1983 research outputs found
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Mediterranean diet as the diet of choice for patients with chronic kidney disease
No full textTraditional dietary management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) focuses on the quantity within the diet of energy and protein, and the restriction of single micronutrients, with little mention of dietary quality. Dietary patterns that are more plant-based, lower in meat (including processed meat), sodium and refined sugar, and have a higher content of grains and fibres are now included in multiple clinical guidelines for chronic disease prevention. The Mediterranean diet (MD) has been associated with reduced cardiovascular disease incidence in both observational and interventional studies. A wealth of evidence links MD with other beneficial effects on chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity or cognitive health. This review examines each constituent of the classical MD and evaluates their suitability for the management of patients with CKD. We also evaluate the potential hyperkalaemia risk of increasing fruit and vegetable intake. Overall, a decrease in net endogenous acid production and increase in fibre may lead to a better control of metabolic acidosis. This, together with other putative favourable effects of MD on endothelial function, inflammation, lipid profile and blood pressure, provide mechanistic pathways to explain the observed reduced renal function decline and improved survival in CKD patients adhering to an MD
An analysis of graduate dissertations and papers related to visual arts area at science and art centers between the years of 2007-2017
No full textIn the study, the data for the field of visual arts in BILSEM have been revealed by studying postgraduate theses and articles related to the field of Visual Arts given in Science and Art Centers in between 2007-2017. In the research, the document was examined with the scanning model. In the scope of the research, it has been scanned from Google Scholar with keywords such as "BILSEM", "Art Education", "Visual Arts Education" and "Linear Development" in the YÖK database thesis and related theses and articles between the years 2007-2017 examined in terms of type, subject, sample, university and institute, national/ international, thesis method, data collection tools. In laser scanning, Visual Arts given in BILSEM in 2007-2017 years in Turkey related to Education "Science and Art Centers", "BILSEM", "Arts Education", "Visual Arts Education" and "Linear Development" screening using keywords according to the results of 6 theses (4 Master, 2 PhD) and 8 articles have been found. According to the results of the study, it is seen that there are no postgraduate thesis and articles about Visual Arts Education given in BILSEMs in 2009, 2010 and 2011, and studies have been intensified in between 2012-2017. © 2018 by authors, all rights reserved
The effect of cold stress on right ventricular function in patients with systemic sclerosis
No full textObjective: Pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure are poor prognostic factors in systemic sclerosis (SSc). The effect of cold stress on pulmonary vasospasm was evaluated in some trials but the results were conflicting. The aim of our study was to determine the effect of cold stress on right ventricular (RV) function.
Materials and Methods: Twenty-four patients with SSc and 24 age and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Transthoracic echocardiography (TIE) was performed to all patients at rest and after peripheral cold exposure. Baseline and after cold stress test TIE results were compared between the groups.
Results: Cold exposure induced changes in particularly right venticular function. Pulmonary acceleration time was significantly shortened in the SSc group (118.8 +/- 11.7ms vs 111.3 +/- 13.7ms, P<0.001). Tricuspid annular plane systolic excurison and RV fractional area change were also decreased after cold exposure in the SSc group. (23.3 +/- 1.6mm vs 21.9 +/- 1.9 mm, P<0.001; 46.3 +/- 5.8 vs 44.4 +/- 5.8,P= 0.007, consecutively). Left ventricular (LV) function did not change after cold stress (LV myocardial performance index (0.42 +/- 0.04 vs 0.42 +/- 0.05), P=0.748).
Conclusion: Peripheral cold exposure caused a reduction in right ventricular function indicating pulmonary Raynaud's phenomenon as a possible contributing factor
The Evaluation of Clinical Signs in Patients with Suspected Renovascular Hypertension
No full textOBJECTIVE: Renovascular hypertension (RVH) is the most common yet correctable cause of secondary hypertension if diagnosed early. There are many clinical signs that can suggest RVH. The aim of this study was to find which clinical or laboratory signs are more indicative in diagnosing RVH and in determining which patients should go through renal angiography.
MATERIAL and METHODS: The study included 184 patients who presented to our clinic due to hypertension and were under risk of RVH. All patients underwent three-dimensional time-of-flight Magnetic Resonance Angiography with phase-contrast. The patients were divided into two groups as with and without renal artery stenosis, supported by MRA.
RESULTS: Advanced age, low body mass index, high serum creatinine level, presence of proteinuria, and patients with diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease were found to be significant risk factors for RVH. Only the presence of renal asymmetry and the history of coronary artery disease were found to be independent risk factors.
CONCLUSION: In conclusion, detailed patient history and the evaluation of renal size are very important for patients with hypertension. Coronary artery disease and a difference in renal size of more than 1.5 cm could be strong indicators of RVH
On some properties of hyperstonean spaces
No full textThis paper is devoted to hyperstonean spaces that are precisely the Stone spaces of measure algebras, or the Stone spaces of the Boolean algebras of L-p-projections of Banach spaces for 1 <= p < infinity, p not equal 2. Several new results that have been achieved recently are discussed. Among these, in our opinion, the most significant one is that which states that any Bochner L-p space is the p-direct sum of Bochner L-p-spaces of perfect regular Borel measures on Stonean spaces for 1 <= p < infinity. Overall, we try to shed some light on the inner structure of these spaces, about which very little is known
Role of preoperative C-reactive protein value and neutrophil ratio in the determination of conversion from laparoscopic appendectomy to open appendectomy
No full textBACKGROUND: In this study, we aimed to investigate the factors causing conversion from laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) to open appendectomy (OA) in patients with acute appendicitis and to investigate the role of preoperative C reactive protein (CRP) and neutrophil ratio in this conversion and determine a cut-off point for these parameters.
METHODS: Records of patients who underwent LA due to acute appendicitis at our general surgery department between January 2011 and January 2017 were retrospectively evaluated. The preoperative American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) scores, Alvarado scores, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein level, and neutrophil ratio were evaluated.
RESULTS: LA was performed in 394 patients with an initial diagnosis of acute appendicitis. A conversion to OA (cOA) was performed in 17 patients (4.31%). A CRP value of >= 108.5 mg/L and a neutrophil ratio of >= 81.5% were found to be statistically significant for the cOA (p<0.001).
CONCLUSION: Our study results showed that male gender, age, elevated neutrophil ratio, and CRP value were the main risk factors for cOA in patients who were scheduled for LA due to acute appendicitis
Majocchi's granuloma: current perspectives
No full textMajocchi's granuloma (MG) is a rare fungal infection of the dermis that is mainly caused by dermatophytes (in >= 95% of cases); the most frequently identified cause is anthropophilic Trichophyton rubrum. In the rest of the cases, the causes are non-dermatophytic fungi such as Aspergillus species. This review aimed to provide information about the current perspectives on MG regarding its clinical characteristics, predisposing factors, laboratory diagnosis, and treatment strategies. Although the lower extremities were reported to be the most common site of infection, facial involvement has been predominant in the past 5 years. Our literature research showed that the most common predisposing factor (55%) is the use of topical steroid creams without potassium hydroxide examination during treatment of erythematous squamous dermatoses. A reliable diagnosis of MG is based on histopathological examination, including fungal culture and molecular analyses. MG should be treated not only with topical agents but also with systemic antifungal agents that are continued until the lesions are completely resolved. In systemic treatment, the most preferred drug is terbinafine, because of its efficacy, side effects, and safety
The role of anti-Mullerian hormone in predicting the response to clomiphene citrate in unexplained infertility
No full textObjective: To determine the role of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels in predicting the response to clomiphene citrate (CC) therapy for ovulation induction in women with unexplained infertility.
Materials and methods: For this retrospective study, fifty consecutive patients who responded to CC were taken as Group 1, while fifty consecutive patients who failed to show adequate ovulatory response with CC were taken as Group 2. We compared the AMH levels of the two groups and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the threshold for AMH in predicting the ovulatory response to CC therapy.
Results: Mean age, body mass index, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, and thyroid-stimulating hormone values were similar in the two groups. AMH and antral follicle count (AFC) values were higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 (p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). There was a statistically significant negative correlation between FSH and AFC (r = -0.339, p = 0.001), while AFC and AMH displayed a statistically significant positive correlation (r = 0.713 and p = 0.001). AMH values and AFC were found to be predictors of the adequate ovulatory response to CC. The area under the ROC curve was 0.86 vs 0.80, respectively. At an AFC cutoff value of 14, the sensitivity and specificity for prediction of ovulation were 68% and 80%, respectively.
Conclusion: The AMH and AFC cut-off values for the prediction of positive ovarian response to CC in patients with unexplained infertility were 2.78 ng/mL and 14, respectively. If further prospective and randomized studies confirm our results, these thresholds may be useful to predict successful ovulation induction and reduce the unresponsive cycles. (C) 2018 Taiwan Association of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V
Prognostic Value of Metabolic Response Measured by FDG-PET-CT in Patients with Breast Cancer Liver Metastasis Treated with Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy
No full textOBJECTIVE
To investigate the impact of metabolic response measured by 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography (FDG-PET-CT) in patients with breast cancer liver metastasis (BCLM) treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT).
METHODS
The medical records of 17 patients with BCLM treated with SBRT between March 2013 and October 2017 were investigated retrospectively. Patients received SBRT for their liver metastasis, and thereafter, a second FDG-PET-CT was performed for response assessment in a median of 4.1 (2.2-8.2) months. A total of 54 Gy in three fractions were delivered to liver metastatic lesions. The standardized uptake value (SUV) and survival rates were evaluated.
RESULTS
After a median follow-up time of 11.5 (3.2-48.9) months, there was a significant difference between pre- and post-SBRT SUVs (p<0.001). Complete metabolic response was observed in 14 (82%) patients, partial metabolic response was observed in 2 (12%) patients, and stable metabolic disease/progressive metabolic disease was observed in 1 (6%) patient at post-treatment PET-CT. The 1- and 2-year overall survival rates were 68% and 57%, respectively, and the 1- and 2-year progression-free survival rates were 38% and 25%, respectively.
CONCLUSION
PET-CT is an effective tool for response monitoring in patients with BCLM treated with SBRT
The Impact of Motivation and Personality on Academic Performance in Online and Blended Learning Environments
No full textThis study investigates the impact of students' motivation and personality traits on their academic performance in online and blended learning environments. It was conducted with students attending a mandatory introductory information technology course given in a university in Turkey. The Big Five Inventory and Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire were completed by a total of 316 students. A learning management system (LMS) was used for online collaboration and accessing course materials. At the end of the course, information on the accessibility of LMS and students' academic performance including their exam results was obtained. The Bayesian Structural Equation Modeling was used to examine academic performance in terms of its relationship with motivation and personality. In the online learning environment, the results showed that the conscientiousness trait was significantly related to LMS use whereas in blended learning, there were no significant relations between personality traits and LMS use. Self-efficacy was found to be the predictor of LMS use in the online environment while task value and test anxiety were the predictors in the blended learning environment. Conscientiousness and LMS use were significantly related to course grades in both learning environments. Finally, self-efficacy for learning performance was also associated with course grades in the online learning environment