Browsing by Author "Alkan, Ali"

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Investigation of Antibacterial Prescribing Situations in Dentistry Faculties and Other Dental Health Institutions
(2017) Kirmizi, N. Ipek; Aydin, Mehtap; Koyuncuoglu, Cenker Z.; Aksoy, Mesil; Kadi, Esma; Alkan, Ali; Akici, Ahmet; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4044-9366; HLX-0937-2023
Objective: The relationship between the institutions where dentists work and their prescribing performance is not known. This study aimed to investigate antibacterial prescribing practices of dentists working in different healthcare institutions. Material and Method: Dentists' antibacterial-containing prescriptions were analyzed by using Prescription Information System (PIS) of Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency. Distribution of antibacterial-containing prescriptions that were prescribed by dentists in universities and other healthcare institutions, starting from January 2013 for a total of 32 months was examined in terms of diagnosis and time periods. Results: It was found that very few number of antibacterials (n=9,952) were prescribed in dentistry faculties (DF) while most of them (n=13,069,333) were prescribed in other dental health institutions (DHI). In both DF and DHI, the most common prescribed antibacterial group was "beta lactam antibacterials-penicillins" (93.7% and 71.3%, respectively) and as an antibacterial agent it was "amoxicillin + enzyme inhibitors" (69.7% and 57.9%, respectively). These were followed by amoxicillin (21.9%) and clindamycin (1.5%) in DF; spiramycin (10.4%) and amoxicillin (9.2%) in DHI. The most frequently prescribed diagnoses were "embedded teeth" and "periapical abscesses-without sinus" in DF and DHI, respectively. Conclusion: This study was the first to reveal similar and different aspects of antibacterial prescribing behaviors between the DF and DHI dentists in Turkey. Although preference of the most common drug was similar, detailed examinations showed variations in antibacterial prescribing behaviors of dentists practicing in universities and other institutions.
Prognostic factors for survival in patients with metastatic malign melanoma treated with ipilimumab: Turkish Oncology Group study
(2019) Urun, Yuksel; Yasar, H. Arzu; Turna, Hande; Esin, Ece; Sedef, A. Murat; Alkan, Ali; Oksuzoglu, Berna; Ozdemir, Nuriye; Sendur, M. A. Nahit; Sezer, Ahmet; Kilickap, Saadettin; Utkan, Gungor; Akman, Tulay; Akbulut, Hakan; Celik, Ismail; Abali, Huseyin; 30400750
Purpose Studies in the last decade show survival improvement with checkpoint blocker therapy in patients with metastatic malign melanoma. Our purpose was to define the efficacy of ipilimumab according to the patient's baseline characteristics including absolute lymphocytes count. Methods We collected the data of 97 patients with advanced malign melanoma treated with ipilimumab (3 mg/kg, q3w) retrospectively. Log-rank test was used to analyze the univariate effects of patient's characteristics (age, gender, metastatic sites, ECOG PS, type of melanoma, lactic dehydrogenase levels, anemia, lymphocytes (L), neutrophils (N), N/L ratio), c-kit and BRAF status. Survival analyses were estimated with Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression analysis was used to assess the possible factors identified with log-rank test. Results The median age was 58, and 58% were male and 90% of patients had at least one prior systemic therapy. The median survival was 9.7 months for all patients; and the 12- and 24-month survival rates were 43% and 19%, respectively. Absolute lymphocytes count, lactic dehydrogenase level, bone metastasis, the number of metastatic sites, and RECIST response were significantly related to survival. After Cox regression analysis, RECIST response (complete or partial response), absolute lymphocytes count (more than 1500/mm(3)) and the number of metastatic sites (less than three sites) remained as significant independent prognostic factors for longer survival. Conclusion Ipilimumab improved survival of patients with metastatic malign melanoma. However, patients with fewer metastatic sites and higher absolute lymphocytes count have a significantly better benefit. To determine if these markers could be used to direct patient therapy, further validation analysis is needed.
Prognostic factors for survival in patients with mucosal and ocular melanoma treated with ipilimumab: Turkish Oncology Group study
(2020) Yasar, H. Arzu; Turna, Hande; Esin, Ece; Sedef, A. Murat; Alkan, Ali; Oksuzoglu, Berna; Ozdemir, Nuriye; Sendur, M. A. Nahit; Sezer, Ahmet; Kilickap, Saadettin; Utkan, Gungor; Akbulut, Hakan; Celik, Ismail; Abali, Huseyin; Urun, Yuksel; 0000-0002-6445-1439; 30924738; AAD-2667-2020
Objective To evaluate prognostic factors associated with the use of ipilimumab in patients with mucosal and uveal melanoma. Methods In this multicenter, retrospective study, 31 patients with uveal and mucosal melanoma diagnosed between 2010 and 2017 were enrolled. Patients' characteristics, metastatic disease sites, treatment before ipilimumab therapy, performance status, hemoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase levels, B-RAF and c-kit mutation status, toxicity, and survival data were assessed for patients with mucosal and uveal melanoma. SPSS version 17 was used for statistical analysis. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. The log-rank test was used for univariate analyses. The Cox regression analysis was used to test the association between multivariate variables and survival. The p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Twenty patients had uveal and eleven patients had mucosal melanoma. The median overall survival was seven months (95% confidence interval: 1.1-12.7). In univariate analysis, while bone metastasis, anemia, high lactate dehydrogenase level, and more metastatic sites were associated with lower overall survival, better treatment response and administration of ipilimumab in first or second lines were associated with favorable overall survival. In multivariate analysis, only treatment response status and administration of ipilimumab in first or second lines were found to be significant as independent prognostic factors for survival. Conclusion Ipilimumab therapy may be associated with increased survival, but this retrospective small N study makes that hard to definitely conclude.