STUDY AIM: In this study, it was aimed to identify the accurate and inaccurate conceptions among the society on COVID-19 disease, which is considered as a public health problem and has a high risk of transmission. 

METHODS: The research was performed online at https://docs.google.com/forms in May 2020. The questionnaire form was composed of 40 queries, which were on sociodemographic characteristics and COVID-19. Following the study, the answers obtained from the questionnaire were analyzed by inserting related data to the software of SPSS. 

RESULTS: Of 580 participants involved in the study, 363 (62.6%) were female. The median age of the participants was 34.0 (18.0-77.0). Of the individuals who completed the questionnaire, 342 (59.0%) were married and 438 (75.5%) were university graduated and / or postgraduated. Of the individuals included in the study, 497 (85.6%) stated that they watched television / news channels to be informed about COVID-19. Most of the questions related to COVID-19 were answered accurately by the participants. The percentage of the premise, which was answered most accurately, was 577 (99.5%), whereas the lowest percentage of the accurately answered premise was 137 (23.6%). It was found that there was a statistically significant difference among the genders in terms of the percentage of accurate responses to the conceptions (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION: It was determined that the vast majority of the participants utilized from at least one news resource on COVID-19. Participants typically have accurate knowledge about COVID-19. Educational programs can be planned to enhance the awareness of the society about the conceptions, which were answered mostly inaccurately.

Abstract:

Objective: Our objective in this study was to present our four years of experience in laparoscopic surgery for urinary system accompanied by literature.

Material and Methods: Between January 2014 and October 2018, laparoscopic surgical intervention was made on urinary system for 97 patients in our clinic. 54 patients had right and 42 patients had left laparoscopic surgical intervention and 1 patient had radical prostatectomy. Patients were retrospectively examined for operation duration, average blood loss, intraoperative and postoperative complications, hospitalization duration and drain installation time after separating into two groups as right and left.

Results.

Average age of the patients was 44(16-67). Male/Female rate was 54/43. Apart from radical prostatectomy, 54 patients had right and 42 patients had left kidney laparoscopic surgical intervention. Average operation duration was 145 (40-210) minutes, average drain removal time was 3.1 (1-10) days, hospitalization duration was 3.4 (1-14) days and bleeding amount was 150(20-500) cc in all interventions. Lengthened urinary drainage was observed from the drain in one patient who had pyelolithotomy and one patient who had radical prostatectomy. When all interventions were considered, the average complication ratio was found 5.1%. No differences were observed in the parameters compared among right and left laparoscopic surgery interventions.

Conclusion: For a surgeon in the first learning phase of laparoscopy, choosing relatively simpler procedures in the beginning but passing to more complex operations without much delay may quickly shorten the learning phase. Through the selection of suitable patients and adequate equipment, laparoscopic surgery can also be applied safely in peripheral centers.

Aim: It was aimed to investigate  the relationship of disease clinical stage between the maximum diameter of primer lesion (LEGÇ), maximum of standardized uptake value (SUVmax), mean of standardized uptake value (SUVmean), tumor volüme (TV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) values derived from positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) images.

Method: The information of 130 lung cancer patients diagnosed histopathologically between 01.01.2012 and 31.12.2014 in Necmettin Erbakan University Nuclear Medicine Department of Meram Medical Faculty scanned for PET-CT for lung cancer diagnosis and staging,  were included in this study. The values of the maximum diameter of primer lesion, SUVmax, SUVmean, TLG and MTV derived from PET-CT scanning and their histopathological subtypes, other clinical and radyological information of patients were noted. The non-small cell lung cancer patients were graded according to tumor diameter, nodal and involvement metastasis (TNM) staging system using clinical information, PET-CT and other radyological test results if any. On the other hand, the small cell carcinoma diagnosed were categorised as limited or extensive stage.

Findings: In this study, the mean age of 118 men and 12 women,  totally 130 patients, was evaluated  63,46 ±9,96 ( range 40-87 age ). The patients were classified as 106 non-small cell lung Cancer (NSCLC) (81.5%) ve 24 small cell lung cancer (SCLC) (18.5%).  The  histopathologically diagnosed NSCLC patients were consists of  62 squamous cell cancers, 39 adeno cancers, and 5  other types (3 carcinoid tumors, 1 large cell cancer and 1 sarcomatoid tumor). 

Results: In our study, it was observed that there was no significant relationship between the maximum diameter of the lesion, SUVmax, SUVmean, MTV and TLG values among SCLC and NSCLC patients. Additionally, it was also found that there was no correlation between these parameters and the SCLC stage.  The maximum diameter of the lesion, SUVmax, SUVmean, MTV and TLG parameters were related with stage.

Conclusion: Higher SUVmax, SUVmean, TV, and TLG values of the primary tumor were determined to predict the more advanced clinical stage in NSCLC. This relationship between metabolic parameters and the clinical stage suggest that PET / CT may be valuable in terms of providing prognostic information in NSCLC.

Aim: We aimed to determine types and locations of deep-seated soft tissue foreign bodies (FB) and to evaluate the differences between gender and age groups.

Materials and Methods: A total of 310 patients operated due to deep-seated FB penetration between January 2011 and January 2018 were included in the study. Patients were divided into three groups as under 18 years, 18-45 years, and over 45 years. FB were divided into five groups. Locations of the FB were divided into five region in the upper extremities and into six region in the lower extremities. FB type and location were analyzed according to the gender and age groups.

Results: The most common FB was metal piece in men by 48.4%, and needle in women by 77.3% (P<.0001). Needle was the most common FB by 67.4% in men and 94.2% in women who aged under 18 years (P=.12), whereas the most common FB was metal piece by 54.7% in men and needle by 71.4% in women in the aged 18-45 years age group (P=.0007) and metal piece by 61.3% in men and needle by 70.0% in women in the over 45 years age group (P=.0023). The most common location of FB was hand in men by 35.2% and foot in women by 61% (P<.0001). The most common location of FB was foot by 65.1% in men, and foot by 62.9% in women who aged under 18 years (P=.04), whereas the most common location of FB was hand by 38.9% in men aged 18-45 years and foot by 60.3% in women in the same age group (P=<.0001). The most common location of FB was hand by 65.5% in men and foot by 60% in women who aged over 45 years (P<.0001).

Conclusion: Our study is the first in the literature to evaluate the type and location of the deep-seated FB according to the gender and age groups. The most common location and type of FB were found as foot and needle in women of all age groups and in men under 18 years. This result may be related to the reason that needles, which is used for sewing, are often dropped to the floor due to inattention or neglect of persons, and these persons spend more time at home. Whereas, the most common location and type of FB were hand and metal piece in men over 18 years, respectively. This result may be associated with the labor class doing heavy work which is under risk for hand injury and consists of men over 18 years.

Background

Hypertension (HT) is a controllable and preventable public health problem that is a risk factor for many serious diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases. Hypertension, which can be silent and lethal, can not be diagnosed in many people. HT constitutes a significant part of the daily practice of the primary care physician. Today, the Family Medicine is a medical discipline constitutes the first level of the health system in Turkey.

Aim

In our study, the effectiveness of family medicine practice in the diagnosis of arterial hypertension was investigated.

Material and Method

We retrospectively reviewed the data of the patients aged 18 years and older who had access to their data in our family medicine department between 2017-2018. A total of seven questions, including personal information (age, gender and education level) and disease identification information (how many years were diagnosed with hypertension, baseline symptom, where and how the diagnosis of hypertension was first established) were retrospectively reviewed from the Family Medicine Information System.

Results

A total of 286 patients, 178 female and 108 male were detected. 9% of the participants were illiterate while 94.1% were literate . 59.8% of the illiterate patients were in primary education, 10.5% in high school and 16.8% in graduate education. 7.7% of the participants were diagnosed in the family medicine polyclinic, and the remaining 92.3% were diagnosed in secondary health care facilities and other places except family medicine. According to education level, 7.7% were diagnosed in family medicine and 92.3% were diagnosed in second-level health facilities and elsewhere except family medicine.

Conclusion

In our study; patients with arterial hypertension were diagnosed more frequently in secondary health care institutions regardless of their education level. Although the rate of diagnosis of arterial hypertension was increased from 1.5% to 16.3% in primary care after starting the practice of family medicine in Konya, we believe that the role of family medicine practice on the diagnosis of arterial hypertension should be increased even more.

Objective: To investigage the effect of surgical approaches used in the treatment of degenerative cervical spondylotic myelopathy on cervical alingment and vertebral canal diameter measurements

Material and Methods: 45 patients were operated with degenerative cervical sponylotic myelopathy (CSM) in our clinic between 2016 and 2020. 23 of them including 5 females and 18 males, were operated  with open door laminoplasty; and 22 of them including 4 females and 18 males, were operated with  laminectomy with  lateral mass screw fusion. SVA (Distance between C2 midline and C7 superior end plate midline), Cobb angles (The angle between the lines passing through C2 lower end plate and C7 lower end plate), and VCD (vertebral canal diameter measured from MR images) values of patients ​​were measured.

Results: Collected data of patients in preoperative period and 1 year after operation were evaluated statistically.

Conclusion: Plate and screw systems not causing facet joint damage use in patients with CSM are more effecticve in the cervical alignment protection

\r\nAim: Diabetes is a serious health problem which has increased rapidly in recent years and causes numerous complications. Vitamin D levels may be a contributing factor to the glycemic control. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between vitamin D levels and glycemic control in diabetic patients.

\r\n  

\r\nMethods: 330 patients with Diabetes Mellitus type 2, who were admitted to our outpatient clinic between September 2015 and June 2016, were included in the study. Patients were stratified into three groups according to the vitamin D levels; ≤20 ng / mL, between 20-30 ng / mL and ≥30 ng / mL. These groups were compared in terms of patients' socio-demographic characteristics, blood parameters, diabetes-related characteristics, and diabetes treatment. Patients were categorized into two groups according to the HbA1c levels;  ≤7% and  ≥7%. The same parameters and vitamin D values were compared between two groups. All data were recorded into the SPSS version 21. Participants' demographic datas, percentage and frequency values, were tabulated. A p value  of <0.05 was the limit for statistical significance. 

\r\n 

\r\nResults: A total of 330 patients (51.2% females, mean age 53,79±10,2 years) with diabetes were interviewed. When evaluated in terms of body mass index, 13.9% (n = 46) were classified as normal, 34.5% (n = 114) were overweight and 51.5% (n = 170) were obese. When patients were divided into groups according to vitamin D levels, 286 (86.7%) patients with a vitamin D level below 20 ng / mL and 44 patients (13.3%) with a level above 20 ng / mL were detected. When patients were compared according to vitamin D levels, there was a negative correlation (-r = 0.357, p <0.001, -r = 0.344, p <0.001, respectively) between vitamin D levels and patients' fasting blood glucose level (FBG) and postprandial glucose level (PBG). There was a negative correlation (-r = 0.433, p <0.001) between vitamin D levels and HbA1c levels. Negative correlation (-r = 0.131, p <0.05) was found between vitamin D and triglyceride levels.

\r\n  

\r\nConclusion: Vitamin D levels were significantly lower in patients with HbA1c> 7% (n = 191) when compared to those with HbA1c <7 (n = 95) (p <0.001). Vitamin D levels may be important in glycemic control of diabetic patients.

Aim: Sarcoidosis is a multifactorial disease with unknown aetiology and characterized by non-caseous granulomatous inflammation. The pathogenesis of sarcoidosis is defined as inflammation and autoimmune activation. Here, we aimed to evaluate plasma clusterin (CLU) and α-klotho levels in those with sarcoidosis.                                        

Patients and methods: Forty patients with sarcoidosis (mean age: 52.10±12.60 years; 12 males, 28 females) and 40 healthy volunteers (mean age: 37.40±18.20 years; 12 males, 28 females) were enrolled into the study. Blood samples were drawn from both groups, and plasma CLU and α-klotho levels were investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique.                                                               

Results: Patients with sarcoidosis had significantly higher plasma CLU levels (309.73±40.68 ng/mL), compared with healthy controls (117.86±102.03 ng/mL) (p=0.005). The plasma levels of α-klotho were measured as 5.34±7.30 in the sarcoidosis patients and 7.21±9.84 ng/mL in the controls. A minimal decrease was observed, but there was no statistically significant difference (p=0.338). The hemoglobin levels of sarcoidosis patients were decreased, when compared with the control group (12.93±1.02 g/dL vs 14.06±1.50 g/dL) (p=0.012).                                                                    

Conclusion: We concluded that sarcoidosis is associated with high levels of CLU. Plasma CLU may be a potential biomarker of sarcoidosis. Based on literature and to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to provide insight in the determination of plasma levels of CLU and α-klotho in sarcoidosis. Further and comprehensive investigations are needed to clarify the entity.

Aim: Opopanax hispidus (Friv.) Griseb plant belongs to the Apiaceae family. It is traditionally used for the treatment of hemorrhoids, female infertility, and purification of blood. We aimed to examine the histological changes in the murine ovarian tissue following the administration of a methanolic extract of the aerial parts of the Opopanax hispidus (Friv.) Griseb plant.

Materials and methods: Twelve adult female Swiss-Albino mice were randomly allocated into 2 groups. Control group received no administration. In the Opopanax hispidus group the methanolic extract (200 mg/kg/day) was administered via oral gavage for 5 days. At the end of the experiment right ovarian tissue of each subject was excised. Routine histological processing of tissue samples fixed in 10% formalin were then sectioned at a thickness of 5 µm. The sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and examined with a light microscope. The modified method of Cavalieri principle was used in the stereological measurement. The total tissue volume ratio was measured with a point counting grid provided by the Shtereom version 1.5 software package. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the groups.The significance level was set at 5%. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (ver: 20) software package.

Results: A significant difference was observed with respect to the number of antral follicles (p<0.05). A comparison of ovarian volumes between the groups revealed a significant decrease in the Opopanax hispidus group (p<0.05).

Conclusion: We demonstrated that Opopanax hispidus exerted positive effects on the ovarian tissue and increased the number of antral follicles, probably due to its antioxidant effect.

\r\n 1p36 Deletion Syndrome is a rare disease characterized by a partial deletion in the short arm of chromosome 1. The first reports of cases with microdeletion of chromosome 1p36 were published in 1980s, beginning with a report by Hain et al. The first pure case of 1p36 Deletion Syndrome was identified in the 1987 by Magenis et al. Its incidence is presumed as 1:5000 to 1:10000 and prevalence among men/women is 1/2. Characteristic signs are dysmorphic facial features, developmental delay, feeding difficulties, central nervous system anomalies, seizures, microcephaly, intellectual disability, vision problems, sensorineural deafness, congenital heart defects, skeletal and renal anomalies. Congenital Cytomegalovirus infection is an intrauterine disease with persistent effects on the fetus with no specific treatment. Common clinical findings are petechiae, jaundice at birth, hepatosplenomegaly, microcephaly, hypotonia, poor suck, sensorineural hearing loss, vision abnormalities, seizures, developmental cerebral anomalies, intrauterine development delay, prematurity and stillbirth. This case has been reported due to being a unique case having both such a rare disease like 1p36 Deletion Syndrome and a corresponding clinical picture to congenital Cytomegalovirus infection which she has firstly been determined with a positive CMV-DNA level when she was 7 months old.

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the relationship between magnetic resonance (MR) enterography and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) investigations in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients during active inflammation and remission phases. 

Patients and Methods: We included patients diagnosed with IBD between 01.12.2015-31.08.2016 at our hospital. 47 patients were included; 30 were male (63.8%) and 17 were female (36.2%). Thirty two (68.1%) of them had ulcerative colitis and 15 (31.9%) had Crohn’s disease. Standard institutional sequences for upper and lower abdomen scan included: sagittal and axial T2 TRUFI, axial and coronal fat suppressed T2 TRUFI and coronal and axial T1 VIBE following intravenous (at 60 seconds) contrast medium administration. First group of patients (n=10) had MRI investigations both at active and remission phases, whereas in the second group of patients (n=37) apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values, bowel wall thickness and contrast enhancement grades were compared between actively inflamed and non-inflamed bowel segments.

Results: A statistically significant difference was found regarding ADC values and bowel wall thickness measurements in the first group of patients when compared between active and remission phase MRI investigations (p=0.005). Bowel wall contrast enhancement degree did not differ between active and remission phases in the first group (p=0.059). In the second group, there was a statistically significant difference between active and normal bowel segments regarding ADC values, bowel wall thickness and contrast enhancement (p<0.001).

Conclusion: MR enterography and diffusion MRI may be beneficial to determine the degree of inflammation and response to treatment in IBD patients.

Sneddon syndrome(SS) is a rare, progressive vasculopathy with recurrent ischemic attacks. There is no specified treatment recommendation, various treatment methods such as anticoagulants, antiaggregants, and immunosuppressions are recommended. A 44-years-old woman who applied with a temporary numbness on her right side and speech disorder. In her neurological examination, there was central facial asymmetry on the right and mild dysarthria in his speech. In cranial diffusion MR, there was an acute ischemic change in the left lentiform nucleus and at the head of the caudate nucleus. In cranial MR, there were perivascular ischemic gliotic changes and diffuse cerebral cortical atrophy. The patient underwent a skin biopsy to have livedo reticularis-like lesions on both legs. Skin biopsy was compatible with vasculopathy. Due to the ischemic attack, periventricular ischemic changes, and livedoreticularis, the patient was accepted as SS. Since the antiphospholipid antibodies (APL) were negative, that she was followed up with dual antiplatelet therapy. There was no new attack within a year with dual therapy. Dual antiplatelet therapy may be used in SS patients with recurrent ischemic events and negative APL.                                                                                                                                           

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral mononeuropathy caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist inside the carpal tunnel.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between EMG data and surgical success in patients with CTS who showed a decrease in conduction velocity and prolonged latency in EMG. Thus, it was aimed to link the surgical indications to objective criteria.

Patients and Methods: The patients who were diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome and  underwent surgery between 2013-2018 were evaluated prospectively. In the postoperative  12th month, changes in the median nerve velocity were observed by the EMG controls. Post-operative drowsiness was accepted as a surgical failure.

Results: 266 patients (62 males, 204 females) were included in the study. Complaints of 23 patients were continuing. The median motor latency average of the patients who complained was 6,63 msec (min 3,04 - max 11,04), and the message speed was 42,91 m / s (min 36,88 - max 51,8). Median nerve sensory potential was not found in 16 patients,  sensory and motor potential was not achieved in 2 patients. Median nerve sensory conduction could not be obtained in 70 of the patients without any complaint, but motor potential was obtained in all of patients. When median motor nerve latency was higher than 4.63 ms, it was found that the patient complaint of drowsiness continued after surgical treatment of CTS.

Conclusion: When the motor nerve Latans is above 4.63, the chance of success in the surgical treatment of CTS decreases. Performing CTS surgical treatment before these limits may prevent the occurrence of irreversible changes.

AIM: Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a vascular proliferative disease associated with human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8). The studies about the epidemiology of KS in Turkey are limited. We aimed to evaluate the clinical, pathological, and immunohistochemical features a total of 78 KS patients, presenting them along with the available information in the literature.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical and histopathological characteristics of a total of 78 patients with KS.

RESULTS: The age of the patients ranged from 46 to 93 years and the mean age was 74.06 years. Of the patients, 59 were males and 19 were females. The lesions were most commonly found on the lower extremities. In the study patients, KS was found both at earlier stages with patches or plaques in 54 of the patients and at the nodular stage in 24 patients. A punch biopsy or an excisional biopsy was performed in 23 and 55 patients, respectively. In the excisional biopsies, the smallest tumor diameter was 0.35 cm and the largest one was 2.8 cm with a mean diameter of 0.98 cm.

DISCUSSION: This retrospective study demonstrated that; in Konya, KS developed in older people and it was most commonly seen in males. It was observed that the demographic features and histopathological types of KS in the study patients were similar to the reports in the literature.

ABSTRACT

Aim: Sternal dehiscence is one of the most troublesome complications following cardiac surgery. Although it can be corrected by simple methods if detected earlier, treatment failure or delay in sternal dehiscence may result in mediastinitis, which is highly lethal.  In this study, we aimed to investigate alternative sternal closure systems, mainly sternal talon (STalon) and titanium sternal plates (SPlate). Patients and Methods: In between April 2015 and January 2018, patients with sternal dehiscence after any kind of open cardiac surgery were included in this study. These patients were retrospectively evaluated according to the their demographic data, risk factors for sternal dehiscence, type of operations, techniques used for fixation of the sternum, mainly focusing on the STalon and titanium SPlate fixation. Results: A total of 45 patients were taken into surgical correction because of sternal dehiscence.  Thirty-four (75.6%) of the patients male, whereas 11 (24.4%) were female. Mean time interval after the first operation to sternal dehiscence was 68.5 days (1-780 days). Mean body-mass-index (BMI) was 31.52 kg/m² (22.03-43.69 kg/m²). Before the sternal fixation, mean CRP value was 68.34, whereas it was 75.55 before discharge. Confounding risk factors were internal mammarian artery (IMA) harvesting for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, bronchial asthma, chronic pulmonary artery disease and advanced age. Mean post-operative intensive care unit (ICU) length-of-stay (LOS) was 5.02 days (1-29 days), whereas hospital LOS was 17.18 days (2-74 days). Early mortality was observed in 3 patients (6.67%). The first choice of operation was simple closure and/or Robicsek closure. Apart from simple and Robicsek closure techniques, sternal talon and/or titanium plates were used in 24 patients (53.3%). DM was found to be related to extanded total hospital LOS, ICU LOS, and postoperative time to discharge. DM also increased the risk of both superficial and deep sternal infection rates (p<0.05).  Conclusion: Ideal sternal closure should stabilize the sternum, be cost-effective and provide shortest hospital LOS with minimal post-operative complications. In patients with intact intercostal spaces, sternal talon may eliminate serious complications, such as cardiac rupture mainly caused by dense adhesions. Sternal plates are mainly effective in fragmented fractures without stable intercostal spaces. All patients should be individualized according to type of lesions and sternal fractures.

Objective: Most of the renal neoplasms are the epithelial and malign ones. The renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which is the most frequently seen malign renal tumor, consists of 2-4% of all the malign tumors seen among adult individuals and 80-90% of all the malign renal tumors. RCCs peak at sixties and seventies and its prevalence among males is two folds of its prevalence among females. RCCs have bad prognosis. The recurrence is seen in 40% of the cases, and the metastasis despite the early diagnosis was detected in 50% of cases. In present study, it was aimed to distribution of renal tumors in our hospital, discuss the prognostic factors such as the, pathological stage, nuclear grade and tumor diameter accompanied by literature information.

Patients and Method: By retrospectively scanning the records of Pathology Department of Medical Faculty, Fırat University, for the period between 1988 and 2009, 140 renal tumor cases were determined and the previous diagnoses, histological degrees, pathological stages of these cases were evaluated and the final diagnoses were taken as base in the present study. In pathologically staging (pT) of RCCs, TNM classification was used, whereas Fuhrman nuclear grading (FNG) was used in nuclear grading procedure. The patients were divided into different groups based on their genders and ages. The statistical analyses were performed in SPSS-12.0 software by using Chi-Square and Correlation tests.

Results: When compared to the literature in terms of the mean age, the present study involves relatively young population (mean age 57), and the majority was male (male/ female:1.1). The distributions of renal tumours, malign and benign subtypes, and RCC subtypes show similarities with the general literature. When examining the RCCs statistically, no significant relationship was found between diagnosis and age, and between nuclear grade and tumor diameter (p>0.05). In the present study, the RCCs with largest diameter were papillary type (9,78cm) ones, whereas the RCCs with lowest diameter values were classic type. A statistically significant relationship was observed between the benign, borderline and malign tumor diagnoses and diameters (p= 0.023). It was determined that approximately one-four of RCC cases were in highly pathological stage (21,6%, pT3a-3b). A direct proportional and statistically significant relationship was found between nuclear grade and diameter (p=0,002).

Conclusion: RCCs have poor prognosis and their frequency is increasing. Pathological stage, nuclear grade and diameter are the leading factors affecting the prognosis. As in our study, in retrospective studies involving old ages and not enough sampling, tumor diameter may be used as an alternative prognostic factor for pathological staging in tumors with a stage above pT2.

Backround: Myocardial infarction with coronary artery disease (MICAD) is the leading cause of myocardial injury. Myocardial injury non-related to atherosclerotic plaque disruption (non-MICAD) is a rare and heterogeneous diagnosis. Although MICAD is well studied, non-MICAD was not thoroughly identified in young patient population. We aimed to investigate the frequency, main etiologies, and five-year mortality of patients with non-MICAD younger than 40 years.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 292 patients with acute myocardial injury younger than 40 years between January 2010 and December 2014. Clinical, demographic, laboratory, angiographic features, and five-year all-cause mortality were compared between patients with non-MICAD (n=78) and MICAD (n=214).

Results: Median age of patients was 36. Non-MICAD group was younger than MICAD group [32 (28-37) vs 37 (34-39)]. The frequency of female patients with non-MICAD was higher than those with MICAD (24.4% vs 10.3%). Most of the patients with MICAD presented with STEMI (77.1%), while most of the patients with non-MICAD presented with non-STEMI (89.7%). Most common etiologies of non-MICAD in were myocarditis (32%) and vasospasm (9%). Age, female sex, no smoking and, absence of dyslipidemia were independent predictors for non-MICAD. Five-year all-cause mortality in non-MICAD group was significantly lower than MICAD group (2.6% vs 10.3%) (log-rank test p=0.04).

Conclusion: Non-MICAD represents a heterogeneous group of patients who had varying etiologies at different ages. Despite the lower mortality rate of non-MICAD group, different diagnostic and treatment strategies are required for management of patients with non-MICAD.

Objective: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant inherited genetic disorder that causes a significant increase in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and leads to early coronary heart disease and cardiac mortality. Although this disease has a heterozygous (HeFH) and homozygous (HoFH) form, the incidence of HeFH is reported to be 1: 500, while HoFH is reported to be 1: 1 000 000. This disease is often caused by LDL receptor (most common), apolipoprotein B (Apo B), Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin 9 (PCSK9), and LDL receptor adaptor protein (LDLRAP) gene mutations. Patients with FH do not respond well to lipid-lowering therapies such as a statin, and so lipoprotein apheresis is the treatment of choice.

Material and Methods: We compared the results of lipoprotein apheresis in a 20-year-old female patient diagnosed with HoFH with two different methods [double-filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) and dextran sulfate column (DSC) methods]. 40 lipoprotein apheresis procedures including 20 sessions of DFPP and 20 sessions of DSC were evaluated.

Results: When the two methods were compared the changes in high-density lipoprotein, white blood cells, platelets, potassium, calcium, prothrombin time (INR) and activated partial thromboplastin time values were statistically significant.

Conclusions: In conclusion, our study suggests that it would be more appropriate to choose the apheresis method according to the clinical and laboratory findings of the patient since it shows that two different methods have different effects on serum electrolyte values, hemostasis criteria and leukocyte and platelet counts.

Abstract

Aim: Since clinical and prognostic heterogeneity is observed in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (‎DLBCL) patients, it is vital to determine its prognostic and predictive factors. The frequency of these factors varies geographically and ethnically. We aimed to reevaluate and discuss the prognostic and predictive ‎factors of DLBCL patients who have been treated with R-CHOP in our ‎center based on the WHO 2017 revised 4^th edition.‎ We also investigated the incidence of EBV in DLBCL-NOS.

Patients and Methods: Patients with DLBCL-NOS diagnosed previously in our hospital between 2007-2017 and treated with ‎R-CHOP were included in the study. We evaluated the expressions of CD10, CD5, CD30, BCL-2, BCL-6, MUM-1, MYC, LMP-1, EBNA-2, Ki-67, and p53, by immunohistochemistry, and EBV encoded RNA by in situ hybridization in 104 cases of DLBCL-NOS. The Revised International Prognostic Index (R-IPI) score and the overall survival time ‎was ‎calculated.

Results: The study included 56 men (53.8%) and 48 women (46.2%). The median age was 64.5 years. In 59.6% of the patients, the disease had a nodal beginning, whereas in 40.4% of the patients it had an ‎extranodal presentation. High ‎stage (III-IV) was present in 26.5% of the GCB subtype and 43.6% of non-GCB subtype (p=0.049). A high ‎R-IPI score was observed in 40% of GCB subtype and 54.5% of non-GCB subtype (p=0.028). Survival was significantly lower in the non-GCB subtype (log-rank test p=0.003).‎ The EBV frequency was about 3% as it is reported in Western populations. The frequency of DEL status was 8.7%, indicating that it was associated with inferior survival (p=0.045). De novo CD5⁺ DLBCL ratio as 13% and it was also associated with inferior survival (p=0.013).  We also found CD30⁺ DLBCL ratio as 11.5%, but we could not establish a significant relationship with prognosis.

Conclusion: DLBCL-NOS requires detailed subtyping and elaboration of prognostic factors. ‎The frequency of DEL status and De novo CD5⁺ DLBCL indicated that it was associated with inferior survival. However, we could not establish ‎a meaningful relationship of CD30⁺ DLBCL with prognosis.‎ Three EBV positive cases were identified and two of them were classified as ‘EBV positive large B cell lymphoma’ according to the WHO 2017 revised 4^th edition.

Keywords: Diffuse Large-Cell Lymphoma; Prognostic Factors; Survival

Introduction and Objective

Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection seen as an endemic in Turkey and is a public health problem at the same time. The objective of this study was to evaluate demographic/epidemiologic, clinic, laboratory features, complications and treatments in brucellosis patients followed-up in our clinic.

Material & Methods

In this study, features of patients followed-up between 01/01/2010 and 31/12/2018 in our clinic were retrospectively evaluated. Descriptive data were expressed as number and percentage. Categorical variables were analyzed with Chi-square test and numerical variables with Student’s t test.

Results

Of the total of 365 brucellosis patients, 159 (43.56%) were female and 206 (56.44%) were male. The mean age of the patients was 45.9±14.51 (18-82) years. The most common time of presentation was summer season with 137 (37.5%) patients. The most common transmission route of the disease was a history of animal husbandry with 252 (69%) patients. Of all cases 168 (46%) were acute, 96 (26.3%) were subacute, and 101 (27.7%) were chronic brucellosis. The most common complaint of the patients was fatigue in 302 (82.7%) patients with being higher in acute brucellosis (p=0.0015). Anemia was found in 53 (33.3%) male and 114 (55.3%) female patients with being significantly higher in female patients (p=0.0283). Leukopenia was found in 7.9%, leukocytosis in 16.2%, thrombocytopenia in 9.6%, neutropenia in 4.1%, neutrophilia in 9% and lymphomonocytosis in 12% of the patients. Wright agglutination test was performed in 26 (7.1%) and brucella immunocapture agglutination test in 361 (98.9%) patients and all results were positive. Of all patients, 172 (47.1%) developed complications with spondylodiscitis being the most commonly found in 58 (15.9%) patients. Sixty-one (31.8%) of patients developed relapse.

Conclusion: Since brucellosis is endemic in our country, it should be considered in presumed diagnosis of patients presenting with complaints such as fatigue, articular pain and fever.

Objective: Conjunctiva is a region where various neoplastic or non-neoplastic lesions may develop.  In this study, we aimed to perform a histopathological analysis of conjunctival lesions and to determine their prevalence.

Material & Methods: Conjunctival biopsies of 401 patients who presented to the pathology laboratory between 2009 and 2019 were retrospectively examined. The cases were histopathologically divided into two groups as non-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions. Neoplastic lesions were further divided into subgroups as benign, premalignant, and malignant lesions. The prevalence of lesions and distribution of age and gender among the groups were analyzed.

Results: In our series of 401 patients, the mean age was 49.89±21.75 years. Of all patients, 209 (52.1%) were male and 192 (47.9%) were female. Non-neoplastic lesions were found in 296 (73.8%) and neoplastic lesions in 105 (26.2%) patients. The mean age was found as 50.79±19.34 years in patients with non-neoplastic lesions, and 47.34±27.39 years in patients with neoplastic lesions. Of neoplastic lesions, 64 (60.2%) were benign, 17 (16.2%) premalignant, and 24 (22.6%) malignant. The most commonly found non-neoplastic lesion was pterygium (n:220; 54.78%) while the most common benign lesions were nevus and other pigmented lesions (n:38; 9.5%), and the most common malignant lesion was squamous cell carcinoma (n:14; 3.5%). The prevalence of neoplastic lesions significantly increased over 45 years old (p<0.05).

Conclusion: In the current study, conjunctival lesions diagnosed in our laboratory over 10 years were reviewed and histopathologically analyzed. Recognition of conjunctival lesions and being aware of the rates of non-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions are crucial for treatment planning and protection of visual functions.

Aim: Many scales have developed to assess daily living activities, clinical functions of patients with brachial plexus palsy. "Brachial Plexus Outcome Measure " was developed by Emily Ho in 2012, activity and self-rating substance scale consisting of components total 14 items. Aim of this study, make an inter-observer reliability of scale, to make clinical trial in patients.

Materials and Methods:Demographic and clinic datas recorded,"Brachial Plexus Outcome Measure " was applied by two different observers. Inter-observer reliability in items examined by using kappa statistic.

Results:Eighteen female (37.5%) totally 48 patients included. Mean inter-observer agreement in the items was almost perfect (kappa 0.93) in raters. Fitted statistics showed much variation in observers had moderate (kappa 0.57) agreement in items.

Conclusion: Between observes, “Brachial Plexus Outcome Measure” is reliable measurement for assessing functions in children with brachial plexus palsy in Turkey. Clinical usage is appropriate.

ABSTRACT

Objective: Endometrial cancer is the most common malignancy of the female genital tract and the fourth leading cancer among women. Our aim is to share the surgical treatment and results of endometrial cancer cases in our gynecological oncology clinic.

Material and Methods: In this study, the records of 164 endometrial cancer patients operated by the same surgical team between 2009-2019 were reviewed retrospectively. The clinical, surgical and histopathological features of the patients are presented here. Four patients who had sarcoma as a result of pathology, 7 patients who underwent complementary surgery and 1 patient with a second primary tumor were not included in the study.

Results: The mean age of the patients included in our study was 61.3 and the mean body mass index was 25.8. According to the postoperative pathology results; mean tumor size was 3.4 cm and mean number of collected lymph nodes was 28.8. Lymph node metastasis was observed in 19 patients and all of the metastases were in pelvic lymph nodes. Endometrioid type adenocarcinoma was seen in 81% of the patients. Myometrial invasion > 50% in 81 patients (49.4%). Twenty patients (12.2%) had cervical involvement, 11 patients (6.7%) had adnexal involvement and 28 patients (17.1%) had lymphovascular area invasion. 76 patients (46.3%) were grade 1, 61 patients (37.2%) were grade 2, 19 patients (11.6%) were grade 3. When the patients were staging according to the FIGO system in 2009, 70 (42.7%) stage 1A, 58 (35.4%) stage 1B, 12 (7.3%) stage 2, 3 (1.8%) stage 3A 17 patients (10.4%) were stage 3C1 and 4 patients (2.4%) were stage 4.

Conclusion: Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological cancer, and it is usually diagnosed at an early stage as a result of early signs. Tumor size, depth of myometrial invasion and histopathologic grade are used to evaluate the risk of the disease, but studies with a higher number of high stage patients will be more useful in determining the risk.

Aim:

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence, height and location of maxillary sinus septa in patients with a dentate and an edentulous maxilla using cone beam computed tomography imaging.

Patients and Methods:

This descriptive study was conducted on a retrospective evaluation of cone beam computed tomography images of 1322 maxillary sinus with 661 subjects from January 2016 to February 2018. The study consisted of 1322 maxillary sinuses: 1092 from patients with a dentate and 230 from patients with an edentulous maxilla.

Results:

The mean age of the 661 patients (373 women, 288 men) was 42.1 ± 18.2 years. A total of 468 (35.4%) septa was recorded in 1322 maxillary sinuses  with a mean height was 7.95 ± 4.03 mm. Of 468 sinus septa, the majority was located in the posterior region of the maxillary sinus. Of these, 121 (25.8%) were in the anterior, 140 (29.9%) were in the middle and 207 (44.2%) were in the posterior region.

Regarding the status of the dentition in the maxilla in relation to the distribution of sinus septa, septa were present in 387 (35.4%) dentate and in 81 (35.2%) edentulous regions.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of septa is high in all parts of the maxillary sinus. For this reason, comprehensive evaluation should be performed with an appropriate radiographic technique to prevent possible complications during sinus surgery.

Background: Tyrosine rich crystals (TC) are curious structures, rarely encountered at histopathology, more so at cytology. These crystals have been documented exceptionally in various non-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions of salivary gland, lacrimal gland and rarely in larynx. The finding of these crystals in nasolabial cyst has not been reported till date.

Case: A 35-year-old female with a clinical and radiologic diagnosis of nasolabial cyst underwent fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Tyrosine crystals in singles and in groups assuming ‘petaloid’ and ‘daisy head’ forms were noted along with few lymphocytes and histiocytes. Amylase crystals were also noted.

Conclusion:  Regardless of the precise cause, cytologic recognition of TC is important to avoid confusion. Identification of these crystals at FNAC is a matter of avid observation and encourages cytopathologist for meticulous examination of all fluids. The case also highlights that the occurrence of TC is not restricted to SG and the circumstances in which it occurs is diversified.

 Fourty one years old female and 64 years old man were admitted to our clinic  because of abdominal pain. In investigating the liver was reported with a giant hemangioma. It was symptomatic and look like malignancy for each cases so they were operated. In operation it was not a liver mass , one of them observed right giant adrenal adenoma and the second one is renal cell carsinoma.  Resection was performed for each cases. Adrenal mass could be noted that mixed hemangiomas.

ANTEGRAD URETERAL STENTING; INDICATIONS - METHODS - COMPLICATIONS AND RADIOLOGICAL APPROACH TO  COMPLICATIONS

Abstract:

Objectives

The aim of this study is to evaluate the indications, success rate, complications, technical success enhancing method, methods of antegrad ureteral stenting and the radiological management of complications due to retrograde and antegrade ureteral stenting in the treatment of ureteral obstructions and ureteral leaks caused by malignant and benign etiologies.

Materials and Methods

In this retrospective study, fluoroscopy and US-guided antegrade ureteral stenting procedures between January 2016 and December 2018 were examined. The study included 110 antegrade ureteral stenting and percutaneous nephrostomy in a total of 78 patients with 25 female patients (32.05 %), a mean age of 65.87 (20-90) and 53 male patients (67.94%) with a mean age of 68.73 (30-90).  Demographic data, antegrade ureteral stenting indications, procedure results and complications were evaluated for each patient.

Results

Antegrade ureteral stenting is a good alternative for patients with retrograde ureteral stent placement and already with percutaneous nephrostomy catheters. It has a high technical success rate and low complication risk. The use of the equipment used in other radiological procedures in antegrade ureteral stenting increases the technical success. Malposition,  perforation, hemorrhage, urinoma, abscess complications such as retrograde or antegrade ureteral stenting can be managed by radiological methods.

Key Words: Double J Ureteral stent, Ureteral obstruction, Percutaneous, Antegrade, Hydronephrosis,

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine pressure ulcer prevention knowledge and attitudes among nurses who cared for surgical patients that were exposed to pressure ulcer risk factors such as immobilization and nutritional problems.

Materials and Method: This descriptive study was carried out with 150 nurses who were working in the surgical clinics and surgical intensive care units of a medical faculty hospital in XXXX and who had at least one year’s professional experience. Necessary permissions were obtained from the ethics committee and the institution prior to the research. Data were collected with a patient information form, the Pressure Ulcer Prevention Knowledge Assessment Instrument (PUPKAI) and the Attitude towards Pressure ulcer Prevention instrument (APuP) between October 1, 2018 and February 1, 2019.  Data were analyzed with the independent-samples t-test, the Mann-Whitney U test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, the correlation analysis and the multiple regression analysis.

Results: The mean age of the nurses was 29.91±6.48 years, 65.3% were female and half of them had undergraduate degrees. According to the PUPKAI total mean score (<60%), the pressure ulcer prevention knowledge of the nurses was inadequate and only 24% had a knowledge score ≥60%. Regression analysis results showed that, nurses' professional experience duration, working style, number of patients per shift and the experiences of giving care to patients with pressure ulcers were found to have a significant effect on the PUPKAI total mean score (p<0.05). According to the APuP total mean score (≥75%), the nurses had positive attitudes towards pressure ulcer prevention. It was also determined that the descriptive characteristics of the nurses did not significantly affect the APuP total mean score (p>0.05). There was no significant relationship between the total mean scores of the PUPKAI and APuP (p>0.05).

Conclusion: This study revealed that the surgical nurses had positive attitudes towards pressure ulcer prevention but they had inadequate knowledge about it. These findings highlight the need for institutional arrangements to ensure that nurses have access to evidence-based knowledge about pressure ulcer prevention.

Aim: In this study, we aimed to discuss our experience and results of non-operating room anesthesia.

Materials and Methods: Anesthesia records of patients older than 18 years who underwent sedo-analgesia outside the operating room for diagnosis and treatment between May 2017 and December 2017 were retrospectively screened. The records were examined in terms of demographic data, applied procedure, duration of the procedure, sedation grade, medications used, developing minor and major complications, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease story and intensive care need. Relationships between complications with demographic data and categorical variables were analyzed.

Results: Totally 2562 patients underwent sedo-analgesia. 1428 (55.7%) of these cases were female and 1134 (44.3%) of them were male. The average age of patients was 53.08±16.55. 268 (10.5%) of the cases were ASA I, 1683 (65.7%) were ASA II, 598 (23.3%) were ASA III and 13 (0.5%) were ASA IV. 519 (20.3%) patients were minimally sedated, 1541 (60.1%) were moderate sedated and 502 (19.6%) deep sedated. The longest procedure time in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was 28.7 ± 16.3 min, and the shortest procedure time in endoscopy was 10.3 ± 3.1 min. The most commonly performed procedure was colonoscopy with 31%. The most commonly used drug combination was midazolam + propofol + fentanyl applied to 1231 patients (48%). 148 (5.76%) patients had minor complication, and 10 (0.37%) patients had major complication. A total of 15 (0.58%) patients underwent intensive care after the procedure. Desaturation was statistically significantly higher in patients with ASA III and above, in procedures take longer than 15 minutes, in patients older than 65 years, and in the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The intensive care need after the procedure was also significantly higher in these patient groups.

Conclusion: The incidence of non-operating room anesthesia is increasing steadily. The risks associated with these practices are similar to the anesthesia in the operating room. In order to increase patient safety and reduce complications, it is important to carry out a thorough evaluation before the procedure, to provide proper monitored anesthesia care in appropriate physical conditions, and to establish healthy communication between the teams.