Association Between Baseline and Changes in Early Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio on Survival in Patients with Metastatic Bladder Carcinoma Treated with Immunotherapy.

: A high baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a poor prognostic factor in various cancers. However, its predictive role in metastatic bladder cancer (mBC) treated with immunotherapy is unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the baseline and change in NLR and overall survival in mBC patients treated with immunotherapy, with the potential to significantly impact patient care.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to Provide Neuroprotection and Enhance Cerebral Blood Flow in Stroke: A Comprehensive Review.

Stroke remains a leading cause of global disability and mortality despite advancements in acute interventions. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive neuromodulation technique, has primarily been studied for its effects on cortical excitability, with limited exploration of its neuroprotective and hemodynamic benefits. This review examines the role of tDCS in stroke, with a focus on neuroprotection in acute settings and cerebral blood flow (CBF) modulation in both acute and chronic phases.

Negative PSMA PET can be used to avoid unnecessary pelvic lymph node dissection in intermediate risk prostate cancer.

Background: Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography (PET) has a high negative predictive value (NPV) in determining lymph node invasion (LNI) in men with intermediate-risk disease undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) and pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND). We hypothesized that PSMA PET may be used to reduce the number of unnecessary PLND procedures performed.

Objective: To assess BCR-free survival of intermediate risk prostate cancer patients with a negative PSMA PET who underwent PLND vs.

Use of inpatient palliative care in metastatic testicular cancer patients undergoing critical care therapy: insights from the national inpatient sample.

To test for rates of inpatient palliative care (IPC) in metastatic testicular cancer patients receiving critical care therapy (CCT). Within the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database (2008-2019), we tabulated IPC rates in metastatic testicular cancer patients receiving CCT, namely invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube (PEG), dialysis for acute kidney failure (AKF), total parenteral nutrition (TPN) or tracheostomy. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models addressing IPC were fitted.

Association of corneal endothelial cell morphology with neurodegeneration in mild cognitive impairment and dementia.

Introduction: Corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) detects neurodegeneration in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia and identifies subjects with MCI who develop dementia. This study assessed whether abnormalities in corneal endothelial cell (CEC) morphology are related to corneal nerve morphology, brain volumetry, cerebral ischemia, and cognitive impairment in MCI and dementia.

Methods: Participants with no cognitive impairment (NCI), MCI, and dementia underwent CCM to quantify corneal endothelial cell density (CECD) and area (CECA), corneal nerve fiber morphology, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain volumetry, and severity of brain ischemia.

Comparative analysis of long versus short co-incubation of gametes on post-insemination outcomes and embryo morphokinetics.

Research Question: Does a short co-incubation of gametes in conventional IVF affect post-insemination outcomes and embryo morphokinetics?

Design: Sibling oocyte randomized pilot study conducted between December 2020 and March 2023. Eligible couples (n = 55) were women aged 18-43 years with BMI 35 km/m or lower and male normal semen parameters. Cumulus oocyte complexes (COC) (six to 12) were randomized in a 1:1:2 proportion in long (16-18 h) or short (2 h) co-incubation IVF exposure and ICSI, respectively.

Indomethacin-encapsulated PLGA nanoparticles improve therapeutic efficacy by increasing apoptosis and reducing motility in glioblastoma cells.

Glioblastoma, with a low survival rate, is an aggressive and difficult-to-treat lethal type of brain cancer. Indomethacin (IND), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, has antitumoral activity in many cancers, including gliomas. However, its poor aqueous solubility is a critical issue.

Thalamo-insular cortex connections in the rat and human.

The insular cortex (ICx) has a role in large a variety of functions. Thalamus plays an important role in modulating cortical functions. The present study aims to show thalamic-ICx connections using the fluoro-gold (FG) tracing method in rats and diffusion tensoring-based tractography (DTI) in humans.

Longitudinal associations between intersectional stigmas, antiretroviral therapy adherence, and viral load among women living with HIV using multidimensional latent transition item response analysis.

Background: In the US, Women, especially Black and Latina women living in disadvantaged environments, are disproportionally affected by HIV. Women living with HIV (WLHIV) have higher rates of suboptimal antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, and detectable viral load (VL). Experiences of intersectional poverty, HIV, gender, and racial stigmas may increase the rates of detectable VL through suboptimal ART adherence.

De-Escalation of Nodal Surgery in Clinically Node-Positive Breast Cancer.

Importance: Increasing evidence supports the oncologic safety of de-escalating axillary surgery for patients with breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

Objective: To evaluate the oncologic outcomes of de-escalating axillary surgery among patients with clinically node (cN)-positive breast cancer and patients whose disease became cN negative after NAC (ycN negative).

Design, Setting, And Participants: In the NEOSENTITURK MF-1803 prospective cohort registry trial, patients from 37 centers with cT1-4N1-3M0 disease treated with sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) or targeted axillary dissection (TAD) alone or with ypN-negative or ypN-positive disease after NAC were recruited between February 15, 2019, and January 1, 2023, and evaluated.

Community-Acquired Human Bocavirus Infection in an Immunocompetent Adult.

Human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) is a recognized pathogen in respiratory infections among children; however, its prevalence and clinical implications in immunocompetent adults are unclear. We present a case of HBoV1 infection in a 61-year-old immunocompetent female patient with myositis, leading to respiratory failure. The involvement of respiratory muscles rather than lung parenchyma was observed.

Predictive Role and Clinical Value of Serum Cytokines in COVID-19.

Objective: are clinically relevant for severity prediction and treatment of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2. We aimed to demonstrate the potential cytokines for severity prediction in the five days after symptom onset and describe the importance of serum cytokine levels for patients with different disease severity.

Materials And Methods: Hospitalized COVID-19 patients and healthy control participants were recruited, and serial sera were collected from COVID-19 patients.

Effect of game-based asthma management interventions on pediatric asthma control, knowledge, attitudes, hospitalizations, and emergency visits: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Many studies have used game-based interventions to educate children about asthma. The study aims to determine the effectiveness of these games in improving asthma control and related outcomes in children.

Methods: Seven databases were searched: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, and PsycINFO'.

Staying or Leaving the Pediatric Oncology Clinic: Nurses' Challenges in Care and Voices of Struggle - A Qualitative Study.

Objective: Pediatric oncology nursing is a challenging and emotionally exhausting profession. Understanding the challenges and struggles faced by pediatric oncology nurses can help to create targeted interventions that will improve their well-being and enhance the quality of care for children with cancer and their families. This study aimed to explore the challenges and struggles nurses face in their daily care practices.

Role of Mutual Information Profile Shifts in Assessing the Pathogenicity of Mutations on Protein Functions: The Case of Pyrin Variants Associated With Familial Mediterranean Fever.

This study presents a novel method to assess the pathogenicity of pyrin protein mutations by using mutual information (MI) as a measure to quantify the correlation between residue motions or fluctuations and associated changes affecting the phenotype. The concept of MI profile shift is presented to quantify changes in MI upon mutation, revealing insights into residue-residue interactions at critical positions. We apply this method to the pyrin protein variants, which are associated with an autosomal recessively inherited disease called familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) since the available tools do not help predict the pathogenicity of the most penetrant variants.

A nationwide cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia for the assessment of understanding and practices of clinicians towards personalized genetic testing.

In order to plan and facilitate the culture of personalized / precision medicine in medical practices within any healthcare institution, it is requisite for healthcare professionals like clinicians to have a clear understanding and approach towards the practices of personalized genetic testing. This nationwide cross-sectional study aimed to measure the perceptions and knowledge of clinicians towards personalized genetic testing and assess their current practices of personalized genetic testing in clinical settings through an online self-administered questionnaire in Saudi Arabia. The results of the study revealed that almost two-fifths of participants were responsible for ordering genetic tests directly (39.

Epidemiology of heart failure in Türkiye.

Background/aim: The epidemiological data on heart failure (HF) vary between regions within the same country. We aimed to investigate the epidemiological data on HF in Türkiye across all age groups regarding seven geographical regions.

Materials And Methods: We included all patients from the Turkish population who received a first diagnosis of HF between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2022, using ICD-10 codes from the National Electronic Healthcare Database.

Diagnostic approach to heart failure in Türkiye.

Background/aim: Final diagnosis of heart failure (HF) relies on a combination clinical findings, laboratory and imaging tests. The aim of this study was to review the diagnostic approach to HF in Türkiye.

Materials And Methods: This study is a subanalysis of the nationwide TRends-HF study, based on anonymized data from National Electronic Database between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2022.

Medical and advanced heart failure therapies in Türkiye.

Background/aim: Effective management of heart failure involves evidence-based use of multiple medications and their combinations. Furthermore, dosage escalation of the recommended medications is advised. In cases of advanced heart failure, long-term mechanical assistance devices or heart transplantation surgery may be necessary.

Outcomes of patients with heart failure in Türkiye.

Background/aim: Despite Türkiye's relatively young population, there is an emerging trend of earlier diagnoses of chronic diseases, including heart failure (HF). This study aims to shed light on survival rates, potential influences of guideline-directed therapies, and sex-based differences necessitating personalized management in HF.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort analysis of 2,722,151 patients with HF using deidentified data from the Turkish Ministry of Health's national electronic database.