Acute effect of hemodialysis on serum levels of the proinflammatory cytokines.

Chronic inflammation is a common feature of end-stage renal disease, which carries a heightened risk of atherosclerosis and other co-morbid conditions. Dialysis treatment per se can bring additional risk factors for inflammation, such as increased risk of local graft and fistula infections, impure dialysate or bio-incompatible membranes. Our study was designed to determine whether a hemodialysis session leads to an acute substantial alteration in the plasma levels of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, the T-lymphocyte activation factor soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R), and an inflammation mediator and chemotactic granulocyte factor, IL-8, in end-stage renal disease patients receiving chronic intermittent HD. In this study, 21 (12 male/nine female) patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis were enrolled. The acute effect of a hemodialysis session on serum cytokine concentrations was assessed by comparison of pre-hemodialysis and post-hemodialysis determinations. Serum IL-1beta, sIL-2R, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha levels were determined with chemiluminescence enzyme immunometric assays. A significant difference was not observed for IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and sIL-2R concentrations in pre-hemodialysis and post-hemodialysis specimens (p>0.05). Serum median (25th-75th percentiles) IL-8 concentration was 69.4 (34.9-110.3) pg/ml before hemodialysis, and decreased to 31.5 (18.0-78.8) pg/ml following hemodialysis (p: 0.006). Clearance of IL-8 increased by 0.47+/-0.08 pg/ml for each unit increase in pre-dialysis IL-8 (p<0.001) and decreased by 5.63+/-2.59 pg/ml for each unit increase in pre-dialysis urea mmol/l (p<0.05). In conclusion, the results of our study demonstrate that a hemodialysis session markedly decreases IL-8 concentration, which is significantly affected by pre-dialysis concentrations, indicating that removal of IL-8 is a concentration gradient-dependent action, but does not change the serum levels of IL-1beta, sIL-2R, IL-6, and TNF-alpha, underlining importance of the structural characteristics of the molecules

Comparison of standardized uptake values obtained from two- and three-dimensional modes of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose PET-CT in oncological cases

PURPOSEWe investigated the usability of standardized uptake values (SUV) obtained from both two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) positron-emission tomography and computed tomography (PET-CT) imaging, and compared the images obtained from these techniques in terms of image quality, lesion detectability, and the presence of artifacts. MATERIALS AND METHODSImage data from 100 patients, who had undergone two PET imagings obtained in 2D and 3D mode after a low dose CT, were evaluated prospectively. Subjective analysis of 2D and 3D images was performed by two readers evaluating the following criteria: overall image quality, detectability of each identified lesion, and the presence of artifacts. The lesions recognized by the readers were also analyzed quantitatively by measuring SUV values. RESULTSThere was a significant difference between the SUVs obtained in 2D and 3D modes. Regardless if the first scan was performed in 2D or 3D mode, the values obtained from 3D imaging were significantly lower than those obtained from 2D imaging (mean SUVmax was 10.48±7.57 for 2D, and 9.66±6.93 for 3D, P < 0.001). Visual analysis did not reveal significant differences regarding lesion detectability between two modes. CONCLUSIONIn oncological PET-CT applications, SUV values are significantly lower in 3D compared with 2D mode. Thus when serial scanning is needed to evaluate response to therapy in the same patient, the imaging modality should be taken into account and performed with the same method to avoid misinterpretation. Additionally, 3D PET-CT imaging can be used instead of 2D PET-CT due to its shorter scanning time without loss of lesion detectability

Manyetik Yataklı Güneş Motoru Tasarımı ve Aydınlık Düzeyi – Hız Karakteristiğinin Belirlenmesi

Günümüzde elektrik motorları günlük hayatın gereksinimlerini karşılamak amacıyla hemen hemen her alanda kullanılmaktadır. Endüstriyel uygulamalara yönelik olarak üretilen birçok elektrik motoru olduğu gibi eğitim ve araştırma amaçlı olarak üretilen elektrik motorları da bulunmaktadır. Manyetik yataklı güneş motoru da bunlardan birisidir. Bu çalışmada manyetik olarak yataklanmış ve enerji ihtiyacını üzerindeki güneş gözeleriyle karşılayan bir elektrik motorunun tasarım ölçütleri açıklanmış, bu ölçütlere göre motor imalatı gerçekleştirilmiştir. Motorun doğal ışık kaynağı olan güneş altındaki performansı değerlendirildikten sonra yapay ışık kaynağı kullanılarak motor üzerindeki aydınlık düzeyi ile motorun hızının değişimi ölçülerek aydınlık düzeyi – hız karakteristiği elde edilmiştir. Elde edilen sonuçlar değerlendirilmiştir

Long-term prognosis of patients with heart failure: Follow-up results of journey HF-TR study population

Background: Despite advances in therapeutic management of patients with heart failure, there is still an increasing morbidity and mortality all over the world. In this study, we aimed to present the 3-year follow-up outcomes of patients included in the Journey HF-TR study in 2016 that has evaluated the clinical characteristics and management of patients with acute heart failure admitted to the hospital and present a national registry data. Methods: The study was designed retrospectively between November 2016 and December 2019. Patient data included in the previously published Journey HF-TR study were used. Among 1606 patients, 1484 patients were included due to dropout of 122 patients due to inhospital death and due to exclusion of 173 due to incomplete data. The study included 1311 patients. Age, gender, concomitant chronic conditions, precipitating factors, New York Heart Association, and left ventricular ejection fraction factors were adjusted in the Cox regression analysis. Results: During the 3-year follow-up period, the ratio of hospitalization and mortality was 70.5% and 52.1%, respectively. Common causes of mortality were acute decompensation of heart failure and acute coronary syndrome. Angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers, statin, and sacubitril/valsartan were found to reduce mortality. Hospitalization due to acute decompensated heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, lung diseases, oncological diseases, and cerebrovascular diseases was associated with the increased risk of mortality. Implantation of cardiac devices also reduced the mortality. Conclusions: Despite advances in therapeutic management of patients with heart failure, our study demonstrated that the long-term mortality still is high. Much more efforts are needed to improve the inhospital and long-term survival of patients with chronic heart failure

Sağlıklı ve hiperkolesterolemik tavşanlara vitamin D ilavesinin OSI ve paraoksonaz düzeylerine etkileri

WOS:000449635800010Objective: Conflicting data are available in literatureregarding the effects of vitamin D (VitD) supplementationdiet on lipid panel. Therefore, we had the purpose to evaluatethe effects of VitD supplementation on lipid panel bya controlled experimental study, and those of VitD supplementationon oxidative stress index (OSI) and paraoxonase-1 (PON1) values in healthy and hypercholesterolemicmale rabbits.Methods: Thirty New Zealand rabbits were randomly separatedinto control, VD, HC VD and HC groups. Control andVD groups were fed with standard chow, whereas HC VDand HC groups were fed with 0.5% cholesterol chow aperiod of 8 weeks. During this period, VD and HC VDgroups were orally administered with 300 IU/kg/day VitD.Results: The increase in serum total cholesterol (TC) andOSI level of HC group were significant compared to thosein HC VD group. Decreases in serum HDL-cholesterol(HDL-C) and TC levels of VD group were significant withinthe groups.Conclusion: Without any doubt it is important that appliedVitD level should be in the ideal range for healthy living.However, it is also necessary to increase the serum HDL-Clevel (and hence PON1), which is decreases as a result ofVitD supplementation. Therefore, we believe that duringVitD supplementation, regular physical activity should beperformed to increases serum HDL-C.Amaç: Literatürde, diyete D vitamini (VitD) ilavesinin lipitpaneli üzerine etkisi hakkında birbirinden farklı sonuçlarbulunmaktadır. Bu yüzden projemizde kontrollü deneyselbir çalışma ile, sağlıklı ve hiperkolesterolemik erkektavşanlara VitD ilavesinin lipit paneli üzerine etkisine, veyine VitD ilavesinin oksidatif stress indeksi (OSI) ve paraoksonaz-1 (PON-1) değerleri üzerine etkilerini araştırmayıamaçladık.Metod: 30 adet yeni zellanda tavşanı rastgele control, VD,HC VD ve HC gruplarına ayrıldı. Kontrol ve VD gruplarınormal tavşan pelet yemiyle, HC VD ve HC gruplarıise önceden hazırlanmış olan % 0.5 kolesterollü yem ile8 hafta süresince beslenildi. Bu süreçte VD ve HC VDgruplarına oral yoldan 300 IU/kg/gün VitD verildi.Bulgular: HC VD grubuna göre; HC grubu serum totalkolesterol (TC) ve OSI seviyesindeki artış anlamlı bulundu.VD grubu, grup içi serum HDL kolesterol (HDL-C) ve TCseviyelerindeki azalışlar anlamlı bulundu.Sonuç: Kuşkusuz, sağlıklı bir yaşam için kan VitD seviyemizinideal aralıkta olması önemlidir. Ancak VitD takviyesisonucunda azalan serum HDL-C (dolayısı ile PON1)seviyesini, artırmak da gerekmektedir. Dolayısı ile VitDtakviyesi ile birlikte, serum HDL-C’yi artıran, düzenlifiziksel aktivite yapılması gerektiğini düşünüyoruz

Use of Amino Acids in Fish Sperm Cryopreservation AReview

Sperm is protected against oxidative stress with seminal plasma. Dilution during cryopreservation is reduced the seminal plasma components having cells more sensitive to oxidative stress. Amino acids have antioxidant property and found in seminal plasma at high concentration. Therefore, amino acids have an important biological role for prevention of cell damage during cryopreservation. Thus far, conducted studies in mammalians have demonstrated that supplementation of amino acids (e.g. taurine, hypotaurine, proline, glutamine, glycine, histidin, and methionine) to extenders reduced sperm damage and DNA fragmentation and improved post-thaw motility. Recently, studies about antioxidant property and addition to extenders of amino acids have been performed in different fish species (Dicentrarchus labrax, Sparus aurata, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Salvelinus fontinalis, Pagrus major, Carassius auratus). In conducted studies, it has determined that addition of amino acids has reduced DNA fragmentation and protected DNA against strand breaks and also improved some sperm quality parameters post-thaw. In conclusion, amino acids provide better motility and lower DNA damage in fish sperm. However, studies on supplementation of amino acids to extenders in fish sperm cryopreservation are limited. Therefore, future studies in fish having economic and ecologic importance are necessary about effect of supplementation of amino acids in cryopreservation. Amino acids are the building blocks of peptides and proteins [20]. Particularly, sulfur-containing amino acids are important due to removing of free radicals and protection against oxidative stress. Because, sulphur a fundamental element for amino acids, proteins and other biomolecules. Methionine, cysteine, homocysteine, and taurine are the four common sulfur-containing [21]. Several amino acids (e.g. cysteine, glycine, proline and histidine) are found in seminal plasma. Lahnsteiner [22] stated that in the seminal plasma of O. mykiss, the main Free Amino Acids (FAAs) were arginine, glutamic acid, isoleucine, leucine, methionine and proline, in spermatozoa cysteine, arginine and methionine. The main FAAs in the seminal plasma of C. carpio were alanine, arginine, cysteine, glutamic acid, histidine, leucine, lysine, methionine and proline. To date, amino acids have been used in sperm cryopreservation as a non-permeating cryoprotectant of many mammalian species to preventing against cold shock [23] and freezing stress [24-29]. Recently, studies about addition of amino acids to extenders have been performed in fish sperm cryopreservation

Effect of Cobalt on Sperm Motility in an Endangered Trout Species, Salmo coruhensis

Experiments were designed to examine the in vitro effect of cobalt on sperm motility of the endangered trout species (Salmo coruhensis). Sperm samples were diluted in an immobilizing solution, and activated in a motility-activation solution that was supplemented with cobalt at concentrations of 1, 10, 100 and 1000 mg/L. The percentage of motile sperm and duration of motility were determined. Cobalt concentrations of 1-100 mg/L had a positive effect on the percentage of motile sperm and duration of motility compared to the control group, while a concentration of 1000 mg/L resulted in decreases in these parameters (p < 0.05). The percentages of motile sperm at cobalt concentrations of 0, 1, 10, 100 and 1000 mg/L were 83.33% ± 0.25%, 88.33% ± 0.34%, 89.00% ± 0.57%, 90.00% ± 0.87% and 42.50% ± 0.45%, respectively; and the time durations over which the sperm remained motile were 72.00 ± 0.63, 74.83 ± 0.28, 77.40 ± 0.47, 81.14 ± 0.78, and 50.25 ± 0.67 s, respectively. This study has shown that sperm motility and duration were significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) at cobalt concentrations of 1, 10 and 100 mg/L, relative to controls, and significantly decreased at 1000 mg/L