The book “Modern Practical Healthcare Issues in Biomedical Instrumentation – Applications of Biomedical Instrumentation to Health Problems”, which brings together the graduation projects carried out by Near East University Biomedical Engineering 4th year students, was published by Elsevier, one of the prestigious publishing houses based in the Netherlands. The graduation projects carried out by Near East University Biomedical Engineering 4th year students were published by Elsevier, one of the prestigious publishing houses based in the Netherlands, in the book titled “Modern Practical Healthcare Issues in Biomedical Instrumentation – Applications of Biomedical Instrumentation to Health Problems”. The devices produced by students through the projects carried out under the consultancy of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dilber Uzun Özşahin and Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlker Özşahin offer solutions that can be turned into products which can be used for many health problems. Rational solutions for important health problems Among the projects developed are three-dimensional artificial arm, smart gloves that can make patients suffering from hand paralysis move their hands through the signals of mind, smart jacket for herniated disc patients, ultrasonic glasses and smart walking stick for patients with vision loss, hearing aid for hearing loss, non-contact support for patients with infectious diseases. There are prototypes of many practical devices such as a robot, a smart hat that directs the wheelchair for paralyzed patients, a vehicle stopping system that is activated in case the driver has a heart attack in a moving vehicle. The book “Modern Practical Healthcare Issues in Biomedical Instrumentation – Applications of Biomedical Instrumentation to Health Problems”, which brings together the projects and devices of 4th year students of Near East University Biomedical Engineering, consists of 14 chapters. In the book published by Elsevier under the editorship of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dilber Uzun Özşahin and Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlker Özşahin, the designs of various medical devices used in hospitals and at home, their application and working principles were explained and stood out as an important scientific resource. The book attracted great interest from undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students and experts studying in the field of biomedical engineering in the world. Near East University Biomedical Engineering Students are all over the world! While still at the undergraduate stage, some of the 64 students, who achieved great success by making an important international publication, chose to pursue an academic career in countries such as the Netherlands and Canada, while many of them started to work professionally in important companies in their fields. Zia Almagraphy and Hamdi Burakah, whose projects are also included in the book, are among these students. Basel Zia Almagraphy and Hamdi Burakah, who started to work as a project manager at Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, said that they found a job without difficulty with the equipment and knowledge they gained in the Biomedical Engineering Department of Near East University. It is possible to review the book “Modern Practical Healthcare Issues in Biomedical Instrumentation – Applications of Biomedical Instrumentation to Health Problems” at https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780323854139/modern-practical-healthcare-issues-in-biomedical-instrumentation.

Developed by Near East University, the TRNC’s domestic PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit was awarded the “Special Mention Award for the Year 2021” by the European Biotechnology Association. The domestic PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit, of which R&D and design process carried out by Turkish scientists at Near East University, and made available in the TRNC in July with the approval of the Ministry of Health, received the 2021 Special Mention Award given at the European Biotechnology Congress held by the European Biotechnology Thematic Network Association (EBTNA). The award given to the TRNC’s native PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit, which was developed throughout the studies carried out by Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, Dr. Gülten Tuncel, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mahmut Çerkez Ergören from Near East University, was presented to Deputy Rector Prof. Dr.Tamer Şanlıdağ by President of the European Biotechnology Association Prof. Dr. Munis Dündar. TRNC’s domestic PCR kit simultaneously diagnoses four main variants of COVID-19 The PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit, developed to diagnose the COVID-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, detects the presence of the virus in less than an hour, while at the same time Alpha (UK), Beta, which are classified as variants of the virus by the World Health Organization, (South Africa), Gamma (Brazil) and Delta (India) variants can also be classified. Developed at the Near East University research labs, the kit is the first in the world to scan and diagnose these four main variants simultaneously. Near East University’s new PCR kit will diagnose flu and COVID-19 from the same sample Near East University scientists continue to develop the PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit, which received the 2021 Special Mention Award given by the European Biotechnology Association. Near East University also designed a hybrid PCR Diagnostic Kit, which diagnoses viruses that cause influenza and COVID-19 from the same sample and of which the design and R&D belong entirely to the university. Thanks to the kit designed in line with the recommendations of the US Center for Disease Prevention and Control, the hybrid kits that can diagnose SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A and B viruses will enable the TRNC to continue to fight with the pandemic in line with the rest of the world. Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “I am receiving this meaningful award not only on behalf of Near East University but also on behalf of the entire TRNC.” Emphasizing that the PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit, which was designed at the Near East University research labs and started to be used with the approval of the TRNC Ministry of Health, will meet a very important need of the TRNC during the pandemic process, Near East University Deputy Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said, “It is a great honor for us that our PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit, developed and produced by Near East University with the vision of university 4.0, was awarded by the European Biotechnology Association. I am receiving this meaningful award not only on behalf of Near East University but also on behalf of the entire TRNC.” Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ also said, “We would like to thank our esteemed professors who contributed to the development and production of our PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit, and our Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel for his endless support.”

Papers presented at the 1st International Cinema Symposium, which was held online with the cooperation of Near East University Faculty of Communication and Communication Research Center and with the support of the Turkic World Culture, Art and Cinema Foundation, were published as e-books. Books including “Culture-Cinema Relationship and Culture in Cinema Language” and “Summary Papers” edited by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fevzi Kasap and Murat Cem Acaralp were published in electronic environment. There are 43 papers presented by 60 academicians at the 1st International Cinema Symposium. Culture-Cinema Relationship and Culture in Cinema Language Proceedings in Electronic Environment Head of the Near East University Radio, TV and Cinema Department, who also edited the books, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fevzi Kasap said that the research studies presented by 60 academicians who are experts in their fields will make an important contribution to the literature. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kasap stated that the books, which included 43 papers presented at the symposium, also included 20 articles based on these papers. The books published in e-book format are available from the links below. Sempozyum Bildiri Kitabı Özet Bildiri Kitabı

The article titled “A Comparison of Cultural Elements in Anatolian and Turkish Cypriot Folk Tales” written by Near East University Faculty Members Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Yeniasır, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Burak Gökbulut and TED College lecturer Tülay Kaya Tekman was published in the Journal of Turkic Studies, which was scanned by national and international indexes such as ULAKBİM, WEB of SCIENCE, MLA, ASOS. In the article, it was emphasized that there are professions from various classes of society in Anatolian and Turkish Cypriot folk tales and that, unlike Cyprus, the names of professions from the palace (dynasty) are more common in Anatolian Turkish folk tales. Turkish Cypriot Folk Tales Contain More Elements Than Culinary and Pantry Culture In the article, which examines the elements related to the cuisine of both countries under the title of nutrition-kitchen and pantry, especially the foods specific to the culture to which the tales belong are investigated. According to the result, it is stated that there are similarities in culinary culture in Cypriot and Anatolian Turkish folk tales, but there are differences in the cuisine of the two countries. In the article, it is emphasized that the characteristics of Turkish Cypriot folk tales in the studied tales contain more elements related to traditional cuisine and cellar culture. While folk medicine, which has its roots in ancient Turkish beliefs and practices and is practiced in both countries, is included in the tales of both countries, it draws attention that women recover and have children with the help of the apple given by dervish-pyre, the healing method mentioned in the tales of both countries. Fairy tales have a lot in common because of common history and origins In the joint statement made by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Yeniasır, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Burak Gökbulut and Tülay Kaya Tekman, it was said; “Anatolian and Turkish Cypriot folk tales contain many cultural elements and act as an intermediary in the transfer of these cultural elements from generation to generation. The many similarities in the tales of both countries can be attributed to their common history and origins. In addition to the similarities, it is possible to say that some distinguishing or differentiating features are due to the geography and conditions. When the Turkish Cypriots came to the island of Cyprus from Anatolia in 1571, they naturally adapted to the new environment and conditions and came into contact with other cultures (Greek, British) in the geography they lived in and experienced some differentiations under the influence of this situation. In this sense, it can be said that the differences as well as the similarities in the examined tales depend on a process and should be considered natural.”

Near East University Fine Arts and Design Faculty Plastic Arts Department Head Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yücel Yazgın’s article on the archaeological cylinder seals used in the archaeological periods of Cyprus was published in the “Hong Kong Journal of Social Sciences” as a full text. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yücel Yazgın: “Archaeological cylinder seals provide important clues about the visual perception and principles of the period in which they were used.” Emphasizing that archaeological seal compositions have been studied as a design element for the first time from a different view than the archaeological point of view, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yazgın said that he created his research by examining the archaeological cylinder seals used in Cyprus, which are exhibited in the archaeological museums in Cyprus and the British Museum, Metropolitan Museum and John Hopkins Museum. Stating that the distribution principles of motifs, figures, decorations and all other images engraved on seals were categorized in the research, Assoc. Prof. Yücel Yazgın said, “The compositions engraved on the cylindrical seals on the printing surface were analyzed and categorized, and as a result of the categorical classification, twenty main categories were formed. Fifty-nine sub-designs of nine out of twenty different main designs have been found. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yazgın also said, “The archaeological seals of Cyprus seem to be influenced by the cultures, social and economic structures, artists, animal populations and vegetation of the island and surrounding countries.” He emphasized that the seal scrapers, who made various and very different compositions in order to provide the expressive power of the figures on the seals, had a high level of skills not only in terms of technical competence but also in terms of visual perception that would make the expression strong.

Sudden young deaths, which we have encountered frequently in recent days, cause deep sadness in society and also arouse concern. Near East University Hospital Cardiology Department Head Prof. Dr. Hamza Duygu said that there is no connection between sudden deaths and vaccines in the light of current scientific data. Near East University Hospital Cardiology Department Head Prof. Dr. Hamza Duygu said that there are mostly heart-related diseases behind the sudden young deaths that are frequently encountered in recent days. Emphasizing that there is no death case reported due to heart diseases due to COVID-19 vaccines in the world, Hamza Duygu said, “On the contrary, the rate of development of heart muscle or pericardium inflammation in people with COVID-19 infection is around 3-5%. It is also a fact that sudden deaths are seen after COVID infection and most of them are due to cardiac involvement, and scientific studies on the subject are continuing. Therefore, the risk of sudden death does not exist in those who have been vaccinated, on the contrary, in those who have had a Covid infection. In line with these scientific data, the public should not have any hesitation about vaccination.” Undiagnosed heart disease is the main cause of sudden death. While the common belief in society is that heart diseases are generally a disease of old age, nowadays, smoking and drug use, wrong eating habits brought by modern and industrialized society, obesity and intense stress cause heart diseases to be seen at an early age. Specialists attract attention to undiagnosed heart diseases, which progress without any symptoms, as the main cause of sudden death. Again, in two-thirds of autopsy results of sudden young deaths, the cause of death is recorded as heart disease. Although there was no known health problem before, sometimes the complaints that start unexpectedly in people can result in death in a short time like 1-2 hours. In sudden deaths, which often occur with the emergence of lethal rhythm disorders, blood flow stops when the heart cannot fulfill its task of pumping blood. In cases where the heart rhythm cannot be returned to normal within minutes, death occurs. Prof. Dr. Hamza Duygu reminded that in heart diseases that usually occur during exertion and give symptoms such as shortness of breath, palpitations, darkening in the eyes, and a feeling of badness, the heart can sometimes stop suddenly without any symptoms. The main cause of sudden death is heart attack due to cardiovascular occlusion. Prof. Dr. Hamza Duygu draws attention to the fact that the main cause of sudden cardiac death is a heart attack due to cardiovascular occlusion. On the other hand, he also states that smoking, use of substances such as cocaine-amphetamine, early-onset diabetes mellitus, hypertension, congenital familial high cholesterol, and coronary artery outflow anomalies can cause heart attacks. Rare familial genetic diseases can cause sudden death in healthy young individuals. Therefore, high-risk diseases can be detected by various diagnostic methods. Prof. Dr. Hamza Duygu drew attention to the need to raise awareness of the public in order to prevent sudden heart-related deaths and said, “First of all, people with sudden cardiac arrest in their family should definitely apply to the heart center and have a screening. This becomes even more important in professional athletes or people who will participate in an exercise program. Because sudden death due to heart failure is usually seen during sportive activities. Conditions that lead to sudden death such as those with cardiovascular occlusion, enlargement of the aorta, arrhythmia, heart failure, congenital heart disease can be detected with early diagnosis, and sudden death due to the heart can be prevented. What factors increase the risk of sudden cardiac death in young people? In addition to cardiovascular occlusions and related heart attacks, aortic rupture, pulmonary embolism, heart failure, congenital heart and heart muscle diseases, heart valve diseases, heart muscle inflammation, long QT syndrome, short QT syndrome, WPW syndrome, Brugada syndrome, Some serious rhythm disorders such as arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia and toxic drug use can also cause sudden cardiac death in young people. Prof. Dr. Hamza Duygu concluded his speech that a controlled life, which is often ignored due to the belief that “nothing will happen to me” due to the lack of time from the daily routine work, should be seen as one of the indispensable rules of a healthy life.

Near East University developed the domestic PCR Diagnostic kit, which it offered for use in the TRNC, and designed a hybrid diagnostic kit that simultaneously diagnoses influenza and COVID-19. Thanks to the kit designed in line with the recommendations of the US Center for Disease Prevention and Control, the hybrid kits, which include SARS-CoV-2, as well as influenza A and B viruses, will enable the TRNC to use it simultaneously with the rest of the world. It is of great importance in terms of pandemic management to distinguish flu infections, the prevalence of which increases with the arrival of the autumn-winter months, from COVID-19, the symptoms of which are quite similar. Near East University has developed an important project to prevent people with flu from panicking about COVID-19 and especially to prevent the hospital capacity from being strained. Near East University designed a hybrid PCR Diagnostic Kit that diagnoses viruses that cause influenza and COVID-19 from the same sample, by developing the domestic PCR Kit, the design and R&D of which is completely owned by itself. Thanks to the kit designed in line with the recommendations of the US Center for Disease Prevention and Control, the hybrid kits that can diagnose SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A and B viruses will enable the TRNC to use such a kit simultaneously with the rest of the world. Flu and COVID-19 symptoms are similar The kit, designed and developed by Near East University scientists, will be able to diagnose influenza (influenza), a highly contagious respiratory disease, and COVID-19, which is a common and highly contagious respiratory disease, generally in the period from October to the end of March until the beginning of April, from the same sample. With the approach of the winter months, the influenza pandemic that will develop in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic can lead to folded health problems. The coexistence of these two diseases, on the one hand, complicates the diagnosis and treatment problems in patients, on the other hand, it is thought that the “twin” disease that may occur may have a serious impact. Influenza viruses, which are seasonal flu agents, can easily be transmitted from person to person. In winter, when people spend more time indoors, the disease reaches its peak. Similar to SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, influenza viruses spread by droplet route and indirect contact make the diagnosis of the disease difficult due to the similarity of symptoms between the two diseases. Symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, feeling of tiredness and joint pain, sore throat, runny nose in both diseases reveal the importance of diagnosis with molecular PCR tests in clinical samples. The flu-COVID-19 hybrid test kit designed in the research laboratories of Near East University is of great importance especially for school-age children, individuals with chronic diseases and the elderly in Northern Cyprus, as the flu pandemic period is about to start. Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel: “The fact that COVID-19 and flu, which have similar symptoms, will be differentiated with a single sample and a single test, will minimize the burden on our health system.” Reminding that they started to use the PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit, all design and R&D processes of which were carried out by Near East University, in July with the approval of the TRNC Ministry of Health, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Near East University Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel said, “We are happy to meet another important need of our country by completing the development of the Influenza-COVID-19 Hybrid PCR Diagnostic Kit. Making the distinction between COVID-19 and flu, which have similar symptoms, with a single sample and a single test will minimize the burden on our health system.” Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “With the Influenza-COVID-19 Hybrid PCR Diagnostic Kit we developed, we can detect the virus that is the source of infection in patients with upper respiratory tract infection from a single sample.” Stating that they detected co-infections with SARS-CoV-2 and different respiratory tract viruses in some patients diagnosed with COVID-19, Near East University Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said that with the Influenza-COVID-19 Hybrid PCR Diagnostic Kit they developed, they can diagnose the virus, which is the source of infection, from a single sample in patients with upper respiratory tract infection. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Buket Baddal: “We developed the Influenza-COVID-19 Hybrid PCR Diagnostic Kit in line with the recommendations of the US Center for Disease Prevention and Control and the US Food and Drug Administration.” Near East University COVID-19 PCR Diagnostic Laboratory member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Buket Baddal said that the domestic Influenza-COVID-19 Hybrid PCR Diagnostic Kit was developed in line with the recommendations of the US Center for Disease Prevention and Control and the American Food and Drug Administration. Buket Baddal also stated that within the scope of the fight against COVID-19, they have completed all the preparations in the research laboratories to fight against the flu pandemic expected in the winter months.

Studies show that vaccines significantly reduce complications related to COVID-19 during pregnancy. Near East University Hospital Gynecology and Obstetrics Department Head and Near East University IVF Center specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. İsmet Gün recommends patients to have their vaccinations before IVF treatment. Pregnant women are among the most important risk groups of the COVID-19 pandemic in the world. Studies show that the need for intensive care, the need for a ventilator, and mortality rates are higher in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women. It is also stated that COVID-19 infection in the early stages of pregnancy causes an increase in undesirable outcomes such as pregnancy poisoning, premature or stillbirth. In the USA, the Center for Disease Prevention and Control announces pregnancy as a risk factor among the important diseases associated with COVID-19. Assoc. Prof. Dr. İsmet Gün: “COVID-19 vaccines do not harm pregnancy.” The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given emergency use permission to 3 types of vaccines for protection from COVID-19. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, which are messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines created with the new technology, are administered as two doses, 21 and 28 days apart, respectively, while Johnson & Johnson, the adenovirus-vector vaccine, is administered as a single dose. Assoc. Prof. Dr. İsmet Gün says, “Studies show that these vaccines do not harm the egg, sperm and embryo during IVF treatment and the baby during pregnancy.” Those vaccinated with Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have a 94-95 percent lower risk of contracting COVID-19, while similarly, the risk of contracting infection after Johnson & Johnson vaccine is reduced by 66 percent. In addition, publications on scientific research also state that these vaccines do not have any negative effects on reproduction. Assoc. Prof. Dr. İsmet Gün states that as of August 30, 2021, the number of registered pregnant women in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System established by the CDC and FDA has reached 155,914, and no vaccine-related safety concerns have been observed among the registered people to date. In the light of all these data, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine recommends that in vitro fertilization treatments be performed after the end of the vaccination program.