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OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate surfactant frequency and surfactant indications, as well as lung problems in late preterm infants. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective and cross-sectional study was carried out by HSU Izmir Dr. Behcet Uz Pediatric Diseases and Surgery Research and Training Hospital. Infants who were born late preterm between January 2016 and January 2022 were hospitalized in the NICU due to respiratory distress in the first 24 hours. Lung problems and surfactant administration of these infants were evaluated. The frequency of surfactant dosages, their indications, and their effects were examined. As the control group, patients who were admitted to the NICU in the same period due to respiratory distress with similar indications but did not receive surfactant were considered. RESULTS: It was observed that surfactant was not administered to 105 infants and surfactant was administered to 106 infants. The median gestational week of the infants included in the study was 35 (34/36) weeks and the birth weight was 2185 (1780/2590) grams. A significant difference was observed in birth weight between the groups (p<0.001). Invasive ventilation was required in 52.1% of all cases and noninvasive ventilation was required in 33.6%. In the delivery room, the need for resuscitation and intubation was higher in the group requiring surfactant (p=0.001). The most common lung pathology in the surfactant group was RDS. CONCLUSION: It must not be forgotten that infants who are born late preterm infants are preterm infants and the evaluation of antenatal steroid administration must not be ignored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine the efficacy of three natural surfactant preparations in our community and the short- and long-term results of these on preterm infants. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective research on 193 premature babies with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). The patients were divided into three groups, each of which received one of three surfactants: Group 1; beractant (100 mg/kg); group 2; poractant alfa (first dose of 200 mg/kg, recurrent doses of 100 mg/kg); group 3; calfactant (100 mg/kg). The groups were compared according to demographic characteristics, 1- and 5-minute Apgar scores, weight percentiles by gestational week, presence of pulmonary hemorrhage, surfactant dose repetition, air leak, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), stage of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), hemodynamically significantpatent ductus arteriosus (hs-PDA) and its medical or surgical treatment, retinopathy of premature (ROP) and its treatment, sepsis, ventilation time (both non-invasive and invasive), free oxygen need time, time to start full enteral feeding, discharge time, and mortality. Results: A total of 193 preterm infants with a mean gestational age of 28.9±3.1 weeks and mean birth weight of 1,190.4±504.3 grams were included in this study. The neonates were allocated into three different groups randomly, namely group-1 (n=77), group-2 (n=59), and group-3 (n=57). There were no differences in the clinical and demographic features of the groups. The incidence of pulmonary hemorrhage, surfactant dose repetition, air leak, ventilation time for both non-invasive and invasive, free oxygen need time, hs-PDA and surgical treatment of PDA, BPD, NEC (=stage II), IVH (>stage III), ROP, time to start full enteral feeding, and discharge time were similar between the study groups. The sepsis and mortality rates were lower in group 3 compared to groups 1 and 2 (p=0.015, p=0.001). Conclusion: In this study, beractant, proctant alfa and calfactant had clinically similar efficacy in patients with RDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Buyuk Menderes basin is very wide and the people living here deal with farming, which increases the importance of the river to the region. The pollution of the river increases because the industry, urbanization and agricultural activities are very intense in the river basin. For this reason, the aim of this study is to map the extent of pollution of Buyuk Menderes River, to detect sources causing pollution in the river and also to suggest solutions for taking necessary precautions. Anionic detergent, phosphate, boron and heavy metal concentrations were determined in water samples taken from Buyuk Menderes River in this study. Mean concentrations of anionic detergent, phosphate, boron, copper, chrome, nickel and lead were found 0.2345 mg l-1, 0.0181 mg l-1, 0.8352 mg l-1, 0.0035 mg l-1, 0.0045 mg l-1, 0.0247 mg l-1, 0.0002 mg l-1, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turkey is a country with vast lignite reserves, which can serve as a potential source of energy to meet the rising energy demands. However, the sulphur present in coal delimits its application in several sectors. Recently, various techniques have emerged for sulphur removal from coal. In the present study, the efficacy of Rhodococcus erythropolis DSM 44308 towards biodesulphurization of a Turkish lignite (TL) sample has been studied. Additionally, the effects of ultrasonication and surfactant, Span 80 (S80), on biodesulphurization of the lignite sample have been studied and compared. Optimum parameters obtained through shake-flask experiments have been considered for further scale up in laboratory (1L) and semi-pilot (10L) bioreactors. To the best of our knowledge, the biodesulphurization approach indicated in the present study using R. erythropolis is being reported for the first time. The study revealed that a maximum desulphurization of 44.6% was achieved in shake-flask experiment using Span 80 concentration of 2% v/v. In the scale up bioreactor studies, 49.2% and 51.2% sulphur removal was achieved in 1L and 10L bioreactors respectively. The ultrasonication technique (upto 1 h treatment) was observed to have a marginal effect, leading to only 6% enhancement in biodesulphurization when compared with the control. Mineralogical analysis of original and treated samples provided better insights into the structural and phase changes following microbial treatment in presence and absence of Span-80. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some water quality parameters of the Lower Melet River were determined by taking monthly samples, starting in October 2013 and end up in September 2014. The means obtained data were given as (min-max) mean as follow; pH;(6.93 - 8.8) 7.96, dissolved oxygen (DO);(5.4-15.4) 11.4 mgL-1, saturation (%);(59-201) 117, temperature;(4.6-27.2) 14°C, total dissolved solid (TDS);(106-320) 161 mgL-1, conductivity (EC);(124-520) 216 μScm-1, salinity;(0-0.4) 0.11 ppt, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5);(0.6-4.8) 2.3 mgL-1, total alkalinity (TA);(55-100) 79 mgL-1 CaCO3, total hardness (TH); (70-125) 97 mgL-1 CaCO3, chlorophyll-a;(1.6-10.4) 3.78 μgL-1, total ammonia nitrogen (TAN); (0.33-1.27) 0.53 mgL-1, total phosphate (TP);(0.08-0.85) 0.40 mgL-1 soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP); (0.01-0.12) 0.04 mgL-1, chlorine;(0.04-0.75) 0.19 mgL-1, silica;(2.37-6.08) 4.51 mgL-1 , phenol; (0.04-1.77) 0.43 mgL-1 , nitrite; (0.01-0.12) 0.04 mgL-1, nitrate;(0.29-3.39) 1.22 mgL-1, sulphite;(1.93-3.65) 2.34 mgL-1, sulphate;(1.62- 13.29) 10.42 mgL-1, surfactant (anionic);(0.33-1.62) 0.97 mgL-1, potassium;(2.75-15.4) 7.2 mgL-1 , total suspended solids (TSS);(8.45-147.7) 49.75 mgL-1 , and redox potential ;(-156 / -28) -86.78 mV. Sediment organic matter % and pH were averaged as (2.9-9.1) 5.77 and (6.71-8.3) 7.53, respectively. Obtained data showed that the water quality of Melet River may suitable for irrigation but may not be a suitable living habitat for the living beings. According to the class of surface water quality regulation getting into the category of mild contaminated according it’s average total phosphate rate of 0.40 mgL-1, TAN level of 0.53 mgL-1, nitrite rate of 0.04 mgL-1 and severely contaminated according it’s average surfactant (anionic) level of 0.97 mgL-1 and phenol level of 0.43 mgL-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The objective of this study was to compare the perfusion index (PI) variability in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) following administration of two different natural surfactant preparations. Study design This was a prospective study on 92 preterm infants with RDS. Patients were randomized into two groups. Group 1 (n = 46) received beractant; Group 2 (n = 46) received poractant alfa. Oxygen saturation, PI, and heart rate were measured by Masimo Rainbow SET Radical-7 pulse oximeter (Masimo Corp., Irvine, CA) before and after surfactant. The effects of the two treatment regimens on PI and oxygenation were compared. Results Repeated doses were more needed in beractant group (p = 0.04). Median oxygenation index (OI) before surfactant were similar, but improvement in OI was more prominent at 6th hour of surfactant in Group 2 (p = 0.001). Both groups had similar preductal PI values before surfactant. PI was higher at 6th hour of surfactant in Group 2 (p = 0.001). Pulmonary hemorrhage, intraventricular hemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus, necrotizing enterocolitis, and mortality were more frequent in infants whose PI values lower than 0.7 within the first 5 days of life (p = 0.001). Conclusion Poractant alfa resulted in more prominent improvement in PI and OI. Low PI values measured at early postnatal period may predict poor clinical outcome in preterm infants with RDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Mechanical ventilation is an invasive method and causes to important problems in the respiratory tract and lung parenchyma. The objective of our study was to investigate if administration of early surfactant and nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) was superior to delayed surfactant administration and mechanical ventilation. Material and Methods: The study was conducted in the Van 100th Year University, Medical Faculty Hospital, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. One hundred and nine infants with respiratory distrss syndrome (RDS) with a gestational age of 32 weeks and/or below were included in the study. Surfactant was given to 61 infants in the delivery room or intensive care unit and subsequently nCPAP was administered. Surfactant was administered in 48 infants in the control group and mechanical ventilation was inititated subsequently. Informed consent was obtained from the relatives of all patients and ethics committee approval was also obtained (Approval number: 03.02.2011/15). Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of gestational age, birth weight, gender, height and head circumference measurements (p>0.05). The mean hospitalization time in the patients in the study group was 24.4±17.8 days, whereas the mean time of nCPAP was 28.4 (4-120) hours. In the study group, intracranial hemorrhage was found with a rate of 27.85%, bronchopulmonary dysplasia was found with a rate of 4.91%, pneumothorax was found with a rate of 3.27%, necrotizing enterocolitis was found with a rate of 3.27%, patent ductus arteriosus was found with a rate of 16.39, sepsis was found with a rate of 22.95% and retinopathy of prematurity was found with a rate of 1.63%. No statistically significant difference was found between the study and control groups in terms of the rates of complications. During the follow-up period, 17 (27.86%) patients were lost. The length of stay on mechanical ventilation in the study group was found to be statistically significantly shorter compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions : In our study, it was observed that administration of early surfactant and nCPAP in treatment of preterm newborns with a diagnosis of RDS markedly decreased the lenght of stay on mechanical ventilation, but had no significant impact on morbidity and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of exogenous surfactant on respiratory indices in term infants with respiratory failure. Methods: Consecutive 18 mechanically ventilated term infants, who received a single dose of exogenous surfactant were retrospectively included into the study. The respiratory outcome of surfactant rescue therapy was evaluated by comparing respiratory indices before and six hours after surfactant administration. Findings: Median oxygenation index (OI), mean alveolar pressure (MAP) and fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) values were significantly decreased (P<0.001); median arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2), arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) and PaO2/FiO2 values were significantly increased six hours after surfactant treatment (P<0.001). Conclusion: Rescue therapy with surfactant was found to be effective in the improvement of early respiratory indices in term infants with respiratory failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the rate of utilization, policy of premedication, technique, equipment, experience on safety and efficacy for less invasive surfactant administration or minimally invasive surfactant therapy (LISA/MIST) use in Turkey., Methods: An online survey was designed and distributed via Google Forms tool to 350 neonatologists from 173 units through NICU-Turk mailing list of the Turkish Neonatal Society. Participants were asked to answer the survey for their own neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)., Results: LISA/MIST use rate was 81.6% among 87 NICUs which responded (response rate was 50.2%). LISA was used regularly in 23 of the units (26.4%), occasionally in 35 (40.2%), rarely in 12 (13.8%), and only for clinical trials in 1 (1.1%). LISA/MIST has been never applied in 16 units (18.4%)., Conclusions: LISA/MIST is widely used in Turkey similar to several regions in Europe but unlike the USA. Future studies are expected to further clarify some questions about LISA/MIST procedure, especially on its efficacy and safety.