Tamoxifen (TAM), the clinical choice for the antiestrogen treatment of advanced or metastatic breast cancer, was formulated in nanoparticulate carrier systems in the form of ...poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA), poly-epsilon-caprolactone (PCL) and chitosan (CS) nanoparticles. The PLGA and PCL nanoparticles were prepared by a nanoprecipitation technique whereas the CS nanoparticles were prepared by the ionic gelation method. Mean particle sizes were under 260 nm for PLGA and PCL nanoparticles and around 400 nm for CS nanoparticles. Polydispersity indices were less than 0.4 for all formulations. Zeta potential values were positive for TAM loaded nanoparticles because of the positive charge of the drug. Drug loading values were significantly higher for PCL nanoparticles when compared to PLGA and CS nanoparticles. All nanoparticle formulations exhibited controlled release properties. These results indicate that TAM loaded PLGA, PCL and CS nanoparticles may provide promising carrier systems for tumor targeting.
Nephrotic syndrome progresses with various metabolic disturbances, such as proteinuria over 3.5 grams in 24 hours, hypoalbuminemia, and hypercoagulability. Patients usually complain about diffuse ...edema throughout the body, which is secondary to hypoalbuminemia. It has many primary and secondary causes. Patients may require a renal biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. Besides, many secondary causes of nephrotic syndrome should be examined and excluded. Although many vaccines were developed due to the COVID-19, many side effects are still reported because of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (COVID-19 mRNA and BNT162b2), which is widely used in Turkey. This study examines a case of nephrotic syndrome with acute renal injury after Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
The COVID-19-related death rate varies between countries and is affected by various risk factors. This multicenter registry study was designed to evaluate the mortality rate and the related risk ...factors in Turkey. We retrospectively evaluated 1500 adults with COVID-19 from 26 centers who were hospitalized between March 11 and July 31, 2020. In the study group, 1041 and 459 cases were diagnosed as definite and highly probable cases, respectively. There were 993 PCR-positive cases (66.2%). Among all cases, 1144 (76.3%) were diagnosed with non-severe pneumonia, whereas 212 (14.1%) had severe pneumonia. Death occurred in 67 patients, corresponding to a mortality rate of 4.5% (95% CI:3.5–5.6). The univariate analysis demonstrated that various factors, including male sex, age ≥65 years and the presence of dyspnea or confusion, malignity, chronic obstructive lung disease, interstitial lung disease, immunosuppressive conditions, severe pneumonia, multiorgan dysfunction, and sepsis, were positively associated with mortality. Favipiravir, hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin were not associated with survival. Following multivariate analysis, male sex, severe pneumonia, multiorgan dysfunction, malignancy, sepsis and interstitial lung diseases were found to be independent risk factors for mortality. Among the biomarkers, procalcitonin levels on the 3rd-5th days of admission showed the strongest associations with mortality (OR: 6.18; 1.6–23.93). This study demonstrated that the mortality rate in hospitalized patients in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic was a serious threat and that those patients with male sex, severe pneumonia, multiorgan dysfunction, malignancy, sepsis and interstitial lung diseases were at increased risk of mortality; therefore, such patients should be closely monitored.
•The in-hospital mortality was 4.5% in COVID-19 patients of varying severity.•Interstitial lung disease was a strong independent risk factor for mortality in COVID-19.•Follow-up procalcitonin level showed the strongest association with mortality.
Oral neoplasms and non-neoplastic lesions are commonly encountered pathologies in dogs. The histopatho-logical examination of these lesions is required to make a diagnosis and lead the practitioners ...to appropriate treatment. This study aims to retrospectively document pathological lesions commonly observed in the oral cavity of dogs. In this context, 167 oral pathology cases were investigated in dogs of different breeds, genders, and age groups in the years between 2010 and 2020. Oral pathologies were classified as neoplastic (benign and malignant neoplasms) and non-neoplastic lesions according to the histopathological features diagnosed by the hematoxylin and eosin staining method. The results showed that malign (46.10%; 77/167) and benign neoplasms (40.11%; 67/167) were predominant, but non-neoplastic lesions (13.77%; 23/167) were restricted. The most common malignant neoplasm was malignant melanoma (50.64%; 39/77), while odontogenic neoplasms were determined as the most common benign neoplasms (74.62%; 50/67). When the affected patient profiles were evaluated, the results showed that males were more prone to oral pa-thologies (M/F: 62.87%/35.32%; 105/59), mostly affected life stage was senior (79.48%; 31/39), and large pure breed dogs were the most commonly encountered dog breeds (49.10%; 82/167), followed by mixed breeds (19.76%; 33/167). These findings showed statistically significant differences by the chi-square test. In addition, the most common affected area in the oral cavity was found to be the gingiva (30.76%; 12/39). As a result, this study contributes to the knowledge about the most common oral pathologies in terms of gender, age, breed, and affected area.
Köpeklerde oral neoplaziler ve neoplastik olmayan lezyonlar sıklıkla karşılaşılan patolojilerdir. Bu lezyonların histo-patolojik incelemesi tanı koymak ve klinisyen hekimleri uygun tedaviye yönlendirmek için gereklidir. Bu çalışmada, köpeklerin ağız boşluğunda yaygın olarak gözlenen patolojik lezyonları retrospektif olarak belgelemek amaçlandı. Bu kapsamda 2010-2020 yılları arasında farklı ırk, cinsiyet ve yaş gruplarındaki köpeklerde 167 oral patoloji vakası ince-lendi. Oral patolojiler hematoksilen ve eozin boyama yöntemi ile teşhis edilen histopatolojik özelliklere göre neoplastik (benign ve malign neoplazmalar) ve neoplastik olmayan lezyonlar olarak sınıflandırıldı. Bulgularda malign (%46.10; 77/167) ve iyi huylu neoplazmların (%40.11; 67/167) baskın olduğu, ancak neoplastik olmayan lezyonların (%13.77; 23/167) kısıtlı olduğu tespit edildi. En sık görülen malign neoplazm, malign melanom (%50.64; 39/77) iken, odontojenik neoplazmlar en sık görülen benign neoplazmlar olarak belirlendi (%74.62; 50/67). Etkilenen hasta profilleri değerlendi-rildiğinde, erkeklerin oral patolojilere daha yatkın olduğunu (E/D: %62.87/%35.32; 105/59), en çok etkilenen yaşam evresinin ileri yaş (%79.48; 31/39) olduğu ve büyük safkan köpeklerin en sık rastlanan köpek ırkları (%49.10; 82/167) olduğu, bunu karma ırkların (%19.76; 33/167) izlediği tespit edildi. Bu bulgular ki-kare testi ile istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farklılıklar gösterdi. Ayrıca oral kavitede en sık etkilenen bölgenin dişeti olduğu (%30.76; 12/39) bulundu. Sonuç olarak, bu çalışma cinsiyet, yaş, cins ve etkilenen bölge açısından en sık görülen oral patolojiler hakkında literatür bilgisine katkı sağlamaktadır.
A rare case of a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who developed secondary anthracofibrosis to biomass exposure, fibrosing mediastinitis due to anthracotic enlarged lymph nodes in ...the mediastinum, and pulmonary hypertension because of compres- sion of the lymph nodes on the pulmonary arteries is presented. This is a case report of a 71-year-old female patient who has been followed up with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for 10 years, has no history of smoking, and has been exposed to biomass for many years. The patient, who had been hospitalized in various centers for the last 3 years due to progressive shortness of breath and dry cough, applied to us with dry cough and dyspnea complaints. On echocardiography, systolic pulmonary arterial pressure was found to be 59 mmHg. For the etiology of pulmonary hypertension, dual-energy thoracic computed tomography was performed with the suspicion of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. No filling defect compatible with thromboembolism was detected. In right heart catheterization, mean pulmonary artery pressure was 27 mmHg, pulmonary capillary tip pressure was 7 mmHg, and pulmonary vascular resistance was 3.71 woods units. Endobronchial ultrasound was applied to the patient with the preliminary diagnoses of lymphoma, anthracosis, fibrosing mediastinitis, and infection. Widespread anthracosis was observed in all lobes and segments macroscopically. The lymph node in the subcarinal area was interpreted as anthracotic lymph node. Anthracosis is defined as black pigmentation involving the mucosal, and submucosal layers of the tracheobronchial tree and the lung parenchyma. If anthracosis is associated with luminal obliteration and/or mucosal proliferation causing obstruction, it is considered anthracofibrosis. In this case, we saw that secondary anthracofibrosis, fibrosing mediastinitis due to anthracotic enlarged lymph nodes in the mediastinum, and pulmonary hypertension may develop because of compression of the lymph nodes on the pulmonary arteries, and we wanted to draw attention to it was a rare case.
In this study, effects of soil pulverization level on resilient modulus of lime stabilized soils were studied through extensive laboratory testing. Resilient modulus tests were carried on both ...non-freeze and thaw and freeze and thaw samples. California Bearing Ratio (CBR) tests were also carried out. The soil used was a high plasticity soil. The soil was pulverized in two different soil pulverization levels, both of which complied with the relevant soil pulverization criteria. Resilient modulus tests were carried out on unstabilized and 4%, 6% and 9% hydrated lime stabilized samples. Curing days were 7, 28 and 56 days respectively. One group of samples were tested for resilient modulus after curing duration was completed, while the other group of samples were measured for resilient modulus after freeze and thaw cycles were applied according to ASTM D. 560-03 (2015). For non-freeze and thaw conditions, resilient modulus and soaked CBR values showed that soil pulverization level affected the resilient modulus and CBR values significantly and fine soil pulverization revealed higher resilient modulus and CBR values compared to coarse pulverization. Resilient modulus values were stress state dependent. Freeze and thaw cycles decreased the resilient modulus for all samples, while lime stabilized samples retained at higher resilient modulus values compared to unstabilized samples. The tests showed the importance of using higher lime contents and extended curing as well as fine soil pulverization for increased freeze and thaw resistance. Under freeze and thaw conditions, coarse soil pulverization could only be partially compensated using higher lime contents, which means significant higher environmental and economic costs. The data showed that if severe freeze and thaw cycles are anticipated in the region, construction planning for lime stabilized pavements should be carried out so that minimum two months of curing can occur beforehand. P wave velocities were measured on some selected samples using an ultrasound equipment and it was shown that they were capable of reflecting the trend in mechanical properties and therefore there is a potential that they can be used as index properties for lime stabilized soils. The results of this study highlight that soil pulverization level in lime stabilized soils is as important as lime content and therefore should be given enough consideration in field construction. Otherwise targeted soil properties cannot be achieved in the field.
•Effects of soil pulverization level on resilient modulus of lime stabilized soils were studied.•Resilient modulus tests were carried on both non-freeze and thaw and freeze and thaw samples.•P wave velocities were capable of reflecting the trend in mechanical properties.•Soil pulverization level in lime stabilized soils was found to be as important as lime content.•Soil pulverization level in lime stabilized soils should be given enough consideration in field construction.
The electrical properties and charge transport mechanisms for nanoporous natural zeolite of clinoptilolite and its silver modified form were studied for the first time in a wide gas pressure range ...(4–760 Torr) and electric field strength (50–350 kV/cm) at room temperature using two different cell configurations. One of the used cells contained a gas discharge gap, which allowed investigating the electronic conduction route in zeolite cathodes (ZC) as well. The influence of pressure, electric field and cell types on the dc conductivity was described. The resistivity decreased intensely from 1010 to 106 Ω cm at 435 V upon increasing the pressure from 4 to 760 (AP) Torr, which can be due to the ionic mobility of ZC. The physical role of Ag metal nanoparticles in the generation and maintenance of cold plasma stabilization over the surface of ZCs was investigated. For this purpose, the effect of pressure and electric field on the charge transport mechanisms in the silver-modified-zeolite porous microstructure and physicochemical interaction of the discharge plasma with the different Ag loadings as was studied. The electric field and pressure was found to be basic parameters determining the characteristics of the discharge plasma and charge transport mechanisms. When high voltages were applied to the cell with gas discharge gap, the ionization phenomena was observed to increase, which indicated that the electronic conduction is most likely to contribute to the dc conduction in the zeolite. Therefore, the ionic and electronic transport mechanisms were both found to influence the transport mechanisms.
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•Transport mechanisms for Ag modified zeolite were studied for the first time.•The influence of pressure and electric field on dc conductivity was described.•The ionic and electronic transports were found to affect the conduction mechanisms.
Objective: To evaluate long-term effects of COVID-19, and to determine the risk factors in long-COVID in a cohort of the Turkish Thoracic Society (TTS)-TURCOVID multicenter registry.
Methods: ...Thirteen centers participated with 831 patients; 504 patients were enrolled after exclusions. The study was designed in three-steps: (1) Phone questionnaire; (2) retrospective evaluation of the medical records; (3) face-to-face visit.
Results: In the first step, 93.5% of the patients were hospitalized; 61.7% had a history of pneumonia at the time of diagnosis. A total of 27.1% reported clinical symptoms at the end of the first year. Dyspnea (17.00%), fatigue (6.30%), and weakness (5.00%) were the most prevalent long-term symptoms. The incidence of long-term symptoms was increased by 2.91 fold (95% CI 1.04-8.13, P=0.041) in the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and by 1.84 fold (95% CI 1.10-3.10, P=0.021) in the presence of pneumonia at initial diagnosis, 3.92 fold (95% Cl 2.29-6.72, P=0.001) of dyspnea and 1.69 fold (95% Cl 1.02-2.80, P=0.040) fatigue persists in the early-post-treatment period and 2.88 fold (95% Cl 1.52- 5.46, P=0.001) in the presence of emergency service admission in the post COVID period. In step 2, retrospective analysis of 231 patients revealed that 1.4% of the chest X-rays had not significantly improved at the end of the first year, while computed tomography (CT) scan detected fibrosis in 3.4%. In step 3, 138 (27.4%) patients admitted to face-to-face visit at the end of first year; at least one symptom persisted in 49.27% patients. The most common symptoms were dyspnea (27.60%), psychiatric symptoms (18.10%), and fatigue (17.40%). Thorax CT revealed fibrosis in 2.4% patients.
Conclusions: COVID-19 symptoms can last for extended lengths of time, and severity of the disease as well as the presence of comorbidities might contribute to increased risk. Long-term clinical issues should be regularly evaluated after COVID-19.
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