Elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase to albumin ratio is a useful poor prognostic predictor of nivolumab in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of the LDH-to-albumin ratio (LAR) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving nivolumab monotherapy. We comprehensively analyzed the associations between LAR and clinical parameters, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) to identify reliable biomarkers for treatment selection.

Patients And Methods: A total of 144 patients with metastatic NSCLC treated with nivolumab were included.

The real-world outcomes of Lutetium-177 PSMA-617 radioligand therapy in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: Turkish Oncology Group multicenter study.

Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) remains a challenging condition to treat despite recent advancements. This retrospective study aimed to assess the activity and tolerability of Lutetium-177 (Lu-177) PSMA-617 radioligand therapy (RLT) in mCRPC patients across multiple cancer centers in Turkey. The study included 165 patients who received at least one cycle of Lu-177 PSMA-617 RLT, with the majority having bone metastases and undergone prior treatments.

Prognostic significance of medical therapy in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Aims: The use of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) among patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) remains suboptimal. The SMYRNA study aims to identify the clinical factors for the non-use of GDMT and to determine the prognostic significance of GDMT in patients with HFrEF in a real-life setting.

Methods And Results: The SMYRNA study is a prospective, multicentre, and observational study that included outpatients with HFrEF.

The ganglion cell complex damage in coronary artery disease.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the correlation between macular thickness, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, ganglion cell complex thickness, and Gensini scores in patients who have undergone coronary angiography, using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated optical coherence tomography results from patients who had undergone coronary angiography between January 2019 and January 2021 due to coronary artery disease, with angiography performed within one month of the optical coherence tomography examination. Based on their Gensini scores, patients were classified into two groups: mild coronary artery disease (Gensini score ≤ 20, Group 1) and severe coronary artery disease (Gensini score > 20, Group 2).

Effects of COVID-19 on the Autonomic Cardiovascular System: Heart Rate Variability and Turbulence in Recovered Patients.

Background: COVID-19 may be a risk factor for developing cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction. Data are limited, however, on the association between heart rate variability, heart rate turbulence, and COVID-19. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on the cardiovascular autonomic system in patients with persistent symptoms after recovering from COVID-19 and to determine whether these patients showed changes in ambulatory electrocardiography monitoring.

Factors Predicting Response in Breast Cancer Receiving Neoadjuvant Therapy and the Role of Ki67 Labeling Index.

Objective: To determine the predictive value of Ki67 on pathological complete response (pCR) of breast and axilla regions in breast cancer (BC) patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy (NAT).

Study Design: Descriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: Departments of Medical Oncology, Sirnak State Hospital, Aydin State Hospital, Manisa Celal Bayar University, and Dokuz Eylul University, from November 2010 to July 2022.

Clinical Features, Treatment, and Visual Outcomes of Posterior Scleritis from Tertiary Eye Care Center.

Purpose: To describe the epidemiological and clinical features and course of patients with posterior scleritis (PS).

Methods: This retrospective, cross-sectional consecutive case series analyzed the medical records of 16 patients diagnosed with PS.

Results: Female gender and unilateral involvement were dominant.

The Short-Term Effect of 1% Tropicamide Drop on Pupillary Diameter and Intraocular Pressure Change in Patients With Pseudoexfoliation Material.

Prcis: In this study, in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PXS) or glaucoma, changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) and pupil size after 1% tropicamide used for pupil dilation, compared with healthy patients were quantitatively demonstrated up to 4 hours after dilation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate pharmacological dilatation with one drop of 1% tropicamide on pupillary diameter and IOP changes in patients with PXS and glaucoma (PXG).

Materials And Methods: Eighty-two patients with PXS, 78 Patients with PXG, and 35 healthy subjects were included in the study.

New Approach for Superthin Anterolateral Thigh Flap Elevation.

Background: Anterolateral thigh (ALT) flaps are widely used for soft tissue reconstructions. They have several advantages, most notably a long pedicle, an appropriate pedicle caliber, low donor site morbidity, and the possibility of 2 teams working simultaneously. However, conventional, thick ALT flaps used for reconstructions of head and neck and lower extremity defects may cause postoperative range of motion limitations and cosmetic problems.

Oncologic outcomes of postoperative adjuvant versus salvage radiotherapy in prostate cancer.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare the long-term oncological results of patients with the diagnosis of prostate cancer who underwent open radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) and subsequent adjuvant (ART) or salvage radiotherapy (SRT).

Material And Methods: A total of 145 patients underwent open RRP for prostate cancer and subsequent ART or SRT postoperatively between 2010 and 2019. ART (n = 56) is defined as the group of patients with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) <0.

Imaging Characteristics Predictive of Cervical Extranodal Tumor Extension in Patients With Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Objectives: The aims of the study were to determine the predictive imaging findings of extranodal extension (ENE) in metastatic cervical lymph nodes of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and to investigate the interobserver agreement among radiologists with different experience levels.

Materials And Methods: Patients with cervical lymph node dissection and who had metastatic lymph nodes and preoperative imaging were included. Three radiologists evaluated nodal necrosis, irregular contour, gross invasion, and perinodal fat stranding.

Evaluation of Clinical Features and Olfactory Functions in COVID-19: A Multicentre Study.

Introduction Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) causes olfactory loss one of the initial diagnostic criteria. The brief smell identification test (BSIT) is an objective test frequently used in olfactory dysfunction. This study aimed to observe the changes in olfactory functions and clinical features in a short time in COVID-19.

The Relationship of Testicular Sonoelastography with Gonadotropin Hormone Levels and Sperm Parameters.

Background: Elastography Is A Non-invasive Medical Imaging Technique That Helps Determine The Stiffness Of Organs And Other Structures In Our Body. In This Study, We Investigated The Effectiveness Of Elastography In The Diagnosis Of Infertility. Aim: In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship between testicular elastography and hormonal parameters and sperm parameters.

Revisiting the Radical Radiotherapy-Radiochemotherapy Results in Anal Canal Cancers: (TROD Gastrointestinal Group Study 02-005).

Background And Aim: This study aimed to determine treatment outcomes and factors affecting prognosis in patients diagnosed with anal canal cancer who received radical radiotherapy (RT) or radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy (CT-RT) in radiation oncology centers in Turkey and compare the results with literature.

Material And Method: The study included 193 patients with anal canal cancer reported between 1995 and 2019, of which 162 had complete data. The study was conducted in 11 radiation oncology centers, and a joint database was shared among them.

Efficacy of BNT162b2 and CoronaVac in patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

This retrospective observational study is aimed to determine the efficacy of BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) and CoronaVac (Sinovac) vaccines against symptomatic or severe disease in COVID-19-diagnosed patients. The secondary aim was to define the differences between vaccinated and un-vaccinated patients in terms of age, comorbidities and course of the disease, and to determine the survival rates. Of the 1463 PCR-positive patients, 55.

Efficacy of local ablative therapies in patients with solid tumors treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors and oligoprogression: a single-center analysis.

The concept of oligoprogression reflects a situation where a limited number of metastatic tumor sites have progressed and other metastatic sites are under control with current systemic therapy. The optimal management of oligoprogression remains unclear. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the contribution of local ablative treatment approaches after oligoprogression to progression-free survival and response rates (RRs) in patients with renal cell carcinoma ( N : 5), nonsmall cell lung cancer ( N : 1) and melanoma ( N : 21) who received immunotherapy.

Anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha treatment does not influence serum levels of the markers associated with radiographic progression in ankylosing spondylitis.

Objectives: The study aimed to determine the levels of change of the markers related to radiographic progression, such as Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1), sclerostin (SOST), bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 and -4, and interleukin (IL)-17 and -23, in ankylosing spondyloarthritis (AS) during anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) treatment.

Patients And Methods: Fifty-three anti-TNF-α naïve AS patients (34 males, 19 females; median: 38 years; range, 20 to 52 years) refractory to conventional treatments meeting the modified New York criteria or Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society classification criteria were enrolled to this cross-sectional, controlled study between October 2015 and January 2017. Fifty healthy volunteers (35 males, 15 females; median: 36 years; range, 18 to 55 years) with similar age and sex characteristics were recruited.

Changes in corneal high order aberrations and anterior chamber parameters following scleral fixated intraocular lens implantation.

Background: To evaluate the change in corneal high order aberrations (HOAs) and anterior chamber parameters following scleral fixation in aphakic patients using the Scheimpflug camera system.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients who were aphakic after phacoemulsification surgery and underwent scleral-fixed intraocular lens (SF-IOL) implantation with Z suture technique between 2010 and 2022. Preoperative and postoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), anterior segment parameters and corneal aberrations were evaluated with a combined Scheimpflug-Placido disk corneal topography device (Sirius Costruzione Strumenti Oftalmici, Florence, Italy).

Neonatal Resuscitation Practices in Turkey: A Survey of the Turkish Neonatal Society and the Union of European Neonatal and Perinatal Societies.

Objective: Optimal care in the delivery room is important to decrease neonatal morbidity and mortality. We aimed to evaluate neonatal resuscitation practices in Turkish centers.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional survey consisted of a 91-item questionnaire focused on delivery room practices in neonatal resuscitation and was sent to 50 Turkish centers.

Treatment efficacy of ribociclib or palbociclib plus letrozole in hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer.

Ribociclib, palbociclib and abemaciclib are currently approved CDK4/6 inhibitors along with aromatase inhibitors as the first-line standard-of-care for patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. The authors report retrospective real-life data for 600 patients with estrogen receptor- and/or progesterone receptor-positive and HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer who were treated with ribociclib and palbociclib in combination with letrozole. The results demonstrated that the combination of palbociclib or ribociclib with letrozole has similar progression-free survival and overall survival benefit in real life for the patient group with similar clinical features.

The Effect of Meteorological Factors on the COVID-19 Pandemic in Northeast Turkiye.

Introduction Although various studies have been conducted on the relationship between meteorological factors and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), this issue has not been sufficiently clarified. In particular, there are a limited number of studies on the course of COVID-19 in the warmer-humidity seasons. Methods Patients presenting to the emergency departments of health institutions and to clinics set aside for cases of suspected COVID-19 in the province of Rize between 1 June and 31 August 2021 and who met the case definition based on the Turkish COVID-19 epidemiological guideline were included in this retrospective study.

Real-world outcomes of pazopanib in metastatic soft tissue sarcoma: a retrospective Turkish oncology group (TOG) study.

Aim: Description of patient characteristics, effectiveness and safety in Turkish patients treated with pazopanib for metastatic soft tissue sarcoma (STS).

Patients And Methods: This multicenter study is based on retrospective review of hospital medical records of patients (≥ 18 years) treated with pazopanib for non-adipocytic metastatic STS at 37 Oncology clinics across Turkey. Objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated with further analysis of data on the three most common histological subtypes (leiomyosarcoma [LMS], undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma [UPS], synovial sarcoma [SS]) in the cohort.

The Relationship Between the Dipping Pattern and Coronary Artery Disease Severity Assessed by the SYNTAX Score in Patients With Hypertension.

Background The morbidity and mortality rates related to hypertension (HT) are still high despite the developments in this area. Nondipper hypertension (NDHT) is related to worse clinical outcomes. But the dipping pattern of HT is not still used for treatment targets.

Meniscal extrusion, cartilage, bone, and ligament lesions associated with medial meniscus posterior root tear gap.

Objectives: To determine the relationship between the severity of the tear gap resulting from medial meniscus posterior root (MMPR) tear and medial meniscal extrusion, cartilage, bone, and ligament lesions on MRI.

Methods: A total of 133 patients with MMPR tear were retrospectively evaluated. The patients were divided into two groups according to the tear gap width as minor (≤ 4 mm) and widely (4 mm<) displaced.