LIMPRINT study - the Turkish experience

Background: Lymphedema and chronic oedema is a major healthcare problem in both developed and non-developed countries The LIMPRINT study is an international health service based study to determine the prevalence and functional impact in adult populations of member countries of the International Lymphoedema Framework (ILF). Methods: 1051 patients from 8 centers in Turkey were recruited using the LIMPRINT study protocol. Data were collected using the core and module tools which assess the demographic and clinical properties as well as disability and QoL. Results: Most of the Turkish patients were recruited from specialist lymphedema services and were found to be female, housewives and having secondary lymphedema due to cancer treatment. The duration of lymphedema was commonly less than 5 years and most of them had ISL Grade 2 lymphedema. Cellulitis, infection and wounds were uncommon. The majority of patients did not get any treatment or advice before. Most of the patients had impaired QoL and decreased functionality, but psychological support was neglected. Although most had social health security access to Lymphedema centres nevertheless access seemed difficult due to distance and cost. Conclusion: The study has shown the current status and characteristics of lymphedema patients, treatment conditions, the unmet need for the diagnosis and treatment as well as burden of the disease in both patients and families in Turkey. National health policies are needed for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment in Turkey that utilise this informative data

Anchoring Damage on Seagrass Meadows (Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile) in Fethiye-Gocek Specially Protected Area (Eastern Mediterranean Sea, Turkey)

OKUDAN, E.S., DEMIR, V., KALKAN, E and KARHAN, S.U., 2011. Anchoring Damage on Seagrass-Meadows (Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile) in Fethiye-Gocek Specially Protected Area (Eastern Mediterranean Sea, Turkey). In: Micallef, A. (ed.), MCRR3-2010 Conference Proceedings, Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 61, pp. 417-420. Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy, ISSN 0749-0208

Mandibuloacral dysplasia and LMNA A529V mutation in Turkish patients with severe skeletal changes and absent breast development

WOS: 000378613800001PubMed ID: 27100822Mandibuloacral dysplasia (MAD) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by acroosteolysis (resorption of terminal phalanges), skin changes (hyperpigmentation), clavicular hypoplasia, craniofascial anomalies, a hook nose and prominent eyes, delayed closures of the cranial sutures, lipodystrophy, alopecia, and skeletal anomalies. MAD patients are classified according to lipodystrophy patterns: type A and type B. The vast majority of MAD cases are caused by LMNA gene mutations. MAD patients with type A lipodystrophy (MADA) have been reported to have LMNA R527H, A529V, or A529T mutations. In this report, we describe two MADA patients with progressive skeletal changes, absent breast development, and cataract in addition to the classical MAD phenotype. Both patients were found to be homozygous for the Ala529Val mutation of the LMNA gene. Our female patient is the oldest MADA patient (59 years old) who has ever been reported with the LMNA mutation and also the LMNA Ala529Val mutation. This study is the second report on MADA patients with a homozygous Ala529Val mutation

Effects of pentoxifylline and platelet activating factor on sperm DNA damage

WOS: 000371187300024PubMed ID: 26748389Objective: Pentoxifylline and platelet-activating factor (PAF) have been used to increase sperm motility in embryology laboratories. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether these agents pose sperm DNA damage using DNA sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) assay. Study design: Following application of pentoxifylline and PAF, sperm samples of 50 individuals with different sperm parameters were compared to baseline in terms of DNA damage using SCD assay. Furthermore, the relationship between DNA damage and sperm parameters in predicting DNA damage was assessed. Results and conclusions: Significant increase in DNA damage was observed following application of PAF and pentoxifylline. Furthermore, DNA damage was significantly increased with application of pentoxifylline compared to PAF. Sperm motility was observed to be a statistically significant indicator in predicting alterations in DNA damage in baseline and subsequent to application of PAF and pentoxifylline independent of sperm concentration and morphology. Increased DNA damage was observed in both groups following application of pentoxifylline and PAF. Furthermore, the increase in DNA damage was higher in samples treated with pentoxifylline compared to samples treated with PAF. Thus, PAF seems to be more innocent in choosing viable sperm cells and in achieving sperm motility in the in vitro fertilization laboratory. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.Istanbul Bilim University Faculty of Medicine BAPKO ProjectIstanbul Bilim University Faculty of Medicine BAPKO Project

A NEW RECORD FOR THE MARINE ALGAL FLORA OF TURKEY: TITANODERMA TROCHANTER (BORY DE SAINT-VINCENT) BENHISSOUNE, BOUDOURESQUE, PERRET-BOUDOURESQUE AND VERLAQUE, 2002 (RHODOPHYTA, CORALLINALES, CORALLINACEAE)

The coralline alga, Titanoderma trochanter, was recorded for the first time in Turkey. In 2009, thalli were observed in the wave-exposed lower eulittoral rock settings at depths of 0.1-0.5 m on the coasts of Fethiye Bay (south-eastern Aegean Sea) and Kas (Antalya, Levantine Sea). It often covered approximately 30-40% of rocky substrata where it was found in Fethiye Bay. The vegetative structure as well as habitat and the distribution of this species are described

Impairment of BRCA1-Related DNA Double-Strand Break Repair Leads to Ovarian Aging in Mice and Humans

WOS: 000314894100004PubMed ID: 23408054The underlying mechanism behind age-induced wastage of the human ovarian follicle reserve is unknown. We identify impaired ATM (ataxia-telangiectasia mutated)-mediated DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair as a cause of aging in mouse and human oocytes. We show that DSBs accumulate in primordial follicles with age. In parallel, expression of key DNA DSB repair genes BRCA1, MRE11, Rad51, and ATM, but not BRCA2, declines in single mouse and human oocytes. In Brca1-deficient mice, reproductive capacity was impaired, primordial follicle counts were lower, and DSBs were increased in remaining follicles with age relative to wild-type mice. Furthermore, oocyte-specific knockdown of Brca1, MRE11, Rad51, and ATM expression increased DSBs and reduced survival, whereas Brca1 overexpression enhanced both parameters. Likewise, ovarian reserve was impaired in young women with germline BRCA1 mutations compared to controls as determined by serum concentrations of anti-Mullerian hormone. These data implicate DNA DSB repair efficiency as an important determinant of oocyte aging in women.Yeshiva University's post-baccalaureate fellowship; NIH grant from National Institute of Child Health and Human Development [R01 HDO53112]; NIH grant from National Cancer Institute [R21 HDO61259]We thank J. Bral for technical help and Yeshiva University's post-baccalaureate fellowship funding for his support. We also thank the entire New York Organ Donor Network staff including its Medical Director M. J. Goldstein and H. Lerner as well as the family members and friends of organ donors; NCI Frederick mouse repository for providing the BRCA1- and BRCA2-mutant mouse strains; and M. Bady of Eppendorf for providing the micro-injection setup and the Kramer hybrid microscope.; NIH grants R01 HDO53112 and R21 HDO61259 from National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and National Cancer Institute to K.O. support this work

First successful preimplantation genetic diagnosis of epidermolysis bullosa with pyloric atresia: Case study of a novel c.4505-4508insACTC mutation

WOS: 000302070800013PubMed ID: 22354727

Lymph node yield and lymph node density for elective level II-IV neck dissections in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients

WOS: 000487459600036PubMed ID: 31317320Purpose To determine the minimum lymph node yield (LNY) in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCCs). Methods This retrospective study was performed in a tertiary care hospital setting and included 42 LSCC patients aged 39-81 years (females, n = 2; males, n = 40) who underwent a total or partial laryngectomy and elective bilateral level II-IV neck dissections (unilateral neck dissections: n = 84). Results The average LNY in the unilateral level II-IV lymph node dissections was 25.9 +/- 10, and the average metastatic LNY was 0.9 +/- 1.9. The unilateral neck dissections were grouped according to the number of lymph nodes. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of the metastatic LNY (p = 0.5). The metastatic lymph node density (LND) (metastatic lymph node yield/LNY) was 0.043 for unilateral neck level II-IV neck dissections. A Cox regression analysis revealed no significant relationship between survival and the LNY and LND in bilateral neck dissections (p = 0.4 and p = 0.8, respectively). Conclusions The results revealed no minimum number of lymph nodes that could reliably detect metastatic lymph nodes in LSCC patients