Impact of Reducing Irritative Symptoms in Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer During BCG Instillation: A Pilot Study

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated use of anticholinergics, mirabegron, and combination of anticholinergics with mirabegron during Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) instillation for reducing irritative symptoms in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). METHODS: Prospectively recorded data of NMIBC patients receiving BCG were retrospectively evaluated between August 2015 and April 2019. Patients with low-grade T1 solitary papillary lesions <4 cm were included in the study. Validated questionnaires (OAB-V8) for irritative symptoms adapted to Turkish language, and QoL index forms were filled out by the study participants. OAB-V8 scores of ≥8 were considered as an indication to start medical treatment for irritative symptoms. Groups were formed according to daily used anticholinergic drugs and combinations as follows: Group 1, tolterodine; Group 2, solifenacin 5mg; Group 3, mirabegron, and Group 4, mirabegron with solifenacin 5 mg. RESULTS: Mean follow- up period was 20.4+-6.8 months. There were 132 patients [110 men (83%) and 22 (17%) women] with irritative symptoms and NMIBC. Mean age of the study population was 59.7+-12.4 years. The OAB-V8 scores and QoL indexes significantly improved with all drugs. However, in subgroup analyses, Group 4 provided the most dramatic improvement in OAB-V8 and QoL index scores (P=0.02 for both). The longest in time to micturition was recorded in Group 4 (P=0.04). Tumour recurrence was similar for groups 12 months after BCG instillation (P=0.9), however the least recurrence was observed in Group 4. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Combination of solifecacin and mirabegron can reduce irritative symptoms, improve QoL, and prolong time to micturition, during BCG instillation in selected NMIBC patients. This combination may also decrease recurrence rates in this patient population

Computer assisted concept maps instruction: Effects on overcoming 6th

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of 'Computer Assisted Concept Map' (CACM)-oriented instruction with 'Classic Concept Map' (CCM)-oriented instruction on overcoming 6th grade students misconceptions of the circulatory system and also to compare their attitudes towards concept mapping. A quasi-experimental model was used with the students assigned randomly to the experimental group I, EGI (N=28) and experimental group II, EGII (N=28). This study was carried out during 2012-2013 with 566th grade students from a primary school in Civril-Denizli-Turkey. The Circulatory System Concept Test (CSCT) and the Attitude Scale towards Concept Map (ASTCM) were administered to the students. The CSCT was administered before, soon after and 4 months after instruction (to experiment groups). The ASTCM was administered before and soon after instruction. Several misconceptions about the circulatory system were identified by the researcher. This study suggests that instruction using the CACM is more efficient than the CCM in facilitating understanding and overcoming misconceptions about the circulatory system. It was also found that there was a clear difference in the attitudes towards concept mapping between groups I and II before and after instruction

Developing of scale implementation difficulties on project based learning approach

Bu çalışmanın amacı, fen ve teknoloji öğretmenlerinin proje tabanlı öğrenme uygulamalarında karşılaştıkları sorunlara katılma düzeylerini ölçen, geçerli ve güvenilir bir ölçme aracı geliştirmektir. Geliştirilen ölçek, Kırıkkale merkeze bağlı ilköğretim okullarında görev yapan fen ve teknoloji öğretmenleri arasından rasgele örnekleme yöntemiyle seçilen 82 öğretmene uygulanmıştır. 5’li likert tipindeki ölçek, 30 maddeden oluşmaktadır. Ölçeğin yapı geçerliğini belirlemek amacıyla yapılan faktör analizi sonucunda ölçeğin, faktör yüklerinin 0.93- 0.62 arasında değişen dört faktörden oluştuğu ve Kaiser-Meyer Olkin (KMO) değerinin 0.81, güvenirlik çalışması için hesaplanan iç tutarlık katsayısı (Cronbach Alpha) değerinin ? =0.92 olduğu belirlenmiştir. Geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışmalarına ilişkin elde edilen bulgular ölçeğin geçerli ve güvenilir bir yapıya sahip olduğunu göstermektedir.The aim of this study is to develop a reliable and valid measurement device which measures the level of involvement in problems teachers face in applying project based learning developed scale. The developed scale is applied to 82 teachers who are randomly chosen emong the masters in science and technology that lecture in the primary schools in the center of Kırıkkale. The scale, which is in five fold likert type, consists of 30 entry items. As a result of factor analysis which aims to determine the validity of structure; it is decided that load factors consist of four factors varies from 0,93 to 0,62 and it is decided that the consistency coefficent (Cronbach Alpha) is α = 0.92 which is calculated for reliability of (KMO) Kaiser-Mayer-Olkin asset. The finding about reliability and validity has shown that the scale has been worthy of credence

A cross-age study of students' understanding and their misconceptions about plant nutrition

This cross-age study aimed to reveal high school students' and science student-teachers' levels of understanding and the occurrence of misconceptions about food for plants and plant nutrition. To achieve the goal of the study, prior to teaching a two-tier diagnostic test was applied to 200 Turkish high school students that were selected randomly from Grade 9 (n = 100) and Grade 11 (n = 100) as well as 100 science student-teachers (in Year 2, n = 100). The results showed that students and science studentteachers had a diverse span of knowledge ranging from non-understanding to complete understanding in addition to several misconceptions related to food source for plant and plant nutrition (e.g., the soil gains weight from waste products given off by the plant; water is one of the main foods that are utilized by plants; some foods such as water, mineral, and vitamins come through roots, and so forth). The possible sources for these misconceptions are discussed and importance of the results is critically analyzed in the light of the results reported from the review of literature

Prospective science teachers conceptual understanding about proteins and protein synthesis

In present study, it was aimed to determine the effects of traditional teaching on levels of conceptual understanding of prospective science teachers on protein and protein synthesis before, after and six months after of instruction. Firstly, according to the views of the expert in the area, concept analysis was carried out about protein and protein synthesis. Considering the concept analysis, a six-item conceptual understanding test was prepared and administered as the pre-test, post-test and delayed post-test. As a result of the study, it was determined that the prospective science teachers had some difficulties in understanding concepts about protein and protein synthesis and traditional instruction was insufficient to overcome these problems. Especially, it was revealed that the candidates had severe misconceptions about process of protein synthesis and structure of protein. Finally, some suggestions were presented with the support of the findings obtained from this study. © 2007 Asian Network for Scientific Information

Effect of computer-based instruction material on student success in sound and light unit at 5th grade

Bu çalışmada, bilgisayar destekli öğretim (BDÖ) materyalinin ses ve ışık ünitesinde öğrencilerin başarı düzeylerine etkisi araştırılmıştır. Çalışma, Kırıkkale merkeze bağlı bir ilköğretim okulunda iki ayrı sınıfta toplam 78 beşinci sınıf öğrencisinin katılımıyla yürütülmüştür. Deney grubunda bilgisayar destekli öğretim materyali, kontrol grubunda ise geleneksel öğretim metodu ve materyalleri kullanılmıştır. Araştırmada veri toplama aracı olarak “Ses ve Işık Başarı Testi” her iki gruba ön test ve son test olarak uygulanmıştır. Araştırma sonunda bilgisayar destekli öğretimin geleneksel öğretim yöntemine göre ses ve ışık ünitesinde öğrenci başarısı üzerinde daha etkili olduğu belirlenmiştir.In this study, the effects of a computer-based instruction material (CBIM) on the students‘ success level in the sound and light unit were examined. The research was performed through the participation of two primary school 5th grade classes with a total student number of 78 in the administrative province of Kırıkkale city. In the experimental group, a computer-based instruction material, and in the control group, traditional teaching method and the materials, were used. The data gathering tool “Sound and Light Success Test“ was used for both groups as pre test and post test. The research has revealed that the computer supported teaching is more effective on the student success in the sound and light unit than the traditional teaching methods

Effect of glucosamine chondroitine sulphate on repaired tenotomized ratachilles tendons

Amaç: Bu deneysel hayvan çalışmasında glukozamin kondroitin sülfatın (glcN-CS) sıçan Aşil tendonları üzerindeki etkisi değerlendirildi. Gereç ve yöntemler: Otuz adet 300-350 g ağırlığında Wistar albino türü sıçan rastgele iki gruba ayrıldı. Grup A: Aşil tendonları tenotomize edildi, tamir yapıldı ve glcN-CS ağızdan verildi. Grup B: Aşil tendonları tenotomize edildi ve tamir yapıldı. Bütün sıçanlar pelet yem ile beslendi. Her gruptan beşer sıçan 4, 8. ve 12. haftalarda sakrifiye edildi. Her gruptan üç adet tendon örneğinin gerilme gücü biyomekanik olarak test edildi ve iki örnek de immünohistokimyasal boyama ve hematoksilen ve eozin boyama yapılarak histopatolojik açıdan analiz edildi. Karşı taraf Aşil tendonları da gruplandırıldı ve kontrol olarak analiz edildi (grup C ve D). Bulgular: Histolojik sonuçlarda, grup A’da daha az enflamasyon ve daha düzgün kollajen oluşumu olduğunu görüldü. Biyomekanik testlerde 8. haftada A grubunda istatistiksel olarak anlamlı olmasa da daha yüksek tendon güçleri kayıt edildi (554.84N, p0.078). Glukozamin kondroitin sülfat verilen hayvanlarda tendon gerilim güçleri istatiksel olarak anlamlı bir şekilde yüksek bulundu (50.015.62N, p0.014). Sonuç: Glukozamin kondroitin sülfat sıçanlarda Aşil tendonu iyileşme sonuçlarını geliştirmiştir. Bu sonuç enflamasyonu azaltması ve kollajen sentezini uyarması ile ilişkili olabilir. Her ne kadar glcN-CS sadece osteoartriti bulunan hastalarda semptom ve belirtileri geriletmesi için önerilse de spor yaparken oluşan yumuşak doku yaralanmalarının tedavisi için de tercih edilebilir.Objectives: We evaluated the effects of glucosamine chondroitine sulphate (glcN-CS) on rat Achilles tendons in this experimental animal study. Materials and methods: Thirty Wistar albino type rats weighing 300-350 g were randomly grouped into two. Group A: Achilles tendons were tenotomized, repaired and, glcN-CS given orally. Group B: Achilles tendons were tenotomized and repaired. All the rats were fed with pellet chow. Five rats in each group were sacrificed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks interval. Tensile strength of three tendon specimen from each group were tested biomechanically and two specimen were analysed histopathologically via immunohistochemical staining and hematoxylin and eosin staining. Contralateral side Achilles tendons were also grouped and analyzed as controls (group C and D). Results: Histological results showed well organized collagen formation and less inflammation in group A. Biomechanical testing showed higher tendon strength in group A at eight weeks which is not statisticaly significant (55.3±4.84N, p0.078). Rats which were were given glcN-CS had greater tendon strength which is statisticaly significant (50.01±5.62, p0.014). Conclusion: Glucoseamine chondroitine sulphate improved results of Achilles tendon healing in rats. This result might be due to decreased inflammation and stimulation of collagen synthesis. Although glcN-CS is recommended only in osteoarthritic patients to relieve symptoms and signs it can also be prefered in treatment of soft tissue injuries formed during sports activities