Optimization of a pulsed-field gel electrophoresis for molecular typing of Proteus mirabilis

Objective: For the detection of outbreaks caused byProteus mirabilis, strains clonal relations are determinedmethods as “pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE)”.The aim of this study was optimization of a pulsed-fieldgel electrophoresis for molecular typing of P. mirabilis.Methods: In this study, PFGE’ protocol is optimized foruse in molecular typing of P. mirabilis. Phylogenetic analyzesof strains were evaluated with Bionumerics softwaresystem (version 6.01; Applied Maths, Sint-Martens-Latem, Belgium).Results: This protocol compared with Gram-negativebacteria PFGE protocols, NotI enzyme is suitable for thisbacterium. Electrophoresis conditions should be revealedas; - block 1: initial pulse duration 1 sec, ending pulseduration 30 sec, striking angle 120°, the current 6 V/cm2,temperature 14°C, time 8 hours; - block 2: initial pulseduration 30 sec, ending pulse duration 70 sec, strikingangle 120°, the current 6 V/cm2, temperature 14°C, time16 hours; - TBE, pH=8.4.Conclusion: P. mirabilis strains were typed by PFGE andBionumerics analysis program were determined clonal relationships.The procedure was simple, reproducible andsuitable for these bacteria. Also it was evaluated, becauseof reducing time, the solution volumes and enzymes canbe economically. Outbreaks of nosocomial infections dueto bacteria studied assessment and the potential to provideuseful information about the degree of prevalence.This optimized protocol is allowed different centers’ PFGEresults to compare with other laboratories results. J ClinExp Invest 2013; 4 (3): 306-312Key words: Proteus mirabilis, molecular typing, pulsedfieldgel electrophoresis

The Impact of domestic and global risk factors on Turkish stock market: Evidence from the NARDL approach

The study investigates the short-run and long-run asymmetric effects of the global economic policy uncertainty, real oil prices, and country-specific geopolitical risk on real stock returns in Turkey by using the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) framework over the pre-COVID-19 period of 1997:01-2019:12 and full-sample period of 1997:01-2020:12. The empirical findings indicate the following results. Firstly, global economic policy uncertainty leads to depress real stock returns for both sample periods. Secondly, negative real oil price changes, in the long run, have relatively greater effects compare to positive changes on real stock returns, whereas positive oil price changes affect negatively in the short-run for the full-sample period. Thirdly, the country-specific geopolitical risk exerts positive effects on the real stock returns in the long run for both periods. The overall results suggest that the Turkish real stock returns react more to the bad news caused by the global factors than the domestic one.WOS:0006700924000012-s2.0-8510994050

Convergence analysis of carbon dioxide per capita through the Nahar-Inder technique in selected European countries

Bu çalışmada iklim değişikliğinin başlıca nedeni olan CO2 salınımlarının 17 Avrupa ülkesinde 1946-2019 dönemine ait verilerle yakınsama davranışı gösterip göstermediği incelenmiştir. Çalışmada ADF doğrusal birim kök testi, LNV (1998), KSS (2003) ve Sollis (2009) doğrusal olmayan birim kök testleri ve birim kök olması durumunda bile yakınsamaya izin veren Nahar-Inder (2002) tekniği kullanılmıştır. Elde edilen bulgulara göre, ADF testinde 12, LNV (1998) testinde 6, KSS (2003) testinde 10 ve Sollis (2009) testinde 9 ülke yakınsama davranışı sergilerken, Nahar-Inder (2002) tekniğine göre 17 ülkenin 16’sında yakınsama davranışı gözlemlenmiştir. Buradan hareketle Nahar-Inder (2002) tekniğinin birim kök testlerine göre daha güçlü sonuçlar verdiği söylenebilir. Bu tespit, fosil yakıt kullanımına bağlı çevresel bozulmaların önlemesine yönelik uluslararası anlaşmalara taraf olan ülkelerin ortak politikalar uygulayabilecekleri şeklinde değerlendirilebilir. Bu çerçevede iklim değişikliği ile mücadelede uluslararası anlaşmaların genişletilmesi ve yaptırım gücünü artıracak hüküm ve kurumların oluşturulması gerektiği çalışmanın politika önerisi olarak sunulmaktadır.In this study, it was examined whether CO2 emissions, which are the main cause of climate change, show convergence behavior with data for the period of 1946-2019 in 17 European countries. In the study, ADF linear unit root test, LNV (1998), KSS (2003) and Sollis (2009) nonlinear unit root tests and Nahar-Inder (2002) technique which allows convergence even in the case of unit root were used. According to the findings obtained, 12 countries exhibited convergence behavior in ADF test, 6 in LNV (1998) test, 10 in KSS (2003) test and 9 in Sollis (2009) test, while convergence behavior was observed in 16 of 17 countries according to Nahar-Inder (2002) technique. Based on this, it can be said that the Nahar-Inder (2002) technique gives stronger results compared to unit root tests. This determination can be assessed in the form that countries that are parties to international agreements aimed at preventing environmental degradation related to the use of fossil fuels can implement common policies. Within this framework, it is presented as a policy proposal of the study that international agreements on combating climate change should be expanded and provisions and institutions that will increase the power of sanctions should be created

Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor (NRF2), Heme Oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and Total Oxidant-Antioxidant Status in Patients with COVID-19

Introduction: Studies on nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) levels in COVID-19 patients are limited. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between some biomarkers of oxidant-antioxidant status with COVID-19 disease. Material and methods: The patients older than 18 years of age who tested positive for SARS CoV-2 PCR (polymerase chain reaction) with clinical symptoms and signs were included in this study. Total antioxidant status (TAS), total antioxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI) and HO-1 and Nrf2 levels were analyzed from serum samples taken before and after treatment. Results: In this study, 16 patients followed up with the diagnosis of COVID-19 were included. 9 (56.3%) of the patients were female and 7 (43.8%) were male. The mean age was 33.75 ± 17.03 years. All patients were symptomatic and were hospitalized to be followed up. It was determined that Nrf2 and HO-1 values increased significantly after treatment. Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between Nrf2 and TAS values and TAS increases significantly in parallel to an increase in Nrf2, and there was a significant but negative correlation between Nrf2 and TOS and OSI values, and thus an increase in Nrf2 led to a decrease in TOS and OSI values. There was a significant positive correlation between HO-1 and TAS, and TAS increased significantly, as HO-1 increased. Conclusions: The decrease in TOS and OSI and the increase in Nrf2 and HO-1 during the follow-up period in COVID-19 patients suggest that the body tries to prevent ROS-related oxidative stress via Nrf2 and HO-1 and that oxidative stress may have a key role in the pathophysiology of COVID-19

Role of pyroptosis in COVID-19

Aim: In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between gasdermin-D, caspase-1, IL-1β and NLRP3, biomarkers that play an important role in COVID-19, and pyroptosis. Material and Methods: This study was carried out with 58 participants, 28 (48.28%) of whom were diagnosis with COVID-19, and 30 (51.72%) of whom were healthy volunteers (control group). Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the gasdermin-D, caspase-1, IL-1β, and NLRP3 levels as a result of all statistical comparisons performed. However, IL-1β values both during the discharge period and during the hospitalization period were considerably higher than those of the control group. At the discharge period, IL-1β values of the patients with severe COVID-19 category had higher than moderate patients, and the patients with moderate than the patients with mild patients. Conclusion: It was observed that IL-1β, which is one of the cytokines released as a result of cell death in the pyroptosis mechanism, was higher in the COVID-19 patients in both the hospitalization and discharge periods compared to the control group. Although not statistically significant these results could support the relationship between pyroptosis and COVID-19

Intrapartum and Postpartum Reactivation of Hepatitis B in Pregnant Patients: a multicentre study

Introduction: Changes in the immune system during pregnancy have been associated with reactivation of the hepatitis B virus in women chronic hepatitis B infection not receiving antiviral therapy. The aim of this study is to examine the development of intrapartum and postpartum hepatitis B reactivation in pregnant patients not being treated for chronic hepatitis B. Material and Methods: Pregnant women diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B and not receiving treatment between 2017 and 2022 in five centres in the east and southeast Turkey included in this study. In order to evaluate biochemical and viral reactivation from intrapartum and postpartum periods, patients with data for at least two periods were included in the study. Results: Evaluations were made on 171 pregnant women diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B. Reactivation occurred in 43 (25.2%) patients, in the postpartum period in 14 (32.35%) and in the intrapartum period in 29 (67.44%). Reactivation occurred most often in the 3rd trimester (n: 13, 30.2%). A significant increase was observed in the alanine aminotransferase levels of the patients with reactivation in the first trimester compared to 6 months prepartum and in the second trimester compared to the first trimester (p=0.038, p=0.039, respectively). The prepartum HBV DNA level (cut-off point =192 IU/ml) of patients with HBeAg negativity was found to have diagnostic power for reactivation of 0.684 (95% CI: 0.575-0.792, p=0.002) with 65.9% sensitivity and 68.6% specificity. Viral reactivation was observed in the first trimester in one patient and hepatitis B surface antibody was seen in the postpartum period. Conclusions: Asymptomatic viral reactivation occurred at the high rate of 25.1% in this series. To be able to identify reactivation as early as possible, pregnant patients should be followed up closely in the intrapartum and postpartum periods

Interview with Marjorie Harkins Buchanan Kiewit

In this interview with Julia Stringfellow, Marjorie Harkins Buchanan Kiewit, LU class of 1943, discusses her time as a student as well as her time on the Board of Trustees.https://lux.lawrence.edu/oralhistories/1036/thumbnail.jp

Türkiye’de Petrol Tüketimi İle Reel GSYİH Arasındaki Uzun Dönem İlişkinin Johansen Eş-Bütünleşme Yöntemi İle Analiz Edilmesi

Bu çalışmanın temel amacı 1965-2011 döneminde Türkiye'de petrol tüketimi ile reel GSYİH arasında uzun dönemli bir ilişki olup olmadığını ortaya koymak ve ilişkinin olması halinde bu ilişkinin yönünü belirlemektedir. Bu amaçla, analizde Johansen-Juselius (1990) eş-bütünleşme yöntemi ile hata düzeltme modeli kullanılmaktadır. Elde edilen bulgulara göre ilgili seriler arasında bir tane eşbütünleşme ilişkisi vardır. Hata düzeltme mekanizması çalışmaktadır ve ilişkinin yönü petrol tüketiminden reel GSYİH'ye doğrudur. Bu sonuç Türkiye'nin enerji bağımlısı olduğunu göstermesi bakımından önemlidir

Satın alma gücü paritesi hipotezi SAGP nin OECD ülkeleri için test edilmesi

The main aim of this study is to test the validity of purchasing power parity (PPP) hypothesis for OECD countries among which the economic integration have been increasing over time. In this study purchasing power parity is tested for 25 OECD countries by using the yearly data from 1970 to 2013. KSS and AESTAR test procedures that are based on non-linear techniques are used in the study. Findings suggest that AESTAR estimation gives more robust results than KSS. Because according to AESTA