How to Use Natriuretic Peptides in Patients with Heart Failure with Non-Reduced Ejection Fraction?

Natriuretic peptides are widely used in all types of heart failure. Previously, we defined heart failure with non-reduced ejection fraction as patients with heart failure symptoms and/or signs and who have left ventricular ejection fraction > 40%. For the diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, the presence of raised natriuretic peptides is one of the major components of the diagnosis, and raised natriuretic peptides make the diagnosis more likely in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction.

Anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha treatment does not influence serum levels of the markers associated with radiographic progression in ankylosing spondylitis.

Objectives: The study aimed to determine the levels of change of the markers related to radiographic progression, such as Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1), sclerostin (SOST), bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 and -4, and interleukin (IL)-17 and -23, in ankylosing spondyloarthritis (AS) during anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) treatment.

Patients And Methods: Fifty-three anti-TNF-α naïve AS patients (34 males, 19 females; median: 38 years; range, 20 to 52 years) refractory to conventional treatments meeting the modified New York criteria or Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society classification criteria were enrolled to this cross-sectional, controlled study between October 2015 and January 2017. Fifty healthy volunteers (35 males, 15 females; median: 36 years; range, 18 to 55 years) with similar age and sex characteristics were recruited.

Compromised T-cell immunity in patients with spinal cord injury and its relationship with injury characteristics.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate and cellular immune responses in patients with chronic (spinal cord injury; SCI), determine the effects of autonomic dysfunction on cellular immune response, and determine the effect of completeness of the injury at different levels on cellular immune response.

Patients And Methods: Forty-nine patients (42 males, 7 females; mean age: 35.5±13.

Reconstruction of finger contracture with an expanded first dorsal metacarpal artery perforator flap: A case report.

Volar finger contractures can be challenging for plastic surgeons. The dorsal metacarpal artery perforator (DMCAP) flap is frequently used to cover bones, tendons, and neurovascular structures in the dorsum of the hand after trauma and burns as an alternative to grafts and free flaps. We aimed to report volar finger defect reconstruction with expanded DMCAP flap.

Central nervous system thrombosis in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Turkey: A multicenter study.

Background: In patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the risk of thromboembolism increases due to hemostatic changes secondary to the primary disease and due to treatment-related factors. In this multicenter study, we aimed to research the frequency of central nervous system (CNS) thrombosis occurring during treatment, hereditary and acquired risk factors, clinical and laboratory features of patients with thrombosis, treatment approaches, and thrombosis-related mortality and morbidity rates in pediatric ALL patients.

Procedure: Pediatric patients who developed CNS thrombosis during ALL treatment from 2010 to 2021 were analyzed retrospectively in 25 different Pediatric Hematology Oncology centers in Türkiye.

Subacute THYROiditis Related to SARS-CoV-2 VAccine and Covid-19 (THYROVAC Study): A Multicenter Nationwide Study.

Context: The aims of the study are to compare characteristics of subacute thyroiditis (SAT) related to different etiologies, and to identify predictors of recurrence of SAT and incident hypothyroidism.

Methods: This nationwide, multicenter, retrospective cohort study included 53 endocrinology centers in Turkey. The study participants were divided into either COVID-19-related SAT (Cov-SAT), SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-related SAT (Vac-SAT), or control SAT (Cont-SAT) groups.

Comparison of fixed and flexible progestin-primed ovarian stimulation protocols to prevent premature luteinization in patients with diminished ovarian reserve.

Purpose: Flexible progestin-primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS) protocol is demonstrated to be effective in suppressing premature luteinization in few studies. We aimed to compare fixed and flexible PPOS protocols in preventing premature luteinization in patients with diminished ovarian reserve.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients with a diminished ovarian reserve who were administered PPOS protocols for pituitary suppression during ovarian stimulation in a tertiary center in between January 2019 and June 2022.

Radiofrequency ablation of the great saphenous vein; does the choice of monopolar or bipolar catheters affect outcomes?

Objectives: Radiofrequency-based procedure is one of the leading methods of endovenous thermal ablation. The most fundamental difference with regards to currently available radiofrequency ablation systems is the way of electric current flow given to the vein wall; bipolar segmental and monopolar ablation. This study aimed to compare the monopolar ablation method with conventional bipolar segmental endovenous radiofrequency ablation method for the management of incompetent saphenous veins.

Blood pressure parameters affecting ventricular repolarization in obese children.

Background: Ventricular repolarization (VR) increases the risk of sudden cardiac death due to ventricular arrhythmia. We aimed to evaluate the blood pressure (BP) parameters affecting VR in obese children.

Methods: Obese (BMI ≥ 95p) and healthy children ≥ 120 cm between January 2017 and June 2019 were included.

Increased Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio Could be Predictive for Higher Mortality in Preterm Infants with Intraventricular Hemorrhage.

Background: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a simple, cost-effective index of inflammation that can be measured by peripheral blood count. This study aimed to reveal that a high NLR value could be a prognostic marker for mortality risk in preterm babies born with IVH.

Methods: Preterm babies who had been followed up in the neonatal intensive care unit (ICU) between 2018 and 2020 were included in the study.

Effects of COVID-19 Disease on DNA Damage, Oxidative Stress and Immune Responses.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has posed a great threat to public health and has caused concern due to its fatal consequences over the last few years. Most people with COVID-19 show mild-to-moderate symptoms and recover without the need for special treatment, while others become seriously ill and need medical attention. Additionally, some serious outcomes, such as heart attacks and even stroke, have been later reported in patients who had recovered.

Review of Osteoradionecrosis of the Jaw: Radiotherapy Modality, Technique, and Dose as Risk Factors.

Radiotherapy (RT) or concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is the cornerstone of organ-sparing or adjuvant therapy for nearly all head and neck cancers. Unfortunately, aggressive RT or CCRT can result in severe late toxicities, such as osteoradionecrosis of the jaws (ORNJ). The incidence of ORNJ is currently less than 5-6% due to advances in dental preventive care programs, RT planning systems, and RT techniques.

Picturing asthma in Turkey: results from the Turkish adult asthma registry.

Introduction: National data on asthma characteristics and the factors associated with uncontrolled asthma seem to be necessary for every country. For this purpose, we developed the Turkish Adult Asthma Registry for patients with asthma aiming to take a snapshot of our patients, thereby assigning the unmet needs and niche areas of intervention.

Methods: Case entries were performed between March 2018 and March 2022.

Major and minor salivary gland cancers: A multicenter retrospective study.

Background: Most of the studies on salivary gland cancers are limited for various reasons such as being single-center, small number of patients, including only major or minor SGCs, or only including epidemiological data.

Methods: A total of 37 medical oncology clinics from different regions of Turkey participated in this retrospective-multicenter study. The analyzed data included clinical and demographical features, primary treatment, metastasis localizations, and treatments and includes certain pathologic features.

Relapse of melanoma presenting as jejunal intussusception.

Melanoma is a relatively rare tumour with tendency to metastasize to the gastrointestinal tract. Metastasis to the intestine constitutes a majority of the gastrointestinal tract melanoma metastases and confers a poor prognosis. While post-mortem studies detect that more than half of the melanoma patients have gastrointestinal tract metastasis, only minority are diagnosed, and even rarer present with intussusception.

Comparison of Clopidogrel, Prasugrel and Ticagrelor Response of Patients by PFA-100-Innovance Test Results.

Devices such as stents and flow diverters require the use of safe and fast antiplatelet therapy. We aimed to compare the responses to clopidogrel, prasugrel, and ticagrelor by assessing the Platelet Function Analysis (PFA-100)-Innovance test results of patients undergoing endovascular stenting to determine their resistance rates. Sixty-one women and 55 men, aged 18-87 years, were included in this study.

Utilization of Perifascial Loose Areolar Tissue Grafting as an Autologous Dermal Substitute in Extremity Burns.

Background: Perifascial areolar tissue (PAT) is an areolar layer over the muscle fascia. PAT has been shown to be resistant to ischemia and prone to survival even in ischemic conditions. PAT grafts provide a vascular tissue layer on necrotic bone and tendons where skin grafting is not possible.

Graft--host disease and relapse/rejection-free survival after allogeneic transplantation for idiopathic severe aplastic anemia: a comprehensive analysis from the SAAWP of the EBMT.

Survival after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) for severe idiopathic aplastic anemia (SAA) has improved in recent years, approaching 75% at 5 years. However, an SAA-adapted composite endpoint, graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and relapse/rejection-free survival (GRFS), may more accurately assess patient outcomes beyond survival. We analyzed GRFS to identify risk factors and specific causes of GRFS failure.

Incidental cancer in colectomy specimens from patients with familial adenomatous polyposis: single centre experience and literature review.

Background: Since cancer development is inevitable in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), we aimed to determine the incidence of incidental malignancy in prophylactic colectomy specimens.

Methods: The files of patients who underwent prophylactic surgery for FAP between 2010 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The incidence of incidental malignancy in histopathological specimens was examined and a comprehensive literature review was made.

COVID-19 in pediatric nephrology centers in Turkey.

Background/aim: There is limited data on COVID-19 disease in children with kidney disease. We aimed to investigate the characteristics and prognosis of COVID-19 in pediatric nephrology patients in Turkey.

Materials And Methods: This was a national, multicenter, retrospective cohort study based on an online survey evaluating the data between 11 March 2020 and 11 March 2021 as an initial step of a detailed pediatric nephrology COVID-19 registry.

Retrospective analysis of effectiveness of fingolimod in real life setting in Turkey (REFINE).

Background: During multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment different modes of action such as lateral (interferon beta to glatiramer acetate or glatiramer acetate to interferon beta) or vertical (interferon beta/glatiramer acetate to fingolimod) drug switch can be performed. This study aims to investigate the clinical effectiveness of switching from the first-line injectable disease modifying treatments (iDMTs) to fingolimod (FNG) compared to switching between first-line iDMTs.

Methods: This is a multicenter, observational and retrospective study of patients with relapsing-remitting MS who had lateral and vertical switch.