An alternative approach for daily perineal care of patients with indwelling urinary catheterization: Photodynamic inactivation with cationic porphyrin derivatives

Background: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) constitute a significant portion of healthcare-associated infections. Using antiseptic for routine daily perineal care of patients with IUC may reduce CAUTIs. Aim: This study aimed to examine antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (aPDI) against clinical isolates for use in the daily perineal care of patients with IUC. In addition, it was also aimed to compare the antimicrobial activities of aPDI and 0.1% chlorhexidine gluconate. Methods:  In this in-vitro study, cationic porphyrin derivatives (CPDs) were used as photosensitizers in the experiments. CPDs, named PM, PE, PN, and PL were synthesized by the researchers. A diode laser device emitting light with a wavelength of 450 nm (blue light) was used as the light source. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae with multidrug-resistant (MDR) properties and Candida albicans were used.  Photosensitizer (PS), aPDI, light (L), and control (C) groups in aPDI experiments; control (C) and chlorhexidine gluconate 0.1% groups were used in the chlorhexidine gluconate experiments. Survival was calculated based on CFU/mL in the control group. Results: In experiments, combinations of 25 J/cm² with 6.25 and 3.125 µM PM, PE reduced E. coli, K. pneumoniae, MRSA, and C. albicans survival in the range of 8.70 to 11.53 log₁₀. In aPDI experiments performed with 6.25 and 3.125 µM PN and PL concentrations at the same energy density, reductions in the range of 4.41 to 0.17 log₁₀ were observed in all four clinical isolates. In experiments where 1.5625 µM concentration was used, survival decreased in the range of 8.29 to 10.87 log₁₀ in PM and PE, while antimicrobial activity was limited in PN and PL. In the 0.1% chlorhexidine gluconate experiments, the survival reduction in all four clinical isolates ranged from 8.87 to 10.24 log₁₀. Conclusion: For PM and PE, a very strong aPDI was obtained in C. albicans, E.coli, K. pneumoniae, and MRSA at low concentrations and energy density. The same antimicrobial activity was found in experiments using 0.1% chlorhexidine gluconate. In this context, we would like to inform you that aPDI to be performed with a combination of 25 J/cm² at 6.25 and 3.125 µM concentrations of PM and PE has the potential to be an antiseptic in the daily perineal care of patients with IUC

A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF USING WEB 2.0s IN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AREA

The purpose of the present study is to reveal the tendency towards Web 2.0s in the educational research area with the analysis of bibliometric mapping. As of July 5th, 2021, the 786 studies have been retrieved from in the Web of Science database, and are included in the analysis. VOSviewer was used for the analysis of bibliometric mapping. As a result of the analysis of bibliometric mapping, it was concluded that the most effective countries in Web 2.0s in the educational research area are the USA, England, and Spain. According to the keyword co-occurrence analysis, technology, social media, collaborative learning, e-learning, and higher education keywords stand out on Web 2.0s in the educational research area. It was found that Timothy J. Newby is the most productive researcher. It can be concluded that the most effective researches are higher education researches. According to the analyses conducted in the context of journals, Australasian Journal of Educational Technology”, “Interactive Learning Environments”, and “Internet and Higher Education” were the most contributing journals.Bu çalışmanın amacı, eğitim araştırmaları alanında Web 2.0'a yönelik eğilimi bibliyometrik haritalama analizi ile ortaya koymaktır. 5 Temmuz 2021 itibariyle Web of Science veri tabanından ulaşılan 786 çalışma analize dahil edildi. Bibliyometrik haritalamanın analizi için VOSviewer kullanıldı. Bibliyometrik haritalamanın analizi sonucunda Web 2.0'larda eğitim araştırmaları alanında en etkili ülkelerin ABD, İngiltere ve İspanya olduğu sonucuna varılmıştır. Anahtar kelime eş-atıf analizine göre, eğitim araştırmaları alanında Web 2.0'larda teknoloji, sosyal medya, işbirlikli öğrenme, e-öğrenme ve yüksek öğretim anahtar kelimeleri öne çıkmaktadır. Timothy J. Newby'nin en üretken araştırmacı olduğu bulundu. En etkili araştırmaların yükseköğretim araştırmaları olduğu sonucuna varıldı. Dergiler bağlamında yapılan analizlere göre, Australasian Journal of Educational Technology”, “Interactive Learning Environments” ve “Internet and Higher Education” en çok katkı sağlayan dergiler olmuştur

Adjuvan Kemoradyoterapi Uygulanan Mide Kanserli Hastalarda Prognostik Faktörler

Amaç: Mide kanseri progresif seyirli bir hastalıktır. Tek küratif tedavi olan cerrahiye rağmen hastalık nüks edebilmektedir. Çalışmamızda mide kanseri nedeniyle adjuvan kemoradyoterapi uyguladığımız hastalarda klinikopatolojik prognostik faktörler araştırıldı. Materyal ve Metod: Tıp Fakültesi Radyasyon Onkolojisi Anabilim Dalında 2008-2011 yılları arasında postoperatif 5FU bazlı kemoterapi ve eş zamanlı radyoterapi uygulanan hastaların verileri incelendi. Bulgular: Çalışmaya 25’i (%31.6) kadın, 54’ü erkek (%68.4) toplam 79 hasta alındı. Hastaların ortalama takip süreleri 21.5±14.1 (3.8- 87.6) aydı. Hastaların 2 yıllık sağkalımı %63.8, 3 yıllık sağkalımı %39.3 olarak saptandı. Genel sağkalımın çok değişkenli analizlerle incelenmesinde cinsiyet, yaş, tümör invazyon derinliği, histolojik grade ve histolojik alt tipi ile sağkalım arasında ilişki tespit edilmedi (p=0.358, p=0.156, p=0.223, p=0.939). Buna karşın hastaların lenf nodu durumu ve hastalığın evresi ile genel sağ- kalım arasında istatiksel anlamlılık saptandı (p=0.002, p=0.003). Tartışma: Çalışmamızda literatürle uyumlu olarak evre ve lenf nodu durumunun hem hastalıksız sağkalım hem de genel sağkalım için en önemli prognostik faktörler olduğunu ortaya koyduk

Preparation and characterization of physico-mechanical and structural properties of phthalimide derivative polymeric nanocomposites

In this study, phthalimide derived polymer-TiO2 nanocomposites were prepared by direct mixing method and their mechanical properties were compared. The high content filler polymer nanocomposites with sufficient interface bonding with the polymer matrix have been prepared to maximize the properties of the filler. In the direct mixing method, the polymer obtained by free radical polymerization of the monomer was mixed with TiO2 in high weight percentages. The pulse-echo method was used to characterize the elastic constants of the polymer and polymer-TiO2 nanocomposites through detection of the ultrasonic waves. Transverse and longitudinal ultrasonic velocities have been used to calculate Young’s modulus of these samples. The ultrasonic velocity and Young’s modulus values of polymer-TiO2 nanocomposites showed a linear relationship with the weight percentage of the polymer, which is due to the strong and effective interaction between the particles resulting from by reinforcing TiO2 to the polymer structure. The clustering that emerged with the increase in the amount of reinforcement in the SEM images became more pronounced and it was observed that pure polymer and TiO2 were homogeneously distributed. The porosity and hardness measurements of the polymer and polymer-TiO2 nanocomposites were examined. The hardness and porosity of the polymer structure approximately increased as the percentage values of TiO2 increased. Moreover, TGA results of polymer nanocomposites obtained by direct mixing showed that the thermal stability increased linearly as the weight ratio increase of TiO2 in comparison with the pure polymer

Professional development barriers of teachers: a qualitative research: Professional development barriers of teachers

The aim of the study is to reveal the professional development barriers of teachers. The study was designed in the qualitative approach and as the research method, “phenomenology" was used. The maximum variation sampling method, which is one of the purposive sampling methods, was used in the selection of the study group. Since high school teachers face the phenomenon of professional development more often, the study was carried out with twelve branch teachers who work in high schools in Elazig city center in Turkey. Participants have the maximum variation in terms of participant profiles like gender, branch, seniority and educational level variables. The semi-structured interview was used as the data collection tool. Qualitative data was analyzed by using the descriptive analysis method. The results of the study indicated that teachers' professional development barriers were the inadequacy of in-service training, problems in school functioning, individual problems and other problems. Also, professional development barriers such as negative attitudes towards in-service training courses, inconvenient course time, the monotony of course content, inefficacy of course trainers, out-of content knowledge, unsatisfactory performance evaluation, heavy workload, financial problems and, lack of professional development opportunities were emphasized more by the participants. The results of the study are consistent with the results of other studies in the literature on teachers’ professional development. It was emphasized by the researchers that professional development programs should be developed according to the characteristics of effective professional development programs and, the professional development of teachers should be supported by stakeholders in order to overcome these obstacles