A rare clinical entity misdiagnosed as a tumor: Peliosis hepatic Yanlışlıkla tümör tanısı konmuş nadir bir klinik durum: Peliosis hepatic

Peliosis hepatis (PH) is a rare condition characterized by the presence of cystic, blood filled cavities within the hepatic parenchyma. Regardless of the reason, surgery should be performed under meticulous control of hemorrhage, if it is thought to be unavoidable. In this case report, ominous results of clinically misdiagnosed PH have been presented. PH should be kept on mind in all patients with hepatic mass, especially presented by sudden onset distention of the abdomen. Every effort should be done for the differential diagnosis with other cystic conditions like hydatid cyst in endemic areas

Anti-inflammatory and Anti-apoptotic Effect of Valproic Acid and Doxycycline Independent from MMP Inhibition in Early Radiation Damage

Background: Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors decrease inflammation in normal tissues and suppress cancer progress in normal tissues. Valproic acid (VA) and doxycycline (DX) are MMP inhibitors that have radio-protective effects. Their ability to inhibit MMPs in irradiated tissue is unknown and the role of MMPs in radio-protective effects has not been tested to date. Aims: The purpose of this study was to examine whether administration of VA and DX to rats before irradiation affects tissue inflammation and apoptosis in the early phase of radiation, and whether the effect of these drugs is mediated by MMP inhibition. Study Design: Animal experimentation. Methods: Twenty-six Wistar rats were randomized into four groups: control (CTRL), radiation (RT), VA plus radiation (VA+RT), and DX plus radiation (DX+RT).Three study groups were exposed to a single dose of abdominal 10 Gy gamma radiation; the CTRL group received no radiation. Single doses of VA 300 mg/kg and DX 100 mg/kg were administered to each rat before radiation and all rats were sacrificed 8 hours after irradiation, at which point small intestine tissue samples were taken for analyses. Levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP 9) were measured by ELISA, MMP activities were measured by gelatin and casein zymography and apoptosis was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. Results: VA decreased the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β proteins insignificantly and decreased apoptosis significantly in the irradiated tissue, but did not inhibit MMPs. In contrast, VA protected the basal MMP activities, which decreased in response to irradiation. No effect of DX was observed on the levels of inflammatory cytokines or activities of MMPs in the early phases of radiation apoptosis. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that VA protects against inflammation and apoptosis, and DX exhibits anti-apoptotic effects in early radiation and these effects are independent from MMP inhibition

Anti-inflammatory and Anti-apoptotic Effect of Valproic Acid and Doxycycline Independent from MMP Inhibition in Early Radiation Damage

Background: Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors decrease inflammation in normal tissues and suppress cancer progress in normal tissues. Valproic acid (VA) and doxycycline (DX) are MMP inhibitors that have radio-protective effects. Their ability to inhibit MMPs in irradiated tissue is unknown and the role of MMPs in radio-protective effects has not been tested to date. Aims: The purpose of this study was to examine whether administration of VA and DX to rats before irradiation affects tissue inflammation and apoptosis in the early phase of radiation, and whether the effect of these drugs is mediated by MMP inhibition. Study Design: Animal experimentation. Methods: Twenty-six Wistar rats were randomized into four groups: control (CTRL), radiation (RT), VA plus radiation (VA+RT), and DX plus radiation (DX+RT).Three study groups were exposed to a single dose of abdominal 10 Gy gamma radiation; the CTRL group received no radiation. Single doses of VA 300 mg/kg and DX 100 mg/kg were administered to each rat before radiation and all rats were sacrificed 8 hours after irradiation, at which point small intestine tissue samples were taken for analyses. Levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP 9) were measured by ELISA, MMP activities were measured by gelatin and casein zymography and apoptosis was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. Results: VA decreased the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β proteins insignificantly and decreased apoptosis significantly in the irradiated tissue, but did not inhibit MMPs. In contrast, VA protected the basal MMP activities, which decreased in response to irradiation. No effect of DX was observed on the levels of inflammatory cytokines or activities of MMPs in the early phases of radiation apoptosis. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that VA protects against inflammation and apoptosis, and DX exhibits anti-apoptotic effects in early radiation and these effects are independent from MMP inhibition

DINUTUXIMAB BETA-BASED CHEMO-IMMUNOTHERAPY FOR RELAPSED/REFRACTORY HIGH-RISK NEUROBLASTOMA: PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Background and AimsRelapsed or refractory (R/R) high-risk (HR) neuroblastoma (NB) has a dismalprognosis. Anti-GD2-mediated chemo-immunotherapy has a considerable anti-tumoractivity in patients with R/R HR-NB. In the present study, we purposed toinvestigate the impacts and adverse effects of the combination of immunotherapywith dinutuximab beta (DB) and chemotherapy in patients with R/R HR-NB.MethodsPatients of over 12 months with documentation of a HR-NB diagnosis wereeligible at relapse or designation of refractory disease status. Inclusioncriteria were as follows: relapsed or refractory, measurable bycontrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or computed tomography(CT) or metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG)/ fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emissiontomography (PET)/CT evaluable disease and/or demonstrated by bone marrowaspiration and biopsy. Chemotherapy scheme was irinotecan (IV, 50 mg/m² perdose, on Days 0-4) and temozolomide (PO, 100 mg/m² per dose, on days 0-4).Dinutuximab beta was administered intravenously for 10 days through continuousinfusion with 10 mg/m2 per day (on Days 1-10). The patients received 2 to 12successive cycles with duration of 28 days each. Disease assessment wasperformed after cycles 2, 4, and 6 and every 2 to 3 cycles thereafter.ResultsBetween January 2020 and January 2022, nineteen (n=19) patients received atotal of 116 cycles of DB+CT. Objective (complete or partial) responses wereachieved in 12/19 (63%) patients, including complete remission (CR) in 6/19 andpartial response (PR) in 6/19. Stable disease was observed in two patients. Theremaining five patients developed bone/bone marrow and soft tissue progressionafter 2-4 cycles of treatment. The most common side effect was fever, which wasmore common in the first cycles of treatment. Grade ≥3 toxicities wereleukopenia (62%), thrombocytopenia (27%), hypertransaminasemia (25%), fever(14%), and rash/itching (11%), respectively.ConclusionsDB-based chemo-immunotherapy is suitable leading to an encouraging responserate in patients with R/R HR-NB</p

45. Yıl Yazıları

İçinde bulunduğumuz 2017 yılı itibarı ile Hacettepe Üniversitesinin 50., İngiliz Dilbilimi Bölümünün ise 45. kuruluş yıldönümünü kutlamanın gurur ve mutluluğunu yaşamaktayız. Türkiye’deki ilk dilbilim bölümü olarak kurulduğu 1972 yılından bu yana geçen 45 yıllık sürede Bölümümüz dünyadaki bilimsel gelişmelere ve alandaki yeniliklere koşut biçimde yürüttüğü lisans ve lisansüstü programlarından çok sayıda öğrenci mezun etmiş, Türkiye’de dilbilimin gelişmesine, dilbilimcilerin yetişmesine ve dilbilim araştırmalarına önemli katkılar sağlamış, alanda çağdaş bilimsel bakış açısının yerleşmesinde ve gelişmesinde yapıcı bir rol üstlenmiştir. Bir bölüm için oldukça uzun sayılabilecek bu geçmiş, modern dilbilimin küçük-ölçekli incelemelerinden büyük-ölçekli ve disiplinlerarası incelemelerine kadar pek çok özgün araştırmanın gerçekleşmesine, Dilbilim Araştırmaları dergisi ve dilbilim kurultaylarının başlatılması, tematik çalıştayların düzenlenmesi, vb. çeşitli bilimsel ve akademik başarılara tanıklık etmiştir. Sınırlı olanaklara karşın özveriyle çalışmış ve çalışmakta olan akademik ve idari personelimizin bugünlere ulaşmamızda yadsınmaz katkıları bulunmak tadır. Emekli olan, farklı kurumlara geçen ya da aramızdan ebediyyen ayrı lan tüm hocalarımıza, idari ve hizmetli personelimize bu 45 yıllık geçmişi anlamlı kılan emekleri için gönülden teşekkür borçluyuz. Yıldönümümüzün anısı olarak hazırlanan ve 45. Yıl Yazıları başlığıyla sunduğumuz bu kitap, Bölüm elemanları olarak duyduğumuz mutluluğa, zihinleri ve kalemleri ile ortak olan değerli akademisyenlerin dilbilim alanından toplam 22 çalışmasını bir araya getirmektedir. Kitaptaki çalışmalar Türkiye’de dilbilimin eriştiği disipliner ve disiplinlerarası konu çeşitliliğinin özgün göstergeleridir. Tüm yazarlara sağladıkları katkılar için teşekkürlerimizi suna

Lung cancer from suspicion to treatment: An indicator of healthcare access in Turkey

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Before beginning lung cancer treatment, it is necessary to complete procedures such as suspecting lung cancer, obtaining a pathologic diagnosis, and staging. This study aimed to investigate the processes from suspicion of lung cancer to diagnosis, staging, and treatment initiation. Methods: The study was designed as a multicenter and cross-sectional study. Patients with lung cancer from various health institutions located in all geographic regions of Turkey were included in the study. The sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, the characteristics of the health institutions and geographic regions, and other variables of the lung cancer process were recorded. The time from suspicion of lung cancer to pathologic diagnosis, radiologic staging, and treatment initiation, as well as influencing factors, were investigated. Results: The study included 1410 patients from 29 different medical centers. The mean time from the initial suspicion of lung cancer to the pathologic diagnosis was 48.0 ± 52.6 days, 39.0 ± 52.7 days for radiologic staging, and 74.9 ± 65.5 days for treatment initiation. The residential areas with the most suspected lung cancer cases were highly developed socioeconomic zones. Primary healthcare services accounted for only 0.4% of patients with suspected lung cancer. The time to pathologic diagnosis was longer in the Marmara region, and the wait time for staging and treatment initiation was longer in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia. Patients who presented to chest disease referral hospitals with peripheral lesions, those with early-stage disease, and those who were diagnosed surgically had significantly longer wait times. Conclusion: The time between pathologic diagnosis, staging, and treatment initiation in lung cancer was longer than expected. Increasing the role of primary healthcare services and distributing socioeconomic resources more equally will contribute to shortening the time to diagnosis and improve treatment processes for lung cancer

The prevalence of microalbuminuria and relevant cardiovascular risk factors in Turkish hypertensive patients.

Objectives: A growing body of data illustrates the importance of microalbuminuria (MAU) as a strong predictor of cardiovascular risk in the hypertensive population. The present study was designed to define the prevalence of MAU and associated cardiovascular risk factors among Turkish hypertensive outpatients. Study design: Representing the Turkish arm of the multinational i-SEARCH study involving 1,750 sites in 26 countries around the world, a total of 1,926 hypertensive patients from different centers were included in this observational and cross-sectional survey study. Patients with reasons for a false-positive MAU test were excluded. The prevalence of MAU was assessed using a dipstick test, and patients were inquired about comorbidities, comedication, and known cardiovascular risk factors. Results: The overall prevalence of MAU was 64.7% and there was no difference between genders. Most of the patients (82.5%) had uncontrolled hypertension, 35.6% had dyslipidemia, and 35.5% had diabetes, predominantly type 2. Almost one-third of the patients (26.4%) had at least one cardiovascular-related comorbidity, with 20.3% having documented coronary artery disease (CAD). Almost all patients (96.8%) had one or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease in addition to hypertension, including family history of myocardial infarction or CAD, diabetes, dyslipidemia, lack of physical exercise, and smoking. A trend towards higher MAU values in the presence of CAD was determined. Conclusion: Microalbuminuria tests should be routinely used as a screening and monitoring tool for the assessment of subsequent cardiovascular morbidity and mortality among hypertensive patients. © 2011 Turkish Society of Cardiology