The Use of Clobazam as Add-on Treatment in Resistant Epilepsy: Our Retrospective Clinical Data

Objective: Patients with drug-resistant focal or generalized epilepsy are important in terms of treatment and polytherapy necessity, adverse effect profiles of drugs, and seizure control difficulties. Clobazam (CLB), which has a lesser sedative effect than other benzodiazepines, is frequently used in different countries. In this study, we aimed to present the results related to the demographic characteristics, adverse effects, and treatment efficacy of patients under CLB treatment

Preparation and characterization of new nanocomposite polymer films containing NiO nanofillers

WOS: 000417917200007Nanocomposite solid polymer films based on the poly(exo-N-phenyl-7-oxanorbornene-5,6-dicarboximide) (PPhONDI)/LiClO4/NiO system have been designed, and the effect of inorganic NiO nanofiller in different amounts on the film properties has been examined. The exo-PPhONDI/LiClO4/NiO polymer system is the first solid nanocomposite polymer electrolyte film example based on a ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) host polymer. The NiO nanoparticles were prepared by two-step chemical syntheses, and the thermoplastic host polymer, exo-PPhONDI, was synthesized via ROMP. Composite polymer films were prepared by the solution-casting method. The amount of nanoparticles was varied from 1 to 15wt % of NiO. The conductivity of the nanocomposite solid polymer systems was influenced by the NiO nanofiller concentration. The composite films based on exo-PPhONDI ROMP polymer with the highest conductivity were achieved for the composition with 8 wt % of NiO nanofiller and 10 wt % of LiClO4 dopant. The prepared films were characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM results showed that the filler was well distributed in the polymer matrix. (c) 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45938.Kirikkale University Scientific Research Projects Coordination UnitKirikkale University [2013/27]We thank Kirikkale University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit for the financial assistance through the project (project no. 2013/27)

Molecular detection and prevalence of feline hemotropic mycoplasmas in Istanbul, Turkey

The aim of this study was to investigate Mycoplasma spp. species in blood samples of the domestic cats from the province of Istanbul, Turkey. Three hundred eighty four blood samples of client-owned cats were used for the identification of Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf), Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum (CMhm) and Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis (CMt) by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) assays. Out of 384 blood samples, 74 (19.3%) were positive for one of Mycoplasma species. The total prevalence of Mhf, CMhm and CMt infections was 9.9%, 17.7% and 0.8% respectively. The most common species was CMhm. Co-infections were mostly with Mhf/CMhm and the frequency was 8.1%. Two cats were infected with three species. The current study was the first molecular prevalence study of hemotropic mycoplasmas in Istanbul, reporting the presence of CMt for the first time in Turkey. Prevalence of feline mycoplasma was notably high in Istanbul and PCR assay could be preferred rather than the microscopic examination for the diagnosis

Relationship of serum netrin-1 levels with breast masses

Introduction: Netrin-1 has been shown to induce angiogenesis and is considered to function as a proto-oncogene. We aimed to evaluate the relationship of serum netrin-1 level with the presence of breast mass and the nature of mass.Methods: A total of 84 patients, including 27 patients with benign mass, 31 patients with malignant mass and 26 healthy controls, were enrolled in the study. Results: In our study, the mean serum netrin-1 level was 479±325 pg/ml in the patients with malignant mass, 336.9±178.2 pg/ml in the patients with benign mass and 264.7±112.4 pg/ml in the healthy controls, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in mean serum netrin-1 level between these three groups (p=0.007). When the patients participating in the study were divided in to two groups as those with (the benign and malign groups) and without (the control group) mass, the mean serum netrin-1 level was 264.7±112.4 pg/ml in those without mass and 412.8±274.2 pg/ml in those with mass, respectively. It was seen that the mean serum netrin-1 level of those with mass was statistically significantly higher than that of those without mass (p=0.016). Conclusion: The mean serum netrin-1 level was found to be significantly higher in the patients with breast mass, especially those with malignant mass

Changes in thiol/disulfide homeostasis in patients with chronic kidney disease

Thiol/disulfide homeostasis (TDH) is a new marker of oxidative stress. In this study, we would like to determine the changes in TDH in hemodialysis (HD) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Nephrology Clinic of Konya Training and Research Hospital. A total of 197 individuals including 75 HD patients, 41 end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients (having stage 3-5 CKD but not receiving hemodialysis), and 81 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Serum native thiol, total thiol, and disulfide levels were measured with a new method developed by Erel and Neselioglu. It was determined that there was a statistically significant difference in the mean age, body mass index (BMI), modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD), and creatinine level between the three groups (p [Med-Science 2020; 9(1.000): 201-4

Effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on thiol/disulfide homeostasis in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Introduction: Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is an otologic emergency that can lead to loss of function in one of the most important human senses. Recently, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has gained popularity with pharmacotherapy in ISSNHL. This study aimed to determine changes induced in thiol/disulfide homeostasis (TDH, a new biomarker of systemic oxidative stress) by pharmacotherapy and HBOT in patients with ISSNHL.Methods: This prospective study analyzed the albumin, total thiol, native thiol, and disulfide levels and disulfide-native thiol, disulfide-total thiol, and native thiol-total thiol ratios before and after HBOT with standardizing pharmacotherapy using a new colorimetric method in patients with ISSNHL.Results: 41 patients with ISSNHL including 14 (34.1%) women and 27 (65.9%) men participated in the study. The mean age of the patients was 48.02 ± 13.10 years. Of them, 24 (58.5%) had hearing loss in the right ear and 17 (41.5%) had hearing loss in the left ear. There was a statistically significant decrease in the albumin (p<0.001), total thiol (p<0.001), native thiol (p<0.001), and disulfide (p<0.001) levels after treatment compared to baseline. There was no statistically significant difference in the disulfide-native thiol (p=0.148), disulfide-total thiol (p=0.172), and native thiol-total thiol (p=0.169) ratios after treatment compared to baseline. Conclusion: Consequently, this study demonstrated that the thiol-disulphide balance tended to shift towards the oxidative side after HBOT and pharmacotherapy compared to baseline in patients with ISSNHL and that patients with high oxidation level after treatment had better treatment response

<p>Tremor and Myoclonus is Common in Immune-mediated and Hereditary Polyneuropathies & nbsp;</p>

Objective: Our goal was to identify the frequency and types of involuntary movements in immune mediated and hereditary polyneuropathies. Methods: In this prospective study, we included all consecutive patients with immune mediated or hereditary polyneuropathy between January 2017 and November 2019. The presence and type of the involuntary movements were determined by the clinical examination and multichannel surface electromyography. Results: We identified 23 (48.9%) patients with involuntary movements among 47 patients with immune mediated or hereditary polyneuropathy in the study period. All patients with an involuntary movement had postural tremor with accompanying action and/or rest tremor. Short duration and high-amplitude myoclonus was accompanying in 18 (38.3%) patients. The demographic and clinical characteristics and features of nerve conduction studies were similar between patients with and without involuntary movements. Discussion: Tremor and myoclonus were frequent in our cohort. Postural tremor was the most frequent subtype. There was no significant relationship between myoclonus or tremor and clinical/electrophysiological features. Conclusion: For assessing movement disorders in polyneuropathies not only clinical examination, but also electrophysiological studies such as multichannel surface electromyography should be used

ADHERENCE TO GROWTH HORMONE THERAPY: RESULTS OF A MULTICENTER STUDY

WOS: 000329913500012PubMed ID: 24013997Objective: To evaluate the adherence to growth hormone (GH) therapy and identify the influencing factors and outcomes in children. Methods: A total of 217 GH-naive patients in 6 pediatric endocrinology clinics were enrolled in the study. Structured questionnaires were filled out and patients were evaluated at the initiation and 3rd, 6th, and 12th months of therapy. Patients were categorized into 4 adherence segments based on percentage of doses omitted at each evaluation period, classified as excellent if 0%, good if 5%, fair if 5 to 10%, and poor if > 10%. Results: There was a decrement in adherence to GH therapy during the study period (P = .006). Patients who showed excellent and good adherence to therapy had better growth velocity and growth velocity standard deviation scores (SDSs) (P = .014 and P = .015, respectively). A negative correlation between growth velocity SDS and number of missed injections was also observed (r = -.412; P = .007). A positive correlation between delta insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) SDS and growth velocity was demonstrated (r = .239; P = .042). IGF-1 levels were significantly higher in patients who showed excellent and good adherence to therapy (P = .01). Adherence was better in boys than in girls (P = .035), but adherence rates were not associated with age, cause of GH treatment, socioeconomic status, person who administered the injections, type of injection device, or GH product. Conclusion: Poor adherence to GH therapy was common in our group of patients and was one of the factors underlying suboptimal growth during therapy. Before considering other problems that can affect growth, clinicians should confirm good adherence to therapy

Molecular analysis of PROP1, POU1F1, LHX3, and HESX1 in Turkish patients with combined pituitary hormone deficiency: a multicenter study

WOS: 000355230500022PubMed ID: 25500790To investigate the specific mutations in PROP1, POU1F1, LHX3, and HESX1 genes in patients with combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD) in Turkey. Seventy-six patients with CPHD were included in this study. Based on clinical, hormonal, and neuro-radiological data, relevant transcription factor genes were evaluated by Sanger sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. Total frequency of mutations was 30.9 % in patients with CPHD. Frequency was significantly higher in familial patients (p = 0.001). Three different types of mutations in PROP1 gene (complete gene deletion, c.301-302delAG, a novel mutation; IVS1+2T > G) were found in 12 unrelated patients (21.8 %). Mutations in PROP1 gene were markedly higher in familial than in sporadic cases (58.8 vs. 5.3 %, p < 0.001). Homozygous complete gene deletion was the most common mutation in PROP1 gene (8/12) and was identified in six familial patients. Four different homozygous mutations [p.Q4X, novel mutations; exons 1-2 deletion, p.V153F, p.I244S] were detected in POU1F1 gene. Central precocious puberty was firstly observed in a sporadic-male patient with homozygous POU1F1 (p.I244S) mutation. A homozygous mutation in HESX1 gene (p.R160H) was detected in one patient. This study is the first to investigate specific mutations in CPHD patients in Turkey. Complete deletion in PROP1 gene was the most common mutation encountered in patients with CPHD. We believe that the results of this study will contribute to the establishment of genetic screening strategies in Turkey, as well as to the studies on phenotype-genotype correlations and early diagnosis of CPHD patients.Scientific and Technological Research Institution of TurkeyTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [106S277-SBAG-3488]; Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Istanbul UniversityIstanbul University [2871]This work was supported by Scientific and Technological Research Institution of Turkey (Project Number: 106S277-SBAG-3488) and Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Istanbul University (Project Number: 2871). The authors would like to thank Professor Olcay Neyzi, MD, of the Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, for helpful discussions and critical reading of the manuscript

Evaluation of therapeutics management patterns and glycemic control of pediatric type 1 diabetes mellitus patients in Turkey: A nationwide cross-sectional study

WOS: 000381646900004PubMed ID: 27423071Aims: To evaluate the management strategies, glycemic control and complications of pediatric type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients in Turkey. Methods: Study included 498 patients with T1DM between the ages 1-18. Data provided from patients' hospital files were recorded on standard case report forms by applicant clinicians within the 3 months of data collection period between October 2012 and July 2013. Results: Mean age of patients was 11.3 +/- 3.8 years. Mean duration of DM was determined as 3.7 +/- 3.1 years. Majority of patients (85.5%) used basal/bolus injection (BBI), and 6.5% used continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion pump. Assessment of glycemic control based on HbA1c levels showed that 29.1% of patients had an HbA1c value 9%(75 mmol/mol). Hypoglycemia was reported in 145 (29.1%) patients and the number of severe hypoglycemic attacks in the last 3 months was 1.0 +/- 2.4. Taking into consideration the carbohydrate count and insulin correction dose and parents with high socioeconomic status was related to have better glycemic control. The most common comorbidities were Hashimoto's thyroiditis/hypothyroidism (6.2%) followed by celiac disease (3.8%), epilepsy(1.2%), and asthma(1.0%). Conclusions: BBI insulin therapy is widely used among pediatric T1DM patients in Turkey. However, despite improvements in treatment facilities and diabetic care, glycemic control is not at a satisfactory level. Therefore, new and comprehensive initiatives require for pediatric T1DM patients with poor glycemic control. Promoting use of carbohydrate count and insulin correction doses may improve the glycemic control of pediatric T1DM in Turkey. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.SanofiSanofi-AventisStudy was funded by Sanofi