Association analyses of oxidative stress, aerobic capacity, daily physical activity, and body composition parameters in patients with mild to moderate COPD

Background/aim: To investigate total oxidant and antioxidant status, maximal aerobic capacity, daily physical activity, pulmonary functions, and body composition changes, as well as the associations among these parameters, in patients with mild to moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) versus healthy controls. Materials and methods: The study included 30 male patients newly diagnosed with COPD and 30 body mass index-matched, nonsmoker male controls. Maximal aerobic capacity, daily physical activity, total oxidant and antioxidant status, pulmonary function tests, body composition, and anthropometric parameters were measured. Results: Maximal aerobic capacity and total antioxidant values were lower in patients with COPD compared to the controls. The total oxidant value, body fat percentage, and waist/hip ratio were higher in patients with COPD than in the healthy controls. There was a moderately negative correlation between the total oxidant value and the maximal aerobic capacity, while there was a moderately positive correlation between the total antioxidant values and maximal aerobic capacity in patients with COPD. Conclusion: Low aerobic capacity, increased oxidative stress, and adiposity are related to impaired pulmonary functions in patients with mild to moderate COPD and might have a role in the pathogenesis of COPD.Afyon Kocatepe University Scientific Research Projects CommitteeAfyon Kocatepe University [09.TIP.06]This study was supported by the Afyon Kocatepe University Scientific Research Projects Committee (Project No.: 09.TIP.06)

Boşluklu perdeli yapı sistemlerinde güçlendirici kiriş etkisinin incelenmesi

TEZ7332Tez (Yüksek Lisans) -- Çukurova Üniversitesi, Adana, 2009.Kaynakça (s.116-117) var.xviii, 118 s . : res. ; 29 cm.In this study 3-dimensional analysis of the structures containing shear walls, coupled shear walls and stiffened coupled shear walls has been performed and storey lateral deflections, shear wall moments and shear forces have been calculated using SAP2000 packet program. In the stiffened coupled shear wall examples, location of the single stiffening beam has been determined by replacing stiffening beam to first storey up to top storey consequently to give minimum shear wall top deflection during the analysis. Furthermore, for the double stiffening beam cases, all possibilities are checked and location of the each beam has been determined to give best structural performance. By making comparison effect of stiffening beams on the structural behavior has been showed.Bu çalışmada SAP2000 paket programı kullanılarak; perde, boşluklu perde ve güçlendirici kirişli-boşluklu perde içeren binaların analizi yapılmış, kat yanal deplasmanları, perde momentleri ile kesme kuvvetleri hesaplanmıştır. Güçlendirici kirişli-boşluklu perdeli olarak modellenen örneklerde analizler yapılırken binada aşağıdan yukarı doğru her kat seviyesinde güçlendirici kiriş konularak, minimum tepe noktası deplasmanını veren tek güçlendirici kiriş konumu belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca binada çift güçlendirici kiriş bulunması durumu da ele alınarak tüm olasılıklar denenmiş ve en iyi yapısal davranış için çift güçlendirici kiriş konumları belirlenmiştir. Yapılan karşılaştırmalarda güçlendirici kirişlerin yapı davranışına etkisi belirlenmiştir.Bu çalışma Ç.Ü. Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Birimi Tarafından Desteklenmiştir. Proje No:MMF2008YL2

The impact of construction firms' potential risks on project success

Risk; bir tehlikenin gerçekten meydana gelme olasılığı ve bu tehlikenin sonuçları olarak tanımlanabilir. Riske; riski tutma, riskin azaltılması, riskin aktarılması ve riskin önlenmesi şeklinde dört temel tepki gösterilir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Türkiye’de yapılan inşaat işlerinde firma risklerini, firmaların bu risklere karşı tutumlarını ve bu risklerin, projenin beklenen kalite, optimal maliyet ve uygun bir sürede bitirilmesi anlamına gelen, proje başarısına etkisini saptamaktır. Çalışma kapsamında, iki bölümden oluşan web tabanlı bir anket hazırlanmış ve meslek odaları vasıtasıyla Türkiye’nin çeşitli illerinde kamu ve özel sektörde çalışan inşaat mühendislerine ulaştırılmıştır. Araştırmanın örnek uzayı 163 inşaat mühendisidir. Anket sonuçlarının güvenirliliği için Cronbach’ Alpha değerleri kullanılmıştır. Risklerin proje başarısına etki oranlarını saptamaya yönelik hazırlanan sorular, 5’li Likert derecelendirme ve değerlendirme ölçeği kullanılarak hazırlanmış ve analiz edilmiş, risklere karşı firmaların tutumunda ise frekans-yüzde analizi kullanılmıştır. Çalışmanın sonucunda; doğal afet/eylem/kaza riskleri sonucu bir tehlikenin meydana gelme olasılığı az düzeyde, proje-tasarım aşamasındaki riskler, inşaat aşaması - organizasyon riskleri ve dış - çevresel riskler sonucu bir tehlikenin meydana gelme olasılıkları ise orta düzeyde çıkmıştır. Risklerin proje başarısına etkisi incelendiğinde; doğal afet/eylem/kaza riskleri, dış - çevresel riskler ve inşaat aşaması - organizasyon riskler orta düzeyde, proje-tasarım aşamasındaki riskler ise yüksek düzeyde proje başarısını etkilemektedir. Firmaların risklere karşı tutum sonuçlarına göre ise; inşaat işlerindeki risklere karşı firmaların genel olarak riskin azaltılması tutumunu tercih ettikleri görülmüştür.Risk can be defined as the possibility of a threat to occur and its results. Retaining the risk, reducing the risk, transferring the risk and avoiding the risk are main reactions to the risks. The aim of this study is identification of firm risks, firms’ attitudes and, the impacts of risks on project success, that is defined by the achievement of the expected quality, cost and duration during the completion of the project in Turkish construction industry. To achieve this purpose, a web-based questionnaire consisting of two parts has been prepared and delivered to civil engineers who work in Turkish public and private sectors through Chambers of Civil Engineers. The sample of the study consists 163 civil engineers. Cronbach's Alpha values were used to determine the reliability of the survey results. The questions prepared to determine the impact ratios of the risks to the project success were prepared and analyzed by using 5-point Likert Scale. Frequency-percentage analysis was used to analyse the firms' attitudes against risks. In conclusion; it is determined that; the probability of occurrence of the natural/accidental/occupy disaster risks are considered as low, the probability of occurrence of the design phase, construction phase and organization risks, and external-environmental risks are considered as moderate level by Turkish firms. According to results related to the impact of these risks on project success while externalenvironmental risks, natural/accidental/occupy disaster risks and construction phase – organization risks are considered as moderate while project – design phase risks are considered as high level. According to the results related to the firms’ attitudes to these risks, it is observed that firms generally choose reducing the risk as a reaction to risk

Vanishing white matter disease with different faces

Purpose: The goal of this study was to better understand vanishing white matter (VWM) disease, which is one of the most common hereditary white matter disorders, and its relationship to radiologic features, genetic analyses, and clinical findings. Methods: We performed a study on 11 patients to describe the clinical and neuroimaging features of VWM. Patients were grouped into “infantile,” “early childhood,” and “juvenile” based on their onset age. EIF2B1–5 genes encoding five subunits of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2B (eIF2B) were analyzed in all patients with clinically suspected VWM disease. Results: In brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), all patients showed white matter abnormalities with various degrees. The initial clinical presentation in five of patients was ataxia, with severe refractory epilepsy in three patients. In children with infantile-onset VWM, a rapid deterioration of motor function was detected, and the frequency of epilepsy was higher. Two patients showed manifestations of end-stage VWM disease, and one of them had chronic subdural hematoma. One of our patients and his father were diagnosed with Brugada syndrome. Sequencing of the exons and exon-intron boundaries of the EIF2B1–5 genes revealed mutations in the genes EIF2B5 (5 cases), EIF2B3 (3 cases), and EIF2B4 (2 cases). We also found a novel mutation in one patient: c.323_325delGAA in the EIF2B1 gene. Conclusions: In this study, in addition to classical clinical and radiological findings, we wanted to emphasize that we may be confronted with refractory epilepsy (early infancy), cardiac problems, and intracranial complications that may occur in advanced stages

Acute flaccid myelitis outbreak through 2016-2018: A multicenter experience from Turkey

Aim: We aim to describe the demographic characteristics, etiology, neurophysiology, imaging findings, treatment, prognosis, and prognostic factors of acute flaccid myelitis. Methods: The clinical data, laboratory test and, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results of pediatric patients diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis according to the Centers for Disease Control criteria between August 1, 2016, and December 31, 2018, from 13 centers in Turkey were reviewed. Results: Of the 34 cases identified, 31 were confirmed (91.2%). Eighteen patients (55.9%) were boys. The median patient age was 4 years (interquartile range 2.5–6.9 years). Most of the patients were admitted in 2018 (n = 27). A preceding history of a febrile illness was reported in all patients, with a median of 4 days (interquartile range 3–7 days) before symptom onset. Thirty-one patients had T2 hyperintensity on spinal MRI, and 18 patients had cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis. The most common infectious agents were entero/rhinoviruses (n = 5) in respiratory specimens. All patients except one received immunotherapy either alone or in combination. Among 27 patients with follow-up data 24 had persistent weakness. Involvement of four limbs together with an abnormal brain MRI at onset were associated with a poor prognosis. Conclusion: The number of patients with acute flaccid myelitis increased since 2012, spiking with every 2-year interval, largely in the pediatric population. The median age decreases with every outbreak. Clinicians should be aware of the clinical picture for early collection of specimens and early start of rehabilitation programs. Further studies are needed to better characterize the etiology, pathogenesis, risk factors, and treatment of this rare condition