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Purpose: In this study, we aimed to analyze the repeatability of quantitative multiparametric rectal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters with different measurement techniques.Methods: All examinations were performed with 3 T MRI system. In addition to routine sequences for rectal cancer imaging protocol, small field-of-view diffusion-weighted imaging and perfusion sequences were acquired in each patient. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was used for diffusion analysis and ktrans was used for perfusion analysis. Three different methods were used in measurement of these parameters; measurements were performed twice by one radiologist for intraobserver and separately by three radiologists for interobserver variability analysis. ADC was measured by the lowest value, the value at maximum wall thickness, and freehand techniques. Ktrans was measured at the slice with maximum wall thickness, by freehand drawn region of interest (ROI), and at the dark red spot with maximum value.Results: A total of 30 patients with biopsy-proven rectal adenocarcinoma were included in the study. The mean values of the parameters measured by the first radiologist on the first and second measurements were as follows: mean lowest ADC, 721.31±147.18 mm2/s and 718.96±135.71 mm2/s; mean ADC value on the slice with maximum wall thickness, 829.90±144.24 mm2/s and 829.48±149.23 mm2/s; mean ADC value measured by freehand ROI on the slice with maximum wall thickness, 846.56±136.31 mm2/s and 848.23±144.15 mm2/s; mean ktrans value on the slice with maximum wall thickness, 0.219±0.080 and 0.214±0.074; mean ktrans by freehand ROI technique (including as much tumoral tissue as possible), 0.208±0.074 and 0.207±0.069; mean ktrans measured from the dark red foci, 0.308±0.109 and 0.311±0.105. Intraobserver agreement was very good among diffusion and perfusion parameters obtained with all three measurement techniques. Interobserver agreement was very good, except for one of the measurement techniques. As far as interobserver variability is considered, only ADC value measured on the slice with maximum wall thickness differed significantly.Conclusion: Multiparametric MRI of rectum, using ADC as the diffusion and ktrans as the perfusion parameter is a repeatable technique. This technique may potentially be used in prediction and evaluation of neoadjuvant treatment response. New studies with larger patient groups are needed to validate the role of multiparametric MRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Two novel copper(II) complexes, Cu2L2(bipy) and Cu2L2(H2O)4·3H2O of Schiff base ligands derived from the condensation of L-tert-leucine and L-isoleucine with 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, are synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compounds crystallize in the orthorhombic crystal system. The Cu2L2(bipy) complex has a distorted square planar geometry with an N2O2 coordination environment. Water is contained in supramolecular network pores. On the other hand, in the Cu2L2(H2O)4·3H2O complex, both copper atoms adopt a five-coordinated distorted square-pyramidal geometry with an NO4 coordination environment and guest water molecules form a 1D water chain. Both complexes build a 2D supramolecular network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The title compound, CHNS, has been synthesized and its crystal structure has been determined from single crystal X-ray diffraction data. Crystals are monoclinic, a = 11.4923(8), b = 13.1842(7), c = 14.6583(8) Å, β = 109.983(6)°, sp. gr. P2/ c, Z = 4. Mesityl and thiazole groups are in cis positions with respect to the cyclobutane ring. The cyclobutane ring is puckered, with a dihedral angle of 26.6(2)° between the two three-atom planes. The crystal structure involves one weak intermolecular C-H···S hydrogen-bond. The molecular geometry was also optimized using density functional theory (DFT/B3LYP) method with the 6-311G( d, p) basis set in ground state. Geometric parameters (bond lengths, bond angles and torsion angles) and vibrational assignments have been calculated theoretically and compared with the experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intravenous therapy is a fundamental cornerstone of modern healt care. Health care professionals place many peripheral intravenous lines in the emergency departments. Obtaining peripheral intravenous access for various therapies in emergency depertment patients is usually diffucult. Patients in whom peripheral venous access cannot be obtained with traditional techniques, use of bedside ultrasound can aid in peripheral vein access and facilitate successful cannulation. The ultrasonography which is called 'the Millenium stethoscope' is being used as a new technology in both ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous access and peripherally inserted centeral catherization, especially in patients with difficult intravenous access. This is particularly useful in patients that may have short emergency department visits. Veins can be visualized and successfully cannulated with the use of ultrasound. Ultrasound-guided vein cannulation is safe, rapid and a high success rate in ED patients with diffucult peripheral intravenous. Researches has shown that the use of ultrasonography(USG) could contribute for more effective intravenous puncturing. This technique can be used by trained physicians, nurses and paramedics in the emergency department. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The serogroup epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), which varies considerably by geographic region and immunization schedule, changes continuously. Meningococcal carriage data are crucial for assessing IMD epidemiology and designing f potential vaccination strategies. Meningococcal seroepidemiology in Turkey differs from that in other countries: serogroups W and B are the predominant strains for IMD during childhood, whereas no serogroup C cases were identified over the last 10 y and no adolescent peak for IMD was found. There is a lack of data on meningococcal carriage that represents the whole population. The aims of this multicenter study (12 cities in Turkey) were to evaluate the prevalence of Neisseria meningitidis carriage, the serogroup distribution and the related risk factors (educational status, living in a dormitory or student house, being a household contact with Hajj pilgrims, smoking, completion of military service, attending bars/clubs) in 1518 adolescents and young adults aged 10–24 y. The presence of N. meningitidis DNA was tested, and a serogroup analysis was performed using polymerase chain reaction. The overall meningococcal carriage rate was 6.3% (n = 96) in the study population. A serogroup distribution of the 96 N. meningitidis strains isolated from the nasopharyngeal specimens revealed serogroup A in 5 specimens (5.2%), serogroup B in 9 specimens (9.4%), serogroup W in 64 specimens (66.6%), and serogroup Y in 4 specimens (4.2%); 14 were classified as non-grouped (14.4%). No serogroup C cases were detected. The nasopharyngeal meningococcal carriage rate was 5% in the 10–14 age group, 6.4% in the 15–17 age-group, and 4.7% in the 18–20 age group; the highest carriage rate was found in the 21–24 age group (9.1%), which was significantly higher than those of the other age groups (p < 0.05). The highest carriage rate was found in 17-year-old adolescents (11%). The carriage rate was higher among the participants who had had close contact with Hajj/Umrah pilgrims (p < 0.01) or a history of upper respiratory tract infections over the past 3 months (p < 0.05). The nasopharyngeal carriage rate was 6.3% among adolescents and young adults in Turkey and was similar to the recent rates observed in the same age groups in other countries. The most prevalent serogroup was W, and no serogroup C cases were found. In conclusion, the present study found that meningococcal carriage reaches its peak level by age 17, the highest carriage rate was found in 21 - to 24 - year-olds and the majority of the carriage cases were due to serogroup W. Adolescents and young adult carriers seem to be a potential reservoir for the disease, and further immunization strategies, including adolescent immunization, may play a role in the control of IMD.

In this short communication, we present a new limit relation that reduces pseudo-Jacobi polynomials directly to Hermite polynomials. The proof of this limit relation is based upon 2F1-type hypergeometric transformation formulas, which are applicable to even and odd polynomials separately. This limit opens the way to studying new exactly solvable harmonic oscillator models in quantum mechanics in terms of pseudo-Jacobi polynomials.

Economic processes are naturally characterized by imprecise and uncertain relevant information. One of the main reasons is existence of an underground economy. However, in existing works, real-world imprecision and uncertainty of economic conditions are not taken into account. In this paper we consider a problem of calculation of a taxation base to assess tax burden for proportionally growing economy under uncertainty. In order to account for imprecision and uncertainty of economic processes, we use the theory of fuzzy sets. A fuzzy integral equation is used to identify an integral tax burden taking into account the contribution of the underground economy for a certain financial (tax) year. It is also assumed that dynamics of gross domestic product are modeled by fuzzy linear differential equation. An optimal value of tax burden is determined as a solution to the considered fuzzy integral equation. An example is provided to illustrate validity of the proposed study.

The article presents a case study of a 27-year-old woman suffering from a serous borderline ovarian tumor along with congenital cervical hypoplasia due to a transabdominal cervico-isthmic cerciage, which has been detected during a cesarean section. It discusses the various clinical findings of this rare disease including treatment modalities, stage of treatment, causes associated with it, management of the disease as well as its prognosis.