Friction Coefficient and Compression Behavior of Particle Reinforced Aluminium Matrix Composites

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) are materials used in a large range of engineering applications. In this paper, the relatively low-cost stir casting is evaluated with the use for Silisyum Carbite (SiC) as reinforcement and Al7075 alloy as matrix to produce MMCs with varied reinforcement from 10% to 18%. The produced composites were examined, and their wear behavior was investigated. The results showed that the mechanical properties of the MMCs decrease with the increase of the mass percentage of reinforcement and compression

Pituitary Insufficiency and Hyperprolactinemia Associated with Giant Intra- and Suprasellar Carotid Artery Aneurysm

Pituitary insufficiency secondary to internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysm is a very rare condition. Its prevalence is reported as 0.17% (Heshmati et al., 2001). We present a case of pituitary insufficiency and hyperprolactinemia secondary to suprasellar giant intracranial aneurysm. A 71-year-old man was admitted to our clinic with symptoms of hypopituitarism, hyperprolactinemia, and visual field defect. His pituitary MRI and cerebral angiography revealed a giant saccular aneurysm filling suprasellar cistern arising from the ophthalmic segment of the right ICA. Endovascular treatment was performed on the patient to decrease the mass effect of aneurysm and improve the hypophysis dysfunction. After treatment, his one-year follow-up showed the persistence of hypophysis insufficiency, decrease of prolactin (PRL) level, and normal visual field. An intracranial aneurysm can mimic the appearance and behavior of a pituitary adenoma. Intracranial aneurysms should be taken into consideration in the situation of hypopituitarism and hyperprolactinemia. It is important to distinguish them because their treatment approach is different from the others

dysfunction in early-stage paraplegic men

The aim of the study was to determine which vasoactive agent was more efficacious for erectile dysfunction (ED), intracavernosal papaverine or oral sildenafil, in paraplegic men within the first year after injury by using a penile color Doppler ultrasound as a quantitative imaging method and to determine the association between responses to these two vasoactive agents and factors such as neurological lesion level and lesion severity. A total of 31 male in-patients with spinal cord injury, aged over 18 years, and with neurological lesions below the T6 level within the first year after injury with ED were included. Visual and auditory sexual stimulus (VASS) on day 1 (group 1), VASS with 25 mg intracavernosal papaverine (group 2) and after a wash-out period of papaverine on day 2, and VASS with 50 mg oral sildenafil on day 5 (group 3) were administered to each patient. Measurements of the peak systolic velocity and end diastolic velocity, which were used as vascular parameters during each procedure type, were taken using penile color Doppler ultrasound. Considering the severity of the lesion and the levels of the neurological lesion, there was a statistically significant difference between the PSV values of the group 1 and the other two groups (P0.05) in terms of both the severity and the levels of the lesion. Efficacies of intracavernosal papaverine hydrochloride or oral sildenafil citrate for ED were similar at all neurological lesion levels and lesion severity in paraplegic men within the first year after spinal cord injury

Efficacies of papaverine and sildenafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction in early-stage paraplegic men.

The aim of the study was to determine which vasoactive agent was more efficacious for erectile dysfunction (ED), intracavernosal papaverine or oral sildenafil, in paraplegic men within the first year after injury by using a penile color Doppler ultrasound as a quantitative imaging method and to determine the association between responses to these two vasoactive agents and factors such as neurological lesion level and lesion severity. A total of 31 male in-patients with spinal cord injury, aged over 18 years, and with neurological lesions below the T6 level within the first year after injury with ED were included. Visual and auditory sexual stimulus (VASS) on day 1 (group 1), VASS with 25 mg intracavernosal papaverine (group 2) and after a wash-out period of papaverine on day 2, and VASS with 50 mg oral sildenafil on day 5 (group 3) were administered to each patient. Measurements of the peak systolic velocity and end diastolic velocity, which were used as vascular parameters during each procedure type, were taken using penile color Doppler ultrasound. Considering the severity of the lesion and the levels of the neurological lesion, there was a statistically significant difference between the PSV values of the group 1 and the other two groups (P0.05) in terms of both the severity and the levels of the lesion. Efficacies of intracavernosal papaverine hydrochloride or oral sildenafil citrate for ED were similar at all neurological lesion levels and lesion severity in paraplegic men within the first year after spinal cord injury

Shear bond strength of a novel porcelain repair system for different computer-aided design/computer-assisted manufacturing ceramic materials

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the shear bond strength of a novel repair system, Nova Compo SF with Ceramic Repair, Ivoclar, to computer-aided design/computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM) restorative materials (IPS e.max CAD and Empress CAD). Materials and Methods: The specimens of each CAD/CAM restorative material were randomly divided into two subgroups of nine specimens, using one of two repair systems. All specimens were etched with hydrofluoric acid and rinsed under a water spray for 10 s, then air-dried for 10 s. Next, repair systems were applied according to the manufacturer's instructions. All specimens were stored in distilled water at 37 degrees C for 24 h and then additionally aged for 5000 thermal cycles. A shear bond strength test was performed using a universal testing machine. Each fracture type was examined under a stereomicroscope at x12.5 magnification. A two-way ANOVA test was used to detect significant differences between the CAD/CAM restorative materials and the composite repair systems. Subgroup analyses were performed using Tukey's honest significant difference. Results: No statistically significant differences were observed between the repair systems (P = 0.9). The bond strength values from Empress CAD were statistically higher than those from e.max CAD (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Within limitations, SuperFlow may be an alternative to the ceramic repair materials we routinely used in the clinic. Empress CAD can be preferable to e.max CAD in terms of esthetically suitable clinical indications

Identifying the Characteristics of Geriatric Patients who Referred to Outpatient Clinics of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: A Multicenter Descriptive Study

WOS: 000295573000008Aim: The aim of this study was to define the demographic and clinical characteristics of geriatric patients who referred to physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR) outpatient clinics and to detect the differences between these characteristics in regard to age, sex and education level. Materials and Methods: 820 patients over 65 years old who attended 20 outpatient clinics were included in the study. In addition to demographic data, the complaints, comorbid diseases, pain levels, drugs being used, exercise and medical status of the patients were recorded. The effects of age, sex and education level on complaints, comorbid diseases and exercise habits were investigated. Results: The mean age of the patients was 71.7 +/- 5.5 years. 16.7% were living alone, 61.7% were housewives. 86% of the patients had one or more comorbid diseases - hypertension, gastric problems and heart disease were mostly encountered. The most common complaints were joint pain, fatigue and widespread body pain. The average number of pills taken per day was 4.02 +/- 0.9 (median 4), and the VAS pain score was 5.1 +/- 1.3 (median 5.0). History of falling was present in 16.5% of patients. 30.1% were routinely walking and 15.4% were performing exercise at home. In patients over 75 years, vertebral pain and deformity, urinary incontinence, eye problem, difficulty in swallowing, decrease in hearing, as well as balance and teeth problems were significantly more frequent than in younger subjects. Conclusion: Aged population constitutes most of the PMR outpatient clinic patients. Considering comorbid diseases, high number of daily taken drugs and falls, PMR specialist should be cautious in prescribing drugs and planning rehabilitation programme. For independence in activities of daily living in this age group, besides the musculoskeletal system, all other systems should be evaluated and a comprehensive geriatric rehabilitation programme should be constructed. Turk J Phys Med Rehab 2011;57:143-9

The Awareness of Physicians and Allied Health Professionals about Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study

WOS: 000343521300003Objective: Cardiopulmonary (CPR) programs were developed to improve and stabilize the physical, psychological, social, mental, professional, and economic conditions of patients with cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Although it is known that CPR reduces mortality and morbidity, it is not widely implemented as it is in Turkey. In this study, we aimed to determine the level of CPR awareness among physicians and allied health professionals. Material and Methods: This was a multi-center, cross-sectional survey study. The study included physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, and other allied health professionals who were informed about the survey and provided written consent to participate. Results: A total of 727 volunteers from 12 different centers were included in the study. Of the participants, 59.5% were physicians, 31.4% were nurses, 5.9% were physiotherapists, and 3.2% were other allied health professionals; 79.3% participants answered the question on if they have had any idea about CPR. Participants indicated that patients should be referred to cardiac pulmonary rehabilitation after a coronary artery bypass (83.8%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (83.2%), and cardiac valve surgery (38.9%). Only 40.1% of the survey participants provided information about CPR to patients, while 20.5% did not provide any information about CPR. Conclusion: This survey study determined that in centers where CPR could be implemented, health professionals have knowledge about CPR. If the study were conducted nationwide, the level of awareness might be even lower. Although it is an idea of CPR, the level of knowledge for this issue is not adequate. As the number of the CPR centers will increase, the knowledge of doctors and allied health professionals will advance