Perspectives of Dumlupınar University Medical Faculty Students to Organ Donation and Transplantation

AimOrgan transplantation has become the standard therapy for the treatment of several end-stage diseases with organ failure. However, the increase in organ transplantation is only possible with the increasing number of donated organs. Knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of medical faculty students about organ donation and transplantation is socially important to positively affect the increase in organ donation rates. In this study, we aimed to investigate perspectives, knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of medical faculty students about organ donation and transplantation.Material and MethodsA 27-item survey questioning age, education level, knowledge, attitudes and behaviours about organ donation and transplantation, was administered to Dumlupınar University Medical Faculty students (n = 110). Results were analyzed with SPSS-16.0 statistic programme.ResultsThere was a statistically significant difference among all classes in terms of ‘Do you support organ donation?’ and ‘Have you donated your organs?’ questions (respectively; p = 0.017, p = 0.010). Statistically significant difference was observed in each class in terms of the knowledge about organ donation (p=0.000). The initial tendency is in the direction of media publicity and the trend is towards informing the public through educational institutions and media in terms of ‘What kind of attempts and applications should be made in order to promote organ donation and to increase the public’s awareness about organ donation and transplantation in Turkey?’ question. On the other hand, it was observed that the widespread tendency is in the direction of public information through media and educational institutions in terms of ‘What are the applications that can lead to an increase in the number of organ transplantation and to the spread of organ donation in Turkey?’ question.ConclusionWe observed that the knowledge of medical faculty students about organ donation and transplantation increases in parallel to the increase in medical school education level and their attitudes and behaviours change in a positive manner

Evaluation of multidrug resistance-1 gene C>;T polymorphism frequency in patients with asthma

OBJECTIVES:Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease characterized by bronchial hyperresponsiveness and airflow obstruction. Genetic and oxidative stress factors, in addition to pulmonary and systemic inflammatory processes, play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of asthma. The products of the multidrug resistance-1 gene protect lung tissue from oxidative stress. Here, we aimed to evaluate the association between the multidrug resistance-1 gene C>;T polymorphism and asthma with regard to oxidative stress-related parameters of asthmatic patients.METHODS:Forty-five patients with asthma and 27 healthy age-matched controls were included in this study. Blood samples were collected in tubes with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. DNA was extracted from the blood samples. The multidrug resistance-1 gene polymorphism was detected by polymerase chain reaction and a subsequent enzyme digestion technique. The serum levels of total oxidant status and total antioxidant status were determined by the colorimetric measurement method.RESULTS:The heterozygous polymorphic genotype was the most frequent in both groups. A significant difference in the multidrug resistance-1 genotype frequencies between groups indicated an association of asthma with the TT genotype. A significant difference between groups was found for wild type homozygous participants and carriers of polymorphic allele participants. The frequency of the T allele was significantly higher in asthmatic patients. The increase in the oxidative stress index parameter was significant in the asthma group compared with the control group.CONCLUSIONS:The multidrug resistance-1 gene C/T polymorphism may be an underlying genetic risk factor for the development of asthma via oxidant-antioxidant imbalance, leading to increased oxidative stress

Shifts in appraisal dimensions as mediators of efficiency of reappraisal in emotion regulation

Üks viis oma emotsiooni reguleerida on kasutada ümberhindamist ehk muuta oma tõlgendust emotsiooni tekitanud olukorrast. Kuigi tõlgendusdimensioonide rolli ümberhindamises on ammu teadvustatud, pole seda ideed ümberhindamise uurimisel seni kasutatud. Käesoleva uurimistöö eesmärk on uurida, kas ja kuivõrd võivad muutused tõlgendusdimensioonidel vahendada ümberhindamise mõju emotsiooni regulatsioonile. Igapäevaelus ettetulevate emotsioonide reguleerimise mõõtmiseks kasutati 7 päeva jooksul kogemuse väljavõtte meetodit. Tekstisõnumiga teavitades paluti uuritavatel kella 11, 13 ja 15 ajal täita küsimustiku päevane osa ning kell 19 küsimustiku õhtune kokkuvõtlik osa. Regressioonanalüüsidega uuriti tõlgendusdimensioonide muutuse ja emotsiooni muutuse vahelisi seoseid ning medieerimisanalüüsiga uuriti, kas ja kuivõrd tõlgendusdimensioonide muutused vahendavad ümberhindamise kasutamise mõju emotsioonide muutusele. Uuringus osales 181 inimest vanuses 18-52 aastat ( M =28.25; SD =7.75), kellest 85% olid naised. Saadud tulemused kinnitasid, et kolme analüüsitud emotsiooni - viha, ärevuse, lõõgastuse - muutused on arvestatavas osas seletatavad muutustega kindluse, olulisuse, eesmärgipärasuse, vastutuse ja kontrolli tõlgendusdimensioonidel. Tulemused näitavad ka, et eesmärgipärasus on universaalne tõlgendusdimensioon, mille hinnang tõuseb nii negatiivse emotsiooni vähendamisel kui ka positiivse emotsiooni suurendamisel. Medieerimisanalüüsid näitasid ainult lõõgastuse puhul, et tõlgendusdimensioonid vahendavad ümberhindamise kasutamise ja emotsiooni muutuse vahelist seost ning seda läbi muutuste eesmärgipärasuse, vastutuse ja kontrolli tõlgendusdimensioonidel. Käesolev uuring demonstreerib tõlgendusdimensioonide väärtust ümberhindamise käigus toimuvate kognitiivsete protsesside mõistmisel. Kuna tulemused on eripalgelised, vajab küsimus täiendavat uurimist

Spr based dıagnosıs of hb d-los angeles at gene level

Anormal hemoglobinler ve talasemiler, ülkemizde ve dünyada rastlanan en önemli kalıtsal sorunlardan birini oluşturmaktadır. Bu sorun gen kaynaklı olduğu için, hasta bireylerin doğmasını önlemek amacıyla evlilik öncesi tarama çalışmaları yapılmaktadır. Denizli yöresinde yapılan evlilik öncesi tarama çalışmalarında çeşitli anormal hemoglobin türlerinin varlığı saptanmıştır. Yöremizde Hb G-Coushatta, Hb D-Los Angeles türü anormal hemoglobinler beklenenden daha yüksek oranda bulunmaktadır. Bu hemoglobin türleri, evlilik öncesi tarama ve tanımlama çalışmalarında Hb S ile sıklıkla karıştırılabilmektedir. SPR spektroskopisi, birbiri ile ilişkili moleküller arasındaki etkileşimin incelenebilmesinde, radyoaktif yada non-radyoaktif madde gibi herhangi bir işaretleyiciye gereksinim duyulmaksızın biyofiziksel çalışmaların yapılabilmesini sağlayan gerçek zamanlı bir biyosensör türüdür. Bu tez çalışmasında, anormal bir hemoglobin olan Hb D-Los Angeles model olarak kullanılıp, SPR yöntemi ile gen düzeyinde tanısının yapılması amaçlanmıştır. Elde edilen veriler doğrultusunda SPR spektroskopisinin, anormal hemoglobinlerin hızlı ve ucuz tanısına yönelik aday bir yöntem olduğu belirlenmiştir.Abnormal hemoglobins and thalassemias are one of the most important genetic diseases observed in the world population as well as in Turkey. Since the problem is in genetic level, premarital screening programs are necessary for the prevention of these diseases leading to prenatal diagnostic approaches. In Denizli province of Turkey, many different abnormal hemoglobins, especially Hb D-Los Angeles, Hb G-Coushatta and Hb S are observed in premarital screening program. The molecular diagnosis of these abnormal hemoglobins has some difficulties due to their similar electrophoretic and chromatographic properties. SPR spectroscopy is a real-time biosensor which does not require any labelling system for the identification of biologically interacting molecules. The aim of this thesis is to diagnose the Hb D-Los Angeles mutation at gene level by using SPR approach. According to our results, SPR approach merits for the molecular detection of abnormal hemoglobins in premarital screening programs as a quick and cheap testing system

The effect of nesfatin on blood pressure regulation in normal and stress created rats

Bu tez, Pamukkale Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri tarafından desteklenen, 2011SBE005 nolu proje kapsamında gerçekleştirilmiştir.Nesfatin merkezi ve periferik sinir sisteminde, periferik dokularda salgılanan ve homeostazisin düzenlenmesinde görev aldığı bildirilen bir peptitdir. Kan beyin bariyerini her iki doğrultuda geçebilen ve literatürde beslenme üzerine olan etkileri daha detaylı olarak çalışılmış olan bu peptidin, diğer fizyolojik parametrelere etkisi ve etki mekanizmaları halen tam olarak aydınlığa kavuşturulamamıştır. Yapılmış olan bu çalışmada, normal ve kronik hareketsizlik stresi oluşturulmuş sıçanlarda, kronik periferik nesfatin-1 uygulamasının kan basıncına olan etkilerini araştırdık. Çalışmamızda, 3 aylık Wistar cinsi erkek sıçanlar kullanıldı. Sıçanlar K, S, K+N, S+N olmak üzere 4 gruba ayrıldı. Deney başında ve sonunda hayvanların kan basınçları, vücut ağırlıkları ölçüldü. Çalışma bitiminde anestezisi altında sıçanlardan doku ve kan örnekleri toplandı. Kalp dokusu örneklerinden L-Tipi Ca+2 kanal α1c alt birimi proteini ekspresyon düzeyinin belirlenmesi için Western Blot analizi yapıldı. ELISA yöntemi ile plazma örneklerinde anjiyotensinojen, ACE2, AngII, endotelin-1, eNOS, aldosteron, kortizol, nesfatin-1 düzeyleri çalışıldı. Elde edilen verilerin istatiksel analizi için SPSS 16.0 programı kullanıldı. S+N grubunda K grubuna göre sıçanların vücut ağırlıklarında istatiksel olarak anlamlı bir azalma gözlendi. S+N ve K+N gruplarında K ve S gruplarına göre kan basıncı değerlerindeki artışın istatiksel olarak anlamlı olduğu saptandı. K grubuna göre S+N grubunda L-Tipi Ca+2 kanal α1c alt birimi proteini ekspresyon düzeyinde istatiksel olarak anlamlı artış saptandı. Stres grubuna göre K+N ve S+N gruplarında plazma anjiyotensinojen seviyelerinin ise istatiksel olarak anlamlı bir şekilde azaldığı gözlendi. K+N ve S+N gruplarında, S ve K gruplarına göre plazma ACE2 seviyelerindeki artışın istatiksel açıdan anlamlı olduğu tespit edildi. K grubuna göre S ve S+N gruplarında, plazma AngII seviyelerinin istatiksel açıdan anlamlı olarak arttığı, sadece S grubunda ise plazma eNOS seviyesinin istatistiksel açıdan anlamlı olarak arttığı görüldü. Kontrol ve S gruplarına göre S+N grubunda plazma eNOS seviyesindeki artışın anlamlı olduğu görüldü. Sonuç olarak; kronik periferal nesfatin-1 uygulamasının sıçanlarda kan basıncını arttırdığını söyleyebiliriz. Nesfatin-1’in kalpte L-Tipi Ca+2 kanal α1c alt birimi proteini ekspresyon düzeyini arttırarak, periferde plazma ACE2 yolağını aktive ederek ve eNOS azalışına neden olarak kan basıncını yükseltici etki gösterdiğini düşünmekteyiz.Nesfatin is a peptide secreted by peripheral tissues, central and peripheral nervous system. It is involved in the regulation of homeostasis. Nesfatin can be able to pass through the blood-brain barrier in both directions. Its effects on nutrition have been studied in more detailed in the literature. But its effects on other physiological parameters and mechanisms of action are still needs to be clarified. In this study we have investigated the effect of peripheral chronic nesfatin-1 application on blood pressure regulation in normal and chronic immobilization stress created rats. In our study, three month-aged male Wistar rats were used. Rats were divided into 4 groups as C, S, C+N, S+N. Animals's blood pressures and body weights were measured at the begining and end of the experimantal process. At the end of the study tissues and blood samples were collected from rats under anesthesia. Western blot analysis was performed to determine the level of L-type Ca2+ channel α1c subunit protein expression in heart tissue samples. Angiotensinogen, ACE2, AngII, endothelin-1, eNOS, aldosterone, cortisol, nesfatin-1 levels were determined in plasma samples by ELISA. SPSS 16.0 program was used for statistical analysis of data obtained. Statistically significant reduction of body weights in S+N group compared to C was observed. Statistically significant increase of blood pressure values in C+N and S+N groups compared to C and S groups were observed. Statistically significant increase of heart L-type Ca2+ channel α1c subunit protein expression level values in S+N groups compared to C group was observed. Statistically significant reduction of plasma angiotensinojen levels in C+N and S+N groups compared to S group was observed. Statistically significant increase of plasma ACE2 levels in C+N and S+N groups compared to S and C groups were observed. Statistically significant increase of plasma AngII levels in S and S+N groups compared to C group was observed. Statistically significant increase of plasma eNOS level in S group compared to C group was observed. Statistically significant reduction of plasma eNOS level in S+N group compared to S and C groups were observed. As a result, we can say that chronic peripheral nesfatin-1 application increases blood pressure in rats. We believe that nesfatin-1 showed the strengthening effect on blood pressure by increasing of L-type Ca2+ channels α1c subunit protein expression in the heart, decreasing eNOS plasma level and activating ACE2 pathway in the periphery