Zonguldak Karaelmas University

About: Zonguldak Karaelmas University is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Copolymer. The organization has 1939 authors who have published 4296 publications receiving 62466 citations.

Bone mineral density and bone turnover markers in patients receiving a single course of isotretinoin for nodulocystic acne.

Abstract: Background High-dose isotretinoin has been reported to have adverse effects on bone mineral density (BMD); however, studies evaluating changes in BMD with isotretinoin therapy at different dosages and with varying treatment durations have produced conflicting results. Objective To investigate the effect of a standard, single course of isotretinoin therapy on BMD and bone turnover markers in patients with nodulocystic acne. Methods Thirty-six patients (15 male, 21 female) with severe, recalcitrant, nodulocystic acne and 36 healthy controls (16 male, 20 female) were enrolled in the study. Patients received isotretinoin treatment for 4–6 months until a cumulative dose of 120 mg/kg had been achieved. BMD in the lumbar spine and femur was measured at baseline and at the end of therapy by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Serum calcium, phosphate, parathormone, total alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, free deoxypyridinoline, and urinary calcium were also measured before and at the end of treatment. Results No significant differences were found in lumbar spine and femoral BMD between the patient and control groups at the beginning of the study (P > 0.05), and no statistically significant difference was observed between the BMD values in patients at the beginning vs. the end of treatment (P > 0.05). No statistically significant difference in bone turnover markers was found between patients and controls at the beginning of the study (P > 0.05), and no statistically significant changes in bone turnover markers were observed in patients at the beginning vs. the end of treatment (P > 0.05). Conclusion A single course of isotretinoin therapy has no clinically significant effect on bone metabolism.

The oxidative and morphological effects of high concentration chronic toluene exposure on rat sciatic nerves.

Abstract: This study was designed to investigate the effects of chronic toluene inhalation in high concentration on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme activities and ultrastructural changes in the sciatic nerves of rats. Male Wistar albino rats (150–250 g) were divided in two experimental groups: the control and the toluene treated group (n=10 for each). Toluene treatment was performed by inhalation of 3000 ppm toluene, in a 8 h/day and 6 day/week order for 16 weeks. Blood and tissue samples were obtained for biochemical and histopathological investigation. The blood and sciatic nerves were assayed for toluene by gas chromatography. Toluene significantly increased blood and tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), and decreased tissue superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), but not tissue catalase (CAT) levels when compared with controls. Electron micrographs of sciatic nerve in the toluene group shows myelin destructions with onion-bulb and bubble form protrusion on the myelin sheath and axolemma border of myelinated axons. The area of injury on the myelin sheath were measured by Image-Pro Plus. Mean of the injury area were estimated 34% each myelin. These findings indicate that chronic toluene inhalation might be involved with free radical processes.

Nine cases of nonpalpable testicular mass: an incidental finding in a large scale ultrasonography survey.

Abstract: Objectives: Nonpalpable testicular masses are usually diagnosed during routine ultrasonography (US) examinations for other conditions. There are conflicting results on the final diagnosis and management of these lesions. In the present study we report the results of a large US series of 5104 patients on nonpalpable testicular masses and discuss the management of these patients. Methods: This retrospective observational study was performed in a secondary care military hospital. A total of 5104 patients underwent a US and 11 of them were diagnosed as having a nonpalpable testicular mass. These 11 patients also underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Two of them refused surgery and were excluded from the study. The remaining nine patients underwent intraoperative US-guided localization and excisional biopsy of the non-palpable testicular parenchymal mass. A radical orchiectomy was required in all of them. US and MRI findings, frozen and final pathology results were recorded. Results: The median age of study subjects was 24 years. The final pathology revealed a malign tumor in eight patients and an inflammatory mass in one patient. There were inconsistent results in four patients between frozen section analysis and final pathology. MRI improved the definition of the solid masses in all patients. Conclusions: MRI enhances the certainty of the diagnosis of malignity in nonpalpable testicular masses, particularly in conditions that generally can not be diagnosed with ultrasonography alone. Frozen section analysis is not an accredited method in diagnosing malign lesions in non-palpable testicular masses.

Framingham risk score and severity of coronary artery disease

Abstract: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Easy-to-perform and reliable parameters are needed to predict the presence and severity of CAD and to implement efficient diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. We aimed to examine whether the Framingham risk scoring system can be used for this purpose. A total of 222 patients (96 women, 126 men; mean age, 59.1 ± 11.9 years) who underwent coronary angiography were enrolled in the study. Presence of > %50 stenosis in a coronary artery was assessed as critical CAD. The Framingham risk score (FRS) was calculated for each patient. CAD severity was assessed by the Gensini score. The relationship between the FRS and the Gensini score was analyzed by correlation and regression analyses. The mean Gensini score was 18.9 ± 25.8, the median Gensini score was 7.5 (0–172), the mean FRS was 7.7 ± 4.2, and the median FRS was 7 (0–21). Correlation analysis revealed a significant relationship between FRS and Gensini score (r = 0.432, p < 0.0001). This relationship was confirmed by linear regression analysis (β = 0.341, p < 0.0001). A cut-off level of 7.5 for FRS predicted severe CAD with a sensitivity of 68 % and a specificity of 73.6 % (ROC area under curve: 0.776, 95 % CI: 0.706–0.845, PPV: 78.1 %, NPV: 62.3 %, p < 0.0001). Our work suggests that the FRS system is a simple and feasible method that can be used for prediction of CAD severity. As the sample size was small in our study, further large-scale studies are needed on this subject to draw solid conclusions.