Chatbot application in a 5th grade science course.

This study aims to investigate the effect of chatbots that work with artificial intelligence on the success of students and their opinions about chatbots in the 'Matter and the changing state of matter' unit in the 5th grade science course. In addition to text-based functions, the designed chatbot includes a video accessed on the web to support students visually and aurally. The chatbot was designed using the Dialogflow program and an instant messaging program made available to students through a group created on Telegram. The study, which used a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design, included 41 participants (n = 20 for the experimental, n = 21 for the control group) studying in the 5th grade of a state secondary school in the 2020-2021 academic year. Results suggest that although there was no significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of academic achievement, it was determined that the chatbot application positively affected the online learning experience of the experimental group students. Students' opinions about the chatbot included that it was useful and fun, they would like to use it for other courses, it provided useful assistance in learning outside the classroom, and it allowed them to repeat the course again. The results showed that, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, such applications could contribute positively to students' learning.

Circulating furin, IL-6, and presepsin levels and disease severity in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has resulted in a vast number of infections and deaths that deeply affect the world. When the virus encounters the host cell, it binds to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, then the S protein of the virus is broken down by the transmembrane protease serine 2 with the help of furin, allowing the virus to enter the cell. The elevated inflammatory cytokines suggest that a cytokine storm, also known as cytokine release syndrome, may play a major role in the pathology of COVID-19. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between circulating furin levels, disease severity, and inflammation in patients with SARS-CoV-2. A total of 52 SARS-CoV-2 patients and 36 healthy control participants were included in this study. SARS- CoV-2 patients were scored by the disease activity score. Serum furin, presepsin, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mean furin, presepsin, and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in the peripheral blood of SARS-CoV-2 compared to the controls (p < 0.001). There were close positive relationship between serum furin and IL-6, furin and presepsin, and furin and disease severity (r = 0.793, p < 0001; r = 0.521, p < 0.001; and r = 0,533, p < 0.001, respectively) in patients with SARS-CoV-2. These results suggest that furin may contribute to the exacerbation of SARS-CoV-2 infection and increased inflammation, and could be used as a predictor of disease severity in COVID-19 patients.

The relationship between childhood obesity with inflammatory mediators.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of various obesity markers with systemic immune-inflammatory index. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey, from January 2018 to October 2018 and comprised children aged 6-16 years admitted to the outpatient clinic due to obesity. The patients were evaluated for height, weight, body mass index (BMI), fat percentage (F%), fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM). Waist circumference was measured and neutrophil, platelet and lymphocyte counts and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) were calculated on the basis of haemogram. Data was analysed using Number Cruncher Statistical System 2007. RESULTS: Of the 335 subjects, 203(60.6%) were girls and 132(39.4%) were boys. Univariate analysis of girls showed the effects of BMI, F%, FM, FFM and WC on NLR. FM remained a significant and independent risk factor for NLR (p<0.01). The effects of BMI, F%, FFM and WC were not significant in multivariate model (p>0.05). Univariate analysis of girls also showed the effects of BMI, F%, FM, FFM and WC measurements on SII. F% remained a significant and independent risk factor on SII (p<0.01). The effects of BMI, fat mass, FFM and WC were not significant in multivariate model (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: In this study, the increase of SII, NLR and thrombocyte in terms of weight, BMI, fat percentage and fat mass supports the increase of inflammation due to the increase of fat in obesity. In terms of comorbidities in obesity, SII and NLR suggest that there may be inflammatory biomarkers which can be used in follow-up.

An analysis on HBsAg, Anti-HCV, Anti-HIV½ and VDRL test results in blood donors according to gender, age range and years.

OBJECTIVE: Blood transfusion is the most frequently used and life-saving therapeutic procedure today. Transmission of virus, bacteria and parasitic microorganisms may occur due to transfusion (Transfusion transmitted infections-TTIs). Hepatitis B and C, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis (Treponema pallidum) bear the risk of transmission by transfusion. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HCV, anti-HIV½ and syphilis antibody (VDRL: Venereal Disease Research Laboratory) are routinely controlled in all donated blood samples. The aim of the present study was to analyze the seroprevalence rates of blood donors through screening test results according to duration, age range and gender. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data of all blood donors obtained from blood Centre of Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital between January 2013 and October 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. Serum samples of the donors were analyzed for HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV½ and VDRL. Test results of 114.240 donors were scanned. Gender, age range and distribution by years of these donors were analyzed. According to age distribution of donors were divided into 4 groups. RESULTS: There were 114.240 participants including 106.153 (92.9%) males and 8.087 (7.1%) females. The positivity rate of HBsAg was detected 0.4% (36/8087) in females and 0.5% (500/106.153) in males. The positivity rate of anti-HCV was detected 0.4% (32/8.087) in females and 0.3% (344/106.153) in males. The positivity rate of anti HIV½ was 0.1% (9/8.087) in females and 0.1% (92/106.153) in males whereas the positivity rate of VDRL was 0.5% (41/8.087) in females and 0.3% (362/ 106.153) in males. Positivity rate for HBsAg and HCV were lower in the cases between 18 and 30 years of age. The positivity rates for anti-HIV½ was not significantly different according to the age range. Positivity rate for VDRL was higher in the cases at 51 years of age and older. CONCLUSION: No difference was found between men and women in terms of HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HIV½positivity. However, VDRL test positivity was significantly higher in female participants. Furthermore, HBsAg, anti-HCV and VDRL positivity rates increased by age.