Effect of blending conditions on the properties of EPDM/organoclay nanocomposites

17th International Conference on Composite Materials, ICCM-17; Edinburgh; United Kingdom; 27 July 2009 through 31 July 2009The effects of blending conditions on the microstructural and mechanical properties of EPDM / organo modified montmorillonite (OMMT) nanocomposites at various clay loadings were investigated. The effects of the processing conditions were manifested in both the morphology and mechanical properties, which showed significant increase when optimized process conditions are applied.TÜBİTAK-MAG project 106M15

Kırsal kesimde yaşayan yaşlı bireylerin tamamlayıcı ve alternatif tedavi yöntemlerini kullanma durumları

Objective: The study was designed to determine the conditions of use of complementary and alternative treatment methods of elderly individuals living in rural setting. Material and Methods: This research which was a descriptive type was performed in three Family Health Center in Izmir between 17 January 2011 - 31 March 2011. The study sample consisted of 60 years and over and 300 elderly individuals who can be contacted and agreed to participate on the date of the study. The research data prepared by the researchers were collected with the used form of Complementary and Alternative Treatment (CAM) methods therapies and the form of elderly individual. The data were determined by using with number, percentage and chi-square test. Results: Average age of patients evaluated in the study was 67.67;plusmn;6.65 and 77% of them had chronic diseases. It was found that 69.7% of elderly individuals have known CAM methods, 98.3% of them have used CAM therapies, 70.7% of them used herbal therapies. It was determined that elderly individuals never used yoga, biofeedback, and hypnosis methods. It was determined that 60-80 % of elderly individuals with respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary, musculo-skeletal, and endocrine system health have used religious practices. They also used oftenly 'thinking of physically relaxed' on CAM methods. Conclusions: Almost all elderly individuals used CAM methods, but without knowing the methods used. The most commonly used CAM method was herbal therapy and they focused on the most religious practices for many systemic diseases.Amaç: Araştırma kırsal kesimde yaşayan yaşlı bireylerin tamamlayıcı ve alternatif tedavi yöntemlerini kullanma durumlarının belirlenmesi amacıyla planlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Tanımlayıcı tipte olan bu araştırma, 17 Ocak 2011-31 Mart 2011 tarihleri arasında İzmir ilinde üç Aile Sağlığı Merkezinde yapılmıştır. Araştırmanın yapıldığı tarihlerde ulaşılabilen ve çalışmaya katılmayı kabul eden 60 yaş ve üzeri 300 yaşlı araştırmanın örneklemini oluşturmuştur. Araştırma verileri, araştırmacılar tarafından hazırlanan Yaşlı Birey Formu ve Tamamlayıcı ve Alternatif Tedavi (TAT) yöntemleri kullanma formu ile toplanmıştır. Araştırmanın verileri sayı, yüzde dağılımları ve ki-kare testi kullanılarak değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular: Araştırmaya katılan yaşlı bireylerin yaş ortalamasının 67.67 ±6.65, %77’sinin kronik hastalığı olduğu bulunmuştur. Yaşlıların %69.7’si TAT yöntemlerini bildiği, %98.3’ü TAT tedavilerini kullandığı, %70.7’sinin bitkisel terapileri kullandıkları saptanmıştır. Yaşlı bireylerin yoga, biofeedback ve hipnoz yöntemlerini hiç kullanmadıkları belirlenmiştir. Solunum, gastrointestinal, üriner, kas-iskelet ve endokrin sistem sağlığına sahip yaşlıların %60-80 dini uygulamaları kullandıkları saptanmıştır. Yaşlıların en sıklıkla TAT yöntemlerini “fiziksel olarak rahatlattığını düşündükleri” için kullandığı saptanmıştır. Sonuç: Yaşlıların hemen hemen tamamının TAT yöntemlerini kullanmış ancak yöntemleri bilmeden kullanmıştır. En çok kullanılan TAT yöntemi bitkisel terapi olmuştur ve birçok sistem hastalığında yaşlılar en çok dini uygulamalara yönelmiştir

Effect of blending conditions on the properties of EPDM/organoclay nanocomposites

17th International Conference on Composite Materials, ICCM-17; Edinburgh; United Kingdom; 27 July 2009 through 31 July 2009The effects of blending conditions on the microstructural and mechanical properties of EPDM / organo modified montmorillonite (OMMT) nanocomposites at various clay loadings were investigated. The effects of the processing conditions were manifested in both the morphology and mechanical properties, which showed significant increase when optimized process conditions are applied.TÜBİTAK-MAG project 106M15

Expert recommendations for the management of diabetic macular edema with intravitreal dexamethasone implant: A Turkish Delphi study

Purpose To provide consensus on the clinical use of intravitreal dexamethasone (DEX) implant for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME) in Turkey. Methods A panel of 22 retina experts prepared 77 statements of recommendation, and 80 retinal specialists practicing in Turkey were chosen to vote either in support or against each one. A Delphi-based method was used through which the ophthalmologists were able to view all of the results anonymously after two rounds and modify their subsequent answers. The survey was conducted via a mini website, and statements without consensus were resent to the specialists with the latest vote results a week later. Results A total of 72 ophthalmologists answered the first and second round questions. After the first stage, consensus was achieved on 55 of the statements, leaving 22 without agreement. After the second stage, consensus was reached on 11 of the remaining statements. Strong consensus was achieved on statements regarding the etiopathogenesis of DME and the first-line indications and safety of the DEX implant procedure. The panel recommended the use of DEX implant for patients with an arterial thromboembolic event in the last three months and also agreed that pro re nata DEX implant treatment not only provides better outcomes for DME patients but also reduces the treatment burden for those who could not receive an adequate number of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections. Conclusion This study provides clinical consensus and recommendations about the use of DEX implant in the clinical practice of DME management in Turkey

The longitudinal evolution of post-COVID-19 outcomes among hemodialysis patients in Turkey

Introduction: Hemodialysis (HD) patients have increased risk for short-term adverse outcomes of COVID-19. However, complications and survival at the post-COVID-19 period have not been published extensively.Methods: We conducted a national, multicenter observational study that included adult maintenance HD patients recovered from confirmed COVID-19. A control HD group without COVID-19 was selected from patients in the same center. We investigated the characteristics and outcomes in the follow-up of HD patients and compare them with the non-COVID-19 group.Results: A total of 1223 patients (635 patients in COVID-19 group, 588 patients in non-COVID-19 group) from 47 centers were included in the study. The patients' baseline and HD characteristics were almost similar. The 28th-day mortality and mortality between 28th day and 90th day were higher in the COVID-19 group than non-COVID-19 group (19 [3.0%] patients vs. none [0%]; 15 [2.4%] patients vs. 4 [0.7%] patients, respectively). The presence of respiratory symptoms, rehospitalization, need for home oxygen therapy, lower respiratory tract infection, and arteriovenous (AV) fistula thrombosis was significantly higher in the COVID-19 group in both the first 28 days and between 28 and 90 days. In the multivariable analysis, age (odds ratio [OR] [95% CI]: 1.029 [1.004-1.056]), group (COVID-19 group vs. non-COVID-19 group) (OR [95% CI]: 7.258 [2.538-20.751]), and vascular access type (tunneled catheter/AV fistula) (OR [95% CI]: 2.512 [1.249-5.051]) were found as independent parameters related to 90-day mortality.Conclusion: In the post-COVID-19 period, maintenance HD patients who have had COVID-19 have increased rehospitalization, respiratory problems, vascular access problems, and high mortality compared with the non-COVID-19 HD patients

The longitudinal evolution of post–COVID-19 outcomes among hemodialysis patients: A nationwide multicentre controlled study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Haemodialysis (HD) patients are at increased risk for adverse short-term consequences of COVID-19. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of chronic HD patients in the post-COVID-19 period and compared them with the control group. METHOD: We conducted a national multicentre observational study involving adult chronic HD patients recovering from COVID-19. The control HD group was selected from patients with similar characteristics who did not have COVID-19 in the same center. SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR negative patients and patients in the active period of COVID-19 were not included. RESULTS: A total of 1223 patients (635 COVID-19 groups, 588 control groups) were included in the study from the data collected from 47 centres between 21 April 2021 and 11 June 2021. The patients' baseline demographics, comorbidities, medications, HD characteristics and basic laboratory tests were quite similar between the groups (Table 1). 28th-day mortality and between 28th day and 90th day mortality were higher in the COVID-19 group than in the control group [19 (3.0%) patients and 0 (0%) patients;15 (2.4%) patients and 4 (0.7%) patients, respectively]. Presence of respiratory symptoms, rehospitalization, need for home oxygen therapy, lower respiratory tract infection and A-V fistula thrombosis were significantly higher in the COVID-19 group in the first 28 days of illness and between 28 and 90 days. Mortality was significantly associated with preexisting COVID-19, age, current smoking, use of tunneled HD catheter, persistence of respiratory symptoms, rehospitalization, need for home oxygen support, presence of lower respiratory tract infection within 28 days and persistence of respiratory symptoms. CONCLUSION: In the post-COVID-19 period, mortality, rehospitalization, respiratory problems and vascular access problems are higher in maintenance HD patients who have had COVID-19 compared to control HD patients. (Table Presented)

The relationship between severity of interstitial fibrosis and anemia in patient with primary glomerulonephritis: The data from TSN-Gold working group

...ERA EDT

Mortality analysis of COVID-19 infection in chronic kidney disease, haemodialysis and renal transplant patients compared with patients without kidney disease: a nationwide analysis from Turkey

Background. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and immunosuppression, such as in renal transplantation (RT), stand as one of the established potential risk factors for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Case morbidity and mortality rates for any type of infection have always been much higher in CKD, haemodialysis (HD) and RT patients than in the general population. A large study comparing COVID-19 outcome in moderate to advanced CKD (Stages 3-5), HD and RT patients with a control group of patients is still lacking. Methods. We conducted a multicentre, retrospective, observational study, involving hospitalized adult patients with COVID-19 from 47 centres in Turkey. Patients with CKD Stages 3-5, chronic HD and RT were compared with patients who had COVID-19 but no kidney disease. Demographics, comorbidities, medications, laboratory tests, COVID-19 treatments and outcome [in-hospital mortality and combined in-hospital outcome mortality or admission to the intensive care unit (ICU)] were compared. Results. A total of 1210 patients were included [median age, 61 (quartile 1-quartile 3 48-71) years, female 551 (45.5%)] composed of four groups: Control (n = 450), HD (n = 390), RT (n = 81) and CKD (n = 289). The ICU admission rate was 266/ 1210 (22.0%). A total of 172/1210 (14.2%) patients died. The ICU admission and in-hospital mortality rates in the CKD group [114/289 (39.4%); 95% confidence interval (CI) 33.9-45.2; and 82/289 (28.4%); 95% CI 23.9-34.5)] were significantly higher than the other groups: HD = 99/390 (25.4%; 95% CI 21.3-29.9; P<0.001) and 63/390 (16.2%; 95% CI 13.0-20.4; P<0.001); RT = 17/81 (21.0%; 95% CI 13.2-30.8; P = 0.002) and 9/81 (11.1%; 95% CI 5.7-19.5; P = 0.001); and control = 36/450 (8.0%; 95% CI 5.8-10.8; P<0.001) and 18/450 (4%; 95% CI 2.5-6.2; P<0.001). Adjusted mortality and adjusted combined outcomes in CKD group and HD groups were significantly higher than the control group [hazard ratio (HR) (95% CI) CKD: 2.88 (1.52- 5.44); P = 0.001; 2.44 (1.35-4.40); P = 0.003; HD: 2.32 (1.21- 4.46); P = 0.011; 2.25 (1.23-4.12); P = 0.008), respectively], but these were not significantly different in the RT from in the control group [HR (95% CI) 1.89 (0.76-4.72); P = 0.169; 1.87 (0.81-4.28); P = 0.138, respectively]. Conclusions. Hospitalized COVID-19 patients with CKDs, including Stages 3-5 CKD, HD and RT, have significantly higher mortality than patients without kidney disease. Stages 3-5 CKD patients have an in-hospital mortality rate as much as HD patients, which may be in part because of similar age and comorbidity burden. We were unable to assess if RT patients were or were not at increased risk for in-hospital mortality because of the relatively small sample size of the RT patients in this study