What role do language learning mindsets play in English Medium Instruction? A comparison of Engineering and Business Administration in Turkey.

This article explores the relationship between Turkish undergraduate students’ language learning mindsets, English language achievement, and English medium instruction (EMI) academic success. Student test score data on an EMI course and an English language course were collected from fourth year students studying mechatronics engineering (n = 68) and business administration (n = 75) at a public university. Students also responded to the Language Learning Mindsets Inventory (Lou & Noels, 2019). Regression analyses revealed that both incremental (positively) and entity (negatively) mindsets predicted academic success in engineering. Neither mindset was a statistically significant predictor of mechatronics engineering students’ English language achievement. Business administration students’ academic success and English language achievement were both statistically significantly predicted by both incremental (positively) and entity (negatively) mindsets. These results are discussed according to discipline-based differences in EMI courses and pedagogical implications are explored

Malignancies in individuals living with HIV/AIDS

Background. The incidence of malignancy is heightened in individuals infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Despite a decrease in the incidence of HIV infection resulting from antiretroviral therapy (ART), the prevalence of HIV-associated malignancies remains substantial. Objective. Our objective was to examine the types of cancer that initially manifest in individuals infected with HIV or emerge during their subsequent observation period. Material and method. The study conducted a retrospective analysis of demographic characteristics, malignancy types, presenting symptoms, mode of transmission, HIV-RNA levels, and CD4/CD8 ratios in individuals living with HIV who developed malignancies and were under follow-up at the Infectious Diseases Polyclinic between October 2018 and December 2022. Results. Out of the 465 patients who were monitored during the study, 27 individuals (5.8%) were diagnosed with various malignancies. Among these patients, 22 (81%) were men and 5 (19%) were women. The average age of the patients ranged from 45.87 to 9.12 years. Among the patients, 17 (63%) were married and 10 (17%) were single. In terms of education, 16 patients (59.3%) had completed primary school, 7 patients (25.9%) were university graduates, and 4 patients (14.8%) had completed high school. The mode of HIV transmission in all patients was through sexual intercourse. The reasons for testing varied, with 8 patients (29.7%) being tested due to fever, 6 patients (22.2%) before undergoing surgery, 3 patients (11.1%) due to weight loss, and 2 patients (7.4%) tested for reasons such as job application, diarrhea, pre-blood donation, lymphadenomegaly, and dysphagia. The most common types of malignancies observed in the patients were non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) with 11 cases (40.7%), followed by Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) with 5 cases (18.5%), and cervical carcinoma with 3 cases (11.1%). Conclusion. The incidence of cancer is higher among individuals with HIV. There is a need to enhance the awareness among both healthcare providers who specialize in HIV care and those who do not

Mikroalgal ve anaerobik mikrobiyel kültürlerin kullanımı ile entegre besiyer madde giderimi, sera gazı mitigasyonu ve biyo-yakıt ve biyo-ürün eldesi

TÜBİTAK ÇAYDAG15.08.2015Mikro algal kültürlerin kullanımı ile önemli bir sera gazı olan CO2’in mitigasyonu çok yeni bir araştırma alanıdır. Mikro algal kültürler ile besiyer madde giderimi ve atık mikro algal biyokütleden biyogaz, hidrojen ve gübre eldesi çeşitli araştırmalara tek başına ya da birlikte konu olmuş uygulamalardır. Ancak, bu projenin konusunu oluşturan mikro algal ve anaerobik mikrobiyel kültürlerin entegre besiyer madde giderimi, sera gazı mitigasyonu ve biyo-yakıt ve biyo-ürün eldesi için birlikte kullanıldığı entegre bir biyoproses konfigürasyonun geliştirilmesi özgün bir yaklaşımdır. Bu inovatif konfigürasyon sadece atık su arıtımı ve CO2 mitigasyonu gibi önemli atık yönetimi sorunlarına bir katkıda bulunmakla kalmayacak, biyoyakıt (biyogaz ve biyohidrojen) ve biyoürün (gübre) eldesi de sağlayabilecektir. Bu projenin en önemli çıktısı hem evsel hem de endüstriyel atık suların atık CO2 kaynakları (örneğin endüstriyel baca gazları) ile birlikte arıtılabilmesini sağlayan özgün bir biyoteknolojik proses konfigürasyonunun geliştirilmesi olacaktır. Bu sürece paralel olarak sağlanacak olan biyoyakıt ve biyoürün eldesi, sadece atık valorizasyonuna değil, sürdürülebilir atık yönetimine de önemli bir örnek oluşturabilecektir. Atık sulardan azot ve fosforun %90-100 arasında değişen verimle giderimi, fotobiyoreaktörlerde sağlanan 0,16-0,26 g/L.gün CO2 tutma hızı, mikro algal biyokütleden elde edilen metan verimi (249 mL CH4/g TUKM), hidrojen verimi (2,47 mL H2/g TUKM) ve detayları bu raporda sunulan projemizin diğer sonuçları hipotezimizi destekler bir ilk adım niteliğindedir. Diğer bir deyişle, mikro algal ve anaerobik mikrobiyel kültürlerin entegre besiyer madde giderimi, sera gazı mitigasyonu ve biyo-yakıt ve biyo-ürün eldesinde birlikte kullanımı olasıdır. Bu üç farklı amaca aynı anda hizmet edecek olan bir inovatif biyoproses konfigürasyonunun optimizasyonu çalışmalarımızın bundan sonraki aşamasını oluşturacaktır.The mitigation of CO2 which is an important greenhouse gas by using microalgal cultures is a very new research area. Nutrient removal by microalgal cultures and anaerobic digestion of waste microalgal biomass and subsequent biogas, biohydrogen and fertilizer production were relatively investigated in the past. However, the research on these areas concentrated on only one or two of these tasks. Therefore, the integrated bioprocess configuration which is investigated in this project to provide integrated nutrient removal, greenhouse gas mitigation and bio-fuel and fertilizer production by using both microalgal and anaerobic microbial cultures is an innovative approach. This innovative configuration will not only contribute to nutrient removal from wastewaters and CO2 mitigation but also generate bio- fuels (biogas, biohydrogen) and bio-products (fertilizer). The impact of this project will be a cost-efficient biotechnological process configuration for the treatment of both domestic and industrial wastewaters as well as waste CO2 sources such as flue gas. Moreover, the parallel bio-fuel and bio-product generation will be a good example of waste valorization and sustainable waste management approach. Nitrogen and phosphorus removal from wastewaters with 90-100% efficiency, achievement of significant CO2 mitigation rates (0,16-0,26 g/L.day) in photobioreactors, methane production from microalgal biomass with a yield of 249 mL CH4/g VS, dark fermentative hydrogen production with a yield of 2.47 mL H2/g VS and other results of our project which are presented in this report not only support our initial hyphothesis but also constitute the first step toward its realization. In other words, an integrated approach enabling nutrient removal, greenhouse gas mitigation and bio-fuel and fertilizer production by using microalgal and anaerobic cultures is possible. Optimization of an inovative bioprocess configuration which will serve for all these three objectives will be the next phase of our research

The efficacy of cinacalcet in the treatment of hyperparathyroidism in Turkish hemodialysis patient population

WOS: 000393291900012OBJECTIVE: Cinacalcet reduces parathyroid hormone levels by increasing the sensitivity of the parathyroid gland to calcium. in this study, we firstly aimed to evaluate the efficacy of cinacalcet in Turkish hemodialysis patients. MATERIAL and METHODS: 4483 hemodialysis patients were screened and 469 patients who had used cinacalcet were included in the study. the patients were divided into 4 groups according to drug usage durations (Group 1: 3 months, Group 2: 6 months, Group 3: 9 months and Group 4: 12 months). the patients' Parathormone, Ca, P and CaxP levels at the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th months were compared to the start of treatment and previous months. RESULTS: the levels of Parathormone, Ca, P and CaxP significantly decreased compared to their initial levels in all groups (from 1412 pg/ml to 1222 pg/mL for Parathormone, p< 0,001) in the 3rd month. However, this reduction was not continued in the subsequent months (Parathormone: 1381 pg/ml for the 12th month). CONCLUSION: Cinacalcet may not provide adequate benefit in control of hyperparathyroidism in Turkish hemodialysis patient population

The frequency of Duchenne muscular dystrophy/Becker muscular dystrophy and Pompe disease in children with isolated transaminase elevation: results from the observational VICTORIA study

IntroductionElevated transaminases and/or creatine phosphokinase can indicate underlying muscle disease. Therefore, this study aims to determine the frequency of Duchenne muscular dystrophy/Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD) in male children and Pompe disease (PD) in male and female children with isolated hypertransaminasemia.MethodsThis multi-center, prospective study enrolled patients aged 3–216 months with serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and/or aspartate transaminase (AST) levels &gt;2× the upper limit of normal (ULN) for ≥3 months. Patients with a known history of liver or muscle disease or physical examination findings suggestive of liver disease were excluded. Patients were screened for creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) levels, and molecular genetic tests for DMD/BMD in male patients and enzyme analysis for PD in male and female patients with elevated CPK levels were performed. Genetic analyses confirmed PD. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of the patients were analyzed.ResultsOverall, 589 patients [66.8% male, mean age of 63.4 months (standard deviation: 60.5)] were included. In total, 251 patients (188 male and 63 female) had CPK levels above the ULN. Of the patients assessed, 47% (85/182) of male patients were diagnosed with DMD/BMD and 1% (3/228) of male and female patients were diagnosed with PD. The median ALT, AST, and CPK levels were statistically significantly higher, and the questioned neurological symptoms and previously unnoticed examination findings were more common in DMD/BMD patients than those without DMD/BMD or PD (p &lt; 0.001).DiscussionQuestioning neurological symptoms, conducting a complete physical examination, and testing for CPK levels in patients with isolated hypertransaminasemia will prevent costly and time-consuming investigations for liver diseases and will lead to the diagnosis of occult neuromuscular diseases. Trial RegistrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT04120168

Diyabetik Ayak Enfeksiyonları: DÜZELTME - Araştırma Makalesi

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) has become an important international public health problem considering that its prevalence has increased rapidly in Turkey and all over the world in recent years. A serious and common chronic complication of DM is diabetic foot. Objective: We aimed to evaluate diabetic patients and to determine the prognosis and other effective factors associated with diabetic foot ulcers in patients. Method: In this study, 64 patients diagnosed with diabetic foot infection between 2012 and 2020 were included. Demographic, clinical and laboratory findings, bilateral lower extremity arterial and venous Doppler ultrasonography findings, underlying diseases, wound width, antibiotics used in treatment were obtained retrospectively. Results: A total of 64 patients, 21 females (33%) and 43 males (67%), were included in the study. Of these patients, 33 (52%) were using oral anti-diabetics and 19 (30%) were using insulin. 53% of the patients had a diagnosis of peripheral artery disease and (62.5%) coronary artery disease. 3 (4.7%) had chronic kidney disease and 2 (3%) were receiving haemodialysis treatment. Hypertension was present in 30 (47%) of the patients. 27 (42%) patients had a wound width ≥5cm. Right foot was more commonly affected (n=40, 62.5%). In 10 (16%) patients, the microorganisms grown in deep tissue culture were Klebsiella pneumoniae in 3 patients, Klebsiella oxytoca in 1 patient, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in 2 patients, Morganella morganii in 2 patients, Serratia marcescens in 2 patients. Conclusion: With proper evaluation of diabetic foot ulcers, infection-related morbidity, hospitalisation, length of hospital stay and major limb amputation rates can be reduced.Giriş: Son yıllarda tüm dünyada ve Türkiye’de görülme sıklığının hızla arttığını göz önüne alırsak Diabetes mellitus (DM); önemli bir uluslararası halk sağlığı sorunu haline gelmiştir. Diyabetik ayak DM'nin ciddi ve sık görülen kronik komplikasyonlarından biridir. Amaç: Bu çalışmada diyabetik hastaları değerlendirerek ; hastalarda diyabetik ayak ülserleri ile ilişkili prognoz ve diğer etkili faktörleri ortaya koymayı amaçladık. Yöntem: Çalışmamız 2012 ile 2020&nbsp; yılları arasında,diyabetik ayak enfeksiyonu tanılı 64 hasta dahil edilmiştir. Hastaların demografik, klinik ve laboratuvar&nbsp; bulguları,bilateral alt extremite&nbsp; arteriyel ve venöz Doppler ultrasonografi bulguları,altta yatan hastalıkları, yara genişliği, tedavide kullanılan antibiyotikleri retrospektif olarak elde edilmiştir. Bulgular: Çalışmaya 21 kadın (%33) ve 43 erkek (%67) olmak üzere toplam 64 kişi dahil edilmiştir. Bu hastaların 33’ü (%52) oral anti diyabetik kullanırken 19’u (%30) insülin kullanmakta idi.Hastaların %53’ünde periferik arter hastalığı&nbsp; ve (%62,5) koroner arter hastalığı&nbsp; tanısı vardı. 3’ü (%4,7) Kronik böbrek hastalığı&nbsp; olup 2’si (%3) hemodiyaliz tedavisi almaktaydı. Hastaların 30’unda (%47)&nbsp; Hipertansiyon&nbsp; mevcuttu.Yara genişliği ≥5cm olan 27 (%42) hasta mevcuttu. Hastalarda sağ ayak etkilenmesi (n=40, %62,5) daha fazlaydı. 10&nbsp; (%16 ) hastanın&nbsp; derin doku kültüründe üreyen mikroorganizmalar ise 3 hastada Klebsiella pneumoniae, 1 hastada Klebsiella&nbsp; oxytoca , 2 hastada Metisiline dirençli Staphylococcus aureus, 2 hastada&nbsp; Morganella morganii ,2 Serratia marcescens tespit edildi. Sonuç: Diyabetik ayak ülserlerinin uygun şekilde değerlendirilmesi ile infeksiyona bağlı morbidite, hastaneye yatış, hastanede kalış süresi ve major ekstremite ampütasyonu oranları azaltılabilmektedir

The Clinical Characteristics of Patients Applied to Covid-19 Outpatient Clinics of a Tertiary Hospital in Turkey in the First Wave of Pandemic

Background: The first wave of COVID-19 pandemic began to spread in Turkey in March 2020. As one of the first pandemic hospitals, very intense patient admissions have been made to our outpatient clinics in this period. For better understanding the disease characteristics, we investigated the clinical findings, comorbidities, and radiological pulmonary involvement of the COVID-19 patients.Methods:&nbsp;The SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test results of 6966 patients, applied to Kartal Lutfi&nbsp;Kırdar City Hospital InfectiousDiseases and Clinical Microbiology COVID-19 outpatient clinics between March and June 2020, were analyzed retrospectively. Demographic, clinical, and thoracic computed tomography data of the patients with positive test results were evaluated.Results:&nbsp;2672(38.4%) patients were SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR positive (1465 males, 1207 females). The mean age of the patients with a definite diagnosis of COVID-19 was 40.4±14.5 years (12-94 years). There was a statistically significant relationship between the age and COVID-19 (75.3% were &gt;65 years, p&lt;0.001). The main clinical findings were fever (n:2437, 91.2%), cough (n:2013, 75.3%), dyspnea (n:809, 30.2%), sore throat (n:257, 9.6%), weakness (n:244, 9.1%), myalgia (n:228, 8.5%), nausea/vomiting (n:135, 5.1%), diarrhea (n:80, 3%), anosmia (n:54, 2%), and loss of taste (n:54, 2%). The comorbidities found in our COVID-19 patients were hypertension(HT) (n:94, 3.5%), diabetes mellitus(DM) (n:70, 2.6%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) (n:68, 2.5%), coronary artery disease(CAD) (n:32, 1.2%) and malignancy (n:16, 0.6%). 4113 patients (75.2%), out of 5484 patients who had thorax CT, had COVID-19 compatible radiological involvement, with 3315(80.6%) positive and 798(19.4%) negative SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test results.Conclusion:&nbsp;The most frequent symptoms in the patients admitted to our hospital in the first wave of pandemic were fever, cough, dyspnea, sore throat, and weakness. Despite lockdown, the elderly above 65 years were most affected. The&nbsp;rate of COVID-19 compliant radiological involvement was moderately high. The most common comorbidities were HT, DM, COPD, CAD and malignancy.</div