The effects of metformın, acetylsalıcylıc acıd and ıbuprofen on telomerase enzyme actıvıty: ınhıbıtory effect of ıbuprofen

Telomerase enzyme is necessary for the elongation of telomeres while telomerase being critical for aging and cancer. Metformin, ibuprofen, and acetylsalicylic acid used in this research are drugs that millions of people already use and that many are likely to use in future. In this study, the effects of these drugs on telomerase activity of Mus musculus swiss albino mice in liver tissue were investigated and the telomerase activity was measured with a PCR-ELISA based kit. In the study a possible connection between telomerase enzyme activity and activities of antioxidant enzymes was also investigated by determining the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase enzymes. The data obtained show that metformin slightly decreased telomerase enzyme activity in low dose application; however, this change was not statistically significant. In ibuprofen application, there was a significant inhibitory effect when high doses were used; whereas, there was a slight inhibitory effect at low doses. In acetylsalicylic acid application, a slight activator effect was detected; it was not statistically significant, though. Metformin was observed to increase catalase and SOD activities in general while low and high doses of acetyl salicylic acid showed different effects. In addition, ibuprofen caused a statistically significant increase in liver SOD values. It is important to note that this study demonstrated a significant inhibitory effect of ibuprofen on telomerase enzyme activity in animal models

Electrically conductive high–performance thermoplastic filaments for fused filament fabrication

Conductive polyetherimide (PEI)-based filaments can fill the gap between the design and manufacturing of functional and structural components through additive manufacturing. This study systematically describes the fabrication of carbon nanotube (CNTs)-reinforced PEI filaments, complemented by a custom-built extrusion process facilitating low weight fraction of nanomaterials. Neat PEI and CNTs/PEI filaments at different CNTs fractions ranging from 0.1 to 7 wt. % were fabricated. Supported by morphology analysis, the rheological percolation was found to be higher (0.25 wt. % CNTs/PEI) than electrical percolation (0.1 wt. % CNTs/PEI) since the system reached an electrical percolation within the formation of a continuous conductive path at lower CNTs loadings. With the 7 wt. % CNTs loading, the highest electrical conductivity of CNTs/PEI filaments was reported as 2.57 × 10−1 S/cm. A 55% enhancement in tensile modulus was achieved when 5 wt. % CNTs were introduced, but in a trade-off in elongation at break ca. 65%

Characterization of greater middle eastern genetic variation for enhanced disease gene discovery

The Greater Middle East (GME) has been a central hub of human migration and population admixture. The tradition of consanguinity, variably practiced in the Persian Gulf region, North Africa, and Central Asia1-3, has resulted in an elevated burden of recessive disease4. Here we generated a whole-exome GME variome from 1,111 unrelated subjects. We detected substantial diversity and admixture in continental and subregional populations, corresponding to several ancient founder populations with little evidence of bottlenecks. Measured consanguinity rates were an order of magnitude above those in other sampled populations, and the GME population exhibited an increased burden of runs of homozygosity (ROHs) but showed no evidence for reduced burden of deleterious variation due to classically theorized ‘genetic purging’. Applying this database to unsolved recessive conditions in the GME population reduced the number of potential disease-causing variants by four- to sevenfold. These results show variegated genetic architecture in GME populations and support future human genetic discoveries in Mendelian and population genetics

Titanium implant surface roughness after different implantoplasty protocols: A laboratory study

Abstract Objective To compare the surface roughness of sandblasted, large grit, acid‐etched (SLA) surfaced titanium discs, after implantoplasty (IP) with different combinations of rotating instruments without or with the subsequent use of a silicone polisher. Methods Titanium discs (n = 12 per group) with an SLA surface were treated with the following IP protocols: (1) Tungsten carbide bur sequence from company 1 (Komet Dental) without or with polishing (P) with a silicone polisher (Brownie®), (2) tungsten carbide bur sequence from company 2 (Hager & Meisinger GmbH) without or with P, and (3) diamond bur sequence (125, 40, 15‐μm grit) without or with P. Pristine turned (T) and SLA titanium discs were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. Surface roughness measurements were taken with a contact profilometer rendering Ra and Rz values. Results All IP protocols, even without P, resulted in significantly reduced surface roughness compared to the SLA group. The tungsten carbide bur protocols, even without P, resulted in a surface roughness similar to or significantly lower than that in the T group in terms of Ra and Rz, respectively. IP with the diamond bur sequence resulted in a significantly rougher surface compared to that achieved with the carbide burs. In all IP groups, P with a silicone polisher resulted in a significantly smoother surface. Conclusions IP with dedicated tungsten carbide burs without or with the subsequent use of a silicone polisher resulted in a surface roughness similar to or significantly lower than that of commercially available turned surfaces. IP with a diamond bur sequence required additional polishing to achieve a comparable surface roughness to that of commercially available turned surfaces

Avaliação da inteligência moral de professionais de saúde via “Levantamento para Medir a Inteligência Moral na Provisão de Serviços de Cuidados à Saúde”

Moral intelligence -through which an individual makes mental evaluation before taking action about a decision- is important in individual-centered healthcare. Using Lawshe Method, we designed the “Survey for Measuring Moral Intelligence in the Provision of Healthcare Services” with “equality”, “empathy”, “moral intelligence”, “justice”, “tolerance”, “self-control”, and “politeness” dimensions (α=.966). Age of the population (physicians and nurses) was 36.44±9.52, consisting 517 (65.5%) women, 538 married participants, 653 employed in public hospitals, and 352 had work experience of 8 hours/day. Using dimensions of this survey as skills is expected to ensure due diligence about rights and dignity in healthcare services.La inteligencia moral, mediante la cual un individuo realiza una evaluación mental antes de tomar medidas sobre una decisión, es importante en la atención médica centrada en el individuo. Usando el método Lawshe, diseñamos la “Encuesta para medir la inteligencia moral en la provisión de servicios de salud” con dimensiones de “igualdad”, “empatía”, “inteligencia moral”, “justicia”, “tolerancia”, “autocontrol” y “cortesía” (α=.966). La edad de la población (médicos y enfermeras) era de 36.44±9.52, que consistía en 517 (65,5%) mujeres, 538 participantes casados, 653 empleados en hospitales públicos y 352 tenían una experiencia laboral de 8 horas/día. Se espera que el uso de las dimensiones de esta encuesta como habilidades garantice la debida diligencia sobre los derechos y la dignidad en los servicios de atención médica.Inteligência moral —através da qual um individuo faz uma avaliação mental antes de agir frente a uma decisão— é importante em cuidados à saúde centrados na pessoa. Usando o Método Lawshe, nós elaboramos o “Levantamento para Medir a Inteligência Moral na Provisão de Serviços de Cuidados à Saúde” com as dimensões “igualdade”, “empatia”, “inteligência moral”, “justiça”, “tolerância”, “autocontrole” e “polidez (α=.966). A idade da população (médicos e enfermeiras) foi 36.44±9.52 anos, consistindo de 517 (65.5%) mulheres, 538 participantes casados, 653 empregados em hospitais públicos e 352 tinham experiência de trabalho 8 horas/dia. Usando dimensões deste levantamento como habilidades, espera-se que garanta a devida presteza sobre direitos e dignidade em serviços de cuidados à saúde

Do handgrip strength and dexterity predict respiratory function in neuromuscular disease?

Background Neuromuscular diseases are acquired or inherited diseases that affect the function of the muscles in our body, including respiratory muscles. Objective We aimed to discover more cost-effective and practical tools to predict respiratory function status, which causes serious problems with patients with neuromuscular disease. Methods The Vignos and Brooke Upper Extremity Functional Scales were used to evaluate functional status for patient recruitment. The handgrip strength and dexterity of patients were measured using a dynamometer and nine-hole peg test. Respiratory function parameters: forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, and peak expiratory flow were evaluated using spirometry. Results The mean age of the 30 patients was 11.5 ± 3.79 years old. Significant relationships were found between nine-hole-peg-test scores and respiratory function parameters on both sides. Significant correlations were found between both handgrip strength and respiratory function parameters (p < 0.05). In the linear regression analysis, it was seen that the forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and peak expiratory flow values could be explained in different percentages (p < 0.05). Conclusions Handgrip strength and dexterity measurements can be used as indicators for estimating respiratory function parameters in terms of cost and accessibility, although it is known that they will not replace respiratory function tests

Anesthetic management in electrophysiology laboratory : A multidisciplinary review

© 2018 CardioFront LLC. All rights reserved.Many clinical challenges have been encountered in electrophysiology laboratories (EP) while implanting intracardiac defibrillators for lethal arrhythmias, using pacemakers for bradyarrhythmias, placing pacemakers with multiple leads in patients with heart failure and cardiac ablation procedures. In this environment, anesthesiology plays a very critical role to ensure patients comfort, as well as maintains operator's convenience and facilitate management of undesired situations. EP laboratories are mostly used for diagnosis of certain heart diseases. Mean while, with the exponential increase in interventional procedures in our decade, electrophysiologists' need to cooperate with the anesthesiologists more frequently. The literature is still unclear about the effects of anesthetic agents on cardiac conduction pathways, but as we know with our previous data, the most agents we are using currently have more or less effect on the cardiac conduction systems. In this review, we aimed to describe the safe anesthesia methods in cardiac diagnostic procedures and have a closer look up the anesthetic outcomes of these procedures. This article comprehensively reviews the anesthesia practice encountered in electrophysiology laboratories

Controlling the meso-scale assembly of CNTs/PBI interlayers for toughening of thermoplastic composites

Utilizing the grown carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on nanofibers having high surface area provides an ability to tailor mechanical, electrical and thermal performance in various applications such as lithium-sulfur batteries, laminated composites, and supercapacitors. In this study, growth of CNTs on curved polymeric nanofibrous substrates is conducted to address single-step CNTs synthesis on polybenzimidazole (PBI) nanofibers as an interlayer, which benefits from the synergetic effect of PBI nanofiber network and stiff and conductive CNTs. The growth of radially oriented CNTs on PBI nanofibrous substrates at 600 °C has successfully achieved by chemical vapor deposition method (CVD). Then, these interlayers are used for toughening in CF/PEEK laminated composites. The integration of CNTs-PBI interlayers into CF/PEEK laminated composites presented promising results under flexural loadings

Severe Apnea in a Premature Infant after Accidental Vancomycin Overdose Responsive to Treatment with Exchange Transfusion

Background: Mostly seen toxicities following vancomycin are ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity. We here report a very low birth weight preterm neonate who developed severe episodes of apnea after accidental iatrogenic vancomycin overdose, responsive to treatment with double volume exchange transfusion. Case report: A preterm neonate weighing 1380 grams received two doses of 10-fold of the normal dose of vancomycin per kg in this age group. She developed sudden onset of frequent and severe episodes of apnea, which required noninvasive ventilation. Using fluorescence polarization immunoassay, serum vancomycin level was found to be 84 μg/mL 10 hours after the last dose. The patient underwent exchange transfusion. Apnea episodes terminated 12 hours after exchange transfusion. The blood level of vancomycin decreased from 84 μg/mL before exchange to 67 μg/mL immediately post-exchange and eventually to less than 1 μg/mL in 36th hour after exchange. Discussion: Target peak concentration of vancomycin in neonates is between 20 and 40 μg/mL and trough concentration ranges from 5 to 10 μg/mL. Peak serum concentration of our patient can be back extrapolated to be about 336 μg/mL which was higher than the target level. This high plasma levels of vancomycin might be the cause of apnea in our patient as evidenced in similar reports. Conclusion: Apnea is a potential sign of vancomycin overdose in neonates and infants treated with this antibiotic. Exchange transfusion is a potential effective treatment to rapidly resolve this unwanted complication