Gül Kahraman

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between demographic characteristics, stone size, density, and location, skin-to-stone distance (SSD), urinary parameters, and the success rate of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in patients with ureteral stones. Material and Methods: A total of 151 patients with ureteral stones were included in this retrospective study, and ESWL treatment was successful in 116 of them. Stone size, density, and ureteral location (upper/lower and right/left) were evaluated using non-contrast computed tomography, and SSD was measured. Demographic characteristics [age, gender, and BMI (Body Mass Index)] and complete urinalysis parameters (pH, specific gravity, protein, leukocytes, erythrocytes, casts, and various crystal types) were recorded. The impact of these factors on ESWL success was statistically analyzed. Results: A significant negative correlation was found between ESWL success and stone density [in Hounsfield units (HU)], SSD, and patient age. Treatment success was lower for hard stones (HU ≥ 1000) compared to soft stones (HU < 1000) (ESWL successful: 28/45 (62%) vs 88/106 (83%), p = 0.006). Similarly, patients with successful ESWL had lower ages and SSD compared to those with unsuccessful outcomes (41±13 vs 45±9 years and 117±18 vs 125±17 mm, respectively). Additionally, stones with higher density were found to be larger compared to those with lower density, with a low-level positive correlation (9.0(4.8-15.0) vs 7.8(4.2-15.0) mm, p=0.0458; r=0.240, p=0.0029). Binary regression analysis revealed that SSD, stone density (HU), and stone location significantly influenced ESWL success and could predict outcomes with 78.8% accuracy (p=0.005, 0.002, and 0.014, respectively). Conclusion: Increased stone density, longer SSD, and advanced age can decrease the success of ESWL treatment. This study highlights the importance of considering these variables when planning ESWL treatment.

In this study, three types of Extra Virgin olive oils (EVOO) grown in different regions of Türkiye (Kilis Yaglik, Ayvalik, Izmir Sofralik) and their phenolic extracts (EVOOP) were evaluated for their anti-cancer activity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells (Hep40) and a complete profiling of the fatty acid, sterol and polyphenol content of these olive oils was performed by HPLC and GC method. It was shown that genetic diversity and differences in growing conditions of the olive oils studied significantly modified the phenolic composition. The biophenol content was found as 655.4 mg/kg, 508.75 mg/kg and 197.86 mg/kg in Kilis Yaglik, Izmir Sofralik and Ayvalık respectively. The highest content of oleocanthal was found in İzmir Sofralik EVOO (142.00 mg/kg) and its anti-proliferative effect was found to be high. The highest amount of hydroxytyrosol was found in Kilis Yaglik (42.14 mg/kg) and the highest amount of tyrosol was found in Izmir Sofralik (43.86 mg/kg). It was shown that there was a significant difference in the responses of polyphenols in Hep40 cells. The direct use of olive oil in Hep40 cells and the comparison with EVOOPs were evaluated for the first time in this study. The evaluation of the anti-cancer effect of EVOOs and EVOOPs was tested by MTT and the IC50 value of Ayvalik EVOO was found to be the lowest at %12.84. In EVOOPs, Izmir Sofralik was the most effective in Hep40 cells with an IC50 value of 35.40 µg/mL.

Extra virgin olive oil is the highest grade of virgin olive oil derived by cold mechanical extraction without the use of solvents or refining methods. These olive oils are known for their composition in phenolic compounds that have antioxidant properties. This study aims to determine the total phenolic and flavonoid compounds and antioxidant activities of four Turkish extra virgin olive oil samples: Kilis yağlık, İzmir sofralık, Ayvalık, and Tavşan yüreği. The highest sample concentration used for the experiments was 4 mg/ml while 1 mg/mL was used for ABTS radical scavenging assay. The lowest total phenolic and flavonoid content was observed in Tavşan yüreği sample. All extra virgin olive oil samples showed scavenging activity against DPPH and ABTS free radicals. Extra virgin olive oil samples with high phenolic and flavonoid content presented more effective radical scavenging activity with low IC50 values. This study provides information about the phenolic content and antioxidant activities of four important Turkish olive oil samples.

Günümüzde ileri evre kanserlerin tedavisindeki güçlükler henüz aşılamamıştır. Kemoterapi ve radyoterapdeki ilerlemelere rağmen, geleneksel kanser tedavisi, tümör ilerlemesini kontrol etmede yetersiz kalmakta ve tümör hücresinin ilaç direnci geliştirmesi ile tedavinin başarısı sınırlanmaktadır. Bu durum daha iyi tedavi seçeneklerinin araştırılmasını zorunlu kılmaktadır. İmmün kontrol noktası sinyallerini hedefleyen ilaçlar, immün sistem ile tümör arasındaki etkileşimlerin klinik önemini güçlendirerek, immün sistemin anti kanser aktivite göstermesini sağlanmaya çalışarak,kanser tedavisine yeni bir yaklaşım getirmiştir. İmmün sistem ve kanserle ilgili temel mekanizmaları hakkındaki bilgiler hızla artmaktadır. İmmün sistem, kendini ve kendinden olmayanı ayırt edecek şekilde tasarlanmıştır ve genetik rekombinasyon yoluyla tanıyabileceği antijen sayısı neredeyse sınırsızdır. Bu nedenle kanser hücrelerindeki mutasyonel olaylar, anormallikler ve farklılıklar kanserin gelişmesini veya ilerlemesini önlemede önemli bir rol oynayabilir. Bununla birlikte, tümörler immünsürvayanstan kaçmak için çeşitli mekanizmalar kullanabilir. İmmünoterapinin gelişimi büyük umut vadetse de, hastaların bir kısmında primer direnç gelişebilmekte ve bu hastalar immünoterapiden fayda görmemektedirler. Ayrıca, tedaviye yanıt veren hastalarda da klinik ilerlemede ortaya çıkabilen kazanılmış direnç, immünoterapinin başarısını sınırlayabilmektedir. Direnç mekanizmaları arasında, tümör mikro çevresindeki (TME) immün hücrelerinin işlevinin ve infiltrasyonunun azalmasına yol açan tümöre özgü yollar vardır. Direnç başlangıcını önlemek ve üstesinden gelmek için kemoterapi, radyoterapi ve yeni immünomodülatör ajanlarla kombinasyon tedavilerini öngören yeni stratejiler umut vericidir. Bu derlemede, immünoterapötik yaklaşımlar (İmmün Kontrol Noktası İnhibitörleri (ICI), Lenfosit- Düzenleyici Sitokinler, Kanser Aşıları, CAR T ve T Hücre Reseptörü (TCR), KostimülatörReseptörler), kanser immünoterapisi ile ilgili mevcut bilgiler ve immunoterapiye verilen hasta yanıtlarının incelenmesi hedeflenmiştir.