Sodium–glucose co‐transporter 2 inhibitors in heart failure: beyond glycaemic control. The position paper of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology

Heart failure (HF) is common and associated with a poor prognosis, despite advances in treatment. Over the last decade cardiovascular outcome trials with sodium–glucose co‐transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have demonstrated beneficial effects for three SGLT2 inhibitors (empagliflozin, canagliflozin and dapagliflozin) in reducing hospitalisations for HF. More recently, dapagliflozin reduced the risk of worsening HF or death from cardiovascular causes in patients with chronic HF with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus. A number of additional trials in HF patients with reduced and/or preserved left ventricular ejection fraction are ongoing and/or about to be reported. The present position paper summarises recent clinical trial evidence and discusses the role of SGLT2 inhibitors in the treatment of HF, pending the results of ongoing trials in different populations of patients with HF

Resorbable plate-screw systems: Clinical applications

PubMed: 15688268BACKGROUND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results we obtained from 37 patients referred to our clinics with resorbable plate-screw systems which have been claimed as biodegradable fixation materials and used in craniofacial, maxillofacial and orthopedic reconstructive procedures owing to their advantages such as biocompatibility, adequate biomechanical resistance, longer dwelling time, elimination through physiological routes without causing any foreign body reaction and/or significant sequaleae. METHODS: Resorbable plate-screw systems used in 37 patients between 2000-2003 for various craniofacial reconstructive procedures were evaluated as for their efficacy, and biocompatibility. RESULTS: Adequate fixation was obtained in all patients, excluding one case operated for mandibula fracture whose reconstruction was completed with titanium plate-screw system. No serious complication was seen except a granuloma and sinus formation on subciliary incision in one patient. CONCLUSION: Owing to their improved polylactic acid/polyglycolic acid ratio resorbable plate-screw systems which contain varying compositions of polylactic acid and polyglycolic acid copolymers are ideal fixation materials used favourably in maxillofacial, craniofacial and orthopedic reconstructive surgery in that they make effective fixation and have further advantages such as biocompatibility, adequate biomechanical resistance against distraction and compression forces in the early postoperative period, longer dwelling time and elimination from the body through physiological routes without causing any foreign body reaction or significant sequaleae

Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi 2. sınıf Tıbbi Mikrobiyoloji Eğitim Programı’nda laboratuvar-demonstrasyon derslerinin yeniden yapılandırılması: Öğrencilerin öğrenme düzeyi ve beğenisine ilişkin ilk sonuçlarının değerlendirilmesi

Aim: This study aims to present the preliminary results, students’ achievement and feedback relating to the restructuring of the Medical Microbiology Laboratory-Demonstration (MM-LD) classes in Ege University Faculty of Medicine (EUFM) 2nd year curriculum. Materials and Methods: The MM-LD classes’ objectives have been reviewed and reestablished within the framework of EUFM Phase 3 Education Program and the National Core Curriculum (NCC). During EUFM’s 2009-2010 Academic Year, the lectures and demonstrations were given as four separate classes in a way which students would experience in their daily practice and to support comprehension of theoretical knowledge. At the end of the training, the students were asked to complete a structured feedback form containing 12 questions on a 9-point scale. Students also received a knowledge test consisting of 25 questions. The same test was applied five months later as a re-test. Results: The survey was conducted among 351 students who were enrolled in their 2nd year, 284 (80.9%) attended all classes. Feedback forms were answered by 328 (93.4%) students. In their feedback, students found the lectures to be generally good (mean: 6.91). Test and re-test results demonstrated that the students had a high average of correct answers (mean.test1=18,60, mean.test2=19,48). The internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) coefficients of the tests were ;amp;#945;1=0.62 and ;amp;#945;2=0.65, respectively. Conclusion: It was concluded that 2nd year students of the EUFM were highly satisfied with the restructured MM-LD classes and this was reflected positively in their level of knowledge.Amaç: Bu çalışmada Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi’nin (EÜTF) 2. Sınıf Tıbbi Mikrobiyoloji Laboratuvar-Demonstrasyon (TM-LD) derslerinin yeniden yapılandırılması ile öğrenci beğenisi ve bilgi düzeylerine ilişkin ilk sonuçların paylaşılması amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: TM-LD dersleri, EÜTF Evre 3 hedefleri, Ulusal Çekirdek Eğitim Programı (UÇEP) çerçevesinde gözden geçirilerek, amaç ve öğrenim hedefleri yeniden belirlenmiş, dersler öğrencilerin etkin katılım ve ilgilerini artıracak, öğrenme düzeylerinde kalıcılık sağlayacak bir yapıya dönüştürülmeye çalışılmıştır. Dersler, 2009-2010 döneminde, dört ayrı derste ve öğrencilerin günlük pratikte karşılaşacakları bir akışla uygulanmış böylece teorik bilgilerin anlaşılırlığının desteklenmesi hedeflenmiştir. Eğitim sonunda öğrencilerden 12 soruluk yapılandırılmış geribildirim formunu 9’lu değerlendirme ölçeğine göre yanıtlamaları istenmiştir. Dersler sonunda öğrencilerin bilgi düzeylerini ölçmek amacıyla, 25 sorudan oluşan bir bilgi testi uygulanmış, aynı test beş ay sonra aynı öğrenci grubuna yeniden uygulanmıştır. Bulgular: EÜTF 2. Sınıfına kayıtlı (n=351) öğrencilerin 284’ü (%80,9) uygulanan dört dersin tümüne katılmıştır. Geribildirim formunu 328 (%93,4) öğrenci yanıtlamıştır. Öğrenciler geribildirimlerinde genel olarak eğitimleri iyi bulduklarını (ortalama 6,91) belirtmişlerdir. Uygulanan her iki bilgi testinde öğrencilerin doğru yanıt ortalamalarının yüksek (test1 ort.=18,60, test2 ort.=19,48) olduğu saptanmıştır. Testlerin iç tutarlılık (Cronbach alfa) katsayıları sırası ile ?1=0.62 ve ?2=0.65 olarak saptanmıştır. Sonuç: Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi 2. Sınıf öğrencilerinin yeniden yapılandırılmış TM-LD derslerine ilişkin beğenilerinin yüksek düzeyde olduğu ve eğitimin öğrencilerin bilgi düzeylerine olumlu yansıdığı saptanmıştır

Spectral envelope analysis of snoring signals

In recent years, several studies have shown the relationship between snoring and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Besides time domain analysis of snoring signal, the spectral features and shapes of snores can be used to discriminate simple snorers and OSAS patients. In this study, we propose a method to classify simple snorers and OSAS patients based on spectral envelope estimation of snoring signals. The formant frequencies and corresponding bandwidths are computed for both group, and the variation and consistency of the formant distributions are computed. A total of 1400 snoring episodes from 7 simple snorer and 7 OSAS patients were analyzed. Significant differences are found in the formant frequencies of both groups. The results are discussed from the view point of patho-physiological aspect

Investigation of acute effects of Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s Wort-Kantaron) treatment in experimental thermal burns and comparison with silver sulfadiazine treatment [Deneysel haşlama tipi yanıklarda Hypericum perforatum (Kantaron) tedavisinin akut etkilerinin araştırılması ve gümüş sülfadiazin tedavisiyle karşılaştırılması]

PubMed ID: 26388268BACKGROUND: Hypericum perforatum (HP) (St. John’s Wort-Kantaron) has been used widely for the treatment of burn injuries for many years in traditional Turkish medicine. The aim of study was to investigate HP treatment in experimental thermal burns and compare it with silver sulfadiazine (SS) treatment. METHODS: Thirty-five rats were randomly assigned to one of the five groups, 7 rats in each. A second-degree thermal burn was created on the dorsal sites of rats by exposing an area of 4×4 cm to 100 °C boiled water for 10 seconds. All groups were provided with irrigation for three (3) minutes with 50 cc saline solution (SS). Group 1 (Control Group) was not administered any treatment. Group 2 (Burn Control Group) was administered only irrigation, Group 3 (topical silver sulfadiazine [SS]) was administered SS twice a day, Group 4 (the Topical HP Group) was administered HP four times a day (every six hours), Group 5 (treatment with agent -gel-) was administeredother topical material used for the preparation of HP four times a day (every six hours). Wound site healing on the skin was histopathologically evaluated. RESULTS: It was found that collagen discoloration of the HP treatment group was localized in the lower part of the epidermal layer and did not go up to the depth of dermis compared to the other groups, and epidermis, hair follicles and sebaceous glands remained protected compared to the groups administered burn, gel and SS in every hour of the experiment and it was the group closest to the control group structurally. It was determined that the epidermal thickness and the number of vessels of the HP Group were significantly higher compared to the other groups (p0.05). The number of degenerated hair follicles in the HP Group was significantly less than the other groups (p 0.05). CONCLUSION: Administration of HP four times a day within the first 24 hours is clearly effective in wound healing in the experimental thermal second degree burn modality and is significantly superior to SS treatment. © 2015 TJTES

The healing effects of hyperium perforatum (St. john’s wort) on experimental alkaline corrosive eosephageal and stomach burns [Deneysel alkali koroziv ösefageal ve mide yanıklarında hyperium perforatum’un (Sarı kantaron) iyileştirici etkisi]

PubMed: 324369852-s2.0-85085158045BACKGROUND: The most frequent etiologic cause is alkaline substances. We investigated the protective effects of the plant St. John ‘s Wort (Hypericum perforatum). METHODS: We included 42 Wistar albino rats weighing between 200–300 grams and divided into six groups as Group 1: Con-trol, Group 2: Burn+Saline (BS), Group 3: Burn+St. John’s Wort (BSJW), Group 4: Burn+Plasebo (BP), Group 5: St. John’s Wort (SJW), Group 6: Placebo (P). After 15 days of treatment, esophagus, stomach and liver tissue samples were derived by dissection for histopathologic and biochemical markers. The cytotoxic effects of formulation on fibroblasts is evaluated in vitro on human dermoblast fibroblast line (HDFa, Gibco Invitrogen cell culture, C-013-5C). RESULTS: The weight of the rats increased in Group 1, 3, 4, 6, decreased in Group 2 and did not change in Group 5. In the BSJW group, submucosal collagen accumulation, muscularis mucosa damage, tunica muscularis damage and collagen accumulation in esophagus were similar to the control group but lesser than BS and placebo group. In the stomach, mucosal damage, gastric gland dilatation, submucosal polymorphonuclear infiltration were similar to the control group and lesser than the BS group. The lethal concentration of SJW was 2.58 gr/mL. CONCLUSION: SJW substrate is effective in protecting the esophagus and stomach in mild to moderate alcali corrosive burns in the subacute period. We should keep in mind the protective effects of STW substrate in alkaline corrosive burns of the gastrointestinal system. © 2020, Turkish Association of Trauma and Emergency Surgery. All rights reserved.Ege Üniversitesi: 2013TIP-079This experimental study is performed after the ethical approvement from Dokuz Eylul University Medicine Faculty, Animal Ethics Committee with the protocol number of 65/2013; the survey is performed according to “The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals-Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources Commission on Life Sciences National Research Council, USA”. The experimental part of the study is carried out in Dokuz Eylul University Multidisciplinary Experimental Research and Animal Laboratory; histopathological analyses were carried out in Ege University, Faculty of Medicine Division of Histology and Embryology; biochemical analyses were carried out in Ege University Science Faculty, Department of Biology and AREL Laboratory. The study is supported by Ege University Scientific Research Project Fund as project 2013TIP-079