Real-world efficacy and safety of Ledipasvir + Sofosbuvir and Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir/Ritonavir ± Dasabuvir combination therapies for chronic hepatitis C: A Turkish experience.

Background/aims: This study aimed to evaluate the real-life efficacy and tolerability of direct-acting antiviral treatments for patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with/without cirrhosis in the Turkish population.

Material And Methods: A total of 4,352 patients with CHC from 36 different institutions in Turkey were enrolled. They received ledipasvir (LDV) and sofosbuvir (SOF)±ribavirin (RBV) orombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir±dasabuvir (PrOD)±RBV for 12 or 24 weeks.

Transuterine Fetal Tracheal Occlusion Model in Mice.

Fetal tracheal occlusion (TO), an established treatment modality, promotes fetal lung growth and survival in severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Following TO, retention of the secreted epithelial fluid increases luminal pressure and induces lung growth. Various animal models have been defined to understand the pathophysiology of CDH and TO.

COVID-19 Pandemic and the Global Perspective of Turkish Thoracic Society.

It has been more than 3 months now since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Turkey. Globally, the number of confirmed cases and deaths reached 9,653,048 and 491,128 respectively, as reported by 216 countries by June 27, 2020. Turkey had 1,396 new cases, 194,511 total cases, and 5,065 deaths by the same date.

A study on legal and medical dimensions of radiation exposure in neurosurgery clinics in Turkish practice.

Background: In the present study, the first aim was to address the detrimental effects of the fluoroscopy procedure performed by physicians and other health-care professionals in neurosurgery clinics, then to examine precautions that should be taken to avoid harmful effects of radiation and radioactive substances during this process. The second aim was to handle the rights provided for health-care professionals exposed to the radiation in workplaces.

Methods: A standardized questionnaire was used for a multicenter survey.

Turkish national consensus on breast cancer management during temporary state of emergency due to COVID-19 outbreak.

Objectives: Cancer care is excessively influenced by the COVID-19 outbreak for various reasons. One of the major concerns is the tendency for delayed surgical treatment of breast cancer patients. The outbreak has urged clinicians to find alternative treatments until surgery is deemed to be feasible and safe.

Dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation improves ovarian reserve and pregnancy rates in poor responders.

Objective: We investigated whether DHEA supplementation had an impact on ovarian reserve parameters and pregnancy rates in patients with poor ovarian response (POR) and primary ovarian insufficiency (POI).

Patients And Methods: A total of 34 people, 6 patients with POI and 28 patients with POR, were included in the study. The patients in the POR group consisted of two different groups: diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) and premature ovarian failure (PMOF).

Revisiting the complex architecture of ALS in Turkey: Expanding genotypes, shared phenotypes, molecular networks, and a public variant database.

The last decade has proven that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is clinically and genetically heterogeneous, and that the genetic component in sporadic cases might be stronger than expected. This study investigates 1,200 patients to revisit ALS in the ethnically heterogeneous yet inbred Turkish population. Familial ALS (fALS) accounts for 20% of our cases.

Perioperative Effects of Induction with High-dose Rocuronium during Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the effects of high-dose rocuronium administration on intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and surgical conditions during anaesthesia induction and laparoscopic cholecystectomy anaesthesia induction, respectively. Further, we aimed to determine postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and pain scores following the laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Methods: Patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score of I-III, aged 18 to 75 years and who were scheduled for surgery under general anaesthesia were included in the study.

Combating sars-cov-2 through lipoxins, proteasome, caveolin and nuclear factor-κb pathways in non-pregnant and pregnant populations.

It can be misleading to think that the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) which has a very strong mutation and adaptation capabilities, uses only the angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2) pathway to reach target cells. Despite all the precautions taken, the pandemic attack continues and the rapid increase in the number of deaths suggest that this virus has entered the cell through different pathways and caused damage through different mechanisms. The main reason why the ACE2 pathway comes to the fore in all scientific studies is that this receptor is located at the entry point of basic mechanisms that provide alveolo-capillary homeostasis.

A comparison of the effect of intravitreal dexamethasone implant on macular and branch retinal vein occlusion. A real life experience.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the effects of intravitreal dexamethasone (IVDx) implants on branch retinal vein occlusions (BRVOs) and macular vein occlusions (MVOs).

Methods: Seventeen consecutive patients with MVO and 18 patients with BRVO, whose foveal thicknesses were greater than 300 µm, were recruited for this study. BRVO and MVO patients were diagnosed by means of fundus fluorescein angiography.

The COVID-19 pandemic: Clinical practice advice for gastroenterologists, hepatologists, and liver transplant specialists.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a novel acute infectious disease that has rapidly reached staggering pandemic proportions. This review addresses gastroenterologists, hepatologists, liver transplant (LT) specialists, and health-care professionals working in the field of liver diseases and liver transplantation. It has been written based on a limited number of publications, recommendations of national and international liver and organ transplantation societies, and experiences of patients with COVID-19 around the world.

The role of COL6A1and PD-1 expressions in renal cell carcinoma.

Objective: The COL6A1 is a gene encoding the alpha 1 polypeptide subunit of collagen 6 (COL6A1), an extracellular matrix protein subunit. Programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD-1) and its ligand, programmed cell death receptor ligand-1 (PD-L1) have been shown to have a prognostic significance in clear cell renal cell carcinomas (RCCs). In this study, we evaluated the expressions of COL6A1 and PD-1 in four different RCC subtypes.

Comparison of Qualitative and Volumetric Assessments of Breast Density and Analyses of Breast Compression Parameters and Breast Volume of Women in Bahcesehir Mammography Screening Project.

Objective: We aimed to compare visual and quantitative measurements of breast density and to reveal the density profile with compression characteristics.

Materials And Methods: Screening mammograms of 1399 women between May 2014 and May 2015 were evaluated by using Volpara 4 and 5 version. First 379 mammograms were assessed according to ACR BI-RADS 4 edition and compared to Volpara.

Relationship between Microfibrillar-Associated Protein 4 Levels and Subclinical Myocardial Damage in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a widespread health problem, in which mortality is most frequently due to cardiovascular diseases. Microfibrillar-associated protein 4 (MFAP4) is an extracellular matrix protein. MFAP4 is involved in several biological processes, particularly the maintenance of vascular integrity and extracellular matrix remodeling.

Treatment of HCV infection with direct-acting antiviral agents. Real life experiences from the Euro-Asian region.

Background/aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a common disease that causes liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and extra hepatic manifestations with high mortality and morbidity rates. This study aimed to present real-life experiences and results of treatment of HCV infection with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) from the Euro-Asian region, including Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Materials And Methods: A total of 1224 patients with chronic HCV infection were treated with DAAs in accordance with the international guidelines for the management of HCV infection.

Predictive and prognostic impact of preoperative complete blood count based systemic inflammatory markers in testicular cancer.

Purpose: To determine the utility of preoperative complete blood count (CBC) based systemic inflammatory markers in the prediction of testicular cancer and its prognosis.

Material And Methods: Between 2008-2017 the data of all testicular tumor patients undergoing radical orchiectomy were retrospectively analyzed. Patient baseseline characteristics (age, tumor stage, tumor markers, etc.

Psoriasis Symptom Inventory (PSI) as a patient-reported outcome in mild psoriasis: Real life data from a large psoriatic arthritis registry.

Objective: Our aim is to test the validity of the Psoriasis Symptom Inventory (PSI), a patient-reported outcome, to assess the psoriasis severity within the scope of rheumatology.

Methods: Within the PsA international database (PSART-ID), 571 patients had PSI, while 322 of these also showed body surface area (BSA). Correlations between PSI, BSA, and other patient- and physician-reported outcomes were investigated.

Bariatric surgery might aggravate proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the changes experienced by patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) after bariatric surgery (BS).

Methods: This retrospective observational study includes 37 eyes of 21 patients with PDR who underwent BS at a tertiary university hospital over the period of 2014-2018. The control group (CG) comprised 37 eyes of 27 patients with PDR who attended the same research hospital for diabetes care without undergoing BS.

Incidence and predictors of direct-acting antiviral treatment failure in Turkish patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1b infection.

Evaluation of the incidence and predictors of failure of direct-acting antiviral treatment for hepatitis C virus genotype 1b patients is important. Our retrospective cohort study assessed 172 Turkish patients who had received a full course of such treatment and could be checked for sustained virologic response. The overall treatment failure rate was 2.

The impact of hepatitis C viremia status on lung functions in chronic hepatitis c patients.

Background: Previous trials have investigated the effect of hepatitis C on lung functions; however, the role of viral load levels is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of HCV viremia status on lung functions.

Methods: This study was in 60 patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).

Effectiveness of the diagnostic pathway of BLES: could it be safely used as a therapeutic method in selected benign lesions?

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to investigate the breast lesion excision system (BLES) as a tool and a practical alternative technique to surgical biopsy and other percutaneous biopsy methods for suspicious lesions. We also wanted to share our initial experience with BLES and compare it with standard percutaneous biopsy methods.

Methods: From July 2015 to December 2016, a total of 50 patients who had high-risk lesions which were diagnosed with core needle biopsy (CNB) or had lesions with radiology pathology discordance, or had high-risk factors, high-grade anxiety, or suspicious follow-up lesions were enrolled in the study.

Pathological Yawning in Patients with Acute Middle Cerebral Artery Infarction: Prognostic Significance and Association with the Infarct Location.

Background: Pathological yawning is a compulsive, frequent, repetitive yawning triggered by a specific reason besides fatigue or boredom. It may be related to iatrogenic, neurologic, psychiatric, gastrointestinal, or metabolic disorders. Moreover, it could also be seen in the course of an ischemic stroke.

Treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by Acinetobacter: results of prospective and multicenter ID-IRI study.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) due to Acinetobacter spp. is one of the most common infections in the intensive care unit. Hence, we performed this prospective-observational multicenter study, and described the course and outcome of the disease.