Makale Arama

 Celiac disease is the only life-long continuing food intolerance. This intolerance, caused by gluten, endamages the structure of small intestine and prevents the absorption of nutritional elements. Celiac disease is usually related with other auto-immune diseases. Rate of this disease in our country is increasing in time. It can be seen in people of different ages and different clinical findings. In our day, the most efficient way of treatment is removal of gluten from daily diet. Gluten-free diet that step in treatment phase, affects the living of individual in a period in which growth and development is most rapid. By applying the gluten-free diet strictly, the risk of complications like low bone mineral density and intestine malignite related with the disease, can be decreased. However, it is not always easy to apply and keep track of gluten-free diet by family or child. Moreover, gluten-free diet can cause excess of some nutritional elements (saturated fat), gaining high calorie, and poorness of some nutritional elements (fiber, folic acid, vitamin B ₁₂, iron, zinc, magnesium). Particularly, gluten-free products, when compared with their gluten-including equivalents, have less magnesium, fiber, and folic acid, as well as they are far more expensive. It is determined that a lot of patient considered "resistant" to diet treatment are also eating gluten-including food. Therefore, gluten-free diet should be planned and followed well, and family and child should be educated. This editted article is about, celiac disease, diet treatment for celiac disease, principles of the diet treatment, concordance to the diet, and the factors that effects this concordance.

Introduction: Patients with neurological diseases may require intensive care support as a result of respiratory failure due to various reasons. Some of them benefit from intensive care supportive treatment while others continue to live as caregivers or need rehabilitation programs. It is important for the rational use of intensive care beds that the routing process to the palliative care, rehabilitation centers or discharge of patients with prolonged treatment in the intensive care unit should be managed well

Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the data of our patients who were hospitalized with the diagnosis of primary neurological diseases in the intensive care unit and terminated with exitus or referred to home / palliative care between January 2017 and May 2018 with the permission (17073117-050.06 decision no) of XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX scientific studies committee. Patients who transferred to other clinics were excluded from the study. APACHE II/SAPS II scores, hospitalization day, mechanical ventilation time, tracheostomy and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy requirement, home ventilator supply and the situation of discharge from intensive care unit of patients were recorded

Results: A total of 942 patient files were reviewed retrospectively and 74 (7.8%) of our patients were neurological patients who were died or discharged to directly home\palliative care. Most of the patients in the study had severe dementia (30 patients, 40.5%) and fewer number of patients had ischemic stroke (21 patients, 28.3%). Sixty of the 74 patients (81.1%) died in the intensive care unit. Only 5 patients were transferred to palliative care (6.8%).

Conclusion: Increasing transfer from intensive care to palliative care is important for the effective use of intensive care beds. Therefore, it is suggested that intensive care patients should be evaluated periodically to be directed to palliative care

Aim: Cardiovascular events, including ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD), are the primary source of death in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Checking ECG parameters such as QT interval, QT dispersion (QTd), TPe interval, TPe/QT ratio, and cardiac-electrophysiological balance (iCEB = QT/QRS) can be useful for classifying patients with high arrhythmia and SCD risk. Our study aimed to compare the change of electrocardiographic parameters before and after the HD session with the healthy control group.

Methods: A total of 49 HD patients and 50 healthy volunteers were included in the study. The groups were divided into two groups as hemodialysis and control group. ECGs of the hemodialysis group were evaluated before and after dialysis. ECG data were scanned and evaluated on a digital platform. QT, cQT, QTd, TPe, TPe/QT, TPe/cQT, QT/QRS, and cQT/QRS were measured.

Results: While QTd, cQTd, TPe, TPe / QTc, and QRS decreased significantly after hemodialysis compared to pre-HD(p <0.05 for each), HR, iCEB, and iCEBc showed a significant increase after dialysis treatment (p <0.05 for each). Comparing pre-dialysis ECG parameters with the control group, QT, cQT, QTd, cQTd, TPe and iCEBc were significantly higher in pre-HD (p <0.05 for each). Comparing the ECG parameters after dialysis, HR, cQT, QTd, cQTd, iCEB, and iCEBc values were significantly higher than the control group (p <0.05 for each).

Conclusion: By evaluating the electrocardiographic parameters showing ventricular repolarization and depolarization together, the risk of arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death can be predicted in HD patients.

Bleeding can not be absolutely terminated in spite of conventional techniques of hemostasis. In order to investigate the effect of  Ankaferd Blood Stopper^® (ABS) on persisting bleeding after conventional hemostasis, we applied topical ABS spray or plasebo on orthognatic surgery (n=19). Substances were applied to the surgical field after  conventional methods of hemostasis. In orthognatic surgery group, the association of blood loss with the operation type, age, gender, ABS usage, duration of operation and blood pressure   was analyzed. The rates of Hb and Htc decline was % 25 in ABS group and % 19 (Hb), % 20 (Htc) in placebo group. The only significant association was with gender indicating a higher blood loss with being male (p=0,01). In conclusion, this study did not reveal any ABS effect on bleeding from the surgical site persisting after  conventional hemostasis.

Aim: Gallbladder cancer is an uncommon, but aggressive tumor. Its prognosis is poor and the most cases are incidentally detected in histopathological examinations of cholecystectomies due to benign diseases. With the era of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the number of cases detected in early stage is increasing. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the rate of cancer encountered and the distribution of non-cancer diagnoses in cholecystectomy materials sent to our department, together with the literature findings.

Materials and Methods: The results of the cholecystectomy materials sent to the pathology laboratory and examined routinely in 2016-2017 were retrospectively evaluated by forming diagnostic groups. Clinical preliminary diagnoses, demographic informations (age, sex), and pathology reports of the patients were reviewed.

Results: We included a total of 1000 cholecystectomy materials into the study. Two of the 7 patients who presented with malignancy were incidentally diagnosed and underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy with the preliminary diagnosis of cholelithiasis, with the primary focus was gallbladder in one patient, and the other was compatible with colonic adenocarcinoma infiltration. Preoperative and / or perioperative malignancy was detected in the remaining 5 patients. A large proportion (> 90%) of the other cases had chronic or chronic active cholecystitis and low rate of acute cholecystitis included gastric heterotopia found in 2 (0.2%), tubular adenoma in 1 (0.1%), tubulovillous adenoma in 1 (0.1%), adenomyoma / adenomyomatosis in 4 (0.4%), polyp in 6 (0,6%) and dysplasia (Biliary intraepithelial neoplasia, BilIN) in 5 (0.5%) patients.

Objective: The aim of our study is evaluate the association between serum vitB12 levels at time of diagnosis and clinical and laboratory signs in multiple myeloma patients.

Material and Methods: Patients were divided into two groups; those had low and normal levels of vitB12. Groups were analized by using independent simple T, Mann Whitney U and chi-square tests considering by distrubition characteristics of data.

Results: Two hundred-and-twelve patients' records were examined retrospectively. Forty-one (32%) patients had low vitB12 levels. In patients with low vit B12 levels, bone marrow plasma cell ratios were also significantly lower than those found normal vit B12 levels (median %30 vs %50, respectively) (p: 0,024). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, lytic bone lesion numbers, and serum levels of total protein, lactate dehydrogenase, ß2-microglobulin, calcium, creatinin, albumin. However, 11 patients (%26,8) in low vitB12 group had anemia, while 44 (%50,5) patients in normal vitB12 group had. So, anemia was more often in vitamin B12 normal group patients (p: 0,019). No difference was found in terms of myeloma ISS and R-ISS stages in two patient groups.

Conclusions: Bone marrow median plasma cell ratio was also low in the group with low vit B12 levels. Our data could not show its clinical reflection. Further studies with larger groups are required to evaluate the response to treatment, survival and recurrence rate.

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.

Objectives:

Customer satisfaction surveys are a routine device used to assess performance. Surveys are used in hospitals to check physician and patient satisfaction. Hamad Medical corporation’s (HMC) histopathology laboratory is College of American pathologists (CAP) accredited with highly trained pathologists and technical staff that routinely undertake various educational courses and are involved in research related activities. The lab has state of the art staining and immunohistochemistry service as well. However, it was felt that not all clinicians are very comfortable approaching pathologists and some many times experience problems either contacting lab staff or updating histopathology orders. Hence to narrow down the problems encountered by the clinicians and improve the specimen flow through the lab along with the communication between clinician and pathologist, that we deem vital, we designed this pilot survey.

Methods:

The survey questionnaire was made online with 15 questions in total and the link was electronically mailed to all Consultant and Specialist physicians in Hamad medical corporation (HMC). Around 3500 emails were sent out but only 105 surveys were filled in two months’ time. The survey included questions pertaining to multiple facets of quality of histopathology services and information regarding the participant.

Results:

The overall satisfaction was highest for Multidisciplinary presentations (96%) and lowest (77%) for timeliness of reporting. The satisfaction was above 90% for clarity and format, Diagnostic accuracy and pathologists’ responsiveness to problems. Thirty six percent of the people rated MDT presentations as excellent while 46% of the people thought overall quality of professional interaction was good. The areas of improvement, as per this survey, was timeliness of reporting and notifications of significant abnormal results (overall satisfaction 79%). Majority of the people who took the survey (36%) were from internal medicine and half were members of multidisciplinary meetings (49%). Seventy-one of percent of the participants were from Hamad General hospital (HGH), while rest were from the other hospitals under HMC.

Conclusion:

The response rate for the survey was low, hence another survey with a wider reach, preferably by paper, is required to get more representative data. In general, the clinicians at HGH are satisfied with the services provided by the histopathology laboratory. Areas of improvement include Turnaround time (TAT), avoidance of descriptive reports and better communication with the ordering clinician.

Keywords:

Quality control, quality improvement, survey, histopathology, Laboratory

Aim: This study aimed to determine the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients infected with the VOC 202012/01-B.1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2 and to compare these patients with those infected with other variants of SARS-CoV-2, in order to demonstrate the differences.
Patients and Methods: Records of 671 patients with VOC 202012/01 (B.1.1.7)(VOC+) who tested positive in the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, between February 2–11, 2021 in Konya Province, and were found to have the VOC 202012/01 (B.1.1.7), according to variant analysis and 2284 (VOC−) patients who also tested positive in the PCR test between the same dates but did not have the variant (VOC−) were screened in the Public Health Administration System of the Turkish Ministry of Health, on February 24, 2021. Age, gender, hospitalization status, and admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) were recorded from the screening results.
Results: There was no statistically significant difference between hospitalization status, according to the presence/absence of the variant (p= 0.234). Of the patients who were variant-positive and those who were not, 1.9% and 3.9% were admitted to the ICU, respectively. The rate of admission to the ICU was significantly higher for patients who were not positive for the variant as compared to those who were (p=0.013).
Conclusıons: In the light of the findings of this study, it is possible to state that SARS-CoV-2 VOC 202012/01(B.1.1.7) is not more dangerous in terms of hospitalization and admission to the ICU.

Aim: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is associated with an aggressive course and short survival. Conventional chemotherapy (CT) is the mainstay of SCLC treatment. However, the majority of information on chemotherapy (CT), as well as information on demographic data of patients, is based on studies from several decades ago. In this study, we aimed to determine the current demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with SCLC and to determine their responses to the treatments.

Patients and methods: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, cohort study. Definitions of survival were overall survival (TOS) and survival after metastasis (MOS). TOS was calculated as the time from the diagnosis to the date of death or last visit. MOS was calculated as the time from the diagnosis of metastasis to the date of death or last visit.

Results: The data of 161 patients were analyzed. Response rates obtained with 1st line CT, 2nd line CT, and 3rd line CT were 72.2%, 43.3%, and 40.4%, respectively. The median TOS and median MOS were calculated as 15.7 months (0.03-106.97) and 13.79 months (0.03-79.54), respectively. Although they were metastatic, ten patients had never received first-line CT, and the median MOS was 1.88 months and 14.62 months, respectively, in those who did not receive CT and received CT. Twenty-one (18.9%) of the 111 patients who needed second-line treatment did not receive CT, and the median MOS was 8.39 months and 18.45 months, respectively, in those who did not receive CT and received CT. Eighteen of the 65 patients (27.7%) who required the third-line treatment did not receive CT, and the median MOS was found to be 15.36 months and 23.86 months, respectively, in those who did not receive CT and received CT. The presence of metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis and refusal of treatment were statistically significant parameters affecting the median TOS. And, poor performance status and refusal of treatment were statistically significant parameters parameters affecting the median MOS.

Conclusions: In this study, it was confirmed that early diagnosis of SCLC was associated with a survival advantage. It was shown that the patients who received and were able to tolerate the treatment had obtained a survival advantage, regardless of the disease phase.

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.

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.

Aim: We aimed to investigate the effects of intravenous glucose administration in the lateral hypothalamic
area (LHA) on the levels of noradrenaline, dopamine and their metabolites dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG)-
dihydroxyphenylaceticacid (DOPAC) by brain microdialysis method.
Patients and Methods: Adult male Wistar albino rats in 2 normally fed groups and 2 groups of restricted
food intake for 24 hours (saline and glucose administered) were used. Microdialysis procedures were
performed on the rats in LHA under anesthesia and samples were collected in 20 minutes. After the first
samples were recorded as control, 0.9% saline was administered to the control groups and 50% glucose
solution was administered intravenously to the glucose groups at a dose of 1.4 ml/kg. During the next 40
minutes, samples were collected and analyzed on the HPLC-ECD system. One-way ANOVA was used for
statistical evaluation.
Results: Noradrenaline concentration was higher in fasted rats than in satiated animals at baseline.
Noradrenaline levels at the 20th minute were significantly decreased in both fasted-satiated groups
compared to control group (p=0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the 40th minute
noradrenaline values and dopamine-DHPG-DOP AC levels compared to control.
Conclusion: Systemic glucose administration decreased LHA noradrenaline concentration in fasted and
satiated rats. It can be mentioned that noradrenergic neurotransmission in LHA can be modulated by
plasma glucose.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the demographic characteristics, emergency care needs and prognosis of patients aged 65 years and older who presented to our Emergency Medicine Clinic with abdominal pain for a period of one year.

Patients and Methods: In this single-center, retrospective, observational study included patients aged 65 years and older who presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain between June 15, 2015 and June 14, 2016. The related variables were recorded from the patients' electronic and written files. The general patient population and the differences of variables in the 65-74 age group, 75-84 age group and ≥85 age group were investigated.

Results: A total of 1330 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 75.2 ± 7.2 years and 582 (43.8%) were male. While 58.8% of the patients were discharged from the emergency department, the most common hospitalization wards were General Surgery (14.1%) and Gastroenterology (11.4%). The ICU admission rate increased with age (p<0.001; 3.3% - 5.8% - 11.6%). The mean length of stay in hospital was 5.9 ± 7.1 days and the in-hospital mortality rate was 3.4%. While 50.1% of the patients in the 65-74 age group were discharged from the emergency department without consultation, this rate decreased to 36.6% in the ≥85 age group and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). Abdominal ultrasound was performed in 34.1%, abdominal tomography in 20.0% and both of them in 7.5% of the patients.

Conclusion: The patients aged 85 years and older with abdominal pain are more likely to be characterized by more examination needs, more consultation needs, more hospitalization rates and higher mortality rates. Taking these differences into consideration during the management of the elderly patients with abdominal pain in emergency department will help to reduce morbidity and mortality rates while improving patient care quality.

Objective: The aim was to review the hormonal status, treatment and histopathological diagnosis of patients admitted to our endocrinology outpatient clinic with the diagnosis of adrenal incidentaloma.

Material and Methods:Between 2015-2018, 217 patients with adrenal incidentaloma who were admitted to the endocrinology outpatient clinic were included in the study. 1 mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test (DST), 24 hour urine free cortisol, 24-hour urine methanephrine and normetanephrine levels were evaluated in all patients.Patients who also have hypertension or hypokalemiawere screened for the plasma aldosterone/renin activity ratio. CT or MRI imaging properties of adrenal incidentalomas were screened.

Results: In the evaluation of cases; 180 (83%) of the masses were evaluated as non-functional and 37 (17%) as functional. Of the 37 patients evaluated as having functional adrenal mass; 10 (4.6%) pheochromocytoma, 5 (2.3%) Cushing's syndrome, 9 (4.1%) subclinical Cushing’s syndrome and 13 (6%) primary hyperaldesteronism were detected. In 180 patients who were evaluated as having non-functional adrenal mass; metastatic disease in 7 (3 non-small cell lung cancer, 1 breast cancer, 1 prostate carcinoma and 2 unknown primary cancer), myelolipoma in 4, ganglioneuroma in 1, hydatid cyst in 1, adrenocortical carcinoma in 2 patients were detected.

Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it is not uncommon for adrenal incidentalomas to be functional. It may be malignant in some cases. For this reason, adrenal incidentaloma is a condition that should be examined both in terms of
functionality and malignancy potential.

Abstract

Objective

There is still no consensus on nonoperative management (NOM) for the treatment of patients with liver injury due to multiple trauma. In this study, we aimed to present our experience in patients who underwent NOM in our hospital due to liver injury resulting from blunt trauma.

Material & Methods

In this study, a total of 104 patients who presented to our hospital with liver injury due to multiple trauma were retrospectively evaluated. Patients with successful NOM and those who underwent laparotomy due to failure of NOM were grouped.

Results

All of the 104 patients had solid organ injury due to blunt abdominal trauma, and 58 of these had thorax trauma. NOM was successfully performed in 94 patients with liver injury due to blunt abdominal trauma. The treatment was converted to surgery in 10 patients during conservative follow-up. According to injury grades; 35 patients were graded as Grade 1, 23 patients as Grade 2, 24 patients as Grade 3, and 12 patients as Grade 4. Data of 10 patients with liver trauma and NOM failed were compared with those of the NOM group.

Conclusion

The development of complications increases in patients with high-grade injury or those accompanied by thorax trauma. The rate of complications is high in patients who receive NOM in Grade 4 injury.

Aim: In this study, examination of the index of cardiac-electrophysiological balance (iCEB) and of other
risk markers for cardiac arrhythmia in electrocardiography of children with acute rheumatic carditis was
aimed.
Patients and Methods: Forty pediatric patients with acute rheumatic carditis and 40 healthy children
matched in terms of gender and age were retrospectively enrolled in the study between January 2016
and August 2018. Demographic data of all cases were obtained from records. By electrocardiography, P
dispersion (Pd), dispersion durations of QT (QTd) and corrected QT (QTcd), Tpeak-to-end interval (Tpe),
ratios of Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc, and measurements of iCEB and corrected iCEB (iCEBc) were all
compared between the groups. Statistically significant dif ference was accepted as p< 0.05.
Results: In the patient and control groups, mean ages were 11.40±3.48 years and 11.41±3.31 years,
respectively. Both groups had 16 female (40%) and 24 male (60%) children. In the patient group, heart
rate, PR interval, Pd, QTd, QTcd, Tp-e, Tp-e/QT ratio and iCEBc were found to be significantly increased.
Though iCEB level was higher in the patient group, there was no statistically significant difference with
healthy controls.
Conclusion: In children with acute rheumatic carditis, repolarization-depolarization balance may be
impaired. Therefore, in addition to other electrocardiographic risk parameters for arrhythmia, use of
iCEB(c) may also be beneficial. However , further studies on this issue are needed.

Aim: Characterization of carbapenemase genes in K. pneumoniae isolates was aimed. Patients and Methods: In this study, 95 multi-drug resistant K. pneumoniae from samples between July 2016 and December 2017, were included. The MIC of meropenem, tigecycline and colistin were determined by Vitek 2, Etest and Broth Microdilution Methods (BMD). The Categorical agreement (CA), Very Major Error (VME) and Major Error (ME) rates were calculated and evaluated. The mcr-1, blaOXA-48, blaOXA-181, blaNDM-1, blaVIM, blaIMP genes were detected. Results: The meropenem resistance were determined in the isolates by BMD, Vitek 2 and Etest are respectively; as 70.5%, 87.4%, 81.1%. According to the BMD method, the rates of CA, VME and ME were determined by Vitek 2; Etest as 69.5%, 4.8% and 20 %; 70.5%, 1.5 % and 0 % respectively. It was determined that our isolates showed the highest sensitivity to tigecycline. The CA rates were determined by Vitek 2 and Etest for tigecycline as 70.5% and 95.8%. The ME rate determined by Vitek 2 was above the acceptable limit of 7.6%. The colistin resistance was 48.4% via BMD. The CA; VME; ME ratios determined by Vitek 2/Etest were 86.3%/72.6%; 17.4%/50%; 10.2%/6.1% respectively. In the isolates, predominantly blaOXA-48 (93.7%) was detected. blaOXA-48 was detected alone in 56. isolates and together with blaOXA-181 genes in 33 isolates. Lower colistin MIC levels were found in the only OXA-48 positive strains than in isolates together with OXA-181. The blaNDM-1 gene was investigated in 3.2% of the isolates. PCR and carbapenemase combined disc results were found to be compatible in 91.3% of the isolates. Conclusion: The blaOXA-48 gene region remains prevalent. In addition, comprehensive identification of the real prevalence and resistance dynamics of blaOXA-48-like gene regions will contribute to the development of national carbapenemase surveillance policies.

Aim: In this study, it was aimed whether biochemical parameters, vital signs and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio
(NLR) values could be used in determining the indication for intensive care hospitalization in COVID-19
patients.
Patients and Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted in the emergency department
of a university hospital. Patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test who applied to our hospital on 1-31 July
2020 were included in the study. Laboratory results, demographic findings and clinical results of the patients
were collected electronically. The patients were divided into 3 groups as discharged, admitted to the service
or intensive care unit. The incidence and severity of symptoms, comorbidities, laboratory values, and NLR
values were compared between the groups.
Results: A total of 489 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the included patients was 48.69
+ 17.25 years, of which 260 (53.16%) were female. While 248 (50.9%) of these patients were discharged,
207 (42.3%) were taken to the service and 33 (6.7%) to the intensive care units. Age, heart rate, urea,
creatinine, CRP, D-dimer and NLR values of the patients admitted to the intensive care unit were higher
than the other groups, while oxygen saturation was statistically significantly lower in this group. Concomitant
systemic diseases such as Diabetes Mellitus, Essential Hypertension, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease were more common in those hospitalized in the intensive care unit. In multivariable analysis, oxygen
saturation (OR:0.803) and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (OR:1.09) were found to be independent predictors of
the indication for hospitalization in the intensive care unit.
Conclusion: As a result of our study, we think that especially low oxygen saturation and high neutrophillymphocyte
ratio can be used in determining the indication for intensive care hospitalization in patients who
apply to the emergency department due to COVID-19.

ABSTRACT

Aim: Avascular necrosis of the femoral head (AVN) is the necrosis of the bone and the bone marrow resulting from the injury or the occlusion of the blood supplying vessels of the femoral head. Specially it is seen in mostly young and middle aged individuals and requiring mostly surgical procedures. Despite all advances in the surgical procedures, still a high rate of the hip prosthesis is a requirement in the treatment. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) alone or in combination with surgery is reported to be effective in some clinical AVN cases. HBOT is also a treatment method which is used in ischemic diseases resulting from vascular injuries or occlusions. Enoxaparin is an antagonist of factor Xa which is found in the coagulation system. Beside its anticoagulant effect it has been shown that it has an osteopenic effect, inhibits osteoblast maturation and increases osteoclast activity in the bone.

Material and Methods: In this study effects of enoxaparin and HBOT were investigated in the treatment of experimentally formed AVN of the femoral heads of the rats. For this purpose, avascular necrosis model was applied to the left femoral heads of 64 rats and the results of the treatments alone and together were investigated.

Results: In this study results have shown that an increase in the new bone formation, and remodelisation with less changes in the cartilage tissue than in the controls. An increase in the necrotic tissue clearing rate observed in the HBOT applied groups. The best results were achieved with the HBOT and enoxaparin combined applications.

Conclusion: In this study HBOT alone, enoxaparin alone or combination of these two treatments have a positive effect in the experimental femoral head AVN and supporting the clinical studies in the femoral head AVN.

Keywords: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, avascular necrosis, enoxaparin

Abstract

Aim: Respiratory infections caused by PIV are related to major morbidity and hospitalization rates in infants and young children. The aim of the present retrospective study is to investigate the rate and seasonal distribution of PIV infections in pediatric patients with lower respiratory tract infections.

Patients and Methods: Nasopharyngeal swab specimens of pediatric in- and outpatients with the diagnosis of lower respiratory infection were collected from various pediatric clinics between January 2014 and December 2016. PIV types 1, 2, 3 and 4 were identified by multiplex real time PCR method.

Results: One of the four PIV types was identified in 224 of 1983 nasopharyngeal swab specimens of patients aged less than 18 years (11.3%). PIV-3 was the most common agent among the subtypes (75%) followed by PIV- 4 (15.2%). The rate of PIV-1 and PIV-2 were 5.8% and 4%, respectively. Of all pediatric patients, 75.9% were under 5 years of age. When the seasonal distribution was examined, it was determined that PIV-3 was frequently observed in summer (53.6%), whereas PIV-1 and PIV-2 were observed in autumn and winter months.

Conclusion: PIV-3 was the most common subtype. Prompt identification of PIV by multiplex real time PCR method would be very helpful for clinicians in the treatment and prevention of the respiratory infections caused by viral pathogens.

Aim: In this study, we aimed to present our 10-year experience regarding clinicopathology characteristics and
overall survival of 69 patients with adenocarcinomas of esophag ogastric junction (AEJs).
Patients and Methods: A total of 69 consecutive patients diagnosed with AEJ and operated in our clinics
were included in the study. Patients’ demographic characteristics; laboratory parameters, surgical resection
approach; TNM stages; resection extent; total number of removed lymph nodes; tumor localization; presence
of lymphatic, vascular and perineural invasion and overall survival (OS) status were recorded. The patients
were divided into two groups as Siewert Type II and Siewert Type III.
Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of age (p=0.696)
and gender (p=0.140). Distribution of T stage was statistically significantly different between the groups
(p=0.026). OS was found to be significantly higher in patients at R0 level compared to those at R1 level. OS
was statistically significantly higher in patients without lymphatic, vascular and perineural invasion. 1-year OS
was determined as 83.50%, 3-year OS as 49.10% and 5-year OS as 43.60%. The risk of mortality increased
by 8.63 folds in the presence of perigastric fat infiltration, 12.60 folds in the case of vascular invasion and
13.45 folds in the case of perineural invasion. The survival rate was found as 51% and 41% in the Siewert
Type II and Type 3 patients at median 10-year follow-up.
Conclusion: This study had successfully evaluated the clinicopathological characteristics and overall
survival, and demonstrated that Siewert II tumors and Siewert III tumors had similar survival outcomes.
Further comprehensive multicenter studies with larger series and long-term studies are needed to provide
contribution to the existing evidence on outcomes of patients w ith AEJs.

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.

Aim

The decision to start treatment in sarcoidosis is made based on clinical and radiological findings and changes in pulmonary function test findings during follow-up, and more useful tools are needed in treatment management. F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron required important tomography / computed tomography (PET/CT) contains important information about the extent of sarcoidosis. On the other hand, the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) opens as a good prognostic marker for tissue-related inflammation. This study evaluated the relationship between the 18F-FDG PET/CT findings of sarcoidosis and NLR and other clinical findings.

Material and methods

The data of the patient who was diagnosed with sarcoidosis after 18F-FDG PET/CT examination in our clinic were retrospectively reviewed. Patients' age, gender, NLR values, smoking status, extrathoracic involvement and symptoms, and 18F-FDG PET/CT findings were compared.

Results

This study consisted of 41 patients. There was a strong correlation between NLR and whole body total lesion glycolysis (TLG), and moderate correlation between  MAIA and NLR (r values: 0.852, 0.660, both of them p value: <0.001, respectively). There was a significant difference between the groups showing only thoracic involvement and additional extrathoracic involvement with MAIA, TLG and NLR values (p values,: 0.002, 0.001 and, 0.003, respectively). In the classification made according to the symptoms of the patients, there was no significant difference between the groups with SUVmax, MAIA, TLG and NLR values. Median values were found to be significantly higher in the elderly group (p values: 0.037 and 0.040, respectively). In the classification made according to gender; there was no significant difference in both PET/CT parameters and NLR values.

Conclusion

The close relationship between the NLR value, which is accepted as a prognostic indicator in sarcoidosis, and the 18F-FDG PET / CT findings which show the involvement of the disease in the whole body, may provide the clinician with significant benefits in treatment management.

Aim: The prolonged process of new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and related restrictions cause
physical inactivity, fear of COVID-19, and fatigue in individuals. During the pandemic, kinesiophobia may
raise fear of death and physical inactivity in patients. However, kinesiophobia and its relationship with
physical activity (PA), fear of COVID-19, and fatigue in individuals have not been known yet, which was
therefore aimed to investigate in the current study .
Patients and Methods: Adult individuals (n=166, 36.3±15.37 years) were included in the study.
Kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia), PA levels (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-
Short Form), fear of COVID-19 (Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCS-19)), and fatigue (Numeric Rating Scale)
were evaluated remotely between 3 June 2021 and 30 June 2021 th rough an online platform.
Results: Of the individuals, 91 (54.8%) had a high level of kinesiophobia, 55 (33.1%) were inactive, 84
(50.6%) were minimally active, and 27 (16.3%) were very active. Kinesiophobia score was significantly
correlated with age, weight, body mass index, education level, and walking, total PA, FCS-19, and fatigue
scores (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Kinesiophobia and physical inactivity are prevalent in many individuals. Although individuals
have no disease during the COVID-19 pandemic, their kinesiophobia level increases as walking, physical
activities, and education levels decrease. Kinesiophobia also increases as age, weight, body mass
index, fear of COVID-19 and fatigue increase. Considering the negative effects of kinesiophobia and the
prolonged pandemic process, individuals should be urgently dire cted to P A counseling programs.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the predictive value of (F/T)/PSAD and Free PSA/PSAD in PCa detection in Turkish males.

Material-Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients’ files, from January 2007 to December 2017, with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values between 4-10 ng/dl was conducted. According to the prostate biopsy outcomes, data were collected from patients and divided into prostate cancer (PCa) and/or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) groups. Among the groups, prostate volume (PV), Free PSA (FPSA), Total PSA (TPSA), free-to-total PSA ratio (F/T), PSA Density (PSAD), (F/T)/PSAD, and FPSA/PSAD values were evaluated and compared. The utilization of these values in PCa detection was examined. We compared our results statistically with the ROC curve and calculated the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV values.

Results: The present study participants were 131 PCa and 196 BPH patients, 327 in total. Sensitivity and specificity values of (F/T)/PSAD and FPSA/PSAD were better than PSAD, PSA, F/T. According to the optimal cut-off value, the sensitivity of (F/T)/PSAD and FPSA/PSAD was similar. Likewise, NPV of F/T, (F/T)/PSAD, and FPSA/PSAD were also similar. The logistic regression model using a combination of age, PV, FPSA/PSAD, and (F/T)/PSAD displayed a higher AUC than each of these values per se.

Conclusion: FPSA/PSAD and (F/T)/PSAD, the relatively new parameters, have similar predictive accuracy in PCa detection. They have higher sensitivity and specificity than F/T PSA and PSAD alone. However, more research is needed to evaluate the efficiency of predictive value of these parameters.

\r\n Objective: Early diagnosis of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (CSCC) is the most important factor affecting prognosis and most patients have a good prognosis. Some patients defined as high-risk group have high rates of regional recurrence and distant metastasis, and follow an aggressive course. In addition, recently numerous studies have being performed for determining the importance of sentinel lymph node sampling, and sentinel lymph node (SLN) positivity has been associated with a poor prognosis. In this study, we aimed to determine prognostic importance of SLN outcomes in patients with high-risk patients diagnosed with CSCC.

\r\n Patients & Methods: A total of 29 patients who underwent excisional operation in various body regions with the diagnosis of CSCC between 2009 and 2017, with available complete clinical and pathologic data were included in the study. At least 9-month clinical follow-up results, high risk factors and sentinel lymph node biopsy outcomes of the patients were recorded and analyzed. Patients with at least one of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) criteria were considered as high-risk group.

\r\n Results: Twenty-five of the 29 CSCC patients were in the high-risk group. SLN positivity rate was 12% (n: 3/25) in the high-risk CSCC patients, all patients in the low-risk group had negative SLNs. All patients with SLN positive underwent local complementary lymphadenectomy, and all of these patients were re-operated due to recurrence. The rate of recurrence was found as 100% (n= 3/3) in high-risk CSCC patients with positive SLN, and 18% (n= 4/22) in high-risk CSCC patients with negative SLN. High recurrence rates (41.6%) and SLN positivity were observed in patients with hand-foot localizations.

\r\n Conclusion: High rates of local recurrence may be seen during progression of the disease in SLN positive patients. Hand-foot localization of CSCCs can be considered as a high risk factor regardless of a tumor diameter should be above 0.6 cm.

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.

Aim: Atrial fibrillation is a common disorder and is an important cause of thromboembolic events. Recently, direct oral anticoagulant drugs (DOACs) are being used to reduce the frequency of thromboembolic events among these patients. DOACs have several advantages over oral vitamin K antagonists, such as fixed dosage and fewer side effects. However, since the drugs and their affects cannot be monitored directly, difficulties are encountered in assessing drug efficacy and side effects. For this purpose, platelet indices and their relationship with DOACs may be utilized for the prediction of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic events.

Patients and Methods: 301 patients with atrial fibrillation who were using DOACs were included in the study. Platelet indices such as platelet count, platelet distribution volume, plateletcrit, platelet-large cell ratio were evaluated at the first and sixth months. The effect of DOACs on these indices and relationships with bleeding events were investigated.

Results: All groups were similar in regard to baseline platelet indices, except for lower P-LCR value among recipients of rivaroxaban. When post-treatment results were compared, all groups were found to have similar values in all parameters. However, time-bound comparisons revealed that apixaban and dabigatran significantly reduced P-LCR value after 6 months of use.

Conclusion: This study showed that apixaban, rivoraxaban and dabigatran had no effect on platelet count, MPV, PDW, PCT values in whole blood count of patients with non-valvular AF. All characteristics of those with and without hemorrhagic events were also similar of patients with non-valvular AF.