Investigation of the relationship between the disease severity and quality of life of psoriasis patients and their anthropometric measurements and diets

Psoriasis is a multifaceted, chronic, inflammatory skin disease that impacts patients' quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the disease severity and quality of life of psoriasis patients and their nutritional status. The study included 40 patients in the psoriasis group, compared with 40 healthy individuals in the control group. A questionnaire for determination of socio-demographic characteristics and nutritional intake, anthropometric measurements, psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), and dermatology life quality index (DLQI) were used for the assessments. Daily food consumption details were recorded for three consecutive days to determine daily energy and nutrient intakes. Compared to the control group, the frequencies of single participants, primary school graduates, and housewives were higher in the psoriasis group (p < 0.05). The psoriasis patients weighed more and had an increased waist/hip ratio in comparison with the healthy individuals. The energy intake was lower in the psoriasis group (p < 0.01). There was not a significant statistical difference in the intake of proteins, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, Zn, Fe, and Mg supplements between the groups. However, there was an inverse correlation between the daily vitamin E intake and PASI scores (p < 0.05). There was a positive moderate correlation between the DLQI and PASI scores (p < 0.01). Our study indicated that lower daily vitamin E intake levels were associated with the severity of psoriasis. In addition to this, abdominal obesity seems to be another risk factor in psoriasis patients, even if they have a normal body mass index (BMI). An integrated healthcare approach with dermatologists, family physicians, and dietitians is essential to the management of psoriasis

A novel green and one-step electrochemical method for production of sulfur-doped graphene powders and their performance as an anode in Li-ion battery

Graphene-based negative electrodes in lithium-ion batteries have recently been the focus of interest. In this study, sulfur (S)–doped graphene powders in different functionality have been prepared in one step by using Yucel’s method for the first time in the literature and they have been used as anode materials of Li-ion batteries. By changing the scanned potential during the preparation of S-doped graphene powders, the graphenic surface is covalently doped by –C-S-C- and –C-SOx-C- (x:2, 3) groups at different amount. When the potential has been scanned in wider potential range (− 1.0 and 2.5 V), 48 sp2-hybridized carbon rings have been determined on the powders by using Raman analysis. It is the lowest as 16 for graphenic powder prepared at narrower potential range (1.5 and 2.5 V) and chronoamperometric method. S-doped graphene powders have been investigated by microscopic methods. Electrochemical properties of the prepared S-doped graphene powders and their potential use in Li-ion batteries have been assessed. At a 50-mA/g current density, the 915-mAh/g specific capacity has been determined as the highest discharge capacity in the powder which was prepared by the chronoamperometric method. Specific capacities of 710 mAh/g, 594 mAh/g, and 642 mAh/g have been observed in the powders prepared between − 1.0–(+ 2.5 V), 0.6–(+ 2.5 V), and 1.5–(+ 2.5 V) samples, respectively. © 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature

Seven-Year Single-Center Experience of the Efficacy and Safety of Ferric Carboxymaltose in Cancer Patients with Iron-Deficiency Anemia

Anemia remains an essential concern affecting the quality of life and the survival of cancer patients. Although there are different approaches to treating anemia in cancer patients, the number of studies reporting the efficacy of iron replacement in cancer patients is limited. In this study, the efficacy and safety of iron carboxymaltose, a parenteral iron treatment option, in the treatment of anemia, were examined retrospectively. A total of 1102 adult patients who received IV ferric carboxymaltose treatment at Hacettepe Oncology Hospital between 2014 and 2020 were included. The mean hemoglobin change observed at the end of the 12th week was 1.8 g/dL, and the rate of patients with an increase in hemoglobin of 1 g/dL or more was 72.1%. It was observed that the treatment demonstrated effectiveness in patients receiving active cancer treatment in all tumor types. The treatment was generally safe, and no grade 3–5 side effects were observed in the patients included in the study. According to one of the most extensive series published in the literature, iron carboxymaltose is an efficient and safe alternative for cancer patients with iron-deficiency anemia

Mesoporous nanocrystalline ZnO microspheres by ethylene glycol mediated thermal decomposition

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures with various morphologies have been fabricated in literature owing to their potential applications in various emerging fields. In this study, we report a facile, one-step gram-scale synthesis of nanocrystalline mesoporous ZnO microspheres by thermal decomposition of zinc acetate dihydrate in ethylene glycol at 250 °C for 12 h. The average size of the hollow microspheres is found to be 3.01 ± 0.52 µm, which are formed by loosely bonded nanocrystallites with average sizes of 17 ± 4 nm. We propose a formation mechanism for the mesoporous microspheres, Ostwald ripening of spherical-like nanocrystallites, on the basis of the results obtained by different synthesis durations. We also report the possibility of tuning the morphologies of the obtained ZnO by simply modifying the thermal decomposition solution, where porous ZnO nanoplates are obtained when a mixture of ethylene glycol and water is used and ZnO nanorods with aspect ratios of ∼3 are synthesized by using diethylene glycol. ZnO nanowires with lengths up to several microns are fabricated when no solvent is used, i.e. thermal decomposition in air atmosphere. Microstructural and phase characterizations of the samples are conducted by using a field-emission gun scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffractometer. Performances of the obtained nanocrystalline mesoporous ZnO microspheres in photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B and as active anode materials in lithium-ion batteries are also presented. © 2018 The Society of Powder Technology Japa