Başkent University

About: Başkent University is a education organization based out in Ankara, Turkey. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Transplantation & Population. The organization has 4652 authors who have published 10380 publications receiving 143117 citations. The organization is also known as: Başkent Üniversitesi.

Canakinumab for the treatment of acute flares in difficult-to-treat gouty arthritis: Results of a multicenter, phase II, dose-ranging study.

Abstract: Objective To assess the efficacy and tolerability of canakinumab, a fully human anti–interleukin-1β monoclonal antibody, for the treatment of acute gouty arthritis. Methods In this 8-week, single-blind, double-dummy, dose-ranging study, patients with acute gouty arthritis whose disease was refractory to or who had contraindications to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and/or colchicine were randomized to receive a single subcutaneous dose of canakinumab (10, 25, 50, 90, or 150 mg; n = 143) or an intramuscular dose of triamcinolone acetonide (40 mg; n = 57). Patients assessed pain using a 100-mm visual analog scale. Results Seventy-two hours after treatment, a statistically significant dose response was observed for canakinumab. All canakinumab doses were associated with numerically less pain than triamcinolone acetonide; thus, a dose with equivalent efficacy to triamcinolone acetonide 72 hours after treatment could not be determined. The reduction from baseline in pain intensity with canakinumab 150 mg was greater than with triamcinolone acetonide 24, 48, and 72 hours after treatment (differences of −11.5 mm [P = 0.04], −18.2 mm [P = 0.002], and −19.2 mm [P < 0.001], respectively), and 4, 5, and 7 days after treatment (all P < 0.05). Canakinumab significantly reduced the risk of recurrent flares versus triamcinolone acetonide (P ≤ 0.01 for all doses) (relative risk reduction 94% for canakinumab 150 mg versus triamcinolone acetonide). The overall incidence of adverse events was similar for canakinumab (41%) and triamcinolone acetonide (42%); most were mild or moderate in severity. Conclusion Our findings indicate that canakinumab 150 mg provides rapid and sustained pain relief in patients with acute gouty arthritis, and significantly reduces the risk of recurrent flares compared with triamcinolone acetonide.

Low overall mortality of Turkish residents in Germany persists and extends into a second generation: merely a healthy migrant effect?

Abstract: Summaryobjective To test the hypothesis that as a minority with lower socio-economic status, Turkish residents in Germany might experience a higher mortality than Germans. methods All-cause mortality rates by age group and sex of Turkish and German adults for the time period 1980–94 were calculated from death registry data and mid-year population estimates. results The age-adjusted mortality rate (per 100000) of Turkish males aged 25–65 years resident in Germany was 299 in 1980 and 247 in 1990, consistently half that of German males. The mortality of Turkish females in Germany was 140 in 1990, half that of German females. Mortality of Turkish males/females in Ankara was 835 and 426 in 1990. conclusion In view of the socio-economic status of Turkish residents in Germany the large mortality difference compared to Germans is unexpected. It cannot be fully explained by a selection at the time of hiring (healthy migrant effect) because it lasts over decades and extends into the second generation. A healthy worker effect is unlikely because Turkish residents have a lower employment rate than Germans. There is little evidence for movement of gravely ill persons back to Turkey. An ‘unhealthy re-migration effect’ in which socially successful migrants with a lower mortality risk stay in the host country while less successful ones return home even before becoming manifestly ill would partly explain our findings.

Technology planning: A roadmap to successful technology integration in schools

Abstract: Since the advent of technologies available for teaching and learning, schools have been advocating considerable amount of their funds for the procurement of hi-tech technologies. Despite this huge investment, there is a little success achieved so far. It is obvious that technology integration is a complex and demanding issues and this puts more burdens on schools. On the other hand, technology planning, as a process and product, holds a number of promises to overcome those problems. Thus, the purpose of this present study was to illustrate how technology planning process was carried out in a private K-12 school in Turkey. Data were collected from 105 teachers, 25 administrative staff, and 376 students. Teachers and administrative staff were asked to fill out a questionnaire to gather data on their perceived computer literacy, issues related to ICT usage. Students were also asked about their perceptions on the current utilization of ICT at their school. Additionally, unstructured interviews were conducted with administrative staff and teachers to validate data obtained through questionnaires. Data were descriptively analyzed to provide necessary input for the technology planning process. Findings indicated that even teachers and administrator staff felt themselves competent in using ICT available at the school; they reported a lack of guidelines that would lead them to successful integration. On the other hand, students reported that ICT is not utilized sufficiently in their classes. Finally, the study illustrated how necessary data were collected and findings were transformed into suggestions to frame a technology plan for a school.