Analyzing the soil texture effect on promoting water holding capacity by polyacrylamide

Polyacrylamide (PAM) has been widely used to improve soil water holding capacity and control infiltration rate of the soils. However, limited studies have been conducted on the interactions between soil water holding capacity and PAM rates in different soil textures. This study targeted to analyze the relations between soil texture and water holding capacity as a response of increasing PAM applications rate. PAM rates of 0.03, 0.1, 0.13, 0.16, 0.23, 0.33 and 0.67% by weight were applied to clay loam, clay and sandy loam soils. Water holding capacity (q) at field capacity (q 0.01 MPa for sandy loam and q0.033MPa for clay loam and clay) and wilting point (q1.50 MPa) were measured with a pressure plate apparatus. The values of water holding capacity were regressed as a function of PAM rate, and the slope and intercepts of regression lines for clay loam, clay and sandy loam soils were compared to decide the homogeneity of these functions. Increasing PAM rate significantly increased the water holding capacity in all three soils (P<0.05). The regression lines obtained for sandy loam, clay loam, and clay were all significantly different from one to another, revealing that soil texture has a significant effect on the function of PAM in promoting water holding capacity in these soils. Therefore, we concluded that soil texture should be considered in optimizing the results from PAM applications

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in symptomatic patients and detection of clarithromycin resistance using melting curve analysis

AbstractBackground:Clarithromycin is often a component of combination therapies for Helicobacter pylori eradication; however, increases in resistance rates have decreased the success of the treatment.Objective:This study was designed to determine the prevalence of H pylori infection in symptomatic patients and to detect clarithromycin resistance rates using melting curve analysis.Methods:Patients scheduled for upper endoscopy at the Endoscopy Unit of the Department of Gastroenterology, Duzce University, Medical Faculty Hospital, Konuralp/Duzce, Turkey, were assessed for enrollment in the study. Two pairs of gastric biopsy specimens (antrum and corpus) were obtained from each study patient. Histopathologic examination, rapid urease test, culture, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the specimens were used to identify H pylori infection. Clarithromycin resistance was detected using melting curve analysis.Results:Seventy-five patients (41 women, 34 men; mean [SD]age, 42.6 [14.5] years [range, 17–70 years]) were included in the study. Using histopathology and rapid urease test, H pylori was detected in 40 (53.3%) of the 75 specimens. H pylori was detected using PCR in 40 (53.3%) specimens and by culture in 10 (13.3%) specimens. The specificity and sensitivity of PCR and culture were interpreted by comparing them with the results of histopathologic examination and urease tests. The specificity and sensitivity of PCR were 68.6% and 72.5%, respectively, and the specificity and sensitivity of culture were 97.1% and 22.5%, respectively. Of the 40 isolates, 21 (52.5%) were susceptible to clarithromycin, 12 (30.0%) were resistant, and a mixed susceptibility pattern was detected in 7 (17.5%) specimens. H pylori isolates from 19 (79.2%) of the 24 patients who had formerly used clarithromycin showed clarithromycin resistance.Conclusions:The prevalence of H pylori infection was 53.3% for the symptomatic patients in this study, and 47.5% of the isolates showed clarithromycin resistance using melting curve analysis. The PCR-based system used in this study was accurate for the detection of H pylori infection as well as clarithromycin susceptibility testing directly in biopsy specimens

Types of Global Argumentation Structures in Conjecture-Generation Activities Regarding Geometry

Toulmin's argumentation model is an effective tool in the description of one step of an argument. However, there is a need to consider more than this model to portray a comprehensive argumentation process. The purpose of the study is to investigate types of global argumentation structures that emerged while prospective middle school mathematics teachers were working on conjecture-generation activities related to geometry. The participants were junior prospective middle school mathematics teachers at a state university in Ankara, Turkey. The eight global argumentation structures that emerged via conjecture-generation activities of two groups were classified as mono structures and hybrid structures. According to the findings, three types of mono structures, which are the reservoir-structure, the funneling-structure, and the branching-structure, were seen among four possible cases. Three types of hybrid structures were observed among eleven possible combinations of the mono structures, namely, the reservoir-funneling-structure, the line-branching-structure, and the line-reservoir-branching-structure

The Predictive Role of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 Serum Levels in the Complete Response of the Tumor to Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients

Objective We investigated the serum levels of MMPs and TIMPs in breast cancer (BC) patients to predict the response rate to/after treatment with or without neoadjuvant chemotherapy. BC is the most common cancer in women and MMPs are responsible for the breakdown of ECM proteins during organogenesis and TIMPs are restricted the ECM destruction by MMPs. However, the predictive role of MMPs and TIMPs in the treatment response of BC patients has not identified. Methods This study consisted of 96 BC patients (34 neoadjuvant treatment and 62 surgically treated) and 35 healthy individuals. ELISA was used to determine the level of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 from serum samples of BC patients. Results The mean levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-2 were significantly increased in all BC patients at diagnosis and after chemotherapy, but MMP-2 was considerably lower at diagnosis. There was only a significant difference in the TIMP-1 levels after chemotherapy as well as HER2 and ER status in the neoadjuvant and surgically treated group. Additionally, MMP-2 and MMP-9 serum levels negatively correlated with tumor size and metastatic lymph nodes in BC patients after chemotherapy. Conclusions BC patients with high levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-2 can be used to predict the stage of the tumor and CR to chemotherapy and higher TIMP-1 serum level after chemotherapy could be related to better response to chemotherapy

Clinical tissue engineering approach and biotechnological advances to improve athlete healthcare

Sports activities have continued for centuries and have become essential to daily life. Professional athletes participating in various sports competitions have many advantages, such as a promising career and high income. On the other hand, being a professional athlete also has some disadvantages. The most dramatic one is the risk of injury. Even though injuries are a part of sports, they have become a significant problem today due to the long recovery period which in turn overshadows sports competitions. In addition, the performance loss is an extra handicap for the athletes compared to the pre-injury levels. In this case, biomedical and biotechnological sciences are a glimmer of hope for shortening the treatment process and minimizing performance loss in returning to professional sports life. Combinations of scaffolds, biological factors, and cells are utilized based on mentioned approaches to treat such injuries, which are frequently seen nowadays and have become the nightmare of professional athletes. This review discusses various regenerative medicine and biotechnology-based therapeutic methods used in the treatment of spinal cord, cartilage, tendon, and musculoskeletal injuries in athletes. Additionally, wearable technologies, which are used to evaluate physiological signals, monitor health, prevent possible injuries, and create personalized training programs are mentioned, as well

Atezolizumab combined with chemotherapy in the first-line treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer: A real-life data of the Turkish Oncology Group

Purpose Atezolizumab has been shown to be effective and safe in randomized trial in the first-line treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC). However, there are limited real-life data on atezolizumab. In this study, we aimed to determine the real-life efficacy and safety of atezolizumab combined with chemotherapy in the first-line treatment of extensive-stage SCLC. Methods This trial is a retrospective multicenter study of the Turkish Oncology Group, which included extensive-stage SCLC patients who received atezolizumab combined with chemotherapy in a first-line treatment. The characteristics of the patients, treatment and response rates, and PFS and OS are presented. Factors associated with PFS and OS were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results A total of 213 patients at the 30 oncology centers were included. The median number of chemotherapy cycle was 5 (1-8) and atezolizumab cycle was 7 (1-32). After median 11.9 months of follow-up, median PFS and OS was 6.8 months (95%CI 5.7-7.8), and 11.9 months (95%CI 11-12.7), respectively. The ORR was 61.9%. ECOG-PS (p = 0.002) and number of metastatic sites (p = 0.001) were associated with PFS and pack-year of smoking (p = 0.05), while ECOG-PS (p = 0.03) and number of metastatic sites (p = 0.001) were associated with OS. Hematological side effects were common and toxicities were manageable. Conclusion This real-life data confirm the efficacy and safety of atezolizumab in combination with chemotherapy in first-line treatment of extensive-stage SCLC