Fakülteler

The role of lipid-derived indices in patients with MASLD in Turkey: a nationwide, multicenter cross-sectional study

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The role of lipid-derived indices in patients with MASLD in Turkey: a nationwide, multicenter cross-sectional study Şahin, Cem; Solmaz, İhsan To investigate the role of lipid-derived indices-the monocyte-to-HDL cholesterol ratio (MHR), visceral adiposity index (VAI), atherogenic index of plasma (PAI), and cardiometabolic index (CMI)-in determining hepatic steatosis and fibrosis among patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) across Turkey. This nationwide, multicenter, retrospective cross-sectional study included 14,322 individuals from 44 internal medicine clinics in 31 provinces of Turkey. Anthropometric, clinical, and biochemical data were collected, and Participants were classified as MASLD (+) if ultrasonographic hepatic steatosis was present in the setting of >= 1 cardiometabolic risk factor according to current EASL-EASD-EASO guidelines; individuals without ultrasonographic steatosis were classified as MASLD (-). FIB-4 scores were calculated to assess the risk of advanced hepatic fibrosis. Cardiometabolic risk factors included obesity (BMI >= 25 kg/m & sup2; or increased waist circumference), type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, impaired fasting glucose, and dyslipidemia as defined by international guidelines. The relationships between MHR, VAI, PAI, CMI, and MASLD presence and fibrosis severity were analyzed via nonparametric statistical tests. MASLD was detected in 10,836 participants (75.7%). The VAI, PAI, and CMI were significantly greater in the MASLD (+) group than in the MASLD (-) group (p < 0.001 for all), whereas the MHR was not significantly different (p = 0.453). Among MASLD (+) patients, 1,214 (11.2%) had high FIB-4 scores (>= 1.3; >= 2.0 if > 65 years) yet none of the lipid indices correlated significantly with FIB-4 levels. In multivariable logistic regression analysis restricted to MASLD-positive individuals, none of the lipid-derived indices were independently associated with high FIB-4 risk after adjustment for metabolic covariates. A weak negative correlation was observed only between FIB-4 score and the MHR (r=-0.030, p = 0.002). VAI, PAI, and CMI are significantly associated with hepatic steatosis in MASLD, suggesting their potential role as supportive, noninvasive markers in identifying individuals at increased risk of MASLD. However, these indices are not reliable predictors of advanced hepatic fibrosis risk based on FIB-4. The combination of these tools with other noninvasive fibrosis assessment tools may increase diagnostic accuracy in MASLD management.

Determination of Morphological and Biochemical Responses of Prunus Cerasifera Myrobolan 29C Rootstock to Stepwise Increasing NaCl Stress Under in Vitro Culture Conditions

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Determination of Morphological and Biochemical Responses of Prunus Cerasifera Myrobolan 29C Rootstock to Stepwise Increasing NaCl Stress Under in Vitro Culture Conditions Uyduran, Elif; Şan, Bekir; Çelik, Civan; Doğan, Meral; Yıldız, Hasibe; Vildan Pepe, Ayşe; Seraj, Nasir Ahmad This study aimed to evaluate the morphological and biochemical responses of the clonal rootstock Prunus cerasifera Myrobolan 29C to stepwise increasing NaCl doses (target levels: 0, 40, 80, 120, and 160 mM) under in vitro culture conditions. Morphological assessments included regeneration rate, injury severity, shoot and leaf number, shoot length, and shoot fresh weight. Biochemical analyses comprised the activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT), as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) level, proline accumulation, total phenolics, total flavonoids, and total protein content. With increasing salinity doses, regeneration and vegetative growth parameters generally decreased; growth indicators were relatively preserved under the lower doses, whereas declines became more pronounced under the higher doses (120-160 mM NaCl). Biochemical responses suggested activation of salinity-associated defense responses, as reflected by increased proline accumulation, antioxidant enzyme activities, and total phenolic and flavonoid contents, particularly under the higher doses. In contrast, total protein content decreased at higher salinity, and elevated MDA levels indicated enhanced oxidative damage under severe conditions. Overall, the results indicate that Myrobolan 29C exhibits a limited capacity to maintain growth under low-to-moderate salinity, while growth and tissue integrity are more strongly constrained under severe salinity in in vitro culture.

The utilisation of turpentine and moss oil as epoxy hardeners for bio-based epoxy nanocomposite coatings

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The utilisation of turpentine and moss oil as epoxy hardeners for bio-based epoxy nanocomposite coatings Babahan, İlnur Bircan; Altay, Çağlar; Baysal, Ergun; Kırım, Birsen; Toker, Hilmi Despite the growing interest in bio-based epoxy systems, there remains a significant research gap in developing fully bio-derived curing agents that can replace conventional BPA-based epoxy hardeners while maintaining adequate mechanical and physical performance on wood substrates. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of new bio-based, bisphenol A-free epoxide nanocomposite coatings for wood surfaces, as a replacement for commercially available coating containing bisphenol A. In addition, the surface properties of these coatings were evaluated. This study involves the use of environmentally friendly, bisphenol A-free, new bio-based epoxy coatings and their nanocomposite derivatives, in which both the resin and hardener are derived from natural sources. The study is original in its use of sustainable natural resources in the coatings industry, as well as in the development of cost effective and readily available systems compared to those derived from petroleum. Futhermore, this he research is is the first to employ moss oil and turpentine oil as hardeners in epoxy resin curing reactions. The results obtained with these two oils, which share a similar chemical structure, were compared. The study also investigates the effect of nanoparticles on the physical and mechanical properties of the bio-based coatings. In this study, novel bio-based epoxide nanocomposite coatings for wood surfaces were prepared using a tung oil-based epoxide resin, which was cured with moss and turpentine oil for the first time. Moss oil and turpentine oil were utilised as epoxy hardeners. The wood species selected for this investigation was Fagus orientalis (oriental beech). Furthermore, as prospective substitutes for bisphenol A, the characteristics of the new bio-based epoxide coatings, specifically the system obtained using moss oil and turpentine oil as hardening agent, were evaluated in relation to their nanocomposite derivatives doped with carbon nanoparticles (fullerene, carbon nanotubes, and graphene) for application on wooden substrates. Following the application of various coating materials to the wood surface, evaluations were conducted on the mechanical and physical properties of the wood. This included measurements of water absorption, t oven-dry density, and compression strength parallel to the grain of Fagus orientalis (oriental beech). The findings revealed that all test specimens showed oven-dry density values higher than those recorded for the control group. After the final absorption period, all coated specimens demonstrated a reduction in water absorption compared to the control.. Each coated specimen also exhibited a higher compression strength parallel to the grain than the control group. Consequently, it was established that the implementation of innovative bio-based nanocoatings has the potential to enhance the mechanical and physical properties of Fagus orientalis (oriental beech) wood.

Is the Prognostic Nutritional Index a Predictor of Urolithiasis?

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Is the Prognostic Nutritional Index a Predictor of Urolithiasis? Dereköylü, Engin; Çoşkun, Çağrı; Aydın, Uğur; Tarım, Kayhan Objective: Prognostic nutritional index (PNI) is a parameter that reflects nutritional status and inflammation. It is calculated from serum albumin and lymphocyte count. Our study investigated whether PNI has a predictive value in urolithiasis. Materials and Methods: Data of patients who applied to A & gbreve;r & imath; Training and Research Hospital with renal colic between January 2017 and December 2024 were retrospectively examined. Three hundred forty-eight patients were included in the stone group and 627 patients were included in the control group. Patients' age, gender, smoking, hypertension, and diabetes history, body mass index, hemoglobin level, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), blood urea nitrogen, uric acid levels, sodium, potassium, calcium, white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, albumin, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and PNI levels were compared. Results: No statistically significant difference existed between the demographic data and the patients' comorbidities. In the stone patients group and the control group, mean GFR was 88.04 [standard deviation (SD): 13.21], 93.90 (SD: 13.17); mean WBC was 8910 (SD: 1629), 8268 (SD: 1562); mean neutrophil count was 6040 (SD: 1416), 4933 (SD: 1283); mean lymphocyte count was 2070 (SD: 879), 2535 (SD: 944); mean NLR was 3.62 (SD: 2.1), 2.34 (SD: 1.41); PNI was 30.73 (SD: 6.85), 53.66 (SD: 6.94) (p<0.001, all). Conclusion: PNI value was lower in stone patients than in the control group. PNI may be a parameter predicting stone formation. Additionally, the predictive value can be strengthened with the NLR value.