Extracorporeal photopheresis in the treatment of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease: A position statement from the Turkish Society of Apheresis (TSA)

Graft versus host disease (GVHD) is still the most important cause of mortality and morbidity after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Though perfect response rates are not achieved, steroids are still the first-line treat-ment. In the face of the presence of the drugs approved by FDA in recent years for acute and chronic GVHD as second-line therapy in the steroid-refractory group, there exists no standard approach. Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) with an immunomodulatory effect, is favored in the treatment of both acute and chronic steroid refractory GVHD as it does not increase the risk of relapses or infections. Having a low profile of side effects, ECP is also generally well-tolerated by patients. Being a time requiring procedure, the fact is that it is not able to be practiced in all health centers and requires central venous catheters in patients unfit for venous access may be enumerated among its shortcomings. No complete standard is available with respect to ECP application frequency-time; it varies from one center to another. The Turkish Society of Apheresis established the Turkish ECP (TECP) group and sought some answers to the questions regarding the use of ECP in the treatment of GVHD, and issued a position statement

“The Lolelaplap (Marshall Islands) in Us: Sailing West to East (Ralik→Ratak) to These Our Atolls (Aelon Kein Ad) Ad Jolet Jen Anij (Our Blessed Inheritance from God)”

This paper discusses the expansion of Oceania through a Marshallese indigenous lens as a focal point. It explains that decolonizing methodologies allows reclaiming of space for mental liberation and reassurement of constitutional rights. It highlights similar occurrences of decolonization practices meeting resistance in the 21st century all while strengthening the human right argument that no human deserves any less than their fellow human brothers and sisters. It argues that an indigenous imagery can only be viewed through an indigenous lens where the researches’ level of purity is retained and unfiltered. It nevertheless argues that Marshallese ethnolinguistics reveal the same cultural practices in America, Judeo-Christianity, and Oceania thus dictating the reality that “we are the same not withstanding one stays here and one there (Bedbedjin Bedbedjen, Bedbedjinma wot Kwe)”. It further explains the importance in these similarities and how Marshallese spirituality predates introduced American Judeo-Christianity despite the latter attempting to marginalize the former. It concludes by stating that Marshallese contributions on the global stage are rooted in that culture of love (IaKwe) which is echoed by the custom(s) revealing the significance of Marshallese validation academically, spiritually, economically, & socially to prevent institutionalized discrimination. This paper ends stating that the agency to know one’s self and how one should fit in the world, is a human right in itself and Marshallese are entitled to this sense of self worth through knowing thy self by thy self where real thinking takes place in one’s own mind as we all live our own lives

THE EFFECTS OF ATTANDANCES OF THE STUDENTS WHO ENROLLED IN DİSTANCE EDUCATION COURSES ON THEIR FINAL SCORES (AFYON KOCATEPE UNIVERSITY SAMPLE)

Bu çalışmanın amacı Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesinde uzaktan eğitim alan öğrencilerin dersleri takip etmelerinin dönem sonundaki başarılarına etkisini incelemektir. Nicel bir araştırma olan bu çalışmada zayıf deneysel desenlerden Statik Grup Karşılaştırmalı Desen (The Static-Group Comparison Design) kullanılmıştır. Gruplara seçkisiz atama söz konusu değildir. İlgilenilen bağımlı değişken üzerinde sadece bir bağımsız değişkenin (dersi takip etmek) etkisi incelendiğinden dolayı bu çalışma tek faktörlü bir desen olarak düzenlenmiştir. Farklı deneklerden oluşan grupların karşılaştırıldığı bu çalışma gruplararası desen kabul edilmektedir. Bu çalışmanın katılımcı grubu 2014-2015 Bahar döneminde Eğitim Programları ve Öğretimi Anabilim Dalında uzaktan eğitim yoluyla tezsiz yüksek lisans yapan 28 öğrenciden ve Uzaktan Eğitim Meslek Yüksek Okulu Harita Kadastro bölümünde okuyan 47 öğrenciden olmak üzere toplam 75 farklı öğrenciden oluşmaktadır. Öğrenciler bu dönemde toplamda 5'er farklı ders almışlardır. Dersler ilgili fakültedeki öğretim üyeleri tarafından yürütülmüştür. Araştırma sonuçlarına göre Tezsiz Yüksek Lisans yapan öğrencilerin tamamında dersleri canlı takip edenler, kayıttan takip edenler ve hiç takip etmeyenlerin final notları açısından anlamlı bir fark bulunmadığı belirlenmiştir. Notların arasından anlamlı bir fark bulunamamasının temel sebebi notlandırma ölçütlerinin dönem boyunca işlenen derslere göre değil, hazırlanması istenen ödevlere ve projelere göre verilmesinden kaynaklandığı görülmüştür. Uzaktan M.Y.O Harita Kadastro bölümünde verilen 5 dersin 3 tanesinde canlı izleyen ve kayıttan izleyenler aynı seviyede başarılı olurken, hiç izlemeyenler anlamlı derecede başarısız olmuşlardır. Uzaktan Tezsiz Yüksek Lisans derslerinin hiç takip edilmeme oran %24,5 iken, Uzaktan M.Y.O. Harita Kadastro bölümü derslerinin hiç takip edilmeme oranı %45,28 olarak gerçekleşmiştir.The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of attandances of thestudents who enrolled in distance education courses offered by Afyon Kocatepe University on their final scores and is to analyze the results in the course lecturers' perspectives.In this research, weak - static group comparison experimental design was utilized, because groups are already existing. Members of the groups are not assigned randomly. Researchers is to study the interaction of one independent variable (attandence to courses) with one dependent variable (final scores), so the study is called one factorial design. The study is also consist of different groups, so the study is called between subjects examination. The research was conducted with the participation of 47 post-graduate students from Department of Curriculum and Instruction and 28 Vocational School students from Survey and Cadastre program in 2014-2015 Spring Semester. All courses were online and synchronous. All students attend to 5 courses which are lectured by academics. The first one is consist those who follow lessons lively, the second one is consist those who follow on from registration and the last group consist those who do not folow anyway. For gathering data, students' attandances lists and their final scores are used. The academics declarations are also considered. As a result, there are no significant difference between three groups formed from post-graduate students. Neither between the first and the second group, or the first and the third one, nor the second and the third one. In the vocational school, there are not a significant difference between three groups for 5 courses, but for 3 of 5 courses, there are significant difference between the first (& the second group) and the third group.The third group failed because of not attendence lively or from registry.The third group percentage of all is %24,5 in post-graduate students where as %45,28 in Vocational School student

Bir Tasarim Öğretisi Olarak Archi-Mimesis

This study was based on a discussion of the relationship between mimesis and architectural design. Mimesis was accepted as one of the oldest and most basic concepts of artistic and literary efforts, a method to learn and produce a representation of reality from ancient periods to today. However, mimesis is not simply used as imitation, even in ancient periods. Mimesis has a strong relationship with various parameters like the physical material reality of the world, the era, the things the era brings, and the worldview, knowledge, and experience of the designer. In this context, this study is based on the theorem of the internalization of the objective world in the designing process and the mimetic approach in the designing process by including individual approaches in the creation process. To test this theorem, a workshop, conceptualized as “Archi-Mimesis,” and accepting mimesis as creative designing doctrine, was organized. We describe Archi-Mimesis as mimesis or re-representation of the architecture, which is different from other nature-based methods like biomimetic, through the interface of mimetic methods maintained by considering reality through the creativity of architectural design and innovation oriented structure.Bu çalışma; mimesis ve mimari tasarım arasındaki ilişkinin varlığının tartışılması üzerine temellendirilmiştir. Mimesis, antik dönemden günümüze gerçekliğin temsili, öğrenmenin ve üretmenin yöntemi olarak sanatsal ve yazınsal kuramların en eski ve en temel kavramlarından birisi kabul edilmiştir. Ancak antik dönemde bile sadece taklit etmek anlamında kullanılmayan mimesis; bir tarafta dünyanın maddesel gerçekliğiyle diğer taraftan da üretenin dünya görüşü, bilgisi ve deneyimi, zaman ve zamanın getirdikleri gibi çeşitli parametrelerle güçlü bir ilişkiye sahiptir. Bu bağlamda yapılan çalışmanın önermesi; tasarlama sürecinde nesnel dünyanın içselleştirmesi ve bireysel yaklaşımların yaratma sürecine dahil edilmesinin aslında tasarlama deneyiminde mimetik bir yaklaşım içerdiğidir. Bu önermenin sınanması amacıyla ‘Archi-Mimesis’ olarak kavramsallaştırılan ve mimesisin yaratıcı bir tasarlama öğretisi olarak kabul edildiği bir workshop etkinliği düzenlenmiştir. Archi-MİMESİS; mimari tasarımın yaratıcılığa ve yeniliğe odaklı yapısı ile bir gerçekliğe bağlı kalınarak sürdürülen mimetik yöntemlerin arayüzünde ancak biomimesis gibi doğayı referans alan yöntemlerden farklı olarak mimarinin kendisinin yeniden temsili ya da mimesis olarak tanımlanmıştır

Recreational Drugs and Antiretrovirals: Is It Worth the World or Trivial?

According to the World Health Organization, 1 out of 200 people in the world was living with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in 2015 and four new HIV infections occurred each minute. A relationship between HIV infection and recreational drug use was evident from the very beginning of the HIV epidemic. Recreational drug use is more common in patients living with HIV/AIDS compared to others. Needle-sharing activities, psychological and cognitive consequences of the abused substances facilitate new infections. It is assumed that 1.650.000 individuals were infected with HIV out of 12.190.000 intravenous drug users in 158 countries in 2013. Cytochrome isoenzymes (i.e. CYP3A4, CYP2D6) are responsible from metabolism of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, protease inhibitors, integrase inhibitors and chemokine receptor 5 inhibitors as well as recreational drugs. Recreational and antiretroviral drugs (ARV) may share the same metabolic pathways resulting in drug interactions. Drug interactions may occur because of pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of the drugs. Induction of CYP3A4 (due to cocaine, tobacco, chronic alcohol use, etc.) may lead to decreased antiretroviral treatment (ART) effectiveness and increased risk of metabolites-related toxicity, however, inhibition of CYP3A4 (due to marijuana, acute alcohol use, etc.) may lead to increased side effects and drug toxicity. The feeling of moving away from reality and reduction of social pressure associated with recreational drugs mean all the world to the user. However, drug interaction risk makes it challenging for the physicians, when it is time for the selection of ARV. Therefore, physicians’ awareness on the interaction of these drugs is very important. Interactions with recreational drugs should be considered when prescribing ART for these patients. Integrase inhibitors and nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors are safe to use in these circumstances. In this paper, drug interactions between ARV and alcohol, benzodiazepines, opiates, cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy, lysergic acid diethylamide, ketamine, gamma hydroxylbutyrate, marihuana, and phencyclidine are reviewed

Polypharmacy And Drug-Related Problems Among People Living With Hiv/Aids: A Single-Center Experience

Background/aim: The HIV-infected population is aging, and the concomitant comorbidities increase the likelihood of polypharmacy. There is a scarcity of data for determining drug-related problems in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out between 1 September 2015 and 1 July 2016. All patients underwent a face-to-face interview with a clinical pharmacist. PCNE Classification V 7.0 was used classify incident drug-related problems (DRPs). Results: The mean age of the patients was 40.4 +/- 13.06 years. The rate of polypharmacy was 66.1% in patients with comorbidities and 12.3% in those without comorbidities (P 3 ART drugs was associated with more DRPs in the logistic regression model (odds ratio: 8.299, 95% confidence interval: 1.924-35.803). Fifty-eight interventions were performed in 45 (24.9%) patients. Clinical pharmacist interventions were performed in 18.9% of patients without polypharmacy and in 38.9% of patients with polypharmacy (P < 0.001). Conclusion: DRPs and polypharmacy are common among elderly PLWHA. More interventions are warranted to boost the quality of life in aging PLWHA.WoSScopu