Long-term Damage Research Articles

Clinical Manifestations, Current and Future Therapy, and Long-Term Outcomes in Congenital Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

Congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (cTTP) is an extremely rare disease characterized by the severe deficiency of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motifs 13 (ADAMTS13), caused by ADAMTS13 mutations. While ADAMTS13 supplementation by fresh frozen plasma (FFP) infusion immediately corrects platelet consumption and resolves thrombotic symptoms in acute episodes, FFP treatment can lead to intolerant allergic reactions and frequent hospital visits. Up to 70% of patients depend on regular FFP infusions to normalize their platelet counts and avoid systemic symptoms, including headache, fatigue, and weakness. The remaining patients do not receive regular FFP infusions, mainly because their platelet counts are maintained within the normal range or because they are symptom-free without FFP infusions. However, the target peak and trough levels of ADAMTS13 to prevent long-term comorbidity with prophylactic FFP and the necessity of treating FFP-independent patients in terms of long-term clinical outcomes are yet to be determined. Our recent study suggests that the current volumes of FFP infusions are insufficient to prevent frequent thrombotic events and long-term ischemic organ damage. This review focuses on the current management of cTTP and its associated issues, followed by the importance of upcoming recombinant ADAMTS13 therapy.

Past, Present, and Future of Korea National Radiation Emergency Medicine Education

Introduction:In Korea, there are various medical and industrial researchers who use radiation as part of their research. But radiation can cause extensive long-term damage in case of an accident. Therefore, national-level policy and training for the response workforce have been established for a professional response. Since 2002, the KIRAMS has been providing emergency medical response education based on the five mandatory contents (including legislation, protection measures, and emergency medicine).Method:The training content can be divided into theoretical and practical courses. Early education included theoretical courses on cases of accidents and their effects on the human body, as well as practical courses on treatment for contaminated patients. The current education program offers group practice using a HPS and mobile learning. As for the future of national radiation emergency education, the paradigm of education will change with the fourth industrial revolution, the advancement of the IT industry, and the advent of the ‘untact’ era. Therefore, research and development on XR technology–based educational content that can overcome reality’s constraints, is being conducted. Simulation-based education courses to increase effectiveness and immersion will be implemented.Results:Currently, there are approximately 900 radiation emergency medical personnel, and more than 30 new and supplementary education contents are provided each year to improve their proficiency and response abilities. Approximately eight types of content using XR technology will be developed and tested (2021-2023) before being implemented in actual education programs (2024). Advancements in education reflecting special conditions, such as COVID-19, and technological advancements will continue indefinitely.Conclusion:Efforts are ongoing to improve the educational content and to train excellent radiation emergency medical personnel. With the implementation of XR technologies and new education trends, the future of national Korean radiation emergency medical education is expected to advance and diversify, and further improvements in the educational content can be expected.

The Restrictions on the Beach Tourism Destination Development as an Effort for Environmental Preservation

Tourism development on the one hand provides an increase in economic value, on the other hand, it raises environmental problems. Especially in beach tourist destinations. The emergence of many rides, redundant buildings in addition to core buildings such as prayer rooms and toilets, increases environmental problems and reduces comfort. This research aims, firstly, that the need to maintain and preserve the environment is one of human rights and secondly a form of restriction on the development of the development of beach tourist destinations to maintain environmental sustainability and the authenticity of tourist destinations. To answer these problems, this research uses normative legal research methods with a complementary statutory approach, concept approach and case approach. The research results obtained, first, tourism development must maintain environmental sustainability. Because a good living environment is part of human rights as a whole. Protecting and preserving the environment is also an obligation. Second, in the development of tourism, especially in beach tourism destinations, it is very necessary to pay attention to the principles of sustainable tourism development, one of the pillars is environmental preservation. By not carrying out excessive development, maintaining authenticity, to avoid long-term damage. So there needs to be restrictions on development.

Theoretical and legal aspects of the regulation of environmental and land legal relations in the conditions of martial law in Ukraine

Purpose. Assessment of regulatory and legal provision of land relations in Ukraine in the context of environmental protection under conditions of martial law. Methodology. In the work a set of economic research methods is used including the monographic method; methods of synthesis and analysis; the method of detailing and concretizing the obtained results; the method of scientific and abstract systematization of the results of scientific research; graphic method for visualizing the results of scientific research. Findings. In Ukraine, a legislative framework has been created which regulates the practical principles of the use, restoration, and protection of land resources. However, as the analysis has shown regarding the extent of damage to the country’s environment caused by the use of land resources, the domestic legal basis is not perfect. In particular, this concerns the current mechanism for identifying individuals responsible for environmental violations and the procedure for compensating for the damages they cause. In order to objectively assess and determine the losses caused by the war in Ukraine, corresponding normative and methodological provisions have been adopted and are in effect. Changes also relate to the current tax land legislation, which provides for temporary exemption of landowners in occupied territories and territories of hostilities from paying environmental and land taxes. Originality. The key characteristics of the theoretical and legal principles of regulating land relations have been identified. The key tasks of the system of normative and legal regulation of ecological and land relations in Ukraine during the martial law have been outlined. The current state of the main elements of legal regulation of ecological and land relations has been analyzed. An analysis of the extent of damage caused by violations of ecological and land legislation in Ukraine during the pre-war and wartime periods has been carried out. A number of problematic aspects of the current system of legal regulation of ecological and land relations have been identified, the solution of which will allow for the improvement of this system during the war. Among the main ones are the level of adoption and approval of relevant legislative acts; the lack of necessary registers for accounting for damaged land; the procedure for determining and assessing long-term damage to land resources caused by the war. Practical value. The results of the analysis and the problem aspects of legal regulation of environmental and land relations substantiated in this work can be used by legal experts, institutional bodies responsible for land resource management, and researchers for solving the tasks of optimizing the existing procedures and methods for protecting land resources from damage caused by individuals violating environmental legislation, as well as for improving the procedures for assessing and eliminating the consequences of military actions.

Autoinflammatory syndromes

The concept of autoinflammation includes aheterogeneous group of monogenic and polygenic diseases. These are characterized by excessive activation of the innate immune system without antigen-specific Tcells or autoantibodies. The diseases are characterized by periodic episodes of fever and increased inflammation parameters. Monogenic diseases include familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and the newly described VEXAS (vacuoles, E1 enzyme, X‑linked, autoinflammatory, somatic) syndrome. Heterogeneous diseases include adult-onset Still's disease and Schnitzler syndrome. Treatment is aimed at preventing the excessive inflammatory reaction in order to avoid long-term damage, such as amyloidA (AA) amyloidosis.

Analysis of Damage Characteristics for Skarn Subjected to Freeze-Thaw Cycles Based on Fractal Theory

A large number of rock works in cold areas suffer from long-term freeze-thaw damage, and it seriously affects the stability of mine slopes. In this paper, the XRD component measurement, P-wave velocity, freeze-thaw cycling test at different times, uniaxial compression test, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) test were carried out to obtain the mechanical properties and microstructure evolution of skarn under the effect of freeze-thaw cycles. The results of the study indicate that with an increase in the number of freeze-thaw cycles, the mass of the rock gradually increases and the P-wave velocity, uniaxial compressive strength, elastic modulus, and Poisson’s ratio all decrease. Based on the SEM image of the rock after crushing, fine pores and fissures gradually developed, expanded, and penetrated each other under the action of freezing and thawing; the inter-particle bonding force decreased; and the cement gradually loosened. The fractal dimension of the specimens under different numbers of freeze-thaw cycles was obtained using the box dimension method, and the degradation of the fine structure of the rock was quantitatively elaborated. By establishing the relationship between the compressive strength of rocks and the fractal dimension, the mechanism of damage to skarn under freeze-thaw action was further investigated. It provides some theoretical basis for the characterization of freeze-thaw damage of rocks in cold regions.

Pulmonary-specific quality of life and dyspnea among patients hospitalized for coronavirus disease 2019: Evaluation of patient groups 1, 3 and 6 months after discharge.

Shortand long-term lung damage after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been emphasized in many studies, but pulmonary-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has been examined only in a limited capacity. In this study, we aimed to assess pulmonary-specific HRQOL and dyspnea among patients hospitalized for COVID-19 by applying the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) to patient groups 1, 3 and 6 months following discharge (groups T1, T3 and T6). This cross-sectional study was conducted between April 2020 and December 2020 at a tertiary hospital in Turkey. A total of 345 patients with a definite diagnosis of COVID-19 were included in our research. Total SGRQ score was significantly lower in the T6 group than in the T1 group (p < 0.001). The SGRQ-Symptom score was similar in the T3 and T6 groups, while the T1 group had significantly higher values (p < 0.001). The SGRQ-Activity score was significantly lower in the T6 group than in the T1 and T3 groups (p = 0.001), while the SGRQ-Impact score was significantly higher in the T6 group compared to the other 2 groups (p < 0.001). When the patients were analyzed statistically in terms of dyspnea, the difference between the baseline and 6-month results was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.001). Although long-term consequences are still not fully known, the SGRQ scores and dyspnea outcomes of our patients show that pulmonary-specific HRQOL and dyspnea remain at a similar level from discharge until the 6th month after discharge. Studies with extended and longitudinal follow-up are required.

Falsified Alcohol: Multidisciplinary Forensic and Pharmaceutical, Criminal and Legal, Clinical and Pharmacological Study of Circulation and Factors of Destruction of Human Body

Falsified alcohol, also known as counterfeit or illicit alcohol, is a pervasive problem worldwide, posing serious threats to public health and safety. This abstract provides an overview of a multidisciplinary study that delves into the various aspects of falsified alcohol, including forensic and pharmaceutical, criminal and legal, clinical and pharmacological perspectives, with a focus on its circulation and the factors that contribute to its detrimental effects on the human body. Forensic and pharmaceutical analyses play a crucial role in the identification and characterization of falsified alcohol. Additionally, pharmaceutical investigations explore the packaging, labeling, and branding of falsified alcohol, uncovering the intricate web of counterfeit alcohol production and distribution networks. The criminal and legal aspects of falsified alcohol encompass a wide range of issues, including the illicit production, sale, and distribution of counterfeit alcohol, as well as the legal ramifications for those involved in its trade. This study examines the various criminal activities associated with falsified alcohol, such as smuggling, counterfeiting, and fraud, and the legal frameworks in place to combat these activities, including international conventions, regulations, and enforcement strategies. The clinical and pharmacological aspects of falsified alcohol delve into the health consequences of consuming counterfeit alcohol. Falsified alcohol can cause severe adverse effects on the human body, ranging from acute intoxication to long-term health damage, including organ failure, blindness, and even death. This study explores the clinical manifestations of falsified alcohol poisoning, the challenges in diagnosing and treating its victims, and the pharmacological mechanisms underlying its toxic effects. Furthermore, this study researches the circulation of falsified alcohol, including its routes of distribution, the key players involved in its trade, and the socioeconomic factors that contribute to its proliferation. The study also explores the factors that contribute to the destruction of the human body by falsified alcohol, including the chemical composition of counterfeit alcohol, the dose and duration of exposure, and the susceptibility of individuals to its toxic effects based on factors such as age, gender, genetics, and comorbidities. In conclusion, falsified alcohol poses significant threats to public health and safety, requiring a multidisciplinary approach to comprehensively understand its circulation and the factors that contribute to its detrimental effects on the human body. This study provides insights from forensic and pharmaceutical, criminal and legal, clinical and pharmacological perspectives, shedding light on the complexities of falsified alcohol and the need for concerted efforts from various disciplines to combat this pressing public health issue.

Serum microRNAs associated with concussion in football players.

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mild TBI)/concussion is a common sports injury, especially common in football players. Repeated concussions are thought to lead to long-term brain damage including chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). With the worldwide growing interest in studying sport-related concussion the search for biomarkers for early diagnosis and progression of neuronal injury has also became priority. MicroRNAs are short, non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. Due to their high stability in biological fluids, microRNAs can serve as biomarkers in a variety of diseases including pathologies of the nervous system. In this exploratory study, we have evaluated changes in the expression of selected serum miRNAs in collegiate football players obtained during a full practice and game season. We found a miRNA signature that can distinguish with good specificity and sensitivity players with concussions from non-concussed players. Furthermore, we found miRNAs associated with the acute phase (let-7c-5p, miR-16-5p, miR-181c-5p, miR-146a-5p, miR-154-5p, miR-431-5p, miR-151a-5p, miR-181d-5p, miR-487b-3p, miR-377-3p, miR-17-5p, miR-22-3p, and miR-126-5p) and those whose changes persist up to 4 months after concussion (miR-17-5p and miR-22-3p).

New Year's Eve in otorhinolaryngology: a 16-year retrospective evaluation

PurposePyrotechnics are a long-standing tradition at the turn of the year. There are little data available on New Year's Eve-associated ORL injuries. Due to restrictions during the Corona pandemic, the handling of fireworks and meetings on New Year's Eve 2020–2022 had been significantly changed. Our aim was to analyze first data about New Year's Eve-associated ORL injuries.MethodsA retrospective analysis of 16 turns of the year (2006–2022) at a University ORL department was performed. The 2 recent years were influenced by the changes and restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic.ResultsOf 343 emergency presentations, 69 presented with New Year's Eve-associated reasons (20%). 72% were male, 15.9% were underage. 74% presented for fireworks-related injuries, 19% due to violent altercations. Noise trauma was present in 71%. The average number of New Year's Eve-associated emergency patients per year and the average total number of patients were reduced by more than half under COVID-19 pandemic conditions.ConclusionsNew Year's Eve-associated ORL injuries range from inner ear trauma to midface fractures. Long-term damage may include hearing loss and tinnitus. These results shall support the responsible use of fireworks even after the end of the special regulations of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The effects of secondary stressors, social identity, and social support on perceived stress and resilience: Findings from the COVID-19 pandemic

Primary stressors are direct outcomes of extreme events (e.g., viruses, floodwater) whereas secondary stressors stem from pre-disaster life circumstances and societal arrangements (e.g., illness, problematic pre-disaster policies) or from inefficient responses to the extreme event. Secondary stressors can cause significant long-term damage to people affected but are also tractable and amenable to change. In this study we explored the association between secondary stressors, social identity processes, social support, and perceived stress and resilience. Pre-registered analyses of data from the COVIDiSTRESS Global Survey Round II (N = 14,600; 43 countries) show that secondary stressors are positively associated with perceived stress and negatively associated with resilience, even when controlling for the effects of primary stressors. Being a woman or having lower socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with higher exposure to secondary stressors, higher perceived stress, and lower resilience. Importantly, social identification is positively associated with expected support and with increased resilience and lower perceived stress. However, neither gender, SES, or social identification moderated the relationship between secondary stressors and perceived stress and resilience. In conclusion, systemic reforms and the availability of social support are paramount to reducing the effects of secondary stressors.

Nanoemulgel Activity of Binahong Leaf Extract (Anredera cordifolia) againts Wound Healing of Hyperglycemic Rats

Hyperglycemia is associated with long-term damage, leading to the onset of wounds. The content of flavonoid compounds, steroids and saponins in Binahong leaves (Anredera cordifolia (Ten). Steenis) plays a role in the healing of diabetic wounds. The effectiveness of the active substance of the natural material is influenced by the large size of the particles, due to the presence of barier skin membranes. Nanoemulgel is an emulsion preparation with a droplet size of 1-100 nm which is suspended in a hydrogel. This study aims to determine the wound healing activity of diabetes in nanoemulgel preparations of binahong leaf extract (Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) Steenis) with its extract in male rats wistar hyperglycemia. The study was divided into 4 groups each consisting of 6 mice with diabetic wounds who got each a negative control group (glucose + nanoemulgel base), a positive control group (glucose + Madecassol 1%), a test group 1 (glucose + nanoemulgel, and a test group 2 (glucose + EDB). Treatment is carried out 2 times a day for 16 days. KGD measurements are carried out on the 0th, 1st, 5th, 14th and 21st days, and measurements of the diameter of the wounds are carried out on the 1st, 5th, 14th and 21st days. The KGD measurement results of the EDB nanoemulgel group decreased KGD by 52.91% on day 16 compared to the extract group which decreased by only 30.51% until the 16th day. The closure of the diabetic wounds of the EDB nanoemulgel group experienced closures of up to 52.91% compared to extracts that experienced closure of only 30.51% on day 16. The results of the one-way anova statistics showed a significant difference in the value of the decrease in kgd of the nanoemulgel preparation and its extract with the sig value. 0.045 and significant differences to the wound closure diameter of the diabetic EDB nanoemulgel group and its extract.

Biochemical responses of the mussel Perna perna after exposure to environmental concentrations of the UV filter Benzophenone-3

Personal care products, such as UV filters, are frequently present in aquatic ecosystems, but studies on their impact on marine organisms are still scarce. Here we addressed the effects of benzophenone-3 (BP-3) on the antioxidant status of Perna perna mussels exposed to concentrations of 0.1 and 3 μg.L−1 for 72 h and 7 days. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activity and lipoperoxidation (MDA) were evaluated in the gills. A significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the activity of G6PDH and GPx was observed after exposure for 7 days to 0.1 µg.L−1. However, no significant differences were observed in GST activity and MDA levels, independently of the exposure time. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed an association of BP-3 highest concentration with GR and MDA at 72 h and only with GR at 7 days of exposure. Similarly, the integrated biomarker response (IBR) demonstrated GR and MDA alterations. In conclusion, environmentally relevant concentrations of BP-3 altered antioxidant and auxiliary enzymes, which could cause long-term damage to P.perna mussels. The need to implement more efficient techniques in wastewater treatment systems is pointed out, especially in summer, when UV filters are used more frequently and abundantly.

Effect of Recombinant Human Thrombopoietin (rhTPO) on Long-term Hematopoietic Recovery in Mice with Acute Radiation Sickness and Relative Mechanism

To investigate the effect and relative mechanism of Recombinant Human Thrombopoietin (rhTPO) on long-term hematopoietic recovery in mice with acute radiation sickness. Mice were intramuscularly injected with rhTPO (100 μg/kg) 2 hours after total body irradiation with 60Co γ-rays (6.5 Gy). Moreover, six months after irradiation, peripheral blood, hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) ratio, competitive transplantation survival rate and chimerization rate, senescence rate of c-kit+ HSC, and p16 and p38 mRNA expression of c-kit+ HSC were detected. Six months after 6.5 Gy γ-ray irradiation, there were no differences in peripheral blood white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, neutrophils and bone marrow nucleated cells in normal group, irradiated group and rhTPO group (P>0.05). The proportion of hematopoietic stem cells and multipotent progenitor cells in mice of irradiated group was significantly decreased after irradiation (P<0.05), but there was no significant changes in rhTPO group (P>0.05). The counts of CFU-MK and BFU-E in irradiated group were significantly lower than that in normal group, and rhTPO group was higher than that of the irradiated group(P<0.05). The 70 day survival rate of recipient mice in normal group and rhTPO group was 100%, and all mice died in irradiation group. The senescence positive rates of c-kit+ HSC in normal group, irradiation group and rhTPO group were 6.11%, 9.54% and 6.01%, respectively (P<0.01). Compared with the normal group, the p16 and p38 mRNA expression of c-kit+ HSC in the irradiated mice were significantly increased (P<0.01), and it was markedly decreased after rhTPO administration (P<0.01). The hematopoietic function of mice is still decreased 6 months after 6.5 Gy γ-ray irradiation, suggesting that there may be long-term damage. High-dose administration of rhTPO in the treatment of acute radiation sickness can reduce the senescence of HSC through p38-p16 pathway and improve the long-term damage of hematopoietic function in mice with acute radiation sickness.

Assessing the Urban Environmental Quality: A Case Study of Kolkata Metropolitan Area, India

Rapid unplanned urbanization is always associated with environmental degradation which plays a direct role in the quality of life. Poor environmental quality is linked to premature death, cancer, long-term damage to respiratory and cardiovascular systems, etc. Using a case study of the Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA), the Urban Environmental Quality (UEQ) index has been constructed using a geoinformatics platform in the dimensions of the physical environment and built environment encompassing urban greenery, NO2, SO2, PM 2.5, PM 10, road induced pollution, land surface temperature, built-up area and noise followed by an exploration of its spatial pattern. KMA is the largest urban agglomeration in eastern India and the second-largest in India with a population of 13.2 million as per the 2001 census. Using the Urban Environmental Quality (UEQ) index, this study tried to find out the poor Environmental Quality area through multi-criteria analysis in KMA. Based on the relative importance of controlling the outdoor environment, criteria weights for nine parameters have been derived through the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The UEQ index was prepared by combining parameters rating and corresponding weight. Polycentric growth of urban centers leads to appropriate spatial matches to low environmental quality. Although the UEQ in the peripheries is being affected by suburbanization in a few instances, the majority of the areas have better environmental quality.

Improving Long-Term Guided Wave Damage Detection With Measurement Resampling

This paper studies strategies for improving long-term guided wave damage detection in an outdoor, uncontrolled environment. We leverage the reconstruction difference between a short-term and long-term principal component analysis to distinguish damage from other variations. While principal component analysis damage detection methods are not new, few are capable of detecting long-term damage in a dynamic environment and in a computationally feasible manner. In this paper, we study the factors that reduce damage detection performance, including the time window duration, the damage duration, and the number of principal components. We then propose a monotonic decreasing sampling strategy that reduces these issues and improves damage detection. Results show that the best receiver operating curve area under the curve score, using an 80-day window of guided wave data and 20-day damage duration, increases from 0.88 to 0.92 while the running time and required memory reduces to less than 1/4 of the original cost.

Establishment of a rapid detection method for plutella xylostella granulovirus based on qPCR

Plutella xylostella granulovirus (PlxyGV) biopesticide is an effective tool to control the long-term damage of Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus) to cruciferous vegetables. In China, PlxyGV can be produced on a large scale using host insects, and its products have been registered in 2008. In experiments and biopesticide production, the routine enumeration method of PlxyGV virus particles is to use the Petroff-Hausser counting chamber in dark field microscope. However, the accuracy and repeatability of granulovirus (GV) counting are affected due to the small particle size of GV occlusion bodies (OBs), the limitations of optical microscope, the judgment of different operators, host impurities, the addition of biological products. This limits the convenience of its production, product quality, trading and field application. Here we use PlxyGV as an example, the method based on Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qPCR) was optimized from two aspects of sample treatment and specific primers design, which improved the repeatability and accuracy of absolute quantitative OBs of GV. This study provides basic information for accurate quantitative PlxyGV by qPCR method.

Risk determination for upper urinary tract damage in children with neuropathic bladder.

Neuropathic bladder dysfunction (NBD) or neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction occurs as a result of a lesion at any level of central nervous system. The most common aetiology of NBD in children is abnormal development of spinal column. These defects cause neurogenic detrusor overactivity which contributes to detrusor-sphincter dysfunction and results in lower urinary tract symptoms such as incontinence. One of the more progressive and insidious, at the same time preventable result of neuropathic bladder is upper urinary tract deterioration. It is vital to aim reduction in bladder pressures and the minimisation of urine stasis in order to prevent or at least attenuate renal disease. Despite world-wide strategies for prevention of neural tube defects currently, we will still be involved in the care of spina bifida patients born every year with a neuropathic bladder and at risk of long-term renal damage. This study was planned for evaluation of results and detection of possible risk factors for upper urinary tract deterioration during routine visits of neuropathic bladder population. The electronic medical records of the patients who were followed up for at least 1 year with the diagnosis of neuropathic bladder in Pediatric Urology and Nephrology units of Adana City Training and Research Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. A total of 117 patients, whose blood, urine, imaging and urodynamic study required for the evaluation of nephrological and urological status were completed and included in the study. Patients under the age of one were excluded from the study. Demographic characteristics, medical history, laboratory and imaging results were recorded. All statistical analyses were analysed by SPSS version 21 software package and analysed by descriptive statistical. Of the 117 patients who participated in the study, 73 (62.4%) were female and 44 (37.6%) were male. Mean age of the patients was 6.7 ± 4.9 years. The leading cause of neuropathic bladder was neuro-spinal dysraphism with 103 (88.1%) patients. Urinary tract ultrasound imaging revealed hydronephrosis in 44 patients (35.9%), parenchymal thinning in 20 patients (17.1%), increased parenchymal echo in 20 patients (17.1%) and trabeculation or increase in wall thickness of the bladder in 51 patients (43.6%). Voiding cystogram revealed the presence of vesicoureteral reflux in a total of 37 patients (31.6%), with 28 patients being unilateral and 9 patients bilateral. More than half of the patients had abnormal bladder findings (52.1%). In the Tc 99 m DMSA scan of the patients, 24 patients (20.5%) had unilateral renal scars and 15 (12.8%) had bilateral. Loss of renal function was detected in 27 (23.1%) of the patients. Urodynamic study revealed decreased bladder capacity in 65 patients (55.6%) and increased detrusor leakage pressure was found in 60 patients (51.3%). The mean leak point pressure of the patients was 36 ± 26 cm H2 O, and the mean leakage volume was determined as 157 ± 118 mL. Findings obtained from imaging and urodynamic studies during routine investigation of neuropathic bladder patients can be a guide for the upper urinary tract. According to our results, age, bladder changes in ultrasound and voiding cystogram, high leak point pressure obtained during urodynamic studies are thought to have strong correlation with upper urinary tract damage. The prevalence of progressive chronic kidney disease in children and adults with spina bifida is remarkable and completely preventable. The strategies for prevention of renal disease in this patient population should be planned by coordinated work of urologist with nephrologist and requires family cooperation.

Leucine Supplementation Alleviates Immune and Antioxidant Function Damage in Adult Rats Induced by Early Weaning

BackgroundEarly weaning (EW) can lead to stress and destroy intestinal integrity. Leucine has functional diversity in antioxidant, immune, and metabolic regulation. ObjectivesThis study aimed to explore the lifelong impact of EW on intestinal, immune, and antioxidant functions of adult rats and the role of leucine supplementation in the alleviation of the damage caused by EW. MethodsIn this 211-d study, 36 Sprague Dawley (SD) rat pups were divided into 3 groups: 21-d weaning normal group, 17-d EW group, and 17-d EW group with 2-mo leucine supplementation. The content of amino acids in serum, immune and antioxidant indexes, intestinal morphology, liver transcriptomics, messenger RNA (mRNA), and protein expression of signaling pathway were determined. ResultsEW reduced the protein expression level of secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in the jejunum and increased the protein expression concentrations of IgA, IgM, and interleukin 17 (IL-17) in serum, and tumor necrosis factor α and IL-1β in the jejunum. The impairment by EW was activated via nuclear transcription factor κB (NF-κB) signal pathway. In terms of antioxidation, EW reduced the concentration of GSH in the jejunum. After leucine supplementation, the damage induced by EW was partially repaired. ConclusionsEW causes long-term damage to the intestinal barrier function, immunity, apoptosis factor, and antioxidant function in rats and leucine supplementation could alleviate the impairment, suggesting a possible approach to EW.

Investigation of Cooling Systems Faults, Control and Management Models

With the rapid increase in population in the world, people's demands for chilled and frozen foods are also increasing. The healthy and energy efficient cold storage of foods has become an important issue. In this context, studies on the efficiency and performance of energy management models including automatic control techniques on cooling systems have been investigated in recent years. The purpose of this study is to give information about faults, traceable energy management models and control systems in the perspective of cooling systems.&#x0D; Maintenance of cooling systems, malfunctions and their late detection cause time and cost problems. The decrease in the performance of the cooling system or the occurrence of malfunctions cause economic costs as well as energy consumption. Controlling the changes in pressure, temperature and electricity consumption values ​​in cooling systems and comparing them with standard operating conditions is one of the methods used for fault detection. Faults that may occur in cooling systems; compressor, condenser, evaporator, expansion element and fan failures, thermal failures, phase protection relay failures, under/over refrigerant charge, probe failures, night curtain electric motor failure, condenser-evaporator surface pollution. Errors and malfunctions occurring in the cycle cause the parameters under normal operating conditions and accordingly the cooling performance coefficient to change. Traceable energy management models are needed to detect faults and prevent them in a short time. With the design and implementation of these models, long-term damage to the system is prevented by reducing energy, maintenance and repair costs.&#x0D; In the design of traceable energy management models and control systems for cooling systems; set point and management, alarm notification and management, designing algorithms with precise temperature control will provide energy efficiency.