Sosyal Medya Kampanyası Aracılığıyla Otizm Farkındalığının Ölçümlenmesi ve Arttırılmasına Yönelik Bir İletişim Çalışması

Bu çalışmanın temel amacı toplumun mevcut otizm farkındalığını ölçümlemektir. Ek olarak çalışmanın, yapısı gereği, otizm farkındalığının arttırılmasına katkı sağlayacağı düşünülmektedir. Çalışmada öncelikle otizmli bireylerin aileleri ile görüşmeler yapılmış; ardından Türkiye genelinde geniş bir örnekleme ulaşmak amacıyla bir sosyal medya kampanyası tasarlanmış ve toplumun farklı kesimlerinin dahil edildiği bir farkındalık araştırması gerçekleştirilmiştir. Ağırlıklı olarak Instagram ve Facebook üzerinden yürütülen kampanya, medya dünyasından tanınmış kişilerce de desteklenmiş; reklam uygulamalarının yanı sıra organik iletişim aracılığıyla kampanya için tasarlanan web sitesine trafik sağlamıştır. Bu sayede, hem kampanya web sitesinde yer verilen farkındalık anketine coğrafi ve demografik açıdan çeşitliliğe sahip bir örneklemin katılımı sağlanmış hem de araştırma dışında otizm ile ilgili gerekli bilgiler site ziyaretçileri ile paylaşılmıştır. Aile görüşmeleri nitel, farkındalık araştırması ise nicel yaklaşımla yürütülen çalışma, karma desen bir araştırma olarak nitelendirilebilir. Araştırma sonucunda otizm konusunun merkezinde yer alan ailelerin görüşleri ile toplumun geri kalanının konuya bakışı ve farkındalık düzeyi bir arada değerlendirilmiştir. Genel bir ifadeyle, ailelerin yaşadığı kaygı ve problemlerin alandaki önceki çalışmaları desteklediği; toplumun otizm farkındalığının ise beklenen düzeyden düşük olduğu söylenebilir. Ailelerin problemleri arasında dışlanma ve sosyal ilişkilerde yaşanan olumsuzluklar öne çıkmasına karşın; araştırmanın diğer boyutunda yer alan katılımcıların otizmli bireylere ve ailelere yönelik olumlu tutumlara sahip oldukları görülmüştür. Gerek aileler gerek diğer bireyler otizmin medyada temsilinin problemli olduğu görüşünde birleşmektedir. Çalışma kapsamında yürütülen sosyal medya kampanyası, araştırmaya gönüllü katılımcı sağlama açısından planlanan hedeflere ulaşmıştır. Kampanyanın farkındalığı arttırma boyutunda ne derece etkili olup olmadığının değerlendirilmesi, çalışma kapsamı dışında olsa da elde edilen erişim ve etkileşimler bu yönde olumlu bir katkıya işaret etmektedir

Expression of the ionotropic glutamate receptors on neuronostatin neurons in the periventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus

Background: Neuronostatin, a newly identified peptide, is accepted as an anorexigenic peptide since it suppresses food intake when given intracerebroventricularly. Although the effect mechanisms of neuronostatin have been shown in different studies, there are no reports in the literature describing the mechanisms controlling neuronostatin neurons. In this study, we aimed to determine the presence of the ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits (iGluRs) in neuronostatin neurons in the periventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. Materials and methods: The presence of glutamate receptors in neuronostatin neurons was investigated by dual immunohistochemistry. Immunohistochemistry was performed on 40 µm thick coronal brain sections with antibodies against AMPA (GluA1-4), kainate (GluK1/2/3, and GluK5), and NMDA (GluN1 and GluN2A) receptor subunits. Results: The results showed that the neuronostatin neurons expressed most of the NMDA and non-NMDA receptor subunits. The neuronostatin neurons in the anterior hypothalamic periventricular nucleus were particularly immunopositive for GluA1, GluA4, GluK1/2/3, GluK5 and GluN1 antibodies. No expression was observed for GluA2, GluA3 and GluN2A antibodies. Conclusions: For the first time in the literature, our study demonstrated that the neuronostatin neurons express glutamate receptor subunits which may form homomeric or heteromeric functional receptor complexes. Taken together, these results suggest that multiple subunits of iGluRs are responsible for glutamate transmission on neuronostatin neurons in the anterior hypothalamic periventricular nucleus

Otobüslerde Kullanılan Plastik Yakıt Tanklarının Statik Ve Dinamik Analizler Yardımıyla Dayanımının İncelenmesi

Konferans Bildirisi -- Teorik ve Uygulamalı Mekanik Türk Milli Komitesi, 2015Conference Paper -- Theoretical and Applied Mechanical Turkish National Committee, 2015Günümüzde, otobüslerde kullanılmakta olan konvansiyonel metal yakıt tankları yerini plastik yakıt tanklarına bırakmaktadır. Bu makalede, plastik yakıt tanklarının, statik ve dinamik analizlere dayalı, bilgisayar destekli, geliştime-tasarım projesinn bir kısmı sunulmuştur. Öncelikle, plastik malzemenin mekanik özelliklerini bulmaya yönelik kupon testleri gerçekleştirilmiştir. Statik analizlerde yakıt tankına eşdeğer yükler uygulanmıştır. Dinamik analizler ise zamanla değişen yük, yakıt ve tankın atalaet momentleri göz önüne alınmış ve modal transient analiz yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Statik analizlerde, eşdeğer statik yükleme yaklaşımı kullanılmaktadır. Yapılan dinamk analizlerde, akışkan akustik elemanlar kullanılarak modellenmiştir. Yakıt tankı farklı doluluk oranları için incelenerek karşılaştırılmış ve sonuçları bu bildiride paylaşılmıştır.Nowadays, the conventional metal fuel tanks used in buses are being replaced with plastic fuel tanks. In this paper, a part of the project which aims to develop a computer aided methodology for developing/designing of the plastic fuel tanks based on static and dynamic analysis is presented. Coupon tests are first conducted to acquire the mechanical properties of the plastic material. In the static analysis, equivalent static loads are applied to the fuel tanks. In the dynamic analysis, the time varying loading and the inertia of the fluid and fuel tanks are taken into account using modal transient analysis. Fluid which is in the tank is modeled with acoustic approach in dynamic analysis. In this paper, different fullness ratios of the fuel tank are investigated and both results are compared each other

Glutamate receptor antagonist suppresses the activation of nesfatin-1 neurons following refeeding or glucose administration

Background: Nesfatin-1 is a newly identified satiety peptide that has regulatory effects on food intake and glucose metabolism, and is located in the hypothalamic nuclei, including the supraoptic nucleus (SON). In this study, we have investigated the hypothesis that nesfatin-1 neurons are activated by refeeding and intraperitoneal (ip) glucose injection and that the glutamatergic system has regulatory influences on nesfatin-1 neurons in the SON. Materials and methods: The first set of experiments analyzed activation of nesfatin-1 neurons after refeeding as a physiological stimulus and the effectiveness of the glutamatergic system on this physiological stimulation. The subjects were randomly divided into three groups: fasting group, refeeding group and antagonist (CNQX+refeeding) group.  The second set of experiments analyzed activation of nesfatin-1 neurons by glucose injection as a metabolic stimulus and the effectiveness of the glutamatergic system on this metabolic stimulation. The subjects were randomly divided into three groups: saline group, glucose group and antagonist (CNQX+glucose) group. Results: Refeeding significantly increased the number of activated nesfatin-1 neurons by approximately 66%, and intraperitoneal glucose injection activated these neurons by about 55%, compared to the fasting and saline controls. The injections of glutamate antagonist (CNQX) greatly decreased the number of activated nesfatin-1 neurons. Conclusions: This study suggested that nesfatin-1 neurons were activated by peripheral and/or metabolic signals and that this effect was mediated through the glutamatergic system

Increased prevalence of testicular microlithiasis in men with familial testicular cancer and their relatives

Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCT) cluster in families, but responsible genes remain unidentified. The association between testicular microlithiasis (TM) and testicular carcinoma in situ (CIS) suggests that TM may be a TC risk factor. We report testicular ultrasound findings in men with familial TGCT (FTGCT) and their unaffected relatives. A total of 81 men (48 affected and 33 unaffected) from 31 families with ⩾2 TC cases underwent testicular ultrasound. Testicular microlithiasis was defined as either ‘classic' (⩾5 microliths) or ‘limited' (<5 microliths). Statistical analyses used Fisher's exact test and permutation testing. Testicular microlithiasis was more frequent in the contralateral testicles of men with a history of TGCT (affected men) than in unaffected men (48 vs 24%, P=0.04). The association appeared stronger for classic TM (21 vs 9%) than for limited TM (27 vs 15%). Testicular microlithiases were bilateral in six out of seven (87%) unaffected men. Among affected men, TM was not associated with histology, age at diagnosis or cancer treatment. Of the 31 families, 10 accounted for a majority (61%) of the TM cases identified (P=0.11). Testicular microlithiasis was more prevalent among FTGCT family members than described previously in the general population, and was more common among FTGCT cases vs unaffected blood relatives. Testicular microlithiasis appeared to cluster in certain families. These findings suggest both a familial predisposition to TM and an association between TM and FTGCT. If proven, this could be clinically important to men in FTGCT families, and may be useful in identifying specific genes involved in FTGCT

TURKISH JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY

Objective: It is known that the measurement of splenic length in routine clinical practice is a very good indicator of actual splenic size. Knowledge of the normal range of spleen size in the population being examined is a prerequisite. Racial differences in splenic length could result in incorrect interpretation of splenic measurements. The purpose of this study was to establish the range of spleen length in a young male Turkish population. Material and Methods: A total of 2179 volunteers, healthy men aged 17-42 years, from the annual Army Reserve Officer Training Corps training camp at Manisa were included in the study. Sonographic measurements of spleen length were performed on 2179 military personnel. Presence of accessory spleen was also determined. In addition, the height, weight, and age of each volunteer were recorded. Using linear regression analysis, the relation of spleen length and body height, weight and body mass index (BMI) was evaluated. Additionally, the prevalence of accessory spleen detected on ultrasound was calculated. Results: The mean +/- SD height was 173,1 +/- 6,5 cm, mean weight 69,1 +/- 9,7 kg, and mean BMI 22,62 +/- 2,87. Mean spleen length was 10,76 +/- 1,8 cm. The length of the spleen was below 12,80 cm in 95% of the subjects. No statistically significant correlation (p<0.01) between spleen length and body height, weight and BMI was found. The prevalence of accessory spleen was determined as 2.5% on ultrasound screening. Conclusion: It was found that in healthy Turkish men, mean spleen length was 10,76 1,8 cm. This data should be taken into consideration when the diagnosis of splenomegaly is established in Turkish males. (Turk,l Hematol 2010; 27: 25-8

DIAGNOSTIC AND INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY

PURPOSE Nasal polyposis (NP) in adult population is a common problem in otorhinolaryngology outpatient practice. Computed tomography (CT) is the ideal imaging method to investigate paranasal sinus diseases. There is yet no study in the literature measuring the morphometry of maxillary bone in NP. The objectives of this study are to correlate the airway variables obtained by CT findings of both chronic nasal airway obstruction and control group in an adult population, and to investigate whether the bony structure of the airway is affected or not. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty NP cases that were followed up for 1-5 years by an otorhinolaryngologist were included in this retrospective study. Forty subjects who had normal findings reported on paranasal CT scans were randomly selected from our CT database as the control group. Maxillary and palatine bones (PB) were evaluated: the plane angle between the maxillary alveolar processes (MAP) and PB, and depth of the maxillary arch of both groups were compared. RESULTS The mean angle between MAP and PB plane was wider in the NP group (right 128.1 +/- 8.5 degrees and left 126.2 +/- degrees 8.5) than control group (right 106.6 +/- 8.1 degrees and left 105.5 +/- 7.3 degrees). The mean depth of maxillary arch was significantly smaller in the NP group (1.2 +/- 0.2 cm) than in the control group (1.4 +/- 0.2 cm). CONCLUSION There could be a relationship between nasal polyposis in adults and maxillary shape. The flattening and shallowing of the maxillary arch detected in patients with NP may indicate that the bony structural changes continue in adulthood

SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF UROLOGY AND NEPHROLOGY

Objective. Testicular microlithiasis is a rare, usually asymptomatic, finding of the testes associated with various genetic anomalies and infertility. It is also widely believed that testicular microlithiasis is strongly associated with testicular tumor. The aim of this prospective study was to determine the true prevalence of testicular microlithiasis in an asymptomatic population by means of ultrasound screening. Material and methods. Healthy male volunteers (17-42 years old) were recruited from the annual Army Reserve Officer Training Corps training camp at Manisa, Turkey. A screening genitourinary history was obtained and a physical examination and screening scrotal ultrasound scan were performed. All men diagnosed with testicular microlithiasis underwent complete clinical evaluations, physical examinations and determination of tumor markers. Results. Fifty-three men with testicular microlithiasis were identified from the 2179 ultrasound scans, giving a prevalence of testicular microlithiasis of 2.4% in this asymptomatic population. The age (mean +/- SD) of subjects with testicular microlithiasis was 23.9 +/- 4.2 years (range 20-31 years). Conclusion. Our results suggest that there is no significant association between TM and testicular cancer, although it is difficult to rule out such an association without further studies with a longer follow-up period

CARDIOVASCULAR AND INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a nonatherosclerotic, noninflammatory vascular disease. FMD of the renal arteries is one of the leading causes of curable hypertension. The simultaneous occurrence of FMD and renal artery aneurysm has been described previously. In this case, we present a fibrodysplastic lesion and an aneurysm in a renal artery treated with a percutanous transluminal angioplasty and coil embolization