Digital Commons Network^™

Physician Compliance With American Heart Association Guidelines For Prevention Of Bacterial Endocarditis In Dental Procedures, Banu Özveri̇ Koyuncu, Servet Kandemi̇r, Fatma Bahar Sezer, Tayfun Günbay

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To evaluate physicians' compliance level with the American Heart Association (AHA) 2007 guidelines concerning the management of dental patients at risk for bacterial endocarditis. Materials and methods: This study included 103 patients with cardiac problems. The mean age was 41.02 ± 15.22 years. According to consultations with physicians, the selection of the antibiotic, the timing, and the dosage were recorded on patients' forms prior to dental procedures by the researchers of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Department of Oral Diagnosis and Radiology. Physicians' compliance level with the AHA 2007 recommendations was evaluated. Results: Antibiotic prophylaxis was prescribed …

Knowledge Discovery For The Treatment Of Bacteria Affecting The Liver, Pinar Yildirim, Kağan Çeken, Osman Saka

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Biomedical information is buried in millions of published articles, and so it is necessary to use text mining techniques to skim published articles for relevant information. In this study, we used biomedical text mining techniques to introduce a liver bacterial infection knowledge-acquisition information system. Materials and methods: Bacteria names were selected from Medline MeSH data and it was searched to identify the most frequent bacteria associated with the liver using a text mining system and time based analyses were used to show the evolution of treatments. Results: Liver infections constitute a major threat to public health, and our study shows …

The Paraoxonase 1 (Pon1) Gene Polymorphisms In Coronary Artery Disease In The Southeastern Turkish Population, Abdussemet Hazar, Fuat Di̇lmeç, Mustafa Göz, Aydemi̇r Koçarslan, Mehmet Sali̇h Aydin, Abbas Heval Demi̇rkol

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To investigate the association between the paraoxonase 1 (PON1) c.163T>A and c.575A>G polymorphisms and coronary artery disease (CAD), and whether specific polymorphisms in the PON1 gene are associated with CAD in the southeastern Turkish population. Many different genetic and clinical factors have been identified as causes or contributors to atherosclerosis. Complex diseases such as CAD, hypertension, and diabetes are usually caused by an individual’s susceptibility to various genes, environmental factors, and the interactions between them. The PON1 enzyme has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and CAD. Materials and methods: Enrolled in this study were 61 patients …

An Evaluation Of The Undergraduate Occupational Health Internship Program At Kocaeli University's Faculty Of Medicine, Cavi̇t Işik Yavuz, Onur Hamzaoğlu, Çi̇ğdem Çağlayan, Ni̇lay Eti̇ler

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To evaluate the industrial occupational health internship program being used in Kocaeli University's Faculty of Medicine and determine its effect on student success. Materials and methods: This quasi-experimental program evaluation, which uses a pre- and post-test design in order to assess the success of our workplace-based program, hopes to test the standards of achievement by senior students. These students have all been trained in the Public Health Department for 2 months during their last year in the Faculty of Medicine and spent 1 week of this period in the health units of various industrial workplaces operating in the area. All …

Agreement Models For Multiraters, Tülay Saraçbaşi

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Agreement between 2 or more independent raters evaluating the same items and same scale can be measured by kappa coefficient. In recent years, modeling agreement among raters rather than summarizing indices has been preferred. In this study, the disadvantages of kappa are reviewed. Agreement models are introduced and these models are applied to a real data set. Materials and methods: Three pathologists classified each of 118 slides in terms of carcinoma in situ of the uterine cervix, based on the most involved lesions. Using log-linear agreement models, agreement between 3 pathologists according to their evaluations was investigated. Results: Coefficient of …

About Cholecalciferol Insufficiency, Nasi̇h Şi̇nasi̇ Özsoylu, Mahmut Nedi̇m Ayteki̇n

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

No abstract provided.

Some Ethical Reflections On Weight-Loss Diets, Hakan Erti̇n, Bülent Özaltay

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To assess how weight-loss diets tend to move away from the authority of conventional medicine and become a field of abuse. Endocrinologists and specialists on metabolic diseases are rarely called upon to speak about obesity, whereas physicians from unrelated fields or nonphysicians frequently appear in the media. Materials and methods: The literature related with the field was reviewed and interpreted from an ethical perspective. Results: It is presented medically doubtful solutions via television and the internet. Several weight-loss drugs are introduced to the market without adequate controls and then have to be withdrawn after having caused serious damage to the …

Protective Activity Of The Methanol Extract Of Usnea Longissima Against Oxidative Damage And Genotoxicity Caused By Aflatoxin B_1 In Vitro, Güleray Ağar, Ali̇ Aslan, Eli̇f Kotan Sarioğlu, Lokman Alpsoy, Selçuk Çeker

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To investigate the effects of methanol extracts obtained from Usnea longissima (UME) on the genotoxicity and oxidative stress of aflatoxin B_1 (AFB_1) in cultured human blood cells. Materials and methods: Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and micronucleus (MN) tests were used for estimation of genotoxic influences. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and the malondialdehyde (MDA) level were also measured to evaluate the antioxidative effect of UME. Results: In the SCE and MN test systems, it was observed that UME suppressed the mutagenic effects of AFB_1. Furthermore, an increase of MDA level and a decrease of SOD and …

Risk Factors For Smoking Behavior Among University Students, Sevgi̇ Yurt Öncel, Ömer Lütfi̇ Gebi̇zli̇oğlu, Fazi̇l Ali̇ev Ali̇oğlu

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To identify factors associated with increased smoking risks among Kırıkkale University students using a questionnaire. Smoking is a widespread habit in Turkey and a major public health problem in the world. Materials and methods: We assessed 1734 (11.6% of 15,000 total) students (869 males and 866 females, both smokers and nonsmokers) at Kırıkkale University with the questionnaire, which included questions about age, gender, smoking status of student, smoking status and education levels of parents, income, daily sports activities, smoking history (age when started or quit smoking, daily average number of cigarettes smoked, attempts to quit smoking, the reasons for starting …

Physicians' Attitudes Toward Clinical Ethics Consultation: A Research Study From Turkey, Funda Gülay Kadioğlu, Rana Can, Selda Okuyaz, Si̇bel Öner Yalçin, Nuri̇ Seli̇m Kadioğlu

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To identify the reasons why physicians request or do not request ethics consultation and to determine the priority of ethical issues for those demanding consultation. Materials and methods: This survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire, and 270 clinicians (surgeons and internists) from 3 different medical school hospitals were included. The questionnaire consisted of Likert-type statements related to the reasons for requesting or not requesting ethics consultation and a ranking list of ethical dilemmas according to the physicians' priorities. Results: Of all clinicians, 40.4% were employed in surgical departments and 59.6% in internal medicine departments. Most of the physicians (90%) …

Neurological Presentations Of Nutritional Vitamin B12 Deficiency In 42 Breastfed Infants In Southeast Turkey, Mustafa Taşkesen, Ahmet Yaramiş, Selahatti̇n Katar, Ayfer Gözü Pi̇ri̇nççi̇oğlu, Murat Söker

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Nutritional vitamin B12 deficiency is common in developing and underdeveloped countries and has a wide variety of neurological presentations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the neurological characteristics and laboratory results of infants with vitamin B12 deficiency. Materials and methods: A total of 42 infants were included in this study. All patients were evaluated for clinical, physical, and neurological abnormalities, and an attempt was made to obtain short-term neurologic follow-up. Results: Of 42 patients, 24 (57%) were boys and 18 (43%) were girls. The average age at diagnosis was 13.04 ± 5.68 months. Most of these infants were …

Banf1 Is Required To Maintain The Self-Renewal Of Both Mouse And Human Embryonic Stem Cells, Jesse L. Cox, Sunil K. Mallanna, Briana D. Ormsbee, Michelle Desler, Matthew S. Wiebe, Angie Rizzino

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Self-renewal is a complex biological process necessary for maintaining the pluripotency of embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Recent studies have used global proteomic techniques to identify proteins that associate with the master regulators Oct4, Nanog, and Sox2 in ESCs or in ESCs during the early stages of differentiation. Through an unbiased proteomic screen, Banf1 was identified as a Sox2- associated protein. Banf1 has been shown to be essential for worm and fly development but, until now, its role in mammalian development and ESCs has not been explored. In this study, we examined the effect of knocking down Banf1 on ESCs. We …

Human Brucellosis In Turkey: A Review Of The Literature Between 1990 And 2009, Şebnem Çalik, Ayşe Deni̇z Gökengi̇n

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Brucellosis is a systemic infection, which may involve any organ or system of the body. The aim of this study was a review of the literature related to human brucellosis in Turkey. Materials and methods: In order to find the published reports on this subject, 3 national databases (TÜBİTAK-ULAKBİM Turkish Medical Literature database, http://www.turkishmedline.com, http://medline.pleksus.com.tr) and 2 international databases [Index Medicus and Science Citation Index (SCI)-expanded] were searched. In addition to the databases, abstracts of congresses held by the Turkish Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Association and the Antibiotic and Chemotherapy Association were searched for reports about brucellosis. Results: The …

Piracetam Reverses Haloperidol-Induced Catalepsy In Mice, Omar Abdel Salam, Somaia Nada

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To investigate the memory-enhancing drugs piracetam, vinpocetine, and ginkgo biloba for their ability to reduce catalepsy in mice treated with haloperidol. Haloperidol is a classic neuroleptic drug that induces motor abnormalities and cognitive impairment due to a blockade of dopamine D2 receptors in the striatum. Materials and methods: Catalepsy was induced by intraperitoneal haloperidol (2 mg/kg) administration. The drugs being tested were either administered intraperitoneally (IP) along with the dosage of haloperidol or 30 min prior to the introduction of the haloperidol. Catalepsy was measured using the bar test. Results: The administration of haloperidol (2 mg/kg, IP) resulted in significant …

A Quantitative Appraisal Of The Genuine Contribution Of Turkey And Turkish Universities To Science, Altan Onat

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To assess quantitatively the cumulative and genuine contribution of Turkish universities to science in the main fields over the past 30 years. Materials and methods: In the Citation Reports section of the Web of Science, over 70 main scientific institutions were searched; and publications that received 60 or more citations by May 2010 were selected. Papers having more than a minor share by international authors were excluded. Results: Only 47 universities and 6 institutions generated articles that were cited >-60 times. These publications, numbering 541, received a total of 51.215 citations. Eight universities (İstanbul University, İstanbul Technical University, Hacettepe University, …

Rhodococcus Equi Venous Catheter Infection: A Case Report And Review Of The Literature, Rosalinda Guerrero, Ashish Bhargava, Zeina Nahleh

Wayne State University Associated BioMed Central Scholarship

Abstract

Introduction

Rhodococcus equi is an animal pathogen that was initially isolated from horses and is being increasingly reported as a cause of infection in humans with impaired cellular immunity. However, this pathogen is underestimated as a challenging antagonist and is frequently considered to be a mere contaminant despite the potential for life-threatening infections. Most case reports have occurred in immunocompromised patients who have received organ transplants (for example kidney, heart, bone marrow) or those with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Infections often manifest as pulmonary involvement or soft tissue abscesses. Bacteremia related to R. equi infections of tunneled central venous …

Spatial-Temporal Analysis Of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma In The Nci-Seer Nhl Case-Control Study, David C. Wheeler, Anneclaire J. De Roos, James R. Cerhan, Lindsay M. Morton, Richard Severson, Wendy Cozen, Mary H. Ward

Wayne State University Associated BioMed Central Scholarship

Abstract

Background

Exploring spatial-temporal patterns of disease incidence through cluster analysis identifies areas of significantly elevated or decreased risk, providing potential clues about disease risk factors. Little is known about the etiology of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), or the latency period that might be relevant for environmental exposures, and there are no published spatial-temporal cluster studies of NHL.

Methods

We conducted a population-based case-control study of NHL in four National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) centers: Detroit, Iowa, Los Angeles, and Seattle during 1998-2000. Using 20-year residential histories, we used generalized additive models adjusted for known risk factors …

Rad6b Acts Downstream Of Wnt Signaling To Stabilize Β-Catenin: Implications For A Novel Wnt/Β-Catenin Target, Brigitte Gerard, Larry Tait, Pratima Nangia-Makker, Malathy Pv Shekhar

Wayne State University Associated BioMed Central Scholarship

Abstract

Background

Aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signaling is associated with breast cancer even though genetic mutations in Wnt signaling components are rare. We have previously demonstrated that Rad6B, an ubiquitin conjugating enzyme, stabilizes β-catenin via polyubiqutin modifications that render β-catenin insensitive to proteasomal degradation. Rad6B is a transcriptional target of β-catenin, creating a positive feedback loop between Rad6B expression and β-catenin activation.

Methods

To isolate subpopulations expressing high or low Rad6B levels, we transfected MDA-MB-231 or WS-15 human breast cancer cells with ZsGreen fluorescent reporter vector in which the expression of ZsGreen was placed under the control of Rad6B promoter. ZsGreen^{high …}

Histone Deacetylases (Hdacs) In Xpc Gene Silencing And Bladder Cancer, Xiaoxin S. Xu, Le Wang, Judith Abrams, Gan Wang

Wayne State University Associated BioMed Central Scholarship

Abstract

Bladder cancer is one of the most common malignancies and causes hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide each year. Bladder cancer is strongly associated with exposure to environmental carcinogens. It is believed that DNA damage generated by environmental carcinogens and their metabolites causes development of bladder cancer. Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is the major DNA repair pathway for repairing bulk DNA damage generated by most environmental carcinogens, and XPC is a DNA damage recognition protein required for initiation of the NER process. Recent studies demonstrate reduced levels of XPC protein in tumors for a majority of bladder cancer patients. …

Unfolded Protein Response In Cancer: The Physician's Perspective, Xuemei Li, Kezhong Zhang, Zihai Li

Wayne State University Associated BioMed Central Scholarship

Abstract

The unfolded protein response (UPR) is a cascade of intracellular stress signaling events in response to an accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Cancer cells are often exposed to hypoxia, nutrient starvation, oxidative stress and other metabolic dysregulation that cause ER stress and activation of the UPR. Depending on the duration and degree of ER stress, the UPR can provide either survival signals by activating adaptive and antiapoptotic pathways, or death signals by inducing cell death programs. Sustained induction or repression of UPR pharmacologically may thus have beneficial and therapeutic …

Bio::Phylo-Phyloinformatic Analysis Using Perl, Rutger A. Vos, Jason Caravas, Klaas Hartmann, Mark A. Jensen, Chase Miller

Wayne State University Associated BioMed Central Scholarship

Abstract

Background

Phyloinformatic analyses involve large amounts of data and metadata of complex structure. Collecting, processing, analyzing, visualizing and summarizing these data and metadata should be done in steps that can be automated and reproduced. This requires flexible, modular toolkits that can represent, manipulate and persist phylogenetic data and metadata as objects with programmable interfaces.

Results

This paper presents Bio::Phylo, a Perl5 toolkit for phyloinformatic analysis. It implements classes and methods that are compatible with the well-known BioPerl toolkit, but is independent from it (making it easy to install) and features a richer API and a data model that is …

The Dynamics Of Integrate-And-Fire: Mean Vs. Variance Modulations And Dependence On Baseline Parameters, Joanna R. Wares, Todd W. Troyer

Department of Math & Statistics Faculty Publications

The leaky integrate-and-fire (LIF) is the simplest neuron model that captures the essential properties of neuronal signaling. Yet common intuitions are inadequate to explain basic properties of LIF responses to sinusoidal modulations of the input. Here we examine responses to low - and moderate-frequency modulations of both the mean and variance of the input current and quantify how these responses depend on baseline parameters. Across parameters, responses to modulations in the mean current are low pass, approaching zero in the limit of high frequencies. For very low baseline firing rates, the response cutoff frequency matches that expected from membrane integration. …

The Effect Of High Dose Total Body Irradiation On Acth, Corticosterone, And Catecholamines In The Rat, Eric P. Cohen, Eric D. Bruder, William E. Cullinan, Dana R. Ziegler, Hershel Raff

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Total body irradiation (TBI) or partial body irradiation is a distinct risk of accidental, wartime, or terrorist events. Total body irradiation is also used as conditioning therapy before hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This therapy can result in injury to multiple tissues and might result in death as a result of multiorgan failure. The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis could play a causative role in those injuries, in addition to being activated under conditions of stress. In a rat model of TBI, we have established that radiation nephropathy is a significant lethal complication, which is caused by hypertension and uremia. The current study …

A Retinoic Acid–Dependent Checkpoint In The Development Of Cd4+ T Cell–Mediated Immunity, Karina Pino-Lagos, Yanxia Guo, Chrysothemis Brown, Matthew P. Alexander, Raúl Elgueta, Kathryn A. Bennett, Victor De Vries, Elizabeth Nowak, Rune Blomhoff, Shanthini Sockanathan, Roshantha A. Chandraratna, Ethan Dmitrovsky, Randolph J. Noelle

Dartmouth Scholarship

It is known that vitamin A and its metabolite, retinoic acid (RA), are essential for host defense. However, the mechanisms for how RA controls inflammation are incompletely understood. The findings presented in this study show that RA signaling occurs concurrent with the development of inflammation. In models of vaccination and allogeneic graft rejection, whole body imaging reveals that RA signaling is temporally and spatially restricted to the site of inflammation. Conditional ablation of RA signaling in T cells significantly interferes with CD4⁺ T cell effector function, migration, and polarity. These findings provide a new perspective of the role of …

Table Of Contents

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

President's Message, Justin K. Wyatt

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Scas Officers And Council Members 2010 - 2011

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Properties And Uses Of Sodium Titanates And Peroxotitanates, David Hobbs

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Scas Officers And Council Members 2010-2011

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Physiological Markers Of Activity-Based Anorexia In Sprague Dawley Rats, Crystal Lange, Michelle Vieyra

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.