Prevalence of allergic rhinitis and risk factors in school children

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and the risk factors of allergic rhinitis in a particular area. Methods: The main study group consisted of all school children in Kemalpasa district aged 13-14 years. Children with current rhinitis based on responses given in ISAAC questionnaire survey were further evaluated for confirmation. Parents responded to a more detailed questionnaire about allergic diseases and risk factors. Then peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) was evaluated to objectively assess nasal patency. Skin-prick test was performed for ten common allergens. Results: The questionnaire was answered by 90.8% (1373) of children. The prevalence of physician-diagnosed AR was 11.1%. Current rhinitis was found to be 31.3%. Of this group, 55.0% were admitted for the parent questionnaire and tests. Precisely, 90.3% of children accepted PNIF evaluation, and %10.1 of them had a nasal obstruction. Skin-prick tests revealed allergy for at least 1 allergen in 16.6% of children. The present study showed that the children with maternal allergic rhinitis history had 2,18 fold, and the children with seasonal allergic rhinitis had 2,11 fold higher possibility of sensitization to an allergen. The probability of perennial allergic rhinitis was 3,1 fold higher in the children who had siblings with allergic rhinitis. Conclusion: We included all children in a specific age group living in an area in our survey. As well as we found the prevalence of current rhinitis with the ISAAC questionnaire; we also evaluated peak nasal inspiratory flow and used skin-prick tests that yielded objective results

DLR Design Challenge 2022: Design of a next generation VTOL firefighting aircraft

Since 2017, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) has been organizing an annual student competition on conceptual aircraft design titled DLR Design Challenge. This education and training initiative is set to challenge the next generation of aircraft designers with topics tailored to current research questions in the field of aeronautics. This year’s challenge was about the development of an aerial firefighting system of systems including vehicle and fleet design with a strong emphasize on operationally-driven design aspects. This paper proposes a design for a next generation vertical take-off and landing firefighting aircraft with an expected entry into service in 2030, that is working intelligently and interconnected in a group of four. The design won the DLR Design Challenge 2022 and the underlying work covers the preliminary design including the structural concept, aerodynamic simulations, weight and balance calculations and the concept for water intake and deployment. The designed aircraft is characterized by a considerable high payload ratio that features vertical take-off and landing capabilities while showing efficient horizontal flight properties with a very competitive cost basis. The 24-hr operability during various weather conditions and challenging fire scenarios is ensured using a wide variety of sensors and a modern glass-cockpit combining pilot comfort with indispensable safety aspects. Due to its modular design, every aircraft can be comfortably converted to a passenger or freight version during firefighting off-season or for cargo and crew supply during the missions

DLR DESIGN CHALLENGE 2022: DESIGN OF A NEXT GENERATION VTOL FIREFIGHTING AIRCRAFT

Since 2017, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) has been organizing an annual student competition on conceptual aircraft design titled DLR Design Challenge. This education and training initiative is set to challenge the next generation of aircraft designers with topics tailored to current research questions in the field of aeronautics. This year’s challenge was about the development of an aerial firefighting system of systems including vehicle and fleet design with a strong emphasize on operationally-driven design aspects. This paper proposes a design for a next generation vertical take-off and landing firefighting aircraft with an expected entry into service in 2030, that is working intelligently and interconnected in a group of four. The design won the DLR Design Challenge 2022 and the underlying work covers the preliminary design including the structural concept, aerodynamic simulations, weight and balance calculations and the concept for water intake and deployment. The designed aircraft is characterized by a considerable high payload ratio that features vertical take-off and landing capabilities while showing efficient horizontal flight properties with a very competitive cost basis. The 24-hr operability during various weather conditions and challenging fire scenarios is ensured using a wide variety of sensors and a modern glass-cockpit combining pilot comfort with indispensable safety aspects. Due to its modular design, every aircraft can be comfortably converted to a passenger or freight version during firefighting off-season or for cargo and crew supply during the missions

Investigation of the Active Ingredient Pregabalin on Kidney Function

Yüksek Lisans TeziMoleküler ağırlığı 159 ve formülü C8H17NO2, olan pregabalin beyazımsı renkte, presinaptik voltaj bağımlı kalsiyum kanallarının (VBKK) α2-δ alt ünitelerine potent bağlanan bir maddedir. Kalsiyum kanal yapısında üç boyutlu yapısal bir değişikliğe neden olarak hücre içine kalsiyum girişini azaltır. Böylece aşırı uyarılmış nöronlarda glutamat, noradrenalin, P-maddesi gibi nöroeksitatuvar nörotransmitterlerin salıverilmesini azaltarak hücrenin normal fizyolojik dengeye dönmesini sağlamaktadır. Literatürde pregabalinle ilgili olarak nörotoksisite şüpheleri nedeniyle tedaviyi durdurma olguları bildirilmiştir. Pregabalin kullanan bir hastada, yetersiz ADH sekresyonu sendromuna benzer şekilde hiponatremi görüldüğünü, pregabalinin kesilmesinden sonra durumun düzeldiğini savunmuşlardır. Ancak konu ile ilgili yeterince çalışmaya rastlanmamıştır. Pregabalinin yarı ömrünün yaşla ilişkili olarak uzadığı, bu durumun yaşla birlikte böbrek fonksiyonlarındaki zayıflık ile ilgili olabileceği üzerinde çalışmalar dikkate alındığında pregabalinin yol açabileceği renaltoksisite ve nörotoksisite açısından ilacın incelenme gerekliliği doğmuştur. Bu çalışmada pregabalin kullanan erişkin yaş grubundaki hastalara ait epikriz ve hasta kartları taranarak, hastaların böbrek fonksiyonları ile ilişkilendirilebilecek periferik kandan analiz edilen üre, ürik asit, kreatinin, serum elektrolit düzeyleri ve böbrek fonksiyonlarındaki olası değişimin tespiti için glomerüler filtrasyon (GFR) hızı altı ayda iki kez ölçüm yapılarak değerlendirilmiştir. Çalışmamızda hata oranı ve standart sapma dikkate alınarak her bir parametrenin ortalaması kantitatif olarak değerlendirildi. İstatistiksel analizler her bir parametre için IBM SPSS 21 paket programında bulunan verinin dağılımına uygun analizler seçilerek karşılaştırmalı kıyas analizleri yapıldı. Belirtilen parametrelerin istatistiksel değerlendirilmesi neticesinde pregabalin etken maddesinin kullanımının böbrek fonksiyonları üzerinde anlamlı bir etkisi görülmemiştir. Bu çalışma pregabalinin diğer organlar üzerindeki etkilerinin ve organların fonksiyonel belirteçlerinin retrospektif olarak değerlendirilerek araştırılmasına ön ayak olabilecek niteliktedir. Böylece ilaç araştırma ve geliştirme kurumlarına yararı olabilecek bilgiler sağlanabilecek olup, disiplinler arası yaklaşımlarla birlikte ilaç güvenilirliği arttırılabilir.Pregabalin with a molecular weight of 159 and its formula C8H17NO2 is a substance that is potent in whitish color, which binds to α2-δ subunits of presynaptic voltage dependent calcium channels (VDCC). It causes a three-dimensional structural change in the calcium channel structure and reduces theentry of calcium into the cell. Thus, it provides the cell to return to normal physiological balance by reducing there lease of neuroexcitative neurotransmitters such as glutamate, noradrenaline and P-substance in overstimulated neurons. Cases of discontinuation of treatment have been reported due to suspicions of pregabalin neurotoxicity reported in the literature. They argued that in a patient using pregabalin, hyponatremia was observed, similar to insufficient ADH secretion syndrome, and the condition improved after cessation of pregabalin. However, there are not enough studies on the subject. Considering the Studies that the half-life of pregabalin is prolonged with age, this situation may be related to weakness in kidney function with age, the necessity of examining the drug in terms of renal toxicity and neurotoxicity has arisen. In this study, hospital files belonging to the adult age group using pregabalin were scanned. Glomerulation filtrationrate (GFR), creatinine and serum electroylte levels from peripheric blood related to renal function was measured twice in sixmonths to detect possible changes in kidney function. In our study, the mean of each parameter was quantified, taking into account the error rate and standard deviation. Statistical analysis comparative comparison analysis was performed by selecting Analyses appropriate to the distribution of the data contained in the IBM SPSS 21 package program for each parameter. As a result of statistical evaluation of the specified parameters, the use of the active substance pregabalin did not have a significant effect on kidney function. This study is a retrospective assessment of the effects of pregabalin on other organs and functional markers of the organs. In this way, information that may benefit drug research and development institutions can be provided and drug reliability can be increased with interdisciplinary approaches

Effect of Diet on Bone Mineral Density in Peri-and Postmenopausal Women

Among the determinants of osteoporosis in elderly, nutritional factors play a significant role. In a cross-sectional study the effects of several nutritional factors on bone mineral density were investigated in 44 women aged over 40 years. Nineteen premenopausal and twenty five postmenopausal women were enrolled the study. Subjects were instructed to keep seven-day nutritional record. Bone mineral density measurements were performed with DXA, and laboratory investigations related to bone metabolism were undertaken. Daily protein, fat, carbohydrate, total energy, fiber, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, zinc and vitamin C intakes were analysed by a nutritional analysis program. The associations between daily dietary intakes of this nutritional components and bone mineral density were investigated. The daily protein, fat, carbohydrate, total energy, fiber, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, zinc and vitamin C intakes were not correlated significantly with lumbar and hip bone mineral density. Lumbar bone mineral density was correlated with age. There was no significant association between daily protein or sodium intake and urinary calcium excretion. The results suggest that the manifestation of osteoporosis in women is influenced to a greater extent by age and years since menopause than by the distribution of nutritional factors in normal mixed diet. However, further studies with larger series are essential to evaluate the role of dietary composition on the manifestation of osteoporosis and bone metabolism

Effects of Diet on Levels of Bone Mineral Density and Serum Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 - Original Investigation

Osteoporosis is a major public health problem and the role of diet in both its prevention and pathogenesis is currently investigating. Diet is a modifiable factor which has role on both bone mass formation and prevention of osteoporosis. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is a peptide which is structurally similar to insulin and has effect on calcium homeostasis. Fourty four women (19 premenopausal and 25 postmenopausal) aged over 40 years were enrolled into the study. Bone mineral density measurements were performed with DXA and 24 hours urinary calcium excretion and serum biochemistry values were evaluated. Serum IGF-1 levels were measured with an immunoradiometric assay method. All subjects were directed to a trained dietician and kept a seven-day dietary record. The data which obtained from dietary record were evaluated to determine the daily calcium, phosphorus, protein, lipid, carbohydrate, fiber, sodium, zinc, vitamin C and total energy intakes. There was found no correlation between daily protein, calcium, phosphorus, lipid, carbohydrate, fiber, sodium, zinc, vitamin C and total energy intakes and lumbar and femoral BMD values. Serum IGF-1 levels were found independent from daily protein intake and lumbar and femoral BMD were not found in association with serum IGF-1 levels. Also there was no association between daily protein or sodium intakes and urinary calcium excretion. According to data derived from our study, it is seemed that, nutritional factors in a normal mixed diet do not affect mainly the manifestation of osteoporosis in women. There is need for more studies with larger series to evaluate the role of IGF-1 system in this relationship. (Osteoporoz Dünyasından 2006; 12 (2): 27-30

Elevated LDL-Cholesterol level predicts diabetes in centrally obese women but not men - Relative roles of insulin resistance and central obesity

Background The aim was to investigate the sex-specific effect of hypercholesterolemia interacting with abdominal obesity (AO) in predicting Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The 3,048 participants (aged :28 years) were free of DM at baseline, a representative sample of Turkish adults and were evaluated prospectively

Comparison of Different Iron Preparations in the Prophylaxis of Iron-deficiency Anemia

We compared the efficacy of ferrous sulfate (divalent) and ferric polymaltose (trivalent) compounds for the prophylaxis of iron-deficiency anemia (IDA). Study infants included exclusively breast milk-fed term infants. Subjects were divided randomly into 2 groups at 4 months of age and group 1 (n=56) received divalent and group 2 (n=56) received trivalent iron (Fe) preparation at a dose of 2 mg/kg/d for 5 months. At 9 months of age, after a 5-month prophylaxis, a significant increase was observed in hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit, serum Fe levels, and transferrin saturation in both groups. However, group 1 had significantly higher Hb, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, Fe, and transferrin saturation than group 2 (11.7 +/- 0.6 g/dL, 34.6% +/- 1.7%, 76.2 +/- 2.9 fL, 55.5 +/- 1.8 mcg, 20.8 +/- 3.9 g/L, respectively in group 1 vs. 11.3 +/- 0.5 g/dL, 33.5% +/- 1.5%, 74.7 +/- 3.2 fL, 42.5 +/- 1.8 mcg, 14.1 +/- 7.5 g/L, respectively in group 2). No significant difference was found in ferritin values between the groups. Fe deficiency was found in 17 (30.3%) of the subjects in group 1, and 23 (41%) of subjects in group 2 whereas 5 (8.9%) subjects had IDA in group 1 and 12 (12%) in group 2 which were insignificant between groups. No significant difference was found with regard to side effects between 2 Fe preparations. Although divalent Fe therapy led to a higher Hb and serum Fe level, both ferrous and ferric Fe preparations were effective for prophylactic use in the prevention of Fe deficiency and IDA with comparable side effects