The home automation today needs to make use of the latest technological components available. In this paper, we present the design and implementation of a home automation system where communication ...technologies GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication), Internet, and speech recognition have been used. All these techniques are successfully merged in a single wireless home automation system. This system offers a complete, low cost, powerful and user friendly way of real-time monitoring and remote control of a house
This study aims to determine the prevalence of neuropathy in the prediabetic period.ObjectiveThis study aims to determine the prevalence of neuropathy in the prediabetic period.Informed consent was ...attained from the patients who volunteered to participate in the study after ethics committee approval was obtained. Patients under the age of 18, having vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency, history of collagen tissue-rheumatological disease, chronic kidney failure, cirrhosis, ethylism, thyroid disease, autoimmune disease, malignancy, tuberculosis, type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus and pregnant women were excluded from the study. Patients diagnosed with prediabetes were evaluated by the DN4 neuropathy complaint questionnaire. Neuropathy was diagnosed in patients having a score of four or more. For the statistical analyses Student t-test, Pearson chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test were performed using the NCSS program.Design Subjects and MethodInformed consent was attained from the patients who volunteered to participate in the study after ethics committee approval was obtained. Patients under the age of 18, having vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency, history of collagen tissue-rheumatological disease, chronic kidney failure, cirrhosis, ethylism, thyroid disease, autoimmune disease, malignancy, tuberculosis, type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus and pregnant women were excluded from the study. Patients diagnosed with prediabetes were evaluated by the DN4 neuropathy complaint questionnaire. Neuropathy was diagnosed in patients having a score of four or more. For the statistical analyses Student t-test, Pearson chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test were performed using the NCSS program.A total of 224 volunteers, 167 women and 57 men, were included in the study. The mean age of the participants was 51 and the mean level of hemoglobin A1C was 5.9. Neuropathy was detected in 45% of the cases. Especially in women, there was a significant increase in the frequency of neuropathy compared to men. The most common complaints found in our study were burning sensation and numbness in the extremities.ResultsA total of 224 volunteers, 167 women and 57 men, were included in the study. The mean age of the participants was 51 and the mean level of hemoglobin A1C was 5.9. Neuropathy was detected in 45% of the cases. Especially in women, there was a significant increase in the frequency of neuropathy compared to men. The most common complaints found in our study were burning sensation and numbness in the extremities.Similar to diabetic patients, prediabetic patients also have a high rate of neuropathy. For the early diagnosis of neuropathy and to be treated promptly, screening tests such as DN4 should be performed for all prediabetic patients. According to the test results, advanced examinations such as EMG or biopsy should be performed earlier.ConclusionsSimilar to diabetic patients, prediabetic patients also have a high rate of neuropathy. For the early diagnosis of neuropathy and to be treated promptly, screening tests such as DN4 should be performed for all prediabetic patients. According to the test results, advanced examinations such as EMG or biopsy should be performed earlier.
Ketamine and propofol are the general anesthetics that also have antimicrobial and microbial growth-promoting effects, respectively. Although these agents are frequently applied together during ...clinical use, there is no data about their total effect on microbial growth when combined. In this study, we investigated some organisms’ growth in a ketamine and propofol mixture.
We used standard strains including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans in this study. Time-growth analysis was performed to assess microbial growth rates in 1% propofol. Antimicrobial activity of ketamine, alone and in propofol was studied with microdilution method.
In propofol, studied strains grew from 103-104 cfu/mL to ≥105 cfu/mL concentrations within 8-16hours depending on the type of organism. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) (for candida, minimal fungicidal concentration) of ketamine were determined as follows (MIC, MBC): E.coli 312.5, 312.5μg/mL; S.aureus 19.5, 156μg/mL; P.aeruginosa 312.5, 625μg/mL; and C.albicans 156, 156μg/ml. In ketamine+propofol mixture, ketamine exhibited antimicrobial activity to E.coli, P.aeruginosa and C.albicans as MBCs at 1250, 625 and 625μg/mL, respectively. Growth of S. aureus was not inhibited in this mixture (ketamine concentration=1250μg/mL).
Ketamine has sustained its antimicrobial activity in a dose-dependent manner against some organisms in propofol, which is a strong microbial growth-promoting solution. Combined use of ketamine and propofol in routine clinical application may reduce the risk of infection caused by accidental contamination. However, one must keep in mind that ketamine cannot reduce all pathogenic threats in propofol mixture.
Summary
This study aimed to measure the serum endocan level of patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) and to investigate the possible association between this and vasculogenic severe ED. We ...performed a prospective analysis of 86 consecutive patients affected by ED. Patients were divided into severe ED (IIEF‐5 score < 7) and mild or moderate ED (IIEF‐5 score > 7). A strong negative correlation was found between serum endocan levels and peak systolic velocity (p < .001 and r = −.665) in men with severe ED. Univariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that tobacco consumption (p < .05), serum total 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (p < .01), serum endocan levels (p < .01), peak systolic velocity (p < .01), hypertension (p < .001), dyslipidaemia (p < .001), metabolic syndrome (p = .026) and a history of a cardiovascular event (p < .001) significantly increase the risk of severe ED. In the multivariate logistic regression model, we also found that age, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular events and higher serum endocan levels were independently associated with severe ED. Circulating endocan may be used in daily practice as a new marker that correlates with cardiovascular risks and the severity of ED disease.
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the survival rate of ceramic and resin inlays, onlays, and overlays and to identify the complication types associated with the main clinical ...outcomes. Two reviewers searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for articles published between 1983 through April 2015, conforming to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for systematic reviews. Clinical studies meeting the following criteria were included: 1) studies related to resin and ceramic inlays, onlays, and overlays; 2) prospective, retrospective, or randomized controlled trials conducted in humans; 3) studies with a dropout rate of less than 30%; and 4) studies with a follow-up longer than 5 y. Of 1,389 articles, 14 met the inclusion criteria. The meta-regression indicated that the type of ceramic material (feldspathic porcelain vs. glass-ceramic), study design (retrospective vs. prospective), follow-up time (5 vs. 10 y), and study setting (university vs. private clinic) did not affect the survival rate. Estimated survival rates for glass-ceramics and feldspathic porcelain were between 92% and 95% at 5 y (n = 5,811 restorations) and were 91% at 10 y (n = 2,154 restorations). Failures were related to fractures/chipping (4%), followed by endodontic complications (3%), secondary caries (1%), debonding (1%), and severe marginal staining (0%). Odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 0.19 (0.04 to 0.96) and 0.54 (0.17 to 1.69) for pulp vitality and type of tooth involved (premolars vs. molars), respectively. Ceramic inlays, onlays, and overlays showed high survival rates at 5 y and 10 y, and fractures were the most frequent cause of failure.
This study investigates the use of high-speed trains (HSTs) for transporting freight, such as small cargo and mail. A HST scheduling model is constructed to observe the effects of including freight ...in a passenger-only system. The proposed mathematical model is tested with an experimental study using the Turkish State Railways high-speed rail network and train sets. Freight transportation is analyzed in two cases, namely, adding separate freight trains to the system and using passenger trains for freight transportation. It can be concluded that dividing the sequences of cities into two allows for the completion of train services earlier in the day, and using the same train for transporting both passengers and freight provides more time saving in the system.
To assess the relationship between prostate cancer and thiol/disulphide homeostasisas an important indicator of oxidative stress.
After ethics committee approval (546/2015); 388 patients aged between ...46-75 years who underwent transrectal ultrasound guided prostatebiopsy in three different centers between July 2015-2016 owing to serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels ≥2.5 ng/ml and/or abnormal digital rectal examination were involved in this study. The plasma levels of thiol/disulphide homeostasis parameters were compared in patients with and without prostate cancer.
The mean age of the patients was 62.9±7 years. In patients with prostate cancer (n=130, 33.5% ) the mean plasma levels of native thiol and total thiol were lower (332.9 vs 362.1 μmol/L and 363 vs 392.6 μmol/L, p=0.001). Plasma disulphide levels were not statistically different between the groups (15 vs 15.3 μmol/L, p=0.936). In prostate cancer group; patients with Gleason score ≥7 had lower plasma native thiol levels than patients with Gleason score<7 (321.3 vs 342.6 μmol/L, p=0.029) while there were no significant differences in total thiol and disulphide levels (352.3 vs 371.9 μmol/L, ptotal Thiol =0.064 and 15.5 vs 14.6 μmol/L, pdisulphide =0.933).
Lower plasma levels of thiol in patients with prostate cancer and high Gleason score is an oteworthy result. We believe that our results should be supported by further studies.
The impact of ABO mismatch on outcomes following allo-HSCT remains controversial. In this study, our aim is to define the effect of ABO mismatch on post-transplant outcomes, engraftment kinetics and ...complications in a large cohort.
We retrospectively identified 1000 patients who underwent allo-HSCT from either bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells at our center between 1988 and 2016. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Five hundred and ninety (59%) patient-donor pairs were ABO matched, 164 (16.4%) were ABO major mismatched (MM), 191 (19.1%) were ABO minor MM, and 55 (5.5%) were ABO bi-directionally MM. ABO matched pairs were more common in transplants from related donors (P<0.001) and using bone marrow as a stem cell source (P<0.001). In minor ABO MM transplantations, mild delayed hemolytic reaction occurred more frequently compared to major and bidirectional ABO MM transplantations (47% vs 35% and 18%, P<0.001). Neutrophil engraftment was slightly delayed in ABO MM patient-donor pairs when compared ABO matched donor pairs according to median engraftment time in all group (167/410, 41% vs 204/590, 35%, P=0.046). Pure red cell aplasia was diagnosed in 6 patients (1%). Higher risk of death was shown in ABO MM transplants compared to ABO matched transplants in overall survival (OS) analysis (HR:1.201, 95% CI:1.004–1.437, P=0.045). The non-relapse mortality (P=0.546) and cumulative incidences of acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) and chronic (c) GVHD were comparable between ABO MM and ABO matched patient-donor pairs (for aGVHD, P=0.235; for cGVHD, P=0.137).
ABO MM transplants were associated with decreased OS and slightly delayed neutrophil engraftment. NRM and the risk of GVHD were not related to ABO incompatibility.
L’impact de l’ incompatibilité ABO sur les résultats après l’allogreffe de CSH reste controversé. Dans cette étude, notre objectif est de définir l’effet de différence ABO sur les résultats post-transplantation, la cinétique de greffe et les complications dans une grande cohorte.
Nous avons rétrospectivement identifié 1000 patients avec greffe de la moelle osseuse ou des cellules souches du sang périphérique dans notre centre entre 1988 et 2016. p<0,05 a été considéré comme statistiquement significatif.
Au total, 590 (59 %) paires patient-donneur étaient ABO compatibles, 164 (16,4 %) étaient ABO major non compatibles (MNC), 191 (19,1 %) étaient ABO minor NC et 55 (5,5 %) ABO bidirectionnelles NC. Les paires ABO compatibles étaient plus fréquentes dans les greffes de donneurs relatifs (p<0,001) et utilisant la moelle osseuse comme source de cellules souches (p<0,001). Dans les transplantations ABO NC mineures, une légère réaction hémolytique retardée est survenue plus fréquemment que les transplantations ABO NC majeures et bidirectionnelles (47 % vs. 35 % et 18 %, p<0,001). La greffe de neutrophiles était légèrement retardée dans les paires patient-donneur ABO NC par rapport aux paires de donneurs ABO appariés en fonction du temps médian de greffe dans tous les groupes (167/410, 41 % vs. 204/590, 35 %, p=0,046). Une aplasie érythrocytaire pure a été diagnostiquée chez 6 patients (1 %). Un risque plus élevé de décès a été montré dans les transplantations ABO NC par rapport aux transplantations appariées ABO dans l’analyse de la survie globale (OS) (HR : 1,201, IC à 95 % : 1,004–1,437, p=0,045). La mortalité sans rechute (p=0,546) et les incidences cumulées de la maladie aiguë du greffon contre l’hôte (aGVHD) et chronique (c) GVHD étaient comparables entre les paires patient-donneur ABO NC et ABO (pour aGVHD, p=0,235 ; pour cGVHD), p=0,137).
Les greffes ABO NC étaient associées avec une diminution de la survie globale et avec la greffe de neutrophiles légèrement retardée. La mortalité sans rechute et le risque de GVHD n’étaient pas liés à l’incompatibilité ABO.
The service life of defective direct or indirect restorations could be prolonged by repair or relayering actions where durable adhesion of resin-based composite materials is established for longevity ...of repairs. The advances in adhesive technologies have introduced several surface conditioning concepts to adhere resin composites onto different restorative materials. The purpose of this report is to summarize reasons for failure, survival of repaired reconstructions, elaborate upon types and mechanisms of available surface conditioning methods, and present operative dentists with practical guidelines for intraoral repair procedures.