Do the effects of vitamin d supplementation on muscle strength differ according to age?

Introduction: Vitamin D plays an important role in musculoskeletal health and its use improves muscle strength. However, the effect of vitamin D use on muscle strength in women of different ages is yet to be investigated. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of vitamin D use on muscle strength in women of different age groups and determine the differences of muscle strength gain between age groups. Materials and Method: Sixty-three women with calcidiol levels<30 ng/mL were randomly assigned and stratified by their age group as follows: Group I (aged 40–49 years), Group II (aged 50–59 years) and Group III (aged 60–69 years). Calcidiol levels, body mass index, fat free mass, percent fat, grip strength, arm curl, chair stand and isokinetic concentric flexor and extensor peak torque and power at 60°•s−1 and 180°•s−1 were assessed at baseline and six months after oral cholecalciferol supplementation. Results: Vitamin D supplementation caused significant improvement in body mass index, arm curl, grip strength and knee flexor and extensor peak torque and power at 60°•s−1 and 180°•s−1 in all groups (p<0.05). Knee flexor power at 60°•s−1 and extensor power at 180°•s−1 were significantly higher in group I than in group III (p<0.025). Conclusion: Muscle strength in response to vitamin D supplementation increased in all age groups, and isokinetic muscle power was the highest in the youngest age group studied. © 2018, Geriatrics Society. All rights reserved

Influence of birth cohort, age and period on suicide mortality rate in Turkey, 1983-2013

Objective: This study is designed to evaluate the potential effects of age, period and cohort (APC) on trends in suicide between 1983 and 2013 in Turkey. Methods: Mortality data were obtained from the Turkish Statistical Institute. The data were grouped into seven age groups, four periods and ten birth cohorts. A nonlinear regression model was estimated for both sexes. The effects of age, period and cohort were parameterized using natural spline smoothing functions. Results: There were 61,795 deaths recorded as suicides during the investigated time period, where 64.5% occurred in males (n = 39,862) and 35.5% in females (n = 21,933). There is an upward trend in mortality by age until the end of the study period for males and females. Age effect is decreased until the forties, kept decreasing during the middle ages, and sharply increased after the sixties. The death rates for females declined from 1999 until the end of the study period. For males, the death rates increased until the end of the study period. Conclusion: If the current trends continue, it can be expected that these effects will continue to reduce female mortality and increase male mortality. Future studies on suicide, strongly focused on specific factors attributed to period effects, are needed in Turkey. © National Institute of Public Health, Prague 2019

İnce Kirişlerin Elastik Davranışlarının NIY ve RNIY Yöntemleri İle İncelemesi

Konferans Bildirisi -- Teorik ve Uygulamalı Mekanik Türk Milli Komitesi, 2013Conference Paper -- Theoretical and Applied Mechanical Turkish National Committee, 2013Bu çalışmada, ince kirişlerin elastik davranışlarının incelenmesi, ağsız yöntemlerden olan Noktasal İnterpolasyon (NİY) ve Radyal Noktasal İnterpolasyon (RNİY) yöntemleri ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Her bir yöntemde, iki farklı integrasyon tekniği kullanılmıştır. Standard olarak kullanılan Gauss integrasyon tekniği, Taylor noktasal integrasyon tekniği ile karşılaştırılmış, NİY ve RNİY üzerine etkileri araştırılmıştır. Noktasal direngenlik matrisinin elde edilmesi, Bernoulli-Euler kiriş teorisine göre gerçekleştirilmiştir. Farklı etki alanı büyüklükleri ve farklı RNİY şekil parametrelerinin çözümler üzerine etkileri ayrıca ele alınmıştır. Bir ankastre kiriş problemi, serbest uca tekil yük uygulanarak çözülmüştür. Elde edilen çözümler, ANSYS paket programı kullanılarak sonlu elemanlar yöntemiyle kıyaslanmıştır.In this study, the point interpolation method (PIM) and radial point interpolation method (RPIM) solutions of elastic thin beams are compared by using standard Gaussian integration and a nodal integration based on Taylor series expansion. The effects of integration schemes, support domain sizes and RPIM shape parameters on the convergency are also investigated. Nodal stiffness matrices are obtained using Bernoulli-Euler beam theory. A cantilever beam problem with concentrated load applied on one end is solved and the results are compared with finite element solutions in ANSYS

Soft Bottom Molluscan Assemblages of the Bathyal Zone of the Sea of Marmara

The present study deals with the soft bottom molluscan species collected from the bathyal zone of the Sea of Marmara in 2013. Replicated samples were taken by a Box Core, sampling an area of 0.1 m2 at 31 stations at the two depth transects, 500 and 1000 m. A total of 1229 individuals belonging to 4 classes and 28 species were collected. Two species (Akritogyra conspicua and Liostomia hansgei) are new records for the marine molluscan fauna of Turkey and four species (Benthonella tenella, Odostomia silesui, Syrnola minuta and Crenilabium exile) are new records for the molluscan fauna of the Sea of Marmara. A relatively richer fauna was determined in 500 m (25 species) than in 1000 m (17 species). The most dominant species at 500 m and 1000 m depths were Crenilabium exile and Parthenina flexuosa, respectively. Number of species and number of individuals varied significantly only between depths while number of individuals changed significantly among basins (ANOVA test). A significant difference in species assemblages between the Tekirdağ and the Central Basins was detected (ANOSIM test). The multivariate analysis showed that the depth was the main factor influencing the molluscan assemblages in the area

Liquid Metal Feeding Through Dendritic Region in Ni-Hard White Iron

ABSTRACT Liquid permeability in the dendritic regions is one of the factors that determine porosity formation and macro segregation in castings. Permeability in the dendritic structure of Ni-Hard white iron was measured as a function of temperature. Effect of microstructural coarsening on the permeability was also investigated. Permeability increased with coarsening dendritic structure in Ni-Hard white iron

INVESTIGATING HOW PARENTS, WHO GUIDE THEIR PRESCHOOL CHILDREN TOWARDS SPORTS, PERCEIVE SPORTS ACTIVITIES

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate parents’ expectations about general sport activities for their pre-school children. It is well documented that the awareness of sports knowledge of the parents are essential for the development of healthy life and acquiring a social dimension with a growth of healthy generations. Method: We administrated the ‘’Parents' Expectations of Their Children Questionnaire’’ developed by Keskin (2006). The questionnaire was a Likert type scale from ‘’totally agree’’ to ‘’totally disagree’’ and validity and reliability studies were reported by Keskin as Cronbach’s alpha was 0,86. A total of 125 participants (male; N = 39, Mage=35, 24 ± 5,48 , female; N = 86 and Mage=37,92 ± 6,65) were voluntarily participated from 10 different kinder gardens in Bursa province. The evaluation of the data was analysed with the Chi Square Test. Result: Our results revealed a statistical differences (p &lt; .05) according to the sex groups of parents ‘’I believe my child will gain good eating habits by getting involved with sports activities’’ and age groups of parents; ‘’I believe by getting involved with sport activities, my child will stay away from psychological stress’’. Conclusion: According to parents’ belief and their expectations, attending sports activities for children provides physical, cognitive and social development for them. Developing countries (as well as developed ones) that are aware of the role of the parents on development of human being via sport and exercise activities should take into account their expectations especially in terms of sports policies.  Article visualizations

Chiari type I malformation with high foramen magnum anomaly

A 14-year-old male with a neck pain and hypoesthesia in the upper extremities was diagnosed with Chiari type I malformation (CMI) and syringomyelia. The posterior part of the occipital bone was removed via cranio-cervical decompression. The accuracy of measuring the posterior cranial fossa (PCF) and foramen magnum (FM) dimensions were evaluated and compared with the literature. The linear PCF and FM dimensions as well as volumes were measured using computed tomography (CT) images with different techniques. The volume data were compared with similar data from literature. Use of the posterior fossa approach remains controversial when treating patients with minor little brain stem dislocation, small PCF, and or incomplete C1, but the approach can easily be applied if FM and PCF sizes are known. Linear measurements that were assessed for concordance with CT measurements had the best agreement. Quantification of PCF volume and high FM should be taken into consideration for differential diagnosis of tonsillar herniation and prediction of surgical outcome in CMI

Factors leading to dissemination of cutaneous anthrax: an international ID-IRI study

Background: Although anthrax is a rare zoonotic infection, it still causes significant mortality and morbidity. In this multicenter study, which is the largest anthrax case series ever reported, we aimed to describe the factors leading to dissemination of cutaneous anthrax. Methods: Adult patients with cutaneous anthrax from 16 referral centers were pooled. The study had a retrospective design, and included patients treated between January 1, 1990 and December 1, 2019. Probable, and confirmed cases based upon CDC anthrax 2018 case definition were included in the study. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed for all variables. Results: A total of 141 cutaneous anthrax patients were included. Of these, 105 (74%) patients had probable and 36 (26%) had confirmed diagnosis. Anthrax meningitis and bacteremia occurred in three and six patients, respectively. Sequelae were observed in three patients: cicatricial ectropion followed by ocular anthrax (n = 2) and movement restriction on the left hand after surgical intervention (n = 1). One patient had gastrointestinal anthrax. The parameters related to poor outcome (p < 0.05) were fever, anorexia, hypoxia, malaise/fatigue, cellulitis, fasciitis, lymphadenopathy, leukocytosis, high CRP and creatinine levels, longer duration of antimicrobial therapy, and combined therapy. The last two were seemingly the consequences of dissemination rather than being the reasons. The fatality rate was 1.4%. Conclusions: Rapid identification of anthrax is crucial for prompt and effective treatment. Systemic symptoms, disseminated local infection, and high inflammatory markers should alert the treating physicians for the dissemination of the disease. © 2022 The Author

Concordance of LDL-C Estimating Equations with Direct Enzymatic Measurement in Diabetic and Prediabetic Subjects

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a well-established biomarker in the management of dyslipidemia. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the concordance of LDL-C-estimating equations with direct enzymatic measurement in diabetic and prediabetic populations. The data of 31,031 subjects included in the study were divided into prediabetic, diabetic, and control groups according to HbA1c values. LDL-C was measured by direct homogenous enzymatic assay and calculated by Martin-Hopkins, Martin-Hopkins extended, Friedewald, and Sampson equations. The concordance statistics between the direct measurements and estimations obtained by the equations were evaluated. All equations evaluated in the study had lower concordance with direct enzymatic measurement in diabetic and prediabetic groups compared to the non-diabetic group. Even so, the Martin-Hopkins extended approach demonstrated the highest concordance statistic in diabetic and prediabetic patients. Further, Martin-Hopkins extended was found to have the highest correlation with direct measurement compared with other equations. Over the 190 mg/dL LDL-C concentrations, the equation with the highest concordance was again Martin-Hopkins extended. In most scenarios, the Martin-Hopkins extended performed best in prediabetic and diabetic groups. Additionally, direct assay methods can be used at low values of the non-HDL-C/TG ratio (&lt;2.4), as the performance of the equations in LDL-C estimation decreases as non-HDL-C/TG decreases