Trakya University

This reply addresses the comments by You et al. regarding our article entitled "The effect of supervised aerobic exercise on adipokine and myokine biomarkers in patients with cancer during systemic chemotherapy." We appreciate their constructive remarks concerning study design, sample composition, and biomarker assessment timing. In this correspondence, we clarify that these aspects were explicitly acknowledged as limitations in our original paper and further elaborate on the methodological and ethical considerations underlying our approach. We agree that future randomized and multicenter studies with standardized biomarker protocols are needed to deepen the understanding of exercise-oncology interactions. Such academic exchanges contribute meaningfully to refining research quality and promoting the integration of exercise as an essential component of supportive cancer care.

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Dear Editors, Dowling-Degos disease(DDD) (OMIM # 615327) is a benign genodermatosis classified as a reticular pigmented dermatosis.1 Lesions typically appear in adulthood between the second and fifth decades, on intertriginous regions, acral areas, genital areas, and the extremities, presenting as symmetric and progressive macular reticular hyperpigmentation with reddish-brown papules and plaques.1, 2 The pathogenesis is linked to variants in specific genes, including Protein O-fucosyltransferase 1-POFUT1 (OMIM* 607491).1 Here, we report a novel likely pathogenic variant in the POFUT1 gene identified in a family with DDD, supported by clinical, histopathological, and genetic findings. A 51-year-old healthy Turkish woman presented with asymptomatic bilateral pigmented lesions in the axillary and inguinal regions, which had developed since her twenties. Dermatological examination revealed reticular hyperpigmented macules and patches on her face, neck, axillae, inframammary folds, inguinal and genital regions, arms, dorsal hands, and pits on bilateral palms (Figure 1a–c). Seborrheic keratosis (SK) appeared on her neck and shoulder in her forties. Histopathological analysis of a hyperpigmented lesion showed elongation of the rete ridges, focal increased pigmentation at the tips of the rete. Based on the clinical and histopathological findings, a diagnosis of DDD was considered. With informed consent, genomic DNA was extracted from her peripheral blood. Whole exome sequencing (Qiagen, Germany), identified a novel heterozygous likely pathogenic POFUT1 variant, NM_015352.2(POFUT1):c.1047dup (p.Phe350LeufsTer34), (PVS1, PM2) in exon 7 that causes a frameshift, leading to a truncated and likely nonfunctional POFUT1 protein, which is related to DDD. The index patient's mother, an 81-year-old woman, developed similar reticular hyperpigmented lesions on her neck, axillae, inframammary folds, inguinal and genital regions, arms, dorsum of the feet consistent with DDD since her twenties and multiple SKs later on her forties (Figure 1d–f). The index patient's 24-year-old son did not have any lesions. With informed consent, genetic testing was conducted for the index patient's father, mother, brother, and son. Sanger sequencing was performed to confirm the presence of the variant in the patient and to assess its segregation among available family members, her son and her mother were heterozygous for NM_015352.2(POFUT1):c.1047dup variant (Figure 2b). Similar lesions were reported in eleven relatives; however, no material was available for genetic testing or segregation analysis (Figure 2a). At the 1-year follow-up of the index case, newly developed hyperpigmented lesions were noted in the perianal region. In addition, both the patient and her mother showed an increase and further darkening of hyperpigmented lesions. The genetic causes of DDD involve variants in multiple genes. Five casual pathogenic variants in keratin 5 (KRT5), POGLUT1, POFUT1, PSENEN, and GLMN have been identified in association with the disease.1-4 In 2013, Li et al. discovered variants in the POFUT1 gene in patients with DDD.1, 3 Functional analysis indicates that POFUT1 plays a role in melanin synthesis, transport and regulation of keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation.1, 3 The novel heterozygous NM_015352.2(POFUT1):c.1047dup variant identified in our patients has not been previously reported in major genetic databases (NCBI, dbSNP, HGMD, ClinVar). Based on ACMG/AMP 2015 guidelines and available data, it has been classified as likely pathogenic, supported by PVS1 (predicted loss-of-function through a frameshift in a gene where haploinsufficiency is a known disease mechanism) and PM2 (absence from large population databases).5 This frameshift variant introduces a premature stop codon, truncating the protein and disrupting its function. Its occurrence in multiple affected family members further supports its pathogenic role. Literature indicates a range of clinical findings in DDD patients linked to various gene variants.1, 3, 4 A recent review by Kumar et al4 expanded the clinical spectrum of DDD, highlighting at least five distinct subphenotypes associated with specific genetic variants. Of particular relevance, POFUT1-associated DDD (subphenotype II) is characterized by acral and genital hyperpigmentation in addition to classical flexural involvement. In line with this evolving definition, index patient and her mother exhibited genital involvement, further supporting the concept that DDD extends beyond flexural sites. However, her son had no lesions associated with DDD, suggesting variability in the onset of clinical manifestations within the same family despite identical variants. In literature POFUT1 variants in DDD are also reported to be linked to distinct clinical manifestations, including multiple SKs, and psoriasis.1, 6 Our patients had multiple SKs. A reported case with a deletion in the POFUT1 gene showed DDD lesions appearing in the fifth decade, multiple SKs appearing in childhood.6 In our cases, DDD lesions appeared in the third decade followed by SKs in the fifth with a duplication in the POFUT1 gene. The identification of the novel pathogenic variant NM_015352.2:c.1047dup (p.Phe350LeufsTer34) expands current knowledge of POFUT1-related pathogenic variants. Further reports may be helpful in elucidating the relationship between genotype and phenotype in DDD. None.

This study focuses on ethical hacking practices aimed at enhancing the security of digital assets, with particular emphasis on red-team operations and associated remediation strategies. It highlights the necessity of proactive security measures in response to evolving cyber threats, emphasising the importance of timely vulnerability remediation. The primary objective of this research is to evaluate ethical hacking practices through a representative red-team engagement based on recognised penetration-testing standards. The experiment was conducted within a controlled personal network and a virtualised environment. The chapter presents the installation and configuration of the required security tools, the execution of red-team activities, and the vulnerability-scanning process carried out using Nessus. In addition, mitigation strategies are proposed for the identified security weaknesses, with particular attention given to vulnerabilities associated with exposed or misconfigured network ports.

Bu çalışmada, Türkçenin esnek söz dizimsel yapısının çeviri motorları -DeepL ve Google Translate- tarafından ne ölçüde kavranabildiği ele alınmaktadır. Özellikle İngilizce gibi daha kuralcı ve yapısal söz dizimi kurgusuna sahip bir dil temel alınarak geliştirilen bu çeviri motorlarının, Türkçeyi işlerken karşılaştıkları zorluklar; ana dili Türkçe olan kullanıcıların doğal üretimleri üzerinden incelenmiştir. Çalışmada kullanılan örneklem, anlam katmanları açısından giderek karmaşıklaşan 20 cümleden oluşmaktadır. Bu cümleler hem anlamsal hem de biçimsel düzeyde analiz edilerek, çeviri motorlarının Türkçeye özgü biçimsel, sözcüksel, söz dizimsel ve anlam parametrelerinde yaptığı hatalar değerlendirilmiştir. Çalışmanın dört ana bölümden oluşan yapısında: İlk bölümde; cümle kavramı ile onun sosyal ve toplumsal ekseni tartışılmış, cümledeki öbeklerin tekrar, devinim ve kullanıcıya bağlı olarak değişen anlamsal karşılıkları üzerinde durulmuştur. İkinci bölümde; makine çevirilerinde Türkçeye özgü söz dizimsel hataların nedenleri; özellikle ögelerin pragmatik etkileri, vurgu, tema-rema ilişkisi çerçevesinde analiz edilmiştir. Üçüncü bölümde; seçilen 20 cümle çeviri motorları tarafından nasıl işlendiği açısından incelenmiş; işlevsel ve biçimsel düzeydeki farklılıklar nitel bir yöntemle ortaya konmuştur. Sonuç bölümünde ise, Türkçede kiplik, zaman algısı, vurgu, metaforik anlam gibi unsurlarda yetersiz kalan makine çevirilerinin; sosyal bağlam ve dilsel kurguyu karşılama konusunda ne ölçüde başarısız olduğu nitel verilerle ortaya konulmuştur.

Bu çalışma, farklı kültürlerdeki kadın kahramanların mit ve halk anlatılarındaki temsil biçimlerini göstergebilimsel bir yöntemle incelemektedir. Mitler ve halk anlatıları, toplumların hafızasını, normatif düzenini ve cinsiyet rollerini sembolik düzeyde kodlayan ideolojik metinler olarak değerlendirilir. Bu bağlamda kadın kahraman figürleri, hem toplumsal düzenin sınırlarını temsil eden hem de bu sınırları ihlal ederek yeniden tanımlayan işlevsel göstergeler olarak öne çıkar. Çalışmada Yunan mitolojisinden Artemis, Türk anlatı geleneğinden Banu Çiçek ve Çin kültüründen Hua Mulan karakterleri ele alınmış; bu figürler, farklı coğrafyalara özgü değerleri yansıtırken ortak semboller ve anlatı kalıpları üzerinden karşılaştırmalı bir çözümlemeye tabi tutulmuştur. Araştırmada Greimas’ın göstergebilimsel çözümleme modeli kullanılmış; eyleyen modeli, göstergebilimsel dörtgen ve anlatı izlencesi aracılığıyla kahramanların işlevleri çözümlenmiştir. Bu yöntem, anlatıların yüzeydeki kurgusal örgüsünü aşarak, onların derin yapılarında yer alan kültürel ve ideolojik kodları açığa çıkarma imkânı sunmuştur. İncelemeler sonucunda üç anlatıda da öyküyü başlatan ve yönlendiren unsurun “baba” figürü olduğu görülmüştür. Baba, kimi zaman destekleyici, kimi zaman engelleyici bir rol üstlenmiş, fakat her durumda kahramanın kimlik inşasında belirleyici bir konumda yer almıştır. Sonuç olarak Artemis, Banu Çiçek ve Hua Mulan; bağımsızlık, toplumsal sorumluluk, aile onuru ve cinsiyet rollerine direnç gibi ortak temaları paylaşmakta, fakat bunları kendi kültürel bağlamlarına özgü biçimlerde yansıtmaktadır. Böylece kadın kahramanlar, hem tarihsel hafızanın taşıyıcıları hem de evrensel ölçekte kadınlık deneyiminin çeşitliliğini temsil eden simgeler olarak değerlendirilmektedir.