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Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) and Olfactory Function - A Clinical Pilot Study
Full text linkABSTRACT
Background: Although the olfactory epithelium, including its neuronal cell line, has inherent regenerative potential, therapeu-
tic options remain limited. Promising effects of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) on olfactory regeneration have
been observed in both animal and human studies. In this study, we assessed olfaction before and after G-CSF administration in
myeloma patients who underwent autologous stem cell transplantation and in allogeneic stem cell donors.
Methods: A total of 40 subjects were included in this study (10 myeloma patients, 10 allogeneic stem cell donors, 20 controls who
did not receive any G-CSF). Olfactory function was psychophysically assessed using the threshold and extended identification
domain of the Sniffin' Sticks test.
Results: After G-CSF administration, threshold scores were slightly enhanced in both myeloma patients (8.9±3.6 vs. 9.3±3.3)
and allogeneic stem cell donors (10.2±3.5 vs. 11.8±2.9). However, this effect was not statistically significant. For olfactory iden-
tification, no improvement was observed.
Conclusion: Even though being not statistically significant, the findings of this study align with previous evidence and under-
line the potential of G-CSF on olfactory regeneration. However, additional studies, including carefully designed animal trials, are
required to comprehensively evaluate this promising therapeutic option
Olfactory implants: international opinion paper on emerging technologies and clinical applications
Full text linkAbstract
Olfactory dysfunction affects a large proportion of the general population and causes significant personal and societal burden.
At present, there are limited treatment options available. Though as yet experimental and untested in people, olfactory implants
are a novel form of neuroprosthesis, modelled on existing implants for other sensory deficits such as hearing loss. Advances in
this field have been rapid, yet there have been no unified efforts to collate current knowledge or guide such advances towards
maximum patient benefit. In this Opinion Paper, leaders in the field have come together to provide an overview of current and
emerging knowledge and technology relating to olfactory implants. In an effort to guide innovation towards maximum patient
benefit, we also provide expert agreed statements on theoretical clinical aspects of olfactory implantation, including patient se-
lection, implantation sites and potential complications, as well as post-implantation support requirements. Technical aspects will
be discussed, with a clinical, device orientated focus. Finally, the ethics of olfactory implantation will be considered. We hope this
document will serve as a useful roadmap to guide future clinical and basic research in the field
Marginal gap of printed, milled, and heat-pressed two-piece polyetheretherketone abutments before and after thermal cycling, and their pull-off bond strength after thermal cycling
Full text linkAbstract
Purpose: To evaluate the marginal gap of two-piece polyetheretherketone (PEEK)
abutments fabricated with different methods, before and after thermal cycling, while
also focusing on their pull-off bond strength.
Materials and Methods: A two-piece abutment was virtually designed after digitizing a titanium-base (Ti-base) abutment. This design was used to fabricate printed
(P-PEEK), milled (M-PEEK), and heat-pressed (HP-PEEK) PEEK abutments (n = 8).
The marginal gaps of all abutments were evaluated under a stereomicroscope (15 points
on each side, ×40 magnification), before and after thermal cycling (10,000 cycles,
5◦C–55◦C). Then, all abutments were subjected to a pull-off bond strength test. The
marginal gap data were analyzed with a generalized linear model, while the pull-off
bond strength data were analyzed with one-way analysis of variance and Tukey tests
(α = 0.05).
Results: The marginal gaps were affected by the interaction between the fabrication
method and aging condition, as well as by the fabrication method and aging condition
(p ≤ 0.003). HP-PEEK abutments before thermal cycling had the lowest gap, whereas
M-PEEK abutments after thermal cycling mostly had the highest (p ≤ 0.042). Thermal
cycling increased the marginal gap of HP-PEEK (p < 0.001). M-PEEK had the lowest
and HP-PEEK had the highest pull-off bond strength (p < 0.001). Most of the failures
of P-PEEK and M-PEEK abutments were mixed.
Conclusions: The tested abutments had marginal gaps below the clinically acceptable threshold of 120 µm, both before and after thermal cycling. HP-PEEK abutments
may be more resistant to dislodgment from the Ti-base abutments than P-PEEK and
M-PEEK abutments
The Development and Validation of the Smell-Qx Questionnaire, Based on a Systematic Review of the Literature and the COMET Initiative on the Development of Core Outcome Sets for Clinical Trials in Olfactory Disorders
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Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, UCL, London, UK 2UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK 3Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Unit
West, Central Denmark Region, Hospital Unit West, Holstebro, Denmark 4Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University - Øre-, Næse- og Halskirurgi,
RHG, Aarhus N, Denmark 5UCL, London, UK 6Fifth Sense, Bicester, UK 7Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Biruni University
School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey 8Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada 9Royal National Ear
Nose, Throat and Eastman Dental Hospitals, London, UK 10Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, USA 11Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck
Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA 12Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva,
Switzerland 13Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium 142nd Academic ORL
Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece 15ENT Department, ASST Sette Laghi, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
16Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan 17Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery,
Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria 18Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain 19Department of
Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland 20Department of
Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA 21Department of Surgery, The University of
Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA 22Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Smell and Taste Clinic, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
23Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA 24Department of
Otorhinolaryngology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium 25Department of Otorhinolaryngology and
Head and Neck Surgery, Regional Hospital Pardubice and Faculty of Health Studies, University of Pardubice, Pardubice, Czech Republic 26Department of
Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland 27UCL Ear Institute, University College London, London, UK
28Sheffield Children’s Hospital, Sheffield, UK 29Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Diego School of
Medicine, La Jolla, California, USA 30University of East Anglia Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK 31Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)
Department, James Paget University Hospital, James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Great Yarmouth, U
The potential of curcumin in tissue engineering and nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems: A bibliometric analysis
No full textIntroduction: Curcumin is widely investigated in tissue engineering and nanotechnology-enabled drug delivery, yet the rapidly expanding literature lacks a consolidated map to guide translation. To address this gap, we mapped global output, hotspots, and collaboration patterns on curcumin and aligned bibliometric trends with translational needs. Methods: We conducted a Scopus-based bibliometric analysis of records published between 1997 and 2024 using a single-day snapshot (21 February 2025). A reproducible TITLE-ABS-KEY query centered on "curcumin" retrieved 12,327 documents. After retrieval, de-noising retained records that mentioned curcumin (or variants) in the title, abstract, or author keywords. We computed standard indicators (outputs, citations, subject areas, countries, institutions, authors, journals) and constructed keyword co-occurrence and collaboration networks in VOSviewer. Results: Outputs increased sharply after 2016 and concentrated on pharmacology, biochemistry, materials science, and engineering. China (28.1 %), India (21.5 %), and the United States (12.6 %) led publication counts. Recurrent hotspots included bioavailability/controlled release, apoptosis/reactive oxygen species (ROS), hydrogels/nanofibers, and neuroprotection. Collaboration maps showed dense hubs around China, India, and the United States, while several regions were underrepresented. Conclusion: Hotspots mirror experimental advances with nanocarriers such as PLGA, liposomes, and dendrosomes that improve curcumin stability, uptake, and therapeutic indices. Methodological transparency (single-source justification, query disclosure, de-noising) enhances reproducibility. Translational progress will benefit from harmonized in vivo models, full formulation reporting-size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, loading, and release-Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compatible scale-up, and region-adapted regulatory guidance
The effect of childbirth preparation and counselling training given during pregnancy on adaptation in pregnancy and birth process
No full textBu araştırma, gebelikte verilen doğuma hazırlık ve danışmanlık eğitiminin gebelik ve doğum sürecindeki uyuma etkisini belirlemek amacıyla randomize kontrollü tipte yapıldı. İstanbul'da bir kamu hastanesinin gebe okuluna başvuran 20-30. gebelik haftasındaki primipar gebelerle, Mart-Ekim 2024 tarihleri arasında gerçekleştirildi. Araştırmada "Temel Eğitim ve Danışmanlık Grubu (TEDG)" ve "Temel Eğitim Grubu (TEG)" olmak üzere toplam 110 gebeden oluştu. TEDG'ye doğuma hazırlık eğitimi ve danışmanlık verilirken, TEG'ye yalnızca doğuma hazırlık eğitimi verildi. Veriler, "Tanıtıcı Bilgi Formu", "Prenatal Kendini Değerlendirme Ölçeği (PKDÖ)" ve "Wijma Doğum Beklentisi/Deneyimi Ölçeği A versiyonu (W-DEQ-A)" ile toplandı. Verilerin analizi SPSS for Windows 22.0 programı kullanılarak gerçekleştirildi. Araştırmada, her iki grupta gebelikte; düzenli olarak kontrole gittikleri, verilen ilaçları kullandıkları, tetanoz aşısını daha fazla yaptırdıkları, yarısından fazlasının şeker yükleme testi yaptırdığı, nefes egzersizi ve fiziksel aktivite yaptığı ve çoğunluğunun tehlike belirtilerini izlediği görüldü. Araştırmada, PKDÖ toplam puanlarında gruplar arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark bulunmamıştır. PKDÖ, "Doğuma hazır oluş" alt boyutunda her iki grupta anlamlı bir iyileşme gözlemlenirken (p<0.05), TEDG grubunda "Doğum korkusu" alt boyutunda beklenmedik şekilde artış kaydedilmiştir (p<0.05). W-DEQ A ölçeğinde TEDG'in doğum beklentisi puanlarının belirgin bir şekilde düştüğü ve gebelerin doğum korkularının daha azaldığı görüldü (p<0.05). Bu bulgular, doğuma hazırlık eğitiminin ve danışmanlık desteğinin, gebelerin psikososyal uyumunu güçlendirdiğini, doğuma dair endişelerini azalttığını ve sürece daha olumlu bir bakış açısıyla yaklaşmalarını sağladığını ortaya koymaktadır. Sonuç olarak bu araştırma, gebelik sürecinde verilen doğuma hazırlık ve danışmanlık hizmetlerinin, kadınların doğuma ve gebelik sürecine uyum sağlamalarına katkı sağladığını ortaya koymaktadır.This research was conducted as a randomized controlled trial to determine the effect of birth preparation and counseling education on adaptation to pregnancy and the childbirth process. It was carried out between March and October 2024 with primiparous women in the 20th to 30th week of pregnancy who attended a maternity school at a public hospital in Istanbul. The study consisted of a total of 110 pregnant women, divided into the "Basic Education and Counseling Group (BECG)" and the "Basic Education Group (BEG)". The BECG received birth preparation education and counseling, while the BEG received only birth preparation education. Data were collected using a "Demographic Information Form", "the Prenatal Self-Assessment Scale (PSAS)", and "the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Scale A version (W-DEQ-A)". Data analysis was performed using SPSS for Windows 22.0 software. The study found that in both groups, during pregnancy, participants attended regular check-ups, used prescribed medications regularly, received more tetanus vaccinations, and more than half underwent the glucose tolerance test. They also practiced breathing exercises and physical activities, and most of them monitored danger signs in pregnancy. In the research, no statistically significant difference was found between the groups in the total scores of the PSAS. While a significant improvement was observed in both groups in the 'Readiness for labour' sub-dimension of the PSAS, an unexpected increase in the 'Fear of childbirth' sub-dimension was recorded in the BECG group (p<0.05). The W-DEQ-A scores of the BECG showed a significant reduction in birth expectations and a notable decrease in the fear of childbirth (p<0.05). These findings suggest that birth preparation education and counseling support strengthened the psychosocial adaptation of the women, reduced their concerns about childbirth, and helped them approach the process with a more positive outlook. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that birth preparation and counseling services provided during pregnancy contribute to women's adaptation to both the pregnancy and childbirth processes
Mathematical modeling of magneto-bioconvective Eyring-Powell nanofluid with activation energy and gyrotactic effects across various geometries
No full textThis work formulates a mathematical framework to analyze the magneto-bioconvective transport of an Eyring-Powell nanofluid containing gyrotactic microorganisms over flat plate, wedge, and stagnation-point geometries embedded in a porous medium. The Eyring-Powell constitutive relation is represented through two material constants, namely the viscoelastic parameter (A1) and the nonlinear stretching parameter (A2), which determine the fluid's shear response. The model accounts for nonlinear thermal radiation, activation energy, variable thermal conductivity, internal heat generation, Brownian diffusion, thermophoretic motion, and chemical reaction effects. By applying similarity transformations, the governing nonlinear PDE system is converted into a set of coupled ODEs, which are solved numerically using a fourth-order Runge-Kutta method combined with the shooting technique. Numerical results highlight the strong sensitivity of transport characteristics to governing parameters. For instance, in the flat-plate case, increasing A1 from 0.1 to 0.7 enhances the skin-friction coefficient from 1.128 to 1.387, whereas the same variation in A2 reduces it slightly from 1.129 to 1.121. For wedge geometry, the local Nusselt number (Nux) decreases from 0.6164 to 0.6112 as A1 increases, while in stagnation-point flow, the Sherwood number (Shx) falls from 0.4838 to 0.4741. A rise in the magnetic parameter (M) from 0.2 to 0.6 lowers Nux by about 0.002 and simultaneously raises the skin-friction coefficient by approximately 0.21 in the plate configuration. Activation energy (E) significantly increases solutal concentration and microorganism density by more than 6%, whereas the reaction-rate constant (Kr) produces a nearly equivalent reduction. Brownian motion (Nb) and thermophoresis (Nt) elevate fluid temperature while decreasing Shx by over 0.01, and higher Peclet (Pe) and Schmidt (Sc) numbers reduce microorganism density and solute concentration by 5-10%. Overall, the developed formulation provides a predictive tool for applications such as bio-convective heat exchangers, microfluidic systems, and porous-medium transport under magnetic environments
Opinions and recommendations of child and adolescent psychiatrists on the diagnosis of individuals with specific learning disabilities
No full textÖÖG riski olan bireylerin tanılanmasında çocuk ve ergen psikiyatristleri birinci dereceden sorumludur; ÖÖG'nin erken dönemde doğru tanılanması, tanı alan bireylerin erken müdahaleden yararlanmalarını sağlamaktadır. Bu araştırmada, ÖÖG olan bireylerin tanılama süreçlerine ilişkin çocuk ve ergen psikiyatristlerinin görüşlerini ortaya koymak amacıyla nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden fenomenoloji deseni kullanılmıştır. Araştırma kapsamında, ÖÖG riski olan bireylerin tanılanma sürecinde görev alan 15 çocuk ve ergen psikiyatristiyle yarı yapılandırılmış görüşmeler yapılarak veri toplanmıştır. Araştırmanın bulguları, ÖÖG riski olan bireylerin hastaneye genellikle öğretmenleri tarafından yönlendirildiğini; bunun dışında ailelerin ve çocuğun devam ettiği özel eğitim merkezinde görev yapan öğretmenler ile kurum yetkililerinin de yönlendirme yaptığı, ancak bu süreçte aile ve öğretmen bilgisizliğiyle kurum yetkililerinin yanlış yönlendirmelerinin tanı sürecini zorlaştırdığını ortaya koymuştur. Süreci kolaylaştırmak amacıyla okul düzeyinde tarama yapılması önerilmektedir. Aileler, çocuk ve ergen psikiyatristinden randevu bulmakta zorlandıklarını ve bulduklarında ise muayene ile değerlendirme süresinin kısa olduğunu belirtmişlerdir. ÖÖG olan bireylere genellikle DEHB'nin eşlik edebildiği ya da DEHB'nin ÖÖG'yi maskeleyebildiği; bu nedenle eşlik eden özellikler ve ayırıcı tanı süreçlerinin titizlikle yürütülmesi gerektiği vurgulanmıştır. Çocuk ve ergen psikiyatristleri, ÖÖG'nin tanılanmasında formal değerlendirme araçlarının yetersiz olduğunu ve genellikle klinik gözlem sonucuna göre karar verdiklerini, değerlendirme araçlarının ise bu kararı destekleyici bir rol üstlendiğini ifade etmişlerdir. Ayrıca, okul, RAM ve hastane arasında işbirliği yapılmaması nedeniyle tanılama sürecinin zorlaştığı yönünde de görüş bildirmişlerdir.Child and adolescent psychiatrists are primarily responsible for the diagnosis of individuals at risk for SLD; early and accurate diagnosis of SLD ensures that diagnosed individuals benefit from early intervention. This study employed a phenomenological design, one of the qualitative research methods, to reveal the views of child and adolescent psychiatrists regarding the diagnostic processes of individuals with SLD. Within the scope of the study, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 child and adolescent psychiatrists involved in the diagnostic process of individuals at risk for SLD. The findings revealed that individuals at risk for SLD are most often referred to hospitals by their teachers; in addition, families, teachers working in special education centers the child attends, and institutional staff may also refer the child. However, lack of knowledge among families and teachers, along with misguidance by institutional staff, complicates the diagnostic process. To facilitate this process, it is recommended that screening be conducted at the school level. Families stated that they had difficulty getting appointments with child and adolescent psychiatrists and that the examination and evaluation times were short when they did. It was emphasized that SLD is often accompanied by ADHD or that ADHD can mask the presence of SLD; therefore, the comorbid features and differential diagnosis processes must be carried out meticulously. Child and adolescent psychiatrists stated that formal assessment tools are inadequate in diagnosing SLD and that they generally make decisions based on clinical observation, with assessment tools playing a supportive role in their decision-making. Additionally, they reported that the lack of collaboration among schools, RAM, and hospitals complicates the diagnostic process
Global, regional, and national burden of hypertensive heart disease in 1990-2021, with forecasts to 2050: a Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
No full textBackground: Despite its substantial burden, hypertensive heart disease (HHD) remains underrecognized. We aimed to investigate the global burden of HHD projected up to 2050. Methods: We utilized data from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2021 to estimate the global HHD burden. The burden was assessed using prevalence, death, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), stratified by region, age, sex, and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with all estimates accompanied by 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). We ranked age-standardized DALY rates attributable to six risk factors. Forecasting analysis was conducted using the GBD 2021 forecast framework, supplemented by Das Gupta decomposition analysis. Results: From 1990 to 2021, the global age-standardized prevalence rate increased from 125.44 per 100,000 population (95% UI, 98.97-157.96) to 148.32 (117.32-186.28). In contrast, age-standardized mortality and DALY rates declined to 16.31 per 100,000 population (95% UI, 13.76-18.01) and 301.58 (255.06-332.06), respectively. HHD burden increased with age and was more pronounced in women, particularly among older populations. High systolic blood pressure ranked first among six identified risk factors. Forecasting up to 2050 projected increases in age-standardized mortality (19.11 [95% UI, 13.24-27.45]) and DALY rates (367.80 [255.27-524.52]), despite declining trends over the past three decades. Population growth was the main driver of the projected increase, as shown by Das Gupta decomposition. Conclusions: The rising burden of HHD calls for a shift away from traditional, fragmented approaches focused solely on blood pressure control. Integrated clinical and policy responses are urgently needed to address the complex and multifactorial nature of the disease
Uncovering potent natural phytochemicals targeting SARS-COV-2 spike protein variants: molecular dynamics insights
No full textSARS-CoV-2 remains a critical global health concern due to its high transmissibility, evolving variants, and the absence of a universally effective treatment. Phytocompounds, known for their antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties, continue to be explored as potential therapeutic agents. This study evaluated 20 phytocompounds and four approved antiviral drugs, Remdesivir, Favipiravir, Hydroxychloroquine, and Ivermectin, against nine SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein structures, including five wild-type and four variants (Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron). Molecular docking using two software platforms identified ursolic acid, betulinic acid, beta-sitosterol, and ivermectin as top candidates, with binding affinities ranging from - 6.7 to - 9.6 kcal/mol. These compounds also displayed favorable pharmacokinetic properties and druggability. 100 ns molecular dynamics simulations were performed on the highest-affinity complexes to assess stability. Betulinic acid and beta-sitosterol demonstrated stable binding interactions, with low RMSD values (similar to 0.2-0.3 nm) and consistent hydrogen bonding (1-3 bonds), suggesting structural stability. In contrast, ursolic acid and ivermectin showed unstable binding and higher structural fluctuations during simulation. Overall, the study highlights betulinic acid and beta-sitosterol as presumptive SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors, warranting further experimental validation through in vitro and in vivo studies to confirm their therapeutic potential