Effects of Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinases and Discoidin Domain Receptors in Ligamentum Flavum Fibrosis in Patients with Degenerative Lumbar Canal Stenosis

Torun Yusuf Mansur,Delen Emre,Doğanlar Oğuzhan,Doğanlar Zeynep Banu,Delen Özlem,Orakdöğen Metin 대한척추외과학회 2023 Asian Spine Journal Vol.17 No.1

Study Design: This is a retrospective cohort study.Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the role of crosstalk between discoidin domain receptors (DDRs) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the ligamentum flavum (LF) fibrosis obtained from patients with degenerative lumbar canal stenosis (DLCS).Overview of Literature: The DDRs, DDR1 and DDR2, are cell surface receptors and have an essential role in collagen fiber accumulation in several fibrotic diseases. MMPs are one of the critical factors in extracellular matrix remodeling and elastic fiber degradation in LF tissues. However, the crosstalk between DDRs and MMPs and the role of this molecular signal in LF fibrosis remain unclear.Methods: A total of 35 patients were divided into two groups in this study. Spinal surgery was performed in 23 of these patients with the diagnosis of DLCS. Twelve patients with lumbar disk herniation (LDH) were included in the control group. On axial T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, LF thickness was measured bilaterally at the level of the facet joint. Histology, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and Western blot analyses were performed on LF tissue samples. LF tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. In addition, the grade of fibrosis was histologically assessed using Masson trichrome triple staining. DDR1 and DDR2 Western blot analyses were performed. DDR1, DDR2, MMP2, MMP3, MMP9, and MMP13 expression levels were measured using qRT-PCR analysis.Results: The grade of fibrosis and LF thickness were significantly higher in the DLCS patients than in the LDH patients. DDR1 and DDR2 gene expression and protein levels in LF tissues are significantly greater in DLCS samples than in control samples, according to both qRT-PCR and Western blot analyses. In addition, we detected a significant expression of the MMP3, MMP9, and MMP13, which are known to have important roles in extracellular matrix remodeling in DLCS. Furthermore, we discovered a link between DDR protein levels and LF thickness, fibrosis, and MMP3/MMP9.Conclusions: Our results indicate that DDR1, DDR2, and MMP3 and MMP9 signals can be correlated with each other in LF tissues and be promoted LF fibrosis leading to spinal canal narrowing in patients with DLCS.

Postharvest application of hydrogen peroxide affects physicochemical characteristics of tomato fruits during storage

Torun Huseyin,Uluisik Selman 한국원예학회 2022 Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology Vol.63 No.3

In this study, the role of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), acting as a ROS, on physical and biochemical properties of tomatoes was investigated. Tomato fruits at slight breaker stage were immersed in a series of solutions of H2O2 (0, 10, 100, and 500 mM) for 30 min and then stored at room temperature for 4 weeks. The 100 mM H2O2 treatment significantly increased fruit firmness and decreased water-soluble pectin and expression of cell wall related genes, polygalacturonase (SlPG) and pectate lyase (SlPL). There was no significant change in ethylene and respiration rates between any conditions. Moreover, increasing H2O2 concentration decreased proline content, and the lowest proline level was found in tomato fruits treated with 100 mM H2O2. These results suggested that the overall morphological and biochemical quality of tomato could be effectively maintained by 100 mM H2O2 treatment in postharvest storage conditions.

Determination of Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Levels in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Case Control Study

Yasemin Taş Torun,Esra Güney,Arzu Aral,Dicle Büyüktaşkin,Hüseyin Tunca,Yasemen Işik Taner,Elvan İşeri 대한정신약물학회 2019 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.17 No.4

Objective: The effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on neuronal development is known, but its relationship with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a neurodevelopmental disorder, has not yet been fully elucidated. To our knowledge, this is the first human study investigating serum VEGF levels in ADHD patients. In this study, it has been aimed to compare serum VEGF levels between a healthy control group and in ADHD patients to help determine the association between serum VEGF levels and ADHD. Methods: This study sample included forty-four patients diagnosed with ADHD and 43 healthy volunteer controls between 7 to 14 years old. Blood samples were taken from patients and the healthy control group to assess their serum VEGF levels. VEGF levels were calculated by subjecting the optical densities of the samples to concentrations of known standards as provided in the ELISA kit and then performing a regression correlation analysis. Results: The mean VEGF level of the children was 333.6 ± 209.8 in the ADHD group and 341.3 ± 201.8 in the control group. There were no statistically significant differences in serum VEGF levels between the ADHD and control groups (U = 926.000, z = −0.170, p = 0.865). Conclusion: There was no significant difference in serum VEGF levels for untreated ADHD cases and a healthy control group. This is the first human study investigating serum VEGF levels in ADHD patients, so there is a need to replicate these findings.

Neuro-fuzzy modeling of deformation parameters for fusion-barriers

Akkoyun, Serkan,Torun, Yunis Korean Nuclear Society 2021 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.53 No.5

The fusion-barrier distribution is very sensitive to the structure of the colliding nuclei such as nuclear quadrupole and hexadecapole deformation parameters and their signs. If the nuclei that enter the fusion reaction are deformed, the barrier problem becomes complicated. Therefore the deformation parameters are taken into account in the calculations. In this study, Neuro-Fuzzy approach, ANFIS, method has been used for the estimation of ground-state quadrupole (𝜀₂) and hexadecapole (𝜀₄) deformation parameters for the nuclei. According to the results, the method is suitable for this task and one can confidently use it to obtain the data that is not available in the literature.

Exploring Communication Difficulties in Pediatric Hematology: Oncology Nurses

Citak, Ebru Akgun,Toruner, Ebru Kilicarslan,Gunes, Nebahat Bora Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.9

Background: Communication plays an important role for the well being of patients, families and also health care professionals in cancer care. Conversely, ineffective communication may cause depression, increased anxiety, hopelessness and decreased of quality life for patients, families and also nurses. Objective: This study aimed to explore communication difficulties of pediatric hematology/oncology nurses with patients and their families, as well as their suggestions about communication difficulties. Materials and Methods: It was conducted in a pediatric hematology/oncology hospital in Ankara, Turkey. Qualitative data were collected by focus groups, with 21 pediatric hematology/oncology nursing staff from three groups. Content analysis was used for data analysis. Results: Findings were grouped in three main categories. The first category concerned communication difficulties, assessing problems in responding to questions, ineffective communication and conflicts with the patient's families. The second was about the effects of communication difficulties on nurses and the last main category involved suggestions for empowering nurses with communication difficulties, the theme being related to institutional issues. Conclusions: Nurses experience communication difficulties with children and their families during long hospital stays. Communication difficulties particularly increase during crisis periods, like at the time of first diagnosis, relapse, the terminal stage or on days with special meaning such as holidays. The results obtained indicate that pediatric nurses and the child/family need to be supported, especially during crisis periods. Feeling of empowerment in communication will improve the quality of care by reducing the feelings of exhaustion and incompetence in nurses.

The effects of systemic inflammatory response on prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Ali Aktekin,Mehmet Torun,Bala Basak Oven Ustaalio?lu,Selvinaz Ozkara,Ozcan Cakır,Tolga Muftuoglu 한국간담췌외과학회 2019 Annals of hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery Vol.23 No.2

Backgrounds/Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of neutrophyil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet- lymphocyte ratio (PLR), CRP and CA19-9 in patients were diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adeno-carcinoma (PDAC) to better verify pre-operative risk stratification and management. Methods: This retrospective study included data from 133 consecutive patients with PDAC, who were treated between 2013 and 2015. PDAC diagnosis was made by cytology or assumed by radiological assessment or surgical resection samples. All clinico-pathological data were retrieved from medical records at our institution. The laboratory data were obtained before any treatment modality. Dates of death were obtained from the central registry. Results: There was a statistically significant relation between radiological staging and CA19-9 and survival (p=0.001, p=0.005) and there are significant differences in CA19-9 level between stage I and III, I and IV, II and III, and II and IV. Both CRP and CA19-9 levels were statistically significantly higher in patients with radiological lymph node metastasis than patients with N0 disease (p=0.037, p=0.026). NLR and CA19-9 levels were also higher in metastatic disease (p=0.032, p=0.007). According to Spearman’s correlation analysis, we found in all patients that there was a negative correlation between the survival time and CRP and neutrophil count (p=0.019, p=0.011). Conclusions: Preoperative CRP, CA19-9 and NLR are simple, repeatable, inexpensive and well available marker, can give information on lymph node and solid organ metastasis and survival, give clues to prognosis and be useful in clinical staging of patients with PDAC.

Evaluation of alveolar bone loss following rapid maxillary expansion using cone-beam computed tomography

Asli Baysal,Tancan Uysal,Ilknur Veli,Torun Ozer,Irfan Karadede,Seyit Hekimoglu 대한치과교정학회 2013 대한치과교정학회지 Vol.43 No.2

Objective: To evaluate the changes in cortical bone thickness, alveolar bone height, and the incidence of dehiscence and fenestration in the surrounding alveolar bone of posterior teeth after rapid maxillary expansion (RME) treatment using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: The CBCT records of 20 subjects (9 boys, mean age: 13.97 ± 1.17 years; 11 girls, mean age: 13.53 ± 2.12 year) that underwent RME were selected from the archives. CBCT scans had been taken before (T1) and after (T2) the RME. Moreover, 10 of the subjects had 6-month retention (T3) records. We used the CBCT data to evaluate the buccal and palatal aspects of the canines, first and second premolars, and the first molars at 3 vertical levels. The cortical bone thickness and alveolar bone height at T1 and T2 were evaluated with the paired-samples t-test or the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Repeated measure ANOVA or the Friedman test was used to evaluate the statistical significance at T1, T2, and T3. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The buccal cortical bone thickness decreased gradually from baseline to the end of the retention period. After expansion, the buccal alveolar bone height was reduced significantly; however, this change was not statistically significant after the 6-month retention period. During the course of the treatment, the incidence of dehiscence and fenestration increased and decreased, respectively. Conclusions: RME may have detrimental effects on the supporting alveolar bone, since the thickness and height of the buccal alveolar bone decreased during the retention period.

The presence of MEFV gene mutations in patients with primary osteoarthritis who require surgery

( Sedat Yilmaz ),( Hakan Erdem ),( Servet Tunay ),( Deniz Torun ),( Halil Genc ),( Yusuf Tunca ),( Omer Karadag ),( Ismail Simsek ),( Muhterem Bahce ),( Salih Pay ),( Ayhan Dinc ) 대한내과학회 2013 The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine Vol.28 No.5

Background/Aims: Chronic arthritis of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) involves weight-bearing joints and can occur in patients without a history of acute attack. Our aim was to investigate a possible causal relationship between FMF and osteoarthritis in a population in which FMF is quite common. Methods: Patients with late stage primary osteoarthritis were enrolled, and five MEFV gene mutations were investigated. The frequency of MEFV gene mutations was compared among patients with osteoarthritis and a previous healthy group from our center. Results: One hundred patients with primary osteoarthritis and 100 healthy controls were studied. The frequency of MEFV gene mutations was significantly lower in the osteoarthritis group (9% vs. 19%). M694V was the most frequent mutation (5%) in the osteoarthritis group, whereas in the control group, E148Q was the most common (16%). In subgroup analyses, the mutation frequency of patients with hip osteoarthritis was not different from that of patients with knee osteoarthritis and controls (7.1%, 9.7%, and 19%, respectively). There were no differences among the three groups with respect to MEFV gene mutations other than E148Q (8.1% vs. 3.6%). E148Q was significantly lower in the osteoarthritis group than in the controls (16% vs. 1%), although the mutations did not differ between patients with knee osteoarthritis and controls. Conclusions: In a population with a high prevalence of MEFV gene mutations, we did not find an increased mutation rate in patients with primary osteoarthritis. Furthermore, we found that some mutations were significantly less frequent in patients with osteoarthritis. Although the number of patients studied was insufficient to claim that E148Q gene mutation protects against osteoarthritis, the potential of this gene merits further investigation.

Evaluation of alveolar bone loss following rapid maxillary expansion using cone-beam computed tomography

Baysal, Asli,Uysal, Tancan,Veli, Ilknur,Ozer, Torun,Karadede, Irfan,Hekimoglu, Seyit The Korean Association Of Orthodontists 2013 대한치과교정학회지 Vol.43 No.2

Objective: To evaluate the changes in cortical bone thickness, alveolar bone height, and the incidence of dehiscence and fenestration in the surrounding alveolar bone of posterior teeth after rapid maxillary expansion (RME) treatment using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: The CBCT records of 20 subjects (9 boys, mean age: $13.97{\pm}1.17$ years; 11 girls, mean age: $13.53{\pm}2.12$ year) that underwent RME were selected from the archives. CBCT scans had been taken before (T1) and after (T2) the RME. Moreover, 10 of the subjects had 6-month retention (T3) records. We used the CBCT data to evaluate the buccal and palatal aspects of the canines, first and second premolars, and the first molars at 3 vertical levels. The cortical bone thickness and alveolar bone height at T1 and T2 were evaluated with the paired-samples t-test or the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Repeated measure ANOVA or the Friedman test was used to evaluate the statistical significance at T1, T2, and T3. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The buccal cortical bone thickness decreased gradually from baseline to the end of the retention period. After expansion, the buccal alveolar bone height was reduced significantly; however, this change was not statistically significant after the 6-month retention period. During the course of the treatment, the incidence of dehiscence and fenestration increased and decreased, respectively. Conclusions: RME may have detrimental effects on the supporting alveolar bone, since the thickness and height of the buccal alveolar bone decreased during the retention period.

The Investigation of COD Treatment and Energy Consumption of Urban Wastewater by a Continuous Electrocoagulation System

DEDE SAGSOZ, Yesim,YILMAZ, Alper Erdem,EKMEKYAPAR TORUN, Fatma,KOCADAGISTAN, Beyhan,KUL, Sinan The Korean Electrochemical Society 2022 Journal of electrochemical science and technology Vol.13 No.2

In this study, electrochemical treatment of urban wastewater with electrical conductivity of 1000 μS cm^-1 and chemical oxygen demand of 250 mg L^-1 was investigated using the variables of initial pH value, current density and flow rate. Electrocoagulation was used, in which aluminum and stainless steel were selected, as the electrochemical treatment process. The electrocoagulation process was operated in continuous mode. The data obtained in experimental studies show that the best COD removal efficiency occurred in experiments where the initial pH value was 6. The increase in current density from 5 A to 15 A decreased the removal efficiency from 79 to 67%. The increase in flow rate under constant current density also reduced the efficiency of removal as expected. In experiments in which current density and flow rate were examined together, the increase in flow rate allowed the application of higher current densities. This situation led to considerable reductions in energy consumption values, even if the COD removal efficiency did not significantly increase. The high COD removal obtained with the use of high flow rate and high current density indicates that the electrocoagulation process can be used for high flow rate municipal wastewater treatment.