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HPV infection involved numerous types, most of them high risk, even in women with negative cytology results. Further studies with larger groups will provide more information on HPV distribution in Turkey, which may guide the development of local vaccination programs.

Ultrasound can visualise EF of the AT insertion, which can be abnormal in cases of spondyloarthritis. This has implications for a better understanding of enthesopathy.

Abstract. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common male-predominant type of cancer worldwide. There is no effective treatment regimen available for advanced-stage disease and chemotherapy is generally ineffective in these patients. The number of studies on the prevalence of K-Ras mutations in HCC patients is currently limited. A total of 58 patients from 6 comprehensive cancer centers in 4 metropolitan cities of Turkey were enrolled in this study. Each center committed to enroll approximately 10 random patients whose formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissues were available for K-Ras, exon 2 genotyping. Two methods were applied based on the availability of adequate amounts of tumor DNA. In the first method, the samples were processed using TheraScreen. The genomic DNA was further used to detect the 7 most frequent somatic mutations (35G>A; 35G>C; 35G>T; 34G>A; 34G>C; 34G>T and 38G>A) in codons 12 and 13 in exon 2 of the K-Ras oncogene by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In the second method, the genomic DNA was amplified by PCR using primers specific for K-Ras exon 2 with the GML SeqFinder Sequencing System's KRAS kit. The identified DNA sequence alterations were confirmed by sequencing both DNA strands in two independent experiments with forward and reverse primers. A total of 40 samples had adequate tumor tissue for the mutation analysis. A total of 33 (82.5%) of the investigated samples harbored no mutations in exon 2. All the mutations were identified via a direct sequencing technique, whereas none were identified by TheraScreen. In conclusion, in our patients, HCC exhibited a remarkably low (<20%) K-Ras mutation rate. Patients harboring K-Ras wild-type tumors may be good candidates for treatment with epidermal growth factor inhibitors, such as cetuximab.

Aim To compare pupillary responses in patients with Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) during active infection and at 3rd months post-infection. Methods This study included 58 COVID-19 cases (mean age 47.23 ± 1.1 years). The scotopic, mesopic and photopic diameters were noted. Pupil diameters were noted at the 0, 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, and 10th seconds in reflex pupil dilation after the termination of a light. The average dilation speed was calculated at the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, and 10th seconds. Pupil responses measured during COVID-19 infection and 3 months later were compared. Results The mean scotopic and mesopic pupil diameter value of during COVID-19 infection was found lower than the 3rd month post-infection. ( p = 0.001, p = 0.023; respectively). No statistically significant difference was found in the mean photopic pupil diameter and the mean pupil diameter at 0 s between measurements ( p > 0.05, p = 0.734; respectively). The mean pupil diameter was significantly lower during COVID-19 infection at the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th seconds ( p < 0.01, for each). The average dilation speed measurements at every second measured were lower in during COVID-19 infection than the 3rd months later ( p = 0.001; p < 0.01 for each). Conclusions Pupil responses were found significantly different in COVID-19 cases when compared with the measurements taken three months later.

Purpose. To compare one-year treatment outcomes of intravitreal aflibercept (IVA) and intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) for treatment of myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV). Methods. The medical records of a total of 30 eyes diagnosed with mCNV and underwent IVA or IVR treatment for a minimum one-year follow-up were studied retrospectively. All the subjects had an axial length >26 mm and received a 1 + PRN (pro re nata) regimen IVA or IVR. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thicknesses (CMT) on optical coherence tomography were evaluated before and after treatment. Results. There were 12 eyes in IVA group, with a mean age of 60.0 ± 10.2 years. The mean BCVA significantly improved from baseline 1.54 ± 0.76 to 0.85 ± 0.61 and the mean CMT significantly decreased from baseline 384.3 ± 119.1 μm to 305.9 ± 75.4 μm at Month 12 (p:0.024 and p:0.011, respectively). There were 18 eyes in IVR group, with a mean age of 57.4 ± 13.1 years. The mean BCVA improved from baseline 1.14 ± 0.90 to 1.04 ± 0.93 and the mean CMT significantly decreased from baseline 366.5 ± 102.3 μm to 323.6 ± 103.6 μm at Month 12 after IVR (p:0.345 and p:0.011, respectively). There was no significant difference between the groups in CMT changes in the study period (p:0.178), but IVA resulted in significantly better final visual gain (0.69 versus 0.09; p:0.006). Conclusions. Both IVA and IVR treatment modalities resulted in similar anatomical outcomes but IVA had better visual outcomes in treatment of mCNV.

BackgroundCyclooxygenase (cox) is the rate-limiting enzyme, which catalyzes the conversion of arachidonic acid into prostaglandins and contributes to the inflammatory process. Cyclooxygenase-2 (cox-2), which is one of the two isoforms, plays a role in tumor progression and carcinogenesis. p53 contributes to apoptosis, DNA renewal and cell cycle. Studies concerning the relationship of cox-2 and p53 expressions and carcinogenesis are available, but the association between cox-2 and p53 in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is not exactly known.In our study, we examined the association of cox-2 and p53 expression, with age, stage, histopathological subtype, and survival in HL. We also examined correlation between cox-2 and p53 expression.MethodsCox-2 and p53 expressions in Hodgkin-Reed Sternberg cells (HRS) were examined in 54 patients with HL depending on cox-2 expression, stained cases were classified as positive, and unstained cases as negative. Nuclear staining of HRS cells with p53 was evaluated as positive. The classifications of positivity were as follows: negative if<10%; (1+) if 10-25%; (2+) if 25-50%; (3+) if 50-75%, (4+) if >75%.ResultsCox-2 and p53 expressions were found in 49 (80%) and 29 (46%) patients, respectively. There were differences between histological subtypes according to cox-2 expression (p = 0.012). Mixed cellular (MC) and nodular sclerosing (NS) subtypes were seen most of the patients and cox-2 expression was evaluated mostly in the mixed cellular subtype.There were no statistically significant relationships between p53 and the histopathological subtypes; or between p53, cox-2 and the factors including stage, age and survival; or between p53 and cox-2 expression (p > 0.05).ConclusionConsidering the significant relationship between the cox-2 expression and the subtypes of HL, cox-2 expression is higher in MC and NS subtypes. However the difference between these two subtypes was not significant. This submission must be advocated by studies with large series