Background: FINDRISC is a non-invasive, easy-to-use, and free screening tool developed to estimate the 10-year risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether FINDRISC can also predict liver fibrosis risk, as measured by the fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) in individuals without a diagnosis of T2DM. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included 1329 adults aged ≥18 years without prior T2DM, based on records from a Family Health Center in Turkey. The FINDRISC results used in T2DM screening were analyzed retrospectively from patient records. FINDRISC scores were calculated from questionnaire results, and FIB-4 was derived from laboratory data (age, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, platelet count). Chi-square, correlation, and regression analyses were performed, adjusting for gender, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, and marital status. Results: Mean FINDRISC scores and FIB-4 were 11.88 ± 6.22 and 1.01 ± 0.80, respectively. Higher FINDRISC categories were associated with older age, female sex, non-smoking, physical inactivity, and obesity. A moderate positive correlation was observed between FINDRISC and FIB-4 (rho = 0.427, P < 0.001). In multivariable regression, FINDRISC emerged as an independent predictor of FIB-4 (β = 0.250, P < 0.001), increasing model variance explained from 6.4% to 12.3%. Conclusion: FINDRISC, beyond its established role in T2DM risk stratification, may serve as a dual, non-invasive, and free screening tool to identify individuals at increased risk of liver fibrosis. Thanks to its simplicity and self-administered nature, individuals can easily complete the questionnaire at home, enabling early diagnosis of both T2DM and liver fibrosis risk.

Background/Objectives: Identifying reliable predictors of all-cause mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients undergoing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) remains clinically important to decide the route of nutrition. This study aimed to assess the prognostic significance of hepatic biomarkers, particularly the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in the ICUs of a tertiary care university hospital. Adult patients who underwent PEG between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2024 were included. Pre-procedural demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were retrieved from electronic medical records. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality within three years of PEG placement. Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards regression to identify independent predictors. Results: Older age, elevated FIB-4, total and direct bilirubin, gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), ferritin, c-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin, INR, and prothrombin (PT) levels, and reduced calcium, platelet count, and albumin were significantly associated with all-cause mortality (p < 0.05). ROC analysis identified FIB-4, GGT, LDH, and albumin as significant predictors of mortality. Kaplan–Meier analysis confirmed that patients with higher FIB-4, GGT, and LDH, and lower albumin levels, had significantly shorter survival. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed that while the FIB-4 score was a significant predictor of mortality in the univariate model, it lost its independent prognostic value when adjusted for confounders. Instead, lower albumin, elevated CRP, and increased GGT emerged as the independent risk factors for mortality. Conclusions: Pre-procedural albumin, CRP, and GGT levels are strong independent prognostic indicators of all-cause mortality in ICU patients undergoing PEG. While FIB-4 serves as a practical initial screening tool, adverse outcomes might be primarily driven by systemic inflammation and nutritional depletion rather than isolated hepatic fibrosis.

Objective : To evaluate short‐term treatment outcomes and treatment burden in patients with presacral pilonidal sinus disease managed with crystallised phenol in a single‐centre clinical series, with particular emphasis on the relationship between pit burden and session requirement. Methods : Consecutive patients treated with crystallised phenol were analysed ( n = 40). Demographic and clinical characteristics, symptom duration, pit count, number of phenol sessions (2 vs. 3), inter‐session intervals, and total treatment duration were recorded. All patients completed scheduled clinical reassessment at 5 weeks and 3 months. Treatment‐related abscess and recurrence during follow‐up were documented. Continuous variables are presented as mean ± standard deviation and median (minimum–maximum). Comparisons between the two‐session and three‐session groups were performed with the Mann–Whitney U test for continuous variables and Fisher's exact test for categorical variables. Results : The cohort was predominantly male (75%), with a mean age of 29.23 ± 9.85 years and a mean body mass index of 25.81 ± 3.85 kg/m ² ; 62.5% were smokers. Symptom duration was 6.80 ± 7.20 months, and mean pit count was 1.90 ± 0.93. Two sessions were sufficient in 42.5% (17/40), whereas 57.5% (23/40) required three sessions. The interval between the first and second sessions was 11.32 ± 3.30 days, and the interval between the second and third sessions was 11.96 ± 3.23 days in patients who underwent three sessions; overall treatment duration was 18.2 ± 7.58 days. No patient was lost to follow‐up. Pit burden was the strongest determinant of requiring a third session: pit count was significantly higher in the three‐session group than in the two‐session group (2.39 ± 0.89 vs. 1.24 ± 0.44, p < 0.001), and all patients with ≥ 3 pits required three sessions. Smoking status ( p = 1.000) and body mass index (BMI) ( p = 0.208) were not associated with session requirement. Treatment‐related abscess developed in 12.5% (5/40), and recurrence during the 3‐month follow‐up was observed in 12.5% (5/40); notably, all such events occurred in the three‐session group (0/17 vs. 5/23, p = 0.061 for both comparisons). Conclusion : In this single‐centre series, crystallised phenol provided acceptable short‐term outcomes and a relatively short treatment course in presacral pilonidal sinus disease. Pit count emerged as the main determinant of requiring a third session, whereas smoking status and BMI were not associated with session requirement. Larger studies with longer follow‐up are needed to clarify predictors of recurrence and to determine whether higher session requirements simply reflect disease complexity or also influence outcome.

Introduction: Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs), also referred to as inborn errors of immunity, are a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders associated with recurrent infections, immune dysregulation, and increased morbidity and mortality when diagnosis is delayed. Primary care physicians (PCPs) play a critical role in early recognition; however, data on PCPs’ knowledge and preparedness regarding PID remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate PCPs’ knowledge, clinical approaches, and preparedness regarding PIDs across Türkiye. Methods: This nationwide, cross-sectional study included 385 PCPs – general practitioners (GPs), family medicine residents (FMRs), and family medicine specialists (FMSs) – working in Family Health Centers in Türkiye. Participants completed a structured online questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics, educational background, clinical experience, self-perceived PID knowledge, and performance on 15 PID-related multiple-choice questions based on international guidelines. Total knowledge scores (range: 0–15) were calculated. Correct response rates for individual items and total scores were compared across professional groups and according to educational and clinical variables. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors independently associated with higher knowledge scores. Results: The mean total knowledge score was 9.09 ± 2.46 (range 0–15). FMSs demonstrated significantly higher total scores than FMRs and GPs (GPs 8.67 ± 2.47; FMRs 8.82 ± 2.63; FMSs 9.83 ± 2.03; p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, being an FMS was independently associated with scoring above the mean (OR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.26–3.23; p = 0.004). Regular participation in general medical educational activities was associated with significantly higher total scores (9.74 ± 2.31 vs. 8.23 ± 2.38; p < 0.001). PCPs who participated in PID-related educational activities within the past 5 years were also associated with higher total scores (9.43 ± 2.58 vs. 8.87 ± 2.47; p = 0.027). PCPs who reported requesting immunoglobulin testing or referring patients with recurrent lower respiratory tract infections achieved significantly higher total scores (9.18 ± 2.43 vs. 7.52 ± 2.42; p = 0.001). PCPs who self-perceived their PID knowledge as moderate or good had substantially higher total knowledge scores compared to those who self-perceived their knowledge as low (low: 8.36 ± 2.55; moderate: 9.41 ± 2.26; good: 10.09 ± 2.50; p < 0.001). Conclusion: PID-related knowledge scores among PCPs differed across professional groups, with GPs demonstrating lower scores. Higher knowledge scores were significantly associated with being an FMS and with participation in regular general medical education and past 5-year PID-related education. Strengthening targeted educational strategies, particularly for GPs in primary care settings, may improve early recognition and management of PIDs.