OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between procalcitonin (PCT) level and the severity of acute cholecystitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study included 200 patients diagnosed with acute cholecystitis. To diagnose and assess the severity of acute cholecystitis; physical examination and abdominal ultrasound findings were evaluated and blood samples were taken to ...

OBJECTIVES Transapical off-pump mitral valve repair using the NeoChord device has been proposed to treat degenerative mitral valve regurgitation. This prospective study sought to evaluate acute safety and efficacy of this innovative, minimally invasive, transcatheter mitral valve repair approach. METHODS Symptomatic patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) were selected if they presente...

Maintaining focused attention in the classroom is considered an important factor for successful learning. Loss of instructional time due to off-task behavior is recognized as a significant challenge by both researchers and practitioners. However, there has been little research into the factors contributing to off-task behavior. This paper reports results from the first large-scale study investi...

The off-the-shelf virtual reality community is well aware of the wide variety of inexpensive and robust tracking and display technologies that have emerged in the marketplace in recent years. However, there has also been a vast improvement in the accessibility and usability of hobbyist-grade electronics components, which make incorporating lower-level sensing and actuation components into virtu...

While the effects of legal and institutional arrangements on political participation are well documented, little attention has been given to the potential participatory effects of one of the United States’ most important electoral laws: constitutionally mandated reapportionment. By severing the ties between constituents and their incumbents, we argue, redistricting raises information costs, lea...

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a common complication of cirrhosis with high morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis treatment improve survival. Diagnosis made by ascitic fluid Polymorphoneuclear leukocytes (PMNL) count >250/mm3 which takes hours may not be available in rural settings. Leukocyte esterase reagent strips (LERS) test have shown sensitivity, specificity, negative pre...

PURPOSE To evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of chemoradiotherapy with temozolomide (TMZ) administered in an intensified 1-week on/1-week off schedule plus indomethacin in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 41 adult patients (median Karnofsky performance status, 90%; median age, 56 years) were treated with preirradiation TMZ at 150 mg/m(2) (1 week on/...

Experimental studies were conducted on an off-highway heavy duty diesel engine running on different viscosity grade engine oil, for determining the friction power in a firing engine by measuring the indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) by in–cylinder pressure sensor and calculating the Indicated power and Brake power. It is known fact that hydrodynamic friction is related to the viscosity o...