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Observation of Collider Neutrinos without Final State Muons with the SND at LHC Experiment
(American Physical Society, 2025) Abbaneo, D.; Ahmad, S.; Albanese, R.; Alexandrov, A.; Alicante, F.; Androsov, K.; Zamora-Saá, J.
We report the observation of neutrino interactions without final state muons at the LHC, with a significance of 6.4σ. A dataset of proton-proton collisions at s=13.6 TeV collected by SND@LHC in 2022 and 2023 is used, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 68.6 fb-1. Neutrino interactions without a reconstructed muon are selected, resulting in an event sample consisting mainly of neutral-current and electron neutrino charged-current interactions in the detector. After selection cuts, 9 neutrino interaction candidate events are observed with an estimated background of 0.32 events. © 2025 authors. Published by the American Physical Society. Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI. Funded by SCOAP3.
From Street Canyons To Corridors: Adapting Urban Propagation Models for an Indoor IQRF Network
(MDPI, 2025) Doyan, Talip Eren; Yalcinkaya, Bengisu; Dogan, Deren; Dalveren, Yaser; Derawi, Mohammad
Among wireless communication technologies underlying Internet of Things (IoT)-based smart buildings, IQRF (Intelligent Connectivity Using Radio Frequency) technology is a promising candidate due to its low power consumption, cost-effectiveness, and wide coverage. However, effectively modeling the propagation characteristics of IQRF in complex indoor environments for simple and accurate network deployment remains challenging, as architectural elements like walls and corners cause substantial signal attenuation and unpredictable propagation behavior. This study investigates the applicability of a site-specific modeling approach, originally developed for urban street canyons, to characterize peer-to-peer (P2P) IQRF links operating at 868 MHz in typical indoor scenarios, including line-of-sight (LoS), one-turn, and two-turn non-line-of-sight (NLoS) configurations. The received signal powers are compared with well-known empirical models, including international telecommunication union radio communication sector (ITU-R) P.1238-9 and WINNER II, and ray-tracing simulations. The results show that while ITU-R P.1238-9 achieves lower prediction error under LoS conditions with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 5.694 dB, the site-specific approach achieves substantially higher accuracy in NLoS scenarios, maintaining RMSE values below 3.9 dB for one- and two-turn links. Furthermore, ray-tracing simulations exhibited notably larger deviations, with RMSE values ranging from 7.522 dB to 16.267 dB and lower correlation with measurements. These results demonstrate the potential of site-specific modeling to provide practical, computationally efficient, and accurate insights for IQRF network deployment planning in smart building environments.
Clinicopathological Predictors of Central Lymph Node Metastasis in Clinically Node-Negative Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis
(Springer, 2025) Sakiz, Davut; Calapkulu, Murat; Sencar, Muhammed Erkam; Unsal, Ilknur Ozturk; Kartal, Mehmet Zabit; Ucan, Bekir; Cakal, Erman
PurposeThis retrospective cohort study aimed to identify clinicopathological predictors of central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).MethodsA total of 503 patients with PTC who underwent thyroidectomy with central lymph node dissection were included. Preoperative clinical data, ultrasonographic features, and postoperative histopathological characteristics were analyzed.ResultsCLNM was detected in 209 (41.55%) patients. Male sex (odds ratio [OR] = 3.12, 95% CI: 1.82-5.35), irregular nodule borders (OR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.25-3.26) and higher risk categories in the American Thyroid Association (ATA) ultrasonographic pattern stratification system (OR = 13.312, 95% CI: 8.623-20.551) were identified as independent preoperative predictors of CLNM. A simplified model incorporating only the ATA ultrasonographic pattern stratification system and male sex achieved 83.5% accuracy in predicting CLNM. Histopathological evaluation revealed lymphovascular invasion (OR = 4.61, 95% CI: 2.81-7.55), extrathyroidal extension (OR = 2.41, 95% CI: 1.52-3.83), and multifocality (OR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.04-2.40) as independent predictors of CLNM, while lymphocytic thyroiditis (OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.39-0.89) was a protective factor.ConclusionThis study establishes that ATA ultrasonographic suspicion patterns combined with the male sex provide an accurate and simplified model for preoperative CLNM prediction in PTC, outperforming complex nomograms. Key independent predictors included male sex, irregular nodule margins, ATA high-risk patterns, lymphovascular invasion, extrathyroidal extension, and multifocality, while lymphocytic thyroiditis was protective. According to the current study, risk assessment and personalized management should favor a holistic approach, rather than focusing solely on individual risk factors.
Effectiveness of Boric Acid in Sepsis in Rats With Cecal Perforation
(Springer Nature, 2025) Kurtipek, Ali Can; Dursun, Ali Dogan; Yigman, Zeynep; Ozdemir, Cagri; Kucuk, Aysegul; Gonullu, Ugur; Arslan, Mustafa
Introduction and AimSepsis is a systemic inflammatory response that develops in the host against microorganisms, which results in end-organ damage. Boric acid (BA) has been shown to have immune modulatory effects in vitro and in animal studies. The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of high dose BA on lung and kidney tissues in rats with sepsis induced by the CLP method.Method28 rats were randomly divided into four groups: Group C (control group), Group BA, Group CLP (cecal ligation and puncture), and Group CLP + BA. Cecum was ligated below the ileocecal valve and punctured. BA was administered to the treatment groups at an intraperitoneal dose of 200 mg/kg, and at the end of 24 h, lung and kidney tissue samples were collected and evaluated for biochemical and histopathological parameters.ResultsHistopathologically, in kidney tissue, CLP + BA group showed significantly less peritubular capillary dilatation and brush border loss in the proximal tubule epithelium compared to the CLP group. In lung tissue, CLP + BA group had significantly less alveolar wall thickening compared to the CLP group. Biochemical analyses indicated that BA administration reduced oxidative stress in both renal and lung tissues.ConclusionWe found that intraperitoneal administration of high dose boric acid partially ameliorated the tissue damage in rats subjected to CLP induced sepsis. Further studies are needed regarding the dosage and application at different time points.
Evaluation of Anti-Tetanus IgG Antibody Levels and Influencing Factors in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis
(Frontiers Media Sa, 2025) Ozsoy, Metin; Ozturk, Hakki; Tuna, Aysegul; Varlibas, Artuner; Cesur, Salih; Aksoy, Altan; Demir, Mehmet Emin
Aim: This study aimed to assess anti-tetanus IgG antibody levels and identify determinants of inadequate tetanus immunity among maintenance hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, anti-tetanus IgG levels were measured by quantitative ELISA in 162 adult HD patients from two dialysis centers in Ankara, Turkey. Protective immunity was evaluated using both international (>= 0.1 IU/mL) and robust (>= 0.5 IU/mL) cut-offs. Demographic and clinical factors associated with immunity were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. Results: Only 16.7% of HD patients achieved robust protection (>= 0.5 IU/mL), whereas 49.8% had minimal protection (>= 0.1 IU/mL). Protective immunity was independently associated with younger age (OR 1.07 per year; p = 0.004), shorter dialysis duration (OR 1.07; p = 0.030), male sex (female OR 2.92; p = 0.048), and recent booster vaccination within 10 years (OR 0.11; p < 0.001). Diabetes mellitus was not an independent factor. Conclusion: Most HD patients lacked durable tetanus immunity, particularly older females on long-term dialysis. The findings highlight the need for regular antibody monitoring, early revaccination, and structured booster programs to maintain adequate protection in this high-risk population.
Genomic Characterization of Five Novel Salmonella Phages and the Assessment of Their Biocontrol Potential for the Preservation of Chicken Meat
(Elsevier, 2026) Cufaoglu, Gizem; Cengiz, Gorkem; Acar, Bahar Onaran; Kardogan, Ozlem; Onmaz, Nurhan Ertas; Unal, Gultekin; Ayaz, Naim Deniz
The rise of multidrug-resistant Salmonella poses a significant threat to food safety and public health, necessitating novel antimicrobial strategies. The primary objective of this study was to characterize novel bacteriophages and assess their biocontrol potential against predominant Salmonella serotypes. A total of 84 lytic bacteriophages specific to various Salmonella enterica serotypes were isolated from wastewater sources across T & uuml;rkiye. Five phages (S.Hadar 4-5-1, S.Inf 5-2, S.Typ Adana, S.Ent 1-35-3, and S.Kent 1-2-1) demonstrating broad lytic activity to tested major serotypes (S. Enteritidis, S. Typhimurium, S. Infantis, S. Kentucky, S. Newport, S. Hadar, S. Gallinarum and S. Pullorum) and genetic diversity were selected for detailed phenotypic and genomic analysis. These phages, four from Siphoviridae and one from Podoviridae, exhibited tolerance to thermal (up to 60 degrees C) and mildly acidic conditions (pH 4), as well as 12-month stability when stored in Tris-Buffered Saline (TBS) with 20 % (v/v) glycerol at -20 degrees C and - 80 degrees C. Whole-genome sequencing confirmed their novelty and the absence of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes. A cocktail formulated from these phages was applied against Salmonella Enteritidis both in-vitro (at 37 degrees C) and on artificially contaminated chicken wings (at 4 degrees C). The phage cocktail effectively reduced Salmonella counts in both environments, keeping levels below the detection limit (< 1 log CFU/g) over 24 h. For chicken wings food model, bacterial reductions reached 3.30 log CFU/g and 4.86 log CFU/g. These results underscore the potential of the newly characterized Salmonella phages as effective tools for controlling bacterial contamination on chicken meat, supporting their use as a natural, and antibiotic-free strategy in modern food safety management.
Applications of Artificial Intelligence as a Prognostic Tool in the Management of Acute Aortic Syndrome and Aneurysm: A Comprehensive Review
(MDPI, 2025) Ayhan, Cagri; Mekhaeil, Marina; Channawi, Rita; Ozcan, Alp Eren; Akargul, Elif; Deger, Atakan; Soliman, Osama
Acute Aortic Syndromes (AAS) and Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm (TAA) remain among the most fatal cardiovascular emergencies, with mortality rising by the hour if diagnosis and treatment are delayed. Despite advances in imaging and surgical techniques, current clinical decision-making still relies heavily on population-based parameters such as maximum aortic diameter, which fail to capture the biological and biomechanical complexity underlying these conditions. In today's data-rich era, where vast clinical, imaging, and biomarker datasets are available, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful tool to process this complexity and enable precision risk prediction. To date, AI has been applied across multiple aspects of aortic disease management, with mortality prediction being the most widely investigated. Machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) models-particularly ensemble algorithms and biomarker-integrated approaches-have frequently outperformed traditional clinical tools such as EuroSCORE II and GERAADA. These models provide superior discrimination and interpretability, identifying key drivers of adverse outcomes. However, many studies remain limited by small sample sizes, single-center design, and lack of external validation, all of which constrain their generalizability. Despite these challenges, the consistently strong results highlight AI's growing potential to complement and enhance existing prognostic frameworks. Beyond mortality, AI has expanded the scope of analysis to the structural and biomechanical behavior of the aorta itself. Through integration of imaging, radiomic, and computational modeling data, AI now allows virtual representation of aortic mechanics-enabling prediction of aneurysm growth rate, remodeling after repair, and even rupture risk and location. Such models bridge data-driven learning with mechanistic understanding, creating an opportunity to simulate disease progression in a virtual environment. In addition to mortality and growth-related outcomes, morbidity prediction has become another area of rapid development. AI models have been used to assess a wide range of postoperative complications, including stroke, gastrointestinal bleeding, prolonged hospitalization, reintubation, and paraplegia-showing that predictive applications are limited only by clinical imagination. Among these, acute kidney injury (AKI) has received particular attention, with several robust studies demonstrating high accuracy in early identification of patients at risk for severe renal complications. To translate these promising results into real-world clinical use, future work must focus on large multicenter collaborations, external validation, and adherence to transparent reporting standards such as TRIPOD-AI. Integration of explainable AI frameworks and dynamic, patient-specific modeling-potentially through the development of digital twins-will be essential for achieving real-time clinical applicability. Ultimately, AI holds the potential not only to refine risk prediction but to fundamentally transform how we understand, monitor, and manage patients with AAS and TAA.
Investigation of Tetanus Seropositivity Levels in Adult Patients with Rabies Risk Exposure Admitted To a Hospital in Ankara
(Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 2025) Gürkaynak, P.; Demircan, Ş.A.; Tulek, N.; Kinikli, S.; Erdi̇Nç, F.Ş.; Tuncer, G.
Introduction: This study aimed to assess tetanus seropositivity levels among adult patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital following rabies risk exposure, and to explore potential factors influencing their immunological status. Methodology: This cross-sectional descriptive epidemiological study included 182 adult individuals (68 females and 114 males) who presented to the hospital following rabies risk exposure. The demographic data was collected during a face-to-face interview, and the tetanus antibody concentrations were assessed using a micro-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Serum antibody levels of ≥ 0.1 IU/mL were defined as “seropositive”, while values below this threshold were considered “seronegative”. Results: Seropositivity was identified in 81.9% of the patients. There was a significant decline in antibody levels with age (p < 0.001). The Spearman correlation analysis showed a moderately significant negative correlation between age and antibody titers (r = – 0.404, p < 0.001). In addition, there were significantly higher tetanus antibody levels in patients from urban areas, those vaccinated during pregnancy, and those vaccinated within the past 10 years (p = 0.025, 0.036, and 0.013, respectively). Conclusions: Overall, the results highlight a reduction in tetanus antibody levels with age, emphasizing the importance of receiving a booster dose every 10 years. In addition, rabies risk exposure, particularly in older adults, presents a valuable opportunity to administer tetanus vaccination. © 2025 Gürkaynak et al.
Evaluation of Clinical Characteristics, Risk Factors and Prognosis of Herpes Zoster (Shingles) Infection in Turkiye: Varicomp-Adult Study
(Elsevier Sci Ltd, 2025) Ozgen-Top, Ozge; Karacaer, Zehra; Ozkan, Ece Firuze; Ozger, Hasan Selcuk; Saltoglu, Nese; Oztoprak-Cuvalci, Nefise; Senol, Esin
Objective: The study aimed to determine the estimated prevalence of herpes zoster (HZ) infection in the adult population in Turkiye and the rates of HZ-associated complications and risk factors. Methods: This retrospective, multicenter ( n = 11), cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2016 and January 2022 and included all patients aged >= 18 years diagnosed with shingles following screening based on ICD-10 codes. The prevalence of HZ infection was calculated; rates of HZ-related complications (recurrence, hospitalization, postherpetic neuralgia [PHN]) and associated risk factors were determined. Results: A total of 6114 HZ patients were included; the estimated 5-year HZ prevalence in Turkiye was 908.7 per 10 0,0 0 0 population. Of the patients, 851 (14.2%) were immunocompromised, 366 (6%) were hospitalized due to HZ, 284 (8.9%) experienced PHN, 97 (3.2%) experienced recurrence of the patients. Risk factors for PHN were older age ( >= 50 years [OR = 3.19; P < 0.001)], and trigeminal dermatome involvement (OR = 2.45; P = 0.006). Antiviral use was associated with reduced PHN risk (OR = 0.16; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Our multicenter cross-sectional study revealed the high burden of HZ in Turkiye and high-lighted the potential for increasing prevalence due to risk factors including aging and comorbidities. (c) 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Evaluation of Food Intake, Malnutrition, Growth and Development in Children With Esophageal Atresia: A Pilot Study From Turkey
(BMC, 2025) Konyaligil, Dilara Bersan; Koc, Nevra; Caliskan, Dogus; Kara Uzun, Aysun; Senel, Emrah
Background This study aimed to evaluate the relationships among nutritional intake, malnutrition, and growth and development in children under 2 years of age with esophageal atresia. Methods A survey was administered to the parents of healthy children and children with esophageal atresia who were followed up at Ankara City Hospital Pediatric Surgery Polyclinic. Nutrition education was provided, a follow-up visit was scheduled three months later, and the assessments were repeated. Results The study included 20 children with esophageal atresia and 40 controls under 2 years of age. Height-for-age, weight-for-age and head circumference measurements were significantly lower in children with esophageal atresia than in the control group (p < 0.05). At the second interview, triceps skinfold thickness for age and mid-upper arm circumference for age were also significantly lower in children with esophageal atresia compared to control group (p < 0.05). Statistically significant differences were observed in dietary and food consistency preferences, eating status, and swallowing function (p < 0.05). In addition, according to the Pediatric Eating Assessment Tool-10 and Screening Tool for Risk of Impaired Nutritional Status and Growth, a high prevalence of swallowing disorders and a moderate risk of malnutrition were identified in children with esophageal atresia (p < 0.05). At the end of follow-up, significant increases in weight-for-age and height-for-age z scores were observed over time in children with esophageal atresia (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the percentages meeting daily requirements for protein, carbohydrates and dietary fiber increased over time (p < 0.05). Swallowing symptoms improved over time in children with esophageal atresia, and their current dietary patterns remained significantly different from those of the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions Appropriate nutritional support delivered with a multidisciplinary approach and long-term follow-up can help children to achieve a growth rate appropriate for their peers.
Organ-Protective Effects of Fullerenol and Desflurane in a Rat Model of Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury
(Nature Research, 2025) Kip, G.; Köksal, Z.; Yigman, Z.; Küçük, A.; Arslan, M.; Akarca-Dizakar, S.Ö.; Sivgin, V.
To investigate the protective effects of fullerenol applied before ischemia induction and desflurane anesthesia applied during ischemia–reperfusion (IR) induction in the lungs and kidneys of a lower-extremity IR injury rat model. After receiving ethical approval, we randomly divided 30 rats into five groups: sham (S), IR, IR with 100 mg/kg fullerenol (IR-FUL), IR with 6.7% desflurane (IR-DES), IR with 100 mg/kg fullerenol and 6.7% desflurane (IR-FUL-DES). Fullerenol was administered 30 min before the IR procedure in the IR-FUL and IR-FUL-DES groups, and desflurane was administered during the IR procedure in the IR-DES and IR-FUL-DES groups. During the procedure, an atraumatic microvascular clamp was placed in the aorta for 120 min. The clamp was then removed to achieve reperfusion for 120 min. Finally, at the end of reperfusion, we evaluated the extracted lung and kidney tissue samples and assessed them biochemically and histopathologically. The lung damage scores of the IR-FUL, IR-DES, and IR-FUL-DES groups were significantly lower than those of the IR group (p <.0001, p =.002, and p <.0001, respectively). The renal tubule injury scores of the IR, IR-FUL, IR-DES, and IR-FUL-DES groups were significantly higher than those of the S group (p <.0001). By contrast, the renal tubule injury scores of the IR-FUL and IR-FUL-DES groups were significantly lower than those of the IR group (p <.0001 and p =.001, respectively). Moreover, kidney intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1) expression was significantly lower in all the treatment groups, particularly the IR-FUL group, than in the IR group, and lung ICAM1 expression was significantly lower in the IR-FUL and IR-FUL-DES groups than in the other treatment groups. In the lung and kidney tissues, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels, catalase activity, glutathione-S-transferase activity, and arylesterase activity were relatively high in the treatment groups. The application of fullerenol before and after desflurane anesthesia during IR has protective effects on rat lungs and kidneys. In particular, histopathology confirmed that the application of fullerenol 30 min before IR induction and desflurane anesthesia during IR induction reduced oxidative stress and alleviated IR-related damage in the lungs and kidneys. These findings may have important translational relevance, suggesting potential perioperative strategies for protecting organs from ischemia–reperfusion injury in clinical settings. © The Author(s) 2025.
Barriers to and Facilitators of Phosphate Control in Children with CKD
(Elsevier Science Inc, 2025) Mcalister, Louise; Shaw, Vanessa; Pugh, Pearl; Joyce, Triona; Snauwaert, Evelien; Bathgate, Fionna; Lambert, Kelly
Introduction: Managing mineral and bone disorder in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) requires control of serum phosphate levels. However, hyperphosphatemia is common, particularly in adolescents, reflecting suboptimal adherence to phosphate-binder medications and a reduced phosphate diet. We explored phosphate-related knowledge and adherence barriers in children, and their caregivers, using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods study design. Methods: Children aged 8 to 18 years with CKD stages 4 and 5, on dialysis or post-transplantation, and caregivers, were recruited from 3 UK pediatric kidney centers. The Phosphate Understanding and Knowledge Assessment questionnaire was used to assess knowledge. Online focus groups explored real-world challenges to phosphate control. Results: Forty-eight children and 43 caregivers were recruited; 44 (92%) children and 33 (75%) caregivers completed the questionnaire. Median knowledge scores were 64.3% (interquartile range, 55.3-78.6) for children and 72.7% (interquartile range, 64.3-85.7) for caregivers (P = 0.04). Older children scored higher (P = 0.01, R 2 = 0.13), but knowledge did not correlate with serum phosphate. Dietary restriction was perceived as more challenging than using phosphate-binders (59% children; 71% caregivers). Forty-six participants, including 30 child-caregiver dyads, joined focus groups. The following 5 themes were identified encapsulating the experiences of families: practical advice and support are valued; personalized strategies are preferred to facilitate sense-making; the social environment of the child and family is disrupted; education and self-management skills can influence success; and the journey requires acceptance, adaptation, and perseverance. Conclusions: In pediatric CKD, poor adherence to phosphate advice originates more from social and practical barriers than knowledge deficits. Our findings can inform personalized strategies to improve adherence in real-world settings.
Rehabilitation in Neuromuscular Diseases: Best Turkish Practice Recommendations by Multidisciplinary Experts
(Springer Heidelberg, 2025) Umay, Ebru; Tanigor, Goksel; Toraman, Fusun; Karaahmet, Ozgur; Bilgilisoy, Meral; Sertpoyraz, Filiz; Nazli, Fatma
Background and aim:Neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) are a heterogeneous group of diseases including motor neurone diseases (MND), muscle diseases (MD), neuropathies and neuromuscular junction diseases (NMJD). NMDs are characterized by a wide range of symptoms and findings, depending on different underlying issues. Therefore, the literature includes specific management and/or rehabilitation recommendations for each subgroup and even for some diseases within these subgroups. Currently, neither in our country nor globally is there a comprehensive recommendation study that thoroughly addresses all aspects of NMD rehabilitation developed by experienced and specialized multidisciplinary experts in the field.Materials and methodsThe recommendations in this paper have been created by a multidisciplinary team for all patients without age limitation under the headings of peripheral neuropathy/polyneuropathy, MND, MD and NMJD using the seven-step and 3 round modified Delphi method via e-mail. The strength of agreements (SOA) was calculated for each item (recommendation) using percentages (response of between 8 and 10%), median values, and interquartile range with Kappa method.ResultsThe opinions of the experts were analysed according to the 3-round modified Delphi method, and a list of 110 items of recommendations for patients with NMDs of all ages was prepared in as much detail as possible to shed light on almost all questions and problems that may be encountered in clinical practice. There were 5 recommendations in the general management subsection, 20 recommendations in the rehabilitation indications subsection, 8 recommendations in the rehabilitation contraindications section, and 77 recommendations in the rehabilitation section (general principles 7 recommendations, modalities 13 recommendations, exercise characteristics 57 recommendations).ConclusionWe think that this study will be a light for physicians dealing with this patient group in clinical practice, as it includes fine details up to exercise prescriptions.
Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) for Head and Neck Cancer in the Elderly Population: Functional Outcomes, Survival, and Complications
(Wiley, 2025) Pamuk, Erim; Beharry, Avinash; Lambercy, Karma; Dalla-Vale, Margaux; Wahler, Nina; Hosal, Sefik; Simon, Christian
Objective: To compare functional and oncologic outcomes in elderly (>= 70 years) and nonelderly (< 70 years) patients after transoral robotic surgery (TORS). Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on 114 patients who underwent TORS for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma between 2012 and 2022. Patient and tumor characteristics, perioperative details, complications, and survival parameters were analyzed. Swallowing function was assessed using the Functional Outcome Swallowing Scale (FOSS). Results: Of the 114 patients, 37 (32.5%) were elderly, and 77 (67.5%) were nonelderly. Elderly patients had higher comorbidity scores (p < 0.001). Oropharyngeal and oral cavity primaries were more common in the nonelderly group, whereas laryngeal primaries predominated in elderly patients (p < 0.01). Complication rates were higher in nonelderly (37.6%) than in elderly (18.9%) patients, though not statistically significant (p = 0.07). In elderly patients, FOSS scores showed no significant change preoperatively, postoperatively (< 3 months), or at the last follow-up (median 36 months). The nonelderly group experienced worse early postoperative FOSS scores compared to baseline but showed significant improvement, returning to preoperative levels by the last follow-up. Nonelderly patients had better FOSS scores at last follow-up compared to elderly patients (p = 0.014). Overall and recurrence-free survival outcomes were better in the nonelderly group, but disease-specific survival rates were comparable. Conclusion: Despite higher comorbidity rates in the elderly, TORS demonstrated favorable complication rates in the elderly population. Swallowing function returned to baseline after 3 months in both groups. TORS appears safe for elderly patients with comparable oncologic outcomes.
Right Renal Ectopia Following Major Weight Loss
(BMJ Publishing Group, 2025) Abdulrasool, Amjed Safaa; Noack, Morten Westergaard; Overgaard, Ellen Kristine; Abdulrasool, Mujtaba
Presenting with severe stomach pain from sigmoid volvulus, a woman in her 90s was effectively treated with colonoscopic desufflation. Interestingly, serial imaging over 16 years demonstrated gradual cranial displacement of the right kidney to the hepato-diaphragmatic space without prior trauma, surgery or congenital abnormalities. The patient remained asymptomatic with respect to renal function despite significant anatomical displacement. No specific intervention was required for the ectopic kidney. It is important to recognise the potential for organ migration associated with ageing, significant weight loss or metabolic alterations, particularly in the context of increasing use of weight-loss medications. Awareness of such anatomical variants can prevent misinterpretation of incidental findings on clinically indicated imaging. Routine imaging solely to detect asymptomatic positional changes is not justified.
Predicting Stroke Risk Using Machine Learning: A Data-Driven Approach to Early Detection and Prevention
(Wiley, 2025) Sutcu, Muhammed; Jouda, Dana; Yildiz, Baris; Katrib, Juliano; Almustafa, Khaled Mohamad
Stroke is a major global health concern and a leading cause of disability and mortality, emphasizing the need for early risk prediction and intervention. This study leverages statistical analysis, machine learning (ML) classification, clustering, and survival modeling to identify key stroke predictors using a dataset of 5110 records. Descriptive statistics reveal that age, glucose levels, BMI, hypertension, and heart disease are the most influential risk factors. Stroke prevalence is notably higher among hypertensive (13.25%) and heart disease patients (17.03%), as well as among former (7.91%) and current smokers (5.32%). Clustering analysis using PCA and t-SNE highlights high-risk groups with elevated glucose levels and advanced age. Among ML models, XGBoost offers the best trade-off between precision and recall, while na & iuml;ve Bayes achieves the highest recall (0.404), detecting more stroke cases despite higher false positives. Feature importance analysis ranks glucose, BMI, and age as dominant predictors, with XGBoost emphasizing cardiovascular conditions. Survival analysis confirms increasing stroke risk beyond age 60, with the Kaplan-Meier and Cox models showing a 31.9% risk increase linked to hypertension. These findings underscore the importance of early screening, lifestyle intervention, and targeted care. Future research should explore data-balancing methods like SMOTE and develop real-time tools to support clinical decision-making.
The Effect of Two Different Types of Daily Disposable Monofocal Contact Lenses on Ocular Wavefront Aberrations
(Elsevier B.V., 2025) Yakar, K.
Background: To compare the effect of two daily disposable soft contact lenses on ocular wavefront aberrations. Methods: This study included 34 eyes from 17 patients aged 18 to 40 years (mean age: 27.12±8.3 years) with identical myopic refractive errors in both eyes without astigmatism and requesting contact lens use. Initially, wavefront aberrations; total, tilt, high, total coma, total trefoil, total 4.foil, sphere, high astigmatism, RMS (3 mm/5 mm) were measured using Nidek OPD Scan II aberrometer/topograph in both eyes without contact lenses. Acuvue Oasys with HydraLuxe 1-Day (senofilcon A) daily disposable contact lenses were applied to the right eye, while Precision 1 (verofilcon A) daily disposable contact lenses were applied to the left eye based on refractive errors. Wavefront aberration measurements were repeated 60 min later with contact lenses, and aberrations were compared to baseline and fellow eyes' measurements. The magnitudes of aberration changes after contact lens application were analyzed. Results: Both types of daily disposable contact lenses reduced total wavefront aberrations. Acuvue Oasys with HydraLuxe 1-Day contact lenses showed a significant increase in total trefoil aberration (p = 0.048). Precision 1 contact lenses showed a significant increase (p = 0.034) only in total tilt aberrations compared to baseline. No significant differences were found between the lenses regarding changes in all wavefront aberrations. Conclusion: Both daily disposable lenses effectively reduced total wavefront aberrations, though they increased certain subtypes of high-order aberrations in young adult myopes. © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Role of Latissimus Dorsi-Thoracolumbar Fascia Complex Stretching on Pain and Pain-Related Parameters in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomised Clinical Trial
(Wiley, 2025) Ulug, Naime; Kodak, Seyde Busra; Kodak, Muhammed Ihsan; Aslan, Sema Nur
Background Fascial stretching is gaining interest as a potential intervention for pain management. However, evidence regarding the effect of latissimus dorsi-thoracolumbar fascia (LD-TLF) complex stretching in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of LD-TLF complex stretching on pain-related factors and disability in patients with CLBP. Methods Thirty patients with CLBP were randomly assigned to a study group (n = 15; 7 men, 8 women) and a control group (n = 15; 7 men, 8 women). The study group received 4 weeks of LD-TLF complex stretching in combination with conventional physiotherapy, while the control group received conventional physiotherapy only. Outcomes were assessed before and after the interventions, including primary measures of pain pressure thresholds (PPT) at thoracolumbar fascia levels (L1, L3 and 12th costa), and secondary measures included the Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire (PSQ), the effects of pain on daily activities measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), and disability assessed by the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (ODQ). Results Pre- and post-treatment PPTs, at the L1, L3 vertebrae and 12th costa levels, demonstrated significant differences between the study group and control groups. Post-treatment thresholds were significantly higher compared to pre-treatment thresholds (p < 0.001, eta p(2) = 0.67; p < 0.001, eta p(2) = 0.61; p < 0.001, eta p(2) = 0.74). Additionally, significant improvements were found in PSC, BPI and ODQ scores in the study group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion The results of this study suggest that stretching the LD-TLF complex may be a beneficial addition to the conventional physiotherapy approach for patients with CLBP. Specifically, LD-TLF complex stretching, when used in combination with conventional physiotherapy, appears to provide improved pain thresholds, decreased pain sensitivity and pain during activity, as well as reduced disability compared to conventional physiotherapy alone in patients with CLBP.
Erratum: Correction to: Stem Cell and Advanced Nano Bioceramic Interactions (Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology (2018) 1077 Doi: 10.1007/978-981-13-0947-2_17.)
(2018) Köse, S.; Kankilic, B.; Gizer, M.; Ciftci Dede, E.; Bayramli, E.; Korkusuz, P.; Korkusuz, F.
Factors Affecting Dentists' Intention To Adopt Artificial Intelligence: An Extension of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) Model
(Emerald Group Publishing Ltd, 2025) Alqaifi, Faten; Tengilimoglu, Dilaver
PurposeAdvancements in science and technology have integrated artificial intelligence (AI) into dentistry, improving treatment processes, operational efficiency, and clinical outcomes. However, AI adoption among dentists remains underexplored, hindering progress in oral healthcare. This study aims to identify key barriers to AI adoption and examine factors influencing dentists' intention to use AI.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative cross-sectional approach was employed, utilizing self-administered questionnaires distributed online and across various dental clinics and hospitals in Ankara, Turkey. A total of 440 dentists participated in the study. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS and SmartPLS.FindingsThe study found that AI-anxiety negatively affects the intention to adopt AI in dentistry, showing a medium (almost large) effect that is stronger than other UTAUT factors such as performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence, which demonstrated only small effects. Dentists with higher anxiety about learning and sociotechnical blindness are less likely to adopt AI, while concerns about job replacement and AI-configuration have less but still significant impact.Research limitations/implicationsThese results contribute to the growing body of knowledge on technology adoption in oral healthcare and provide practical implications for technology developers, policymakers, and other stakeholders seeking to facilitate AI integration in dentistry.Originality/valueThis study provides novel insights into AI adoption in dentistry, offering guidance for future development and integration, and addressing a critical research gap in a growing field-particularly in Turkey, where implementation is still in its early stages.

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