In a real-life setting, direct-acting antivirals to people who inject drugs with chronic hepatitis c in Turkey

Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) should be treated in order to eliminate hepatitis C virus in the world. The aim of this study was to compare direct-acting antivirals treatment of hepatitis C virus for PWID and non-PWID in a real-life setting. Methods: We performed a prospective, non-randomized, observational multicenter cohort study in 37 centers. All patients treated with direct-acting antivirals between April 1, 2017, and February 28, 2019, were included. In total, 2713 patients were included in the study among which 250 were PWID and 2463 were non-PWID. Besides patient characteristics, treatment response, follow-up, and side effects of treatment were also analyzed. Results: Genotype 1a and 3 were more prevalent in PWID-infected patients (20.4% vs 9.9% and 46.8% vs 5.3%). The number of naïve patients was higher in PWID (90.7% vs 60.0%), while the number of patients with cirrhosis was higher in non-PWID (14.1% vs 3.7%). The loss of follow-up was higher in PWID (29.6% vs 13.6%). There was no difference in the sustained virologic response at 12 weeks after treatment (98.3% vs 98.4%), but the end of treatment response was lower in PWID (96.2% vs 99.0%). In addition, the rate of treatment completion was lower in PWID (74% vs 94.4%). Conclusion: Direct-acting antivirals were safe and effective in PWID. Primary measures should be taken to prevent the loss of follow-up and poor adherence in PWID patients in order to achieve World Health Organization’s objective of eliminating viral hepatitis

Experiences of science teachers on field trips to out-of-school learning environments

Bilim ve teknolojinin hızla gelişmesine paralel olarak eğitim sistemimizin sürekli bir değişim ve yenilenme içinde olduğu günümüzde, eğitimin sadece okul çatısı altında yapıldığı düşünülen düşünce akımları etkisini hızla yitirmektedir. Aynı zamanda alan yazında okul dışı öğrenme ortamlarının öğrencilerin öğrenmeleri üzerine olumlu etkilerinin ortaya konulduğu birçok çalışma olduğu görülmektedir. Bu çalışmada okul dışı ortamlara gezi düzenleyen fen bilimleri öğretmenlerinin gezilerinin planlama, uygulama, değerlendirme ve izleme aşamalarında neler yaşadığı, hangi problemlerle karşılaştığı ve olası çözüm yollarını ortaya koymak amaçlanmaktadır. Araştırmada nitel yöntem desen türlerinden fenomenolojik desen kullanılmıştır. Araştırmada ölçüt örnekleme yöntemi kullanılarak, görüşme yapılan öğretmenlerin okul dışı öğrenme ortamlarına gezi düzenlemiş olması ölçüt olarak alınmıştır. Araştırma kapsamında 12 erkek ve 12 kadın olmak üzere 24 fen bilimleri öğretmeni ile görüşmeler yapılmıştır. Veri toplama aracı olarak yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu kullanılmıştır. Fen bilimleri öğretmenleri ile online görüşmeler yoluyla elde edilen verilerin analizinde içerik analizi ve betimsel analiz kullanılmıştır. Elde edilen sonuçlar, öğretmenlerin gezi düzenlemelerinin amaçlarının öğrencilere biyoçeşitliliği, çevre ve hayvan sevgisini, geri dönüşümü, enerji tüketimi bilincini, bilim sevgisini ve kültürel anlamda bilinçlenmeyi kazandırma olduğunu göstermektedir. Öğretmenlerin, gezi öncesi öğrencilerin sosyal beceri gelişimi için herhangi bir hazırlık yapmadıkları, beceri gelişimi için gezinin doğal ortamında kendiliğinden gerçekleşmesini düşündükleri görülmektedir. Öğretmenlerin hazırlık gerektirmemesi ve az zaman alması nedeniyle gezilerin değerlendirilmesinde sözel yöntemleri yazılı yöntemlere göre daha çok tercih ettiği görülmektedir. Öğretmenler, okul dışı geziden aylar sonra da öğrencilerinde gezilerin bilişsel ve sosyal yönden olumlu etkilerini gözlemlediklerini ifade etmişlerdir. Araştırmanın sonucunda gezi düzenlemenin önündeki en büyük engellerin izin alma süreçleri, gezi maliyetini karşılama, öğrenci kontrolü ve ulaşım olduğu görülmektedir.Parallel to the rapid development of science and technology, in today's world where our education system is constantly undergoing change and renewal, the currents of thought that are thought to only be taught at school have been losing their influences. At the same time, in my field writing, it is seen that there are many studies showing the positive effects of out-of-school learning environments on students' learning. In this study, it is aimed to reveal what science teachers experienced during the planning, implementation, evaluation and monitoring stages of their trips to out-of-school environments, what problems they encountered and possible solutions. In this study, phenomenological pattern, one of the qualitative method pattern types, is used. In this study, using the criterion sampling method, the fact that the teachers interviewed made trips to learning environments out of school is taken as the criterion. Within the scope of the research, interviews are made with 24 science teachers, 12 male and 12female.Semi-structured interview form is used as data collection tool. Content analysis and descriptive analysis are used in the analysis of the data obtained through online interviews with science teachers. The results show that the purpose of teachers' trip arrangements is to provide students' biodiversity, love of environment and animals, recycling, energy consumption awareness, love of science and cultural awareness. It is seen that the teachers do not make any preparations for the social skill development of the students before the trip, and they think that the trip should take place spontaneously in the natural environment for skill development. It is observed that teachers prefer verbal methods more than written methods in evaluating trips because they do not require preparation and take less time. Teachers stated that they observed the positive cognitive and social effects of the trips on their student even months after the excursion. As a result of the research, it is seen that the biggest obstacles to organizing trips are the permitting processes, cost recovery of the trip, student control and transportation

Türk İşbirliği ve Koordinasyon Ajansı ve Türk dış politikasındaki yeri

Ankara : İhsan Doğramacı Bilkent Üniversitesi İktisadi, İdari ve Sosyal Bilimler Fakültesi, Tarih Bölümü, 2016.This work is a student project of the The Department of History, Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences, İhsan Doğramacı Bilkent University.by Çekiç, Can Eyup

Nanomaterial surface modification toolkit: principles, components, recipes, and applications

Surface-functionalized nanostructures are at the forefront of biotechnology, providing new opportunities for biosensors, drug delivery, therapy, and bioimaging applications. The modification of nanostructures significantly impacts the performance and success of various applications by enabling selective and precise targeting. This review elucidates widely practiced surface modification strategies, including click chemistry, cross-coupling, silanization, aldehyde linkers, active ester chemistry, maleimide chemistry, epoxy linkers, and other protein and DNA-based methodologies. We also delve into the application-focused landscape of the nano-bio interface, emphasizing four key domains: therapeutics, biosensing, environmental monitoring, and point-of-care technologies, by highlighting prominent studies. The insights presented herein pave the way for further innovations at the intersection of nanotechnology and biotechnology, providing a useful handbook for beginners and professionals. The review draws on various sources, including the latest research articles (2018-2023), to provide a comprehensive overview of the field

Efficiency and safety of direct acting antivirals in chronic hepatitis C patients infected with genotype 2 and 3 in Turkey

International Liver Congress / 54th Annual Meeting of the European-Association-for-the-Study-of-the-Liver (EASL) -- APR 10-14, 2019 -- Vienna, AUSTRIAWOS: 000463481701006…European Assoc Study LiverGilead Sciences Ilac Ltd. Sti. (Istanbul, Turkey)This study was supported by Gilead Sciences Ilac Ltd. Sti. (Istanbul, Turkey). Company was not involved to the content of the study/publication; no involvement to the decision to submit for publication

Efficacy and safety of direct-acting antivirals in elderly patients with chronic Hepatitis C: A nationwide real-life, observational, multicenter study from Turkey

Background: The number and proportion of elderly patients living with chronic hepatitis C are expected to increase in the coming years. We aimed to compare the real-world efficacy and safety of direct-acting antiviral treatment in elderly and younger Turkish adults infected with chronic hepatitis C. Methods: In this multicenter prospective study, 2629 eligible chronic hepatitis C patients treated with direct-acting antivirals between April 2017 and December 2019 from 37 Turkish referral centers were divided into 2 age groups: elderly (≥65 years) and younger adults (<65 years) and their safety was compared between 2 groups in evaluable population. Then, by matching the 2 age groups for demographics and pretreatment risk factors for a non-sustained virological response, a total of 1516 patients (758 in each group) and 1244 patients (622 in each group) from the modified evaluable population and per-protocol population were included in the efficacy analysis and the efficacy was compared between age groups. Results: The sustained virological response in the chronic hepatitis C patients was not affected by the age and the presence of cirrhosis both in the modified evaluable population and per-protocol population (P = .879, P = .508 for modified evaluable population and P = .058, P = .788 for per-protocol population, respectively). The results of the per-protocol analysis revealed that male gender, patients who had a prior history of hepatocellular carcinoma, patients infected with non-genotype 1 hepatitis C virus, and patients treated with sofosbuvir+ribavirin had a significantly lower sustained virological response 12 rates (P < .001, P = .047, P = .013, and P = .025, respectively). Conclusion: Direct-acting antivirals can be safely used to treat Turkish elderly chronic hepatitis C patients with similar favorable efficacy and safety as that in younger adults

Safety of hospital discharge before return of bowel function after elective colorectal surgery

Background: Ileus is common after colorectal surgery and is associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications. Identifying features of normal bowel recovery and the appropriateness for hospital discharge is challenging. This study explored the safety of hospital discharge before the return of bowel function.Methods: A prospective, multicentre cohort study was undertaken across an international collaborative network. Adult patients undergoing elective colorectal resection between January and April 2018 were included. The main outcome of interest was readmission to hospital within 30 days of surgery. The impact of discharge timing according to the return of bowel function was explored using multivariable regression analysis. Other outcomes were postoperative complications within 30 days of surgery, measured using the Clavien-Dindo classification system.Results: A total of 3288 patients were included in the analysis, of whom 301 (9.2 per cent) were discharged before the return of bowel function. The median duration of hospital stay for patients discharged before and after return of bowel function was 5 (i.q.r. 4-7) and 7 (6-8) days respectively (P &lt; 0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of readmission between these groups (6.6 versus 8.0 per cent; P = 0.499), and this remained the case after multivariable adjustment for baseline differences (odds ratio 0.90, 95 per cent c.i. 0.55 to 1.46; P = 0.659). Rates of postoperative complications were also similar in those discharged before versus after return of bowel function (minor: 34.7 versus 39.5 per cent; major 3.3 versus 3.4 per cent; P = 0.110).Conclusion: Discharge before return of bowel function after elective colorectal surgery appears to be safe in appropriately selected patients

Timing of nasogastric tube insertion and the risk of postoperative pneumonia: an international, prospective cohort study

Aim: Aspiration is a common cause of pneumonia in patients with postoperative ileus. Insertion of a nasogastric tube (NGT) is often performed, but this can be distressing. The aim of this study was to determine whether the timing of NGT insertion after surgery (before versus after vomiting) was associated with reduced rates of pneumonia in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. Method: This was a preplanned secondary analysis of a multicentre, prospective cohort study. Patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery between January 2018 and April 2018 were eligible. Those receiving a NGT were divided into three groups, based on the timing of the insertion: routine NGT (inserted at the time of surgery), prophylactic NGT (inserted after surgery but before vomiting) and reactive NGT (inserted after surgery and after vomiting). The primary outcome was the development of pneumonia within 30 days of surgery, which was compared between the prophylactic and reactive NGT groups using multivariable regression analysis. Results: A total of 4715 patients were included in the analysis and 1536 (32.6%) received a NGT. These were classified as routine in 926 (60.3%), reactive in 461 (30.0%) and prophylactic in 149 (9.7%). Two hundred patients (4.2%) developed pneumonia (no NGT 2.7%; routine NGT 5.2%; reactive NGT 10.6%; prophylactic NGT 11.4%). After adjustment for confounding factors, no significant difference in pneumonia rates was detected between the prophylactic and reactive NGT groups (odds ratio 1.03, 95% CI 0.56–1.87, P = 0.932). Conclusion: In patients who required the insertion of a NGT after surgery, prophylactic insertion was not associated with fewer cases of pneumonia within 30 days of surgery compared with reactive insertion