Serum Levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IL-17, and IL-18 in Patients With Active Psoriasis and Correlation With Disease Severity

Recent progress in the understanding of psoriasis has shown that the regulation of local and systemic cytokines plays an important role in its pathogenesis. The most often used psoriasis score is the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI). A simple laboratory test from a blood sample would be an attractive, patient-independent, and observer-independent marker of disease severity. To this end, we evaluated the association of serum levels of some proinflammatory cytokines in vivo and their correlation with severity of psoriasis. The serum levels of cytokines levels were determined with the use of the ELISA method. All mean values except IL-17 levels of patients were significantly higher than those of controls. There was a significant correlation between serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-17, and IL-18, and severity of the disease. Psoriasis can be described as a T-cell-mediated disease, with a complex role for a variety of cytokines, which has led to the development of new immunomodulatory therapies. In this study, serum TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, and IL-18 levels were significantly higher in active psoriatic patients than in controls. Furthermore, high levels of IFN-γ, IL-12, and IL-18 correlated with the clinical severity and activity of psoriasis, and those measurements of serum levels of these cytokines may be objective parameters for the disease severity

Which Micro-Organisms are Transferred by Healthcare Personnel Between Hospital and Home?

Introduction: The most important factor in the spread of hospital infections is the hands of healthcare personnel. The aim of ths study was to determine which micro-organisms are transferred from home to hospital, and which from hospital to home, by the hands of healthcare personnel. Material and Methods: The sample universe of this research was the healthcare personnel in a tertiary level public hospital. A total of 10 doctors and 53 nurses, selected at random according to the clinics where they worked, were included. The study data were collected in two stages. In the first stage, the study participants completed a personal information form. In the second stage, samples were taken from the right and left hands of the healthcare personnel on entering and leaving the hospital. The samples were isolated and seeded in culture media. Bacteria identification and antibiotic sensitivity were determined using a BD Phoenix 100 automated system. Results: According to the samples taken, there was determined to be greater bacteria production on the hands of the healthcare personnel when entering the hospital. The greatest production was in the least washed area of the right hand (93.7% on entry, 74.6% on exit). Nurses and those working in surgical clinics were seen to have greater bacteria production on both entry to and exit from the hospital compared to other healthcare workers. The bacteria most produced were MSSE, Micrococcus, Staphylococcus strains, Streptococcus strains and MRSE. In the examination of antibiotic sensitivity, the antibiotics to which the produced bacteria were most sensitive were amikacin, ciprofloxacin, daptomycin, gentamicin levoflaxocin, teicoplanin, linezolid teicoplanin, trimetoprim/sulfamethoxazole and vancomycin. Conclusion: The study results showed that just as healthcare personnel transferred some micro-organisms from home to hospital on their hands, they also transferred some bacteria to home on leaving the hospital. This is of great importance in respect of the spread of hospital infections. With the necessary precautions taken to prevent the transfer of micro-organisms to or from hospital, the prevalence of hospital infections will decrease. Keywords: Healthcare personnel, Micro-organisms, Antibiotic resistance, Hand DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/110-04 Publication date:August 31st 202

Comparison of Effects of Smoking and Smokeless Tobacco “Maras Powder” Use on Humoral Immune System Parameters

Background. The aim of this study is to assess the impacts of “Maras powder” and cigarette smoking on the parameters of the humoral immune system. Material and Methods. One hundred seventy seven subjects were included in the study. The IgA, IgG, IgM, C3 and C4 levels were detected via nephelometric method. Results. In 1.4% of the control group IgM levels were below normal where it was 10.8% and 18.6% in Maras powder group and in cigarette smoking group respectively. The IgM levels of both groups were significantly lower compared to the control group (P < .05). Nonetheless, the IgE levels of Maras powder group and smoking group were found to be remarkably higher compared to the control group (P < .01). Conclusion. Effects of Maras powder on humoral immune response were found to be similar to that of smoking

The Effects of Oxidative Stress in Urinary Tract Infection During Pregnancy

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of urinary tract infection (UTI) on antioxidant systems and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels during pregnancy. We also investigated if these antioxidant systems and LPO levels differed in each trimester. One hundred forty-three nonpregnant women, as a control group, and 77 pregnant women were included in the study. Urine cultures were performed according to standard techniques. Catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and LPO levels were measured using a spectrophotometer. UTI was observed in 14 of 77 pregnant women and the isolated microorganisms were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus. CAT, SOD, and LPO levels were increased in pregnant women compared with nonpregnant women (P < .01). CAT, SOD activities, and LPO levels were increased from the first trimester to the third trimester in pregnancy without UTI. However, CAT and SOD activities were decreased, LPO levels were increased from the first trimester to the third trimester in pregnancy with UTI (P < .01). Pregnancy causes oxidative stress and also UTI during pregnancy may aggravate oxidative stress

Mitochondrial physiology

As the knowledge base and importance of mitochondrial physiology to evolution, health and disease expands, the necessity for harmonizing the terminology concerning mitochondrial respiratory states and rates has become increasingly apparent. The chemiosmotic theory establishes the mechanism of energy transformation and coupling in oxidative phosphorylation. The unifying concept of the protonmotive force provides the framework for developing a consistent theoretical foundation of mitochondrial physiology and bioenergetics. We follow the latest SI guidelines and those of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) on terminology in physical chemistry, extended by considerations of open systems and thermodynamics of irreversible processes. The concept-driven constructive terminology incorporates the meaning of each quantity and aligns concepts and symbols with the nomenclature of classical bioenergetics. We endeavour to provide a balanced view of mitochondrial respiratory control and a critical discussion on reporting data of mitochondrial respiration in terms of metabolic flows and fluxes. Uniform standards for evaluation of respiratory states and rates will ultimately contribute to reproducibility between laboratories and thus support the development of data repositories of mitochondrial respiratory function in species, tissues, and cells. Clarity of concept and consistency of nomenclature facilitate effective transdisciplinary communication, education, and ultimately further discovery

Mitochondrial physiology

As the knowledge base and importance of mitochondrial physiology to evolution, health and disease expands, the necessity for harmonizing the terminology concerning mitochondrial respiratory states and rates has become increasingly apparent. The chemiosmotic theory establishes the mechanism of energy transformation and coupling in oxidative phosphorylation. The unifying concept of the protonmotive force provides the framework for developing a consistent theoretical foundation of mitochondrial physiology and bioenergetics. We follow the latest SI guidelines and those of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) on terminology in physical chemistry, extended by considerations of open systems and thermodynamics of irreversible processes. The concept-driven constructive terminology incorporates the meaning of each quantity and aligns concepts and symbols with the nomenclature of classical bioenergetics. We endeavour to provide a balanced view of mitochondrial respiratory control and a critical discussion on reporting data of mitochondrial respiration in terms of metabolic flows and fluxes. Uniform standards for evaluation of respiratory states and rates will ultimately contribute to reproducibility between laboratories and thus support the development of data repositories of mitochondrial respiratory function in species, tissues, and cells. Clarity of concept and consistency of nomenclature facilitate effective transdisciplinary communication, education, and ultimately further discovery

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P &lt; 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

Mechanical Behavior Of Cement Based Composites With Hybrid Fibres-an Optimum Design

Tez (Yüksek Lisans) -- İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi, Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, 2006Thesis (M.Sc.) -- İstanbul Technical University, Institute of Science and Technology, 2006Bu çalışmada, çelik liflerin mekanik özellikleri ve kompozitlerin özelliklerini incelemek için kancalı ve/veya kancasız 3 farklı çelik tel kullanıldı. Her çelik lif hacim oranı değişkendi fakat toplam hacim % 2’de sabit tutuldu. Kısa kancasız düz çelik lifler,yüksek dayanımlı tunç kaplı olup, 6 mm. boyunda ve 0,16 mm. çapındadır. Normal dayanımlı çelik liflerin narinlikleri 55 ve 65 dir ve dayanımları aynıdır (1150 MPa). Düz kesimli çelik liflerin çekme dayanımları 2250 MPa dır. Farklı lifli toplam lifli ve lifsiz 12 beton karışımı üretildi. Karma lifli ve/veya lifsiz çelik tel içeren betonların basınç dayanımları, elastisite modülleri, net eğilme dayanımları, yarmada çekme dayanımları ve kırılma enerjileri yalın betonunkilerle karşılaştırıldı. Kısa liflerin,mikro çatlakların önlemesinde köprü görevi gördüğü ve bunun sonucunda kompozitin çekme dayanımının arttığı ve mikro çatlakların oluşmasından sonra sıyrıldıkları sonucuna varıldı. Böylece, kısa liflerin, kiriş ortasında yük-sehim eğrisinin tepe noktası sonrası inen kısmında, etkileri azdır. Uzun liflerin, mikro çatlakların önlenmesinde önemli etkileri yoktur, fakat kirişlerden elde edilen yük-sehim eğrilerinin maksimum yük sonrası kısmında süneklik bakımından önemli etkileri vardır. Yalın betonla ve polipropilen lifli betonla karşılaştırıldığında, çelik tel donatılı kompozitlerin net eğilme dayanımları, yarmada çekme dayanımları ve özellikle kırılma enerjisi ve süneklikleri önemli derecede geliştirildi. Yalın betonun kırılma enerjisi narinliği 65 olan uzun çelik teller kullanarak yaklaşık 100 kat kadar artırıldı.In this study, three different steel fibres with and/or without hooked ends were added to the mixtures to investigate the effect of steel fibres on the mechanical behavior and fracture properities of the composites. The volume fraction of each steel fibre was variable, but their total volume fractions were kept constant at 2 %. The short ones without hook ends were straight high strength steel fibres coated with brass, 6mm. in length and 0,16 mm in diameter. The aspect ratios of conventional normal strength steel fibres were 55 and 65, and their strengths were identical (1150 MPa).The tensile strength of straight strength steel fibres was 2250 MPa. Totally twelve concrete mixtures with or without different fibres were produced. The compressive strengths, elastic moduli, net bending strengths, splitting tensile strengths and fracture energies of concretes with and/or without hybrid steel fibres were compared to those of plain concrete. Short fibres function as a bridge to eliminate the micro-cracks, as a result the tensile strength of composite increases, and they pulled out after the micro cracks are formed. Thus, the short fibres have a little effect on the post-peak response of load versus displacements at the midspan of the beam. The long fibres have no significant effect on preventing microcracking, however, from the ductility point of view there is a substantial effect of longest fibres on the post peak response part of load versus displacement curve of the beams. The net bending strength, splitting tensile strength and especially fracture energy and ductility of steel fibre reinforced cconcrete mixtures were significantly enhanced compared to those of plain concrete and also concrete with polypropylene fibres. Fracture energy of plain concrete increased up to 100 times owing in concretes with long steel fibres having the aspect ratio of 65.Yüksek LisansM.Sc