Flow pumping system for physiological waveforms

A pulsatile flow pumping system is developed to replicate flow waveforms with reasonable accuracy for experiments simulating physiological blood flows at numerous points in the body. The system divides the task of flow waveform generation between two pumps: a gear pump generates the mean component and a piston pump generates the oscillatory component. The system is driven by two programmable servo controllers. The frequency response of the system is used to characterize its operation. The system has been successfully tested in vascular flow experiments where sinusoidal, carotid, and coronary flow waveforms are replicated

The financial impacts of the avian influenza outbreaks on Turkish table egg producers

A face to face survey was carried out in randomly selected 124 layer producers in 7 most important egg producing cities in Turkey between September 2006 and May 2007 in order to investigate the financial impacts of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in Turkish commercial layer-egg producers. The financial analyses were divided into 3 periods, namely 'before the outbreak (October 2004-January 2005)', 'during the outbreak (October 2005 - January 2006)' and 'after the outbreak (February-May 2006)'

Financial effects of the highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks on the Turkish broiler producers

This research aimed at assessing the financial effects of the 2005 to 2006 highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks on Turkish broiler enterprises. The data were obtained from an interview survey carried out in 499 enterprises randomly selected from 14 provinces that accounted for 79% of the national broiler production. The research revealed that the contracted broiler producers lost on average 1.38 cycles of production and their management fee reduced by 14.7% in 8 mo after the outbreaks. As a result, the broiler production and the enterprise income declined by 34.8 and 44.3%, respectively. The bank loan of the producers rose by 161%. A total of 93% of the producers did not do any other supplementary work during the idle production period in spite of the fact that broiler production was the only business of 36% of them. Furthermore, more than half of the producers (56%) stated that they were considering expanding their business, but suspended this idea due to the outbreak. Approximately 87% of the producers increased the biosecurity measures after the outbreaks. The nationwide effects of the avian influenza outbreaks on the contracted broilers farms were estimated to be US$100.8 million (US$ 7,967/broiler house). The futures of the contracted broiler producers are fully dependent upon those of the integrated firms. Any negative effects on the latter appeared to be transferred directly to the former. However, the government neglected the integrated firms in the avian influenza compensation programs

Financial effects of the highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks on the Turkish broiler producers

This research aimed at assessing the financial effects of the 2005 to 2006 highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks on Turkish broiler enterprises. The data were obtained from an interview survey carried out in 499 enterprises randomly selected from 14 provinces that accounted for 79% of the national broiler production. The research revealed that the contracted broiler producers lost on average 1.38 cycles of production and their management fee reduced by 14.7% in 8 mo after the outbreaks. As a result, the broiler production and the enterprise income declined by 34.8 and 44.3%, respectively. The bank loan of the producers rose by 161%. A total of 93% of the producers did not do any other supplementary work during the idle production period in spite of the fact that broiler production was the only business of 36% of them. Furthermore, more than half of the producers (56%) stated that they were considering expanding their business, but suspended this idea due to the outbreak. Approximately 87% of the producers increased the biosecurity measures after the outbreaks. The nationwide effects of the avian influenza outbreaks on the contracted broilers farms were estimated to be US$100.8 million (US$ 7,967/broiler house). The futures of the contracted broiler producers are fully dependent upon those of the integrated firms. Any negative effects on the latter appeared to be transferred directly to the former. However, the government neglected the integrated firms in the avian influenza compensation programs

Giant cell tumor of the bone with an asymptomatic huge solitary lung metastasis; case presentation and literature review

PubMed ID: 17318959A case concerning a man having giant cell tumor (GCT) of the leg and huge lung metastasis is presented. This case is discussed with a brief review of the revelant literature regarding detection and treatment of this rare condition. © 2006 Zerbinis Medical Publications

Effect of pulmonary involvement on bath indexes, quality of life and psychological symptoms in patients with ankylosing spondylitis [Ankilozan spondilite bagli pulmoner tutulumun bath i·ndeksleri, yaşam kalitesi ve psikolojik semptomlar üzerine etkisi]

Objective: Pain and stiffness disturb the psychological status and quality of life in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients, which may be further deteriorated by pulmonary involvement. Therefore, detection of pulmonary involvement in AS patients is important. In this study, we aimed to detect pulmonary involvement in AS patients and to assess the effects of pulmonary involvement on Bath indexes, quality of life and psychological symptoms. Material and Methods: The study included 26 AS patients (mean age: 47.5±10.8 years). Pulmonary status of the patients was assessed by spirometric measurements and radiographic methods (chest X-ray, high resolution computerized tomography [HRCT]); clinical status was assessed by Bath indexes (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index [BASDAI], Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index [BASFI], Bath Spondylitis Metrology Index [BASMI], Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Index [BASRI]); quality of life was assessed by Nottingham Health Profile-1 (NHP) and St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ); and psychological symptoms were assessed by Beck Depression Scale (BDS). Results: Respiratory function tests were impaired in 15.4% of the patients (n: 3/1, restrictive/obstructive). HRCT revealed pathologic findings in 20.9% of the patients (n: 5). A negative correlation was detected between forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1%) and BASFI (r=-0.56, p0.05). Conclusion: Our study showed that pulmonary involvement may be observed among non-smoker AS patients with longer duration of disease; however, pulmonary involvement is not related with clinical status, quality of life or psychological symptoms

The relationship between the myocardial T2* value and left ventricular volumetric and functional parameters in thalassemia major patients

PubMed ID: 21647857PURPOSE: Cardiac involvement in thalassemia major (TM) is mainly characterized by left ventricular dysfunction caused by iron overload. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including myocardial T2* measurement is becoming increasingly popular for quantitatively evaluating myocardial iron overload. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the myocardial T2*value and left ventricular functional parameters and to examine the associations between the degree of cardiac iron load and various clinical parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 47 patients (25 males and 22 females; mean age, 23.0±5.4 years) with TM was performed. Myocardial iron load was assessed by T2* measurements, and volumetric functions were analyzed using the steady state free precession sequence. RESULTS: In patients with myocardial iron deposition (T2* <20 ms), the mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 64.73±4.94%. The LVEF of patients with myocardial siderosis was significantly lower than that of patients without myocardial siderosis (r=0.35, P = 0.014). Inverse and significant correlations between both the left ventricular (LV) end-systolic volume index and the LV end-diastolic volume index and the myocardial T2* value (r=-0.32, P = 0.027 and r=-0.29, P = 0.046, respectively) were observed. There was an inverse correlation between the myocardial T2* value and the liver iron concentration (r=-0.31, P = 0.037). Cardiac T2* was not associated with serum ferritin levels, pre-transfusion hemoglobin levels or the annual red cell consumption rate. CONCLUSION: Myocardial iron load assessed by cardiac MRI (T2*) is associated with deterioration in left ventricular function. Thalassemia major patients with myocardial siderosis may have LVEF values within normal limits, but this result must be interpreted cautiously. © Turkish Society of Radiology 2011