Digital Commons Network^™

Inverse Correspondence Of Amh And Fsh Levels In Women Presenting For Infertility Treatments, Amara Iverson, Abdelmonium Younis, William Butler, William Roudebush

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Issues And Guidelines In Modeling Decomposition Of Minimum Participation In Entity-Relationship Diagrams, Cecil Eng Huang Chua, Veda C. Storey

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

The entity-relationship model has long been employed for conceptual modeling of databases. Methodologies and heuristics have been developed, both for effective modeling and for translating entity-relationship models into relational models. One aspect of modeling that is often overlooked in design methodologies is the use of optional versus mandatory participation (i.e., minimum participation) on the development of relational databases. This tutorial complements existing instructional material on database design by analyzing the syntactic implications of minimum participation in binary, unary, and n-ary relationship sets and for the special case where the E-R diagram depicts a database where 3NF is not in BCNF. …

Quarterly Reporter - January 2011, South Carolina Institute Of Archaeology And Anthropology--University Of South Carolina

Sport Diver Newsletters

Contents:

Virtual Update for SDAMP..... p.1
January Reports Due..... p.2
March Artifact Identification Workshop..... p.2
Upcoming Events..... p.3
SDAMP News..... p.3
SCIAA's Martime Division Returns to Confederate Shipyard..... p.4
Feature Articles..... p.6
Conservation Corner: Responsibility in the Recovery of Marine Artifacts - Part 1..... p.8
Letters to the Editors..... p.9
Notes from the Editor..... p.9

Reducing Dimensionality Of Hyperspectral Data With Diffusion Maps And Clustering With K-Means And Fuzzy Art, Louis Du Plessis, Rui Xu, Steven Damelin, Michael Sears, Donald C. Wunsch

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

It is very difficult to analyse large amounts of hyperspectral data. Here we present a method based on reducing the dimensionality of the data and clustering the result in moving toward classification of the data. Dimensionality reduction is done with diffusion maps, which interpret the eigenfunctions of Markov matrices as a system of coordinates on the original dataset in order to obtain an efficient representation of data geometric descriptions. Clustering is done using k-means and a neural network clustering theory, Fuzzy ART (FA). The process is done on a subset of core data from AngloGold Ashanti, and compared to results …

Preventing Inequity: Extending Issue Preclusion To Claim Construction During Reexamination Of Previously Litigated Patents, Lauren Drake

Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review

This Note explores the uncertainty and inequity created through the dichotomy approach to claim interpretation in the context of reexamination of previously litigated patents. To address this uncertainty and inequity, this Note argues that the claim interpretation determined in a Markman hearing should be binding on the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) during reexamination of a previously litigated patent as a form of issue preclusion. To accomplish this result, this Note proposes three changes to current patent practice: first, the definition of “party” must be expanded to include the PTO; second, the PTO must abandon the broadest reasonable interpretation …

Mining Functional Elements In Messenger Rnas: Overview, Challenges, And Perspectives, Firoz Ahmed, Vagner A. Benedito, Patrick Xuechun Zhao

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

No abstract provided.

In Vitro Efficacy Of Different Chemical Substances On Hydatid Cyst Components, Ömer Faruk Akinci, Mustafa Karaoğlanoğlu, Mustafa Sedat Bozkurt, Leyla Gözaydin, Sali̇h Zeki̇ Zi̇ylan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Cyst membrane, daughter cyst, and pericyst are the focal point of some problems related to the percutaneous treatment of hydatid disease. This study was planned to investigate the in vitro efficacy of sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, some widely used scolicidal agents, and some chemical solvents on hydatid cyst components. Materials and methods: To investigate the effects of various pharmacological and chemical agents on hydatid cyst components, 5 mL each of 15 different agents was put into bottles. Tissue measuring 2 × 1 cm was cut from the pericyst and the cyst membrane was put into each bottle. Two undamaged daughter …

The Optimal Dose Of Vitamin D In Growing Girls During Academic Years: A Randomized Trial, Mehrdad Shakinba, Samane Tefagh, Zahra Nafei

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is remarkable during childhood and adolescence throughout the world. Sufficient intake of vitamin D contributes to a number of health outcomes. The aim of this study was to specify the optimal dose of vitamin D in growing girls in a Muslim country during an academic year. Materials and methods: This randomized clinical trial study was carried out in Yazd in the center of Iran in 2007;120 junior high school girls (aged 12-15 years) were randomly divided into 4 groups. Sixty students in groups I and II were treated for vitamin D deficiency with 300,000 IU …

Effects Of 50 Hz Electric Field On Malondyaldehide And Nitric Oxide Levels In Spinal Cord Of Rats At Prenatal Plus Postnatal Period, Ertuğrul Uzar, Haci Ramazan Yilmaz, Mustafa Yilmaz, Efkan Uz, Vedat Ali̇ Yürekli̇, Bumi̇n Dündar, Hasan Rifat Koyuncuoglu, Selçuk Çömlekçi̇

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

The effect of 50 Hz electric field (EF) on developing neural tissues is not known. We aimed to determine whether there would be any oxidative stress effect of 50 Hz EF on developing spinal cord tissues of pup rats by evaluating malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) levels, and antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) measurement. Materials and methods: In the prenatal+postnatal group, the pregnant rat was exposed to continuous EF at 50 Hz 10 kV/s until delivery. Then the female pups of this group (n = 7) were exposed to EF at the same doses …

Urginea Maritima (L.) Baker (Liliaceae) Extract Induces More Cytotoxicity Than Standard Chemotherapeutics In The A549 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (Nsclc) Cell Line, Hakan Bozcuk, Mustafa Özdoğan, Oktay Aykurt, Fati̇h Topçuoğlu, Hasan Öztürk, Deni̇z Eki̇nci̇, Asuman Karadeni̇z, Ayli̇n Mutlu, Durmuş Burgucu

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Urginea maritima (Um) is a plant native to especially Turkey and the Mediterranean area. In this study, we investigated whether Um extract exerted cytotoxicity on cancer cells. Materials and methods: We made various extracts of Um. These extracts in varying concentrations were added to an A549 NSCLC cell culture, alone or with gemcitabine and/or cisplatin. Growth inhibition was tested by the MTT assay and an Annexin V-FITC apoptosis detection kit Results: The onion Um extract (1 µg/mL) was more cytotoxic than cisplatin (1 µg/mL), gemcitabine (1 nm/mL), and leaf Um extract (1 µg/mL) with P < 0.001, P = 0.097, and P < 0.001, respectively. The efficacy of Um extract was further improved by the addition of an antioxidant cocktail to an IC_{50} value of 0.02 µg/mL. Conclusion: Um extract has been shown for the first time to be a strong candidate for drug development in solid tumors. Our studies continue to further define the specific antitumor compound(s) in this extract.

Relationship Between Pon1 Phenotype And Headache Duration In Migraine Patients, Şahbetti̇n Selek, Recep Alp, Selen İlhan Alp, Abdullah Taşkin

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

The available data on the activity of paraoxonase-1 (PON1) in patients suffering from migraine without aura (MWoA) is scarce. The present study was conducted to fulfill the objective of investigating the probability of an association between PON1 phenotype distribution and headache duration in patients suffering from MWoA. Materials and methods: Seventy-six patients who suffer from MWoA and were not experiencing attacks at the time and 65 healthy volunteers were enrolled for the purpose of evaluation in the present study. Results: The levels of serum paraoxonase, arylesterase activities, and lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH) were determined for these subjects. The results obtained revealed …

Serum Paraoxonase And Arylesterase Activities In Iron Deficiency Anemia During Pregnancy, Hakan Camuzcuoğlu, Harun Toy, Mehmet Vural, Aysun Camuzcuoğlu, Abdullah Taşkin, Haki̇m Çeli̇k

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To investigate serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities, and lipid hydroperoxide levels in pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia. Materials and methods: Paraoxonase and arylesterase activities, and lipid hydroperoxide levels were assessed for pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia (n = 50) and controls (n = 70). Serum basal and salt-stimulated paraoxonase, and arylesterase activities were measured spectrophotometrically. The lipid hydroperoxide levels were measured by ferrous ion oxidation xylenol orange assay. In addition, lipid parameters were determined by routine laboratory methods. Results: Basal and salt-stimulated paraoxonase, and arylesterase activities were significantly lower (P = 0.026, P = 0.031, and P = …

The Cytomorphological Analysis Of Buccal Mucosa Cells In Smokers, Mustafa Göregen, Hayati̇ Murat Akgül, Cemal Gündoğdu

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To examine the effect of smoking on normal buccal mucosa cytomorphologically. Materials and methods: Forty individuals aged between 40 and 60, comprising 23 smokers (14 male, 9 female) and 17 and non-smokers (10 male, 7 female), were included in the study. The buccal epithelial cells of these individuals were collected with a brush and the cells were measured cytomorphometrically using software. Results: The average nuclear area (NA), nuclear perimeter (NP), minimal nuclear diameter (D-min), and maximal nuclear diameter (D-max) were 46.00 ± 11.31, 28.18 ± 2.43, 6.18 ± 0.88, and 10.00 ± 0.94, respectively, in the control group, and 53.61 …

In Vitro Effect Of Resveratrol Against Oxidative Injury Of Human Coronary Artery Endothelial Cells, Oya Sayin, Nur Arslan, Zeki̇ye Sultan Altun, Gül Akdoğan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Reactive oxygen species induce oxidative stress that may contribute to endothelial dysfunction. In addition to endogen antioxidants, adding antioxidants to diet has been used to reduce oxidative-stress-induced endothelial dysfunction. Resveratrol is a natural phytoalexin which has many effects including antioxidant activity. The aim of this study was to investigate whether resveratrol could protect human coronary artery endothelial cells against in vitro oxidative-stress-mediated injury. Materials and methods: Human coronary artery endothelial cells were treated with varying concentrations of hydrogen peroxide for different durations and hydrogen peroxide plus varying concentrations of resveratrol. Then cell death was measured using lactate dehydrogenase release. Human …

Immunomodulatory Role Of Leptin Treatment In Experimental Sepsis Caused By Gram Negative Bacteria, Cemi̇le Koca, Havva Şahi̇n Kavakli, Özlem Alici

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To investigate the effect of leptin treatment on circulating inflammatory cytokines and on tissue damage in experimental rat model of gram-negative sepsis. Materials and methods: Adult male Wistar rats, 28 in total, were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 7): sham, leptin, sepsis, and sepsis group treated with leptin (sepsis+leptin). Sepsis was induced by intraperitoneal (ip) injection of 2 × 10^{10} CFU of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. Leptin and sepsis+leptin groups received a single dose ip 0.1 mg/kg leptin, while sham group received 1 mL of ip saline. Rats were sacrificed 24 h after the induction of sepsis. Blood …

Glutamate Dehydrogenase And Triose-Phosphate-Isomerase Coding Genes For Detection And Genetic Characterization Of Giardia Lamblia In Human Feces By Pcr And Pcr-Rflp*, Kareem Hatam Nahavandi, Esmaeel Fallah, Mohammad Asgharzadeh, Nasrin Mirsamadi, Behroz Mahdavipour

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

The purpose of this study was comparison of the glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) and triose phosphate isomerase (tpi) genes for detection and genetic characterization of Giardia lamblia (G. lamblia) in human stool by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Our assay was specific and distinguished between G. lamblia assemblages A and B. Materials and methods: Among the 325 stool samples obtained from patients with acute gastroenteritis hospitalized in the Pediatric Hospital and infected humans referred to the Tabriz Reference Laboratory (TRL), 34 Giardia-positive stool samples were identified by conventional techniques. Two assays-PCR and PCR-RFLP-targeting the tpi and …

A Determination Of The Factors That Affect The Level Of Pediatric Nurses' Liking Of Children, Yurdagül Erdem, Veli̇ Duyan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Every person under the age of 18 is a child. One's attitude towards children is made up of the person's basic beliefs about children and their reaction to the idea of being with children. Pediatric nurses are expected to understand children's physical, intellectual, emotional, and social development, to advocate for children, and to show affection towards and interest in children. This study is conducted to determine the level of liking of children of nurses who are working at pediatric clinics. Materials and methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 207 nurses employed at pediatric clinics of university and state hospitals. …

Investigation Of Toxin Genes In Staphylococcus Aureus Strains Isolated In Mustafa Kemal University Hospital, Cemi̇l Demi̇r, Özkan Aslantaş, Ni̇zami̇ Duran, Sabahatti̇n Ocak, Burçi̇n Özer

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of genes encoding staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs), exfoliative toxins (ETAs, ETBs), and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from various clinical samples from the Mustafa Kemal University Hospital. In addition, PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the coa gene was employed to genotype the isolates. Materials and methods: A total of 120 S. aureus strains isolated from various clinical samples (blood, wounds, urine, conjuctival swabs, and tracheal aspirate) over a 1 year period, 2007-2008, were used in this study. Results: …

Serum Osteoprotegerin (Opg) Measurement In Behçet's Disease, Nafi̇ye Fulya İlhan, Nesri̇n Demi̇r, Tamer Demi̇r, Ahmet Gödekmerdan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Recent studies indicate that osteoprotegerin (OPG) acts as an important molecule in the development of vascular diseases. The aim of the present study was to examine the association between serum OPG levels and Behcet's disease (BD). Materials and methods: Twenty-five patients with BD and 20 healthy control subjects, matched for age and sex, were included in this study. Serum levels of OPG were determined using ELISA. Results: We found that serum levels of OPG were significantly higher in patients with BD than in healthy control subjects (813.75 ± 11 vs. 655.56 ± 17 pg/mL, P = 0.002). There was no …

The Effect Of Alkali Burn On Corneal Glutathione Peroxidase Activities In Rabbits, İlknur Akyol Salman, Ahmet Kiziltunç, Orhan Baykal

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) is an important corneal defense enzyme for protecting against hydrogen peroxides and lipid peroxides. In the present study, corneal GPx activities after alkali burn of the cornea were evaluated in rabbits. Materials and methods: Corneal alkali burn was created in the right eye of 10 rabbits by applying a 6 mm round filter paper soaked in 1 N NaOH onto the central cornea for 60 s. The right eyes of 10 healthy rabbits served as controls. The corneal GPx activities were determined by the method of Paglia and Valentina, 10 days after the burn. Results: GPx activities …

Clitoral Length In Female Newborns: A New Approach To The Assessment Of Clitoromegaly, Hati̇ce Alev Kutlu, Fati̇h Akbiyik

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

The normative data for the newborn clitoral length will enable physicians to avoid overdiagnosing or underdiagnosing disorders related to the condition. This study is the first to investigate clitoris length in newborn females in Turkey. Materials and methods: A total of 325 newborns with normal gestational age born by uncomplicated spontaneous vaginal delivery were included in the study. The body weight, body length, head circumference, and clitoral size were measured. Results: A special equation was generated to estimate clitoris length, and clitoral length percentiles were prepared. The 3rd (2.00 mm) and 97th percentile (8.04 mm) values for clitoris length were …

Association Of Acp1 Genotypes And Clinical Parameters In Patients With Metabolic Syndrome*, Mustafa Akki̇pri̇k, Fi̇li̇z Özdemi̇r Sertoğlu, Si̇nan Çağlayan, Cenk Aral, Gökhan Özişik, Zehra Atabey, Meti̇n Özata, Sidika Ayşe Özer

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Acid phosphatase locus 1 (ACP1) encodes a polymorphic enzyme and has potential implications for the development of metabolic syndrome (MS) by altering insulin sensitivity. The aim of this study was to determine whether a relationship exists between ACP1 genotypes and various metabolic syndrome risk factors. Materials and methods: We employed a PCR-RFLP based genotyping of ACP1 in a cohort of 70 patients with MS and 168 healthy individuals. Results: When compared to controls, genotypes associated with low enzyme activity were observed at significantly lower frequencies in both sexes. Of note, high enzyme activity genotypes were more common in patients with …

Antiproliferative, Apoptotic And Antioxidant Activities Of Wheatgrass (Triticum Aestivum L.) Extract On Cml (K562) Cell Line, Oya Sena Aydos, Aslihan Avci, Tüli̇n Özkan, Aynur Karadağ, Ebru Gürleyi̇k, Buket Altinok, Asuman Sunguroğlu

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Plant-based diet supplements help the prevention and therapy of several kinds of cancer because they contain micronutrients, a class of substances that have been shown to exhibit chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic activities. In the present study the effects and oxidant/antioxidant status of aqueous and ethanol extracts of wheatgrass were tested in human chronic myeloid leukemia CML (K562) cell line. Materials and methods: K562 cell lines were treated with 10% (w/v) concentration of aqueous and ethanol wheatgrass extracts. Cytotoxicity and apoptosis were determined morphologically and by MTT and DNA laddering. MDA level and CAT, SOD, and ADA activities of the cell lines …

The Effect Of Caffeine On Oxidative Stress In Liver And Heart Tissues Of Rats, Hati̇ce Paşaoğlu, Fatma Ebru Ofluoğlu Demi̇r, Canan Yilmaz-Demi̇rtaş, Ahmed Hussein, Özge Tuğçe Paşaoğlu

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To investigate the effect of caffeine on the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) in the liver and heart tissues of rats. Materials and methods: The current study included 30 rats, which were divided into 3 groups: a control group and 2 caffeine-treated groups. Group 1 was given caffeine at 30 mg/kg and Group 2 was given caffeine at 100 mg/kg (a high nontoxic dose) for 14 days. Results: MDA and AOPP levels in the liver tissue of the caffeine-treated groups decreased significantly as a result of the dose. MDA and AOPP levels …

Developing And Comparing Two Different Prognostic Indexes For Predicting Disease-Free Survival Of Nonmetastatic Breast Cancer Patients, Zehra Füsun Tokatli, Mevlüt Türe, İmran Kurt Ömürlü, Ruşen Çoşar Alas, Mustafa Cem Uzal

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To determine 2 different prognostic indexes (PI) for the differentiation of subgroups of nonmetastatic breast cancer patients with the Cox regression analysis and survival tree (ST) methods and the additional usage of the Kaplan-Meier estimates to investigate the predictive power of these methods. Materials and methods: Prognostic factors data were collected for 410 patients. The Cox regression analysis examines the relationship of the survival distribution and covariates. The ST method is a tree-structured survival analysis based on a recursive partitioning algorithm. In this study, Harrell's concordance indexes of models for training and test sets were computed. Furthermore, survival curves were …

Subclinical Hypoxia Of Infants With Intrauterine Growth Retardation Determined By Increased Serum S100b Protein Levels, Özlem Kirmemi̇ş, Mustafa Mansur Tatli, Cüneyt Tayman, Cemi̇le Koca, Ahmet Karadağ, Nurdan Uras, Uğur Di̇lmen, Hasan Kafali

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To test the hypothesis that serum S100B levels could be useful in detecting neurological damage in infants with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Materials and methods: The study group consisted of infants with IUGR and the control group consisted of age-matched healthy infants. S100B protein levels were measured after birth and compared between groups. Results: For this study, 43 infants with IUGR and 25 infants as a control group were recruited. Gender, gestational age, type of delivery, and maternal age of the groups were statistically insignificant, with the exception of the mean birth weights (2120 ± 450 g in the IUGR …

An Analysis Of Her-2/Neu Gene Status In Invasive Ductal Carcinomas Using Immunohistochemistry And Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization, Reşi̇t Doğan Köseoğlu, Ahmet Müslehi̇ddi̇noğlu, Ünal Erkorkmaz, Jüli̇de Sali̇ha Caferler, Pervi̇n Dürer, Yavuz Hakan Özön

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To determine the concordance rates between results from immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays for the HER-2/neu gene in cases of invasive ductal carcinoma. IHC and FISH are 2 of the most frequently used methods to determine HER-2/neu gene status in invasive breast carcinomas. Materials and methods: The present study includes 59 female patients with invasive ductal carcinoma. The mean age was 57.8 years. Axillary lymph node status could be evaluated in 30 patients with axillary dissection. HER-2/neu gene overexpression and amplification were analyzed in primary tumor tissues by IHC and FISH assays, respectively. The evaluation of …

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 …

Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase Activity Increases In Prehypertensive Patients, Özlem Karakurt, Göksel Çağirci, Nesli̇han Ebru Eryaşar

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To investigate the association between serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, GGT) levels and prehypertension in a nationally representative sample of Turkish adults. GGT is an enzyme present in serum and most cell surfaces. It is used as an oxidative stress marker. Increased serum GGT levels are implicated in increased blood pressure and the progression of hypertension. GGT may also have a role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, and metabolic syndrome. Materials and methods: Prehypertension was identified as systolic blood pressure ranging from 120 to 139 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ranging from 80 …

Detection And Genotyping Of Cryptosporidium Spp. In Diarrheic Stools By Pcr/Rflp Analyses, Selma Usluca, Ümi̇t Aksoy

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To compare microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as methods for diagnosing Cryptosporidium spp. and identifying the genotype of the parasite in diarrheic stool. Materials and methods: Stool samples from diarrheic patients admitted to Dokuz Eylül University Medical Faculty were collected on a specific day of the week. Stool samples sent to our laboratory from patients affected by a diarrhea epidemic in İzmir were also included in the study. A total of 162 stool samples were examined by microscopic and molecular methods, and the validity of the molecular method was investigated. Results: Using Kinyoun acid-fast dye, Cryptosporidium spp. was found …