Browsing by Author "Aksu F."

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    The effects of some K+ channel blockers on scopolamine- or electroconvulsive shock-induced amnesia in mice
    (2000) Inan S.Y.; Aksu F.; Baysal F.
    The effects of three K+ channel blockers, 4-aminopyridine, 3,4-diaminopyridine and apamin, on scopolamine- or electroconvulsive shock-induced amnesia were investigated in mice by using a one-trial step-down passive avoidance system. Scopolamine and electroconvulsive shock reduced the retention latency of passive avoidance, which indicated the amnestic effect of these treatments. 4-Aminopyridine, 3,4-diaminopyridine and apamin injected immediately after the acquisition trial, reversed the amnestic effect of scopolamine or electroconvulsive shock in a dose-dependent manner. None of the drugs or electroconvulsive shock treatment affected the rotarod or activity cage performance of the mice. These results indicate that K+ channel blockers may improve cognitive deficits when memory is impaired by a drug or any other manipulation. Copyright (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V.
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    Short-acting β2-agonist prescription patterns in patients with asthma in Turkey: results from SABINA III
    (BioMed Central Ltd, 2022) Yorgancıoğlu A.; Aksu K.; Naycı S.A.; Ediger D.; Mungan D.; Gül U.; Beekman M.J.H.I.; Kızılırmak D.; Altıntaş N.; Bulut İ.; Çağatay T.; Gemicioğlu B.; İnce Ö.; Oğuzülgen K.; Kalpaklıoğlu F.; Baççıoğlu A.; Aksu F.; Altuntaş M.; Erkekol F.Ö.; Karakaya G.; Kalyoncu A.F.; Damadoğlu E.; Hanta İ.; Altunok E.; Özer A.; Yuluğ D.P.; Gülbaş G.; Süerdem M.; Yormaz B.; Ceylan E.; Erge D.; Çilli A.; Doğan B.C.; Erel F.; Sevinç C.; Anar C.; Pekbak G.; Erbay M.
    Background: Over-reliance on short-acting β2-agonists (SABAs) is associated with poor asthma outcomes. However, the extent of SABA use in Turkey is unclear owing to a lack of comprehensive healthcare databases. Here, we describe the demographics, disease characteristics and treatment patterns from the Turkish cohort of the SABA use IN Asthma (SABINA) III study. Methods: This observational, cross-sectional study included patients aged ≥ 12 years with asthma from 24 centres across Turkey. Data on sociodemographics, disease characteristics and asthma treatments were collected using electronic case report forms. Patients were classified by investigator-defined asthma severity (guided by the 2017 Global Initiative for Asthma [GINA]) and practice type (primary/specialist care). The primary objective was to describe SABA prescription patterns in the 12 months prior to the study visit. Results: Overall, 579 patients were included (mean age [standard deviation; SD]: 47.4 [16.1] years; 74.3% female), all of whom were treated by specialists. Most patients had moderate-to-severe asthma (82.7%, GINA steps 3–5), were overweight or obese (70.5%), had high school or university/post-graduate education (51.8%) and reported fully reimbursed healthcare (97.1%). The mean (SD) asthma duration was 12.0 (9.9) years. Asthma was partly controlled/uncontrolled in 56.3% of patients, and 46.5% experienced ≥ 1 severe exacerbation in the preceding 12 months. Overall, 23.9% of patients were prescribed ≥ 3 SABA canisters in the previous 12 months (considered over-prescription); 42.9% received no SABA prescriptions. As few patients had mild asthma, only 5.7% were prescribed SABA monotherapy. Therefore, most patients (61.5%) were prescribed SABA in addition to maintenance therapy, with 42.8% receiving ≥ 3 SABA canisters in the previous 12 months. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), ICS + a long-acting β-agonist fixed-dose combination and oral corticosteroids were prescribed to 14.5%, 88.3% and 28.5% of all patients, respectively. Additionally, 10.2% of patients purchased SABA over the counter, of whom 27.1% purchased ≥ 3 canisters in the preceding 12 months. Conclusions: Despite all patients being treated by specialists and most receiving fully reimbursed healthcare, nearly a quarter of patients received prescriptions for ≥ 3 SABA canisters in the previous 12 months. This highlights a public health concern and emphasizes the need to align clinical practices with the latest evidence-based recommendations. © 2022, The Author(s).
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    Economic burden of short-acting beta-2 agonist (SABA) overuse among asthma patients in Türkiye: a cost analysis with respect to the updated GINA treatment recommendations
    (BioMed Central Ltd, 2024) Yorgancıoğlu A.; Aksu K.; Cura C.; Yaman Y.; Dinç M.; Malhan S.; Erbay M.; Pekbak G.; Ediger D.; Anar C.; Sevinç C.; Erel F.; Doğan B.C.; Çilli A.; Erge D.; Ceylan E.; Yormaz B.; Süerdem M.; Gülbaş G.; Yuluğ D.P.; Naycı S.A.; Özer A.; Altunok E.; Hanta İ.; Damadoğlu E.; Kalyoncu A.F.; Karakaya G.; Erkekol F.Ö.; Altuntaş M.; Aksu F.; Baççıoğlu A.; Kalpaklıoğlu F.; Mungan D.; Oğuzülgen K.; İnce Ö.; Gemicioğlu B.; Çağatay T.; Bulut İ.; Altıntaş N.; Kızılırmak D.
    Background: This cost of illness study aimed to determine economic burden of short-acting β2-agonist (SABA) overuse in Türkiye from payer perspective with respect to the updated GINA 2022 treatment recommendations. Methods: A total of 3,034,879 asthma patients comprised the study population, via estimations extrapolated from the Türkiye arm of the global SABINA III study. The economic burden (costs related to the drug use and severe exacerbations) was compared in subgroups of overall (≥ 0 canisters/year) vs. GINA-recommended (0–2 canisters/year, hypothetical population) SABA use and in subgroups of appropriate use (0–2 canisters/year, real population) vs. overuse (≥ 3 canisters/year) of SABA with extrapolation of SABINA Türkiye data to the Türkiye asthma population. Results: Recommended SABA use was predicted to prevent 127,505 of 157,512 severe exacerbations per year in mild asthma patients and 2,668,916 of 3,262,800 severe exacerbations per year in moderate-severe asthma patients. Annual cost burden of not applying recommended SABA use (overall [≥ 0 canisters/year] vs. GINA-recommended [0–2 canisters/year] SABA use) in mild asthma and moderate-severe asthma patients was calculated to be €20.43 million and €427.65 million in terms of severe exacerbations, and to be €829,352 and €7.20 million in terms of drug costs, respectively. The total annual economic burden arising from not applying recommended SABA use was estimated to be €456.11 million. Appropriate use (0–2 canisters/year) vs. overuse (≥ 3 canisters/year) of SABA was associated with decreased frequency of severe exacerbations per year in mild asthma (from 129,878 to 27,634) and moderate-severe asthma (from 2,834,611 to 428,189) patients. SABA overuse in mild and moderate-severe asthma patients was estimated to yield an additional annual cost of €16.38 million and €385.59 million, respectively in terms of severe exacerbations, and a total €11.30 million additional drug cost. The overall annual economic burden arising from SABA overuse was estimated to be €413.27 million. Conclusions: The estimated annual total economic burden arising from not applying recommended SABA use (€456.11 million) and SABA overuse (€413.27 million) with respect to the updated GINA 2022 treatment recommendations indicates the substantial cost burden of SABA overuse to the Turkish National Health System, corresponding up to 26% of the total direct cost of asthma reported in our country. © The Author(s) 2024.
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    The Relationship between Basal Ganglia Volume and Audiovisual Reaction Time in Turkish Elite Athletes
    (Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications, 2024) Karabekir S.; Aksu F.; Gunay E.; Karabekir N.G.
    Background: In this study involving young adult elite athletes and healthy sedentary individuals, volumetric analyses were performed on basal ganglia (BG) involved in the coordination of motor movements. Aims and Objectives: In a group of athletes with high coordination speed, potential relationship between BG volumes and audiovisual reaction time of acquired-trained hand movements was explored by examining whether these individuals had significant differences in terms of BG volumes. Materials and Methods: Nineteen elite athletes aged between 19 and 25 years (9 male and 10 female) and 20 sedentary subjects (10 male, 10 female) were included. Gender, age, height, weight, and body-mass index (BMI) were recorded. In each group, audiovisual reaction time and stereological basal ganglia volumes were assessed and statistically analyzed. Results: Elite athletes react more rapidly to auditory stimuli than visual stimuli. As compared to sedentary individuals, elite athletes exhibited significantly shorter visual reaction time and only numerically shorter (statistically insignificant) visual reaction time. Left BG volume was higher in both groups, compared to right side). Conclusion: Our data may contribute to the construction of a database of normal BG morphology and provide useful information for clinicians and athletes. © 2024 Journal of the Anatomical Society of India.
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    Evaluation of Lentiform Nuclei Volume in Healthy Individuals Who Exercise Regularly Using the Semi-automatic Tracing Technique
    (Sociedad Revista de Psicologia del Deporte, 2024) Aksu F.; Karabekir S.; Karabay N.; Gunay E.
    This study conducted volumetric analyses on the lentiform nuclei, specifically the putamen and globus pallidus, in healthy individuals. The analyses considered age, gender, and body mass index. The measurements were performed separately for each hemisphere. This study aimed to examine potential differences in regular exercising men and women based on age, gender, and body mass index (BMI) through volumetric analysis of lentiform nuclei. A total of 16 individuals (7 female and 9 male) who exercise regularly were randomly selected for this study. The cross-sections were assessed to determine the volumes of the left and right lentiform nuclei in relation to age, gender, and body mass index for each participant. Statistical analysis was performed using the semi-automatic tracking method in MRI. Both genders showed higher left lentiform nuclei volume and putamen volume, while the right globus pallidus volume was also higher. However, these differences were not statistically significant. The volume of the lentiform nuclei was found to be greater in women compared to men, although this difference was not statistically significant. A significant positive correlation was observed between the volume of the right globus pallidus and age in men. A positive correlation was observed between right putamen volume, left lentiform nuclei volume, and left putamen volume with body mass index in all subjects. However, this correlation was not statistically significant. The data may contribute to the creation of a comprehensive database that includes typical lentiform nuclei and potential asymmetrical alterations in brain morphology. Furthermore, it has the potential to offer valuable insights to clinicians and anatomists. © 2024 Sociedad Revista de Psicologia del Deporte. All rights reserved.