A New Neolithic Settlement in the Upper Tigris Basin in the Light of its Knapped Stone Assemblages: Boncuklu Tarla

Neolithic Age sites in the Upper Tigris Basin have significantly increased in number over the past few years, not least because of rescue excavations related to the Ilısu Dam Project undertaken over the last decade. The resultant data has produced significant new information about this hitherto little documented period in the region. Boncuklu Tarla was discovered in 2008 during a field survey, with excavations beginning in 2012. This paper details the knapped stone assemblage from a single season of excavation, material that shed important light on the Pre- Pottery Neolithic B of the Upper Tigris Basin, adding to the information we previously knew from the important site of Çayönü

Evaluation of Etiological Causes in Children with Symptomatic Hematuria

Hematuria is an important and common symptom of urinary system pathologies in children, and careful evaluation is required for its definitive diagnosis. In this study, we aimed to determine the demographic and clinical characteristics and etiological causes of patients who applied to our pediatric nephrology clinic with hematuria. In this study, the record of 434 patients who were followed up in our clinic for macroscopic and/or microscopic hematuria were evaluated retrospectively. Demographic data, clinical findings, laboratory and imaging examinations and final diagnosis of the patients were recorded. Out of 434 patients with hematuria, 239 (55%) were male and 195 (45%) were female. Of the patients, 291 (67%) had macroscopic hematuria and 83 (19.1%) had glomerular hematuria. Non-glomerular causes were found in 80.9%, with a significantly higher rate. Most of the causes of non-glomerular hematuria were urinary tract infection and renal stones. Acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) was found to be responsible for the majority of glomerular diseases. This study shows that most of the pathologies that may cause hematuria can be detected with a detailed history, careful physical examination and simple laboratory tests

Quercus pyrenaica honeydew honey with high phenolic contents cause dna damage, apoptosis, and cell death through generation of reactive oxygen species in gastric adenocarcinoma cells

Many studies have shown that honey with high phenolic contents prevents cancer formation. Furthermore, recent studies have demonstrated that honey can be used for the treatment of cancer as well as cancer prevention. Antineoplastic effects of honey are often associated with their antioxidant phenolic contents. However, very few studies have dealt with the association of phenolic contents of honeys in terms of antiproliferative effects. The aim of this study was, therefore, to elucidate the cytotoxic, genotoxic, apoptotic, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generating effects of honey samples on the basis of their phenolic and flavonoid contents. Fourteen different honey varieties were collected from various parts of Turkey, and their characteristics regarding total phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant contents were determined to test their effects on gastric cancer cells (AGS). For convenience, 2 honey varieties were selected, namely, Ida Mountains Quercus pyrenaica honeydew honey (QPHH-IM) having the highest phenolic and antioxidant content and Canakkale multifloral honey (MFH-C) with the lowest phenolic and antioxidant content. Levels of 11 different phenolic compounds in QPHH-IM and MFH-C samples were determined by LC-MS/MS. AGS cells were incubated with different concentrations of QPHH-IM and MFH-C for 24 hours, then the cell viability, DNA damage, apoptosis, and generation of ROS were determined. We found that QPHH-IM had more cytotoxic, genotoxic, and apoptotic effects than that of MFH-C. We think that these effects are probably related to pro-oxidant activities due to the high phenolic contents present. Therefore, further research on high-phenolic honey may contribute to the future development of cancer therapeutics

The acorn honey used for a published study was mistakenly listed as quercus pyrenaica and should be corrected to quercus species

A critical review letter1 was published concerning the article “Quercus pyrenaica honeydew honey effects on gastric adenocarcinoma cells” published in Integrative Cancer Therapies in 2019.2 According to the letter, the authors reported that the Quercus pyrenaica mentioned in the study was neither found in Mount Ida nor within the borders of Turkey as stated in the study, therefore the results obtained in the study may belong to another Quercus species

Evaluation of EGFR, KRAS and BRAF gene mutations in renal cell carcinoma

A subset of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients has been shown to respond to anti-EGFR therapy. As KRAS and BRAF mutations are associated with poor response to anti-EGFR therapy in some cancers, it has been suggested that screening for KRAS and BRAF mutations in RCC may be a promising strategy to identify patients who might respond to EGFR-targeted therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the mutation status of EGFR, KRAS and BRAF in RCC patients. Renal tumors and normal renal samples from forty-eight patients who underwent radical or partial nephrectomy for kidney cancer were used in this study. Histological classification of the tumors was performed according to International Union against Cancer (UICC) / American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) classification. Seventeen patients (48%) had clear-cell RCC, 7 (20%) had chromophobe RCC, and 11 patients (32%) had papillary RCC. DNA isolated from the samples was subjected to melting curve mutation analysis for EGFR, BRAF and KRAS using ABI-3130 DNA sequencer. DNA sequencing analysis of RCC samples, when compared with morphologically normal matched regions, did not show any exon mutations. Our results do not support the notion that EGFR, KRAS and BRAF might be mutated in RCC

Clinical Study Parameters That May Be Used for Predicting Failure during Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

Aim. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is frequently used for the diagnosis and treatment of hepatic, biliary tract, and pancreatic disorders. However, failure during cannulation necessitates other interventions. The aim of this study was to establish parameters that can be used to predict failure during ERCP. Methods. A total of 5884 ERCP procedures performed on 5079 patients, between 1991 and 2006, were retrospectively evaluated. Results. Cannulation was possible in 4482 (88.2%) patients. For each one-year increase in age, the cannulation failure rate increased by 1.01-fold ( = 0.002). A history of previous hepatic biliary tract surgery caused the cannulation failure rate to decrease by 0.487-fold ( < 0.001). A tumor infiltrating the ampulla, the presence of pathology obstructing the gastrointestinal passage, and peptic ulcer increased the failure rate by 78-, 28-, and 3.47-fold, respectively ( < 0.001). Conclusions.Patient gender and duodenal diverticula do not influence the success of cannulation during ERCP. Billroth II and Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy surgeries, a benign or malignant obstruction of the gastrointestinal system, and duodenal ulcers decrease the cannulation success rate, whereas a history of previous hepatic biliary tract surgery increases it. Although all endoscopists had equal levels of experience, statistically significant differences were detected among them

Study of ultrastructural changes on the cochleae caused by various intonations used in classical music

The aim of this study is to investigate the differences on ultrastructure of the cochleae caused by different classic musical opuses with different intonations. Guinea pigs were grouped into 3, one of which was the control and the other two were the experimental groups. While the first group, which was the control, was not exposed to any music, the second group was exposed to classic musical opuses with extensive intervals (40 decibel) and third group was exposed to classical music opuses with strained intonations (60 decibel) for 6 h a day with 15 min-intervals for totally 10 days. Cochleae tissue samples were taken from the guinea pigs at the end of the tenth day. They were examined at the electron microscopic level. In addition to compansatris processes on the cochleae, thickening on the stereocilias of hair cells and basal membranes and proliferation on the synaptic terminalles of afferent nerves caused by extensive intonations were observed. Extremely obvious degenerative differences such as damage in neuroepitelial cells, nerves and synaptic terminalles as well as compansatris processes caused by strained intonations were determined. As a result of all these observations it was concluded that continuously listening to the strained intonations used in musical opuses has a very harmful effect on the auditory system. © 2008 Academic Journals Inc

Strategic examination of the classical catalysis of formic acid decomposition for intermittent hydrogen production, storage and supply: A review

Practically, an ideal catalyst for Formic acid-decomposition is one that best suits the reaction and significantly lowers its activation energy and improves the reaction rate under favourable conditions. Several catalysts for Formic Acid (FA)-decomposition reactions were examined. Based on the volcano curve and the potential of copper to give high hydrogen yields, emphasis was placed on a Cu-catalysed reaction as potential system for sustainable hydrogen production. Some recent advances in hydrogen production from formic acid were discussed and an effective system for FA-decomposition for hydrogen production was proposed. Since helium can be stored in weather balloons and weighs almost the same as hydrogen, a hydrogen buffer made from polyester fabric and coated with polyurethane or a hydrogen cylinder/tube was proposed for storing hydrogen for use as transportfuel. Also, due to the nature of the mechanisms/pathways describing FA-conversion reactions at the sites or surfaces of the copper-nanocatalysts, it is evident that the Cu(211) coordination site possesses the highest activation energy relative to those of Cu(100) and Cu(111), hence, the reason for the noticeable high or low hydrogen yields. Thus, the potential of Cu giving high hydrogen yields from FA spans from the reactions of FA at the Cu(111) and Cu(100) sites