Hydrogels in Regenerative Medicine

Polymer scaffolds have many various applications in the field of tissue engineering, drug delivery, and implantation. They are applied as dispensing devices for bioactive molecules and as three-dimensional (3D) structures that provide stimulants that organize cells and direct desired original tissue formation. Hydrogels are preferred scaffolding material because they are structurally similar to the extracellular matrix of many tissues, often processed under mild conditions, and can be delivered in a minimally invasive manner. Hydrogel materials formed a group of polymeric materials. The hydrophilic structure allows them to hold large amounts of water in their three-dimensional backbone. As a result, hydrogels are used as scaffolding material for drug and growth factor transmission, tissue engineering modifications, and many other applications. In this chapter, we describe the physical and chemical structure of hydrogels, side groups, cross-linkings, swelling properties, types of polymers and fabrication methods, and application fields

Mixed Bacteriological Isolation Percentages from the Uterus of Cows Slaughtered due to Infertility

Background: Intrauterine mixed infections are an important problem in cattle breeding. In this study, we aimed to determine the mixed bacteriological isolation rates from the uterus of cows with clinical metritis and to reveal the relationships between the bacteria that isolated together.Methods: For this purpose, sterile swabs were taken from 490 uterus obtained from cattle slaughtered due to infertility in three slaughterhouses and used them to perform microbiological tests. After evaluating the data, it was determined that the bacterial isolation rate from uterus with clinical metritis was 76.14% (n = 268).Results: The rates for 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 bacteria isolated from the uterus with clinical metritis were 48.13%, 33.96%, 15.30%, 2.24%, and 0.37%, respectively. The isolation rates for Trueperella pyogenes, Fusobacterium necrophorum, and Escherichia coli alone from the uterus with clinical metritis were 27.08%, 28.00%, and 16.51%, respectively. In uterus with clinical metritis, Staphylococcus aureus (16.67%) was the most commonly isolated bacteria with T. pyogenes, Clostridium spp. (16%) co-isolated with F. necrophorum, and coagulase-negative staphylococci (16.51%) and Bacillus spp. (16.51%) were detected with E. coli.Conclusion: As a result, it was concluded that when evaluating the microbiological results for cows with clinical metritis, mixed infections should be taken into more consideration, and the characteristics of the bacteria that isolate together should be considered during the treatment of mixed infections.Keywords: Cattle; Uterine; Isolation; infertility     

Econometric Analysis of Impact on Economic Growth of Education Expenditures in Turkey

Eğitim, ülkelerin ilerlemesine, refahına, ekonomik ve sosyal gelişmişlik düzeyine katkıda bulunan en önemli faktörlerden biridir. Bu nedenle eğitime yapılan harcamalar büyük önem taşır. Çalışmada Türkiye’de eğitim harcamalarının ekonomik büyüme üzerindeki etkisinin araştırılması amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmada eğitim harcamaları ve ekonomik büyüme arasındaki ilişkiyi tespit etmek için, klasik durağanlık testleri ve çoklu yapısal kırılmalı birim kök testi uygulanmıştır. Çoklu yapısal kırılmalı eşbütünleşme testi ile eşbütünleşme ilişkisi sorgulanmış ve nedensellik analizi ile VECM varyans ayrıştırılması yapılmıştır. Yapılan analizler sonucunda eğitim harcamaları ve ekonomik büyüme arasında uzun dönemde istatistiki olarak anlamlı pozitif yönlü bir ilişkinin varlığı tespit edilmekle beraber, kısa dönemde bir ilişki belirlenememiştir. Ayrıca Granger Nedensellik Analizi sonucunda ekonomik büyümeden eğitim harcamalarına tek yönlü nedensellik ilişkisinin varlığı tespit edilmiştir. Çalışma eğitim harcamalarının ekonomik büyümenin önemli bir parçası olduğunu göstermiş ve eğitim politikalarını planlarken büyümeyi hızlandıracak beşeri sermaye oluşturmak için eğitim yatırımlarının artırılması gerektiğinin önemini ortaya koymuştur. Education is one of the most important factors contributing to the progress of countries, their welfare, and the level of economic and social development. For this reason, spending on education is of great importance. There fore, the study aims to investigate the effect of education expenditures in Turkey on economic growth. In order to determine the relationship between education expenditures and economic growth, classical stationarity tests and unit root test with multiple structural break were applied in the study. The relationship of cointegration was questioned with the cointegration test with multiple structural breakages and VECM variance decomposition was performed with causality analysis. As a result of the analysis, although it was seen that there is a statistically significant positive relationship between education expenditures and economic growth in the long run, no relationship has been determined in the short run. In addition, when Granger Causality Analysis was applied, the existence of a one-way causality relationship from economic growth to education expenditures has been determined. To sum up, the study showed that education expenditure is an important part of economic growth and revealed the importance of increasing education investments in order to create human capital that will accelerate growth while planning education policie

Europeanization of Labour Markets in New Member and Candidate States

Due to enlargement of the European Union, Europeanization term began to cover new pursuits. Compared to the existing members, the states accessed the Union in the fifth enlargement period and the current candidate states are characterised by distinct patterns of integration and Europeanization. In this respect the Europeanization of new member and candidate states is a rather recent but a fast-growing research area since 2004 and research in this area has developed primarily in the context of Union's eastern enlargement

Effects of Phosphate Dip Treatments on Chemical, Microbiological, Color, Textural, and Sensory Changes of Rainbow Trout (Onchorhyncus mykiss) Fillets During Refrigerated Storage

WOS: 000265157100011The influence of dipping rainbow trout fillets for 10 min in 5% solutions containing sodium monophosphate (MSP), sodium diphosphate (DSP), and sodium triphosphate (TSP) on microbiological, chemical, color, textural, and sensory analyses of fish fillets were assessed. Treatment of rainbow trout fillets with DSP and TSP were effective against The proliferation of total mesophilic, psychrotrophic bacteria, and coliform bacteria counts. Phosphate treatments did not affect lipid oxidation (TBA), TVB-N values, and textural qualities. According to the results of microbiological analyses, DSP and TSP extended The shelf-life of trout fillets art additional three clays over the control and MSP during refrigerated storage. DSP and TSP treatments were determined more effective than MSP for inhibition of microbial growth. DSP and TSP treatment can be an alternative way to improve The shelf-life of fish and fish products

Early and Mid-Term Follow-Up Results After Transcatheter Closure of Secundum Atrial Septal Defect

Objective: Transcatheter secundum type atrial septal defect closure is an alternative to surgical closure in many cases when conditions are appropriate. In this study, the demographic data and follow-up results of patients with secundum atrial septal defect undergoing transcatheter closure were discussed. Materials and Methods: Data of patients who underwent transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defect between 2004 and 2017 were investigated retrospectively. Gender, age at intervention, defect size, procedure duration, fluoroscopy time, periprocedural complications, residual shunt existence, and early and mid-term follow-up results were collected. Results: A total of 179 patients [41% males; 10% adults, median age: 8.1 years (1.3-58.6); weight: 28 kg (11-90)] were admitted to catheterization for atrial septal defect closure and their median atrial septal defect size was 13 mm (6-30); 74 (41%) patients had a large atrial septal defect (>= 12 mm). Suitable defects for closure were observed in 165 of 179 patients. The procedural success rate was 95.7%. No death was observed; however, minor complications occurred in 3 patients during the procedure (1.6%). The rate of residual shunt after 1 year was 1.3%, and all shunts were mild. After a median follow-up of 2.8 years (range, 6 months to 13.6 years), delayed major complications such as death, cardiac erosion, and infective endocarditis were not experienced. The delayed minor complication was supraventricular extrasystole in 1 patient. Conclusion: Transcatheter atrial septal defect closure is safe in children and adults with a minimal rate of periprocedural and delayed complications. It has a favorable early and mid-term outcome in our study, especially with no death or major complications

Effects of Phosphate Dip Treatments on Chemical, Microbiological, Color, Textural, and Sensory Changes of Rainbow Trout (Onchorhyncus mykiss) Fillets During Refrigerated Storage

WOS: 000265157100011The influence of dipping rainbow trout fillets for 10 min in 5% solutions containing sodium monophosphate (MSP), sodium diphosphate (DSP), and sodium triphosphate (TSP) on microbiological, chemical, color, textural, and sensory analyses of fish fillets were assessed. Treatment of rainbow trout fillets with DSP and TSP were effective against The proliferation of total mesophilic, psychrotrophic bacteria, and coliform bacteria counts. Phosphate treatments did not affect lipid oxidation (TBA), TVB-N values, and textural qualities. According to the results of microbiological analyses, DSP and TSP extended The shelf-life of trout fillets art additional three clays over the control and MSP during refrigerated storage. DSP and TSP treatments were determined more effective than MSP for inhibition of microbial growth. DSP and TSP treatment can be an alternative way to improve The shelf-life of fish and fish products

The Effect of Smoking on COVID-19 Symptom Severity: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SAR2-COV-2) and was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December of 2019, but quickly spread to the rest of the world, causing a pandemic. While some studies have found no link between smoking status and severe COVID-19, others demonstrated a significant one. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between smoking and clinical COVID-19 severity via a systematic meta-analysis approach. Methods. We searched the Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases to identify clinical studies suitable for inclusion in this meta-analysis. Studies reporting smoking status and comparing nonsevere and severe patients were included. Nonsevere cases were described as mild, common type, nonintensive care unit (ICU) treatment, survivors, and severe cases as critical, need for ICU, refractory, and nonsurvivors. Results. A total of 16 articles detailing 11322 COVID-19 patients were included. Our meta-analysis revealed a relationship between a history of smoking and severe COVID-19 cases (OR=2.17; 95% CI: 1.37–3.46; P<.001). Additionally, we found an association between the current smoking status and severe COVID-19 (OR=1.51; 95% CI: 1.12–2.05; P<.008). In 10.7% (978/9067) of nonsmokers, COVID-19 was severe, while in active smokers, severe COVID-19 occurred in 21.2% (65/305) of cases. Conclusion. Active smoking and a history of smoking are clearly associated with severe COVID-19. The SARS-COV-2 epidemic should serve as an impetus for patients and those at risk to maintain good health practices and discontinue smoking. The trial is registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) CRD42020180173

The Effect of Systemic Amantadine Sulfate on Malondialdehyde and Total Thiol Levels in Rat Corneas

Purpose: To evaluate the malondialdehyde (MDA) and total thiol (sulfhydryl, SH) levels in rat corneas after intraperitoneal injection of amantadine sulfate. Methods: A total of 12 Wistar albino rats were divided into two groups: control group (n = 6) and amantadine group (n = 6). Balanced salt solution (1 mL, 0.9% NaCl, twice/day) was injected into rats in control group. Amantadine sulfate (2 mg/1 mL, twice/day) was injected into rats in amantadine group. In each group, two rats were injected for 1 week, two received injections for 1 month, and two rats received injections for 3 months. The corneas were homogenized and MDA and SH levels were measured spectroflourometrically. Results: In control group, median MDA and SH levels were 2.37 (range, 0.92-3.60) and 25.35 (range, 6.30-54.0) nmol/mg, respectively. In amantadine group, median MDA and SH levels were 3.57 (range, 1.25-5.92) and 32.65 (range, 3.30-48.3) nmol/mg, respectively. The difference between this two groups regarding MDA (P = 0.14) and SH (P = 1.0) levels was statistically insignificant. Conclusion: Systemically administered amantadine sulfate seems not to cause MDA and SH imbalance in rat corneas