An unusual unifocal presentation of Castleman’s disease in a young woman with a detailed description of sonographic findings to reduce diagnostic uncertainty: a case report

Background: Castleman’s disease is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder. It typically presents as mediastinal masses and causes a wide range of clinical symptoms. Histologically, Castleman’s disease is classified as either a hyalinic vascular or plasma cell variant. The prognosis mainly depends on the histological type and broadly varies. We herein report our sonographic findings in a patient with Castleman’s disease, including gray-scale ultrasonography, color Doppler ultrasonography, and sonoelastography ultrasonography, which have not been previously reported in the literature. These findings allowed for a preoperative diagnosis and avoidance of overly aggressive therapy. Case presentation: A 28-year-old European female patient with unicentric Castleman’s disease of hyalinic vascular type (HV) restricted to the axilla was referred to us because of a 4-month history of a painless, solitary mass located in the left axilla. The patient’s medical history was unremarkable. Conclusion: Castleman’s disease is a pathologic entity of unknown etiology and pathogenesis. In this case report of unicentric HV-type CD, we demonstrate that typical sonographic findings can lead to a preoperative diagnosis of Castleman’s disease. Core needle biopsy usually allows for a final diagnosis and helps to avoid unnecessary operations and overtreatment

The comparison of tone and viscoelastic properties of superior orbicularis oris muscle in multiple sclerosis patients to healthy individuals

Background: The orbicularis oris muscle is an important muscle for oral perception in mouth and swallowing rehabilitation. The muscle can be affected in patients with multiple sclerosis for many reasons. It is important to understand the quantitative changes in this muscle to determine the many problems associated with the cranio-facial region in multiple sclerosis. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the mechanical properties of the orbicularis oris muscle between MS patients and healthy individuals. Methods: A total of 55 individuals (28 with multiple sclerosis and 27 healthy) who met the inclusion criteria were evaluated. The tone and viscoelastic properties (elasticity and stiffness) of the superior orbicularis oris muscle of both groups were evaluated bilaterally in the supine position with the MyotonPro® (Myoton AS, Estonia) device. The reference point of the muscle is accepted as the right and left paramedial philtrum dimple. Results: It was observed that there was no difference in terms of stiffness values of the right and left orbicularis oris muscles of both groups (p>0.05). The tone and the elasticity of the muscle on both sides were higher in the HI group than MS group (p<0.05). Conclusion: We think that the orbicularis oris muscle has a central location in the facial region, and that this muscle may be the key muscle for the symptoms arising from many neurological mechanisms. The decrease in muscle tone and elasticity may be the beginning of the changes in MS patients. We believe that the data from this muscle will be useful for comparative studies. © 202

Neuropilin-mediated neural crest cell guidance is essential to organise sensory neurons into segmented dorsal root ganglia

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) of higher vertebrates is segmented to align the spinal nerve roots with the vertebrae. This co-patterning is set up during embryogenesis, when vertebrae develop from the sclerotome layer of the metameric somites, and PNS neurons and glia differentiate from neural crest cells (NCCs) that preferentially migrate into the anterior sclerotome halves. Previous analyses of mice deficient in the class 3 semaphorin (SEMA3) receptors neuropilin (NRP) 1 or 2 raised the possibility that each controlled a distinct aspect of trunk NCC migration. We now demonstrate that both pathways act sequentially in distinct NCC subpopulations and thereby cooperate to enforce segmental NCC migration. Specifically, SEMA3A/NRP1 signalling first directs one population of NCCs from the intersomitic path into the sclerotome, and SEMA3F/NRP2 signalling acts subsequently to restrict a second population to the anterior half of the sclerotome. NCC exclusion from either the posterior sclerotome or the intersomitic boundary is sufficient to enforce the separation of neighbouring NCC streams and the segregation of sensory NCC progeny into metameric dorsal root ganglia (DRG). By contrast, the combined loss of both guidance pathways leads to ectopic invasion of the intersomitic furrows and posterior sclerotome halves, disrupting metameric NCC streaming and DRG segmentation

Neuropilin 1 signaling guides neural crest cells to coordinate pathway choice with cell specification

Neural crest cells (NCCs) are highly motile embryonic stem cells that delaminate from the neuroectoderm early during vertebrate embryogenesis and differentiate at defined target sites into various essential cell types. To reach their targets, NCCs follow 1 of 3 sequential pathways that correlate with NCC fate. The firstborn NCCs travel ventrally alongside intersomitic blood vessels to form sympathetic neuronal progenitors near the dorsal aorta, while the lastborn NCCs migrate superficially beneath the epidermis to give rise to melanocytes. Yet, most NCCs enter the somites to form the intermediate wave that gives rise to sympathetic and sensory neurons. Here we show that the repulsive guidance cue SEMA3A and its receptor neuropilin 1 (NRP1) are essential to direct the intermediate wave NCC precursors of peripheral neurons from a default pathway alongside intersomitic blood vessels into the anterior sclerotome. Thus, loss of function for either gene caused excessive intersomitic NCC migration, and this led to ectopic neuronal differentiation along both the anteroposterior and dorsoventral axes of the trunk. The choice of migratory pathway did not affect the specification of NCCs, as they retained their commitment to differentiate into sympathetic or sensory neurons, even when they migrated on an ectopic dorsolateral path that is normally taken by melanocyte precursors. We conclude that NRP1 signaling coordinates pathway choice with NCC fate and therefore confines neuronal differentiation to appropriate locations

Investigating the effects of head posture muscles’ viscoelastic parameters on pulmonary and functional capacity in healthy individuals

Introduction. Forward head posture (FHP) is known to have a large influence on respiratory function by weakening the respiratory muscles. This cross-sectional study is designed to examine the relationship between the tonus, stiffness, and elasticity of head posture muscles and pulmonary capacity. Methods. overall, 16 FHP and 17 non-forward head posture (NFHP) individuals were evaluated. The tonus, stiffness, and elasticity of the upper trapezius, semispinalis capitis, pectoral muscles, and sternocleidomastoid muscles were measured with a MyotonPRo® device. Functional capacity was assessed with the 6-minute walk test. Pulmonary function tests employed a spirometer. The Neck Disability index was applied. FHP was determined by measuring the craniovertebral angle. Physical activity levels were evaluated with the Physical Activity index. Results. The study involved 18 (54.54%) female and 15 (45.45%) male students. Their mean age was 21.24 ± 1.82 years. Neck Disability index scores were higher in participants with FHP than in NFHP individuals (p = 0.037). There were no significant differences in the myotonometric measurements of the analysed muscles between FHP and NFHP groups (p > 0.05). Physiological characteristics of FHP and NFHP participants were different in terms of vital capacity, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and peak forced expiratory volume (p < 0.05). Conclusions. owing to the pulmonary capacity differences between FHP and NFHP individuals, it can be concluded that FHP affects pulmonary capacity. Also, pectoral muscles and semispinalis capitis muscles play an important role in thoracic expansion and therefore influence vital capacity. © Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Science

An Early Pliocene Fish Assemblage from the Southern Appalachians: Ichthyofauna of the Gray Fossil Site

The Gray Fossil Site (GFS) preserves an early Pliocene sinkhole pond that accumulated a rich flora and vertebrate fauna. Fossils of fish are incredibly common at GFS, representing thousands of specimens recovered to date. Comparison with extant species reveals a depauperate freshwater fish fauna consisting of only two species: Lepomis sp. and Micropterus sp. The absence of fishes that are ubiquitous in modern streams suggests no perennial surface hydrologic connection between the Gray Fossil Site and the nearby Holston River. Limited opportunities for dispersal into the pond and deleterious conditions such as eutrophy and high competition may have resulted in this extremely low diversity. Examination of articulated and partially articulated GFS fish specimens show mild to moderate degrees of post-mortem disarticulation, suggesting slowed decay likely attributable to cool water temperatures and/or anoxic conditions within the hypolimnion. Preliminary examination of osteological thin sections suggests slow growth in GFS fishes

The Kazlıçeşme Bektaşi Lodge and Its Foundation Document

Kazlıçeşme Bektaşi tekkesinin menşei Osmanlı Devleti’nin kuruluş yıllarına veya İstanbul’un fethine kadar geri götürülmektedir. Rivayete göre tekke bir Horasan ereni olan Eryek (Erikli) Baba tarafından tesis edilmiştir. Ancak tekkenin tarihini aydınlatan vesikalar 18. yüzyılın ikinci yarısından daha geri gitmemektedir.Buna göre Şem’î Ebubekir Ağa tarafından inşa ettirildiği tespit edilen tekkede 1826’ya değin Şütürşumar Mehmed Baba ve Hüseyin Baba postnişinlik yapmıştır. 1826 yılında Yeniçeri ocağıyla birlikte Bektaşiliğin de yasaklanması üzerine Kazlıçeşme tekkesi yıktırılmış, tekrar inşa edilip faaliyete geçirilmesi için uzun süre beklemek gerekmiştir. Tekke muhtemelen Sultan Abdülmecid dönemi sonu, Sultan Abdülaziz dönemi başında Perişan Mehmed Ali Baba’nın gayretiyle yeniden kurulmuştur. 1925 yılında tekke ve türbelerin kapatılışına kadar faaliyetlerini devam ettiren Kazlıçeşme tekkesi günümüzde restore edilerek halkın istifadesine sunulmuş ve önemli bir inanç merkezi haline getirilmiştir. Bu çalışmada Kazlıçeşme tekkesinin tarihi serüveni, vakfiyesi, postnişinleri ve haziresi ele alınmaktadı

Attitudes of Foreigners Who Learn Turkish as a Second Language Towards Turkish Culture

There is a very close association between language and culture. Thus, cultural values ​​should be prioritized in language training and cultural knowledge should be concurrently instructed. Turkish culture should also be introduced to learners of Turkish as a foreign language. Therefore, it is important to determine the attitudes of learners of Turkish language as a foreign language towards the Turkish culture. The aim of the present study is to determine the attitudes of foreign students learning Turkish as a foreign language towards the Turkish culture. For this purpose, a field survey was conducted based on the screening research model. The study sample included 60 foreign students attending Giresun University Turkish Instruction Center (TOMER). The students included in the sample came from 8 different countries. The study data was collected by 'attitudes towards cultural values ​​questionnaire'. After the obtained data was analyzed, it was determined that most of the foreign students established similarities between Turkish culture and their own, however they also experienced difficulties in adapting to Turkish culture. Furthermore, It was also found that Turkish students generally assisted foreign students in the process of adaptation to the Turkish culture and that foreign students adapted to Turkish food rather easily. Keywords: Foreign language instruction, Turkish, culture, attitude