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Background: aim of this study was to investigate the long-term clinical, functional and oncologic outcomes of patients with aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC). It was also aimed to reveal the effect of treatment options on recurrence and complications. Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent surgical treatment and follow-up with the diagnosis of ACS between 2000 and January 2023 were included in the study. Data were collected retrospectively using the hospital database and patient follow- up files. Only patients with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of ABC and a minimum follow-up period of 12 months were included in the study. Data such as age, gender, side, bone location of the tumor, extremity localization, preferred surgical method (curettage+allograft, curettage+allograft, curettage+autograft, curettage+cement and resection), whether internal fixation was applied, follow-up period, presence of recurrence and date of recurrence were recorded. The last follow-up was performed with the MSTS (Musculoskeletal Tumor Society) scoring system in outpatient clinic controls. On the basis of these data, the clinical, radiological, functional and oncological outcomes of the patients, complication rates, presence of recurrence and factors affecting the occurrence of recurrence were retrospectively analyzed. Results: A total of 103 patients, 51 women and 52 men, were included in the study. The mean follow-up period was 30.94±4.43 months. Recurrence was seen in 24.3% (n=25) of the patients. The age of patients with recurrence was significantly higher than those without recurrence (p<0.001). There was a statistically significant correlation between recurrence and internal fixation (p=0.020). The MSTS scores of patients who underwent internal fixation during surgery were significantly higher than those of patients who did not undergo internal fixation (p<0.001). Conclusions: In conclusion, in line with the data obtained in our study, the choice of treatment for aneurysmal bone cysts depends on localization, size, pathological fracture risk, symptoms and surrounding tissues. We believe that more caution should be exercised in the surgical treatment of ACCs with fracture risk, lower extremity localizations, and patients with incomplete skeletal development. Prevention of recurrence and internal fixation in patients with fracture risk increase patient satisfaction and positively affect functional outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Design: Various lasers, mainly nanosecond Q-switched (QS), and picosecond lasers, have been successfully used to treat solar lentigines. However, picosecond lasers are expensive, and QS lasers have a higher risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) in darker skin types. The aim of our study is to examine retrospectively the efficacy and safety of long-pulsed alexandrite laser in the treatment of solar lentigines, compare our findings to previous studies with nano and pico-second lasers, and evaluate long-term outcomes regarding recurrence. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 39 patients with a clinical diagnosis of solar lentigo treated by long pulsed alexandrite laser. Patients' photographs and clinical charts were reviewed in terms of demographic features, areas of treatment, number of sessions, laser settings, recurrence of lesions, Fitzpatrick's skin type, and any side effects observed. Results: The rate of improvement was excellent in 33 (84.6%), moderate in 4 (10.3%), and mild in 2 (5.1%) patients. Seven (17.9%) patients with Fitzpatrick's skin type III and IV developed PIH. Lesion recurrence was observed in 5 patients (12.8%). Mean time to recurrence was 57.98±4.45 months. Conclusion: Our study suggests that long pulsed alexandrite laser is an effective and safe option in the treatment of solar lentigines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gout is an inflammatory disease characterized by acute arthritis attacks, which occurs as a result of the accumulation of monosodium urate crystals in the joints and tissues as a result of long-term hyperuricemia. In this study, demographic data and comorbid diseases of patients diagnosed with gout were investigated retrospectively. Materials and Methods: This study was performed retrospectively in Kahramanmaraş Necip Fazıl City Hospital Rheumatology Clinic between January 2020 and December 2021. Patients over the age of 18 who were diagnosed with gout according to the 2015 EULAR/ACR classification criteria were included in the study. Results: In totals, 110 patients who diagnosed gout were included, 77 of whom males (70%), 33 of whom females (30%).The mean age of the patients was 60.3. The most common joint involvement was observed in the first metatarsal and in 89 patients (80.9%). The most common comorbidity in patients with gout was Diabetes mellitus and evaluated in 77 patients (70%). The other comorbidities, Hypertension in 59 patients (53.6%), Chronic renal failure in 49 patients (44.5%), Hyperlipidemia in 42 patients (38.2%), coronary artery disease in 35 patients (31.8%), Cerebrovascular events was observed in two patients (1.8%). Mean laboratory parameters are as falloows: wbc: 8268, Hgb: 14.17 g / dl, uric acid: 7.79 mg / dl, sedimentation: 19.7 mm / hour, CRP: 8.5 mg / l, Urea: 41 mg / dl, creatinine :1.2mg/dl . As medical treatment, colchicine was used in 80 patients (72.7%), allopurinol was used in 104 patients (94.5%), and febuxostat was used in two patients (1.8%). The uric acid level was observed to be within the target value in 30 patients (27.3%) and not at the target value in 80 patients (72.7%). Conclusions: In this study, demographic data, comorbid diseases and medical treatment responses of gout patients were evaluated. These findings were found to be compatible with the literature. Diabetes mellitus, Hypertension, Coronary artery disease, Chronic renal failure, Obesity and diet are the main risk factors for the disease. Metabolic diseases should also be considered in the treatment of gout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In this study, male patients who underwent urethroplasty in our clinic were examined, and the outcome of the cases and the risk factors affecting the success of urethroplasty were investigated. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, univariate and multivariate analyzes were used to determine the factors affecting treatment success following different urethroplasty techniques performed by a single surgeon in male patients with urethral stricture. Results: In the urethroplasty cases performed in 102 male patients, the mean age was 49 years, the mean stenosis length was 3.9 cm, and the success rate was 84%. According to the results of the multivariate analysis, the presence of diabetes mellitus (DM), the number of previous urethratomy interna (IU) and the length of the stenosis were defined as the factors predicting the success of urethroplasty. (OR 1.257; 95% CI 0.073-0.909; p=0.035, OR 5.343; 95% CI 2.233-12.782; p=0.005 and OR 8.683; 95% CI 2.950-25.561; p=0.025) Conclusions: Although urethroplasty is the gold standard surgical procedure in the treatment of urethral strictures, the presence of DM, multiple IU history, and long strictures are associated with treatment failure. Urethroplasty techniques should be evaluated with multiple factors and performed in experienced centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKp) is among the leading causes of hospital-acquired infections worldwide and causes serious and life-threatening infections. Treatment options are very limited for blood stream infections (BSIs) and prognosis is poor due to increasing multi-drug resistance. The aim of this study was to assess risk factors for the mortality due to CRKp-BSI. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in a university hospital from September 2013 to October 2017. Patients (aged >16 years) with CRKp-BSI were included in this study. Data, including demographics, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score on hospitalisation date, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of CRKp, antibiotic treatment and outcome (30-day mortality) data were collected from the electronic medical records and microbiology databases. Results: A total of 82 patients with CRKP-BSIs were analysed. The median age was 54.5 years, and 48 (58.5%) of them were male. The median APACHE II score on hospitalisation was 14 (IQR 6-28) and CCI was 4.0 (IQR 0-12). Forty-six (56.1%) patients had ICU-acquired bacteremia and 36 (43.9%) had central-line associated bacteremia and 25 (30.5%) had primary bacteremia. Fifty (61.0%) patients had combination therapy, colistin/tigecycline (28%) was the most used antibiotic combination. The mortality of all patients was 56.1% (46/82) and 65.2% (30/46) in ICU patients. In univariate analysis, risk factors for the mortality of CRKp-BSI were high CCI, not having clinical response on the fifth day of treatment, high APACHE II score on hospitalisation and infection date and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. In multivariate analysis, the most significant risk factor for mortality was APACHE II score on infection day (OR: 1.190; 95% CI: 1.088-1.301). Treatment regimens and combination therapy vs. monotherapy were not found to be significantly associated with survival. In addition, MIC values of CRKp were not associated with mortality. Conclusions: Patients with CRKp-BSI had high mortality (56.1%). APACHE II score on infection day was significantly associated with mortality. The outcome was similar between patients receiving combination (54.3%) or monotherapy (45.7%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Interictal electroencephalography (EEG) is an electrophysiological test used in daily practice and important in the diagnosis and treatment process for epileptic patients. Accurate assessment of the interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) and recognition of secondary bilateral synchrony (SBS) are important for the evaluation of appropriate treatment options. In this study, we investigated whether the presence of SBS is a risk factor for seizure frequency, treatment response, and localization. Methods: In this study, the data of 126 patients who were followed up with the diagnosis of epilepsy in the Neurology Outpatient Clinic of Namık Kemal University Education and Research Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Demographic characteristics, seizure frequency, localization, treatment response and EEG characteristics of the patients were investigated and the results of 122 patients were obtained. Results: Fifty-eight (46%) of the patients were female, and 68 (54%) were male. The mean age was 36.5±16.4 (15-78) years. EEG of 15 patients (12.2%) was reported as SBS. Focal epileptiform abnormality was detected in 54 patients (44.2%) and focal irregular background activity (non-epileptic findings) was found in 12 patients (9.8%). When semiological features and EEG findings were evaluated together, 44 patients (34.9%) were classified as frontal lobe seizures, 66 patients (52.4%) as temporal lobe seizures, 16 patients (12.6%) as the others. Forty-six patients (36.5%) had no seizures, while 15 (11.9%) had one seizure per year, 46 (36.5%) had one seizure in one to six months, and 19 (15.1%) had daily or weekly seizures. Twenty-nine (23%) of the 46 seizure-free patients became seizure-free in an early stage, 17 patients (13.5%) became seizure-free after the sixth month of the treatment. Conclusion: Although the presence of IED and SBS in interictal EEG is not a risk factor for seizure frequency and treatment response, and the rate of SBS is higher in frontal lobe seizures. The presence of IED and SBS in the management of treatment may lead to false results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]