Resumo Fundamento O receptor fraco indutor de apoptose semelhante a fator de necrose tumoral solúvel (sTWEAK) é um membro da superfamília de TNF que tem um papel crítico na proliferação e inflamação na circulação arterial. Objetivos Este estudo prospectivo tem o objetivo de mostrar a relação entre os níveis de sTWEAK e calcificação da artéria coronária (CAC) em pacientes com doença renal crônica (DRC). Métodos Este estudo prospectivo incluiu 139 pacientes consecutivos que passaram por angiografia coronariana por tomografia computadorizada, por qualquer motivo, para síndromes coronarianas agudas, de agosto de 2020 a fevereiro de 2021. Um total de 12 pacientes foi excluído do estudo devido aos critérios de exclusão. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos com base em terem um escore CAC menor que 400 (n=84) ou um escore de 400 ou mais (n=43). A significância foi presumida em p-valor bilateral <0,05. Resultados À medida que o escore CAC aumentou, os níveis de sTWEAK diminuíram de forma estatisticamente significativa e detectou-se uma relação forte entre níveis de sTWEAK e escore CAC (r: -0,779, p<0,001). A análise ROC revelou que o nível de corte ideal de sTWEAK para prever o escore CAC de 400 era 761 pg/mL com uma sensibilidade de 71% e especificidade de 73% (AUC: 0,78; IC 95%: 0,70-0,85; p <0,001). Conclusões Embora os estudos em larga escala tenham demonstrado uma correlação positiva entre os níveis de TFGe e sTWEAK, alguns estudos detectaram que o aumento nos níveis de sTWEAK estão associados a mortalidade e gravidade do sistema da artéria coronária em pacientes com DRC. Nossos resultados comprovam nossa hipótese de que os níveis de sTWEAK mostram calcificação coronária em vez de outros tipos de placas ateroscleróticas.

Abstract Background The soluble tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (sTWEAK) is a member of the TNF superfamily that plays a critical role in proliferation and inflammation in the arterial circulation. Objectives This prospective study aimed to show the relationship between the sTWEAK levels and coronary artery calcification (CAC) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods This prospective study included 139 consecutive patients undergoing computed coronary angiography for any reason except for acute coronary syndromes from August 2020 to February 2021. A total of 12 patients were excluded from the study due to exclusion criteria. Patients were divided into two groups with regard to having a CAC score of less than 400 (n=84) and 400 or more (n=43). Significance was assumed at a 2-sided p<0.05. Results As the CAC score increased, sTWEAK levels presented a statistically significant decrease, and a strong relationship between sTWEAK levels and the CAC score (r: -0.779, p<0.001) was observed. The ROC analysis revealed that the optimal cut-off level of sTWEAK for predicting the CAC score of 400 was 761 pg/mL with a sensitivity of 71% and a specificity of 73% (AUC: 0.78; 95% CI:0.70-0.85; p < 0.001) Conclusions Even though the large-scale studies showed a positive correlation between eGFR and the sTWEAK levels, some studies found the increased sTWEAK levels to be associated with mortality and the severity of the coronary artery system in patients with CKD. Our results support our hypothesis that the sTWEAK level shows coronary calcification rather than other types of atherosclerotic plaques.

Abstract Sliced kumquats were dried by using three different drying methods, microwave (375 W), hot air (70 and 80 °C), and vacuum (70 and 80 °C with 100 and 300 mbar) to determine drying characteristics, antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content and color. All color parameters (L, a, b, Cab, ΔE and h° ) changed depending on the drying methods. Page and Modified Page models are the best fitted drying methods with the highest value of R2 (0.9994) and the lowest values of RMSE (0.000635-0.000735) and χ2 (0.000010-0.000013) compared to other models. Effective moisture diffusivity values for dried kumquats ranged from 1.54 × 10-8 to 8.24 × 10-8 in vacuum drying at 70 °C-300 mbar and microwave drying at 375 W, respectively. In comparison to the fresh sample, the dried samples showed an increase in both total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. The total phenolic content (3095.71 ± 101.41 mg GA/100g d.w) and antioxidant activity (10.51 ± 0.19 µmol TE/g d.w) with DPPH assay showed the highest levels for the vacuum drying at 70 °C-100 mbar method. Microwave dried samples had the highest antioxidant activity with CUPRAC assay as (17.58 ± 0.63 µmol TE/g d.w.). This study indicated that microwave drying and vacuum drying at 70 °C-100 mbar were able to yield high-quality kumquat slices.

ABSTRACT Purpose: To compare the effect of vaginal hysterectomy-anterior/posterior colporrhaphy with Kelly's plication(VH-KP), versus vaginal hysterectomy-anterior/posterior colporrhaphy-transobturator tape(VH-TOT) surgeries on incontinence, quality of life, and sexual functions in patients with pelvic organ prolapse(POP), and concurrent obvious stress urinary incontinence(SUI). Materials and Methods: Between 2013 and 2017, fifty patients treated with VH-KP(n = 25), and VH-TOT(n = 25) due to POP and SUI, were evaluated prospective consecutively. Age, parity, duration of urinary incontinence, and the daily pad use were recorded. Patients were filled “rinary Distress Inventory-6(UDI-6)”, “Incontinence Impact Questionnaire 7(IIQ-7)” and “Index of Female Sexual Function(IFSI)” questionnaire forms at preoperatively, and postoperative 6th month. No usage of pads was accepted as subjective cure rate. Intraoperative, and postoperative complications were noted. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between two groups, for the mean age of the patients, parity, duration of SUI, and the daily pad use, preoperatively (p > 0.05). Decreased UDI-6 scores, IIQ-7 scores and daily pad usage, and increased IFSF scores were found statistical significantly in each group, at the postoperative 6 th month (p < 0.05). However, VH-TOT group had higher improvement rates, on UDI-6 scores (69.5% vs 63.0%, p = 0.04). In addition, it was notable that the the rates of the patients had IFSF scores ≥ 25 was higher in VH-KP group (p = 0.05). Four (16%) patients had recurrent SUI in the VH-KP group (p = 0.039) and vaginal extrusion occurred in 2 (8%) patients in the VH-TOT group (p = 0.153), postoperatively. Conclusions: Although the effects of VH-TOT surgery are superior to conventional methods for incontinence and quality of life; negative effects on sexual functions are notable. In addition, although recurrence rates of TOT are low, complications such as vaginal extrusion are accompanied by drawbacks of mesh usage.

Abstract High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is one of the most used sweeteners in the food industry. Health concerns regarding the consumption of HFCS-containing foods have developed in parallel with the increasing amount of people who become overweight. This study was conducted to investigate whether HFCS-containing peach nectar (pn-HFCS) consumption has more detrimental effects on anthropometrical and biochemical parameters compared with sucrose-containing peach nectar (pn-sucrose). Fifty-day-old Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups and were fed (A) pn-HFCS + ad libitum chow, (B) pn-sucrose + ad libitum chow and (C) only ad libitum chow for 7 months. The percentage change in body weight (PCBW), body mass index (BMI), and Lee index were calculated, and serum triglyceride, glucose, insulin and leptin concentrations were measured. The PCBW, BMI, Lee index, serum triglyceride, glucose, insulin and leptin concentrations were insignificant among the three groups. We can suggest that peach nectar consumption resulted in more energy intake than the control and since pn-HFCS group consumed more chow than the pn-sucrose group. The results show that long term daily HFCS or sucrose consumption in peach nectar is not associated with weight gain and does not stimulate metabolic changes in Sprague Dawley rats.

ABSTRACTPurpose:To compare transobturator midurethral sling (TOS) and single-incision sling procedures in terms of their effects on urinary incontinence and the quality of life in overweight (BMI ≥25-29.9 kg/m2) female patients using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire scoring form (ICIQ-SF) and Quality of Life of Persons with Urinary Incontinence scoring form (I-QOL).Materials and Methods:In this prospective trial, the patients were divided into two groups consecutively; first 20 overweight female patients underwent the TOS (Unitape T®,Promedon, Cordoba, Argentina) procedure and the subsequent 20 consecutive overweight female patients underwent the single-incision sling [TVT-secur (Ethicon Inc., Sommerville, USA)] procedure. Age, urinary incontinence period, parity and daily pads usage were recorded. No usage of pads was defined as subjective cure rate postoperatively. Before the operation and 6. month after the surgery, the patients completed the ICIQ-SF and I-QOL.Results:There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of mean age, duration of incontinence, parity, and BMI (p>0.05). ICIQ-SF and I-QOL revealed that the patients in the TOS group showed significantly better improvement (76.20% versus 64.10%, p=0.001, 81.31% versus 69.28%, p=0.001, respectively). In addition, subjective cure rates were found higher in TOS group (75% versus 55%, p=0.190).Conclusions:The existing data is showed that incontinence symptoms and the quality of life have higher improvement in overweight female patients who underwent the TOS procedure. It is likely that the TOS procedure may provide stronger urethral support and better contributes to continence in this group of patients.

OBJETIVO: Investigar se a aplicação de quitosana em anastomose colônica promove resistência à tração e consequentemente a melhora na cicatrização. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados 48 ratos Wistar fêmeas distribuídos em quatro grupos, 12 ratos em cada. Grupos controle (1 e 3) não receberam tratamento. Grupos experimento (2 e 4) receberam aplicação de quitosana na anastomose colônica. Após eutanásia após 3º ou 7º dias foram examinadas a tensão, o nível de hidroxiprolina e aspectos histopatológicos da anastomose. RESULTADOS: Após três dias os grupos controle e quitosana não apresentaram alterações histopatológicas. No sétimo dia o grupo quitosana apresentou significante elevação do escore de colagenização (p=0,007) e da tensão de ruptura (p=0,038). CONCLUSÃO: A quitosana apresentou bons resultados nos processos de colagenização e cicatrização de anastomose colônica.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether chitosan application over colonic anastomosis line, provide reinforcement, and subsequently improve anastomotic healing. METHODS: Forty eight Wistar albino female rats were used and were randomly divided into four groups, 12 rats in each: The control groups (1 and 3) received no further treatment. The experimental groups (2 and 4) received chitosan application over the colonic anastomosis. After sacrifying rats at the end of the experiment (either on day three or on day seven, depending on the group), colonic bursting pressure, a hihydroxyproline level and histopathologic characteristics of the perianastomotic tissue were examined. RESULTS: At three days, chitosan and control groups had similar values for histopathologically. On day seven, chitosan group had significantly higher mean score of collagenization (p=0.007) and a significantly higher bursting pressure (p=0.038). CONCLUSION: Our study emphasizes the positive effect of chitosan in the process of collagenation in colonic anastomosis healing.