Electrochemical Study of 17β-Estradiol and its Determination in Pharmaceutical Preparations using Square Wave Voltammetry

In the present study, the electroanalytical behavior of 17β-estradiol was investigated using cyclic voltammetry. The procedure was based on 17β-estradiol being electrochemically oxidized at a platinum electrode in non-aqueous solutions. At 1.47 V, the oxidation peak was noted. It was discovered that 17β-estradiol's oxidation was diffusion-controlled. Additionally, a quick and easy square wave voltammetry method was developed and validated in this work to determine 17β-estradiol in pharmaceutical preparations. The calibration curve was linear at 5 and 30 µg/mL concentrations. The precision was given by relative standard deviation and was less than 3.36%. Accuracy was given with relative error and did not exceed 2.54%. In pharmaceutical preparations, 17β-estradiol had an average recovery of 100.3%. Under the chosen experimental conditions, no interference was found. The suggested method is highly accurate and precise. Therefore, the method applies to measuring 17β-estradiol in pharmaceutical formulations

Serum IL-1β, IL-2, and IL-6 in Insulin-Dependent Diabetic Children

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is a chronic disease characterized by T-cell-dependent autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing β cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans, resulting in an absolute lack of insulin. T cells are activated in response to islet-dominant autoantigens, the result being the development of IDDM. Insulin is one of the islet autoantigens responsible for the activation of T-lymphocyte functions, inflammatory cytokine production, and development of IDDM. The aim of this study was to investigate serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in children IDDM. The study population consisted of 27 children with IDDM and 25 healthy controls. Children with IDDM were divided into three subgroups: (1) previously diagnosed patients (long standing IDDM) (n : 15), (2) newly diagnosed patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (before treatment) (n : 12), and (3) newly diagnosed patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (after treatment for two weeks) (n : 12). In all stages of diabetes higher levels of IL-1β and TNF- α and lower levels of IL-2 and IL-6 were detected. Our data about elevated serum IL-1β, TNF- α and decreased IL-2, IL-6 levels in newly diagnosed IDDM patients in comparison with longer standing cases supports an activation of systemic inflammatory process during early phases of IDDM which may be indicative of an ongoing β-cell destruction. Persistence of significant difference between the cases with IDDM monitored for a long time and controls in terms of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-α supports continuous activation during the late stages of diabetes

The Levels of Ghrelin, TNF-α, and IL-6 in Children with Cyanotic and Acyanotic Congenital Heart Disease

Background/Aim. Ghrelin has effects on nutrient intake and growth. The cause of growth retardation in congenital heart disease is multifactorial. The aim of the present study is to investigate the ghrelin in congenital heart disease and the association of ghrelin with TNF-α and IL-6. Materials and methods. We measured serum ghrelin, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels using spesific immunoassay in 68 patients (47 acyanotic, 21 cyanotic with congenital heart disease) and in 25 control subjects. Results. In comparison to controls, serum ghrelin, TNF-α levels were significantly higher in acyanotic patients and cyanotic patients with congenital heart disease (P<.0001). In acyanotic and cyanotic patients with congenital heart disease, there was a positive correlation between ghrelin and TNF-α (r=.485, P<.05 and r=.573, P<.01, resp.). Conclusion. Serum ghrelin levels is elevated in acyanotic and cyanotic patients with congenital heart disease. Increased ghrelin levels represents malnutrition and growth retardation in these patients. The relation of ghrelin with cytokines may be explained by the possible effect of chronic congestive heart failure and chronic shunt hypoxemia

THE EFFECTS OF FACE MASK USE DURING COVID-19 ON SPEECH COMPREHENSION IN GERIATRIC PATIENTS WITH HEARING LOSS WHO USE LIP-READING FOR COMMUNICATION: A PROSPECTIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Objective: Communication difficulties are considered the most significant consequence of hearing loss. This study aimed to determine whether surgical face masks, which have been mandatory throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, have an effect on speech comprehension scores in geriatric lip-reading patients with hearing loss and to raise awareness of the need for solutions to this problem. Materials and Method: Patients with moderate and higher sensorineural or mixed bilateral symmetrical hearing loss who stated that they lip-read to better understand during communication were included in the study. The patients’ speech comprehension scores were gathered while the audiologist wore a surgical mask and then a transparent mask, respectively. Results: Twelve (33,3%) of the patients were female, and 24 (66.7%) were male. The mean age of the patients was 66.64±1.53 years. The mean speech comprehension scores of the patients when the audiologist was wearing a surgical mask (38.25±14.33) and a transparent mask (67.81 ± 14.30), respectively, were compared. The surgical mask significantly affected speech comprehension scores, and the Cohen d value of the effect size was 2.06. As such, the surgical face mask had a great effect on these patients’ speech comprehension scores. Conclusions: In elderly lip-reading patients who suffer from hearing loss, seeing the lip movements of the speaker, especially in hospital applications, promotes more effective communication. Transparent face masks can be considered a solution. © 2022, Geriatrics Society. All rights reserved

DETERMINATION OF METOPROLOL IN PURE AND PHARMACEUTICAL DOSAGE FORMS BY SPECTROFLUOROMETRY AND HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY

In this study, new and rapid spectrofluorometry and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods were developed for determination of metoprolol in pure and pharmaceutical dosage forms. The solvent system, wavelength of detection and chromatographic conditions were optimized in order to maximize the sensitivity of both proposed methods. The linearity was established over the concentration range of 50-4000 ng ml-1 for spectrofluorometry and 5.0-300 ng ml-1 for HPLC methods. The intra- and inter-day relative standard deviation (RSD) was less than 4.14 and 3.86% for spectrofluorometry and HPLC, respectively. The limit of quantitation was determined as 30 and 5.0 ng ml-1 for spectrofluorometry and HPLC, respectively. No interference was found from tablet excipients at the selected assay conditions. The methods were applied for the quality control of commercial metoprolol dosage forms to quantify the drug and to check the formulation content uniformity

Amputation of Glans Penis: A Rare Circumcision Complication and Successful Management with Primary Anastomosis and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Penile amputation is an uncommon condition that requires immediate surgical replantation. Routine standardized procedures for dealing with this medical condition do not exist. We describe a case of complete guillotine-type glans penis amputation and review the relevant literature. We performed urethral end-to-end approximation and glanular anastomosis and then applied hyperbaric oxygen therapy postoperatively. We obtained very good cosmetic and functional results

EVALUATION OF HOPE, SYMPTOM CONTROL, AND MEDICATION COMPLIANCE/ADHERENCE IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Amaç: Hemodiyaliz tedavisi alan hastalar, hastalığın ilerleyici ve tedavi yöntemlerinin kısıtlayıcı olması nedeniyle umutsuzluk yaşayabilir. Bu durum, hastaların semptom kontrolünü ve tedaviye uyumunu güçleştirebilmektedir. Araştırma hemodiyaliz tedavisi alan hastaların umut düzeylerini, semptom kontrolünü ve tedaviye uyumlarını belirlemek, umut düzeyi ile semptom kontrolü ve tedaviye uyum arasında ilişkiyi saptamak amacıyla yapılmıştır. Yöntem: Tanımlayıcı ve ilişki arayıcı tasarımda gerçekleştirilen araştırmanın örneklemine 73 hasta dâhil edilmiştir. Veriler, hasta tanılama formu, Hert Umut Ölçeği veKronik Hemodiyaliz Hastalarında Diyaliz Semptom İndeksi ile toplanmıştır. Verilerin değerlendirmesinde yüzdelik, ortalama, Pearson korelasyon analizi, Mann-Whitney U testi ve Kruskal-Wallis testi kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Hastaların Hert Umut Ölçeği puan ortalamasının ortalama değerin üzerinde ve semptomlara bağlı sıkıntı düzeylerinin düşük olduğu saptanmıştır. Hastaların %83,6’sının doktorun önerdiği tarihte düzenli olarak sağlık kontrollerine gittiği, %94,5’inin ilaçlarını düzenli kullandığı, %56,2’sinin hastalığının yönetimi konusunda diyetini düzenli uyguladığı, %78,1’inin sıvı kısıtlaması ya da sıvı alımına dikkat ettiği belirlenmiştir. Hert Umut Ölçeği puan ortalaması ile Kronik Hemodiyaliz Hastalarında Diyaliz Semptom İndeksi puan ortalaması arasında negatif yönde ilişki saptanmıştır. Umut düzeyi yüksek olan hastaların doktorun önerdiği tarihte düzenli olarak sağlık kontrollerine gitme, kan tahlili, kan basıncı ölçümü gibi rutin kontrolleri eksiksiz yaptırma, hastalığının yönetimi konusunda diyetini düzenli uygulama ve sıvı kısıtlaması ya da sıvı alımına dikkat etme gibi tedaviye uyum oranlarının daha iyi olduğu bulunmuştur. Sonuç: Hemodiyaliz tedavisi alan hastaların umut düzeyi arttıkça, semptomlarla ilişkili sıkıntı düzeylerinin azaldığı ve tedaviye uyumlarının yükseldiği belirlenmiştir.Objectives: Hemodialysis patients may experience hopelessness since their disease is progressive, and requires restrictive treatment methods. This situation may make it difficult to control symptoms and medication compliance. The current study aimed to determine hope, symptom control and medication compliance in hemodialysis patients, and to investigate the associations between the level of hope, symptom control, and medication compliance. Methods: The sample of this descriptive and correlational study consisted of 73 patients. Data were collected using the patient identification form, the Herth Hope Index, and the Dialysis Symptom Index in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients. Data were analyzed using percentiles, means, Pearson correlation, Mann-Whitney U test, and Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: Mean Herth Hope Index score was above the average value, and the level of symptom-related distress was low. Among the patients, 83.6% attended routine follow-up visits on dates recommended by their doctors, 94.5% regularly used their medicine, 56.2% adhered to their diet for disease management, and 78.1% adhered to fluid restriction or monitored liquid intake. There was a negative correlation between the mean Herth Hope Index score and the mean Dialysis Symptom Index in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients score. It was found that patients who had high levels of hope had attended routine follow-up visits on the dates that were recommended by their doctors; ensured that caregivers performed routine controls such as blood analysis, blood pressure, etc.; and exhibited medication compliance (adherence to diet and liquid restriction for disease management) at better rates. Conclusion: It was determined that symptom-related distress reduced, and medication compliance increased as the level of hope increased in hemodialysis patients

Safety and efficacy of PNL vs RIRS in the management of stones located in horseshoe kidneys: A critical comparative evaluation

Aim: To assess the efficacy and safety of two different techniques (Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) vs Retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS)) in the management of stones in patients with horseshoe kidneys (HSK). Patients and methods: Departmental files of 88 cases with radiopaque kidney stones in horseshoe kidneys undergoing two different approaches (PNL vs RIRS) were evaluated with respect to the success and complication rates of in a retrospective manner. In addition to the factors related with the procedures (success and complication rates, additional procedures), patient and stone characteristics were all well evaluated. Findings obtained in both groups were evaluated in a comparative manner with respect to the statistical significance. Results: Stone free rates were comparable in both groups after 1-week period (81.6% PNL vs 80% RIRS). As well as 3 months evaluation (84.2% PNL and 82.0% RIRS). The percentage of the cases with residual fragments (> 4 mm) were similar in both groups and while all PNL procedures were completed in one session, mean number of RIRS sessions was higher (1.22 ± 0.05). Mean duration of the procedure was slightly higher in RIRS group and based on Clavien scoring system, despite a higher risk of Hb drop noted in patients treated with PNL, all complication rates were found to be similar in both groups. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that of the available minimally invasive treatment alternatives, both PNL and RIRS could be safe and effective alternatives for renal stone removal in patients with HSK