Analysis of the common genetic component of large-vessel vasculitides through a meta- Immunochip strategy

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) and Takayasu's arteritis (TAK) are major forms of large-vessel vasculitis (LVV) that share clinical features. To evaluate their genetic similarities, we analysed Immunochip genotyping data from 1,434 LVV patients and 3,814 unaffected controls. Genetic pleiotropy was also estimated. The HLA region harboured the main disease-specific associations. GCA was mostly associated with class II genes (HLA-DRB1/HLA-DQA1) whereas TAK was mostly associated with class I genes (HLA-B/MICA). Both the statistical significance and effect size of the HLA signals were considerably reduced in the cross-disease meta-analysis in comparison with the analysis of GCA and TAK separately. Consequently, no significant genetic correlation between these two diseases was observed when HLA variants were tested. Outside the HLA region, only one polymorphism located nearby the IL12B gene surpassed the study-wide significance threshold in the meta-analysis of the discovery datasets (rs755374, P?=?7.54E-07; ORGCA?=?1.19, ORTAK?=?1.50). This marker was confirmed as novel GCA risk factor using four additional cohorts (PGCA?=?5.52E-04, ORGCA?=?1.16). Taken together, our results provide evidence of strong genetic differences between GCA and TAK in the HLA. Outside this region, common susceptibility factors were suggested, especially within the IL12B locus

Teachers' Professional Development in the Digitized World: A Sample Blended Learning Environment for Educational Technology Training

Professional development for in-service English language teachers has increasingly become a need in higher education not only in Turkey but across the world. Due to the limited time teachers have and the distance between the source of service and the potential participants, using digitized activities and materials have naturally become a necessity. The purpose of this research is to report the potential impact of the course described below and discuss the role of blended learning experience of professional development on the participating teachers. The theoretical background of the study is experiential learning initiated by Kolb and socio-constructivist learning theory by Vygotsky in that both theories highlight the role of experiencing the change and focus on personal meanings and learning with and from others in real and online environments

Scene Segmentation and Labeling using Multi-hypothesis Superpixels

23nd Signal Processing and Communications Applications Conference (SIU) -- MAY 16-19, 2015 -- Inonu Univ, Malatya, TURKEYWOS: 000380500900192Superpixels recently gained in importance in image segmentation and classification problems. In scene labeling the image is initially segmented into visually consistent small regions using a superpixel algorithm; then, superpixels are parsed into different classes. Classification performance heavily depends on the properties and parametric settings of the superpixel algorithm in use. In this paper, a method is proposed to improve scene labeling accuracy by fusing at classifier level the results of multiple superpixel segmentations. First, likelihood ratios are determined for superpixel labels using simple, nonparametric SuperParsing algorithm, which requires no training. Then, final scene segmentation and labeling is performed by pixel-level fusion of the likelihood ratios that are computed for alternative superpixel segmentation scenarios. The proposed method is tested on the SIFT Flow dataset consisting of 2,688 images and 33 labels, and is shown to outperform SuperParsing in terms of classification accuracy.Dept Comp Engn & Elect & Elect Engn, Elect & Elect Engn, Bilkent Uni

Current Status of Renal Replacement Therapies in Turkey: Turkish Society of Nephrology Registry 2015 Summary Report

OBJECTIVE: The Turkish Society of Nephrology registry collects data on hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and transplantation on an annual basis. Registry reports are printed every year as a booklet and this is the 26th year of registry reports. The registry is in close collaboration with international registries

ARTERIAL STIFFNESS IN PERITONEAL DIALYSIS

50th European-Renal-Association - European-Dialysis-and-Transplant-Association Congress -- MAY 18-21, 2013 -- Istanbul, TURKEYWOS: 000319498200087…European Renal Assoc (ERA), European Dialysis & Transplant Assoc (EDTA

Current Status of Renal Replacement Therapy in Turkey: A Summary of Turkish Society of Nephrology 2014 Annual Registry Report

OBJECTIVE: Turkish Society of Nephrology registry collects data on hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and transplantation on annual basis. Registry reports are printed every year as a booklet and this is the 24th year of registry reports. The registry is in close collaboration with international registries

A Case Report of Allgrove Syndrome with Neurological Involvement

Allgrove syndrome is a very rare seen disorder with an autosomal recessive trait. The three characteristics of disease are alacrima, achalasia and adrenal failure. Alacrimia is the first manifestation in most cases. Achalasia and adrenal failure are seen later. Neurological involvement is rare and usually occurs in older age. A women 22 years old admitted to our hospital with adrenal failure crisis. She had alacrimia and used teardrop for many years. Achalasia was diagnosed after evaluation of her dysphagia. Thus, diagnosis of Allgrove syndrome, was done. Autonomic cardiac dysfunction and peripheral motor neuropathy were detected. In conclusion, Allgrove syndrome is rare and has life threatening potential due to adrenal failure. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment may improve life quality and expectancy. Patients with relevant symptoms should be evaluated for autonomic neuropathy. [Med-Science 2015; 4(3.000): 2570-4

Evaluation of PCA3 and multiparametric MRI’s: collective benefits before deciding initial prostate biopsy for patients with PSA level between 3-10ng/mL

ABSTRACT Objective To analyze the contribution of multiparametric MRI and PCA3 assay, pre- decision of initial biopsy in PSA level between 3-10 ng/mL patients with normal digital rectal examination(DRE). Materials and Methods PSA level 3-10 ng/mL ,patients, with normal DRE results and no previous prostate biopsy history, were included in this study. Each patient underwent multiparametric MRI one week before biopsy. Urine sample taking for PCA3 examination preceded the biopsy. Systematic and targeted biopsies were conducted. Patients with high PSA levels were seperated into two groups as: high PCA3 scored and low PCA3 scored. Then each group was divided into two sub-groups as: MRI lesion positive and negative. Tumor incidence, positive predictive values(PPV) and negative predictive values(NPV) were calculated. Results 53 patients were included between February 2013 and March 2014.Mean age 61.22 ± 1.06. Mean PSA value 5.13 ± 0.19 ng / mL. Mean PCA3 score 98.01 ± 23.13 and mean prostate size was 48.96 ± 2.67 grams. Fourty nine patients had both PCA3 score and multiparametric MRI. The PCA3’s PPV value was 58.33%. If multiparametric MRI lesions are added to high PCA3 scores , the PPV appears to elevate to 91.66%. NPV of PCA3 was 96%. NPV was 95% when there was no lesion in the multiparametric MRI with low PCA3 scores. Sensitivity was 91.66% , specificity was 95% respectively. Conclusion Adding multimetric MRI can also support biopsy decision for patients with high PCA3 value. When PCA3 value is low, patients can be survailled without any need to take a MRI

Non-Diabetic Kidney Disease in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: Prevalence, Clinical Predictors and Outcomes

Background/Aims: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is one of the most frequent microvascular complications of diabetes and is the leading cause of end-stage kidney disease worldwide. In patients with diabetes, non-diabetic kidney disease (NDKD) can also occur. NDKD can be either alone or superimposed with the DKD. In this study, we aimed to investigate the utility of kidney biopsy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the predictability of diagnosing DKD versus NDKD from clinical and laboratory data. We also evaluated the prevalence and etiology of NDKD in patients with T2DM. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed type 2 diabetic patients who had kidney biopsy in the last 10 years for diagnosing possible NDKD in our center. In all patients kidney biopsies were performed because of atypical clinical features and biopsy samples were examined by light and immunofluorescence microscopy. Clinical parameters, laboratory workup and office blood pressures were recorded for each patient at the time of biopsy. Results: Eight patients were excluded due to missing data. A total of 48 patients (female/male: 26/22 and mean age: 59±8 years) were included in the study. According to the biopsy findings, 24 (50%) patients had NDKD alone, 20 (41.7%) had DKD alone and 4 (8.3%) had coexisting DKD and NDKD. The most common NDKD diagnoses were membranous nephropathy (29.2%), tubulointerstitial nephritis (20.8%) and IgA nephropathy (12.5%). There were no significant differences in three groups with respect to the duration of diabetes, proteinuria, hematuria and glycated hemoglobin A1c levels. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) was the most significant finding, which was associated with DKD. Positive and negative predictive values of DR for DKD were 88 and 81%, respectively. Conclusion: This study demonstrated a high prevalence of NDKD in patients with T2DM. The absence of DR strongly predicted NDKD. Clinical decision alone can lead to wrong diagnosis and delay in appropriate therapy. Clinicians should consider the kidney biopsy more liberally when there is uncertainty on the exact etiology of the kidney disease. However, prospective multicenter studies are needed to clarify the prognosis and outcomes of patients with diabetics