Evaluating elbow osteoarthritis within the prehistoric Tiwanaku state using generalized estimating equations (GEE).

OBJECTIVES:Studies of osteoarthritis (OA) in human skeletal remains can come with scalar problems. If OA measurement is noted as present or absent in one joint, like the elbow, results may not identify specific articular pathology data and the sample size may be insufficient to address research questions. If calculated on a per data point basis (i.e., each articular surface within a joint), results may prove too data heavy to comprehensively understand arthritic changes, or one individual with multiple positive scores may skew results and violate the data independence required for statistical tests. The objective of this article is to show that the statistical methodology Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) can solve scalar issues in bioarchaeological studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Using GEE, a population-averaged statistical model, 1,195 adults from the core and one colony of the prehistoric Tiwanaku state (AD 500-1,100) were evaluated bilaterally for OA on the seven articular surfaces of the elbow joint. RESULTS:GEE linked the articular surfaces within each individual specimen, permitting the largest possible unbiased dataset, and showed significant differences between core and colony Tiwanaku peoples in the overall elbow joint, while also pinpointing specific articular surfaces with OA. Data groupings by sex and age at death also demonstrated significant variation. A pattern of elbow rotation noted for core Tiwanaku people may indicate a specific pattern of movement. DISCUSSION:GEE is effective and should be encouraged in bioarchaeological studies as a way to address scalar issues and to retain all pathology information

INTERINDIVIDUAL VARIABILITY OF COUMARIN 7-HYDROXYLATION IN A TURKISH POPULATION

One hundred healthy Turkish Volunteers (70 male, 30 female) aged from 19 to 56 years were given 5 mg coumarin p.o. after an overnight fast. Urine samples were collected before and 2, 4 and 8 h after drug administration. The extent and rate of formation of 7-OH-coumarin (7OHC) was determined by the urinary excretion of the metabolite as measured with the fluorometric method

Heavy metal contents of various finished leathers

WOS: 000246634100001In this study, an investigation was made into the heavy metal content of leather articles. The metals concerned were cobalt, chromium, copper, zinc, lead and nickel as these metals may be subject to restrictions in some products because of their toxic characteristics. Insole leathers, upper leathers and garment leathers were studied as likely contaminating sources because of their extensive contact with the human body. Total amounts of heavy metals were initially measured by digestion. In addition, the possible amounts of heavy metals which would easily be extracted in use were extracted in aqueous and artificial perspiration solutions and analyzed using ICP-AES. It was concluded that the heavy metal content of finished leathers depended mainly on the chemicals used in production, and in particular high chromium contents in leather goods were determined. Also, small amounts of cadmium, zinc, lead, cobalt and copper were detected due to chemical and physical reactions during dyeing and finishing processes. The results of heavy metal contents were compared with limit values for leather and textile articles

The Structural Characterization of Saturate, Aromatic, Resin, and Asphaltene Fractions of Batiraman Crude Oil

The structural characterization of fractions of Batiraman crude oil, which is the heavy crude oil from a field in the southeastern part of Turkey, was investigated. Batiraman crude oil and its saturate, aromatic, resin, and asphaltene (SARA) fractions were seperated. Treatment of crude oil with n-heptane provided the separation of asphaltene. Maltene was collected by evaporating the n-heptane from the filtrate. Then, maltene was separeted into saturates, aromatics, and resins by SARA technique. Maltene was separated into saturate, aromatic, and resin fractions using column chromatography. SARA fractions were quantified on a weight percent basis. Fractions of Batiraman crude oil were characterized by elemental analysis, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) analysis, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy techniques