Prevalence of papillary thyroid carcinoma is significantly higher in graves disease with synchronous thyroid nodules

Objective: The association between autoimmunity-related tissue injury and thyroid cancer development remains an area of interest. Evidence suggests that patients with Graves disease (GD) may have an elevated risk for differentiated thyroid cancer. Multicenter studies are needed to gain insight into the correlates of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) identified in this particular group of patients. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of PTC and synchronous thyroid nodules in thyroidectomy specimens from GD patients in an endemic goiter region. Material and methods: A retrospective review of institutional pathology records at two tertiary care centers identified 237 surgically treated patients with GD. Patients were categorized as having nodular Graves disease (N-GD) if synchronous nodular thyroid was identified by ultrasonography, while those without synchronous thyroid nodules were categorized as non-nodular or simple Graves disease (S-GD). The prevalence of PTC, histopathological correlates, and demographic characteristics were recorded and compared between groups N-GD and S-GD. Results: One hundred thirty-one and 106 patients were assigned to N-GD and S-GD, respectively. The mean age was significantly higher in N-GD (mean 45.52 years) compared to S-GD (mean 35.18 years) (p 0.05). The group of S-GD was enriched in BRAF-like PTCs, whereas N-GD had equal distribution for RAS- and BRAF-like tumors. Conclusion: This study underscores that the majority of PTCs encountered in GD were enriched in low-risk subcentimeter PTCs with a prevalence that varies depending on the presence of underlying nodular thyroid tissue

The effects of taxifolin on neuropathy related with hyperglycemia and neuropathic pain in rats: A biochemical and histopathological evaluation

Background. Hyperglycemia can be considered a determining factor in the development of diabetic neuropathy as well as neuropathic pain. There is a relationship between the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathic pain. Taxifolin, on the other hand, is a flavonoid that has been documented to inhibit ROS production. Objectives. To investigate the effects of taxifolin, which has antioxidant and neuroprotective effects, on alloxan-induced hyperglycemia-induced neuropathy and neuropathic pain, biochemically and histopathologically. Materials and methods. The albino Wistar male rats were divided into 3 groups: Healthy group (HG), only alloxan group (AXG) and alloxan+taxifolin group (ATG). Hyperglycemia in animals was caused through intraperitoneal injection of alloxan at a dose of 120 mg/kg. Paw pain thresholds of animals were measured using Basile algesimeter. Sciatic nerve tissues were examined biochemically and histopathologically in order to evaluate neuropathy. Results. Our experimental results revealed that taxifolin significantly prevented the increase of plasma glucose concentration level with alloxan administration, the decrease of the paw pain threshold related to hyperglycemia, the change of oxidant-antioxidant balance in the sciatic nerve tissue in favor of oxidants, and the deterioration of tissue morphology in animals. Conclusions. Our experimental results indicate that taxifolin alleviates alloxan-induced hyperglycemia-related neuropathy and neuropathic pain

The genetic history of the Southern Arc: a bridge between West Asia and Europe

By sequencing 727 ancient individuals from the Southern Arc (Anatolia and its neighbors in Southeastern Europe and West Asia) over 10,000 years, we contextualize its Chalcolithic period and Bronze Age (about 5000 to 1000 BCE), when extensive gene flow entangled it with the Eurasian steppe. Two streams of migration transmitted Caucasus and Anatolian/Levantine ancestry northward, and the Yamnaya pastoralists, formed on the steppe, then spread southward into the Balkans and across the Caucasus into Armenia, where they left numerous patrilineal descendants. Anatolia was transformed by intra–West Asian gene flow, with negligible impact of the later Yamnaya migrations. This contrasts with all other regions where Indo-European languages were spoken, suggesting that the homeland of the Indo-Anatolian language family was in West Asia, with only secondary dispersals of non-Anatolian Indo-Europeans from the steppe

Ankara Sanat Galeri'nden Bir Seçki (1970-1990)

In this study, a selection was made from art galleries that continued their activities in Ankara between 1970 -1990 and the selected galleries were examined within the scope of the political, social, and cultural conditions of the period. After being declared the capital city in 1923, Ankara was planned and built to be a culture and art city of the Republic of Turkey in the middle of Anatolia, instead of Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire. The exhibition activities, which were carried out under the auspices of the government until the 1950s, Turkish Hearths, community centers, the teachers and artists of the Istanbul State Academy of Arts, and with the start of education of the Gazi Education Institute’s Art Department in 1932, the teachers and students of this school were also influential in Ankara’s art life. During the Democratic Party, which came to power in 1950, economic policies were prioritized over the culture and art policies of the Early Republican Period, and the first private gallery and foreign cultural center exhibitions started as of this date. The discourses of equality and freedom reflected on the art scene in the 1960s and 1970s, which passed with revolutions and political conflicts. Art galleries of Ankara in 1970s, whose number has increased gradually, have been places to internalize art and acquire the culture of owning artworks. The military coup of September 12, 1980 interrupted the democratic process. In this period, people equipped with popular culture started to see art as a class image object and showed great interest in art spaces. Hereby, the high demand for art in the 1980s caused an increase in the number of galleries in Ankara. This situation lasted for a short time due to the economic crises experienced towards the end of the 1980s.Bu çalışmada, 1970-1990 yılları arasında Ankara’da faaliyetlerini sürdürmüş sanat galerilerinden bir seçki yapılmış ve seçilen galeriler dönemin siyasi, sosyal ve kültürel koşulları kapsamında incelenmiştir. 1923 yılında başkent ilan edildikten sonra Ankara’nın da Osmanlı devletinin payitahtı İstanbul karşısında Anadolu’nun ortasındaki Türkiye Cumhuriyeti’nin bir kültür ve sanat şehri olması planlanmış ve inşa edilmiştir. 1950’li yıllara kadar devletin himayesinde sürdürülen sergi etkinlikleri, Türk Ocakları, Halkevleri, İstanbul Devlet Güzel Sanatlar Akademisi hocaları, sanatçıları ve 1932’de Gazi Eğitim Enstitüsü Resim-İş Bölümü’nün eğitime başlamasıyla bu okulun da hocaları ve öğrencileri Ankara’nın sanat yaşamında etkili olmuştur. !950’de iktidara geçen Demokrat Parti döneminde Erken Cumhuriyet Dönemi’nin kültür ve sanat politikaları yerine ekonomi politikaları öncelikli olmuş, ilk özel galeri, yabancı kütür merkezleri sergileri de bu tarihten itibaren başlamıştır. İhtilallerle, siyasi çatışmalarla geçen 1960-70’li yıllarda eşitlik, özgürlük söylemleri sanat ortamına da yansımıştır. 1970’li yıllarda sayıları giderek artan Ankara sanat galerileri, sanatı içselleştirme ve sanat yapıtlarına sahip olma kültürünü edinme mekanları olmuştur. 12 Eylül 1980 askeri darbesi ülkedeki demokratik süreci sekteye uğratmıştır. Bu dönemin popüler kültürle donatılmış insanları sanatı bir sınıfsal imaj objesi olarak görmüş, sanat mekanlarına yoğun ilgi göstermişlerdir. Böylelikle 1980’li yılların yüksek sanat talebi Ankaralı galeri sayısında da artışa neden olmuştur. Bu yükseliş yaşanan ekonomik krizler nedeniyle kısa sürmüştür

Current Position of Gliclazide and Sulfonylureas in the Contemporary Treatment Paradigm for Type 2 Diabetes: A Scoping Review

The increasing burden of type 2 diabetes (T2D), in relation to alarming rise in the prevalence; challenges in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment; as well as the substantial impact of disease on longevity and quality of life, is a major concern in healthcare worldwide. Sulfonylureas (SUs) have been a cornerstone of T2D pharmacotherapy for over 60 years as oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs), while the newer generation SUs, such as gliclazide modified release (MR), are known to be associated with low risk of hypoglycemia in addition to the cardiovascular neutrality. This scoping review aimed to specifically address the current position of gliclazide MR among other SUs in the contemporary treatment paradigm for T2D and to provide a practical guidance document to assist clinicians in using gliclazide MR in real-life clinical practice. The main topics addressed in this paper include the role of early and sustained glycemic control and use of SUs in T2D management, the properties of gliclazide MR in relation to its effectiveness and safety, the use of gliclazide therapy in special populations, and the place of SUs as a class and gliclazide MR specifically in the current T2D treatment algorithm

Out-of-Reference Range Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Levels in Levothyroxine-Treated Primary Hypothyroid Patients: A Multicenter Observational Study

Objective: Although levothyroxine (LT4) replacement therapy for hypothyroidism has been established as safe, inexpensive and effective, many studies from different countries reported out-of-reference range thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) values for the hypothyroid patients under LT4 treatment. The aim of this study was to determine TSH levels of primary hypothyroid patients under LT4 treatment and to assess self-reported compliance with daily LT4 intake in tertiary care centers in Turkey. Design: In this cross-sectional, observational study, adult patients with primary hypothyroidism, receiving LT4 treatment for at least 6 months, were included. The patients were from 12 tertiary care centers in 9 cities of Turkey. TSH and free T4 levels were recorded from patient files and self-reported compliance with daily LT4 intake was assessed by interviewing the subjects at the last visit. Results: A total of 1,755 subjects (46 +/- 13 years; F/M: 89.9/10.1%) with primary hypothyroidism were enrolled. Of the hypothyroid subjects, 44.8% had out-of-reference range serum TSH levels. TSH values were over the reference range (TSH > 4 mIU/L) in 26.2% and were under the reference range (TSH < 0.5 mIU/L) in 18.6% of the patients. Total duration of LT4 treatment was 5.9 +/- 4.7 years and mean dose was 1.2 +/- 0.6 mu g/kg/day. Non-compliant patients (31.1%) had higher TSH levels (6.9 +/- 16 vs 3.8 +/- 0.9 mIU/L, P = 0.01) compared to compliant patients. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that nearly half of the hypothyroid patients had out-of-reference range serum TSH values, despite under LT4 treatment. Compliance with LT4 treatment seems to be one of the major determinants to reach the target TSH levels in hypothyroid patients

Second Trimester Genetic Amniocentesis: Five- Year Experience of a Maternal- Fetal Medicine Unit

OBJECTİVE: The objective of this study is to identify the annual variations amniocentesis indications such as change in maternal age, cytogenetic results, and other indications. Another outcome is the investigation of the relationship between indications for amniocentesis and the distribution of chromosomal abnormalities. STUDY DESIGN: This study was designed as a retrospective analysis of amniocentesis results of the 1667 pregnant patients between January 2007 and December 2012 in the Süleymaniye Women’s Health Education and Research Hospital. The karyotype results, indications for intervention and complications during procedure were reported. RESULTS: Total chromosome abnormalities were detected in 101 cases out of 1667 patients which correspond to a 6.1% of the total results. Distribution of the chromosomal abnormality detection rate with respect to the amniocentesis indication was 4.2%; in the abnormal first trimester screening tests group; 5.3% in the abnormal second trimester maternal serum screening group, 18.7% in the fetal malformations in previous pregnancy group, and 7.1%. in the abnormal ultrasound findings group. CONCLUSION: Amniocentesis is the most common invasive procedure for prenatal diagnosis. Although the advanced maternal age is still an important indication, there has been significant development of both new markers and technology making this indication for amniocentesis questionable. Prenatal ultrasonography for the soft markers of chromosomal aneuploidy in association with the maternal serum biochemical screening tests should be evaluated during the decision process for amniocentesis