Obsidian Sources in the Regions of Erzurum and Kars (North-East Turkey): New Data

International audienceThe obsidian sources on the Erzurum–Kars Plateau have not been extensively surveyed, and their geochemical signatures are still poorly understood. Yet a significant number of artefacts from archaeological sites in Georgia and Armenia have produced chemical compositions that are unrelated to any Turkish or Caucasian source analysed so far. Their origins may lie in these poorly known deposits. The objective of the collaborative project undertaken by the University of Erzurum and the French mission ‘Caucasus’ is to study the sources of obsidian in the Erzurum and Kars regions, in order to shed light on the intensity of exploitation of this material, and to highlight the exchange networks that may have existed between north‐eastern Turkey and the southern Caucasus. The analyses that we have carried out on the samples taken during this exploratory survey have enabled a definite extension of the territory of circulation of this obsidian to western Transcaucasia. The lack of knowledge concerning the diffusion of obsidian from the regions of Erzurum and Kars thus appears for the moment mainly related to insufficient geochemical characterization of the sources, confirming the importance of future surveys

Obsidian Sources in the Regions of Erzurum and Kars (North-East Turkey): New Data

International audienc

Rationale, design, and methodology of the APOLLON trial: A comPrehensive, Observational registry of heart failure with mid-range and preserved ejectioN fraction

Objective: Although almost half of chronic heart failure (HF) patients have mid-range (HFmrEF) and preserved left-ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF), no studies have been carried out with these patients in our country. This study aims to determine the demographic characteristics and current status of the clinical background of HFmrEF and HFpEF patients in a multicenter trial. Methods: A comPrehensive, ObservationaL registry of heart faiLure with mid-range and preserved ejectiON fraction (APOLLON) trial will be an observational, multicenter, and noninterventional study conducted in Turkey. The study population will include 1065 patients from 12 sites in Turkey. All data will be collected at one point in time and the current clinical practice will be evaluated (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT03026114). Results: We will enroll all consecutive patients admitted to the cardiology clinics who were at least 18 years of age and had New York Heart Association class II, III, or IV HF, elevated brain natriuretic peptide levels within the last 30 days, and an left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of at least 40%. Patients fulfilling the exclusion criteria will not be included in the study. Patients will be stratified into two categories according to LVEF: mid-range EF (HFmrEF, LVEF 40%-49%) and preserved EF (HFpEF, LVEF ?50%). Regional quota sampling will be performed to ensure that the sample was representative of the Turkish population. Demographic, lifestyle, medical, and therapeutic data will be collected by this specific survey. Conclusion: The APOLLON trial will be the largest and most comprehensive study in Turkey evaluating HF patients with a LVEF ?40% and will also be the first study to specifically analyze the recently designated HFmrEF category. © 2018 by Turkish Society of Cardiology

Implications of continuous positive airway pressure on heart rate variability in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: Does gender matter? [Obstrüktif uyku apneli hastalarda sürekli pozitif havayolu basıncı tedavisinin kalp hızı değişkenliği üzerine etkisi: Cinsiyetin önemi nedir?]

Objective: This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on the improvement of heart rate variability (HRV) and whether gender plays a role in HRV in patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Methods: Consecutive patients with recently diagnosed moderate to severe OSAS underwent continuous synchronized electrocardiographic monitoring and were prospectively considered for inclusion in the study. HRV was analyzed before starting CPAP therapy and 1 year thereafter. The effects of CPAP on HRV were evaluated in men and women separately to ascertain whether there are gender differences in the clinical manifestations of OSAS and whether female HRV responses to CPAP are similar to those of men. Results: A total of 18 patients (10 men, median age: 56 years) were included in the study. There were no significant differences in the baseline clinical characteristics of the male and female patients. After 1 year of CPAP treatment, heart rate decreased (p0.05), whereas the high frequency power measured increased (p<0.05) and the ratio of low frequency to high frequency decreased (p<0.05) in men after 1 year of CPAP treatment. The increase in HRV after 1 year of CPAP therapy was significantly higher in men than in women (p<0.05). Conclusion: CPAP therapy reduced enhanced cardiac sympathetic nerve activity in patients with OSAS assessed according to HRV. The beneficial effect of long-term CPAP therapy on HRV was more pronounced in men. © 2020 Turkish Society of Cardiology