Investigation of the need for computed tomography pulmonary angiography in the decision to discontinue treatment for pulmonary thromboembolism.

Background: Acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality that can reduce quality of life due to long-term complications during and after treatment discontinuation.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate patients for these complications before discontinuing treatment and determine the necessity of computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) imaging.

Methods: This retrospective study included 116 patients over the age of 18 who received anticoagulant treatment for at least 3 months and presented for treatment discontinuation to the Atatürk University Research Hospital Chest Diseases Outpatient Clinic between January 2015 and September 2019.

The role of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in the evaluation of lung parenchymal involvement in COVID-19 patients.

The inflammatory balance is an important factor in the clinical course of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, which has affected over 300 million people globally since its appearance in December 2019. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) level and parenchymal involvement in COVID-19. The study included 106 patients with the delta variant of COVID-19 identified by real-time PCR as well as 40 healthy control groups between October 2021 and March 2022.

Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Abnormalities Predictive of Lumbar Herniation Recurrence After Surgical Repair.

Objective: There are currently no standard criteria for evaluating the risk of recurrent disk herniation after surgical repair. This study investigated the predictive values of 5 presurgical imaging parameters: paraspinal muscle quality, annular tear size, Modic changes, modified Phirrmann disk degeneration grade, and presence of sacralization or fusion.

Methods: Between 2015 and 2018, 188 patients (89 female, 99 male, median age 50) receiving first corrective surgery for lumbar disk herniation were enrolled.

Long-term follow-up of young denim sandblasters in Turkey.

Background: Denim sandblasting-induced silicosis is a recently identified occupational disease.

Aims: In this study, we aimed to evaluate pulmonary and radiological changes in the long-term follow-up of former denim sandblasters.

Methods: Ninety former denim sandblasters were followed from 2007 to 2018.

Prevention of microbial colonization of feeding tubes in the intensive care unit.

Background: Various microorganisms which increase the mortality rate in the intensive care unit (ICU) cause microbial colonization of the nasogastric tube (NGT) and use the NGT as a reservoir.

Aim: To detect the colonization on the NGT and to determine the effect that training regarding hand hygiene, NGT management, and enteral feeding (EF) provided to ICU nurses and auxiliary service staff (ASS) has on the level of NGT colonization.

Study Design: A quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test control design was used in this study.

New Hematological Parameters as Inflammatory Biomarkers: Systemic Immune Inflammation Index, Platerethritis, and Platelet Distribution Width in Patients with Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Objectives: The potential role of neuroinflammation in adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients has been investigated with peripheral hemogram-related inflammatory markers. Systemic immune inflammation index (SII) is defined as a new index that has been developed for the balance of inflammatory and immune status.

Methods: Our study was based on a prospective routine complete blood count(CBC) analysis of 74 Adult ADHD patients and 70 healthy participants.

Where we are in treat to target era? Predictive factors for remission and drug switching in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: a real-life evidence from BioStaR nationwide registry.

Objectives: Factors associated with disease activity of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and switching of biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs have not been clearly defined. We aimed to evaluate clinical characteristics of patients with axSpA, factors related to remission in treat to target era and predictive factors for biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug switching.

Method: A multicenter, observational cross-sectional study was performed between February 2019 and August 2019.

Minimally Invasive and Endoscopic Approach to Esophageal Perforation.

Although esophageal perforation is rare, it is a life-threatening condition. The esophagus is very sensitive to rupture and perforation due to the absence of a serosal layer. More than half of the esophageal perforations are iatrogenic and most occur during endoscopy.

Does Intravitreal Dopamine Agonist and Antagonist Administration Have Effects on the Brain? An Experimental Study in Rats.

Objective: There might be dopaminergic connections between the retina and the brain. In this context, the study was aimed to investigate the possible interaction between the retina and basal ganglia through the dopaminergic system.

Materials And Methods: In total, 32 healthy rats were randomized into 4 groups: healthy, Sham, dopamine antagonist injected group (risperidone, 0.

The effect of ultrasound-guided serratus plane block on the quality of life in patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection: a randomized controlled study.

Background: Modified radical mastectomy (MRM) and axillary lymph node dissection (AD) are the most commonly used surgical methods in breast cancer surgery, and they are characterized by moderate to severe pain. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ultrasound-guided serratus plane block (SPB) on postoperative acute and chronic pain in patients undergoing MRM and AD.

Methods: After ethical approval, 60 patients, aged between 18-65 years, ASA I-III, underwent unilateral MRM, and AD was assigned into 2 groups.

Opioid-free anesthesia in oncologic surgery: the rules of the game.

Background: Opioids are frequently used in the postoperative period due to their analgesic properties. While these drugs reduce nociceptive somatic, visceral, and neuropathic pain, they may also lead to undesirable effects such as respiratory depression, urinary retention, nausea and vomiting, constipation, itching, opioid-induced hyperalgesia, tolerance, addiction, and immune system disorders. Anesthesiologists are in the critical position of finding balance between using opioids when they are necessary and implementing opioid-sparing strategies to avoid the known harmful effects.

Effects of Nasal and Paranasal Sinus Variations on Chronic Otitis Media Development in Pediatric Patients.

Objective: Chronic otitis media is an inflammatory disease of the middle ear. The airflow in the nasal passage affects the development of mastoid air cells through the eustachian tube.Nasal and paranasal pathologies and their anatomical variations cause chronic sinonasal inflammation and affect the middle ear mucosa.

Are Trace Element Concentrations in Lung Cancer Tissue Associated with Metastasis?

Objective: Lung cancer is among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths. Many exogenous and endogenous factors are associated with the development and progression of this cancer. Among these factors are trace elements, which have many biological functions despite their low concentrations in the body and may disrupt cellular functions and contribute to tumorigenesis when present in excessive or insufficient quantities.

Comparison of VATS and Thoracotomy Results in Mediastinal Neurogenic Tumors.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to compare the results of patients who underwent surgery by thoracotomy and Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in mediastinal neurogenic tumors.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-six consecutive cases (12 males and 14 females; mean age 39.4 ± 22.

Turkish Validity and Reliability Study of Jessa Atrial Fibrillation Knowledge Questionnaire (JAKQ).

Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most commonly encountered arhythmia in clinical practice and constitutes one-third of the hospitalizations related to cardiac dysrhythmia. Furthermore, it is the most common reason for hospital admissions involving dysrhythmia complaints and is associated with the decrease in quality of life, functional capacity, cardiac performance, and lifespan.

Materials And Methods: This methodological study, which aims to assess the validity and reliability of the JAKQ, was conducted with patients (n = 175) who were admitted to the emergency clinic of Atatürk University Research Hospital between December 2016 and June 2018 and who were diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and met the inclusion criteria.

The Investigation of Radiographic Findings of Mandibles on Panoramic Radiographs of Patients with Primary Hyperparathyroidism Using Fractal Analysis.

Objective: The basis of the research is the application of fractal analysis (FA) to panoramic radiographs of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). In addition, the relationship between the relevant biochemistry parameters and fractal values of healthy controls and patients with PHPT will be evaluated.

Materials And Methods: In the current study, FA was performed with ImageJ program on panoramic radiographs of 48 patients diagnosed with PHPT.

Evaluation of forensic reports issued in emergency departments and comparison with reports issued by the Council of Forensic Medicine.

Background: Identify the deficiencies in the forensic reports prepared by the emergency physicians and to identify the frequent mistakes in these reports by comparing the forensic reports issued by the emergency physicians in the context of offences against physical integrity and the forensic reports issued by the Second Forensic Medicine Specialization Board for the same forensic cases.

Methods: Existence of the information that should be included in the standard forensic report (name, surname, address, event date, etc.) of 241 cases prepared by emergency physicians who were sent to the Forensic Medicine Second Forensic Medicine Second Specialization Board due to various reasons between February 1, 2019, and May 1, 2019, were reviewed retrospectively.

Can we predict unresponsiveness to methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis? A pharmacogenetic study.

Objective: Methotrexate (MTX) is the anchor drug in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the therapeutic response to MTX has been observed to vary widely among these patients. The aim of this study was to investigate ABCB1 gene (the multidrug resistant 1 gene; MDR1 gene) polymorphism in patients with RA and to evaluate the relation between MTX unresponsiveness and this polymorphism.

Methods: Forty-five patients with RA administered MTX were included in this pharmacogenetic cross-sectional study.

Evaluation of 3-month follow-up of patients with postacute COVID-19 syndrome.

In addition to the highly variable clinical presentation of acute COVID-19 infection, it can also cause various postacute signs and symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate patients with postacute COVID-19 over 12 weeks of follow-up. The study included 151 patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 by real-time polymerase chain reaction of a nasopharyngeal swab 1 month earlier, had radiologic findings consistent with COVID-19 pneumonia, and presented to the post-COVID-19 outpatient clinic between May and August 2021.

Can ultrasound-guided infraclavicular block be an alternative option for forearm reduction in the emergency department? A prospective randomized study.

Objective: Ultrasound-guided infraclavicular nerve block (IB) has become a well-established method in several outpatient procedures; however, its use in emergency departments (EDs) remains limited. The aim of this study was to compare procedural sedation and anlagesia (PSA) and IB in the pain management for patients who underwent forearm fracture reduction in the ED.

Methods: This prospective randomized study included 60 patients aged 18 to 65 years, who visited the ED with forearm fractures.