Can HALP (Hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet) score distinguish malignant and benign causes of extrahepatic cholestasis in patients with extrahepatic bile duct obstruction?

Objective: Cholestatic diseases are common and classified as benign or malignant based on their etiology. HALP is a unique nutritional immune marker that combines indicators of nutritional status, including hemoglobin and albumin, with immune function markers like lymphocyte and platelet counts. We investigated the HALP score's ability to differentiate between benign and malignant causes in extrahepatic cholestasis patients.

Investigating the Role of C-Reactive Protein/Albumin Ratio in the Preliminary Diagnosis of Patients With Unexplained Neck Lymphadenopathy.

Lymphadenopathies in the neck are associated with several etiological factors, such as inflammation, infection, and tumors. We diagnose some of these lymphadenopathies using serologic tests, while others are diagnosed using biopsies. The C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR) has recently emerged as a crucial inflammatory marker in cardiovascular diseases and various types of cancer.

Gender Estimation from Morphometric Measurements of Mandibular Lingula by Using Machine Learning Algorithms and Artificial Neural Networks.

Background: Sex determination from the bones is of great importance for forensic medicine and anthropology. The mandible is highly valued because it is the strongest, largest and most dimorphic bone in the skull.

Aim: Our aim in this study is gender estimation with morphometric measurements taken from mandibular lingula, an important structure on the mandible, by using machine learning algorithms and artificial neural networks.

Evaluation of Patients with COVID-19 Followed Up in Intensive Care Units in the Second Year of the Pandemic: A Multicenter Point Prevalence Study.

Objective: A 1-day point prevalence study was planned to obtain country data by determining the clinical characteristics, follow-up and treatment methods of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases that required intensive care unit (ICU) treatment in the second year of the pandemic.

Material And Methods: All patients who were hospitalized in the ICUs due to COVID-19 between March 11, 2022, 08.00 am, and March 12, 2022, 08.

The Impact of CoronaVac Vaccination on 28-day Mortality Rate of Critically Ill Patients with COVID-19 in Türkiye.

Background: Vaccines against coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) have been effective in preventing symptomatic diseases, hospitalizations, and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. However, data regarding the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in reducing mortality among critically ill patients with COVID-19 remains unclear.

Aims: To determine the vaccination status and investigate the impact of the COVID-19 vaccine on the 28-day mortality in critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Short-term Effects of Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant on Choroidal Structure in Eyes with Refractory Diabetic Macular Edema.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to evaluate choroidal structural changes after intravitreal dexamethasone implant (IDI) in eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME) refractory to antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy.

Methods: Twenty-three eyes of 14 patients with DME refractory to anti-VEGF therapy were included in this retrospective study. Detailed ophthalmological examinations were recorded, and optical coherence tomography images were obtained before and 3 months after IDI.

The relationship between metabolic syndrome criteria and pentraxin-3 levels in children.

Objectives: While the positive correlation was shown in a few studies which investigated the relationship between obesity and pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) levels, different findings were obtained in other studies. We aimed to determine PTX-3 levels in obese and healthy children, and their relationship with Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) criteria.

Methods: 105 children and adolescents were considered as the study population.

The acromegaly treatment satisfaction questionnaire (Acro-TSQ): turkish adaptation, validity, and reliability study.

Purpose: The patient-reported outcome becomes important to evaluate the situation perceived by the patients and to develop new strategies. This study aims to adapt the Acromegaly Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (Acro-TSQ), which was specially developed for patients with acromegaly, into Turkish by conducting a validity and reliability study.

Methods: After the translation and back-translation process, Acro-TSQ was filled in by face-to-face interviews with 136 patients diagnosed with acromegaly and currently receiving somatostatin analogue injection therapy.

Long-Term Efficacy of Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents in Patients with Low-Risk or Intermediate-1-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome: Multicenter Real-Life Data.

Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the long-term clinical efficacy of epoetin alfa and darbepoetin alfa in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in a real-life setting.

Materials And Methods: A total of 204 patients with low-risk or intermediate-1-risk MDS who received epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa were included. Hemoglobin levels and transfusion needs were recorded before treatment and at 12 months, 24 months, 36 months, and 48 months of treatment.

Evaluation of the implementation of WHO infection prevention and control core components in Turkish health care facilities: results from a WHO infection prevention and control assessment framework (IPCAF)-based survey.

Background: The core components (CCs) of infection prevention and control (IPC) from World Health Organization (WHO) are crucial for the safety and quality of health care. Our objective was to examine the level of implementation of WHO infection prevention and control core components (IPC CC) in a developing country. We also aimed to evaluate health care-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in intensive care units (ICUs) in association with implemented IPC CCs.

Comparison of the side effects of antivirals in chronic hepatitis B patients: a single-center experience.

Background And Study Aim: Entecavir (ETV), Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF), and Tenofovir Alafenamide (TAF) have been approved for treating Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) and recommended due to their high safety profile and high resistance barriers. This study aimed to evaluate the kidney functions, bone, and metabolic parameters in CHB patients receiving ETV, TDF, and TAF treatment.

Patients And Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, a total of 469 CHB patients who were treated with TDF (n = 256), ETV (n = 184), or TAF (n = 129) for at least six months between March 2012 and March 2022, were enrolled.

Isolated Maternal Hypothyroxinemia May be Associated with Insulin Requirement in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

An insulin regimen may be necessary for about 30% of the patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We aimed to investigate the association of free T4(fT4) levels with insulin requirement in pregnant women with GDM. We included pregnant women whose TSH levels were within the normal range and who were diagnosed with GDM, and excluded patients with thyroid dysfunction, chronic illnesses, or any previous history of antithyroid medication, levothyroxine, or antidiabetic medication use.

Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic and Post-Vaccination Period on Gastroenterology Practice in Turkey.

Background: The sudden and intense burden due to the novel coronavirus (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic has changed the priority of many health services. The highly contagious new variants and vaccination services have greatly impacted the daily practice of gastroenterologists. In the present study, we tried to evaluate the change in the daily practice of Turkish gastroenterologists in the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and the post-vaccination periods.

The relationship between alexithymia, reading the mind in the eyes and cognition in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of alexithymia, difficulty in recognizing one's own and others' emotions, to determine the ability to read the mind in the eyes that evaluates the emotions of others, and to assess the relationship between these parameters and demographic characteristics, cognition, anxiety and depression in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS).

Material And Method: Seventy patients presenting to the neurology clinic and diagnosed with MS and 70 healthy volunteers with similar demographic characteristics were included in the study. The California Verbal Learning Test II (CVLT II), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Revised Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (BVMT-R), and Trail-Making Test (TMT) were applied to determine all participants' cognitive status.

Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index Predicts Adverse Events in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Objectives: Pulmonary embolism is one of the leading causes of death in patients with COVID-19. Autopsy findings showed that the incidence of thromboembolic events was higher than clinically suspected. In this study, the authors investigated the relationship between pulmonary embolism severity index (PESI) and simplified PESI (sPESI) on admission to the hospital, as well as adverse events in hospitalized COVID-19 patients without clinically documented venous and/or pulmonary embolism.

The Investigation of Therapeutic Implications of Mast Cell Stabilizer Cromolyn Sodium on Cholestasis and Cholestatic Pruritus in Experimental Cholestasis.

Background: Relevant studies have indicated that hepatic mast cells may have potential roles in the progression of cholestasis and cholestasis-induced itch. We aimed to compare the effects of cromolyn sodium and other medications on cholestatic pruritus, serum biochemistry, histamine, total bile acids, autotaxin, liver histopathology, and mast cell distribution in tissues in an experimental cholestasis model conducted by bile duct ligation.

Methods: Rats received the determined treatment consecutively for 10 days in addition to bile duct ligation.

COVID-19 Disease in Presenting to the Pediatric Emergency Department: A Multicenter Study of 8886 Cases.

Background: The aim was to evaluate the epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and radiologic data of children with SARS-CoV-2 positivity by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) together with treatment strategies and clinical outcomes and to evaluate cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) in this population.

Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective observational cohort study performed in the pediatric emergency departments of 19 tertiary hospitals. From March 11, 2020, to May 31, 2021, children who were diagnosed with confirmed nasopharyngeal/tracheal specimen SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity or positivity for serum-specific antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were included.

Measuring the shape and dimensions of normal the bony structures in the craniovertebral junction from computed tomography images of the pediatric age group.

Background: The aim of this study is to contribute to the literature by determining the morphometric reference values of the bony structures in the craniovertebral junction (CVJ) from computer tomography (CT) images of the pediatric age group.

Methods: In this study, CT's of 151 simple trauma patients aged between 3 and 15 years between 2016 and 2020 were evaluated. All CT examinations were performed using a 32-slice CT and included images of the skull base and C1-C2 junction.

Diagnostic Performance of Machine Learning Models Based on F-FDG PET/CT Radiomic Features in the Classification of Solitary Pulmonary Nodules.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the ability of fluorine-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) radiomic features combined with machine learning methods to distinguish between benign and malignant solitary pulmonary nodules (SPN).

Methods: Data of 48 patients with SPN detected on F-FDG PET/CT scan were evaluated retrospectively. The texture feature extraction from PET/CT images was performed using an open-source application (LIFEx).

The effect of Tarantula cubensis D6 on zone of stasis in a rat burn model.

Aim: Burn injuries are one of the most devastating injuries. Saving the zone of stasis decreases burn size, morbidity, and mortality. Tarantula cubensis (TC) increases epithelization of wounds, and increases wound contraction.

The Clinical Efficacy of Epoetin Alfa and Darbepoetin Alfa in Patients with Low-Risk or Intermediate-1-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome: Retrospective Multi-center Real-Life Study.

Unlabelled: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of epoetin alfa and darbepoetin alfa in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) in the real-life setting. A total of 204 patients with low-risk or intermediate-1-risk MDS who received epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa were included. Hemoglobin levels and transfusion need were recorded before and during 12-month treatment.

Differences in Clinical Aspects Between Subacute Thyroiditis Associated with COVID-19 Vaccines and Classical Subacute Thyroiditis.

Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) developed after SARS-CoV-2 vaccines has been less studied. We aimed to compare classical SAT and SAT developed after SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in the context of clinical aspects. Adults with SAT detected in 90 days of COVID-19 vaccination (CoronaVac or Pfizer/BioNTech) were grouped as Vac-SAT.

Efficacy of Annona muricata (graviola) in experimental spinal cord injury: biochemical and histopathological analysis.

Background: Annona muricata (AM) (graviola) is a plant that grows in tropical regions and is thought to be good for many diseases by local people. Unfortunately, there is no acceptable medical treatment for spinal cord injury (SCI) yet. In our study, we investigated the neuropeotective effects of AM leaf extract on SCI in an experimental rat model.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor nilotinib induced palmoplantar erythrodysesthesia: A rare case.

Introduction: Nilotinib is a second generation Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor (TKI) used in the treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). The development of tyrosine kinase inhibitors has transformed chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia from a disease with a poor prognosis to a treatable chronic disease. Long-term treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors means that patients must be clinically managed and monitored for years.

Evaluation of the effect of endotracheal aspiration at different head heights on oxygenation of the brain by non-invasive method in intensive care patients.

Objectives: To determine the effect of endotracheal aspiration at different head heights on oxygenation brain by non-invasive method in neurosurgery intensive care patients.

Background: Head elevation of mechanical ventilator-dependent neurosurgery patients and the possible risks of endotracheal aspiration are closely related to the clinical conditions of the patients.

Design: A prospective quasi-experimental study with repetitive measurements in a single group.