Introduction: Saphenous vein graft (SVG) failure remains a key limitation in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The no-touch harvesting technique aims to improve graft durability by preserving perivascular tissue and preventing endothelial injury caused by mechanical trauma during conventional harvesting. Purpose: To assess whether the no-touch SVG harvesting technique offers superior graft patency and acceptable safety outcomes compared to conventional SVG harvesting in patients undergoing CABG. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, Ovid Medline, and Web of Science databases through May 5, 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing no-touch versus conventional SVG harvesting in CABG were included. The primary outcome was SVG occlusion per graft at the end of follow-up. Secondary outcomes included SVG occlusion per patient, all-cause mortality, total surgery time, and wound complications. Data were pooled using an inverse variance–weighted random-effects model. Analyses were conducted using the “meta” package in R (version 4.4.3). Results: Eight RCTs comprising 4,234 patients (mean age: 62.6 ± 8.5 years) were included. No-touch SVGs were associated with significantly decreased risk of SVG occlusion by 31% compared to conventional SVGs (RR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.60–0.80; I2 = 0%, p < 0.0001). A similar benefit was observed at the patient level (RR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.56–0.83; I2 = 0%, p = 0.0002). All-cause mortality was comparable among the techniques (RR: 1.04; 95% CI: 0.63–1.71; I2 = 0%, p = 0.88). The no-touch technique was associated with a statistically significant but clinically negligible increase in operative time (MD: 9.69 minutes; 95% CI: 2.48–16.90; I2 = 62%, p = 0.0084). However, wound complications occurred more frequently in the no-touch group (RR: 2.03; 95% CI: 1.67–2.47; I2 = 0%, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The no-touch SVG harvesting technique provides superior graft patency at both the graft and patient levels compared to conventional methods. Although associated with a modest prolongation in operative time and a higher risk of wound complications, these drawbacks may acceptable in patients with low risk for wound morbidity and can potentially be improved upon by increased operator experience with this technique.
Sanayi ve teknolojinin gelişmesiyle birlikte, üretim süreçlerinde otomasyona geçişle ilgili son derece önemli ilerlemeler olmuştur. Bu ilerlemeler sonunda, büyük ölçüde insandan bağımsız sistemlerin kurulması aşamasına kadar gelinmiştir. Ancak bu ilerlemeler iş sağlığı ve güvenliği (İSG) açısından yaşanan sorunları ortadan kaldırmamıştır. Sorunlar, bazı işletmelerde emek yoğun dönemdekine benzer şekilde yaşanmakta olup bazı işletmelerde de biçim değiştirmiş durumdadır. Bu çerçevede, İSG’nin halen işletmeler için hayati öneme sahip bir konu olduğunu ifade etmek mümkündür. Bu çalışmada, işletmelerde İSG sorunlarının çözümüne yönelik uygulamalı bir araştırma gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırma, mobilya sektöründe faaliyet gösteren bir fabrikada bütün üretim süreçlerini kapsayacak şekilde yapılmıştır. Bu kapsamda, araştırma iki aşamalı olarak planlanmıştır. Birinci aşamada, üretim süreçleri içerisinde etkin olmayan bölümlerin tespit edilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaç doğrultusunda Veri Zarflama Analizi (VZA) tekniği kullanılmıştır. VZA için gerekli olan veriler, ergonomik ölçüm cihazları ve anket yöntemi kullanılarak elde edilmiştir. Veriler,VZA modellerinden girdi odaklı Charnes Cooper Rhodes (CCR) modeli ile teknik ölçüm yapılarak analiz edilmiştir. Analiz sonucunda, demir atölyesi ve mobilya üretim bölümü fabrikada iyileştirilmesi gereken birimler olarak tespit edilmiştir. İSG açısından etkin olmayan birimler belirlendikten sonra, ikinci aşamada, Kısıtlar Teorisi (KT) tekniği ile sorunların çözümüne yönelik çalışmalar yapılmıştır. Etkin olmayan birimlerdeki ana problemin işletmede İSG kültürünün eksik olmasından kaynaklandığı Mevcut Gerçeklik Ağacı (MGA) ile gösterilmiştir. Buharlaşan Bulut (BB) ile eksiklerin giderilmesine yönelik çözüm önerileri sunulmuş ve Gelecek Gerçeklik Ağacı (GGA) ile de sorunların çözümüyle gerçekleşecek durum ifade edilmiştir.
The aim of this project is to compare the performance of LSTM and Linear Kalman Filter in the presence of a multipath noise. The Kalman filter approach is based on an intuitively defined process and dynamically changing matrices. Using the past data, the next point of the system is tried to be predicted. This filter may not represent the time correlation between data very well because it uses a user-specified dynamic model. In addition, although the Kalman filter is known to be ideal in the presence of Gaussian noise, its performance in the presence of non-Gaussian noise is not good.RNN's are used to model time series, sequential data. LSTM is a special type of RNN with memory. LSTM aims to overcome these problems by learning noisy and dynamic models. This is an area where the Kalman filter is expected to perform poorly. Instead of testing this approach in sensor data, randomly generated 1 and 2 dimensional trajectory data were used. Although LSTM was trained with little data, it was concluded that it provided better performance than Kalman filter when appropriate hyper-parameters were provided.
Background: Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) poses a significant risk of aortic dissection and mortality. Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) have been proposed as a potential therapeutic intervention to mitigate these risks but their effects are uncertain. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of ARBs in patients with TAA. Methods: A comprehensive search of Cochrane CENTRAL, Ovid Medline R, Pubmed, and Web of Science yielded 2563 records, from which 8 unique randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (including 7 Marfan and 1 bicuspid aortic valve+TAA populations) comprising 1575 patients were included in the analysis. The primary outcome measures were aortic dissection and all-cause mortality. Pooled risk ratios (RR) or mean differences (MD) in an inverse variance random-effects model were generated and analyses were performed with “meta” package in R (version 4.3.2). Results: Our analysis reveals no significant beneficial effect of ARBs on aortic dissection (RR 0,62 [95%CI, 0,20; 1,92], I 2 :0%) and all-cause mortality (RR 0,61 [95%CI, 0,18; 2,05], I 2 :0%), irrespective of specific ARB agents (including losartan, irbesartan, and telmisartan), comparators (beta blocker, placebo, or no treatment), disease condition (Marfan syndrome or bicuspid aortic valve), and patient demographics (children or adults). Additionally, there were no significant differences observed between ARB and control groups in changes in ascending aorta and aortic annulus diameter, as well as aortic Z-score at the 3-year mark, including the annual change in ascending aorta (MD 0.04 mm/year [95% CI, -0.07 to 0.15], I 2 :0%) and aortic root diameter (MD -0.06 mm/year [95% CI, -0.22 to 0.10], I 2 :81%) by echocardiography. However, there was a significant reduction in aortic root diameter as assessed by MRI (MD -0.48 mm/year [95%CI, -0.89 to -0.08]) and echocardiography (MD -0.51 mm/3year [95%CI, -0.85 to -0.17]), with low heterogeneity when compared with control. Risk of aortic surgery and severe adverse events were also comparable. Conclusion: We found no significant beneficial effect of ARBs in reducing the risk of aortic dissection or all-cause mortality in patients with TAA. Despite observing a significant reduction in the aortic root diameter by MRI and echocardiography with ARB therapy, other imaging outcomes were comparable between ARB and control groups.
Bu çalışmada lif katkılı kerpiç tuğla üretimi gerçekleştirmek için kullanılan killi toprak ile boyları 6 mm, 12 mm ve 19 mm olan polipropilen lif kullanılmıştır. Killi toprağa ağırlıkça % 0 (katkısız), % 0,5 , % 1 ve % 1,5 oranlarında polipropilen lif katılmıştır. Katkısız karışımdan 1, polipropilen katkılı karışımlardan 9 farklı karışım toplam 10 adet farklı karışım oluşturularak kerpiç tuğla üretimi gerçekleştirilmiştir. Her bir karışım için 3 adet kerpiç tuğla numunesi üretilmiştir. Üretilen bu örneklerin hacim kayıpları, birim hacim ağırlıkları, basınç dayanımları ve eğilme hasar yükleri araştırılmıştır. Çalışma sonucunda polipropilen lif katkılı numunelerin katkı oranı ve lif boyu arttıkça hacim kaybının katkısız numunelere göre %8,57 ile %37,25 aralığında azaldığı, birim hacim ağırlığının ise %1,54 ile %7,25 aralığında azaldığı görülmüştür. Basınç dayanımlarının katkısız numunelere göre lif oranı ve boyu arttıkça %11,67 ile %44,93 aralığında arttığı görülmüştür. Eğilme hasar yüklerinin ise katkısız numunelere göre %43,19 ile %250,05 aralığında arttığı tespit edilmiştir.
Background: Brain cancer (neuroblastoma) and liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) are common cancer types among others worldwide which do not have a radical treatment and cure. Objective: In the current study, five novel pyridazinone derivates bearing benzelhydrazone moiety at second position were synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against neuroblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma (SHSY5Y and HEP3B) and human fibroblast (HF) cell lines. The aim of the current study is to identify antiproliferative activity of five novel pyridazinone derivates against neuroblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma (SHSY5Y and HEP3B) and human fibroblast (HF) cell lines. Method: The compounds were synthesized by the reacting 6-[4-(phenyl/4-chlorophenyl)piperazine-1- yl]-3(2H)-pyridazinone-2-yl acetohydrazide with benzaldehyde in ethanol. The in vitro antiproliferative activities were determined with MTT assay. Bax, Bcl-2 and Casp3 gene expression levels were detected with RT-PCR analyses. Results: The lowest IC50 was observed for compound 4 in SHSY5Y and HEP3B cells. Apoptosis increased in cancer cells which was shown by changes inBax, Bcl-2 and Casp3 gene expression levels with 1-5 compound therapy. Conclusion: Novel pyridazinone derivates might be promising agents as new chemotherapeutic candidates in brain and liver cancer. Keywords: Apoptotic effects, antitumoral effects, brain cancer, cytotoxic effects, liver cancer, pyridazinone.
Bu çalışmada, kayısı işletmelerinin tedarikçi değerlendirme sürecinde dikkate alması gereken kriterleri ve bunların önceliklerini belirlemeye yönelik bir araştırma gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bu amaçla sektör raporları incelenmiş, uzmanlarla ve kayısı işletmelerdeki tedarik sorumluları ile görüşülmüştür. Elde edilen veriler ışığında olası ana kriterler, kalite-kontrol, fiyat, hijyen, mekanizasyon ve üretim performansı başlıkları altında gruplandırılmıştır. Fiyatta 6, kalitede 10, hijyende 4, mekanizasyonda 6 ve üretim performansında 8 alt kriter olmak üzere toplamda 34 kriter belirlenmiştir. Belirlenen temel ve alt kriterler bulanık mantık çerçevesinde ağırlandırılmış ve sıralanmıştır.
ABSTRACT Alamandine (ALA) is a heptapeptide discovered in 2013 within the renin‐angiotensin system (RAS). Given the high prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in society and its comorbidities, especially renal failure, which significantly impairs the quality of life, this study aimed to investigate the protective effects of ALA against renal ischemia‐reperfusion (I/R) injury in diabetic rats. Our aim was to develop preventive therapies for DM and diabetic renal failure. Forty‐eight 3‐month‐old male Sprague‐Dawley rats were induced by administering a single intraperitoneal dose of 50 mg/kg of streptozotocin (STZ). Rats were divided into four groups. Right nephrectomy was performed through dorsolateral incisions in all rats, followed by occlusion of the left renal vessels for 1 h to induce ischemia. Reperfusion of the left kidney was initiated by removing the clamp and allowing 24 h of reperfusion. Histopathological examination of the kidney tissues revealed necrotic changes and tubular dilatation in the I/R group, which were significantly reduced in the ALA + I/R group. Immunohistochemical analysis showed increased immunoreactivity for interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and caspase‐3 in the I/R group, whereas the ALA + I/R group demonstrated significantly lower immunoreactivity for these markers. Liver histology showed irregular hepatocyte cords and sinusoidal dilatation in the I/R group, whereas the ALA + I/R group exhibited a preserved classical lobular structure with reduced histopathological changes. Blood parameters, serum biochemistry, and tissue findings were also analyzed. Our study demonstrated the protective effects of ALA on renal and liver tissues against damage induced by renal I/R injury in a diabetic background. Moreover, ALA exhibited protective effects against liver damage resulting from renal I/R injury.
Background: Epigenetic mechanisms play a pivotal role in the transcriptional programs associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Apabetalone, an orally available inhibitor of BET proteins that serve as key epigenetic readers, and modulating gene expression - holds promise as a therapeutic intervention in CVD management. Understanding its efficacy and tolerability is crucial for delineating its potential impact on disease progression and patient outcomes. Purpose: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the impact of apabetalone in patients with cardiovascular disease. Methods: The meta-analysis was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023423298). Databases searched included Cochrane CENTRAL, PubMed, Ovid Medline, and Web of Science. Three unique RCTs with total of 2897 patients were included, with trial durations ranging from 12 to 124 weeks. Primary outcomes assessed were all-cause mortality and non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI). Data analysis was performed using the inverse variance common effect model. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on the presence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or its increased risk. Results: Among the primary outcomes, no significant effects of apabetalone were observed on all-cause mortality (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.63 to 1.23) or non-fatal MI (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.62 to 1.11). Apabetalone demonstrated favorable effects on increasing Apo A1 (SMD 0.20, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.35) and HDL (SMD 0.29, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.49). However, no significant effects were observed for changes in Apo B, LDL, non-HDL, total cholesterol. Subgroup analysis did not reveal any significant differences in outcomes. Significant effects were noted in secondary outcomes. Apabetalone showed a significant increase in adverse events (AEs) leading to withdrawal (RR 1.61, 95% CI 1.21 to 2.15) and ALT and AST increases greater than three times the normal value (RR 4.50, 95% CI 2.73 to 7.41). Conclusion: Our meta-analysis highlights the significant impact of apabetalone on certain lipid parameters and adverse events. However, it did not demonstrate significant effects on all-cause mortality or non-fatal MI. Further well-designed and reported RCTs were warranted to elucidate the clinical implications of apabetalone in selected group of patients that might benefit the most from apabetalone that may also improve cardiovascular disease management.
Background: Aldosterone synthase inhibitors (ASIs) are a novel class targeting aldosterone biosynthesis, offering a mechanistically distinct approach from mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists. Research Question: Do ASIs significantly reduce blood pressure compared to placebo in patients with hypertension, and what is their associated safety profile? Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating ASIs versus placebo in hypertensive patients. A comprehensive search was performed in Cochrane CENTRAL, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to April 15, 2025. All available dosages of each agent were pooled into a single treatment node. The primary efficacy outcome was the change in mean seated systolic blood pressure (SBP), while the safety outcome was hyperkalemia. Secondary outcomes included changes in mean seated diastolic blood pressure (DBP), 24-hour ambulatory SBP, serious adverse events (SAEs), and hyponatremia. Data were synthesized using inverse-variance random-effects models. Results: Six RCTs comprising 1,382 participants were included from an initial screening of 855 records. Compared with placebo, ASIs significantly reduced mean seated SBP (mean difference [MD] −6.44 mmHg; 95% CI −8.7 to −4.17; I 2 =0%; p<0.0001). Mean seated DBP was also significantly reduced (MD −2.15 mmHg; 95% CI −3.48 to −0.82; p=0.0015), as was 24-hour ambulatory SBP (MD −6.82 mmHg; 95% CI −8.81 to −4.84; p<0.001). These SBP and DBP reductions were consistent across hypertension subtypes (primary, resistant, and uncontrolled) and among different ASI agents (p for interaction >0.1). The risk of hyperkalemia was significantly elevated (RR 4.48; 95% CI 1.44 to 13.91), primarily driven by lorundrostat (RR 6.96; 95% CI 1.39 to 34.87). However, ASIs were not associated with a significant increase in SAEs (RR: 2.11; 95% CI 0.82 to 5.43; p=0.62) or non-SAEs (RR 1.10; 95% CI 0.76 to 1.57; p=0.62) compared to placebo. No significant increase was observed in hyponatremia risk (RR 1.24; 95% CI 0.34 to 4.46). Conclusions: ASIs significantly and mildly reduced both SBP and DBP in hypertensive patients, with an overall manageable safety profile. The increased risk of hyperkalemia—particularly with lorundrostat—warrants monitoring. These agents may hold promise for enhanced efficacy when combined with other antihypertensive therapies in future trials.
Abstract This paper presents the results of an experimental research on the assessment of the residual mechanical properties of high strength concretes (HSCs) made with pyrophyllite aggregate (PA) after high temperature. In the study, HSC mixtures with varying PA ratios (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%) were subjected to elevated temperature (150, 300, 450, 600, and 750°C) and then cooled in two different cooling regimes (air and water‐cooling). The properties examined included compressive strength, weight loss, effects of cooling regime, and microstructure of HSC. The results of the study show that the increase in the PA ratios leads to a decrease in the compressive strength values. The results showed that weight loss of the specimens decreased with increasing PA ratios. It was found that the compressive strength values of HSC with PA cooled in air‐cooling are higher than that cooled in water. When the compressive strength loss and the weight loss values are taken into consideration according to the control samples, the group with the highest resistance to high temperature (750°C) effect was 100% PA group. Also, the internal structures of the samples exposed to high temperature were examined using scanning electron microscope and visual observations.
Modafinil is used for the treatment of various sleep disorders; however, its usage among healthy individuals is also increasing. There are a limited number of cardiovascular side effects, including ischemic T-wave changes, dyspnea, hypertension, and tachycardia in the literature. Our research aimed to investigate the dose-dependent subacute cardiovascular effects of modafinil in rats. Thirty-two rats were randomly and equally assigned to a control group (vehicle-treated for 14 days), a subacute low-dose group (SALD, 10 mg/kg for 14 days), a subacute moderate-dose group (SAMD, 100 mg/kg for 14 days), and a subacute high-dose group (SHD, 600 mg/kg for 14 days). The cardiovascular effects of modafinil were evaluated using hemodynamic, biochemical, electrocardiographic, electrophysiologic, and histopathologic parameters. In terms of hemodynamic parameters, heart rate, and systolic/diastolic/mean blood pressure levels, electrophysiological parameters did not reach statistical significance among the groups (<i>p</i> > 0.05). The incidence of T-wave negativity in SAMD and SAHD groups was 25 and 37.5%, respectively. Moreover, one rat per group was affected by an atrioventricular blockage. Malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and reduced glutathione levels in the heart and vascular tissues, serum troponin-I, and creatine kinase levels were similar between the modafinil-administered groups and the control group (<i>p</i> > 0.05); this indicates that modafinil activated neither oxidative stress nor antioxidant pathway. Also, there was no difference in histopathological parameters between groups (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Supratherapeutic doses of modafinil may have the potential to cause ischemic cardiac damage and atrioventricular blockage, despite inconsistency with literature findings; however, this does not pertain to hemodynamic changes.
Technical investigations carried out after the devastating earthquakes in Turkey in the last 25 years show that one of the main causes of damage to reinforced concrete structures is reinforcement bar corrosion. The deterioration caused by reinforcement corrosion in reinforced concrete elements reduces the parameters that define the performance level of the structure, such as ductility, stiffness, bond-slip relationship, load carrying capacity, and energy absorption capacity. Therefore, determining the specified performance levels of reinforced concrete structures exposed to corrosion before any seismic activity occurs is of great importance in preventing loss of life and property. Cross-section behavior in reinforced concrete structures represents the load-bearing element behavior In order to accurately determine the section behavior, the Moment-Curvature relationship must be defined. In this study, the structural behavior of reinforced concrete frames exposed to corrosion was examined experimentally and analytically. For this purpose, 4 of the 5 reinforced concrete frame specimens constructed were corroded at different ratios using the accelerated corrosion method. After the corrosion process was completed, in the experimental part of the study, all specimens were tested under the effect of a 20% constant axial load and reversal-cyclic loading. In the analytical study, as a result of the cross-sectional analyzes carried out by taking into account the material-mechanical properties changing with the effect of corrosion, it was determined that the calculated moment values were in high predicted with the experimentally measured moment values.
In reinforced concrete (RC) structures, corrosion of the reinforcement due to environmental factors or concrete components poses significant risks to both structural integrity and safety. Reinforcement corrosion, can be visually detected through cracks in the concrete cover, and this situation offers a practical approach to associating corrosion-induced cracks with structural parameter degradations caused by the corrosion mechanism. In this study, a total of five RC frame specimens were fabricated, with one specimen not exposed to corrosion and four specimens exposed to different levels of corrosion through the accelerated corrosion method, all having the same cross-section and material properties. In the experiments conducted under a constant 20 % axial load and cyclic repeated load effects, the structural performance indicators of the RC frame specimens were examined. Within the scope of the study, two experimental models are proposed. The first model aims to estimate the loss in the cross-sectional area of the reinforcement bar based on crack width, while the second model was oriented towards estimating the energy consumption capacity of the specimen for a specific displacement ratio based on the loss in the cross-sectional area of the reinforcement. The results revealed that as the corrosion ratio increased, the crack widths of the specimens also increased, and after a 1.5 % drift ratio, there was a significant decrease in the energy consumption capacities of the corroded specimens.
A total of four reinforced concrete (RC) columns were tested to compare the structural capacities of RC columns produced by natural perlite aggregates and conventional concrete. The structural performance of the RC columns made from natural perlite aggregates were compared for to conventional RC columns regarding the same concrete strength levels, sectional properties, and reinforcement layouts of conventional RC columns. The RC columns were tested under a combined constant axial load ratio of 30% with cyclic loading for two concrete strength levels, namely, of 25 and 40 MPa. Load-displacement curves, energy absorption capacities, stiffness degradation, the moment-curvature relationship, the plastic hinge mechanism and the ductility index were experimentally obtained at two different concrete types along with the measured stress-strain properties of the conventional and perlite concrete. The test results showed that the construction of the RC columns using only perlite may become possible in future by providing an adequate concrete stress-strain capacity, which will be improved.
