Modeling the Interplay between HDV and HBV in Chronic HDV/HBV Patients.

Hepatitis D virus is an infectious subviral agent that can only propagate in people infected with hepatitis B virus. In this study, we modified and further developed a recent model for early hepatitis D virus and hepatitis B virus kinetics to better reproduce hepatitis D virus and hepatitis B virus kinetics measured in infected patients during anti-hepatitis D virus treatment. The analytical solutions were provided to highlight the new features of the modified model.

Derivation and validation of adult Still Activity Score (SAS).

Objectives: Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a multi-systemic, autoinflammatory disorder. Several activity scores have been proposed but none of them have been adopted universally. Our aim was to create a clinician-friendly activity scoring system by using simple clinical and laboratory parameters.

Vitamin D receptor and estrogen receptor gene polymorphisms in men with type 2 diabetes: Effects on Bone Metabolism.

Purpose: There is an increased fracture risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus [DM] patients independent of bone mineral density [BMD], both in men and women. Estrogen receptor [ER]-alpha and vitamin D receptor [VDR] gene polymorphisms may predispose patients to increased osteoporosis and fracture risk. This study aims to analyze the relationship of the ER-alpha gene and VDR gene polymorphisms with indicators of bone turnover and BMD in male type 2 diabetic patients.

Polatuzumab vedotin, rituximab, and bendamustine combination in relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a real-world data from Turkey.

Polatuzumab vedotin (Pola) with bendamustine and rituximab (BR) is a promising option for patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We analyzed the data of 71 R/R DLBCL patients who had been treated with Pola-BR in the named patient program from March 2018 to April 2021 from 32 centers in Turkey. All patients received up to six cycles of Pola 1.

A novel agent for myeloma causing toxic keratopathy, belantamab mafodotin: a case report and literature review.

A 60-year-old-male with refractory relapsed multiple myeloma presented with redness, pain, foreign body sensation, and blurred vision in both eyes that gradually increased after his third belantamab mafotodin infusion. Biomicroscopy revealed bilateral microcyst-like epithelial changes and epithelial crystal-like deposits, whereas in vivo confocal microscopy revealed intraepithelial and subepithelial hyperreflective deposits in corneal epithelium. Belantamab mafodotin therapy was discontinued for seven weeks due to corneal toxicity, which cleared progressively.

Clinical Impact of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Analogs on the Complications of Obesity.

Background: Obesity is a chronic disease associated with increased morbidity and mortality due to its complications. The aims of obesity treatment are primarily to accomplish weight loss, and prevention or treatment of its complications. Lifestyle changes along with behavioral therapy constitute the first-line treatment of obesity followed by pharmacotherapy.

Treatment endpoints for chronic hepatitis D.

Management of chronic hepatitis D (CHD) has entered a new era. In this new era, the virus entry inhibitor bulevirtide has received conditional approval as a treatment for compensated CHD. Three phase 3 studies with two new compounds are ongoing for the treatment of CHD.

Interobserver and Intraobserver Agreements of the Detection of Infestation by Confocal Microscopy.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to determine interobserver and intraobserver agreement, repeatability, and intrasubject variation of the detection of Demodex infestation in eyelids of blepharitis patients using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM).

Methods: Eighty-three eyes of 42 blepharitis patients were included in the study. All eyelids were evaluated from temporal to nasal with IVCM using section mode and 10 lashes with their follicles were imagined, and every image with suspicion of Demodex infestation was recorded.

The effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in patients with breast cancer.

This study investigated the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) on stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (sTILs) and their treatment response. 115 patients with pre-NAC core biopsies and post-NAC surgical resection specimens were reviewed. There was no significant change between pre- and post-treatment sTILs.

Tumor-derived CTF1 (cardiotrophin 1) is a critical mediator of stroma-assisted and autophagy-dependent breast cancer cell migration, invasion and metastasis.

Macroautophagy/autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved cellular stress response mechanism. Autophagy induction in the tumor microenvironment (stroma) has been shown to support tumor metabolism. However, cancer cell-derived secreted factors that initiate communication with surrounding cells and stimulate autophagy in the tumor microenvironment are not fully documented.

Status of Weight Change, Lifestyle Behaviors, Depression, Anxiety, and Diabetes Mellitus in a Cohort with Obesity during the COVID-19 Lockdown: Turk-Com Study Group.

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to a lockdown period. Confinement periods have been related to unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. Our study aimed to determine weight change, changes in eating and exercise habits, the presence of depression and anxiety, and diabetes mellitus (DM) status in a cohort of patients with obesity.

Tuberculin skin test before biologic and targeted therapies: does the same rule apply for all?

This study aimed to compare Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) and QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) test in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients scheduled for biological and targeted synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in a Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-vaccinated population. Adult RA (n = 206) and SpA (n = 392) patients from the TReasure database who had both TST and QFT-GIT prior to initiation of biological and targeted synthetic DMARDs were included in the study. Demographic and disease characteristics along with pre-biologic DMARD and steroid use were recorded.

Feasibility and Results of the Stentectomy Procedure Performed as Rescue Treatment for Acute Thrombosis of Self-Expandable Intracranial Stents: A Case Series.

Background: Self-expandable stents have been increasingly used for endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Because the usage of intracranial stents has increased overall, total numbers of complications associated with these devices have increased. Thrombosis, distortion, or incomplete opening of stents are potential complications that may result in occlusion of the parent artery.

Correlation of Clinical Aqueous Flare Grading to Semi-Automated Flare Measurements Using Laser Flare Photometry.

Purpose: To compare laser flare photometry (LFP) measurements of aqueous flare with Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature (SUN) and modified SUN grading.

Methods: In this prospective study with multicenter design, uveitis patients were classified according to SUN and modified SUN grading scales. LFP was performed with Kowa FM-700 flaremeter.

A Rapid Point-of-Care Test for the Serodiagnosis of Hepatitis Delta Virus Infection.

Hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) is a satellite of the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and causes severe liver disease. The estimated prevalence of 15-20 million infected people worldwide may be underestimated as international diagnostic guidelines are not routinely followed. Possible reasons for this include the limited awareness among healthcare providers, the requirement for costly equipment and specialized training, and a lack of access to reliable tests in regions with poor medical infrastructure.

The Translational Role of MUC8 in Salivary Glands: A Potential Biomarker for Salivary Stone Disease?

Mucin (MUC) 8 has been shown to play an important role in respiratory disease and inflammatory responses. In the present study, we investigated the question of whether MUC8 is also produced and secreted by salivary glands and whether it may also play a role in the oral cavity in the context of inflammatory processes or in the context of salivary stone formation. Tissue samples from parotid and submandibular glands of body donors ( = 6, age range 63-88 years), as well as surgically removed salivary stones from patients ( = 38, age range 48-72 years) with parotid and submandibular stone disease were immunohistochemically analyzed targeting MUC8 and TNFα.

The opioid peptide biphalin modulates human corneal epithelial wound healing in vitro.

Purpose: Analgesic drugs, including nonselective opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, should be used with great precautions to relieve pain after trauma to the corneal epithelium because of their unfavorable effects on wound healing. Biphalin is a synthetic opioid peptide that has been demonstrated to possess a strong analgesic effect on rodents. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of biphalin on human corneal epithelial wound healing.

Predictive performance of newer Asian hepatocellular carcinoma risk scores in treated Caucasians with chronic hepatitis B.

Background & Aims: Recently, several risk scores for prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were developed in cohorts of treated Asian patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), but they have not been assessed in non-Asian patients. We evaluated the predictability and comparative utility of our PAGE-B and recent Asian HCC risk scores in nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA)-treated adult Caucasian patients with CHB, with or without well-documented compensated cirrhosis but not previous diagnosis of HCC.

Methods: We included 1,951 patients treated with entecavir/tenofovir and followed up for a median of 7.

HIV-ASSOCIATED NON HODGKIN LYMPHOMA: A CASE SERIES STUDY FROM TURKEY.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a global health concern with major risks for opportunistic infections and predisposition to malignancies including Kaposi sarcoma associated with Human Herpes Virus-8 (HHV-8) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) commonly associated with Epstein Barr Virus (EBV). Although the exact mechanisms of predisposition to certain malignancies are unclear, HIV (+) cancer patients typically have poorer prognosis.

Materials And Methods: We included all five HIV positive NHL patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) and chemotherapy in our clinic and aim to determine their follow-up outcomes associated with ART.