DIAGNOSTIC APPROACH TO BEHAVIORAL OR "NON-SUBSTANCE" ADDICTIONS

Until recently, non-substance related behavioral addictions were not categorized in diagnostic manuals of mental disorders. Addictive states are characterized by changed reinforcement contingencies, anhedonia, diminished capacity to experience pleasures due to reduced sensitivity to endogenous brain dopamine, and increased sensitivity to internal and external triggering factors. An underlying biological mechanism for urge-driven disorders may involve the pre-frontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, the ventral tegmental area, amygdala and hippocampus, which are considered to play a critical role in the characteristic behavioral impairments of addictive disorders. Recent literature implicates serotonergic, dopaminergic, noradrenergic, and opioidergic neurotransmitter systems in the pathophysiology of behavioral addictions. A reduction in the sensitivity of the brain reward system and hyperactivity towards addiction-associated stimuli was demonstrated in addiction disorders. Due to the lack of a diagnostic guide, different psychometric instruments were used to assess behavioral addictions, including pathological gambling, compulsive buying, internet addiction, video/computer game addiction, sexual addiction, and excessive tanning. Psychosocial interventions encourage the abstinence by lifestyle changes, and reinforce healthy behaviors via motivational enhancement and cognitive behavioral therapies. Pharmacologically, there are no medications currently approved for the treatment of behavioral addictions, but naltrexone, topiramate, and N-acerylcysteine have some promising effects

Effect of vanadium and heat treatment on the corrosion behavior of ferritic stainless steel

WOS: 000257098500003In this study, the corrosion behavior of ferritic stainless steel with 1 wt. % V was determined by AC impedance technique and mass-loss method. The samples were cast, then shaped by forging. 0.1 M H2SO4 and 0.3 M HCl acid solutions were used as corrosive environments. The samples were classified into three groups. In the first group, samples were unhomogenized, remaining in production condition. The second and third group samples were exposed to homogenization at 1100 degrees C for 30 min or 180 min, respectively, and then quenched. SEM investigations were performed for samples exposed to corrosion for 30 min and 360 min. Subsequently, it was determined that adding vanadium increased corrosion resistance in chloric acid solution but has no helpful effect in sulphuric acid solution, according to AC impedance test results. The mass-loss results showed that vanadium increased corrosion resistance of ferritic stainless steel in both solutions

Spatiotemporal analysis of meteorological drought over Kucuk Menderes River Basin in the Aegean Region of Turkey

Eris, Ebru/0000-0003-0601-7666; CAVUS, Yonca/0000-0002-0528-284X; aksu, Hakan/0000-0003-4686-7446; Aksoy, Hafzullah/0000-0001-5807-5660; Burgan, Halil Ibrahim/0000-0001-6018-3521WOS: 000572602800001Meteorological drought is analyzed both in time and space by using drought indices based on site-specific precipitation and temperature data. Departure of precipitation from its normal called in this study as the Dimensionless Precipitation Anomaly Index (DPAI) is used at annual scale, while the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) using precipitation and the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) using precipitation and temperature are considered at monthly time scale. Five meteorological stations over Kucuk Menderes River Basin in the western part of Turkey are selected for the case study. Results are presented in the forms of drought index time series, drought risk graphs, and drought severity maps. the prolonged severe historical dry periods of the river basin are correctly identified by the drought indices. It is seen that simple tools such as the drought indices used in this study based on easily available meteorological data could explain temporal variability at a site or spatial variability over a river basin. They are therefore important not only for the scientific community dealing with drought as a research problem but also for decision-makers, stakeholders, and end-users making practice about the drought through water allocation studies and drought management plans.Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [116Y425, 2219]; Research Fund of Istanbul Technical University (ITU) through the Undergraduate Contributed-Research Program, LOKAP [FLO-2019-42174]; Fulbright through the Academic Research Scholarship; Istanbul Technical University (ITU) through the International Research and Cooperation Program, UAIP [MUA-2019-42094]This study is based on findings of the project Hydrologic risks and water quality change for sustainable water management under the impact of climate change (IKLIM-RISK), Project number: 116Y425, funded by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK). the study was also supported by the Research Fund of Istanbul Technical University (ITU) through the Undergraduate Contributed-Research Program, LOKAP, Project number: FLO-2019-42174. the final manuscript was written and submitted during the stay of H Aksoy at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA, supported by (1) Fulbright through the Academic Research Scholarship; (2) Istanbul Technical University (ITU) through the International Research and Cooperation Program, UAIP, Project number: MUA-2019-42094; and (3) the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) through the 2219 Post-doctoral Research Program, all greatly appreciated

Sensorimotor Integration Training In Parkinson'S Disease

Objectives: To determine the effects of sensorimotor integration training on postural control in Parkinson's disease. Methods: This prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted at Hacettepe University (Ankara, Turkey). The study was carried out from August 2012 until March 2015 and included 24 Parkinson's patients with stage 2-3 according to the Modified Hoehn&Yahr Rating Scale. The patients were divided into 2 groups (control and study). The control group received conventional physiotherapy; the study group received sensorimotor integration training combined with conventional physiotherapy, 2 times per week for 6 weeks. We assessed the patients with clinical balance tests and computerized dynamic posturography. Assessments were performed at baseline, 7- and 12-weeks follow-up. Results: Computerized dynamic posturography posturography values (5th and 6th positions, composite balance, and vestibular system scores) were higher in the study group than in the control group. The improvements were maintained at the 12-week follow up except 6th positions scores (p<0.05). Conclusions: Sensorimotor integration training combined with conventional physiotherapy approach ameliorated postural control by improving vestibular system in patients with Parkinson's disease by improving sensory processes.WoSScopu

Carbonic anhydrase I-II autoantibodies and oxidative status in long-term follow-up of patients with Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever

KOSTAKOGLU, UGUR/0000-0002-4589-0962; Demir, Selim/0000-0002-1863-6280WOS: 000425063500009PubMed: 28796539Context: Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a life-threatening acute febrile haemorrhagic disease. Objective: This study was to measure levels of the oxidative stress biomarkers malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) and of CA I-II autoantibodies as biomarkers for autoimmunity and course of disease in patients with CCHF. Methods: Seventy CCHF patients and 39 healthy control volunteers were included in the study. Results: Serum MDA and TAS levels were significantly higher (p < .0001) and serum TOS and OSI levels were significantly lower (p < .0001) in both the acute period and at 6th-month follow-up in the CCHF patients compared to the healthy volunteers. CA II levels were significantly higher in the acute period compared to the healthy volunteers (p < .005) and were significantly lower at 6th-month follow-up (p < .05). Conclusion: Serum MDA and CA II autoantibodies appear to reflect oxidative stress status and disease progression in CCHF and may be used as biomarkers for oxidative stress and disease progression

Refractory Pseudotumour Cerebri in a Pediatric Case

Pseudotumour cerebri (PTC) is traditionally defined as increased intracranial pressure (ICP) >200 mmH(2)O with non-focal neurological findings, except the sixth-nerve palsy, and normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) composition without brain pathology or evidence of venous thrombosis. A 6-years-old girl was referred to our clinic for blurred vision in her left eye and a progressive headache. Her history was positive for a progressive vision loss in the left eye. Both optic disks were blurred and swollen. The opening pressure of CSF was 310 mm/ H2O. Despite the repeated lumbar punctures (LP) and medical treatment, the patient had to undergo the optic nerve sheath fenestration. A consequent shunt procedure had to be performed due to a persistently high CSF level. In this report, we emphasize that if surgical procedures can be applied earlier in refractory PTC cases, better results of visual improvement may be observed. In this report, we emphasize that early surgical treatment in refractory PTC cases results in better visual improvement

Association of CYP2D6*4 gene polymorphism with early papillary thyroid carcinoma

Objectives: CYP2D6 is highly polymorphic and a common variant CYP2D6*4 results in the generation of poor metabolizer enzyme. The CYP2D6*4 variant has been associated with altered susceptibility to several cancers. The aim of the present case-control study aims to investigate the association between CYP2D6*4 polymorphism and the risk of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC)

Relationship Between Hemodynamically Significant Ductus Arteriosus and Ischemia-Modified Albumin in Premature Infants

Hemodynamically significant ductus arteriosus (hsPDA) may alter organ perfusion by interfering blood flow to the tissues. Therefore, in infants with hsPDA, hypoxia occurs in many tissues. In this study, we aimed to investigate the diagnostic significance of serum (ischemia-modified albumin) IMA levels as a screening tool for hsPDA, and its relation to the severity of the disease in the preterm neonates. For this purpose, seventy-two premature infants with gestation age <34 weeks were included in the study. Thirty premature infants with hsPDA were assigned as the study group and 42 premature infants without PDA were determined as the control group. Blood samples were collected before the treatment and 24 h after the treatment, and analyzed for IMA levels. IMA levels in the study group (1.26 +/- 0.36 ABSU) were found to be significantly higher than control group (0.65 +/- 0.12 ABSU) (p < 0.05). In infants with hsPDA, a positive correlation was found between IMA and PDA diameter (rho = 0.876, p = 0.022), and LA/Ao ratio (rho = 0.863, p = 0.014). The cut-off value of IMA for hsPDA was measured as 0.78 ABSU with 88.89 % sensitivity, and 90.24 % specificity, 85.71 % positive predictive, 92.5 % negative predictive value [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.96; p < 0.001]. The mean IMA value of the infants with hsPDA before treatment was 1.26 +/- 0.36 ABSU, and the mean IMA value of infants after medical treatment was 0.67 +/- 0.27 ABSU (p = 0.03). We concluded that IMA can be used as a marker for the diagnosis and monitoring of a successful treatment of hsPDA