Anodized 20 nm diameter nanotubular titanium for improved bladder stent applications

Materials currently used for bladder applications often suffer from incomplete coverage by urothelial cells (cells that line the interior of the bladder and ureter) which leads to the continuous exposure of the underlying materials aggravating an immune response. In particular, a ureteral (or sometimes called an ureteric or bladder) stent is a thin tube inserted into the ureter to prevent or treat obstruction of urine flow from the kidney. The main complications with ureteral stents are infection and blockage by encrustation, which can be avoided by promoting the formation of a monolayer of urothelial cells on the surface of the stent. Nanotechnology (or the use of nanomaterials) may aid in urothelialization of bladder stents since nanomaterials have been shown to have unique surface energetics to promote the adsorption of proteins important for urothelial cell adhesion and proliferation. Since many bladder stents are composed of titanium, this study investigated the attachment and spreading of human urothelial cells on different nanotextured titanium surfaces. An inexpensive and effective scaled up anodization process was used to create equally distributed nanotubular surfaces of different diameter sizes from 20–80 nm on titanium with lengths approximately 500 nm. Results showed that compared to untreated titanium stents and 80 nm diameter nanotubular titanium, 20 nm diameter nanotubular titanium stents enhanced human urothelial cell adhesion and growth up to 3 days in culture. In this manner, this study suggests that titanium anodized to possess nanotubular surface features should be further explored for bladder stent applications

HUMAN COLLABORATION IN SELF -LEARNİNG SYSTEMS

Human-machine collaboration in self-learning refers to having humans and automated technology work alongside each other to achieve a shared goal. [1] Having entered a new era for years, where experiencing a steady and strong improvement in computational power, storage, and availability of big data. Although artificial intelligence has become a pervasive organizational phenomenon, it is still unclear if and when people will be willing to cooperate with machines. [2] Human-machine collaboration in self-learning seeks to address limitations by combining the qualities of both humans and machines. Humans and machines are dependent on each other. While machines can analyze and stock extensive data rapidly, they still lack the same creativity and understanding as humans. On the other hand, humans have these qualities, but they cannot process the vast amount of data as quickly or accurately as machines. [3

HEC-RAS model of Kahramanmaras domuz (bogaz) stream interception channel

Canlıların yaşam kaynağı olan su kontrol altına alınmadığı durumlarda ciddi mal ya da can kayıplarına neden olmaktadır. Ayrıca küresel ısınmanın etkilerini hissettiğimiz bugünlerde suyun planlı kullanımı büyük önem taşımaktadır. Afetlerden biri olan taşkın oluşumu insan ya da doğa kaynaklı olabilir. Bir akarsu taşkın oluşturduğunda tarım arazilerine, altyapı tesislerine, insanların sosyal ve ekonomik hayatlarına, çevrede bulunan yerleşim yerlerine ciddi zararlar vermektedir. Bir ülkenin sosyo-ekonomik durumunun gelişiminde su kaynakları yönetimi önemli bir role sahiptir. Sel riskini önlemek ve ayrıca suyun kaynaktan ihtiyaç noktalarına taşınmasını sağlamak için kanallar kullanılır. Trapez, dikdörtgen, yarım daire ve üçgen şekillerde modellenen açık kanalların tasarımını HEC-RAS programında yapmak mümkündür. Bu çalışmada Kahramanmaraş ilinin Oniki şubat ilçe merkezindeki 6-7 mahallede taşkınların oluşması sonucunda maddi ve manevi kaybı önlemek amacıyla yapılan kuşaklama kanalı projesinin hesapları, HEC-RAS programı ile modellenip sonuçlar karşılaştırılmıştır. Mockus ve rasyonel metot kullanılarak bulunan sonuçlar ile HEC-RAS sonuçları arasındaki uyum incelenmiştir. Domuz (Boğaz) deresi kuşaklama kanalının; kanal boyunca meydana gelecek su derinlikleri ve hızları HEC-RAS yardımıyla hesaplanmıştır. Çalışma sonucunda proje ve model sonuçlarının birbiriyle çok uyumlu olduğu görülmüştürWater, which is the source of life for living things, causes serious loss of property or life when it is not controlled. Additionally, the planned usage of water is of great importance nowadays when we feel the effects of global warming. One of the disasters, flood formation may be human or nature-originated. When a river forms flood, it causes severe damage to agricultural land, infrastructure facilities, people's social and economic life, settlements in the environment. Water resources management plays an important role in the development of a country's socio-economic situation. Channels are used to prevent flood risk and also to ensure that the water moves from source to need. It is possible to design open channels which are modeled in trapezoid, rectangular, semi-circle and triangular shapes in HEC-RAS program. In this study, the calculations of the flood channel project were modeled by HEC-RAS program and the results were compared between project results. Aim of this project is to protect from the harm financial and emotional damage caused by flood in 6-7 streets of Kahramanmaraş province's Oniki şubat district center. The agreement between the results using Mockus and the rational method and the HEC-RAS results was examined. Domuz (Boğaz) stream interception channel; the water depths and speeds that will form along the channel were calculated with the help of HEC-RAS. As a result of the study, it was observed that the results of the Project and model are very compatible with each othe

The effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy in Misophonia: A Case Report

Misophonia is a condition that is triggered by certain sounds, which leads to unpleasant feelings such as anger, disgust, fear. Misophonia can severely affect patients' daily activities, social life, and interpersonal relationships. For these reasons, lately, misophonia is being recommended to be defined as a psychiatric disorder lately. Here we represent a case with misophonia and discuss the application of the cognitive behavioral psychotherapy as a treatment in an individual with misophonia. Although not being defined as a psychiatric diagnosis, many individuals are suffering from misophonia, and for these individuals, cognitive behavioral psychotherapy seems to be beneficial as a treatment option

Comparison of adjacent segment degeneration in patients using cervical cage and disc prosthesis in anterior cervical surgery

Aim: To examine the prevalence of adjacent segment degeneration associated with the use of cages and disc prostheses in patients who underwent cervical disc surgery via an anterior cervical approach. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 60 patients who underwent cervical disc surgery via an anterior cervical approach at our clinic between 2018 and 2023. The patients were divided into two groups based on the type of implant used: those with a cervical cage (Group 1) and those with a cervical disc prosthesis (Group 2). Patients' demographic and clinical details, including age, gender, smoking habits, follow-up durations, and any additional comorbid diseases, were recorded. Radiological evaluations focused on degeneration rates in the segments adjacent to where either the cage or disc prosthesis was implanted. Results: In the study comparing two groups, participants' average ages were 48.9 in Group 1 and 48.1 in Group 2 (p=0.720). Group 1 had a higher proportion of smokers (p=0.052) and more discopathy (p=0.196). In terms of disc degenerations, variations existed but were not statistically significant (p=0.259). Utilizing the Pfirrmann grading, Group 1 had more Grade III degeneration (p=0.088) and a significantly higher presence of ossification or osteophytes (p=0.038). Both groups showed high rates of adjacent segment degeneration, yet Group 1 had notably more proximal degeneration (p=0.012). Stenosis and facet hypertrophy differences were not significant (p=0.417, p=0.071). Follow-up duration averaged around 38 months for both groups (p=0.929). Conclusions: No substantial difference in the overall incidence of adjacent segment degeneration between the two procedures. Nevertheless, further large-scale and long-term studies are essential to draw comprehensive conclusions regarding the optimal surgical intervention for cervical disc ailments

The use of variable delay multipulse chemical exchange saturation transfer for separately assessing different CEST pools in the human brain at 7T

PURPOSE: Current challenges of in vivo CEST imaging include overlapping signals from different pools. The overlap arises from closely resonating pools and/or the broad magnetization transfer contrast (MTC) from macromolecules. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of variable delay multipulse (VDMP) CEST to separately assess solute pools with different chemical exchange rates in the human brain in vivo, while mitigating the MTC. METHODS: VDMP saturation buildup curves were simulated for amines, amides, and relayed nuclear Overhauser effect. VDMP data were acquired from glutamate and bovine serum albumin phantoms, and from six healthy volunteers at 7T. For the in vivo data, MTC removal was performed via a three-pool Lorentzian fitting. Different B1 amplitudes and mixing times were used to evaluate CEST pools with different exchange rates. RESULTS: The results show the importance of removing MTC when applying VDMP in vivo and the influence of B1 for distinguishing different pools. Finally, the optimal B1 and mixing times to effectively saturate slow- and fast-exchanging components are also reported. Slow-exchanging amides and rNOE components could be distinguished when using B1 = 1 μT and tmix = 10 ms and 40 ms, respectively. Fast-exchanging components reached the highest saturation when using a B1 = 2.8 μT and tmix = 0 ms. CONCLUSION: VDMP is a powerful CEST-editing tool, exploiting chemical exchange-rate differences. After MTC removal, it allows separate assessment of slow- and fast-exchanging solute pools in in vivo human brain

P39 Longitudinal changes of cerebral white matter tissue microstructure in early-onset systemic lupus erythematosus

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Epidemiology of pemphigus in Turkey: One-year prospective study of 220 cases

Pemphigus is a group of rare and life-threatening autoimmune blistering diseases of the skin and mucous membranes. Although they occur worldwide, their incidence shows wide geographical variation, and prospective data on the epidemiology of pemphigus are very limited. Objective of this work is to evaluate the incidence and epidemiological and clinical features of patients with pemphigus in Turkey. All patients newly diagnosed with pemphigus between June 2013 and June 2014 were prospectively enrolled in 33 dermatology departments in 20 different provinces from all seven regions of Turkey. Disease parameters including demography and clinical findings were recorded. A total of 220 patients were diagnosed with pemphigus during the 1-year period, with an annual incidence of 4.7 per million people in Turkey. Patients were predominantly women, with a male to female ratio of 1:1.41. The mean age at onset was 48.9 years. Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) was the commonest clinical subtype (n=192; 87.3%), followed by pemphigus foliaceus (n=21; 9.6%). The most common clinical subtype of PV was the mucocutaneous type (n=83; 43.2%). The mean Pemphigus Disease Area Index was 28.14±22.21 (mean ± Standard Deviation).  The incidence rate of pemphigus in Turkey is similar to the countries of South-East Europe, higher than those reported for the Central and Northern European countries and lower than the countries around the Mediterranean Sea and Iran. Pemphigus is more frequent in middle-aged people and is more common in women. The most frequent subtype was PV, with a 9-fold higher incidence than pemphigus foliaceus.   </p

Illite occurrences related to volcanic-hosted hydrothermal mineralization in the biga peninsula, NW Turkey: Implications for the age and origin of fluids

A different approach to investigate the origin of fluids, temperature conditions, age of hydrothermal activity of mineralization in the Biga Peninsula, (Koru, Tesbihdere and Kumarlar) employed mineralogical (illite Kübler index, b cell dimension, polytype) and geochemical (major, trace/REE, O-H stable isotope and Rb/Sr dating) methods. The Kübler Index (KI) values of illites indicate different temperature conditions, such as low temperature (high-grade diagenesis) for Koru deposit, and high temperature (anchizone) for the Tesbihdere and Kumarlar deposits. The textural, mineralogical and geochemical data from illites show that these have potential for estimating the age of hydrothermal activity and fluid characteristics. Both mineralogical (high grade diagenetic to anchizonal KI, 1 M polytype, low d060 values) and geochemical (similar major and trace element composition to host-rocks, low octahedral Mg + Fe contents, oxygen and hydrogen isotope composition) data are compatible with commonly known hydrothermal illites. Stable isotope data of illites are well matched to similar data from fluid inclusions, which indicate mainly magmatic fluids. The Rb/Sr age (22.4 ± 2.3 Ma: latest Oligocene and lowest Miocene) of the illites coincides with plutonic intrusions that are the main instigators of hydrothermal activities related to the extensional tectonic regime in the Biga Peninsula. The mineralogical and geochemical data of illites have some important advantages with respect to the use of fluid inclusions in determining δD of hydrothermal fluids thereby leading to better understanding ore-forming hydrothermal condition