SELF-REGULATION OF NOVICE MIDDLE SCHOOL MATHEMATICS TEACHERS IN THE PREPARATION PROCESS FOR TEACHING

This study analyses the self-regulation (goal setting and planning) of the novice middle school mathematics teachers during the preparation phase of teaching. The study is designed as a case study. The participants are six mathematics teachers with less than five-year teaching experience. The data were collected through interviews, observations and document analysis. In regard to the observations, the teaching of certain topics (e.g., basic elements of prisms) were observed to uncover the classroom behavior of the participants. In the semi-structured interviews carried out after the class observations, the participants were asked some questions about their goals and planning concerning the related teaching activities. The findings of the study indicate that the participants do not exhibit the goal setting and planning activities that are consistent with the conceptual learning covered in the mathematics education program. It is also found that they do not set clear goals and develop detailed planning in regard to teaching activities

Optimizing TOC and COD removal for the biodiesel wastewater by electrocoagulation

In this study, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and the total organic carbon content (TOC) in biodiesel wastewater iron and aluminum electrodes arranged in a bipolar position. In the EC of the biodiesel wastewater, the effects of the supporting electrolyte, initial pH, electrolysis time and current density were examined. The results showed that the majority of the pollutants in the biodiesel wastewater were effectively removed when the iron or aluminum electrodes were used as a sacrificial anode. The highest COD and TOC removal efficiencies were successfully obtained with the iron electrode. COD removal efficiencies are 91.74 and 90.94% for iron and aluminum electrode, respectively. In the same way, TOC removal efficiencies were obtained as 91.79 and 91.98% for the iron and aluminum electrodes, respectively, at initial pH of 6, the current density of 0.3226 mA/cm(2), NaCl concentration 1 g/L and 1 min of operating time

Double-application of platelet-rich plasma on bone healing in rabbits

Objective: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is considered to enhance bone formation especially at early stages of wound healing, depending on the limited and short life-span of platelets and growth factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate efficacy of double-application of PRP (DA-PRP) on bone healing in a rabbit calvarial defect model. Study design: Twenty-eight rabbits, each had two surgically prepared calvarial bone defects (10mm diameter), were included in this study and randomly divided into six groups. Defects (n=56) were treated with single-application of PRP (SA-PRP)(n=10), SA-PRP and beta-tricalciumphosphate (SA-PRP+TCP)(n=10), DA-PRP (n=8), DA-PRP and beta-tricalciumphosphate (DA-PRP+TCP)(n=8), beta-tricalciumphosphate (TCP)(n=10) or left empty (Control)(n=10). Animals were sacrificed at 30 days postoperatively. Results: The new bone (NB%) and defect fill (DF%) percentages were calculated from histological slides by image-analyzer software and statistically analysed. All test groups showed higher NB% than control, but differences among all groups were insignificant. The TCP treated groups had significantly higher DF% than groups treated without TCP, however the DF% differences between control, SA-PRP and DA-PRP or TCP, SA-PRP+TCP or DA-PRP+TCP were insignificant. Conclusion: Although new bone formation was histomorphologically remarkable at double-application PRP groups, statistical analyses of the histomorphometric data revealed no significant difference. © Medicina Oral S. L

LIMPRINT study - the Turkish experience

Background: Lymphedema and chronic oedema is a major healthcare problem in both developed and non-developed countries The LIMPRINT study is an international health service based study to determine the prevalence and functional impact in adult populations of member countries of the International Lymphoedema Framework (ILF). Methods: 1051 patients from 8 centers in Turkey were recruited using the LIMPRINT study protocol. Data were collected using the core and module tools which assess the demographic and clinical properties as well as disability and QoL. Results: Most of the Turkish patients were recruited from specialist lymphedema services and were found to be female, housewives and having secondary lymphedema due to cancer treatment. The duration of lymphedema was commonly less than 5 years and most of them had ISL Grade 2 lymphedema. Cellulitis, infection and wounds were uncommon. The majority of patients did not get any treatment or advice before. Most of the patients had impaired QoL and decreased functionality, but psychological support was neglected. Although most had social health security access to Lymphedema centres nevertheless access seemed difficult due to distance and cost. Conclusion: The study has shown the current status and characteristics of lymphedema patients, treatment conditions, the unmet need for the diagnosis and treatment as well as burden of the disease in both patients and families in Turkey. National health policies are needed for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment in Turkey that utilise this informative data

EFFECTS OF LOW DOSE DOXYCYCLINE AND BISPHOSPHONATE CLODRONATE ON GINGIVAL LEVELS OF MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASES -2, -9, INTERLEUKIN-1b AND ALVEOLAR BONE LOSS IN DIABETIC RATS. A HISTOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOHISTICHEMICAL STUDY

Diabetin periodontal hastalık riskini arttırdıgı bilinmektedir. Doksisiklin periodontal tedavide antimikrobiyal ve anti-enzimatik etkileriyle kullanılmaktadır. Bifosfonatlarla ilgili yapılan çalısmalarda bu ilaçların alveoler kemik kaybını inhibe ettigi bildirilmistir. Bu çalısmanın amacı, periodontitis olusturulmus diabetik ratlarda düsük doz doksisiklin ve bifosfonatlardan klodronatın kombine uygulamalarının diseti MMP-2, -9 ve interlökin-1b düzeyleri üzerine etkilerini incelemek ve bu sonuçları tek basına uygulanan düsük doz doksisiklin ve bifosfonatlara ait sonuçlar ile karsılastırmaktır. 50 adet Wistar rat 5 çalısma grubuna ayrılmıstır: Grup1 (diabet kontrol), grup 2 (diabet + periodontitis), grup 3 (diabet + periodontitis + doksisiklin), grup 4 (diabet + periodontitis + klodronat), grup 5 (diabet + periodontitis + doksisiklin + klodronat). Ratlarda diabet olusumu saglandıktan sonra doksisiklin ve klodronat tek basına veya kombine halde 7 gün boyunca uygulanmıstır. 7. günde ratlar sakrifiye edilip, dislerdeki mobilite düzeyleri ölçülmüs, diseti dokularında histolojik incelemeyle inflamasyon seviyeleri ve immünohistokimyasal analiz ile de MMP-2, MMP-9 ve IL-1 ekspresyon seviyeleri incelenmistir. Alveoler kemik düzeyi ise ısık mikroskop altında morfometrik olarak ölçülmüstür. Veriler istatistiksel olarak Kruskal Wallis, post hoc Tukey testleri ve Spearman korelasyon analiziyle incelenmistir. 95 Alveoler kemik düzeyi ve inflamasyon skorları ölçümlerinde grup 2, 3, 4 ve 5&#8217;de grup 1&#8217;e göre istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir artıs gözlenmistir (p<0,05). ğnflamasyon skorları arasındaki fark degerlendirildiginde grup 2, 3, 4 ve 5&#8217;de grup 1&#8217;e göre istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir artıs (p<0,05), grup 4&#8217;de grup 3&#8217;e göre anlamlı bir azalma gözlenmistir (p<0,05). Gruplar arası mobilite skorları degerlendirildiginde grup 2, 3, 4 ve 5&#8217;de grup 1&#8217;e göre istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir artıs gözlenmistir (p<0,05). Bununla birlikte grup 4&#8217;de grup 2&#8217;ye ve grup 5&#8217;e göre istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir azalma gözlenmistir (p<0,05). MMP-9 ekspresyonunda grup 2&#8217;de grup 1&#8217;e göre anlamlı oranda artıs ve grup 3&#8217;de grup 1&#8217;e göre anlamlı oranda azalma gözlenmistir. (p<0,05) Bununla birlikte, grup 3, 4 ve 5 &#8216;de grup 2&#8217;ye göre (p<0,01) grup 3&#8217;de grup 5&#8217;e göre (p<0,05) istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir azalma gözlenmistir. Gruplar arası MMP-2 ekspresyonunda anlamlı bir fark bulunamamıstır. IL-1 ekspresyonu degerlendirildiginde grup 2 ile karsılastırıldıgında grup 1, 3, 4 ve 5&#8217;de istatistiksel olarak anlamlı oranda azalma gözlenmistir (p<0,01). Bulgularımızda klodronat ve doksisiklinin tek tek ve kombine uygulamalarının MMP-9 ve IL-1 ekspresyonunu anlamlı oranda inhibe edebilecegi görülmüstür. Bununla beraber çalısmamızda kullanılan ilaçların diseti dokusu ve alveoler kemik üzerine etkilerini daha iyi degerlendirebilmek için çok gruplu daha fazla sayıda denegin kullanıldıgı yeni çalısmalara ihtiyaç bulunmaktadır.Previous researhes indicated that diabetes increases the risk of periodontal diseases. Doxycycline has been widely used in periodontal treatment for its antimicrobial and anti-enzymatic effects. Bisphosphonates have been shown to inhibit alveoler bone resorption. The aim of this research is to evaluate the reduction capacity of low dose doxycycline combined using with a bisphosphonate clodronate on gingival levels of MMP-2, -9, interleukin-1b and alveolar bone loss and compare this treatment model with mono therapies in diabetic rats. 50 adult Wistar rats were divided into five study groups: Group 1 (diabetes control), group 2 (diabetes + periodontitis), group 3 (diabetes + periodontitis + doxycycline), group 4 (diabet + periodontitis + clodronate), group 5 (diabetes + periodontitis + doxycycline + clodronate). Doxycycline and clodronate were given as a single agent or as combination therapy during the 7 days of the post -experimental periodontitis period. On day 7, the rats were sacrificed and the mobility of the tooth were recorded and block biopsies were removed. The gingival tissues were analyzed histologically and immunohistochemically for expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and IL-1 . Alveoler bone loss was evaluated morphometrically under a light microscope. Data analysis was performed statistically by Kruskal Wallis and post hoc Tukey tests and Spearman correlation test. 97 Alveoler bone loss and inflammation scores were significantly higher in the group 2, 3, 4 and 5 than group 1 (p<0,05). Inflammation scores were significantly lower in the group 4 than group 3 (p<0,05). Tooth mobility was significantly increased in the groups 2, 3, 4, 5 compared to group 1(p<0,05). In addition, mobility score was statistically lower in the group 4 compared to group 2 and 5 (p<0,05). MMP-9 expressions were significantly higher in the group 2 than in the group 1 (p<0,05) and significantly lower in group 3 than 1. At the same time, MMP- 9 expressions were higher in group 2 than group 3, 4 and 5 (p<0,01) and significantly higher in group 5 than 3 (p<0,05). No significant differences were found in MMP-2 expressions among the study groups. IL-1 expressions were significantly lower in the group 1, 3, 4, 5 than 2 (p<0,01). Our findings suggest that combined clodronate and doxycycline and monotherapies may significantly inhibit MMP-9 and IL-1 expressions. However, to better understanding the effects of these drugs on the gingival tissues and alveolar bone, new studies with large amount of groups and test subjects are necessary