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Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts including transition metal chalcogenides have been recognized as a class of very promising non-expensive and earth-abundant catalysts. Tremendous investigations on the binary and ternary metal sulfides/selenides have demonstrated extraordinary chemical and physical properties such as good structural stability and adjustable chemical composition. The ternary amorphous refractory metal selenides (MWSex; M = Fe, Co, Ni, Mn) have been synthesized by the hot-injection method. The NiWSex, CoWSex, FeWSex and MnWSex nanostructures have been used as catalysts for the hydrogen evolution at the biphasic systems of water and 1,2-dichloroethane with similar to a biomembrane. The catalytic activity differences of ternary metal selenides have been compared with each other taking into account transition metals which are changed in the order of Fe approximate to Mn << Co < Ni. The catalytic activities of the MWSex have not been changed when adding of Fe and Mn into the tungsten selenide nanostructure, which may be originated from amorphous structures of FeWSex and MnWSex. Ni and Co addition into the tungsten selenide have improved the electrocatalytic HER activity when compared with only WSex. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the cardiopulmonary functions and exercise performance of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to investigate the relationship between these parameters and disease activity, spine mobility and quality of life (QoL). Patients and methods: Forty-five patients with AS (group 1; 33 males, 12 females; mean age 43.1 +/- 12.1 years; range 22 to 70 years) and 30 control subjects (group 2; 23 males, 7 females; mean age 42.8 +/- 10.0; range 23 to 70 years) were included in the study. Disease activity was assessed with the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index and spinal mobility measures with the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI). The Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL) Questionnaire and the Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score (MASES) were used. The pulmonary function test (PFT) and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) were performed. Results: There was no significant difference between groups 1 and 2 in terms of mean age. The peak expiratory flow value in PFT was significantly lower in group 1 (p

In this study, lactic acid bacteria diversity during the fermentation of homemade and commercially prepared Tarhana, a traditional fermented cereal food from Anatolia, was determined and compared. The isolates collected from Tarhana dough were differentiated according to their (GTG)(5) profiles and then identified using 16S rDNA and pheS gene sequences. The variation of lactic acid bacteria during fermentation was also screened using PCR-DGGE. Commercially prepared Tarhana dough was fermented with higher Lactobacillus spp. diversity than homemade Tarhana dough. Lactobacillus casei, L. alimentarius, L. fabifermentas, and L. paralimentarius were identified differently from the fermentation of commercially prepared Tarhana dough. PCR-DGGE analysis revealed that L. plantarum was the main strain for homemade Tarhana, whereas L. brevis and L. alimentarius were observed in commercially prepared Tarhana dough fermentation. In conclusion, L. plantarum, L. brevis and L. alimentarius can be useful as a potential starter culture for the industrial production of Tarhana.

Objective: In our study, we aimed to evaluate the influence of training on compliance and persistence with bisphosphonate treatment given on a weekly vs. monthly basis in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients. Methods: A total of 979 patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis (mean age: 63.2 ± 7.2 years) were included in this national, multicenter, prospective non-interventional observational cohort registry study. Patients were randomized into training (n = 492, 50.3%, mean age: 63.4 ± 7.2 years) and control (n = 487, 49.7%, mean age: 63.0 ± 7.1 years) groups. Patients in each intervention group were given weekly (44.9% and 44.6% for training and control subjects, respectively) or monthly (55.1% and 55.4%, respectively) bisphosphonate regimens. After the initial visit, patients were followed up at three-month intervals throughout 12 months of treatment for evaluation of persistence, compliance and adverse events. Results: On average, 79.4% of the patients were persistent with the treatment with a mean of 350.4 days of duration during the 12-month follow-up period. The mean compliance in the compliant and fully compliant group remained at an average of 86.6%. No significant difference was detected between the training and control groups in terms of compliance and persistence. Significantly longer persistence (360.0 ± 89.0 vs. 345.0 ± 108.0 days; p = 0.035), higher percentage of persistent patients (83.4% vs. 74.2%; p = 0.012) and higher compliance rates (88.8% vs. 83.3%; p = 0.002) were noted in monthly regimen patients in comparison to those given weekly regimen. © 2016 Turkish Association of Orthopaedics and Traumatology.

Tarhana is a traditional cereal-based fermented food produced with a mixture of yoghurt and flour. The main microbiota in the fermentation of tarhana is yeast, together with lactic acid bacteria. In this study, the yeast microbiota of home-made tarhana (HMT) and plant-type tarhana (PTT) dough samples was evaluated and compared during fermentation. Culture-dependent LSU and ITS-5.8S rDNA sequence analysis of yeast isolates collected during the tarhana dough fermentation clarified 45 selected isolates representing different clusters. These yeast isolates displayed high homologywith species Pichia kudriavzevii (11), Candida glabrata (11), Candida humilis (10), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (7), Kluyveromyces marxianus (4), Kazachstania servazzi (1), and Kazachstania unispora (1). Additionally, both culture-dependent and PCR-Denaturated Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) analyses showed that S. cerevisiae, P. kudriavzevii and K. marxianus were abundant in the fermentation of HMT dough samples whereas P. kudriavzevii, C. humilis, and C. glabrata dominated the PTT dough samples. It was concluded that tarhana fermentation was accomplished with the presence of a wide variety of yeast species that mainly included P. kudriavzevii in both HMT and PTT dough samples.

While isolated hepatosteatosis is a benign disease, in minority of cases non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) may even lead to cirrhosis in long-term. In order to find the stage of the disease and determine the prognosis, a liver biopsy is indicated. In this study, we studied the relationship of liver histopathological findings with serum levels of hepatic enzymes.We recruited 52 cases of NASH with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diagnosis of NASH was made based on biochemical tests, ultrasound images and liver biopsy.Steatosis was mild in 57.7%, moderate in 30.8%, and severe in 11.6% of patients. While no infiltration was found in 78.8% of cases, there was a grade-1 infiltration in 15.4% and a grade-2 infiltration in 5.8% of cases. Similarly, no fibrosis was found in 42.3% of patients, but there was a stage-1 fibrosis in 50%, and a stage-2 fibrosis in 7.7% of cases. In patients with severe steatosis, serum levels of AST were higher than mild or moderate stage steatosis. Accordingly, in patients with no inflammation, serum levels of ALT were higher than in patients with inflammation. However, in patients with fibrosis, triglycerides levels were significantly lower and ALP was significantly higher than in patients without fibrosis. The correlation analysis indicated a positive association between serum levels of ALP and C-peptide.In addition to conventional risk factors such as age, presence of diabetes, female sex; higher levels of ALP may be considered as a risk factor linked to hepatic fibrosis in patients with NASH and type 2 diabetes (Tab. 6, Ref. 8).

Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) are a mixture of positional and geometric isomers of linoleic acid (cis-9, cis-12 octadecadienoic acid) with conjugated double bounds. Their principal dietary sources include ruminant and dairy fats, and CLA are shown to possess health beneficial effects on human health. Dairy cultures may biologically convert linoleic acid to CLA, but their capability is affected by several factors such as the source and amount of linoleic acid in medium and fermentation conditions. The objective of this study is to determine the ability of lactic cultures isolated from different cheeses to produce CLA from sunflower oil as a natural source of linoleic acid. Results indicated that three strains of Lactobacillus and two strains of Enterococcus were able to increase CLA concentration more than 30% based on the weight of sunflower oil added to model medium. It is recommended that the bioconversion capability of linoleic acid into CLA by these strains should be determined in actual dairy products.

The goal of the present study was to investigate the effects of ovariectomy and naproxen treatment on both femoral and mandibular bone mass and biomechanical competence. Sprague-Dawley rats were used and divided into five groups: baseline, sham ovariectomized, ovariectomized, sham ovariectomized + naproxen treatment, ovariectomized + naproxen treatment. Mandibles and femurs of the rats were extracted and bone mineral density of the extracted specimens were determined. The volumes and ash weights of the femurs and mandibles were estimated. Maximum loads of the femurs and mandibles were determined by using a three point bending test. Ovariectomy decreased bone mineral density of the femoral midshaft, however naproxen prevented this decrease. Neither ovariectomy nor naproxen treatment affected the BMD in the molar alveolar region. Maximum load was found significantly decreased in the femoral midshaft, however, naproxen treatment prevented this decrease. Maximum load of the molar alveolar region did not significantly change. Naproxen prevents the strength characteristics of femoral midshaft afforded by ovariectomy. However, neither ovariectomy nor naproxen has an effect on the molar alveolar region of the mandible. El objetivo del presente estudio fue investigar los efectos de la ovariectomía y el tratamiento con naproxeno sobre la masa y la competencia biomecánica del fémur y hueso mandibular. Fueron utilizadas ratas Sprague-Dawley, la que se dividieron en cinco grupos: referencia, ovariectomizadas simuladas, ovariectomizadas, ovariectomizadas simuladas + tratamiento naproxeno, ovariectomizadas + tratamiento naproxeno. Las mandíbulas y los fémures de las ratas fueron extraídos y se determinó la densidad mineral ósea (DMO) de las muestras extraídas. Los volúmenes y pesos de la ceniza fueron estimados. Las cargas máximas de las mandíbulas y fémures se determinaron utilizando un ensayo de flexión de tres puntos. La ovariectomía disminuyó la densidad mineral ósea de la diáfisis media del fémur; sin embargo, el naproxeno impidió esta disminución. Ninguna ovariectomía sin tratamiento de naproxeno afectó a la DMO en la región alveolar molar. La carga máxima se encontró significativamente disminuida en las diáfisis femoral media, pero por el tratamiento de naproxeno no se produjo esta disminución. La carga máxima de la región alveolar molar no cambió en ninguna condición. El naproxeno previene los cambios de resistencia causados por la ovariectomía de la diáfisis media del fémur. Sin embargo, ni la ovariectomía ni el naproxeno tienen un efecto en la región alveolar molar de la mandíbula.

Background/Aims: The aim of our study was to present the epidemiological aspects of endemic upper gastrointestinal (esophageal and gastric) cancers in the Van region of Eastern Turkey.

WOS: 000078715800013 PubMed ID: 10068192 Intracranial dissecting and giant serpentine aneurysms are rare vascular anomalies. Their precise cause has not yet been completely clarified, and the radiological appearance of such lesions can be different in each case according to the effect of hemodynamic stress on a pathologic vessel wall. For berry aneurysms, available evidence overwhelmingly favors their causation by hemodynamically induced degenerative vascular disease and there is an obvious need to determine the hemodynamic parameters most likely to induce the precursor atrophic lesions. In this study, a case of a giant dissecting aneurysm angiographically mimicking serpentine aneurysm of the right ophthalmic artery is reported and the relevant literature is reviewed to investigate the pathological characteristics and pathogenesis of this lesion. In the present case, radiological investigation of the lesion suggested a serpentine aneurysm, but the diagnosis was corrected to dissecting aneurysm subsequent to the pathological examination of the resected aneurysm. A giant dissecting aneurysm angiographically mimicking serpentine aneurysm and developing as the result of a circumferential dissection located between the internal elastic lamina and media is of particular interest when the etiology of these aneurysms is considered. To our knowledge this is the first report on intracranial dissecting aneurysm mimicking serpentine aneurysm angiographically Our case illustrates the importance of careful serial section studies for a better understanding of the vascular pathology underlying the processes involved in intracranial serpentine aneurysms. We conclude that serpentine, dissecting and berry aneurysms may all arise by way of similar pathophysiological mechanisms.