Impact of COVID-19 lockdowns and refugee influx on scabies presentations to dermatology outpatient clinics in Turkey.

Introduction: The frequency of scabies and its relationship with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a current scientific curiosity in Turkey and worldwide. The data presented in this article will help raise awareness of dermatologists in situations such as pandemic-induced quarantines where scabies can spread rapidly.

Methodology: This was a retrospective study to compare patients who presented with scabies and were evaluated during the COVID-19 pandemic, with those who presented before and after the pandemic, in terms of the diagnosis ratios.

Role of serum fibroblast growth factor-23 and Klotho level in COVID-19 infection-related mortality: a prospective study.

Introduction: This study investigated the role of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23)/Klotho in the mortality of patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), excluding those with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methodology: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2021 to May 2022. Patients who tested positive for COVID-19 via polymerase chain reaction and were hospitalized, were classified into two groups (survivors and non-survivors) at the end of their hospital follow-up.

Insights of community pharmacists on antibiotic misuse during the COVID-19 pandemic in the northern region of Cyprus.

Introduction: The global healthcare system faced unparalleled challenges during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, potentially reshaping antibiotic usage trends. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, perceptions, and observations of community pharmacists concerning antibiotic utilization during and after the pandemic; and offer crucial insights into its impact on antibiotic usage patterns and infection dynamics.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study involved 162 community pharmacists in Northern Cyprus.

Evaluation of long-term pulmonary functions after COVID-19 infection in children: a longitudinal observational cohort study.

Introduction: We aimed to present the changes that may occur in pulmonary functions in children who experienced more severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during long-term follow-up.

Methodology: A prospective longitudinal observational cohort study was conducted with 34 pediatric patients (7-18 years) who were hospitalized with COVID-19 infection (moderate n = 25, severe n = 9), and followed up at our Pediatric Infection Outpatient Clinic for approximately two years. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were performed using spirometry.

Warrick score in rheumatoid-arthritis interstitial lung disease: a promising tool for assessing the extent and progression of lung involvement.

Background: The clinical manifestations and course of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) exhibits considerable heterogeneity. In this study, we aimed to explore radiographic progression over a defined period, employing the Warrick score as a semi-quantitative measure in early RA-ILD, and to assess the associated risk factors for progression.

Methods: RA-ILD patients underwent consecutive Warrick scoring based on initial high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) at diagnosis and the first follow-up.

Posteromedial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy has favourable outcomes in simultaneous medial meniscus posterior root repair and varus medial knee osteoarthritis patients without concomitant root tear.

Purpose: To evaluate the radiological and clinical outcomes in two patient groups: first, varus aligned medial meniscus posterior root tear (MMPRT) patients who underwent posteromedial open wedge high tibial osteotomy (PMOWHTO) and simultaneous root repair; second, patients with varus medial knee osteoarthritis without MMPRT who underwent PMOWHTO.

Methods: Patients had MMPRT repair concomitant with PMOWHTO and varus medial knee osteoarthritis without concomitant root tear patients who underwent PMOWHTO and were reviewed. Radiographic parameters, medial meniscus extrusion (MME) and Knee Society Scores [KSSs, including the following subscores: knee score (KS) and knee function score (KFS)] were evaluated.

High-throughput phenotyping of wheat root angle and coleoptile length at different temperatures using 3D-printed equipment.

Background: Innovation in crop establishment is crucial for wheat productivity in drought-prone climates. Seedling establishment, the first stage of crop productivity, relies heavily on root and coleoptile system architecture for effective soil water and nutrient acquisition, particularly in regions practicing deep planting. Root phenotyping methods that quickly determine coleoptile lengths are vital for breeding studies.

Safety outcome trials in four mainline medical journals 30 years apart: a narrative review and the need for the transparency of informed consents.

Background: It was our impression that safety outcome trials were getting more frequent, raising ethical issues mainly related to patient autonomy. We and others had also proposed this autonomy would be best served if wording of the informed consents would be in the public domain.

Methods: Initially two observers and an arbiter tabulated the main aims of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in 1990-1991 vs.

Bibliometric analysis of global research trends in vestibular neuritis (1980-2024).

Purpose: Vestibular neuritis (VN) is a common cause of vertigo with significant impact on patients' quality of life. This study aimed to analyze global research trends in VN using bibliometric methods to identify key themes, influential authors, institutions, and countries contributing to the field.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of the Web of Science Core Collection database for publications related to VN from 1980 to 2024.

Endoscopic annular chondroperichondrial tympanoplasty, technical description.

Purpose: Tympanoplasty is a surgical procedure performed to cure middle ear infections and restore normal middle ear function. It is one of the most common procedures in otological surgery. Since Wullstein described tympanoplasty, the microscope has been a widely used surgical tool in otological surgery.

Extracellular vesicles from pancreatic cancer and its tumour microenvironment promote increased Schwann cell migration.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) exhibits a high frequency of neural invasion (NI). Schwann cells (SCs) have been shown to be reprogrammed to facilitate cancer cell migration and invasion into nerves. Since extracellular vesicles (EVs) affect the tumour microenvironment and promote metastasis, the present study analysed the involvement of EVs from pancreatic cancer cells and their microenvironment in altering SC phenotype as part of the early events in the process of NI.

Deep learning classification of MGMT status of glioblastomas using multiparametric MRI with a novel domain knowledge augmented mask fusion approach.

We aimed to build a robust classifier for the MGMT methylation status of glioblastoma in multiparametric MRI. We focused on multi-habitat deep image descriptors as our basic focus. A subset of the BRATS 2021 MGMT methylation dataset containing both MGMT class labels and segmentation masks was used.

Controlling the energies of the single-rotor large wind turbine system using a new controller.

In wind energy generation systems, ensuring high energy quality is critical but is often compromised due to the limited performance and durability of conventional regulators. To address this, this work presents a novel controller for managing the machine-side inverter of a single-rotor large wind turbine system using an induction machine-type generator. The proposed controller is designed using proportional, integral, and derivative error-based mechanisms, which fundamentally differ from traditional proportional-integral (PI) regulators.

Prognostic factors and outcomes of adjuvant and first-line metastatic treatments in melanoma a Turkish oncology group study.

Management of melanoma has changed significantly with the discovery of targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Our aim in the study is to determine which treatment alternatives, specifically dabrafenib plus trametinib and ICIs, are effective in adjuvant therapy and which treatment is effective as first-line metastatic therapy. This retrospective, multicenter study included 120 patients diagnosed with stage IIIB-IIID melanoma receiving both adjuvant and first-line metastatic treatment between 2007 and 2023.

Analysis of the protective effect of hydrogen sulfide over time in ischemic rat skin flaps.

Background: Hydrogen sulfide (HS) is a widely studied gasotransmitter, and its protective effect against ischemia-reperfusion damage has been explored in several studies. Therefore, a requirement exists for a comprehensive study about HS effects on ischemia-reperfusion damage in flap surgery. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of hydrogen sulfide by creating ischemia-reperfusion injury in the vascular-stemmed island flap prepared from the rat groin area.

Predicting preventive self-care behaviours among type 2 diabetes based on the health belief model in Bandar Abbas city: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: It is essential to manage type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) through self-care behaviours and to ascertain the predictors of correct health training for the control of diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine the predictive role of the constructs of the health belief model in encouraging T2DM to adopt self-care behaviours in Bandar Abbas city.

Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 in Bandar Abbas.

Assessment of deep learning technique for fully automated mandibular segmentation.

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the precision of an open-source, clinician-trained, and user-friendly convolutional neural network-based model for automatically segmenting the mandible.

Methods: A total of 55 cone-beam computed tomography scans that met the inclusion criteria were collected and divided into test and training groups. The MONAI (Medical Open Network for Artificial Intelligence) Label active learning tool extension was used to train the automatic model.

Analysis of the effect of congenital unilateral trochlear nerve paresis on retinal vascular density: a retrospective study.

Purpose: To use swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) to investigate the alterations in retinal vascular density (VD) in patients presenting with congenital unilateral trochlear nerve palsy.

Methods: The medical records of patients diagnosed with congenital unilateral trochlear nerve palsy and those of a healthy control group were reviewed retrospectively. Comprehensive ocular examinations and SS-OCTA imaging were conducted.

Bacillus spp. as microbial factories for levan and fructooligosaccharide production - Recent trends.

Levan is a fructan-type homopolysaccharide that has gained increasing attention due to its unique properties and promising applications. It is a fructose-based polymer produced through microbial fermentation by diverse microorganisms, including bacteria, yeasts and archaea. The ongoing research on levan mainly focuses on optimizing production processes, elucidating its biological functions, and uncover novel applications.

Evaluation of lumbar vertebral bone quality using T1-weighted MRI: Can it differentiate normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis?

Background: Osteoporosis, a systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration, poses a significant public health challenge globally. While the gold standard for diagnosing osteoporosis is dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), its use is limited by factors like spinal deformities and artifacts. This study aims to explore the potential of routine T1-weighted MRI sequences in predicting osteopenia and osteoporosis through the vertebral bone signal (VB) to cerebrospinal fluid signal (CSF) ratio.

The relationship between attitudes toward epilepsy and health literacy in Turkey: The mediating role of epilepsy knowledge.

Objective: This study determined the mediating role of knowledge about epilepsy in the relationship between attitudes toward epilepsy and health literacy in Turkey.

Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in Turkey with 4,393 participants. The sociodemographic form, Epilepsy Attitude Scale, Epilepsy Knowledge Scale, and Health Literacy Scale were used for data collection.

Association between maternal androgen levels and early fetal sex differentiation: Anogenital distance and genital tubercle length in the first trimester.

Purpose: To evaluate the use of anogenital distance (AGD) and genital tubercle length (GTL) between 11 and 13 + 6 weeks of gestation for fetal sex determination and to assess the impact of maternal androgen levels on these measurements.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to June 2017 with patients undergoing first trimester Down syndrome screening. Inclusion criteria were: (1) female age 18-49, (2) gestational age between 11 and 13 + 6 weeks, (3) optimal visualization of AGD and GTL, and (4) nonsmoking status.

Behind closed doors: Homeboundness and psychosocial outcomes. Evidence from a longitudinal study of middle-aged and older adults.

Objectives: To examine how homeboundness is associated with psychosocial outcomes in terms of life satisfaction, positive affect, negative affect and loneliness among middle-aged and older adults.

Methods: Longitudinal data were taken from the nationally representative sample German Ageing Survey (wave 1 to wave 4; n = 18,491 observations). This study included community-dwelling individuals aged 40 years and over in Germany.

Radioprotective effects of coenzyme Q10 on X-ray radiation-induced intestinal damage via oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Aim: The World Health Organization reported that cancer was the cause of death for 9.7 million people in 2022, and the numbers continue to rise every day. The present study examines the potential radioprotective effects of ubiquinone against x-ray radiation-induced intestinal damage and offers insight into new near-future methods for the treatment of radiation-induced tissue toxicity.