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Siyasal kimlik kültürel kimliğin politikleşmesi veya bireyin içinde bulunduğu koşulları politikleştirerek edindiği bir kimliktir. Diğer kimlikler gibi siyasal kimlik de bir süreç içinde oluşmaktadır. Bu süreç siyasal toplumsallaşma olarak kavramsallaştırılmaktadır. Dolayısıyla bireyler siyasal toplumsallaşma sürecinde bu kimlikleri benimsemektedirler. Siyasal toplumsallaşma sürecinde aile, çevre, okul ve kitle iletişim araçları gibi etkenler bireyin siyasal bir kimlik edinmesinde önemli yer tutmaktadır. Siyasal kimliğin ediniminde aile çoğu zaman belirleyici bir rol oynamaktadır. Özellikle ailenin hala önemli bir kurum olduğu Türk toplumunda bu rol daha baskın çıkabilmektedir. Aile kurumu bireylerin ilk sosyalleştiği kurum olması dolayısıyla kalıcı bir etki oluşturmaktadır. Dolayısıyla siyasal etkileşimin gerçekleştiği, siyasal davranışın şekillendiği ve siyasal tutumların edinildiği bir kurum olarak aile siyasal kimlikle yakın bir ilişki içerisindedir. Bu çalışma Türkiye’deki siyasal kimliklerden biri olan solcu kimliğinin benimsenmesinde ailenin nasıl bir rol oynadığını alandan elde edilen verilerle tespit etmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Alan araştırmasına dayalı olarak yürütülen bu çalışmada nitel araştırma yöntemi esas alınacaktır. Verilerin toplanması için de derinlemesine görüşme tekniği kullanılacaktır. Toplanan veriler betimsel analiz tekniğiyle analiz edilecek ve yorumlanacaktır. Çalışmada elde edilen sonuçlardan biri de Türk toplumunda ailenin siyasal kimliğin şekillenmesinde hala belirleyici önemini koruduğu görülmektedir. Fakat ailenin dışında eğitim ve sosyal çevrenin de bireylerin siyasal kimliğinin oluşması üzerinde önemli bir etkisi vardır.

Introduction: This study aimed to compare spinal and general anesthesia methods in endoscopic management of proximal ureteral stones with a particular emphasis on total anesthesia time., Methods: A total of 246 adult patients undergoing ureteroscopic management for proximal ureteral stones between January 2021 and March 2023 were enrolled. Two different types of anesthesia, namely, spinal (group 1, n = 109) and general (group 2, n = 137) anesthesia, were applied during these procedures., Results: The mean total anesthesia time of group 1 was statistically significantly shorter than that of group 2 (61.4 ± 28.7 and 93.7 ± 29.2 min, respectively, p = 0.013). While 92.7% of patients in group 1 were stone free after the interventions, this value was 92% in group 2 (p = 0.828). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding peri- (p = 0.126) or postoperative (p = 0.284) complications., Conclusions: Our results demonstrated well that both spinal and general anesthesia methods could be applied in a successful and safe manner in the endoscopic management of proximal ureteral stones. However, a shorter total anesthesia time under spinal anesthesia could be anticipated during endoscopic management of proximal ureteral stones., (© 2024 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background: Urodynamic testing is an invasive procedure that causes pain and anxiety. Patient education is an evidence-based nursing intervention that relieves pain and anxiety and increases patient satisfaction., Aims: This study was carried out to compare the effects of different education methods utilized before a urodynamic testing procedure on patients' pain, anxiety, readiness for the procedure, and satisfaction., Methods: The study is a randomized controlled clinical trial. Participants (n = 80) were randomly assigned to four groups. While patients in the control group were provided with routine clinical information, patients in the intervention group were given education with brochures, videos, and brochure-supported videos. The research data were collected by using a Data Collection Form with items about participants' descriptive characteristics, the Visual Analog Scale, and the State Anxiety Inventory., Results: It was determined that pain expectation before urodynamics and the severity of pain during urodynamics were lower in intervention groups than in the control group. Pain expectation before urodynamics was lower in the brochure-supported video education group than in the brochure education group. Anxiety levels were lower and satisfaction levels were higher in the video education and brochure-supported video education groups than in the control and brochure education groups., Conclusions: Of the methods utilized, it was determined that the most effective one was brochure-supported video education as it affected all parameters positively., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this article., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

This study was aimed to identify the most frequently observed pathogens in uncomplicated urinary tract infections from outpatient urinary isolates obtained across seven different geographical regions in Türkiye and to determine whether the antibiotic resistance rates of these pathogens differ significantly between these regions. The study included patients aged 18 to 65 years who were diagnosed with uncomplicated urinary tract infections and had positive urine cultures from March 2021 to August 2022, across 37 different centers in Türkiye. The participating centers were selected based on their use of the disk diffusion method, in line with the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) guidelines, to ensure standardization of urine culture data. A total of 1850 patients who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. The analysis of the distribution of antibiotic resistance rates in Escherichia coli isolates revealed statistically significant differences in resistance to ampicillin, fosfomycin and nitrofurantoin across different regions (p< 0.05, p< 0.05, p< 0.05, respectively). The Southeastern Anatolia region was identified as having the highest resistance rates to fosfomycin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (27.4% and 35.3%, respectively). Additionally, the region with the highest nitrofurantoin resistance was determined as the Eastern Anatolia Region with a rate of 35.7% and the region with the highest ciprofloxacin resistance was determined as the Central Anatolia Region with a rate of 51%. Our study demonstrated that antibiotic resistance in the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections varies by geographical region. We believe this comprehensive, national prospective study will provide valuable insights for clinicians planning empirical treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections.

Background: This study reports our seven-year experience of one-year follow-up results after scrotal and testicular trauma, classified according to the Gülhane Grading System (GGS). We provide detailed hormonal analyses, ultrasound (US) evaluations, and spermiogram results. There are no previous studies that focus on all these detailed topics in relation to a grading system., Methods: Between October 2016 and October 2022, a total of 41 patients with testicular trauma were classified according to GGS. Patients with Grade 1 (G1) trauma were followed up without surgical intervention. Patients with Grade 2 (G2) trauma underwent surgical repair, while patients with Grade 3 (G3) trauma underwent orchiectomy. After the resolution of the emergency period, we recorded the following parameters at the one-year follow-up: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), total testosterone, free testosterone; testicular size, other testicular size, testicular parenchyma appearance in ultrasound; total sperm count, sperm concentration, total motility, progressive motility, and morphology in the spermiogram., Results: A total of 41 patients with a mean age of 25.56±6 years (range: 16-39) had testicular trauma. The trauma was bilateral in 10 patients (25%), right-sided in 14 patients (34%), and left-sided in 17 patients (41%). At the one-year follow-up, patients with unilateral G1 trauma had normal FSH, LH, total testosterone, and spermiogram levels. Patients with unilateral G2 or G3 trauma had slightly elevated FSH and LH levels, but normal testosterone and sperm parameters. Patients with combined G3 and G1 trauma had significantly elevated FSH and LH levels to maintain normal testosterone levels, though their morphology was lower than in the normal population. Patients with G3 + G2 trauma had significantly elevated FSH and LH levels to maintain normal testosterone levels, but all sperm counts were lower than the normal population. Patients with G3 + G3 trauma had significantly elevated FSH and LH levels, but all other hormonal and sperm parameters were zero., Conclusion: Our new grading system provides a practical and usable grading scale for evaluating scrotal and testicular trauma. Patients with unilateral trauma experienced good recovery, regardless of trauma grade. Bilaterally affected patients, however, were more likely to experience testosterone deficiency and poor spermiogram parameters.

Although treatment-related secondary malignancies are rare, they are important problems after the treatment of childhood malignant diseases. Irradiation-induced sarcomas are the development of sarcoma different from the primary tumor after a latent period of ≥3 years or more in the radiotherapy field. Desmoid tumor is extremely rare as irradiation-induced tumor. A 7.5-year-old girl was referred to our hospital after a subtotal mass excision for a solid lesion with a cystic component located in the pineal gland. Pathologic examination revealed pineoblastoma. After surgery, craniospinal radiotherapy, and chemotherapy consisting of vincristine, cisplatin, and etoposide were performed. Painless swelling in the left parieto-occipital region ~75 months after the end of the treatment developed in the patient. A mass was detected in the intracranial but extra-axial region by radiologic imaging methods. Due to the total removal of the mass and the absence of a tumor in the surgical margins, she was followed up without additional treatment. The pathologic diagnosis was a desmoid tumor. She was followed up disease free for ~7 years after the primary tumor and ~7 months after the secondary tumor. Treatment-related desmoid tumor development after treatment for a central nervous system tumor in a child is extremely rare., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of mirabegron monotherapy in very older (>80 years) women with overactive bladder (OAB) who were discontinued anticholinergic drugs by the other departments. Material and methods The present retrospective study evaluated very older (>80 years) women with OAB who were discontinued anticholinergic drugs by the other departments between May 2018 and January 2021. Efficacy assessments were performed using Overactive Bladder-Validated Eight-Question (OAB-V8) scores before and after mirabegron monotherapy (12 weeks). Safety was evaluated based on adverse events (hypertension, nasopharyngitis, and urinary tract infection), electrocardiography, hypertension measure, uroflowmetry (UFM), and post-voiding. Patient data including demographic characteristics, diagnoses, values before and after mirabegron monotherapy, and adverse events were evaluated. Results A total of 42 very older (>80 years) women with OAB who used mirabegron monotherapy (50 mg per day) were included in this study. Frequency, nocturia, urgency, and total OAB-V8 scores were significantly lower after mirabegron monotherapy than before mirabegron monotherapy (p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.05, and p < 0.05, respectively). There was no significant difference between systolic-diastolic blood pressure and heart rate before and after mirabegron monotherapy treatment. Conclusion Mirabegron monotherapy is an effective and safe therapy in very older (>80 years) women with OAB., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Özcan et al.)

Introduction: Herein, we analyzed the histopathological, oncological and functional outcomes of testis-sparing surgery (TSS) in patients with distinct risk for testicular cancer., Methods: This is a multicenter retrospective study on consecutive patients who underwent TSS. Patients were categorized in high- or low-risk testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) according to the presence/absence of features compatible with testicular dysgenesis syndrome. Histology was categorized per size and risk groups., Results: TSS was performed in 83 patients (86 tumors) of them, 27 in the high-risk group. Fifty-nine patients had a non-tumoral contralateral testis present. Sixty masses and 26 masses were benign and TGCTs, respectively. No statistical differences were observed in mean age (30.9 ± 10.32 years), pathological tumor size (14.67 ± 6.7 mm) between risk groups or between benign and malignant tumors (p = 0.608). When categorized per risk groups, 22 (73.3%) and 4 (7.1%) of the TSS specimens were malignant in the high- and low-risk patient groups, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that the only independent variable significantly related to malignant outcome was previous history of TGCT. During a mean follow-up of 25.5 ± 22.7 months, no patient developed systemic disease. Local recurrence was detected in 5 patients and received radical orchiectomy. Postoperative testosterone levels remained normal in 88% of those patients with normal preoperative level. No erectile dysfunction was reported in patients with benign lesions., Conclusion: TSS is a safe and feasible approach with adequate cancer control, and preservation of sexual function is possible in 2/3 of patients harboring malignancy. Incidence of TGCT varies extremely between patients at high and low risk for TGCT requiring a careful consideration and counseling., (© 2023 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Prion infections cause conformational changes of the cellular prion protein (PrP C ) and lead to progressive neurological impairment. Here we show that toxic, prion-mimetic ligands induce an intramolecular R208-H140 hydrogen bond ('H-latch'), altering the flexibility of the α2-α3 and β2-α2 loops of PrP C . Expression of a PrP 2Cys mutant mimicking the H-latch was constitutively toxic, whereas a PrP R207A mutant unable to form the H-latch conferred resistance to prion infection. High-affinity ligands that prevented H-latch induction repressed prion-related neurodegeneration in organotypic cerebellar cultures. We then selected phage-displayed ligands binding wild-type PrP C , but not PrP 2Cys . These binders depopulated H-latched conformers and conferred protection against prion toxicity. Finally, brain-specific expression of an antibody rationally designed to prevent H-latch formation prolonged the life of prion-infected mice despite unhampered prion propagation, confirming that the H-latch is an important reporter of prion neurotoxicity., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Erlotinib is an effective treatment option for EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer. It is important to predict patients who will respond better to erlotinib. We designed this study to investigate the effect of renal insufficiency (RI) on erlotinib treatment outcomes., Methods: All patients receiving erlotinib were stratified into 3 groups. Group 1 consisted of non-RI subjects with classical epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, Group 2 consisted of those with RI (Estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min) and classical EGFR mutations, and Group 3 consisted of those with non-classical EGFR mutations., Results: 82 patients were included in the study. Median progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with classical mutation was approximately 6 months shorter in those with RI, although not statistically significant. Median overall survival (OS) in Group 1, 2 and 3 was 34.1 months, 35.2 months, and 15 months, respectively and although not statistically significant, median OS was 20 months shorter in Group 3. Univariate and multivariate cox-regression analysis revealed shorter PFS and OS in males and those with ECOG ≥2 while PFS and OS were longer in those with recurrent lung tumors and generating rash during erlotinib treatment. There was no difference between RI and non-RI patients in terms of adverse events except for fatigue and appetite loss., Conclusions: This research showed OS in patients with and without RI was comparable. Although not statistically significant, PFS in patients with classical mutation was approximately 6 months shorter in those with RI patients.

Injuries related to articular cartilage are among the most challenging musculoskeletal problems because of poor repair capacity of this tissue. The lack of efficient treatments for chondral defects has stimulated research on cartilage tissue engineering applications combining porous biocompatible scaffolds with stem cells in the presence of external stimuli. This work presents the role of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) encapsulated-novel three-dimensional (3D) coacervate scaffolds prepared through complex coacervation between different chitosan salts (CHI) and sodium hyaluronate (HA). The 3D architecture of BMSC encapsulated scaffolds (HA/CHI) was shown by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to have an interconnected structure to allow cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Chondrogenic induction of encapsulated BMSCs within HA/CHI coacervates demonstrated remarkable cellular viability in addition to the elevated expression levels of chondrogenic markers such as sex determining region Y-box 9 protein (SOX9), aggrecan (ACAN), cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and collagen type II (COL2A1) by immunofluorescence staining, qPCR and ELISA test. Collectively, HA/CHI coacervates are promising candidates for future use of these scaffolds in cartilage tissue engineering applications., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: With the widespread use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), we are facing challenges in the management of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). We aimed to characterize the spectrum of toxicity, management, and outcomes for irAEs., Methods: Patients who were treated with at least one ICI in clinical trials, expanded access programs, or routine clinical practice were included. Clinical and laboratory parameters were collected retrospectively to determine the incidence of irAEs, methods of management, and treatment outcomes., Results: A total of 255 patients were screened retrospectively. Of these, 71 (27.8%) patients developed irAEs. More than 2 different types of irAEs were detected in 16 (6.2%) out of 255 patients. A total of 3177 doses were given to 255 patients. In 93 (2.9%) of the 3177 doses, 1 episode of irAEs was experienced. A total of 22 out of 93 (23.7%) episodes were reported as grade 1, 49 (52.7%) as grade 2, 19 (20.4%) as grade 3, and 3 (3.2%) as grade 4. The most frequently seen irAEs were pneumonitis, hepatitis, and hypothyroidism. With regard to treatment, 39 out of 93 episodes (42%) of any grade irAEs occurred after anti-programmed cell death-1 therapy, 47 (50.5%) occurred following administration of anti-programmed death-ligand 1, and 7 (7.5%) occurred after combination treatments., Conclusion: With the increased use of immunotherapeutic agents, increased awareness and early recognition are required for effective management of irAEs. Our experience as a single institution might be of use for health care providers in oncology.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the results of microsurgical testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE) and investigate the potential factors that may affect the successful sperm retrieval and timing of micro-TESE., Methods: A total of 56 patients with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) who underwent micro-TESE procedure between January 2017 and December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The patient age, marriage duration, infertility duration, smoking, chronic illness, varicocele status, previous scrotal surgeries, and the presence of genetic disease were noted by an urologist for all patients., Results: The mean age of patients was 33.28±4.4 (22-44) years. Our total sperm-retrieval rate was 55.4% (n:31). Sixteen (28.6%) pregnancies were achieved and 15 (26.8%) healthy live births could be managed. Only the marriage duration (p=0.016) and infertility duration (p=0.015) were detected to be the significant factors to manage successful sperm retrieval. Men with NOA younger than 35.2 years and having a female partner younger than 36.9 years seemed to have the best chance to have a living healthy baby., Conclusions: The fertility decreased by both male and female age and for men with NOA. The early visit to doctor seemed to have positive effect.

Objective: Testicular tumor constitutes 1% of male neoplasms. Infertility can be determined in patients with testicular tumors before orchiectomy due to the deterioration of spermatogenesis. The aim of this study was to show the clinical, radiological, and pathological characteristics and spermiogram results of patients with testicular tumor and their relationship with each other., Methods: The data of patients who underwent orchiectomy due to testicular tumor between 2016 and 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. These data included sociodemographic data of the patients, pretreatment spermiogram characteristics, level of serum tumor markers, characteristics of the ultrasonography, type of orchiectomy, and histopathological examination., Results: This study included 53 male patients, with a mean age of 33.51±12.86 years. The mean levels of all tumor markers were above the reference levels. The mean tumor size was 34.68±23.32 mm. Multiple localizations and microlithiasis were detected in 11.3 and 13.2% of the tumors, respectively. The most common masses were hypoechoic (n=37; 69.8%) and hypervascular (n=47; 81%). Spermiogram and cryopreservation were performed in 29 (54.7%) of 53 patients preoperatively. The mean sperm concentration before orchiectomy was 24.21×106 /mL and group A sperm motility 0.79%, group B sperm motility 39.10%, group C sperm motility 9.83%, and group D sperm motility 22.69% in testicular tumors., Conclusion: Spermatogenesis adversely affected before the treatment due to local and systemic effects of testicular cancer. Fertility expectations can be increased in the subsequent years by semen analysis and referral to cryopreservation.