Balkan Medical Journal最新文献

{"title":"The Promising Role of Artificial Intelligence in Nail Diseases","authors":"Sezgi Sarıkaya Solak, Fatih Göktay","doi":"10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2024.2024-010424","DOIUrl":"10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2024.2024-010424","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8690,"journal":{"name":"Balkan Medical Journal","volume":" ","pages":"234-235"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11588894/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141065330","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of Wearable Technology on Metabolic Control and the Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis","authors":"Fatma Yeşil, Çağrı Çövener Özçelik","doi":"10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2024.2024-2-115","DOIUrl":"10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2024.2024-2-115","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Type 1 diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in children. Wearable technology (insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring devices) that makes diabetes management relatively simple, in addition to education and follow-ups, enhances the quality of life and health of individuals with diabetes.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>To evaluate the impact of wearable technology on metabolic management and the quality of life in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Systematic review and meta-analysis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The Preferred Reporting System for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses was used to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis. PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, EBSCO, Ulakbim and Google Scholar were searched in July 2022 and July 2023 using predetermined keywords. The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute’s Critical Appraisal Checklists for randomized controlled experimental and cross-sectional studies. The meta-analysis method was used to pool the data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eleven studies published between 2011 and 2022 were included. The total sample size of the included studies was 1,853. The meta-analysis revealed that the decrease in hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) level in those using wearable technology was statistically significant [mean difference (MD): -0.33, Z = 2.54, <i>p</i> = 0.01]. However, the technology had no effect on the quality of life [standardized mean difference (SMD): 0.44, Z = 1.72, <i>p</i> = 0.09]. The subgroup analyses revealed that the decrease in the HbA1c level occurred in the cross-sectional studies (MD: -0.49, Z = 2.54, <i>p</i> = 0.01) and the 12-19 (MD = 0.59, Z = 4.40, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and 4-18 age groups (MD: -0.31, Z = 2.56, <i>p</i> = 0.01). The subgroup analyses regarding the quality of life revealed that there was no difference according to the research design. However, the quality of life was higher in the wearable technology group than in the control group in the 8-12 and 4-18 age groups (SMD: 1.32, Z = 2.31, <i>p</i> = 0.02 and SMD: 1.00, Z = 5.76, <i>p</i> < 0.001, respectively).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Wearable technology effectively reduces the HbA1c levels in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in some age groups. However, it does not affect the quality of life.</p>","PeriodicalId":8690,"journal":{"name":"Balkan Medical Journal","volume":" ","pages":"261-271"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11588899/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141198575","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modifiable Risk Factors for Breast Cancer Mortality in Türkiye from 1990 to 2019: A Temporal Analysis of Global Burden of Disease Data.","authors":"Ali Cem Yekdeş, Didem Han Yekdeş, Ülfiye Çelikkalp, Galip Ekuklu","doi":"10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2024.2024-4-91","DOIUrl":"10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2024.2024-4-91","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women in Türkiye.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>Explore the trends in female breast cancer mortality rates and the associated modifiable factors in Türkiye between 1990 and 2019.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Epidemiological descriptive analysis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The database of the Global Burden of Disease study was used to obtain data regarding breast cancer-related mortality and modifiable (behavioral and metabolic) risk factors among women in Türkiye from 1990 to 2019. The average annual percentage change (AAPC) for female breast cancer mortality rates was computed using the Joinpoint regression method.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>From 1990 to 2009, the breast cancer mortality rates in Türkiye tended to increase [from 12.26/105 in 1990 to 12.65/105 in 2019; AAPC=0.1 \"95% confidence interval (CI): 0.1-0.1\"]. In terms of breast cancer mortality attributed to modifiable factors, a 3% increase was observed from 1990 (20.4%) to 2019 (23.1%), the highest contributor being high body mass index (3.19% in 1990 to 5.87% in 2019; AAPC=1.5; 95% CI: 1.3-1.5), followed by high fasting plasma glucose (5.01% in 1990 to 7.72% in 2019; AAPC=1.4; 95% CI: 1.3-1.5).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The proportion of breast cancer-related deaths attributed to metabolic factors has been increasing in Türkiye from 1990 to 2019. Therefore, health policies aimed at managing metabolic factors in women are warranted to reduce breast cancer-related mortality in Türkiye.</p>","PeriodicalId":8690,"journal":{"name":"Balkan Medical Journal","volume":"41 4","pages":"298-307"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11588908/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141533472","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cannabidiol Alleviates Oral Mucositis by Inhibiting PI3K/Akt/NF-κB-Mediated Pyroptosis.","authors":"Jialin Yang, Na Lin, Shuang Li, Zhanhai Dong, Deli Wang, Yong Liu, Yang Zhou, Hui Yuan","doi":"10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2024.2024-2-66","DOIUrl":"10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2024.2024-2-66","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cannabidiol (CBD), extracted from <i>Cannabis sativa</i>, has anticancer, anti-inflammation, and analgesic effects. Nevertheless, its therapeutic effect and the mechanism by which it alleviates oral mucositis (OM) remain unclear.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>To explore the impact of CBD on OM in mice and on human oral keratinocyte (HOK) cells.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Expiremental study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform, GeneCard, DisGeNET, and Gene Expression Omnibus databases were used to conduct therapeutic target gene screening for drugs against OM. Cytoscape software was used to build networks linking components, targets, and diseases. The STRING database facilitated analysis of intertarget action relationships, and the target genes were analyzed for Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment. Occurrence of serum inflammation-related factors, hematoxylin and eosin staining, and immunohistochemistry were used to assess OM injury. Cell proliferation, migration, pyroptosis, and apoptosis of HOK cells under different treatments were assessed. Molecular mechanisms were elucidated through western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 49 overlapping genes were pinpointed as potential targets, with NF-κB1, PIK3R1, NF-κBIA, and AKT1 being recognized as hub genes among them. Additionally, the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB and interleukin-17 signaling pathways were identified as relevant. Our in vivo experiments showed that CBD significantly reduced the proportion of lesion area, mitigated oral mucosal tissue lesions, and downregulated the expression levels of genes and levels of proteins, including NLRP3, P65, AKT, and PI3K. In vitro experiments indicated that CBD enhanced HOK cell proliferation and migration and reduced apoptosis through inhibition of the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway and pyroptosis.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings suggest a novel mechanism for controlling OM, in which CBD suppresses the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway and pyroptosis, thereby mitigating OM symptoms.</p>","PeriodicalId":8690,"journal":{"name":"Balkan Medical Journal","volume":"41 4","pages":"286-297"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11588905/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141533517","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical, Demographic, and Radiological Characteristics of Patients Demonstrating Antibodies Against Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein","authors":"Sümeyye Koç, Sedat Şen, Yüksel Terzi, Ferah Kızılay, Serkan Demir, Dürdane Bekar Aksoy, Fatma Kurtuluş, Nuray Bilge, Egemen Idilman, Cihat Uzunköprü, Serdal Güngör, Vedat Çilingir, Özlem Ethemoğlu, Cavit Boz, Haluk Gümüş, Ahmet Kasım Kılıç, Ayşin Kısabay, Levent Sinan Bir, Ömer Faruk Turan, Aysun Soysal, Mesrure Köseoğlu, Gülnur Tekgöl Uzuner, Hasan Bayındır, Sibel Canbaz Kabay, Mustafa Çam, Vildan Yayla, Hüseyin Tan, Abdülcemal Özcan, Özlem Taşkapıoğlu, Muammer Korkmaz, Yusuf Tamam, Yılmaz İnanç, Hüsnü Efendi, Dilcan Kotan, Mehmet Fatih Yetkin, Adnan Burak Bilgiç, Hikmet Saçmacı, Serpil Demirci, Yahya Çelik, Turan Poyraz, Murat Terzi","doi":"10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2024.2024-1-97","DOIUrl":"10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2024.2024-1-97","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Optic neuritis, myelitis, and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) have been associated with antibodies against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-immunoglobulin G (anti-MOG-IgG). Furthermore, patients with radiological and demographic features atypical for multiple sclerosis (MS) with optic neuritis and myelitis also demonstrate antibodies against aquaporin-4 and anti-MOG-IgG. However, data on the diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, and prognosis in patients with anti-MOG-IgG are limited.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>To evaluate the clinical, radiological, and demographic characteristics of patients with anti-MOG-IgG.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Multicenter, retrospective, observational study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Patients with blood samples demonstrating anti-MOG-IgG that had been evaluated at the Neuroimmunology laboratory at Ondokuz Mayıs University’s Faculty of Medicine were included in the study.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 104 patients with anti-MOG-IgG, 56.7% were women and 43.3% were men. Approximately 2.4% of the patients were diagnosed with MS, 15.8% with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), 39.4% with NMOSD, 31.3% with isolated optic neuritis, and 11.1% with isolated myelitis. Approximately 53.1% of patients with spinal involvement at clinical onset demonstrated a clinical course of NMOSD. Thereafter, 8.8% of these patients demonstrated a clinical course similar to MS and ADEM, and 28.1% demonstrated a clinical course of isolated myelitis. The response to acute attack treatment was lower and the disability was higher in patients aged > 40 years than patients aged < 40 years at clinical onset. Oligoclonal band was detected in 15.5% of the patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>For patients with NMOSD and without anti-NMO antibodies, the diagnosis is supported by the presence of anti-MOG-IgG. Furthermore, advanced age at clinical onset, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score at clinical onset, spinal cord involvement, and number of attacks may be negative prognostic factors in patients with anti-MOG-IgG.</p>","PeriodicalId":8690,"journal":{"name":"Balkan Medical Journal","volume":" ","pages":"272-279"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11588904/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141199462","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ectopic Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors/Adenomas Around the Sella Turcica","authors":"Mustafa Kemal Demir, Önder Ertem, Deniz Kılıç, Okan Akıncı, Özge Ecertaştan, Deniz Konya, Türker Kılıç","doi":"10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2024.2023-11-90","DOIUrl":"10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2024.2023-11-90","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Functional or non-secretory ectopic pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNET) can form around the sella turcica during the development of the adenohypophysis by differentiating and detaching from the pharyngeal roof. These tumors usually appear in the sphenoid sinus, clivus, cavernous sinus, infundibulum, and suprasellar cistern. Ectopic PitNETs typically display the characteristic magnetic resonance imaging findings of pituitary adenomas. However, preoperative diagnosis of PitNETs is usually challenging because of the variety of clinical and imaging presentations, locations, and sizes. Ectopic suprasellar PitNETs resemble mass lesions in the pituitary stalk. Ectopic cavernous sinus of PitNETs are typically microadenomas in the medial wall. Ectopic sphenoclival tumors are characterized by more aggressive tumor activity than the other ectopic PitNETs. Although ectopic PitNETs are exceedingly rare, they should be considered as a differential diagnosis for masses around the sella turcica. Treatment of the disease should be individualized and may include medical care, surgical resection, gamma-knife radiosurgery, and radiotherapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":8690,"journal":{"name":"Balkan Medical Journal","volume":" ","pages":"167-173"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11077925/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140058610","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Giant Left Atrium in an Octogenarian with a Complex Etiology","authors":"Angelina Borizanova, Elena Kinova, Plamen Getsov, Assen Goudev","doi":"10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2024.2024-1-64","DOIUrl":"10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2024.2024-1-64","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8690,"journal":{"name":"Balkan Medical Journal","volume":" ","pages":"226-227"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11077924/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140142659","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Present and Future of Artificial Intelligence in Pathology.","authors":"Ufuk Usta, Ebru Taştekin","doi":"10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2024.2024.060324","DOIUrl":"10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2024.2024.060324","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8690,"journal":{"name":"Balkan Medical Journal","volume":"41 3","pages":"157-158"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11077921/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140848422","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin Activates Mouse Dendritic Cells Through the JAK/SYK Pathway in Promoting Th17 Response in Psoriasis.","authors":"Cuihao Song, Jie Sun, Zhenkai Zhao, Xu Zhang, Xiangyu Ding, Xiaoqiang Liang, Jia Bai, Liyuan Xing, Lingling Gong, Chengxin Li, Biwen Lin","doi":"10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2024.2024-1-96","DOIUrl":"10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2024.2024-1-96","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that has no cure. While the specific cause of psoriasis is unknown, interactions between immune cells and inflammatory cytokines are believed to be important in its pathogenesis. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a cytokine produced by epithelial cells that profoundly affects dendritic cells (DCs) and is involved in allergy and inflammatory diseases. In some studies, its expression is higher in the skin of psoriasis patients, whereas it is increased in treated psoriasis patients when compared with untreated patients in others.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>To investigate the role of TSLP in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>In vitro and in vivo study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>To investigate the effect of TSLP on psoriasis in vivo, a mouse psoriasis model and shRNA targeting TSLP to reduce its expression were used. Mouse primary bone marrow dendritic cells (BMDCs) were cultured in vitro and used to investigate the signaling pathways activated by TSLP. Results: We found that reducing TSLP expression in psoriasis skin alleviated disease severity. TSLP activated the Janus kinase (JAK)/SYK pathway in psoriatic skin. In vitro studies with BMDCs demonstrated that TSLP increased DC maturation through the JAK/SYK pathway and activated DCs-secreted cytokines that stimulated CD4⁺ T cells to develop into T helper 17 (Th17) cells by activating STAT3 signaling. The JAK/SYK pathway inhibitor reduced the effect of TSLP on activating BMDCs and promoting Th17 differentiation by CD4⁺ T cells.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings indicated that TSLP exerted its immune-modulating effect in psoriasis through the JAK/SYK pathway.</p>","PeriodicalId":8690,"journal":{"name":"Balkan Medical Journal","volume":"41 3","pages":"174-185"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11077931/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140874486","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spot Diagnosis for Suspected COVID-19 Cases: Is there a Place for a Traditional Weapon in Modern Combat?","authors":"Petros V. Vlastarakos, Alexandros Delides, Giorgos Sideris, Sotirios Tsiodras","doi":"10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2024.2023-11-133","DOIUrl":"10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2024.2023-11-133","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8690,"journal":{"name":"Balkan Medical Journal","volume":" ","pages":"228-229"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11077929/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139569774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}