Purpose: Real-world evidence comparing surgical techniques for symptomatic hemorrhoidal disease (HD) remains limited, despite the availability of multiple approaches. This study aimed to evaluate short-term, interim outcomes from a prospective, nationwide cohort study that compared the effectiveness of different operative techniques based on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in patients with symptomatic HD. Methods: A prospective, nationwide cohort study was conducted at 20 tertiary care centers across Turkiye between July 2022 and July 2024. Adult patients aged 18 years or older with symptomatic HD (grades I–IV) who underwent surgery during this period were included. The choice of procedure was determined by the operating surgeon, and patients were categorized into excisional, fixative, and ablative groups according to the surgical approach used. The primary outcomes were changes in the Hemorrhoidal Disease Symptom Score, Short Health ScaleHD, visual analog scale for pain, and patient satisfaction, assessed from the preoperative period to postoperative day 7 and postoperative week 6. Results: The study included a total of 315 patients after excluding those who did not fulfil the inclusion criteria. Among them, 239 (78.9%) were male, with a mean age of 43.7±11.7 years. The distribution of patients across surgical groups was 207 (65.7%) in the excisional group, 30 (9.5%) in the fixative group, and 78 (24.8%) in the ablative group. All groups demonstrated significant improvements in PROM scores from preoperative to postoperative assessments. However, no statistically significant differences were observed between groups at any time point for PROM scores or for changes in PROM scores across consecutive evaluations (P≥0.05 for all comparisons). Urinary retention occurred more frequently, and hospital stays were longer in the fixative group (P=0.006 and P<0.001, respectively). The excisional group had a greater need for narcotic use and longer duration of use (P=0.003 and P<0.001, respectively). Conclusion This real-world cohort study shows that all 3 surgical approaches are effective for HD, providing comparable short-term symptomatic relief and patient satisfaction. These techniques appear equally valid treatment options, and the choice of procedure may best be individualized based on patient-specific characteristics and surgeon preference.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05429060

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the association between cord blood brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentration and maternal depression during pregnancy. METHODS: A total of 48 pregnant women, admitted for elective caesarean section to Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Konya Research and Training Hospital and Konya Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Medical Faculty, were included in this study. The study group included 23 women diagnosed as having depression during pregnancy and the control group included 25 pregnant women who did not experience depression during pregnancy. RESULTS: The groups had similar sociodemographic characteristics. Cord blood BDNF concentration was significantly lower in babies born to mothers with major depression as compared with those in the control group. We didn't find any correlation between the umbilical cord blood BDNF levels and BDI scores. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the existence of major depression in pregnant women may negatively affect fetal circulating BDNF levels.
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; Cesarean Section ; Depression ; Faculty, Medical ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Mothers ; Obstetrics ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women

OBJECTIVE: Prospective data of risky online gamers in Turkey is missing. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the change in gaming behaviors and addiction rates of Travian players within two years to search diagnostic stability of internet gaming disorder and some psychosocial risk factors. METHODS: 110 responders completed the whole questionnaire package including 21-item Game Addiction Scale (GAS), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SLS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and Multi-dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). A hierarchical linear modeling approach was followed to test the linear change in game addiction scores of the participants from 2013 to 2015. RESULTS: GAS scores of gamers significantly decreased within two years (p=0.026). MSPSS scores significantly and negatively associated with GAS scores (p < 0.001) and the negative association of time remained significant (p=0.035). Decrement in the MSPSS scores in two years was associated with increment in GAS scores. 9 (90%) of 10 participants with internet gaming disorder according to monothetic format and 26 (52%) of 50 participants with internet gaming disorder according to polythetic format were found to not to meet the diagnosis in the follow-up. 33 out of all participants reported that they were not playing any online games for at least last 6 months. CONCLUSION: Social support seems to be a protective factor for game addiction and diagnosis of internet gaming disorder has low temporal stability among Travian players in Turkey.
Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Internet ; Linear Models ; Prospective Studies ; Protective Factors ; Risk Factors* ; Turkey

The vascular actions and mechanisms of taurine were investigated in the isolated human radial artery (RA). RA rings were suspended in isolated organ baths and tension was recorded isometrically. First, a precontraction was achieved by adding potassium chloride (KCl, 45 mM) or serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT, 30 µM) to organ baths. When the precontractions were stable, taurine (20, 40, 80 mM) was added cumulatively. Antagonistic effect of taurine on calcium chloride (10 µM to 10 mM)-induced contractions was investigated. Taurine-induced relaxations were also tested in the presence of the K⁺ channel inhibitors tetraethylammonium (1 mM), glibenclamide (10 µM) and 4-aminopyridine (1 mM). Taurine did not affect the basal tone but inhibited the contraction induced by 5-HT and KCl. Calcium chloride-induced contractions were significantly inhibited in the presence of taurine (20, 40, 80 mM) (p<0.05). The relaxation to taurine was inhibited by tetraethylammonium (p<0.05). However, glibenclamide and 4-aminopyridine did not affect taurine-induced relaxations. Present experiments show that taurine inhibits 5-HT and KCl-induced contractions in RA, and suggest that large conductance Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels may be involved in taurine-induced relaxation of RA.
4-Aminopyridine ; Baths ; Calcium ; Calcium Chloride ; Glyburide ; Humans* ; Potassium Channels* ; Potassium Chloride ; Potassium* ; Radial Artery* ; Relaxation ; Serotonin ; Taurine* ; Tetraethylammonium ; Vasodilation

No abstract available.
Folliculitis*