Summary
Background The similarity between clinical pictures of pigmented actinic keratosis (PAK) and lentigo maligna (LM) is well known.
Objectives To investigate the frequency of dermatoscopic ...findings suggestive of LM/lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM) in the other facial pigmented skin lesions (FPSL) and to assess the distinguishing dermoscopic criteria of PAK and LM.
Methods Eighty‐nine FPSL were evaluated with conventional dermatoscopy. The lesions showing one or more dermatoscopic features considered as specific patterns for the diagnosis of LM/LMM, mainly slate‐grey to black dots and globules, slate‐grey areas, annular‐granular pattern, asymmetrical pigmented follicular openings, black blotches, rhomboidal structures, hyperpigmented rim of follicular openings, slate‐grey streaks and dark streaks, were included in the study selectively.
Results PAK was diagnosed in 67, LM or LMM in 20 and lichen planus‐like keratosis in two lesions, histopathologically. Eleven essential dermatoscopic features were observed in facial PAK: slate‐grey dots (70%); annular‐granular pattern (39%); rhomboidal structures (36%); pseudonetwork (36%); black globules (34%); slate‐grey globules (33%); black dots (30%); asymmetrical pigmented follicular openings (25%); hyperpigmented rim of follicular openings (21%); slate‐grey areas (18%); and streaks (3%).
Conclusions PAK has a striking similarity to LM/LMM in clinical and dermatoscopic features, thus representing a diagnostic challange. All dermatoscopic findings except black blotches were observed in PAK. As dermatoscopic diagnosis of a pigmented skin lesion cannot be based on the presence of a single criterion, we may conclude that histopathology still remains the gold standard for correct diagnosis.
The intention of this study was to investigate the effect of modified 3D culture conditions on dental pulp cells (DPCs). DPCs were isolated from extracted primary molar, premolar, and wisdom teeth. ...Tooth samples were divided into three groups as control group; plated into methyl cellulose medium without any supplementation, growth factor (GF) group; supplemented with bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP2, BMP4), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and growth factor+conditioned medium (GF+CM) group; supplemented with both growth factors and pulp conditioned medium. The DPCs were tested for colony forming ability, proliferation capacity and morphology. The highest colony forming ability was detected in the GF and GF+CM groups of DPCs isolated from wisdom teeth. The proliferation capacity was higher in GF+CM group of DPCs isolated from primary molars, and in GF and GF+CM groups of DPCs isolated from wisdom teeth. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation of the wisdom teeth samples showed cell-cell interactions in the GF and GF+CM groups. Our results indicate that growth factors and pulp conditioned medium in methyl cellulose culture created proper environment to follow the behavior of dental cells three-dimensionally.
Purpose
To determine the differences in acromegaly diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up among Turkish endocrinologists, and to investigate how the published guidelines are applied in clinical ...practice.
Methods
The questionnaire was formatted as an electronic survey, conducted between November and December 2015, and sent weekly for 6 weeks via e-mail to 528 endocrinologists in Turkey.
Results
The questionnaire was answered by 37.4 % of endocrinologists. Insulin-like growth factor-1 and nadir growth hormone level after 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (nadir GH-OGTT) were the most commonly preferred methods for the initial diagnosis. A total of 49.5 % of the participants reported using preoperative medical therapy (MT) either routinely or on a case-to-case basis. Somatostatin analogs were the most commonly used drugs, both in pre- and postoperative MT. Disease activity following surgery was assessed in the 3rd postoperative month using IGF-1 levels. Similarly, IGF-1 monitoring was preferred in the follow-up period. Monitoring nadir GH-OGTT levels was the most commonly used method in the assessment of discordant test results. The dose titration was done at month 3 after the start of MT. Resistance to SRLs was considered after using the maximal dose for at least 6 months. Pegvisomant was generally used in second- and third-line therapy. Similarly, cabergoline was not preferred in monotherapy by the majority of participants. Radiotherapy was considered in patients with incomplete response to surgery and medical treatments.
Conclusions
Although there were subtle differences, clinical practice guidelines were usually followed among Turkish endocrinologists.
In this paper, the effects of hot pressing and cold pressing on the superconducting properties of pyrene (C
16
H
10
) added bulk MgB
2
were compared. For this aim, the polycrystalline disk-shaped MgB
...2
samples with addition of 4 wt % C
16
H
10
powder were fabricated by a pellet/closed tube method at 850 °C, after hot pressing at 200 °C and cold pressing. The XRD and SEM results showed that although a-lattice parameters reduce for both C
16
H
10
added samples, the average crystallite size increases after cold pressing because of the accumulation and inhomogeneous distribution of C in the MgB
2
structure while it reduces for the C
16
H
10
added hot pressed sample. The resistivity measurements showed that the increment of electron scattering is higher for the C
16
H
10
added cold pressed sample than that of the C
16
H
10
added hot pressed one which shows relatively better grain connectivity, and the
T
c
values of the samples are not appreciably affected by the pressing conditions. From the magnetisation measurements the in-field
J
c
values at 10 K and 5.5 T were obtained as 8.41 × 10
3
A/cm
2
, 1.62 × 10
4
A/cm
2
, 6.90 × 10
3
A/cm
2
and the
H
irr
values while
J
c
= 100 A/cm
2
at 20 K were obtained as 5.99 T, 6.55 T and 6.19 T for the pure sample and the C
16
H
10
added hot and cold pressed samples, respectively. The higher
J
c
and
H
irr
values obtained for the C
16
H
10
added hot pressed sample is because of the homogenous C substitution into MgB
2
grains, as compatible with its lower Δ
ρ
value, and thus increased flux pinning ability.
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and neuropathic pain in diabetic patients attending university outpatient clinics in Turkey. In this ...multicenter cross-sectional study, neurologic examinations and nerve conduction studies along with clinical diabetic neuropathy score, and Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs pain scale were performed on 1,113 patients (46.2% male) from 14 centers. Prevalence of DPN determined only by clinical examination was 40.4% and increased to 62.2%, by combining nerve conduction studies with clinical examination. According to Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs scores, neuropathic pain prevalence was 16.0% in those who reported pain. Poor glycemic control, retinopathy, microalbuminuria, hyperlipidemia, diabetic foot, and foot amputation were more commonly observed in patients with DPN. Clinical DPN affected 40.4% of diabetic patients, and neuropathic pain prevalence in diabetic patient population was 14.0%. Clinical examinations and nerve conduction studies are important components for early detection and accurate diagnosis of DPN and painful DPN.
Paraplegia due to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury of the spinal cord is a devastating and undesired complication of thoraco-abdominal aortic surgery. Unidentified clots cause a variety of ...thromboembolic events and deteriorate the severity of ischemia. We investigated the effect of the degree of anticoagulation on spinal cord I/R injury and whether heparin is protective against I/R injury beside its anticoagulant properties.
Twenty-eight rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n=7 per group) as G1 (no aortic occlusion and heparin administration), G2 (45 min aortic occlusion; no heparin administration), G3 (45 min aortic occlusion; 400 IU/kg heparin to keep activated clotting time (ACT) level around 200 sec), and G4 (45 min aortic occlusion; 800 IU/kg heparin to keep ACT level around 600 sec). After neurologic evaluation at the 48th hour of reperfusion, lumbar spinal cords were removed for histopathologic evaluation and immunohistochemical staining for HSP70 (heat shock protein 70), interleukin-6 and myeloperoxidase (MPO).
The Motor Deficit Index (MDI) scores were lowest in G1 group (p < 0.05) and the MDI scores of G3 and G4 were significantly lower than G2 group (p < 0.05). The neuronal degeneration in G3 was significantly lower than the other groups, respectively (p = 0.03). Histopathological evaluation showed no significant intergroup differences in terms of the degree of edema and inflammatory response. There was no statistically significant difference found among the groups in terms of HSP70 staining, IL-6 staining or the degree of MPO staining.
Protection of spinal cord from I/R injury requires a multimodal management. We should not miss out the importance of adequate anticoagulation in thoraco-abdominal surgical procedures. Furthermore, the recently discovered anti-inflammatory property of glycosaminoglycans, including heparin, deserves to be investigated.
•Effects of hot and cold pressing on C24H12 addition into MgB2 has been investigated.•Cold pressing strongly increases lattice strain, confirming more C substitution.•Hot pressing method minimizes ...the dependence of Tcon the C24H12 addition.•Hot pressing ensures smaller grain size and stronger flux pinning force.•Electron–phonon interaction properties changes depending on the pressing method.
In this study, the superconducting properties of 4 wt% coronene (C24H12) added polycrystalline bulk MgB2 samples prepared by hot pressing and cold pressing, were reported in detail. The results were compared to determine one of which pressing methods is more useful to substitute of carbon released from C24H12 into MgB2 structure and to increase the superconducting properties of MgB2. The lattice strain, crystallite size, residual resistivity, superconducting transition temperature (Tc), critical current density (Jc), flux pinning force density (Fp) and vertical/lateral levitation force (Fz, Fx) were analysed for the hot and cold pressed samples. The a-lattice parameter and Tc value reduced sharply for 4 wt% C24H12 added cold pressed sample, resulting in a notable decrease of increment ratio of Jc and Fp values, while the depressing of Tc is lower for 4 wt% C24H12 added hot pressed sample. The cold pressing strongly increased the lattice strain, confirming more C substitution, while the hot pressing ensured smaller crystallite size. The Jc and Fp values were respectively found as 4.6 × 103 A/cm2, 1.3 × 104 A/cm2, 5.8 × 103 A/cm2 and 1.8 × 108 N/m3, 5.1 × 108 N/m3, 2.3 × 108 N/m3 for the pure sample and, 4 wt% C24H12 added hot and cold pressed samples at 20 K, 4 T. The maximum repulsive and attractive levitation force values at 20 K in ZFC and FC regimes were obtained for the 4 wt% C24H12 added hot pressed sample. Finally, the hot pressing provides an effective way to substitute C into MgB2 lattice without a remarkable decrease of Tc value, ensuring more homogenous and compacted structure, more electron–phonon interaction and strong flux pinning force.
In the present study, protein hydrolyzate was obtained from the head region from the wastes produced during filleting of sea bream (Sparus aurata), sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and rainbow trout ...(Oncorhyncus mykiss) cultured in Turkey. After the functional and antioxidant properties of the obtained products were determined, the post-storage stability of the protein hydrolysates stored frozen for 6 months was determined by analysis. In this study, the degree of hydrolysis, functional properties (protein solubility, emulsion properties, foaming properties, color properties, water holding capacity (WHC)), antioxidant properties (DPPH (1,1 -diphenyl-2-pic-ryhydrayl) free radical scavenging capacity, antioxidative activity, metal chelating) and determination of amino acid sequencing were carried out in protein hydrolysate. To evaluate the effect of storage time on fish protein hydrolysates stored at -18°C after production, the above mentioned analyses, including functional and antioxidative properties, were repeated at the end of the 6 month storage period. Results were interpreted using statistical analysis. According to the functional and antioxidative properties of fish protein hydrolyzate, the highest antioxidant activity was determined in sea bream head hydrolyzate. The production yield of all fish protein hydrolysates is 5%. The functional and antioxidant properties of fish protein hydrolysates varied according to fish species.
Carpal tunnel syndrome can be secondary in some patients, and vascular anomalies (usually a persistent median artery), median nerve variations, or both are among the etiologic factors. High division ...of the median nerve proximal to the carpal tunnel (known as a bifid median nerve) is a median nerve anomaly that has an incidence rate of 2.8%. This rare entity is often associated with various abnormalities that are clinically relevant, such as vascular malformations (persistent median artery), aberrant muscles, and carpal tunnel syndrome. The bifid median nerve is one cause of carpal tunnel syndrome because of its relatively higher cross-sectional area compared with a nonbifid median nerve. Obtaining magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasounds of bifid median nerves has helped surgeons avoid potential surgical hazards.This article describes 3 men with 4 bifid median nerves associated with a persistent median artery. Mean patient age was 38 years (range, 37-40 years). Mean follow-up was 7 years (range, 3-11 years). Patients were diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome and underwent open carpal tunnel release. To reveal a morphological etiology in patients in whom it the possibility of having idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome is unlikely, preoperative imaging studies should be obtained. Bifid median nerves associated with a persistent median artery in the carpal tunnel are important to understand for their clinical and surgical significance. A secondary nature should be suspected in patients with unilateral symptoms, especially those with a history of symptoms and when the symptomatic hand shows severe neurophysiologic impairment but the contralateral hand is neurophysiologically intact. Inadvertent injury to the median nerve during carpal tunnel surgery can be minimized if the variations of the median nerve are recognized.
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