes the deficiency of the alpha-actinin-3 muscle protein, is related to the formation of open bite malocclusion.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-eight participants (18.5 ± 3.

Determining the relationship between stigmatization and social support in tuberculosis patients.

Background & Aim: It is aimed to analyze the relationship between stigmatization levels and social support perceptions of tuberculosis patients.

Methods & Materials: Research data are collected using socio-demographic information form, Stigmatization Scale in Patients with Tuberculosis and Multidimensional Social Support Scale.

Results: 85.

Synthesis and use of new magnetic adsorbent for sensitive, practical and simultaneous analysis Ibuprofen and Ketoprofen molecules in urine samples.

A new sample preparation and determination method, including HPLC-DAD analysis after Magnetic Solid Phase Extraction (MSPE), was developed to monitor the trace amounts of two types of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Ibuprofen (IBP) and Ketoprofen (KP). In the proposed method, IBP and KP analytes were extracted from newly synthesized magnetic-based sorbent in a pH 4.0 buffer medium and enriched by desorbing again with ethanol to a smaller volume before chromatographic determinations.

Temporomandibular joint and masticatory muscles morphometry and morphology in healthy subjects and individuals with temporomandibular dysfunction: An anatomical, radiological, and machine learning application study.

The study aimed to compare the morphometric and morphologic analyses of the bone structures of temporomandibular joint and masticatory muscles on Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in 62 healthy subjects and 33 subjects with temporomandibular dysfunction (TMDS) aged between 18 and 56 years. In addition, a machine learning (ML) pipeline involving the Random Forest classifier was used to automatically detect TMDS. Thirty parameters (including age and gender) associated with the condylar process, articular tubercle, mandibular fossa, ramus mandible, joint space, and masticatory muscles were examined using CBCT.

Investigation of Gamma Ray Shielding Characteristics of Binary Composites Containing Polyester Resin and Lead Oxide.

Ionizing radiation plays an essential role across various fields but also poses significant health risks, requiring effective shielding solutions. This study focuses on the photon shielding properties of PbO-reinforced composites, specifically PbO-0, PbO-2, PbO-4, PbO-6, PbO-8, and PbO-10, through experimental measurements of photon energies ranging from 59.5 keV to 1408.

Ancient genomics support deep divergence between Eastern and Western Mediterranean Indo-European languages.

The Indo-European languages are among the most widely spoken in the world, yet their early diversification remains contentious. It is widely accepted that the spread of this language family across Europe from the 5th millennium BP correlates with the expansion and diversification of steppe-related genetic ancestry from the onset of the Bronze Age. However, multiple steppe-derived populations co-existed in Europe during this period, and it remains unclear how these populations diverged and which provided the demographic channels for the ancestral forms of the Italic, Celtic, Greek, and Armenian languages.

The detailed transseptal puncture technique for optimal closure in patients with a patent foramen ovale.

Background: The closure of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) using transseptal puncture has particular advantages and disadvantages. Thus, transseptal puncture should be re-evaluated in detail.

Aims: We aimed to assess the effectiveness of the detailed transseptal puncture technique in patients who underwent PFO closure due to cryptogenic stroke or transient ischemic attack in terms of residual shunts and atrial fibrillation.

Mortality Prediction of Biochemical Parameters in Patients Intubated in the Emergency Department.

Introduction Tracheal intubation is a high-risk airway management protocol frequently applied in patients with critical illnesses. Numerous parameters have been suggested to predict mortality in these patients. Blood gas analysis, electrolyte levels, enzyme activities, and other biochemical measurements provide insights into a patient's metabolic status and organ functions.

Age-Related Differences Between Juvenile and Adult Autoimmune Inflammatory Myopathies.

Background: Clinical features and prognosis of autoimmune inflammatory myopathies (AIMs) can vary depending on the age of disease onset. The aim of this study was to compare the demographic characteristics, clinical features, laboratory findings, and long-term prognosis of juvenile and adult AIMs.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with AIM between 2009 and 2023 in the pediatric rheumatology and rheumatology departments of our hospital were included in this medical records review study.

Investigation of clinical and subclinical renal damage in Psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a common systemic inflammatory disease and the literature has reported varying results regarding the renal involvement of psoriasis. Although many studies have investigated the presence of chronic renal damage in patients with psoriasis, there are few studies demonstrating subclinical renal damage. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the presence of clinical and subclinical renal damage in patients with psoriasis vulgaris (PV).

Simple, accurate, and precise detection of total nitrogen in surface waters using a smartphone-based analytical method.

In this study, a simple, accurate, and precise analytical strategy was developed for the determination of total nitrogen (total dissolved nitrogen + particulate nitrogen) in surface waters using smartphone technology. The spectrophotometric method based on digestion with persulfate, commonly used in water analyses, was integrated with a digital image-based colorimetric detection system (DIC). To evaluate the accuracy of the total nitrogen-digital image-based colorimetric detection system (TN-DIC), results obtained from the Hach method and UV-VIS spectrophotometer were compared with the RGB values obtained from the smartphone imaging system.

Design of immunoassay based biosensor platforms for SARS-CoV-2 detection using highly specific monoclonal antibodies.

The global expand of SARS-CoV-2 has highlighted the importance of early and rapid detection to control the spread of a pandemic. In this study, specific and high-affinity monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were developed against the conserved nucleocapsid protein of the virus among variants. Appropriate antibody pairs were selected to develop a lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) and an unconventional application of an amperometric biosensor using unmodified screen-printed electrodes and external magnetic bead preparation.

Pulp regeneration using a peptide nanofiber artificial scaffold on animal models: A preliminary study.

Background: In regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs), it is crucial to find effective materials. This study introduces glycosaminoglycan (GAG) mimetic peptide amphiphile (PA, GAG-PA) and K-PA nanofibers, synthesized to emulate sulfated GAGs, aiming to enhance tissue repair within damaged pulp - an area where standardized protocols are currently lacking.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the regenerative potential of GAG-PA nanofibers in REP.

Targeting the PANoptosome Using Necrostatin-1 Reduces PANoptosis and Protects the Kidney Against Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in a Rat Model of Controlled Experimental Nonheart-Beating Donor.

Purpose: Reducing renal ischemia is crucial for the function and survival of grafts from nonheartbeat donors, as it leads to inflammatory responses and tubulointerstitial damage. The primary concern with organs from nonheartbeat donors is the long warm ischemia period and reperfusion injury following renal transplantation. This study had two main goals; one goal is to determine how Necrostatin-1 targeting the PANoptosome affects PANoptosis in the nonheart-beating donor rat model.

Breast Cancer Recurrence in Initially Clinically Node-Positive Patients Undergoing Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in the NEOSENTITURK-Trials MF18-02/18-03.

Background: This study aims to identify factors predicting recurrence and unfavorable prognosis in cN+ patients who have undergone sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

Methods: The retrospective multi-centre "MF18-02" and the prospective multi-centre cohort registry trial "MF18-03" (NCT04250129) included patients with cT1-4N1-3M0 with SLNB+/- axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) post-NAC.

Results: A total of 2407 cN+ patients, who later achieved cN0 status after NAC and subsequently underwent SLNB, were studied.

Salvage irreversible electroporation for locally recurrent prostate cancer after definitive radiotherapy: a systematic review.

Background: To systematically evaluate the available evidence regarding the effect of salvage irreversible electroporation (IRE) in patients with local recurrent prostate cancer (PCa) after definitive radiotherapy (RT).

Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the electronic databases PubMed-MEDLINE and the Web of Science. The following search terms were used: "irreversible electroporation AND recurrent prostate cancer", ''salvage irreversible electroporation AND prostate cancer AND radiation", "nanoknife AND recurrent prostate cancer", and ''salvage irreversible electroporation AND prostate cancer" by combining PICO (population, intervention, comparison, and outcome) terms.

Assessment of Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulant Dosing Patterns in Turkish Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation: A Multicenter, Cross-Sectional Study with Insights from the ASPECT-NOAC Study.

Objective: We aimed to assess the real-world label adherence of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) dosing patterns, including apixaban, edoxaban, and rivaroxaban, in Turkish patients with atrial fibrillation.

Methods: This was an observational, prospective, cross-sectional, multicenter study. Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who were prescribed NOACs within the last 4 months were recruited from 34 cardiology clinics in Türkiye.