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Being one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide and their resistance to conventional treatment methods, made gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) one of the hot topics in medical research areas in the past decade. To investigate molecular alterations underlying the tumor is of great importance to be able to develop new, targeted treatment options. In this study, GIST samples obtained from 40 Turkish patients were analyzed for actionable epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations that are related to treatment regimes in non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to understand whether EGFR expression is altered in GISTs. Established alterations in EGFR can make the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors possible, which are currently used in cancer therapy, especially in NSCLC. Our results indicated that EGFR mutations are rare in GISTs. Further research is needed to sequence whole coding regions of the gene to investigate new actionable mutations in EGFR in an increased sample size.

Background: Methotrexate (MTX), a chemotherapeutic agent, is known to cause oral mucositis. Chitosan has been shown to have a protective effect in inflammatory animal models. This research aimed to examine the protective effect of chitosan against oral mucositis caused by MTX., Methods and Results: Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into three groups. Control (n = 8), (saline via oral gavage for 5 days), MTX (n = 8), (60 mg/kg single dose MTX intraperitoneally on the 1st day and for the following 4 days saline via oral gavage), and MTX + chitosan (n = 8), (1st day single dose 60 mg/kg MTX intraperitoneally and followed with 200 mg/kg chitosan via oral gavage for 4 days). After 24 h of the last dose, the animals were euthanised. Blood, tongue, buccal and palatal mucosa tissues were collected. Serum interleukin 1-beta (IL1-β), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-1, and MMP-2) activities, tissue bcl-2/bax ratio and the expression of caspase-3 (casp-3), and casp-9 were detected. The tissues were also examined histologically. Serum TNF-α, IL1-β, MMP-1 and MMP-2 activities and tissue casp-3 and casp-9 activities significantly increased but the bcl-2/bax ratio significantly decreased in the MTX group compared those of the control group. Histologically, diffuse inflammatory cells were observed in MTX group. However, In the MTX + chitosan group, all the values were close to those of the control group., Conclusion: It was demonstrated that chitosan has a protective effect against oral mucosal damage caused by MTX. Thus, it may be a candidate agent against MTX induced oral mucositis., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Healthcare workers are the group with the highest risk of COVID-19 transmission. The illness of healthcare workers poses a risk to patients admitted to the hospital, colleagues and households besides their own health. In this study, it was aimed to determine the risk assessment and the factors associated with risk status of an university hospital healthcare workers after risky COVID-19 contact. The data of the descriptive study were obtained from 773 follow-up records of 555 healthcare workers who applied with COVID-19 risky contact between 06.04-10.05.2020. Employees who were positive for RT-PCR evaluated as "patients" and others as "risky contact". Risk assessment was classified as no risk, low, medium and high risk contact according to the "Algorithm of Assessment of Health Workers with COVID-19 Contact" of the Ministry of Health. The relationship between the risk levels of the participants and their demographic and workplace characteristics and their usage of personal protection were evaluated. Mean, standard deviation, percentage, chi-square and ANOVA tests were used in the analysis of the data. The average age of the healthcare workers was determined as 34.4 ± 7.6 years. It was determined that 56.2% of those who had contact were female, 62.9% were married and 17.5% had an additional disease. It was determined that 45.6% of the risky contacts were nurses, 18.4% were supportive personnel and 16.9% were doctors. While 46.5% of the contacts were found as medium, 28.0% low, 17.1% high risk and 8.4% risk free. 38.2% of risky contacts occurred while working in internal/surgical clinics. While 66.0% of the employees had risky contact during patient care and treatment, 25% had risky contact with colleagues in social settings. High-risk contact was higher in social relations between employees. The source of the contact was a colleague in 73.2% of the employees. The average age of high-risk employees was smaller than those of low-risk. While 54.5% of the employees wore surgical masks during contact, 67.8% of the patients did not have a mask. Of 555 employees followed, 37 (6.7%) were diagnosed as COVID-19; 48.6% of the patients were nurses and 18.9% were doctors. It was determined that 48.6% of the healthcare workers were working in the COVID-19 service, outpatient clinic or intensive care unit at the time of diagnosis. The source of the infection was thought to be a colleague in 51.6% of the patients. COVID-19 was more common in nurses and doctors. It was determined that risky contact also occurred in services other than the units where COVID-19 patients were treated and risky contact often took place while providing healthcare to the patients and during social relations between the employees. Unprotected contact of the employees with each other in the workplace was identified as an important risk source. Inadequate use of personal protective equipment by healthcare workers led to an increase in medium and high risk contacts. The use of masks by patients and their relatives during the health service delivery and the proper use of personal protective equipment by healthcare professionals will reduce the risk. With the physical improvement of the rest areas of the employees and the arrangement of the breaks, the risky contact between colleagues in the social areas will be reduced.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible therapeutic impacts of two pineal hormones, melatonin and 5-methoxytryptophol (5-MTX), in a rat model of acute pulpitis by analyzing biochemical and histopathological parameters., Methods: This research was done using 32 male and female Wistar albino rats with weight between 200 and 250 g. The rats were randomly divided into four groups: a control group (rats without any treatment), acute pulpitis (AP) group, AP+melatonin group, and AP+5-MTX group. In the AP-induced groups, the crowns of the upper left incisors were removed horizontally. Lipopolysaccharide solution was applied to the exposed pulp tissue before the canal orifices were sealed with a temporary filling material. Melatonin (10 mg/kg) and 5-MTX (5 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally. The rats were sacrificed 24 hours after pulp injury, and trunk blood and pulp samples were collected. The concentrations of TNF- α , IL-1 β , MMP-1, and MMP-2 in sera and pulp samples were determined using ELISA assay kits., Results: TNF- α , IL-1 β , MMP-1, and MMP-2 levels in the serum and pulp tissues were considerably higher in the AP group than the control group ( p < 0.01-0.001). In the AP+melatonin and AP+5-MTX groups, TNF- α , IL-1 β , MMP-1, and MMP-2 levels in the serum and pulp tissues were significantly lower than in the AP group ( p < 0.05-0.001)., Conclusions: Both melatonin and 5-MTX provided protective effects on acute pulpitis, which indicates they may be promising as a therapeutic strategy for oral disease., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Fatma Kermeoğlu et al.)

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) concentrate on the bile duct anastomosis healing process in rats., Material and Methods: Thirty male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were used for the study. The animals were allocated into three groups: Group I Control Group (n=10): Anastomosis to the common bile duct (CBD) with a stent. Group II PRF Group (n=10): Anastomosis to the CBD with a stent and covered with PRF. Group III Sham Group (n=10): Preparation of the common bile duct, no anastomosis. The animals were followed up for 1 month, then sacrificed. Study parameters were adhesions around the anastomosis, thickness of the bridging bile duct tissue over the stent, and histopathologic examination of the bridging bile duct tissue., Results: CBD anastomosis using a stent caused severe adhesion around the anastomosis, bridging bile duct tissues were weak and histopathologically, healing was incomplete in most of the control animals. However, PRF application significantly reduced the adhesions, increased the quality of the bridging bile duct tissues, and caused complete healing histologically., Conclusion: PRF is an autologous, easily prepared membrane. The present study findings show that PRF prevents local complications and increases the healing capacity of the bile duct after CBD anastomosis. Therefore, it might be a new treatment option for preventing complications following common bile duct anastomosis in liver transplantation patients., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2020, Turkish Surgical Society.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of human amniotic membrane (HAM) on fracture healing in an animal model., Methods: Standard tibial diaphysial fractures were created in twenty-eight Wistar-Albino rats and treated with intramedullary Kirschner wire (K-wire) and HAM (HAM (+) group) or K-wire only (HAM (-) group). Fracture healing was evaluated by histological analysis, radiologic X-ray views and callus diameter measurements at 3rd and 6th weeks postoperatively., Results: Fracture healing was histologically better in the HAM (+) group and the difference was statistically significant at both 3rd and 6th weeks postoperatively (p < 0.05). The highest histologic scores and entire woven bone formation (Huo Stage 8-9) were obtained at 6th weeks postoperatively in the HAM (+) group. Histological examination also revealed predominant fibrous tissue and partial cartilage formation (Huo Stage 2) at the postoperative 3rd week in the HAM (-) group. Equal amounts of woven bone and cartilage formation (Huo Stage 6-7) were observed at 3rd weeks postoperatively in the HAM (+) group and at 6th weeks postoperatively in the HAM (-) group. The callus diameters were greater in the HAM (+) group and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05) at 3rd and 6th weeks postoperatively. Although there was only a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) at the postoperative 3rd week, radiological scores tended to be higher in the HAM (+) group at both the 3rd and 6th weeks postoperatively., Conclusion: HAM is a cheap and easily accessible alternative biological material. HAM may be used to support surgical treatment of fractures, particularly where bone healing is expected to last longer., (Copyright © 2019 Turkish Association of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: All authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest.

Lipomembranous panniculitis (LP) is a peculiar type of fat necrosis and is reported with various clinical conditions, mostly with peripheral vascular diseases. Here, a case of a 57-year-old woman with a painful erythematous swelling of the right leg in association with venous insufficiency has been reported. Although LP is frequently associated with venous insufficiency, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the beneficial effect of venous insufficiency treatment in LP., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: the authors declare no potential conflict of interest.

Primary cardiac lymphoma (PCL) is one of the rarest tumors of the heart. The most common type is diffuse, large B-cell lymphoma. Most often, the right atrium and the right ventricle are involved, and if not diagnosed and treated in time, it can be fatal. In this case, a female patient underwent an urgent operation for a large, infiltrative, right atrial mass. Extensive resection of the lateral walls of both atria and the interatrial septum as well as reconstruction were performed successfully. The pathological evaluation suggested PCL. The aim of this case is to raise awareness of this disease and to highlight clinical and surgical approaches.

Objective: Sinonasal mucosal malignant melanoma is a rare entity. In this report we present a nasal mucosal malignant melanoma case with its histopathological and clinical features., Case Report: An 88-year-old female patient presented with epistaxis a month ago. Examination revealed a polypoid mass lesion of right nasal cavity originating from the middle concha. Her medical history revealed that she had been found to have a mass lesion in the right nasal cavity 15 months ago. She then underwent a punch biopsy from that lesion. A definitive histopathological diagnosis was not made but it was declared that the lesion had been a malignant epithelial tumor. The patient then had radiotherapy and the lesion showed complete regression. One year after completion of radiotherapy, the lesion recurred. Her last PET-CT showed multiple metastatic foci. Endoscopic excisional biopsy was performed for her recurrent lesion. Fragmented tumoral tissues were measured as 3,6x3x0,5 cm. Macroscopically the tumor was brownish in color. Histopathologically the tumor consisted of spindled and epitheloid cells. Immunohistochemically the tumor cells displayed positivity for S-100, HMB-45 and Melan-A. Findings were consistent with malignant melanoma., Discussion: Mucosal malignant melanomas have a poor prognosis despite chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Five-year survival for sinonasal melanoma is reported to be lower than 35%. Sinonasal melanomas show a high recurrence rate. The immunohistochemical markers showing high specificity for malignant melanoma such as S-100, HMB-45 and Melan-A are used in order to reach a correct diagnosis. In our case the tumor showed recurrence and multiple metastases 1 year after completion of radiotherapy. For this recurrent tumor, chemotherapy and radiotherapy have been planned.

Glomus tumors showing nuclear pleomorphism without any other malignant features have been defined as symplastic glomus tumors. This type of glomus tumor is rarely encountered. Another case of symplastic glomus tumor is described in this study. A 37-year-old woman referred to the hospital with the complaint of a palpable tender nodule on the fourth finger tip of her left hand. The lesion had been present for about a year and aggravation of tenderness upon cold exposure was conspicuous. It was a 0.5 cm well circumscribed lesion with round to cuboidal epithelioid cells showing high grade nuclear pleomorphism. Nests of cells more uniform in shape and showing punched out nucleus representative of typical glomus tumor could also be observed. Immunohistochemical study showed expression of smooth muscle actin, caldesmon and vimentin. Ki-67 labeling index was undetectable. Investment of tumor cells was shown by type IV collagen. In contrast to its atypical cellular morphology, symplastic glomus tumor clinically behaves benign, and it is important to differentiate it from malignant glomus tumor as well as other primary or metastatic malignant tumors.

Objective: This study is about determination and eveluation of the breast cancer cases which were diagnosed during the early diagnosis and screening programs covering a three years of digital mammography images at the Near East University Hospital., Materials and Methods: This study covers 2136 women patients who applied to the early diagnosis and screening program of the Near East University Hospital between July 2010 and July 2013. The mamographic images were re evaluated retrospectively according to ACR's (The American College of Radiology) BİRADS (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System). The mamographic results as required were correlated with breast ultrasound (US) and compared with the pathologic results of materials obtained by surgery or biopsy. The results were analyzed statistically in comparison with the literature data., Results: The women who were screened aged between 34-73 years with a median of 53.5 (SD = 27.5). Suspected malignancy were evaluated in 54 patients, which 42 of them were diagnosed BIRADS 4 and 12 patients BIRADS 5 and 21 patients were correleted breast cancer based on histopathologic examination. 17 patients had the breast-conserving surgery and 4 patients were treated with mastectomy., Conclusion: Breast cancers that are detected at early stages by breast cancer screening tests are more likely to be smaller and still confined to the breast resulting in more simple operations and more succesfull treatment. Promoting the breast cancer screening and registration programs in our country will help to control the desease at our region., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: No conflict of interest was declared by the authors

Recent publications suggest the utility of temozolomide (TMZ) in the management of aggressive pituitary adenomas and carcinomas, resistant to conventional treatments. The response to TMZ is inversely correlated with tumoral expression of O-6 methylguanine DNA methyl transferase (MGMT). Therefore, we aimed to assess MGMT immunoexpression in pure GH-secreting pituitary adenomas, in an effort to predict the likelihood of response to TMZ, and to correlate MGMT immunoexpression with Ki-67 LI and cytokeratin (CK) distribution pattern. Our material consisted of 36 GH-secreting pituitary adenomas (21 female,15 male, mean age 42.5±10.5), operated at our center between 2003 and 2010. Immunostaining for MGMT, Ki-67, and CK was performed using avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method. Immunoreactivity for MGMT and Ki-67 was evaluated microscopically and recorded as percentages of positive nuclear immunostaining. CK distribution pattern was also evaluated microscopically and assoreted into dot-like and nondot-like pattern subtypes. MGMT immunoexpression scored as 0=none, 1=<10%, 2=<25%, 3=<50%, and 4=>50%. Staining for MGMT was <10% (score 1) in 30 (83.3%), 10-25% (score 2) in 3 (8.3%), 25-50% (score 3) in 2 (5.6%) and >50% (score 4) in 1 (2.8%) of the tumors, respectively. There was no correlation between Ki-67 LI and CK distribution pattern with MGMT immunoreactivity (P>0.05). Data from the current study suggest a large proportion of GH-secreting adenomas, including those with dot-like CK distribution pattern and high Ki-67 LI, demonstrate negative/low MGMT immunoreactivity and could be treated with TMZ, if conventional treatment fails.