İstanbul Medipol University Institutional Repository
Not a member yet
11224 research outputs found
Sort by
Therapeutic effects of mesenchymal stem cell conditioned medium in rat varicocele model
No full textPurpose: This study aimed to examine the therapeutic effects of injection of conditioned medium of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSC-CM) in a surgically created varicocele model in comparison with varicocelectomy. Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight male Wistar Albino rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham group, varicocele group, varicocelectomy group, and ADMSC-CM injection group. Sperm parameters were analyzed in samples taken from the epididymis after treatment. Malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in blood samples were examined by biochemical analysis. The testicular tissues were stained with hematoxylin-eosin for histological examination (Johnsen’s Score). Additionally, Western Blot analyzes were performed to detect Claudin-11 levels, the functional protein of the blood-testis barrier, in testicular tissues. Results: Varicocelectomy and ADMSC-CM treatments significantly improved mean sperm parameters (concentration, progressive motility, motility, normal sperm morphology) (p≤0.05 for all). Both treatment groups had increased SOD levels along with a decrease in malondialdehyde levels (p≤0.05 for all). No significant difference was observed between the ADMSC-CM group and the varicocelectomy group in preserving normal testicular histology according to Johnsen’s Score (p=0.114). Levels of Claudin-11 were significantly higher in the varicocelectomy and ADMSC-CM groups compared to the varicocele group (p≤0.05 for all). Conclusions: The therapeutic effects of ADMSC-CM in varicocele model may involve secretion of anti-inflammatory and regenerative factors from ADMSC. ADMSC-CM injection appears to be a promising new strategy in the treatment of varicocele.Istanbul Medipol University Scientific Research Activities Commission Fun
Vinpocetine ameliorates neuronal injury after cold-induced traumatic brain injury in mice
No full textTraumatic brain injury (TBI), also known as intracranial injury, is a common condition with the highest incidence rate among neurodegenerative disorders and poses a significant public health burden. Various methods are used in the treatment of TBI, but the effects of cold-induced traumatic brain injury have not been thoroughly studied. In this context, vinpocetine (VPN), derived from Vinca minor, exhibits notable anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. VPN is known for its neuroprotective role and is generally utilized for treating various neurodegenerative disorders. However, the function of VPN after cold-induced TBI needs to be studied in more detail. This study aims to investigate the neuroprotective effects of VPN at varying doses (5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg) after cold-induced TBI. C57BL/6 mice were sacrificed 2 or 28 days after cold-induced TBI. Results indicate that VPN administration significantly reduces brain infarct volume, brain swelling, blood–brain barrier disruption, and DNA fragmentation in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, VPN enhances neuronal survival in the ipsilesional cortex. In the long term, VPN treatment (5 mg/kg/day or 10 mg/kg/day, initiated 48 h post-TBI) improved locomotor activity, cell proliferation, neurogenesis, and decreased whole brain atrophy, specifically motor cortex atrophy. We performed liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) to elucidate the underlying mechanisms to profile proteins and signaling pathways influenced by prolonged VPN treatment post-TBI. Notably, we found that 192 different proteins were significantly altered by VPN treatment, which is a matter of further investigation for the development of therapeutic targets. Our study has shown that VPN may have a neuroprotective role in cold-induced TBI.Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu (TÜBİTAK) ; Turkish Academy of Science
Farm to fork applications: how vibrational spectroscopy can be used along the whole value chain?
No full textVibrational spectroscopy is a nondestructive analysis technique that depends on the periodic variations in dipole moments and polarizabilities resulting from the molecular vibrations of molecules/atoms. These methods have important advantages over conventional analytical techniques, including (a) their simplicity in terms of implementation and operation, (b) their adaptability to on-line and on-farm applications, (c) making measurement in a few minutes, and (d) the absence of dangerous solvents throughout sample preparation or measurement. Food safety is a concept that requires the assurance that food is free from any physical, chemical, or biological hazards at all stages, from farm to fork. Continuous monitoring should be provided in order to guarantee the safety of the food. Regarding their advantages, vibrational spectroscopic methods, such as Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), near-infrared (NIR), and Raman spectroscopy, are considered reliable and rapid techniques to track food safety- and food authenticity-related issues throughout the food chain. Furthermore, coupling spectral data with chemometric approaches also enables the discrimination of samples with different kinds of food safety-related hazards. This review deals with the recent application of vibrational spectroscopic techniques to monitor various hazards related to various foods, including crops, fruits, vegetables, milk, dairy products, meat, seafood, and poultry, throughout harvesting, transportation, processing, distribution, and storage.Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-AICRP on PHET, Ludhian
Changes in testosterone levels following surgical sperm retrieval in men with non-obstructive azoospermia: systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textPurpose: Surgical sperm retrieval (SSR) is used to extract spermatozoa for use with intracytoplasmic sperm injection in men with obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). The procedure may lead to segmental devascularization, postoperative fibrosis, and atrophy with a subsequent decrease in testosterone. The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of SSR on serum levels of total testosterone (TT), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) testicular volume, and sexual function in infertile azoospermic men. Materials and Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis (SRMA), we searched articles in “PubMed” and “Scopus” exploring the impact of SSR on TT, FSH, LH, and testicular volume. The full-text articles were screened to assess eligibility before data extraction, quality assessment, and meta-analysis. Results: Seventeen studies meeting the inclusion criteria were finally analyzed and included 1,685 infertile, azoospermic men. Patients underwent SSR and were followed in the postoperative period (one week to 32 months). The analysis showed a significant reduction in TT (mean difference [MD] 3.81 nmol/L, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.55:7.06; p=0.02) compared to pre-SSR values. We also observed insignificant differences in serum FSH (MD 5.08 IU/L, 95% CI -5.6:15.8; p=0.35), LH (MD -2.96 IU/L, 95% CI -6.31:0.39; p=0.08), and no change in testicular volume (MD 0.07 mL, 95% CI -1.92:2.07; p=0.94) after SSR. Sexual dysfunction was associated with hypogonadism, depression, and anxiety, especially in men with unsuccessful SSR and Klinefelter syndrome. Conclusions: The results of this SRMA indicate a significant reduction in TT after SSR. Sexual dysfunction after testicular sperm extraction and the potential negative impact of future SSR repeat should be considered during preoperative counseling
Actual and potential trend analysis under climate change using risk sen's slope (rss) in western black sea basin in Türkiye
No full textSeveral classical and innovative trend methods exist in the literature to identify and evaluate the effects of climate change on hydro-meteorological variables. Among the classical methods, the most commonly used ones are modified Mann–Kendall (MMK) and Sen's slope (SS). As for the innovative methods to identify potential trends (probable risk levels) in hydro-meteorological variables depending on changing the initial conditions and temporal dynamic development behaviour of the trends, the risk Sen's slope (RSS) method was proposed based on different risk values. The actual trends are proposed in this research to comprehensively understand and analyse the climate change trend over the entire period. It uses RSS and the classical trends MMK and SS. Also, the spatiotemporal classical, actual and potential trends in meteorological variables are evaluated. Additionally, the advantages of the RSS method compared with classical SS are discussed in detail. The Western Black Sea basin in Türkiye, with monthly total precipitation and monthly average temperature data from 1961 to 2023, is selected as a representative application. The temperature trend results show that the 0.99 risk level gave approximately 25% higher slope than SS. The maximum temperature-increasing trend within the study area and the time period at 0.99 risk level is 2.10°C. However, the differences between precipitation trend slopes obtained by SS and RSS for different risk levels are relatively low. Furthermore, using different slopes corresponding to several risk levels allows for more proactive and effective measures for sustainable agricultural activities and water management. The actual temperature trend within the basin ranges between 1.33°C and 2.09°C, and the actual precipitation trend ranges between 2.78 and 12.74 mm over the study period
Evaluating smart grid investment drivers and creating effective policies via a fuzzy multi-criteria approach
No full textIt is critical to determine which factors impact more smart grid investments and which smart grid investment policy is more suitable for renewable energy projects. Nonetheless, a limited amount of research has focused on this topic, meaning a new study is needed to fill this gap and aid in making decisions under ambiguities. Thus, this research proposes a novel fuzzy group decision-making framework. Twelve drivers are examined through the fuzzy weighted decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (F–DEMATEL–W) methodology. Subsequently, four smart grid investment policies are ranked using fuzzy weighted aggregated sum product assessment (F–WASPAS). Hence, one of the novelties of this research is the proposal of a robust decision-making tool named F–DEMATEL–W–WASPAS. Other novelties are: (i) the importance of the indicators/criteria is methodically determined by considering pairwise interactions and weights of experts; (ii) both individualistic expert-driven weight vector and cumulative weight vector of indicators are determined; (iii) alternative policies are ranked with minimum decision parameters; (iv) drivers that are crucial for the effectiveness of smart grid investment are determined with their causal relationship, and (v) smart grid investment policies are ranked reliably. The findings demonstrate that cyber security, sufficient legal procedures, and financial viability are the foremost drivers to increase the effectiveness of smart grid investments. Moreover, encouraging sustainable energy production using financial incentives is the foremost policy, followed by exchanging surplus electricity for the system owners. The work may contribute to the ongoing discussion on designing smart grid investment policies for renewable energy projects
AutoCOR: autonomous condylar offset ratio calculator for post-operative total knee arthroplasty radiographs
No full textBackground: This study aims to automate the measurement process of posterior condylar offset ratio (PCOR) and anterior condylar offset ratio (ACOR) to improve the Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) evaluation. Accurate calculation of PCOR and ACOR, performed manually by orthopedic surgeons, is crucial for assessing postoperative range of motion and implant positioning. Manual measurements, however, are time-consuming, prone to human error, and subject to variability. Automating this process could improve precision in clinical practice. Methods: We developed AutoCOR, a software system that autonomously calculates PCOR and ACOR by utilizing built-in function, employing k-means clustering, from the OpenCV library for image segmentation. The software detects key anatomical landmarks on true postoperative lateral radiographs. The definitions of PCOR and ACOR are PCO (posterior condylar offset) divided by femoral diameter, and ACOR is defined as ACO (anterior condylar offset) divided by femoral diameter, respectively. We tested the algorithm on 50 postoperative lateral radiographs of 32 patients from the Istanbul Kosuyolu Medipol Hospital, which included data from. The assessment process included calculating the mean, standard deviation and plotting the Bland-Altman plots, comparing AutoCOR's results against ground truth values. Results: The mean PCOR was 0.984 (SD 0.235) for AutoCOR and 0.972 (SD 0.164) for ground truth values, showing a strong correlation (Pearson r = 0.845, p < 0.0001). The mean ACOR was 0.107 (SD 0.092) for AutoCOR and 0.107 (SD 0.070) for ground truth values, with moderate correlation (Spearman's rs = 0.519, p = 0.0001). Conclusion: AutoCOR provides accurate measurements and shows potential to reduce variability in TKA evaluation, improving precision in clinical practice.Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK
Are stabilisation exercises effective after epidural steroid injection in patients with cervical radiculopathy? a prospective randomised controlled trial
No full textBackground: Cervical radiculopathy is caused by dysfunction of nerve roots in the cervical spine. While many studies have assessed the effectiveness of interlaminar epidural steroid injection (ILESI) and stabilisation exercises separately for this condition, our study aims to evaluate the impact of different stabilisation exercise programmes following ILESI on treatment outcomes in radiculopathy patients. Methods: Sixty-two patients with cervical radiculopathy were randomised into three groups: cervical ILESI-only (CO), neck stabilisation group (NSG) and scapular stabilisation group (SSG). The CO group received only ILESI, while NSG and SSG underwent stabilisation exercises following ILESI. Outcomes were assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for neck and arm pain, the Neck Disability Index (NDI) for functionality and the Short Form-12 (SF-12) for quality of life at baseline, 1 and 3 months posttreatment. Results: When NRS, NDI and SF-12 parameters were analysed in all groups, a statistically significant improvement was observed in the 1st and 3rd months compared to the pretreatment period. While the improvement in SF-12 physical parameters was significant in SSG and NSG in the 1st month compared to the pretreatment period, no significant difference was found in the CO group in the posttreatment periods. When the 1st and 3rd month results were analysed in NSG, a greater improvement was observed in terms of NRSNECK parameter in both evaluations compared to the other groups. Conclusions: Stabilisation exercise programme, especially neck stabilisation, should be included after ILESI treatment due to positive effects on treatment outcomes. Significance: To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to investigate the effect of a stabilisation exercise programme after ILESI on treatment outcomes in patients with radiculopathy due to cervical disc herniation. It is a valuable study in terms of its prospective design, its specific and homogeneous patient population and its results. Our study will help clinicians when prescribing exercise programmes for these patients. Trial Registration: NCT05307211
The frequency of presence of the infraorbital canal in the maxillary sinus and its clinical importance
No full textObjective: The infraorbital canal (IOC) houses critical structures like the infraorbital artery, vein, and nerve, and its atypical location within the maxillary sinus could pose risks during surgical procedures, making it crucial to understand its prevalence and distribution. The study aims to investigate the localization and frequency of the IOC within the maxillary sinus. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed computed tomography (CT) images from 1000 randomly selected patients (500 males, 500 females) aged 18 to 65 years who underwent paranasal region imaging at Istanbul Medipol University Medipol Mega University Hospital between 2015 and 2020. Exclusion criteria included major pathologies, prior surgeries, and poor image quality. The study focused on evaluating the localization of the IOC and its presence within the maxillary sinus, using coronal CT sections. Results: The IOC was found within the maxillary sinus in 8% of cases (44 males, 36 females). This variation was bilateral in 34 cases and unilateral in 46 cases, with no statistically significant relationship between sex and the occurrence or type of variation. The study's findings align with previous research, which reported similar prevalence rates for this anatomical variation. Conclusion: The study confirms that the IOC is located within the maxillary sinus in a significant percentage of cases, emphasizing the importance of preoperative CT evaluation to prevent potential complications during maxillary sinus surgeries. These findings highlight the clinical relevance of considering individual anatomical differences in the localization of the IOC