Evaluating single-dose methotrexate alone versus methotrexate with letrozole for treating ectopic pregnancy: a comparative study.

Purpose: Ectopic pregnancy (EP) constitutes 1-2% of all pregnancies. Methotrexate (MTX) is commonly used in treating EP, but it has some limitations and potential side effects. Clinical studies have shown that letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor, may potentially be used in conjunction with MTX therapy.

Development of an empathy scale in nurses.

Objective: To develop an empathy scale to measure the empathy in nurses.

Materials And Methods: The sample of the study were collected between March and May in 2023 from 720 nurses working in private and state hospitals in İstanbul. Both exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were carried out.

Breast Cancer Recurrence in Initially Clinically Node-Positive Patients Undergoing Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in the NEOSENTITURK-Trials MF18-02/18-03.

Background: This study aims to identify factors predicting recurrence and unfavorable prognosis in cN+ patients who have undergone sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

Methods: The retrospective multi-centre "MF18-02" and the prospective multi-centre cohort registry trial "MF18-03" (NCT04250129) included patients with cT1-4N1-3M0 with SLNB+/- axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) post-NAC.

Results: A total of 2407 cN+ patients, who later achieved cN0 status after NAC and subsequently underwent SLNB, were studied.

Long-duration type 1 diabetes is associated with deficient cortical bone mechanical behavior and altered matrix composition in human femoral bone.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is associated with an increased risk of hip fracture beyond what can be explained by reduced bone mineral density, possibly due to changes in bone material from accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and altered matrix composition, though data from human cortical bone in T1D are limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate cortical bone material behavior in T1D by examining specimens from cadaveric femora from older adults with long-duration T1D (≥50 yr; n = 20) and age- and sex-matched nondiabetic controls (n = 14). Cortical bone was assessed by mechanical testing (4-point bending, cyclic reference point indentation, impact microindentation), AGE quantification [total fluorescent AGEs, pentosidine, carboxymethyl lysine (CML)], and matrix composition via Raman spectroscopy.

Regional variations in psoriatic arthritis: Insights from a nationwide multicenter analysis in Türkiye.

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate and compare clinical features, disease activity, and the overall disease burden among psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients across seven distinct geographic regions in Türkiye.

Patients And Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study involving 1,134 PsA patients from 25 referral centers across seven regions was conducted. Demographic and clinical characteristics, comorbidities, joint involvement, extra-articular manifestations, and disease activity measures were evaluated across regions.

The Effects of Acupressure on Preoperative Anxiety, Postoperative Pain, and Nausea and Vomiting in Otolaryngology Patients.

Purpose: Surgical patients frequently experience symptoms such as preoperative anxiety, postoperative pain, and nausea and vomiting. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of acupressure on preoperative anxiety, postoperative pain, and nausea and vomiting in otolaryngology patients.

Design: The study was designed as a prospective, assessor-blinded, parallel, 2-armed (1:1), randomized controlled trial.

Evaluating the impact of polycythemia vera on retinal and optic nerve head microvascularity: An OCTA study.

Purpose: This study aims to assess the impact of polycythemia vera (PV) on retinal and optic nerve head (ONH) vessel density (VD) parameters, macular ganglion cell complex (mGCC) thickness, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness compared to healthy controls.

Methods: Forty eyes of 20 patients with PV and 40 eyes of 20 age-gender-matched healthy controls underwent comprehensive ophthalmologic assessments and optic coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). RNFL and macular GCC measurements were obtained simultaneously with vascular parameters by AngioVue OCTA using the single-scan protocol.

Prevalence, distribution, and prognostic significance of morphological variants of neuroendocrine tumors of the gastrointestinal tract - a multicenter study.

The incidence and prevalence of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) in many organs are increasing. Although such NENs have similar grades, they may exhibit quite different behaviors. In this multicenter study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence and distribution of different morphological NEN variants in the non-pancreatic gastrointestinal (GI) tract and determine whether they can guide prognosis prediction.

Can peripheral perfusion index predict disease mortality in COVID-19 patients in the emergency department.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia remains a major public health concern. The prognostic efficacy of Peripheral Perfusion Index (PPI) has been researched in different pathologies such as trauma and sepsis. We hypothesized that PPI may serve as predictor of mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection.

Liver Stiffness and Steatosis Measurements with iLivTouch and FibroScan: A Comparative Study.

The presence of liver fibrosis is the most important indicator of progression to cirrhosis. Noninvasive measurement of liver stiffness is crucial for detecting fibrosis. Vibration-controlled transient elastography is one of the most useful methods for this purpose.

Digital education-supported telehealth intervention in mothers of children with tracheostomy: A quasi-experimental study.

Purpose: The burden of care is high for parents of children with special care needs. Mothers need to be supported in home care to reduce the burden of care. This study aimed to determine the effects of providing digital education-supported telehealth application to mothers of children with tracheostomy receiving home care on the development of complications, hospital admission, care burden, and knowledge level of mothers.

Baseline Characteristics of a Patient Cohort and Predictors of In-hospital MORtality in CORonary Care Units (MORCOR-TURK) Trial in Türkiye.

Objective: The MORtality in CORonary Care Units in Türkiye (MORCOR-TURK) trial is a national registry evaluating predictors and rates of in-hospital mortality in coronary care unit (CCU) patients in Türkiye. This report describes the baseline demographic characteristics of patients recruited for the MORCOR-TURK trial.

Methods: The study is a multicenter, cross-sectional, prospective national registry that included 50 centers capable of 24-hour CCU service, selected from all seven geographic regions of Türkiye.

Physical Examination Attitudes and Practices Scale: Psychometric Evaluation on Turkish Nurses.

Physical examination (PE) is an important element used in the diagnostic process. This cross-sectional and methodological study was conducted methodologically to test cross-cultural and linguistic adaptation of the Turkish version of the Physical Examination Attitudes and Practices Scale (PEAPS) and to test the reliability and validity of Turkish nurses. The study was carried out with a methodological, cross-sectional design, with 372 nurses working in different departments at a state hospital.

Arterial Stiffness May Predict Subsequent Cancer Therapy-Related Cardiac Dysfunction in Breast Cancer Patients.

Cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) is still a serious problem. Existing risk scores are insufficient for risk classification, especially in low and medium-risk patients. This study aims to evaluate if arterial stiffness (AS) measurement, which is associated with most of the known risk factors, can be a useful parameter for predicting subsequent CTRCD in patients with breast cancer (BC).

Characterization of resistance genes and replicon typing in Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains.

Objective: In our study, K. pneumoniae strains (non-susceptible to carbapenem) (n = 60) were obtained from various clinical samples from Rize State Hospital between 2015 and 2017 and it is aimed to identify antibiotic resistance genes and replicon typing.

Methods: Antibiotic susceptibility tests of the strains were performed with Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion test and the Vitek-2 automated system (BioMerieux, France).

Effects of love glove application on vital signs for COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of love glove application on vital signs for COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit.

Design: A single-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design was used. TREND Statement Checklist was followed during the present study.

Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of the Sleep Condition Indicator: A Clinical Screening Instrument Based on the DSM-5 Criteria for Insomnia.

Purpose: We aimed to adapt the Turkish Sleep Condition Indicator (SCI) version and examine its psychometric properties among the general population.

Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study. The item-total correlation, standard error of measurement, Cronbach's α, and McDonald's ω were used for internal consistency.

Additional contribution of phonophoresis and low-level laser therapy to exercise in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: A clinical, electrophysiological, and ultrasonographic evaluation.

Objectives: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral nerve compression syndrome. This study aims to evaluate the additive contribution of phonophoresis and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to tendon and nerve gliding exercises electrophysiologically, ultrasonographically, and clinically in the treatment of moderate CTS.

Methods: The sample consisted of 45 patients with moderate CTS, randomized into three groups.

Intraocular pressure increase after Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy and anterior segment optical coherence tomography analysis.

This study is to determine whether post-procedure intraocular pressure (IOP) increase is associated with the anterior chamber angle in cases of Neodymium: yttrium-aluminum garnet (Nd: YAG) laser capsulotomy. The study included 51 eyes with posterior capsule opacification. Initial IOP values of the patients were compared with IOP values without intraocular pressure-lowering administration at the end of the 1st hour, 1st day, 3rd day, and 7th day after Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy.

Misperceptions and management of LDL-cholesterol in secondary prevention of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia in cardiology practice: Real-life evidence from the EPHESUS registry.

Background And Aims: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common inherited disease, leading to premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) due to elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. Achieving LDL-C goals is extremely important for preventing the complications of this fatal disease. We evaluated the management of FH patients with ASCVD in cardiology practice.

The Effect of Child Preference for Parental Selection on Pediatric Anxiety During Induction in Children Undergoing Elective Day Case Surgery.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine if children were given the right to prefer one parent to accompany them during the perioperative period would impact their anxiety levels.

Design: Prospective observational cohort study.

Methods: The study included 80 children of both genders, aged 4 to 12 years, who underwent day-case surgeries in the Ear Nose and Throat Clinic of Karaman Training and Research Hospital.