Quality of life, perceived stress and nutrition of patients with irritable bowel syndrome: A descriptive study

Background: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a chronic and common functional bowel disorder that currently has no definite treatment. Depending on the type and severity of the individual's symptoms, medication, diet, and/or lifestyle changes are recommended. Aims: This study aimed to determine the relationship between the quality of life, perceived stress levels, and nutrition of individuals diagnosed with IBS. Subjects and Methods: Between March 2020 and March 2021, 340 patients with IBS volunteered for this study. The demographic information questionnaire, Irritable Bowel Syndrome Quality of Life (IBS-QOL) scale, Perceived Stress Scale-14 (PSS-14), and Food Frequency Questionnaire were applied via an online form. Results: From the 340 patients, 230 were eligible. Out of them, 27% followed a special diet for IBS. When the IBS-QOL scores of men were compared according to their educational status, the scores of those with a high school or higher education level (109.7±32.8) were found to be higher than those with a lower education level than high school (95.4±17.5) (p=0.008), while the educational status of women did not affect the IBS-QOL scores (p>0.05). The mean IBS-QOL score of men was 44.8 ± 20.1 and lower than women (50.9±21.7) (p=0.030). The mean IBS-QOL score of women following an IBS-specific diet was 57.6 ± 22.6 and higher than women who did not follow an IBS-specific diet (48.2±20.9) (p=0.023). The IBS-QOL scores of women with gluten or lactose intolerance were lower than women without any intolerances (p=0.004). The mean IBS-QOL score for women with lactose intolerance was higher than those with gluten intolerance (p=0.004). When the IBS-QOL scores were evaluated according to the frequency of food consumption, no significant differences were found in the food groups (p>0.05). In this study, no significant correlation was found between IBS-QOL scores and PSS-14 scores (p>0.05). Conclusions: The prediction equations developed for healthy populations are not accurate enough to determine the energy requirements in SCD

CD44v6 Regulates Growth of Brain Tumor Stem Cells Partially through the AKT-Mediated Pathway

Identification of stem cell-like brain tumor cells (brain tumor stem-like cells; BTSC) has gained substantial attention by scientists and physicians. However, the mechanism of tumor initiation and proliferation is still poorly understood. CD44 is a cell surface protein linked to tumorigenesis in various cancers. In particular, one of its variant isoforms, CD44v6, is associated with several cancer types. To date its expression and function in BTSC is yet to be identified. Here, we demonstrate the presence and function of the variant form 6 of CD44 (CD44v6) in BTSC of a subset of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Patients with CD44high GBM exhibited significantly poorer prognoses. Among various variant forms, CD44v6 was the only isoform that was detected in BTSC and its knockdown inhibited in vitro growth of BTSC from CD44high GBM but not from CD44low GBM. In contrast, this siRNA-mediated growth inhibition was not apparent in the matched GBM sample that does not possess stem-like properties. Stimulation with a CD44v6 ligand, osteopontin (OPN), increased expression of phosphorylated AKT in CD44high GBM, but not in CD44low GBM. Lastly, in a mouse spontaneous intracranial tumor model, CD44v6 was abundantly expressed by tumor precursors, in contrast to no detectable CD44v6 expression in normal neural precursors. Furthermore, overexpression of mouse CD44v6 or OPN, but not its dominant negative form, resulted in enhanced growth of the mouse tumor stem-like cells in vitro. Collectively, these data indicate that a subset of GBM expresses high CD44 in BTSC, and its growth may depend on CD44v6/AKTpathway

Serbest dalış öncesi ve sonrası elektrokardiyografik değişikliklerin incelenmesi

Aim: To evaluate the electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters and hemodynamic parameters in predicting the development of arrhythmias after free diving static apnea performance and maximum breath hold. Material and Methods: Twenty-four volunteer athletes participating in the free diving competition in 2015 (19 males (79.2%) and 5 females (20.8%)) were included in the study. Peripheral O2 saturation (SpO2), heart rate (HR), ECG parameters (PR interval, QRS time, T wave amplitude, corrected QT time, presence of bandle branch block and new bandle branch block development, atrial premature beats, ventricular premature beats) were analyzed. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between before static apnea measurements (systolic blood pressure (SBP) 124.7 ± 10.8 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 76.5 ± 6.7 mmHg, heart rate (HR) 80.2 ± 13.4 beats / min, SpO2 97.1 ± 0.9%) and after performance (SBP 128.8 ± 13.6 mmHg DBP 78.0 ± 5.9 mmHg, HR 85.8, ± 16.5 beats / min and SpO2 96.7 ± 2.3%)(p = 0.175; p = 0.334; p = 0.104; p = 0.336, respectively). Conclusion: No significant changes were observed in ECG parameters, heart rate, saturation and blood pressure values evaluated after static apnea performance. These findings can be used to support that the risk of arrhythmia during static apnea does not persist after apnea has ended.Amaç: Serbest dalış statik apne performansı ile maksimum nefes tutma sonrası aritmi gelişimini öngörmede elektrokardiyografik (EKG) parametreleri ve hemodinamik göstergeleri değerlendirmek. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışmaya 2015 yılında düzenlenen serbest dalış yarışmasına katılan 24 gönüllü sporcu dahil edilmiştir (19 erkek (%79,2) and 5 kadın (%20,8)). Performans öncesi ve sonrası ( 5. dakikada) periferik O2 satürasyonu ( pO2), kalp hızı (KH), EKG parametreleri ( PR aralığı, QRS süresi, T dalga amplitüdü, düzeltilmiş QT süresi, dal bloğu varlığı ve yeni dal bloğu gelişimi, atriyal erken atım, ventriküler erken atım varlığı) analiz edildi. Bulgular: Sporcuların statik apne öncesi sistolik kan basınçları (SKB) 124,7±10,8 mmHg, diyastolik kan basınçları (DKB) 76,5±6,7 mmHg, kalp hızı 80,2 ±13,4 atım/dk, pO2 %97,1±0,9 ve performans sonrası SKB 128,8±13,6 mmHg, DKB 78,0 ±5,9 mmHg, KH 85,8±16,5 atım/dk, pO2 %96,7±2,3 arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark saptanmadı ( sırasıyla p=0,175; p=0,334; p=0,104; p=0,336). Sonuç: Statik apne performansı sonrası değerlendirilen EKG parametrelerinde, kalp hızında, satürasyon ve tansiyon değerlerinde herhangi bir anlamlı değişiklik izlenmedi. Bu bulgular statik apne esnasında gelişebilecek aritmi riskinin apne sonlandıktan sonra devam etmediğini desteklemede kullanılabilir

Serbest daliş öncesi ve sonrasi elektrokardiyografik değişikliklerin incelenmesi

Aim: To evaluate the electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters and hemodynamic parameters in predicting the development of arrhythmias after free diving static apnea performance and maximum breath hold. Material and Methods: Twenty-four volunteer athletes participating in the free diving competition in 2015 (19 males (79.2%) and 5 females (20.8%)) were included in the study. Peripheral O2 saturation (SpO2), heart rate (HR), ECG parameters (PR interval, QRS time, T wave amplitude, corrected QT time, presence of bandle branch block and new bandle branch block development, atrial premature beats, ventricular premature beats) were analyzed. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between before static apnea measurements (systolic blood pressure (SBP) 124.7 ± 10.8 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 76.5 ± 6.7 mmHg, heart rate (HR) 80.2 ± 13.4 beats / min, SpO2 97.1 ± 0.9%) and after performance (SBP 128.8 ± 13.6 mmHg DBP 78.0 ± 5.9 mmHg, HR 85.8, ± 16.5 beats / min and SpO2 96.7 ± 2.3%)(p = 0.175; p = 0.334; p = 0.104; p = 0.336, respectively). Conclusion: No significant changes were observed in ECG parameters, heart rate, saturation and blood pressure values evaluated after static apnea performance. These findings can be used to support that the risk of arrhythmia during static apnea does not persist after apnea has ended.Amaç: Serbest dalış statik apne performansı ile maksimum nefes tutma sonrası aritmi gelişimini öngörmede elektrokardiyografik (EKG) parametreleri ve hemodinamik göstergeleri değerlendirmek. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışmaya 2015 yılında düzenlenen serbest dalış yarışmasına katılan 24 gönüllü sporcu dahil edilmiştir (19 erkek (%79,2) and 5 kadın (%20,8)). Performans öncesi ve sonrası ( 5. dakikada) periferik O2 satürasyonu ( pO2), kalp hızı (KH), EKG parametreleri ( PR aralığı, QRS süresi, T dalga amplitüdü, düzeltilmiş QT süresi, dal bloğu varlığı ve yeni dal bloğu gelişimi, atriyal erken atım, ventriküler erken atım varlığı) analiz edildi. Bulgular: Sporcuların statik apne öncesi sistolik kan basınçları (SKB) 124,7±10,8 mmHg, diyastolik kan basınçları (DKB) 76,5±6,7 mmHg, kalp hızı 80,2 ±13,4 atım/dk, pO2 %97,1±0,9 ve performans sonrası SKB 128,8±13,6 mmHg, DKB 78,0 ±5,9 mmHg, KH 85,8±16,5 atım/dk, pO2 %96,7±2,3 arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark saptanmadı ( sırasıyla p=0,175; p=0,334; p=0,104; p=0,336). Sonuç: Statik apne performansı sonrası değerlendirilen EKG parametrelerinde, kalp hızında, satürasyon ve tansiyon değerlerinde herhangi bir anlamlı değişiklik izlenmedi. Bu bulgular statik apne esnasında gelişebilecek aritmi riskinin apne sonlandıktan sonra devam etmediğini desteklemede kullanılabilir

Hemopericardium and cardiac tamponade in a patient treated with dabigatran etexilate

WOS: 000368568400013PubMed ID: 26798391Dabigatran etexilate is one of the new oral anticoagulants approved to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). A variety of bleeding complications with dabigatran have been reported, but reports of hemopericardium are rare. We described a case of a 66 year-old female patient with non-valvular AF receiving dabigatran etexilate 150 mg twice daily for one year who suffered from hemopericardium. Her laboratory tests performed 1 year prior were normal and her admission tests revealed acute renal failure and elevated international normalized ratio (INR) level (4.79). Urgent pericardiocentesis was followed by improved renal functions and normalized INR. Dabigatran etexilate is a new oral anticoagulant that is increasingly used in daily practice. However, life-threatening complications warrant caution. Elevated INR may be related with overdose but the association of bleeding risk of dabigatran and INR requires further confirmation

Assessment of forest roads and firebreaks in Turkey

This paper describes the situaiton and assessment of forest roads and firebreaks in context of forest transportation and forest fire prevention in Turkey. In recent years, Turkey has lost many forest areas to forest fires, and this not only results in loss of life, property, and infrastructure, but also causes deterioration in the natural environment and degrades ecosystems. According to current status of Turkey, the numbers of forest fires and the areas that are burnt fluctate widely from year to year. In the last decade, the number of forest fires has increased, but the area burned per forest fire has decreased. The Turkish General Directorate of Forestry spent $82.92 million to fight forest fires in 2003 and$677.71 million over the last decade. As of the end of 2006, the total number of forest fires in Turkey since 1937 is 80 011, giving an average of 1143 fires per year. For the same period, the total forest area burned is 1 571 607 ha and the mean forest area burned per fire is 19.64 ha

Design of a Proportional-Control-Based Advanced Control Strategy for Independent Temperature and Humidity Control of a Pre-Cooled Desiccant Air Cooling System

In this study, the control of a desiccant-wheel-based evaporative cooling system with a double-layer dew-point cooler system is emphasized. There are two dew-point evaporative coolers in the system and the air taken inside is subjected to pre- and post-cooling processes. The dehumidification process of the air taken in is carried out by the desiccant wheel after the pre-cooling process. A proportional-based control strategy has been developed to adjust the temperature and relative humidity of the room quickly and robustly with different operation modes for actuators to bring comfort with less energy consumption. In addition, an automatic Stop/Run mode has been added to the control strategy to save extra energy. With the developed control strategy, enabling the actuators to switch between the operation modes, more energy savings are achieved compared to both traditional ON/OFF and proportional controls. The accuracy and applicability of the developed control strategy were analyzed and it was observed that the room comfort reached the desired levels successfully under all disruptive effects. The control inputs and the energies consumed by all the actuators were investigated and it was determined that 21.19% more energy savings are provided by adding the automatic Stop/Run feature. With the multi-mode control strategy, a total of 40.90% less energy consumption is achieved compared to the classical ON/OFF control technique. Thus, it is seen that the controller developed for the desiccant-wheel-based evaporative cooler is a viable method to provide fast and robust comfort conditions with less energy

Raloxifene decreases serum malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels in postmenopausal women with end-stage renal disease under chronic hemodialysis therapy

Aim