Characterization of TEMPO-Oxidized Cellulose Nanofiber From Biowaste and Its Influence on Molecular Behavior of Fluorescent Rhodamine B Dye in Aqueous Suspensions.

Cellulose nanofiber (CNFs) obtained through TEMPO oxidation was structurally characterized using FT-IR (Fourier Transformed Infrared) and SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) spectroscopy. The molecular aggregation and spectroscopic properties of Rhodamine B (Rh-B) in CNFs suspension were investigated using molecular absorption and steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy techniques. The interaction between CNFs particles in the aqueous suspension and the cationic dye compound was examined in comparison to its behavior in deionized water. This interaction led to significant changes in the spectral features of Rh-B, resulting in an increase in the presence of H-dimer and H-aggregate in CNFs suspension. The H-type aggregates of Rh-B in CNFs suspensions were defined by the observation of a blue-shifted absorption band compared to that of the monomer. Even at diluted dye concentrations, the formation of Rh-B's H-aggregate was observed in CNFs suspension. The pronounced aggregation in suspensions originated from the strong interaction between negatively charged carboxylate ions and the dye. The aggregation behavior was discussed with deconvoluted absorption spectra. Fluorescence spectroscopy studies revealed a significant reduction in the fluorescence intensity of the dye in CNFs suspension due to H-aggregates. Furthermore, the presence of H-aggregates in the suspensions caused a decrease in the quantum yield of Rh-B compared to that in deionized water.

Is It Possible to Use Inflammatory Markers as Potential Biomarkers for Chronic Urticaria?

Background: This study aimed to determine whether the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) at admission affect the transition of pediatric patients diagnosed with acute spontaneous urticaria to chronic urticaria. Methods: This study included 390 patients who presented to the Department of Pediatrics at Akdeniz University Hospital with acute spontaneous urticaria between January 2020 and December 2022. A statistical comparison was made between the hematological parameters of patients who developed chronic urticaria and those who did not. Neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet counts, as well as NLR, PLR, and SII ratios, were used for the comparison. Results: It was observed that acute urticaria progressed to chronic urticaria in 5.8% (n = 23) of the patients. No significant differences in lymphocyte, hemoglobin, and platelet counts were observed between the group progressing to chronic urticaria and the control group (P > 0.05). However, the chronic urticaria group had higher leukocyte and absolute neutrophil counts (P = 0.009 and P < 0.001, respectively). In addition, the NLR was significantly higher in the chronic urticaria group (P = 0.029), whereas no statistically significant difference was observed in the PLR (P = 0.180). The chronic urticaria group had a significantly higher SII than the control group (P = 0.011). Conclusion: Hematological parameters, particularly NLR and SII, may be useful indicators of the transition from acute to chronic urticaria in pediatric patients. The early identification of these markers could help monitor patients and guide treatment decisions. Further comprehensive studies are required to validate these findings.

Beneficial effects of swimming and pomegranate juice in rats with hypertension: A possible role of serum adropin.

Hypertension, characterized by persistent and uncontrolled high blood pressure, is one of the most common significant causes of mortality worldwide. Lifestyle modifications such as exercise and antioxidant intake have showed beneficial effects on hypertensive conditions. Adropin and endothelin-1 (ET-1) have important vasoregulatory functions in the endothelium. However, the underlying mechanisms linking exercise- and/or antioxidant intake-mediated improvement of hypertension are not fully understood. In this study, it was hypothesized that swimming exercise and pomegranate juice (PJ) (as an antioxidant) administration might have protective effects on hypertension development and possible involvements of serum adropin and ET-1. To test the hypothesis, the rats with hypertension, induced by Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride, were subjected to swimming exercise and received PJ for 8 weeks. Weekly systolic and diastolic pressures, serum concentrations of adropin and ET-1, and oxidant/antioxidant parameters in various tissues were measured. The obtained data show that swimming exercise leads to complete protection against hypertension within the 8-week duration, whereas the PJ administration causes an ameliorative effect. In addition, the combination of swimming exercise and PJ administration do not have additive effects in protection against hypertension. Notably, the 8-week swimming exercise restores the diminished serum adropin concentration in rats with hypertension to the control level. Serum adropin significantly correlated with systolic and diastolic pressures, depending on swimming exercise, but not PJ administration. Serum ET-1 concentration inconsistently fluctuates in response to Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride, swimming exercise, and PJ intake. In addition, swimming exercise and/or PJ administration lead to a complete normalization in liver malondialdehyde concentrations of rats with hypertension, whereas these interventions cause slight or no improvements in superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione in the heart, liver, and kidney. In conclusion, 8-week swimming exercise modulates hypertension, possibly by influencing adropin concentration and oxidative stress.

Factors Influencing Anxiety Levels in Oncology Patients: A Study on the Impact of Earthquakes.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the multifaceted factors influencing anxiety levels in oncology patients, with a specific focus on the impact of earthquakes in the context of Turkey. Our objective is to identify and understand sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle determinants associated with anxiety in cancer patients, examining how traumatic events, such as earthquakes, contribute to heightened anxiety levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 149 oncology patients undergoing treatment at two prominent oncology centers in Turkey. The study collected comprehensive sociodemographic information and assessed anxiety levels using the Beck Anxiety Scale. The dataset was analyzed using SPSS 20.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY), employing a range of statistical methods including descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and Chi-square tests. RESULTS: The findings underscore several factors significantly linked to anxiety levels in oncology patients. Notably, women, younger patients (age <65), and individuals with specific cancer types exhibited higher anxiety levels. Elevated anxiety was also associated with compromised physical functioning, experiences of earthquakes, irregular sleep patterns, dietary habits, fatigue, and the use of antidepressants. CONCLUSION: This study provides insights into the intricate interplay of factors influencing anxiety levels in oncology patients. Understanding these determinants is paramount for tailoring effective psychosocial support and interventions. The results underscore the need for holistic approaches to enhance the overall quality of life for cancer patients. Gender, age, cancer type, physical well-being, lifestyle choices, and exposure to trauma all play pivotal roles in influencing anxiety levels. These findings hold practical implications for the development and implementation of targeted psychosocial interventions aimed at improving anxiety management and overall well-being for oncology patients.

Multicenter Study on Breast Cancer in the Geriatric Population: Insights for Effective Treatment Strategies.

OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer is common among women aged 65 and over. There is a significant lack of evidence regarding the treatment of breast cancer in patients in this age group due to the rare inclusion of these patients in clinical studies. However, it is known that survival in elderly patients with breast cancer is significantly reduced in those not receiving standard therapy. Several factors, including patients' comorbidities, performance status, life expectancy, and tumor pathological and molecular characteristics, can affect the outcomes of treatment. In this study, we aimed to update the knowledge in this field by assessing these factors among the geriatric population in our multicenter dataset. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed data from 335 breast cancer patients aged 65 and over who received adjuvant radiotherapy at five oncology centers (Kartal Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Meram Medical Faculty - Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Prof. Dr. Cemil Tascioglu City Hospital, Istanbul, Umraniye Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, and Istanbul Oncology Hospital, Istanbul) between May 2010 and September 2022. Demographic, clinical, and pathological data were collected, including age, gender, clinical symptoms, tumor characteristics, treatment approaches, and outcomes. Statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics, Kaplan-Meier analysis, log-rank test, and Cox regression analysis, were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22 (Released 2013; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States), with a significance level of p < 0.05. RESULTS: The tumor characteristics and survival time of 335 breast cancer patients were examined. In the results, performance status, T stage, and perineural invasion were found to be factors affecting the survival of elderly breast cancer patients. In multivariate analysis, it was seen that performance status played an important role as an independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSION: The treatment of breast cancer in the geriatric age group necessitates a personalized approach, taking into account the patient's overall health status, life expectancy, and comorbidities.

Comparison of the efficacy of Schroth and Lyon exercise treatment techniques in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A randomized controlled, assessor and statistician blinded study.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most common vertebral disorder in adolescence. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Schroth and Lyon exercise methods on Cobb angle (CA), angle of trunk rotation (ATR), quality of life (QoL), and perceived trunk appearance in patients with AIS. METHODS: The 31 participants diagnosed (diagnosis age = 12.2 ± 0.9) with AIS by a physician following the Lenke criteria and subsequently referred to the outpatient clinic were enrolled in the study. All participants were randomly assigned between the Schroth group (SG) and Lyon group (LG) for 6 months of supervised and home treatment. The participants' CA, ATR, Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22), and Walter-Reed Visual Assessment Scale (WRVAS) were assessed as a baseline, and again following the treatment by the same researcher who remained blinded to the study. RESULTS: In 2-way mixed-design repeated-measures ANOVA analysis, when the change in time was analyzed between the groups (Group × Time [interaction]), a statistical difference was found more significant in SG for the CA-thoracic (F = 103.1, p < .01, 95% CI = 4.1; 2.0 to 6.2), CA-lumbar (F = 19.1, p < .01, 95% CI = 1.7; 1.0 to 2.4), ATR (F = 64.1, p < .01, 95% CI = 1.7; 1.2 to 2.3), and WRVAS (F = 169.5, p < .01, 95% CI = 6.5; 3.2 to 9.9) parameters. The LG was only more significantly improved in the SRS-22 total score (F = 15.7, p < .01, 95% CI = -0.9; -0.2 to -1.6). CONCLUSION: In the study, The Schroth exercises gave more favorable results than Lyon exercises in terms of CA-T, CA-L, ATR and WRVAS in the conservative treatment of AIS, while Lyon exercises gave more favorable results in terms of QoL. Additionally, according to the results of this study, it was found that the QoL of participants in SG decreased after treatment compared to baseline.

The relationship between oxidative stress markers and 1H-Magnetic resonance spectroscopy findings in obsessive compulsive disorder.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to examine N-acetyl aspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr) and glutamate, glutamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid complex (Glx)/Cr levels in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and healthy controls' orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and caudate nucleus (CN) by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) method and to investigate their relationship with oxidative stress markers glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). METHODS: This study included patients with OCD (n = 25) and healthy controls (n = 25) ranging in age from 18 to 65. We used the ELISA method to evaluate serum SOD and GPx levels. Levels of NAA/Cr and Glx/Cr in the orbitofrontal cortex and caudate nucleus were measured using the 1H-MRS method. RESULTS: Our study did not detect statistically significant differences in the orbitofrontal cortex Glx/Cr and NAA/Cr levels between the OCD patients and the control group. OCD patients exhibited a decrease in NAA/Cr levels, consistent with impaired neuronal integration, and an increase in Glx/Cr levels, consistent with hyperactivation, in the caudate nucleus compared to the control group. We observed a negative correlation between NAA/Cr levels in the caudate nucleus and the levels of SOD and GPx. CONCLUSIONS: Our study is the first to assess CN and OFC together in OCD patients using 3 T MR, investigating the relationship between neurometabolite concentrations and oxidative stress parameters. The negative correlation we observed between NAA/Cr levels and SOD and GPx in the caudate nucleus suggests that increased oxidative stress in this brain region in OCD patients may contribute to impaired neuronal integration and functionality.

Growth performance, carcass, and meat quality traits in broiler chickens reared on plastic-grid flooring, wood shavings, and zeolite-supplemented wood shavings.

This study aimed to assess the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality traits of broiler chickens raised on plastic-grid floors, traditional wood shavings, and wood shavings enriched with zeolite. The experimental design included the allocation of 504-day-old chicks to three different bedding materials, namely wood shavings, plastic-grid floors, and zeolite litter, each with four replications (42 birds per replicate). The chicks were individually weighed at birth and grouped according to their average body weights. An experiment involving 504 chicks was conducted, with each replicate consisting of 42 male chicks of similar body weight. At the end of the experiment, a total of 120 chickens were slaughtered with 10 chickens selected from each replicate for processing carcass and meat quality traits. The effects of different bedding materials on mortality (P = 0.812), body weight (P = 0.565), and body weight gain (P = 0.569) were not significant. The ANOVA test was conducted to compare the main effects of performance, carcass, and meat quality characteristics. The feed intake was significantly affected in the 2nd, and 3rd weeks (P = 0.001; 0.023); in addition, the feed conversion ratio was significant in the 2nd, 4th, and overall period (P = 0.003; P = 0.026; P = 0.038) by the bedding materials. The breast yield (P = 0.001), thigh yield (P = 0.028), and wing yield (P = 0.023) were significant. The type of bedding material used in broiler production significantly influenced the pH24 (P = 0.030), L* (P = 0.037), a* (P = 0.000), and CL (P = 0.028). It was concluded that both a plastic-grid floor and zeolite supplementation to wood shaving litter did not significantly affect overall growth performance in broiler chickens. However, the plastic-grid floor showed superior effects on breast meat yield and quality characteristics, particularly reducing cooking loss, when compared to zeolite supplementation in wood shaving litter. The plastic-grid floor led to a slight increase in the feed conversion ratio. Consequently, adopting a plastic grid floor emerges as a viable alternative to traditional wood shavings in broiler farming.

Cellulose Ester-Based Aerogel: Lightweight and Highly Water-Absorbent.

Cellulose was extracted from waste generated by pruning tea stem wastes. The interaction between pure cellulose and homophthalic acid produced a light (0.22 g·cm-3) and eco-friendly hybrid aerogel product that is highly absorbent (85 g of water per 1 g of aerogel). The product has a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area of 221 m2·g-1. In addition, the product was analyzed for its structural and functional properties using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, and X-ray diffraction. The methodology employed in this study is uncomplicated, utilizing easily accessible and sustainable biowaste at a low cost. As a result, the current process is well-adapted for industrial-scale production, with the potential for significant advancements in the field of green materials.

Successful management of delayed-onset adenosine deaminase deficiency with novel mutation.

A 4-year-old boy presented with acute-onset autoimmune cytopenia with severe, persistent lymphopenia, autoimmune thyroiditis, elevated IgE and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme deficiency. In immunologic evaluation, lower T, B and natural killer cells and higher levels of adenosine deaminase (ADA) metabolites were observed. The compound heterozygous novel ADA gene mutations causing ADA deficiency were detected. Successful immunologic and metabolic cure was achieved with enzyme replacement therapy, followed by reduced intensity conditioning hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from a matched unrelated donor. An interesting aspect of this patient is the detection of novel compound heterozygous mutations without consanguinity and a secondary outcome is the recovery of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Effect of Music on Anxiety and Pain Levels of Patients Undergoing Thyroid Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy: A Randomized Controlled Study.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Despite being a minimally invasive procedure, biopsy can cause pain and anxiety in patients. Therefore, it is important to reduce the pain and anxiety levels of patients. The present study aims to investigate the effect of music on patient anxiety and pain levels during thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized controlled single-blind study, a validated State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) consisting of 40 questions in total was used to evaluate patient anxiety rates. The STAI consists of two sections: the state anxiety scale (SAS) measuring instant anxiety and the trait anxiety scale measuring general anxiety. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 those who did not listen to music during a biopsy and group 2 those who listened to music. The Visual Analogue Scale was used to evaluate patient pain levels. RESULTS: Group 1 consisted of 46 patients and Group 2 consisted of 45 patients. After the procedure, the mean SAS scores of Groups 1 and 2 were not significantly different (p = 0.24). However, The state anxiety scale differences, which represents the decrease in pre-procedure and post-procedure anxiety levels (SAS1-SAS2) was statistically different among the groups (p = 0.01). There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of VAS score distribution (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Music therapy is an easily applicable, cheap, and safe method that can be used to decrease anxiety and pain levels in patients during thyroid biopsy as evidenced by this research.

New sulfa drug derivatives and their zinc(II) complexes: synthesis, spectroscopic properties and in vitro cytotoxic activities.

Synthesis of four sulfa drug derivatives (L1-L4) and Zn(II) complexes derived from sulfonamide group antibiotic substances was carried out using the hydrothermal technique (HT) and their structures of the obtained compounds were explained using elemental analysis (EA), FT-IR and NMR (1H- and 13C-). Cytotoxic activities of four novel sulfa drug based-Schiff base compounds and their Zn(II) complexes were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay using MCF-7 (human breast cancer), Caco-2 (human colorectal adenocarcinoma), A2780 (human ovarian cancer) and LNCaP (human prostate adenocarcinoma) cell lines. LogIC50 values of all obtained compounds were computed with the Graphpad Prism 6 program after 24 h of treatment for MCF-7, Caco-2, A2780 and LNCaP cells. Comet assay experiments were performed using LogIC50 concentrations of all compounds to determine DNA damage. Based on the data obtained, all compounds significantly decreased MCF-7, Caco-2, A2780 and LNCaP cell viability compared to the control groups (p < 0.05).

Attention TurkerNeXt: Investigations into Bipolar Disorder Detection Using OCT Images.

Background and Aim: In the era of deep learning, numerous models have emerged in the literature and various application domains. Transformer architectures, particularly, have gained popularity in deep learning, with diverse transformer-based computer vision algorithms. Attention convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been introduced to enhance image classification capabilities. In this context, we propose a novel attention convolutional model with the primary objective of detecting bipolar disorder using optical coherence tomography (OCT) images. Materials and Methods: To facilitate our study, we curated a unique OCT image dataset, initially comprising two distinct cases. For the development of an automated OCT image detection system, we introduce a new attention convolutional neural network named "TurkerNeXt". This proposed Attention TurkerNeXt encompasses four key modules: (i) the patchify stem block, (ii) the Attention TurkerNeXt block, (iii) the patchify downsampling block, and (iv) the output block. In line with the swin transformer, we employed a patchify operation in this study. The design of the attention block, Attention TurkerNeXt, draws inspiration from ConvNeXt, with an added shortcut operation to mitigate the vanishing gradient problem. The overall architecture is influenced by ResNet18. Results: The dataset comprises two distinctive cases: (i) top to bottom and (ii) left to right. Each case contains 987 training and 328 test images. Our newly proposed Attention TurkerNeXt achieved 100% test and validation accuracies for both cases. Conclusions: We curated a novel OCT dataset and introduced a new CNN, named TurkerNeXt in this research. Based on the research findings and classification results, our proposed TurkerNeXt model demonstrated excellent classification performance. This investigation distinctly underscores the potential of OCT images as a biomarker for bipolar disorder.

The importance of skin prick test in differentiating cat sensitivities and allergies in children.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of cat allergies in children has increased over the years. Children with cat allergies have mostly reported respiratory symptoms. The skin prick test (SPT) is the most preferred method to demonstrate sensitization to allergens. However, not all children who develop cat sensitization due to environmental exposure become allergic to cats. In our study, we aimed to determine the frequency of sensitization to cat and cat allergy, cat-related symptoms, and the cut-off value for the SPT that may indicate cat allergy. METHODS: Patients aged 2-18 years, who applied to the Health Sciences University Izmir Dr Behçet Uz Pediatrics and Surgery Training and Research Hospital and Balikesir University Application and Research Hospital Pediatric Allergy outpatient clinics between January 01, 2019 and December 31, 2020, were included in the study. Patients who underwent SPT and found to be sensitized to cat allergen, were evaluated retrospectively. Clinical and laboratory findings of the patients were recorded. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was performed to determine the cut-off value for the SPT. RESULTS: Sensitization to cat was detected in 140 (4%) out of 3499 patients who underwent SPT. The median age of the patients was 12 years (min-max: 5-18) and 67.1% were male. Eighty-eight (62.9%) patients were symptomatic upon contact with cats, predominantly with nasal symptoms. These patients had significantly larger cat SPT wheal size than asymptomatic patients. The cut-off value was determined as 5.5 mm with a sensitivity of 72.7% and a specificity of 61.5% (95% CI, 60.5%-78.4%). Symptoms resolved in about half of our patients by reducing contact with cats. DISCUSSION: The present study is the first to report the frequency and clinical findings of cat sensitizations and allergies in Turkish children. For effective treatment, cat allergy must be diagnosed. In this regard, the use of a practical, readily accessible 5.5 mm cut-off point on the SPT may be helpful.

Exploring the Potential Link between Acute Central Serous Chorioretinopathy and Trimethylamine N-Oxide, Phoenixin, Spexin, and Alarin Molecules.

PURPOSE: Acute central serous chorioretinopathy (ACSCR) is a condition characterized by decreased visual acuity, macular thickening, and edema under the retinal layer. Although the underlying mechanisms of the disease are not fully understood, oxidative stress is considered to be a critical risk factor. The aim of this study was to shed light on the pathophysiology of ACSCR by investigating the levels of circulating trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), phoenixin (PNX), alarin (ALA), and spexin (SPX) molecules in ACSCR patients. METHODS: The study included 30 ACSCR patients and 30 healthy individuals as controls. ACSCR was diagnosed using optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. Five mL blood samples were collected from all participants following overnight fasting. The levels of TMAO, PNX, ALA, and SPX in the blood samples were measured using the ELISA method. RESULTS: Visual acuity was found to be significantly reduced in ACSCR patients compared to the control group (<0.05), while macular thickness was increased (<0.05). Furthermore, TMAO, PNX, and ALA levels were significantly higher in ACSCR patients (<0.05), while SPX levels were significantly lower compared to the control group (<0.05). In ACSCR patients, there was a positive correlation between macular thickness and TMAO, PNX, and ALA; there was, however, a negative correlation with SPX. Additionally, visual acuity was negatively correlated with TMAO, PNX, and ALA, while SPX levels decreased as visual acuity decreased. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate a correlation between the TMAO, PNX, ALA, and SPX levels of ACSCR patients and their visual acuity and macular thickness. Given the role of these molecules in ACSCR's pathophysiology, they hold promise as potential diagnostic, therapeutic, and follow-up markers in the future.

The Role of Rheumatologist in Smoking Cessation of Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES: Smoking has a well-established detrimental effect on the prognosis and treatment success in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. It is important to encourage and convince patients to quit smoking. We aimed to evaluate the contribution of rheumatologists to smoking cessation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. METHODS: This single-center cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary research hospital between March 2022 and June 2022. The data related to demographics, smoking status, duration of smoking, average number of cigarettes smoked per day, reasons for quitting smoking, and methods of quitting smoking were obtained through face-to-face interviews. RESULTS: This study was carried out on 308 patients. A total of 102 ankylosing spondylitis patients quit smoking. Of the patients who quit smoking, 39 (38.3%) patients quit smoking with a recommendation of a rheumatologist and 29 (28.4%) patients quit because of their concerns related to ankylosing spondylitis disease. The most commonly used methods for quitting smoking were herbal supplements in 40 (39.2%) patients and medication for smoking cessation in 40 (39.2%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: It has been shown that about one-fifth of ankylosing spondylitis patients are not questioned by a rheumatologist about smoking. On the other hand, it was seen that the factor with the greatest effect on those who quit smoking was the rheumatologist. Therefore, rheumatologists should question all ankylosing spondylitis patients about smoking and encourage smokers to quit in order to achieve better outcomes in the long term.

Effect of Central Sensitization in Patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever, Axial Spondyloarthritis, and Both Diseases.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim in this study was to evaluate the level of central sensitization (CS) in patients having familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), and both diseases (axSpA/FMF). METHODS: This study included 30 FMF, 30 axSpA, 30 axSpA/FMF patients, and 30 healthy controls (HCs). The presence of CS was investigated by the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) questionnaire. In order to evaluate the effect of CS on patient groups, clinical features, disease activity, quality of life, sleep quality, depression, and anxiety frequency were examined. The patients were divided into groups according to the presence and severity of CS and their results were compared. RESULTS: The mean age of all participants was 28.4±5.7 years and 67 (55.8%) of them were male. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) value was significantly higher in axSpA and axSpA/FMF groups than in FMF and HCs groups (p<0.001). ESR value was significantly higher in the FMF group than in the HCs group (p<0.001). C-reactive protein (CRP) value was significantly higher in the axSpA/FMF group than in the axSpA and HCs groups (p=0.001). CSI-Part A value was significantly higher in the axSpA, FMF, and axSpA/FMF group than in the HCs group (p<0.001). CSI-Part A value did not differ significantly between axSpA/FMF, axSpA, and FMF groups (p>0.05). The presence of chronic fatigue syndrome was found to be significantly higher in the FMF group than in the axSpA and HCs groups (p<0.05). Fibromyalgia syndrome was significantly higher in the axSpA/FMF group than in the axSpA, FMF, and HCs groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the CS score was found to be significantly higher in axSpA and FMF patients compared to the HCs group. There was no difference between the disease groups in terms of CS score.

Examining the attitudes of sexually abused and non-abused individuals towards marriage in terms of ambivalent sexism.

The research aims to examine the attitudes of individuals who are victims of abuse and those who are not towards marriage in terms of ambivalent sexism. The research study group consists of 718 individuals between the ages of 18-48. Research data were collected with the Inonu Marriage Attitude Scale and Ambivalent Sexism Inventory. As a result of the correlation analysis, it was concluded that the marriage attitude was positively and significantly correlated with hostile and protective sexism. However, since the relationship between hostile sexism and attitudes towards marriage is lower than that of protective sexism, hostile sexism was not included in the model as a control variable. In the covariance analysis, it is seen that protective sexism and sexual abuse predict the attitude towards marriage at a statistically significant level. In addition, when the effect of sexual abuse on the attitude towards marriage was examined by controlling the protective sexism variable, it was found that it was statistically significant without the effect of sexism. According to the findings, it was determined that individuals who were not victims of sexual abuse had higher attitudes towards marriage than those who were victims.

Microstructural, Biomechanical, and In Vitro Studies of Ti-Nb-Zr Alloys Fabricated by Powder Metallurgy.

This study investigated the microstructures, mechanical performances, corrosion resistances, and in vitro studies of porous Ti-xNb-10Zr (x: 10 and 20; at. %) alloys. The alloys were fabricated by powder metallurgy with two categories of porosities, i.e., 21-25% and 50-56%, respectively. The space holder technique was employed to generate the high porosities. Microstructural analysis was performed by using various methods including scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and x-ray diffraction. Corrosion resistance was assessed via electrochemical polarisation tests, while mechanical behavior was determined by uniaxial compressive tests. In vitro studies, such as cell viability and proliferation, adhesion potential, and genotoxicity, were examined by performing an MTT assay, fibronectin adsorption, and plasmid-DNA interaction assay. Experimental results showed that the alloys had a dual-phase microstructure composed of finely dispersed acicular hcp α-Ti needles in the bcc ß-Ti matrix. The ultimate compressive strength ranged from 1019 MPa to 767 MPa for alloys with 21-25% porosities and from 173 MPa to 78 MPa for alloys with 50-56% porosities. Noted that adding a space holder agent played a more critical role in the mechanical behaviors of the alloys compared to adding niobium. The pores were largely open and exhibited irregular shapes, with uniform size distribution, allowing for cell ingrowth. Histological analysis showed that the alloys studied met the biocompatibility criteria required for orthopaedic biomaterial use.

DNA fragmentation and multifaceted toxicity induced by high-dose vanadium exposure determined by the bioindicator Allium test.

In this study, the toxicity of vanadium (VCI3) in Allium cepa L. was studied. Germination-related parameters, mitotic index (MI), catalase (CAT) activity, chromosomal abnormalities (CAs), malondialdehyde (MDA) level, micronucleus (MN) frequency and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were investigated. The effects of VCI3 exposure on the DNA of meristem cells were investigated with the help of comet assay, and the relationships between physiological, cytogenetic and biochemical parameters were revealed by correlation and PCA analyses. A. cepa bulbs were germinated with different concentrations of VCI3 for 72 h. As a result, the maximum germination (100%), root elongation (10.4 cm) and weight gain (6.85 g) were determined in the control. VCI3 treatment caused significant decreases in all tested germination-related parameters compared to the control. The highest percentage of MI (8.62%) was also observed in the control. No CAs were found in the control, except for a few sticky chromosomes and unequal distribution of chromatin (p > 0.05). VCI3 treatment caused significant decreases in MI and increases in the frequencies of CAs and MN, depending on the dose. Similarly, the comet assay showed that DNA damage scores increased with increasing VCI3 doses. The lowest root MDA (6.50 µM/g) level and SOD (36.7 U/mg) and CAT (0.82 OD240nmmin/g) activities were also measured in the control. VCI3 treatment caused significant increases in root MDA levels and antioxidant enzyme activities. Besides, VCI3 treatment induced anatomical damages such as flattened cell nucleus, epidermis cell damage, binuclear cell, thickening in the cortex cell wall, giant cell nucleus, damages in cortex cell and unclear vascular tissue. All examined parameters showed significant negative or positive correlations with each other. PCA analysis confirmed the relations of investigated parameters and VCI3 exposure.