Investigation of the Effect of Tarantula cubensis Extract on Acute Phase Response

Background: Tarantula cubensis alcoholic extract is used to accelerate wound healing and to relieve edema in many animal species. In addition, it may be useful for many infectious diseases. Considering to these effects, it is believe that these effects may be on immune system. Cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, interleukin-10 and interferon gamma) secreted by immune cells and acute phase proteins (haptoglobin, alpha 1 acid glycoprotein, serum amyloid A) secreted by liver play role in acute phase response. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of Tarantula cubensis alcoholic extract on cytokine and acute phase protein levels in sheep.Materials, Methods & Results: Tarantula cubensis alcoholic extract (6 mL/sheep, subcutaneously, single dose) was administered to 6 healthy sheep. Blood samples were obtained before (0 h) and after treatments at 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 and 48 h. Then, blood samples were centrifuged to obtain serum samples. Acute phase cytokines such as serum tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, interferon gamma and acute phase proteins such as haptoglobin, alpha 1 acid glycoprotein and serum amyloid-A concentrations were determined with commercially available kits on ELISA reader. Administration of Tarantula cubensis alcoholic extract caused fluctuations in tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, interferon gamma levels in sheep. In addition, levels of haptoglobin, alpha 1 acid glycoprotein, serum amyloid A showed fluctuations. But, these fluctuations in acute phase cytokines and acute phase proteins were not statistically significant (P > 0.05).Discussion: Tarantula cubensis alcoholic extract, homeopathic medicine, is used trauma, retentio secundinarium, tendinitis, bluetongue, foot and mouth, metritis and arthritis in many animal species including sheep. Cytokines, secreted against various stimulus including infectious diseases, play role in wound healing and in the regulation of the immune system. In current study, administration of Tarantula cubensis alcoholic extract lead to fluctuations in tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, interleukin-10 and interferon gamma levels, but these changes were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Non-statistical fluctuations in cytokines result from inadequate immunological response of sheep against to Tarantula cubensis alcoholic extract. Also, use of molecular analysis techniques may be changed these results. Acute phase proteins are significantly secreted from the liver during the acute phase response. In current study, administration of Tarantula cubensis alcoholic extract in sheep caused non-statistifical fluctuations on haptoglobin, alpha 1 acid glycoprotein and serum amyloid A levels (P > 0.05). Tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-1 beta stimulate synthesis of interleukin-6. Interleukin-6 provides synthesis of acute phase proteins in liver. Non-statistical fluctuations in acute phase proteins result from inadequate stimulus of IL-6. In conclusion, it may be stated that administration of Tarantula cubensis alcoholic extract has no distinctive effect on the acute phase response. However, when Tarantula cubensis alcoholic extract is administered repeated times or other acute phase parameters are evaluated, different results may be observed

Esnek hesaplama ve biyobilişim teknikleri ile bir klinik karar verme simülatörünün oluşturulması

06.03.2018 tarihli ve 30352 sayılı Resmi Gazetede yayımlanan “Yükseköğretim Kanunu İle Bazı Kanun Ve Kanun Hükmünde Kararnamelerde Değişiklik Yapılması Hakkında Kanun” ile 18.06.2018 tarihli “Lisansüstü Tezlerin Elektronik Ortamda Toplanması, Düzenlenmesi ve Erişime Açılmasına İlişkin Yönerge” gereğince tam metin erişime açılmıştır.Dünyada her yıl milyonlarca insan, göğüs hastalıkları teşhisi ile hastanelere başvurmaktadır. Bu hastalıkların başında; kronik obstrüktif akciğer hastalığı, verem, astım, zatürree ve akciğer kanseri gelmektedir. Düşük gelirli ülkelerde, önemli bir sorun teşkil eden göğüs hastalıkları, 15 ile 49 yaş grubu insanların ölüm nedeni olarak ön sırada yer almaktadır. Solunum hastalıkları ülkemizde de çok önemli bir sağlık sorunudur. Bu çalışmada, solunum hastalıklarının teşhisinde yardımcı olacak bir klinik karar destek sistemi geliştirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bunun akabinde, literatürde spesifik bir hastalık üzerine yapılan uygulamalardan farklı olarak beş adet hastalık üzerinde sınıflandırma işlemi yapılmıştır. Bu doğrultuda geliştirilen uygulamada teşhis için yapay sinir ağı, yapay bağışıklık sistemi, genetik algoritma gibi esnek hesaplama ve biyobilişim teknikleri kullanılmıştır. Uygulama için gerekli olan veri seti, yerel bir hastanede yatan göğüs hastaları için düzenlenen epikriz raporlarından oluşturulmuştur. Gerçekleştirilen testler sonucunda; yapay bağışıklık sistemi ile % 93.83, yapay sinir ağları ile % 92.16, genetik algoritmalar ile % 91.31, ANFIS ile % 89.05 ve ROC ile % 93.00 doğruluk oranları elde edilmiştir. Sonuçlar bu alanda yapılan örnek çalışmalar ile karşılaştırılmıştır. Sonuç olarak, solunum hastalıklarının teşhisinde esnek hesaplama ve biyobilişim tekniklerinin kullanılmasında önemli sayılabilecek doğruluk oranı ile sınıflandırma işleminin başarılı olduğu görülmüştür. Ayrıca geliştirilen uygulama yerel bir hastane ortamında denenmiş olup uzman doktorların da desteğini almıştır.Millions of people are diagnosed every year with a chest disease in the world. Chronic obstructive pulmonary, pneumonia, asthma, tuberculosis, lung cancer diseases are the most important chest diseases. Thoracic disease is a great problem in most low income countries; it is the single most frequent cause of death in individuals aged fifteen to forty-nine years. Thoracic disease is an important health problem in Turkey also. In this study, an application on chest diseases diagnosis was realized by using flexible computing and bioinformatics computing systems. Used neural network structures in this study were multilayer, probabilistic, and learning vector quantization neural networks. A genetic algorithm system and an artificial immune system were also performed to realize chest disease diagnosis for the classification and comparison. The results of the study were compared with the results of the pervious similar studies reported focusing on different chest diseases diagnosis. The pulmonary disease dataset were taken from a state hospital?s database using patient?s epicrisis reports

Pentoxifylline May Restore Kanamycin-Induced Renal Damage in Rats

Background: Kidney damage can be caused by many factors, such as using certain drugs in high doses or over the longterm. The use of one such group of drugs, aminoglycosides, which act as Gram-negative antibacterial therapeutic agents,can lead to nephrotoxicity. It has been hypothesized that aminoglycoside-induced nephrotoxicity might be prevented byusing pentoxifylline, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and improves microcirculation. The objectiveof this present research was to determine the protective effects of pentoxifylline on kanamycin-induced kidney damage.Materials, Methods & Results: Thirty-two male Wistar rats were divided into four groups as follows: control, pentoxifylline,kanamycin, and kanamycin + pentoxifylline. The control group received intraperitoneal (IP) injections of 0.5 mL normalsaline solution once a day (d) (SID) for 20 d; the pentoxifylline group received IP injections of 50 mg/kg pentoxifyllinetwice a day (BID) for 20 d, the kanamycin group received subcutaneous (SC) injections of 500 mg/kg kanamycin SID for20 d, and the kanamycin + pentoxifylline group received both SC injections of 500 mg/kg kanamycin SID and IP injectionsof 50 mg/kg pentoxifylline BID for 20 d. At the end of 20 d, blood samples were taken from the heart by cardiac punctureunder general anesthesia. After euthanizing the rats by cervical dislocation under anesthesia, the kidneys were immediatelyremoved, relative kidney weights were calculated, and routine pathologic evaluations were conducted. Hemogramparameters were measured using a blood cell count apparatus and serum biochemical parameters were measured usingan autoanalyzer. Kanamycin also caused (P < 0.05) tubular degeneration and tubular dilatation. Although pentoxifyllinesignificantly reduced the level of kanamycin-induced tubular degeneration (P < 0.05), it did not significantly reduce tubulardilatation. Increases in relative kidney weights (P < 0.05) and in interstitial mononuclear cell (MNC) infiltrates wereobserved in the kanamycin and kanamycin + pentoxifylline groups compared to those in the control and pentoxifyllinegroups. Statistically significant changes were determined in the levels of some hemogram and biochemical parameterswithin reference ranges (P < 0.05).Discussion: In this study, both tubular degeneration and dilatation were observed in the kanamycin group. Pentoxifyllineinhibited (P < 0.05) kanamycin-induced tubular degeneration and appeared to also reduce tubular dilatation, although thisreduction was not significant. Tubular necrosis, epithelial edema of proximal tubules, tubular fibrosis, and perivascularinflammation might also be observed in aminoglycoside-induced nephrotoxicity. In current research, pentoxifylline preventedtubular damage induced by kanamycin, but did not inhibit infiltration by MNCs. Pentoxifylline also amelioratedamikacin- or gentamycin-induced histopathologic changes, especially those associated with tubular structures. The protectiveeffects of pentoxifylline on kanamycin-induced tubular nephrotoxicity in this research might be a result of its stimulatingthe production of prostaglandin, a vasodilator, and of its improving microcirculation. Although the anti-inflammatoryeffects of pentoxifylline have been reported, these did not inhibit kanamycin-induced infiltration by interstitial MNCs inthe present study. These results could indicate that the anti-inflammatory effects of pentoxifylline are not obvious and/orare dose dependent. Statistically significantly changes were determined in the levels of some hemogram and biochemicalparameters in reference ranges. However, these changes were within the reference ranges for rats. These results suggestedthat kanamycin-induced tubular degeneration and dilatation might be prevented by administering pentoxifylline

Cardiac Safety of Diclofenac at a Single Dose in Ram

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are frequently prescribed drug group in human and veterinary medicine. However, diclofenac, a traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, related to cardiotoxicity is reported, and blood cardiac damage markers may increase within the first hours after damage. The aim of the current research was to determine the effect of diclofenac on the blood cardiac damage markers. Single dose of diclofenac (2.5 mg/kg, IM) was injected to 6 rams. Blood samples were collected in before (0 hour, control) and 6 hours after injection. Specific (troponin I, and creatine kinase-MB) and nonspecific (lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase) blood cardiac damage marker concentrations, routine biochemical (hepatic damage, renal damage, lipid metabolism, glucose, and phosphorus) parameters, and hemogram values were measured. Diclofenac increased (P<0.05) specific (troponin I) and nonspecific cardiac (lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase), hepatic (aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and alanine aminotransferase), and muscular (creatine kinase) damage markers and high density lipoprotein level, while it decreased (P<0.05) low density lipoprotein level. Moreover, diclofenac decreased (P<0.05) white blood cell counts and increased (P<0.05) red blood cell counts. In conclusion, it may be stated that diclofenac shows slight cardiotoxicity, whereas it may show potent hepatic and muscular damage effects at an intramuscularly single dose in sheep. Thereby, repeated injections of diclofenac may be more harmful in sheep

A CNN-Based Novel Approach for Classification of Sacral Hiatus with GAN-Powered Tabular Data Set

Caudal epidural anaesthesia is usually the most well-known technique in obstetrics to deal with chronic back pain. Due to variations in the shape and size of the sacral hiatus (SH), its classification is a crucial and challenging task. Clinically, it is required in trauma, where surgeons must make fast and correct selections. Past studies have focused on morphometric and statistical analysis to classify it. Therefore, it is vital to automatically and accurately classify SH types through deep learning methods. To this end, we proposed the Multi-Task Process (MTP), a novel classification approach to classify the SH MTP that initially uses a small medical tabular data set obtained by manual feature extraction on computed tomography scans of the sacrums. Second, it augments the data set synthetically through a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN). In addition, it adapts a two-dimensional (2D) embedding algorithm to convert tabular features into images. Finally, it feeds images into Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). The application of MTP to six CNN models achieved remarkable classification success rates of approximately 90 % to 93 %. The proposed MTP approach eliminates the small medical tabular data problem that results in bone classification on deep models

Recoverable Stress Induced Two-Way Shape Memory Effect on NiTi Surface Using Laser-Produced Shock Wave

The surfaces of Ni50Ti50 shape memory alloys (SMAs) were patterned by laser scribing. This method is more simplistic and efficient than traditional indentation techniques, and has also shown to be an effective method in patterning these materials. Different laser energy densities ranging from 5 mJ/pulse to 56 mJ/pulse were used to observe recovery on SMA surface. The temperature dependent heat profiles of the NiTi surfaces after laser scribing at 56 mJ/pulse show the partially-recovered indents, which indicate a shape memory effect (SME) Experimental data is in good agreement with theoretical simulation of laser induced shock wave propagation inside NiTi SMAs. Stress wave closely followed the rise time of the laser pulse to its peak values and initial decay. Further investigations are underway to improve the SME such that the indents are recovered to a greater extent

Relationship between carotid intima-media thickness and coronary angiographic findings: a prospective study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Since cardiovascular diseases are associated with high mortality and generally undiagnosed before the onset of clinical findings, there is a need for a reliable tool for early diagnosis. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a non-invasive marker of coronary artery disease (CAD) and is widely used in practice as an inexpensive, reliable, and reproducible method. In the current study, we aimed to investigate prospectively the relationship of CIMT with the presence and extent of significant coronary artery narrowing in patients evaluated by coronary angiography for stable angina pectoris.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>One hundred consecutive patients with stable angina pectoris and documented ischemia on a stress test were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups according to the result of the coronary angiography: group 1 (39 patients) without a noncritical coronary lesion, and group 2 (61 patients) having at least one lesion more than 50% within the main branches of the coronary arteries. All of the patients underwent carotid Doppler ultrasound examination for measurement of the CIMT by a radiologist blinded to the angiographic data.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean CIMT was 0.78 ± 0.21 mm in Group 1, while it was 1.48 ± 0.28 mm in Group 2 (p = 0.001). The mean CIMT in patients with single vessel disease, multi-vessel disease, and left main coronary artery disease were significantly higher compared to Group 1 (1.2 ± 0.34 mm, p = 0.02; 1.6 ± 0.32 mm, p = 0.001; and 1.8 ± 0.31 mm, p = 0.0001, respectively). Logistic regression analysis identified CIMT (OR 4.3, p < 0.001) and hypertension (OR 2.4, p = 0.04) as the most important factors for predicting CAD.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The findings of this study show that increase in CIMT is associated with the presence and extent of CAD. In conclusion, we demonstrated the usefulness of carotid intima-media thickness in predicting coronary artery disease but large-scale studies are required to define its role in clinical practice.</p

Beta1-Adrenoceptor Polymorphism Predicts Flecainide Action in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

BACKGROUND: Antiarrhythmic action of flecainide is based on sodium channel blockade. Beta(1)-adrenoceptor (beta(1)AR) activation induces sodium channel inhibition, too. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of different beta(1)AR genotypes on antiarrhythmic action of flecainide in patients with structural heart disease and atrial fibrillation. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In 145 subjects, 87 with atrial fibrillation, genotyping was performed to identify the individual beta(1)AR Arg389Gly and Ser49Gly polymorphism. Resting heart rate during atrial fibrillation and success of flecainide-induced cardioversion were correlated with beta(1)AR genotype. The overall cardioversion rate with flecainide was 39%. The Arg389Arg genotype was associated with the highest cardioversion rate (55.5%; OR 3.30; 95% CI; 1.34-8.13; p = 0.003) compared to patients with Arg389Gly (29.5%; OR 0.44; 95% CI; 0.18-1.06; p = 0.066) and Gly389Gly (14%; OR 0.24; 95% CI 0.03-2.07; p = 0.17) variants. The single Ser49Gly polymorphism did not influence the conversion rate. In combination, patients with Arg389Gly-Ser49Gly genotype displayed the lowest conversion rate with 20.8% (OR 0.31; 95% CI; 0.10-0.93; p = 0.03). In patients with Arg389Arg variants the heart rate during atrial fibrillation was significantly higher (110+/-2.7 bpm; p = 0.03 vs. other variants) compared to Arg389Gly (104.8+/-2.4 bpm) and Gly389Gly (96.9+/-5.8 bpm) carriers. The Arg389Gly-Ser49Gly genotype was more common in patients with atrial fibrillation compared to patients without atrial fibrillation (27.6% vs. 5.2%; HR 6.98; 95% CI; 1.99-24.46; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The beta(1)AR Arg389Arg genotype is associated with increased flecainide potency and higher heart rate during atrial fibrillation. The Arg389Gly-Ser49Gly genotype might be of predictive value for atrial fibrillation

Antibacterial Characterization of Novel Synthetic Thiazole Compounds against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is a commensal organism of companion animals that is a significant source of opportunistic infections in dogs. With the emergence of clinical isolates of S. pseudintermedius (chiefly methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP)) exhibiting increased resistance to nearly all antibiotic classes, new antimicrobials and therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. Thiazole compounds have been previously shown to possess potent antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus of human and animal concern. Given the genetic similarity between S. aureus and S. pseudintermedius, this study explores the potential use of thiazole compounds as novel antibacterial agents against methicillin-sensitive S. pseudintermedius (MSSP) and MRSP. A broth microdilution assay confirmed these compounds exhibit potent bactericidal activity (at sub-microgram/mL concentrations) against both MSSA and MRSP clinical isolates while the MTS assay confirmed three compounds (at 10 μg/mL) were not toxic to mammalian cells. A time-kill assay revealed two derivatives rapidly kill MRSP within two hours. However, this rapid bactericidal activity was not due to disruption of the bacterial cell membrane indicating an alternative mechanism of action for these compounds against MRSP. A multistep resistance selection analysis revealed compounds 4 and 5 exhibited a modest (twofold) shift in activity over ten passages. Furthermore, all six compounds (at a subinihibitory concentration) demonstrated the ability to re-sensitize MRSP to oxacillin, indicating these compounds have potential use for extending the therapeutic utility of β-lactam antibiotics against MRSP. Metabolic stability analysis with dog liver microsomes revealed compound 3 exhibited an improved physicochemical profile compared to the lead compound. In addition to this, all six thiazole compounds possessed a long post-antibiotic effect (at least 8 hours) against MRSP. Collectively the present study demonstrates these synthetic thiazole compounds possess potent antibacterial activity against both MSSP and MRSP and warrant further investigation into their use as novel antimicrobial agents

Principal variable selection to explain grain yield variation in winter wheat from features extracted from UAV imagery

Background: Automated phenotyping technologies are continually advancing the breeding process. However, collecting various secondary traits throughout the growing season and processing massive amounts of data still take great efforts and time. Selecting a minimum number of secondary traits that have the maximum predictive power has the potential to reduce phenotyping efforts. The objective of this study was to select principal features extracted from UAV imagery and critical growth stages that contributed the most in explaining winter wheat grain yield. Five dates of multispectral images and seven dates of RGB images were collected by a UAV system during the spring growing season in 2018. Two classes of features (variables), totaling to 172 variables, were extracted for each plot from the vegetation index and plant height maps, including pixel statistics and dynamic growth rates. A parametric algorithm, LASSO regression (the least angle and shrinkage selection operator), and a non-parametric algorithm, random forest, were applied for variable selection. The regression coefficients estimated by LASSO and the permutation importance scores provided by random forest were used to determine the ten most important variables influencing grain yield from each algorithm. Results: Both selection algorithms assigned the highest importance score to the variables related with plant height around the grain filling stage. Some vegetation indices related variables were also selected by the algorithms mainly at earlier to mid growth stages and during the senescence. Compared with the yield prediction using all 172 variables derived from measured phenotypes, using the selected variables performed comparable or even better. We also noticed that the prediction accuracy on the adapted NE lines (r = 0.58–0.81) was higher than the other lines (r = 0.21–0.59) included in this study with different genetic backgrounds. Conclusions: With the ultra-high resolution plot imagery obtained by the UAS-based phenotyping we are now able to derive more features, such as the variation of plant height or vegetation indices within a plot other than just an averaged number, that are potentially very useful for the breeding purpose. However, too many features or variables can be derived in this way. The promising results from this study suggests that the selected set from those variables can have comparable prediction accuracies on the grain yield prediction than the full set of them but possibly resulting in a better allocation of efforts and resources on phenotypic data collection and processing