Evaluation of apoptosis along with bcl-2 and ki-67 expression in patients with intestinal metaplasia

The primary aim is to compare individuals with intestinal metaplasia (IM), chronic active gastritis (CAG), and normal gastric mucosa (NGM) in terms of apoptosis, proliferation, and Bcl-2 expression. The secondary aim is to determine whether these parameters are different between patients with and without gastric cancer in first-degree relatives. We enrolled 106 patients whose histopathological results were consistent with IM (n: 42), CAG (n: 51), or NGM (n: 13). Antral biopsies were immunohistochemically stained for Bcl-2 and Ki-67 expression. Apoptosis was detected using TUNEL assay. While no significant difference was determined between three groups with regard to apoptosis and Bcl-2 expression (p > 0.05), Ki-67 expression was significantly higher in the IM group when compared with the CAG and NGM groups (29.90 ± 22.87 vs. 18.18 ± 16.22 vs. 18.54 ± 20, respectively; p = 0.012). Helicobacter pylori was determined to increase apoptosis (49.3% vs. 25.7%, p < 0.05), nevertheless, it had no significant effect on proliferation and Bcl-2 expression. Bcl-2 and Ki-67 expression and apoptosis were not different among patients with and without a history of gastric cancer in first degree relatives. Although intestinal metaplasia cases demonstrate an increase in proliferation, no elevation is observed in apoptosis. This can be an important factor in the progression to gastric cancer

Business analytics adoption and technological intensity: An efficiency analysis

Despite the overwhelming popularity of business analytics (BA) as an evidence-based decision support mechanism, the impact of its adoption on organizational performance has received scant attention from the research community. This study aims to unfold the adoption efficiencies of BA and its applications by proposing a data envelopment analysis (DEA) methodology to holistically assess the underlying factors with respect to the level of achievement regarding organizational performance, operational performance, and financial performance. Furthermore, the study unveils the firm-level and sectoral-level discrepancies in BA adoption efficiency in different industry settings. Relying on survey data obtained from 204 executives in various industries, this study provides empirical support for the cross-industry differences in BA adoption efficiencies. The results show that the firms in low-tech industries seem to achieve the highest efficiency from adopting BA regarding its influence on firm performance

Assessing the supply chain performance: A causal analysis

Measuring the performance-related factors of a unit within a supply-chain is a challenging problem, mainly because of the complex interactions among the members governed by the supply chain strategy employed. Synergistic use of discrete-event simulation and structural equation modeling allows researchers and practitioners to analyze causal relationships between order-fulfillment characteristics of a supply-chain and retailers’ performance metrics. In this study, we model, simulate, and analyze a two-level supply-chain with seasonal linear demand, and using the information therein, develop a causal model to measure the links/relationships among the order-fulfillment factors and the retailer’s performance. According to the findings, of all the order-fulfillment characteristics of a supply-chain, the forecast inaccuracy was found to be the most important in mitigating the bullwhip effect. Concerning the total inventory cost and fill-rate as performance indicators of retailers, the desired service level had the highest priority, followed by the lead-time and forecast inaccuracy, respectively. To reduce the total inventory cost, the bullwhip effect seems to have the lowest priority for the retailers, as it does not appear to have a significant impact on the fill rate. Although seasonality (to some extent) influences the retailer’s performance, it does not seem to have a significant impact on the ranking of the factors affecting retailers’ supply-chain performance; except for the case where the backorder cost is overestimated.Q1WOS:0004961170000012-s2.0-8507513393

Evaluation of the current disease severity scores in paediatric FMF: Is it necessary to develop a new one?

Objectives: Modified adult disease severity scoring systems are being used for childhood FMF. We aim to test the clinical consistency of two common severity scoring systems and to evaluate the correlation of scores with the type of FMF mutations in paediatric FMF patients since certain mutations are prone to severe disease.Methods. Two hundred and fifty-eight children with FMF were cross-sectionally studied. Assessment of the disease severity was performed by using the modified scoring systems of Mor et al. and Pras et al. Genetic analysis was performed using PCR and restriction endonuclease digestion methods for the presence of 15 FMF gene mutations. FMF mutations were grouped into three based on well-known genotypic-phenotypic associations. Correlation between the mutation groups and the severity scoring systems was assessed. The consistency of the severity scoring systems was evaluated.Results. The results of two scoring systems were not statistically consistent with each other (κ = 0.171). This inconsistency persisted even in a more homogeneous subgroup of patients with only homozygote mutations of M694V, M680I and M694I (κ = 0.125). There was no correlation between the mutation groups and either of the scoring systems (P = 0.002, r = 0,196 for scoring systems of Mor et al.; P = 0.009, r = 0.162 for Pras et al.).Conclusions. The inconsistency of the two scoring systems and lack of correlation between the scoring systems and mutation groups raises concerns about the reliability of these scoring systems in children. There is a need to develop a scoring system in children based on a prospective registry. © The Author 2011. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved

Performance Analysis of a Grid-Connected Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic System

Turkey is among the countries largely dependent on energy import. This dependency has increased interest in new and alternative energy sources. Installation of rooftop solar photovoltaic systems (RSPSs) in Turkey is increasing continuously regarding geographical and meteorological conditions. This paper presents an insight into the potential situation for Turkey and a simulation study for the RSPS designing and calculation for the faculty building at Marmara University in Istanbul. This simulation study demonstrates that 84.75-kWp grid-connected RSPS can produce remarkable power. The system is performed in detail with the PV*SOL software (Premium 2017 R8-Test Version, Valentin Software GmbH, Berlin, Germany). Detailed financial and performance analysis of the grid-connected RSPS for faculty building with various parameters is also carried out in this study. According to the simulation results, the system supplies 13.2% of the faculty buildings&rsquo; annual electrical energy consumption. The annual savings value of faculty buildings&rsquo; electrical consumption is approximately 90,298 kWh energy which costs roughly $7296. A photovoltaic (PV) system installation for the faculty building, which has considerable potential for solar energy and sunshine duration, is indispensable for clean energy requirements and was supported by the simulation results. This paper can be considered to be a basic feasibility study prior to moving on to the implementation project

Impaired fasting glucose is associated with increased perioperative cardiovascular event rates in patients undergoing major non-cardiothoracic surgery

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a well-established risk factor for perioperative cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. However, the impact of preoperative glucose levels on perioperative cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing nonemergent, major noncardiothoracic surgery is unclear.</p> <p>Methods and Results</p> <p>A total of 680 patients undergoing noncardiothoracic surgery were prospectively evaluated. Patients older than 18 years who underwent an elective, nonday case, open surgical procedure were enrolled. Electrocardiography and cardiac biomarkers were obtained 1 day before surgery, and on days 1, 3 and 7 after surgery. Preoperative risk factors and laboratory test results were measured and evaluated for their association with the occurrence of in-hospital perioperative cardiovascular events. Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) defined as fasting plasma glucose values of 100 to 125 mg/dl; DM was defined as fasting plasma glucose ≥ 126 mg/dl and/or plasma glucose ≥ 200 mg/dl or the current use of blood glucose-lowering medication, and glucose values below 100 mg/dl were considered normal. Plasma glucose levels were significantly higher in patients with perioperative cardiovascular events (n = 80, 11.8%) in comparison to those without cardiovascular events (131 ± 42.5 <it>vs </it>106.5 ± 37.5, p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that patients with IFG and DM were at 2.1- and 6.4-fold increased risk of perioperative cardiovascular events, respectively. Every 10 mg/dl increase in preoperative plasma glucose levels was related to a 11% increase for adverse perioperative cardiovascular events.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Not only DM but also IFG is associated with increased perioperative cardiovascular event rates in patients undergoing noncardiothoracic surgery.</p

Congenital absence of the pericardium: A rare cause of right ventricular dilatation and levoposition of the heart

Congenital absence of the pericardium is a rare cardiac defect with variable clinical presentations and is usually discovered incidentally. The pathology may lead to serious complications such as incarceration of cardiac tissue, myocardial ischemia, aortic dissection or valvular insufficiency. Diagnosis is not difficult so long as some tips are remembered. We present the cases of two patients with congenital absence of left pericardium