Effects of fisetin on ethanol-induced rewarding properties in mice.

Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic relapsing disorder associated with compulsive drinking of alcohol. Natural flavonoid fisetin affects a variety of transmitter systems relevant to AUD, such as aminobutyric acid, N-methyl-D-aspartate, and dopamine, as well as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors.Objectives: This study investigated fisetin's impact on the motivational properties of ethanol using conditioned place preference (CPP) in mice (n = 50).Methods: Mice were conditioned with ethanol (2 g/kg, i.p.) or saline on alternating days for 8 consecutive days and were given intragastric (i.g.) fisetin (10, 20, or 30 mg/kg, i.g.), 45 min before ethanol conditioning. During extinction, physiological saline was injected to the control and ethanol groups, and fisetin was administered to the fisetin groups. To evaluate the effect of fisetin on the reinstatement of ethanol-induced CPP, fisetin was given 45 min before a priming dose of ethanol (0.4 g/kg, i.p.; reinstatement test day).Results: Fisetin decreased the acquisition of ethanol-induced CPP (30 mg/kg, p < .05) and accelerated extinction (20 and 30 mg/kg, p < .05). Furthermore, fisetin attenuated reinstatement of ethanol-induced CPP (30 mg/kg, p < .05).Conclusions: Fisetin appears to diminish the rewarding properties of ethanol, as indicated by its inhibitory effect and facilitation of extinction in ethanol-induced CPP. These findings imply a potential therapeutic application of fisetin in preventing ethanol-seeking behavior, promoting extinction, and reducing the risk of relapse.

Emergency service experience following the terrorist attack in Mogadishu, 14 October 2017, a scene of lay rescuer triage.

BACKGROUND: A suicide bomber attack occurred in Somalia's capital city of Mogadishu on October 14, 2017. Over 500 people died, making it the third largest suicide bombing attack in world history. In this study, we aimed to share our experience and to discuss the importance of triage and prehospital care systems. METHODS: These retrospective data included data from patients who suffered from severe explosions. Patient triage was performed using the START (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment) triage algorithm at the entrance of the hospital. The patients included in the study were classified according to their age, sex, triage code, location of their major injury, department to which they were admitted, and discharge and/or exit status. RESULTS: The patients included 188 (74.6%) males, and the mean age was 30.94 ± 12.23 years (range, 1-80 years). Eighty-six (34.1%) patients were marked with a red code indicating major injury, and 138 (54.8%) patients had superficial injuries. A total of 173 (68.7%) patients were managed in the emergency department (ED), and 7 (2.8%) patients died in the first 24 h. Multiple trauma injuries were detected in 43 (17.1%) patients, and 31 (12.3%) patients were admitted to the orthopedics department. CONCLUSION: Disaster management in a terrorist event requires rapid transport, appropriate triage, effective surgical approaches, and specific postoperative care. In this event, almost all patients were brought to the ED by lay rescuers. Appropriate triage algorithms for the public can be designed; for instance, green code: walking patient; yellow code: patient who is moving and asking for help; red code: unmoving or less mobile patient who is breathing; black code: nonbreathing patient.

The way back home: The invisible burden of the emergency healthcare services.

Ambulance services around the world vary according to regional, cultural and socioeconomic conditions. Many countries apply different health policies locally. In Turkey, transportation from hospital to home has started to form an important part of ambulance services in recent years. The increase in the number of patients whose treatment has been completed and waiting to be referred may hinder the work of the emergency services. The aim of this study was to examine the costs, indications, and impact on workload of patients sent home by ambulance. Patients were divided into two groups according to the reasons for referral. The distance to home, transport time and cost were calculated according to the reasons for transport. Patients who were transferred to other clinics or hospitals by ambulance were excluded from the study. The findings showed that the hospital-to-home transfer rate during the study period was 11.4%. Although 9.7% of all cases transferred from our hospital to home were due to social indications, these cases accounted for 16.26% of the total costs. These results suggest that providing home transport services to selected patient groups for medical reasons should be seen as part of the treatment. However, the indications for home transport should not be exceeded and an additional burden should not be placed on the fragile health service.

Cynipidae (Hymenoptera, Cynipoidea) fauna of Burdur province (Türkiye).

Field studies were conducted between September 2020 and June 2022 to assess the gall wasp (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) fauna of Burdur province (Southwestern Türkiye). A total of 69 species in 18 genera were recorded. Gall samples were collected from 150 samples collected in 100 different localities in the surveyed area. The identified species include three new records (Andricus melikai Pujade-Villar & Kwast, 2002; A. pseudocecconii Melika, Tavakoli & Stone, 2022; Saphonecrus undulatus (Мауr, 1872)) for the Turkish cynipid fauna. As a result of this study, 44 species of the current Turkish cynipid fauna were recorded from Burdur province for the first time. A checklist of the species and their host plants and/or host galls recorded in the study area is provided. The gall wasp richness and geomorphic-topographic structure of Burdur province is discussed.

The Role of the Multi-Inflammatory Index as a Novel Predictor of Hospital Mortality in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background and objective Ischemic strokes account for the majority of all strokes. The severity of an acute ischemic stroke (AIS) can be estimated with the help of a number of different scoring systems. However, there is a need for bedside tests that will support the clinical diagnosis and thus help predict the severity of stroke. The research on the multi-inflammatory index (MII), which is calculated using hemogram parameters, has shown immense promise. In light of this, the aim of this study was to establish the association between MII and the severity of AIS. Methods The study included 452 ischemic stroke patients over the age of 18 years who presented to the hospital within 72 hours of the onset of symptoms. Demographic information such as patient age and gender, hemogram parameters, ratios, indices, hospitalization, and mortality status were all recorded. The demographic data, hemogram parameters, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and C-reactive protein (CRP)/lymphocyte ratio (CLR), and MII 1, 2, and 3 were compared between surviving and deceased patients. Results The MII-1, MII-2, and MII-3 index values were determined to be significantly low in the patients with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores of 13-15 compared to those with GCS scores ≤8, and in patients with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 1-4 compared to those with scores of 5-14, 15-20, and ≥21. The NLR, CLR, PLR, MII-1, MII-2, and MII-3 index values were significantly higher in the non-survivors (PLR: p=0.004, all other values: p<0.001). The performances of multiple models developed for the mortality cut-off points were evaluated. Together with other factors, Model 1 included the MII-1, Model 2 the MII-2, and Model 3 the MII-3. Although there was no significant difference between the AUC values of the models, the highest sensitivity rate was reached with Model 2 (74.48%), and the highest specificity rate with Model 3 (90.62%). Conclusion Based on our findings, MII is a simple and practical biomarker that can be easily obtained from NLR, PLR, and CRP, and can help in the early detection of poor prognosis in AIS. NLR was found to be superior to PLR and CLR in distinguishing fatal AIS cases.

Evaluation of inhaler technique and patient satisfaction with fixed-combination budesonide/formoterol dry-powder inhaler in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): data on real-life clinical practice in Turkey.

INTRODUCTION: The present study was designed to evaluate inhaler techniques and patient satisfaction with fixed-combination budesonide/formoterol dry-powder inhaler chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Turkey in real-life clinical practice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 442 patients with COPD [mean (SD) age: 63.2 (10.6) years, 76.5% were males] were included in this cross-sectional study conducted at 25 outpatient clinics across Turkey. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, characteristics of COPD, inhaler technique and satisfaction with dry-powder inhaler were recorded at a single crosssectional visit performed at the study enrolment. RESULTS: Patients were characterized by prominence of moderate to severe (78.1%) COPD, high rate of regular use of overall COPD medications (89.4%) and Turbuhaler® for an average of 33.7 months, predominance of males (76.5%), primary education (85.7%), urban location (68.3), ex-smokers (61.1%) and spending time outdoors for ≥ 4 hour/day (62.0%). Use of correct techniques was evident in majority of patients (≥ 94%), whereas inhalation maneuvers including breathing out gently away from mouthpiece without blowing into it (71.9%) and holding the breath for 5-10 seconds (78.3%) were performed correctly by lesser percent of patients especially in the older group (≥ 65 years, p< 0.05). Overall percent of patients with the feeling that she/he used the inhaler very/fairly correctly was 73.3%, while 86% of patients identified that they were very/fairly satisfied with the inhaler, irrespective of age and educational status. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our findings revealed the majority of patients are able to use Turbuhaler® correctly regardless of the educational status, while older age was associated with higher rate of errors in inhalation maneuvers in the real clinical practice in Turkey. Majority of our patients identified Turbuhaler® to be very/fairly convenient regarding ease of use, portability, and usability with an overall self-confidence in using the inhaler correctly among 73% and the satisfaction rate of 86%; irrespective of age and educational level.

Normal diaphragmatic motion and the effects of body composition: determination with M-mode sonography.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quantitative measurement of diaphragmatic motion in healthy subjects and to investigate the effects of different variables such as body mass index and waist circumference on the diaphragmatic motion. METHODS: The study included 164 healthy subjects. The subjects were grouped according to age, sex, body mass index, and waist circumference. Measurements of diaphragmatic motion were made by a 3.5-MHz sonographic unit in the M-mode of the system. The posterior diaphragm on both sides was identified, and measurements were performed during deep inspiration. RESULTS: The mean diaphragmatic motion measurements +/- SD were 49.23 +/- 10.98 and 50.17 +/- 11.73 mm on right and left sides, respectively. Female subjects had statistically significantly (P < .05) decreased diaphragmatic motion (right, 46.93 +/- 10.37 mm; left, 47.57 +/- 10.36 mm) than male subjects. The mean diaphragmatic motion (right, 40.90 +/- 8.89 mm; left, 39.37 +/- 9.15 mm) was less in subjects who were underweight (P < .05) when compared with subjects who were of normal weight, overweight, and obese. Subjects who had a waist circumference of less than 70 cm showed a statistically significant decrease (P < .05) in diaphragmatic motion (right, 42.55 +/- 9.12 mm; left, 42.24 +/- 9.73 mm) when compared with subjects who had a waist circumference of 70 to 85, 85 to 100, and greater than 100 cm. Also, subjects younger than 30 years had statistically significantly (P < .05) decreased diaphragmatic motion (right, 44.57 +/- 10.57 mm; left, 44.44 +/- 11.37 mm). CONCLUSIONS: Sex, body mass index, waist circumference, and age may affect the diaphragmatic motion to some extent. Healthy persons of younger age with a smaller body mass index and waist circumference may show a decreased amount of diaphragmatic motion.