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İnformal öğrenme ortamlarının en yaygın örneklerinden biri bilim merkezleridir. Belirli öğrenme hedefleri göz önünde bulundurularak tasarlanan bilim merkezi sergileri, öğrencilerin fen öğrenimlerini kolaylaştıran ögelerden biridir. Bu çalışmada, bir bilim merkezindeki nanoteknoloji konulu sergi düzeneği kullanılarak uygulanan etkinlikle bu teknolojiye ait kavramların anlaşılmasına etkisi araştırılmıştır. Araştırma ortaokul 5, 6 ve 7. sınıf öğrencilerinden oluşan 109 katılımcı ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Katılımcıları aktif kılan öğretim tekniklerinden tahmin-gözlem-açıklama (TGA) tekniği kullanılmıştır. Nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden durum çalışmasının kullanıldığı çalışmada veriler tematik analiz kullanılarak kodlanmış ve anlamlı kategoriler oluşturulmuştur. Çalışmadan elde edilen bulgulara göre, TGA tekniği ile sergi düzeneklerinin kullanıldığı nanoteknoloji etkinliğini uygulayan öğrencilerde gözlemlenebilir düzeyde kavramsallaştırmadan tanecik düzeyinde kavramsallaştırmaya doğru bir geçiş olduğu gözlenmiştir. Bu nedenle, nanoteknolojinin daha küçük yaşlarda bilinmesi ve anlaşılması için bilim merkezi sergi düzeneklerinin kullanıldığı etkinliklerin yapılması önerilebilir.

Hücrenin hayatta kalmasıyla ilgili hücre içi yollar, gelişim ve nörodejeneratif bozukluklar sırasında nöronal fizyolojiyi düzenler. Bu süreçlerde önemli bir rolle ortaya çıkan yollardan biri Nüklear Faktör-κB (NF-κB) sinyal yolağıdır. Bu yolağın aktivitesi, NF-κB transkripsiyon faktörlerinin nüklear translokasyonuna ve anti-apoptotik gen ekspresyonunun düzenlenmesine yol açar. Farklı uyaranlar, farklı hücre içi kademeler (kanonik, kanonik olmayan ve atipik) yoluyla bu yolağı aktive ederek NF-κB transkripsiyon faktörlerinin belirli dimerlerinin translokasyonuna katkıda bulunabilir ve bu dimerlerden her biri farklı genlerin transkripsiyonunu düzenleyebilir. Son çalışmalar, bu yolun aktivasyonunun, hücrenin hayatta kalması veya nöronal dejenerasyon gibi zıt yanıtları düzenlediğini göstermiştir. Bu bariz çelişkili etkiler, yolak uyarısı, hücrelerin kaynağı veya hücresel bağlam gibi koşullara bağlıdır., Intracellular pathways involved in cell survival regulate neuronal physiology during development and neurodegenerative disorders. One of the pathways that appears to play an important role in these processes is the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway. The activity of this pathway leads to nuclear translocation of NF-κB transcription factors and regulation of anti-apoptotic gene expression. Different stimuli can contribute to the translocation of certain dimers of NF-κB transcription factors by activating the pathway through different intracellular cascades (canonical, non-canonical and atypical), and each of these dimers can regulate the transcription of different genes. Recent studies have shown that activation of this pathway regulates opposite responses such as cell survival or neuronal degeneration. These obvious contradictory effects are dependent on conditions such as pathway stimulation, source of cells or cellular context.

Objectives Central diabetes insipidus (CDI) is a rare but important disease of varying etiology that poses challenges in diagnosis and follow-up. Identifying diagnostic difficulties in patients with CDI will help ensure an optimal approach to their management and follow-up. This study aimed to characterize the clinical and etiological characteristics of CDI in pediatric patients. Methods We analyzed the admission and follow-up data of CDI patients aged 0–18 years who were followed in our center between 2010 and 2019. Results The study included 56 patients with a mean age at diagnosis of 7.92 ± 5.11 years and symptom duration of 8.65 ± 21.3 months. The patients were grouped by etiology into those with organic causes, such as structural anomalies, tumors, and trauma (group 1, n=41) and other causes (group 2, n=15). The prevalence of idiopathic CDI was 16%. At least one pituitary hormone deficiency was detected in 60.7%, the most common being thyroid stimulating hormone deficiency. Patients in group 1 had a higher mean age at diagnosis, shorter symptom duration, and higher frequency of other pituitary hormone deficiencies compared to group 2. Additionally, germinoma was detected 1 year subsequent to normal MRI findings at diagnosis and another patient was diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) 5 years after diagnosis. All patients responded well to replacement therapies, but two patients with germinoma died during follow-up. Conclusions In the pediatric age group, intracranial organic pathologies are an important etiology of CDI, and despite a short symptomatic period, determining the cause may be challenging and prolonged. Patients presenting at a young age with a long history of symptoms and no other pituitary hormone deficiency are unlikely to have organic CDI. However, organic causes such as LCH should be evaluated at all ages. Patients with idiopathic disease are candidates for further etiological studies, and repeated cranial imaging is important during follow-up.

Hyperprolactinaemia refers to increased circulating prolactin and is divided into functional and pathological hyperprolactinaemia. Prolactinoma is the most common cause of severe hyperprolactinaemia. Prolactinomas are rare in children. Treatment outcomes and long-term follow-up data in children are insufficient. Dopamine agonists are the first step in the treatment of prolactinomas. There are no recommendations supported by a high level of evidence regarding the dose and duration of cabergoline treatment.Patients with hyperprolactinaemia were evaluated for etiological, clinical, and follow-up characteristics. The case files of patients with high prolactin levels who were followed up in our clinic between 2001 and 2019 were reviewed retrospectively.27 cases (20 female, 7 male) with hyperprolactinemia were detected. The median age of the cases was 15 years (0.3-17.4). Prolactinoma was detected in 40.7% of the cases (n=11). Among these cases, six were macroadenomas. The median prolactin level was 118 ng/mL (34-4340) in those with prolactinoma and 60 ng/mL (22-200) in the hyperprolactinaemia group (p=0.007). In the prolactinoma group, the median age at presentation in macroadenoma cases (13.8 years) was lower than in microadenoma cases (17 years) (p=0.06). There was a negative correlation between prolactin level and height SDS (r=-0.770, p=0.06). In all cases, the median initial cabergoline dose was 0.5 mg/week, and prolactin levels returned to normal within an average of 2.6±2.4 months. Cabergoline treatment achieved a 50% reduction in adenoma size in the first year of treatment without high doses.Prolactinoma consists of an important group among hyperplolactinemia in children. In our study, prolactinoma was detected in 40.7% of children with hyperplolactinemia, and children with prolonged use (over 4 years) tolerated cabergoline well and prolactin levels normalized without high doses. Follow-up is required for relapse after discontinuing the treatment.

Objective: Standard short adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test (SST) has traditionally been used for assessing adrenal gland fuction by intravenous (iv) application. However the iv form is not readily available in all countries, including Turkey. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the intramuscular (im) SST. Methods: Patients underwent im SST with suspected adrenal insufficiency (AI) and hyperandrogenism. The SSTs were done with 250 mcg ACTH (Synacthen Depot ampul, concentration 1 mg/mL). The cases were divided into two groups: suspected AI (group 1 n=87); and hyperandrogenism group (group 2 n=124). Definite AI was defined as peak cortisol

Costello syndrome (CS) is a rare member of the group of neuro-cardio-facio-cutaneous diseases known as RASopathies. CS involves characteristic dysmorphic craniofacial features, cardiac defects, and increased cancer susceptibility, depending on the heterozygous activating germline mutations in HRAS. Polyhydramnios and high birth weight are the most common presentations in the perinatal and neonatal periods; while poor postnatal growth, short stature, and failure to thrive are significant issues in infancy. Possible mechanisms of short stature in CS include GH deficiency and feeding difficulties. Only a few reported cases of CS with GH deficiency exist in literature. Here, we describe the 5-yr follow-up of a CS patient with complete GH deficiency treated with recombinant human GH (rhGH) from the age of four years. No significant adverse events regarding progression of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and tumor development were observed. She has been responsive to treatment with improved growth velocity and height standard deviation scores. She is still under continuous monitoring for concerns on the possible development of cardiac events and malignancies. This case indicated that rhGH therapy is effective for improving the height and growth velocity of CS patients with GH deficiency under close cardiac and oncological monitoring.

Nanoparticles has attracted great attention to many applications due to their extraordinary physical and chemical, mechanical, magnetic, optical, electrical and piezoelectric properties compared to bulk materials, which offer great promise in the development of nanotechnology to revolutionise the world through promising applications, including industry, agriculture, medicine, public health, and environment. On the other hand graphene has received much attention in the last years as a nanomaterial with many potential applications. In this study, solution of reduced graphene oxide, Ni metal nanoparticles were modified on the glassy carbon electrode surface and then graphene and metal nanaoparticle were formed hybrid systems. The modified electrode surfaces prepared in this way were characterized by electrochemically. The obtained results were compared with the results of bare GC. The prepared electrode surfaces were evaluated electrochemical response against different concentrations of glucose for the non-enzymatic and enzymatic glucose sensors application area.

Bilici ME, Savas Erdeve S, Cetinkaya S, Aycan Z. The effect of 2000 iu/day vitamin D supplementation on insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk parameters in vitamin D deficient obese adolescents. Turk J Pediatr 2019; 61: 723-732. The aim of this study was to determine the vitamin D deficiency prevalence in obese adolescents and to investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk parameters in obese adolescents with vitamin D deficiency. Ninety-six obese adolescents aged 10-18 years were divided in 2 groups according to their vitamin D levels: Deficient group ( < 12ng/ ml) and sufficient group (≥12ng/ml). All patients in the vitamin D deficiency group were recommended 2000IU/day vitamin D supplementation. Fifty four (56.3%) patients had vitamin D deficiency. The only difference between the two groups was PTH level which was higher in the vitamin D deficiency group. Vitamin D reached sufficient levels in 22 (95.6%) out of the 23 patients with the 3 month supplementation of 2000 IU/day vitamin D. There was a significant decrease in weight Standard Deviation Score (SDS), Body Mass Index (BMI) SDS, hip circumference, total cholesterol, LDL, HbA1c, AST, PTH and interleukin-6 while no significant change was seen in measurements of glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, C-peptide and the rate of metabolic syndrome. There were decreases in levels of total cholesterol and LDL with vitamin D treatment, while there was no significant change in insulin resistance. Vitamin D reduced interleukin-6 levels by its antiinflammatory effect.

Electrochemical modification of glassy carbon (GC) electrode surface via electrochemical oxidation of 1-aminoindan in acetonitrile including 100.0 mM of tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate and applicability of electrode modified in this way for electrochemical determination of copper(II) (Cu(II)) were reported in this study. Electrochemical surface modification was performed by cyclic voltammetry in the potential range between +0.9 and +1.5 V vs. Ag/Ag+ (10.0 mM of AgNO3) at the scan rate of 100 mV/s by 30 potential cycles. The modified electrode surface was characterized by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and contact angle measurement. The characterization results were compared with the characterization results of bare GC electrode. The results of the amperometric measurements of the modified GC electrode towards Cu(II) ions were investigated. It was determined that the modified electrode surface had electrochemical responses towards Cu(II) ions with high sensitivity,...

Background Rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata (RCDP) is a rare peroxisomal disease characterised by punctate calcifications of non-ossified cartilage epiphyseal centres. The main biochemical marker of all RCDP types is a decrease in the levels of plasmalogens. Additionally, the accumulation of phytanic acid can be used as a differential marker between types of RDCP. Due to the biochemical overlap between types 1 and 5 RCDP, a genetic analysis of these genes should be performed in patients to identify the type. Case presentation A 2-month-19-day-old male child presented with symptoms of limited movement and discomfort with movement in the extremities. His sister, who had similar clinical findings, was diagnosed with tetralogy of Fallot and died at 6 months of age. A physical examination revealed an atypical facial appearance, bilateral cataracts, sensitivity to touch in the extremities, shortness in the proximal segments of the long bones, limited movement in both knees and elbows and axial hypotonicity. Laboratory analyses revealed normal ammonia, lactate, plasma and urine amino acids, long chain fatty acids and phytanic acid levels. Rhizomelia, significant metaphyseal expansion, irregularities in the cortex, loss of ossification, fragmented appearance and punctate calcifications in both elbows, both knees and in the femoral epiphysis were seen on the skeletal survey. A homozygote p.L70W (c.209T>G) mutation was found in the PEX7 gene. Conclusions Plasma phytanic acid levels can be normal in a patient with type 1 RCDP that develops as a result of a PEX7 gene mutation, as in our case. A molecular genetic analysis and/or fibroblast culture must be conducted in clinically suspicious cases. While no cardiac pathology was found in our case, tetralogy of Fallot was present in his sister with similar clinical findings. The presence of different cardiological phenotypes in the sibling suggested that the genotype-phenotype correlation may not be complete in this disorder.