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Background: Headaches are frequent neurological disorders that are yet to be unveiled and treated comprehensively worldwide. Bearing in mind that the distribution of headache subtypes in neurology clinics (NC) is essential for planning appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, the primary goals of this multi-centric study are to carry out inter-regional comparisons by using current diagnostic criteria with evaluations of neurologists to delineate headache burden. Methods: A cross-sectional study between April 1 and May 16, 2022 was conducted with the participation of 13 countries from the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Patients were included in the study on a specific day each week during five consecutive weeks. All volunteers over the age of 18 and whose primary cause for admission was headache were examined. The patients admitted to NC or referred from emergency services/other services were evaluated by neurologists by means of the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) criteria. Results: Among the 13,794 patients encountered in NC, headache was the primary complaint in 30.04%. The headache patients' mean age was 42.85 ± 14.89 (18–95 years), and 74.3% were female. According to the ICHD-3 criteria, 86.7% of the main group had primary headache disorders, 33.5% had secondary headaches, 4% had painful cranial neuropathies along with other facial and headaches, and 5.2% had headaches included in the appendix part showing some overlapping conditions. While the most common primary headache was migraine without aura (36.8%), the most common secondary headache was medication-overuse headache (MOH) (9.8%). Headaches attributed to COVID-19, its secondary complications, or vaccines continue to occur at rates of 1.2%-3.5% in current neurology practice. Pain severity was significantly lower in Ivory Coast and Sudan than in Türkiye, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Iran, Egypt, Senegal, Tatarstan, and Azerbaijan (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The study showed that migraine is still the most common motive for admissions to NC in different regions. Furthermore, MOH, an avoidable disorder, is the most common secondary headache type and appears to be a significant problem in all regions. Remarkably, pain perception differs between regions, and pain intensity is lower in Africa than in other regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saffron is an important medicine, spice, dye, and cosmetic plant, and weeds limit its production and increase the related costs of management. This study aimed to determine effective control methods against weeds in saffron cultivation and find the effects of weed control on crown development, stigma yield, and daughter corm yield and quality. The study was established in the production periods of 2019-2021, at Hatay Olive Research Institute, Hassa Station, Turkey, based on completely randomized blocks design with 14 treatments and 3 replications. Results indicated that the highest effect (100%) on weeds was recorded for U5 (pine sawdust+benfluralin) and U6 (textile mulch) applications and the lowest effect was obtained from U13 (2,4-D amine) application at the first and second year of the study. The best quality criteria of saffron were achieved in U6 and U4 (pine sawdust) applications for corm production, and U6, U5, and U4 applications for quality daughter corm production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: MYC gene rearrangements in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients are associated with poor prognosis. Our aim was to compare patterns of 2[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography computed tomography (PET/CT) response in MYC + and MYC- DLBCL patients. Methods: Interim PET/CT (I-PET) and end of treatment PET/CT (EoT-PET) scans of 81 MYC + and 129 MYC- DLBCL patients from 2 HOVON trials were reviewed using the Deauville 5-point scale (DS). DS1-3 was regarded as negative and DS4-5 as positive. Standardized uptake values (SUV) and metabolic tumor volume (MTV) were quantified at baseline, I-PET, and EoT-PET. Negative (NPV) and positive predictive values (PPV) were calculated using 2-year overall survival. Results: MYC + DLBCL patients had significantly more positive EoT-PET scans than MYC- patients (32.5 vs 15.7%, p = 0.004). I-PET positivity rates were comparable (28.8 vs 23.8%). In MYC + patients 23.2% of the I-PET negative patients converted to positive at EoT-PET, vs only 2% for the MYC- patients (p = 0.002). Nine (34.6%) MYC + DLBCL showed initially uninvolved localizations at EoT-PET, compared to one (5.3%) MYC- patient. A total of 80.8% of EoT-PET positive MYC + patients showed both increased lesional SUV and MTV compared to I-PET. In MYC- patients, 31.6% showed increased SUV and 42.1% showed increased MTV. NPV of I-PET and EoT-PET was high for both MYC subgroups (81.8–94.1%). PPV was highest at EoT-PET for MYC + patients (61.5%). Conclusion: MYC + DLBCL patients demonstrate aberrant PET response patterns compared to MYC- patients with more frequent progression during treatment after I-PET negative assessment and new lesions at sites that were not initially involved. Trial registration number and date of registration: HOVON-84: EudraCT: 2006–005,174-42, retrospectively registered 01–08-2008. HOVON-130: EudraCT: 2014–002,654-39, registered 26–01-2015 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taenia hydatigena is a tapeworm that affects herbivores in different regions of the world. Cysticercus tenuicollis (larvae of T. hydatigena), is prevalent in ruminants and pigs. In the current study, phylogenetic analysis of the published mt-CO1 gene of C. tenuicollis sheep isolates was analyzed using in-silico method and vertical and horizontal transmission at the global level by using a meta-analysis approach. A total of 82 mt-CO1 nucleotide sequences (339 bp) of C. tenuicollis sheep isolates from the NCBI database (Italy -Sardinia-, Iran, Palestine, Iraq, Finland, India and China) were used to investigate haplotype and genetic relationships. Tajima's D (-2,2984) value was negative for the mt-CO1 sequences signifying the population expansion and/or purifying selection. The highly negative Fu's Fs (-60,528) values determined for the sequences reflecting the existence of uncommon haplotypes. The mt-CO1 of C. tenuicollis haplotype network had 47 haplotypes arranged within a star-like configuration with a main haplotype, which encompassed 25.6 % of the total isolates. In the mt-CO1 haplotype network analyzed, there were 80.5 % unique single haplotype and highest ratio was observed in C. tenuicollis from sheep originating from Iran, followed by Sardinia, Palestine and Finland. If the current condition continues, genetic differences in T. hydatigena will be able to rise, and possible new strains and/or genotypes that may influence the host adaptation and life cycle of the parasite may emerge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy of a graph was defined by E. Hückel as the sum of absolute values of the eigenvalues of the adjacency matrix during the search for a method to obtain approximate solutions of Schrödinger equation which include the energy of the corresponding system for a class of molecules. The set of eigenvalues is called the spectrum of the graph and the spectral graph theory dealing with spectrums is one of the most interesting subareas of graph theory. There are a lot of results on the energy of many graph types. Two classes, cycles and paths, show serious differences from others as the eigenvalues are trigonometric algebraic numbers. Here, we obtain the polynomials and recurrence relations for the spectral polynomials of these two graph classes. In particular, we prove that one can obtain the spectra of C2n and P2n+1 without detailed calculations just in terms of the spectra of Cn and Pn, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study aims to report about the five-year-long experience of a tertiary healthcare center on the use of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of early-stage endometrial cancer. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective review of 74 women who underwent either laparotomy or laparoscopy and eventually had a diagnosis of surgical Stage I endometrial cancer at the study center during a five-year-long period (from January 2010 to January 2015). Results: The study cohort consisted of 40 patients who underwent laparotomy and 34 women who had laparoscopy for surgical staging. Thirty-five obese women who underwent laparotomy and 23 women who had laparoscopy were found to be statistically similar with respect to the number of lymph nodes obtained (p = 0.78) and operative time (p = 0.22). Five non-obese women who had laparotomy and 11 non-obese women who underwent laparoscopy had also statistically similar counts of lymph nodes obtained (p = 0.37) and operative time (p = 0.63). When compared to the obese women who had laparotomy, the obese women who underwent laparoscopy had significantly lower amount of blood loss (p = 0.03) and shorter hospital stay (p = 0.01). However, the non-obese women who underwent laparoscopy had significantly higher amount of blood loss (p = 0.02) and longer hospital stay (p = 0.04) than those who had laparoscopy. The laparotomy and laparoscopy groups were statistically similar in aspect of perioperative complications. Conclusion: Laparoscopic surgery is a safe and efficient procedure for the management of early-stage endometrial cancer in both obese and non-obese Turkish women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study aimed to determine whether platelet count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-tolymphocyte ratio (PLR) can be used to distinguish between benign and malignant ovarian lesions. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective review of 200 women who underwent laparoscopy or laparotomy due to adnexal masses at the Gynecology Department of the study center between January 2012 and January 2015. Results: Ovarian endometrioma was detected in 58 patients (29.0%), epithelial ovarian cancer was diagnosed in 57 patients (28.5%), benign ovarian tumors (serous cystadenoma and mucinous cystadenoma) were identified in 44 patients (22.0%), and dermoid cysts were found in 41 patients (20.5%). When compared to the patients with ovarian endometrioma, the patients with ovarian cancer had significantly older age (p = 0.001), higher NLR (p = 0.003), and higher platelet count (p = 0.001). The women with ovarian cancer had significantly lower lymphocyte count (p = 0.012), higher PLR (p=0.001), and higher serum CA-125 concentrations (p = 0.001) than the women with benign ovarian tumors. The cut-off value of 338,500/mm 3 for platelet count had a sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 85% in predicting ovarian cancer. The cut-off value of 3.75 for NLR had a sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 88% in predicting ovarian cancer. The cut-off value of 182.9 for PLR had a sensitivity of 88% and specificity of 82% in predicting ovarian cancer. Conclusion: The elevated thrombocyte count, NLR, and PLR values can be used to distinguish between benign and malignant ovarian lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigate the homogeneous nucleation kinetics of copper and nickel system during cooling process using molecular dynamics simulation (MDS). The calculation is carried out for a different number of atoms consisting of 500, 2048, 8788 and 13,500 based on embedded atom method (EAM). It is observed that the melting points for the both model increases with increasing the size of systems (i.e. the number of atoms) as expected from Parrinello and Rahman MD method. The interfacial free energies and critical nucleus radius of nickel and copper are also determined by molecular dynamics, and the results are consistent with the classical nucleation theory. The structural development and phase transformation are also determined from the radial distribution function (RDF) and local bond orientational order parameters (LBOO). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban open-green spaces, which are sustainably designed, installed and managed, conserve water, lower the rate and volume of runoff water from rain, snowmelt and irrigation, and help reduce the amount of pollutants reaching surface water. In contemporary metropolitan cities, as a result of decreasing open-green areas and permeable surfaces, increasing impermeable surfaces rainwater has become wastewater. For this reason in Konya Closed Basin, groundwater can not be fed enough and rainwaterfed groundwater has decreased. This research specifically deals with the permeable surface which is one of the ecological quality criteria. According to ecological quality criteria, the proportion of impermeable surface > 20% is considered as 'not suitable', 10-20% is 'acceptable' for intensively used open-green spaces, 5-10% is 'good' for general green spaces, and < 5% is 'ideal'. This study aims to investigate the permeable surface in some urban open-green spaces in Konya and identify the amount of rainwater which recharged underground. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tunceli, Turkey is one of the small cities in the Eastern Anatolian Region with substantial natural, cultural and historical heritage that is suitable to be a slow city. Water sources are abundant in the area due to rain and heavy snowfall in the mountains, which seeps into the ground or flows into the rivers. Therefore monitoring and conservation of city's drinking water quality is one of the main issues in the city. The present study was conducted to investigate several heavy metals and cyanide, arsenic, and selenium concentrations of drinking water samples taken from 100 different locations in the city and towns of Tunceli, Turkey during the years 2011 and 2012. In three locations, high levels of copper was found with a range of 2.1-11.5 mg/L, and high levels of arsenic was detected in five locations with a range of 10.5-78.0 μg/L, exceeding the action levels for copper and arsenic. For health risk assessment, the average daily dose and hazard quotient (HQ) were calculated. The region mean values of HQ were found above 1 for arsenic in the samples collected from Mazgirt, while HQ values were below 1 in the rest of the samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies suggest that postoperative complications are a risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE) after bariatric surgery. Knowledge of factors associated with a higher risk of VTE after bariatric surgery may be essential to select patients who may benefit from either prolonged or intensified thrombosis prophylaxis. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between postoperative complications and VTE after bariatric surgery and other classical risk factors. Methods: A retrospective multicenter case-control study was performed in patients who had bariatric surgery between January 2008 and September 2011. VTE until 6 months after surgery was registered, and patients were contacted to ascertain the results. For every case of VTE after surgery, 6 control patients were selected who were matched for gender, age, participating center and type of surgery. Risk factors for VTE before and after surgery and postoperative complications were registered. Results: A total of 2,064 surgeries were included. In 12 patients, VTE occurred within 6 months after bariatric surgery (incidence 0.58 %, 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 0.25-0.93). There was a strong association of complications after surgery (cases 91.7 %, controls 15.3 %, odds ratio (OR) 61.0; 95 % CI = 7.1-521.3) or intensive care admission (cases 50.0 %, controls 11.1 %, OR = 8.0; 95 % CI = 2.1-30.8) with VTE. The majority of postoperative complications were anastomotic leak, abdominal abscess, and infection. We could not detect an association between classical thrombosis risk factors and postoperative VTE. Conclusions: The incidence of VTE is low after bariatric surgery using thrombosis prophylaxis. However, there is a strong association between postoperative complications and VTE. These patients may benefit from more intensive thrombosis prophylaxis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a tool was developed for design and implementation of a new discrete event based distributed simulation for large-scale networks. By using DEVS as a modelling approach, client / server based, scalable, platform-independent, flexible new network modelling and simulation tool called 'D-DEVSNET' was designed and performance analysis were conducted. In order to show the performance of the network simulation tool, D-DEVSNET and the power of the DEVS approach on parallel and distributed applications, some tests were carried out such as the measurement of throughput capability of different sized networks in a certain period of time, the average end-to-end packet delay and the amount of packet loss, consumption of speed and memory. According to the tests that were conducted, D-DEVSNET has been proven a well-scalable and high performing simulation tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the embedded atom method a molecular dynamics simulation technique has been used to study the glass formation and atomic short range order in Pd-Ni binary alloy. By using radial distribution functions and Honeycutt-Andersen pair analysis methods, the structural development of this alloy is studied by quenching from the liquid at two different cooling rates and under 0 and 5 GPa pressures. The results show that the variation of local atomic bonded pairs is of great importance to understand the glass formation process and increase of the number of the ideal icosahedra under high pressure contributes to more ideal glass formation of model alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies conducted in the USA have demonstrated that the effectiveness of bariatric surgery differs between patients from African and European origin. However, little is known on differences in outcomes after bariatric surgery between individuals from other ethnic backgrounds. In this retrospective study, we found that, in terms of weight loss, gastric bypass surgery is less effective in African, South Asian, Turkish and Moroccan patients than in their ethnic Dutch counterparts. Our results underscore that ethnic differences in the effectiveness of bariatric surgery are not limited to those between patients of African and European origin, but extend to other minority groups as well. Therefore, it is important that prospective studies both determine ethnic differences in weight loss-related improvement of co-morbidities and elucidate the exact reasons for these ethnic disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: It has been postulated that the effectiveness of bariatric surgery varies between ethnic groups. However, data regarding this topic are inconclusive, as most studies included few patients from minority groups. We conducted a meta-analysis to determine the difference in percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) 1-2 years after bariatric surgery in people of African and Caucasian descent. We also studied differences in diabetes mellitus (DM) remission.Research Design and Methods: We performed a MEDLINE and EMBASE search for studies reporting %EWL and/or DM remission after bariatric surgery and including both African Americans and Caucasians. The 613 publications obtained were reviewed. We included 14 studies (1,087 African Americans and 2,714 Caucasians); all provided data on %EWL and 3 on DM remission. We extracted surgery type, %EWL, and DM remission 1-2 years after surgery. After analyzing %EWL for any surgery type, we performed subanalyses for malabsorptive and restrictive surgery.Results: The overall absolute mean %EWL difference between African Americans and Caucasians was -8.36% (95% CI -10.79 to -5.93) significantly in favor of Caucasians. Results were similar for malabsorptive (-8.39% [-11.38 to -5.40]) and restrictive (-8.46% [-12.95 to -3.97]) surgery. The remission of DM was somewhat more frequent in African American patients than in Caucasian patients (1.41 [0.56-3.52]). However, this was not statistically significant.Conclusions: In %EWL terms, bariatric surgery is more effective in Caucasians than in African Americans, regardless of procedure type. Further studies are needed to investigate the exact mechanisms behind these disparities and to determine whether ethnic differences exist in the remission of comorbidities after bariatric surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the local atomic rearrangements caused by thermally induced martensitic phase transitions in Ni-37.5 at.%Al alloy model based on embedded atom method are studied using molecular dynamics simulations. The local atomic orders and defective structural part of the transformed regions are analysed using the bond orientational order parameters, which are employed mainly to diagnose short-range order of liquid state structures, and the radial distribution functions. In addition, short-range order properties in the model alloy were analysed using Honeycutt-Andersen method, which is commonly used to determine the relationship between atomic pairs. The results of our simulations disclosed that the local atomic rearrangement is of great importance to understand the local character of the transformation path from austenite to martensite phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objective:In this retrospective study, we intended to test whether early enteral feeding (EEF) of very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm babies increases the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or not.Subjects and Methods:Overall, 297 VLBW preterm babies admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) between April 2003 and April 2006 were included. The study consisted of two periods: the first period was between April 2003 and October 2004, when babies were not fed enterally until they were extubated (167 preterm VLBWs). The second period was between November 2004 and April 2006, when babies were fed even when they were intubated, starting preferably on the first day of life (130 preterm VLBWs). Criteria for withholding enteral feeding in both periods were hypotension necessitating vasopressor agent use, abdominal distention, abdominal tenderness and suspected or proven NEC. Possible risk factors for NEC were also recorded.Results:The overall incidence of NEC in VLBW preterm babies was 6.7% and did not differ between the two study periods: 7.2% in the late and 6.2% in the EEF regimens. On logistic regression analysis, the most important risk factors associated with NEC were sepsis (P<0.001) and blood culture positivity (P<0.001). The average daily weight gain was significantly higher in the early fed babies (P=0.011).Conclusions:The EEF of VLBW preterm babies does not increase the risk of NEC. Increased daily weight gain is an important reason to feed these babies earlier.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2009) 63, 580–584; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602957; published online 28 November 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are carried out for model aluminium with 500, 864, 1372 and 2048 atoms interacting with Sutton-Chen version of embedded atom method (SCEAM) based on many body interactions. The systems equilibrated in an FCC structure have, first, been melted and then solidified with specifically selected single cooling rate which forms unstable amorphous state in the system. The local structures of the system have been analysed by bond orientational order parameters to distinguish the simple structures in the systems. The radial distribution functions (RDF) and atomic coordinates have also been analysed for determining the local structural properties. It has been observed that the phase sequences of the systems, except for those of the 2048 atoms, are FCC → Liquid → Amorphous → Mixed Crystal. Types of the crystals in the mixed state depend on the number of the atoms in the system. The final phase of the system with 2048 atoms is amorphous state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the perinatal outcomes of borderline diabetic pregnant women who had impaired 50 g oral glucose challenge test (OGCT) results, but normal 100 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results. Our study group included 70 pregnant women who had increased 50 g OGCT results, but normal 100 g OGTT results, and a control group of 122 pregnant women with normal 50 g OGCT results. Polyhydramnios, macrosomia and neonatal birth weight were significantly higher in the study group. After adjusting the results for possibly affecting variables, the risk of polyhydramnios remained significant, while the risk of macrosomia and neonatal birth weight was not significant between the groups. The results from the study group were similar to the control group, when adjusted for other risk factors. Increased 50 g OGCT results in pregnant women can be accepted as a benign state if the 100 g OGTT results are normal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperechogenic bowel is defined as the presence of echogenicity similar to or superior than the bones around the intestine (with density of iliac crysta and vertebra). In this study, we present a case report, a fetus which had hyperechogenic intestines intra-uterine and diagnosed anal atresia after delivery. [Extracted from the article]