Malaria Epidemiology in Mersin Province, Turkey from 2002 to 2011

Background: Malaria is an infectious disease caused by Plasmodium spp. with high morbidity and mortality in human in tropical and subtropical regions. In recent years, number of malaria cases has been significantly reduced because of fight with the disease in Turkey. This study intended to investigate the malaria epidemiology in Mersin Province from 2002 to 2011 using data from the provincial Public Health Directorate. Methods: Over ten years, 303573 blood samples were taken from the people by active and passive surveillance methods and blood smears were prepared. Smears were stained with Giemsa and examined under the microscope. Results: Totally, 73 people including 44 male and 29 female were positive in terms of Plasmodium spp. It was determined that P. vivax observed in 67 cases while P. falciparum in 6 cases. Cases were mainly observed in 15 to 44 years old range, showed an increase between June-September periods and a significant decrease after 2006. Out of the 73 malaria cases, 54 cases were from Mersin Province and 13 cases were imported from another province of Turkey. Six cases were transmitted from abroad. Conclusion: These results provide information about malaria epidemiology in an endemic area in Turkey and contribute its prevention in Mersin Province

Determination of Emergence and Seedling Characteristics in One- and Two-Year Seeds of Some Long-Day Onion (Allium cepa L.) Varieties

The most important factors are the seed quality and vigor in which determine the yield and quality of vegetable production. Seed quality is affected by many factors such as seed development on the mother plant, genetic characters of species, and variety, storage conditions, etc. Onion (Allium cepa L.) has a seed that is easily deteriorating. Therefore one-year seed use is commonly recommended. In this research, which was conducted to determine the effect of the production year and variety on seed emergence and seedling properties was used one- and the two-year seed of four long-day variety (denotes A, B, C or D). As result, it was determined that the seedling morphological characters were not affected by production year and one-year seeds had a higher emergence percentage and vigor index than two-year seeds. The highest emergence rates were seen in variety D (95.50%) for one-year seeds and in variety A (80.00%) for two-year seeds. Among vigor indexes, the highest values were observed in variety C (2.85) for one-year seeds and variety A (2.39) for two-year seeds. Also, seed viability and viability decreasing rate were different according to varieties

Effect of Pterygium Surgery on Tear Osmolarity

Purpose. To investigate changes of dry eye test results in patients who underwent pterygium surgery. Methods. Seventy-four patients who underwent primary pterygium surgery were enrolled in this study. At the baseline, 3-, 12-, and 18-month visits, measurements of tear osmolarity, BUT, and Schirmer test were performed. The patients were divided into 2 groups: Group 1, which consisted of patients in whom pterygium did not recur, and Group 2, which consisted of patients in whom pterygium recurred after surgery. Results. The patients in Group 1 had lower tear osmolarity levels after surgery than those at baseline (all P0.05). Conclusions. Anormal tear film function associated with pterygium. Pterygium excision improved tear osmolarity and tear film function. However, tear osmolarity deteriorated again with the recurrence of pterygium

The relationship between ABO blood groups and gene mutations frequently observed in Familial Mediterranean Fever

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the genetic mutations, which are frequently detected and known to cause familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) disease, with ABO blood groups.Methods: There were 271 patients with FMF diagnosis and 271 healthy control subject enrolled in the study. The medical files of each case were screened retrospectively and demographic characteristics, genetic mutations, and ABO blood groups were recorded.Results: No statistically significant difference was detected between the two groups with respect to their gender and age (p>0/05). When patient and healthy control groups were compared based on ABO blood groups, the study groups were observed to differ significantly with respect to B blood group (p=0.008). In the patient group, a considerable relationship could not have been found when the gene mutations were compared based on blood groups, either for E148Q (n=64) and M694V (n=142) genes (p>0.05). However, a considerable difference was observed for V726A (n=58) gene; B blood group was more frequently observed among those who were detected to have V726A mutation (p=0.022).Conclusions: In present study cohort, blood type B was more frequent among FMF patients. We observed that there could be a significant association between V726A mutation and ABO blood groups

Structural, electronic and phononic properties of PtSe2: From monolayer to bulk

The layer dependent structural, electronic and vibrational properties of the 1T phase of two dimensional (2D) platinum diselenide are investigated by means of state-of-the-art first-principles calculations. The main findings of the study are: (i) monolayer platinum diselenide has a dynamically stable 2D octahedral structure with 1.66 eV indirect band gap, (ii) the semiconducting nature of 1T-PtSe2 monolayers remains unaffected even at high biaxial strains, (iii) top-to-top (AA) arrangement is found to be energetically the most favorable stacking of 1T-PtSe2 layers, (iv) the lattice constant (layer-layer distance) increases (decreases) with increasing number of layers, (v) while monolayer and bilayer 1T-PtSe2 are indirect semiconductors, bulk and few-layered 1T-PtSe2 are metals, (vi) Raman intensity and peak positions of the A1g and Eg modes are found to be highly dependent on the layer thickness of the material, hence; the number of layers of the material can be determined via Raman measurements.TUBITAK under the project number 117F09

Sıçanlarda gentamisin ile indüklenmiş oksidatif stres aracılı nefrotoksisiteye karşı krill yağının koruyucu etkisi

This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of krill oil against nephrotoxicity caused by gentamicin. Distilled water was given orally to the control and second groups (GI) for seven days while 500 mg/kg krill oil was given to the third (GII), fourth (GIII) groups. In addition, isotonic saline was administered subcutaneously to the control and GIII groups throughout the study, while 80 mg/kg gentamicin was administered to the GI, and GII groups. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) peptidase, total cholesterol, urea, and creatinine levels in plasma and, malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels in both plasma and kidney tissue supernatant were evaluated. Histopathological changes in tubules and glomeruli and vascular changes were evaluated by scoring. Urea level and ALT activity were found to be significantly lower in the GII and GIII groups compared to the GI group (p<0.001; p≤0.001). As a result, it was observed that degenerative damage and glomerular changes in the tubule at the histological level mediated by oxidative stress were consistent with the increase in ALT, urea, and MDA levels. In this respect, it is suggested that krill oil can be used as a nephroprotective food supplement to contribute to treatment in cases of toxicity.Bu çalışmada, gentamisin'in neden olduğu nefrotoksisiteye karşı kril yağının koruyucu etkisinin değerlendirilmesi amaçlandı. Çalışmada yedi gün boyunca oral yolla kontrol ve ikinci grubuna (GI) distile su verilirken, üçüncü (GII) ve dördüncü (GIII) gruplarına 500mg/kg krill yağı verildi. Ayrıca çalışma boyunca subkutan yolla kontrol ve GIII gruplarına izotonik tuzlu su uygulanırken, GI ve GII gruplarına 80 mg/kg gentamisin uygulandı. Plazma alanin aminotransferaz (ALT) ve gama glutamiltransferaz (GGT), total kolesterol, üre ve kreatinin düzeylerine, hem plazma hem de böbrek doku süpernatından ise malondialdehit (MDA) ve total antioksidan kapasitesi (TAS) düzeylerine değerlendirildi. Histopatolojik olarak tubul ve glomeruluslardaki değişimler ile damarsal değişiklikler skorlanarak değerlendirildi. Üre düzeyi ve ALT aktivitesi GI gruba göre GII ve GIII verilen grupta anlamlı düzeyde düşük bulundu (p<0.001; p≤0.001). Sonuç olarak, oksidatif stres aracılı olarak histolojik düzeyde tubulde dejeneratif hasar ve glomerular değişikliklerin özellikle ALT, üre ve MDA düzeyleri artışıyla uyumlu olduğu görüldü. Bu bakımdan, krill yağı nefroprotektif bir gıda takviyesi olarak toksisite durumlarında tedaviye katkı sağlamak için kullanılabileceği önerilmektedir

Doğu Karadeniz Bölgesi’nde Organik Balık Yetiştiriciliği İmkânlarının Araştırılması

Araştırma Doğu Karadeniz Bölgesi’nde bulunan Artvin, Rize, Trabzon, Gümüşhane, Bayburt, Giresun ve Ordu illerini kapsamaktadır. Bölge illerinde kayıtlı bulunan, 3 ton/yıl kapasitenin üzerinde ve tatlı sularda (kaynak suyu ve dere suyu) alabalık yetiştiriciliği yapan işletmeler, organik su ürünleri üretimi açısından incelenmiştir. Sektörde organik tarım konusunda önemli bilgi eksikliği olduğu gözlenmiştir. Alabalık çiftliklerinde yapılan incelemeler sonucunda işletme sahiplerinin sadece %33 lük bir kısmı organik tarımı daha önce duyduklarını belirtmişlerdir. Ayrıca işletme sahiplerinin sadece % 4’ü organik su ürünleri yetiştiriciliğinden haberdar olduklarını belirtmişlerdir. İncelenen işletmelerin çok büyük bir kısmının (%91) yetiştiricilikle ilgili kayıt tutma özelliklerinin olmadığı görülmüştür. Gümüşhane, Artvin ve Rize (yüksek kesimler) illerinde diğer illerimize nazaran önemli sayılabilecek bir organik yetiştiricilik potansiyeli bulunmaktadır. Bu da işletmelerin bulundukları bölgelerin kirlilik kaynaklarından uzak bakir bölgeler olmasından kaynaklanmaktadır. Giresun ve Ordu illerinde bulunan bazı işletmelerin yoğun fındık tarımından dolayı tarımsal kirlilik (gübre-pestisit) riski altında bulundukları, özellikle fındık gübreleme dönemlerinde balık ölümleri görüldüğü bazı çiftlik sahipleri tarafından ifade edilmiştir. Ayrıca Trabzon, Rize, Giresun ve Ordu İllerimizin sahil kesimine yakın bölgelerde bulunan bazı işletmelerde, dere suyunun bulanması, ısınması ve çeşitli kirlilik problemleri nedeniyle yetiştiricilikte çeşitli sorunlar yaşandığı, diğer bölgelerden biraz daha yoğun hastalık görüldüğü gözlemlenmiştir. Arazi çalışmalarında, uygun potansiyel görülen işletmelerde yapılan su analizleri sonuçlarıyla, Dünya’da organik alabalık yetiştiriciliği ile ilgili su kalite kriterlerini belirten sertifikasyon kuruluşlarının değerleri karşılaştırılmış ve incelenen birçok işletmenin su özelliklerinin bu kriterleri sağladığı görülmüştür

Coenzyme Q10 supplementation modulates NFκB and Nrf2 pathways in exer-cise training

This study reports the effects of Q10, coenzyme Q10 or ubiqui-none, a component of the electron transport chain in mitochon-dria, on nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NFκB), inhibitors of kappa B (IκB), nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) and hemeoxygenase 1 (HO-1) in rats after chronic exercise training for 6 weeks. 8-week old male Wistar rats were assigned randomly to one of four treat-ments planned in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of two condition (sedentary vs. exercise training), and two coenzyme Q10 levels (0 and 300 mg/kg per day for 6 weeks). The expression levels of the target proteins were determined in the heart, liver and mus-cle, and biochemical parameters including creatinine, urea, glucose and lipid profile were investigated in plasma. When compared with sedentary group, significant decreases in heart, liver and muscle NFκB levels by 45%, 26% and 44% were observed in Q10 supplemented rats after exercise training, re-spectively, while the inhibitory protein IκB increased by 179%, 111% and 127% in heart, liver and muscle tissues. Q10 supple-mentation caused an increase in Nrf2 (167%, 165% and 90%) and HO-1 (107%, 156% and 114%) after exercise training in heart, liver and muscle tissues (p < 0.05). No significant change was observed in any of the parameters associated with protein, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, except that exercise caused a decrease in plasma triglyceride, which was further decreased by Q10. In conclusion, these results suggest that Q10 modulates the expression of NFκB, IκB, Nrf2 and HO-1 in exercise training, indicating an anti-inflammatory effect of Q10 and emphasizes its role in antioxidant defense

Türkiye’de Yükseköğretimin Uluslararasılaşması: Bir Endeks Oluşturma Çalışması

The aim of this study is to test the validity and reliability of the Internationalization Index of Higher Education in Turkey, which provides a ranking of institutions of higher education in Turkey according to their degree of internationalization. The item discrimination, construct validity (exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses), and internal consistencies of the index’s indicators and subindicators were tested using data obtained from 300 faculty members. The findings obtained showed that the index was made up of five indicators—(i) university research performance, (ii) curricular efficiency, (iii) international linkages, (iv) student support, and (v) urban sufficiency—as well as of 33 subindicators, and that the index was valid and reliable. The study then made use of the Delphi method to establish the weight of the index’s indicators and subindicators. In sum, it can be said that the study effectively constitutes a proof toward utilization of the Internationalization Index of Higher Education in Turkey for the ranking of institutions of higher education in terms of internationalization.Bu çalışmanın amacı, Türkiye’de yükseköğretim kurumlarının uluslararasılaşma derecelerine göre sıralanmasını sağlayan Türkiye’de Yükseköğretimin Uluslararasılaşma Endeksinin geçerlik ve güvenirliğini sınamaktır. Endeks gösterge ve alt göstergelerinin madde ayırt ediciliği, yapı geçerliği (açımlayıcı ve doğrulayıcı faktör analizi) ve iç tutarlıkları 300 öğretim üyesinden elde edilen veriler kullanılarak test edilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular endeksin, (i) üniversite araştırma performansı, (ii) eğitim programı yeterliği, (iii) uluslararası bağlantılar, (iv) öğrenci desteği ve (v) şehir yeterliği olmak üzere beş gösterge ve 33 alt göstergeden oluştuğunu, geçerli ve güvenilir olduğunu göstermiştir. Çalışmada daha sonra Delphi tekniği kullanılarak endeks gösterge ve alt göstergelerinin ağırlıkları belirlenmiştir. Sonuç olarak, Türkiye’de Yükseköğretimin Uluslararasılaşma Endeksi’nin yükseköğretim kurumlarının uluslararasılaşmalarına göre sıralanmasına yönelik olarak kullanılması için bir kanıt niteliğinde olduğu söylenebilir