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    PublicationOpen Access
    25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are low but not associated with disease activity in chronic spontaneous urticaria and depression
    (AEPress, 2020) Vurgun, Eren; Güntaş, Gürkan; Kocatürk Göncü, Özgür Emek; Memet, Bachar; Doctor; School of Medicine; Koç University Hospital; 217219; N/A
    Aim: to evaluate vitamin D levels in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), depression and both of them, thus to fi nd out whether vitamin D may be a common causative factor of CSU and depression. Methods: thirty patients with CSU, 30 patients with depression, 30 patients with both CSU and depression and 30 healthy volunteers as control group were involved in the study. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D) levels of these groups were measured and compared. Correlations between 25(OH)D levels and the activity of CSU and depression were analyzed. Results: healthy controls' 25(OH)D levels (17.2±8.8 ng/mL) were higher than patients with CSU (9.1±5.1 ng/mL), depression (8.9±6.1 ng/mL) and CSU with depression (7.7±4.7 ng/mL) (p<0.001, p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). There were no differences in 25(OH)D levels between CSU patients with and without depression, between depression patients and CSU patients with and without depression (p=0.43, p=0.82 and p=0.92, respectively). There were no correlations between 25(OH)D levels and the activity of CSU or depression (p=0.99 and p=0.76, respectively). Conclusion: Lower 25(OH)D levels in CSU and/or depression may appear as a secondary phenomenon, which means being result of these diseases rather than the cause (Tab. 1, Fig. 2, Ref. 41).
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    PublicationOpen Access
    3D engineered neural co-culture model and neurovascular effects of marine fungi-derived citreohybridonol
    (American Institute of Physics (AIP) Publishing, 2022) Polat, İrem; Özkaya, Ferhat Can; El-Neketi, Mona; Ebrahim, Weaam; Şengül, Gülgün; Department of Mechanical Engineering; Sokullu, Emel; Sarabi, Misagh Rezapour; Taşoğlu, Savaş; Faculty Member; Faculty Member; Department of Mechanical Engineering; Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM) / Koç Üniversitesi Translasyonel Tıp Araştırma Merkezi (KUTTAM); Koç Üniversitesi İş Bankası Yapay Zeka Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi (KUIS AI)/ Koç University İş Bank Artificial Intelligence Center (KUIS AI); KU Arçelik Research Center for Creative Industries (KUAR) / KU Arçelik Yaratıcı Endüstriler Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi (KUAR); School of Medicine; Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering; College of Engineering; 163024; N/A; 291971
    Marine-based biomolecules are emerging metabolites that have gained attention for developing novel biomaterials, drugs, and pharmaceutical in vitro platforms. Here, we developed a 3D engineered neural co-culture model via a 3D prototyped sliding frame-platform for multi-step UV lithography and investigated the neurovascular potential of citreohybridonol in neuroblastoma treatment. Citreohybridonol was isolated from a sponge-derived fungus Penicillium atrovenetum. The model was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy analysis. Human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cell lines were encapsulated in gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) with and without citreohybridonol. The effect of citreohybridonol on the proliferation capacity of cells was assessed via cell viability and immunostaining assays. GelMA and 3D culture characterization indicated that the cells were successfully encapsulated as axenic and mixed with/without citreohybridonol. The cytotoxic test confirmed that the 3D microenvironment was non-toxic for cultural experiments, and it showed the inhibitory effects of citreohybridonol on SH-SY5Y cells and induced the proliferation of HUVECs. Finally, immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that citreohybridonol suppressed SH-SY5Y cells and induced vascularization of HUVECs in mixed 3D cell culture.
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    5-HT causes venodilatation to reduce blood pressure in the rat
    (Karger, 2016) Seitz, Bridget M.; Krieger-Burke, Theresa; Darios, Emma S.; Thompson, Janice M.; Watts, Stephanie W.; N/A; Orer, Hakan S.; Faculty Member; School of Medicine; 53477
    N/A
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    A 3-year-old child with multi-drug resistant epilepsy responding to pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments
    (Taylor & Francis, 2022) Yıldırım, Canan; N/A; Coşkun, Yeşim; Doctor; N/A; Koç University Hospital; N/A
    Introduction: Despite the development of new antiseizure drugs (ASDs), around one third of epilepsy patients become refractory to treatment or experience adverse events due to ASDs. Therefore, discovery of new ASDs and new therapy options are crucial to improve the quality of life. Herein, we report a 3-year-old child with multi-drug resistant epilepsy caused by perinatal asphyxia whose seizures were reduced by 90% after the introduction of ketogenic diet, vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) AspireSR (SR-seizure response) and oral cannabidiol.Case presentation: A 9-month-old female infant had a history of multidrug resistant epilepsy due to perinatal asphyxia. At admission, she was experiencing up to 20-25 seizures per day lasting for 2-3 minutes. In addition to antiseizure drugs (ASDs), she was put on ketogenic diet (KD), vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) aspire seizure response (AspireSR) was inserted and oral cannabidiol (CBD) was started sequentially. Using pharmacological and nonph armacological therapies, her seizures have been reduced by 90%.Conclusion: The concurrent use of pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapies may be beneficial to improve seizures in infants with multi- Furthermore, our patient is the youngest child inserted VNS AspireSR in Turkey.
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    A 52-year-old man with progressive weakness and incontinence
    (Sage, 2022) Danyeli, Ayca Ersen; Bozkurt, Subutay Berke; Uysal, Sanem Pinar; Akpek, Sergin; Kahyaoglu, Bulent; Peker, Selcuk; Altıntaş, Ayşe; Aygün, Murat Serhat; Akay, Olga Meltem; Üre, Ümit Barbaros; Ferhanoğlu, Ahmet Burhan; Faculty Member; Teaching Faculty; Faculty Member; Faculty Member; Faculty Member; School of Medicine; School of Medicine; School of Medicine; School of Medicine; School of Medicine; Koç University Hospital; 11611; 291692; 170966; N/A; 18320
    Here we report a challenging case of a 52-year-old man presenting with subacute constipation, urinary retention, impotence, absent Achilles reflexes, and hypoesthesia in S2-S5 dermatomes. We review the clinical decision-making as the symptoms evolved and diagnostic testing changed over time. Once the diagnosis is settled, we discuss the sign and symptoms, additional diagnostic tools, treatment options and prognosis.
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    A case of chordoma invading multiple neuroaxial bones: report of ten years follow up
    (Turkish Neurosurgery Society, 2013) Aydın, Ahmet Levent; Sasani, Mehdi; Öktenoğlu, Bekir Tunç; Solaroğlu, İhsan; Özer, Ali Fahir; Faculty Member; Faculty Member; School of Medicine; School of Medicine; 102059; 1022
    Aim: Chordoma is a rare, slow-growing primary malignant tumor of the axial skeleton, arising from the embryonic cells of primitive notochord. Chordomas may arise at different sites of the vertebral column simultaneously or more probably they may metastasise along the neural axis insidiously. Recurrence despite radical surgery and following adjuvant therapy is possible. MaterIal and Methods: A 46-year-old female patient presented weakness and numbness of the lower extremities. She was operated for clivus chordoma five years ago at another institute. Results: First the patient underwent surgery for resection of the tumor at the cervical region. a second surgery was performed to resect tumor on the foramen magnum and at the C1 level. Histologic examination of the removed vertebra confirmed the diagnosis of chordoma involving the vertebral body. Radiotherapy was administered after the second surgery. Follow-up neurological and radiological examinations revealed no abnormal neurological symptoms 2,5 years after second surgery. There were no distant organ metastases. ConclusIon: A patient with diagnosed chordoma of the spine must be investigated with MRI of other regions of the neuraxis to exclude second or even third source of chordoma metastases. In metastatic chordoma cases, radical or gross total resection should be performed for each lesion but if complete surgical resections are impossible, preoperative or postoperative radiation therapy should be planned to improve life expectancy. / AMAÇ: Kordoma, omurganın ender rastlanan, yavaş ilerleyen malign karakterli bir tümörüdür. Primitif notokordun embryo hücrelerinden köken alır. Omurganın farklı bölgelerinde, birbirinden bağımsız kordoma odakları eş zamanlı olarak gelişmeye başlayabilir. Fakat daha sıklıkla, birinci tümör odağından kaynaklanan metastatik kordoma lezyonları tüm nöral aks boyunca yayılabilir. Radikal cerrahiye ve ek onkolojik tedaviye rağmen rekürens sık görülür. YÖNTEM ve GEREÇLER: Bu sunumda tartışılan 46 yaşındaki kadın hasta, bacaklarında kuvvet ve his kaybı şikayetiyle kliniğimize başvurmuştur. Hasta, beş yıl önce, ayrı bir merkezde klivus kordoması tanısıyla opere edilmiştir. BULGULAR: Hasta öncelikle servikal bölgedeki tümör için opere edilmiştir. İkinci seansta foramen magnum ve C1 seviyesindeki tümör çıkarılmıştır. Patolojik inceleme sonucunda, omurga cismini tutan kordoma lezyonu tanısı konmuştur. İkinci cerrahi seansından sonra hasta radyoterapiye yönlendirilmiştir. Bu tedaviden ikibuçuk yıl sonra yapılan değerlendirmede, hastanın nörolojik muayenesinde progresyon gözlenmemiştir. SONUÇ: Omurganın herhangi bir lokalizasyonunda kordoma tanısı konulan bir hastada, tüm spinal bölge manyetik rezonans görüntüleme (MRG) tetkiki ile incelenmelidir. Bu hastalarda birden fazla kordoma odağına rastlanabilir. Birden fazla odak tespit edilmesi durumunda, her ayrı tümör odağı için rezeksiyon planlanmalıdır. Total rezeksiyonun mümkün olmaması durumunda, yaşam süresini uzatmak için operasyon öncesi ve sonrası dönemlerde radyoterapi uygulanmalıdır.
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    A case of pathologic complete response after neoadjuvant triplet chemotherapy for locally advanced colon cancer with mismatch repair enzyme proficiency
    (Via Medica, 2023) Kocak, Mehmet Zahid; Cakir, Murat; Kerimoglu, Ulku; Araz, Murat; Eryilmaz, Melek Karakurt; Artac, Mehmet; Yumuk, Perran Fulden; School of Medicine
    Patients with potentially resectable colon cancer and expected to have negative margins should undergo resection rather than neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Recent studies have suggested that neoadjuvant immunotherapy may be an option for tumors with mismatch repair enzyme deficiency (dMMR), but standard treatment for locally advanced colon cancer with mismatch repair enzyme proficiency (pMMR) is still unclear. A 37-year-old male patient was diagnosed with clinical stage IIIC (T4b N1a M0) transverse colon cancer. Mismatch repair proteins were proficient. After 3 cycles of oxaliplatin (85 mg/m(2), day 1), irinotecan (150 mg/m2, IV, day 1), leucovorin (200 mg/m(2), IV, day 1), and 5-fluorouracil (3000 mg/m(2), 46 hours of continuous infusion initiating from day 1), there was a remarkable reduction in the tumoral mass on the abdominal computed tomography. A right hemicolectomy was performed. A pathologic complete response was obtained. Although there is no consensus on which patients are suitable for neoadjuvant therapy in pMMR locally advanced colon cancer, triplet chemotherapy may be a reasonable option in selected patients.
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    A case with new-onset neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder following COVID-19 mRNA BNT162b2 vaccination
    (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2022) Afşar, Nazire; N/A; N/A; N/A; Çalışkan, İlay; Buluş, Eser; Polat-Altıntaş, Sevgi; Master Student; Doctor; Researcher; N/A; N/A; Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM) / Koç Üniversitesi Translasyonel Tıp Araştırma Merkezi (KUTTAM); Graduate School of Health Sciences; School of Medicine; N/A; N/A; N/A; 150017
    Introduction: In the midst of the coronavirus disease of 2019 pandemic, active immunization by effective vaccination gained utmost importance in terms of global health. The messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines are novel strategies requiring clinical surveillance for adverse events. Case Report: We report a 43-year-old previously healthy female with an optic neuritis attack 24 hours following immunization with the second dose of coronavirus disease of 2019 mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine. A second transverse myelitis attack together with an elevated anti-AQP-4 antibody titer confirmed the diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. Conclusion: Our case identifies the BNT162b2 vaccine as a possible trigger for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. This rare and potentially coincidental event has no implications for vaccine administration practices. However, further research is needed to elucidate the effects of mRNA vaccines on humoral and cell-mediated immunity.
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    A challenge for peptide coarse graining: transferability of fragment-based models
    (Wiley-V C H Verlag Gmbh, 2011) Villa, Alessandra; Peter, Christine; N/A; Department of Mechanical Engineering; Engin, Özge; Sayar, Mehmet; Master Student; Faculty Member; Department of Mechanical Engineering; Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering; College of Engineering; N/A; 109820
    Peptides are highly promising building blocks for design and development of novel materials with potential application areas ranging from drug design to biotechnology. The necessity to understand the structural and thermodynamic properties of these complex materials has led to a dramatic increase in the development of computational techniques geared specifically towards peptide-based systems. Both all-atom (AA) and coarse-grained (CG) simulations of such materials have become extremely important, where the latter is an indispensable tool for reaching the time and length scales relevant to the experiments. Here, we review different approaches and discuss the challenges in the development of CG models for peptides. In particular, we concentrate on the transferability of fragment-based CG models. We analyze the transferability of a solvent-free CG model developed to model hydrophobic phenylalanine dipeptides (FF) in water. Here, we employ the same CG strategy-with non-bonded potentials based on peptide fragments-to two other hydrophobic dipeptides, valine-phenylalanine (VF) and isoleucine-phenylalanine (IF). In line with the previously developed model, the dipeptides are described by seven beads and the potentials developed for FF (bonded and non-bonded) are directly applied to describe the phenylalanine and backbone atoms, while new potentials are developed to account for the valine and isoleucine sidechains. By comparing AA and CG intra and intermolecular samplings, we show the ability of the CG model to reproduce the conformational behavior and thermodynamic association properties of the corresponding atomistic systems.
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    A clinical comparison of home-based and hospital-based exercise programs following arthroscopic capsulolabral repair for anterior shoulder instability
    (Human Kinetics Publ Inc, 2020) Atalar, Ata Can; Eren, Şule Meral; Uçak, Ayla; Çerezci, Önder; N/A; Eren, İlker; Canbulat, Nazan; Demirhan, Mehmet; Faculty Member; Faculty Member; Faculty Member; School of Medicine; School of Medicine; School of Medicine; Koc University Hospital; 168021; 58534; 9882
    Context: Ideal rehabilitation method following arthroscopic capsulolabral repair surgery for anterior shoulder instability has not been proven yet. Although rapid or slow protocols were compared previously, home- or hospital-based protocols were not questioned before. Objective: The aim of this prospective unrandomized controlled clinical trial is to compare the clinical outcomes of home-based and hospital-based rehabilitation programs following arthroscopic Bankart repair. Design: Non-randomized controlled trial. Setting: Orthopedics and physical therapy units of a single institution. Patients: Fifty-four patients (49 males and 5 females) with an average age of 30.5 (9.1) years, who underwent arthroscopic capsulolabral repair and met the inclusion criteria, with at least 1-year follow-up were allocated into 2 groups: home-based (n = 33) and hospital-based (n = 21) groups. Interventions: Both groups received identical rehabilitation programs. Patients in the home-based group were called for follow-up every 3 weeks. Patients in the hospital-based group admitted for therapy every other day for a total of 6 to 8 weeks. Both groups were followed identically after the eighth week and the rehabilitation program continued for 6 months. Main Outcome Measures: Clinical outcomes were assessed using Disabilities of Arm Shoulder Hand, Constant, and Rowe scores. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the results in both groups. Wilcoxon test was used for determining the progress in each group. Results: Groups were age and gender matched (P= .61, P = .69). Average number of treatment sessions was 13.8 (7.3) for patients in the hospital-based group. Preoperative Disabilities of Ann Shoulder Hand (27.46 [11.81] vs 32.53 [16.42], P= .22), Constant (58.23 [14.23] vs 54.17 [10.46], P = .13), and Rowe (51.72 [15.36] vs 43.81 [19.16], P= .12) scores were similar between groups. Postoperative scores at sixth month were significantly improved in each group (P = .001, P = .001, and P = .001). No significant difference was observed between 2 groups regarding clinical scores in any time point. Conclusions: We have, therefore, concluded that a controlled home-based exercise program is as effective as hospital-based rehabilitation following arthroscopic capsulolabral repair for anterior shoulder instability.