Guven Medical and Health Sciences
Authors: Atila Korkmaz
Benign anorectal diseases constitute a highly prevalent group of disorders; however, their exact prevalence cannot be fully determined due to patients’ hesitation in expressing their complaints. Consequently, the diagnosis and treatment of benign anorectal diseases are delayed, negatively impacting patients’ quality of life and workforce productivity. Benign lesions of this region include disorders such as hemorrhoids, anal fissure, perianal abscesses, fistulas, rectal prolapse, and anal incontinence. Additionally, conditions like condylomas, rectovaginal fistulas, and hidradenitis suppurativa are encountered more rarely. To achieve an accurate diagnosis, thorough questioning of symptoms, physical examination of the region, and careful evaluation of ancillary laboratory tests are essential. In this review, the general symptoms and examination findings of benign anorectal diseases encountered in daily clinical practice are primarily addressed, and the specific pathologies are evaluated individually.
DOI: 10.62351/gmhs.2026.0016
Authors: Yaşar Bayındır
The rapid aging of the global population renders age-related chronic diseases and acute infectious conditions into a major global public health priority. The aging process is characterized by changes, termed immunosenescence, which weaken both the innate and adaptive immune systems. A decline in hematopoietic stem cell production, deterioration in T and B lymphocyte functions, and thymic involution are among the fundamental cellular mechanisms of this process. This immunological decline, when combined with malnutrition and chronic comorbidities, significantly increases the risk of infections, malignancies, and autoimmune diseases in older adults. In the geriatric population, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, intra-abdominal infections, and sepsis pose serious challenges in diagnosis and treatment due to both their high incidence and atypical clinical courses. Instead of classic localized findings, systemic and non-specific symptoms such as delirium, falls, and functional loss frequently come to the fore. This review addresses the changes occurring in the immune system in advanced age, the most common infectious clinical syndromes and their management in the geriatric population, clinical evaluation steps in cases of suspected immunodeficiency, and preventive medical approaches to support healthy aging.
DOI: 10.62351/gmhs.2026.0017
Authors: Hacer Ağar, Gamze Güney Eskiler
Breast cancer is a heterogeneous type of cancer that remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women. Despite advances in early diagnosis and targeted treatment approaches in clinical practice today, metastasis significantly affects the prognosis of cancer patients. In this context, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), which are associated with metastasis and the aggressive nature of the tumor, are attracting attention for early diagnosis and treatment response evaluation via liquid biopsy-based analyses. CTCs are cells that separate from primary tumor tissue and have the potential to localize in different tissues via the bloodstream. Studies conducted in recent years have revealed the role of CTCs as a driving force behind metastasis, and research on their clinical significance in different cancer types, particularly breast cancer, has gained momentum. In this context, this review evaluates the biology of CTCs and their prognostic and predictive roles as an innovative biomarker in breast cancer. Furthermore, the limitations and future perspectives of CTCs in clinical use are discussed.
DOI: 10.62351/gmhs.2026.0018
Authors: Murtaza Emre Durakoğlugil
With the aging population, there is a rising incidence of both cardiovascular diseases and the need for surgical operations in society. Especially in patients receiving dual antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy for various reasons within the last year, inappropriate discontinuation of these drugs increases thrombotic complications, while failure to manage the treatment prior to the procedure significantly increases the risk of bleeding. This article briefly discusses how to manage anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy in patients scheduled for non-cardiac surgery.
DOI: 10.62351/gmhs.2026.0019
