Use of a biopolymer for road pavement subgrade

This paper presents an extensive series of laboratory works and a prediction model on the design of a road pavement subgrade with Xanthan Gum (XG) biopolymer. The experimental works were carried out using mixtures of conventional aggregate for road pavement construction and XG at the ratios of 0%, 1%, 2%, and 5%, by dry weight. Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and California bearing ratio (CBR) tests were conducted during the experimental works at the end of the various curing periods (4, 8, 16, and 32 days). An example of an improvement in the UCS values for a specimen with 5% XG addition tested at the end of 4-daycuring yields about a 200% increment by the end of a 32-daycuring. The CBR values of clean aggregates were found to be increased by about 300% by 5% XG addition for all curing periods applied. Furthermore, the energy absorption capacity of the aggregates was observed to be increased significantly by both XG inclusion and curing period. Moreover, scaled conjugate gradient (SCG) training algorithm-based models developed for the prediction of CBR and UCS test results displayed a very high estimation performance with the regression coefficients of R-2 = 0.967 and R-2 = 0.987, respectively. Evidently, XG biopolymer is provably of use as an alternative inclusion in road pavement subgrades constructed with conventional aggregates

Is there a relationship between age and side dominance of tubal ectopic pregnancies? – A preliminary report

Objectives: To determine whether there exists a relationship between age and side dominance of tubal ectopic pregnancies. Material and Methods: One hundred twenty patients were retrospectively analyzed. The sides of the tubal ectopic pregnancies were recorded on the basis of laparoscopy or laparotomy findings. Five age groups were created: 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, and ≥40 years. Results: Of the patients who were ≥ 30 years of age, 46 (69%) and 21 (31%) had tubal ectopic pregnancies on the right and left sides, respectively (p=0.002). In the 35-39 years of age group, 17 of 20 patients (85%) had tubal ectopic pregnancies on the right, and 3 of 20 patients (15%) on the left side (p=0.002). In the 30-34 years of age group, 26 of 39 patients (67%) and 13 of 39 patients (33%) had tubal ectopic pregnancies on the right and left sides, respectively (p=0.037). In the ≥ 40 years of age group, 3 of 8 patients (37%) had tubal ectopic pregnancy on the right side, while 5 patients (63%) on the left side (p=0.48). Conclusions: Patients who are between the age of 30-40 years have a right-sided dominance of tubal ectopic pregnancy, however studies that involve larger numbers of subjects are needed to make definitive conclusions about women older than 40 years of age

ANTINEPHROLITHIATIC ACTIVITY OF PERSEA AMERICANA (AVOCADO) AND VIBURNUM OPULUS (GUELDER ROSE) AGAINST ETHYLENE GLYCOL-INDUCED NEPHROLITHIASIS IN RATS

Background: Nephrolithiasis is a severe health problem causing morbidity. Chemolisis, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL), percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL), retrograde ureterorenoscopy (URS), and open and laparoscopic surgery are used for treatment with various success rates. Medical treatments with fewer complications were investigated thoroughly. Materials and Methods: In this study, we evaluated the effects of Persea americana (avocado) leaves and Viburnum opulus (guelder rose) fruits on nephrolithiasis in an animal model and used 42 rats. The groups received both low and high doses of Persea americana leaves and Viburnum opulus fruit ethanol extracts orally for 28 days. These two plants have been used for years in Turkey for their nephrolithiatic effect. Results: Avocado and guelder rose increased the urine volume and urine citrate levels, decreased urine cystine and oxalate levels, and lowered the crystal deposits in kidney tissue. Avocado and guelder rose also prevented oxidant damage and crystal formation in kidney tissue samples. Conclusion: The two plants that have been used for years for nephrolithiasis treatment in Turkey can safely be used for kidney stones

Weight regain after bariatric surgery

Obesity and weight related metabolic disorders (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, disability, non alcoholic fatty liver disease, gastroesophageal reflux, obstructive sleep apnea, some cancers) are major health problems with global concerns. Currently, non surgical methods can not provide consistent success by virtue of the fact that inadequate weight loss or maintanence. Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment modality for morbidly obesity and related medical co-morbidities. Therefore, the number of patients undergone bariatric surgery has rapidly increased, in the last two decades in particular. However,weight regain is a phenomenon which the majority of bariatric surgery patients will encounter in the long term. Although there are abundant patients suffering from weight regain, it is one of the related topics of bariatric surgery with a relatively limited number of publications reflecting the vagueness of the entity. The factors influencing long term weight loss management after a bariatric surgical procedure can be assorted into three categories: environmental, patient related and procedure related. Environmental factors can be elucidated as threats similar to the ones that the patients' had before surgery. While patient related factors may arise from metabolic disarrangements, dietary contravention, physical inactivity or mental disorders, procedure related issues may directly originate from complications of surgically altered anatomy or patients' lack of compliance. The current review aims to clarify the definition, underlying aetiologies and management of weight regain after bariatric surgery

Re: Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture: look to see Reply

WOS: 00026155260004

Cytoreductive Surgery with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Malign Peritoneal Mesothelioma: Clinical Aspects and Therapeutic Perspectives

WOS:000629111900002Malignant mesotheliomas develop commonly in the pleural cavity and second mesotheliomas arise in the peritoneal cavity (20-30%). Most frequent symptoms/signs are ascites (77%) and abdominal pain (f69%). Biopsy in these patients should be taken from the peritoneum by invasive method (laparotomy, laparoscopy and core needle biopsy). The couplet of systemic pemetrexed and cisplatin had an overall response rate of approximately 25% and a median overall survival of approximately 1 year. Patients with a good general condition, epithelioid histology, nonabdominal disease, complete or near cytoreduction (CC0/CC1), low Ki67 proliferative index and peritoneal cancer index (PCI) score less than 17 should be administered through cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) rather than palliative systemic chemotherapy. The survival rate with Ki67 9. The basic principles of the CRS are not different from other peritoneal carcinomas. The combination of cisplatin and doxorubicin is the best recommended drug regimen for the hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy

Letter to the Editor

WOS: 000561790500001PubMed: 32863831[No abstract available