Üsküdar Üniversitesi hosted the international symposium on “Metabolic and Inflammatory Diseases: Pathophysiology and Treatment,” organized by its Metabolic and Inflammatory Diseases Application and Research Center. The symposium brought together authoritative figures from around the globe, with prominent names from South Korea, Australia, Germany, Spain, and many other countries participating. Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, who also attended the program, emphasized their pride in establishing Turkey's first personalized treatment, pharmacogenetics, and neuromodulation laboratory. As part of the symposium, NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi, Üsküdar Üniversitesi's application and scientific partner, was also visited. During the visit, information was provided regarding the hospital's treatment options, technological capabilities, and general services.
Participation in the event held at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Health Campus Ibn Sina Conference Hall was high.
The opening speeches of the symposium were delivered by Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Dean of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Medicine Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur, and Director of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Metabolic and Inflammatory Diseases Research Center Prof. Dr. Nesrin Kartal Özer.
In his speech, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that Üsküdar Üniversitesi, established 13 years ago, adopted the synthesis of health, behavioral neuroscience, and computer science as an R&D focal point. Emphasizing that they continue education with 25 thousand students, Tarhan said the following:
Tarhan: “We established Turkey’s first personalized treatment, pharmacogenetics, and neuromodulation laboratory”
“There are 6 faculties, including medicine and dentistry. It has been recognized as a center of excellence in neuroscience by UNESCO TWAS, and we admit postdoctoral students in this field. In this area, we established Turkey’s first ‘personalized treatment, pharmacogenetics, and neuromodulation laboratories.’ It became Turkey’s first and Europe’s second brain hospital.”
Evaluating in the context of stress and neuroinflammation, Tarhan noted that neuropeptides are activated from sensory nerves in response to psychological stress or specific physical stressors. Tarhan added:
“Specifically, we know that an inflammatory process occurs through the release of Substance P (SP) or other inflammatory mediators and the activation of mast cells or other inflammatory cells. Substance P (SP) is a type of neuropeptide. It functions as a neurotransmitter and a neuromodulator. It has been associated with mood, anxiety, learning mood disorders, anxiety, stress, reinforcement, neurogenesis, synaptic growth and dendritic branching, respiratory rhythm, neurotoxicity, and the regulation of pain and nociception.
Chronic stress suppresses the immune system…
Central neuropeptides, especially corticosteroid-releasing factor (CRF) and possibly SP, initiate a systemic stress response through the release of stress via the activation of neuroendocrinological, neuroimmunological pathways such as the sympathetic nervous system, the hypothalamus-pituitary axis, and the renin-angiotensin system. While acute stress activates the immune system, chronic stress suppresses it. Chronic stress is the enemy of the immune system. Hormones, catecholamines, corticosteroids, growth hormone, glucagons, and renin. These, along with stress-induced cytokines, initiate the acute phase response (APR) and the induction of acute phase proteins, which are important mediators of inflammation,” he said.
Tarhan also stated that the central nervous system can induce APR, likely through macrophage activation and cytokine release, and added:
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “We are ready for international projects”
“An increase in lipids with stress can also be a factor in macrophage activation. Stress can initiate or inhibit the brain's inflammatory process. The inflammatory response is embedded in the subsequent psychological stress response. Furthermore, the same neuropeptides, namely CRF and possibly SP, mediate both stress and inflammation. Cytokines stimulated by stress or inflammatory response are likely to use similar somatosensory pathways to signal the brain. On the other hand, stimulation of the vagus system means parasympathetic activation. A person can slow down the inflammatory response through parasympathetic stimulation via relaxation techniques or neuromodulation therapies. If a project is undertaken, it may be possible to prevent cytokines and neuroinflammation with neuromodulation therapies. This is drawing attention as a new field. I would like to state that we are ready for international projects on these and similar topics.” he concluded.
4 different sessions were held
The opening session of the symposium was chaired by Prof. Dr. Nesrin Kartal Özer, Director of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Metabolic and Inflammatory Diseases Research Center. Prof. Christos S. Mantzoros from Harvard Medical School, United States, gave a presentation.
The second session was chaired by Üsküdar Üniversitesi Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Muhsin Konuk. Prof. Antonio Cuadrado from Madrid Autonomous University, Spain, Prof. Alexander Bartelt from Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Germany, and Prof. Adil Mardinoğlu from Royal Institute of Technology, London, United Kingdom, delivered their presentations.
The third session was chaired by Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur, Dean of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Medicine.
Prof. Yuji Naito from Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan, Prof. Young-Joon Surh from Seoul National University, South Korea, and Lecturer Dr. Ahmet Erdi Sözen from Marmara University delivered their presentations at the session.
The last session was chaired by Lecturer Dr. Tuğçe Demirel Yalçıner from Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Medicine and Prof. Dr. Nilgün Tekkeşin from Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Seyed Mohammad Miri from Medipol University, Bengü Çetinkaya from Marmara University, Gizem Damla Yalçın from Middle East Technical University, Anna Migni from Perugia University, Italy, Üsküdar Üniversitesi Master's student Berranur Sert, and Naz Mina Mert from Kadir Has University delivered their presentations.
NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi visited
As part of the symposium, a visit was made to Üsküdar Üniversitesi NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi. During the visit, information was shared about the inpatient service, the artificial intelligence-supported 3 Tesla MRI device and scans in the radiology department, and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy at the neuromodulation center. Guests' questions were answered, and health services were introduced.
During the visit, accompanied by Dr. Mahmoud Bhais from NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi International Patient Unit, General Coordinator of Psychiatry Services Lecturer Dr. Semra Baripoğlu, and Corporate Communications Manager Simge Yıldırım Yuğra, information was provided regarding the hospital's treatment options, technological capabilities, and general services.
Prof. Alexander Bartelt: “The care and attention in your hospital are excellent”
Prof. Alexander Bartelt from Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Germany, who participated in the visit, noted that the services of NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi are excellent. Dr. Bartelt, emphasizing that hospitals in Munich operate in very old buildings and are not adequate in terms of hospitality services, said: “Patient rooms are like hotel rooms, and you have guaranteed patient safety with security measures on the patient floors. The lobby, reception, and care for patients and their relatives in your hospital are excellent, but unfortunately, this understanding is often lacking in the institutions where I work due to my profession.”
Prof. Yuji Naito: “It is very important for patients and medical staff to be together”
Prof. Yuji Naito from Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan, who spoke about the importance of medical staff and patients being together in hospitals, said: “It is especially important for patients and medical staff to be together, and for specialists to be easily accessible. In hospitals in Tokyo, medical staff and patients are completely separate, and there is little contact. This negatively affects treatment.”
Prof. Antonio Cuadrado: “This comfort provided to the specialist during surgery increases the success rate”
Prof. Antonio Cuadrado from Madrid Autonomous University, Spain, made evaluations regarding the 3 Tesla MRI located in the radiology unit of NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi. Cuadrado said: “The use of artificial intelligence in MRI is very impressive. This comfort provided to the specialist during surgery increases the surgical success rate. Especially in brain surgery, the ability to easily locate the target point is remarkable.”