Comparison of two pandemics: H1N1 and SARS-CoV-2

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare the clinical, epidemiological, and prognostic features of the H1N1 pandemic in 2009 and the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic in 2020. METHODS: This retrospective study involved subjects from seven centers that were admitted and found to be positive for H1N1 or COVID-19 real-time polymerase chain reaction test. RESULTS: A total of 143 patients with H1N1 and 309 patients with COVID-19 were involved in the study. H1N1 patients were younger than COVID-19 ones. While 58.7% of H1N1 patients were female, 57.9% of COVID-19 patients were male. Complaints of fever, cough, sputum, sore throat, myalgia, weakness, headache, and shortness of breath in H1N1 patients were statistically higher than in COVID-19 ones. The duration of symptoms until H1N1 patients were admitted to the hospital was shorter than that for COVID-19 patients. Leukopenia was more common in COVID-19 patients. C-reactive protein levels were higher in COVID-19 patients, while lactate dehydrogenase levels were higher in H1N1 ones. The mortality rate was also higher in H1N1 cases. CONCLUSIONS: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic is a major public health problem that continues to affect the world with its high rate of contagion. In addition, no vaccines or a specific drug for the benefit of millions of people have been found yet. The H1N1 pandemic is an epidemic that affected the whole world about ten years ago and was prevented by the development of vaccines at a short period. Experience in the H1N1 pandemic may be the guide to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic from a worse end

Production of Bovine Colostrum for Human Consumption to Improve Health

Colostrum contains all essential nutrients for the neonate during the first days of life, with impacts that continue far beyond these first days. Bovine colostrum has been used for human consumption due to the high concentrations of bioactive proteins, vitamins, minerals, growth factors, as well as free and conjugated oligosaccharides. Processes involved in the preparation of bovine colostrum for human consumption play a pivotal role in preserving and maintaining the activity of the bioactive molecules. As bovine colostrum is a multifunctional food that offers a myriad of benefits for human health, assessing the main processes used in preparing it with both advantages and disadvantages is a crucial point to discuss. We discuss major processes effects for colostrum production on the nutritional value, some advanced technologies to preserve processed bovine colostrum and the endproduct forms consumed by humans whether as dairy products or dietary supplements

C-REACTIVE PROTEIN LEVELS IN OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA PATIENTS

Amaç: Obstrüktif Uyku Apne Sendromu (OUAS)'u olan hastalarda C-Reaktif Protein (CRP)'in erken ateroskleozun saptanmasında kullanılması. Yöntemler: Çalışmaya Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi uyku bozukluğu polikliniğine başvuran, yaşları 20-66 arasında olan toplam 45 obez hasta alındı. Hastaların cinsiyet, yaş, boy, kilo değerleri saptandı. Vücut kitle indeksleri, bel / kalça oranları hesaplandı. Polisomnografi tetkiki yapıldı. OUAS'u olan hasta grubu ve OUAS'u olmayan kontrol grubu olarak iki gruba ayrıldı. Her iki grup hastadan açlık venöz kan örneği alınarak yüksek duyarlılıklı CRP düzeyleri ve lipid profilleri çalışıldı. B-mode dopler ultrasonografiyle karotis intima madia kalınlıkları ölçüldü. Bulgular: Kontrol grubunda yd-CRP düzeyleri 0,22 (0,01-0,57) mg/dl, OUAS'lı hasta grubundaysa 0,30 (0,05-1,52) mg/dl olarak bulundu, iki grup arasında istatiksel olarak anlamlı fark saptanmadı (p=0,300). Karotis İntima Media Kalınlığı (KİMK) ölçümleri değerlendirildiğinde her iki grup arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark saptandı (p=0,01). Bel / kalça oranları belirlenip, abdominal obezite açısından değerlendirildiğinde iki grup arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark gözlendi (p<0,01). AKŞ, TK ve LDL-K düzeylerinde de anlamlı fark saptandı (p=0,049, p=0,01 ve p=0,03). Sonuç: OUAS'lı hastalarda abdominal obezite, AKŞ, TK ve LDL-K düzeylerinde istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark saptanması OUAS metabolik sendrom ilişkisi için varolan kanıtları doğruladı. Bununla birlikte, ölçülen CRP düzeylerinin OUAS'u hastalarında erken aterosklerozun gösterilmesinde iyi bir gösterge olmayabileceği belirlendi. Objective: To determine whether CRP can detect subclinic atherosclerosis in obstructive sleep apnea patients. Methods: Ages between 20-66, 45 obese patient who was have application to D.E.Ü. Medical Faculty sleep laboratory recruited to study. We determine sex, age, height and weight for all patients and calculate body mass index, waist / hip raito. Polisomnographia was done. Patient's divided in to two group's, whose PSG detected OSA constitute patients group and whose PSG not detected OSA constitude control group. We obtained fasting venous blood sample and measure HSCRP and lipid profiles. Carotis intima media thickness measured with B-mode doppler ultrasonography. Results: HSCRP found 0,22 (0,01-0,57) mg/dl in control group and 0,30 (0,05-1,52) mg/dl in OSA patients group, we didn't detect statistical significancy (p=0,300). When Carotid İntima Media Thickness (CIMT) measurements evaluated for each group, statistical significancy find (p=0,01). WHR determined and evaluated for abdominal obesity, statistical significancy found between two group (p<0,01). Also significant differece detected for FBG, TK and LDL-K (p=0,049, p=0,01 and p=0,03). Conclusion: Detected significant difference for abdominal obesity, FBG, TK and LDL-K levels in OSA patients confirmed existing evidence of relation eith sleep apnea and metabolic syndrome. Although we determined, measured HSCRP levels may not be a good marker for presenting subclinic atherosclerosis in OSA patients

Intragastric balloon therapy for obesity: Is it safe and effective?

Aim: Bariatric surgery is a costly and invasive method with permanent effects and medications for treatment of obesity is less costly but may cause systemic side effects. Intragastric balloon (IGB) therapy is a minimal invasive and temporary option between medical therapy and bariatric surgery. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficiency of intragastric balloon application and present our results. Methods: 39 patients who underwent IGB therapy between 2015 and 2017 were included in the study. IGB was advanced into the stomach, and then the balloon was filled with saline and methylene blue solution. The patients were assessed by a nutritionist during the follow-up period and after balloon removal they were evaluated for results.Results: Of 39 patients, 33 were female and the median body mass index (BMI) was 33.2 kg/m2 before the procedure. Three patients (7.6%) could not tolerate the balloon; therefore balloon extraction was performed on the day 1, 5 and 25. Median duration of therapy was 8 months (1 day-17 months). While excessive weight loss (EWL) ratio was 22.8% in patients whose balloon was removed in 6 months, EWL ratio was 41.6% in patients whose balloon remained more than 6 months. The median BMI after balloon removal was 28.3 kg/m2. The only complication was spontaneous IGB deflation and excretion transanally. Conclusion: Intragastric balloon therapy may be recommended as a safe and effective option for the patients who have had failed attempts of diet and exercise and will not undergo bariatric surgery

Betonarme Karayolu Köprülerinin Yapısal Titreşimlerinin Deneysel Yöntemlerle Elde Edilmesi

Konferans Bildirisi -- Teorik ve Uygulamalı Mekanik Türk Milli Komitesi, 2011Conference Paper -- Theoretical and Applied Mechanical Turkish National Committee, 2011Bu çalışmada, betonarme karayolu köprülerinin yapısal titreşimlerinin deneysel yöntemlerle elde edilerek dinamik karakteristiklerinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaçla örnek olarak, Ülkemizde bulunan ve dengeli konsol yöntemiyle inşa edilen Kömürhan ve Gülburnu Köprüleri'nin taşıyıcı sistemleri örnek olarak seçilmiş ve sabit en kesitli üstyapı taşıyıcı sisteme sahip bir karayolu köprü modeli laboratuar ortamında inşa edilmiştir. Laboratuar ortamında inşa edilen köprü, kenar açıklıkları 1.5’şer m ve orta açılığı 3 m olmak üzere toplam üç açıklıklı ve 6 m olacak şekilde tasarlanmıştır. Köprünün yapısal titreşimlerini elde etmek amacıyla Deneysel Modal Analiz yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Elde edilen bu titreşimler frekans ortamında Geliştirilmiş Frekans Tanım Alanında Ayrıştırma yöntemi kullanılarak işlenmiş, dinamik karakteristikler olarak adlandırılan doğal frekanslar, mod şekilleri ve sönüm oranları elde edilmişti

Operational modal analysis of a scaled bridge model using EFDD and SSI methods

320-330In this study, dynamic characteristics of a laboratory bridge model are determined by operational modal analysis using frequency and time domain methods. For this purpose, a reinforced box girder concrete bridge model is constructed in laboratory conditions. The bridge deck consists of a main span of 3 m and two side span of 1.5 m each. The structural system of the model bridge consists of deck, piers and foundation. The total length of bridge deck is 6 m and width of bridge deck is 60 cm. Ambient vibration tests are conducted to the model bridge to identify its natural frequencies, mode shapes and damping ratios. Natural excitations such as wind and impact hammer are used to vibrate the model bridge. Vibration data is gathered from bridge deck. Measurement time, frequency span and effective mode number are determined by consider similar studies in literature. Sensitivity accelerometers are placed to collect signals from the measurements. The signals collected from the tests are processed by operational modal analysis; and the dynamic characteristics of the bridge model are estimated using enhanced frequency domain decomposition (EFDD) method in the frequency domain and stochastic subspace identification (SSI) method in the time domain. The dynamic characteristics obtained from both methods are found to be close to each other. Maximum 2.68% differences are obtained between natural frequencies for the first mode. Modal assurance criteria values are between 0.85-1.00. This shows that EFDD and SSI results are almost overlapped. It can be concluded that the both of enhanced frequency domain decomposition and stochastic subspace identification methods are very useful to identify the dynamic characteristics of the bridge model. </span

Distribution of Clinical Isolates at Species Level and Their Antibiotic Susceptibilities in Intensive Care Units Patients

Objective: Intensive care units are a hospital’s section where hospital infections and resistant microorganisms are most commonly seen. In this study it was aimed to determine the microorganisms which were isolated from various clinical specimens of the patients in intensive care units for a year and antibiotic susceptibility of the microorganisms. Materials and Methods: MALDI TOF MS and BD Phoenix system were used for the identification of bacteria, antibiotic sensitivities were evaluated by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method and BD Phoenix system in accordance with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute recommendations. Results: In this study, a total of 1163 microorganisms were obtained; 575 (49.4%) gram-negative bacteria (GNB), 556 (47.8%) gram-positive bacteria (GPB) and 32 Candida spp. (2.7%). Strains were produced from blood (488), urine (233), respiratory tract (224), sterile body fluid (88), wounds (68) and catheter samples (62). The most frequently isolated GNBs were found to be Acinetobacter baumannii 131 (11.2%), Klebsiella pneumoniae 109 (9.3%), Escherichia coli 91 (7.8%) in order of frequency. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase production was observed in 16 E. coli, 29 Klebsiella spp. Carbapenem resistance was identified in 132 Acinetobacter spp., 27 Pseudomonas spp., 14 K. pneumoniae, 1 E. coli. For Pseudomonas strains, ciprofloxacin and amikacin; for Acinetobacter strains, amikacin and colistin; for Escherichia and Klebsiella strains, amikacin and imipenem were determined as the most effective antibiotics. The most frequently isolated GPBs were 351 (30%) coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) (192 S. epidermidis), 111 (9.5%) Enterococcus spp. (67 Enterococcus faecalis), 55 Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. While Methicillin resistance was determined in 7 S. aureus and 191 CNS; vancomycin resistance was detected in 3 Enterococcus faecium strains. The most effective antibiotics against S. aureus and Enterococcus spp. strains were identified as linezolid, vancomycin, and teicoplanin. Conclusion: It will be useful if every center arranges the treatment protocols according to their microorganism distribution and resistance profiles to fight against resistant microorganisms

A rare cause of acute abdomen: The omental torsion

WOS: 000364167800007Omental torsiyon nadir görülen bir akut karın nedeni olup klinik olarak birçok hastalığı taklit edebilmektedir. Tanı ve tedavisinde laparoskopi son derece yararlı bir yöntemdir. Bu yazıda, diagnostik laparoskopide omentumun torsiyonu tespit edilen ve laparoskopik olarak nekroze omentum dokusunun rezeke edildiği bir olgu sunulmaktadır.Omental torsion is a rare cause of acute abdominal pain and can mimic clinically many diseases. Laparoscopy is a useful method in the diagnosis and treatment of the omental torsion. In this article, a case with omental torsion which was detected during diagnostic laparoscopy and the necrosed omental tissue resection was done laparoscopically has been presented

Covered Self-Expandable Metallic Stents Could be Used Successfully in the Palliation of Malignant Cervical Esophageal Strictures: Preliminary Report

Purpose: To present the authors' preliminary experience with covered self-expandable metallic stents in the palliation of malignant cervical esophageal strictures