The effects of nitrogen deficiencies on the lipid and protein contents of Spirulina platensis

Nitrogen deficiencies were studied in Spirulina platensis (Cyanophyceae) with the aim of determining the effects of the 50 and 100% deficient nitrogen on the lipid and protein contents of the cell under laboratory conditions. S. platensis cultures were grown in Spirulina medium and kept at the constantroom temperature of 26 ± 2°C, illuminated with fluorescent lamps at an irradiance level of 80 ìmol m-2 s-1 with photoperiod 16:8 (L:D) and aerated continuously. In the Spirulina biomass harvested at the stationary phase, 67.4, 53.5, 5.6% protein and 5.78, 13.66, 17.05% lipid were recorded for the groups of control, 50% N(-) and 100% N(-), respectively. The highest lipid content and 1.00 gL-1 dry-weight were recorded from the culture to which treated 100% N(-).Key words: Spirulina platensis, lipid, nitrogen deficiencies, protein

Volume 78, Number 11, December 5, 1958

Background: Social support, acknowledged as a protective factor against diseases, produces positive results in the prognosis of cancer patients. Objective: There is no relevant studies on perceived social support and factors related to Turkish cancer patients. Hence, the present study aimed to determine the demographic characteristics that affect the perceived social support in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in Turkey. Patients and Methods: This study was designed as a descriptive cross-sectional study. The sample included 423 adult cancer patients who admitted to the Outpatient Chemotherapy Unit of three hospitals in Turkey between March 2014 and August 2014. The data were collected through Demographic Characteristics Form and Cancer-Specific Social Support Scale (CPSSS). Results: Patients were between 19 and 85 years of age with a mean 51.75 years. Almost half of them (40.7%) were primary school graduates, 53.2% were female, 84.6% were married and 85.8% had children. It was found that the patients generally received a high score (127.86 17.44) from the CPSSS scale. The highest scores were obtained on the Confidence Support sub dimension. It was revealed that women and married patients needed more confidence support and general social support (P < 0.05). Social support perceived by primary school graduates was statistically significant to a great extent (P < 0.05). In spite of the difference between the patients with metastasis and their perceived social support grade averages (P 0.05), it was seen that patients with multiple children utilized more confidence support and general social support in social support reception (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The study showed that study participants received a high amount of social support. Age, gender, marital status, number of children, and educational status were determined to affect perceived social support. It is recommended to support the patients who do not receive sufficient social.C1 [Ozbayir, T.; Koze, B. S.] Ege Univ, Fac Nursing, Dept Surg Nursing, Izmir, Turkey.[Gok, F.] Pamukkale Univ, Dept Surg Nursing, Hlth Sci Fac, Denizli, Turkey.[Arican, S.] Univ Hlth Sci, Izmir Bozyaka Educ & Res Hosp, Izmir, Turkey.[Uslu, Y.] Acibadem Univ, Fac Hlth Sci, Dept Nursing, Istanbul, Turkey

Association between mean platelet volume levels and inflammation in SLE patients presented with arthritis

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may be characterized by periods of remissions and chronic or acute relapses. The complexity of clinical presentation of the SLE patients leads to incorrect evaluation of disease activity. Mean platelet volume (MPV) has been studied as a simple inflammatory marker in several diseases. There is no study in the literature about MPV levels in adult SLE patients with arthritis.Objectives: We aimed to investigate the MPV levels in the SLE population with arthritis during and between activations.Methods: The study consisted of 44 SLE patients with arthritis in activation period (Group 1), the same 44 SLE patients with arthritis in remission period (Group 2) and 44 healthy controls (Group 3). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), creactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count, platelet count, and mean platelet volume (MPV) levels were retrospectively recorded from patient files.Results: The mean ages of the SLE subjects were 42 ± 16 years, while the mean ages of controls was 41 ± 17 years. MPV was significantly lower in Group 1(7.66±0.89fL) than in Group 2 (8.61±1.06 fL) and Group 3(8.62±1.11fL) (p&lt;0.0001). The differences between groups reached statistical significance.Conclusions: We suggest that MPV levels decrease in patients with arthritis of SLE activation when compared to the same patients in remission and healthy controls.Key words: Systemic lupus erythematosus, Arthritis, Mean platelet volum

Socıal Marketing Activıties In Non-Profit Organizations and An Investigation Concerning Environmental Volunteer Organizations

Kar amacı gütmeyen kuruluşların (KAGK) toplumsal yaşamdaki rolleri ve önemleri her geçen gün artarak devam etmektedir. Bir kuruluşun (kar amaçlı veya amaçsız) başarılı olabilmesi için öncelikle ürettiği mal ve hizmetlerini hedef kitlesine doğru yer ve zamanda, doğru şekilde ulaştırması gerekir. Aksi halde başarılı olması mümkün değildir. Bu nedenle kar amacı gütmeyen kuruluşlar başarılı olabilmeleri için sosyal pazarlama yaklaşımını kullanmalıdırlar. Artan nüfusun istek ve ihtiyaçlarını karşılamak için dünyanın sahip olduğu kaynakların bilinçsizce tüketilmesi ve gıda maddelerinde kimyasal maddelerin kullanılması sonucu insan sağlığına ve çevreye verilen zararlar herkesi endişelendirmektedir. Bizim gibi gelişmekte olan ülkelerde çevrenin korunmasında ve çevresel konularda toplumun bilinçlendirilmesinde KAGK'lara büyük görev ve sorumluluklar düşmektedir. Bu çalışmada, KAGK'ların öncelikle hedef kitlelerini tam olarak belirlemedikleri ve bu nedenle de bu hedef kitleye uygun sosyal pazarlama karmasını geliştiremedikleri belirlenmiştir. The role and importance of Non-Profit Organizations continues to grow in social life. In order to achieve success, an organization has to make sure that its products and service are transported to the target at the right place and time. Otherwise, success is not possible. Therefore, Non-Profit Organizations have to use the social marketing approach. The consumption of world sources to meet the needs of the increasing population and the use of chemical products that harm the world and human health worry a lot of people. It is the responsibility and duty of non-profit organizations to protect the environment and to increase the conscience of the community in developing countries. It is stated in this investigation that Non-Profit Organizations do not determine their targets in a specific way and for this reason an appropriate social marketing can not be developed for these targets

Effect of royal jelly on experimental colitis induced by acetic acid and alteration of mast cell distribution in the colon of rats

This study investigated the effects of royal jelly (RJ) on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats. Twenty adult female Wistar albino rats were divided into four treatment groups of 5 animals each, including a control group (Group I); Group II was treated orally with RJ (150 mg kg−1 body weight); Group III had acetic acid-induced colitis; and Group IV had acetic acid-induced colitis treated orally with RJ (150 mg kg−1 body weight) for 4 weeks. Colitis was induced by intracolonic instillation of 4% acetic acid; the control group received physiological saline (10 mL kg−1). Colon samples were obtained under deep anaesthesia from animals in all groups. Tissues were fixed in 10% formalin neutral buffer solution for 24 h and embedded in paraffin. Six-micrometre-thick sections were stained with Mallory’s triple stain and toluidine blue in 1% aqueous solution at pH 1.0 for 5 min (for Mast Cells). RJ was shown to protect the colonic mucosa against the injurious effect of acetic acid. Colitis (colonic damage) was confirmed histomorphometrically as significant increases in the number of mast cells (MC) and colonic erosions in rats with acetic acid-induced colitis. The RJ treatment significantly decreased the number of MC and reduced the area of colonic erosion in the colon of RJ-treated rats compared with rats with untreated colitis. The results suggest that oral treatment with RJ could be used to treat colitis

Assessment of subjective sleep quality in iron deficiency anaemia

Objectives: We aimed to assess the effect of anemia on subjective sleep quality in patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA).Methods: One hundred and four patients diagnosed with IDA and 80 healthy individuals, who are gender and age matched, were included in the study. All participants were requested to fill 3 forms: a socio-demographic form (age, gender, marital status, income level and educational status), hospital anxiety and depression (HAD) scale and pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI).Results: According to the HAD scale, the average anxiety score was found 9.24±4.37 in patients and 7.58± 4.07 in controls. And, the average depression score was 7.53±4.10 in patients and 6.41±2.74 in controls. The total sleep quality score was 6.71±3.02 in patients and 4.11±1.64 in controls. There was a statistically significant difference in terms of anxiety, depression and sleep quality scores. Linear regression analysis showed no association between anxiety and depression with poor sleeping.Conclusion: IDA affects sleep quality irrespective of psychological symptoms such as depression and anxiety.Keywords: Iron deficiency anemia, sleep quality, anxiet

L-MYC gene polymorphism and risk of thyroid cancer

L-myc gene polymorphism is a representative genetic trait responsible for an individual’s susceptibility to several cancers. However, there have been no reports concerning the association between thyroid cancer and L-myc gene polymorphism. Aim: To analyze the distribution of L-myc gene polymorphism in Turkish patients with thyroid disorders and thyroid cancers. Methods: We used a molecular genotyping method, polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). We studied 138 patients of whom 47 had multinodular goiter, 13 had follicular cancer and 69 had papillar cancer, in comparison with control group of 109 healthy individuals. Results: No significant difference in the distribution of genotypes was observed between thyroid patients and controls. Carrying SS or LS genotype revealed a 1.96-fold (95% CI 0.573–6.706) risk for the occurrence of follicular cancer when compared with controls, and 3.11-fold (95% CI 0.952–10.216), when compared with multinodular goiter patients (p = 0.04). Conclusion: We suggest that L-myc genotype profiling together with other susceptibility factors, may be useful in the screening for thyroid nodular malignancy.Для ряда опухолей человека показана корреляция между риском развития опухоли и определенным вариантом гена L-MYC. Данные о наличии такой связи при раке щитовидной железы к настоящему времени отсутствуют. Цель: проанализировать распределение полиморфных типов гена L-MYC в популяции больных с доброкачественными и злокачественными поражениями щитовидной железы, включая рак щитовидной железы, в Турции. Методы: для анализа полиморфизма гена L-MYC использован метод молекулярного генотипирования, в частности, метод определения полиморфизма длины рестрикционных фрагментов, основанный на полимеразной цепной реакции (PCR-RFLP). Определение проводили в лейкоцитах 138 больных, в том числе 48 больных с узловым зобом, 13 больных фолликулярным раком щитовидной железы и 69 больных папиллярным раком. Контрольную группу составляли 109 здоровых лиц. Результаты: статистически достоверных различий в распределении исследуемых генотипов у больных с патологией щитовидной железы и здоровых лиц не выявили. Показано, что относительный риск фолликулярного рака щитовидной железы у больных-носителей генотипа SS или LS составляет 1,96 по сравнению со здоровыми лицами (при 95% доверительном интервале от 0,573 до 6,706) и 3,11 по сравнению с больными с узловым зобом (при 95% доверительном интервале от 0,952 до 10,216) (р = 0,04). Выводы: по нашему предположению, определение профиля полиморфизма гена L-MYC с учетом других факторов, определяющих предрасположенность к развитию опухолей, может быть полезным при скрининге озлокачествления узелковых образований щитовидной железы

Deep reinforcement learning for subpixel neural tracking

Automatically tracing elongated structures, such as axons and blood vessels, is a challenging problem in the field of biomedical imaging, but one with many downstream applications. Real, labelled data is sparse, and existing algorithms either lack robustness to different datasets, or otherwise require significant manual tuning. Here, we instead learn a tracking algorithm in a synthetic environment, and apply it to tracing axons. To do so, we formulate tracking as a reinforcement learning problem, and apply deep reinforcement learning techniques with a continuous action space to learn how to track at the subpixel level. We train our model on simple synthetic data and test it on mouse cortical two-photon microscopy images. Despite the domain gap, our model approaches the performance of a heavily engineered tracker from a standard analysis suite for neuronal microscopy. We show that fine-tuning on real data improves performance, allowing better transfer when real labelled data is available. Finally, we demonstrate that our model's uncertainty measure-a feature lacking in hand-engineered trackers-corresponds with how well it tracks the structure