Collaboration within Student Design Teams Participating in Architectural Design Competitions

This paper investigates design collaboration with reference to convergent and divergent idea generation processes in architectural design teams entering a design competition. Study of design teams offer a unique opportunity to investigate how creativity is fostered through collaborative work. While views of creativity often relate creativity to individual originality, collaboration requires different designers to work together towards one common design idea and consider as many different ideas as possible. In collaborative design, it would be easier to offer a variety of ideas but equally difficult to establish a consensus on a single idea. To investigate the role of convergent and divergent thinking in the design process, we interviewed three groups of architecture students who participated in competitions as a team. Interviews were analysed thematically to investigate how the teams overcame spatial, temporal, conceptual, and technological barriers. We conclude that the barriers and roles of members in design collaboration interact with convergent and divergent concept generation

Analyses of soluble endoglin and matrix metalloproteinase 14 using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the diagnosis and assessment of severity of early- and late-onset pre-eclampsia

Objective: Abnormal trophoblastic invasion and impaired placentation have a crucial role in the etiopathogenesis of preeclampsia (PrE). Trophoblastic cells are involved in invading the maternal decidua and remodelling of the spiral arteries with matrix metalloproteinase-14 (MMP-14). MMP-14 cleavage of endoglin releases its extracellular region, the soluble form of endoglin (s-ENG), into the maternal circulation. In PrE, there is a relationship between endothelial dysfunction and s-ENG concentration. The aim was to determine and compare the serum levels of s-ENG and MMP-14 in different groups of PrE patients and healthy subjects. Material and Methods: The study included 30 patients with late-onset preeclampsia (L-PrE) (group 1; gestational age >= 34 weeks), 33 patients with normal pregnancy (group 2; gestational age >= 34 weeks), 31 patients early-onset preeclampsia (E-PrE) (group 3; gestational age < 34 weeks), and 31 patients with normal pregnancy (group 4; gestational age <34 weeks). s-ENG and MMP-14 concentrations measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were compared. Results: In all groups, MMP-14 concentrations decreased with increasing gestational age. s-ENG concentrations were highest in the E-PrE group. In groups 1 and 3, 29 had mild PrE while 32 suffered severe PrE and s-ENG concentrations did not differ between mild and severe preeclampsia (p=0.133). However, there was a significant difference in MMP-14 concentration comparing mild with severe PrE (3.11 +/- 0.61 vs 3.54 +/- 1.00; p=0.047, respectively). There was no correlation between s-ENG and MMP-14 concentrations. Conclusion: MMP-14 and s-ENG concentrations can be predictive biomarkers for the diagnosis of PrE. Maternal serum MMP-14 concentration may be a biomarker for determining the severity of PrE

Comparison of the efficacy of once- and twice-daily colchicine dosage in pediatric patients with familial Mediterranean fever - a randomized controlled noninferiority trial

Background: In this study, we examined the efficacy and safety of a once-daily dosage schema of colchicine compared with a twice-daily dosage schema in pediatric patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). Methods: In this 24-week, multicenter, randomized controlled noninferiority trial, pediatric patients newly diagnosed with FMF carrying a homozygous or compound heterozygous mutation and not receiving any treatment were included. Patients were randomly assigned using a block randomization method to receive treatment with a once- or twice-daily dosage. Clinical and laboratory characteristics and medication side effects were recorded and compared between groups. The study was carried out in compliance with Good Clinical Practice and the Consolidated Standards for Reporting of Trials (CONSORT) statement. Results: A total of 92 patients were selected, and 79 patients completed the study. There were 42 patients in the once-daily dosage group and 37 in the twice-daily dosage group. The results indicated that the once-daily dosage was not inferior to the twice-daily dosage regarding decrease in attack frequency and duration as well as improvement in clinical findings and Mor severity scores. Alterations in laboratory findings indicating inflammation, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and serum amyloid A, were similar in both groups. The rates of drug side effects were similar between the once- and twice-daily dosage groups, implying comparable safety of colchicine, with the exception of diarrhea, which was slightly higher in the once-daily dosage group. Conclusions: Using colchicine with either a once- or twice-daily dosage provides similar clinical and laboratory improvements. Considering both efficacy and safety, colchicine can be prescribed with a once-daily dosage. Trial Registration ID: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02602028. Registered 5 November 2015

The Turkish Version of the Juvenile Arthritis Multidimensional Assessment Report (JAMAR)

The Juvenile Arthritis Multidimensional Assessment Report (JAMAR) is a new parent/patient reported outcome measure that enables a thorough assessment of the disease status in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). We report the results of the cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the parent and patient versions of the JAMAR in the Turkish language. The reading comprehension of the questionnaire was tested in 10 JIA parents and patients. Each participating centre was asked to collect demographic, clinical data and the JAMAR in 100 consecutive JIA patients or all consecutive patients seen in a 6-month period and to administer the JAMAR to 100 healthy children and their parents. The statistical validation phase explored descriptive statistics and the psychometric issues of the JAMAR: the 3 Likert assumptions, floor/ceiling effects, internal consistency, Cronbach\u27s alpha, interscale correlations, test-retest reliability, and construct validity (convergent and discriminant validity). A total of 466 JIA patients (13.7% systemic, 40.6% oligoarticular, 22.5% RF negative poly-arthritis, and 23.2% other categories) and 93 healthy children were enrolled in four centres. The JAMAR components discriminated well-healthy subjects from JIA patients. All JAMAR components revealed good psychometric performances. In conclusion, the Turkish version of the JAMAR is a valid tool for the assessment of children with JIA and is suitable for use both in routine clinical practice and clinical research

Laparoscopic treatment of recurrent ectopic pregnancy in the ipsilateral salpinx after ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination

AbstractObjectiveTo report a case of recurrent ectopic pregnancy in the ipsilateral salpinx after and intrauterine insemination treated by laparoscopy.Case reportA 33-year-old woman with unexplained infertility sought evaluation at our hospital due to pelvic pain after ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination. She had a history of a right salpingectomy. Transvaginal ultrasonography did not reveal an intrauterine pregnancy, but showed a suspected extrauterine gestational sac on the operated adnexal area with free fluid in the pouch of Douglas. The patient was diagnosed with a recurrent ruptured ectopic pregnancy and an emergency laparoscopy was performed.ConclusionRecurrent ectopic pregnancy in the ipsilateral fallopian tube is rare, but it is important to be suspicious of the diagnosis to prevent serious morbidity. This case also demonstrates transtubal or transperitoneal migration of the gametes because ovulation and ectopic pregnancy occurred on opposite sides

Tubo-ovarian abscess mimicking ovarian tumor in a sexually inactive girl.

Tubo-ovarian abscess is a serious complication of pelvic inflammatory disease rarely seen in sexually inactive girls. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent further sequela including infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pelvic pain. We present a case of 19-year-old sexually inactive girl who presented with abdominal pain and pelvic mass resembling ovarian tumor. Unilateral tubo-ovarian abscess with extensive bowel adhesions was determined at laparotomy. Drainage of the abscess and postoperative antibiotic therapy cured the patient

Splenosis presenting with adnexal mass: a case report.

Case report: A 21-year-old woman presenting with low abdominal discomfort, dysmenorrhoea and pelvic mass was misdiagnosed as endometriosis. She had post-traumatic splenic rupture and laparotomy history. Results: Pelvic splenosis was diagnosed at laparotomy. Pelvic mass was removed and the other implants were left

Do Ascites, Mass Volume and Peritoneal Carcinomatosis Affect Serum CA-125 Levels in Patients with Ovarian Carcinoma? A Different Point of View

Cancer antigen-125 (CA-125) is a sensitive, but not a specific, tumor marker used for the diagnosis and monitoring the efficiency of therapy in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. Many studies have been published concerning the efficiency of CA-125 in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma. However, the effects of ovarian mass volume, ascites amounts and peritoneal carcinomatosis on serum CA-125 have not been completely understood. For this reason, this study was planned to investigate the effects of ascites, ovarian mass volume and peritoneal carcinomatosis on serum CA-125 levels, and a series of 98 patients with stage I-IV nonmucinous epithelial ovarian carcinoma was enrolled for the Study. Amounts of ascites were determined in each patient with ascites. Ovarian mass volumes were calculated in 22 patients with stage I disease without ascites. Peritoneal carcinomatosis was detected in 35 ovarian cancer patients. Serum CA-125 levels were compared among the patients with different clinical conditions