The prognostic value of lymph node ratio in stage IIIC cervical cancer patients triaged to primary treatment by radical hysterectomy with systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy

Koray Aslan,Mehmet Mutlu Meydanli,Murat Oz,Yusuf Aytac Tohma,Ali Haberal,Ali Ayhan 대한부인종양학회 2020 Journal of Gynecologic Oncology Vol.31 No.1

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of lymph node ratio (LNR) in women with 2018 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IIIC cervical cancer. Methods: In this retrospective dual-institutional study, a total of 185 node-positive cervical cancer patients who had undergone radical hysterectomy with systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy were included. All of the patients received adjuvant chemoradiation after surgery. LNR was defined as the ratio of positive lymph nodes (LNs) to the total number of LNs removed. The patients were categorized into 2 groups according to LNR; LNR <0.05 and LNR ≥0.05. The prognostic value of LNR was evaluated with univariate log-rank tests and multivariate Cox regression models. Results: A total of 138 patients (74.6%) had stage IIIC1 disease and 47 (25.4%) patients had stage IIIC2 disease. With a median follow-up period of 45.5 months (range 3–135 months), the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 62.5% whereas the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 70.4% for the entire study population. The 5-year DFS rates for LNR <0.05 and LNR ≥0.05 were 78.2%, and 48.4%, respectively (p<0.001). Additionally, the 5-year OS rates for LNR <0.05 and LNR ≥0.05 were 80.6%, and 61.2%, respectively (p=0.007). On multivariate analysis, LNR ≥0.05 was associated with a worse DFS (hazard ratio [HR]=2.12; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.15–3.90; p=0.015) and OS (HR=1.95; 95% CI=1.01–3.77; p=0.046) in women with stage IIIC cervical cancer. Conclusions: LNR ≥0.05 seems to be an independent prognostic factor for decreased DFS and OS in stage IIIC cervical carcinoma.

Evaluation of Cholinesterase Inhibitory and Antioxidant Activities of Wild and Cultivated Samples of Sage (Salvia fruticosa) by Activity-Guided Fractionation

Fatma Sezer Şenol,Ilkay Erdogan Orhan,Sinem Aslan Erdem,Murat Kartal,Bilge Şener,Yu¨ksel Kan,Ferhat Celep,Ahmet Kahraman,Musa Dogan 한국식품영양과학회 2011 Journal of medicinal food Vol.14 No.11

In European folk medicine, Salvia species have traditionally been used to enhance memory. In our previous study of 55 Salvia taxa, we explored significant anticholinesterase activity of cultivated S. fruticosa. In this study, we compared the inhibitory activity of dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol extracts of 3 wild-grown samples and 1 cultivated sample of S. fruticosa against acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase enzymes (which are associated with pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease) by using the spectrophotometric Ellman method. Antioxidant activities were assessed by determining 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical–scavenging activity, iron-chelating capacity, and ferric-reducing antioxidant power. The dichloromethane extract of the cultivated sample was then subjected to fractionation by using open column chromatography and medium-pressure liquid chromatography to obtain the most active fraction by activity-guided fractionation. All fractions and subfractions were tested in the same manner, and inactive subfractions were discarded. The essential oil of the cultivated sample was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry.

The Relationship between P & QT Dispersions and Presence & Severity of Stable Coronary Artery Disease

Bingül Dilekci Şahin,Erkan Yıldırım, M.D.,Emrah Ipek,Mahir Cengiz,Kursat Aslan,Esra Poyraz,Selami Demirelli,Murat Bayantemur,Emrah Ermis,Cavlan Ciftci 대한심장학회 2016 Korean Circulation Journal Vol.46 No.4

Background and Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the correlation between electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters and presence and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) to indicate the usefulness of these parameters as predictors of severity in patients with stable CAD. Subjects and Methods: Two hundred fifty patients, without a history of any cardiovascular event were included in the study. The ECG parameters were measured manually by a cardiologist before coronary angiography. The patients were allocated into five groups: those with normal coronary arteries (Group 1), non-critical coronary lesions (Group 2), one, two and three vessel disease (Group 3, Group 4 and Group 5, respectively. . Results: Group 1 had the lowest P wave dispersion (PWD) and P wave (Pmax), QT interval (QTmax), QT dispersion (QTd), corrected QT dispersion (QTcd) and QT dispersion ratio (QTdR), while the patients in group 5 had the highest values of these parameters. Gensini score and QTmax, QTd, QTcmax, QTcd, QTdR, Pmax, and PWD were positively correlated. QTdR was the best ECG parameter to differentiate group 1 and 2 from groups with significant stenosis (groups 3, 4, and 5) (area under curve [AUC] 0.846). QTdR was the best ECG parameter to detect coronary arterial narrowing lesser than 50% and greater than 50%, respectively (AUC 0.858). Conclusion: Presence and severity of CAD can be determined by using ECG in patients with stable CAD and normal left ventricular function.

A Comparison of the Effects of Dexamethasone and Methylprednisolone, Used on Level-3 Intensive Care COVID-19 Patients, on Mortality: A Multi-Center Retrospective Study

Sari Ahmet,Ekinci Osman,Saraçoğlu Kemal Tolga,Balık Recep,Aslan Mesut,Balık Yelda,Önal Ceren,Aslan Murat,Cevher Semra,Parmaksız Aylin,Vatansever Şule,Çicek Münire Canan,Ayan Özge Sayın,Şensöz Çelik Ga 대한의학회 2023 Journal of Korean medical science Vol.38 No.29

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is often a mild disease, usually manifesting with respiratory complaints, and is sometimes mortal due to multiple organ failure. Hyperinflammation is a known COVID-19 component and is associated with organ dysfunction, disease severity and mortality. Controlling hyperinflammatory response is crucial in determining treatment direction. An important agent in providing this control is corticosteroids. This study aimed to determine whether dexamethasone and methylprednisolone, doses, administration time and duration in COVID-19 treatment are associated with improved treatment outcomes. Methods: This retrospective multicenter study was conducted with participation of 6 healthcare centers which collected data by retrospectively examining files of 1,340 patients admitted to intensive care unit due to COVID-19 between March 2020 and September 2021, diagnosed with polymerase chain reaction (+) and/or clinically and radiologically. Results: Mortality in the pulse methylprednisolone group was statistically significantly higher than that in the other 3 groups. Mortality was higher in older patients with comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney failure, coronary artery disease, and dementia. Pulse and mini-pulse steroid doses were less effective than standard methylprednisolone and dexamethasone doses, pulse steroid doses being associated with high mortality. Standard-dose methylprednisolone and dexamethasone led to similar effects, but standard dose methylprednisolone was more effective in severe patients who required mechanical ventilation (MV). Infection development was related to steroid treatment duration, not cumulative steroid dose. Conclusion: Corticosteroids are shown to be beneficial in critical COVID-19, but the role of early corticosteroids in mild COVID-19 patients remains unclear. The anti-inflammatory effects of corticosteroids may have a positive effect by reducing mortality in severe COVID-19 patients. Although dexamethasone was first used for this purpose, methylprednisolone was found to be as effective at standard doses. Methylprednisolone administered at standard doses was associated with greater PaO2/FiO2 ratios than dexamethasone, especially in the severe group requiring MV. High dose pulse steroid doses are closely associated with mortality and standard methylprednisolone dose is recommended.

Tarantula cubensis extract alters the degree of apoptosis and mitosis in canine mammary adenocarcinomas

Nilgun Gultiken,Tolga Guvenc,Duygu Kaya,Ali Reha Agaoglu,Ibrahim Kucukaslan,Birten Emre,Murat Findik,Sabine Schäfer-Somi,Selim Aslan 대한수의학회 2015 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.16 No.2

In the present study, 13 clinical cases of canine mammary adenocarcinoma were evaluated in order to understand the effect of Tarantula cubensis extract (TCE) on tumor tissue. Punch biopsies were taken from the tumors before treatment with TCE. Subcutaneous injections of TCE were administered three times at weekly intervals (3 mL per dog). Between days 7 and 10 after the third injection, the tumor masses were extirpated by complete unilateral mastectomy. Pre- and post-treatment tumor tissues were immunohistochemically assessed. The expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) was found to be higher in pre-treatment compared to post-treatment tissues (p < 0.01) whereas Ki-67 expression was lower in post-treatment tissues (p < 0.01). No significant differences in fibroblast growth factor or vascular endothelial growth factor expression were observed between pre- and post-treatment tissues (p > 0.05). The apoptotic index was determined to be low before treatment and increased during treatment. These results suggest that TCE may be effective for controlling the local growth of canine mammary adenocarcinoma by regulating apoptosis.