In this study, it was aimed to investigate the relationship between the epicardial adipose tissue thickness (EATT) and serum IL-17A level insulin resistance in metabolic syndrome patients. This study enrolled a total of 160 subjects, of whom 80 were consecutive patients who applied to our outpatient clinic and were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, and the other 80 were consecutive patients who were part of the control group with similar age and demographics in whom the metabolic syndrome was excluded. The metabolic syndrome diagnosis was made according to International Diabetes Federation (IDF)-2005 criteria. EATT was measured with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in the subjects. IL-17A serum levels were determined using the ELISA method. Fasting blood glucose, HDL, triglyceride, and fasting insulin levels were significantly higher in the metabolic syndrome group compared to the control group. In addition, the metabolic syndrome group had significantly higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and Homeostatic Model Assessment Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) levels than the control group. Similarly, serum IL-17A levels were significantly elevated in the metabolic syndrome group compared to the control group statistically (p < 0.001). As well, EATT was higher in the metabolic syndrome than the control group. Conclusion: By virtue of their proinflammatory properties, EATT and IL-17 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome.

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the circulating thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in order to integrate these signaling pathways in the inflammatory and fibrogenic processes of this liver disorder. Methods: Ninety-five NAFLD patients were recruited in the study. The study also included 83 age-sex matched healthy controls. Results: The number of patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) criteria was 57 (60%). TSP-1 level was found to be statistically significantly lower in the NAFLD group compared to the control group (p=0.037). However, NF-κB level was found to be significantly higher in the NAFLD group compared to the control group (p=0.004). There was a significant negative correlation between plasma TSP-1 levels with glucose (r=-0.235, p=0.022), alanine aminotransferase (r=-0.261, p=0.011) and aspartate transaminase (r=-0.328, p=0.001) levels. In addition, a significant negative correlation was found between plasma TSP-1 and NF-κB levels (r=-0.729, p<0.001). Conclusions: Our results suggest a close relationship between increased NF-κB and reduced TSP-1 in NAFLD. TSP-1 and NF-κB signaling pathways might have a role in the inflammatory and fibrogenic processes. Furthermore, they may be used as a noninvasive marker and could assist as a therapeutic target for NAFLD.

Aim: This study aimed to explore the attitudes of family caregivers toward truth-telling practices in palliative care in Türkiye, a Muslim-majority context where disclosure is often mediated by relatives. Methods: Using a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, data were collected from 100 unpaid family caregivers of terminally ill patients at a palliative care unit. Quantitative data were gathered via a structured questionnaire, and qualitative data through in-depth interviews with a purposively selected subsample of 10 participants. Chi-square tests were used to analyze associations, and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of caregivers was 47.4 ± 16.5 years, 67% were female. Notably, 67% of participants did not prefer that the patient be informed of irreversible deterioration, while 71% stated they would want to be informed if they were in the patient’s position (p < 0.05). Most preferred a multidisciplinary disclosure process involving physicians, psychologists, and spiritual counselors. Qualitative analysis revealed four themes: emotional conflict, protective family-centered decision-making, spiritual readiness for death, and preference for multidisciplinary communication approach. The participants expressed cultural concerns about psychological harm to the patient and emphasized the family’s role as emotional guardians. Conclusions: The findings highlight a gap between caregivers’ attitudes when acting as family members versus imagining themselves as patients. These results underscore the critical need for culturally sensitive and family-inclusive communication strategies in palliative care settings.

Background/aim: Malnutrition and muscle wasting are common in terminal cancer patients and adversely affect prognosis. Bedside muscle ultrasonography (US) has emerged as a practical tool to assess nutritional status and monitor therapy. This study evaluated the relationship between achieving individualized nutritional targets and changes in muscle indices measured by US in terminal cancer patients receiving palliative care. Materials and methods: Subcutaneous fat tissue thickness (SFTT), muscle thickness (MT), and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the rectus femoris (RF) and biceps brachii (BB) muscles were assessed by US over 10 days and normalized to height squared (m²). A total of 95 patients with complete retrospective data were included; 74.7% achieved their caloric targets, while 25.3% did not. Results: Patients who failed to meet caloric goals exhibited significantly greater reductions across all muscle parameters. Among those who achieved caloric targets, protein intake ≥1.5 g/kg/day was associated with reduced muscle loss compared to lower intake. The RF muscle was particularly sensitive to nutritional status, exhibiting more pronounced changes in response to both caloric and protein adequacy. No significant differences were observed between feeding routes, although patients receiving parenteral nutrition tended to exhibit greater decline. Correlation analyses demonstrated a significant negative association between time to achieve caloric targets and muscle preservation, underscoring the importance of early intervention. Linear regression further identified delayed caloric achievement as an independent predictor of accelerated muscle loss. Conclusion: Achieving caloric and high-protein targets is critical for preserving muscle mass in terminal cancer patients. US, particularly of the RF muscle, provides a reliable, noninvasive, and practical tool for monitoring the effects of nutritional interventions in this vulnerable population.

Aims: Osteosarcopenia, the coexistence of osteoporosis and sarcopenia, is increasingly recognized as a key geriatric syndrome associated with frailty, falls, fractures, disability, and mortality. We aimed to map worldwide publication trends and thematic evolution in osteosarcopenia research.Methods: We performed a bibliometric analysis of Web of Science Core Collection publications from 2001 to October 2025, restricted to English-language open-access articles with a geriatric and musculoskeletal focus. Analyses included annual scientific production, source and country productivity, keyword co occurrence, thematic mapping, thematic evolution, and multiple correspondence analysis (MCA). Results: A total of 1,514 articles were identified, with a marked growth in publications after 2017. The most productive countries were China, the United States, and Japan. Core themes centered on sarcopenia, osteoporosis, bone mineral density, and muscle, while thematic analyses highlighted both clinical epidemiological domains and emerging mechanistic topics. MCA suggested a dual-axis conceptual structure linking clinical foundations with biological mechanisms. Conclusion: Osteosarcopenia research has expanded rapidly since 2017 and evolved into a multidisciplinary domain. These findings support the need to integrate osteosarcopenia into geriatric risk stratification and preventive strategies.