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Alamandine enhanced spatial memory in rats by reducing neuroinflammation and altering BDNF levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex
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Our study aims to determine the effects of alamandine, the newest component of the renin-angiotensin system, on cognitive functions, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of depression. 35 male Sprague dawley rats, three months old, weighing between 300 and 350 g, were used. The chronic, unpredictable mild stress model of depression was performed. Experimental animals were divided into five groups: control (C), depression (D), alamandine (50 mu g/kg, ip) (D + ALA), A779 (300 mu g/kg, ip) (D + A779), and both alamandine and A779 treatment groups (D + ALA + A779). After confirming the development of depression through behavioral tests, the animals' learning and memory performances were measured using the Morris water maze test. At the end of the experiment, the animals' prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and blood samples were isolated for biochemical studies and gene expression analyses. The sucrose preference, open field, elevated plus maze, tail suspension, and forced swimming tests were performed to determine the animals' anxiety levels. There was a significant increase in anxiety-like behaviors in the D group and the A779-treated group, while alamandine exhibited an anxiolytic effect. Moreover, improvements in cognitive skills observed in the Morris water maze test were paralleled by molecular changes, including an increase in BDNF protein levels and NMDA receptor expression and a decrease in GABA levels. In addition, the levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and oxidative stress markers were increased in the depression groups while significantly decreased with alamandine treatment. It was concluded that alamandine has an anxiolytic effect and facilitates spatial memory by reducing neuroinflammation and oxidative stress
The Importance of Resolvin D1, LXA4, and LTB4 in Patients with Acute Pancreatitis Due to Gallstones
Get PDFAbstract: Background and Objectives: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disease
where there is autodigestion of the pancreas by prematurely activated enzymes which
may lead to a systemic inflammatory response. The aim of our study was to investigate
the levels of circulating serum leukotriene B4 (LTB4), lipoxin A4 (LXA4), and resolvin
D1 (RvD1) in pancreatitis due to gallstones in the etiologic investigation of AP. Materials
and Methods: A total of 147 patients with AP (n: 49), AC (n: 49), and combined AP + AC
(n: 49) will be included in the study. Healthy volunteers (n: 49) will be included as the
control group. Results: RvD1 levels were significantly lower in patient groups compared to
controls, while LXA4 levels were lower in patients with combined AP + AC (145.24 ng/L)
compared to both controls (312.36 ng/L) and other patient groups. LTB4 levels were
elevated in all patient groups compared to controls (335.56 ng/L vs. 65.56 ng/L) and were
highest in combined AP + AC. Significant correlations were identified: RvD1 showed a
negative correlation with LTB4 (r =−0.676; p < 0.001) and a positive correlation with LXA4
(r = 0.563, p < 0.001). ROC analysis demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy, with LXA4 and
LTB4 achieving perfect differentiation (AUC: 1.0) between control and combined AP + AC
cases. Conclusions: Our study showed that serum RvD1 and LXA4 levels have powerful
anti-inflammatory properties in accordance with the literature. LTB4 may represent new,
effective indicators to predict the severity of AP and the presence of necrosis in patients
with AP. Despite its low sensitivity and specificity, RvD1 could be used as a complementary
marker to the current scoring systems for the initial assessment of AP prognosis. These
findings provide a new mechanistic understanding of how RvD1 attenuates inflammation
to facilitate resolution, which could help develop novel therapeutic strategies for diseases
caused by unresolved inflammation. It is easily obtainable and can provide additional
prognostic information to clinicians
Effect of polydopamine surface treatment on the mechanical properties of zirconia and resin occlusal veneers fabricated using additive and subtractive manufacturing: An in vitro study
Get PDFABSTRACT
Objectives: To evaluate the influence of polydopamine (PDA) treatment on bond strength, fracture, and wear
resistance of occlusal veneers (OVs) fabricated using additive (AM) and subtractive manufacturing (SM)
techniques.
Methods: Three hundred twenty 0.5 mm-thick OVs were fabricated through AM and SM and from four groups of
materials (n = 80): AM ceramic-filled resin (AM-C), AM zirconia (AM-Z), SM nano-ceramic resin (SM-C), and SM
zirconia (SM-Z). Each group was further divided into PDA-treated and untreated subgroups (n = 40). Specimens
were cemented onto resin dies using self-curing resin cement (Multilink N; Ivoclar Vivadent) and subjected to
five million chewing cycles with thermal cycling. Fracture and wear resistance were assessed using a load-tofailure test and 3D surface analysis, respectively (n = 20). Additionally, bond strength was evaluated using a
pull-out test (n = 20). Data were analyzed using three-way ANOVA to assess the main and interaction effects of
material, manufacturing technique, and PDA treatment (α=0.05).
Results: Significant main effects of manufacturing technique, material type, and PDA treatment were found for all
outcomes (p<.001), along with significant manufacturing × PDA interactions. PDA notably improved fracture
resistance and bond strength in AM-Z and AM-C (p<.05), but had minimal effect on SM groups. Wear was
significantly reduced in AM groups following PDA (p<.001), while SM-C showed a slight increase (p=.021).
Among all groups, untreated AM-C demonstrated the weakest overall mechanical performance.
Conclusions: PDA treatment enhanced fracture and bond strength in AM materials, with limited effect on SM
ceramics. Milled zirconia showed the best overall performance, while untreated AM-C consistently performed the
worst.
Clinical Relevance: Polydopamine surface treatment enhances the mechanical performance of occlusal veneers
fabricated by additive manufacturing, particularly improving bond strength and fracture resistance. This
approach may increase the clinical reliability of 3D-printed restorations, especially in thin, conservative designs
Is Altered Surfactant Protein Gene Expression in Peripheral Blood Associated with COVID-19 Disease Severity?
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Background/Objectives: Severe COVID-19 pneumonia damages alveolar type II cells
and disrupts surfactant homeostasis, contributing to acute respiratory distress syndrome
(ARDS). Surfactant proteins (SP-A, SP-B, SP-C, SP-D) are critical for reducing alveolar
surface tension and for innate immune defense. We aimed to evaluate whether surfactant
protein gene expression varies with the severity of COVID-19. Methods: Peripheral blood
was collected from 122 adults with confirmed COVID-19, categorized as asymptomatic
(no symptoms), mild (requiring hospitalization), or severe (requiring ICU admission). We
quantified mRNA expression of surfactant protein genes (SFTPA1, SFTPA2, SFTPB, SFTPC,
SFTPD) in blood cells using RT-qPCR. Relative expression was normalized to GAPDH and
compared among the groups using the 2−∆∆Ct method. Outliers (Ct values > 3 SD from
the mean) were excluded before analysis. Results: Distinct surfactant gene expression
patterns were markedly associated with disease severity. Transcripts of SFTPB and SFTPC
decreased with increasing severity of the disease. Notably, SFTPC expression was ~49-fold
higher in mild cases compared to asymptomatic COVID-19-positive patients (p < 0.0001),
but then decreased by ~54-fold in severe cases relative to mild (p < 0.0001), returning to
near-baseline levels. In contrast, SFTPA2 and SFTPD were dramatically upregulated in
severe cases. SFTPA2 was ~50-fold higher in severe versus mild cases (p < 0.0001), and
SFTPD was ~4346-fold higher in severe versus asymptomatic cases (p < 0.0001; ~9.6-fold
higher than in mild). SFTPA1 showed only a modest ~1.4-fold decrease in severe cases
(vs. mild). All noted differences remained statistically significant after outlier exclusion.
Conclusions: COVID-19 severity is correlated with profound changes in surfactant gene
expression in blood. Critically ill patients exhibit loss of key surfactant components (SP-B
and SP-C transcripts) alongside an excessive SP-D response. These preliminary findings
suggest an imbalance that may contribute to lung injury in severe disease. However,
further validation is needed to establish surfactant proteins, such as SP-D, as biomarkers of
COVID-19 severity
The Effect of Thymoquinone and Platelet-Rich Plasma on Intra-Abdominal Adhesions
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Background and Objectives: At present, intra-abdominal adhesions (IAAs) continue to be
an important problem in surgery due to morbidity and mortality risks. Thymoquinone
(TQ) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are molecules with known anti-inflammatory and
antioxidant effects. However, a limited number of studies have investigated their efficacy
in IAAs. In this study, we aimed to demonstrate the efficacy of TQ and PRP in reducing
the development of IAAs and determine which molecule is more advantageous using an
experimental animal model. Materials and Methods: Fifty-five male Wistar albino rats were
included in the study. Five rats were used to obtain PRP, while fifty rats were randomly
assigned to five groups (n = 10 per group): group I (sham) did not receive any treatment;
group II (control) received no treatment after a cecum hemorrhage procedure; group III
(saline) received 1 mL of saline treatment around the cecum after hemorrhage; group IV
(PRP) received 1 mL of PRP (containing 3 × 106 platelets/mL) around the cecum after
hemorrhage; and group V (TQ) received 1 mL of TQ (containing 2 mg/mL TQ) around the
cecum after hemorrhage. On the 10th day, IL1-β, TNF-α, E-selectin, and P-selectin levels
were measured from the blood serum samples, and the cecum was histopathologically
evaluated. Results: The lowest adhesion formation in terms of biochemical parameters
was obtained in the TQ group (p < 0.05). Histopathological evaluations showed that
saline, PRP, and TQ treatments were all effective, but none was superior. Conclusions:
When histopathologically evaluated, saline, TQ, and PRP have similar effects in IAAs.
However, when evaluated in terms of biochemical parameters, TQ prevented the formation
of intra-abdominal adhesions more effectively than saline or PRP, owing to its strong
anti-inflammatory and antioxidant propertie
The effect of baduanjin on pain, balance, and kinesiophobia in individuals with knee osteoarthritis
No full textÇalışmanın amacı, diz osteoartriti tanısı almış bireylerde, fizyoterapist eşliğinde hem yüz yüze hem de eş zamanlı olarak online uygulanan Baduanjin egzersizlerinin ağrı, denge ve kinezyofobi üzerindeki etkilerini değerlendirmektir. Araştırmaya, fiziksel tıp ve rehabilitasyon hekimine başvuran, osteoartrit tanısı alarak fizyoterapiye yönlendirilen 40–70 yaş aralığındaki 66 birey dahil edildi. Bireyler, randomizasyon yöntemiyle üç gruba ayrıldı. Birinci gruba yapılandırılmış egzersiz tedavisine ek olarak Baduanjin egzersizi yüz yüze uygulanırken; ikinci gruba aynı egzersiz, yapılandırılmış egzersiz tedavisine ek olarak online uygulandı. Üçüncü gruba sadece yapılandırış egzersiz verildi. Egzersizler 12 hafta boyunca haftada 3 gün olarak uygulandı. Değerlendirmeler tedavi öncesinde, 6. ve 12. haftalarda yapıldı; ölçümler VAS, WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index), Berg Denge Ölçeği (BDÖ), Zamanlı Kalk ve Yürü (ZKYT) Testi, Tampa Kinezyofobi Ölçeği (TKÖ) ve 30 Saniye Otur-Kalk Testi ile gerçekleştirildi. Her iki Baduanjin grubunda, tedavi öncesine kıyasla 6. ve 12. haftalarda tüm değerlendirme parametrelerinde istatistiksel olarak anlamlı iyileşme bulundu (p0,05). Bu çalışma, Baduanjin egzersizlerinin diz osteoartritli bireylerde ağrı düzeyini azaltmada, dengeyi geliştirmede, yürüme performansını artırmada ve fonksiyonel bağımsızlığı desteklemede etkili bir müdahale yöntemi olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Ayrıca, online uygulamaların, yüz yüze uygulamalar kadar etkili olduğu belirlenmiştir.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Baduanjin exercises, performed both face-to-face and online under the guidance of a physical therapist, on pain, balance, and kinesiophobia in individuals diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis. The study included 66 individuals aged 40–70 who consulted a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, were diagnosed with osteoarthritis, and were referred to physical therapy. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups. The first group received structured exercise therapy along with face-to-face Baduanjin; the second group received online Baduanjin plus structured exercise therapy; the third group received only structured exercise therapy. Exercises were performed three days a week for 12 weeks. Assessments were conducted pre-treatment, at 6 weeks, and at 12 weeks using the VAS, WOMAC, Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go Test, Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale, and 30-Second Sit-to-Stand Test. Both Baduanjin groups showed statistically significant improvements in all assessment parameters at weeks 6 and 12 compared to pre-treatment (p0.05). This study demonstrated that Baduanjin is an effective intervention for reducing pain, improving balance and walking performance, and supporting functional independence in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. Furthermore, online delivery was found to be as effective as face-to-face application
Metric dimension analysis of single-walled titania nanotubes: A graph-theoretic approach
No full textTitania nanotubes (TNTs) have attracted growing interest in materials science due to their exceptional properties and broad applications in nanotechnology, catalysis, electronics, and biomedical systems. In this work, we study TNTs through the lens of graph theory by modeling their molecular structures as mathematical graphs. Specifically, we investigate the metric dimension, a key graph invariant that captures how uniquely the positions of all vertices in a graph can be determined using the shortest distances to a selected set of reference vertices, called a resolving set. Two structural models of single-walled TNTs are considered: a three-layered model, denoted by TNT3[m,n], and a six-layered model, denoted by TNT6[m,n], where m and n represent the numbers of titanium atoms along defined lattice directions. We analyze the connectivity and symmetry of these graph representations and derive results for their metric dimension by identifying minimal resolving sets. Our findings offer insight into how structural complexity and layering impact the resolving power of TNT graphs. By connecting mathematical descriptors with nanostructural models, this study contributes to the theoretical understanding of TNTs and provides a potential tool for molecular identification, structure-property prediction, and nanoscale design in chemistry and materials science
The effect of repetitive reading method on the reading skills ofstudents with special learning disabilities
No full textYiğit M. (2025). Özel Öğrenme Güçlüğü Olan Öğrencilerin Okuma Becerileri Üzerinde Tekrarlı Okuma Yönteminin Etkisi. Yüksek Lisans Tezi. Özel Eğitim Anabilim Dalı. Biruni Üniversitesi Lisansüstü Eğitim Enstitüsü. Özel öğrenme güçlüğü olan öğrencilerin okuma becerileri üzerinde tekrarlı okuma yönteminin etkisinin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Özel öğrenme güçlüğü bulunan öğrencilerin okuma becerileri üzerinde tekrarlı okuma yönteminin etkililiğini incelemek amacıyla, tek denekli araştırma desenlerinden katılımcılar arası çoklu yoklama modeli kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın katılımcıları, 2,3 ve 4. sınıfa devam eden ve özel eğitim ve rehabilitasyon merkezinde destek eğitim alan ÖÖG tanısı olan üç öğrencidir. Sosyal geçerlik bağlamında, araştırmada üç ebeveynin ve üç öğretmenin görüşlerine başvurulmuştur. Araştırmada kullanılan veri toplama araçları Okuma Hızı Veri Kayıt Formu, Okuma Doğruluğu Veri Kayıt Formu, Okuduğunu Anlama Veri Kayıt Formu, Akıcı Okuma Veri Kayıt Formu, Sınıf Öğretmeni Sosyal Geçerlik Formu, Aile Sosyal Geçerlilik Formu'dur. Başlama düzeyi oturumları ile karşılaştırıldığında tekrarlı okuma yöntemi ile ÖÖG olan öğrencileri okuma hızı, okuma doğruluğu, akıcı okuma ve okuduğunu anlama performansları artmıştır. Öğretmenler ve ebeveynler, tekrarlı okuma stratejisinin okuma becerileri üzerinde belirgin düzeyde olumlu etkiler yarattığını ifade etmiştir. Katılımcılar, strateji uygulandıktan sonra öğrencilerin okuma hızlarında, doğruluklarında ve metni anlama düzeylerinde gözle görülür ilerlemeler kaydedildiğini belirtmiş; yöntemin hem akademik başarıyı hem de öğrencilerin okuma motivasyonunu desteklediğini dile getirmişlerdir. Tekrarlı okuma yönteminin, katılımcı öğrencilerin okuma becerilerinin gelişiminde etkili bir rol oynadığı ve uygulama sonrasında bir, iki ve beş hafta arayla gerçekleştirilen izleme oturumlarında bu kazanımların büyük ölçüde korunduğu gözlemlenmiştir. Bu bulgu, yöntemin yalnızca kısa vadeli değil, aynı zamanda kalıcı öğrenme üzerinde de etkili olduğunu göstermektedir. Bu nedenle, özel öğrenme güçlüğü (ÖÖG) tanısı olan öğrencilerle çalışan öğretmenlerin, araştırmacıların ve uygulayıcıların bu stratejiyi kendi öğretim süreçlerine entegre etmeleri önerilmektedir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Okuma akıcılığı; Okuduğunu anlama; Okuma becerileri; Özel öğrenme güçlüğü (ÖÖG); Tekrarlı okumaYiğit M. (2025). The Effect of Repetitive Reading Method on the Reading Skills of Students with Special Learning Disabilities. Master Thesis. Biruni University The Graduate Education Institute. It was aimed to examine the effect of the repeated reading method on the reading skills of students with special learning disabilities. In order to examine the effectiveness of the repeated reading method on the reading skills of students with specific learning disabilities, the multiple probe between participants model, one of the single-subject research designs, was used. The participants of the study were three students with SLD who were attending 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades and receiving supportive education at a special education and rehabilitation center. In the context of social validity, the opinions of three parents and three teachers were consulted. The data collection tools used in the study were Reading Rate Data Record Form, Reading Accuracy Data Record Form, Reading Comprehension Data Record Form, Fluent Reading Data Record Form, Classroom Teacher Social Validity Form, and Family Social Validity Form. Compared to baseline sessions, the repeated reading method improved reading speed, reading accuracy, reading fluency, and reading comprehension performance of students with SLD. Teachers and parents reported that the repeated reading strategy had significant positive effects on reading skills. Participants stated that after the implementation of the strategy, students' reading speed, accuracy, and comprehension levels improved significantly and that the method supported both academic achievement and students' reading motivation. It was observed that the repeated reading method played an effective role in the development of participant students' reading skills and that these gains were largely maintained in the follow-up sessions conducted one, two and five weeks after the intervention. This finding shows that the method is effective not only on short-term but also on permanent learning. Therefore, it is recommended that teachers, researchers and practitioners working with students diagnosed with specific learning disabilities (SLD) integrate this strategy into their teaching processes. Keywords: Reading Comprehension; Reading Fluency; Reading Skills; Repetitive Reading; Special Learning Disability (SLD
Biomechanical effects of attachment designs in maxillary first molar mesialization with clear aligners: A finite element study
No full textŞeffaf plaklar, ataşman kullanımına rağmen özellikle molar dişlerin mesializasyonu gibi karmaşık diş hareketlerinde biyomekanik sınırlamalarla karşı karşıyadır. Bu tür durumlarda, uygulanmak istenen hareketlerin etkili bir şekilde gerçekleştirilmesi zorlaşabilir. Sonlu eleman analizi (FEA), bu hareketlerin analizinde etkili bir yöntem olup, kuvvet iletimi açısından en uygun ataşman tasarımlarının belirlenmesine olanak sağlar. Bu çalışmanın amacı, üç boyutlu sonlu eleman analizi (FEA) kullanarak, dört farklı ataşman tasarımıyla maksiller molar mesializasyon sırasında oluşan yer değiştirme desenlerini ve gerilim dağılımını karşılaştırmaktır. Periodontal ligament (PDL), alveolar kemik ve 0.75 mm kalınlığında şeffaf plak içeren, manyetik rezonans görüntülemeye (MRI) dayalı bir maksilla modeli oluşturulmuştur. Çalışmada beş farklı senaryo simüle edilmiştir: ataşmansız durum (Model-I), dikdörtgen dikey ataşman (Model-II), dikdörtgen yatay ataşman (Model-III), optimize edilmiş çift yarı elipsoidal ataşman (Model-IV) ve yin-yang ataşman (Model-V). Her bir modelde 0.5 mm mesial yer değiştirme uygulanmış ve elde edilen deformasyon ile gerilim dağılımı ANSYS Workbench programı kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Model-IV (optimize edilmiş ataşman), en az molar devrilmeyi (0.319 mm toplam yer değiştirme) ve en iyi mesiodistal kontrolü sağlamıştır. Ataşman kullanılmayan Model-I ise en fazla devrilmeyi göstermiştir (0.376 mm). Yin-yang ataşman kullanılan Model-V, Model-I'e kıyasla bukkal yer değiştirmeyi %92 oranında azaltmıştır. Yatay dikdörtgen ataşmanlar, özellikle rotasyonel hareketi en aza indirme açısından etkili bulunmuştur. Optimize edilmiş çift yarı elipsoidal ataşmanlar, molar mesializasyonda üstün hareket kontrolü sağlamaktadır. Yin-yang tasarımlar ise bukkal-lingual stabiliteyi artırma konusunda avantaj sunmaktadır. Bu bulgular, ataşman geometrisinin, şeffaf plaklarla yapılan ortodontik tedavilerin etkinliğini belirlemede kritik bir rol oynadığını göstermektedir.Transparent plates are subject to biomechanical limitations, especially in complex tooth movements such as mesialization of molar teeth, despite the use of attachments. In such cases, it may be difficult to effectively perform the desired movements. Finite element analysis (FEA) is an effective method for analyzing these movements and enables the determination of the most suitable attachment designs in terms of force transmission.The aim of this study is to compare the displacement patterns and stress distributions during maxillary molar mesialization using three-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA) with four different attachment designs. A maxilla model based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was created, including the periodontal ligament (PDL), alveolar bone, and a transparent plate with a thickness of 0.75 mm. Five different scenarios were simulated in the study: no attachment (Model-I), rectangular vertical attachment (Model-II), rectangular horizontal attachment (Model-III), optimized double semi-ellipsoidal attachment (Model-IV), and yin-yang attachment (Model-V). In each model, a 0.5 mm mesial displacement was applied, and the resulting deformation and stress distribution were analyzed using the ANSYS Workbench program. Model-IV (optimized attachment) provided the least molar tipping (0.319 mm total displacement) and the best mesiodistal control. Model-I, which did not use attachments, showed the highest tipping (0.376 mm). The Model-V with yin-yang attachments reduced buccal displacement by 92% compared to Model-I. Horizontal rectangular attachments were found to be effective, especially in minimizing rotational movement. Optimized double semi-ellipsoidal attachments provide superior movement control in molar mesialization. Yin-yang designs offer advantages in enhancing buccal-lingual stability. These findings demonstrate that attachment geometry plays a critical role in determining the effectiveness of orthodontic treatment with clear aligners
Graph Laplacian analysis of modulation instability in three-core optical coupler
No full textThis study explores modulation instability (MI) in a three-core optical coupler, utilizing a graph Laplacian framework to model the system's dynamics through coupled nonlinear Schrodinger equations (NLSE). By substituting the traditional continuous Laplacian with the graph Laplacian, the research investigates how the eigenvalues of the graph Laplacian influence MI through linear stability analysis. Notably, the findings reveal that real eigenvalues lead to a decrease in the instability band as their magnitude increases, suggesting a stabilizing effect. In contrast, when the eigenvalues are complex, the MI spectrum exhibits both upper and lower thresholds in amplitude ratio, with an enhancement in MI as the absolute value of these complex eigenvalues grows. These insights underscore the critical role of the graph Laplacian's spectral properties in shaping the stability and behavior of MI in three-core optical couplers, offering valuable implications for the design and optimization of such systems in optical communications and photonics applications. Copyright (c) 2025 EPLA All rights, including for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies, are reserved