A Blind Student’s Outdoor Science Learning Experience: Barrier Hunting at METU Science and Technology Museum

The aim of this study is about how to adapt the science centers to blind students. For this purpose a barrier hunting methodology is used. This methodology includes seven steps such as selecting the group and place, recording the barriers during the visit and evaluating the recorded barriers. According to the barrier hunting with a blind student at METU Science and Technology Museum, barriers are categorized in six dimensions; access barriers to the area, access barriers to the material, access barriers to the information, safety barriers around the area, safety barriers around the material, and validity problems about the information. These dimensions also present suggestions about how to make the METU Science and Technology Museum more visit friendly

Epileptic seizure-induced structural and functional changes in rat femur and tibia bone tissues: a Fourier transform infrared imaging study

The disease- and drug- related bone disorders are rapidly increasing in the population. It is previously reported that anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) may cause osteopenia, osteoporosis, and fractures in epilepsy patients. However, it cannot be determined whether the bone disorders in epileptic patients are due to AED therapy and/or to epilepsy and epileptic seizures. There is no study in the literature which investigates the sole effects of epilepsy and epileptic seizures on bone tissues. The current study provides the first report on determination of the possible effects of epilepsy and epileptic seizures on long bone tissues. Wistar Albino Glaxo/Rijswijk rats, which are accepted as genetic rat models for human absence epilepsy, were compared with the healthy Wistar rats to get information about the sole effects of epilepsy and epileptic seizures on bones. Cortical regions of tibia and femur bones were studied by Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (FTIRM). According to FTIRM parameters, variation on bone mineral and matrix composition, including decreased mineral content, decreased collagen cross-links, increased carbonate substitution, and larger crystals in epileptic group compared to the healthy one, show severe effects of epilepsy and seizures on bone tissues for the first time. (C) 2013 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE

Using a Force Concept Inventory Test with Visually Impaired and Blind Students

This paper reports on a study to determine whether blind students’ conceptualizations of force and motion differ from sighted students. This is particularly concerned with the question of whether the students’ visual experiences have any relation to their conceptualizations or misconceptualization about force and motion. The research was designed as a case study and the data was collected from 6 blind high school students based on conceptual physics problems related to force and motion. The analysis of the data revealed that although the blind students’ conceptions about force and motion are not radically different from those of sighted students, however, there were several conceptual problems that seem to be particular to the blind students because of their lack of visual experiences. The results revealed that visual experiences do not seem to have a significant role on the conceptualizations about force and motion

Effects of carbamazepine on serum parathormone, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, bone specific alkaline phosphatase, C-telopeptide, and osteocalcin levels in healthy rats

It is still not completely clear whether carbamazepine causes alterations in vitamin D status and in bone metabolism. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of carbamazepine on serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and on biomarkers of bone formation and resorption in healthy rats. Levels of calcium, 25- hydroxyvitamin D, parathormone, C-telopeptide, bone specific alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin were measured in 3 groups of rats consisting of controls (n=10), isotonic saline solution group (n=10) and carbamazepine group (n=10). Mean calcium levels were found to be significantly lower in healthy controls in comparison to isotonic saline solution and carbamazepine groups (10.0+/-4, 10.81+/-0.16, 10.93+/-0.22 mg/dL, respectively, p<0.05). Mean levels of 25- hydroxyvitamin D, were found to be significantly higher in control group compared to isotonic saline solution group (25- hydroxyvitamin D; 25.91+/-1.12, 19.99+/-0.99 ng/mL, respectively, p<0.01.). Mean levels of parathormone and osteocalcin were found to be significantly higher in control group compared to isotonic saline solution group and carbamazepine group. Parathormone levels were measured as 3.46+/-0.83, 1.08+/-0.08, 0.94+/-0.02 pg/mL, respectively (p<0.01). Osteocalcine levels were measured as 1.66+/-0.001, 1.32+/-0.002, 1.32+/-0.001 ng/mL, respectively (p<0.001). A significant difference in terms of mean serum bone specific alkaline phosphatase and C-telopeptide levels among groups was not observed. The main outcome of this prospective study in healthy rats showed no change in biochemical parameters of bone turnover during treatment with carbamazepine. (C) 2012 Association of Basic Medical Sciences of FBH. All rights reserve

Effects of carbamazepine on serum parathormone, 25- hydroxyvitamin D, bone specific alkaline phosphatase, C-telopeptide, and osteocalcin levels in healthy rats

It is still not completely clear whether carbamazepine causes alterations in vitamin D status and in bone metabolism. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of carbamazepine on serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and on biomarkers of bone formation and resorption in healthy rats. Levels of calcium, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, parathormone, C-telopeptide, bone specific alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin were measured in 3 groups of rats consisting of controls (n=10), isotonic saline solution group (n=10) and carbamazepine group (n=10). Mean calcium levels were found to be significantly lower in healthy controls in comparison to isotonic saline solution and carbamazepine groups (10.0±0.24, 10.81±0.16, 10.93±0.22 mg/dL, respectively, p<0.05). Mean levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, were found to be significantly higher in control group compared to isotonic saline solution group (25-hydroxyvitamin D; 25.91±1.12, 19.99±0.99 ng/mL, respectively, p<0.01). Mean levels of parathormone and osteocalcin were found to be significantly higher in control group compared to isotonic saline solution group and carbamazepine group. Parathormone levels were measured as 3.46±0.83, 1.08±0.08, 0.94±0.02 pg/mL, respectively (p<0.01). Osteocalcine levels were measured as 1.66±0.001, 1.32±0.002, 1.32±0.001 ng/mL, respectively (p<0.001). A significant difference in terms of mean serum bone specific alkaline phosphatase and C-telopeptide levels among groups was not observed. The main outcome of this prospective study in healthy rats showed no change in biochemical parameters of bone turnover during treatment with carbamazepine

Effects of carbamazepine on serum parathormone, 25- hydroxyvitamin D, bone specific alkaline phosphatase, C-telopeptide, and osteocalcin levels in healthy rats

It is still not completely clear whether carbamazepine causes alterations in vitamin D status and in bone metabolism. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of carbamazepine on serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and on biomarkers of bone formation and resorption in healthy rats. Levels of calcium, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, parathormone, C-telopeptide, bone specific alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin were measured in 3 groups of rats consisting of controls (n=10), isotonic saline solution group (n=10) and carbamazepine group (n=10). Mean calcium levels were found to be significantly lower in healthy controls in comparison to isotonic saline solution and carbamazepine groups (10.0±0.24, 10.81±0.16, 10.93±0.22 mg/dL, respectively, p<0.05). Mean levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, were found to be significantly higher in control group compared to isotonic saline solution group (25-hydroxyvitamin D; 25.91±1.12, 19.99±0.99 ng/mL, respectively, p<0.01). Mean levels of parathormone and osteocalcin were found to be significantly higher in control group compared to isotonic saline solution group and carbamazepine group. Parathormone levels were measured as 3.46±0.83, 1.08±0.08, 0.94±0.02 pg/mL, respectively (p<0.01). Osteocalcine levels were measured as 1.66±0.001, 1.32±0.002, 1.32±0.001 ng/mL, respectively (p<0.001). A significant difference in terms of mean serum bone specific alkaline phosphatase and C-telopeptide levels among groups was not observed. The main outcome of this prospective study in healthy rats showed no change in biochemical parameters of bone turnover during treatment with carbamazepine

Effect of hyperparathyroidism on endothelial functions and atherosclerosis

Background: Primary Hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is associated with an increased mortality risk of cardiovascular disease, and this appears to decrease with time after parathyroidectomy. Our study aimed to determine the association between endothelial function, Carotid Artery Intima Media Thickness (CIMT), and Flow Mediated Dilatation (FMD) in hyperparathyroidism and their effects on cardiovascular disease. Methods: The study included 20 patients each with PHPT and Secondary Hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) and 12 healthy subjects. All groups were matched with respect to age. Patients with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases were excluded from the study. Levels of serum calcium, Parathormone (PTH), and Daily Urinary Calcium Excretion (UCE) were calculated; furthermore, FMD and CIMT were evaluated for all subjects. Results: Serum calcium levels were significantly higher in the PHPT group than those in the SHPT and control groups (P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). As expected, UCE levels of PHPT group were higher than those of both the control and SHPT groups (P<0.001, P<0.001 respectively). FMD and CIMT levels were not significantly different between the groups. There was a negative correlation between FMD and serum calcium and PTH levels in the PHPT group (P<0.05)