PTPN22 gene polymorphism in Takayasu's arteritis

Objective. Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is a chronic, rare granulomatous panarteritis of unknown aetiology involving mainly the aorta and its major branches. In this study, genetic susceptibility to TA has been investigated by screening the functional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of PTPN22 gene encoding the lymphoid-specific protein tyrosine phosphatase. Methods. Totally, 181 patients with TA and 177 healthy controls are genotyped by PCR-RFLP method for the SNP rs2476601 (A/G) of PTPN22 gene. Polymorphic region was amplified by PCR and digested with Xcm I enzyme. Results. Detected frequencies of heterozygous genotype (AG) were 5.1% (9/177) in control group and 3.8% (7/181) in TA group (P = 0.61, odds ratio: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.3, 2.0). No association with angiographic type, vascular involvement or prognosis of TA was observed either. Conclusion. The distribution of PTPN22 polymorphism did not reveal any association with TA in Turkey. © The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved

Flight-scheduling optimization and automation for AnadoluJet

AnadoluJet, a leading Turkish domestic airline carrier provides high-service, low-price flights to 28 locations within Turkey. Each winter and summer, AnadoluJet typically generates a new flight schedule. The company's primary scheduling concerns are aircraft fleet utilization and the waiting times of transfer passengers. Balancing the trade-off between these two criteria in a flight schedule is crucial for AnadoluJet's profitability. In this paper, we present the results of our study of AnadoluJet's flight-scheduling process. We provide a mathematical model that addresses this problem and then extend our studies and implement a heuristic algorithm for the development of a decision support system for the company. The objectives of the models we generated are to maximize fleet utilization, minimize waiting times for the majority of transfer passengers, and generate flight schedules subject to various constraints. The schedules that result from our models are superior to those that AnadoluJet's generated using its previous manual process. AnadoluJet currently uses our decision support system in its flight-scheduling process. © 2016 INFORMS

Preventing of hypertensive complications of pregnancy with aspirin [Hipertansif gebelik komplikasyonlarinin önlenmesinde aspirin]

Though it was introduced as the magical therapy of preeclampsia, aspirin was soon a great disappointment for many obstetricians. The conflicting results in the literature may be due to the differences in socioeconomic and genetic factors of the study groups, definition criteria of preeclampsia and its complications and maybe the most important of all, the prejudice of the authors in designing the study and interpretation of the results. In this literature review, the main population-based studies in the literature were compared in means of methodology and results. It is obvious that aspirin is neither a miracle nor a placebo, but is a promising drug to be used with certain limitations

Shape variations of the long palmaris longus muscle [Musculus palmaris longus şekil varyasyonlari]

In this experience morphologic variations and existence of palmaris longus muscle was present in only two cases (4.5%). Palmaris longus muscle morpohlogy was studied in two groups. The location of the palmaris longus tendine which is important in surgery was studied as three groups. The results were appraised separately by male-female and left-right. As result, palmaris longus muscle was found in 95.5% of the cases. Fusiforme shapped muscle was determined in 95% cases. Tendineus part was at the first part and at the last part of this muscle in 78.5%. Palmaris brevis muscle was existed in 95.4%

Morphometric anatomy of anterior commissure, pineal body and massa intermedia [Commissura anterior, corpus pineale ve massa intermadia'nin morfometrik anatomisi]

This study used 81 adult cadaver cerebral hemispheres without macroscopic pathology, fixed with 10% formalin to investigate the morphometry of the anterior commissure, pineal body and massa intermedia which are in close relation with the third ventricle. We observed the anterior-posterior distance of the anterior commissure as 2.5±0.56 mm (max. 3.8-min. 1.1 mm), and height as 3.9±0.8 mm (max. 5.8-min. 1.84 mm). The distance of the intermediate mass to the cerebral fornix was measured as 5.25±1.78 mm (max. 9.2-min. 1.44 mm). The distances of massa intermedia to the interventricular foramen and to the lowest point of the ventricle were 4±0.91 mm (max. 6.3-min. 2.5 mm.) and 6.26±1.26 mm (max. 8.2-min. 3.1 mm), consequently. The distance of the massa intermedia to the anterior commissure was 6.58±1.2 mm (max. 9.04-min. 4.22 mm), and the posterior commissure was 9.76±2.08 mm (max. 13-min. 3.1 mm). The anterior-posterior distance of the pineal body was 6.62±1.5 mm (max. 9.3-min. 1.88 mm.) and the height was 3.78±0.65 mm (max. 5-min. 2.4 mm.)

Study on prophylactic efficacies of daptomycin and vancomycin in a rat model of MRSA infection secondary to spinal implantation [Spinal enstrümantasyon sonrasi{dotless} MRSA enfeksiyonu oluşturulmuş rat modeli üzerinde vankomisin ve daptomisin'in profilaktik etkileri]

The present study aims to investigate the prophylactic effects of daptomycin and vancomycin in an experimental spinal infection induced by spinal implantation. The study involved inoculation of a bacterial suspension prepared with the MRSA ATCC 43300 strain to the implant bed and to the peripheral tissue immediately the implantation of titanium spinal implants to the bone in adult Winstar rats. The animals were divided into three groups; seven rats in the first group received no antibiotics, while the seven rats in group two and eight rats in group three received daptomycin and vancomycin, respectively. Microbiological and histological assessments were carried out on rats with induced infections. In the swab cultures of deep surgical areas, vancomycin demonstrated inhibition of infection of the surgical site in half of animals (50%) whereas daptomycin exhibited the same effect in more animals (71.4%), which was statistically significant compared to the control group (p0.05). As a result; comparing control group, preventive effects of daptomycin and vancomycin in infection induced model of spinal implantation with high bacteria inoculums were not found statistically significant whereas daptomycin showed statistically significant inhibition on deep surgical area infection

Evaluation of plantar pressure distributions in patients with anterior cruciate ligament deficiency: Preoperative and postoperative changes

Background/aim: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency results in several kinematic changes in the lower extremities. The aim of this study is to define the plantar pressure parameters in ACL-deficient patients and to show the effect of ACL reconstruction on dynamic plantar pressure. Materials and methods: Forty patients with unilateral ACL rupture and 40 healthy controls were included in this study. Dynamic plantar pressures of both groups were recorded by the EMED SF-2 system during level walking. Thirteen of the patients who had ACL reconstructions with hamstring autografts (HS group) were reevaluated at an average of 14.5 months following the ACL reconstructions. Results: ACL-deficient patients had significantly lower hindfoot (P = 0.007) but higher midfoot pressure values (P = 0.03) on their ipsilateral foot compared to control group subjects. Ipsilateral hindfoot pressures were also found to be significantly lower than those of the contralateral foot (P = 0.001). Hindfoot pressure values of the HS group were increased in postoperative measurements (P = 0.01). Conclusion: ACL-deficient patients have altered plantar pressure distributions and ACL reconstructions restore these changes to normal. Pedobarography might be used as a practical method for dynamic functional assessment of ACL-deficient patients. © TÜBİTAK