Comparison of PA spine, lateral spine, and femoral BMD measurements to determine bone loss in ankylosing spondylitis

To evaluate bone loss in the early- and late-stage ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients using posteroanterior (PA) and lateral lumbar and femoral bone mineral density (BMD) measurement methods. Eighty-six AS patients and 50 control subjects were enrolled. PA spine, lateral spine, and femur BMD values of patients and controls were measured. The presence of any syndesmophytes or compression fractures was determined. Patients were divided as early (< 10 years) and late stage (a parts per thousand yen10 years) according to the onset of the inflammatory pain. Mean PA spinal BMD was similar in patients and controls (p = 0.460). Femoral and lateral spine BMD values were significantly lower in patients (p = 0.012 and p = 0.001). When comparing early- and late-stage AS groups, mean PA spinal BMD was found to be lower in the early group (p = 0.005), while femoral and lateral spinal values were lower (although statistically not significant) in the late group. At least one compression fracture was present in 28 % of patients. Although not statistically significant, mean PA spinal BMD was higher in those with fractures. Femoral and lateral spinal BMD values were significantly lower in the fracture group (p = 0.034 and p = 0.004). Lateral spinal BMD values were significantly lower in patients with syndesmophytes (p = 0.004). Bone loss is increased in AS compared with control subjects. The BMD measurement at the lateral lumbar spine reflects bone loss and fracture risk better than PA spine and femoral measurements

Investigation of recent level changes in Lake Van using water balance, LSTM and ANN approaches

Abstract Lake Van, the greatest soda water lake in the world located in the east of Turkey, has always attracted the attention of researchers due to its significant water level changes. Identifying the causes for these level changes is very important with respect to the scientific world and the sustainability of the ecological balance. Although extensive research has been carried out on the water level changes in Lake Van in the past years, no any study exists which analyzes the recent level changes. In this study, recent water level changes in Van Lake were analyzed using two different methods, and the results were evaluated. First, the water level changes during the period 2010–2020 were examined through the meteorological and hydrological data collected by the water budget method. Second, the water level changes for 2000–2020 were estimated using the LSTM and NAR neural networks. In the light of the results, reasons for the recent level changes in Lake Van were discussed. It was concluded that the changes, especially those occurred after 2014, may be hydrometeorological. However, the unusual level changes between 2010 and 2013 cannot be explained by water balance, may be tectonic or volcanic origin. The findings of this study indicate that these changes may continue in the future, and therefore, further research with different disciplines is needed on this subject

Prevalence of osteoporosis and vertebral fractures and related factors in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Background Osteoporosis and vertebral factures are well recognized features in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of osteoporosis and vertebral fractures in patients with AS

L-asparaginase immobilized p(HEMA-GMA) cryogels: A recent study for biochemical, thermodynamic and kinetic parameters

*Önal, Burcu ( Aksaray, Yazar ) *Odabaşı, Mehmet ( Aksaray, Yazar )Cryogels have recently been attracted intense attention as suitable carriers for enzyme immobilization. Herein, L-asparaginase was selected as the model enzyme due to its application such as pharmaceutical and food. Under optimum conditions, L-asparaginase was immobilized on poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-glycidyl methacrylate) cryogels with 68.8% of immobilization yield and 69.3% of activity recovery. The immobilized enzyme exhibited improved stability with respect to the soluble enzyme at extreme conditions, especially around acidic pH and high temperature. Also, the storage stability and reusability of the immobilized enzyme were found to be approximately 54% and 52% of the original activity after 28 days at room temperature and 10 cycles, respectively. The thermodynamic studies indicated that activation energy (E-a) of the free enzyme decreased from 13.08 to 10.97 kJ/mol, which means an increase in the thermostability of L-asparaginase. The Michaelis-Menten constants (K-m) of 2.04 and 1.67 mM, and the maximum reaction rates (V-max) of 170.0 and 115.0 mu M min(-1) were estimated for soluble and immobilized L-asparaginase, respectively. These findings demonstrated that the designed cryogels turn out to be a good carrier matrix for L-asparaginase immobilization with high catalytic efficiency and enhanced stability

Vitamin D Levels and Related Factors in Patients with Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain

Objectives: To evaluate the 25-hydroxy vitamin D-3 [25OHD(3)] levels and the associated factors in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain [LBP] in our region