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Copyright of Archives of the Turkish Society of Cardiology / Türk Kardiyoloji Derneği Arşivi is the property of KARE Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses chronic inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Various parameters, scoring systems, and imaging methods are used to evaluate disease activity and treatment outcomes. Ultrasound elastography is a noninvasive, radiation-free method that assesses intestinal fibrosis and activity. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound elastography in assessing disease activity in IBD patients, both in remission and active phases. Methods: This prospective descriptive study included 38 patients with ulcerative colitis and 22 with Crohn’s disease. Disease activity in ulcerative colitis patients was evaluated using the Mayo score, Truelove-Witts score, and Endoscopic Activity Index (EAI), while Crohn’s disease patients were assessed using the Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and Harvey Bradshaw Index (HBI). Patients were categorized according to disease activity. An experienced radiologist used 2D shear wave elastography (SWE) to measure intestinal stiffness in kilopascals (kPa). Statistical analysis was conducted using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Mann-Whitney U tests. The ROC curve and Youden Index were applied to determine the cut-off value for diagnostic accuracy. Results: The mean age of the patients was 43.4±14.5 years. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between intestinal wall thickness and HBI, CDAI, ESR, and CRP in the Crohn’s disease group (P<0.001, P<0.001, P=0.005, P=0.001, respectively). In the ulcerative colitis group, a statistically significant correlation was also observed between intestinal wall thickness and TWS, Mayo score, EAI, ESR, and CRP (P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.001, P=0.027, P<0.001, respectively). Additionally, a statistically significant correlation was found between tissue stiffness and HBI, CDAI, and CRP in Crohn’s disease, and between tissue stiffness and TWS, Mayo score, EAI, ESR, and CRP in ulcerative colitis. Conclusion: The study revealed a statistically significant correlation between stiffness measurements (kPa) obtained through 2D-SWE, intestinal wall thickness measured by transabdominal ultrasound, and disease activity scores. 2D-SWE is a valuable tool that can complement other clinical indicators in evaluating disease activity in IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Joseph Fewsmith's book, "Forging Leninism in China: Mao and the Remaking of the Chinese Communist Party, 1927-1934," offers a fresh perspective on the early years of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Fewsmith argues that the conventional history, which focuses on Mao Zedong's central role, overlooks the contributions of local revolutionaries like those in the Donggu Revolutionary Base Area. By examining the relationship between local and non-local revolutionaries, Fewsmith demonstrates how the CPC transformed from a fragmented movement into a disciplined Leninist party. The book explores topics such as the collapse of the United Front, the role of educated local youth in grassroots party organizations, Mao's land policy, and the sufan campaign against counterrevolutionaries. Fewsmith's analysis sheds light on the complex dynamics within the CPC during this crucial period of Chinese history. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Hitit Medical Journal is the property of Hitit Medical Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Determination of the optimal route in transportation activities is one of the major problems in transportation. Therefore, efficient techniques deserve our utmost attention to detect optimal routes. In this study, a novel method called Cluster Path Covering (CPC) has been developed and introduced to identify a route based on a sequence of location points on a network. There are already models to minimize the total path cost between the pair of nodes following a kind of sequence. However, our method aims to minimize the path cost, including the neighbourhood accessibility of the path nodes on the network. One of the major challenges for the new model is to reveal the accessibility costs between the nodes. The methodology presents the CPC method clustering the location points on a network and indicating the optimum point for each cluster. Then, the CPC method generates the best path by connecting the specific location points representing the clusters. Moreover, the shortest covering of the neighbourhood path problem (SCNPP) is introduced in this study. The novel CPC method is utilized for SCNPP, a distinctive version of the shortest covering path problem (SCPP). The performance of the CPC method is then tested on two different benchmark networks. According to the results, it provides robust and efficient outcomes for decreasing the routes' transportation costs (e.g., distances). The issues that can be solved via the CPC method include the accessibility costs of public transportation paths and the locations of stops by minimizing the costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the role of deep learning methods in diagnosing foreign body aspiration (FBA) to reduce the frequency of negative bronchoscopy and minimize potential complications., Methods: We retrospectively analysed data and radiographs from 47 pediatric patients who presented to our hospital with suspected FBA between 2019 and 2023. A control group of 63 healthy children provided a total of 110 PA CXR images, which were analysed using both convolutional neural network (CNN)-based deep learning methods and multiple logistic regression (MLR)., Results: CNN-deep learning method correctly predicted 16 out of 17 bronchoscopy-positive images, while the MLR model correctly predicted 13. The CNN method misclassified one positive image as negative and two negative images as positive. The MLR model misclassified four positive images as negative and two negative images as positive. The sensitivity of the CNN predictor was 94.1 %, specificity was 97.8 %, accuracy was 97.3 %, and the F1 score was 0.914. The sensitivity of the MLR predictor was 76.5 %, specificity was 97.8 %, accuracy was 94.5 %, and the F1 score was 0.812., Conclusion: The CNN-deep learning method demonstrated high accuracy in determining the necessity for bronchoscopy in children with suspected FBA, significantly reducing the rate of negative bronchoscopies. This reduction may contribute to fewer unnecessary bronchoscopy procedures and complications. However, considering the risk of missing a positive case, this method should be used in conjunction with clinical evaluations. To overcome the limitations of our study, future research with larger multi-center datasets is needed to validate and enhance the findings., Type of Study: Original article., Level of Evidence: III., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest Authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Blepharoplasty is an important eyelid surgical procedure, involving aesthetic and functional changes to the eyelids. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of upper eyelid blepharoplasty on changes in the visual field, corneal changes, and cosmetic appearance. This study was performed with preoperative and postoperative facial photographs of 32 patients who underwent bilateral blepharoplasty. Marginal reflex distance (MRD1), percentage of corneal exposure area (CEA), and brow height (BH) were obtained from photographs. intraocular pressure (IOP) and ocular biometric parameters were also obtained. The morphometric and ocular parameters obtained from preoperative, postoperative first-month, and postoperative third-month patients were compared using repeated measures ANOVA test. Significant differences in MRD1, CEA, and BH were observed between preoperative, postoperative first-month, and postoperative third-month patients. Improvements were observed in left axis and right corneal astigmatism axis measurements in the postoperative third month compared with preoperative measurements, and the positive change was statistically significant (P=0.020, P=0.036). Upper eyelid blepharoplasty could provide satisfactory functional and aesthetic outcomes by contributing to the improvement of pseudoptosis and reduction in eyebrow height postoperatively., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.)

Objective: Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a life-threatening, rare disorder that occurs during the late stages of pregnancy or the early postpartum period. The ARTEMIS (A RegisTry of pEripartuM cardIomyopathy in Turkish patientS) aims to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of PPCM in Türkiye, providing insights into its management within this specific population., Methods: The ARTEMIS registry retrospectively enrolled patients diagnosed with PPCM within the last five years at 44 cardiology centers across Türkiye. Eligible participants were women over 18 years old, diagnosed with PPCM and without other known cardiac pathology. Data collected included demographic information, clinical presentation, diagnostic modalities, treatment regimens, and outcomes., Results: The study included 293 patients, predominantly between 25 and 35 years old. The majority presented with symptoms such as dyspnea and palpitations, diagnosed postpartum via echocardiography. A low use of advanced diagnostic imaging was noted, relying primarily on echocardiography for evaluation. Common treatments included beta blockers (97.8%), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (71.3%), and in severe cases, bromocriptine (6.9%). The study highlighted a mortality rate of 5.1%, with surviving patients often requiring continued management for heart failure. Diagnostic challenges and variations in treatment responses were noted, reflecting the complexity of PPCM diagnosis and care., Conclusion: The ARTEMIS registry provides valuable insights into the management of PPCM in Türkiye, highlighting the need for targeted educational programs for healthcare providers and patients. It also underscores the importance of national registries in understanding and improving outcomes for rare diseases like PPCM.

Introduction: It is known that the use of inhaled corticosteroids increases the incidence of pneumonia in patients followed up with the diagnosis of chronic asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study aimed to investigate the contribution of inhaled steroid use to pneumonia severity and mortality in cases with COVID-19 pneumonia., Materials and Methods: The study is a retrospective, observational study. Among the cases admitted to the pandemic clinic, patients diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia were included. The plan was to compare cases who received and did not receive inhaled corticosteroids in terms of pneumonia severity and mortality. In order to define risk factors for mortality, univariate and multivariable negative binomial regression analyses were performed., Result: In our study, it was observed that n= 540 (75%) cases did not receive inhaled corticosteroids (group 1), and 180 (25%) cases used inhaled corti costeroids (group 2). Group 1 and group 2 cases were compared in terms of pneumonia severity with no significant difference between the two groups (p= 0.11). Then, risk factors affecting mortality in all cases were examined with univariate analyses. Increasing age, applying mechanical ventilation, having severe pneumonia, having interstitial lung disease, and applying prone position were found to be statistically significant factors in mortality (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: In conclusion, in our study, it was observed that the use of inhaled corticosteroids did not increase the severity of pneumonia and mortality. It was thought that the treatment they received could be continued when the patients treated with inhaled corticosteroids due to asthma and COPD had COVID-19 pneumonia.