Although qualitative research is vital to healthcare, it remains underused in medical academia.This study therefore aims to examine in depth the perceptions of medical faculty academics without prior experience in conducting qualitative research, the challenges they face, and the potential contributions of these methods to health research. The research is based on a descriptive qualitative study conducted with twelve faculty members specialising in various medical disciplines in three different provinces in Türkiye. Participants were selected using a combination of purposive and snowball sampling methods to ensure a diverse and relevant sample. Face-to-face and Zoom interviews were carried out using structured interview techniques, and data collection continued until data saturation was achieved. The interview data were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using the thematic analysis method. The study followed the “Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research” (COREQ) checklist to ensure comprehensive reporting of the qualitative research process. Academics acknowledge the significant value of qualitative research in the field of health; however, they are unable to use these methods effectively due to problems such as a lack of practical experience, limited institutional support, and inadequate training programs.Participants also pointed out that they required targeted mentoring and hands-on training to address these issues. Some participants expressed concerns about the time-intensive nature of qualitative studies, which often conflicts with their existing professional responsibilities. Others emphasised the lack of recognition and incentives for qualitative research within institutional policies, further discouraging engagement. Despite these barriers, several participants also highlighted the complementary nature of qualitative and quantitative methods, particularly in addressing complex health problems. Integrating qualitative methodologies into medical faculties can support a deeper understanding of complex health problems. Our findings highlight the need for enhanced hands-on training and stronger institutional support to enable inexperienced academics to engage more effectively with qualitative research.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of vitamin D levels on balance and fall risk on hemiplegic cases. Methods: In our descriptive study, a total of 152 patients who applied to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Polyclinic with the diagnosis of Hemiplegia and were hospitalized in Maçka Ömer Burhanoğlu Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital between July 2020 and January 2021 were included. Results: A total of the 152 patients enrolled in the study, 57 were women (37.5%) and 95 were men (62.5%). The average age of the patients was 62.0± 12.7. The number of patients enrolled in the study was 19 (12.5%), 98 (64.5%), and 35 (23.0%). The number of patients with vitamin D Levels 20 ng/ml was 32 (21.0%). Again, the vitamin D values measured on the last day of discharge of patients enrolled in the study were <12 ng/ml 46 (31.3%). In the study, the correlation between vitamin D levels during discharge and Berg Balance Scale score and İtaki Fall Risk Scale score was examined.; There is no difference between vitamin D level and Berg Balance Scale score at positive weak level (r=0.184, p<0.05) and İtaki Fall Risk Scale. (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that vitamin D levels had positive effects on balance and decreased risk of falls in hemiplegia patients with low vitamin D levels.

Gastrointestinal tract cancers account for approximately one-third of cancer-related deaths. Early diagnosis and effective treatment are the most important ways to prevent cancer-related morbidity and mortality. ROMO1 has been shown to play an important role in many types of cancer. However, the biological function of ROMO1 is still poorly understood in gastrointestinal system cancers. The aim of this study is to reveal the expression change and oncogenic role of ROMO in gastrointestinal system cancers. Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), UALCAN, TIMER, GeneMANIA, TISIDB, and STRING were applied to assess the biological function of ROMO1 in gastrointestinal cancers (colon adenocarcinoma (COAD), esophageal carcinoma (ESCA), liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC), pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD), and stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD)). ROMO1 is significantly increased in COAD, ESCA, LUHC, and PAAD, and the overexpression of ROMO1 is associated with clinicopathological features. In addition, ROMO1 has been found to be closely associated with tumor-infiltrating immune cells in gastrointestinal cancers. ROMO1 is closely related to the inner mitochondrial membrane proteins (TIMM) family. The study revealed that ROMO1 is of significant clinical importance for gastrointestinal cancers and may have potential clinical utility in treatment and prognosis. Functional tests on cell lines derived from these particular gastrointestinal cancers can also be performed in vitro to evaluate the impact of the ROMO1 gene and other factors, like potential drugs, on the expression of these genes and the development and progression of the cancer.

BackgroundThe second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) has been proposed as a marker of the prenatal hormonal environment, while right–left asymmetry is considered an indicator of developmental instability. In individuals exposed to the increased metabolic burden of obesity, the role of these early developmental markers in determining the presence of insulin resistance (IR) remains insufficiently understood. The aim of this study was to examine the associations of right and left 2D:4D ratios and their bilateral asymmetries with IR in women with obesity.MethodsThis single-center cross-sectional study included women aged ≥18 years with a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2. The lengths of the second and fourth digits were measured, and right and left 2D:4D ratios as well as their bilateral asymmetries were calculated. IR was defined using the Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), with values ≥2.5 considered indicative of IR. Sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, body fat percentage, and glycemic status were included as covariates in multivariable analyses.ResultsAmong 124 women, the right 2D:4D was not associated with IR, whereas the left 2D:4D remained independently associated with IR after multivariable adjustment (OR=1.13 [1.02–1.26]). Absolute bilateral 2D:4D asymmetry was a strong independent predictor of IR (OR=1.26 [1.11–1.44]). In direction-specific piecewise regression analyses, leftward asymmetry was more strongly associated with IR (OR=1.50 [1.19–1.90]) than rightward asymmetry (OR=1.16 [1.02–1.33]).ConclusionBilateral 2D:4D asymmetry, especially leftward asymmetry, may capture developmental instability contributing to IR among women with obesity.

Background: Metabolic syndrome represents a cluster of interrelated cardiometabolic abnormalities associated with coronary artery disease. However, conventional definitions evaluate metabolic syndrome categorically and may not adequately reflect its cumulative severity. The primary objective of this study was to assess whether the metabolic syndrome severity Z-score (MetS-Sz) was independently associated with coronary artery disease complexity, as quantified by the SYNTAX score, in patients with chronic coronary syndrome. Methods: This single-center retrospective cross-sectional study included 156 patients with chronic coronary syndrome who underwent coronary angiography. MetS-Sz was calculated using age-, sex-, race-, and body mass index-based metabolic variables, whereas coronary lesion complexity was assessed using the SYNTAX score. Participants were categorized into lower (MetS-Sz < 0) and higher (MetS-Sz ≥ 0) MetS-Sz groups, corresponding to values below and at or above the reference population mean. Clinical, anthropometric, and biochemical characteristics were compared between groups. Correlation analysis and multiple linear regression were performed to evaluate the association between MetS-Sz and the SYNTAX score. Results: Of the 156 participants, 123 (78.8%) were men and 33 (21.2%) were women. Patients in the higher MetS-Sz group had significantly higher body mass index, triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, diastolic blood pressure, and SYNTAX scores and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than those in the lower MetS-Sz group (all p < 0.05). MetS-Sz was positively correlated with the SYNTAX score ( r _s = 0.675, p < 0.001). The multiple linear regression model was statistically significant ( F = 22.84, p < 0.001) and explained 51.9% of the variance in the SYNTAX score (R ² = 0.519). MetS-Sz, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, body mass index, triglyceride level, and smoking status were independently associated with the SYNTAX score, whereas diabetes and diastolic blood pressure were not significantly associated with it. Conclusions: Higher MetS-Sz was independently associated with greater coronary artery disease complexity in patients with chronic coronary syndrome. These findings suggest that assessment of cumulative metabolic burden using MetS-Sz may complement conventional cardiovascular risk evaluation. Prospective, multicenter studies are required to confirm its potential role in coronary risk stratification.