Relation of maternal vitamin D status with gestational diabetes mellitus and perinatal outcome

Objective: To investigate the relationship between maternal vitamin D status and glucose intolerance, and its impact on pregnant women and their newborns. Methods: A cohort of pregnant women were divided into three groups: women with gestational diabetes mellitus, ones with normal results both after the 50 gr and 100 gr OGTT (CG-1) and ones having a positive result after the 50 gr OGTT screening but negative results for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) after the 100 gr OGTT (CG-2) Results: The newborn length in CG-1 was greater than in GDM and CG-2 (p= 0.002 and p= 0.02). Fasting blood glucose and insulin resistance (IR) were negatively correlated with length of the newborns (r=-0.3, p=0.03 and r=-0.3, p=0.01). The newborns of women with GDM had lower APGAR-1 and 5 scores than those of CG-1 and CG-2 (APGAR-1 p= 0.001 and p= 0.004, APGAR-5 p=0.005 and p=0.007, respectively). APGAR scores were correlated negatively with IR (APGAR-1 r=- 0.32, p=0.01, APGAR-5 r=-0.3, p=0.03) and positively with 25OHD levels (APGAR-1 r=0.3, p=0.01, APGAR-5 r=0.3, p=0.02). Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency, gestational diabetes and insulin resistance are interrelated. Severe vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is associated with poor pregnancy and neonatal outcome

Istraživanje mikrookruženja, hipoksije i angiogeneze tumora mliječne žlijezde u pasa imunohistokemijskim i histopatološkim metodama

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is an important component for studying tumor behavior in several cancers in human beings. However, little information regarding the role of the TME in canine mammary tumors (CMTs) is available compared to humans. In this study, the aim was to investigate the relationship between the TME, hypoxia and angiogenesis through CD31, VEGF, HIF-1a, CD68 and CD163 expression by using immunohistochemical (IHC) methods in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded canine mammary tumor samples [(n=34: malignant (n=28) and benign (n=6)], to compare them with the clinicopathological features of tumors, and to analyze the relationship between them. There was no significant relationship between CD31, VEGF, HIF-1a, CD68 and CD163 expression in malignant tumors compared to benign tumors (P>0.05). There was an association between microvessel density and clinicopathological variables (the tumor size P=0.013, the presence of necrosis P=0.022) and individual histological grade (G2 vs. G3 P=0.028) in malignant tumors. While there was a positive correlation between CD68 and CD163 in malignant tumors in the dogs (P0,05). Uočena je povezanost između gustoće mikrožila i kliničkopatoloških pokazatelja (veličina tumora P=0,013; prisutnost nekroze P=0,022) te pojedinačne histološke ocjene malignosti (G2 prema G3 P=0,028) kod malignih tumora. Iako je postojala pozitivna korelacija između CD68 i CD163 kod malignih tumora u pasa (P<0,01), ista nije uočena između drugih protutijela. Imunohistokemijsko određivanje razine angiogeneze kod TME-a može pružiti korisne informacije o angiogenom potencijalu i stupnjevanju kliničke agresivnosti pojedinih tumora mliječne žlijezde u pasa

Foreign body: A sewing needle migrating from the gastrointestinal tract to pancreas

Of all ingested foreign bodies, 2.4% comprise of sewing needles. Through perforation of gastrointestinal tract, which occurs in 1% of cases, they can migrate into the liver and pancreas. Foreign bodies in pancreas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chronic abdominal pain. Computed tomography scans provide valuable information for the localization of the lesion, which guide the surgeon during the operation. Secondary to foreign bodies that migrate to the pancreas, complications with high mortality such as pancreatitis, pseudoaneurysm, and pancreas abscess can be seen. Thus, for this patient group, diagnostic laparoscopy is recommended, considering its advantages of decreased postoperative pain, decreased wound infection, and faster recovery time. Here we present a case of a 23-year-old female patient, from whom an ingested needle that migrated from the back wall of the stomach to the pancreas was extracted by laparoscopic surgery

Hemorrhagic Bowel Syndrome in A Holstein Cow - Case Report

In this report, hemorrhagic bowel syndrome (HBS) was defined pathologically for the first time in Turkey in a Holstein dairy cow. It was reported that a 4-year-old cow died suddenly with symptoms of loss of appetite, decreased milk yield, dehydration, and abdominal bloating in a dairy farm. Grossly, serosa of jejunum was observed with dark red color and its lumen was completely filled with blood clots. Some parts of jejunum lumen were narrowed due to submucosal and intramural bleeding. Microscopically, necro-hemorrhagic enteritis, and eosinophilic granulocyte and mononuclear cell infiltrations with extensive submucosal hemorrhages were observed. In addition, Gram-positive, rod-shaped and endospore-forming bacteria were seen intensively around of bleeding areas in the lamina propria. The death was concluded to be associated with HBS by macroscopic and microscopic findings, characteristic for the syndrome and in accordance with the literature evaluating this case. HBS causes significant losses in dairy cattle in many countries of the world. This report aimed to point out the importance of the topic, which is the first case report of HBS in Turkey, where dairy cow enterprises are growing rapidly

Linguistic Summarization of Europe Brent Spot Price Time Series Along with the Interpretations from the Perspective of Turkey

Compared to the predictive models for forecasting crude oil price, the descriptive models are also important for discovering the relations among factors that have influence on crude oil price. In this paper, linguistic summarization of time series, a descriptive technique, is used to summarize the Europe Brent Spot Price (EBSP) data (dollars per barrel) from May 1987 to July 2013 on daily and monthly base. This study is the first attempt in the literature for linguistic summarization of the EBSP time series with the aim to establish a decision support tool that can be used for generating linguistic propositions helping the estimation of future behaviors and fluctuations of oil price time series for oil-importer countries such as Turkey. Economic interpretations of generated linguistic propositions about the main features of EBSP trends (duration, dynamics of change, and variability) and a procurement strategy, indicating that Turkey could cut back on oil importation about $573.88 million between 1996 and 2012, are suggested from the perspective of Turkey. (c) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Procalcitonin can be used as a marker of premature atherosclerosis in acromegaly

The objective of the study was to evaluate arterial morphologic changes of early atherosclerosis and changes in procalcitonin (PCT) levels in patients with acromegaly according to disease activity. Thirty-three active and 20 inactive acromegaly patients followed at Endocrinology-Metabolism out-patient clinic of Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty between 2004 and 2008 were included in the study. Twenty gender and age matched healthy subjects were included as the control group. Intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries was measured by ultrasonography. Blood was drawn for biochemical tests and the serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and PCT. Intergroup analysis revealed no significant differences between Growth hormone (GH), insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and IMT (P = 0.42, P = 0.47 respectively). No significant differences were found in the fibrinogen, CRP and PCT levels of the acromegaly patients and the subjects in the control group (P = 0.57, P = 0.84, P = 0.68 respectively). In the patients with IMT a parts per thousand yen 1 mm, PCT (0.4 [IQR: 0.4-0.55]) levels were significantly different from the patients without atherosclerosis (0.06 [IQR: 0.05-0.12], P < 0.001). The correlation between IMT and PCT (P = 0.001, r = 0.47) was more significant than the correlation between IMT and CRP (P = 0.01, r = 0.28). There was a positive correlation between IMT and atherosclerotic risk factors such as age (P = 0.01, r = 0.27) and body mass index (BMI; P = 0.005, r = 0.32). Our results showed that PCT increases before CRP and it can be useful for the assessment of premature atherosclerosis in acromegaly as well

Well-Conditioned 2D Models of Rod Arrays for Accelerating 3D Simulations of Photonic Crystals and Plasmonic Structures

Rod arrays consisting of finite-length cylinders are commonly used in the design of high-frequency resonance scattering assemblies, such as plasmonic, photonic-crystal, and near-zero-index structures. During the optimization of these three-dimensional structures by means of genetic algorithms, analyses with three-dimensional solvers, such as the multilevel fast multipole algorithm, create a time bottleneck On the other hand, simulation results in many applications show features that are independent of longitudinal dimensions. For this reason, the idea of using well-conditioned solvers in two dimensions is found worth being evaluated and it is aimed to compare the two types of solvers in this study

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy in prone position in patients with spinal deformities

WOS: 000371013200147PubMed ID: 26885036Introduction: The feasibility, safety and efficacy of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in patients with spinal deformities were evaluated and the results of a single centre experience were reported. Patients and methods: Between July 1999 and December 2014, 16 patients with spinal deformities underwent PCNL. The anomalies included 5 cases with kyphoscoliosis, 4 with post-polio syndrome, 3 with osteogenesis imperfecta, 3 with myotonic dystrophy, and 1 with ankylosing spondylitis. All patients were preoperatively evaluated by an intravenous urogram and computerized tomography to assess the anatomy and appropriate access. The operative details, stone clearance rates, and complications were retrospectivelyanalyzed. Results: A total of 16 standard PCNL procedures were performed on 16 renal-units. The mean age of the patients was 30.7 +/- 17.2 (5-62) years, and the mean stone burden was 609.6 +/- 526.9 (100-1800) mm(2). The mean operative and fluoroscopy times were 76.6 +/- 35.1 (35-150) minutes and 12.5 +/- 8.5 (3-34) minutes, respectively. At the end of the surgery, 13 (81.2%) of the patients were stone free. The overall success rate was 93.7% with the inclusion of 2 patients with clinically insignificant residual fragments (<3 mm). Complications (31.2%) included haemorrhage requiring a transfusion in 2 patients, prolonged urine leakage requiring double J catheter insertion in 1, infection in 1, and nephrectomy due to bleeding in 1. Mean hospitalization time was 4.6 +/- 2.4 (3-13) days. Conclusion: PCNL is an effective, safe and minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of kidney stones in patients with spinal deformities, and it can be performed with low morbidity and high success rates. To achieve better results and minimizing the risk factors, systematic and anatomic evaluations for anaesthesia and operative planning are crucial before surgery

Rare case of bilateral incarcerated obturator hernia: a case report

Here, we report the case of an 84-year-old woman with acute mechanical intestinal obstruction (AMIO) who was admitted to our Emergency Department. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed an incarcerated bilateral obturator hernia, and the defect was resolved using transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) technique with polypropylene mesh. The patient was administered an oral regimen two days after the operation. The patient stayed in the intensive care unit for 4 days and was uneventfully discharged on the 9th postoperative day. Follow-up was scheduled at the 6th month, during which no adverse events were detected and the patient did not report any complaints. Obturator hernia is among the differential diagnoses of intestinal obstruction requiring early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention. Laparoscopic approach is less invasive compared with open surgery, and it can be attempted in cases presenting with no sign of ischemia or peritonitis.TAPP technique should be preferred since it allows the control of all intraabdominal pathologies and the viability of the intestines