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[LANGUAGE= \"English\"] INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the thalassemia disease group in Balikesir Province, Turkey.METHODS: Blood samples provided by 11,558 individuals (5675 males and 5883 females) aged 3-90 years between May 15, 2018 and September 30, 2019 for laboratory analysis at the Balikesir Provincial Public Health Laboratory were included in the study. Hemoglobin chain analyses were carried out using the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The data obtained were analyzed retrospectively.RESULTS: The level of hemoglobin (Hb) A2 was >3.5% in 591 (5.11%) of the total study group and these individuals were identified as β-thalassemia carriers. The prevalence of the β-thalassemia trait was 5.76% in females and 4.44% in males. A total of 792 cases (446 female and 346 male) had a result outside the normal range: 74.6% were identified as thalassemia carriers, 9.4% had isolated low Hb A2, 12.3% had isolated Hb F elevation, and 3.8% had total abnormal hemoglobin values.DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The prevalence of β-thalassemia trait (5.11%) in the study group was extrapolated for the general population of Balikesir (2019 population: 1,228.620 ) and it was estimated that there were 62,782 potential carriers in the province.

BackgroundTo evaluate the singlet oxygen (1O2) production of oxygen assisted %0.1 riboflavin and ultraviolet-A (UVA) crosslinking therapy (with and without oxygen assistance), in combination with standard, accelerated and hyper-accelerated procedures via an important quantitive marker of 1O2 which is the photo-oxidation of 1,3 diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF).Methods%0.1 riboflavin-containing wells were irradiated with UVA light (365-nm wavelength) with or without 2-4-6-8 L/min oxygen flow assistance. Measurements of decrease in absorbance of DPBF were made in 30 mW (hyper-accelerated), 9 mW (accelerated), and 3 mW UV-A (standard) applications, and with additional 2-4-6-8 L/min oxygen flow in 30 mW and 2 L/min oxygen flow in 9 mW. A total of 8 different UV-A irradiance with and without oxygen supplementation groups were formed.Results2 L/min oxygen assisted accelerated UV-A irradiance group has shown a greater decrease in DPBF absorbance compared to Dresden protocol. (p = 0.014) Also, Dresden protocol has shown a greater decrease in DPBF compared to all groups except accelerated crosslinking with 2 L/min oxygen. (p < 0.001) Oxygen assisted hyper-accelerated crosslinking groups were showed greater reduction in DPBF absorbance compared to standard crosslinking without oxygen groups. (p < 0.001).ConclusionOxygen supplementation may increase the singlet oxygen generation to the similar levels of Dresden Protocol’s in accelerated group. Also, more singlet oxygen generation with oxygen supplementation compared to standard UV-A application might be considered to be promising in terms of shortening the crosslinking therapy.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) still leads to significant postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and pain. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of dexamethasone or pheniramine hydrogen maleate, either alone or combined, in reducing the stress response and symptoms after LC. Patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups, each consisting of 20 patients: control, dexamethasone (8 mg/2 mL), pheniramine hydrogen maleate (45.5 mg/2 mL), and the combined group. The drugs were given before anesthesia induction. C-reactive protein levels (CRP) and visual analog scale (VAS) scores were significantly less in the dexamethasone (P = .003) and combined groups (P < .001). Both dexamethasone (P < .001) and pheniramine hydrogen maleate (P = .005) significantly reduced PONV. Dexamethasone significantly reduced postoperative pain and the systemic acute-phase response, whereas these effects were only partially attained with pheniramine hydrogen maleate. Both dexamethasone and pheniramine hydrogen maleate significantly reduced PONV. An additive effect seemed to occur if these drugs were used in combination.

We investigated whether serum monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) level predicted coronary atherosclerotic burden in patients with stable coronary artery disease and its relationship with coronary collateral grade. We prospectively included 196 patients (103 males, 93 females; mean age 59 ± 11 years) who underwent coronary angiography for stable angina pectoris. Serum MCP-1 levels were determined before coronary angiography. Coronary atherosclerotic burden was measured by the Gensini score, and coronary collateral development was assessed by the Rentrop classification. The patients were divided into four groups: those with normal coronary arteries (NCA); those with coronary lesions of <70% luminal obstruction; and those with coronary lesions of ≥ 70% luminal obstruction accompanied by a good or poor collateral grade. The mean serum MCP-1 level was higher in patients with coronary lesions compared to patients with NCA (129 ± 130 vs. 102 ± 55 pg/ml, p=0.048). Although there were no significant differences in the MCP-1 levels of patients with NCA, with <70% luminal obstruction, and those with a significant luminal obstruction and a poor collateral grade, patients with significant luminal obstruction and a good collateral grade had significantly higher MCP-1 levels compared to the remaining groups (p=0.016). However, in multivariate regression analysis, MCP-1 level was not independently associated with the Gensini score. Our findings suggest that serum MCP-1 level is higher in patients with coronary atherosclerosis, without a significant and independent association with coronary atherosclerotic burden. Significantly increased serum MCP-1 levels in patients with a good collateral grade may be an interesting issue of investigation.

Objective: The most commonly reported side effects of methylphenidate, which is generally used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, are loss of appetite, decrease of body weight and initial growth retardation. Ghrelin, which is dominantly released by the stomach, promotes feeding, decreases energy expenditure and locomotor activity, enhances weight gain and fat mass deposition and also effects gastrointestinal motility. Ghrelin may be related to the metabolic and anorexigenic effects of methylphenidate in children. The aim of this study was to investigate methylphenidate’s effect on fasting serum active ghrelin levels in prepubertal children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. We expected to find a difference between pre- and post-treatment ghrelin levels with 18 mg/day methylphenidate administered via an osmotic-controlled release oral delivery system in prepubertal boys. Methods: Thirty-three boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder between the ages of 6-12 were recruited for this investigation. In addition to ghrelin levels, other laboratory findings, body mass index, body mass index percentiles, body weight-height measures and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder symptom severity findings were analyzed before and after the 60 days of methylphenidate treatment. Results: We could not find a significant alteration in serum active ghrelin levels with methylphenidate. Methylphenidate improved core inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with no significant alteration in height, body weight and body mass index, without serious side effects. Conclusion: This is the first study which directly aims to determine methylphenidate’s effect on serum active ghrelin levels. Further research with higher methylphenidate doses and/or other stimulants such as atomoxetine and amphetamine should be done as ghrelin is also associated with obesity, alcohol and drug addiction and reward system pathologies, which are also closely related to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Dikkat eksikliği hiperaktivite bozukluğu olan erkek çocuklarında uzun etkili metilfenidatın ghrelin düzeylerine olan etkisi: Açık uçlu bir çalışma Amaç: Dikkat eksikliği hiperaktivite bozukluğu için sıklıkla kullanılan metilfenidatın en sık görülen yan etkileri iştah kaybı, vücut ağırlığında azalma ve başlangıçta olan büyüme geriliğidir. Baskın olarak mideden salınan ghrelin beslenme davranışını arttırır, enerji tüketimini ve lokomotor aktiviteyi azaltır, kilo alımı ve yağ depolanmasını arttırır ve ayrıca gastrointestinal motiliteyi etkiler. Ghrelin metilfenidatın çocuklar üzerindeki metabolik ve anoreksijenik etkileri ile ilişkili olabilir. Bu çalışmanın amacı metilfenidatın ergenlik dönemi öncesi dikkat eksikliği hiperaktivite bozukluğu olan çocuklarda açlık serum aktif ghrelin düzeyleri üzerine olan etkisini araştırmaktır. Ergenlik öncesi erkek çocuklarında ağızdan alınan ozmotik kontrollü salınımı olan 18 mg/gün metilfenidat ile tedavi öncesi ve sonrası ghrelin düzeylerinde değişiklik saptamayı bekledik. Yöntem: Dikkat eksikliği hiperaktivite bozukluğu olan 6-12 yaş arasındaki otuz üç erkek çocuğu çalışmaya alındı. 60 günlük metilfenidat tedavisi öncesi ve sonrasındaki ghrelin düzeyleri dışında, diğer laboratuar bulguları, beden-kitle indeksi, beden-kitle indeksi persentilleri, boy, vücut ağırlığı ve dikkat eksikliği hiperaktivite bozukluğu semptom şiddeti ölçümleri de analize alındı. Bulgular: Metilfenidat tedavisi ile serum aktif ghrelin düzeylerinde bir farklılık saptanmadı. Metilfenidat boy, vücut ağırlığı ve beden kitle indeksi üzerinde önemli bir değişiklik yapmadan ve ciddi bir yan etki oluşturmadan dikkat eksikliği hiperaktivite bozukluğunun dikkat bozukluğu, hiperaktivite, dürtüsellik temel bulgularında iyileşme sağlamıştır. Tartışma: Bu çalışma metilfenidatın serum aktif ghrelin düzeyleri üzerine olan etkisini belirlemeye yönelik ilk çalışmadır. Dikkat eksikliği hiperaktivite bozukluğu ile yakından bağlantılı obezite, alkol ve madde bağımlılığı, ödül sistemi bozukluklarının ghrelinle ilişkisi nedeniyle daha yüksek metilfenidat dozlarıyla ya da atomoksetin ve amfetamin gibi stimulanlarla da ileri araştırmalar yapılmalıdır.

The aim of the current study was to examine the difference between patients detected with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and healthy subjects in terms of serum angiopoietin-like protein (ANGPTL) 2 and ANGPTL6 levels and to evaluate the correlation between ANGPTL2 and ANGPTL6 levels and liver enzyme levels, fasting glucose, lipid levels, and steatosis degree on ultrasonography (USG). A total of 159 participants were included in the study. The participants were divided into 3 groups depending on the steatosis degree on USG and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels: the NAFLD group with increased ALT, the NAFLD group with normal ALT, and the healthy control group. The groups were compared in terms of biochemical and ultrasonographic findings, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome (MetS), and anthropometric parameters. There was no significant difference between NAFLD patients and healthy subjects with respect to serum ANGPTL2 and ANGPTL6 levels ( > 0.05). ANGPTL2 levels did not correlate with serum, biochemical, or ultrasonographic findings, or anthropometric parameters ( > 0.05). A positive correlation was found between serum ANGPTL6 levels and fasting blood glucose, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR levels. While our findings suggest no relationship between serum ANGPTL2 and ANGPTL6 levels and NAFLD, ANGPTL6 levels may be related to metabolic and biochemical parameters. The effects of ANGPTL2 and ANGPTL6 in the pathogenesis of NAFLD should be investigated further.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the biomechanical changes and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) production after different corneal cross-linking (CXL) protocols with or without oxygen supplementation. METHODS: Ovine eyes in the study were equally distributed to five groups as control, standard Dresden protocol, diluted alcohol- and iontophoresis-assisted CXL (DAI-CXL), and 0.1% and 0.2% riboflavin-mediated iontophoresis-assisted CXL with oxygen supplementation (I-CXL). Corneas that received CXL were divided into two equal parts, one part was used for uniaxial tensiometry and one part was used for AOPP measurement. RESULTS: All treatment groups showed higher Young's modulus and stiffness compared to the control group (P < .05). Both oxygen-assisted I-CXL groups with 0.1% and 0.2% riboflavin concentrations had higher corneal Young's modulus (P = .009 and .006, respectively) and stiffness (P = .009) values, whereas the DAI-CXL group had lesser Young's modulus and stiffness values (P = .032) compared to the Dresden protocol group. All treatment groups showed higher AOPP concentrations compared to the control group (P < .05). DAI-CXL and I-CXL groups showed similar AOPP formation compared to the Dresden protocol (P = .673). CONCLUSIONS: When the epithelium is intact, the desired increase in corneal stiffness might not be achieved. However, increasing the oxygen in the environment might provide a sufficient increase in stiffness in cases undergoing epitheliumon I-CXL, which might be promising in terms of shortening the CXL therapy and decreasing the complications. [J Refract Surg. 2022;38(10):674–681.]