OBJECTIVE: Tuberculosis and drug reactions due to antituberculosis drugs are important public health problems. Severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions (SCARs) due to antituberculosis drugs are factor that makes tuberculosis treatment difficultchallenging. In this real-life study, we present our experience with SCARs due to antituberculosis drugs and their management.
METHODS: Patients hospitalized in the tuberculosis ward of tertiary care reference hospital between January 1, 2015, and September 1, 2023, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who consulted the immunology and allergy clinic were included in the study.
RESULTS: A total of 4,039 patients were hospitalized with tuberculosis during the study period. A total of 316 (7.8%) patients were consulted, and out of these, eight (2.5%) patients were evaluated as SCARs. Of the eight patients, seven (87.5%) were diagnosed with drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), and one was diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) (12.5%). The peripheral blood eosinophil count of patients with DRESS ranged between 740 and 8,690cells/µL. One patient tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus and developed SJS. Methylprednisolone intravenous 1 mg/kg and Fexofenadine 180 mg/day per oral were used in the treatment of SCARs in all cases. Ad-on treatment for three cases used mepolizumab (anti-IL5 monoclonal antibody) for DRESS. All patients were switched to an alternative treatment protocol and tolerated the new regimen well.
CONCLUSION: In cases with developed SCARs, a new treatment protocol consisting of different medications can be applied after the symptoms improve. DRESS was the most common SCAR of antituberculosis drugs. Monitoring the eosinophil count can help in early diagnosis. Systemic steroids and antihistamines may be effective in the treatment. Mepolizumab can be used with off-label approval in the treatment of DRESS cases to accelerate the treatment process. (NCI-2025-2-8)

Objective: Hill-Sachs lesions are considered as an a priori risk factor for glenohumeral instability. Determination of glenoid and coracoacromial arch morphometric properties of patients with Hill-Sachs lesions may aid in the diagnosis, identification of optimal treatment strategies and prevention of recurrence.
Methods: Computed tomography (CT) images of individuals between the ages of 20-40 were examined and the morphometric characteristics of the 39 patients with Hill-Sachs lesions and 71 control patients with healthy shoulder structures were compared. Glenoid inclination (GI), acromio-humeral distance (AHD), glenoid height (GH), glenoid superior width (GWs), glenoid inferior width (GWi), glenoid surface (GS), coraco-acromial distance (CAD), coraco-glenoid distance (CGD) and acromio-glenoid distance (AGD) were determined as morphometric features.
Results: The average values of the measurements in Hill-Sachs and control groups, respectively, were; glenoid inclination (1.06±6.61°; 4.33±6.20°), acromio-humeral distance (6.66±1.26; 7.67±1.64 mm), glenoid height (33.90±2.34; 35.03±3.29 mm), glenoid superior width (19.89±5.89; 19.83±2.37 mm), glenoid inferior width (24.28±2.53; 26.04±3.06 mm), glenoid surface (647.93±91.26; 721.58±136.86 mm2), coraco-acromial distance (40.24±3.99; 38.10±3.80 mm), coraco-glenoid distance (29.39±3.64; 29.96±4.44 mm) and acromio-glenoid distance (31.44±3.45; 31.64– 33.56 mm). Glenoid inclination (p=0.011), acromio-humeral distance (p=0.001), glenoid height (p=0.039), glenoid inferior width (p=0.001), glenoid surface area (p=0.002) and coraco-acromial distance (p=0.008) were significantly different between the groups.
Conclusion: The glenoid and coracoacromial arch morphometry showed significant differences in patients with Hill-Sachs lesions. Recognizing these differences can reduce recurrence rates by reducing risk factors in the treatment of glenohumeral instability and providing the closest anatomical integrity to normal. (NCI-2025-4-12)

Objective: Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a hematological parameter which is routinely obtained as part of the complete blood count analysis. An increased RDW level, which helps identify erythrocyte anisocytosis, is also a good indicator of the severity and outcome of some other diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive power of the serum RDW level for determining (seven-day mortality) of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). the short-term prognosis
Methods: A total of 527 adult patients with AIS presenting to our emergency department of tertiary-care hospital were retrospectively enrolled. The baseline characteristics, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores, reflecting stroke severity and neurological outcome, and serum RDW values were recorded retrospectively. An univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of seven-day mortality, including serum levels of RDW, age, NIHSS and mRS values.
Results: Serum RDW levels were significantly lower in patients who survived longer than seven-day compared with those who died within the first seven-day (15.36% ±1.04% v.s 16.61% ±1.28%, p=0.001). Furthermore, the mean NIHHS score was significantly lower in patients who survived longer than seven-day compared with those who died within the first seven-day. Additionally, the mean mRS score was significantly lower in patients who survived longer than seven-day compared with those who died within the first seven-day (p = 0.001).
Receiving operator characteristic analysis revealed a cut-off RDW level of 16.2%, with 66.1% sensitivity and 78% specificity, for distinguishing patients who survived longer than seven-day from who died within the first seven-day.
Conclusion: The serum RDW level may serve as a guide in diagnostic decision-making to predict neurological outcome and determining the short-term survival of patients with AIS. (NCI-2025-5-1)

Objective: Assessment of small airway function, respiratory mechanics, respiratory muscle strength, and exercise capacity plays a crucial role in both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment planning, as well as in evaluating treatment efficacy in patients with emphysema. Impulse oscillometry (IOS) allows for the evaluation of the physiological properties of both large and small airways, along with lung parenchyma involvement. This study aimed to in*vestigate small airway function and respiratory mechanics related to lung parenchyma using IOS and to examine their relationship with respiratory muscle strength and exercise capacity in emphysema patients.
Methods: Thirty patients diagnosed with emphysema by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and airway obstruction based on GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Diseases) spirometric criteria were included in this study. Demographic characteristics, IOS parameters, respiratory muscle strength (MIP, MEP), and exercise capacity (Endurance Shuttle Walk Test [ESWT], VO₂ peak) were analyzed. The study was approved by the Ankara Keçiören Training and Research Hospital Ethics Committee (Approval number: 2012-KAEK-15/2210) and conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.
Results: There was a statistically significant positive correlation between GOLD spirometric stages and IOS parameters, particularly the resistance difference at 5 and 20 Hz (R5-R20) and reactance area (AX). A significant negative correlation was observed between GOLD stages and reactance at 5 Hz (X5), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), ESWT, and VO₂ peak. Additionally, MIP was negatively correlated with R5, R5-R20, and AX, but positively correlated with X5. VO₂ peak was negatively correlated with R5, R20, R5-R20, and AX, while it was positively correlated with X5, MIP, and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP). ESWT was negatively correlated with R5, R5-R20, and AX, and positively correlated with X5.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that emphysema involves impairment of small airways and lung parenchyma, which can be effectively assessed using IOS. The impaired respiratory mechanics significantly decrease exercise capacity. Prioritizing therapies that target small airways may enhance pharmacological outcomes, and the observed correlation between IOS parameters and respiratory muscle strength may provide guidance for inhaler selection in clinical practice.

Objective: Drug intoxication (DRI), which occurs due to accidental or suicidal use of high doses of drugs, has a high mortality and morbidity rate. emergency departments of hospitals are the units where these patients first come to the hospital, where the first interventions are performed and where the mortality rate is higher than other departments. therefore, DRI is a more important health problem for the emergency department (ED) than other departments of hospitals. in this study, we aimed to retrospectively investigate the demographic characteristics, drugs used and clinical course of patients admitted to the ED of our hospital with the diagnosis of DRI.
Methods: Patients admitted to the ED of Malatya Training and Research hospital with the diagnosis of DRI were retrospectively screened from the hospital database. The patients’ demographic characteristics, medications and clinical conditions were recorded. Patients over the age of 18 years who were diagnosed with DRI and whose medicationuse was identified were included in this study.
Patients under the of 18 and those poisoned by other substances such as alcohol, illegal chemicals, or agricultural pesticides were excluded.
Results: Demographic characteristics, type of intoxication and clinical course of the patients included in the study are shown in Table 1. In 2023, 282 patients were admitted to the emergency department of our hospital with the diagnosis of DRI. Of these, 60% were women and 40% were men (n=170, n=112, respectively) and there was no statistically significant difference between the numbers of men and women (p=0.156). Fifteen percent of the women were over 50 years of age and 85% were under 50 years of age. this ratio was 55% to 45% in men. there was no statistically significant difference in the age distribution between men and women (p=0.246, p=0.260, respectively), (Table 1). 77% of the patients used overdose drugs for suicidal purposes and 23% accidentally (n=217, n=65, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference in the type of DRI, total number of males and females and age distribution (p=0.26). While 60% of the patients were hospitalized, 25% were admitted to intensive care unit and 35% to service (n=70, n=100, respectively).
There were statistically significantly more patients admitted to service (p=0.03).
Conclusion: The results of our study show that the number of female patients admitted to the ED of our hospital with the diagnosis of DRI, patients under 50 years of age and suicidal use are higher, the most commonly used drugs in these patients are NSAIDs, SSRIs and antipyschotics as a drug group and drugs used in psychiatric disorders. Our study has shown that frequently used and easily accessible drugs are more likely to be abused, and that questioning such drugs, especially in patients presenting to the emergency service with drug intoxication in this region, may be valuable for diagnosis and treatment. (NCI-2025-7-11)

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate systemic and environmental risk factors, clinical findings and surgical trends in patients admitted to our clinic with the diagnosis of dermatochalasis.
Methods: Between January and March 2024, 114 patients with upper eyelid dermatochalasis were retrospectively analyzed cross-sectionally. Demographic data, history of systemic disease, surgical history, presenting complaints, tear tests (Schirmer, tear breakup time (TBUT)) and dermatochalasis grades were recorded.
Results: 66.66% of the patients were female and the mean age was 53.08±6.35 years. The most common reason for presentation was a feeling of heaviness/fatigue in the upper eyelid (41.22%). While 70.17% of the participants had at least one systemic disease, the most common comorbid conditions were diabetes mellitus, hypertension, thyroid dysfunction and rheumatologic diseases. Dry eye symptoms were reported in 31.57%, with a mean Schirmer test of 11.03±3.07 mm and TBUT of 5.87±1.86 seconds. There was no significant difference between Schirmer and TBUT values and the degree of dermatochalasis (p>0.05). While 37.71% of the patients were considering surgery, 65.11% of them wanted surgery for aesthetic reasons and 34.88% for functional reasons.
Conclusion: Dermatochalasis is a complex condition associated with functional and systemic effects and aesthetic problems. A history of systemic disease, dry eye symptoms and visual field limitation should be considered in managing the disease. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach should be adopted, and patient expectations should be considered in treatment planning. Prospective studies with a large sample size may better elucidate the etiopathogenesis and patient management.

Objective: Microwave ablation (MWA) has emerged as a minimally invasive treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), offering a promising alternative for patients ineligible for surgical resection. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and clinical outcomes of MWA in a single-center cohort, focusing on treatment success, recurrence rates, and long-term survival.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 54 patients who underwent percutaneous ultrasound-guided MWA for HCC between January 2019 and December 2023. Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and procedural outcomes were assessed. Treatment success was defined as complete ablation confirmed by contrast-enhanced imaging one month post-procedure. Local tumor progression (LTP) and recurrence rates were evaluated during follow-up. Survival outcomes were analyzed based on follow-up data, considering overall survival and recurrence-free survival rate.
Results: A total of 71 tumors were treated in 54 patients. Complete ablation was achieved in 91.5% of tumors following the initial or secondary procedure. LTP was observed in 16.6% of patients during follow-up. No major complications were reported. The median follow-up period was 36 months, and survival outcomes were comparable to those reported for other ablative techniques. No statistically significant correlation was found between tumor size and ablation success (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: MWA is an effective and safe treatment modality for HCC, demonstrating high technical success and acceptable recurrence rates. These findings support the continued integration of MWA in multidisciplinary HCC management, particularly for patients ineligible for surgery. Further research with larger cohorts and longer follow-up is needed to optimize patient selection and refine ablation strategies.

Objective: Childhood epilepsy requires long-term antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy, and its potential endocrine effects are a critical consideration. While the impact of AEDs on thyroid function is well documented in adults, data on pediatric populations remain scarce. Levetiracetam (LEV), a broad-spectrum AED widely prescribed for children, has an unclear influence on thyroid function. This study aims to evaluate the effects of LEV on thyroid function in children with epilepsy.
Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted at the Pediatric Neurology Clinic of Umranýye Training and Research Hospital between 2020 and 2022. One hundred pediatric patients, aged 2.3 to 18 years, diagnosed with epilepsy and using LEV monotherapy for at least 12 months were included. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (fT4) levels were measured at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months. Statistical analyses were performed using paired t-tests, with a p-value <0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: The mean TSH levels increased from 1.46±0.3 mIU/L at baseline to 1.60±0.3 mIU/L at 12 months (p=0.0017). Despite the statistically significant rise, TSH levels remained within normal reference ranges, and no clinically significant hypothyroidism was observed. Changes in fT4 levels were not statistically significant, except for a borderline increase at 12 months (p=0.05). Four patients exhibited transient TSH elevations but did not require thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
Conclusion: LEV monotherapy does not appear to significantly impact thyroid function in pediatric epilepsy patients. While a slight but statistically significant increase in TSH levels was observed, these changes were clinically insignificant. These findings suggest that LEV is a safe option regarding thyroid function in children with epilepsy. Further long-term prospective studies are warranted to confirm these results. (NCI-2025-2-3)

Objective: Fetal echocardiography is a vital diagnostic tool used during pregnancy to evaluate the structure and function of the fetal heart. It allows for the early detection of congenital heart diseases (CHDs) and fetal arrhythmias, enabling timely prenatal counseling, perinatal planning, and therapeutic interventions when necessary. While routine obstetric ultrasounds may detect basic structural anomalies, fetal echocardiography provides more detailed anatomical and functional information, particularly in high-risk pregnancies. This study presents a nine-year experience of fetal echocardiography at a tertiary center, focusing on diagnostic accuracy, clinical contribution, and postnatal outcomes.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 405 fetuses who underwent fetal echocardiography between March 2016 and March 2025. All evaluations were performed by an experienced pediatric cardiologist using standard imaging protocols. Fetal cardiac findings and postnatal confirmation data were assessed.
Results: Major structural cardiac anomalies were identified in 48 fetuses (11.9%), with the most common being Tetralogy of Fallot and Transposition of the Great Arteries. Minor findings such as echogenic intracardiac focus, premature atrial contractions, and small ventricular septal defects (VSDs) were seen in 104 cases (25.7%). Significant arrhythmias, including supraventricular tachycardia and complete heart block, were detected in 14 cases (3.5%).
Conclusion: Fetal echocardiography is a reliable, non-invasive method for the early and accurate diagnosis of fetal cardiac anomalies. It facilitates appropriate prenatal referral and postnatal care planning, ultimately improving neonatal outcomes. (NCI-2025-5-9)

Objective: The study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics, endoscopic and histopathological findings of children admitted to the paediatric gastroenterology outpatient clinic for growth retardation.
Material and Methods: The study was carried out with 90 patients aged 2-18 years who presented to our paediatric gastroenterology outpatient clinic with complaints of growth retardation and underwent oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) because growth retardation persisted despite adequate caloric support (at least 3 months).
Results: The mean age of the patients was 11.11±4.27 years, 56(62.2%) were female and 52(57.8%) were under 12 years of age. Of the patients, 36.7% had mild, 47.8% moderate and 15.6% severe acute malnutrition, 22.2% stunting and 7.8% severe stunting. Associated dyspeptic symptoms were present in 34(37.8%) patients and celiac antibodies were positive in 20(22.2%) patients. Iron deficiency was present in 28.9% and B12 deficiency in 41.1% of the patients. The most common endoscopic findings were pangastritis (88.9%), duodenitis (61.1%), bile reflux (35.6%) and bulbitis (31.1%). Chronic Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) gastritis was found in 72.2%, celiac disease in 20.0% and reflux oesophagitis in 17.8% of the patients. No association was found between chronic H pylori gastritis and iron deficiency anaemia and vitamin B12 deficiency (p=0.90, p=0.89). There was no association between chronic H pylori gastritis and height-for-age, weight-for-height and BMI z scores (0.31, 0.57, 0.43).
Conclusion: In this study, positive endoscopic findings were found in all children with persistent growth retardation despite adequate caloric support, even in the absence of accompanying dyspeptic symptoms. More studies evaluating the usefulness of endoscopy in children with growth retardation are needed. (NCI-2025-2-1)

OBJECTIVE: Migraine is one of the prevalent types of primary headache disorders in children and significantly affects their quality of life. Although pharmacological prophylaxis is often necessary, conventional treatments are frequently limited by adverse effects and modest efficacy. Magnesium, a vital intracellular cation involved in numerous neuronal and vascular functions, has been proposed as a safer alternative. However, data on its use in pediatric migraine remain limited. To investigate the effectiveness and safety profile of magnesium oxide prophylaxis in children diagnosed with migraine without aura.
METHODS: This retrospective study included pediatric patients aged 7–18 years with a diagnosis of migraine without aura, treated exclusively with magnesium oxide at a dosage of 6–9 mg/kg/day or a fixed dose of 365 mg/day for four months. Headache frequency, migraine-related disability (assessed by PedMIDAS), and quality of life (measured by HIT-6) were evaluated before and after four months of prophylaxis.
RESULTS: A total of 50 patients (34 females, 16 males; mean age: 13.4±2.75 years) were included. Following magnesium prophylaxis, a statistically significant reduction was observed in headache frequency, PedMIDAS scores, and HIT-6 scores (p<0.001 for all). Additionally, disability levels according to PedMIDAS grading improved significantly. No participants reported side effects during the study.
CONCLUSION: Magnesium oxide appears to be a well-tolerated, safe, and potentially effective prophylactic option for children with migraine without aura. It was associated with a significant reduction in attack frequency, disability scores, and improved quality of life. Despite promising results, the absence of a control group and serum magnesium data are notable limitations. Further prospective, randomized controlled studies are required to confirm these findings and establish the most effective dosage, duration, and formulation of magnesium for pediatric use. (NCI-2025-9-13)

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the in vivo radioprotective effects of Myrtus communis (MC) on the gastrointestinal system.
Methods: A total of 30 female rats were divided into four groups: i) Control; ii) irradiation (IR) only; iii) MC-pretreated; and iv) MC-treated. The rats received oral MC extract (100 mg/kg/day) for 4 days before exposure to 10 Gy IR or continued until sacrifice. On the fourth day of IR exposure, the rats were sacrificed, and histopathological and biochemical analyses were performed on the ileum, pancreas, and liver tissues.
Results: Malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase levels decreased in both MC-treated groups, while glutathione levels and Na+-K+-ATPase activity increased (P<0.01), with significant histopathological improvements compared to the IR only group.
Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that MC significantly decreases ionizing radiation-induced oxidative and inflammatory damage in the gastrointestinal systems of rats. Therefore, it may be regarded as a new candidate with radioprotective potential for future clinical application. (NCI-2025-9-6)

Chromatography remains a cornerstone analytical technique in pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences, with recent innovations significantly expanding its capabilities. Advances such as fast chromatography, two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC), supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC), and hyphenated techniques, including liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), have broadened the scope of its applications. These developments enhance resolution, sensitivity, and efficiency, enabling more robust analysis of complex biological and pharmaceutical samples.These methods address complex analytical challenges, improving precision, speed, and efficiency in separating and analyzing biomolecules. Emerging technologies, including miniaturized liquid chromatography, shear flow chromatography, column arrays, and microfluidic chip-based systems, present exciting opportunities for the future. These developments enhance the capability of chromatography to analyze trace compounds, optimize drug formulations, and ensure the quality control of pharmaceuticals. Chromatography is also increasingly integrated with cutting-edge techniques like metabolomics and proteomics, furthering its impact on biomarker discovery and personalized medicine. This paper reviews recent advancements in chromatographic methods and their practical applications in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. It highlights the critical role of chromatography in drug discovery, purification of therapeutic compounds, and metabolite profiling. (NCI-2025-10-8)