Search

Background: We sought to determine whether pretreatment total masseter muscle volume (TMMV) measures can predict radiation-induced trismus (RIT) in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC) receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy (C-CRT). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of LA-NPC patients who received C-CRT and had pretreatment maximum mouth openings (MMO) greater than 35 mm. MMO of 35 mm or less after C-CRT were considered RIT. We employed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to explore the correlation between pre-treatment TMMV readings and RIT status. Results: Out of the 112 eligible patients, 22.0% of them received a diagnosis of RIT after C-CRT. The optimal TMMV cutoff that was significantly linked to post-C-CRT RIT rates was determined to be 35.0 cc [area under the curve: 79.5%; sensitivity: 75.0%; and specificity: 78.6%; Youden index: 0.536] in the ROC curve analysis. The incidence of RIT was significantly higher in patients with TMMV ≤ 5.0 cc than in those with TMMV > 35.0 cc [51.2% vs. 8.7%; Odds ratio: 6.79; p < 0.001]. A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that pre-C-CRT MMO ≤ 41.6 mm (p = 0.001), mean masticatory apparatus dose V56.5 ≥ 34% group (p = 0.002), and TMMV ≤ 35 cc were the independent predictors of significantly elevated rates of RIT. Conclusion: The presence of a smaller pretreatment TMMV is a reliable and independent novel biological marker that can confidently predict higher RIT rates in LA-NPC patients who receive C-CRT.

Abstract Background In the absence of previous research, we sought to assess the H-Index’s predictive significance for radiation-induced trismus (RIT) and osteoradionecrosis of the jaw (ORNJ) in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC) receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy (C-CRT). Patients and methods The research comprised 295 LA-NPC patients who had C-CRT and pre- and post-C-CRT oral exams between June 2010 and December 2021. The H-Index was calculated using neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, hemoglobin, and albumin measurements obtained on the first day of C-CRT. Patients were divided into three and two H-index groups, respectively, based on previously established cutoff values (1.5 and 3.5) and the cutoff value determined by our receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The primary objective was the presence of any significant connections between pretreatment H-Index groups and post-C-CRT RIT and ORNJ rates. Results RIT and ORNJ was diagnosed in 46 (15.6%) and 13 (7.8%) patients, respectively. The original H-Index grouping could only categorize RIT and ORNJ risks at a cutoff value of 3.5, with no significant differences in RIT and ORNJ rates between groups with H-Index 1.5 and 1.5 to 3.5 (P 5.5 (N = 110). Intergroup comparisons revealed that patients in the H-Index > 5.5 group had significantly higher rates of either RIT (31.8% vs. 5.9%; P 5.5 was independently linked to significantly higher RIT (P 5.5 is associated with significantly increased RIT and ORNJ rates in LA-NPC patients receiving definitive C-CRT.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a difference between the Functional Movement Screening (FMS), dynamic balance and drop jump values of male and female athletes and non-athletes. 41 athletes (23 male and 18 female) and 27 non-athletes (14 male and 13 female) participated in this study. FMS, Y balance, 40 and 50 cm drop jump tests values of participants were collected, respectively. Data were analyzed by using SPSS 22.0 statistical program. Two Independent Samples t-test was used to analyze the differences between groups. Comparisons of athlete male-female groups demonstrated significant differences in terms of FMS, 40-50 cm height, flight times, power, Reactive Strenght Index (RSI) and 50 cm ground contact times, that of non-athlete male-female indicated significant differences in regard to right leg Y Balance Test Composite Scores, 40-50 cm jumping height, flight times, power and RSI values. Moreover, there are significant differences in terms of FMS scores in athlete-nonathlete female groups (p

Abstract Background This retrospective study aimed to investigate whether the pretreatment hemoglobin-to-platelet ratio (HPR) could predict the risk of osteoradionecrosis (ORN) in patients receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy (C-CRT) for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC). Methods ORN cases were reported from the records of LA-NPC patients who had oral examinations before and after C-CRT. The pretreatment HPR values were calculated on the first day of C-CRT. The connection between HPR values and ORN occurrences was determined using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The primary endpoint was the relationship between the pretreatment HPR values and post-C-CRT ORN incidence rates, while secondary endpoints included the identification of other putative ORN risk factors. Results We distinguished 10.9% incidences of ORN during the post-C-CRT follow-up period among 193 LA-NPC patients. The optimal cutoff for pre-C-CRT HPR was 0.48 that grouped the patients into two HPR groups with fundamentally different post-C-CRT ORN incidence rates: Group 1: HPR ≤ 0.48 (N = 60), and Group 2: HPR > 0.48 (N = 133). The comparative analysis indicated a significantly higher ORN incidence in HPR ≤ 0.48 group (30%; P 5.5 months. Conclusion Low pretreatment HPR levels were independently and unequivocally linked to significantly increased incidence of ORN post-C-CRT. Pre-C-CRT HPR levels may be used to estimate the incidence of ORN and be useful for taking preventive and therapeutic measures in these patients such as monitoring oral hygiene with strict follow-up, avoidance of unnecessary tooth extractions, particularly after C-CRT, and use of more rigorous mandibular RT dose limits.

To evaluate the value of the newly created GLUCAR index in predicting tooth extraction rates after concurrent chemoradiotherapy (C-CRT) in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinomas (LA-NPCs). Methods: A total of 187 LA-NPC patients who received C-CRT were retrospectively analyzed. The GLUCAR index was defined as ′GLUCAR = (Fasting Glucose × CRP/Albumin Ratio) by utilizing measures of glucose, C-reactive protein (CRP), and albumin obtained on the first day of C-CRT. Results: The optimal GLUCAR cutoff was 31.8 (area under the curve: 78.1%; sensitivity: 70.5%; specificity: 70.7%, Youden: 0.412), dividing the study cohort into two groups: GLUCAR ˂ 1.8 (N = 78) and GLUCAR ≥ 31.8 (N = 109) groups. A comparison between the two groups found that the tooth extraction rate was significantly higher in the group with a GLUCAR ≥ 31.8 (84.4% vs. 47.4% for GLUCAR ˂ 31.8; odds ratio (OR):1.82; p < 0.001). In the univariate analysis, the mean mandibular dose ≥ 38.5 Gy group (76.5% vs. 54.9% for p = 0.008), mandibular V55.2 Gy group ≥ 40.5% (80.3 vs. 63.5 for p = 0.004, OR; 1.30), and being diabetic (71.8% vs. 57.9% for nondiabetics; OR: 1.23; p = 0.007) appeared as the additional factors significantly associated with higher tooth extraction rates. All four characteristics remained independent predictors of higher tooth extraction rates after C-CRT in the multivariate analysis (p < 0.05 for each). Conclusions: The GLUCAR index, first introduced here, may serve as a robust new biomarker for predicting post-C-CRT tooth extraction rates and stratifying patients according to their tooth loss risk after treatment.

Purpose: To observe the effects of caffeine intake on vessel densities in macular and peripapillary regions and to analyze the correlations of vascular properties of these two interlinked regions in healthy volunteers using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Methods: In this prospective randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study, 120 participants were grouped into two groups: sixty subjects as a study group, which received caffeine and sixty subjects as a placebo group, which received a placebo. OCTA imaging was performed at baseline and 1 h after drug intake. Changes in macular and radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) vessel densities (VD) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) parameters and correlation of these parameters were analyzed. Results: Baseline macular and RPC VD and FAZ parameters showed no significant difference between study and placebo groups (P > 0.05 for all). VD parameters in all segments of superficial and deep macular regions and peripapillary region showed a statistically significant decrease after caffeine intake (P < 0.001 for all). All macular superficial VD parameters showed a positive correlation with deep perifovea VD (P < 0.05 for all). Also, superficial perifovea VD was positively correlated with all deep macular VD parameters except deep fovea VD (P < 0.05 for all). Conclusion: We show that caffeine causes a decrease in macular and peripapillary vessel densities in healthy subjects, and correlations were observed between macular and peripapillary VD parameters. We believe that future studies are needed to support the effect of caffeine on peripapillary VD and the idea of using deep perifovea VD as the main parameter to estimate superficial macular parameters.

Abstract Background The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) has been demonstrated to be a valid biomarker of a patient's immunological and inflammatory state, with the ability to accurately predict outcomes in a variety of disease conditions. In the absence of comparable studies, we intended to examine the relevance of pretreatment SII in predicting the success rates of temporomandibular joint arthrocentesis (TMJA) at 1-week, 1-month, and 6-month periods, defined as maximum mouth opening (MMO) > 35 mm and VAS ≤ 3. Methods A sum of 136 patients with disc displacement without reduction (DDwo-red) who underwent TMJA was included. For each patient, pre-TMJA SII was calculated as; SII = Platelets × neutrophils/lymphocytes. Additionally, baseline MMO and VAS measurements were recorded for each patient. The success criteria of TMJA included MMO > 35 mm and VAS ≤ 3. The optimal pre-TMJA SII cutoff that predicts TMJA success was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The primary endpoint was the link between the pre-treatment SII and TMJA success (simultaneous achievement of MMO > 35 mm and VAS ≤ 3). Results The median pre-TMJA jaw locking duration, maximum mouth opening (MMO), and visual analog score (VAS) were 7 days, 24 mm, and 8, respectively. The overall TMJA success rates were determined as 80.1%, 91.9%, and 69.1% at 1-week, 1-month, and 6-months, respectively. The results of ROC curve analysis exhibited the optimal SII cutoff at 526 (AUC: 67.4%; sensitivity: 66.7%; specificity: 64.2%) that grouped the patients into two subgroups: Group 1: SII ≤ 526 (N = 81) and SII > 526 (N = 55), respectively. Spearman correlation analysis revealed a strong inverse relationship between the pretreatment SII values and the success of TMJA 1-week (rs: − 0.83; P = 0.008) and 1-month, (rs: − 0.89; P = 0.03). Comparative analyses displayed that TMJA success rates at 1-week (87.7% vs. 69.1%; P = 0.008) and 1-month (96.2% vs. 80%; P = 0.03) were significantly higher in the SII ≤ 526 than SII > 526 group, respectively, while the 6-month results favored the SII ≤ 526 group with a trend approaching significance (P = 0.084). Conclusion The current study's findings suggested the SII as a unique independent prognostic biomarker that accurately predicts treatment outcomes for up to 6 months. Trial registration The results of this research were retrospectively registered.

AIM: To evaluate the possible predisposing risk factors for late in-the-bag spontaneous IOL dislocations and to study the early surgical and visual outcomes of repositioning and exchange surgeries. METHODS: Medical and surgical records of 39 eyes of 39 patients who underwent IOL repositioning or exchange surgery for dislocation between 2010 and 2018 were reviewed. Possible predisposing risk factors and some characteristics of late in-the-bag spontaneous IOL dislocations; outcomes of IOL repositioning and exchange surgeries, including visual acuity, refractive status before and after surgery and postoperative complications were evaluated. RESULTS: The predisposing factors for late in-the-bag spontaneous IOL dislocations were pseudoexfoliation [PEX; 12/39 (30.8%)], previous vitreoretinal surgery [7/39 (17.9%)], axial myopia [3/39 (7.7%)], both PEX and axial myopia [1/39 (2.6%)], both previous vitreoretinal surgery and axial myopia [2/39 (5.1%)] and uveitis [1/39 (2.6%)]. The mean interval between cataract and dislocation surgery was 7.23y, greater in PEX positive group (8.63y). The mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved significantly after dislocation surgery (P

Today, all 50 states have adopted some form of a tiered support system. Different levels of adaption were observed as a result of diverse considerations from state education agencies. We adopted the secondary research approach and carefully reviewed the information presented on each state's DOE Website. Through this research, we developed the first comprehensive list of the most up-to-date analyses of each state's RTI/MTSS model and its implementation support. The present study also extended the research on several significant factors contributing to building a concrete RTI/MTSS model but hasn't been given sufficient attention. The findings reflected states' efforts in advancing the RTI/MTSS framework to address all students' diverse needs in one comprehensive tiered support system. We outline all the existing methods, tools, and strategies to support education agencies in developing, advancing, or sustaining their tiered support models. [Note: The issue number (2) shown in the citation on the PDF is incorrect. The correct issue number is 1.]

Purpose. To investigate the vasomotor responses and diameter of retinal vessels in patients with macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO) who were treated with intravitreal dexamethasone implant. Methods. We enrolled 17 eyes of 17 patients with macular edema secondary to RVO. All patients were evaluated through optical coherence tomography and dynamic and static retinal vessel analysis, using the Dynamic Vessel Analyzer (Imedos, Jena, Germany) before administration (baseline) and 1 week, 1 month, and 2 months after administration of intravitreal dexamethasone. Measurements of patients were compared to those of 17 eyes of age- and sex-matched control subjects. Results. In static analysis, arteriovenous ratio (AVR) in control subjects was 0.86 (0.80–0.88). In RVO patients, baseline AVR was 0.71 (0.54–0.84) and significantly lower than that in control subjects (p=0.016). Baseline AVR in the RVO group was significantly lower than AVR at month 1 and month 2 (p=0.001 and p

Augmented reality has the potential to give students a unique experience, including when teaching science subjects. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an augmented reality-based intervention in teaching "Solar Systems and Planets" to four students with learning disabilities. The dependent variable was the percentage of the students' correct answers to the questions about the science unit. The independent variable was the augmented reality-based intervention. A multiple baseline across participants' designs was used in the study. The results showed a functional relationship between the augmented reality-based intervention and the percentage of correct answers the students gave to the questions. All four students showed significant gains immediately after receiving the intervention and maintained it between one and 5 weeks. Social validity findings also showed that students enjoyed the augmented reality-based intervention and were willing to use it in other subjects.

The use of technology in special education has been rapidly increased in recent years. Augmented reality (AR) is one of these technologies that combines real world and virtual objects together. AR has the potential to be used as a teaching technique for students with special needs to develop their daily lives skills, supporting learning, increasing comfort and confidence and improving physical, navigation skills and social skills. The aim of this systematic review is to investigate studies on the effects of using AR for the education of students with special needs. Specifically, this literature review investigates the research designs of these studies, the disability groups that AR applications used with, the skills that were taught using AR applications, the opinions of the students and teachers regarding the AR application and influence of AR applications on learning performance of individuals with special needs. Findings show that the use of AR has potential advantages and disadvantages for the education of students with special needs.

Augmented reality has the potential to give students a unique experience, including when teaching science subjects. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an augmented reality-based intervention in teaching "Solar Systems and Planets" to four students with learning disabilities. The dependent variable was the percentage of the students' correct answers to the questions about the science unit. The independent variable was the augmented reality-based intervention. A multiple baseline across participants' designs was used in the study. The results showed a functional relationship between the augmented reality-based intervention and the percentage of correct answers the students gave to the questions. All four students showed significant gains immediately after receiving the intervention and maintained it between one and 5 weeks. Social validity findings also showed that students enjoyed the augmented reality-based intervention and were willing to use it in other subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idiopathic orbital inflammatory disease is a benign, non-infectious, and non-neoplastic space-occupying orbital and periorbital inflammation with no identifiable local or systemic causes. Patients usually present with eyelid and periorbital erythema and edema, proptosis, and decreased eye movements. In this report, a case of large serous retinal detachment accompanying a unilateral idiopathic orbital inflammatory disease attack is discussed. It demonstrates that very extensive and highly serous retinal detachment may accompany idiopathic orbital inflammatory disease attacks. Dramatic improvement in clinical findings and imaging can be observed with high-dose steroid treatment in a short time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balkan coğrafyasında farklı milletlerle bir arada yaşayan Kuzey Makedonya Türkleri, bölgeye ilk yerleştikleri zamandan günümüze kadarki süreçte Türk kültürünün geleneksel ögelerini korumuşlardır. Kuzey Makedonya Türklerinin, geçmişte geleneksel Türk tiyatrosu gösterilerini yaşatmalarının yanında modern Türk tiyatrosunun özellikleriyle Türkçe tiyatro oyunları da sahneye koymuşlardır. Sahnelenen Türkçe oyunlara ek olarak yayımlanan oyunların sayısı da oldukça fazladır. Kuzey Makedonya’da Türkçe yayın organlarının başında gelen Sesler Aylık Toplum Sanat Dergisi içerisinde Türkçe tiyatro oyunları tespit edilmiştir. Araştırma kapsamında İlhami Emin, Süreyya Yusuf, Şerafettin Nebi, Hasan Mercan, Lütfü Seyfullah, Cemail Maksut, Nedim Hamit, İrfan Bellür, Sabit Yusuf, Recep Bilginer, Mustafa Balel, Hüseyin Süleyman ve Mustafa Karahasan adlı yazarların eserleri incelenmiştir. Adı zikredilen yazarlardan yalnızca Kuzey Makedonyalı Türk yazarlar tarafından yazılan oyunlara bakıldığında oyunların içerisinde var olan Türk halk edebiyatı unsurları ve Türk kültür ögelerinden dolayı Kuzey Makedonya Türk tiyatrosunun kültür aktarımı görevi üzerinde durulmuştur.