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This study was a case study in which the results based on a specific case were analyzed and holistically described (Yildirim & Simsek, 2008). 15 middle school mathematics teachers took part in the present study. The participants were voluntary, and they were selected randomly. As data collection instrument, the researchers developed a semi-structured interview form including 5 open-ended questions. The gathered data were analyzed and reported through content analysis method. The results of the study showed that there was a consensus among teachers about interdisciplinary approach and integrating technology in mathematics instruction. Besides, it was revealed that the teachers were not knowledgeable about and trained on how to use technology and how to integrate science in mathematics instruction. The teachers agreed that regarding the integration of science and technology, mathematics curriculum was suitable and sufficient for the time required and for the topics involved. Based on the results of the study, it can be suggested that teachers be trained through pre-service and in-service integration programmes for the integration of science and technology in mathematics instruction.

Masonry buildings are a common low-rise residential building type in Turkey. These buildings are generally built by the owner with nonengineering background and mostly they are not well designed buildings. Traffic induced vibrations are one of the important damage reasons for these types of buildings. In the present study, masonry buildings were investigated with regard to vehicle loads. Different modeling types and conditions were employed in the analyses. Loading cases and soil conditions were investigated for determination of the structural behavior of masonry buildings. Furthermore, a passive barrier effect was investigated by considering a damping trench at a certain distance from the building surface with and without stabilization materials implanted for damping the vibrations caused by vehicles. As a result of the study, traffic induced vibrations on structural behavior of masonry buildings were found critical and the damping trench was a considerable countermeasure for that vibration. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study examined the effect of curcumin on T-helper (Th17) and T-regulatory (Treg) cells regarding the mRNA of cytokines/mediators in the gingiva. Thirty-five male albino Wistar rats were divided into four groups: Group 1: periodontitis (n = 9); Group 2: periodontitis with curcumin treatment (n = 8); Group 3: periodontally healthy with curcumin treatment (n = 10); and Group 4: periodontally healthy (n = 8). Curcumin was administered via oral gavage (30 mg/kg/day) for a total of 15 days. The gingival tissues were investigated regarding mRNA expressions of Th17/Treg cytokines with qRT-PCR. The distributional properties of the data were evaluated using the Anderson-Darling normality test. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were employed for multiple group comparisons. Partial least squares regression discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was used to evaluate the degree of contribution of each mRNA to the separation of treatment groups. When the periodontitis groups were compared, curcumin treatment resulted in lower IL-1β (Group 2 median: 0.002, Group 1 median: 0.12) and IL-6 (Group 2 median: 0.031, Group 1 median: 0.078) and higher IL-17 (Group 2 median: 1.07, Group 1 median: 0.583) relative mRNA expression in Group 2 than in Group 1 (p < 0.001). Group 3 also had higher IL-10 relative expression (median: 0.067) than Groups 1 and 4 (median: 0.028, 0.007, respectively. p < 0.001). These results indicate that curcumin might be a promising agent for the prevention and/or treatment of periodontal diseases due to its decreasing effect on IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA expression.

Objective: This study aimed to determine serum and salivary levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and evaluate NGAL correlation with key anti-interleukin 10 (IL-10) and pro-inflammatory (IL-1β) cytokines in different severities of periodontal diseases. We also calculated the systemic inflammation using the periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) to evaluate its correlation with NGAL in the study groups., Methodology: Eighty systemically healthy and non-smoking individuals were separated into four groups of 20: clinically healthy (Group 1), gingivitis (Group 2), stage I generalized periodontitis (Group 3, Grade A), and stage III generalized periodontitis (Group 4, Grade A). Sociodemographic characteristics and periodontal parameters were recorded, and PISA was calculated. The serum and salivary levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-10, and NGAL were determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)., Results: We observed a significant increase in serum and salivary NGAL levels from healthy to periodontitis groups (p=0.000). Group 2 presented significantly higher serum and salivary IL-10 levels and salivary IL-1β levels than Group 3 (p=0.000). Serum and salivary parameters (IL-1β, IL-10, and NGAL levels) were strongly positively correlated to periodontal parameters and PISA values (p=0.000). Groups 2 and 3 showed overlapping PISA values., Conclusion: The overlapping PISA values found in Groups 2 and 3 suggest that gingivitis might progress to a systemic inflammatory burden somewhat comparable to stage I periodontitis. This finding is supported by the higher serum and salivary cytokines/mediators levels in the gingivitis group than in stage I periodontitis group. Serum and salivary NGAL levels increased proportionally to disease severity and PISA. NGAL seems to play a role in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease, within the limitation of our study.

Background: The plausible mechanisms regarding the relationship between periodontitis and coronary artery disease (CAD) has long been the focus of studies. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that higher periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) values have positive correlations with increased complete blood parameters in patients with CAD., Methods: Patients who underwent coronary angiography with a suspicion of CAD between the ages 30 to 75 years were included. Clinical periodontal parameters (probing depth [PD], clinical attachment loss, bleeding on probing) were recorded, and the participants were divided into four groups after the coronary angiography: group 1: CAD (+) with periodontitis (n = 20), group 2: CAD (+) without periodontitis (n = 20), group 3: CAD (-) with periodontitis (n = 21), group 4: CAD (-) without periodontitis (n = 16). Complete blood counts were analyzed regarding the differences and correlations between the investigated parameters., Results: CAD (+) P (+) individuals had significantly higher platelet distribution width (PDW) values than the other groups (P < 0.0125). Positive lower correlations were found between PISA scores and mean platelet volume (MPV, P = 0.021, rho = 0.264), PISA and PDW (P = 0.240, rho = 0.036) in the whole study group; and moderate correlation between PD and red blood cell distribution width (RDW, P = 0.049, rho = 0.445) in CAD (-) groups with/without periodontitis were found. Age was found to predict CAD with o lower OR (1.17, P < 0.01)., Conclusion: The results of the present study highlight some blood parameters (PDW, RDW, and MPV) in CAD patients with/without periodontitis in terms of the relationship between inflammatory diseases and their significant low and moderate correlations with PISA values., (© 2018 American Academy of Periodontology.)

Objectives One of the plausible mechanisms in the relationship between periodontitis and coronary artery disease (CAD) is the systemic inflammatory burden comprised of circulating cytokines/mediators related to periodontitis. This study aims to test the hypothesis that periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) is correlated with higher circulating levels of acute phase reactants (APR) and pro-inflammatory cytokines/mediators and lower anti-inflammatory cytokines/mediators in CAD patients. Material and Methods Patients aged from 30 to 75 years who underwent coronary angiography with CAD suspicion were included. Clinical periodontal parameters (probing depth - PD, clinical attachment loss, and bleeding on probing - BOP) were previously recorded and participants were divided into four groups after coronary angiography: Group 1: CAD (+) with periodontitis (n=20); Group 2: CAD (+) without periodontitis (n=20); Group 3: CAD (-) with periodontitis (n=21); Group 4: CAD (-) without periodontitis (n = 16). Serum interleukin (IL) -1, -6, -10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, serum amyloid A (SAA), pentraxin (PTX) 3, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were measured with ELISA. Results Groups 1 and 3 showed periodontal parameter values higher than Groups 2 and 4 (p<0.0125). None of the investigated serum parameters were statistically significantly different between the study groups (p>0.0125). In CAD (-) groups (Groups 3 and 4), PISA has shown positive correlations with PTX3 and SAA (p<0.05). Age was found to predict CAD significantly according to the results of the multivariate regression analysis (Odds Ratio: 1.17; 95% Confidence Interval: 1.08-1.27; p<0.001). Conclusions Although age was found to predict CAD significantly, the positive correlations between PISA and APR in CAD (-) groups deserve further attention, which might depend on the higher PISA values of periodontitis patients. In further studies conducted in a larger population, the stratification of age groups would provide us more accurate results.

Background: Curcumin has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and is reported to have many biologic activities. The current study examines effect of curcumin on: 1) systemic T helper 17 (Th17) cell response; 2) gingival expressions of interleukin (IL)-17 and retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor (ROR) γt; and 3) alveolar bone loss (ABL) in experimental periodontitis., Methods: Thirty-eight male albino Wistar rats were divided into four groups: 1) group 1 = periodontitis; 2) group 2 = periodontitis with curcumin treatment; 3) group 3 = periodontally healthy with curcumin treatment; and 4) group 4 = periodontally healthy. Curcumin was administered via oral gavage (30 mg/kg/d) for 15 days. After sacrifice via exsanguination, the following serum levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay: 1) IL-1β; 2) IL-6; 3) IL-17A; 4) IL-23; and 5) transforming growth factor- β. Morphometric evaluation of ABL was conducted and expression levels of IL-17 and RORγt in gingival tissues were evaluated immunohistochemically., Results: Group 2 had significantly lower ABL than group 1 (P <0.0125). Highest expression levels of IL-17 and RORγt were observed in group 1 and were significantly higher than those in all other groups (P <0.0125). The only serum biochemical parameter significantly different among groups was level of IL-23 (P <0.05). Serum IL-23 levels were higher in groups 1 and 2 than groups 3 and 4 (P <0.0125); however, they were not significantly different for groups 1 and 2 (P >0.0125)., Conclusion: Curcumin seems to be a promising host modulatory agent in periodontal disease pathogenesis regarding IL-17/IL-23 axis, with a decreasing effect on ABL and gingival expressions of IL-17 and RORγt.

Objectives: Iron deficiency (ID) is the most common nutritional problem in the world and is the most common cause of childhood anemia. In this study, our aim was to find out about the state of usage of iron preparation, which is distributed free of charge by the Ministry of Health, for the infants between 4-12 months in our country, as well as detecting the awareness degree of families those who are informed about iron-deficiency anemia (IDA), prophylaxis of the drug and to determine the drug's effectiveness., Methods: It was a cross-sectional survey. The laboratory values from the files of the children aged 1-2 those who visited our hospital's department of pediatrics, between January 2010 to August 2013, were collected. The survey included families who have children diagnosed with IDA. Questions included about families' sociodemographic characteristics, the state of the usage of the iron drug, how much information received in terms of the side effects- consumption period and dosage., Results: A total of 139 children were enrolled in our study. While 77.7% of the families who participated stated that (n = 108) iron medicine was prescribed other 43.2% of families stated (n = 60) was prescribed and they were informed about iron pills and IDA. 25.9% of families had received information about drug's side effects, 74.8% of them had information about period of consumption and 77.7% said they were given information about the drug dose. The average duration of use of iron medicine was 6.98±4.52 (min: 1, max: 24) months. It has been noted that; parent's education level, mother's occupation, child's gender, how the child was born and receiving information about how to use the medicine had no effects on usage of the drug in children. Nevertheless, it has been noticed that, when the families were given proper information the drug use increased and the patients compliance with medications also increased., Conclusion: We believe that, due to frequent diagnosis of anemia in children, prophylaxis iron supplementation should be continued for up to the age of two years.

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of smoking status on the systemic and local superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in subjects with chronic periodontitis (CP)., Methods: Sixty-five CP patients (23 smokers [CP-S], 23 former smokers [CP-FS], and 19 non-smokers [CP-NS]) and 20 periodontally healthy non-smoker controls (PH-NS) were included in the study. After the clinical measurements, serum and gingival tissue samples were collected. SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT activities and MDA levels in hemolysates and gingival tissue samples were spectrophotometrically assayed., Results: Blood MDA levels in all the periodontitis groups were higher than in the PH-NS group but only the difference between CP-FS and PH-NS groups was significant (P <0.01). Gingival tissue MDA levels in the periodontitis groups were significantly higher than that in the control group (P <0.01). However, the control group had the highest gingival SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT activities compared with all the periodontitis groups (P <0.01). The CP-S group had the highest gingival MDA levels and SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT activities among the periodontitis groups, whereas the lowest values were observed in the CP-NS group (P <0.01). The blood and gingival MDA levels in the CP-FS group were similar in the CP-NS group, whereas they were lower than in the CP-S group., Conclusions: Systemic and local MDA levels are increased by smoking in addition to the impact of periodontitis. The decreased local SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT activities observed in periodontitis patients may increase with smoking.

In some multidrug therapy programs, ketoconazole (KTZ) may be administered with some antacids that could modify its dissolution rate and reduce its absorption, thus leading to therapeutic failures. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of Compritol HD5 ATO and Compritol 888 ATO on this interaction in comparison with commercial KTZ tablets. The second aim was to prepare lipid granules of KTZ that could be an alternative to the commercial formulation. Therefore, six KTZ sustained-release granules were prepared with different lipid concentrations, because they were found to be more suitable than tablets that are dissolved only in gastric medium. The results confirmed that the dissolution rate of KTZ granules was significantly reduced in the presence of antacids. The ideal formulation was selected as granules including 5% of Compritol lipids in relation to the suitability of the target profile. Therapeutic effects of orally administered, ideal KTZ granule formulations, and commercial tablets were evaluated in vivo by the experimental model of murine vulvo-vaginal candidiasis (VVC) with and without antacids. It was found that formulations were very effective on VVC, and the therapeutic effect decreased significantly in the presence of antacids. Histopathological studies were carried out for vagina, stomach, and liver tissues and hepatoxicity was also examined. The levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured to assess the oxidative stress induced by KTZ and function of the liver. It was observed that orally administered formulations of KTZ were successful in treating candidiasis in mice without irritancy in stomach. However, liver tissues were damaged. The decreased GSH levels indicated toxicity in our study. This study suggested that in vitro release and in vivo microbiological-toxicological properties of KTZ were affected by antacids and drug-excipient interactions. Lipid granules of KTZ prepared with Compritol 888 ATO could be proposed as a new KTZ solid dosage form with optimum dissolution and therapeutic characteristics.

Cytokines which are produced by host cells play an important role in pathogenesis both rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and chronic periodontitis (CP). In this study, we aim to investigate the levels of Interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). Seventeen patients with CP, 17 patients with RA and 17 healthy controls (HC) were included. The RA group was divided into two groups according to gingival sulcus depths (RA-a: PD < or =3mm, (n=12), RA-b: PD>3mm, (n=5)). For each patient, clinical parameters were recorded. The GCF samples were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for IL-4 and IL-10 levels. IL-4 levels in the RA-a, RA-b and CP subjects were significantly lower compared to the HC subjects (p<0.05). The mean level of IL-4 in RA-b group was significantly higher than that in CP group (p<0.05). IL-10 mean level in the HC group was higher than those in the other groups (p<0.05). In the RA-a group, higher IL-10 level was found compared to the CP patients (p<0.05). Within the limitations of this preliminary report, it can be concluded that the initiation and progression of periodontal inflammation may be due to a lack or inappropriate response of the anti-inflammatory cytokines in both CP and RA.