Intersection of Health Tourism and Technology: Smart Destinations

Ecem Deniz 한국디지털융합학회 2023 IJICTDC Vol.8 No.2

The intersection of health tourism and technology is creating 'smart destinations' that are changing the way individuals seek and experience the world's healthcare around them. This emerging innovation represents the strategic integration of new technologies and healthcare services and offers an enhanced experience to health tourists. Smart destinations use technology to deliver personalized and comprehensive healthcare solutions. These include advanced mobile health platforms, artificial intelligence analytics applications, wearable health devices, and innovative data analytics. These technologies enable remote communication, patient monitoring, and predictive analytics for personalized treatment planning. The intervention of health tourism and technology through the concept of smart destinations is reshaping the global health landscape. The introduction of advanced technologies not only increases the access and quality of medical care, but also enhances the experience of health tourists. As technology continues to advance, smart destinations play an important role in shaping the future of health tourism and connecting it with patient care. In this study, it presents the ideas that emerged as a result of the investigations about smart destinations arising from the intersection of health tourism and technology.

The effect of drug holiday before tooth extraction on the development of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw in cancer patients receiving intravenous bisphosphonates

Çiğdem Karaca(Çiğdem Karaca ),Göknur Topaloğlu-Yasan(Göknur Topaloğlu-Yasan ),Selen Adiloğlu(Selen Adiloğlu ),Ecem Usman(Ecem Usman ) 대한구강악안면외과학회 2023 대한구강악안면외과학회지 Vol.49 No.2

Objectives: Drug holidays are suggested to reduce the formation of osteonecrosis in patients under intravenous (IV) bisphosphonates (BPs) therapy. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the incidence of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) following tooth extraction in cancer patients using IV BP, and to assess the effect of drug holiday on the development of MRONJ. Patients and Methods: A manuel search of the patient folders of Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Hacettepe University was undertaken to identify cancer patients who used IV BPs and had at least one tooth extraction between 2012 and 2022. Patents’ age, sex, systemic condition, the type of BP used, duration of BP used, number of tooth extraction, duration of drug holiday, localization of tooth extraction and incidence of MRONJ were recorded. Results: One hundred nine teeth were removed from 57 jaws in 51 patients. All tooth extractions were performed under perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis and with primary wound closure. The incidence of MRONJ was 5.3%. Stage 1 MRONJ developed in 3 patients (only one had a drug holiday). The median duration of drug holiday was 2 months. No significant difference between the patients with and without a drug holiday and MRONJ development was found (P=0.315). The mean age of patients developed MRONJ was 40.33±8.08 years. A statistically significant difference was found between age and MRONJ development (P=0.002). Conclusion: The effect of a short-term drug holiday on the development of MRONJ may be limited because BPs remain in bone tissue for a long time. Drug holidays should be applied with the approval of an oncologist with other preventive measurements.

Influence of modeling agents on the surface properties of an esthetic nano-hybrid composite

Kutuk Zeynep Bilge,Erden Ecem,Aksahin Damla Lara,Durak Zeynep Elif,Dulda Alp Can 대한치과보존학회 2020 Restorative Dentistry & Endodontics Vol.45 No.2

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different modeling agents on the surface microhardness (Vickers hardness number; VHN), roughness (Ra), and color change (ΔE) of a nano-hybrid composite with or without exposure to discoloration by coffee. Materials and Methods: Sixty-four cylinder-shaped nano-hybrid composite specimens were prepared using a Teflon mold. The specimens' surfaces were prepared according to the following groups: group 1, no modeling agent; group 2, Modeling Liquid; group 3, a universal adhesive (G-Premio Bond); and group 4, the first step of a 2-step self-adhesive system (OptiBond XTR). Specimens were randomly allocated into 2 groups (n = 8) according to the storage medium (distilled water or coffee). VHN, Ra, and ΔE were measured at 24 hours, 1 week, and 6 weeks. The Kruskal-Wallis test followed by the Bonferroni correction for pairwise comparisons was used for statistical analysis (α = 0.05). Results: Storage time did not influence the VHN of the nano-hybrid composite in any group (p > 0.05). OptiBond XTR Primer application affected the VHN negatively in all investigated storage medium and time conditions (p < 0.05). Modeling Liquid application yielded improved Ra values for the specimens stored in coffee at each time point (p < 0.05). Modeling Liquid application was associated with the lowest ΔE values in all investigated storage medium and time conditions (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Different types of modeling agents could affect the surface properties and discoloration of nano-hybrid composites.

Influence of modeling agents on the surface properties of an esthetic nano-hybrid composite

Kutuk, Zeynep Bilge,Erden, Ecem,Aksahin, Damla Lara,Durak, Zeynep Elif,Dulda, Alp Can The Korean Academy of Conservative Dentistry 2020 Restorative Dentistry & Endodontics Vol.45 No.1

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different modeling agents on the surface microhardness (Vickers hardness number; VHN), roughness (Ra), and color change (ΔE) of a nano-hybrid composite with or without exposure to discoloration by coffee. Materials and Methods: Sixty-four cylinder-shaped nano-hybrid composite specimens were prepared using a Teflon mold. The specimens' surfaces were prepared according to the following groups: group 1, no modeling agent; group 2, Modeling Liquid; group 3, a universal adhesive (G-Premio Bond); and group 4, the first step of a 2-step self-adhesive system (OptiBond XTR). Specimens were randomly allocated into 2 groups (n = 8) according to the storage medium (distilled water or coffee). VHN, Ra, and ΔE were measured at 24 hours, 1 week, and 6 weeks. The Kruskal-Wallis test followed by the Bonferroni correction for pairwise comparisons was used for statistical analysis (α = 0.05). Results: Storage time did not influence the VHN of the nano-hybrid composite in any group (p > 0.05). OptiBond XTR Primer application affected the VHN negatively in all investigated storage medium and time conditions (p < 0.05). Modeling Liquid application yielded improved Ra values for the specimens stored in coffee at each time point (p < 0.05). Modeling Liquid application was associated with the lowest ΔE values in all investigated storage medium and time conditions (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Different types of modeling agents could affect the surface properties and discoloration of nano-hybrid composites.

Endoscopic and histological characteristics of small bowel tumors diagnosed by double-balloon enteroscopy

Suleyman Dolu,Soner Onem,Zarni Htway,Farid Hajıyev,Ali Bilgen,Hatice Cilem Binicier,Ecem Kalemoglu,Ozgul Sagol,Mesut Akarsu 대한소화기내시경학회 2023 Clinical Endoscopy Vol.56 No.1

Background/Aims: Double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) allows for the diagnoses and treatment of small bowel tumors (SBTs). Thisstudy aimed to evaluate the utility of DBE for the diagnosis and treatment of SBTs. Methods: Patients diagnosed with SBTs who underwent DBE were included in this study. According to their endoscopic appearances,they were categorized as polyps or masses, and according to their histological characteristics, they were categorized as benign or malignantSBTs. Results: A total of 704 patients were retrospectively analyzed, and 90 (12.8%) were diagnosed with SBTs. According to their endoscopicappearance, 48 (53.3%) had polyps and 42 (46.7%) had masses. Additionally, 53 (58.9%) and 37 (41.1%) patients had malignant andbenign SBTs, respectively, depending on their histological characteristics. Patients diagnosed with polyps were younger than those diagnosedwith masses (p<0.001). Patients diagnosed with benign SBTs were younger than those diagnosed with malignant SBT(p<0.001). Overall, histological diagnosis was determined using DBE in 73 (81.1%) patients. Conclusions: DBE is a useful method for diagnosing SBTs. Additionally, the histological type of the lesion can be determined usingDBE.

Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, S-100 Protein and Synaptophysin Expression in Biliary Atresia Gallbladder Tissue

Gurunluoglu, Semra,Ceran, Canan,Gurunluoglu, Kubilay,Kocbiyik, Alper,Gul, Mehmet,Yildiz, Turan,Bag, Harika Gozukara,Gul, Semir,Tasci, Aytac,Bayrakci, Ercan,Akpinar, Necmettin,Cin, Ecem Serbest,Ates, H The Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology 2021 Pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology & nutrition Vol.24 No.2

Purpose: Biliary atresia (BA) is a disease that manifests as jaundice after birth and leads to progressive destruction of the ductal system in the liver. The aim of this study was to investigate histopathological changes and immunohistochemically examine the expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), synaptophysin, and S-100 protein in the gallbladder of BA patients. Methods: The study included a BA group of 29 patients and a control group of 41 children with cholecystectomy. Gallbladder tissue removed during surgery was obtained and examined immunohistochemically and histopathologically. Tissue samples of both groups were immunohistochemically assessed in terms of GDNF, S-100 protein, and synaptophysin expression. Expression was classified as present or absent. Inflammatory activity assessment with hematoxylin and eosin staining and fibrosis assessment with Masson's trichrome staining were performed for tissue sample sections of both groups. Results: Ganglion cells were not present in gallbladder tissue samples of the BA group. Immunohistochemically, GDNF, synaptophysin, and S-100 expression was not detected in the BA group. Histopathological examination revealed more frequent fibrosis and slightly higher inflammatory activity in the BA than in the control group. Conclusion: We speculate that GDNF expression will no longer continue in this region, when the damage caused by inflammation of the extrahepatic bile ducts reaches a critical threshold. The study's findings may represent a missing link in the chain of events forming the etiology of BA and may be helpful in its diagnosis.