Turk J Med Sci
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The SARS-CoV-2 infection was declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020, and the death toll from COVID-19, which is the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, has already surpassed that of many previous epidemics. A wide variety of treatment options are being considered for COVID-19, but there is still no definitive treatment or vaccine. This study aims to explain the background of convalescent plasma (CP) treatment and its relations with COVID-19 immunity, to define ideal treatment procedures, and to reveal present and future perspectives in the light of the rapidly growing data. Immunological basis of COVID-19-associated immune response and convalescent plasma as a treatment option: Since it has been shown that the impaired immune response of the host is one of the most important factors that increase the severity of the infection, treatment strategies to suppress aberrant immune activation are currently being considered. CP, which is derived from recently recovered patients and contains neutralizing antibodies and many other immune- modulatory substances, seems to be the most convenient strategy to restore normal immune function considering the fast spreading nature of the ongoing pandemic. ⋯ Even though mechanisms of action of plasma therapy are not fully delineated, it was shown that it could lead to a reduction in mortality since other alternatives such as monoclonal antibodies or SARS-CoV-2 hyperimmunoglobulin require much more time and effort to be developed.
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Lycopene is associated with anticancer effects in various tumor types. However, the exact underlying mechanisms of action of lycopene in human cervical cancer remain to be determined. This study aimed to determine anticancer efficacy and mechanism of lycopene in human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells. ⋯ Lycopene increases the sensitization of cervical cancer cells to cisplatin via inhibition of cell viability, up-regulation of Bax expression, and down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression. Furthermore, the anticancer effect of lycopene might be also associated with suppression of NF-κB-mediated inflammatory responses, and modulation of Nrf2-mediated oxidative stress. The results of the present study suggest that lycopene and concurrent cisplatin chemotherapy might have a role in improving the treatment of cervical cancer.
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The NoSAS score is a new tool for the identification of high-risk patients for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). The aim of this study was to validate the NoSAS score in a sleep clinical population in Turkey and compare its performance with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), STOP-Bang, and Berlin questionnaires for high-risk SDB. ⋯ The NoSAS score had a good degree of differentiation for SDB and can be used as an easily applicable, subjective, and effective screening tool in a sleep clinical population in Turkey. Not only in moderate to severe SDB but also in mild SDB, the NoSAS score performed better than the other 3 screening tools.
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Sleep disturbance and related improvement in quality of life as a result of arthroscopic repair in rotator cuff tear (RCT) patients can be considered as an important parameter. The aim of our study is to evaluate the rotator cuff by ultrasonography (USG) in the first postoperative year and to examine whether there is a difference between sleep disturbance and quality of life between cases of rupture and healthy patients. In addition, we aim to compare the preoperative and at least the first postoperative year’s sleep disturbances and quality of life among patients who underwent arthroscopic RCT repair and to examine the effects of factors affecting this situation. ⋯ In the USG performed in the postoperative first year, it was determined that the patients with healthy rotator cuffs recovered better than those with rerupture.
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Observational Study
IMPAIRED INTEGRITY OF COMMISSURAL AND ASSOCIATION FIBERS IN ESSENTIAL TREMOR PATIENTS: EVIDENCE FROM A DIFFUSION TENSOR IMAGING STUDY.
The evolving understanding of essential tremors (ET) has led to a new definition of neurodegenerative disease, pointing to diffuse brain network involvement with a wide spectrum of associated motor and nonmotor symptoms. Considering the fact that white matter should also be affected by the nature of the disease, our study aimed to evaluate the integrity of white matter and its clinical correlations in ET patients. ⋯ In our study, major white matter structure changes were found in the ET patients. The results suggest that possible neurodegeneration also affects white matter structures in ET patients and that the duration of the tremor and family history are related with impaired integrity of white matter.