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Ontologies have often been recommended for E-learning systems, but few efforts have successfully incorporated student data to represent knowledge conceptualizations. Defining key concepts and their relations between each other establishes the backbone of our E-learning system. The system guides an individual student through his/her course by evaluating their progress and suggesting instructional material to review based upon their answers. Three main tasks are performed within this framework: building ontologies for the course, measuring a student's understanding level for the concepts, and making personal suggestions to create an individualized learning environment. This paper presents: the integration of ontologies, assisted with student data, together with an intelligent Recommendation Module for the development of an E-learning system; the comparison and correction adaption of ontology from students' mind maps; and the assessment of students' actual weaknesses in comparison to what Recommendation Module suggests. The sample of 127 students, five classrooms, was conveniently selected among seventh grade students of a demographically average school in a major city in Turkey. The students' achievement was assessed and the scores for different questions were investigated for associations with concepts made in the students' minds. The results provided significant correlations among scores, and a fit model for the concepts represented by questions. The student suggested model slightly differed from the ontology map from the experts. Based on the data-supported model, the Recommendation Module more accurately determined the students' learning deficiencies and suggested concepts to be reviewed.

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Objective: To determine and compare the presence and extent of coronary artery disease and its association with ICA Doppler flow parameters in patients undergoing carotid artery stenting and patients who were treated conservatively. Methods: 1st June to 31st December 2016. This cross-sectional study consisted of patients referred from our internal and neurological department, from local general practitioners, and other hospitals for carotid angiogarphy. These patients underwent baseline carotid USG before carotid angiography and coronary angiography in the same session were evaluated retrospectively. Patients with sonographically significant lesion (diameter stenosis of =50%), underwent elective carotid angiography and coronary angiography in a single session were enrolled in the study at Sakarya University Training and Research Hospital from For all analyses, a two-tailed p 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Total of 112 patients were included. Thirty of the stented patients and 21 of the conservatively treated patients had coronary artery disease. Gensini scoring was 22±8 in the stented group and 20±6 in the conservative group, p=0.764). The preprocedural PSV, EDV, ICA/CCA ratio were 196±25, 104±33, 3.9±1.3 in the stented group and 136±65, 42±6, 1.9±0.8 in the conservative group, respectively. When two groups were compared, these parameters were significantly lower in patients treated conservatively (p < 0.001). In addition, the percentage of patients with CAD were similar in both treatment groups (46 % and 44 %, p>0.05). Atherosclerotic risk factors such as age, gender, BMI, hypertension, DM and familial history of CAD, current smoking, LDL and triglyceride levels were not significantly different between the stented and the conservative group. Significant correlation was found between two Doppler parameters (ICA PSV and ICA/CCA PSV ratio) and extension of CAD Gensini scoring). Conclusion: Patients with carotid artery disease have a high incidence of concomitant coronary artery disease, which is not different between the patients treated conservatively and stenting. In addition, the extension of coronary artery disease (not the presence) were associated with these two Doppler parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Percutaneous endovascular therapy is an accepted and preferred procedure for symptomatic subclavian artery disease. However, the technical feasibility and effectiveness of treating chronic total occlusion of the subclavian artery with this approach is uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the initial and mid-term results of endovascular therapy for patients with symptomatic chronic total occlusion of the left subclavian artery.Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent balloon angioplasty and stenting for chronic total occlusion of the left subclavian artery between January 2010 and February 2014 were included.Results: Overall, 16 patients (10 male, 6 female; mean age 56 ± 13 years) underwent balloon angioplasty and stenting for chronic total occlusion of the left subclavian artery. 6 (37.5%) had arm claudication, 8 (50.0%) had vertebrobasilar insufficiency and 2 (12.5%) had coronary steal. 18 balloon-expandable stents were implanted in 15 patients. Central luminal passage was not achieved in one patient because of the subintimal position of the guidewire (procedural success rate 93.8%). There were no procedure-related complications. Mean preprocedural and postprocedural systolic blood pressure differences between the upper extremities were 37 ± 13 (range 25-60) mmHg and 11 ± 9 (range 5-38) mmHg, respectively; the improvement was statistically significant. Outpatient follow-up revealed one asymptomatic restenosis at two years. The patency rate at two years was 93.3%.Conclusion: Balloon angioplasty and stenting for chronic total occlusion of the left subclavian artery is safe and effective, with good acute success rate and mid-term patency. Prospective randomised studies on larger patient populations would provide more precise results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central venous catheterisation allows delivery of medications, intravenous fluids, parenteral nutrition, haemodialysis and monitoring of haemodynamic variables. Various complications may occur during and after the procedure. However, the complete guidewire retention has rarely been reported. In this report, we have presented a complete guidewire retention as a result of inadvertent catheter insertion. After 17 months of the first operation performed upon the diagnosis of Fournier's gangrene, the patient was admitted to the cardiology polyclinic with a recurrent chest pain. Echocardiography showed a wire-shaped foreign body within the right part of the heart, and a fluoroscopic examination showed a guidewire reaching from the superior vena cava to the right external iliac vein. In retrospect, the wire was already visible on the postoperative chest x-rays and CT taken while the patient was still in intensive care unit, but its presence was overlooked at that time. The guidewire was retrieved completely during a surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Multiple organ system dysfunctions especially cardiovascular manifestations are frequently seen in severe acute pancreatitis (AP). The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and type of electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities present in patients with AP. Materials and Methods: Patients with AP admitted to our hospital, the National Tertiary Referral Center, from January 2009 to December 2010 were included in the study. The diagnosis of AP was made by acute abdominal pain and tenderness, elevated serum enzymes and typical findings detected by abdominal ultrasonography and/or contrast-enhanced computed tomography. A 12-lead derivation ECG was recorded, and serum electrolytes were performed on admission in all cases. ECG abnormalities were recorded. ECG findings were summarized in terms of frequencies, means, and standard deviations. Results: A total of 64 AP cases 19 males (29, 7%), 45 females (70, 3%) were included into the study. Among patients included in the study, 42 (65.7%) were biliary, 20 (31.2%) were idiopathic, and 2 (3.1%) were drug-related. There were 42 (65.6%) patients with one or more serum electrolyte disturbances. 56.3% of the patients with AP had normal sinus rhythm, 43.7% had changes in ECG; and the T-wave negativity was the most frequent ECG abnormality. Twenty-five (89.2%) of the 28 patients with ECG abnormalities had one or more electrolyte abnormalities. Conclusion: The study results suggested that ECG changes may be observed frequently in patients with AP, and more attention should be paid to the cardiac patients with electrolyte imbalance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article on the changes in electrocardiographic ST segment due to the mad honey intoxication.

Clopidogrel is an oral antiplatelet agent used in the treatment of coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease and cerebrovascular disease. Gastrointestinal symptomsincluding nausea, diarrhea and constipation are the common side effects ofthis drug. Serious side effects like intracranial hemorrhage and severe neutropenia were also reported but spontaneous pectoral hematoma due to the clopidogrel has not been reported previously. We present a case of large spontaneous pectoral hematoma during clopidogrel therapy in an elderly woman. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The use of the radial approach in coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention has increased owing to its advantages over the femoral approach such as rapid patient mobilization and improved patient comfort. However, radial artery spasm (RAS) that occurs during the procedure is a crucial factor in transradial approach failure and access site switch. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is a naturally occurring, modified amino acid that inhibits nitric oxide (NO) production. High ADMA levels may reduce arterial elasticity especially in small arteries like the radial artery. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between ADMA levels and RAS in radial artery access., Methods: This study included 155 patients (89 males and 66 females) who underwent transradial coronary angiography between January 2016 and June 2016. The ADMA level in the plasma was determined using a quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique., Results: RAS was observed in 16 of the 155 patients (10.1%). The RAS was found to be more frequent in female patients (17.9% for women vs. 4.4% for men, p=0.019). The plasma concentration of ADMA in the RAS group was significantly higher than that in the control group [22.1 ng/mL (12.1-37.8) vs. 9.2 ng/mL (5.9-14.8), p<0.001]. Moreover, the plasma concentration of ADMA was significantly higher in patients with RAS among female patients [20.4 ng/mL (12.1-44.9) vs. 9.9 ng/mL (6.2-16.6); p=0.002] and among male patients [25.2 ng/mL (13.7-35.4) vs. 8.2 ng/mL (5.9-12.8); p=0.007]. Binary logistic regression analysis of all patients showed that ADMA concentration was the only predictor for RAS (odds ratio=1.142; 95% confidence interval=1.061-1.228; p<0.001)., Conclusion: It was found that the ADMA concentration of the patients in the RAS group was elevated compared to that of controls. The findings indicated that elevated ADMA concentrations could predict RAS that may occur.

Polymorphisms in Lys939Gln XPC gene may diminish DNA repair capacity, eventually increasing the risk of carcinogenesis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the significance of polymorphism Lys939Gln in XPC gene in patients with mitral chordae tendinea rupture (MCTR). Twenty-one patients with MCTR and thirty-seven age and sex matched controls were enrolled in the study. Genotyping of XPC gene Lys939Gln polymorphism was carried out using polymerase chain reaction- (PCR-) restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The frequencies of the heterozygote genotype (Lys/Gln-AC) and homozygote genotype (Gln/Gln-CC) were significantly different in MCTR as compared to control group, respectively (52.4% versus 43.2%, p = 0.049; 38.15% versus 16.2%, p = 0.018). Homozygote variant (Gln/Gln) genotype was significantly associated with increased risk of MCTR (OR = 2.059; 95% CI: 1.097-3.863; p = 0.018). Heterozygote variant (Lys/Gln) genotype was also highly significantly associated with increased risk of MCTR (OR = 1.489; 95% CI: 1.041-2.129; p = 0.049). The variant allele C was found to be significantly associated with MCTR (OR = 1.481; 95% CI: 1.101-1.992; p = 0.011). This study has demonstrated the association of XPC gene Lys939Gln polymorphism with MCTR, which is significantly associated with increased risk of MCTR.

Background: We have known that patients with renal insufficiency (creatinine level) have increased mortality for coronary artery disease. In this study, the relationship between admission creatinine level and one year mortality are evaluated in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI)., Method: 160 AMI patients (127 men and 33 women with a mean age of 59 ± 13) were enrolled in the study. Serum creatinine levels were measured within 12 hours of AMI. The patients were divided into two groups according to admission serum creatinine level. (1) elevated group (serum creatinine > 1.3 mg/dL) and (2) normal group (≤1.3 mg/dL). One year mortality rates were evaluated., Results: Elevated serum creatinine is observed in the 27 patients (16.9%). The mean creatinine level is 1.78 ± 7 mg/dL in the elevated group and 0.9 ± 0.18 mg/dL in the normal group (P < 0.0001). The mortality rate of the elevated group (n = 7, 25.9%) is higher than that of the normal group (n = 9, 6.8%). A significant increase in one year mortality is also observed (P=002) 60., Conclusion: The mildly elevated admission serum creatinine levels are markedly increased to one year mortality in patients with AMI.