• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.6109-6114
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• 2013

Aim: To determine whether beta-blockers (BBs) improve the overall survival (OS) of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and Methods: The medical charts of 107 patients with metastatic NSCLC were retrospectively assessed. Thirty-five patients (BB group) using BBs during chemotherapy (CT) were compared with 72 controls [control=(C) group] who did not use BBs following the diagnosis of NSCLC. The histological tumor subtype, performance status (ECOG), age, gender, smoking status, comorbidities, other medications and chemotherapeutics that were received in any line of treatment were recorded. We compared the overall survival (OS) of the patients in the BB and C groups. Results: The mean age of the patients was 61 years (range 42-81 years) and all patients were administered CT. The BB group was more likely to have HT and IHD and was more likely to use RAS blockers (p<0.01 for all) compared with the C group, as expected. The mean follow-up time was 17.8 months (range 1-102 months) for the entire group. The most commonly prescribed BB agent was metoprolol (80% of cases). At the time of the analysis, 74 (69%) of all patients had died. In the univariate analysis the median overall survival (OS) was 19.25 (${\pm}2.87$) months (95%CI: 13.62-24.88) in the BB group and 13.20 (${\pm}2.37$) months (95%CI: 8.55-17.85) in the C group (p=0.017). However, the benefit of BBs on survival disappeared in the multivariate analysis. Conclusions: The use of BBs during CT may be associated with an improved OS for patients with metastatic NSCLC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.24
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• pp.10607-10611
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• 2015

Background: HER2 expression in the primary tumor and its lymph node metastases vary in gastric cancer, reflecting intratumoral heterogeneity. This finding also suggests that proliferation of a different clone in metastatic nodes is possible. In the current study, we aimed to determine the cause of discordance in HER-2 expression in the primary tumor and lymph node metastases for patients with gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: Eighty-one patients with gastric cancer who had undergone radical gastrectomy and were found to have lymph node metastasis upon pathological examination were included. Histopathological samples were obtained from biopsies obtained during patient gastrectomies and lymph node dissection. HER2 status was evaluated by both immunohistochemistry (IHC) and silver in situ hybridization (SISH). Results: Sixty-four (79%) patients were SISH (-), while 17 (21%) were SISH (+) in the primary tumor. However, in metastatic lymph nodes, HER2 status was SISH positive in 5 (28.3%) of the 64 SISH (-) primary tumor specimens. One of the 17 SISH (+) primary tumors was SISH (-) in the metastatic lymph nodes. Thus, SISH results for HER2 in both primary tumors and lymph node metastases were comparable, showing a concordance of 92.5%. In total, six patients demonstrated discordance between the primary tumor and lymph node metastases. The prevalence of HER2 discordance was significantly higher for patients in the pN2 and N3 stages (p=0.007). Although discordant patients had worse survival rates than concordant patients, the differences were not significant (p>0.05).Conclusions: Our study indicates that the frequency of concordance in HER2 status, as determined by IHC or SISH, is high in primary tumors and their corresponding lymph node metastases for patients with gastric cancer. If there is a discrepancy in HER2 status, its evaluation by both IHC and SISH may be useful for detecting patients who would benefit from trastuzumab, and it would therefore help guide decision-making processes in administering treatment.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.152-158
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: Balance control is maintained in stationary and dynamic conditions, with coordinated muscle responses generated by somatosensory, vestibular, and visual inputs. This study aimed to investigate how the vestibular system is affected in the presence of an optical illusion to better understand the interconnected pathways of the visual and vestibular systems. Subjects and Methods: The study involved 54 young adults (27 males and 27 females) aged 18-25 years. The recruited participants were subjected to the cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP) test and video head impulse test (vHIT). The cVEMP and vHIT tests were performed once each in the absence and presence of an optical illusion. In addition, after each test, whether the individuals felt balanced was determined using a questionnaire. Results: cVEMP results in the presence of the optical illusion showed shortened latencies and increased amplitudes for the left side in comparison to the results in the absence of the optical illusion (p≤0.05). When vHIT results were compared, it was seen that the right lateral and bilateral anterior canal gains were increased, almost to 1.0 (p<0.05). Conclusions: It is thought that when the visual-vestibular inputs are incompatible with each other, the sensory reweighting mechanism is activated, and this mechanism strengthens the more reliable (vestibular) inputs, while suppressing the less reliable (visual) inputs. As long as the incompatible condition persists, the sensory reweighting mechanism will continue to operate, thanks to the feedback loop from the efferent vestibular system.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.152-158
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: Balance control is maintained in stationary and dynamic conditions, with coordinated muscle responses generated by somatosensory, vestibular, and visual inputs. This study aimed to investigate how the vestibular system is affected in the presence of an optical illusion to better understand the interconnected pathways of the visual and vestibular systems. Subjects and Methods: The study involved 54 young adults (27 males and 27 females) aged 18-25 years. The recruited participants were subjected to the cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP) test and video head impulse test (vHIT). The cVEMP and vHIT tests were performed once each in the absence and presence of an optical illusion. In addition, after each test, whether the individuals felt balanced was determined using a questionnaire. Results: cVEMP results in the presence of the optical illusion showed shortened latencies and increased amplitudes for the left side in comparison to the results in the absence of the optical illusion (p≤0.05). When vHIT results were compared, it was seen that the right lateral and bilateral anterior canal gains were increased, almost to 1.0 (p<0.05). Conclusions: It is thought that when the visual-vestibular inputs are incompatible with each other, the sensory reweighting mechanism is activated, and this mechanism strengthens the more reliable (vestibular) inputs, while suppressing the less reliable (visual) inputs. As long as the incompatible condition persists, the sensory reweighting mechanism will continue to operate, thanks to the feedback loop from the efferent vestibular system.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.221-238
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• 2014

A four-noded curved shell finite element for the geometrically non-linear analysis of beams curved in plan is introduced. The structure is conceived as a sequence of macro-elements (ME) having the form of transversal segments of identical topology where each slice is formed using a number of the curved shell elements which have 7 degrees of freedom (DOF) per node. A curved box-girder beam example is modelled using various meshes and linear analysis results are compared to the solutions of a well-known computer program SAP2000. Linear and non-linear analyses of the beam under increasing uniformly distributed loads are also carried out. In addition to box-girder beams, the proposed element can also be used in modelling open-section beams with curved or straight axes and circular plates under radial compression. Buckling loads of a circular plate example are obtained for coarse and successively refined meshes and results are compared with each other. The advantage of this element is that curved systems can be realistically modelled and satisfactory results can be obtained even by using coarse meshes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8047-8050
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• 2014

Cancer is a multifaceted and genomically complex disease and research over decades has gradually and sequentially shown that essential biological mechanisms including cell cycle arrest and apoptosis are deregulated. The benefits of essential oils from different plants have started to gain appreciation as evidenced by data obtained from cancer cell lines and xenografted mice. Encouraging results obtained from preclinical studies have attracted considerable attention and various phytochemicals have entered into clinical trials.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.165-176
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• 2017

Textile Reinforced Cementitious Composite (TRCC) became the most common construction material lately and have excellent properties. TRCC can be employed in the manufacture of thin-walled facade elements, load-bearing integrated formwork, tunnel linings or in the strengthening of existing structures. These composite materials are a combination of matrix and textile materials. There isn't much research done about the usage of polymer modified matrices in textile reinforced cementitious composites. In this study, matrix materials named as fine grained concretes ($d_{max}{\leq}1.0mm$) were investigated. Air entraining effect of polymer modifiers were analyzed and air void content of fine grained concretes were identified with different methods. Aim of this research is to study the effect of polymer modification on the air content of fine grained concretes and the role of defoamer in controlling it. Polymer modifiers caused excessive air entrainment in all mixtures and defoamer material successfully lowered down the air content in all mixtures. Latex polymer modified mixtures had higher air content than redispersible powder modified ones. Air void analysis test was performed on selected mixtures. Air void parameters were compared with the values taken from air content meter. Close results were obtained with tests and air void analysis test found to be useful and applicable to fine grained concretes. Air void content in polymer modified matrix material used in TRCC found significant because of affecting mechanical and permeability parameters directly.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.833-845
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• 2015

In the world total boron reserve rating, Turkey is taken place on the first rank, meeting the demand of refined mineral and main boron chemicals. Development of the new boron products and production technologies, spreading the using area of the boron are the study topics which must be finically discussed. In this study, with the help of colemanite taken in ratio as (0%, 7.5%, 12.5%, and 17.5%) by being mixed by the cement, surfaces of the pumice aggregates have been covered. Permeability of the samples has been investigated by producing lightweight concrete with 400 dose with the help of aggregates covered with colemanite. For this, the experiments of water absorption, capillary water absorption, depth of penetration of water under pressure and rapid chloride permeability have been performed. In addition, analyses of the thin section of covered and uncovered pumice aggregates and SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) have been investigated. When the control samples produced with the covered aggregates and concretes produced with colemanite covered aggregates are compared each other, it has been determined that special lightweight concretes whose values of capillary water absorption experiment, depth of penetration of water under pressure experiment and rapid chloride permeability are low can be produced.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.248-252
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• 2011

Purpose: The anterior region is a challenge for most clinicians to achieve optimal esthetics with dental implants. The provisional crown is a key factor in the success of obtaining pink esthetics around restorations with single implants, by soft tissue and inter-proximal papilla shaping. Provisional abutments bring additional costs and make the treatment more expensive. Since one of the aims of the clinician is to reduce costs and find more economic ways to raise patient satisfaction, this paper describes a practical method for chair-side fabrication of non-occlusal loaded provisional crowns used by the authors for several years successfully. Methods: Twenty two patients (9 males, 13 females; mean age, 36,72 years) with one missing anterior tooth were treated by using the presented method. Metal definitive abutments instead of provisional abutments were used and provisional crowns were fabricated on the definitive abutments for all of the patients. The marginal fit was finished on a laboratory analogue and temporarily cemented to the abutments. The marginal adaptation of the crowns was evaluated radiographically. Results: The patients were all satisfied with the final appearance and no complications occurred until the implants were loaded with permanent restorations. Conclusions: The use of the definitive abutments for provisional crowns instead of provisional abutments reduces the costs and the same results can be obtained.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.380-385
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• 2015

PURPOSE. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of significant panoramic radiographic findings and eventual treatment requirements before conventional or implant supported prosthetic treatment in asymptomatic edentulous patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A total of 743 asymptomatic edentulous patients were retrospectively evaluated using a digital panoramic system. We analyzed the radiographic findings, including impacted teeth, retained root fragments, foreign bodies, severe atrophy of the posterior maxillary alveolar bone, mucous retention cysts, soft tissue calcifications and radiopaque-radiolucent conditions. RESULTS. Four-hundred-eighty-seven (65.6%) patients had no radiographic finding. A total of 331 radiographic findings were detected in 256 (34%) patients. In 52.9% (n=175) of these conditions, surgical treatment was required before application of implant-supported fixed prosthesis. However, before application of conventional removable prosthesis surgical treatment was required for 6% (n=20) of these conditions. CONCLUSION. The edentulous patients who will have implant placement for implant-supported fixed prosthesis can frequently require additional surgical procedures to eliminate pathological conditions.