Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)1.

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field

Diagnosis of comorbid migraine without aura in patients with idiopathic/genetic epilepsy based on the gray zone approach to the International Classification of Headache Disorders 3 criteria

BackgroundMigraine without aura (MwoA) is a very frequent and remarkable comorbidity in patients with idiopathic/genetic epilepsy (I/GE). Frequently in clinical practice, diagnosis of MwoA may be challenging despite the guidance of current diagnostic criteria of the International Classification of Headache Disorders 3 (ICHD-3). In this study, we aimed to disclose the diagnostic gaps in the diagnosis of comorbid MwoA, using a zone concept, in patients with I/GEs with headaches who were diagnosed by an experienced headache expert.MethodsIn this multicenter study including 809 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of I/GE with or without headache, 163 patients who were diagnosed by an experienced headache expert as having a comorbid MwoA were reevaluated. Eligible patients were divided into three subgroups, namely, full diagnosis, zone I, and zone II according to their status of fulfilling the ICHD-3 criteria. A Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis was performed to bring out the meaningful predictors when evaluating patients with I/GEs for MwoA comorbidity, using the variables that were significant in the univariate analysis.ResultsLonger headache duration (<4 h) followed by throbbing pain, higher visual analog scale (VAS) scores, increase of pain by physical activity, nausea/vomiting, and photophobia and/or phonophobia are the main distinguishing clinical characteristics of comorbid MwoA in patients with I/GE, for being classified in the full diagnosis group. Despite being not a part of the main ICHD-3 criteria, the presence of associated symptoms mainly osmophobia and also vertigo/dizziness had the distinguishing capability of being classified into zone subgroups. The most common epilepsy syndromes fulfilling full diagnosis criteria (n = 62) in the CART analysis were 48.39% Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy followed by 25.81% epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures alone.ConclusionLonger headache duration, throbbing pain, increase of pain by physical activity, photophobia and/or phonophobia, presence of vertigo/dizziness, osmophobia, and higher VAS scores are the main supportive associated factors when applying the ICHD-3 criteria for the comorbid MwoA diagnosis in patients with I/GEs. Evaluating these characteristics could be helpful to close the diagnostic gaps in everyday clinical practice and fasten the diagnostic process of comorbid MwoA in patients with I/GEs

HPLC-PDA DETERMINATION OF PSEUDO TARAXASTEROL (Ψ-TARAXASTEROL) IN DIFFERENT COUSINIA SPECIES

Active contours are now established as a technique for extracting salient contours from an image. Unfortunately the original technique suffers from many problems. A novel model-based dual active contour, a method of integrating global shape information with two active contours, has been developed to overcome the primary problems; sensitivity to initialisation and undesirable attractions by insignificant localised or regionalised features. The model guides the technique to avoid insignificant minima and is relinquished when the energy minimum is sufficiently compatible. The technique then finally operates as a pair of conventional active contours, ensuring that only image information is extracted, consistent with the original technique

A method approach for identifying thematic footpaths in ecotourism: Kiyikoy pabucdere and Kazandere basins

In this study; new tracks were created, alternative to the existing walking routes within Kiyikoy Region, with the foresight of Tourism routes are both an important element of economic growth and a natural and cultural heritage value. This process was carried out by analysing natural and cultural values ecologically, with a participatory approach. The research area, located in the Thrace region of Turkey; facilitates the emergence of different tourist routes and corridors with its historical and cultural identity, natural values, local capabilities, history and product focused route traces (Sultan Road, Dionysus Wine Road), and natural identity. The working area is recommended as ecotourism centre in the upper scale planning decisions with its potential. In this study, it was aimed to create ecotourism development corridors, which are passing through the rural areas, forest roads, historical route traces, cultural axes and agricultural axes, by connecting the natural and cultural resources integrally within thematic routes, instead of point-scale ecotourism planning. For this reason the area was divided into micro watersheds, determined by the natural watershed boundaries. Each micro-watershed was evaluated according to six basic factors, including; natural landscape attractiveness, accessibility, tourist infrastructure facilities, tourist superstructure facilities, socio-cultural landscape attractiveness and the impact of visitors on ecotourism resources and their perspectives. The ecotourism value of each micro watershed was determined in line with ecological examination. 11 different designated thematic routes, which are distinguished with their natural, cultural and historical source values, were created for nature walking in the aforementioned area. As a result, it is ensured to create a strong tourism route and destination regarding ecotourism, and to develop proposals for a sustainable rural improvement of the weak areas of the region. The created lines where ecotourism routes are identified will provide a fundamental base for decision-makers and practitioners in the fields of tourism and rural development. Besides, the method developed can be used on different areas and in different countries.TUBITAKTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [213O298]This study was supported by TUBITAK (Project No:213O298) rapid support

A METHOD APPROACH FOR IDENTIFYING THEMATIC FOOTPATHS IN ECOTOURISM: KIYIKOY PABUCDERE AND KAZANDERE BASINS

uzun, osman/0000-0002-7588-9524WOS: 000392555800063In this study; new tracks were created, alternative to the existing walking routes within Kiyikoy Region, with the foresight of "Tourism routes are both an important element of economic growth and a natural and cultural heritage value". This process was carried out by analysing natural and cultural values ecologically, with a participatory approach. The research area, located in the Thrace region of Turkey; facilitates the emergence of different tourist routes and corridors with its historical and cultural identity, natural values, local capabilities, history and product focused route traces (Sultan Road, Dionysus Wine Road), and natural identity. The working area is recommended as ecotourism centre in the upper scale planning decisions with its potential. In this study, it was aimed to create ecotourism development corridors, which are passing through the rural areas, forest roads, historical route traces, cultural axes and agricultural axes, by connecting the natural and cultural resources integrally within thematic routes, instead of point-scale ecotourism planning. For this reason the area was divided into micro watersheds, determined by the natural watershed boundaries. Each micro-watershed was evaluated according to six basic factors, including; natural landscape attractiveness, accessibility, tourist infrastructure facilities, tourist superstructure facilities, socio-cultural landscape attractiveness and the impact of visitors on ecotourism resources and their perspectives. The ecotourism value of each micro watershed was determined in line with ecological examination. 11 different designated thematic routes, which are distinguished with their natural, cultural and historical source values, were created for nature walking in the aforementioned area. As a result, it is ensured to create a strong tourism route and destination regarding ecotourism, and to develop proposals for a sustainable rural improvement of the weak areas of the region. The created lines where ecotourism routes are identified will provide a fundamental base for decision-makers and practitioners in the fields of tourism and rural development. Besides, the method developed can be used on different areas and in different countries.TUBITAKTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [213O298]This study was supported by TUBITAK (Project No:213O298) rapid support