Age- and region-specific hepatitis B prevalence in Turkey estimated using generalized linear mixed models: a systematic review

Toy M, Önder FO, Wörmann T, et al. Age- and region-specific hepatitis B prevalence in Turkey estimated using generalized linear mixed models: a systematic review. BMC infectious diseases. 2011;11(1): 337.BACKGROUND: To provide a clear picture of the current hepatitis B situation, the authors performed a systematic review to estimate the age- and region-specific prevalence of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Turkey. METHODS: A total of 339 studies with original data on the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in Turkey and published between 1999 and 2009 were identified through a search of electronic databases, by reviewing citations, and by writing to authors. After a critical assessment, the authors included 129 studies, divided into categories: 'age-specific'; 'region-specific'; and 'specific population group'. To account for the differences among the studies, a generalized linear mixed model was used to estimate the overall prevalence across all age groups and regions. For specific population groups, the authors calculated the weighted mean prevalence. RESULTS: The estimated overall population prevalence was 4.57, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.58, 5.76, and the estimated total number of CHB cases was about 3.3 million. The outcomes of the age-specific groups varied from 2.84, (95% CI: 2.60, 3.10) for the 0-14-year olds to 6.36 (95% CI: 5.83, 6.90) in the 25-34-year-old group. CONCLUSION: There are large age-group and regional differences in CHB prevalence in Turkey, where CHB remains a serious health problem

Photovoltaic fiber having polymer anode and inverted layer sequence

In this study, photovoltaic fiber was developed using organic solar cell materials and inverted layer sequence. Light absorbing nano-materials were deposited as photoactive layer on metal and buffer layer coated thin and flexible fiber. While light was passing through a semi-transparent anode based on thin PEDOT:PSS and Au metal layers, electricity was generated. Photovoltaic performance of devices were measured and evaluated. This design can be used for smart textiles after further optimization

A comparative approach to enhance the electrical performance of PEDOT:PSS as transparent electrode for organic solar cells

In this article, the improvement in electrical performance of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)–poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as the transparent electrode doped with different additives (ethylene glycol (EG), isopropyl alcohol) or treatment of sulfuric acid was enhanced that organic solar cells (OSCs) were produced by using poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl):[6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester. OSCs were fabricated by the doped or treated PEDOT:PSS films as transparent electrodes. The photoelectrical measurements were carried out and the effects of doping or treatment were compared. As a result, EG-added PEDOT:PSS electrode showed the best power conversion efficiency value of 1.87% among the PEDOT:PSS anodes. © The Author(s) 2019

Relationship between Metabolic Syndrome and Inflammation in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

We aimed to investigate the relationship between inflammation and metabolic syndrome as defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adults Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) diagnostic criteria in peritoneal dialysis patients. Ninety-four patients treated with peritoneal dialysis were included in the study. Patients’ age, sex, weight, waist circumference, arterial blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, C-reactive protein, albumin, uric acid and fibrinogen levels were recorded. Fourty-one patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome and 53 peritoneal dialysis patients without metabolic syndrome were identified. In the metabolic syndrome group mean decrease in serum albumin and mean increase in C-reactive protein and fibrinogen was significantly different from the other group (p 0.05). Peritoneal dialysis patients with metabolic syndrome should also be assessed for inflammation

Characterization of organic solar cells using semiconducting polymers with different bandgaps

Polymer-based organic solar cells are of great interest as they can be produced with low-cost techniques and also have many interesting features such as flexibility, graded transparency, easy integration, and lightness. However, conventional wide bandgap polymers used for the light-absorbing layer significantly affect the power conversion efficiency of organic solar cells because they collect sunlight in a given spectrum range and due to their limited stability. Therefore, in this study, polymers with different bandgaps were used, which could allow for the production of more stable and efficient organic solar cells: P3HT as the wide bandgap polymer, and PTB7 and PCDTBT as low bandgap polymers. These polymers with different bandgaps were combined with PCBM to obtain increased efficiency and optimum photoactive layer in the organic solar cell. The obtained devices were characterized by measuring optical, photoelectrical, and morphological properties. Solar cells using the PTB7 and PCDTBT polymers had more rough surfaces than the reference cell using P3HT. The use of low-bandgap polymers improved Isc significantly, and when combined with P3HT, a higher Voc was obtained. © 2019 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston 2019