Clinical Characteristics, Treatment and Survival Outcomes in Malignant Mesothelioma: Eighteen Years' Experience in Turkey

Berk, Serdar,Dogan, Omer Tamer,Kilickap, Saadettin,Epozturk, Kursat,Akkurt, Ibrahim,Seyfikli, Zehra Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.11

Background: Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an insidious tumor with poor prognosis, arising from mesothelial surfaces such as pleura, peritoneum and pericardium. We here aimed to evaluate the demographic, clinical, and radiological features of patients with MM followed in our center as well as their survival. Methods: The study included 228 patients (131 male, 97 female) who were followed up in our institution between 1993 and 2010 with the diagnosis of MM. Results: The mean age was 59.1 years in men and 58.7 years in women and the sex ratio was 1.4:1 in favor of males. Environmental asbestos exposure was present in 86% of the patients for a mean duration of $40{\pm}20$ years (range: 3-70). Pleural effusion and thoracic/abdominal pain were the most common presenting signs and symptoms (70.2% and 57.8%, respectively). One hundred-thirteen (66%) patients were treated with platinum-based combination chemotherapy (PBCT) plus supportive care (SC) and 67 (34%) patients received SC alone. The median follow-up time was 10.0 months. The median overall survival was significantly improved with PBCT plus SC compared to SC alone (11.4 vs. 5.1 months; p=0.005). The 6, 12, 18, and 24-month survival rates were significantly improved with PBCT plus SC compared to SC alone (72%, 43%, 19%, and 2% vs. 49%, 31%, 11%, and 1%). Conclusion: The survival of patients with MM improved in patients treated with PBCT. The survival advantage continued 12- and 24-month after the initial time of combination chemotherapy.

Compositional Structure and Functional Analysis of ‘Globalalia’

Berk Yagli(버크 야글리) 한국전자음악협회 2023 에밀레 Vol.21 No.-

전자음향 음악은 사운드 아트와 음악 작곡 분야에서 괄목할 만한 위치를 차지하고 있다. 기존의 음악 장르와 비교하여 근본적으로 다른 복잡성과 접근 방식으로 인해 전자음향 음악은 종종 이해하기 어렵다는 평가를 받는다. 그로 인해 이 장르는 충분한 인정을 받지 못한 면이 있는데, 특히 음악학자들이 이 장르의 주요 레퍼토리 작품에 대해 폭넓은 분석을 이루어낸다면 이에 대한 이해를 극적으로 변화시킬 수도 있을 것이다. 이 연구에서는 트래버 위시하트Trevor Wishart의 유명한 작품인 글로바랄리아Globalalia를 면밀히 관찰한다. 위시하트는 주로 성악 작품으로 잘 알려진 작곡가이다. 특히 그는 전자음향 음악 분야에서는 보기 드문 장편의 작품을 작곡한 것으로 유명하다. 그의 장편 작품을 이해하기 위해 이 연구는 작품 구조를 구성하는데 위시하트가 사용한 수단에 초점을 맞추고 있으며, 특히 그의 장편 작품 중 하나인 글로바랄리아에 집중한다. 이 연구는 작품의 미시적 수준과 거시적 수준에서 발생하는 구조적인 과정을 모두 풀어내는 방법으로 형식의 기능과 작용에 대하여 알아보는 스테파니 로이Stéphane Roy의 아이디어를 활용한다. 글로바랄리아에 관한 논문은 많지만, 이 연구는 작품의 철저한 분석과 작품 구조에 초점을 맞춘 글로서 독자들이 작품을 더 깊이 이해하는 데 도움이 될 것이라는 점에서 참신하다. Electroacoustic music has a remarkable place in sound art and music composition. Regarding its complexities and radically different approach compared with conventional music genres, electroacoustic music is often rated as hardly understandable. Hence, this genre does not get enough recognition-especially from musicologists which could dramatically change the understanding of the works in the canon through extensive analysis. In this study Trevor Wishart’s well-known work, Globalalia is held under the microscope. Wishart is a well-known composer mostly with his vocal works. Especially, he is known for composing long-scale works that are highly unusual for the field of electroacoustic music. For understanding his long-scale works, our study focuses upon Wishart’s means of creating structure, concentrating specifically on one of his longer works, Globalalia. The study utilizes Stéphane Roy’s idea about formal functions as a way of unpicking the structural processes that are happening on both micro and macro levels in the piece. Even though there are many articles regarding Globalalia, the exhaustive analysis or written work focusing on the structure of the piece has been a novel study and it helps readers to understand the piece better.

Efficiency and Side Effects of Sorafenib Therapy for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Retrospective Study by the Anatolian Society of Medical Oncology

Berk, Veli,Kaplan, Mehmet Ali,Tonyali, Onder,Buyukberber, Suleyman,Balakan, Ozan,Ozkan, Metin,Demirci, Umut,Ozturk, Turkan,Bilici, Ahmet,Tastekin, Didem,Ozdemir, Nuriye,Unal, Olcun Umit,Oflazoglu, Utk Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.12

Background: Inoperable and metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with a poor prognosis and low chemotherapeutic efficiency. Sorafenib is an oral multi-kinase inhibitor exerting its effects via the RAF/MEK/ERK pathway, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) and platelet derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFR-${\beta}$) tyrosine kinases. Randomized studies have shown a significant contribution of sorafenib to life expectancy and quality of life of cancer patients. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy and side effects of sorafenib therapy in Turkey. Materials and Methods: Data for 103 patients (82 males, 21 females) receiving sorafenib therapy in 13 centers from February 2008 to December 2012 were evaluated. Median age was 61 years and median ECOG performance status was 1 (range: 0-2). 60 patients (58%) had hepatitis B, 15 patients (15%) had hepatitis C infection and 12 patients (12%) had a history of alcohol consumption. All of the patients had Child scores meeting the utilization permit of the drug in our country (Child A). Results: A total of 571 cycles of sorafenib therapy were administered with a median of four per patient. Among the evaluable cases, there was partial response in 15 (15%), stable disease in 52 (50%), and progressive disease in 36 (35%). Median progression-free survival was 18 weeks and median overall survival was 48 weeks. The dose was reduced only in 6 patients and discontinued in 2 patients due to grade 3-4 toxicity, 18 patients (17%) suffering hand-foot syndrome, 7 (7%) diarrhea, and 2 (2%) vomiting. Conclusions: This retrospective study demonstrated better efficacy of sorafenib therapy in patients with advanced HCC compared to the literature while progression-free survival and overall survival findings were comparable. The side effect rates indicate that the drug was tolerated well. In conclusion, among the available treatment options, sorafenib is an efficient and tolerable agent in patients with inoperable or metastatic HCC.

Predictive Significance of VEGF and HIF-1α Expression in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy Combinations with Bevacizumab

Berk, Veli,Deniz, Kemal,Bozkurt, Oktay,Ozaslan, Ersin,Karaca, Halit,Inanc, Mevlude,Duran, Ayse Ocak,Ozkan, Metin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.14

Background: There is no suggested molecular indicator for the determination of which patients will benefit from anti-angiogenetic treatment in metastatic colorectal cancers. Materials and Methods: In this study, VEGF and $HIF-1{\alpha}$ expression and their clinical significance were studied in tumor tissues of patients with colorectal cancer receiving bevacizumab-based treatment. VEGF and $HIF-1{\alpha}$ were assessed by immunohistochemistry in the primary tumors of 53 metastatic colorectal cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in combination with first line bevacizumab. Results: The clinical benefit rate in the low-VEGF expression group was 38%, while it was 62% in the high expression group. While the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 10 months in the high-VEGF expression group, it was 8 months in the low-VEGF expression group (p = 0.009). The median overall survival (OS) was found to be 26 months vs 15 months. Thus, when VEGF was strongly expressed it was in favor of that group and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.03). High VEGF expression rate was an independent factor that correlated with OS or PFS (p=0.016 and 0.009, respectively). Conclusions: The data showed that VEGF may have predictive value for determining the treatment of CRC.

「Young Children, 1985, 7, Vol40, No.5」중에서 「Why children talk to themselves」

Berk, Laura E. 이화여자대학교 사범대학 교육학과 1987 교육 연구 Vol.- No.55

Electroencephalographic brain frequency in athletes differs during visualization of a state of rest versus a state of exercise performance: a pilot study

Berk, Lee,Mali, Deeti,Bains, Gurinder,Madane, Bhagwant,Bradburn, Jessica,Acharya, Ruchi,Kumar, Ranjani,Juneja, Savleen,Desai, Nikita,Lee, Jinhyun,Lohman, Everett korean Academy of Physical Therapy Rehabilitation 2015 Physical therapy rehabilitation science Vol.4 No.1

Objective: Psychomotor imagery has been widely used to improve motor performance and motor learning. Recent research suggests that during visualization, changes occur in neurophysiological networks that make physical practice more effective in configuring functional networks for skillful behaviors. The aim of our pilot study was to determine if there was change and to what extent there was differentiation in modulation in electroencephalography (EEG) frequencies between visualizing a state of rest and a state of exercise performance and to identify the preponderant frequency. Design: Quasi-experimental design uncontrolled before and after study. Methods: EEG brain wave activity was recorded from 0-40 Hz from nine cerebral cortical scalp regions F3, Fz, F4, C3, Cz, C4, P3, POz, and P4 with a wireless telemetric EEG system. The subjects, while sitting on a chair with eyes closed, were asked to visualize themselves in a state of routine rest/relaxation and after a period of time in a state of their routine exercise performance. Results: The gamma frequency, 31-40 Hz, (${\gamma}$) was the predominant wave band in differentiation between visualizing a state of rest versus visualizing a state of exercise performance. Conclusions: We suggest these preliminarily findings show the EEG electrocortical activity for athletes is differentially modulated during visualization of exercise performance in comparison to rest with a predominant ${\gamma}$ wave band frequency observed during the state of exercise. Further controlled experimental studies will be performed to elaborate these observations and delineate the significance to optimization of psychomotor exercise performance.

Original Article : Electroencephalographic brain frequency in athletes differs during visualization of a state of rest versus a state of exercise performance: a pilot study

( Lee Berk ),( Deeti Mali ),( Gurinder Bains ),( Bhagwant Madane ),( Jessica Bradburn ),( Ruchi Acharya ),( Ranjani Kumar ),( Savleen Juneja ),( Nikita Desai ),( Jinhyun Lee ),( Everett Lohman ) 물리치료재활과학회 2015 Physical therapy rehabilitation science Vol.4 No.1

Objective: Psychomotor imagery has been widely used to improve motor performance and motor learning. Recent research suggests that during visualization, changes occur in neurophysiological networks that make physical practice more effective in configuring functional networks for skillful behaviors. The aim of our pilot study was to determine if there was change and to what extent there was differentiation in modulation in electroencephalography (EEG) frequencies between visualizing a state of rest and a state of exercise performance and to identify the preponderant frequency. Design: Quasi-experimental design uncontrolled before and after study. Methods: EEG brain wave activity was recorded from 0-40 Hz from nine cerebral cortical scalp regions F3, Fz, F4, C3, Cz, C4, P3, POz, and P4 with a wireless telemetric EEG system. The subjects, while sitting on a chair with eyes closed, were asked to visualize themselves in a state of routine rest/relaxation and after a period of time in a state of their routine exercise performance. Results: The gamma frequency, 31-40 Hz, (γ) was the predominant wave band in differentiation between visualizing a state of rest versus visualizing a state of exercise performance. Conclusions: We suggest these preliminarily findings show the EEG electrocortical activity for athletes is differentially modulated during visualization of exercise performance in comparison to rest with a predominant γ wave band frequency observed during the state of exercise. Further controlled experimental studies will be performed to elaborate these observations and delineate the significance to optimization of psychomotor exercise performance.

Biomechanical investigation of maxillary implant-supported full-arch prostheses produced with different framework materials: a finite elements study

Mirac Berke Topcu Ersöz,Emre Mumcu 대한치과보철학회 2022 The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics Vol.14 No.6

PURPOSE. Four and six implant-supported fixed full-arch prostheses with various framework materials were assessed under different loading conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS. In the edentulous maxilla, the implants were positioned in a configuration of four to six implant modalities. CoCr, Ti, ZrO2,and PEEK materials were used to produce the prosthetic structure. Using finite element stress analysis, the first molar was subjected to a 200 N axial and 45°oblique force. Stresses were measured on the bone, implants, abutment screw, abutment, and prosthetic screw. The Von Mises, maximum, and minimum principal stress values were calculated and compared. RESULTS. The maximum and minimum principal stresses in bone were determined as CoCr < ZrO2 < Ti < PEEK. The Von Mises stresses on the implant, implant screw, abutment, and prosthetic screws were determined as CoCr < ZrO2 < Ti < PEEK. The highest VonMises stress was 9584.4 Mpa in PEEK material on the prosthetic screw under 4 implant-oblique loading. The highest maximum principal stress value in bone wasfound to be 120.89 Mpa, for PEEK in 4 implant-oblique loading. CONCLUSION. For four and six implant-supported structures, and depending on the loading condition, the system accumulated different stresses. The distribution of stress was reduced in materials with a high elastic modulus. When choosing materialsfor implant-supported fixed prostheses, it is essential to consider both the number of implants and the mechanical and physical attributes of the framework material.

Letters to the Editor : Acanthosis Nigricans of the Ears or Terra Firma-Forme Dermatosis?

( David R. Berk ) 대한피부과학회 2012 Annals of Dermatology Vol.24 No.2

Modelling of Stirrup Confinement Effects in RC Layered Beam Finite Elements Using a 3D Yield Criterion and Transversal Equilibrium Constraints

Peter Zoltan Berke,Thierry Jacques Massart 한국콘크리트학회 2018 International Journal of Concrete Structures and M Vol.12 No.5

Apart from its recognized strengthening effect for shear loading, the presence of stirrups in reinforced concrete results in an increase of the ductility of structural members and in the capacity of reaching higher longitudinal compressive stress levels provided by transversal confinement. These effects are usually represented phenomenologically in fibre beam models by artificially increasing the compressive strength and the ultimate compressive strain of concrete. Two numerical formulations for layered beam descriptions accounting explicitly for transversal confinement are implemented and assessed in this contribution. The influence of stirrups is incorporated by means of a multi-dimensional yield surface for concrete, combined with equilibrium constraints for the transversal direction involving concrete and steel stirrups, and with a concrete ultimate strain dependent on the hydrostatic stress. This contribution focuses on the numerical formulations of both frameworks, and on their assessment against experimental results available in the literature.