Assessments of the associations of thrombus localization with accompanying disorders, risk factors, D-dimer levels, and the red cell distribution width in pulmonary embolism

OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary embolisms occur as a wide spectrum ranging from clinically asymptomatic thrombi to massive thrombi that lead to cardiogenic shock. The purpose of this study was to determine the associations of thrombus localization with risk factors, accompanying disorders, D-dimer levels and the red blood cell distribution width in patients with pulmonary embolism. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 148 patients diagnosed with pulmonary embolism, the presence and anatomical localization of the thrombus were assessed via computed tomographic pulmonary angiography. The accompanying disorders, risk factors, serum D-dimer levels, and red blood cell distribution width of the patients were retrospectively evaluated. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02388841. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 54±16.0 years, and 48 patients were ≥65 years of age. The most frequent accompanying disorders were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (22%) and malignancy (10.1%), and the most frequent risk factors were recent operation (14.1%) and immobilization (18.2%). Thrombi were most frequently observed in the right pulmonary artery (37.8%). In 31% of the patients, the thrombus was localized to the main pulmonary arteries. Immobile patients exhibited a higher proportion of thrombi in the main pulmonary arteries than mobile patients. The mean D-dimer level and the mean red blood cell distribution width in the patients with thrombi in the main pulmonary arteries were higher than those in the patients with thrombi in more distal pulmonary arterial branches. CONCLUSION: Significant associations of proximally localized thrombi with immobilization, the D-dimer levels, and the red blood cell distribution width were observed

A Case of Measles with Encephalomyelitis

Measles is one of the contagious infections and is the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. It is a serious disease with high complication rate and mortality in adulthood period. Encephalomyelitis is one of the fatal complications of measles infection. In this article, we aimed to present a rare case of measles encephalomyelitis with unconsciousness and partial motor deficit during measles epidemic in our region

Impact of antimicrobial drug restrictions on doctors' behaviors

Background/aim: Broad-spectrum antibiotics have become available for use only with the approval of infectious disease specialists (IDSs) since 2003 in Turkey. This study aimed to analyze the tendencies of doctors who are not disease specialists (non-IDSs) towards the restriction of antibiotics.Materials and methods: A questionnaire form was prepared, which included a total of 22 questions about the impact of antibiotic restriction (AR) policy, the role of IDSs in the restriction, and the perception of this change in antibiotic consumption. The questionnaire was completed by each participating physician.Results: A total of 1906 specialists from 20 cities in Turkey participated in the study. Of those who participated, 1271 (67.5%) had 5 years of occupational experience in their branch expressed that they followed the antibiotic guidelines more strictly than the JSs (P < 0.05) and 755 of physicians (88%) and 720 of surgeons (84.6%) thought that the AR policy was necessary and useful (P < 0.05).Conclusion: This study indicated that the AR policy was supported by most of the specialists. Physicians supported this restriction policy more so than surgeons did

Effect of cis-(Z)-flupentixol on DPPC membranes in the presence and absence of cholesterol

Cis-(Z)-flupentixol dihydrochloride (FLU), a thioxanthene drug, is used in therapy of schizophrenia as well as in anxiolytic and depressive disorders. Since the action mechanism of FLU is not completely understood, the main objective of present study is to provide a detailed evaluation of flupentixol-phospholipid membrane interactions at molecular level. FLU-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) interactions in presence and absence of cholesterol (CHO) were investigated as a function of temperature. The changes in upper part of membrane were more pronounced than those in central part of membrane, as indicated by EPR and FTIR. FLU was proposed to incorporate into phospholipid membranes with its triple ring parallel to head group and its chain toward alkyl chain of phospholipids. According to DSC results, the incorporation of 10 mol% FLU into DPPC caused a shoulder in transition peak, suggesting the occurence of a phase separation, and formation of this new phase is still observable in presence of CHO. It is well known that, structure and dynamics of lipids have significant influence on the function of membrane bound proteins, and consecutively their actions. Based upon these, it was proposed that FLU may modify membrane associated receptors and transport proteins, which would form the basis of its clinical efficiency. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Detection of irradiated wheat using the electron paramagnetic resonance spin probe technique

In this study, the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin probe technique is applied as a detection method in the differentiation of irradiated and unirradiated wheat seeds. Two wheat cultivars, Kunduru and Bezostaya, were used. Aqueous solutions of 4-hydroxy-TEMPO (TANOL) spin probe prepared with a line-broadening agent, potassium ferricyanide, were used in all experiments. The EPR spectra of the samples were recorded against time. A decrease in the signal intensity and a change in the shape of the intensity-time curve (rehydration curve) were observed, depending on the applied level of irradiation. The ratio of the lipid and aqueous regions at the high field (m(I) = -1) line changes, depending on the dose of irradiation

Use of EPR spin probe technique for detection of irradiated wheat

WOS: 000078549900016PubMed: 1007071