Publications by authors named "Ruechan Ekren"

Prenatal stress (PS) is a repeated exposure to aversive situations during pregnancy, including high emotional strain, which is suspected to affect homeostatic systems in infants. Paediatric eczema develops quickly after birth at flexural sites subjected to continuous mechanical constraints. Although epidemiological studies have suggested an association between PS and a higher risk of eczema in children, no causative biological link has yet been identified.

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Background: This post-hoc analysis of a multinational, multicenter study aimed to describe and compare clinical characteristics, microbiology, and outcomes between immunosuppressed and non-immunosuppressed patients with nosocomial lower respiratory tract infections (nLRTI). The study utilized data from the European Network for ICU-related Respiratory Infections, including 1,060 adult ICU patients diagnosed with nLRTI. Descriptive statistics were used to compare baseline characteristics and pathogen distribution between groups.

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The main challenges to the widespread clinical application of three-dimensional (3D)-printed customized trays include cost and time limitations. This study examined how changing the internal structure of 3D-printed materials used for customized trays affects flexural strength (FS), flexural modulus (FM), manufacturing time, and material weight. Specimens (64 × 10 × 3.

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Background: Place matters for health. In Texas, growing rural populations face a variety of structural, social, and economic disparities that position them for potentially worse health outcomes. The current study contributes to understanding rural health disparities in a state-specific context.

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Purpose: To evaluate the mechanical properties of the 3D printed provisional restoration material that was repaired using different materials.

Material And Methods: The bar specimens have been manufactured using three-dimensional printing technology in accordance with the ISO 10477:2020 standards and divided into 5 groups randomly. For repair material application and replacement on the standardized silicone mold, the test specimens were ground at the center by 1x2x2 mm.

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The human gut microbiota is an extensive population of microorganisms, and it shows significant variations between periods of optimal health and periods of illness. Vancomycin-resistant (VRE) and carbapenem-resistant (CRKP) are both pathogenic agents (BPAs) that can colonize in the gut after dysbiosis of microbiotal composition following antibiotic treatment. This study aimed to investigate the impact of antibiotics on the microbiotal composition of the gut.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study analyzes data from the CF Registry of Turkey to measure the rate of decline in pulmonary function (ppFEV1) among cystic fibrosis patients and identifies risk factors related to this decline.
  • It found that patients with more severe disease (ppFEV1 < 40) had poorer nutritional status and a higher prevalence of chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection compared to those with better lung function.
  • The results emphasize the need for regular monitoring of patients with normal initial ppFEV1 and early treatment for P. aeruginosa infections, highlighting the crucial role of proper nutrition in managing cystic fibrosis.
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The promising results obtained with immunotherapeutic approaches for multiple myeloma (MM) call for a better stratification of patients based on immune components. The most pressing being cytotoxic lymphocytes such as natural killer (NK) cells that are mandatory for MM surveillance and therapy. Here, we performed a single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of NK cells from 10 patients with MM and 10 age/sex-matched healthy donors that revealed important transcriptomic changes in the NK cell landscape affecting both the bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood compartment.

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Chronic skin wounds pose a global clinical challenge, necessitating effective treatment strategies. This study explores the potential of 3D printed Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) scaffolds, enhanced with Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC) at varying concentrations (25, 35, and 50% wt), for wound healing applications. PLA's biocompatibility, biodegradability, and thermal stability make it an ideal material for medical applications.

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Purpose: To characterize material changes that may occur in virgin cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) alloy powder when it is blended with alloy powders that have been reused multiple times.

Materials And Methods: Initially, 20 kg of virgin Co-Cr powder was loaded into a laser-sintering device. The tensile test specimens were fabricated in the first (Group 1), fourth (Group 2), seventh (Group 3), tenth (Group 4), and thirteenth (Group 5) production cycles (N = 15).

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Purpose: To evaluate and compare the fracture resistance and elastic modulus of 3D-printed post and core systems and fiber posts and composite cores.

Materials And Methods: Endodontic treatment was performed on 30 mandibular premolars, and post space preparation was performed. The teeth were then randomly divided into two groups (n = 15 per group): the 3D-printed (3DP) group and the fiber post and composite core (FPC) group.

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Purpose: To evaluate the effect of food-simulating liquids (FSLs) on the mechanical properties of provisional restoration materials fabricated by 3D printing, milling, and traditional fabricating methods.

Materials And Methods: The bar specimens were fabricated with traditional, milling, and 3D-printing methods according to ISO 10477 specifications. Each group of specimens was randomly subdivided into four groups to be immersed in various FSLs: distilled water (control group), n-heptane, 50% ethyl alcohol, and 0.

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Vehicle access, travel time, and distance to hospitals and emergency rooms with sufficient patient beds are critical healthcare accessibility measures, especially for children who require specific pediatric services. In a large state like Texas with vast rural areas and limited public transit infrastructure, 75% of the children live over an hour from the closest facility that provides pediatric emergency services or specialty care. In view of this challenge, this study first sought to map the prevailing geographical accessibility to children's hospitals and, second, to model the hospital beds per capita for each hospital's service area within the state of Texas.

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This study determined the effects of different doses of biochars (B) on Virginia tobacco ( L.) cultivar, on first and second harvest dependent change in plant nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Cl, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu, and B), leaf color parameters (L*, a*, and b*), chlorophyll value (SPAD), electrolyte leakage (EL), crude ash, number of leaves, and plant height. Pot experiments were conducted with biochar treatments of 10 tons ha (B1), 20 tons ha (B2), 40 tons ha (B3), and 80 tons ha (B4).

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Article Synopsis
  • The study evaluated how the timing of antimicrobial therapy impacts the clinical progress of septic shock patients, involving 204 adults diagnosed using Sepsis-3 criteria.
  • Only 26.4% of patients received antibiotic treatment within the first hour after vasopressors, and there was no significant difference in one-month mortality between those with or without appropriate initial antibiotic coverage.
  • Key factors influencing one-month survival included timely antibiotic initiation, patient location, and specific clinical scores, leading to a recommendation for improved training and electronic alerts for septic shock recognition and treatment in hospitals.
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Introduction: This retrospective cross-sectional observational study aimed to investigate the predictive value of the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) for the progression of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Material And Method: A total of 280 patients diagnosed with LUTS were analyzed, and their demographic characteristics, laboratory results, urological parameters, and SII levels were recorded retrospectively.

Results: Clinical progression of LUTS was observed in 43.

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Purpose: Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) are the most frequent infectious complication in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). We aim to report the clinical characteristics of ICU-admitted patients due to nosocomial LRTI and to describe their microbiology and clinical outcomes.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in 13 countries over two continents from 9th May 2016 until 16th August 2019.

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Purpose: The aims of the study were to evaluate the clinical performance and the complications of combined tooth-/ implant-supported three-unit fixed partial dentures (FPDs) in the posterior mandible.

Materials And Methods: A total of 78 partially edentulous patients in the posterior mandible were recruited for the study (n = 26/group). Group 1 served as the control group and received two dental implants to support a three-unit FPD.

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Much research has been conducted regarding the impact of diet on the gut microbiota. However, the effects of dietary habits such as intermittent fasting are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of intermittent fasting during Ramadan on the gut microbiota.

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Background: Candida auris is a multidrug-resistant pathogen that causes nosocomial outbreaks and high mortality. We conducted this study to investigate the molecular mechanisms of antifungal resistance in our clinical isolate of C. auris with a high level of resistance to three main classes of antifungals.

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Background: The difficulties in the identification of C. auris and the delays in the implementation of infection control precautions contribute to outbreaks. This study analyzed 10 patients with COVID-19 and C.

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CD137 (4-1BB)-activating receptor represents a promising cancer immunotherapeutic target. Yet, the cellular program driven by CD137 and its role in cancer immune surveillance remain unresolved. Using T cell-specific deletion and agonist antibodies, we found that CD137 modulates tumor infiltration of CD8-exhausted T (Tex) cells expressing PD1, Lag-3, and Tim-3 inhibitory receptors.

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Pulmonary complications may occur after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for hematologic malignancies. Lung transplantation is the only treatment option for end-stage lung failure. We presented a case of acute myeloid leukemia who received a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and underwent bilateral lung transplantation with end-stage usual interstitial pneumonia and chronic obstructive lung disease.

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