225 research outputs found
The Realist and Liberal Positions on the Role of International Organizations in Maintaining World Order
In the international relations (IR)’ theoretical and empirical studies, international regime studies emerged as a reaction to inadequacies of the concepts of authority, international order and organization. Over more than half a century, realism has been skeptical of international law. In both classical and neorealist approaches, states are depicted as seeking to maximize power and producing a balance of power. This study examines two paradigms, realism and liberalism, in an attempt to take a closer look at what each of these schools has to offer to the international relations. To be able to carry out such an evaluation each of these paradigms will be analyzed with respect to their positions on the following principles: unit of analysis, key concepts, behavioral dynamics, interstate system, peace and war, and last but not least explanatory power. Discussing the strengths and weaknesses of each of these paradigms will help in determining which of these approaches is the most persuasive
Immediate and Long-term Results of Percutaneous Mitral Balloon Valvuloplasty in Patients with Previous Closed Mitral Commissurotomy
Should we wait until severe pulmonary hypertension develops? Efficacy of percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension: A subgroup analysis of our experience
Background: The primary goal of this study is to evaluate the immediate and long-term effects of percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty (PBMV) on patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS) complicated with severe pulmonary hypertension (PH).
Methods: The study population consisted of 85 patients with MS complicated with severe PH (systolic pulmonary pressure > 75 mm Hg). PBMV was performed with Inoue balloon technique. Clinical and echocardiographic follow-up was scheduled at 6 months and 1 year and yearly thereafter.
Results: Mitral valve area (MVA) was increased (pre-PBMV MVA was 1.03 ± 0.21 cm2, post-PBMV MVA 1.89 ± 0.34 cm2, p < 0.001) significantly. The mean and the maximum transmitral pressure gradient significantly decreased (pre-PBMV mean transmitral gradient was 18.47 ± 6.59 mm Hg, post-PBMV 6.84 ± 3.84 mm Hg, p < 0.001, pre-PBMV maximum transmitral pressure gradient was 27.6 ± 8.38 mm Hg, post-PBMV 12.68 ± 4.74 mm Hg, p < 0.001). Systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) significantly decreased (pre-PBMV 89.9 ± 23.38 mm Hg, post-PBMV 54.5 ± 14.6 mm Hg, p < 0.001). Two patients underwent surgery due to rupture of anterior mitral leaflet. There was no peri-procedural mortality. The procedure time was 29.12 ± 11.37 min. Follow-up duration was 108.2 ± 31.4 months. One patient died due to heart failure. One patient underwent re-PBMV and 7 patients mitral valve replacement. At the last follow-up, MVA still remained high (1.52 ± 0.34 cm2) and mean transmitral pressure gradient was low (9.2 ± 5.7 mm Hg). SPAP was 56.5 ± 20.8 mm Hg which was the same as after PBMV.
Conclusions: PBMV in patients with MS with severe PH is an effective therapy with low procedure time. However, it is recommended to perform PBMV before developing severe PH
Phylogeny and genetic structure in the genus Secale
Maraci Ö, Ozkan H, Bilgin R. Phylogeny and genetic structure in the genus Secale. PLOS ONE. 2018;13(7): e0200825.Secale L. is a small but important genus that includes cultivated rye. Although genetic diversity of cultivated rye is high, patterns of genetic diversity in the whole genus, and potential factors affecting the distribution of genetic diversity remain elusive. The population structure and distribution of genetic variation within Secale, and its correlation with taxonomic delimitation, cultivation status or spatial distribution in relation to geography and climate zones were analyzed in this study. A collection of 726 individual plants derived from 139 different accessions representing Secale cereale, S. vavilovii, S. strictum, and S. sylvestre were investigated using SSR analysis and sequence diversity analysis of a nuclear EST region. Our results indicated that perennial S. strictum subspecies are genetically divergent from annual forms of the genus. Existence of two distinct clusters within the annual taxa was observed, one corresponding to samples from Asia, and a second to those outside of Asia. No clear genetic structure was observed between different annual species/subspecies, indicating introgression between these taxa. The analysis of cultivated rye revealed that landrace populations from the Middle East have the highest genetic diversity, supporting the idea of the area being the center of origin for cultivated rye. Considering high adaptive potential of those populations, Middle Eastern landraces should be regarded as genetic resources reservoirs for new niches and future breeding programs
Otkrivanje i molekularna karakterizacija psećeg adenovirusa tipa 2 (CAV-2) kod pasa sa simptomima dišnog sustava držanih u skloništima u Turskoj
Canine adenoviruses are agents responsible for two different infections in Canidae. While canine adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1) causes contagious hepatitis (HCC) in dogs, canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2) is responsible
for infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT). CAV-2, especially in the respiratory tract, leads to an infection that can result in death in young and cohabitant animals. In public housing such as shelters, in addition to opportunistic
infections, a disorder defined as canine infectious respiratory disease (CIRD) may also occur frequently. In this study, 155 nasal swabs were collected from dogs in two shelters where cases of respiratory system infections were closely monitored. These samples were tested for CAV-2 using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers designed for the CAV E3 (Early) gene. Positive amplicons were subjected to DNA sequencing. CAV-2 nucleic acids were present in 2.5% (4/155) of the test samples. The phylogenetic assessment of the amplicon sequences revealed a 97.7%-98.9% similarity in the local viruses. The partial sequence analyses of the E3 gene of CAV-2 showed that Turkish and Chinese strains have differences in 9 amino acids. These differences redounded on phylogenetic analyses, and the virus which was considered as a single group, is now subdivided into two subgroups. One subgroup comprises American-European isolates and the other one consists of Turkish and Chinese isolates, so this subdivision can be classified into at least two subgroups, designated China-Turkey and America-Europe. To our knowledge, this is the first study that has examined the possible role of CAV-2 in respiratory system infections in dogs in Turkey, to provide novel and updated information regarding CAV-2.Adenovirusi su uzročnici odgovorni za dvije različite infekcije u pasa. Dok pseći adenovirus tipa 1 (CAV-1) uzrokuje zarazni hepatitis (HCC), pseći adenovirus tipa 2 (CAV-2) odgovoran je za zarazni laringotraheitis (ILT). CAV-2, osobito u dišnom sustavu, uzrokuje infekciju sa smrtnim ishodom kod mladih životinja i onih koje žive u zajednicama. U javnim objektima kao što su skloništa, osim oportunističkih infekcija, učestao je i poremećaj koji se definira kao pseća zarazna bolest dišnih puteva (CIRD). Tijekom ovog istraživanja prikupljeno je 155 uzoraka krvi od pasa držanih u dva skloništa u kojima su pažljivo praćeni slučajevi infekcija dišnog sustava. Uzorci su testirani na CAV-2 primjenom lančane reakcije polimerazom (PCR), uz upotrebu početnica oblikovanih za gen CAV E3 (Early). Pozitivni su amplikoni podvrgnuti sekvenciranju DNA. CAV-2 nukleinske kiseline bile su prisutne u 2,5 % (4/155) istraženih uzoraka. Filogenetska analiza sekvencija amplikona otkrila je u lokalnim virusima 97,7 - 98,9 % sličnosti. Analize parcijalnih sekvencija gena CAV-2 E3 pokazale su da turski i kineski sojevi imaju razlike u 9 aminokiselina. Te su razlike dodatno analizirane filogenetskim analizama i virus koji je smatran jedinstvenom skupinom, podijeljen je na dvije podskupine. Jedna su podskupina američko-europski izolati, a druga se sastoji od turskih i kinskih izolata. Stoga se ovom podjelom mogu razlikovati najmanje dvije podskupine, označene kao Kina - Turska i Amerika - Europa. Pretpostavlja se da je ovo prvo istraživanje o mogućoj ulozi CAV-2 u infekcijama dišnog sustava pasa u Turskoj i kao takvo pruža nove informacije o CAV-2
ACUTE EFFECTS OF SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS ON VENTRICULAR REPOLARIZATION
Objective: The usage of synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) has increased both in Turkey and all worldwide. Here, we evaluate if SCs cause ventricular repolarization abnormalities using initial and after 12th-hour electrocardiograms in patients with acute intoxication of SCs. We examined changes in the QTc and cTp-e parameters to demonstrate ventricular repolarization effects of the usage of SCs.
Material and Methods: We used a prospective study design. Twenty patients were included who visited the emergency department, complaining of clouding of consciousness after using SCs. The QT, QTc and Tp-e intervals and several other electrocardiographic parameters were measured at baseline and 12 hours after the usage of SCs.
Results: The QRS duration was significantly decreased (102.1±15.5 ms vs 95.0±10.7 ms; p=0.022). We noted a significant decrease in cQT measurements at the end of the 12th hour (426.6±47.2 ms vs 390.4±42.9 ms; p=0.002). Similarly, the Tp-e and cTp-e values decreased significantly when SCs lost its acute effect (93.4±21.1 ms vs 77.4±21.0 ms; p=0.014, 105.3±28.5 ms vs 88.1±21.5 ms; p=0.01).
Conclusions: The usage of SCs affects ventricular repolarization heterogeneity based on QTc and Tp-e intervals
Acute effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy on arterial distensibility and serum norepinephrine levels in advanced heart failure
Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has become an accepted method fortreating refractory heart failure (HF). Arterial distensibility is an index of arterial stiffnessand a surrogate marker for atherosclerosis. The present study aims to assess the acute effects of ventricular resynchronization therapy with biventricular stimulation on arterial distensibility, echocardiographic parameters and serum norepinephrine levels in patients with drugrefractory HF.Methods: Fourteen cardiac HF patients (53.6 ± 9.1; 39–67 years, 7 woman) were enrolled for CRT. Patients had an advanced cardiac HF (NYHA III–IV functional class) due to non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 35% and QRS duration ≥ 120 ms. Blood samples for norepinephrine and B-type natriuretic peptidewere collected before 24 h biventricular implantation and after 48 h of CRT. Transthoracic echocardiography was used to evaluate arterial distensibility and cardiovascular condition.Results: Although systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, LV end-diastolic diameter, LV end-systolic diameter, serum B-type natriuretic peptide, and serum norepinephrine levels significantly decreased after CRT implantation; EF and aortic distensibility significantly increased (p < 0.05). There was no significance in the hemodynamic and echocardiographic values, norepinephrine and B-type natriuretic peptide levels in pre- and post-CRT between man and woman.Conclusions: The major findings of this study are that in patients with cardiac HF in acute period, after implantation of CRT serum norepinephrine levels decrease and the arterial distensibility improves
Factors Affecting the Outcome in Traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Objective: To define risk factors affecting the outcome in traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage.Material and Methods: Forty-four patients with traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage were evaluated retrospectively. They were divided into three groups according to their age: elderly (≥65 years), adult (16- 64 years), and children (<16 years).
The clinical picture on admission was evaluated using the Glasgow Coma Scale. The patients were also divided into three groups according to their coma grading on admission: mild injury (Glasgow Coma Scale score 13-15), moderate injury (8-12), and severe injury (3-7). The amount of subarachnoid blood shown in computerized tomography was evaluated according to the Fisher index, and additional tomography findings were recorded. At last follow-up, presence of headache and neurological deficits as well as return to work or school were investigated, and the last clinical picture was evaluated with the Glasgow Outcome Scale.Results: There were 11 children, 23 adults and 10 elderly patients. Twelve patients died between 1-49 days after trauma; the others were followed for a mean of 14.6 months (from 10 to 30 months).
In the children group, Glasgow Coma Scale score was significantly higher (p=0.004), subarachnoid blood amount was significantly lesser, and Glasgow Outcome Scale score was significantly better compared to the other groups.
For all groups, higher trauma severity on admission was associated with higher Fisher index (p=0.016). Most important factors affecting clinical results were severity of head injury on admission (p=0.0001), Fisher index (p=0.003), and presence of additional findings on computerized tomography (p=0.0001).Conclusion: Traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage usually has a good clinical outcome in children; however, in elderly patients, the outcome is worse, and there are usually additional intracranial traumatic lesions. Most important factors affecting outcome are blood amount on first computerized tomography, head trauma severity, and presence of additional intracranial traumatic lesions
Genome-wide association study of root-lesion nematodes Pratylenchus species and crown rot Fusarium culmorum in bread wheat
Triticum aestivum L., also known as common wheat, is affected by many biotic stresses. Root diseases are the most difficult to tackle due to the complexity of phenotypic evaluation and the lack of resistant sources compared to other biotic stress factors. Soil-borne pathogens such as the root-lesion nematodes caused by the Pratylenchus species and crown rot caused by various Fusarium species are major wheat root diseases, causing substantial yield losses globally. A set of 189 advanced spring bread wheat lines obtained from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) were genotyped with 4056 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) markers and screened for root-lesion nematodes and crown rot resistance. Population structure revealed that the genotypes could be divided into five subpopulations. Genome-Wide Association Studies were carried out for both resistances to Pratylenchus and Fusarium species. Based on our results, 11 different SNPs on chromosomes 1A, 1B, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5B, and 5D were significantly associated with root-lesion nematode resistance. Seven markers demonstrated association with P. neglectus, while the remaining four were linked to P. thornei resistance. In the case of crown rot, eight different markers on chromosomes 1A, 2B, 3A, 4B, 5B, and 7D were associated with Fusarium crown rot resistance. Identification and screening of root diseases is a challenging task; therefore, the newly identified resistant sources/genotypes could be exploited by breeders to be incorporated in breeding programs. The use of the identified markers in marker-assisted selection could enhance the selection process and cultivar development with root-lesion nematode and crown rot resistance
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