Investigation of the Effects of Aloe barbadensis on Rat Ovaries: A Preliminary Study

Rengin Kosif,R. Gülhan Aktas 한국식품영양과학회 2009 Journal of medicinal food Vol.12 No.6

Effects of Aloe barbadensis, a type of Aloe vera, on ovaries were investigated during pregnancy. A. vera gel, a commercial and nontherapeutic form of A. barbadensis, was used for this purpose. Three groups (one control and two test groups) of female Wistar albino rats with no prior births were studied. Group I was administered 25mg (140mg/kg) of A. barbadensis/day both orally and through gavage. A. barbadensis was contained in capsules with 500mg of soybean oil; therefore Group II was administered 500mg of soybean oil. Group III was the control group. All three groups were given normal food and water ad libitum. The substance had been administered for 20 days until birth. Ovaries were examined histologically. Vascular increase and the hyperemic form of ovary in the group administered A. barbadensis were notable. Decrease in primary follicle numbers, increase in secondary follicle numbers, and diminishment of secondary follicle diameters occurred in ovaries. The histological changes imply an angiogenesis effect of A. barbadensis and an effect like that of follicle-stimulating hormone in ovaries.

An Analysis of Myocardial Efficiency in Patients with Severe Asymptomatic Mitral Regurgitation

Rengin Çetin Güvenç,Emre Aruğaslan,Tolga Sinan Güvenç,Fatma Özpamuk Karadeniz,Hülya Kaşıkçıoğlu,Neşe Çam 한국심초음파학회 2020 Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging (J Cardiovasc Im Vol.28 No.4

BACKGROUND: It is difficult to determine left ventricular systolic performance in patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) since left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) could be preserved until the end stages of the disease. Myocardial efficiency (MEf) describes the amount of external work (EW) done by the left ventricle per unit of oxygen consumed (mVO2). In the present study, we aimed to investigate MEf in patients with asymptomatic severe MR using a novel echocardiographic method. METHODS: A total of 27 patients with severe asymptomatic MR and 26 healthy volunteers were included in this cross-sectional study. EW was measured using stroke volume and blood pressure, while mVO2 was estimated using double product and left ventricular mass. RESULTS: There were no differences between the groups with regards to EF (66% ± 5% vs. 69% ± 7%), while MEf was significantly reduced in patients with severe MR (25% ± 11% vs. 44% ± 12%, p < 0.001). This difference was maintained even after adjustment for age, gender and body surface area (adjusted ̅ : 0.44, 95% CI: 0.39–0.49 for controls and adjusted ̅ : 0.24, 95% CI: 0.19–0.29 for patients with severe MR). Further analysis showed that this reduction was due to an increase in total mVO2 in the severe MR group. MEf of thepatients who were both on β-blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers were higher than those who were not on any drugs, but this difference was not statistically significant (32% ± 15% vs. 23% ± 9%, p = 0.41). CONCLUSIONS: MEf was significantly lower in patients with asymptomatic severe MR and preserved EF.

The Effect of Video-Assisted Clean Intermittent Catheterization Training on Patients’ Practical Skills and Self-Confidence

Yeliz Culha,Rengin Acaroglu 대한배뇨장애요실금학회 2022 International Neurourology Journal Vol.26 No.4

Purpose: This research was carried out in order to examine the effect of clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) training with a video developed by the researchers on patients’ ability to practice CIC and self-confidence. Methods: The population of the study consisted of patients who had just started performing CIC in the urology polyclinic of a city hospital in Istanbul. The sample consisted of a total of 80 patients, 40 of whom were in the experimental group and 40 in the control group. The experimental group patients were given CIC training with a training video that was downloaded to the mobile phone of the patient, a family member, or caregiver. The patients’ practice skills were evaluated by 2 independent observers. The DISCERN Inquiry Form and the Global Quality Score, the Patient Information Form, the CIC Skill Checklist and the Self-Confidence Scale in Clean Intermittent Self-Catheterization were used to collect data. Results: In the experimental group, consisting of patients who received video-assisted training, the mean scores for the CIC Skill Checklist and the Self-Confidence Scale in Clean Intermittent Self-Catheterization were statistically significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.001), the experience of feeling pain during catheterization was less than in the control group, and the patients in the experimental group experienced statistically significantly fewer complications such as urinary tract infections, urgency, urinary incontinence, hematuria and urethral stricture (P<0.05). Conclusions: Video-assisted CIC training had a positive effect on patients’ practical skills and self-confidence.

Some Characteristics and Isolation of Novel Thermostable β-Galactosidase from Thermus oshimai DSM 12092

Yüksel Gezgin,Bahattin Tanyolac,Rengin Eltem 한국식품과학회 2013 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.22 No.1

The β-galactosidases belong to the class of hydrolytic enzymes and have been used as lactose hyrolysis. The enzyme is used in reducing lactose milk production, an outstanding industrial product used by a large lactoseintolerant population. This is the first detailed report of some characteristics of β-galactosidase and the gene encoding β-galactosidase in Thermus oshimai DSM 12092. The growth rate (μ, 1/h), and the doubling time (tD, h) for T. oshimai grown both in shaking flasks and in a bioreactor were determined. The optimal temperature and pH for β-galactosidase were determined as 75oC and 7.4, respectively. This enzyme was thermostable and was retained by more than 70% at 90oC for 3 h. The β-galactosidase from T. oshimai DSM 12092 was more stable in basic pH and Zn2+was the most effective divalent cation. Also, 2 steps of purification consisting of ammonium sulfate precipitation and gel filtration were employed and purified 32-fold.

Dose Dependent Course of Hyperprolactinemic and Normoprolactinemic Galactorrhea Induced by Venlafaxine

Mehmet Akif Camkurt,Gizem Gülpamuk,Ebru Fındiklı,Rengin Elve 대한정신약물학회 2017 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.15 No.2

Venlafaxine is a serotonergic and noradrenergic reuptake inhibitor which is used for the treatment of depression. We report a case of galactorrhea in a patient with major depressive disorder after starting treatment with venlafaxine. In particular, we discuss the course of hyper and normoprolactinemic galactorrhea. We managed this side effect initially by dose reduction and further by switching to essitalopram. Physicians should be aware of endocrinologic side effects such as galactorrhea during the serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor treatment.

Evaluation of YouTube Videos Regarding Clean Intermittent Catheterization Application

Yeliz Culha,Mehmet Gokhan Culha,Rengin Acaroglu 대한배뇨장애요실금학회 2020 International Neurourology Journal Vol.24 No.3

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) training and education videos on YouTube. Methods: This study was conducted in English language in descriptive type to evaluate the content, reliability, and quality of Internet videos related to CIC training. The search was performed by using term “clean intermittent catheterization” and “intermittent self catheterization” on YouTube in August 2019. The content of the selected videos was analyzed by 2 independent experts in the field. The DISCERN questionnaire was used to analyze the reliability of the video and the global quality score (GQS) was used for the quality of the video. Results: When the contents of the 64 videos included in the study were examined, it was found that 41 of them contained useful information and 23 of them contained misleading information. DISCERN scores, video coverage scores, and GQS of videos with useful information were found to be statistically higher than those with misleading information (P<0.001). When the sources of the videos were examined, it was seen that 78.05% of the videos containing useful information were published by medical advertisement/for-profit companies (P<0.001). The reliability scores, coverage scores, and GQS of the videos from medical advertisement/for-profit companies were significantly higher than the other sources (P<0.001). Conclusions: In this study, it was seen that the majority of YouTube CIC training videos examined within the scope of the research were published by medical advertisement/for-profit companies and most of these videos contain useful information.