Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University

Inflammation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Hodgkin lymphoma. IL-18 is a proinflammatory cytokine. Therefore, we investigated the serum IL-18 levels and their prognostic significance in Hodgkin lymphoma patients.

Serum IL-18 levels were compared between 30 newly diagnosed Hodgkin lymphoma patients and 30 healthy controls. The association between IL-18 levels, clinical findings, prognostic markers, and treatment response was also evaluated in Hodgkin lymphoma patients.

The HL group's IL-18 level (29.28 ± 13.48 pg/mL) was significantly higher than that of the control group (16.69 ± 9.33 pg/mL) (p < 0.001). Significant associations were observed between IL-18 levels and extranodal involvement, B symptom presence, performance status, Ann-Arbor stage, bulky mass presence, bone marrow involvement, and treatment response in Hodgkin lymphoma patients (p = 0.013, p = 0.006, p = 0.009, p = 0.003, p = 0.001, p = 0.02, p = 0.03, respectively). IL-18 levels also positively correlated with LDH and beta-2 microglobulin levels (r = 0.37, p = 0.04, r = 0.5, p = 0.005, respectively).

Serum IL-18 levels are higher in Hodgkin lymphoma patients compared to healthy individuals. IL-18 levels may serve as a prognostic marker and a predictor of treatment response in Hodgkin lymphoma patients.

Child suicide is a significant public health issue that profoundly impacts not only parents but also society. Each country needs to analyse child suicide rates to formulate effective prevention strategies. This study retrospectively analyses suicide deaths among children under 15 years in Türkiye between 2013 and 2023, focusing on demographic characteristics, methods, and reasons for suicide, using data from the Turkish Statistical Institute. A total of 868 child suicides were detected. More than half of the child suicides (51.5 %) were female. Child suicide rates remained significantly lower than those in the general population. The highest suicide rate occurred in 2014, and the lowest in 2020. A significant decreasing trend in child suicides was detected over time, and this decrease was replaced by an increase in 2020, the start of the pandemic. Hanging and firearms were the most common methods across genders, while jumping from height (OR: 2.18, p < 0.001) and chemical poisoning (OR: 6.50, p < 0.001) were more frequent among females. Illness was a more common suicide reason in females (OR: 2.03, p < 0.01), whereas family incompatibility predominated among males. Although child suicides represent a small proportion of overall suicides in Türkiye, gender-specific differences in methods and reasons were observed. The temporal fluctuations, particularly the peak in 2014 and the post-2020 increase, underscore the importance of monitoring child suicide trends and implementing preventive mental health strategies tailored to children.

The placement of a columellar cartilage strut graft (CSG) between the medial cartilage crura is an important step for providing tip projection and support in rhinoplasty. While the CSG is placed by direct observation in open rhinoplasty, it can be placed with different approaches in closed rhinoplasty: by dissection from the mucosal side, delivery technique, marginal or lateral incisions from the edge of the columella, direct skin incisions over the columella, or incisions made through the intraoral mucosa. This study suggests the placement of the CSG through a medial crus footplate crease incision as an alternative approach in closed rhinoplasty. A septal cartilage graft is harvested and fashioned into a 16-22 mm long CSG for later insertion. A 3-mm incision is made at the junction of the nasal floor and the lip, at the level of the lower end of the right medial crural footplate. A minimal dissection is performed between the medial crura to the tip using a blunt periosteal elevator, following which the CSG is inserted. This procedure is easy and provides adequate support for the columella and tip without prolonging the operation time. The scar is hidden in the natural fold and heals very well.