Digital Commons Network^™

Modeling Genetic Risk Factor Of Alzheimer's Disease "Sorl1" Using Patient Specific Pluripotent Stem Cells, Kamonchanok Kongsri

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common neurodegenerative; cause of dementia and trends to increase in elder society. There is still not cure. A new strategy development for treatment is needed. SORL1 is a major genetic risk factor associated with sporadic AD. It correlates with degrading amyloid beta (Aβ) by sorting to lysosome. SORL1 overexpression has been reported that reduce Aβ production. However, the molecular mechanism that regulate in neurons is still unclear. The purpose of this study is to generate an effective drug discovery platform for identifying molecules that can modulate SORL1 level in human neurons by using induced pluripotent …

Effect Of Peak Plantar Presure On Plantar Corn Size, Milintorn Wongchinchai

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Background: Corn and callus are one of the most common problems faced by dermatologists in dermatology clinic. Repeated local irritation to plantar skin results in the thickening of traumatized skin. Corn and callus are often overlooked, and this becomes longstanding problem causing pain when walking and standing up. There is no study explore the correlation between plantar pressure and size of corn. Objectives: To explore the correlation between peak plantar pressure and size of corn Materials and methods: 30 participants with plantar corn were recruited in this study. Their plantar corns were measured in millimetre using a dermoscope. Each participant …

Modelling Of Cholangiocarcinogenesis By Using Pluripotent Stem Cell, Natthida Kittimawikrom

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The exome sequencing study of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) revealed SMAD4 mutation was frequently observed. The role of SMAD4 to cholangiocarcinogenesis as well as cell origin of CCA are not fully understand. According to current CCA model including cell lines and animal models, it still limited in resembling human cells and early event during carcinogenesis. The objective of this study was to study the role of SMAD4 signaling disruption in cholangiocyte progenitors. To clarify these questions, we used induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to differentiate into cholangiocyte organoids by using growth factors induction in this study. The result demonstrated that cholangiocyte organoids …

Population Pharmacokinetics Of Intravenous Colistin In Pediatrics (Poppicop Study), Noppadol Wacharachaisurapol

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Background: Colistin use in pediatrics is surging in line with the increase of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB). However, the appropriate dose is uncertain owing to the lack of pharmacokinetics data. In this study, we aimed to characterize the pharmacokinetic parameters of colistin in pediatric patients, identify the factors influencing the pharmacokinetic parameters, and propose optimal dosage regimens. Methods: A prospective, multicenter, population pharmacokinetic (PPK) study was conducted. Serial blood samples were obtained from patients after receiving the standard colistin recommended dose of 5 mg of colistin base activity (CBA)/kg/day. Plasma colistin concentrations were measured. Data were pooled from this study …

Is Add-On Budesonide-Impregnated Nasal Dressing Useful Following Endoscopic Sinus Surgery With Perioperative Oral Steroid?, Onusa Taweewuthisub

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Some chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) have unfavorable results despite proper postoperative treatments including oral and topical steroids. Steroid-impregnated absorbable nasal dressing has been shown to improve outcomes of the surgery. In some clinical practices, budesonide-impregnated nasal dressing is used together with perioperative oral steroid but the additional benefits of it are still unknown. This study aims to determine whether budesonide-impregnated nasal dressing had any benefits following ESS when a short course of oral steroid was given in perioperative period. This is a prospective, double-blinded, within person randomized, placebo-controlled study conducted in tertiary care …

Identification Of Genetic And Antigenic Variation And Evolution Pattern Among Influenza A And B Viruses In Thailand, Nungruthai Suntronwong

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Seasonal influenza viruses commonly cause respiratory disease and have a considerable impact on public health threats which annually estimates 3 to 5 million cases of severe illness worldwide. The triggering of the seasonal influenza epidemic results from a complex interplay between viral, host and external factors such as climate. Although vaccination is an effective tool for influenza prevention and its complications, the composition of vaccine strain has been changed every year due to influenza constantly evolving. Here, we aim to examine the association between influenza activity and local climate factors, host immunity, genetic and antigenic variation and evolution pattern among …

Circulating-Tumor Dna And Cancer-Induced Gene Expression As Novel Liquid Biomarkers Of Liver Cancers, Pattapon Kunadirek

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Liver cancer is one of the most cancer-related mortality with high incidence worldwide. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer type. Currently, Liquid biopsy is known as a non-invasive biomarker tool that specifically represents tumor appearance, leading to improved patient outcomes. Therefore, the novel biomarkers of liquid biopsy in Thai HCC patients are still unexplored and needed for precision medicine. The main aims of this study were First, to explore genetic profiles from liquid biopsies of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using next-generation sequencing (NGS) and identify novel biomarkers for HCC from these …

A Topical Eye Drop Versus Intra-Meibomian Gland Injection Of Bevacizumab For Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Patients., Chitchanok Tantipat

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and safety of topical bevacizumab eye drop versus intra-meibomian gland injection of bevacizumab when used with the standard lid hygiene in meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) patients. Methods: 60 eyes of 30 MGD patients with lid margin telangiectasia were randomized to receive 0.05% bevacizumab eye drop or single 2.5% intra-meibomian gland bevacizumab injection plus standard lid hygiene. The primary outcomes were telangiectasia grading and the computerized lid margin neovascularized area (LMNA). The secondary outcomes were the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score, corneal staining, meibomian gland quality, meiboscore, conjunctival redness, fluorescein break up time (FBUT), noninvasive …

Genetic Diversity Of Merozoite Surface Protein 1 Gene Of Plasmodium Falciparum In Thailand, May Myat Thu

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

In 2030, World health organization's target is to eliminate malaria at least in 35 countries. At present, Thailand is low risk of malaria so that, it has the potential to eliminate. About 10 years ago, malaria prevalence was high along the country border areas. To prevent the recurrence in those areas, evaluation of drug susceptibility of parasites and vaccine are important. Therefore, basic knowledge on genetic diversity in malaria parasite is needed. Merozoite surface protein 1(msp1), one of the vaccine candidate genes, is useful for monitoring genetic diversity of the parasite and the potential gene of vaccine. However, high diversity …

Pediatric Immunization Practices In Nephrotic Syndrome: An Assessment Of Provider And Parental Knowledge, Cheryl L Tran, David T Selewski, Gia J Oh, Jonathan P Troost, Susan F Massengill, Samhar I Al-Akash, Shefali Mahesh, Rasheda Amin, Isa F Ashoor, Rahul Chanchlani, Mahmoud Kallash, Robert P Woroniecki, Debbie S Gipson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Children with nephrotic syndrome (NS) are at high risk for vaccine-preventable infections due to the immunological effects from the disease and concurrent treatment with immunosuppressive medications. Immunizations in these patients may be deferred due to their immunosuppressive treatment which may increase the risk for vaccine-preventable infections. Immunization practices in children with NS continue to vary among pediatric nephrologists. This raises the question of whether children with NS are receiving the recommended vaccinations at appropriate times. Therefore, it is critical to understand the practices and patient education provided by physicians to patients on the topic of vaccinations.

Methods: After informed …

Validity And Reliability Of The Turkish Version Of The Michigan Neuropathy Screeninginstrument, Duygu Aktar Reyhani̇oğlu, Süleyman Cem Adiyaman, Murat Bektaş, Onur Bulut, Başak Özgen Saydam, Firat Bayraktar, Bi̇lge Kara

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI-TR). Materials and methods: The study included 127 patients aged 45-76 years who were previously diagnosed with type 1 or 2 diabetes. Stability of the instrument was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient. Reliability of the MNSI-TR was assessed using the Kuder- Richardson formula 20 test, item-total correlations, and floor/ceiling effect. Validity was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. A logistic regression model was used to determine to what degree the MNSI-TR explain nerve conduction study (NCS) …

Body Awareness And Chronic Low Back Pain: Validity And Reliability Study Of Turkish Version Of Body Awareness Rating Scale, Aynur Demi̇rel, Di̇lara Onan, Yasemi̇n Özel Asliyüce, Müzeyyen Öz, Utku Berberoğlu, Özlem Ülger

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Previous studies reported that patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) had trouble describing senses or body functions. A questionnaire, the body awareness rating questionnaire (BARQ), was recently developed for assessing body awareness. The aim of the study was to develop a Turkish version of the BARQ and investigate the validity and reliability in patients with CLBP. Materials and methods: BARQ translated to Turkish with forward-backward method. Ninety-nine patients with CLBP and 101 healthy controls (HC) completed the BARQ-T. Fifty-one of patients with CLBP and HC repeated BARQ-T 3 days later. In addition to BARQ-T, Oswestry disability index (ODI), …

The Assessment Of The Serum Levels Of Tweak And Prostaglandin F2∝ In Covid - 19, Demet Yalçin Kehri̇bar, Mustafa Ci̇hangi̇roğlu, Emi̇ne Sehmen, Bahatti̇n Avci, Mustafa Çapraz, Maruf Boran, Caner Günaydin, Meti̇n Özgen

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: It is claimed that aberrant immune response has a more important role than the cytopathic effect of the virus in the morbidity and mortality of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to investigate the possible roles of tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK)/Fn14 pathway and leukotrienes (LT) in uncontrolled immune response that occurs in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Materials and methods: This study included 25 asymptomatic patients and 35 patients with lung involvement who were diagnosed with COVID-19 as well as 22 healthy volunteers. Lung involvement was determined using computed-tomography. Serum TWEAK, LTE4, …

Twenty Children With Non-Wilms Renal Tumors From A Reference Center In Central Anatolia, Turkey, Ekrem Ünal, Ebru Yilmaz, Alper Özcan, Bi̇lgen Işik, Musa Karakükcü, Cüneyt Turan, Hülya Akgün, Fi̇gen Öztürk, Abdulhaki̇m Coşkun, Mehmet Aki̇f Özdemi̇r, Türkan Patiroğlu

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Non-Wilms renal tumors (NWRTs) are rarely encountered in children. The aim of this study is to determine the treatment strategies, prognosis, outcomes, and survival of children with NWRTs at Erciyes University in Kayseri, Turkey.Materials and methods: Medical records of all patients (n = 20) treated for NWRTs over a 23-year period (1995-2018) were reviewed retrospectively.Results: There was male predominance (female/male: 7/13); the median age at diagnosis was 3.2 years old (0.1-13.5 years old). The major histological groups included mesoblastic nephroma (MBN), (n: 5, 25%), malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT), (n: 5, 25%), renal cell carcinoma, (n: 3, 15%), inflammatory myofibroblastic …

An Incidental Finding Of Gastric Mucosa-Associated Lymphoma (Maltoma) In A Sleeve Gastrectomy With Literature Review, Brenda Mai, Michaelangelo Friscia, Pamela Younes, Jaiyeola Thomas-Ogunniyi, Lei Chen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma can typically be identified as a mass lesion or nodularity endoscopically and macroscopically. We report an incidental finding of a Helicobacter pylori gastric mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma in a sleeve gastrectomy specimen with no gross examination findings.

Educational Case: Systemic Mastocytosis With An Associated Hematological Neoplasm, Brenda Mai, Md A Wahed, Lei Chen, Nghia D Nguyen, Xiaohong Iris Wang, Zhihong Hu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The following fictional case is intended as a learning tool within the Pathology Competencies for Medical Education (PCME), a set of national standards for teaching pathology. These are divided into three basic competencies: Disease Mechanisms and Processes, Organ System Pathology, and Diagnostic Medicine and Therapeutic Pathology. For additional information, and a full list of learning objectives for all three competencies, see http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2374289517715040.1

Burden Of Rare Deleterious Variants In Wnt Signaling Genes Among 511 Myelomeningocele Patients, Luke Hebert, Paul Hillman, Craig Baker, Michael Brown, Allison Ashley-Koch, James E Hixson, Alanna C Morrison, Hope Northrup, Kit Sing Au

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Genes in the noncanonical WNT signaling pathway controlling planar cell polarity have been linked to the neural tube defect myelomeningocele. We hypothesized that some genes in the WNT signaling network have a higher mutational burden in myelomeningocele subjects than in reference subjects in gnomAD. Exome sequencing data from 511 myelomeningocele subjects was obtained in-house and data from 29,940 ethnically matched subjects was provided by version 2 of the publicly available Genome Aggregation Database. To compare mutational burden, we collapsed rare deleterious variants across each of 523 human WNT signaling genes in case and reference populations. Ten WNT signaling genes were …

Microbiotyping The Sinonasal Microbiome, Ahmed Bassiouni, Sathish Paramasivan, Arron Shiffer, Matthew R Dillon, Emily K Cope, Clare Cooksley, Mahnaz Ramezanpour, Sophia Moraitis, Mohammad Javed Ali, Benjamin S Bleier, Claudio Callejas, Marjolein E Cornet, Richard G Douglas, Daniel Dutra, Christos Georgalas, Richard J Harvey, Peter H Hwang, Amber U Luong, Rodney J Schlosser, Pongsakorn Tantilipikorn, Marc A Tewfik, Sarah Vreugde, Peter-John Wormald, J Gregory Caporaso, Alkis J Psaltis

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This study offers a novel description of the sinonasal microbiome, through an unsupervised machine learning approach combining dimensionality reduction and clustering. We apply our method to the International Sinonasal Microbiome Study (ISMS) dataset of 410 sinus swab samples. We propose three main sinonasal “microbiotypes” or “states”: the first is Corynebacterium-dominated, the second is Staphylococcus-dominated, and the third dominated by the other core genera of the sinonasal microbiome (Streptococcus, Haemophilus, Moraxella, and Pseudomonas). The prevalence of the three microbiotypes studied did not differ between healthy and diseased sinuses, but differences in their distribution were evident based …

Total Oxidant And Antioxidant Status And Paraoxonase 1 Levels Ofchildren With Noncystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis, Ahmet Hakan Gedi̇k, Erkan Çakir, Aysel Vehapoğlu Türkmen, Ömer Faruk Özer, Sare Betül Kaygusuz

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: To evaluate total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) levels in children with noncystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis (BE), and to compare these levels with those of healthy controls. The study parameters were also evaluated according to some demographic, anthropometric, and clinical characteristics, as well as lung functions. Materials and methods: Enrolled in the study were 118 children with non-CF BE and 68 healthy controls. Serum TOS, TAC, and PON1 levels were determined. Lung function tests were performed by spirometry. Results: Serum TOS was higher in the patients [median 9.54 (IQR 25-75 = 7.05-13.30) µmol …

Can Postoperative Pain Be Predicted? New Parameter: Analgesia Nociception Index, Ali̇ Şefi̇k Köprülü, Ali̇ Haspolat, Yaşar Gökhan Gül, Nurşen Tanrikulu

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: The Analgesia Nociception Index (ANI) is a new method of identifying nociception-analgesia balance. In this study, we investigate the correlation between the ANI and numeric rating scale (NRS) values immediately before and after extubation. The NRS values were recorded in the postanesthesia care unit, in a group of patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, with the aim of evaluating the potential use of ANI values in the prediction of postoperative pain levels.Materials and methods: The ANI and NRS values, heartbeat rate (HR), systolic and diastolic arterial pressure (SAP/DAP), and oxygen saturation (SpO2) values of the patients were recorded into three …

An Evaluation Of The Effects Of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester And Ankaferd Blood Stopper On Secondary Wound Healing Of Oral Mucosal Tissue, Mehmet Gül, Ahmet Günay, Abdulsamet Tanik

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) and Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) are considered to contribute to wound healing. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ABS and CAPE on secondary wound healing of oral mucosal tissue. Materials and methods: In total, 63 male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. The animals were randomly divided into three groups and anaesthetized with ketamine (8 mg/100 g, intraperitoneally): a control group, CAPE group, and ABS group. A full-thickness excisional wound was created using a 4 mm punch biopsy tool. Topical ABS and CAPE were then applied in each …

Geoepidemiology And Clinical Characteristics Of Neonatal Lupus Erythematosus: Asystematic Literature Review Of Individual Patients' Data, Abdulsamet Erden, Antonis Fanouri̇aki̇s, Levent Kiliç, Alper Sari, Berkan Armağan, Emre Bi̇lgi̇n, Yusuf Zi̇ya Şener, Benazi̇r Hymabaccus, Fati̇h Gürler, Serdar Ceylan, Sedat Ki̇raz, Ömer Karadağ, Dimitrious Boumpas

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is an autoimmune syndrome caused by transplacental transmission of maternal autoantibodies, often with devastating consequences. The objective of this systematic literature review was to analyze the demographic data, geoepidemiology, clinical, and serological characteristics associated with NLE. Materials and methods: We performed a systematic literature search of the Pubmed database covering the period from 1976 to August 2015, using the MeSH terms "neonatal lupus" or "congenital heart block". To be included in the study, articles of any type (original articles, case series, and case reports) had to report on infants with NLE on an individualized (i.e. …

Reliability And Validity Of The Turkish Version Of The Diabetes Distress Scale For Type 2diabetes And Distress Levels Of The Participants, Özge Telci̇ Çaklili, Güneş Feyi̇zoğlu, Selcan Tülü Çolak, Nazli Di̇zman, Sidika İrem Bozkurt Çakir, Ayteki̇n Oğuz

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Studies have shown an increased depression rate in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) compared to the normal population. It is now acknowledged that patients suffer from distress rather than depression. Our aim was to validate the Turkish version of the Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS) and to show distress levels of the participants. Materials and methods: The scale was translated from English to Turkish by the authors and translated back to English. Between August 2015 and January 2016 all the patients who were referred to the T2DM Clinic of İstanbul Medeniyet University were screened, and eligible patients were …

Validation Of The Turkish Version Of The Sunnybrook Facial Grading System, Erdem Mengi̇, Cüneyt Orhan Kara, Fazil Necdet Ardiç, Funda Tümkaya, Fevzi̇ Barlay, Taylan Çi̇l, Hande Şenol

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: To adapt the Sunnybrook facial grading system (SFGS) into Turkish and perform validation and reliability studies on the Turkish version. Materials and Methods: The original English version of the SFGS was translated into Turkish by performing a linguistic validity study based on international standards. The evaluators comprised 6 physicians. Evaluations were performed twice independently using the video recordings of 65 facial palsy patients. Synchronously, the House-Brackman facial grading system (HBFGS) was filled out to display concurrent validity. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach's alpha was used for the examination of the inter- and intra-rater reliability. As another indication …

Reliability And Validity Of The Turkish Version Of The Vocal Fatigue Index, Seher Şi̇ri̇n, Mehmet Fati̇h Öğüt, Cem Bi̇lgen

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI). Materials and methods: The study was conducted with 535 participants including 285 patients with voice disorders and 250 healthy controls. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were calculated for the reliability analysis. The mean VFI factor scores of both groups were compared. The strength and direction of the relation between VFI and Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) measure was evaluated for the validity analysis. Results: The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of VFI factor scores was found to be 0.920 …

The Profitmap-Neck - A Questionnaire For Measuring Symptoms And Functional Limitations In Neck Pain: Reliability, Validity And Cross-Cultural Adaptation Of The Turkish Version, Hati̇ce Çeti̇n, Nezi̇re Köse, Sevi̇l Bi̇lgi̇n, Haluk Tekerlek, Esra Dülger, Ceyhun Türkmen, Jale Karakaya

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: The Profile Fitness Mapping neck questionnaire (ProFitMap-neck) is a reliable and valid assessment instrument for measuring neck-related symptoms and functional limitations in people with neck pain, but a Turkish version of it had not been published. The purpose of this study was to investigate the adaptation, validity, and intrarater reliability of the Turkish version of the ProFitMap-neck. Materials and methods: Two hundred and thirty-five individuals with chronic neck pain were enrolled in the study. Intrarater reliability was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach's alpha was calculated for internal consistency. For concurrent validity, ProFitMap-neck scores were compared with …

Psychometric Evaluation Of The Persian Version Of The Doloplus-2 (P-Doloplus-2) Scale In Elderly With Dementia, Mohammad Zare, Zahra Tagharrobi, Khadijeh Sharifi, Zahra Sooki, Javad Abolhasani

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: A scale for behavioural pain assessment is useful for the detection and determination of pain in the elderly with dementia. This study aimed to translate and evaluate the psychometric properties of Doloplus-2 in the elderly with dementia in Iran. Materials and methods: In this methodological study, after translation and evaluating the face and content validity of Doloplus-2, 100 elderly people were selected by the convenience sampling method in Kashan, 2018-2019. Exploratory factor analysis, convergent validity, and known-groups comparison were applied to determine construct validity. Reliability was also assessed through internal consistency, equivalence, and stability methods were used. The ceiling …

Posttraumatic Growth And Death Anxiety In Caregivers Of Cancer Patients: Phoenix Study, Ali̇ Alkan, Eli̇f Berna Köksoy, Ebru Karci, Asli Alkan, Eduardo Bruera, Fi̇li̇z Çay Şenler

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is defined as positive psychological changes following a challenging or traumatic life event. The purpose of this study is to define the predictors of PTG and death anxiety (DAN) in caregivers of cancer patients and evaluate the impact of DAN on PTG.Materials and methods: The caregivers of cancer patients were evaluated using structured questionnaires, including a validated PTG scale and Templer death anxiety scale.Results: In 3 different cancer centers, 426 participants were evaluated. In multivariate analysis of factors associated with PTG, a high DAN score was the only parameter associated with high PTG scores [OR: 1.6, …

Protective Effects Of Apocynin On Damaged Testes Of Rats Exposed To Methotrexate, Kübra Kavram Sarihan, Melda Yardimoğlu Yilmaz, Fatma Ceyla Eraldemi̇r, Yusufhan Yazir, Esra Acar

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Methotrexate (MTX), widely used as a drug in cancer, has many adverse effects on tissues. Apocynin (APO) is a NADPH oxidase inhibitor and is known with many antioxidant properties. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the adverse effects of MTX on testicular tissue and the protective effects of APO at two different doses (20 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) on MTX-induced testicular damage.Materials and methods: Fifty adult male Wistar albino rats (8 weeks old and weighing 200-250 g) were divided into five groups of 10 rats each: 1. saline control, 2. dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) control, 3. MTX, 4. APO-20 …

Prevalence Of Chronic Hepatitis B In Oro Province, Papua New Guinea, Alice Unah Lee, Luke Mair, Bob Kevin, Lily Gandi, Olive Tarumuri, Caroline Lee, Sue Huntley, David Carl Hilmers

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) affects over 250 million people worldwide. In Papua New Guinea, the prevalence of CHB has been estimated to be over 8%, and it is a leading cause of death. To address this problem, an alliance was formed between the government of Oro Province, a large private employer and an Australian nongovernmental organization, which established a CHB test and treatment programme. Between 2014 and 2019, rapid hepatitis B surface antigen testing was performed on 4068 individuals in Oro Province. The crude prevalence rate was 12.98% and was significantly higher in males (15.26%) than females (10.94%) (P < 0.001). The rate was 4.72% among children aged 10 years and under, 12.81% among women of childbearing age (19–35 years) and 18.48% among health-care workers. These results indicate that the rates of vaccination at birth and later among women of childbearing age and health-care workers must be improved to prevent transmission of CHB.