New description of vagal nerve commanted intrapancreatic taste buds and blood glucose level: An experimental analysis

Introduction: There have been thousands of neurochemical mechanism about blood glucose level regulation, but intrapancreatic taste buds and their roles in blood glucose level has not been described. We aimed to investigate if there are taste buds cored neural networks in the pancreas, and there is any relationship between blood glucose levels. Methods: This examination was done on 32 chosen rats with their glucose levels. Animals are divided into owned blood glucose levels. If mean glucose levels were equal to 105 ± 10 mg/dL accepted as euglycemic (G-I; n = 14), 142 ± 18 mg/dL values accepted as hyperglycemic (G-II; n = 9) and 89 ± 9 mg/dL accepted as hypoglycemic (G-III; n = 9). After the experiment, animals were sacrificed under general anesthesia. Their pancreatic tissues were examined histological methods and numbers of newly described taste bud networks analyzed by Stereological methods. Results compared with Mann-Whitney U test P < 0.005 considered as significant. Results: The mean normal blood glucose level (mg/dL) and taste bud network densities of per cm3 were: 105 ± 10 mg/dL; 156±21 in G-I; 142 ± 18 mg/dL and 95 ± 14 in G-II and 89 ± 9 mg/dL and 232 ± 34 in G-III. P values as follows: P < 0.001 of G-II/G-I; P < 0.005 of G-III/G-I and P < 0.0001 of G-III/G-II. We detected periarterial located taste buds like cell clusters and peripherally located ganglia connected with Langerhans cells via thin nerve fibers. There was an inverse relationship between the number of taste buds networks and blood glucose level. Conclusion: Newly described intrapancreatic taste buds may have an important role in the regulation of blood glucose level

Türkiye'de koroner yoğun bakım ünitelerindeki hastane içi mortalite (MORCOR-TURK) çalışmasında hasta temel karakteristikleri ve öngördürücüleri

OBJECTIVE: The MORtality in CORonary Care Units in Türkiye (MORCOR-TURK) trial is a national registry evaluating predictors and rates of in-hospital mortality in coronary care unit (CCU) patients in Türkiye. This report describes the baseline demographic characteristics of patients recruited for the MORCOR-TURK trial. METHODS: The study is a multicenter, cross-sectional, prospective national registry that included 50 centers capable of 24-hour CCU service, selected from all seven geographic regions of Türkiye. All consecutive patients admitted to CCUs with cardiovascular emergencies between September 1-30, 2022, were prospectively enrolled. Baseline demographic characteristics, admission diagnoses, laboratory data, and cardiovascular risk factors were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 3,157 patients with a mean age of 65 years (range: 56-73) and 2,087 (66.1%) males were included in the analysis. Patients with arterial hypertension [1,864 patients (59%)], diabetes mellitus (DM) [1,184 (37.5%)], hyperlipidemia [1,120 (35.5%)], and smoking [1,093 (34.6%)] were noted. Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) was the leading cause of admission [1,187 patients (37.6%)], followed by ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in 742 patients (23.5%). Other frequent diagnoses included decompensated heart failure (HF) [339 patients (10.7%)] and arrhythmia [272 patients (8.6%)], respectively. Atrial fibrillation (AF) was the most common pathological rhythm [442 patients (14%)], and chest pain was the most common primary complaint [2,173 patients (68.8%)]. CONCLUSION: The most common admission diagnosis was acute coronary syndrome (ACS), particularly NSTEMI. Hypertension and DM were found to be the two leading risk factors, and AF was the most commonly seen pathological rhythm in all hospitalized patients. These findings may be useful in understanding the characteristics of patients admitted to CCUs and thus in taking precautions to decrease CCU admissions

Synthesis and capacitive performance of ZrB2 and its composites as supercapacitor electrodes

The possibility of using zirconium diboride (ZrB2) as an electrode for supercapacitor devices has yet to be extensively studied, even though there is a wealth of literature on various properties of ZrB2. In this study, ZrB2 and its composites were directly assembled as electrode materials into symmetric and asymmetric supercapacitor devices. ZrB2 powders were synthesized by using mechanical activation assisted direct synthesis route followed by a purification step. Powders were illustrated with precise size tuning in the 200–500 nm range. Then, the ZrB2-based composite materials containing silicon carbide (SiC) particles were prepared by using a mechanical alloying process. Microstructural and thermal analyses of the particles were carried out and optimum powders were selected for the measurements of electrochemical performance. Both symmetric and asymmetric supercapacitors exhibited excellent cycling performances: After 50 cycles, the devices display 79 and 69% capacitance retention as well as 108 and 123% coulombic efficiency at 0.1 A g−1, respectively for the symmetric ZrB2/ZrB2 and asymmetric ZrB2/ZrB2–15 wt%SiC supercapacitors. The symmetric supercapacitor exhibited higher performance than asymmetric one with a specific energy and power density of 4.2 W h kg−1 and 150 W kg−1, respectively. As a result, high energy density and high capacity values, and excellent cycling performances are obtained, meaning that ZrB2 and its composites are promising materials for energy storage purposes

Enhanced performance and cycling behavior in symmetric supercapacitors developed by pure HfB2 and HfB2-SiC composites

Boron-based materials have attracted growing interest as promising candidates for energy storage applications. This study focuses on synthesizing pure HfB2 powders through a straightforward method involving the mechanical activation of a powder mixture comprising hafnium tetrachloride (HfCl4), boron (B), and magnesium (Mg). The HfB2 powders were mechanically alloyed with varying amounts of SiC powders to create HfB2-based composite structures. The chemical and microstructural properties of the synthesized samples were assessed using XRD, SEM/EDX, and DLS characterization techniques. Supercapacitor device performances of all resulting powders as symmetrical electrodes were systematically investigated. The test results revealed that the pure HfB2 electrode material exhibited a pseudocapacitor behavior, whereas composite powders exhibited battery-like behavior. Composite powders, demonstrated enhanced supercapacitor performance surpassing that of pure powder in terms of energy density and cycle efficiency. The pure HfB2 electrode displayed the highest power density (95 Wkg−1) among all samples: Its distinctive pseudocapacitor behavior results in the highest power density, providing valuable insights into the intricate relationship between composition and electrochemical performance in boron-based supercapacitor materials. Moreover, these results propose that by synthesizing composite powders, the charge storage mechanism can be altered and used to improve the energy density

Serum irisin and apelin levels and markers of atherosclerosis in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism

ABSTRACT Objective: In this study, we aimed to evaluate serum irisin and apelin levels in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) when they were subclinical hypothyroid and become euthyroid after levothyroxine therapy and association of these adipokines with markers of atherosclerosis such as serum homocysteine levels and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). Subjects and methods: The study included 160 patients with newly diagnosed subclinical hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto's thyroiditis and 86 euthyroid healty subjects. Serum glucose and lipid profile, insulin, HOMA, TSH, free T3, free T4, anti-thyroperoxidase and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, homocysteine, apelin and irisin levels were measured in all study subjects. Thyroid and carotid ultrasound examinations were performed. The subclinical hypothyroid group was reevaluated after 12-weeks of levothyroxine therapy when they became euthyroid. Results: Clinical characteristics of the patient and control group were similar. Glucose, insulin and HOMA levels, lipid parameters and free T3 were similar between the two groups.. Serum homocystein was higher and apelin was lower in patients with SCH, but irisin levels were similar between the two groups. While thyroid volume was lower, carotid IMT was significantly greater in patients with SCH (pCarotidIMT:0,01). After 12-weeks of levothyroxine therapy, all the studied parameters remained unchanged except, serum freeT4, TSH, homocystein and apelin. While homocystein decreased (p: 0,001), apelin increased significantly (p = 0,049). In multivariate analysis, low apelin levels significantly contributed to carotid IMT (p = 0,041). Conclusions: Apelin-APJ system may play a role in vascular and cardiac dysfunction in patients with SCH and treatment of this condition may improve the risk of cardiovascular disease

The Relationship Between the Use of Complementary and Alternative Therapies in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Quality of Life, Hopelessness, Depression, and Vaccine Refusal in Their Caregivers in Turkey

Objectives: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widely used for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In our study, it was aimed to evaluate the use of CAM treatments in children with ASD and to determine the relationship between the CAM treatment methods and hopelessness, depression, and quality of life in the caregivers of patients with ASD. Materials and Methods: One hundred-twenty six patients with a confirmed diagnosis of ASD was included in the study. All patients were evaluated in detail in terms of the CAM methods used. The caregivers of the child with ASD were evaluated in terms of the quality of life, depression, hopelessness, and their opinions about the vaccine. Results: When the caregivers who did and did not use CAM were compared in terms of the scale scores, no difference was found. Vaccine refusal was more common in the parents of children who received CAM. Conclusion: The preference of CAM use was not directly related to the quality of life, depression, and hopelessness of the caregiver