Prognostic factors and outcomes of adjuvant and first-line metastatic treatments in melanoma a Turkish oncology group study.

Management of melanoma has changed significantly with the discovery of targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Our aim in the study is to determine which treatment alternatives, specifically dabrafenib plus trametinib and ICIs, are effective in adjuvant therapy and which treatment is effective as first-line metastatic therapy. This retrospective, multicenter study included 120 patients diagnosed with stage IIIB-IIID melanoma receiving both adjuvant and first-line metastatic treatment between 2007 and 2023.

Abdominopelvic imaging in the follow-up of testicular germ-cell tumors in adults: recommendations of the Scrotal and Penile Imaging Working Group of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology.

Objectives: The Scrotal and Penile Imaging Working Group (SPIWG) of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR) aimed to formulate recommendations on the imaging modalities and minimal technical requirements for abdominopelvic imaging in the follow-up of adult patients treated for testicular germ-cell tumors (TGCT).

Methods: The SPIWG members performed an extensive literature search, reviewed the current clinical practice, and reached a consensus based on the opinions of experts in the field.

Results: Recurrence in patients treated for TGCT mainly occurs in retroperitoneal lymph nodes (LNs).

Thematic Review of Endocrine Disruptors and Their Role in Shaping Pubertal Timing.

This review examines the inconsistent effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and pollutants on pubertal timing, emphasizing the methodological challenges contributing to variability in findings. Data from nine key studies reveal that chemicals such as BPA, phthalates, and PFAS impact pubertal onset differently based on exposure timing, dosage, and sex. For instance, BPA is linked to earlier puberty in girls but delayed onset in boys, while other EDCs show mixed effects across populations.

Severe Lipoatrophy in a Growth Hormone Deficient Toddler Girl Treated with a Non-Pegylated Long-Acting Growth Hormone.

Background: Recombinant growth hormone (rhGH) has been used since 1985 to treat growth hormone (GH)-induced short stature, typically associated with transient adverse events. However, lipoatrophy, characterized by irreversible damage to subcutaneous fat, was first reported in 1999 and linked to antibody formation. In 2021, localized lipoatrophy was observed in 14.

Cold agglutinin syndrome as a precursor for the diagnosis of low‑grade lymphoma: A case report.

Cold agglutinin syndrome is a form of acquired hemolytic anemia that typically arises from underlying conditions, such as infections, autoimmune disorders or lymphoid malignancies. The majority of patients remain asymptomatic and are diagnosed with anemia through routine complete blood count (CBC) testing. The present study describes the case of a male patient in his 50s who sought a second opinion at the authors' clinic due to newly detected anemia.

Associated Cardiac and Extracardiac Anomalies in Patients with Abnormal Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery.

Anomalous origin of coronary arteries from the pulmonary artery (ACAPA) are rare but clinically significant condition with high mortality if left untreated. Even more rarely, ACAPA is associated with other congenital heart defects. From 1974 to 2024, 120 patients with anomalous coronary arteries connected to the pulmonary artery were retrospectively analyzed.

Prognostic Significance of Preoperative NLR or PLR and PASS Score Combinations in Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma.

Context: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have recently emerged in assessing pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs). However, their combined use with PASS scale has not yet been explored.

Objective: Our goal was to investigate the prognostic values of NLR and PLR and incorporate the PASS score into our analysis.

Activity of CDK4/6 inhibitors and parameters affecting survival in elderly patients in age-subgroups: Turkish Oncology Group (TOG) retrospective study.

Highly selective inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK4/6is) have emerged as a standart of care for first- and second-line therapies in combination with endocrine therapy (ET) for HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients. It has been reported that combination therapy is more effective than ET alone and is safe in elderly patients as well as young patients. Nevertheless, elderly and very old patients with HR+/HER2-MBC treated with CDK4/6 inhibitor (CDK4/6i) combinations are relatively underrepresented in randomized controlled trials.

Microglia-like cells from patient monocytes demonstrate increased phagocytic activity in probable Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid plaques, phosphorylated tau tangles and microglia toxicity, resulting in neuronal death and cognitive decline. Since microglia are recognized as one of the key players in the disease, it is crucial to understand how microglia operate in disease conditions and incorporate them into models. The studies on human microglia functions are thought to reflect the post-symptomatic stage of the disease.

Is the Otolithic Function Affected in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome?

Background:  While cardiovascular and neurological diseases induced by obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) hypoxia are well established, the association between neuro-otological diseases and OSAS is not entirely understood. Vestibular and audiological tests have been used to evaluate the degeneration of neurons in the brainstem caused by recurrent hypoxia.

Purpose:  Evaluation of the vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) test findings applied to detect the possible influence on the vestibular reflex arc due to hypoxia in patients diagnosed with OSAS using Activity-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) scales determination of scores.

End-to-end deep learning patient level classification of affected territory of ischemic stroke patients in DW-MRI.

Purpose: To develop an end-to-end DL model for automated classification of affected territory in DWI of stroke patients.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective multicenter study, brain DWI studies from January 2017 to April 2020 from Center 1, from June 2020 to December 2020 from Center 2, and from November 2019 to April 2020 from Center 3 were included. Four radiologists labeled images into five classes: anterior cerebral artery (ACA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), posterior circulation (PC), and watershed (WS) regions, as well as normal images.

Mushroom Intoxication in Türkiye: A Nationwide Cohort Study Based on Demographic Trends, Seasonal Variations, and the Impact of Climate Change on Incidence.

Background/aims: Mushroom intoxication poses a considerable public health risk due to its potential for severe toxicity and fatality. This study aims to investigate demographic trends, diagnostic locations, and mortality rates of patients with mushroom intoxication.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cohort study utilized data from the National Electronic Database of the Turkish Ministry of Health.

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.

A qualitative study on the experiences of caregivers of children undergoing surgery for congenital heart diseases.

Objective: This study explores the experiences of caregivers of pediatric cardiac surgery patients, aiming to deepen understanding of their role and improve the caregiving process.

Methods: A qualitative, phenomenological approach was employed using individual, semi-structured interviews with a heterogeneous sample of caregivers (both mothers and fathers) of children who had undergone surgery for congenital heart disease. Interviews were conducted face-to-face from June 2023 to May 2024, following Creswell's interview techniques.

The role of predominant polarity on cognitive dysfunctions in patients with bipolar disorder.

Background: Cognitive impairment is frequently observed in bipolar disorder (BD). Previous findings indicated that predominant polarity could have an effect on cognitive deficits. This study aimed to examine the association between predominant polarity and cognitive impairments in BD.

Associations between serum sodium level ranges with geriatric syndromes.

Purpose: To determine prevalences of common geriatric syndromes in the setting of different normal ranges of serum sodium.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 2048 older adults (aged ≥ 60) who underwent comprehesive geriatric assessment between 2016 and 2023 in one geriatric outpatient clinic were evaluated. Patient groups included moderate hyponatremia (< 130 mEq/L, n = 28, 1.

Associations between malnutrition and dehydration among older adults: A cross-sectional observational study.

Background: There is debate as to the association between dehydration and malnutrition. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the correlation between dehydration and malnutrition and their impact on geriatric syndromes.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included older adults (≥60 years) who attended one outpatient geriatric clinic.

The psychosocial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Turkish older adults: is there a difference between males and females?

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has seriously affected older adults' social lives, physical activity, and cognitive functions. Additionally, the lockdowns have disrupted regular healthcare for patients with chronic illnesses or needing acute care. Furthermore, the pandemic has negatively affected different psychosocial influences in each country due to the various cultural characteristics, technology, health system, and financial opportunities.

The impact of COVID-19 infection on multiple sclerosis disease course across 12 countries: a propensity-score-matched cohort study.

Background: The relationship between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and multiple sclerosis (MS) relapse and disease progression remains unclear. Previous studies are limited by small sample sizes and most lack a propensity-matched control cohort.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of COVID-19 infection on MS disease course with a large propensity-matched cohort.