Differentiating multiple sclerosis with predominant spinal cord and optic nerve involvement from other autoimmune demyelinating diseases using B cell immunophenotyping and gene expression profiling.

Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) may present with predominant involvement of the spinal cord and optic nerve (MS/w-SCON) and mimic other autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating disorders (AIDD) such as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and relapsing inflammatory optic neuritis (RION). Thus, biomarkers are required for effective differential diagnosis of AIDD.

Methods: Patients with MS/w-SCON (n = 20), MS without involvement of SCON (MS/wo-SCON) (n = 22), NMOSD (n = 16), RION (n = 15) and healthy individuals (n = 21) were included.

Reverse Wafer Procedure.

 This study aimed to present the results of an alternative technique for treating ulnar impaction syndrome, the "reverse wafer procedure," and assess the mid-term clinical outcomes of patients treated with this technique.  A retrospective evaluation was conducted on 14 patients who underwent the reverse wafer procedure for ulnar impaction syndrome between 2013 and 2020. The inclusion criteria for the study were persistent ulnar-sided wrist pain, even after a minimum of 3 months of nonoperative treatment, the presence of a chondral lesion on the lunate, and an intact triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) based on arthroscopic evaluation.

A small disc size, a big challenge: effect of optic disc size on the correlation between peripapillary choroidal thickness, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer, and ganglion cell layer.

Purpose: We aimed to analyze the effect of optic disc size on the correlation between the peripapillary choroid (PPC), peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and macular ganglion cell inner plexiform layer (MGCIPL) thicknesses in subjects with ocular hypertension (OHT) and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG).

Methods: This study included 61 eyes with a disc area (DA) of ≤ 1.63 mm, 92 eyes with a DA of 1.

Nonsuperotemporal quadrant implantation of the Ahmed glaucoma valve using modified long scleral tunnel technique for intraocular pressure control.

Purpose: As superotemporal implantation of the Ahmed glaucoma valve is not always feasible in cases of refractory glaucoma, this study examined the characteristics and surgical outcomes of cases in which the valve was implanted in a nonsuperotemporal quadrant using a modified long scleral tunnel technique.

Methods: This retrospective case-control study included 37 eyes with nonsuperotemporal quadrant--Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation in Group 1 and 69 eyes with superotemporal Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation in Group 2. The demographic characteristics of these groups, surgical outcomes, including complications, further surgical interventions, and surgical success rates were compared.

Clinical outcomes of Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation in primary open-angle glaucoma and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma.

Purpose: To investigate the clinical outcomes of Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PEXG).

Methods: The patients who underwent AGV implantation for POAG and PEXG between January 2015 and December 2021 in a single tertiary center eye clinic were reviewed retrospectively. Thirty-one eyes with the diagnosis of POAG constituted Group 1 and 40 eyes with the diagnosis of PEXG constituted Group 2.

Relationship between immune checkpoint proteins and neoadjuvant chemotherapy response in breast cancer.

Introduction: Following major developments in cancer immunotherapy, treatments targeting immune checkpoint proteins (ICP) gained interest in breast cancer, though studies mostly focus on patients with metastatic disease as well as patients nonresponsive to the conventional treatments. Herein, we aimed to investigate the levels of ICP in tumor stroma and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, and tumor tissue prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy administration to evaluate the relationship between ICP levels, clinicopathological parameters, and NAC response.

Materials And Methods: This study was conducted with 51 patients where PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4, TIM-3, CD24 and CD44 levels were investigated in CD45 cells while CD326, CD24, CD44 and PD-L1 protein expression levels were investigated in CD45 population.

Systemic immuno-inflammatory index in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma.

Background: In recent years, the role of some hematological parameters used as chronic inflammation markers in the pathogenesis of many ocular and systemic diseases has been investigated. For ocular diseases such as uveitis, keratoconus, and retinal vein occlusion, the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII) have been reported to be useful inflammatory biomarkers. It has also been reported that low-grade chronic inflammation plays a role in the formation of pseudoexfoliation.

Reverse Wafer Procedure for Ulnar Impaction Syndrome.

Ulnar impaction syndrome occurs when excessive load across the ulnocarpal joints results in pathologic changes, especially over the articular surface of the ulnar head and proximal ulnar corner of the lunate. The 2 main surgical options in ulnar impaction syndrome are ulnar shortening osteotomy and wafer procedure, whether open or arthroscopically, to decompress the ulnocarpal joint load. However, all of these techniques have their shortcomings and drawbacks.

Chloride intracellular channel protein-1 (CLIC1) antibody in multiple sclerosis patients with predominant optic nerve and spinal cord involvement.

Introduction: Antibodies to cell surface proteins of astrocytes have been described in chronic inflammatory demyelinating disorders (CIDD) of the central nervous system including multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Our aim was to identify novel anti-astrocyte autoantibodies in relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) patients presenting predominantly with spinal cord and optic nerve attacks (MS-SCON).

Methods: Sera of 29 MS-SCON patients and 36 healthy controls were screened with indirect immunofluorescence to identify IgG reacting with human astrocyte cultures.

Value of disc topographic measurements for the discrimination of glaucoma suspects from early primary open angle glaucoma cases: A thin discriminative line.

Purpose: To determine the diagnostic value of optic nerve head (ONH) topographic parameters measured by swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) in differentiating between early glaucoma cases, glaucoma suspects (GSs), and healthy eyes.

Methods: The files of GSs, those with an early primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) diagnosis, and healthy eyes were retrospectively screened. Demographic characteristics, retinal nerve fibre measurements, visual field examinations, and ONH topographic parameters, including rim area, disc area, vertical and horizontal cup-to-disc ratios (CDRs), and cup volume, were compared between the groups.

Choroidal thickness measurements of subjects with pseudoexfoliative syndrome and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma: A contralateral eye study.

Aim: In this study, we aimed to investigate the peripapillary choroidal thickness (PPCT) and macular choroidal thickness (MCT) in pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome and compare the data of the contralateral eyes according to the presence of biomicroscopic eye involvement and glaucoma.

Method: In this cross-sectional case-control study, PPCT and MCT measurements were analyzed in 162 eyes of 81 subjects with PEX syndrome, diagnosed biomicroscopically with the detection of PEX material. The sample included 63 eyes with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PG), 49 eyes with visible PEX material alone without glaucoma (PM), 50 fellow eyes without biomicroscopically visible PEX material (F), and 48 eyes of 24 healthy individuals (controls) without any sign of PEX in the detailed ophthalmologic examination.

Factors defining the intraocular pressure-lowering effect of phacoemulsification and laser peripheral iridotomy in patients with primary angle closure : Factors defining IOP lowering effect of PE and LPI in PAC.

To identify whether gonioscopic ciliary body visibility and factors including anterior chamber depth (ACD), axial length (AL), acute attack history, and preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) had any effect on IOP decrease in primary angle closure (PAC) and primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) after phacoemulsification (PE) and/or laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI). This retrospective-design study was conducted with 81 eyes with PAC and PACG; 33 eyes whose IOP was controlled with LPI and PE constituted group 1, and 48 eyes whose IOP was controlled using LPI alone comprised group 2. The effects on preoperative and last-visit IOP levels, ciliary body visibility, ACD, AL, and acute attacks were analyzed.

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.

Long-Term Clinical Results of Trabectome Surgery in Turkish Patients with Primary Open Angle Glaucoma and Pseudoexfoliative Glaucoma.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to analyze the long-term results of trabectome surgery in Turkish patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PEXG) and to characterize the risk factors for failure.

Methods: This single-center retrospective non-comparative study included 60 eyes of 51 patients diagnosed with POAG and PEXG, who underwent trabectome alone or phacotrabeculectomy (TP) surgery between 2012 and 2016. Surgical success was defined as a 20% decrease in intraocular pressure (IOP) or IOP≤21 mmHg and no further glaucoma surgery.

Serum 3-phenyllactic acid level is reduced in benign multiple sclerosis and is associated with effector B cell ratios.

Background: 3-phenyllactic acid (PLA) is produced by both intestinal bacteria and the human host. PLA exists in its D- and L- chiral forms. It modulates human immune functions, thereby acting as a mediator of bacterial-host interactions.

Assessment the effect of diabetes education on self-care behaviors and glycemic control in the Turkey Nursing Diabetes Education Evaluating Project (TURNUDEP): a multi-center study.

Background: Diabetes education in Turkey is provided by diabetes nurse educators in almost all healthcare organizations. However, the education is not standardized in terms of learning content, duration, and methods. This multi-center study was performed to assess the self-care behaviors and glycemic control following education provided to the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus by diabetes nurse educators.

Posterior pole analysis and ganglion cell layer measurements in Alzheimer's disease.

Aim: To compare posterior pole analysis and ganglion cell layer (GCL) of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and controls.

Method: Patients diagnosed with mild and moderate AD included in the study. Posterior pole analysis and GCL measurements were investigated by dividing the macula into superior and inferior hemifields and 5 corresponding zones.

Can Skin Sparing Mastectomy and Immediate Submuscular Implant-Based Reconstruction Be a Better Choice in Treatment of Early-Stage Breast Cancer?

Objective: To discuss if skin sparing mastectomy (SSM) with immediate submuscular implant-based reconstruction (IBR) can be the preferred treatment in early-stage breast cancer.

Materials And Methods: Patients treated for clinical or early-stage invasive breast cancer with SSM and immediate submuscular IBR between October 2016 and October 2018 were retrospectively evaluated.

Results: Twenty-one cases were reviewed, of whom18 had two-stage and three had one-stage IBR.

Diagnostic Value of Axillary Ultrasound, MRI, and F-FDG-PET/ CT in Determining Axillary Lymph Node Status in Breast Cancer Patients.

Objective: Knowing axillary lymph node (ALN) status before surgery affects decisions about treatment modalities. Therefore, reliable, noninvasive diagnostic methods are important for determining ALN metastases. We aimed to accurately evaluate the patient's ALN status with noninvasive imaging modalities while making treatment decisions.

Fingolimod impairs inactivated vaccine (CoronaVac)-induced antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in persons with multiple sclerosis.

Background: The impact of disease-modifying treatments on humoral response induced by inactivated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines is understudied.

Methods: We recruited 34 persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) under fingolimod treatment and 25 healthy individuals. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG indices were measured by ELISA in sera of participants after CoronaVac vaccinations.

Characteristics and outcomes of 974 COVID-19 patients in intensive care units in Turkey.

Background: In our previous report on Turkish COVID-19 patients requiring intensive care, the 24 patients in a single ICU were elderly and mortality was high. We extended our analysis to include patients admitted to ten ICUs.

Objectives: Report the demographics, clinical features, imaging findings, comorbidities, and outcomes in COVID-19 patients.