Repdigits in the base bb as sums of four balancing numbers

summary:The sequence of balancing numbers $(B_{n})$ is defined by the recurrence relation $B_{n}=6B_{n-1}-B_{n-2}$ for $n\geq 2$ with initial conditions $B_{0}=0$ and $B_{1}=1.$ $B_{n}$ is called the $n$th balancing number. In this paper, we find all repdigits in the base $b,$ which are sums of four balancing numbers. As a result of our theorem, we state that if $B_{n}$ is repdigit in the base $b$ and has at least two digits, then $(n,b)=(2,5),(3,6)$. Namely, $B_{2}=6=(11)_{5}$ and $B_{3}=35=(55)_{6}.

Evaluation of accuracy, reliability, quality, and readability of online patient information materials on coccyx injury

MakaleWOS:000928222100009PubMed ID: 36701705The aim of this research is to evaluate the websites containing “coccydynia, coccyx trauma or fracture” in terms of readability, reliability, accuracy, and quality. Searches for “coccydynia, coccyx trauma, coccyx fracture” were carried out in the 3 most used search engines in the USA: Google, Yahoo, and Bing in February 2022. A total of 141 websites were rated by 2 different neurosurgeons for the “Global Quality Score” and “Alexa Popularity Rank.” 97.2% of the sites examined include the definition of the disease, 66% include the importance of the disease, 92.9% include the symptoms of the disease, 88.7% include the treatment of the disease, 78% include the signs of the disease, 77.3% include the mechanism of the disease It has been determined that the websites examined within the scope of the research have high global quality score (GQS) and APR and are enriched with images to a large extent. Abbreviations: APR = Alexa popularity rank, ARI = automated readability index, CLI = Coleman-Liau Index, FKGL = FleschKincaid Grade Level, FRES = Flesch reading ease, GQS = global quality score, Gunning FOG = Gunning Fog Index, LWF = Linsear Write Formula, SMOG = simple measure of gobbledygoo

Efficacy of c-arm scopy-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB) in postoperative pain control and reduction of opioid side effects in spinal instrumentation surgery

Background: Spinal instrumentation surgery causes significant pain in patients. As a result, patients are exposed to excessive opioid use and the associated side effects, as well as prolonged hospital stay, resulting in economic burden. Local anaesthetics can help both reduce postoperative pain and minimize the side effects associated with systemically administered opioid analgesics. Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the effect of erector spinae plane block on analgesia in spinal instrumentation surgery and to reduce the side effects of excessive opioid use. Materials and Methods: We reported a retrospective study. Thirty patients, who underwent spinal instrumentation surgery from 2017 to 2018, were chosen from the hospital records. We performed spinal instrumentation and decompression by laminectomy to all patients under general anaesthesia. While 15 of these patients underwent erector spinae plane block, these patients received patient-controlled analgesia postoperative period. The other 15 patients received only patient-controlled analgesia postoperative period. We analyzed patients' data for differences in preoperative and postoperative visual analogue scores, nausea vomiting scores, constipation life quality scale, patient-controlled analgesia shot count and mean opioid consumption of patients. Results: The data of 30 patients undergoing lumbar spinal instrumentation surgery were retrospectively analyzed. There was no significant difference in the age, preoperative VAS, preoperative ODI and sex between the two groups (p?0,05). In addition, there were statistically significant differences in postoperative VAS, postoperative ODI, Nausea Vomiting Score, Constipation Life Quality Score (CLQS), petidin consumption and PCA shot count (p <0.05). In all variables with significant differences, the values ??in the block group were lower than the non-block group. Conclusion: ESPB provides effective analgesia and reduces side effects due to excessive opioid usage

Association of platelet count and platelet indices with cranial meningioma

Introduction and Objectives: In this study, we aimed to investigate whether platelet count (PLT) and platelet indices included mean platelet volume (MPV), platecrit (PCT), platelet distribution width  (PDW) values can be used as diagnostic markers in cranial meningiomas. Materials and Methods: The study included results of 29 patient and 47 healthy contributors. Based on pathologies, the patients were divided into two groups. The first group included meningioma patients and the second one included healthy individuals. Healthy contributors named control group. Platelet count and platelet indices were determined using Sysmex XN 550 haematology analyzer. The preoperative platelet count (PLT) and platelet indices included mean platelet volume (MPV), platecrit (PCT), platelet distribution width  (PDW) values were recorded from the routine laboratory tests. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in PLT between the meningioma and healthy groups (p = 0.217). There was a statistically significant difference in PCT between the meningioma group and the healthy group (p = 0.002). There was a statistically significant difference in PDW between meningioma group and healthy group (p = 0.001). In terms of MPV, there was a statistically significant difference between meningioma group and the healthy group (p = 0.001) Conclusion: Platelet count and indices are easily available in the routine blood tests. Despite the retrospective design and small sample size, our findings suggest that altered MPV, PDW and PCT levels might serve as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of meningiomas

Comparison of Synthetic Dura and Autologous Dura in Terms of Complication Development in Children Aged 0-1 Years Who Underwent Surgery for Meningocele and Myelomeningocele

Abstract: Aim: The aim of this study is to compare the usage of synthetic and autologous dura mater in terms of complication risk in 0-1-year-old children who were operated for meningocele and myelomeningocele. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 44 children aged 0-1 years who were operated for meningocele and myelomeningocele in a university hospital neurosurgery clinic between November 2010 and December 2016. Patient data were extracted retrospectively from hospital records. The demographics and gestational and clinical features of the mothers and babies, and the need for secondary surgery and the presence of postoperative infection, necrosis, wound dehiscence, and/or neurological deficit were compared between the cases who synthetic dura mater was used in their surgery and those autologous dura was used in their surgery. Results: In total, 86.4% of the 44 infants were preterm, and the predominant neurological problem was plegia in the vast majority. While the defect was located in the lumbar region in more than half of them, myelomeningocele was detected in 77.3% of all cases. The median defect size detected in the patients was 20.0 cm2, primary closure was performed in 30 patients, Limberg flap procedure in 14 patients, however, autologous dura mater and synthetic dura mater were used equally in the patients. The defect size was larger in patients using synthetic dura, furthermore hydrocephalus was found more frequently in these patients. While primary closure was applied in all patients using autologous dura and in one third of the patients using synthetic dura, Limberg flap procedure was applied in two thirds of synthetic dura group. The need for secondary surgery developed more frequently in synthetic dura group, and all postoperative complications were observed more frequently in these patients. In addition, the need for secondary surgery and postoperative necrosis, wound dehiscence, and neurologic deficit are more frequent in patients who underwent Limber flap compared to primary closure. However, the need for secondary surgery and the risk of postoperative complications were similar between primary closure and Limberg flap procedures in synthetic dura group. Conclusion: Although the synthetic dura mater was used in more severe patients, it had a higher need for secondary surgery and a higher risk of complications compared to autologous dura. In patients using synthetic dura, on the other hand, primary closure and Limberg flap had similar efficacy and safety

Investigation of the effects of earthquake characteristics on slope stability using model slope

Bu çalışmada, geoteknik mühendisliğinin başlıca konuları arasında yer alan güvenli şevlerin tasarımı konusu incelenmiştir. Güvenli şevlerin tasarımı için dikkat edilmesi gereken statik yükler kadar önemli bir diğer etken ise, sismik yüklerdir. Sismik yükler altında şev davranışının irdelenmesi niyetiyle tasarlanmış olan model şeve farklı özellikteki depremler etki ettirilerek sonlu eleman yazılımı ile bir dizi şev stabilite analizleri yapılmıştır. Bu kapsamda tasarlanan model şev, farklı özelliklerdeki senaryolar ile çeşitli bölgelerde meydana gelmiş, çok sayıda istasyon ölçümleri bulunan 12 adet gerçek deprem kayıt verisi ile analiz edilmiştir. Sonuç olarak, bu depremlerin tasarlanmış olan model şevin stabilitesine olan etkileri ortaya koyulmuş ve elde edilen veriler doğrultusunda şev tasarımında daha güvenli ve daha ekonomik sonuçlar alınması için dikkat edilmesi gereken hususlara değinilmiştir.In this study, the design of safe slopes was investigated, which is one of the main topics in geotechnical engineering. Another factor that should be considered in the design of safe slopes is seismic loads in addition to static loads. As part of the study, a series of slope stability analyzes were performed using finite element software by applying earthquakes with different characteristics to the model slope, which was designed with the intention of investigating slope behavior under seismic loads. The model slope designed in this context was analyzed with 12 real earthquake record data that occurred in different regions with different scenarios and had many station measurements. As a result, the effects of these earthquakes on the stability of the designed model slope were pointed out and the points that should be considered to obtain safer and more economical results in slope design in the direction of the obtained data

Computed tomography-based morphometric measurements of the atlas (C1) posterior arc

Study design: Single-center retrospective study Objectives: This study is performed to determine the anatomic feasibility of the C1 posterior arc screw and help select an optimal screw trajectory in treating patients with craniovertebral junction pathologies. Material and Methods: We reported a single-centre retrospective study. Forty patients (20 male and 20 female) who underwent cervical computed tomography (CT) were chosen from the hospital records. Based on CT images, we measured left laminar length (LLL), right laminar length (RLL), left laminar angle (LLA), right laminar angle (RLA), left laminar axial thickness (LLAT), right laminar axial thickness (RLAT), left laminar coronal thickness (LLCT), right laminar coronal thickness (RLCT), and craniocaudal angle (CCA) of the C1 posterior arc. Results: The mean values and standard deviations (SD) for nine parameters at the C1 posterior arc were determined. LLL, RLL, LLCT, and RLCT were statistically longer in men than women. RLAT was bigger in men but there was no statistical difference. RLA was statistically wider in women than men. LLA and CCA were wider in women but there was no statistical difference, LLAT was bigger in women but there was no statistical difference. There was no statistical difference in measurements by age. Conclusion:  The results of this study are important to avoid neurovascular injury and pedicle breakage because of choosing large screw while performing C1 laminar screw fixation

The efficacy of adalimumab on experimentally induced spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury

Objective: Paraplegia is a dangerous complication of thoracoabdominal aortic surgery. Various studies have been conducted on the prevention of this complication and some spinal cord protection methods have been proposed. However, there is not any modality that prevent the development of paraplegia certainly. In the I / R period, primary injury triggers secondary injury due to increased inflammation, apoptosis and free radical formation. In this study, we evaluated that the neuroprotective effect of adalimumab in spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury.  Materials and Methods: In total, 24 adult New Zealand rabbits were divided into three groups: Group 1, control; Group 2, ischemia-reperfusion by infrarenal aortic clamping; Group 3, adalimumab treated followed by ischemia. Tissue and plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 6, interleukin 10, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, total oxidant status and total antioxidant status levels were analyzed as a marker of inflammation and oxidation. Histopathological evaluation of the tissues was performed, and apoptosis was evaluated by TUNNEL method. Results: I/R injury significantly increases plasma and spinal cord tissue at TNF alpha, TOS, TBARS, IL6 levels and reduces plasma and spinal cord tissue to TAS and IL10 levels. Adalimumab treatment significantly reduces plasma and spinal cord tissue to TNF alpha, TOS, TBARS, IL6 and increases plasma and tissue to TAS and IL10 levels. Conclusion: Adalimumab treatment significantly reduces the spinal cord neuronal damage score and the number of apoptotic cells. This paper aims to demonstrate the important neuroprotective effects of adalimumab on rabbit spinal cord I/R injury