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Right ventricular myocardial performance index as an early marker of cardiac dysfunction in systemic sclerosis
No full textObjectives: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is associated with subclinical cardiac involvement often missed by conventional echocardiography. The right ventricular myocardial performance index (RV MPI), a Doppler-derived composite of systolic and diastolic function, has been proposed as an early marker of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. This study was conducted to compare RV MPI between SSc patients and healthy controls and to determine its association with clinical and functional features of SSc. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 60 patients with SSc and 83 age-matched healthy controls, all women. Comprehensive transthoracic echocardiography, including pulsed-wave Doppler of RV inflow and outflow, was used to calculate RV MPI as (IVCT + IVRT)/ET. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and the TAPSE/systolic pulmonary artery pressure (TAPSE/sPAP) ratio were recorded, together with disease duration, modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) and pulmonary function tests (FVC, DLCO). Group comparisons and correlation analyses were conducted, and multivariable logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were applied. Results: Left ventricular ejection fraction was similar between groups (median 60% vs. 61%), whereas RV MPI was found to be significantly higher in SSc than in controls (median 0.54 vs. 0.35, p < 0.001). Higher pulmonary artery systolic pressure, lower TAPSE and a reduced TAPSE/sPAP ratio were also observed in SSc (all p < 0.001). After adjustment for age and TAPSE/sPAP, RV MPI remained independently associated with SSc status. ROC analysis demonstrated excellent discrimination for SSc by RV MPI (area under the curve 0.92; threshold 0.47; sensitivity 78%, specificity 94%), whereas. TAPSE/sPAP showed only moderate discrimination. RV MPI was not significantly correlated with CRP, FVC, DLCO, mRSS or disease duration. In patients with interstitial lung disease, higher MPI values and more frequent DLCO < 80% were detected. Conclusion: RV MPI was shown to be significantly increased in SSc, even in the absence of overt cardiac symptoms or reduced left ventricular ejection fraction and remained independently associated with SSc. Together with reduced TAPSE and TAPSE/sPAP ratios, these findings indicate impaired RV–pulmonary arterial coupling. RV MPI therefore appears to be a simple and sensitive non-invasive parameter for the identification of cardiac involvement in SSc
The Critical Need for Close Follow-Ups After Bariatric Surgery: A Case of Double Complication Involving Acute Gout Attack Followed by Paralytic Axonal Polyneuropathy
No full textNonthermal Atmospheric Plasma Modulates Palatal Wound Healing in Rats: A Morphometric, Histopathologic and Immunohistochemical Analysis
No full textBackground/Objectives: Non-thermal atmospheric plasma (NTAP) has recently gained attention as a promising tool for tissue regeneration due to its ability to modulate cellular signaling and enhance wound repair. However, its effects on oral mucosal healing and associated molecular pathways remain insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to investigate the histological and immunohistochemical effects of NTAP on palatal wound healing in rats and to evaluate key biomarkers involved in angiogenesis, proliferation, and extracellular matrix remodeling. Methods: Sixty rats were randomly assigned to three groups: Saline Control Group (SCG), Chlorhexidine Gluconate Group (CHG), and NTAP-Treated Group (NTAPG). Standardized full-thickness excisional wounds were created in the central palatal mucosa. Animals were sacrificed on postoperative days 7, 14, and 21. Histological assessments included vascularization, inflammatory cell infiltration, collagen fiber organization, and epithelial gap measurements. Immunohistochemical analyses were performed using antibodies targeting VEGF-A, TGF-β, FGF-2, CD34, α-SMA, and Ki67 to evaluate angiogenesis, fibroblast activity, and cellular proliferation. Results: NTAP treatment significantly elevated TGF-β levels at all time points and increased α-SMA-positive cell counts on days 7 and 14. FGF-2 expression was the highest in NTAPG, while VEGF-A and CD34 levels were significantly elevated, indicating robust angiogenic activity. NTAP also reduced inflammatory cell infiltration relative to the other groups. NTAPG exhibited enhanced fibroblast proliferation, increased collagen deposition, improved vascularization, and accelerated re-epithelialization compared with SCG and CHG. Conclusions: NTAP significantly promoted palatal wound healing by enhancing proliferative activity, stimulating growth factor expression, and accelerating tissue repair. These findings suggest that NTAP may serve as an effective therapeutic approach for improving oral mucosal wound healing
Attitudes of Graduate Students in Speech and Language Therapy toward Individuals with Special Needs
No full textInvestigation of Prophylactic and Therapeutic Effects of Boric Acid in an Experimental Mechanical Biliary Obstructive Cholestasis Rat Model
No full textAntimicrobial performance of Ti-doped ZnO thin films with a fixed Ti:Zn molar ratio
No full textTi-doped ZnO films were synthesized via the sol-gel dip-coating method with a fixed Ti:Zn molar ratio of 0.2:1 to investigate their structural, optical, and antimicrobial properties. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the hexagonal wurtzite ZnO structure with a (002) preferred orientation, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy revealed compact nanostructures with uniform grain distribution. Raman spectroscopy displayed the characteristic E2(high) mode associated with crystal quality, along with red shifts in the A1(longitudinal optical) and 2LA modes, indicating lattice deformation induced by Ti incorporation. The prism coupler yielded a film thickness of approximately 1 µm and a refractive index of 1.96. The porosity was estimated as 13.4% using optical data and 14.8% via SEM-based ImageJ analysis. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy revealed high transparency in the visible range (>95%) and strong UV absorption, with a reduced optical band gap of 3.17 eV, suggesting bandgap narrowing due to defect formation and lattice strain. Antimicrobial activity tests showed a reduction of up to 99.96% of Acinetobacter baumannii and remarkable activity against other strains, including Candida parapsilosis (96.8%) and Enterococcus faecalis (83%) after UV light exposure. Although Staphylococcus aureus showed lower sensitivity (∼43%), the overall results indicate that Ti-doped ZnO films are promising candidates for multifunctional applications requiring high optical quality and effective antimicrobial surface activity
The relationship between FSTL-1 (Follistatin-related protein 1), FAM19A5 (family with sequence similarity 19, member A5) and CTRP-6 (C1q/TNF-related protein 6) levels and metabolic parameters in overweight children
No full textObjectives: There has been a growing rate of obesity among children and adolescents in recent years. Understanding the molecular mechanisms is crucial for grasping the onset and progression. Adipose tissue is recognized for its role in endocrine functions, releasing adipokines that play a vital role in the metabolic disruptions linked to obesity. Given the involvement of adipokines such as FSTL-1 (Follistatin related protein 1), FAM19A5 (Family with Sequence Similarity to 19 Member A5), and CTRP-6 (C1q/Tumor Necrosis Factor Related Protein 6) in this condition, the primary goal of our study was to explore the connection between these adipokines, metabolic parameters, anthropometric data, and obesity. Methods: Seventy-nine children aged 0–10 years with exogenous obesity and 88 healthy children were included in the study. Adipokine levels were measured using ELISA. The relationship between biochemical parameters and anthropometric data was also evaluated. Results: CTRP6 was 6.11 (4.95–8.13) ng/mL in the obese group and 2.79 (1.73–4.58) ng/mL in the healthy control group (p<0.0001); FSLT1 was 157.7 (130.5–216.5) ng/mL in the obese group and 187.4 (151.8–289.6) ng/mL in the healthy control group (p=0.0003), FAM19A5 was 590.8 (476.4–703.9) ng/L in the obese group and 736.8 (491.8–1,719.0) ng/L in the healthy control group (p=0.0003). Conclusions: CTRP6 levels were found to be higher in obese children than in the healthy control group, while FSLT1 and FAM19A5 levels were found to be lower. Changes in the levels of these adipokines may play important roles in obesity and related conditions
The effects of SNPs between exons 6-9 in the STAT5A gene on milk yield in Anatolian buffalo
No full textEffects of adipose tissue derived stem cells on testicular injury in rats with experimental undescended testis
No full textUndescended testes is a common medical condition that is often treated late because it is generally not recognized early. In delayed cases, the testes can be damaged by higher temperatures, which may lead to infertility and cancer. Various studies have shown that stem cells can be protective in testicular damage, and regardless of their intended use, they have generally shown a favorable safety profile in preclinical studies. Based on this data, the investigation focused on adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC) treatment to evaluate its protective effects on experimental undescended testis (EUT) damage. Forty male Wistar rats (16–19 days old) were divided into two experimental durations (3 days and 7 days, n = 20 for each duration). There were four groups in each period (n = 5/group): Control, EUT, EUT + medium (M), and EUT + ADSC. In EUT groups, the right testis was surgically affixed intra-abdominally. ADSC-treated rats were administered 1 × 106 ADSCs in 300 µL of medium injected into the rete testis. Histopathological assessment was conducted using hematoxylin–eosin staining and Johnsen’s grading system. We used eNOS/iNOS immunohistochemistry and the TUNEL test to check for oxidative stress and apoptosis, and VASA immunostaining to check for germ cells. The one-way ANOVA test was used for statistical analysis. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. In EUT applied testicles, edema and interstitial space between seminiferous tubules, degeneration within seminiferous tubules, vacuolization, pyknotic cells, and atrophic structures were observed. There were notable histopathologic differences observed with medium and low amounts of ADSC. NOS immunohistochemistry was utilized to assess oxidative damage, while TUNEL was employed to detect apoptotic cell death. VASA stainings utilized as markers for spermatogonial cells exhibited high positivity in early term, peaking in the control group and subsequently decreasing, particularly notable in the EUT group. ADSC therapy reduces histopathological damage, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in the EUT model, indicating its potential for future clinical application in infertility treatment