The prevelance of human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes detected by PCR in women with normal and abnormal cervico-vaginal cytology

Objectives: Cervical cancer is the second most common type of cancer for women worldwide with a great proportion proved to be related to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. As infection with HPV is the strongest risk factor for cervical neoplasia, detection of HPV genotypes in cervical and vaginal specimens of women with normal and abnormal cytology seems to be of paramount importance in cervical cancer screening. The objective of the study is to evaluate the prevalence and HPV genotypes among women with normal or abnormal Pap smear tests. Material and methods: This retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary care university hospital in western Turkey. A total of 201 patients in whom both HPV typing and Pap test was performed between 2012 and 2016 in our obstetrics and gynecology department were enrolled in this study. Clinical and laboratory data were obtained for all participants. Cervical smears of the patients were classified by the Bethesda system and HPV analyses were done using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Results: This study included 201 women, 72 of whom had normal and 129 of whom had abnormal Pap smear results. HPV DNA was detected in 91 (45.2%) of the 201 investigated women. Out of 72 patients with normal cervico-vaginal cytology, HPV positivity was detected in 35 (49%) patients, whereas 33 (35%) patients out of 94 with ASCUS , 18 (62%) patients out of 29 with LSIL and 5 (83%) patients out of 6 with HSIL had HPV positivity. Out of 35 HPV positive women that had normal pap test results, 25 (75%) were found to have high risk HPV (HR-HPV) genotypes. In women with ASCUS, LSIL and HSIL, HR-HPV genotype rates were found to be 94%, 89% and 100% respectively. The most common identified HPV types were HPV58, HPV16, HPV31, HPV33, HPV11 and HPV35. Conclusions: The frequency of HPV infection was found to be higher in our study compared to previous reports. Moreover, although HR-HPV genotypes were also detected in patients with normal cervical cytology, a majority of patients with HR-HPV genotypes were associated with abnormal cervical smear cytology including high rates of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion

What outcomes are important to patients with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease, their caregivers, and health-care professionals? A systematic review

Introduction: Clinical trials involving patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) continue to try to identify disease-modifying treatments. Although trials are designed to meet regulatory and registration requirements, many do not measure outcomes of the disease most relevant to key stakeholders. Methods: A systematic review sought research that elicited information from people with AD, their caregivers, and health-care professionals on which outcomes of the disease were important. Studies published in any language between 2008 and 2017 were included. Results: Participants in 34 studies described 32 outcomes of AD. These included clinical (memory, mental health), practical (ability to undertake activities of daily living, access to health information), and personal (desire for patient autonomy, maintenance of identity) outcomes of the disease. Discussion: Evidence elicited directly from the people most affected by AD reveals a range of disease outcomes that are relevant to them but are not commonly captured in clinical trials of new treatments.</br

MAPPING OF SELECTED TRACE METALS AND ASSOCIATED RISK IN COASTAL SEDIMENTS ALONG THE NORTHWEST ANATOLIA COASTS OF TURKEY

This study investigates the distribution of selected trace metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) and associated risk in coastal sediment samples taken from the Northwest Anatolia coastline of Turkey. The 451 km long coastal area contains many industrial areas and tourist sites. Trace metal concentrations in sediment samples collected from 100 stations were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The ecological risk was evaluated according to the Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQG) of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and by calculating and examining pollution indices including the degree of contamination (Cd), modified degree of contamination (mCd), potential ecological risk index (Ri), and enrichment factors (EF). Trace metal concentrations were visualized and spatially described utilizing bubble maps. Based on the risk analysis, arsenic was found to be the most dominant pollutant in the study area and the other metals did not indicate a serious anthropogenic pollution.Ege University Scientific Research Projects Coordination [17-FEN-053]This work was financially supported by the Ege University Scientific Research Projects Coordination under the project 17-FEN-053

Investigating the nexus between CO2 emissions, economic growth, energy consumption and pilgrimage tourism in Saudi Arabia

Every year millions of Muslims go to Saudi Arabia to fulfil pilgrimage worship, thus Saudi Arabia is such a religious centre brings with it various consequences. In this context, this paper investigates the nexus between CO2 emissions, economic growth, energy consumption and pilgrimage tourism in Saudi Arabia for the period of 1968-2017. The dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) and fully-modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) methods are employed in this study. FMOLS results prove that energy consumption, number of pilgrims and oil prices have a positive effect on CO2 emissions and GDP has a negative effect on it, while DOLS results imply that only energy consumption has a positive effect on carbon emissions. In addition, there is unidirectional causality from CO2 to pilgrimage tourism and from pilgrimage tourism to oil, and there is bidirectional causality between pilgrimage tourism and GDP. Therefore, the environmental cost of pilgrimage tourism is inevitable. Reflections of pilgrimage visits to Saudi Arabia as a belief tourism are dealt with for the first time in this paper. In addition, our more specific purpose is to determine the environmental impacts of Muslims performing the pilgrimage, during their religious worship

Comparison of allergic asthma patients treated with omalizumab and non-allergic patients treated with continuous oral corticosteroids: results of five year follow-up therapies

Introduction: To assess the long-term (5 year) efficacy of omalizumab and systemic corticosteroid therapy in allergic and non-allergic asthma that could not be controlled by step 4 therapy, respectively

Effects of nicorandil on renal function and histopathology in rats with partial unilateral ureteral obstruction

To evaluate the effects of nicorandil in a rat kidney model of partial unilateral ureteral obstruction (PUUO). Thirty male rats were randomly divided into three groups as follows: (1) Group 1 (Sham-control), ureters of the rats were manipulated but not ligated; (2) Group 2 (PUUO-untreated), PUUO was performed with two-thirds of the left ureter embedded in the psoas muscle; and (3) Group 3 (PUUO-nicorandil treated). After PUUO was established, nicorandil (15 mg/kg/day) was administered by gastric lavage for 21 days to determine its effects on PUUO-induced histopathological-, functional-, and oxidative stress-induced changes. The serum levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were reduced in Group 3. The level of urinary albumin and the ratio of urinary protein/creatinine were increased in the kidneys of Group 2 but decreased in Group 3. Malondialdehyde value was decreased in Group 3 compared with Group 2. Antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase) were decreased in Group 2. Nicorandil treatment caused an increase in these enzyme activities. In Group 3, leukocyte infiltration and tubular dilatation were significantly reduced. Other parameters, such as degeneration of tubular epithelium and fibrosis, also showed a marked improvement in Group 3. Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in Group 2 and expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in Group 3 were significantly elevated. Nicorandil can inhibit renal tubular damage and tubulointerstitial fibrosis by reducing the effects of oxidative stress after PUUO

Reference levels of natural radioactivity and Cs-137 in and around the surface soils of Kestanbol pluton in Ezine region of Canakkale province, Turkey

WOS: 000320913900008PubMed ID: 23802161The aim of the study was to conduct a systematic investigation on the natural gamma emitting radionuclides (Ra-226, Th-232 and K-40) as well as Cs-137 in the surface soils from Kestanbol/Ezine plutonic area in Canakkale province as part of the environmental monitoring program on radiologic impact of the granitoid areas in Western Anatolia. The activity measurements of the gamma emitters in the surface soil samples collected from 52 sites distributed all over the region has been carried out, by means of HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry system. The activity concentrations of the relevant radionuclides in the soil samples appeared in the ranges as follows: Ra-226 was 20-521 Bq kg(-1); Th-232, 11-499 Bq kg(-1)and; K-40, 126-3181 Bq kg(-1), yet the Cs-137 was much lower than 20 Bq kg(-1)at most. Furthermore, based on the available data, the radiation hazard parameters associated with the surveyed soils were calculated. The present data also allowed evaluation of some correlations that may exist in the investigated natural radionuclides of the soil samples from the plutonic area in Canakkale province. It is concluded from the above that the concerned region did not lead to any significant radiological exposure to the environment.Ege UniversityEge University [2006 FEN 044]Financial support for the present work from the Ege University under the following Project 2006 FEN 044 is gratefully acknowledged. We sincerely thank Prof. Dr. Osman Candan and Dr. Cuneyt Akal for their guidance in the field studies

Bronchodilator reversibility testing in long-term cough and dyspnea after Covid-19 viral infection: a trigger for asthma?

Objective: This study aims to investigate the presence of underlying chronic airway disease in individuals with chronic cough and dyspnea lasting longer than eight weeks and who had previously Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and had no known lung disease. Methods: A total of 151 patients admitted to the respiratory diseases outpatient room with the complaint of cough and/or dyspnea that persisted for at least eight weeks following COVID-19 infection were accrued to the study. Demographic characteristics, smoking history, the severity of lung involvement on chest computed tomography in the acute phase of Covid-19 infection, and bronchodilator reversibility test results were recorded. Smoking history and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) were compared. Results: FEV1 increase >= 200 ml was observed in 40 (26.5%) patients. In 24 (15.9%) patients, an increase in FEV1 was found to be 200 ml and above, and the percentage of FEV1 was 12% or more. While 14 (9.3%) patients were diagnosed with asthma, 13 (8.6%) patients were diagnosed with nonreversible airflow obstruction (NRAO), and 1 (0.7%) patient was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Conclusions: COVID-19 infection may play a vital role in initiating asthma pathogenesis. It should be kept in mind that viral infection-related asthma may be the underlying cause of prolonged cough and dyspnea after COVID-19 infection