Search

The aim of this study is to investigate the nanocoated textile fabric samples with Al and Zn metal materials in terms of EMI (electromagnetic interference) and UV/IR (ultraviolet/infrared) shielding properties. For this purpose, the thermal vacuum evaporation method has been utilized for coating textile fabric samples with Al and Zn coating materials. The observation of the coverage of coated fabrics is carried out by using SEM analysis. Both Zn and Al coating are found effective to improve the EMI and UV/IR shielding properties of textile samples. In addition, Zn coating is found to be more effective to improve the EMI and UV/IR shielding properties of textile fabric samples. Especially, the Zn-coated fabric samples exhibited high effective UV-A (< 420 nm wavelength) shielding property. In both fabric samples, the strong absorption frequency regions have been observed in EMI absorption analysis. © 2019, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology.

WOS: 000464627200023, In the present study, Carbon Nanowalls (CNWs) were produced by Pulsed Filtered Cathodic Vacuum Arc Deposition (PFCVAD) on glass substrates. A high purity graphite rod was used as a cathode target. Growth was performed by varying the distance between the target and substrate, namely 1 cm (1A250), 2 cm (2A250) and 3 cm (3A250). No CNW formation has been observed on the substrate, when the target and substrate distance is 3 cm. Amorphous nature of carbon structures has been shown with the Raman measurements. Raman mapping has been also performed to show the vertical wall structures of the CNWs. Surface morphology of the CNWs was investigated by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) measurements. It has been found that the wall widths are roughly 1.8 mu m and 1.0 mu m for the samples 1A250 and 2A250, respectively. It has also shown that curvier vertical wall structures have formed for samples 2A250 compared to that of 1A250. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy measurements have shown that 40% sp3 C-C bonding and C-O bonding which indicates the amorphous nature of the structure. Optical studies have shown that CNWs have low reflectance in visible region when the substrate to target distance is 1 cm which makes this thin coating very suitable for dark coating applications., Scientific Research Project Fund of Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Turkey [F-589], This work is supported by Scientific Research Project Fund of Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Turkey under the project number F-589. We are thankful to Dr. Ali Ozer for his support in SEM measurements and to Merve Kucukoflaz for her support in AFM measurements.

There are the smallest structural units (carbon and/or quantum dots) in the structure of living plants. This carbon and/or quantum dots are stem cells of plants.The aim of this study is to obtain graphene quantum dots (GQDs) by using Citrus limonum leaves grown in Adana Province, Mediterranean region. Thus, dried Citrus limonum leaves were subjected to carbonization at temperatures of 200, 275, 350, 425 and 500°C and 90, 180, and 270 min respectively at each temperature. Characterization of the material obtained at the end of the process was determined by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), fluorescence spectroscopy, elemental analyzer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ultraviolet (UV)-visible, UV-A and UV-C lamps. It was determined that the samples obtained in the carbonization process carried out at 350 and 425°C for 3 h made blue colored fluorescence. The results of the experiments completed for characterization analysis verified the GQDs and mosaic crystal structure compared to the literature. It was observed that the GQDs obtained at 350°C for 3 h had maximum fluorescence properties. Radical changes at the sample matrix was observed when carbonization temperature changed from 350°C to 425°C.

Thrombotic microangiopathy(TMA) is a pathological diagnosis characterized by abnormalities of small vessels leading to microvascular thrombosis of arterioles and capillaries. The current prospective, non-interventional, multicenter (n:18) study aimed to define distribution of different TMA forms in adult Turkish patients who were referred for therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) for a presumptive diagnosis of TMA. Patients with serum ADAMTS13 activity 10 %, normal renal function and no secondary TMA were treated as unclassified TMA. The study included a total of 97 patients (female: 60; male: 30) with a median age of 48 (18?74). Detailed evaluation at 1 month after hospital admission revealed aTTP, secondary TMA, infection/complement-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome and unclassified TMA in 32 (33 %), 33 (34 %), 26 (27 %) and 6 (6%) patients respectively. As subclassification of various TMAs will dictate specific therapy, proper diagnosis in a timely manner is of utmost clinical significance. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd, Alexion Pharmaceuticals: 100064, The present study was designed as an investigator initiated trial (IIT) and sponsored by Alexion Pharmaceuticals (Tracking number: 100064)

To determine whether there is a relationship between maximum standardized uptake (SUVmax) value of basal 18-Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) that was performed before sunitinib treatment and treatment-related survival in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).The data of 36 patients (female/male: 1/1, median age 57.36 years, range 31-74) were retrospectively analyzed in whom sunitinib treatment was started due to mRCC between 2008 and 2019 and who underwent basal 18F-FDG PET/CT examination before this treatment. The median SUVmax value was 6.8. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates of patients, who had SUVmax value6.8 (group I) (50%, n=18) and ≤ than 6.8 (group II) (50%, n=18), were compared.Both PFS and OS were significantly lower in the group with high SUVmax (SUVmax6.8, group I) before the sunitinib treatment than the group with low SUVmax (SUVmax ≤6.8, group II). When patients with SUVmax value6.8 (group I) (50%, n=18) and ≤6.8 (group II) (50%, n=18) were compared the median PFS of group I patients was 6.83 months (95%CI: 6.14-7.52), while the median PFS of group II patients was 11.24 months (95%CI: 8.4-14.06) (p=0.035). The median OS in group I and II was 12.91 months (95%CI: 10.17-15.65) and 54.54 months (95%CI: 8.51-100), respectively (p=0.042).In this study it was found that PFS and OS were low in patients with high SUVmax value in 18F-FDG PET/CT performed before sunitinib treatment. As a result, 18F-FDG PET/CT SUVmax values measured before sunitinib treatment can be used to predict survival in mRCC patients.

Introduction and aim To demonstrate the real-life data about patients who underwent AHSCT due to GCT. Methods Between November 2016 and April 2020, 64 patients who received CE as high-dose chemotherapy for AHSCT in the Gulhane Education and Research Hospital were included in the study. Sixty-one patients received one AHSCT with CE chemotherapy regimen. Survival data and clinical characteristics were evaluated retrospectively. Results The mean age of the patients were 31.9 ± 9 (min-max:18–55). With a median follow-up of 10.7 ± 8.7 months, the 1-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate was 57.8%, and the 1-year overall survival rate was 77.5%. Median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) times were 21.5 ± 1.8 (95% CI: 14.5–33.4) and 20 ± 2 months, respectively. The response rate was 72%. There were three treatment-related deaths. Conclusion This sizeable single-centre study shows that patients with relapsed metastatic GCT are curable by CE as high dose chemotherapy plus AHSCT with reliable toxicity even for a single cycle.

Objectives: To compare the preoperative Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) value in curatively-operated gastric cancer (GC) patients without receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) vs. control group, with the aim of investigating its preoperative prognostic effect. Methods: Receiver Operator Characteristics (ROC) curve of RDW value was plotted for DFS. The area under curve (AUC) of the RDW was 0.714 with 73.5% sensitivity and >5.5 with 71.1% specificity. Patients were divided into 2 groups as RDW ?15.5 and RDW >15.5. Results: The study included 330 GC patients (37.7% female and 62.3% male) and 330 healthy controls (63.9% male and 36.1% female). ROC curves were used to confirm the predictive role of preoperative RDW value in predicting the presence of GC. For GC, the AUC of RDW was 0.665 with 61.3% sensitivity and 14.1 with 64% specificity. There was a positive correlation between disease stage and RDW in GC patients (Rho=0.338, p

Objective:Weaimed to compare the neutrophil lymphocyte ratio(NLR), which is a simplemethod, to determine whether the difference between the right colon and theleft colon tumors in our study is related to the inflammatory process betweenthe two regions.Materialand Method: We retrospectivelyreviewed the files of 142 patients who were diagnosed with stage 1-3 colorectalcancer between July 2011 and June 2015 at Medical Oncology Department, DışkapıYıldırım Beyazıt Education and Research Hospital. We examined whether tumorlocalization correlates with neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and disease-freesurvival.Results:Thepatients were divided into right and left colon based on splenic flexure. Therewere 35 patients (24%) defined as right colon and 107 (76%) patients defined asleft colon. 85 (60%) of the patients were male and 57 (40%) were female. Theratio of neutrophil and lymphocytes at diagnosis was compared. The mean NLR valuesof the left and right colon were calculated as 4.43 and 5.05, respectively. Nostatistically significant difference was found between the right and left colon(p = 0.234). The disease-free survival rates were lower in the right colontumors than in the left colon, but not statistically significant (0,88 / 0,8440th and 60th at 20th month) 0.80 / 0.77 and0,80/0,77; p = 0.064)Conclusion:Inour study, we could not find any relation between the NLR and the localizationof the disease in patients with early stage colorectal cancer. Disease-freesurvival rates were calculated to be lower in right colon tumors, although theydid not reach statistical significance with respect to left colon., Amaç:Çalışmamızda sağ kolon ile sol kolon yerleşimli tümörler arasındaki farkın ikibölge arasındaki inflamatuvar süreçle ilişkili olup olmadığını basit bir yöntemolan nötrofil lenfosit oranına bakarak karşılaştırmayı amaçladık.Gereçve Yöntem: Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Eğitim veAraştırma Hastanesi Tıbbi Onkoloji bölümüne Temmuz 2011-Haziran 2015 tarihleriarasında başvuran evre 1-3 kolorektal kanser tanısı almış 142 hastanındosyalarını retrospektif olarak inceledik. Tümör lokalizasyonu ile nötrofil lenfosit oranı (NLO) ve hastalıksız sağkalım arasında ilişki olup olmadığını araştırdık.Bulgular:Hastalar splenik fleksura baz alınarak sağ ve sol kolon şeklinde ikiye ayrıldı.Sağ kolon olarak tanımladığımız 35 (%24), sol kolon olarak tanımladığımız 107(%76) hasta vardı. Hastaların 85’i (%60) erkek, 57’si (%40) kadındı. Tanıanındaki NLO karşılaştırıldı. Sağ ve sol kolonun NLO ortalama değerlerisırasıyla 4,43 ve 5,05 olarak hesaplandı. Sağ ve sol kolon arasında NLOaçısından istatiksel olarak anlamlı farklılık saptanmadı (p=0.234). Hastalıksız sağ kalım oranları sağ kolon tümörlerinde solkolona göre istatiksel anlamlılığa ulaşmasa da daha düşük olarak hesaplandı (20.ayda 0,88/0,84; 40. ve 60. ayda sırasıyla 0,80/0,77 ve 0,80/0,77; p =0,064).Sonuçlar:Yaptığımız çalışmada metastatik olmayan kolorektal kanserli hastalarda tanıanında bakılan NLO ile hastalığın lokalizasyonu arasında ilişki bulamadık. Hastalıksızsağ kalım oranlarını sağ kolon tümörlerinde sol kolona göre istatikselanlamlılığa ulaşmasa da daha düşük olarak hesapladık.

Amaç: Onkolojik hastalıkların erken tanı ve tedavisinde yeni gelişmeler hayatta kalma oranlarının artmasına neden olsa da, artmış sağ kalım oranlarına bağlı olarak gelişen uzun takipler sırasında ikinci primer maligniteler ortaya çıkabilmektedir. İkincil primer tümörlerin gelişimi için birçok faktör vardır. En önemlisi, yaşlı hastalar ın uzun vadede kanserojenlere maruz kalma olasılıkları daha yüksektir. Çoklu primer tümörler, genellikle iki malignite tanısı arasındaki zaman çizelgesine bağlı olarak metakron veya senkron olarak görülür. Senkron hastalıklar sıklıkla benzer karsinojenlere maruz kalma sonucu oluşsa da, metakron olanlar daha çok primer tümörün tedavisine bağlı advers etkilerle ilişkili olabilir. Bu tek merkezli çalışma, Ocak 2007 ile Aralık 2016 arasında multipl primer tümörlü hastaların klinikopatolojik özelliklerini araştırmayı amaçladı ve bunlardan 20'si senkron, 36'sı metakron olarak toplam 56 hasta dahil edildi. En yaygın kanser çiftlerinin erkeklerde kolon-akciğer ve prostat-mesane, kadınlarda meme-kolon ve meme-tiroid olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Yöntemler: Ocak 2007 ile Aralık 2017 tarihleri arasında merkezimizde takip edilen ÇPT’ lü hastaların dosyaları retrospektif olarak incelendi, 56 hastada multiple primer tümör olduğu tespit edildi. Hastaların cinsiyetler, yaşları tespit edildi. Tümörün hangi organlarda oluştuğu, ne zaman geliştiği, bulunabilen etyolojik veriler, sağ kalım oranları araştırıldı. Tüm istatistiksel analizler Package for Social Sciences (SPSS v 15.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) ile yapıldı. Sonuç: Senkron hastalıklar genellikle benzer kanserojenlere maruz kalmanın bir sonucu olarak ortaya çıkarken, metakronöz hastalıkların primer tümörlerin tedavisinin yan etkileri ile ilişkili olması muhtemeldir

The relationship between increased serum enzyme activity of prolidase and increased rate of collagen turnover in the arterial wall has been asserted in previous studies. Collagen reflects much of the strength to the connective tissue involved in the arterial wall. Atherosclerosis is very common vessel disease and oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the etiopathogenesis. Our objective was to examine the serum enzyme activity of prolidase and its possible relationships with oxidative stress parameters in obese subjects.Our present study was conducted 27 obese subjects and 26 age-matched healthy control subjects. The serum enzyme activity of prolidase in all study population was evaluated spectrophotometrically. Oxidative stress levels in obese subjects were analyzed with total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidant status (TOS) as well as oxidative stress index (OSI).Obese subjects have higher serum TOS and OSI indicators as well as prolidase activity than those in control subjects (for all; p0.001). Moreover, obese subjects have lower levels of TAC than in those in healthy subjects (p0.001). In the Pearson's correlation analysis, enzyme activity of prolidase was positively related with TOS (p0.001, r=0.529) and OSI (p0.001, r=0.519) as well as BMI (p0.001, r=0.692) and inversely related with TAC (p0.05, r=-0.405) in obese subjects.Increased serum prolidase activity and decreased antioxidant levels are likely to be a results of increased of oxidative stress levels in obese subjects. The significantly correlation between increased oxidative stress and increased prolidase activity may play a pivotal role in etiopathogenesis of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases in obese subjects.

WOS: 000407222300050 In present work, the two-step anodization technique was applied for synthesis of TiO2 nanotube (NT). Silver and diamond like carbon (DLC) were coated on the surface of as prepared TiO2-NT using chemical reduction method and MW ECR plasma system. The morphology, composition and structure of the electrodes were examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that Ag nanoparticles, having size in the range of 48-115 nm, are evenly distributed on the top, inside and outside surface of TiO2-NT and when DLC was coated on the surface of TiO2-NT and TiO2-NT-Ag, the top of nanotubes were partially open and the pore diameter of hexagonal structure decreased from 165 nm to of 38-80 nm. On the other hand, the microhardness test and contact angle measurements revealed that additions of Ag and diamond like carbon have a positive effect on the mechanical properties of TiO2-NT film. The electro-catalytic properties of the electrodes towards the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) were investigated by the electrochemical measurements recorded in 1 M KOH solution. In addition, long-term durability of electrodes towards HER and the energy consumption of alkaline electrolysis were investigated. The energy requirement showed that while the deposition of silver provides approximately 14.95% savings of the energy consumption, the DLC coating causes increase in energy consumption. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Cukurova University research fundCukurova University; TUBITAKTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) The authors are thankful to the Cukurova University research fund and TUBITAK for their financial support.

In this study, microstructure and electrical properties of Ag-TiO2 powders, which were prepared by a simple sol-gel method, are investigated. The sol was prepared from titanium iso-propoxide, Ti(OC3H7)4 in iso-propanol (CH3CHOHCH3), used as solvent. AgNO3 was used as the precursor for Ag. For the structural studies, the corresponding gels were allowed to dry naturally for about seven days, dried in an oven at 180 °C for 30 min and then calcined at different temperatures (900, 1000 and 1100°C). The Ag-TiO2 nanoparticles were characterized using differential thermal analysis/thermal gravimetry, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis and X-ray diffraction. The results X-ray diffraction indicate that pure Ag and TiO2 powders are in rutile phase. However, calcination temperature had not significantly affected the crystalline structure of TiO2. Scanning electron microscopy images of powders show an aggregation of small spherical particles of dispersed sizes. Annealing of the Ag-TiO2 sample at high temperature produced more spherical particles, which aggregated to form bigger particles with porous structures. The electrical properties of the samples were measured using HMS-3000 Hall measurement system. The samples were found to be of n-type. The conductivity of TiO2 samples have been explicitly increasing with calcination temperature and with Ag doping.

Aims: Germ cell tumors (GCT) are the most common malignancies, especially in males of 15 to 35 years of age. Tandem autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) with carboplatin and etoposide (CE) has been performed for many years in relapsed and refractory germ cell patients, but information about AHSCT in patients with germ cell tumors is limited. We aimed to demonstrate some real-life data about patients who underwent AHSCT due to germ cell tumors. Methods: In this retrospective study, medical records of 20 patients who received CE as high-dose chemotherapy for AHSCT betweeen November 2016 and April 2018 were reviewed. Response rates at 12th month and toxicity profiles were evaluated. Results: A complete response was obtained in 15% (n=3) and a partial response was obtained in 20% (n=4) of the cases after AHSCT. The survival rate during AHSCT was calculated as 95%. When the progression-free survival time of the patients was examined, the median recurrence time was 6 months (95% CI: 5.08-6.91). The rate of recurrence was 57% in 6 months. Neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia were observed during AHSCT in all patients. Conclusions: High dose chemotherapy as CE in AHSCT is a safe and effective treatment option in relapsed refractory GCT with an acceptable PFS and mortality rate. Also, highdose CE was associated with low treatment-related mortality and reasonable side effects in patients with poor prognosis. © Gülhane Faculty of Medicine 2018.

Aims: Testicular tumors are one of the most common malignancies in males, between 15 and 35 years of age. Testicular cancer patients are treated with the combination of gemcitabine, oxaliplatin and paclitaxel (GOP) in relapsed and refractory disease, but the literature about the GOP treatment is limited. We aimed to demonstrate the real-life data of progressive testicular cancer patients who received GOP treatment. Methods: Medical records of 17 patients who received GOP treatment at the Gulhane Training and Research Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Overall response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS) rate and progression-free survival (PFS) of the patients were evaluated. Results: Overall response was obtained in 58.8% (n=10), and a complete response was achieved in 11.2% (n=2) of the cases. OS time was 14.2 months and the OS rate in the first year was 73.1%. The PFS time was 7.6 months. In most of the patients, thrombocytopenia, anemia and leukopenia were observed during GOP treatment. Conclusions: GOP is a safe and effective treatment option for relapsed refractory testicular cancer patients with an acceptable ORR, OS and PFS time. Additionally, GOP treatment was associated with cognitive side effects in patients.

A 28-year-old male with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia presented to our pulmonary clinic with progressive dyspnea, cough, hemoptysis, and fever. Diagnostic bronchoscopy revealed white masses at the entrance of the right middle lobe bronchus and distal to the right main bronchus. Histopathological examination of the biopsy specimen showed those masses to be hyphae of Aspergillus.

Objectives: The association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphisms and unexplained recurrent miscarriage is elusive. The recommendations for improving pregnancy outcomes in these patients keep changing based on the available evidence. The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of low molecular weight heparin on obstetric outcomes of recurrent miscarriage patients complicated with methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism. Material and methods: We reviewed medical records of 121 patients with a history of recurrent miscarriage complicated by methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphisms, retrospectively. From among them, 68 patients were treated only with folic acid and iron. The remaining 53 patients were treated with folic acid, iron and prophylactic doses of low molecular weight heparin. The subsequent pregnancy outcomes of these patients were noted. Results: The live birth rate was higher in patients with anticoagulant therapy than in patients without anticoagulant therapy (48.5% vs. 69.8%, respectively, p: 0.015) and the congenital anomaly rate was lower in anticoagulant therapy group (17.6% vs. 3.8%, respectively, p: 0.022). The other obstetric outcomes were found to be similar between the two groups. Conclusions: The current study demonstrated that low molecular weight heparin improved the live birth rates among unex­plained recurrent miscarriage patients complicated with methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphisms. How­ever, the routine use of low molecular weight heparin did not improve the late pregnancy complications in these selected patients in the eastern region of our country. Further studies are needed to discriminate the effect of anticoagulation on the live birth rate of each of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism type.

A 35-year-old man presented with a one month history of gingival bleeding. He was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML-M3). During treatment he developed alveolar hemorrhage for which he was treated with a steroid. After the steroid treatment he developed a nodule, a cavitary lesion and atelectasia in the left lung. He was treated with voriconazole. After therapy with voriconazole his lesion significantly decreased. This case illustrates the efficacy and safety of antifungal therapy with voriconazole for aspergillosis complicated by AML.