Beneficial Effects of Montelukast Against Methotrexate-Induced Liver Toxicity: A Biochemical and Histological Study

The effects of montelukast against methotrexate-induced liver damage were investigated. 35 Wistar albino female rats were divided into 5 groups as follows: group I: control; group II: montelukast (ML); group III: methotrexate (Mtx); group IV: montelukast treatment after methotrexate application (Mtx + ML); group V: montelukast treatment before methotrexate application (ML + Mtx). At the end of the experiment, the liver tissues of rats were removed. Malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and reduced glutathione levels were determined from liver tissues. In addition, the liver tissues were examined histologically. MDA and MPO levels of Mtx group were significantly increased when compared to control group. In Mtx + ML group, these parameters were decreased as compared to Mtx group. Mtx injection exhibited major histological alterations such as eosinophilic staining and swelling of hepatocytes. The glycogen storage in hepatocytes was observed as decreased by periodic acid schiff staining in Mtx group as compared to controls. ML treatment did not completely ameliorate the lesions and milder degenerative alterations as loss of the glycogen content was still present. It was showed that montelukast treatment after methotrexate application could reduce methotrexate-induced experimental liver damage

Urtikarija kao rijetka nuspojava polietilen glikola-3350 kod djeteta: prikaz slučaja

Polyethylene glycol electrolyte (PEG-3350) solution is usually used for bowel emptying before co-lonoscopy in adults. It has also been reported to be safe in children. It is thought that bowel irrigation with this solution can be a useful treatment alternative for poisoning with slow releasing drugs, swallowed packaged substances, enteric coated drugs, drugs not binding to charcoal, and heavy metals in children. Due to high molecular weight of PEG-3350, its absorption from the intestinal mucosa is very low (0.2%). Therefore, it is less likely to have side effects. A three-year-old girl bit and ate one-third of an alkali battery and was brought to our pediatric emergency unit. Vital signs and results of physical examination and laboratory investigations were normal. Irrigation of the bowels with PEG-3350 solution given orally at a rate of 20 mL/kg/h was initiated. Upon excretion of feces of normal appearance in the sixth hour, irrigation was continued. Since rashes and itching started throughout her body in the thirtieth hour after administration of 9 L PEG-3350, the irrigation was discontinued and the patient was administered antihistamines. Rashes and itching regressed within one hour of its discontinuation. This suggested that they were due to the irrigation solution. There are five adult cases of allergic reactions to PEG-3350 reported in the literature. The case presented is the first pediatric patient developing allergic reaction to PEG-3350.Otopina polietilen glikola (PEG-3350) najčešće se primjenjuje za pražnjenje crijeva prije kolonoskopije u odraslih osoba, a opisuje se kao sigurno sredstvo i u djece. Smatra se da ispiranje crijeva ovom otopinom može biti korisna alternativa za liječenje otrovanja lijekovima sa sporim otpuštanjem, progutanim pakovanjima nekih tvari, lijekovima sa zaštitnom ovojnicom za probavni sustav, lijekovima koji se ne vežu na ugljen te teškim metalima u djece. Zbog velike molekularne težine vrlo mali dio PEG-3350 (0,2%) se apsorbira iz crijevne sluznice pa su stoga nuspojave manje vjerojatne. Djevojčica u dobi od tri godine zagrizla je i progutala jednu trećinu alkalne baterije pa je dovedena u našu hitnu pedijatrijsku službu. Vitalni znaci kao i rezultati fizikalnog pregleda i laboratorijskih pretraga bili su normalni. Započeto je ispiranje crijeva otopinom PEG-3350 peroralno, 20 mL/kg/h. Nakon što je dijete imalo stolicu normalnog izgleda u šestom satu, ispiranje je nastavljeno. Međutim, nakon što je djevojčica primila 9 L PEG-3350, u tridesetom satu davanja otopine nastupio je osip i svrbež po čitavom tijelu pa je ispiranje crijeva prekinuto i djetetu su dani antihistaminici. Osip i svrbež su se povukli unutar jednog sata od prestanka ispiranja otopinom PEG-3350. U literaturi je opisano pet slučajeva alergijskih reakcija na PEG-3350 u odraslih osoba. Ovaj prikaz opisuje prvi slučaj alergijske reakcije na PEG-3350 u djeteta

Fire induced changes in soil characteristics in Keşan, Turkey

This research was conducted in Ke an (Çınarlıdere) area (1689 ha) of Thrace region, Turkey. The forest area was burned naturally in 2000. The aim of this research was to determine the effects of forest fire on some soil characteristics two year after the fire. Soil samples were collected from three locations as replicates from both burned and nearby unburnt sites. According to the study results, urease activity and soil organic carbon values (P<0.001), organic nitrogen and total porosity (P<0.01), aggregate stability, microbial biomass carbon values (P<0.05) were lower in burned soils than those of unburned soils. On the other hand, hydraulic conductivity and available phosphorus in unburned soil was not significantly higher than that of burned soils. This research showed negative effects of fire on some soil characteristics after two years

Assessment of Quality of Life and Coexistent Allergic Conjunctivitis in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis in Van Province

Objective:In this study, we aimed to evaluate coexistent allergic conjunctivitis with allergic rhinitis in Van province and the patients’ quality of life in this region.Methods:A total of 94 patients who were admitted to the Otorhinolaryngology Clinics of Van Province Training and Research Hospital and Erciş State Hospital were included in this study. All patients underwent an ophthalmologic evaluation for coexistent allergic conjunctivitis. Moreover, allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis symptom scoring was applied to all patients. The rhinoconjunctivitis quality-of-life scale (RQLQ) was used to assess quality of life in all patients.Results:Mean total symptom score was found to be 12.1±4.2. In 37.2% of patients, coexistent allergic conjunctivitis was diagnosed. Scores of RQLQ sleep, non-hay fever complaints, nasal and ophthalmic complaints, and restricted activities were significantly higher in the group with coexistent allergic conjunctivitis than in the group with no allergic conjunctivitis.Conclusion:Patients with allergic rhinitis must be evaluated by taking the places where they live into account. It is crucial that the treatment procedures of particularly patients with ophthalmic complaints should be planned after they are examined by an ophthalmologist. It should be kept in mind that patients with allergic rhinitis must also be examined by a psychiatrist when necessary

Parental psychological distress associated with COVID-19 outbreak: A large-scale multicenter survey from Turkey

Aims: Pandemics can cause substantial psychological distress; however, we do not know the impact of the COVID-19 related lockdown and mental health burden on the parents of school age children. We aimed to comparatively examine the COVID-19 related the stress and psychological burden of the parents with different occupational, locational, and mental health status related backgrounds. Methods: A large-scale multicenter online survey was completed by the parents (n = 3,278) of children aged 6 to 18 years, parents with different occupational (health care workers—HCW [18.2%] vs. others), geographical (İstanbul [38.2%] vs. others), and psychiatric (child with a mental disorder [37.8%]) backgrounds. Results: Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that being a HCW parent (odds ratio 1.79, p <.001), a mother (odds ratio 1.67, p <.001), and a younger parent (odds ratio 0.98, p =.012); living with an adult with a chronic physical illness (odds ratio 1.38, p <.001), having an acquaintance diagnosed with COVID-19 (odds ratio 1.22, p =.043), positive psychiatric history (odds ratio 1.29, p <.001), and living with a child with moderate or high emotional distress (odds ratio 1.29, p <.001; vs. odds ratio 2.61, p <.001) were independently associated with significant parental distress. Conclusions: Parents report significant psychological distress associated with COVID-19 pandemic and further research is needed to investigate its wider impact including on the whole family unit. © The Author(s) 2020

Food Consumption and its Impact on Cardiovascular Disease: Importance of Solutions Focused on the Globalized Food System A Report From the Workshop Convened by the World Heart Federation

Major scholars in the field, based on a 3-day consensus, created an in-depth review of current knowledge on the role of diet in CVD, the changing global food system and global dietary patterns, and potential policy solutions. Evidence from different countries, age/race/ethnicity/socioeconomic groups suggest the health effects studies of foods, macronutrients, and dietary patterns on CVD appear to be far more consistent though regional knowledge gaps are highlighted. There are large gaps in knowledge about the association of macronutrients to CVD in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), particularly linked with dietary patterns are reviewed. Our understanding of foods and macronutrients in relationship to CVD is broadly clear; however major gaps exist both in dietary pattern research and ways to change diets and food systems. Based on the current evidence, the traditional Mediterranean-type diet, including plant foods/emphasizing plant protein sources, provides a well-tested healthy dietary pattern to reduce CV

Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049

Determination of iodine and calcium concentrations in the bread improver using EDXRF

A study was made on the determination of elemental composition of the bread improver using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence. Enrichment of I and Ca was seen in the bread improver. Concentration of I with an annular 241Am radioactive source and concentration of Ca with an annular 55Fe radioactive source were determined by using standard addition method in 2π geometry. A Si(Li) detector and a multichannel analyzer were used to measure I and Ca concentrations in the bread improver. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Surviving through tactics : ǂthe ǂeveryday life of Syrian refugees in Turkey

The Syrian civil war and related migration affected Turkish border cities such as Antakya, Şanlıurfa, Mardin, Gaziantep, and Kilis. In this study, we explore the tactics and strategies developed by Syrian asylum seekers in order to cope with the prejudices and negative perceptions about Syrians commonly shared by locals. The findings of our research are drawn from the in-depth interviews we conduc-ted with more than one hundred refugees, locals, and staff members of different NGOs. Our arguments and conclusions in this article are also the result of obser-vations made during several research trips and a thorough examination of news about refugees in local and national media. Our field research lasted from August 2014 to February 2015, but the substantial part of this study was conducted bet-ween January and February 2015.Sirska državljanska vojna in z njo povezane migracije so prizadele turška ob-mejna mesta, med njimi Antakyo, Sanliurfo, Mardin, Gaziantep in Kilis. V študiji raziskujemo taktike in strategije, ki so jih razvili sirski prosilci za azil, da bi se lahko spopadli s predsodki in negativnimi predstavami o Sircih, ki so splošno prisotni med lokalnim prebivalstvom. Ugotovitve naše raziskave izhajajo iz poglobljenih intervjujev, ki smo jih izvedli z več kot sto begunci, domačini in uslužbenci raz-ličnih nevladnih organizacij. Utemeljitve in sklepi, podani v tem članku, so tudi rezultat opazovanj med več raziskovalnimi potovanji in temeljitega pregleda novic o beguncih, objavljenih v lokalnih in državnih medijih. Čeprav je naša terenska raziskava trajala od avgusta 2014 do februarja 2015, je bil večji del te študije opravljen med januarjem in februarjem 2015