Volume CXIV, Number 4, November 7, 1996

Objective: Turner syndrome (TS) is a chromosomal disorder caused by complete or partial X chromosome monosomy that manifests various clinical features depending on the karyotype and on the genetic background of affected girls. This study aimed to systematically investigate the key clinical features of TS in relationship to karyotype in a large pediatric Turkish patient population.Methods: Our retrospective study included 842 karyotype-proven TS patients aged 0-18 years who were evaluated in 35 different centers in Turkey in the years 2013-2014.Results: The most common karyotype was 45,X (50.7%), followed by 45,X/46,XX (10.8%), 46,X,i(Xq) (10.1%) and 45,X/46,X,i(Xq) (9.5%). Mean age at diagnosis was 10.2±4.4 years. The most common presenting complaints were short stature and delayed puberty. Among patients diagnosed before age one year, the ratio of karyotype 45,X was significantly higher than that of other karyotype groups. Cardiac defects (bicuspid aortic valve, coarctation of the aorta and aortic stenosis) were the most common congenital anomalies, occurring in 25% of the TS cases. This was followed by urinary system anomalies (horseshoe kidney, double collector duct system and renal rotation) detected in 16.3%. Hashimoto's thyroiditis was found in 11.1% of patients, gastrointestinal abnormalities in 8.9%, ear nose and throat problems in 22.6%, dermatologic problems in 21.8% and osteoporosis in 15.3%. Learning difficulties and/or psychosocial problems were encountered in 39.1%. Insulin resistance and impaired fasting glucose were detected in 3.4% and 2.2%, respectively. Dyslipidemia prevalence was 11.4%.Conclusion: This comprehensive study systematically evaluated the largest group of karyotype-proven TS girls to date. The karyotype distribution, congenital anomaly and comorbidity profile closely parallel that from other countries and support the need for close medical surveillance of these complex patients throughout their lifespa

Fumigant toxicity of essential oil of Hypericum perforatum L., 1753 (Malpighiales: Hypericaceae) to Tenebrio molitor L., 1758 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

In this study, vapor of essential oil obtained by the hydrodistillation of Hypericum perforatum L., 1753 (Malpighiales: Hypericaceae) was tested on the different stages of Tenebrio molitor L., 1758 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). The larvae, pupae and adult stages of T. molitor were exposed to different doses of H. perforatum essential oil for 24 h. After exposure, mortality rate, LC50, LC90 and LC99 values, antioxidant enzyme activities {[}superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)], acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in the insects. Tenebrio molitor was cultured at Gazi University Department of Biology and all analyses were done in Yozgat Bozok University in 2017 and 2018. The results indicated that the pupae of T. molitor were the most tolerant and adults were the most sensitive. Mortality increased with the increasing concentration of essential oil. Also, increasing doses of essential oil caused decreasing in SOD, CAT, GST GPx and AChE activities and increasing in MDA level. These results indicate that essential oil of H. perforatum can be used against T. molitor in a pest control program

Childhood Alopecia Areata: A Study Of 89 Patients

Background and Design: Alopecia areata (AA) is a frequent type of acquired hair loss with a sudden onset. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological and clinical features of AA and diseases associated with AA in the Turkish pediatric population. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the medical data of patients under 16 years of age who were admitted to the pediatric dermatology outpatient clinic at Hacettepe University Hospital between 2006 and 2011 with a diagnosis of AA, alopecia totalis (AT) and alopecia universalis (AU). Results: A total of 89 patients (34 females and 55 males), were included in this study. The mean age of the subjects was 9.8 +/- 3.4 years (range:18 months-16 years). 9% (n=8) patients had other autoimmune diseases: Hashimoto's thyroiditis in 5, vitiligo in 1, juvenile rheumatoid arthiritis (JRA) in 1 and morphea in 1 patient. AA was located on the scalp in 86.5% (n=77) of the patients, 7.9% (n=7) of the patients had AA on the scalp together with eyelashes, eyebrows and the body. AT was noted in 1, AU was noted in 4 patients. Severity of hair loss was <25% in 94.3% (n=84) of the patients according to the involved area. Hashimoto's thyroiditis was diagnosed in 5 patients; these patients had normal thyroid function tests (TFT). TFT abnormalities were detected in 27% (n=24) of the patients. 24.7% (n=22) of these patients were diagnosed with clinically insignificant thyroid disorder, 2 patients had compansated hypothyroidism (n=2). Eight patients (9%) patients were found to be positive for anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (Anti-TPO ab). Antithyroglobulin antibody (Anti-TG Ab) elevation was noted in 3.3% (n=3) and antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity was noted in 9% (n=8). Nail changes were detected in 12.3% (n=11) of the patients as leukonychia (n=2), longitudinal striation (n=2), trachyonychia (n=1), onychoschizia (n=1) and pitting (n=1). Conclusion: Childhood AA usually causes limited hair loss. TFT anomalies can accompany AA without clinical symptoms. Therefore, investigation and regular follow-up of baseline TFT and anti-TPO Ab levels are suggested in patients with AA in childhood.WoSScopu

The association of plasma oxidative status and inflammation with the development of atrial fibrillation in patients presenting with ST elevation myocardial infarction

WOS: 000395146100001PubMed ID: 27905214Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common supraventricular arrhythmia following ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Oxidative stress and inflammation may cause structural and electrical remodeling in the atria making these critical processes in the pathology of AF. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association between total oxidative status (TOS), total antioxidative capacity (TAC) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in the development of AF in patients presenting with STEMI. This prospective cohort study consisted of 346 patients with STEMI. Serum TAC and TOS were assessed by Erel's method. Patients were divided into two groups: those with and those without AF. Predictors of AF were determined by multivariate regression analysis. In the present study, 9.5% of patients developed AF. In the patients with AF, plasma TOS and oxidative stress index (OSI) values were significantly higher and plasma TAC levels were significantly lower compared to those without AF (p=.003, p=.002, p<.0001, respectively). Multivariate regression analysis results showed that, female gender (Odds ratio[OR]=3.07; 95% Confidence Interval[CI]=1.26-7.47; p=.01), left atrial diameter (OR =1.28; 95% CI =1.12-1.47; p<.0001), hs-CRP (OR =1.02; 95% CI =1.00-1.03; p=.001) and OSI (OR =1.10; 95% CI =1.04-1.18; p=.001) were associated with the development of AF in patients presenting with STEMI. The main finding of this study is that oxidative stress and inflammation parameters were associated with the development of AF in patients presenting with STEMI. Other independent predictors of AF were female gender, left atrial diameter and hs-CRP

POLYMORPHISMS OF THE HUMAN PLATELET ANTIGENS HPA-1 IN SLOW CORONARY FLOW

WOS: 000317946500307

EVALUATION OF LYMPHOTOXIN-ALPHA C804A GENE POLYMORPHISMS IN PATIENTS WITH SLOW CORONARY FLOW

WOS: 000317946500306

Strength-Based Design Analysis of a Damaged Engine Mounting Bracket Designed for a Commercial Electric Vehicle

This study describes a strength-based design analysis protocol by means of finite element analysis (FEA) for a damaged engine mounting bracket in a converted electric vehicle. The mounting bracket considered in the study is a product specifically designed and manufactured for a converted electric vehicle and failed during conventional operation of the vehicle. Thus, design improvement/revision (redesign) on the bracket geometry was investigated. In this context, to prevent such undesired failures, strength-based design features such as deformation behaviour and stress distribution under projected loads on the bracket should be properly described; however, an accurate description of these features of the bracket may become a complex experimental problem to be solved by designers. This study described redesign of the strength-based design features of the engine mounting bracket through finite element analysis under torsional loading generated by the electric engine that was determined to be the reason for the failure and thus the motivation to realise a safer design. Visual and numerical results obtained from the simulation revealed a clear understanding of the failure behaviour of the bracket and therefore enabled an informed approach to the redesign stage. The initial FEA of the part design mapped the damage regions on the part geometry and indicated the stress magnitudes that were more than the material’s stress limits. The comparison of the failure plots and numerical data obtained from this initial FEA and physically damaged part was consistent. This concluded that the FEA satisfactorily exhibited the deformation behaviour and the main reason for the failure was insufficient geometry thickness and notch effect against predefined loading conditions. Therefore, the main design improvement was realised on these geometric features. Subsequently, the final FEA highlighted that the redesign would enable safe operation. This work contributes to further research into usage of numerical method-based deformation simulation studies for the mounting elements used in customised electric vehicles