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Objectives: Artificial intelligence (AI) applications are increasingly being utilized by both patients and physicians for accessing medical information. This study focused on the urolithiasis section (pertaining to kidney and ureteral stones) of the European Association of Urology (EAU) guideline, a key reference for urologists., Material and Methods: We directed inquiries to four distinct AI chatbots to assess their responses in relation to guideline adherence. A total of 115 recommendations were transformed into questions, and responses were evaluated by two urologists with a minimum of 5 years of experience using a 5-point Likert scale (1 - False, 2 - Inadequate, 3 - Sufficient, 4 - Correct, and 5 - Very correct)., Results: The mean scores for Perplexity and ChatGPT 4.0 were 4.68 (SD: 0.80) and 4.80 (SD: 0.47), respectively, both significantly differed the scores of Bing and Bard (Bing vs. Perplexity, P<0.001; Bard vs. Perplexity, P<0.001; Bing vs. ChatGPT, P<0.001; Bard vs. ChatGPT, P<0.001). Bing had a mean score of 4.21 (SD: 0.96), while Bard scored 3.56 (SD: 1.14), with a significant difference (Bing vs. Bard, P<0.001). Bard exhibited the lowest score among all chatbots. Analysis of references revealed that Perplexity and Bing cited the guideline most frequently (47.3% and 30%, respectively)., Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that ChatGPT 4.0 and, notably, Perplexity align well with EAU guideline recommendations. These continuously evolving applications may play a crucial role in delivering information to physicians in the future, especially for urolithiasis., (Copyright © 2024 Société Française du Cancer. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Literary and archaeological sources have preserved a rich history of Southern Europe and West Asia since the Bronze Age that can be complemented by genetics. Mycenaean period elites in Greece did not differ from the general population and included both people with some steppe ancestry and others, like the Griffin Warrior, without it. Similarly, people in the central area of the Urartian Kingdom around Lake Van lacked the steppe ancestry characteristic of the kingdom's northern provinces. Anatolia exhibited extraordinary continuity down to the Roman and Byzantine periods, with its people serving as the demographic core of much of the Roman Empire, including the city of Rome itself. During medieval times, migrations associated with Slavic and Turkic speakers profoundly affected the region.

By sequencing 727 ancient individuals from the Southern Arc (Anatolia and its neighbors in Southeastern Europe and West Asia) over 10,000 years, we contextualize its Chalcolithic period and Bronze Age (about 5000 to 1000 BCE), when extensive gene flow entangled it with the Eurasian steppe. Two streams of migration transmitted Caucasus and Anatolian/Levantine ancestry northward, and the Yamnaya pastoralists, formed on the steppe, then spread southward into the Balkans and across the Caucasus into Armenia, where they left numerous patrilineal descendants. Anatolia was transformed by intra-West Asian gene flow, with negligible impact of the later Yamnaya migrations. This contrasts with all other regions where Indo-European languages were spoken, suggesting that the homeland of the Indo-Anatolian language family was in West Asia, with only secondary dispersals of non-Anatolian Indo-Europeans from the steppe.

Background: Genus Adonis L. contain approximately 40 annual and perennial species, which are widely distributed in the temperate zones of Asia and Europe, and less frequently in southwestern Asia, northern Africa and the Mediterranean region. The aim of the study was to evaluate the phylogenetic relationship among Adonis taxa collected from Türkiye based on nrDNA Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) markers., Methods: Samples of 64 individual genotypes from 21 populations of 10 Adonis taxa were collected from different regions of the country during vegetation period between 2014 and 2018. ITS1, ITS4, P16 and P25 primers within ITS technique was used to genotype the plant materials. Then, genotypic data was used to estimate magnitude and organization of infraspecific variation in different populations of Adonis., Results: About 600 bp DNA sequences were obtained from each 64 Adonis genotypes belonging to 21 different populations. The dendrogram obtained from Adonis taxa and out-group sequences had two large main groups. While the out-group species were placed in the first large main group, the sect. Consiligo (perennial) and sect. Adonis (annuals) were placed in different sub-groups of the second large main group. Genetic similarity among Adonis taxa varied between A. microcarpa and A. dentata (98.46%). Principal component analysis indicated that two important components in Adonis taxa genotypes. The expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.0252 (sub-population A) to 0.3460 (sub-population C), with an average of 0.1154. In addition, population differentiation measurements (Fst) ranged from 0.0025 (sub-population C) to 0.9016 (sub-population A) with a relatively high average 0.6601., Conclusions: Present analyses revealed that phylogenetic classification (grouping) of Adonis taxa largely depended on morphological structure and present ITS primers were quite efficient in putting forth the genetic diversity of such species. The results of this study suggested that ITS markers could be used in the identification of genetic diversity among the Adonis taxa. The results obtained from molecular data can be used to explore the genetic variation pattern, population structure, and the evolutionary history of genus Adonis in the future., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Background/aim: Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is an autoimmune syndrome caused by transplacental transmission of maternal autoantibodies, often with devastating consequences. The objective of this systematic literature review was to analyze the demographic data, geoepidemiology, clinical, and serological characteristics associated with NLE., Materials and Methods: We performed a systematic literature search of the Pubmed database covering the period from 1976 to August 2015, using the MeSH terms “neonatal lupus” or “congenital heart block”. To be included in the study, articles of any type (original articles, case series, and case reports) had to report on infants with NLE on an individualized (i.e. patient-by-patient) basis., Results: A total of198 studies were included in the review, reporting on a total of 755 NLE patients. The most frequently reported clinical manifestations of NLE were congenital heart block (CHB, 65.2%), cutaneous lupus (33.1%), and cytopenias (15.5%). We found differences in NLE characteristics based on study geographical origin, with CHB being much more frequent in patients of European or American descent (49.4% and 35%, respectively), while reports originating from Asia reported a higher prevalence of skin involvement (45.2%). Most CHB cases (72.9%) were diagnosed between the 18th and 26th week of gestation., Conclusions: Phenotypic differences of NLE depending on race and country may reflect true pathophysiologic differences or methodologic discrepancies. While maternal autoimmune disease is not a prerequisite for the development of NLE, the existence of a truly “immunonegative” CHB is questionable., Competing Interests: All authors disclose no conflict of interest that may have influenced either the conduct or the presentation of the research., (This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.)

Evaluating the relationships between wildlife species and their habitats helps to predict effects of habitat change for present and future management of wild animal populations. Building ecological models are good ways to understand and manage wildlife populations and to predict various environmental scenarios. Recently, management of ungulates is becoming more important in Europe due to a high demand of hunting and their role in biodiversity. European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is the smallest species of cervids and has a widespread distribution in Turkey. In this study, two habitat suitability models of roe deers, living in the Black Sea Region in Turkey, were created by using a maximum entropy (MaxEnt) approach. Two wildlife development areas, which have widely different habitat types, were selected as study sites. As a result of this study, area under the curve (AUC) values were found to be above 0.80. According to the modeling results, in two different habitat types, ecological variables are quite similar in general. This study is the first study on modeling European roe deers in Turkey.

Effective identification of species using short DNA fragments (DNA barcoding and DNA metabarcoding) requires reliable sequence reference libraries of known taxa. Both taxonomically comprehensive coverage and content quality are important for sufficient accuracy. For aquatic ecosystems in Europe, reliable barcode reference libraries are particularly important if molecular identification tools are to be implemented in biomonitoring and reports in the context of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). We analysed gaps in the two most important reference databases, Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) and NCBI GenBank, with a focus on the taxa most frequently used in WFD and MSFD. Our analyses show that coverage varies strongly among taxonomic groups, and among geographic regions. In general, groups that were actively targeted in barcode projects (e.g. fish, true bugs, caddisflies and vascular plants) are well represented in the barcode libraries, while others have fewer records (e.g. marine molluscs, ascidians, and freshwater diatoms). We also found that species monitored in several countries often are represented by barcodes in reference libraries, while species monitored in a single country frequently lack sequence records. A large proportion of species (up to 50%) in several taxonomic groups are only represented by private data in BOLD. Our results have implications for the future strategy to fill existing gaps in barcode libraries, especially if DNA metabarcoding is to be used in the monitoring of European aquatic biota under the WFD and MSFD. For example, missing species relevant to monitoring in multiple countries should be prioritized for future collaborative programs. We also discuss why a strategy for quality control and quality assurance of barcode reference libraries is needed and recommend future steps to ensure full utilisation of metabarcoding in aquatic biomonitoring., (Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The optimal management and prognostic factors of postsurgical pulmonary vein stenosis remain controversial. We sought to determine current postsurgical pulmonary vein stenosis outcomes and prognostic factors in a multicentric study in the current era., Methods: Seventy-five patients with postsurgical pulmonary vein stenosis who underwent 103 procedures in 14 European/North American centers (2000-2012) were included retrospectively. A specific pulmonary vein stenosis severity score was developed on the basis of the assessment of each pulmonary vein. End points were death, pulmonary vein reintervention, and restenosis. A univariate and multivariate risk analysis was performed., Results: Some 76% of postsurgical pulmonary vein stenosis occurred after repair of a total anomalous pulmonary venous return. Sutureless repair was used in 42 of 103 procedures (41%), patch veinoplasty was used in 28 procedures (27%), and endarterectomy was used in 16 procedures (16%). Overall pulmonary vein restenosis, reintervention, and mortality occurred in 56% (n = 58/103), 49% (n = 50/103), and 27% (n = 20/75), respectively. Sutureless repair was associated with less restenosis (40% vs 67%; P = .007) and less reintervention (31% vs 61%; P = .003). Mortality after sutureless repair (20%; 7/35) tends to be lower than after nonsutureless repair (33%; 13/40) (P = .22). A high postoperative residual pulmonary vein stenosis score at the time of hospital discharge was an independent risk factor for restenosis (hazard ratio [HR], 1.55; P < 10 -4 ), reintervention (HR, 1.33; P < 10 -4 ), and mortality (HR, 1.37; P < 10 -4 ). The sutureless technique was an independent protective factor against restenosis (HR, 0.27; P = .006)., Conclusions: Postsurgical pulmonary vein stenosis still has a guarded prognosis in the current era. The sutureless technique is an independent protective factor against restenosis. The severity of the residual disease evaluated by a new severity score is an independent risk factor for poor outcomes regardless of surgical technique., (Copyright © 2018 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

OBJECTIVE Previous studies have demonstrated that among patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD), sagittal plane malalignment is poorly tolerated and correlates with suboptimal patient-reported health-related quality of life (HRQOL). These studies included a broad range of radiographic abnormalities and various types of ASD. However, the clinical and radiographic characteristics of de novo degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DNDLS), a subtype of ASD, may influence previously reported correlation strengths. The aim of this study was to correlate sagittal radiographic parameters with pretreatment HRQOL in patients with symptomatic DNDLS. METHODS In this multicenter retrospective study of prospectively collected data, 74 patients with symptomatic DNDLS were enrolled based on anteroposterior and lateral 36-inch standing radiographs. Measurements included Cobb angle, coronal imbalance, pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), lumbar lordosis (LL), sagittal vertical axis (SVA), thoracic kyphosis, pelvic incidence minus lumbar lordosis (PI-LL), T1-pelvic angle, and global tilt. HRQOL questionnaires included the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Scoliosis Research Society (SRS-22r), 36-item Short-Form Health Survey, and numeric rating scale (NRS) for back and leg pain. Correlations between radiographic parameters and HRQOL were assessed. Finally, HRQOL and increasing severity of sagittal modifiers (SVA, PI-LL, and PT) were evaluated. RESULTS Weak correlations were found between SVA and ODI (r = 0.296, p < 0.05) and PT with NRS back pain and the SRS pain domain (r = -0.260, p < 0.05, and r = 0.282, p < 0.05, respectively). Other sagittal radiographic parameters did not show any significant correlation with HRQOL. No significant differences in HRQOL were found concerning the increasing severity of PT, PI-LL, and SVA. CONCLUSIONS While DNDLS is a severe disabling condition, no noteworthy association between clinical and sagittal radiographic parameters was found through this study, demonstrating that sagittal radiographic parameters should not be considered the unique predictor of pretreatment suboptimal health status in this specific group of patients. Future studies addressing classification and treatment algorithms will have to take into account the existing subgroups of ASD.

The motive to attain a distinctive identity is sometimes thought to be stronger in, or even specific to, those socialized into individualistic cultures. Using data from 4,751 participants in 21 cultural groups (18 nations and 3 regions), we tested this prediction against our alternative view that culture would moderate the ways in which people achieve feelings of distinctiveness, rather than influence the strength of their motivation to do so. We measured the distinctiveness motive using an indirect technique to avoid cultural response biases. Analyses showed that the distinctiveness motive was not weaker-and, if anything, was stronger-in more collectivistic nations. However, individualism-collectivism was found to moderate the ways in which feelings of distinctiveness were constructed: Distinctiveness was associated more closely with difference and separateness in more individualistic cultures and was associated more closely with social position in more collectivistic cultures. Multilevel analysis confirmed that it is the prevailing beliefs and values in an individual's context, rather than the individual's own beliefs and values, that account for these differences., ((c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved.)

Mitochondrial DNA sequence variation in 655 bpfragments of the cytochrome oxidase c subunit I gene, known as the DNA barcode, of European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) was evaluated by analyzing 1529 individuals representing 16 populations from the Black Sea, through the Marmara Sea and the Aegean Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. A total of 19 (2.9%) variable sites were found among individuals, and these defined 10 genetically diverged populations with an overall mean distance of 1.2%. The highest nucleotide divergence was found between samples of eastern Mediterranean and northern Aegean (2.2%). Evolutionary history analysis among 16 populations clustered the Mediterranean Sea clades in one main branch and the other clades in another branch. Diverging pattern of the European anchovy populations correlated with geographic dispersion supports the genetic structuring through the Black Sea-Marmara Sea-Aegean Sea-Mediterranean Sea quad.

Background: Encouragement of home blood pressure (BP) monitoring has a great potential to improve hypertension control rates. The purpose of this study was to test validation of the Omron M3 Intellisense (HEM-7051-E) upper arm BP measuring monitor for self-measurement according to the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol revision 2010 (ESH-IP2) in stage 3-5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients., Methods: 66 patients having CKD stage 3-5 were included in the study. Nine consecutive measurements were made according to the ESH-IP2 protocol., Results: The Omron M3 Intellisense device fulfills the validation criteria of the ESH-IP2 for stage 3-5 CKD patients., Conclusion: Although arterial stiffness can affect accurate BP measurement, there are limited data regarding the use of automated oscillometric devices in CKD. To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating validation of an oscillometric device in stage 3-5 predialysis CKD patients. This study validates the Omron M3 Intellisense upper arm device for stage 3-5 CKD patients. New validation studies investigating other oscillometric sphygmomanometers for CKD patients and involvement of nephrologists in these studies have great potential to increase patient care in CKD., (Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Objective: This study aims to analyse the collective experience of participating European Congenital Heart Surgeons Association centres in the surgical management of complications resulting from trans-catheter closure of atrial septal defects (ASDs)., Methods: The records of all (n=56) patients, aged 3-70 years (median 18 years), who underwent surgery for complications of trans-catheter ASD closure in 19 participating institutions over a 10-year period (1997-2007) were retrospectively reviewed. Risk factors for surgical complications were sought. Surgical outcomes were compared with those reported for primary surgical ASD closure in the European Association of Cardio-thoracic Surgery Congenital Database., Results: A wide range of ASD sizes (5-34mm) and devices of various types and sizes (range 12-60mm) were involved, including 13 devices less than 20mm. Complications leading to surgery included embolisation (n=29), thrombosis/thrombo-embolism/cerebral ischaemia or stroke (n=12), significant residual shunt (n=12), aortic or atrial perforation or erosion (n=9), haemopericardium with tamponade (n=5), aortic or mitral valve injury (n=2) and endocarditis (n=1). Surgery (39 early emergent and 17 late operations) involved device removal, repair of damaged structures and ASD closure. Late operations were needed 12 days to 8 years (median 3 years) after device implantation. There were three hospital deaths (mortality 5.4%). During the same time period, mortality for all 4453 surgical ASD closures reported in the European Association of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Congenital Database was 0.36% (p=0.001)., Conclusions: Trans-catheter device closure of ASDs, even in cases when small devices are used, can lead to significant complications requiring surgical intervention. Once a complication leading to surgery occurs, mortality is significantly greater than that of primary surgical ASD closure. Major complications can occur late after device placement. Therefore, lifelong follow-up of patients in whom ASDs have been closed by devices is mandatory., (Copyright 2010 European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)