Effect of maternal cortisol levels on fetal heart rate patterns in primiparous pregnant women in the third trimester

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine whether maternal cortisol levels affect fetal heart rate patterns in primiparous pregnant women in the third trimester. METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study included 400 primiparous pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancies between November and December 2022. The study included primiparous pregnant women over 18 years old in the third trimester who had not exercised for at least 2 h before the fetal heart rate monitoring and had a healthy pregnancy without consuming any food or drink. Fetuses with decelerating heartbeats and pregnant women who showed uterine contraction and cervical dilation during the fetal heart rate monitoring were excluded from the study. Research data were collected with the data collection form. The fetal heart rate data were collected using a cardiotocograph. At least two accelerations during the 20-min nonstress test period were the basis for diagnosing a reactive nonstress test. About 5 mL of maternal saliva for cortisol measurements was collected before fetal heart rate monitoring. Research data were analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics for Macintosh, Version 28.0. A p-value of 0.05). The number of at least two accelerations required for the diagnosis of reactive NST was also higher in Group 1 (maternal salivary cortisol level ≤24.20). A moderately positive relationship between fetal heart rate and maternal salivary cortisol was observed (r=0.448, p=0.000). In total, 11.9% of the total change in fetal heart rate level is explained by maternal cortisol (R2=0.119). Maternal cortisol increases fetal heart rate level (ß=0.349). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that stress in primiparous pregnant women with high cortisol levels may influence fetal heart rate patterns. It was revealed that the increase in cortisol level, considered a stress hormone, may be a harbinger of fetal tachycardia

Multiscale Modeling of Neurobiological Systems

The central nervous system (CNS) is one of the most complicated living structures in the universe. A single gene expression, the expression level of a single protein or the concentration of a neurotransmitter could regulate the entire functionality of the CNS. The CNS needs to be investigated as a multiscale system with connections among different levels. The existing technology significantly limits experimental studies, and computational modeling is a useful tool for understanding how parts are connected, regulated, and function together. Ideally, the goal is to develop unified computational methodologies for exploring biological systems at multiple scales ranging from molecular to cellular to tissue level. While rigorous models have been developed at the molecular scale, higher level approaches usually suffer from lack of physical realism and lack of knowledge on model parameters. Molecular level studies can help to define reaction schemes and parameters which could be used in cellular microphysiology models, and image data provide a structural basis for reconstructing the surroundings of the cellular system of interest. This dissertation develops and tests a new multiscale model of dopaminergic signaling and a detailed model of the activation-triggered subunit exchange mechanism of calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase type II (CaMKII). The goal is to develop and use computational models to understand the molecular mechanisms of neurotransmission, and how disruptions may cause complex disorders and conditions such as drug abuse. The simulations of the dopamine (DA) signaling model show that the addition of the geometry of the environment and localization of individual molecules significantly affect the DA reuptake. Consequently, the formation of DAT clusters reduces the DA clearance rate and increases DA receptor activity. In addition, the effects of the psychostimulants such as cocaine and amphetamine are also investigated. Constructed model and method can potentially serve as an in silico microscope to understand the molecular basis of signaling and regulation events in the CNS. Calibration of CaMKII model shows the limitations of the current parameter estimation methods for large biological models with long simulation times such as hours. The high dimensional parameter space and the limited and noisy data makes the parameter estimation task a challenge

Brucellar Testicular Abscess Presenting as a Testicular Mass: Can Color Doppler Sonography be used in Differentiation?

SUMMARYBrucellosis is an endemic disease in various regions of the world. Testicular abscess is a very rare complication of brucellosis which can be misdiagnosed as a testicular mass and may lead to unnecessary orchiectomy. To our knowledge there are only eight reported cases in the literature of a brucellar testicular abscess. We present a case of testicular abscess due to brucellosis diagnosed with serologic tests and color Doppler sonography, and treated with antibiotics and fine needle aspiration

The relationship between visceral adipose tissue and intima-media thickness in patients with kidney disease

Introduction: Increase in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is associated with cardiovascular risk. However, the relationship between atherosclerosis and VAT has not yet been adequately studied in chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study was to assess the relationship among VAT, adipokines, and atherosclerosis in patients with CKD.Materials and methods: 45 healthy control, 53 predialysis patients, and 52 hemodialysis patients have been enrolled in the study. Intima media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery, and VAT measurements were evaluated via ultrasonography.Results: IMT (p:0.002), VAT (p:0.021), adiponectin (plt;0.001) and pentraxin-3 (p:0.003) were higher in predialysis patients than healthy controls. The values of IMT (plt;0.001), VAT (p:0.0014), adiponectin (p:0.005), pentraxin-3 (p: lt;0.001), C reactive protein (CRP) (p:0.009), triglyceride (p: lt;0.001) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) (plt;0.001), were higher in hemodialysis patients than healthy controls. VAT was positively correlated with CRP(r: 0, 23 p: 0.005), IMT (r: 0.347 plt;0.001), body mass index (BMI) (r: 0.33 plt;0.001), and negatively correlated with creatinine clearance (R: -0.245 p: 0.003). VAT is independently related with adiponectin (ß:-0.213 p: 0.008), BMI (ß: 0.369, Plt;0.001), and CRP (ß:0.164, P:0.032) in multiple regression analysis. IMT was positively correlated with VAT (r: 0.347 plt;0.001), CRP (r: 0.186 p: 0.022), age (r: 0.333 plt;0.001), BMI (r: 0.444 plt;0.001) in all participants.Conclusion: These findings show that VAT is a strong risk factor for atherosclerosis in patients with CKD. However IMT was not correlated with adiponectin, pentraxin-3, and leptin in patients with CKD. Also sonographic measurement of VAT could be useful to stratify the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with CKD

The pain symptoms and mass recurrence rates after ovarian cystectomy or uni/bilateral oophorectomy procedures in patients over 40 years old with endometriosis

Objectives: To evaluate the rates of pain and mass recurrence of the patients over 40 years old with endometriosis who underwent ovarian cystectomy or uni/bilateral oophorectomy. Material and methods: A retrospective study was conducted with 98 patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis in a tertiary referral center between the time period July 2015 and July 2019. All the patients followed every 3 months and requested to fill the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for evaluation of pelvic pain and an ultrasound scan was performed. The inclusion criteria for this study were as follows, patients with ages over 40, with regular menstrual periods, and who denied hysterectomy and any postoperative hormonal medical treatments. Results: When the groups were compared in terms of age, body mass index, cyst diameter, CA-125 serum concentrations, preoperative and after surgical pelvic pain scores, mean follow up periods, postoperative hospital stay. However, each of the mean numbers of gravidity and parity were significantly higher than bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) groups compared to the other groups (p = 0.04 and p = 0.03, respectively). The laterality, the recurrence rates, and the type of recurrence did not have a significant effect in the group comparison. Conclusions: The ovarian tissue preserving procedures could be offered for the women over 40 years old suffering from endometriosis with no significant increase in pain symptom or mass recurrence rates considering beneficial effects of estrogen on cardiovascular system, vasomotor symptoms, and bone mineral density

The opinions of prospective social studies teachers about their acquırement of "benevolence value" with communıty servıce practices

Bu araştırmada sosyal bilgiler öğretmen adaylarının topluma hizmet uygulamaları ile “yardımseverlik değeri” kazanmaları hakkındaki görüşlerinin saptanması amaçlanmıştır. Bu çalışmada 2016-2017 güz dönemi Topluma Hizmet Uygulaması dersinde bir görme engellinin kullandığı sesli versiyonu mevcut olmayan ders kitabını sesli hale getiren 13 Sosyal bilgiler öğretmen adayının yardımseverlik değerine ilişkin görüşlerinde meydana gelen değişmeler tespit edilmeye çalışılmıştır. Çalışmada nitel araştırma modeli kullanılmış, çalışma nitel araştırmanın olgu bilim türüne göre desenlenmiştir. Amaçlı örnekleme yöntemlerinden Tipik Durum Örneklemesi kullanılmıştır. Neticede değerlerin duyuşsal alana hitap ederek içselleştirilmesine ve somut uygulamalarla davranış haline getirilmesinde Topluma Hizmet Uygulamalarının büyük öneme sahip olduğu sonucuna varılmıştırIn this study has been tried to determine the opinions of prospective social studies teachers on their acquirements about the benevolence value. In this study it has been tried to determine the changes of the opinions about benevolence value of 13 pre service social studies teachers that They made a soundbook for a blind student who hasn’t got a voice version of its. The qualitative research model was used in this study. The study patterned according to phenomenology. The Typical Case Sample, one of the purposeful sampling methods, is used. Finally it has been resulted that the Community Service Practices is very important to internalization and behaviour modification for values

Sosyal Bilgiler Öğretmen Adaylarının Topluma Hizmet Uygulamalarıyla “Yardımseverlik Değeri” Kazanmaları Hakkındaki Görüşleri

Bu araştırmada sosyal bilgiler öğretmen adaylarının topluma hizmet uygulamaları ile yardımseverlik değeri kazanmaları hakkındaki görüşlerinin saptanması amaçlanmıştır. Bu çalışmada 2016-2017 güz dönemi Topluma Hizmet Uygulaması dersinde bir görme engellinin kullandığı sesli versiyonu mevcut olmayan ders kitabını sesli hale getiren 13 Sosyal bilgiler öğretmen adayının yardımseverlik değerine ilişkin görüşlerinde meydana gelen değişmeler tespit edilmeye çalışılmıştır. Çalışmada nitel araştırma modeli kullanılmış, çalışma nitel araştırmanın [S1]olgu bilim türüne göre desenlenmiştir. Amaçlı örnekleme yöntemlerinden Tipik Durum Örneklemesi kullanılmıştır. Neticede değerlerin duyuşsal alana hitap ederek içselleştirilmesine ve somut uygulamalarla davranış haline getirilmesinde Topluma Hizmet Uygulamalarının büyük öneme sahip olduğu sonucuna varılmıştır

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin serum level: A potential noninvasive biomarker of endometriosis?

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL, also known as lipocalin-2) is an acute-phase protein expressed in many tissues and plays a role in cell proliferation, regulation, and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate serum NGAL levels and endometrioma tissue expression in women with endometriosis. This cross-sectional study was conducted at a university hospital. The endometrioma group included 36 women who underwent ovarian cystectomy for endometrioma, which was compared with a control group (n = 36) of women who underwent ovarian cystectomy due to benign persistent cysts (follicle cyst, theca lutein cyst, and serous cystadenoma). NGAL levels were analyzed using both serum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis and immunohistochemical tissue staining. Serum C-reactive protein and CA-125 levels were also evaluated. NGAL serum levels were significantly higher in the endometrioma group than in the control group (P < .05). C-reactive protein and CA-125 levels were also significantly higher in the endometrioma group (P < .05) and were correlated with NGAL levels. Immunohistochemical staining for NGAL was also higher in the endometrioma group (P < .001). NGAL may be considered a potential noninvasive biomarker of endometriosis