Heart-Type Fatty Acid Binding Protein (H-FABP): Relationship with arterial ıntima-media thickness and role as diagnostic marker for atherosclerosis in patients with ımpaired glucose metabolism

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Heart type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) has been closely associated with acute coronary syndrome, cardiac abnormalities, stroke, and obstructive sleep disorder in previous studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the serum H-FABP levels and carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) between patients with prediabetes and control subjects.</p> <p>Research design and methods</p> <p>We measured serum H-FABP levels in 58 prediabetic patients, 29 with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and 29 with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and 28 age-, sex- and body mass index-matched control subjects using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and in order to measure CIMT, all participants underwent high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Serum H-FABP levels were significantly elevated in pre-diabetic patients when compared with that of control subjects (IFG: 32.5 ± 34.2 ng/dL, IGT: 45.4 ± 45.8 ng/dL, control: 16.8 ± 14.9 ng/dL; p = 0.011). The difference in means of H-FABP levels between patients with IGT or IFG and control subjects was significant (p = 0.010 and p = 0.009, respectively). CIMT was higher in the pre-diabetic groups compared with the control group (IFG: 0.6 ± 0.1, IGT: 0.6 ± 0.1, control: 0.5 ± 0.1; p < 0.001), and H-FABP level was positively correlated with CIMT (p < 0.001, rho = 0.626).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results indicate that patients with pre-diabetes are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. In addition, serum H-FABP levels could represent a useful marker for myocardial performance in patients with IFG and IGT.</p

The postgraduate students’ (masters, PhD) metaphors about education of statistic

Statistics is an important part of our life when it comes to economy, education, sport, politics and research. Research is a primary job for the ones pursuing academic career and statistics is one of the basic components of a research. Metaphor is used as an equivalent to figurative expression (‘mecaz’ in Turkish language). Study group is composed of 19 females (age 27.7) and 40 males (age 30.85) - 59 students in total. Demographic information of participants was collected. Participants were provided with questionnaire in order to assess their metaphorical creation whereby they were asked to fill in the sentence - “statistics is like/ similar to …, because…” - with metaphor. The study has collected total of 59 metaphors in 6 categories. The most created metaphor is in ‘discovering/ revealing’ category. 42.5% of Master’s students and 25% of PhD students are in this category. Metaphors created by graduate students are representing their views about statistics course and hence their view about importance of research. The category ‘discovering/ revealing’, the one with the most created metaphor of this study, is the main concept of science. Consequently, good knowledge of statistics is needed for graduate students to conduct research

The postgraduate students’ (masters, PhD) metaphors about education of statistic

Statistics is an important part of our life when it comes to economy, education, sport, politics and research. Research is a primary job for the ones pursuing academic career and statistics is one of the basic components of a research. Metaphor is used as an equivalent to figurative expression (‘mecaz’ in Turkish language). Study group is composed of 19 females (age 27.7) and 40 males (age 30.85) - 59 students in total. Demographic information of participants was collected. Participants were provided with questionnaire in order to assess their metaphorical creation whereby they were asked to fill in the sentence - “statistics is like/ similar to …, because…” - with metaphor. The study has collected total of 59 metaphors in 6 categories. The most created metaphor is in ‘discovering/ revealing’ category. 42.5% of Master’s students and 25% of PhD students are in this category. Metaphors created by graduate students are representing their views about statistics course and hence their view about importance of research. The category ‘discovering/ revealing’, the one with the most created metaphor of this study, is the main concept of science. Consequently, good knowledge of statistics is needed for graduate students to conduct research

Poly(o-anisidine) on brass: Synthesis and corrosion behavior

The electrochemical synthesis of poly(o-anisidine) (POA) was achieved on brass (CuZn) electrode by applying two scan rates (50 and 20 mVs(-1)). The synthesized polymer films were strongly adherent and homogeneous in both cases. Their corrosion performance was investigated by AC impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique, anodic polarization plots and open circuit potential-time curves, in 3.5% NaCl solution. It was clearly seen that poly(o-anisidine) films provided a significant physical protection for longer exposure time. It was shown that polymer film coated at high scan rate (CuZn/POA-H) exhibited better barrier property against the attack of corrosive agents when compared with polymer film obtained at low scan rate (CuZn/POA-L). It was found out that poly(o-anisidine) film synthesized at high scan rate caused a significant increase in corrosion resistance by its catalytic behavior on formation of protective oxide layers on the surface in longer time

Influence of the long term use of a computer on median, ulnar and radial sensory nerves in the wrist region

Objectives: Repetitive microtrauma or overuse injuries may often affect upper extremities of the long term computer users. The aim of this study was to compare sensory nerve conduction velocities (SNCV) for median, radial and ulnar nerves in the wrist of computer users with the same parameters in controls who do not use computers regularly. Material and Methods: Twenty one male computer users (age: mean (M) = 28.3 years ± standard deviation (SD) = 7.5 years) and 21 male control subjects (age: M±SD = 24.1±4.6 years) were recruited for the study. Limb length and the perimeters of the dominant arm and forearm were measured for each subject. The neurophysiological study consisted of measuring sensory nerve conduction of the median, ulnar and radial nerves. Results: The sensory conduction velocities of both median and ulnar nerves were significantly delayed in the dominant arm of the computer users compared to the controls. In addition, sensory conduction velocity of the median nerve was significantly delayed in the dominant extremity of the computer users compared to their non-dominant extremity. Conclusions: This study shows that computer users have a tendency toward developing median and ulnar sensory nerve damage in the wrist region. Mechanism of delayed SNCV in the median and ulnar nerves may be due to sustained extension and ulnar deviation of the wrist during computer mouse use and typing. Reduced SNCV changes were more apparent on the dominant side of the median nerve. This may indicate the increased neural deficits related to an increased use of the dominant side. Further investigation is needed to determine how to reduce potential risk factors at this stage in order to prevent development of median or ulnar neuropathy in the long term computer users

Determination of nursing students’ self-efficacy belief levels in anatomy lectures

The Anatomy is the most basic lecture of the departments that give health education. The human anatomy is need to be comprehended to success in nursing field. Anatomy subjects are taught independently in each committee in Nursing Department that is in School of Health in Kocaeli University. The aim of our study is assessment of the impact of the Anatomy lectures on Anatomy Self-Efficacy Beliefs of nursing students. Totally 95 students (mean of ages 19,13 ± 1,595) who are 25 boys (%26,3) and 70 girls (%73,7) attended to our research. Anatomy Self-Efficacy Belief (ASEB) scale and personal information survey(age, gender, the geographical region that he/she came from, the place that he/she resides) are applied to these students. Statistically, when the relation between ASEB levels of the students and their residences was assessed, it is found that there is a significant difference on between the ASEB levels of the students who reside in dormitory and that of the students who reside at home (p<0.05). This outcome makes think that the residences of students can be effective on their success levels on the lectures. Due to the fact that dormitories that are in campus are close to the university, the attendances of lectures of students who reside in dormitory are more than the others and it shows that these students are able to study better than the others

Determination of nursing students’ self-efficacy belief levels in anatomy lectures

The Anatomy is the most basic lecture of the departments that give health education. The human anatomy is need to be comprehended to success in nursing field. Anatomy subjects are taught independently in each committee in Nursing Department that is in School of Health in Kocaeli University. The aim of our study is assessment of the impact of the Anatomy lectures on Anatomy Self-Efficacy Beliefs of nursing students. Totally 95 students (mean of ages 19,13 ± 1,595) who are 25 boys (%26,3) and 70 girls (%73,7) attended to our research. Anatomy Self-Efficacy Belief (ASEB) scale and personal information survey(age, gender, the geographical region that he/she came from, the place that he/she resides) are applied to these students. Statistically, when the relation between ASEB levels of the students and their residences was assessed, it is found that there is a significant difference on between the ASEB levels of the students who reside in dormitory and that of the students who reside at home (p<0.05). This outcome makes think that the residences of students can be effective on their success levels on the lectures. Due to the fact that dormitories that are in campus are close to the university, the attendances of lectures of students who reside in dormitory are more than the others and it shows that these students are able to study better than the others

Stężenie białka S100B w surowicy jako przydatny wskaźnik w zespole obturacyjnego bezdechu podczas snu

Background and purpose We aimed to underline the importance of serum S100B protein as a useful biochemical marker in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Material and methods Forty-three newly diagnosed patients with OSAS (median apnea-hypopnea index [AHI, events/hour]: 37.5 [range 11.3–137]) and 25 subjects with AHI &lt; 5 (median AHI: 4.4 [range 0.7–4.8]) were included in the study. Serum S100B protein level was tested in serum samples taken after polysomnography in both groups and the difference between OSAS patients and the control group regarding that level was assessed. In addition, the association of S100B protein serum level with age, body mass index, AHI, mean O2 saturation percentage during sleep, minimum O2 saturation value (%) at the end of the apneas, and the time spent at an O2 saturation less than 90% were analyzed in the OSAS patient group. Results Median serum S100B protein level was 133.7 pg/mL (range 20.97–230.70 pg/mL) in patients with OSAS and 16.1 pg/mL (range 10.1–22.9 pg/mL) in the control group (p &lt; 0.005). Serum S100B protein level did not correlate with any studied variable (p &gt; 0.05 for each correlation coefficient). Conclusions Serum S100B protein level is increased in patients with OSAS and may be a useful biochemical marker in those patients.Wstęp i cel pracy Celem pracy było podkreślenie znaczenia stężenia białka S100B w surowicy jako przydatnego wskaźnika biochemicznego u chorych na zespół obturacyjnego bezdechu podczas snu (obstructive sleep apnea syndrome – OSAS). Materiał i metody W badaniu wzięło udział 43 chorych ze świeżo rozpoznanym OSAS [mediana wskaźnika bezdechów/spłyconych oddechów, AHI (epizody na godzinę): 37,5 (zakres: 11,3–137)] oraz 25 osób z AHI &lt; 5 [mediana: 4,4 (0,7–4,8)] stanowiących grupę kontrolną. W obu grupach zmierzono stężenie białka S100B w surowicy pobranej po wykonaniu polisomnografii i sprawdzono różnicę w tym zakresie między grupami. Ponadto w grupie chorych na OSAS określono korelację między stężeniem białka S100B w surowicy a wiekiem, wskaźnikiem masy ciała, AHI, średnim wysyceniem krwi tętniczej tlenem podczas snu, najmniejszym wysyceniem krwi tętniczej tlenem na zakończenie okresu bezdechu oraz czasem, w którym wysycenie krwi tętniczej tlenem wynosiło &lt; 90%. Wyniki Mediana stężenia białka S100B w surowicy wyniosła 133,7 pg/ml (zakres: 20,97–230,70 pg/ml) u chorych na OSAS oraz 16,1 pg/ml (zakres: 10,1–22,9 pg/ml) w grupie kontrolnej (p &lt; 0,005). Stężenie białka S100B w surowicy nie korelowało z żadną ocenianą zmienną (p&gt; 0,05 dla każdego współczynnika korelacji). Wnioski Stężenie białka S100B w surowicy jest zwiększone u chorych na OSAS i może być przydatnym wskaźnikiem biochemicznym u tych pacjentów