The phospholipid membrane compositions of bacterial cells, cancer cell lines and biological samples from cancer patients

While cancer now impacts the health and well-being of more of the human population than ever before, the exponential rise in antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacterial infections means AMR is predicted to become one of the greatest future threats to human health. It is therefore vital that novel therapeutic strategies are developed that can be used in the treatment of both cancer and AMR infections. Whether the target of a therapeutic agent be inside the cell or in the cell membrane, it must either interact with or cross this phospholipid barrier to elicit the desired cellular effect. Here we summarise findings from published research into the phospholipid membrane composition of bacterial and cancer cell lines and biological samples from cancer patients. These data not only highlight key differences in the membrane composition of these biological samples, but also the methods used to elucidate and report the results of this analogous research between the microbial and cancer fields

Synthesis and study of potential fluorescent sensors and steps towards understanding a new class of SSAs

This thesis reports the synthesis of four receptors designed to be potential fluorescent sensors for anions. The binding of these receptors to a series of anions were studied in the organic solvent DMSO; following this, a series of studies on the fluorimeter were conducted to assess their sensing potential. This thesis also reports the study of two SSAs and their neutral counterparts previously synthesised by Tjorge Neumann (University of Kiel). The self-associative properties of the four compounds were studied in the solution state to discern any structure specific activity, and assess their potential as a new class of SSAs

A brief case series of radiation associated myelopathy

Radiation myelopathy (RM) is a rare but serious complication of radiotherapy. Small vessel ischemia and demyelination are some of the more remarkable indications of RM's pathophysiology. The RM is a diagnosis of exclusion. In the differential diagnosis, infectious causes, tumors, rheumatic diseases, and paraneoplastic syndromes are the main diseases that should be excluded. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a useful method for diagnosis. We present a report on 3 patients diagnosed with radiation myelitis. All the patients presented with late paraparasia and paresthesia. Despite high-dose steroids, hyperbaric oxygen, and physical therapy, there was no clinical improvement at the follow-up one year later

The impact of a six-month interpersonal group psychotherapy on functionality of patients with schizophrenia in a community mental health center

Objective: Psychotherapy is recommended concomitantly with pharmacotherapy to treat functional deterioration in patients with early-phase schizophrenia. This study aims to investigate and compare the impact of interpersonal group psychotherapy on functionality in patients with early-phase schizophrenia compared to painting therapy and waiting list groups. Methods: Prospective, single-blind, controlled study was carried out in Bolu Community Mental Health Center. The sample consists of 60 patients who had received neither rehabilitation nor psychotherapy before and who were eligible for the study. Participants were distributed consecutively to group psychotherapy, painting and waiting list groups each consisting 20 patients based on their order of admission. Therapeutic intervention was composed of 24 sessions of interpersonal group psychotherapy for 6 months. Sociodemographic Data Forms; positive and negative syndrome scales and brief functionality assessment scale were used at beginning and at the end of therapy. Results: Three groups did not differ in age, education, disease duration, number of hospitalizations, gender, working, socioeconomic and marital status, social support, pharmacological treatment's type and dose. At the end of the study, patients in group psychotherapy had much more improvement in functionality compared to the painting therapy and waiting lists groups. Discussion: Interpersonal group psychotherapy may aid as an adjunctive to treatment as usual in community mental health centers to improve functioning of patients with early-phase schizophrenia

Discussion: a critique of Possible waterways between the Marmara Sea and the Black Sea in the late Quaternary: evidence from ostracod and foraminifer assemblages in lakes Iznik and Sapanca, Turkey, Geo-Marine Letters, 2011

The identification of past connection routes between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, other than the traditional one through to the Bosphorus Strait, would be of considerable interest to the international scientific community. Nazik et al. (Geo-Mar Lett 31:75-86 (2011) doi: 10.1007/s00367-010-0216-9 suggest the possibility of two alternative waterway connections via lakes Sapanca and Iznik. Their Black Sea to Sea of Marmara multi-connection hypothesis, which is based on undated marine fossils collected in both lakes from surficial grab samples, conflicts with many earlier studies. In this contribution, the hypothesis and the underlying data are discussed in the light of previous tectonic, sedimentological and limnological findings showing that it is impossible to have had marine connections through lakes Sapanca and A degrees znik during the last 11.5 ka. Global sea-level trends and tectonic uplift rates would accommodate a connection between the Sea of Marmara and Lake A degrees znik in the middle Pleistocene. Uplift rates for the northern block of the North Anatolian Fault, when compared with the global sea-level curve, clearly indicate that there cannot have been a connection through the A degrees zmit Gulf-Lake Sapanca-Sakarya Valley for at least the past 500 ka. Moreover, borehole sediments along the western shores of Lake Sapanca, which reach down to the bedrock, do not contain any marine fossils

Detection of visual and frontoparietal network perfusion deficits in Parkinson's disease dementia.

Mild cognitive impairment of Parkinson's disease (PD) may be an early manifestation that may progressively worsen to dementia. Cognitive decline has been associated with changes in the brain perfusion pattern. This study aimed to evaluate cerebral blood flow (CBF) deficits specific to different stages of cognitive decline