538 research outputs found
The 2013 ACC/AHA 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk index is better than SCORE and QRisk II in rheumatoid arthritis: is it enough?
No full textObjective. To determine the ability of the new American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk algorithm in detecting high cardiovascular (CV) risk, RA patients identified by carotid ultrasonography (US) were compared with Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) and QRisk II algorithms. Methods. SCORE, QRisk II, 2013 ACC/AHA 10-year ASCVD risk and EULAR recommended modified versions were calculated in 216 RA patients. In sonographic evaluation, carotid intima-media thickness >0.90 mm and/or carotid plaques were used as the gold standard test for subclinical atherosclerosis and high CV risk (US+). Results. Eleven (5.1%), 15 (6.9%) and 44 (20.4%) patients were defined as having high CV risk according to SCORE, QRisk II and ACC/AHA 10-year ASCVD risk, respectively. Fifty-two (24.1%) patients were US+ and of those, 8 (15.4%), 7 (13.5%) and 23 (44.2%) patients were classified as high CV risk according to SCORE, QRisk II and ACC/AHA 10-year ASCVD risk, respectively. The ACC/AHA 10-year ASCVD risk index better identified US+ patients than SCORE and QRisk II (P < 0.0001). With EULAR modification, reclassification from moderate to high risk occurred only in two, five and seven patients according to SCORE, QRisk II and ACC/AHA 10-year ASCVD risk, respectively. Conclusion. The 2013 ACC/AHA 10-year ASCVD risk estimator was better than the SCORE and QRisk II indices in RA, but still failed to identify 55% of high risk patients. Furthermore adjustment of threshold and EULAR modification did not work well
Behavior of Soil Reinforcements in Slopes
No full textAbstractIn geotechnical and transportation engineering, especially road constructions in cuts and deep excavation problems are solved by using different supporting excavation methods. Soil reinforcements are chosen due to easy and economic application. In this study, behavior of supported slopes with geotextiles and geogrids were analyzed by performing experiments on slope models in the laboratory. In the experiments, a static loading was applied to find failure surface and deformations for each case. Additionally, slopes were designed by using Plaxis program. At the end of the study, experimental and analytic models were compared and also behavior of models were presented
Withdrawal of Staphylococcus aureus from intensive care units in Turkey
No full textTufan, Zeliha Kocak/0000-0002-3294-014X; Ulu, Aslihan Candevir/0000-0001-9340-516X; Leblebicioglu, Hakan/0000-0002-6033-8543; demirdal, tuna/0000-0002-9046-5666; balkan, ilker inanc/0000-0002-8977-5931; UNAL, SERHAT/0000-0003-1184-4711; ULCAY, ASIM/0000-0003-0531-0668; Karabay, Oguz/0000-0003-0502-432X; Elaldi, Nazif/0000-0002-9515-770X; Gungor, Gokay/0000-0003-2294-489X; Dizbay, Murat/0000-0003-4120-0781; Ersoy, Yasemin/0000-0001-5730-6682WOS: 000326241700021PubMed: 23663858Background: In the past, Staphylococcus aureus infections have displayed various patterns of epidemiologic curves in hospitals, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs). This study aimed to characterize the current trend in a nationwide survey of ICUs in Turkey. Methods: A total of 88 ICUs from 36 Turkish tertiary hospitals were included in this retrospective study, which was performed during the first 3 months of both 2008 (period [P] 1) and 2011 (P2). A P value <=.01 was considered significant. Results: Although overall rates of hospital-acquired infection (HAI) and device-associated infection densities were similar in P1 and P2, the densities of HAIs due to S aureus and methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) were significantly lower in P2 (P < .0001). However, the proportion of HAIs due to Acinetobacter was significantly higher in P2 (P < .0001). Conclusions: The incidence of S aureus infections is declining rapidly in Turkish ICUs, with potential impacts on empirical treatment strategies in these ICUs. Copyright (C) 2013 by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved
Additional Notes on Delphacidae, Tettigometridae and Cixidae [Auchenorrhyncha (Insecta: Hemiptera)] Fauna in East and Southeast Anatolia Region of Turkey
No full textThis study was carried out to contribute the Delphacidae, Tettigometridae and Cixiidae (Hemiptera) fauna in the East and Southeast Anatolia Region of Turkey. Specimens were collected from different locations of the study area, in 2007, 2008, 2014 and 2015, and prepared according to standard methods. 7 species belonging to 6 genera from 3 families were determined: Hyalesthes obsoletus, Pentastiridius leporinus, Laodelphax striatellus, Sogatella vibix, Toya propinqua, Tettigometra atra and Tettigometra macrocephala. Number of examined specimens, host plants and distribution of species in Turkey have been given. In these species; P. leporinus, L. striatellus T. atra, T. macrocephala were new records in these regions
Miscellaneous inflammatory musculoskeletal conditions: Always a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge
No full textPulmonary arterial hypertension related to connective tissue diseases
No full textPulmonary arterial hypertension (PAR) is an important complication of connective tissue diseases (CTD) and especially seen in systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE), and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). In systemic sclerosis, PAH is isolated or accompanied by interstitial lung disease and currently, a major cause of mortality. It has been shown to be developed in approximately 10% of cases and annual screening with echocardiography has been recommended. Right heart catheterization is required for definite diagnosis. Limited skin involvement, late onset, Raynaud's phenomenon, digital ulcers, telangiectasias, diminished nail fold capillaries, antiU3RNP and anticentromere antibodies are known as risk factors for PAH development in systemic sclerosis. Following diffusion lung capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and pro-brain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP) levels can be helpful for evaluating PAH development. PAH in SLE linked to antiphospholipid antibodies and Raynaud's phenomenon in some studies. MCTD is an overlap syndrome with features of systemic sclerosis, SLE, polymyositis and positive anti-U1RNP antibodies. PAH develops in 9-27% of the patients and the leading cause of mortality in patients with MCTD. Endothelin receptor antagonists, prostacyclin analogs and phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors are being used in patients with systemic sclerosis. In SLE/MCTD patients with early diagnosis immunosuppressive treatments may be effective. (Anadolu Kardiyol Derg 2010; 10: Suppl 1; 57-62
DC/DC Converters for Multiterminal HVDC Systems: Based on Modular Multilevel Converter
No full textThe increase in the energy demand has resulted in searching for new energy sources. Due to the increased prices of fossil fuels and the environmental issues, renewable energy sources has become popular in Europe. Renewable energy generation such as wind, solar and wave has point-to-point connections with the main grid. In order to minimize the disadvantages of renewable energy sources like energy fluctuations, multi-terminal systems are favoured interconnecting energy generation stations among them with the main grid. The long distance interconnection especially for offshore wind farms and intercontinental connections is not possible with traditional alternating current (AC) technology because of the limited power transfer. Therefore, high voltage direct current (HVDC) technology is considered as the main element for the future multi-terminal grid. The conversion between AC and DC is preferred via voltage source converters (VSC) as they offer more flexible power control compared to traditional current source converters in other words line commutated converters (LCC). HVDC power transmission schemes have been constructed depending on the technology of the time, which means that there is no standardization in voltage levels and configurations of the HVDC schemes. Therefore, the connection of such systems operating at different voltage levels and/or in different schemes such as monopole and bipolar systems for the future multi-terminal DC grids requires DC/DC converters. Although the voltage level and the configurations are the same for both DC systems, DC/DC converter may be required for the power flow control in multi-terminal DC grid. The modular multilevel converter (MMC) seems as the most suitable converter in this application due to its advantages such as low switching losses, high scalability and modularity. MMC control structures are introduced and front-to-front connection of two MMC forming a DC/AC/DC converter is modelled and simulated for different applications such as interconnecting systems with same voltage levels, different voltage levels or different configurations in this study. The passive element sizes of MMC submodules are also compared for different AC side frequency as the component sizes can be decreased thanks to the increase in the AC frequency which has a disadvantage of higher switching losses. Moreover, the designed converters are tested in multi-terminal DC grids to check their performance and functionality.Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer ScienceElectrical Sustainable EnergyErasmus Mundus, European Wind Energy Master (EWEM), Electric Power System Trac
Primed Tactile Stimulus Processing during Sleep
No full textThe aim was to investigate how the primed and unprimed non-painful tactile stimuli during sleep would be processed. A total of 22 healthy subjects (19.55 ± 1.10 years) were randomly divided into two groups. The same stimuli were applied to both groups, but the study group (SG) received them twice (daytime and sleep), whereas the control group (CG) received them only during sleep. A 40-channel PSG and a pneumatic tactile stimulator unit were used. Evoked potential components of the CZ electrode were examined in four sleep stages (N1, N2, N3, and REM). The Mann–Whitney U test was used for group comparison, and the Wilcoxon test was used for in-group evaluations. The P50 and N300 response components were observed in all sleep stages in both groups. P50 decreased as sleep deepened in the SG. The N300 increased as sleep deepened and started to decrease again in the REM stage. Moreover, in N1, the amplitudes of P200-N300 and N300-P450 in the SG were significantly greater than those in the CG. The fact that P50 was observed even in N3 indicates that bottom-up sensory processing continues during sleep. Moreover, the central processing of primed and unprimed stimuli exhibited dynamic differences. Furthermore, an increase in N300 amplitude suggests suppressive processes to facilitate and maintain sleep
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