Therapeutic Evaluation of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha Antagonist Etanercept against Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats: Ultrastructural, Pathological, and Biochemical Analyses.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of etanercept (ETA) on histopathological and biochemical changes after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-six male Wistar albino rats were distributed into three groups ( = 12 each). Control group rats were not subjected to trauma.

Antifibrotic Effect of Boric Acid in Rats with Epidural Fibrosis.

Background: Epidural fibrosis is a major problem after spine surgery, with some patients having recurrent symptoms secondary to excessive formation of scar tissue resulting in neurologic compression. We used a rat laminectomy model to determine if topical application of boric acid could be helpful in the prevention of epidural fibrosis.

Methods: Rats were randomly assigned to 2 control and 2 experimental groups (n = 8 for each group).

Comparative effects of methylprednisolone and tetracosactide (ACTH) on ischemia/reperfusion injury of the rabbit spinal cord.

Introduction: Tetracosactide is an engineered peptide that applies the same biological impacts as the endogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone. Previous studies indicated that tetracosactide has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neurotrophic activity. In this study, we hypothesized that tetracosactide may have protective effects in spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Medical student education in transfusion medicine: Proposal from the "European and Mediterranean initiative in transfusion medicine".

A large body of observations indicate that there is an inconsistent knowledge of Transfusion Medicine among health care professionals as well as inconsistent knowledge in all aspects of the transfusion process, from blood donation to transfusion on the ward. It is obvious to consider that appropriate education in Transfusion Medicine should be achieved in the education of specialists who will prescribe transfusion on a regular basis (hematologists, critical care specialists, anaethesiologists and others.) However,we also believe that education in Transfusion Medicine should also be delivered to almost all other medical specialists who may prescribe blood components.

Guillain-Barré syndrome in children: subtypes and outcome.

Objective: This study reviews the clinical features, subtypes, and outcomes of childhood Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).

Methods: Fifty-four children who attended a tertiary care training and research hospital in Turkey were enrolled in the study.

Results: The mean age was 6.

Evaluating the effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy on pathophysiological pathways of heart failure using surrogate biomarkers.

Background: Several studies have investigated the effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on heart failure (HF), but none have evaluated the pathophysiological pathways involved in a single group of patients. Therefore, this study aims to assess the long-term effects of CRT on six different patho-physiological pathways involved in the process of HF by the use of surrogate biomarkers.

Methods: In a group 44 patients with HF, six groups of biomarkers were measured, both at baseline and 1 year after CRT implantation: inflammation (interleukin [IL]-4, IL-6, tumor necrosis fac-tor [TNF]-a, high sensitive C-reactive protein [hsCRP]); oxidative stress (myeloperoxidase [MPO], oxidized low-density lipoprotein [oxLDL], uric acid); extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling (matrix metalloproteinase [MMP]-2 and -9, galectin-3, procollagen III N-terminal propeptide [prokol-3NT]); neurohormonal pathways (endothelin-1, chromogranin-A); myocyte injury (troponin T, creatine kinase MB fraction [CK-MB]), myocyte stress (B-type natriuretic peptide [BNP]).

Comparative effects of vitamin D and methylprednisolone against ischemia/reperfusion injury of rabbit spinal cords.

Introduction: Recent studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective and immunomodulatory effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol), but no previous study has examined these effects on spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate whether calcitriol protects the spinal cord from I/R injury.

Methods: Rabbits were randomized into four groups of eight animals: group 1 (laparotomy control), group 2 (ischemia control), group 3 (30mg/kg intraperitoneal methylprednisolone at surgery), and group 4 (0.

Left ventricular torsion in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea before and after continuous positive airway pressure therapy: assessment by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography.

Background: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate how obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) influences left ventricular (LV) torsion and whether nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy has any impact on LV torsion in OSA patients with established cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods: LV torsion was assessed by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) in 162 participants without overt cardiovascular disease. The participants were categorized according to the apnoea-hypopnea index (AHI) as controls and mild, moderate and severe OSA patients.

Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio on Appendectomy of Geriatric and Nongeriatric Patients.

Purpose: Acute appendicitis is the most frequent emergency procedure that requires acute surgical intervention. The mortality risk is higher in geriatric patients. There is not a single parameter to diagnose it easily and negative appendectomy is traditionally accepted however the operation itself can cause morbidity and mortality especially in elderly patients.

Postoperative seizure following transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy.

Endoscopic surgery for lumbar disc herniation has been available for more than 30 years. Transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy is a well-known, safe, and effective method used for the treatment of the lumbar disc herniation. The published complications of the transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy consist of infections, thrombophlebitis, dysesthesia, dural tear, vascular injury, and death.

Late onset of subdural hematoma after bifrontal contusion.

Cerebral cortical contusions are one of the most common computed tomography findings in head-injured patients and common sequel of traumatic brain injury. These contusions tend to show a progressive increase in mass effect on repeated imaging, most small contusions do not require surgical evacuation. However, progression to subdural hematoma (SDH) in a late aspect is unique.

Effects of isotretinoin on body mass index, serum adiponectin, leptin, and ghrelin levels in acne vulgaris patients.

Introduction: Isotretinoin has been successfully used for the treatment of acne vulgaris.

Aim: To investigate the effects of isotretinoin on body mass index (BMI), to determine whether isotretinoin causes any changes in serum adiponectin, leptin, and ghrelin levels in acne vulgaris patients, and to correlate variables.

Material And Methods: Thirty-two patients were included in this study.

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.

Evaluation of heart rate recovery index in heavy smokers.

Objective: Cigarette smoking increases the risk of cardiovascular events. The heart rate recovery index (HRRI) is an indicator of autonomous nervous system function and is an independent prognostic risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we aimed to evaluate HRRI in heavy smokers.

Interexaminer Reliability of Meibography: Upper or Lower Eyelid?

Objectives: To investigate the interexaminer reliability of meibography evaluation and the impact of eyelid selection for the procedure.

Methods: Meibography images of 30 subjects' right eye, including both lids, were evaluated by three clinicians. Meibomian gland (MG) dropout was noted with respect to both percentage and grading (0-4).

Implementation of a respiratory rehabilitation protocol: weaning from the ventilator and tracheostomy in difficult-to-wean patients with spinal cord injury.

Purpose: Following repeated weaning failures in acute care services, spinal cord injury (SCI) patients who require prolonged mechanical ventilation and tracheostomy are discharged to their homes or skilled nursing facilities, with a portable mechanical ventilator (MV) and/or tracheostomy tube (TT) with excess risk of complications, high cost and low quality of life. We hypothesized that many difficult-to-wean patients with cervical SCI can be successfully managed in a rehabilitation clinic. The aim of our study was to develop a respiratory rehabilitation, MV weaning and TT decannulation protocol and to evaluate the effectiveness of this protocol in tetraplegic patients.

Antibiotic consumption in Turkish hospitals; a multi-centre point prevalence study.

This multi-centre study aimed to determine the antibiotic consumption in Turkish hospitals by point prevalence. Antibiotic consumption of 14 centres was determined using the DDD method. Among hospitalized patients, 44.

Aged Garlic Extract Attenuates Neuronal Injury in a Rat Model of Spinal Cord Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury.

Garlic has been used as a food as well as a component of traditional medicine. Aged garlic extract (AGE) is claimed to promote human health through antioxidant/anti-inflammatory activities with neuroprotective effects. We evaluated the possible beneficial effect of AGE neurologically, pathologically, ultrastructurally, and biochemically in a spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) model of rats.

Satisfaction and compliance of adult patients using hearing aid and evaluation of factors affecting them.

The aims of this study are to reveal patient compliance and satisfaction in hearing aid-prescribed adult population and to determine the relevant clinical factors. The study was designed retrospectively, and those patients who have been using hearing aid for at least 6 months were invited for evaluation. Demographical data, hearing aid type (digital vs analog), general satisfaction, and daily usage time were asked.

Cutaneous Side Effects of BRAF Inhibitors in Advanced Melanoma: Review of the Literature.

The incidence of melanoma has recently been increasing. BRAF mutations have been found in 40-60% of melanomas. The increased activity of BRAF V600E leads to the activation of downstream signaling through the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, which plays a key role as a regulator of cell growth, differentiation, and survival.

Curcumin Attenuates Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Ultrastructural Damage Induced by Spinal Cord Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats.

Objectives: Curcumin is a molecule found in turmeric root that possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and has been widely used to treat neurodegenerative diseases. We investigated whether curcumin stimulates the neurorepair process and improves locomotor function in a rat model of spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Methods: Thirty-two Wistar albino rats (190-220 g) were randomly allocated into 4 groups of 8 rats each: 1 sham-operated group and 3 ischemia-reperfusion injury groups that received intraperitoneal injections of saline vehicle, methylprednisolone (MP, 30 mg/kg following induction of ischemia-reperfusion [IR] injury), or curcumin (200 mg/kg for 7 days before induction of IR injury).

Neuroprotective effects of thymoquinone against spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury by attenuation of inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis.

OBJECTIVE Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury of the spinal cord following thoracoabdominal aortic surgery remains the most devastating complication, with a life-changing impact on the patient. Thymoquinone (TQ), the main constituent of the volatile oil from Nigella sativa seeds, is reported to possess strong antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties. This study investigated the effects of TQ administration following I/R injury to the spinal cord.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Turkey: Current status and future challenges.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne viral disease of humans that affects a wide geographic area of Africa and Eurasia, including Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Russia. Since the first detection of CCHF cases in Turkey in 2002, more than 9700 patients have been reported, with an overall mortality rate just under 5%. This article assesses the present epidemiological situation of CCHF in Turkey, with an updated literature review, describes national practices and summarizes lessons learned in preparation for future outbreaks.