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Article Correlation of Clinical Signs and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in Patients With Lumbar Spondylosis(Turkish League Against Rheumatism, 2023) Altan, Lale; Ökmen, Burcu Metin; Tuncer, Tiraje; Sindel, Dilşad; Çay, Hasan Fatih; Hepgüler, Simin; Uğurlu, HaticeObjectives: The purpose of the study was to contribute further to this debated topic by investigating the correlation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings with the clinical picture in lumbar spondylosis patients. Patients and methods: This multicenter retrospective study (as part of the epidemiological project of the TLAR-OASG [Turkish League Against Rheumatism-Osteoarthritis Study Group]) included 514 patients (101 males, 413 females; mean age: 63.6±10.8 years; range, 40 to 85 years) who were diagnosed as lumbar spondylosis by clinical examination and direct X-ray between December 2016 and June 2018. Demographic characteristics of patients, Visual Analog Scale for pain, presence of radiating pain, Roland-Morris disability questionnaire, straight leg raise test, deep tendon reflexes, neurogenic intermittent claudication symptoms, any decrease of muscle strength, and abnormality of sensation were recorded. Lumbar MRI findings of the patients were recorded as positive or negative in terms of disc herniation, intervertebral disc degeneration, root compression, osteophytes, spinal stenosis. Statistical analysis was done to assess the correlation between the clinical symptoms, physical examination, and MRI findings. Results: Correlation analysis of the MRI results and the clinical findings showed a significant correlation between straight leg raise test and root compression (p<0.001, r=0.328) and a significant correlation between neurogenic intermittent claudication and spinal stenosis (p<0.001, r=0.376). Roland-Morris disability questionnaire had a significant correlation with all MRI findings (p<0.05, r<0.200). Conclusion: The results of this study corroborate the notion that diligent patient history and physical examination are more valuable than MRI findings, even though a higher incidence of abnormal MRI findings have been obtained in patients with disability and dermatomal radiating pain.Article Citation - WoS: 6Effectiveness of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation and Myofascial Release Techniques in Patients With Subacromial Impingement Syndrome(Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2022) Celik, Merve Sinem; Sonmezer, Emel; Acar, ManolyaPurpose To compare the effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and myofascial release technique in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome on pain, range of motion, muscle strength, quality of life, functionality and disability. Methods Thirty patients were randomly divided into two groups: proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation group (n = 15) and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation combined with myofascial release technique group (n = 15). Both treatment methods were performed 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Pain severity was assessed by Visuel Analog Scale, range of motion by a goniometer, muscle strength by digital hand dynamometer, quality of life by Nottingham health profile, functionality by arm, shoulder and hand problems questionnaire, disability by shoulder pain and disability index. All measurements were used before and after treatments. Pain severity, range of motion and muscle strength were also evaluated after the first session. Results After the treatment, shoulder pain, range of motion, muscle strength, functionality and disability were improved in two groups (p < 0.05). Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation showed improvement in pain, whereas myofascial release technique improved pain, physical activity, emotional state, sleep and total dimensions of life quality (p < 0.05). Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation was more effective in reducing activity pain, whereas myofascial release technique was more effective in increasing flexion, external and internal rotation range of motion, flexion and abduction muscle strength after the first session (p < 0.05). Conclusions The combined application of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and myofascial release technique has a more acute and cumulative positive effect on pain, range of motion, muscle strength, functionality, disability and quality of life in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome.Article Toxoplasma gondii Coinfection in HIV-Positive Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital(Bentham Science Publ Ltd, 2025) Kurkcu, Muhammed Furkan; Bakir, Ayfer; Kaba, Semiha Berra Topsakal; Kusabbi, Ilknur Alkan; Usluca, SelmaIntroduction: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) can cause serious complications in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed individuals. This study aims to assess the seroprevalence of T. gondii among HIV-positive individuals and to investigate its association with age, sex, CD4+ T cell count, HIV RNA levels, and hematological parameters. Methods: This study included 247 HIV-positive individuals followed up at a tertiary care hospital between November 1, 2022, and November 30, 2024. We analyzed serum samples for T. gondii IgG antibodies using electrochemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. Results: The prevalence of T. gondii IgG seropositivity was found to be 32.8% (n=81; 95% CI: 26.9-39). The median age of seropositive individuals was 52 years (IQR: 42-61), which was significantly higher compared to seronegative individuals (p<0.001). The highest IgG seropositivity rate (66.7%) was observed in the 61-80 age group. Hemoglobin levels were significantly lower in IgG seropositive individuals (p=0.040). Logistic regression analysis indicated an increased risk of T. gondii infection with advancing age. The odds ratio for the 41-60 age group was 13.3 (95% CI: 1.6-106, p=0.02), while for the 61-80 age group, it was 28 (95% CI: 3.3-240, p=0.002). Discussion: The seroprevalence of T. gondii in HIV-positive individuals was lower than both global and regional averages. Age was identified as an independent risk factor for T. gondii seropositivity. Additionally, hematological alterations associated with anemia were observed in seropositive individuals. Further large-scale, multi-center, and regionally representative studies are required to optimize T. gondii infection management and screening strategies in people living with HIV. Conclusion: These findings suggest that T. gondii infection in HIV-positive individuals increases with age and may be associated with anemia, highlighting the need for age-focused screening and management strategies.Article Investigation of Tetanus Seropositivity Levels in Adult Patients with Rabies Risk Exposure Admitted To a Hospital in Ankara(J Infection Developing Countries, 2025) Gurkaynak, Pinar; Demircan, Serife A.; Tulek, Necla; Kinikli, Sami; Erdinc, Fatma S.; Tuncer, GunayIntroduction: 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.Article Citation - WoS: 23Citation - Scopus: 25Comparison of Cellular Proliferation on Dense and Porous Pcl Scaffolds(Ios Press, 2008) Sasmazel, Hilal Tuerkoglu; Gumusderelioglu, Menemse; Gurpinar, Aylin; Onur, Mehmet AliIn this contribution, PCL (poly-e caprolactone) scaffolds were prepared by solvent-casting/particle-leaching technique in the presence of two pore formers, PEG(4000) or sucrose molecules in different quantities (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 55 w/w% PEG(4000)/PCL; 10, 20 w/w% Sucrose/ PCL). The surface and bulk properties of the resulting scaffolds were studied by SEM, DSC and FTIR. SEM photographs showed that, macroporosity was obtained in the PCL structures prepared with sucrose crystals while microporous structure was obtained in the presence of PEG(4000) molecules. Average pore diameters calculated from SEM photographs were 40.1 and 191.2 mu m for 40% PEG(4000)/PCL and 10% Sucrose/PCL scaffolds, respectively. The DSC and FTIR results confirmed that there is no any interaction between pore formers and PCL during structural formation, and both pore formers, PEG(4000) and sucrose, remained independently in the scaffolds. L929 mouse fibroblast cells were seeded onto PCL structures and maintained during 7 days to evaluate cell proliferation. Cell culture results showed that, 10% Sucrose/ PCL scaffold was the most promising substrate for L929 cell growth due to 3-D architecture and macroporous structure of the scaffold.Article Citation - WoS: 2Citation - Scopus: 2Paraoxonase and Oxidative Stress Changes in Left and Right Ventricles of Exhaustively Exercised Rats(Canadian Science Publishing, 2021) Sarikaya, Badegul; Runa, Metin; Dayanir, Duygu; Gunduztepe, Yasemin; Pinar, LamiaExhaustive exercise can cause subclinical inflammation to the heart, as it is an oxidative tissue that works continuously. The effect of exhaustive exercise on left and right ventricles (LVs, RVs) may be different. It is claimed that paraoxonase-1 (PON1), an antioxidant enzyme, has a cardioprotective effect on oxidative stress. Rats were separated as non-exercised controls (Con), those euthanized immediately after (E-0) and 24 h after exhaustive exercise (E-24). Cardiac troponin-I (cTnI), total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), PON1 activities, and histological findings in LV and RV of the exhausted rats were evaluated. TAS and PON1 levels were lower in LVs compared with RVs of all groups. TOS levels were high in LVs compared with RVs of all groups. In LVs, TAS levels decreased significantly in the E-0 group while PON1 activity decreased in E-0 and E-24 groups compared with controls. In LVs, TOS levels decreased significantly in E-0 and E-24 groups, but in RVs a decrease was seen only in the E-0 group. cTnI levels increased significantly in the E-0 group and decreased to control levels in the E-24 group. Considering the histological and biochemical findings, exhaustive exercise affected the heart to the maximum during and just after exhaustion, and LV was influenced more than RV.Article Citation - WoS: 11Citation - Scopus: 15Biomechanical Comparison of Sinus Floor Elevation and Alternative Treatment Methods for Dental Implant Placement(Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2017) Kucukkurt, Sercan; Alpaslan, Goekhan; Kurt, AhmetObjective: In this study, we compared the success of sinus lifting and alternative treatment methods in applying dental implants in cases lacking adequate bone due to pneumatization of the maxillary sinus. Methods: In a computer environment, 3D models were created using computerized tomography data from a patient. Additionally, implants and abutments were scanned at the macroscopic level, and the resulting images were transferred to the 3D models. Five different models were examined: a control model, lateral sinus lifting (LSL), short dental implant placement (SIP), tilted implant placement (TIP) and distal prosthetic cantilever (DC) use. Vertical and oblique forces were applied in each model. The compression, tension and von Mises stresses in each model were analyzed by implementing a finite element analysis method. Results: In our study, the LSL method was observed to be the closest to the control model. The TIP model showed high stress values under conditions of oblique forces but showed successful results under conditions of vertical forces, and the opposite results were observed in the SIP model. The DC model provided the least successful results among all models. Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, the LSL method should be the first choice among treatment options. Considering its successful results under conditions of oblique forces, the SIP method may be preferable to the TIP method. In contrast, every effort should be made to avoid the use of DCs.Article Citation - WoS: 2Citation - Scopus: 2Protective Effect of Aerobic Exercise on the Nasal Mucosa of Rats Against the Histopathologic Changes in Cigarette Smoke Exposure(Sage Publications inc, 2020) Akkoca, Ozlem; Unlu, Ceren Ersoz; Tatar, Ilkan; Sargon, Mustafa Fevzi; Zeybek, Dilara; Oguztuzun, SerpilIntroduction: Smoking is a public health problem that has been proven to have adverse effects on human health. Aerobic exercise has positive effects on the human body, especially on the respiratory system. Objective: The aim of this experimental animal model study was to determine whether regular aerobic exercise has a protective effect against the harmful effects of cigarette smoke on the nasal mucosa of rats. Methods: A total of 24 male Wistar albino rats were randomly separated into 3 groups of 8: group 1 (cigarette smoking), group 2 (cigarette smoking and exercise), and group 3 (control group). At the end of the experiment period, histopathological (light and electron microscopy) and immunohistochemical (GSTA 1, CYP1A1, and CYP2E1) evaluations were made of the nasal mucosa of the animals. Results: Goblet cell loss and basal membrane thickening were significantly lower in group 2 and group 3 compared to group 1. In the electron microscope evaluation, the inflammatory expressions of the goblet cells were observed in a very small area in group 2. In group 1, these were distributed over large areas between the mucosal cells. There was seen to be significant swelling of the mitochondria in group 1 compared to the other groups. No statistically significant difference was determined between the groups with respect to GSTA1, CYP2E1, and CYP1A1 scores (P> .05). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that regular aerobic exercise has a protective effect against the harmful effects of smoking on the nasal mucosa of rats.Article Citation - WoS: 1Syntactic Scrambling in Broca’s Aphasia: a Turkish Sample(S. Karger AG, 2025) Arslan, B.; Çiyiltepe, M.M.; Karaman, M.Introduction: Broca’s aphasia (BA) is a language disorder that causes grammatical errors in the language production skills of patients. Contemporary studies revealed the fact that patients with BA (PBA) also have difficulty in analyzing the meaning of phrases and sentences and comprehending the real meaning of the discourse produced by the speaker. The purpose of this study was to investigate possible effect of syntactic movement by changing the word positions in the sentence with morphological markers in order to produce clauses without changing the meaning on the phrasal comprehension skills of Turkish-speaking patients with BA. Method: A total of 300 participants were divided as study (n = 150) and control (n = 150) groups between ages of 27–89. A test that included 20 relative clauses and 9 noun clauses (in total 29 phrases) was assigned to the PBA and the control group (CG). Relative clause phrases originated from simple sentences by adding suffixes to the verb as a function of Turkish morphology. Each suffix indicated a specific noun, object, or subject, and each figure in the test was related to one of them. A researcher asked participants to match the demanded clause with the 6 possibly related pictures for relative clause and 3 for noun clauses. Results: Findings indicated that BA patients in our study had a lack of comprehending relative clauses due to the syntactic movement of words in the object and subject positions. Compared to the responses of the CG, PBA had significantly lower scores when the object and subject positions have moved from their original positions. BA patients also obtained significantly lower scores in object type questions. Conclusion: Our findings support the fact that comprehension processing in PBA should be investigated profoundly to be able to understand the nature of the disorder in different languages. In Turkish, syntactic movement of words to form a relative clause caused the BA patients to have significant problems to assign the semantic roles to the words in the existence of movement or change in their original positions. © 2025 S. Karger AG, Basel.Article Citation - WoS: 3Citation - Scopus: 4Semptomatik Çok Ciddi Aort Darlıklı Hastalarda Transkateter Aort Kapak İmplantasyonun Etkisi(Kare Publ, 2021) Karaduman, Bilge Duran; Ayhan, Hüseyin; Keles, Telat; Bozkurt, EnginAmaç: Aort darlığı (AD) ilerleyici bir hastalıktır ve tek tedavi seçeneği olan kapak replasmanı semptomatik hale geldikten sonra ve geri dönüşümsüz miyokardiyal hasar gelişmeden önce yapılmalıdır. Çok ciddi aort darlığı (ÇCAD) hastalarında cerrahi kapak replasmanı asemptomatik olsa bile önerilmektedir. Ancak ÇCAD hastalarında transkateter aortik kapak implantasyonunun (TAVI) etkisi hakkında ayrıntılı bir çalışma yoktur. Bu çalışmada amacımız, semptomatik ÇCAD hastalarında TAVI’nin uygulanabilirliğini ve güvenilirliğini göstermektir. Yöntemler: Merkezimizde TAVI uygulanan toplam 505 ardışık semptomatik AD hastası retrospektif olarak incelendi. Hastaların ortalama yaşı 77.8±7.6 yıl ve %56.4 kadın idi. Hastalar ÇCAD grubu (n: 134 hasta) ve yüksek gradyentli AD grubu (YGAD, n: 371 hasta) olarak iki gruba ayrıldı. Bulgular: ÇCAD grubunda daha fazla kadın cinsiyet, daha yüksek sol ventrikül ejeksiyon (SV) fraksiyonu, daha fazla küçük SV, hipertrofik SV, daha fazla normal koronerler ve daha az koroner arter hastalığı, bypas cerrahisi, miyokard enfarktüsü ve atriyal fibrilasyon öyküsü vardı. Predilatasyon ve Edwards SAPIEN 3 ÇCAD grubunda olarak daha az kullanıldı. VARC-2 kriterlerine göre majör komplikasyonlar ve hastane içi mortalitede (ÇCAD grubu; 5 hasta, YG AD grubu; 16 hasta, p: 0.769) istatistiksel fark saptanmadı. İki grup arasında Cox regresyon modeli sağ kalım eğrisinde ÇCAD lehine istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark vardı (p<0.001). Sonuç: Bu çalışmamız ile semptomatik çok ciddi aort darlığında TAVI’nin kabul edilebilir komplikasyon ve daha yüksek sağ kalım oranları ile uygulanabilir ve güvenli olduğu gösterilmiştir. Hâlihazırda cerrahi kapak replasmanı endikasyonu olan asemptomatik ÇCAD hastalarında TAVI uygulanabilmesi için daha fazla randomize büyük çalışma gereklidir.
