Instant determination of the artemisinin from various Artemisia annua L. extracts by LC-ESI-MS/MS and their in-silico modelling and in vitro antiviral activity studies against SARS-CoV-2

Introduction Numerous efforts in natural product drug development are reported for the treatment of Coronavirus. Based on the literature, among these natural plants Artemisia annua L. shows some promise for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2. Objective The main objective of our study was to determine artemisinin content by liquid chromatography electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS), to investigate the in vitro biological activity of artemisinin from the A. annua plants grown in Turkey with various extracted methods, to elaborate in silico activity against SARS-CoV-2 using molecular modelling. Methodology Twenty-one different extractions were applied. Direct and sequential extractions studies were compared with ultrasonic assisted maceration, Soxhlet, and ultra-rapid determined artemisinin active molecules by LC-ESI-MS/MS methods. The inhibition of spike protein and main protease (3CL) enzyme activity of SARS-CoV-2 virus was assessed by time resolved fluorescence energy transfer (TR-FRET) assay. Results Artemisinin content in the range 0.062-0.066%. Artemisinin showed significant inhibition of 3CL protease activity but not Spike/ACE-2 binding. The 50% effective concentration (EC50) of artemisinin against SARS-CoV-2 Spike pseudovirus was found greater than 50 mu M (EC45) in HEK293T cell line whereas the cell viability was 94% of the control (P < 0.01). The immunosuppressive effects of artemisinin on TNF-alpha production on both pseudovirus and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced THP-1 cells were found significant in a dose dependent manner. Conclusion Further studies of these extracts for COVID-19 treatment will shed light to seek alternative treatment options. Moreover, these natural extracts can be used as an additional treatment option with medicines, as well as prophylactic use can be very beneficial for patients

Melatonin Attenuates Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Diabetic Rats: The Role of Interleukin-33 and Oxidative Stress

Background. Inflammation and oxidative stress (OxS) contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). Patients with DKD were found to be more prone to CIN. Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a proinflammatory cytokine, but its role in DKD and CIN is unknown. Methods. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were enrolled. The first group was comprised of healthy rats (HRs), whereas the other four groups were made up of diabetic rats (DRs), diabetic rats with contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN + DRs), melatonin-treated diabetic rats (MTDRs), and melatonin-treated CIN + DRs (MTCIN + DRs). All groups except the HRs received 50 mg/kg/day streptozotocin (STZ). CIN + DRs were constituted by administrating 1.5 mg/kg of intravenous radiocontrast dye on the 35th day. MTDRs and MTCIN + DRs were given 20 mg/kg/day of intraperitoneal injection of melatonin (MT) from the 28th day for the constitutive seven days. Results. We observed increased IL-33 in the kidney tissue following induction of CIN in DRs. To determine whether MT is effective in preventing CIN, we administered MT in CIN + DRs and demonstrated that kidney tissue levels of OxS markers, inflammatory cytokines, and IL-33 were significantly diminished in MTCIN + DRs compared with other groups without MT treatment (p<0.05). Conclusion. Inhibition of IL-33 with MT provides therapeutic potential in DKD with CIN

Reliability, Validity, and Adaptation of Computerized Revised Token Test in Normal Subjects

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to study adaptation, reliability, and validity characteristic of the Turkish version of Computerized Revised Token Test (CRTT) in normal subjects. CRTT is a diagnostic test used to evaluate the auditory processing abilities. T-CRTT consists of 10 subtests that require following commands and identifying and manipulating objects of standardized shapes, colors and sizes. Materials and Methods: The present study conducted at Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, E.N.T Department, Audiology and Speech Pathology Unit. For the reliability and validity analysis, 60 healthy subjects (28 men and 32 female) aged between 20 and 80 yrs were included in the study. Descriptive statistics of measurements were calculated as mean +/- SD. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to assess the internal consistency of the scales. Test-retest reliability was examined using Pearson correlation coefficient between first and second application of T-CRTT. In T-CRTT validity analysis, structural validation was thought to be useful. Results: All of the subjects' subtest's mean scores, overall scores and efficiency scores were calculated. Cronbach's coefficients for subtests mean scores and efficiency scores were calculated respectively as (0.77), and (0.76). Results of our test-retest results indicated good reliability except for Subtest 8. ICC and a score was respectively 0.828 (ICC), 0.906 (a) and 0.764 (ICC), 0.866 (a). For validity, sex and age correlations were evaluated and it was found that overall scores and efficiency scores were not affected with gender differences, but were affected with age factor. Conclusion: We believe that T-CRTT is a detailed and useful instrument for the evaluation of auditory processing inefficiencies and evaluation of suitable management programmes.Wo

Sağlık sistemlerinde yöneylem araştırması teknikleri: 2007-2017 yılları arası literatür taraması

Yöneylem Araştırması tekniklerinin sağlık alanındaki problemlerin çözümünde kullanımının son yıllarda dikkat çekici boyutlara ulaştığı görülmektedir. Bu çalışmada, sağlık sistemlerinde karşılaşılan problemler ele alınmış ve planlama, yönetim ve uygulama başlıkları altında sınıflandırılmıştır. Bu konularda çalışma yapacak araştırmacılara yön göstermesi amacıyla, 2007-2017 yılları arasında yayınlanan çalışmalar, konu başlıklarına göre, çözüm yöntemleri ve gerçek hayat problemleri üzerindeki uygulamaları açısından değerlendirilmiş ve Yöneylem Araştırması’nın bu tür problemlerin çözümünde uygulanabilirliği ortaya koyulmuştur

Geçmişten günümüze Hasan Paşa Hanı : (Sulu Han)

Ankara : İhsan Doğramacı Bilkent Üniversitesi İktisadi, İdari ve Sosyal Bilimler Fakültesi, Tarih Bölümü, 2014.This work is a student project of the The Department of History, Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences, İhsan Doğramacı Bilkent University.by Yeni, Harun

Robot move sequence determining and multiple part-type scheduling in hybrid flexible flow shop robotic cells

We focus on the scheduling problem arising in hybrid flexible flow shops which repeatedly produce a set of multiple part-types and where the transportation of the parts between the machines is performed by a robot. The cycle time of the cell is affected by the robot move sequence, part/machine assignments and part sequences. In a hybrid flexible flow shop in which there exist one machine in the first and two machines in the second stage, the problem of determining the best cycle time is modeled as a traveling salesman problem. In order to provide a solution methodology for realistic problem instances, a Simulated Annealing based heuristic is constructed and the problem is solved using two different neighborhood structures. The results are also compared against an effective proposed lower bound value. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Multifrequency tympanometry findings in Newborns and Infants

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the correlation between transient otoacoustic emission and multifrequency tympanometry measurements in the ages of 0-28 weeks neonates and infant group in this study. Materials and Methods: In this study, 245 right and left ears, screened by transient otoacoustic emission were evaluated in Hacettepe University Audiology and Speech Pathology Department. Tympanometric and transient otoacoustic emission measurements were applied after otoscopic examination. During analysis, SPSS 13,0 statistics programme was used. Ethics Committee approval was taken for this study. (Date of ethics committee approval:24.05.2007; LUT 07/43-18). Results: Although there were not any significant difference in tympanometric peak pressure, we just found significant difference in left ears according to static acoustic admittance who passed and who did not pass transient otoacoustic emissions in 226-678-1000 Hz probe tones. Also we found significant difference in tympanometric types in babies who passed and who did not pass transient otoacoustic emission. Conclusion: The use of 226 Hz probe tone tympanometry to detect middle ear dysfunction particulary for ages less than seven months may produce contradictory test outcomes. Our results indicated that 1000 Hz probe tone tympanometry is valid and efficient way in evaluating middle ear status in newborns and infants below the ages of 28 weeks