Plasma total anti-oxidant capacity correlates inversely with the extent of acute appendicitis: a case control study

BACKGROUND: The role of free oxygen radicals in inflammatory conditions is well known. Free radicals cause lipid peroxidation of cellular membranes resulting in cell death. The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of total anti-oxidant status (TAS), as a marker of anti-oxidant defense system and malondialdehyde (MDA), as a marker of oxidative stress, in the plasma of patients with acute appendicitis. METHODS: Fifty-one adult patients with a median age of 31 years who underwent operations with a preoperative diagnosis of acute appendicitis were included in this prospective study. Blood samples for C-reactive protein (CRP), MDA and TAS were collected preoperatively. Groups were compared by using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: There were 27 patients with acute phlagmenous appendicitis and 19 patients with advanced appendicitis (10 gangrenous and 9 perforated appendicitis), while 5 negative explorations were documented. No significant differences in WBC counts and MDA levels between groups were encountered. Plasma CRP was significantly higher in patients with perforated appendicitis, but not in the other groups. In advanced appendicitis group, TAS level was significantly lower than the other groups. On the other hand, plasma TAS level in acute phlagmenous appendicitis group was significantly higher. CONCLUSION: A decrease in plasma total anti-oxidant capacity might be a predictor of the progression of inflammation to the perforation in acute appendicitis

Tekstil tipi tamburlu kurutma makinesinde isı geri kazanım uygulaması

06.03.2018 tarihli ve 30352 sayılı Resmi Gazetede yayımlanan “Yükseköğretim Kanunu İle Bazı Kanun Ve Kanun Hükmünde Kararnamelerde Değişiklik Yapılması Hakkında Kanun” ile 18.06.2018 tarihli “Lisansüstü Tezlerin Elektronik Ortamda Toplanması, Düzenlenmesi ve Erişime Açılmasına İlişkin Yönerge” gereğince tam metin erişime açılmıştır.Günümüzde enerji kaynaklarındaki azalmaların, enerji maliyetlerinin artmasına neden olacağından; enerjinin üretiminden tüketimine kadar tüm evrelerde verimli kullanılması gerekmektedir. Bu noktada enerji tasarrufu oldukça önemlidir.Kurutma sistemleri tasarlanırken; sistemin hem ekonomikliğine hem de nemli ve kurutulmuş malzemenin fiziksel özellikleri, kurutma işleminin başlangıcında içerdikleri nem yüzdesi, uzaklaştırılacak nem miktarı, kurutma sıcaklığı, saatte işlenecek malzeme miktarı gibi parametreler önemlidir. Kısaca kurutma işlemi sırasında dikkate alınması gereken temel özellik istenilen özelliklere sahip ürünün eldesinde minimum enerji tüketimi ve maksimum kurutma hızına ulaşmaktır.Bu çalışmada bir tekstil fabrikasında kullanılan tambur tipi kurutma makinesi incelenmiştir. Mevcut sisteme geri kazanım cihazı ilave edilerek; taze hava geri kazanım cihazında atık hava akımı ile ısıtılarak sisteme verilmiştir.Anahtar kelimeler: Döner Kazanlı Çamaşır Kurutucu, Tekstil Kurutma, Atık Isı, Enerji TasarrufuDecreaseing with the energy sources, energy costs will show increase, therefore energy must use very effective from production to consumption and in that point energy saving is so important.When desinging a dryer, some parameters like economiclies of the process, physical properties both wet and dry materials, moisture content (%) of material before the begining drying process, drying temprature are important. Shortly in a drying process the most important characteristic is max drying velocity and min energy consumption.In that study one tumbler dryer which using in a textile factory is examine. With addition a recovery to the present system, fresh air transmit to system after heating with the waste heat at the recovery.Key Words: Tumbler Dryer, Textile Drying, Waste Heat, Energy Saving, Heat Recover

An unusual and difficult diagnosis of intestinal obstruction: The abdominal cocoon. Case report and review of the literature

Abdominal cocoon is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction. The abdominal cocoon is probably a developmental abnormality, largely asymptomatic, and is found incidentally at laparotomy or autopsy. Pre-operative diagnosis cannot be often made correctly. This rare entity of intestinal obstruction has been described in the whole literature as a thick fibrotic sac covering the small bowel partially or completely. The etiology of abdominal cocoon is unknown and most often it is found in adolescent girls from tropical or subtropical countries. Complete recovery is generally expected after the removal of the membrane surgically. This paper reports a male patient who has had intestinal obstruction symptoms and has per-operatively been diagnosed as abdominal cocoon

An unusual and difficult diagnosis of intestinal obstruction: The abdominal cocoon. Case report and review of the literature

Since publication of our article, "An unusual and difficult diagnosis of intestinal obstruction: The abdominal cocoon. Case report and review of the literature." World J Emerg Surg. 2006, 1: 8 we believe that the case mentioned should have been described as a 'peritoneal encapsulation' rather than 'abdominal cocoon' as concluded in the original publication

Mitochondrial proteases strike the right balance

Two studies reveal how proteases combine to regulate mitochondrial fusion

A mitochondrial-focused genetic interaction map reveals a scaffold-like complex required for inner membrane organization in mitochondria.

To broadly explore mitochondrial structure and function as well as the communication of mitochondria with other cellular pathways, we constructed a quantitative, high-density genetic interaction map (the MITO-MAP) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The MITO-MAP provides a comprehensive view of mitochondrial function including insights into the activity of uncharacterized mitochondrial proteins and the functional connection between mitochondria and the ER. The MITO-MAP also reveals a large inner membrane-associated complex, which we term MitOS for mitochondrial organizing structure, comprised of Fcj1/Mitofilin, a conserved inner membrane protein, and five additional components. MitOS physically and functionally interacts with both outer and inner membrane components and localizes to extended structures that wrap around the inner membrane. We show that MitOS acts in concert with ATP synthase dimers to organize the inner membrane and promote normal mitochondrial morphology. We propose that MitOS acts as a conserved mitochondrial skeletal structure that differentiates regions of the inner membrane to establish the normal internal architecture of mitochondria

Advance directives and cancer: oncology practices in Brazil

Abstract Data on advance directives in Brazil are lacking. This study aims to assess the understanding of oncologists regarding advance directives and the frequency with which they discuss advance directives and advance care planning with their patients in Brazil. This is an observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study, conducted with cclinical oncologists associated with the Brazilian Society of Clinical Oncology. Participants were invited to answer a questionnaire prepared by the authors. In total, 72 physicians answered the questionnaire, of which 73% were under 45 years old and 56% worked in oncology for less than 10 years. Regarding the limits of intervention and end-of-life care during treatment, 54.2% of respondents reported not discussing it. Although 67% of oncologists know the term advance directives, they do not develop them with their patients and 57.2% do not perform advance care planning. Most oncologists in this study do not set advance care planning and advance directives for most patients

OPA1 disease alleles causing dominant optic atrophy have defects in cardiolipin-stimulated GTP hydrolysis and membrane tubulation

The dynamin-related GTPase OPA1 is mutated in autosomal dominant optic atrophy (DOA) (Kjer type), an inherited neuropathy of the retinal ganglion cells. OPA1 is essential for the fusion of the inner mitochondrial membranes, but its mechanism of action remains poorly understood. Here we show that OPA1 has a low basal rate of GTP hydrolysis that is dramatically enhanced by association with liposomes containing negative phospholipids such as cardiolipin. Lipid association triggers assembly of OPA1 into higher order oligomers. In addition, we find that OPA1 can promote the protrusion of lipid tubules from the surface of cardiolipin-containing liposomes. In such lipid protrusions, OPA1 assemblies are observed on the outside of the lipid tubule surface, a protein-membrane topology similar to that of classical dynamins. The membrane tubulation activity of OPA1 is suppressed by GTPγS. OPA1 disease alleles associated with DOA display selective defects in several activities, including cardiolipin association, GTP hydrolysis and membrane tubulation. These findings indicate that interaction of OPA1 with membranes can stimulate higher order assembly, enhance GTP hydrolysis and lead to membrane deformation into tubules

OPA1 and cardiolipin team up for mitochondrial fusion

Fusion between the inner membranes of two mitochondria requires the GTPase optic atrophy 1 (OPA1), but the molecular mechanism is poorly understood. A study now shows that fusion of two liposomes can be performed by OPA1 tethered to just one liposome, through an interaction with the phospholipid cardiolipin on the opposing liposome