The Impact of Social Media on Globalization, Democratization and Participative Citizenship

It is crucial to increase the civic and political participation during the process of democratization and globalization. There are several effective ways of achieving it in our time. Social media and networking tools have been one of the most effective tools to direct political elections and social changes. In this study, researchers discuss how social media tools have been used in the process of democratization and globalization, where those initiatives were successful, how they affected civic and political participation, and what kinds of variables in social media are important and affect people's attitudes and behaviors

Does dual trigger improve euploidy rate in normoresponder? A cross-sectional study

Background: With the introduction of the dual triggering-gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog and recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) combination, women with a history of low mature oocyte proportion and empty follicle syndrome were shown to benefit from the dual trigger. Objective: To investigate whether dual triggering of oocyte maturation with a GnRH agonist (GnRHa) combined with hCG can affect the euploidy rate and improve in vitro fertilization outcomes for normoresponder women. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 494 women who underwent controlled ovarian stimulation with hCG (n = 274) or dual triggering (hCG+GnRHa, n = 220) at Acibadem Maslak hospital, Assisted Reproductive Unit, from January 2019- 2022 were enrolled in this study. Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy was performed on all participants. Results: Both groups had similar baseline and clinical characteristics. Of the 881 embryos biopsied, 312 (35.4%) were reported as euploid in the hCG trigger group; in the dual trigger group, 186 (29.8%) of 623 screening embryos were reported as euploid. The hCG group had a higher euploidy rate per biopsied embryo, although the difference was not statistically significant (31.4 ± 26.5 vs. 26.5 ± 33.3, p > 0.05). Conclusion: In normoresponders, adding GnRHa for final follicular maturation to hCG did not improve the euploidy rate. Key words: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone, Chorionic gonadotropin, Preimplantation screening, Aneuploidy

The outcome of kidney transplants with multiple renal arteries

BACKGROUND: The use of grafts with multiple renal arteries has been considered a relative contraindication because of the increased incidence of vascular and urologic complications The aim of this study is to determine whether the kidney grafts with multiple arteries have any adverse effect upon post-transplant graft and patient survival. METHODS: We reviewed the records of 225 adult kidney transplants done consecutively at our institution. Twenty-nine patients (12.8%) had grafts with multiple renal arteries. We analyzed the incidence of post-transplant hypertension and vascular complications, mean creatinine levels, patient and graft survival. In 17 cases reconstruction was done as conjoined anastomosis between two arteries of equal size, and in 6 cases as end-to-side anastomosis of smaller arteries to larger arteries. Multiple anastomoses were performed in 6 cases. RESULTS: In one patient postoperative bleeding occurred. Mean systolic blood pressures, creatinine levels at first year and last follow-up and complication rates were all in acceptable ranges. There was no significant difference in graft and patient survival between multiple and single renal artery allografts. CONCLUSION: Although the kidney grafts with multiple renal arteries have been considered a relative contraindication because of the increased risk of complications, in our study allografts with multiple arteries were used successfully in kidney transplantation

Impact of Reducing Irritative Symptoms in Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer During BCG Instillation: A Pilot Study

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated use of anticholinergics, mirabegron, and combination of anticholinergics with mirabegron during Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) instillation for reducing irritative symptoms in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). METHODS: Prospectively recorded data of NMIBC patients receiving BCG were retrospectively evaluated between August 2015 and April 2019. Patients with low-grade T1 solitary papillary lesions <4 cm were included in the study. Validated questionnaires (OAB-V8) for irritative symptoms adapted to Turkish language, and QoL index forms were filled out by the study participants. OAB-V8 scores of ≥8 were considered as an indication to start medical treatment for irritative symptoms. Groups were formed according to daily used anticholinergic drugs and combinations as follows: Group 1, tolterodine; Group 2, solifenacin 5mg; Group 3, mirabegron, and Group 4, mirabegron with solifenacin 5 mg. RESULTS: Mean follow- up period was 20.4+-6.8 months. There were 132 patients [110 men (83%) and 22 (17%) women] with irritative symptoms and NMIBC. Mean age of the study population was 59.7+-12.4 years. The OAB-V8 scores and QoL indexes significantly improved with all drugs. However, in subgroup analyses, Group 4 provided the most dramatic improvement in OAB-V8 and QoL index scores (P=0.02 for both). The longest in time to micturition was recorded in Group 4 (P=0.04). Tumour recurrence was similar for groups 12 months after BCG instillation (P=0.9), however the least recurrence was observed in Group 4. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Combination of solifecacin and mirabegron can reduce irritative symptoms, improve QoL, and prolong time to micturition, during BCG instillation in selected NMIBC patients. This combination may also decrease recurrence rates in this patient population

Ovarian reserve parameters and IVF outcomes in 510 women with poor ovarian response (POR) treated with intraovarian injection of autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP)

The aim of the current study was to characterize ovarian reserve parameters and IVF outcomes in women with a history of poor ovarian response (POR) treated with intraovarian injection of autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP). Reproductive age women (N=510; age range 30-45yo) diagnosed with POR based on Poseidon criteria were included in the study. PRP treatment resulted in higher AFC, higher serum AMH, lower serum FSH, and a higher number of mature oocytes and cleavage and blastocyst stage embryos. After PRP injection, 22 women (4.3%) conceived spontaneously, 14 (2.7%) were lost to follow up, and 474 (92.9%) attempted IVF. Among women who attempted IVF, 312 (65.8%) generated embryos and underwent embryo transfer, 83 (17.5%) achieved a pregnancy, and 54 (11.4%) achieved sustained implantation/live birth (SI/LB). In total, of the 510 women with POR and mean age of 40.3, PRP resulted in improvement of ovarian reserve parameters, a pregnancy rate of 20.5% and SI/LB rate of 12.9%. Our findings suggest that PRP treatment may be considered in women with POR. For wider clinical application, its clinical efficacy will need to be demonstrated in prospective randomized clinical trials

Giant parathyroid adenoma diagnosed by brown tumor, a clinical manifestation of primary hyperparathyroidism: a case report

Brown tumor (BT) is the pathological expression of osteitis fibrosa cystica owing to primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPT). It is a rare benign lesion of skeletal system that usually affects the facial bones, clavicles, ribs, pelvis and extremities. The purpose of this case report is to present the clinical, pathological and radiological findings of BT, rarely seen in adults, originating from the giant parathyroid adenoma and emerging as the first clinical sign of HPT. The patient underwent a successful parathyroidectomy operation and on the first postoperative day, the patient was discharged without any complications. Continuous..

Analysis of CC chemokine receptor 5 and 2 polymorphisms and renal transplant survival

Chronic rejection is an immune process leading to graft failure. By regulating the trafficking of leukocytes, chemokines and chemokine receptors are thought to be one of the reasons causing acute renal rejection (ARE), which increases the possibility of chronic rejection and organ destruction. This study was designed to investigate, in the Turkish population, an association of chemokine receptor genetic variants, CCR2V641, CCR5-59029-A/G, CCR5-A32 and acute renal rejection after renal transplant surgery. We carried out our study in 85 Turkish renal transplant patients (45 men, 40 women; mean age 39 2 years) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) techniques. We found no significant difference in the incidence of rejection among patients possessing or lacking CCR5-A32. For the groups with and without acute renal rejection, we found a significant difference between the groups in A and G allele distribution in both CCR2V641 and CCR559029 gene variants (p = 0.003 and p = 0.003, respectively). According to our findings, the risk of acute rejection in renal transplantation may be associated with genetic variation in the chemokine receptor genes CCR559029 and CCR2V641 in Turkey, and studies on these gene polymorphisms could be an ideal target for future interventions intended to prevent renal transplant loss. Copyright (C) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

An Extremely Rare Case of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: Floating Benign Mesenchymal Mass in Abdomen

A 48-year-old man admitted to the urology outpatient clinic with major symptoms of right-side pain and intermittent lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) such as low urine flow rate, dysuria, and frequency. Uroflowmetry showed low urine flow, and laboratory tests revealed no pathology. Ultrasound (US) showed a 7 cm calcific mass above the bladder and a kidney cyst with a diameter of 5.3 cm in the upper pole of the right kidney. Enhanced computed tomography confirmed the US findings. Laparoscopic transperitoneal renal cyst decortication was performed. There was no sign of additional tumors. An independent mass in the abdomen was diagnosed, and the mass was removed. Based on the pathology, the diagnosis was a benign mesenchymal calcific mass. This is the first report of LUTSs due to a free benign mesenchymal mass in the published literature

Living with HIV during COVID-19: knowledge and worry about COVID-19, adherence to COVID-19-related precautions, and HIV health outcomes

The COVID-19 pandemic has been profound impacts on mental and physical health of individuals with chronic diseases. Thus, it is important to understand the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on people living with HIV. We aimed to assess the association between COVID-19-related knowledge and worry, HIV-related health practices and outcomes, and adherence to precautions related to COVID-19, and possible associations of these factors with HIV treatment outcomes (ART adherence and viral load). A cross-sectional survey was conducted between October 2020 and February 2021 among 291 PLWH at two large university hospital HIV clinics in Izmir, Turkey. Additionally, the most recent HIV-RNA load, CD4 count was recorded using medical records. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine predictors of self-reported adherence to COVID-19-related precautions, ART adherence and undetectable viral load. COVID-19-related worry, COVID-19-related knowledge, and ART adherence were significant predictors of adherence to COVID-19-related precautions. Furthermore, adherence to COVID-19-related precautions was a significant predictor of both ART adherence and undetectable viral load. Findings provide a unique aspect of the interrelations of COVID and living with HIV. Since health behaviors and outcomes for COVID-19 and HIV seem to be interrelated, treatment practices and interventions that address these simultaneously may enhance their efficacy