Plasma modified foley catheters against to catheter associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)

In this study; the foley catheters were modified by plasma polymerization technique and coated with alginate gels. This modification processes were applied to prevent bacterial adhesion onto the foley catheter surfaces. Here the most effective parameters were evaluated as the plasma polymerization system power and plasma exposure time for the effective catheter surface modification. The obtained results showed that the plasma power affected hidrophilicity of the surface and wettability of the foley catheters was increased. The plasma exposure time increased the amount of EDA deposition over the catheter surfaces and then caused more hydrophilicity for the foley catheter surfaces also. In this study, the bacterial strain of E. Coli had a hydrophobic nature and therefore the increase in hydrophilicity of the surface of foley catheters decreased the adhesion risk for the E. Coli onto the catheter surfaces. As the numerical values of the obtained data; while the amount of bacterial colony formation unit was at 108 level initially, it was decreased down to 104-103 level by changing the surface hydrophilicities as expected

Extract of Calvatia gigantea inhibits proliferation of A549 human lung cancer cells

In this study, in order to investigate the anticancer mechanism of Calvatia gigantea extract, edible mushroom species, which belong to Lycoperdaceae family, changes of CCND1, CCND2, CDK4, p21, Akt, Bax, Bcl-2, p53, caspase-3 and caspase-9 were evaluated in A549 lung cancer cells. Cytotoxic effect of C.gigantea extract was evaluated by using XTT (2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5 carboxanilide). The C. gigantea extract was treated in a time and dose dependent manner within the range 25 μg/ml–2 mg/ml to determine the IC50 dose. IC50 dose for C. gigantea extract was detected as 500 μg/ml for 72 h. According to expression results, while CCND1, CCND2, CDK4, Akt and Bcl-2 expression clearly decreased, Bax, p53, caspase-3 and caspase-9 expression clearly increased in the dose group cells (A549 cells treated with 500 μg/ml dose of C. gigantea extract for 72 h). However, there was no change in p21 expression. C. gigantea extract induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by decreasing the CCND1, CCND2, CDK4, Akt and Bcl-2 expression and by increasing Bax, p53, caspase-3 and caspase-9 expression in A549 cells. Mushrooms are eukaryotic organisms heavily used because of their supposedly anticancer effect. Many mushroom species have been used for medical purposes, as a result of also having many effects such as antibiotic, antiviral and anticancer effects. It is thought that the C. gigantea extract may be a significant agent for treatment of lung cancer as a single agent or in combination with other drugs. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

Biochemical Characterisation and Sensory Evaluation of Differently Coloured and Shaped Tomato Cultivars

Antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content, colour, sugar, volatiles, ascorbic acid and carotenoid (β-carotene and lycopene) contents of differently coloured and shaped tomato cultivars (cvs) grown in the Eastern Mediterranean region, Turkey were determined, along with a sensory evaluation. Tomato cultivars of two different types (cherry and beefsteak) and four different colours (red, yellow, orange and brown) were analysed. All plants were simultaneously grown in the same field and subjected to identical horticultural practices to minimise the effects of environmental conditions and to maximise those related to genotype. The red cherry cultivar had the highest lycopene content, while the orange beefsteak cultivar had the highest β-carotene content. The highest antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content and hardness scores were found in cherry-type tomatoes, except the yellow one. The red cherry cultivar had the highest sugar content. Red and brown cherry cultivars were also significant in terms of their high carotenoid and sugar contents, along with a high antioxidant activity. The brown cherry cultivar had the highest total phenol content. The highest quantities of 2-hexenal, 3-hexen-1-ol, and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one were detected in red cultivars. The brown cherry cultivar had the highest sweetness, typical aroma and hardness scores, while the yellow beefsteak cultivars the lowest sweetness typical aroma scores. In terms of sensory parameters, red and brown cultivars scored higher than yellow and orange ones

Multistable perception elicits compensatory alpha activity in older adults

Multistable stimuli lead to the perception of two or more alternative perceptual experiences that spontaneously reverse from one to the other. This property allows researchers to study perceptual processes that endogenously generate and integrate perceptual information. These endogenous processes appear to be slowed down around the age of 55 where participants report significantly lower perceptual reversals. This study aimed to identify neural correlates of this aging effect during multistable perception utilizing a multistable version of the stroboscopic alternative motion paradigm (SAM: endogenous task) and a control condition (exogenous task). Specifically, age-related differences in perceptual destabilization and maintenance processes were examined through alpha responses. Electroencephalography (EEG) of 12 older and 12 young adults were recorded during SAM and control tasks. Alpha band activity (8–14 Hz) was obtained by wavelet-transformation of the EEG signal and analyzed for each experimental condition. Endogenous reversals induced gradual decrease in posterior alpha activity in young adults which is a replication of previous studies’ findings. Alpha desynchronization was shifted to anterior areas and prevalent across the cortex except the occipital area for older adults. Alpha responses did not differ between the groups in the control condition. These findings point to recruitment of compensatory alpha networks for maintenance of endogenously generated percepts. Increased number of networks responsible for maintenance might have extended the neural satiation duration and led to decreased reversal rates in older adults

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Investigation of the effects of long noncoding RNA ZEB2NAT via EMT, metastasis and apoptosis in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines

Doktora Tezi.Kadınlarda yaygın olarak görülen meme kanseri, kansere bağlı ölüm oranları dikkate alındığında ikinci sırada yer almaktadır. Kanser üzerine yapılan çalışmalarda genellikle gen ifadesi üzerine odaklanılmış olmasına rağmen artık kodlamayan RNA'larında önemi anlaşılmıştır. Uzun kodlamayan RNA'lar (lncRNA) kodlamayan RNA ailesinin bir üyesidir. lncRNA'ların EMT (Epitelyal-mezenkimal geçiş), metastaz ve apoptoz gibi farklı süreç ve yolaklarda görevli genlerin düzenlenmesinde önemli işlevleri olduğu bilinmektedir. Bu nedenle de kanser patogenezinin moleküler düzeyde anlaşılmasına katkıda bulunması kaçınılmazdır. lncRNA ZEB2NAT, EMT sürecinde önemli role sahip ZEB2'nin doğal antisense transkriptidir. Bu tez çalışmasında MCF7 ve MDA-MB-231 insan meme kanseri hücrelerinde lncRNA ZEB2NAT'ın EMT, metastaz ve apoptoz üzerinden etkilerinin araştırılması amaçlanmıştır. ZEB2NAT'ın ifadesi siRNA transfeksiyon metodu ile baskılanmıştır. ZEB2NAT'ın MCF7 ve MDA-MB-231 insan meme kanseri hücrelerinde EMT, metastaz ve apoptozda önemli olan genlerin ifadeleri üzerine etkisi gerçek-zamanlı PZR (qPZR) ile belirlenmiştir. Önemli değişim görülen genlerden ZEB2, E kaderin ve N kaderinin protein seviyeleri western blot yöntemi ile kontrol edilmiştir. ZEB2NAT'ın hücre proliferasyonu, apoptoz, invazyon ve koloni oluşturma kapasitesi üzerine etkisi sırasıyla XTT, FITC annexin V, invazyon ve koloni testleri kullanılarak değerlendirilmiştir. ZEB2NAT'ın baskılanması her iki hücre hattında da EMT, metastaz ve apoptozda önemli olan bazı genlerin ifadelerini anlamlı derecede değiştirerek antimetastatik ve apoptotik etkiye sahip olduğu qPZR analizi ile tespit edilmiştir. ZEB2NAT'ın baskılanması durumunda her iki hücre hattında da gen ifadelerinde anlamlı değişim görülen ZEB2 ve N kaderin protein ifadelerinin azaldığı E kaderin protein ifadesinin ise arttığı protein düzeyinde western blot analizi sonucunda belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca XTT testi sonuçlarında ZEB2NAT'ın baskılanmasının her iki hücre hattında da hücre çoğalmasını anlamlı derecede azaltıcı etki gösterdiği belirlenmiştir. Akım sitometri sonuçları ZEB2NAT'ın baskılanmasının her iki hücre hattında da apoptozu anlamlı derecede uyardığını göstermiştir. İnvazyon ve koloni testleri sonucunda ZEB2NAT'ın baskılanmasının her iki hücre hattında da belli oranlarda sırasıyla invazyon ve koloni oluşum kapasitelerini anlamlı derecede azalttığı saptanmıştır. ZEB2NAT'ın baskılanması hem MCF7 hemde MDA-MB-231 insan meme kanseri hücrelerinde anti-metastatik ve apoptotik etkiye neden olduğu görülmüştür. Bu sonuçlar EMT sürecinde önemli role sahip olan ZEB2 transkripsiyon faktörünün antisense transkribi olan ZEB2NAT'ın meme kanserinde EMT, metastaz ve apoptoz üzerinden önemli rollere sahip olduğunu göstermektedir.Breast cancer, which is common in women, is the second considering the most common cancer-related mortality. Although studies on cancer have been generally focused on gene expression, importance of non-coding RNAs have been also understood. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) are member of the non-coding RNA family. It is known that lncRNAs have important functions in the genes regulation of role in the different processes and pathways such as EMT (Epithelial-mesenchymal transition), metastasis and apoptosis. Therefore, it is inevitable that lncRNAs have potential contribution for the understanding of cancer pathogenesis at the molecular level. lncRNA ZEB2NAT is the natural antisense transcript of ZEB2, which has an important role in the EMT process. In this thesis, the objective was to investigate effects of lncRNA ZEB2NAT via EMT, metastasis and apoptosis in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell lines. The expression of ZEB2NAT was suppressed by the siRNA transfection method. The effect of ZEB2NAT on the expression of important genes in EMT, metastasis and apoptosis was determined by real-time PCR (qPCR) in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. The protein levels of ZEB2, E cadherin and N cadherin were investigated by western blot analysis. The effects of ZEB2NAT on cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and colony formation were evaluated using XTT, FITC annexin V, invasion and colony tests, respectively. Expression of some important genes in EMT, metastasis and apoptosis pathways in both cell lines was determined by qPCR analysis. It was thereby suggested that the suppression of ZEB2NAT revealed anti-metastatic and apoptotic effects. The suppression of ZEB2NAT resulted in a decrease in ZEB2 and N cadherin and an increasing in E cadherin protein levels by western blot analysis in both cell lines. In addition, it was determined that suppression of ZEB2NAT significantly decreased cell proliferation in both cell lines in the XTT test. The results of flow cytometry showed that suppression of ZEB2NAT significantly stimulated apoptosis in both cell lines. As a result of invasion and colony tests, it was found that suppression of ZEB2NAT significantly decreased invasion and colony formation capacities in both cell lines. It was shown that suppression of ZEB2NAT caused anti-metastatic and apoptotic effect in both MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. These results have suggested that ZEB2NAT, the antisense transcript of the ZEB2 transcription factor, has an important roles in EMT, metastasis and apoptosis in breast cancer

Türk ticaret kanunu ve tasarısı açısından anonim şirketlerde hisse senetlerinin devri

Çalışmamızda, doktrindeki ve uygulamadaki görüşler göz önünde tutularak, mevcut sistemde ortaya çıkan sorular cevaplandırılmaya ve “TTK Tasarısı” ile yapılmak istenen değişikliklerin yürürlükte olan 6762 sayılı TTK’nın maddeleri ile karşılaştırmaya çalışılmıştır. Çalışmamızın birinci bölümünde, anonim şirket hisse senetlerinin temelini teşkil eden ve anonim şirketlerde hisse senetlerinin devrinin kolay anlaşılabilmesi amacı ile önce pay ve hisse senedi kavramları, türleri, hisse senetlerinin aslen ve devren iktisap edilmesi ayrıntılı bir şekilde açıklanmıştır. İkinci bölümde, anonim şirket hisse senetlerinden hamiline yazılı hisse senetlerinin devir şekli ciro ve teslim, nama yazılı hisse senetlerinin devir şekli ciro, alacağın temliki ve teslim kavramları, ciro ve alacağın temliki arasındaki farklılıklar, bağlı nama yazılı hisse senetlerinde sınırlamanın konulması, etkisini kaybetmesi ve kaydın reddi halinde bağlı nama yazılı hisse senetlerinin hukuki durumu ve bu konudaki görüş ayrılıkları ayrıntılı olarak incelenmiştir. Üçüncü bölümde ise, pay ve hisse senetlerinin devrinin kanuni ve iradi kısıtlanma halleri tek tek söz konusu haller belirtilmek suretiyle incelenmiştir. By taking the ideas which belongs to the doctrine and which come from current applications in to consideration, our study is tried to answer the questions that current system leads to as well as compare the changes of Turkish Commercial Code Bill with the articles of Turkish Commercial Code, in force, no: 6762 In the first part of our study, with the objective that the transfer of shares of stock in joint stock companies can be easily understood, the concepts of share and shares of stock, types of shares of stock as well as original and derivative acquisition of shares of stock which constitute the basis for the shares of stock of joint stock companies, were explained in detail. In the second part, the form of transfer of shares of stock payable to bearer (endorsement) and their delivery which is one of the shares of stock that belongs to joint stock companies, the form of transfer of registered shares of stock (endorsement), the concepts of assignment of a claim and delivery, the differences between endorsement and assignment of a claim, limitations in vinculated registered share, loosing its affect as well as the legal situation of vinculated registered shares in case of registration refusal and disagreements on this subject matter were examined in detail. In the third part, the forms of legal and volitional incapacity on the transfer of shares and share of stocks were examined in single case scenarios

Investigation of Apoptotic Effect of Sinapic Acid in Hep3B and HepG2 Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies in worldwide. Sinapic acid (SA) is a phytochemical found in various fruits and vegetables. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of SA on apoptosis in Hep3B and HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells. XTT assay was used to determine the cytotoxic effect of SA. Total RNA isolation was conducted using TRIzol Reagent. Relative mRNA expression levels of important genes in apoptosis including CASP3, CASP7, CASP8, CASP9, BAX, BCL2, FAS and CYCS were quantified using qPCR in control and dose groups. The IC50 dose of SA in Hep3B and HepG2 cells were found to be 1000 µM and 1150 µM for 72 h, respectively. According to qPCR results, significant increases in the expressions of CASP3 and FAS were determined as 23.37 and 27.47 folds in treated Hep3B cells. On the other hand, SA in HepG2 cells caused a significant increase in the expressions of CASP3, CASP8, CASP9, BAX and FAS as 1.53, 1.77, 1.21, 1.47 and 1.39 folds respectively, compared with the control group. It is considered that SA may cause apoptosis in Hep3B and HepG2 cells. Further studies with SA should be conducted to can be therapeutic agent on hepatocellular carcinoma

Evaluation of Enterococcus Isolates Isolated in Three Years Period at Zonguldak Karaelmas University Hospital

The aim of the study was to identify Enterococcus isolates to species level from various samples obtained at Zonguldak Karaelmas University, Research and Application Hospital Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, between January 2002 and April 2005 and to evaluate their antimicrobial resistance profile. A total of 222 isolates were investigated. One hundred and eighteen isolates were identified at species level by using API 20 Strep identification system. Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was used for the determination of penicillin, streptomycin, gentamicin, vancomycin and teicoplanin susceptibility. Streptomycin 300 µg and gentamicin 120 µg discs were used to determine high-level resistance to aminoglycosides. Seventy-seven of the 115 isolates were identified as Enterococcus faecalis (67.3%), 31 as Enterococcus faecium (26.9%), three as Enterococcus casseliflavus (2.6%) and one as Enterococcus durans (0.9%). Three isolates couldn’t be identified (2.6%) with the mentioned system. Resistance to penicillin was 50% for the total isolates while it was 40.2% for E. faecalis and 70.9% for E. faecium strains. In all strains high-level resistance to aminoglycosides for streptomycin and gentamicin were 54.9% and 46.8%, respectively. Resistance to both streptomycin and gentamicin was determined in 21 of the total strains (9.4%). All strains were susceptible to vancomycin and teicoplanin. No beta-lactamase producing isolates were detected