Evaluation of the effect of frozen ejaculate and frozenTesticular sperm results on inrtacytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) parameters

Amaç: Çalışmamızda, dondurulmuş ejekülat ve dondurulmuş testiküler spermin İntrasitoplaz - mik Sperm Enjeksiyonu (ICSI) sonuçları üzerine etkisinin araştırılması amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışmamızda 11.10.2016- 12.09.2017 tarihleri arasında infertilite nedeniyle ICSI tedavisine alınan ve spermleri dondurulan 36 çift çalışmaya alınmıştır. Hastaların 14 tanesine ejekülat sperm kriyoprezervasyonu, 22 tanesine de micro testiküler sperm ekstraksiyonu (TESE) sperm kriyoprezervasyonu gerçekleştirilmiştir. İki grubun ICSI sonuçları (fertilizasyon oranı, embriyo gelişme oranı ve gebelik oranları) karşılaştırılmıştır. Bulgular: Sperm parametreleri değerlendirildi- ğinde ejekülat ve TESE spermlerinde dondurma ön- cesi ve dondurma sonrası toplam motilite ve canlılık oranları arasında istatistiksel bir fark belirlenme - miştir (>0.05). Fertilizasyon oranları, implantasyon oranları ve embriyo gelişme oranları arasında ista - tistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark gözlemlenmemiştir (>0.05). Gebelik oranları ise dondurulmuş ejekülat grubunda dondurulmuş testiküler sperm grubuna oranla istatistiksel olarak anlamlı derecede yüksek bulunmuştur ( 0.05). When ICSI parameteres were compared nostatistically signifi - cant difference were observed between fertilization rates, implantation rates and embryo development rates (> 0.05). But pregnancy rates were found sta - tistically significantly higher in frozen ejaculate group than frozen testicular sperm group (<0.05). Conclusion: Although sperm cryopreservation has been used in ICSI treatments for many years, re- search and debate on the effectiveness of the method continues. According to our results frozen testicular sperm had no adverse effect on ICSI parameteres but we analyzed a significant decrease in pregnancy rates. This may be partially explained by the role of sperm in the implantation process. In order to dem- onstrate this effect and to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the implantation process, molecular studies with larger patient groups are needed

Slip distribution of the 2017 M(w)6.6 Bodrum-Kos earthquake: resolving the ambiguity of fault geometry

SUMMARY The 2017 July 20, Mw6.6 Bodrum–Kos earthquake occurred in the Gulf of Gökova in the SE Aegean, a region characterized by N–S extension in the backarc of the easternmost Hellenic Trench. The dip direction of the fault that ruptured during the earthquake has been a matter of controversy where both north- and south-dipping fault planes were used to model the coseismic slip in previous studies. Here, we use seismic (seismicity, main shock modelling, aftershock relocations and aftershock mechanisms using regional body and surface waves), geodetic (GPS, InSAR) and structural observations to estimate the location, and the dip direction of the fault that ruptured during the 2017 earthquake, and the relationship of this event to regional tectonics. We consider both dip directions and systematically search for the best-fitting locations for the north- and south-dipping fault planes. Comparing the best-fitting planes for both dip directions in terms of their misfit to the geodetic data, proximity to the hypocenter location and Coulomb stress changes at the aftershock locations, we conclude that the 2017 earthquake ruptured a north-dipping fault. We find that the earthquake occurred on a 20–25 km long, ∼E–W striking, 40° north-dipping, pure normal fault with slip primarily confined between 3 and 15 km depth, and the largest slip exceeding 2 m between depths of 4 and 10 km. The coseismic fault, not mapped previously, projects to the surface within the western Gulf, and partly serves both to widen the Gulf and separate Kos Island from the Bodrum Peninsula of SW Anatolia. The coseismic fault may be an extension of a mapped, north-dipping normal fault along the south side of the Gulf of Gökova. While all of the larger aftershocks are consistent with N–S extension, their spatially dispersed pattern attests to the high degree of crustal fracturing within the basin, due to rapid trenchward extension and anticlockwise rotation within the southeastern Aegean

Dansite gradyan sperm yıkama yönteminin sperm parametreleri ve akrozomal duruma etkileri

AbstractIntroduction: The aim of this study was to observe changes in sperm parameters after density gradient sperm preparation. These data will help to decide upon preparation technique and to predict the outcome of semen parameters after using this technique.Methods: A total of 1402 men who were screened for infertility at the Florence Nightingale Hospital in vitro fertilization clinic between April 2011 and October 2016 were analyzed. Semen analysis was performed according to World Health Organization 2010 guidelines before and after semen preparation. Samples with &lt;1 mil/mL sperm concentration were prepared using the density gradient centrifugation technique and the semen parameters (sperm concentration, total motility, progressive motility, normal morphology rate, and normal acrosomal status rate) were analyzed.Results: Although sperm concentration was reduced, the total motility, progressive motility, and normal morphology rate were higher after density gradient semen preparation. Sperm concentration decreased by 37.49% after semen preparation (p=0.01). Total motility rate increased significantly, by 21.47% (66.1% before and 87.57% after semen preparation), progressive motility rate increased by 28.12% (11.45% before and 39.57% after semen preparation), normal morphology rate increased by 5% (3% before and 8% after semen preparation), and normal acrosomal status rate increased by 14% (62% before and 76%) after semen preparation (p&lt;0.01). Discussion and Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the sperm parameters of total motility, progressive sperm motility, normal morphology, and normal acrosomal status rate increased, but sperm concentration decreased after density gradient sperm preparation. These data will help the specialist to decide upon the sperm preparation technique to be used in assisted reproduction and to predict the outcome of semen parameters after using this technique.Giriş ve Amaç: Çalışmanın amacı sperm parametrelerinin yoğunluk gradyan yöntemi ile yıkanmasının sperm sonuçları- nın etkisini araştırmak ve uzmanlara bu yöntem ile yıkama sonrasında sonuçları öngörme imkanı verebilmektir. Yöntem ve Gereçler: 04.2011- 10.2016 tarihleri arasında Florence Nightingale Hastanesi, Yardımla Üreme Merkezi'ne infertilite araştırması nedeniyle başvuran 1402 erkek çalışmaya alınmıştır. Sperm hazırlama öncesi ve sonrasında semen analizleri WHO 2010'a göre yapılmıştır. Sperm konsantrasyonu <1 mil/ml nin altındaki örnekler dansite gradyan yöntemiyle hazırlanmış ve semen parametreleri (sperm konsantrasyonu, toplam motilite, progresif motilite, normal morfoloji ve normal akrozom yapısı oranları analiz edilmiştir.Bulgular: Yoğunluk gradyan yöntemi sonrasında sperm konsantrasyonu azalmasına rağmen total motilite, progresif motilite, normal morfoloji ve normal akrozomal yapı oranları artmış olarak bulunmuştur (p<0.05). Sperm konsantrasyonu parametresinde %37.49 lük anlamlı bir azalma belirlenmiştir. Toplam motilite oranında %21.47'lik anlamlı bir artış (yıkama öncesi %66.1 ve yıkama sonrası %87.57) after semen preparation, progresif motilite oranında %28.12'lik bir artış (yıkama öncesi %11.45 ve yıkama sonrası %39.57), normal morfoloji oranında %5'lik bir artış (yıkama öncesi %3 ve yıkama sonrası %8), ve normal akrozomal yapı oranında %14'lük bir artış yıkama öncesi %62 ve yıkama sonrası %76), belirlenmiştir (p<0.05). Tartışma ve Sonuç: Çalışmanın bulguları doğrultusunda yoğunluk gradyanı yöntemi sonrasında toplam motilite, progresif motilite, normal morfoloji ve normal akrozomal yapı oranları anlamlı derecede artmış ancak sperm konsantrasyonu anlamlı derecede azalmış olarak belirlenmiştir (p<0.05). Bulgular, uzmanlara yöntem sonrasında parametreleri öngörme ve buna göre yardımla üreme tekniklerinde sperm hazırlama yöntemini seçmekte yardımcı olacaktır

Özel bir lisedeki öğretmen ve öğrencilerin sosyal ağ sitelerinin eğitim amaçlı kullanımına yönelik görüşlerinin karşılaştırılması.

This study aims to investigate the use of Social Networking Sites (SNSs) by high school students and teachers by (i) comparing their preferences in using these webbased social environments, and (ii) questioning how they affect their face-to-face communication. Survey research design with convenience sampling method was used to descriptively compare social media usage behaviors of teachers and students and their perceptions toward SNSs. As the data collection instruments two surveys, one for teachers and another for students were utilized. The data were collected from 445 high school students and 61 high school teachers. Descriptive statistics and t-test were used to analyze the collected dataset. Results indicated that teachers and students prefer to use similar SNSs like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. They both perceive SNSs as an online environment for entertaining, socializing, and communicating. Moreover, both groups indicated that SNSs provide an opportunity to access information easily and instantly whenever and wherever they needed. According to some remarkable results, while teachers use SNSs mainly for communication reasons, majority of the students use them for entertainment reasons. Educational purpose is the most frequently stated reason by students for interacting with their teachers in SNSs. Chatting is the most preferred SNSs activity that students do for interacting with other students. Majority of students and teachers vi aware of the privacy and security settings on SNSs. Majority of the students stated that use of the SNSs do not affect their face-to-face communications. This study has important implications for practice and research in that the findings drawn from this study can inform teachers and researchers how to design and tailor SNSs for their courses or studies.  M.S. - Master of Scienc

UV ışınlarıyla kuruyabilen buğulanmayan kaplamaların hazırlanması ve performans özelliklerinin incelenmesi

Günümüzde optik özelliği iyi olan birçok malzemenin görüntü özelliklerini kaybetmesi ciddi sorunlara neden olmaktadır. Otomobil camı, kask, vizör ve tıbbi alanda kullanılan birçok malzemede bu sorunla karşılaşılmaktadır. Görüntü özelliklerinin kaybedilmesinde, sık karşılaşılan durumlardan biri buğudur. Buğu maddenin bulunduğu ortamın enerjisinin yüksek, maddenin kendisinin yüzey serbest enerjisinin düşük olduğu zamanlarda oluşmaktadır. Buğu oluşumunun optik malzemelerde ciddi sorunlar oluşturabildiği bilinmektedir. Bu çalışmada, buna çözüm olarak hidrofilik özellikte, ışık geçirgenliği iyi, düşük viskoziteye sahip ticari poli eter akrilat oligomerleri temel bileşen olarak, çapraz bağlanmayı sağlaması amacıyla HEMA ve PEGDA, hidrofilik bir yapı geliştirilmesi amacıyla SPA tuzu kullanılmış ve UV ile kuruyabilen yeni bir kaplama formülasyonu geliştirilmiştir. Hazırlanan formülasyonlar polikarbonat plakalara kaplanarak, UV ışınları ile sertleştirilmiştir. Ayrıca formülasyonlar Teflon® kalıplara dökülerek serbest filmler hazırlanmıştır. Buğulanmama özelliğinin incelenmesinde hazırlanan test plakaları kullanılmıştır. Bu amaçla, hazırlanan test plakaları ile temas açısı ölçülmüş ve test plakalarına ayrıca buğu testi yapılmıştır. Yapılan bu testler yüzeyin iyi bir hidrofiliteye sahip olduğunu göstermiştir. Hidrofilik özellikteki kaplama malzemelerinin ışık geçirgenliğini ölçmek için UV spektrofotometre cihazı ile görünür bölgedeki 300- 600 nm dalga boyu aralığındaki ışınlar kaplama formülasyona sahip yüzeylerden geçirilerek, kaplamanın hala mükemmel bir ışık geçirgenliğine sahip olduğu görülmüştür. Buğu testi sonuçlarına bakılarak %5- %7- %10 SPA içeriğine sahip kaplama formülasyonlarının amacımıza çok uygun olduğu gözlemlenmiştir.Hazırlanan kaplanmış plakalara ayrıca; çizilme (pencil hardness), yapışma (cross-cut), ovma ve kimyasallara karşı dayanım testleri yapılmıştır. Serbest filmlerin yapısı, taramalı elektron miksoskobu (SEM) ile incelenmiş, ayrıca serbest filmlere şişme ve termal gravimetrik analiz (TGA) testleri yapılmıştır.--------------------Today, the loss of visual properties of materials with good optical properties may cause serious problems. This problem is encountered in automobile glass, helmets, visors and many materials used in the medical field. One of the common occurrences of loss of visual properties is fog. Fog occurs when the energy of the environment in which the material is present is high and the surface free energy of the substance itself is low. It is well-known that fog formation can cause severe problems in optical materials. In this study, as a solution to this, commercial polyether acrylate oligomers with hydrophilic properties, good light transmission and low viscosity were used as the main component, HEMA and PEGDA to ensure cross-linking, SPA salt to develop a hydrophilic structure and a new coating formulation that can dry with UV was developed. The formulations prepared were covered with polycarbonate plates and hardened with UV rays. Moreover, free films were prepared by pouring the formulations into Teflon® molds. Test plates prepared were used to examine the non-fogging feature. For this purpose, the contact angle was measured on the prepared test plates and a fog test was also applied to the test plates. These tests have shown that the surface has excellent hydrophilicity. To measure the light transmittance of hydrophilic coating materials, it was observed that the coating still has excellent light transmittance by passing the rays in the wavelength range of 300 - 600 nm in the visible region with the UV spectrophotometer device through the surfaces with the coating formulation. Based on the fogging test results, it has been observed that coating formulations with 5% - 7% - 10% SPA content are very suitable for our purpose.In addition to the prepared coated plates; scratch (pencil hardness), adhesion (cross-cut), scrubbing and chemical resistance tests were performed. The structure of free films was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and swelling and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) tests were performed on free films

Administration of autologous platelet rich plasma and the impact on outcomes of assisted reproduction treatment in infertile women

Objective: There are diverse findings concerning the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in assisted reproduction treatment (ART) cycles of infertile women with low ovarian reserve, ovarian failure or implantation failure due to endometrial problems. A debate continues regarding the benefit of this technique because of the low number of evidence-based studies. Mechanism: Different PRP preparation methods have been described in the literature, aiming to obtain the highest number of platelets following centrifugation steps. Findings in brief : Research on the use of PRP in female infertility aims to improve the deteriorated hormonal profile, gamete production and implantation of the embryo into the endometrium. Conclusions: This paper reviewed literature evaluating the impact of PRP on the outcomes of subsequent ART cycles in infertile women. PRP is a safe and easy-to-apply procedure and can be used as an 'add-on' therapy in patients with reduced ovarian reserve, ovarian failure or implantation failure prior to the in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle, although it is still regarded as an empirical treatment method. Further studies should be conducted to enlighten the subject

A discussion on Georgion democracy

Sovyet sonrası küresel literatürün siyaset bilimi akademisinde en hararetle tartışılan meselesi, demokratik değerlerin yeni oluşan devletlere nasıl entegre edileceğine yönelikti. 1990’lı yıllara karşılık gelen bu dönem, SSCB’nin dağılması ile meydana gelen yeni ulus devletlerin demokrasi ve bağımsızlık hikayelerini oluşturdukları ve buna bağlı olarak uluslararası ortamın siyasal sistem ve siyasal rejim tartışmalarını da beraberinde gündeme getirmişti. Batı kaynaklarının iddiası bir barış döneminin başladığı, devamında demokrasi düzeninin oturacağı ve dahası liberal demokrasinin ön plana çıktığı küresel bir zafer kazanıldığı yönündeydi. Bu öngörü özellikle SSCB’den ayrılan ve Batı ile kültürel ya da coğrafi anlamda entegre olabilecek devletler için düşünülmüş bir projeydi. Gürcistan hem bu nitelikte bir devlet olması hem de kuruluşundan itibaren Rusya ve Batı arasında kurduğu denge siyaseti dolayısıyla çalışmanın merkezine alınmıştır. Bu çalışma Gürcistan hakkında bu öngörülerin gerçekleşip gerçekleşmediğine dair bir yorumu içerirken, Gürcistan’ın siyasi kurumlarını, sosyal ve siyasi yapısını, seçim sistemleriyle beraber bir Batı ülkesi olup olmadığını ortaya koymaya çalışacaktırThe most fiercely discussed issue in the political science academy of the post-Soviet global literature was the democratic consolidation project. This period, which corresponds to the 1990s, brought up the political system-regime discussions of the international environment, in which the large and small nation states formed the stories of democracy and accordingly. The claim of western sources was that a period of peace began, that the order of democracy would follow, and that more liberal democracy came to the fore. This prediction was especially valid for states that left the USSR and could integrate culturally or geographically with the West. Georgia is the center of the study because it is a state of this nature. This study will try to reveal whether these predictions about Georgia have been realized, whether Georgia is a Western country with its political institutions, social and political structure, election systems

Effects of gallic acid on endometrial cancer cells in two and three dimensional cell culture models

Background and Aim: Cell culture studies are an indispensable tools used to understand basic physiological, biophysical and biomolecular mechanisms. Although traditional two-dimensional (2D) cell culture models are more preferred in experimental studies, three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models, attract more attention due to several advantages including mimicking tumor physiology, biochemistry and biomechanics. We aimed to investigate the effects of Gallic Acid, an antimutagenic, antioxidant and anticarcinogenic agent, on both 2D and 3D cultured endometrial cancer cells for the first time. Methods: IC50 values were determined in 2D and 3D cultured endometrial cancer cells exposed to different doses of GA. In the 2D culture model exposed to GA, Caspase 3 expression levels were analyzed. In addition, the effect of GA on the migration of 2D cultured endometrium cancer cells was investigated. Results: IC50 value in the 3D model was found significantly higher than the 2D model. In 2D culture model, Caspase 3 expression and apoptosis was increased significantly in cells of GA exposed group compared to the control group. GA did not have a significant effect on the migration profile of cells. Conclusion: Gallic Acid is shown to induce apoptosis in Ishikawa cells via Caspase 3 activation. We demonstrated a significantly higher IC50 level in 3D model which provide evidence to prefer 3D models in drug-test trials. The data obtained in the current study will provide a basis for further experiments to analyze the effects of GA on endometrial cancer and to develop strategies for clinical treatment

Artificial oocyte activation with calcium ionophore for frozen sperm cycles

WOS: 000445003100007PubMed ID: 29620419Fertilization problems are the major problems that may be faced in 30-55% of the patients during an intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle. A successful oocyte activation depends on factors related to both sperm and oocyte, and one of the important factors that mediates the process is Ca2+ concentration within the oocyte. Artificial oocyte activation (AOA) is a method used for fertilization problems that commonly involve the usage of Ca2+ ionophores and is usually used in problems such as total fertilization failure (TFF) and globozoospermia. The aim of the present study was to investigate possible effects of AOA for different groups of patients with fertilization failure. Four groups of patients (previous TFF, low oocyte number, severe sperm quality, and frozen sperm (FS) group) that underwent ICSI with AOA were included in the study. All groups had similar control groups with same indications except TFF, where AOA was not performed. Fertilization rates were significantly higher in the TFF group than those observed in other AOA groups. Fertilization rates and quality of embryos observed in the remaining AOA groups were higher than those of the controls, which were statistically insignificant. Prgenancy rates were higher in all AOA groups compared to the controls, although the differences were significant in FS group only. Quality of embryos and pregnancy rates were lower in the TFF group compared to the remaining AOA groups indicating possible concomitant problems. Fertilization rates, quality of embryos and pregnancy rates seemed to be increased in all indication groups suggesting that not only TFF patients but also a wide variety of patients with different indications may benefit from AOA.Abbreviations: ICSI: Intracytoplasmic sperm injection; ARTs: Assisted reproductive techniques; Ca: Calcium; AOA: Artificial oocyte activation; TFF: Total fertilization failures; OAT: Oligoasthenoteratozoospemia; IVF: In vitro fertilization; SOAT: Severe OAT; LON: Low ooctye number; FS: Frozen sperm; hCG: human chorionic gonadotrophin; PVP: polyvinylpyrrolidone; HSA: human serum albumi