Evaluation of endometrial polyps in terms of mast cells, estrogen and progesterone receptors, MMP-2, MMP-9, and COX-2 markers and distribution of endometrial polyps in menopausal/premenopausal breast cancer patients

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to determine the expression of ER, PR, mast cell, MMP-2, MMP-9, and COX-2 in endometrial polyps, to evaluate whether they have a role in etiopathogenesis and to reveal whether the information obtained in this way can be used in treatment. Additionally, it aimed to show the distribution of these markers in endometrial polyps in menopausal and premenopausal breast cancer patients. Materials and methods: In this study, 51 patients who were reported as having "endometrial polyp" as a result of pathological examination of endometrial curettage or hysteroscopic polyp extirpation materials in Gynecology and Obstetrics Service of Gülhane Military Medical Academy Haydarpaşa Training Hospital were evaluated retrospectively. Results: While the rate of patients with moderate immunohistochemical staining of MMP-2 in postmenopausal patients (47.1%) was found to be significantly higher than the premenopausal group (11.8%), the rate of patients with weak immunohistochemical staining (47.1%) in premenopausal patients was compared to the postmenopausal group (14.7%) was found to be statistically significantly higher. The prevalence of immunohistochemical staining of MMP-9 in the group receiving HRT among postmenopausal patients was found to be statistically significantly higher than in those who did not receive HRT (p=0.012). The immunohistochemical staining intensity of MMP-9 in the group receiving HRT among postmenopausal patients was also found to be statistically significantly higher than those who did not receive HRT (p=0.012). Conclusions: As a result, MMP-2, MMP-9, and mast cells may contribute to the endometrial polyp formation steps in postmenopausal patients. The possible contribution of MMP-2, MMP-9, and mast cells to the etiopathogenesis may resolve the contradictions in the formation mechanism of postmenopausal polyps. If this information is proven as a result of more comprehensive studies to be done later, it may be possible to prevent endometrial polyps and to create non-surgical treatment options, especially in the general postmenopausal patient group and in patients receiving HRT

Yüksek ve Değişken Enflasyonun Tahmininde Alternatif Modellerin Karşılaştırılması: Türkiye Örneği

Enflasyon tahminleri iktisadî birimlerin geleceğe yönelik davranışlarının belirlenmesi bakımından büyük önem taşır. Bu çalışmada Türkiye gibi yüksek enflasyona sahip bir ülkede, ileriye dönük enflasyon oranının kestiriminde kullanılabilecek belli başlı teorik modellerle, VAR metodolojisini kullanan zaman serisi modellerinin başarım kıyaslaması yapılmaktadır. Bu bağlamda iktisat teorisinin kısıtlarına yer veren ve teorik model olarak adlandırılan modellerin başarımları zaman serisi modellerininkine kıyasla daha yüksek çıkmıştır. Ayrıca kestirim gücü sınaması lehte sonuç veren teorik modeller ile en başarılı iki VAR modelinin 1994 krizini önceden kestirme gücü de ayrıca sınanmıştır. Para arzı ve reel gelirdeki büyüme oranlarını döviz kuru artış oranı ve faiz hadlerini birlikte içeren genel enflasyon modeli, krizi en başarılı olarak tahmin eden model olarak ortaya çıkmıştır. Bununla beraber, para arzının büyüme hızı ve döviz kurundaki değişme enflasyon dinamiğini açıklayan en önemli iki faktör olarak karşımıza çıkmaktadır.Publisher's Versio

Assessment of axis I and axis II comorbidities in hospitalized patients with alcohol dependence [Alkol bag˜imlilig˜i olan yatan hastalarda eksen I ve eksen II eştanilarinin deg˜erlendirilmesi]

Objective: Higher comorbidity rate with anxiety, depression and personality disorders have been consistently reported for patients with alcohol dependence. Presence of a comorbid disorder might result in poorer disease course and affect the treatment and prognosis. The aim of present study was to determine the prevalence of axis I and axis II comorbidities in hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence and assess the influence of comorbidity on disease and sociodemographic characteristics of the patients. Methods: Eighty patients (72 male, 8 female) diagnosed as alcohol dependence according to DSM-III-R and age range between 24 and 57 were included in this study. Patients were first interviewed within 4th to 6th week after the completion of withdrawal treatment for alcohol. Sociodemographic form and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R for both axis I and axis 11 disorders have been completer. Along with these instruments, all patients filled Symptom Check List, Spielberger's State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory for objective evaluation of depression and anxiety symptoms. Results: Sixty five percent of all cases had at least one comorbid axis I disorder according to DSM-III-R. Most common axis I comorbid disorder was major depression. 72.5% of cases had at least one comorbid personality disorder. B cluster personality disorder was the most common comorbid personality cluster. Antisocial and borderline personality disorders were the most frequent comorbid personality disorders respectively. Fifthy percent of cases had both axis I and axis II comorbid diagnoses. 10 (12.5%) cases did not have any comorbid disorders in both axes. Patients with a diagnosis in axis II had significantly higher additional substance abuse, suicide attempt and earlier onset for using alcohol. Conclusions: Presence or comorbid axis I and axis II disorders like anxiety, depression and personality disorders have clear impacts on treatment and prognosis of patients with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence. Thus, the detailed evaluation of presence of comorbidity by clinicians will provide significant contributions to management, diagnosis and treatment of cases with alcohol dependence

Design And Characterization Of Nanocrystal Formulations Containing Ezetimibe

Ezetimibe is a lipid-lowering compound that selectively inhibits the absorption of cholesterol and related phytosterols from the intestine As ezetimibe is almost Insoluble in water, its bioavailability is too low to be detected Thus, the objective of this study was to Improve the solubility and dissolution rate of ezetimibe by preparing drug nanocrystals utilizing ball milling, high speed homogenization techniques Pluronic F127 was chosen as a surface modifier to stabilize the nanocrystal formulations Nanocrystal formulations of ezetimibe were prepared by using ball milling and high speed homogenization techniques Additionally, the physicochemical characteristics of ezetimibe and nanocrystal formulations were determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray analysis and particle size analysis Tablets were prepared containing ezetimibe nanocrystals formed by high speed homogenization (ultrasonic) and ball milling according to the results of particle size measurements and in vitro dissolution rates of the nanocrystal formulations As a result of these experiments, it was found that the dissolution rate of the nanocrystal formulations increased and although tablet formulations which did not contain any solubilizing agent like sodium lauryl sulfate (SDS), the dissolution profile of these formulations were found similar to the commercial productWoSScopu

Systematic development of pH-independent controlled release tablets of carvedilol using central composite design and artificial neural networks

The purpose of this study was to apply the optimization method incorporating artificial neural network (ANN) using pH-independent release of weakly basic drug, carvedilol from HPMC-based matrix formulation. Because of weakly basic nature of carvedilol, drug shows pH-dependent solubility. The enteric polymer EUDRAGIT L100 was added formulations to overcome pH-dependent solubility of carvedilol. Effects of the Hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) K4M and EUDRAGIT L100 amount on drug release were investigated. For this purpose 13 kinds of formulations were prepared at three different levels of each variables. The optimization of the formulation was evaluated by using ANN method. Two formulation parameters, the amounts of HPMC K4M and Eudragit L100 at three levels (-1, 0, 1) were selected as independent/input variables. In-vitro dissolution sampling times at twelve different time points were selected as dependent/output variables. By using experimental dissolution results and amount of HPMC K4M and EUDRAGIT L100, percentage of dissolved carvedilol was predicted by ANN. Similarity factor (f(2)) between predicted and experimentally observed profile was calculated and f(2) value was found 76.33. This value showed that there was no difference between predicted and experimentally observed drug release profile. As a result of these experiments, it was found that ANNs can be successfully used to optimize controlled release drug delivery systems

Cyber-physical-based PAT (CPbPAT) framework for Pharma 4.0

Industry 4.0 aims to integrate manufacturing operations into a seamless digital whole by incorporating flexibility, agility, re-configurability, and sustainability. The result of this integration is a "smart factory" that is more lean, agile, and flexible in operations. There are valid reasons, and perhaps requirements, for pharmaceutical industries to embrace smart factory and to "borrow" the concept of Industry 4.0 to give rise to "Pharma 4.0" (i.e., the pharmaceutical version of Industry 4.0). This paper proposes a cyber-physical-based PAT framework called CPbPAT for implementing smart manufacturing systems in the pharmaceutical industry. The framework has been developed using an agent-based system and is presented by a standard system modeling language called the Unified Modeling Language (UML). The pharmaceutical manufacturing system shown in "Quality by Design for ANDAs" is used as a case study to illustrate the application of the proposed framework