Search

Abstract Background This study investigates the safety evaluation of enterocin-producing 11 E. mundtii and two E. faecium strains previously isolated from small livestock colostrums. Enterococcus species do not possess Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status. Hence, it is critical to scrutinize enterococci’s antibiotic resistance, virulence characteristics, and biogenic amine production capabilities in order to assess their safety before using them as starter or adjunct cultures. Results Enterococcus strains showed susceptibility to medically significant antibiotics. Multiple-drug resistance (MDR) was found in only E. faecium HC121.4, and its multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index was detected to be 0.22. The tetL and aph(3')-IIIa were the most commonly found antibiotic resistance genes in the strains. However, E. mundtii strains HC56.3, HC73.1, HC147.1, and E. faecium strain HC121.4 were detected to lack any of the antibiotic resistance genes examined in this study. Only E. mundtii HC166.3 showed hemolytic activity, while none of the strains engage in gelatinase activity. The strains were identified to have virulence factor genes with a low rate. None of the virulence factor genes could be detected in E. mundtii HC26.1, HC56.3, HC73.1, HC165.3, HC166.8, and E. faecium HC121.4. The E. mundtii HC73.2 strain displayed the highest presence of virulence factor genes, namely gelE, efaA fs , cpd, and ccf. Similarly, the E. mundtii HC112.1 strain showed a significant presence of genes efaA fm , ccf, and acm. There was no decarboxylation of histidine, ornithine, or lysine seen in any of the strains. Nevertheless, E. faecium HC121.4 and HC161.1 strains could decarboxylate tyrosine, but E. mundtii HC26.1, HC56.3, HC73.1, HC73.2, HC112.1, HC147.1, HC155.2, HC165.3, HC166.3, HC166.5, and HC166.8 strains only showed a limited capacity for tyrosine decarboxylation. None of the strains possessed the hdc, odc, or ldc genes, but all of them had the tdc gene. Conclusion The E. mundtii HC56.3 and HC73.1 strains were deemed appropriate for utilization in food production. Using the remaining 11 strains as live cultures in food production activities could pose a possible risk to consumer health.

Abstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Province of Ontario, Canada, launched a wastewater surveillance program to monitor SARS-CoV-2, inspired by the early work and successful forecasts of COVID-19 waves in the city of Ottawa, Ontario. This manuscript presents a dataset from January 1, 2021, to March 31, 2023, with RT-qPCR results for SARS-CoV-2 genes and PMMoV from 107 sites across all 34 public health units in Ontario, covering 72% of the province’s and 26.2% of Canada’s population. Sampling occurred 2–7 times weekly, including geographical coordinates, serviced populations, physico-chemical water characteristics, and flowrates. In doing so, this manuscript ensures data availability and metadata preservation to support future research and epidemic preparedness through detailed analyses and modeling. The dataset has been crucial for public health in tracking disease locally, especially with the rise of the Omicron variant and the decline in clinical testing, highlighting wastewater-based surveillance’s role in estimating disease incidence in Ontario.

This study investigated the impact of commonly used treatment chemicals on the morphology and molecular structure of microfibers (MFs) and microplastic films (MPFs) to determine whether significant changes could occur during wastewater treatment. MFs and MPFs were exposed to sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2, pH 11), sodium hydroxide (NaOH, pH11), and hydrochloric acid (HCl, pH 3) at typical doses and exposure times used at wastewater treatment plants. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) were used to examine any morphological or chemical changes after the treatment. Morphological changes were observed in the form of cracks, and increased roughness was revealed in the SEM and 3-D surface images. The results showed that MFs were more resistant to surface degradation than MPFs. Moreover, intensity peaks of ATR-FTIR revealed some partial dislodgement of the bonds in both MFs and MPFs after chemical treatment, but the overall polymer structure remained intact. The changes that occur on the surface of MFs and MPFs during chemical treatment can impact their fate, removal, and transportation behavior both at the treatment plant and after discharge to the environment. HIGHLIGHTS We investigated the impact of treatment chemicals on the morphology and molecular structure of microfibers (MFs) and microplastic films (MPFs).; MFs and MPFs were exposed to NaOCl, H2O2, Ca(OH)2, NaOH and HCl.; SEM and ATR-FTIR were used to examine the changes.; Results showed some degradation of MFs and MPFs at low concentrations and exposure times, which may impact their fate, removal, and transport.;

Microplastic pollution is accumulating at alarming rates in the natural environment. New and innovative technologies are needed to help understand the gravity of the global microplastic pollution. In this study, a portable artificial intelligence system using image capture and analysis technology was beta tested to determine its suitability for microplastic quantification and characterization. Many factors were examined, including quantity, colour, shape and appearance (i.e., fragment, pellet, and film), and environmentally simulated (i.e., weathered and humic acid soaked). These were all factors considered. The beta prototype showed a pronounced aptitude for microplastic detection with a clean microplastic detection accuracy of 89% and an environmentally simulated microplastic detection accuracy of 77%. The beta prototype was compact, easy to use, and provided extensive information about the samples through its machine learning algorithm. The beta prototype would be well-suited for both scientific research and citizen science and is ideal for larger (≥0.5 mm) and lighter-coloured microplastic characterization.

The aim of this study is to determine the discrepancy and agreement between Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG-PS) scores evaluated by doctors and patients and examine the factors that influence the performance evaluation of doctors and patients. This study is a prospective and descriptive case-control study. General, demographic, and oncologic data of the patients were collected. e-control study. General, demographic, and oncologic data of the patients were collected. Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) anxiety and depression surveys were conducted to determine patients' levels of anxiety and depression, and at the same time, both the doctors and the patients were asked to determine their performance status. As a result, the discrepancy in performance evaluation between the patient and the doctor, the factors affecting this discrepancy, and its effect on progression and survival were examined. 277 patients were included. 146 (52.7%) were male, and 131 (47.3%) were female. The most common cancers were breast cancer (17.7%, n=49) and lung cancer (17.3%, n=48). It was found that the doctors' assessment of patient performance increased the progression risk by 3.1 times (HR: 3.080, 95% CI: 1,671-5,675) in ECOG-PS 2 compared to ECOG-PS 0 and by 5 times (HR: 4.980, 95% CI 1.405-17.646) in ECOG-PS 3 compared to ECOG-PS 0. Our study determined a weak agreement between the doctor and patient in terms of performance assessment. The most significant reason for this discrepancy was found to be due to the levels of depression or anxiety in patients. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that the performance evaluations determined by doctors are more accurate and meaningful in terms of progression and survival results compared to those determined by patients. [Med-Science 2023; 12(3.000): 827-52]

Background and Objectives: In ampullary cancer, 5-year survival rates are 30–50%, even with optimal resection and perioperative systemic therapies. We sought to determine the important clinicopathological features and adjuvant treatments in terms of the prognosis of patients with operable-stage ampullary carcinomas. Materials and Methods: We included 197 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy to treat ampullary carcinomas between December 2003 and May 2019. Demographics, clinical features, treatments, and outcomes/survival were analyzed. Results: The median disease-free survival (mDFS) and median overall survival (mOS) were 40.9 vs. 63.4 months, respectively. The mDFS was significantly lower in patients with lymphovascular invasion (p < 0.001) and lymph node involvement (p = 0.027). Potential predictors of decreased OS on univariate analysis included age ≥ 50 years (p = 0.045), poor performance status (p = 0.048), weight loss (p = 0.045), T3–T4 tumors (p = 0.018), surgical margin positivity (p = 0.01), lymph node involvement (p = 0.001), lymphovascular invasion (p < 0.001), perineural invasion (p = 0.007), and poor histological grade (p = 0.042). For the multivariate analysis, only nodal status (hazard ratio [HR]1.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08–3.65; p = 0.027) and surgical margin status (HR 2.61; 95% CI, 1.09–6.24; p = 0.03) were associated with OS. Conclusions: Nodal status and a positive surgical margin were independent predictors of a poor mOS for patients with ampullary carcinomas. Additional studies are required to explore the role of adjuvant therapy in patients with ampullary carcinomas.

In this study, planning and design features of cemeteries were investigated by considering the development of cemetery concept in Turks and characteristics that determine the cemetery usage status and form were investigated. In the study, visitors' satisfaction degree of their visits to Kayseri Asri Cemetery in Kayseri City center which is continuing to grow have been examined. As a study area, Kayseri Asri Cemetery and the evaluation of the visitor satisfaction survey, firstly the compliance of the cemetery with the planning criteria was examined in general. The survey data of 384 people were analyzed with the help of SPSS Statistics program, and the data obtained were presented in graphical form. At the end of the research, some problems were determined in terms of design in parking lot, pedestrian and vehicle access, reinforcement elements, plant design in Kayseri Asri Cemetery. In addition, it is seen that the majority of the people of Kayseri do not want to spend time other than their use for visiting cemeteries. This situation was caused by the fact that the cemetery was not designed to include park and park-like areas and which may serve passive recreation.

Acidogenic fermentation is an emerging biotechnology that allows for the utilization of food waste as a feedstock to produce high-value products such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), effectively offering a tangible solution for food waste management as well as resource recovery. The objectives of the current study were to identify the ideal inoculum, waste-activated sludge (WAS) or anaerobic digester sludge (AD), for the acidogenic fermentation of food waste at room temperature, as well as to evaluate the impact of heat pretreatment of these inoculums on fermentation performance. The maximum hydrolysis yield of 399 g sCOD/kg VS added was obtained when untreated AD was used as the inoculum, whereas the pretreated AD inoculum provided the highest SCFA yield and conversion efficiency of 238 g sCODSCFA/kg VS added and 71%, respectively. Heat pretreatment had a detrimental impact on the WAS inoculum, leading to lower hydrolysis and SCFA yields, but exerted a positive influence on the AD inoculum. The microbial community showed that heat pretreatment negatively impacted the abundance of non-spore-forming hydrolytic and acidogenic microorganisms. Overall, this study demonstrates the critical role of inoculum type and heat pretreatment in optimizing the acidogenic fermentation process, laying the groundwork for future refinements in SCFA production from food waste through inoculum design.

Introduction: Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is one of the most common primary intracranial neoplasms in childhood with an overall favorable prognosis. Despite decades of experience, there are still diagnostic and treatment challenges and unresolved issues regarding risk factors associated with recurrence, most often due to conclusions of publications with limited data. We analyzed 499 patients with PA diagnosed in a single institution over 30 years in order to provide answers to some of the unresolved issues. Materials and Methods: We identified pilocytic astrocytomas diagnosed at the University of California, San Francisco, between 1989 and 2019, confirmed the diagnoses using the WHO 2021 essential and desirable criteria, and performed a retrospective review of the demographic and clinical features of the patients and the radiological, pathologic and molecular features of the tumors. Results: Among the patients identified from pathology archives, 499 cases fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Median age at presentation was 12 years (range 3.5 months – 73 years) and the median follow-up was 78.5 months. Tumors were predominantly located in the posterior fossa (52.6%). There were six deaths, but there were confounding factors that prevented a clear association of death to tumor progression. Extent of resection was the only significant factor for recurrence-free survival. Recurrence-free survival time was 321.0 months for gross total resection, compared to 160.9 months for subtotal resection (log rank, p

Background: Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) are effective in alleviating pain and improving functionality in patients with adhesive capsulitis (AC); however, no study has compared the efficacy of these two laser treatments. Objective: To compare the effectiveness of LLLT and HILT in improving the shoulder joint range of motion and functional status and in reducing pain level in patients with AC. Trial Design: Prospective, randomized, parallel group, patient- and assessor-blinded. Methods: A total of 45 patients (aged: 18–65 years) with complaint of shoulder pain were evaluated for inclusion criteria, which included being aged 18–65 years and a diagnosis of AC based on physical examinations. Using computer-generated random numbers, eligible patients were randomized into two groups: HILT + stretching exercise and LLLT + stretching exercise groups. Both HILT and LLLT were performed three times/week for 3 weeks. Functional status and pain of the patients were evaluated with Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS), while shoulder joint range of motion was measured with goniometry. All assessments were done before and 3 weeks after treatment. Results: A total of 40 patients (20 in each group) completed the study. At baseline, there was no statistically significant difference in the demographic and clinical characteristics between both groups. Both the LLLT and HILT groups showed significant improvement in the VAS and SPADI scores 3 weeks after treatment; however, the improvement was significantly higher in the HILT group than the LLLT group. There was no significant improvement in goniometric scores in both groups compared with baseline. No injury or other musculoskeletal complications were recorded during or after the treatments. Conclusion: HILT + stretching exercise treatment was more effective than LLLT + stretching exercise for improving functional parameters and pain in patients with AC. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05469672. Funding: None

It is important for the teacher, who is one of the main actors in the cognitive, mental and psychological development of their students, to create a safe educational environment. However the state in Turkey has received reports that have found abusive behavior by some teachers. The main objective of this study is to question the existence of abuse by music teachers. The participants of the study consisted of 902 students studying in different Faculty of Education departments in Turkey. The research is a descriptive study and employed a survey model. The data were collected through an “Abuse in Music Class Questionnaire”, which was developed by the researcher. The results revealed that more than one-quarter of the responding students experienced emotional abuse and 5 to 10% suffered physical abuse in music classes during middle school and high school. Men reported emotional abuse significantly more than women. This study showed that students may experience abuse in music classes and that emotional abuse is more common than physical abuse. As far as reasons for abuse, classroom management problems, a lack of knowledge about pedagogic principles in the developmental characteristics of children, and teaching methods are highlighted.

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants that have recently gained global attention. Current identification and quantification methods are known to be time-consuming, labor-intensive, and lack consensus on protocol standardization. This study explored the potential of micro-flow imaging (MFI) technology for rapid and in-situ identification and enumeration of MPs in water using two (2) MFI-based particle counters. Advantages, limitations, and recommendations for using MFI for MPs analysis were discussed. MPs with diverse physical (i.e., microbeads, fragments, fibers, and films) and surface (i.e., reflectivity, microporosity, color) characteristics were analyzed to understand the detection capabilities and limitations of MFI technology. Results demonstrated that MFI effectively automates most manually obtained particle features, such as size, color, object intensity and shape descriptors. It imparts consistency and reduces the subjective nature of results, thus enabling reliable comparison of the generated data. The particles can be further categorized based on their circularity and aspect ratio providing further insight into the shape and potential erosion of MPs in the environment. Transparent particles, often missed with other techniques such as microscopy, were detected by the MFI technology. The ability to assign particle IDs to MPs was an important advantage of the MFI technology that enabled the further investigation of selected MPs of interest. The limitations of the MFI technology were apparent in samples with high particle concentrations, with reflective MPs, and in the presence of bubbles. The color of the background against which the image was captured also influenced the detection accuracy. Procedural modifications during sample analysis and improvements in image analysis can assist in overcoming these challenges. MFI requires minimal sample preparation and gives real-time imaging data, making it a prime candidate for field monitoring in surface water systems in addition to laboratory analysis. With the potential application of machine learning and similar developments in the future, MFI-based particle counters are well-positioned to meet an important need in in-flow and real-time identification and enumeration of MPs.

Abstract Introduction Approximately 20–33% of all cancer patients are treated with acid-reducing agents (ARAs), most commonly proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), to reduce gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms. Palbociclib and ribociclib are weak bases so their solubility depends on different pH. The solubility of palbociclib dramatically decreases to

Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are neurodegenerative disorders characterized by progressive weakness and spasticity in the lower limbs and are clinically and genetically heterogeneous. They are clinically classified as pure and complicated forms. HSP may be inherited as autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, X-linked, or mitochondrial disorders. A 61-year-old man presented with progressive stiffness, weakness, ataxia in the lower limbs, dysarthria and asymmetric ptosis. None of the family members had such neurological symptoms. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed cerebellar atrophy. Genetic analysis with whole exome sequencing revealed a homozygous p.Ala572Val (c.1715C>T) exchange mutation in SGP7 gene. SPG 7 mutation is an important cause of adult-onset undiagnosed ataxia. Although the availability of exome sequencing with targeted analysis helps molecular diagnosis of SPG7 easier, it is important to consider SPG7 in the differential diagnosis of adult onset ataxias. In this paper we report a patient with complicated form of HSP with SPG7 mutation.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the phenotypic features (adherence, biofilm formation, virulence, antibiotic susceptibility) and the genetic background of antibiotic resistance in nosocomial ESCAPE strains consecutively isolated from surgical wound infections in hospitalized patients.

Derivative spectrophotometry was investigated as a monitoring tool for indigenous microalgae in surface waters. Absorbance spectra of indigenous microalgae were studied at low, medium and high range concentrations and were compared to the absorbance spectra of pure strains of M. aeruginosa and C. vulgaris to understand the differences in their absorbance fingerprints and the applicability of this method for real-time monitoring. Method Detection Limit (MDL) of the indigenous microalgae sample from its absorbance spectra was found to be 158,693 cells/mL. First derivative spectrophotometry was effective in detecting mixed indigenous microalgae at medium and high concentrations; however, it failed to differentiate between noise and signal at low concentrations. Subsequently, Savitzky-Golay algorithm was applied to improve the sensitivity and specificity of detection. The Savitzky-Golay first derivative of absorbance resulted in distinctive peaks and spectra fingerprints, indicating it can be used not only to monitor but also to identify various species of microalgae in water bodies. The Savitzky-Golay first derivative of absorbance also resulted in the lowest detection limits (60,170 cells/mL). Derivative spectrophotometry, along with mathematical and statistical tools, can be used for real-time detection and monitoring of mixed indigenous microalgae in surface waters. HIGHLIGHTS We investigated the monitoring of indigenous microalgae using derivative spectrophotometry.; Savitzky-Golay first derivative of absorbance performed better than the zero-order, first and second derivative of absorbance.; Savitzky-Golay derivative spectrophotometry provided fingerprints to increase the specificity of detection of different microalgae strains and mixed cultures.;

Effective monitoring tools and methods are needed for the early detection and management of cyanobacteria in water bodies to minimize their harmful impacts on the environment and public health. This research investigated changing the cuvette pathlength (10-, 50-, and 100-mm) to improve the detection of cyanobacteria using UV-Vis spectrophotometry with subsequent application of derivative spectrophotometry and Savitzky-Golay (S-G) transformation. A non-toxigenic strain of blue-green cyanobacteria, Microcystis aeruginosa (CPCC 632), and a green algae strain for comparison, Chlorella vulgaris (CPCC 90), were studied in a wide range of concentrations (955,000 to 1855 cells/mL). In each concentration range, method detection limits were established with absorbance measurements and S-G first derivative of absorbance using 10-, 50-, and 100-mm cuvette pathlengths. Increasing the cuvette pathlength from 10 to 100 mm resulted in a 15-fold improvement in sensitivity with absorbance and a 13-fold improvement with S-G first derivative of absorbance for M. aeruginosa. Overall, adoption of 100 mm pathlength and application of S-G derivative spectra improved the method detection limit for M. aeruginosa from 337,398 to 4916 cells/mL, which is below the WHO guideline for low probability of adverse health effects (

Legume flours, which offer high nutritional quality, present viable options for gluten-free bakery products. However, they may have an objectionable flavor and taste for some consumers. In this study, it was aimed to improve the gluten-free cookie formulation by incorporating carob and hazelnut flours to pre-cooked chickpea flour and to investigate the techno-functional properties of the formulated cookies. The flours used in the formulations were assessed for their chemical and physical properties. This study employed a mixture design (simplex-centroid) to obtain the proportions of the flours to be used in the cookie formulations. The rheological characteristics of the doughs and the technological attributes of the baked cookies were determined. The addition of the hazelnut and carob flours had the overall effect of reducing the rheological characteristics of the cookie doughs. Furthermore, the textural attribute of the hardness of the baked cookies decreased as the ratio of hazelnut flour in the formulations was raised. The analysed results and sensory evaluation pointed to a formulation consisting of 30% pre-cooked chickpea/30% carob/30% hazelnut flours, which exhibited improved taste and overall acceptability scores. A total of 16.82 g/100 g of rapidly digestible starch, 5.36 g/100 g of slowly digestible starch, and 8.30 g/100 g of resistant starch exist in this particular cookie. As a result, combinations of chickpea, hazelnut, and carob flours hold promise as good alternatives for gluten-free cookie ingredients and warrant further exploration in the development of similar products.

Context: HER2-targeted therapy has been shown to benefit HER2-positive gastric cancer. It is very important to determine the HER2 expression level correctly to select the appropriate test and sampling method. Aim: In this study, we investigated the frequency of overexpression of HER2 and intratumoral heterogeneity of HER2-positive cases, comparison of HER2 used immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) performance in biopsy and resection specimens, the correlation of HER2 status between biopsy and resection specimens, and its relationship with clinicopathological findings. Materials and Methods: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens of a total of 40 surgically resected and biopsy specimens of gastric cancer were analyzed. HER2 status was examined using both IHC and FISH techniques, and the findings and their association with different clinicopathological parameters were evaluated. Results: The concordance rate between the results of IHC and FISH in biopsy and resection specimens was 96.6% and 86.6%, respectively. In paired 20 cases, the overall concordance rate of HER2-IHC and HER2-FISH status between biopsy and resection specimens was 90% and 100%, respectively. HER2-IHC analysis revealed that 5/40 cases were IHC 2+ and only 1 of 5 IHC 2+ cases demonstrated HER2-FISH amplification. Conclusion: Our results showed that HER2-IHC was well concordant with FISH in cases with a score of 0/1+ or 3+ and demonstrates strong concordance between biopsy and resection specimens. FISH should be performed when the IHC result is equivocal. In our study, no statistically significant correlation was observed between HER2 positivity and clinicopathological parameters. Overall, both biopsy and resection specimens are appropriate for HER2 testing.

Patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infections are major contributors to morbidity and mortality in health care settings. Our understanding of the distribution of this virus in the built health care environment and wastewater, and relationship to disease burden, is limited. We performed a prospective multi-center study of environmental sampling of SARS-CoV-2 from hospital surfaces and wastewater and evaluated their relationships with regional and hospital COVID-19 burden. We validated a qPCR-based approach to surface sampling and collected swab samples weekly from different locations and surfaces across two tertiary care hospital campuses for a 10-week period during the pandemic, along with wastewater samples. Over the 10-week period, 963 swab samples were collected and analyzed. We found 61 (6%) swabs positive for SARS-CoV-2, with the majority of these (n = 51) originating from floor samples. Wards that actively managed patients with COVID-19 had the highest frequency of positive samples. Detection frequency in built environment swabs was significantly associated with active cases in the hospital throughout the study. Wastewater viral signal changes appeared to predate change in case burden. Our results indicate that environment sampling for SARS-CoV-2, in particular from floors, may offer a unique and resolved approach to surveillance of COVID-19.

This paper presents the results of a pre-experimental design. The study was carried out with a single-group posttest model. In this study, the Turkish Folk Music unit was chosen for investigation as part of Phenomenon Based Learning with 10th grade high school students. In order to carry out the Phenomenon Based Learning process in an effective way, the teacher is meant to be well-prepared in different aspects. Therefore, during the research, the music teacher tried different introductory and follow-up activities. Following this, the opinions of 84 high school students were considered, concerning the activities. Results revealed that the introductory activities have the utmost importance in Phenomenon Based Learning. Although this study was carried out within time constraints, it was evident that these activities had a great impact on the students and the teacher. The students’ discoveries and inferences about both Turkish Folk Music and themselves for the future emerged as promising.

Context: Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the most common cause of death from cancer among women. Leptin is thought to play role in cell proliferation. Objective: In this study, we evaluated the expression of leptin and leptin receptor in breast cancer and normal breast tissue, analyzed the relationship between expression of leptin, leptin receptor and clinicopathological features in breast cancers. Materials and Methods: The expression of leptin and leptin receptor were investigated by immunohistochemistry in 205 breast cancer and 30 normal breast tissue. Results: Breast cancers showed higher expression of leptin (p = 0,003) and leptin receptor (p

Objectives:Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) causes various neurological manifestations such as seizure and alteration of consciousness. The effect of COVID-19 on epilepsy is limited. For this reason, it was aimed to investigate the effect of COVID-19 on seizure frequency and severity of patients with epilepsy and the effect of COVID-19 treatment on seizures.Methods:Patients followed by the epilepsy outpatient unit were evaluated for COVID-19 between April 2020 and April 2021 and the patients who had COVID-19 were undertaken to the study. The age, gender, epilepsy type, duration of epilepsy, seizures in the past year, comorbidity disease, the date of COVID-19, COVID-19 treatment, inpatient care, need of intensive care, seizures in the meantime, treatment of antiepileptic drugs (AED), and seizure frequency and severity after COVID-19 were evaluated retrospectively.Results:A total of 141 patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 were recruited for the study. When evaluating the factors which affect seizure occurrence risk during COVID-19, it was found that COVID-19 treatment protocol did not affect, but the existence of seizure in the past year increased 4.002 times, need for inpatient care increased 12.481 times, and number of AED increased 1.974 times seizure risk. It was found that having seizure during COVID-19 increased after COVID-19 seizure frequency and severity.Conclusion:As a result, the data of the study showed that the factors which affect having seizure during COVID-19 were inpatient care, the number of AED, and existence of seizure in the past year. The studies which included larger patients and longer follow-up time data are needed to evaluate the longer effect of COVID-19 on epilepsy.

Chickpea flour, which is produced in various forms, has high protein and fiber content; therefore, it can be a good ingredient for gluten-free cookies. The objective of this study was to investigate and compare the properties of cookies formulated using raw (RCF), cooked (CCF), and germinated (GCF) chickpea flours. The techno-functional properties of these flours were determined, and scanning electron microscope images and mid-infrared spectra were obtained. The rheological properties of cookie doughs were measured along with their mid-infrared spectra. Baked cookies were analyzed for their technological properties as well as their in vitro digestion properties. Sensory analysis was also performed for all the cookies. The most significant difference among the flours was observed in their water retention capacity, and CCF had 119.7% higher water retention capacity compared to RCF. The dough made with CCF had quite different rheological properties from the others. The cookies baked with GCF had the highest baking loss and spread ratio. The CCF-containing cookies had the hardest structure. The cookies made from RCF had a higher resistant starch content followed by the cookies with GCF. All the cookies had similar scores in all aspects tested in the sensory analysis. The use of three different forms of chickpea flour in cookie formulations resulted in products with very different properties; however, their overall acceptability levels were close.

The International Water Association (IWA) initiated a Task Force in April 2020 to serve as a leadership team within IWA whose role is to keep abreast and communicate the emerging science, technology, and applications for understanding the impact and the ability to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and specifically designed for water professionals and industries. Expertise was nominated across the world with the purpose of collectively providing the water sector with knowledge products for the guidance on the control of COVID-19 and other viruses. This review paper developed by a working group of the IWA Task Force focuses on the control of COVID-19. The purpose of this review paper is to provide an understanding of existing knowledge with regards to COVID-19 and provide the necessary guidance of risk mitigation based on currently available knowledge of viruses in wastewater. This review paper considered various scenarios for both the developed world and the developing world and provided recommendations for managing risk. The review paper serves to pool the knowledge with regards to the pandemic and in relation to other viruses. The IWA Task Team envisage that this review paper provides the necessary guidance to the global response to the ongoing pandemic. HIGHLIGHTS Review of existing research of the virus, SARS-CoV-2, that causes COVID-19 and other viruses in relation to wastewater process control and risk mitigation.; Available techniques for wastewater process engineers to reduce health risks associated with COVID-19 within wastewater processes.; Risk mitigation for developing countries that are serviced by small wastewater treatment works.;

Spectroscopic techniques as untargeted methods have great potential in food authentication studies, and the evaluation of spectroscopic data with chemometric methods can provide accurate predictions of adulteration even for hard-to-identify cases such as the mixing of vinegar with adulterants having a very similar chemical nature. In this study, we aimed to compare the performances of three spectroscopic methods (fluorescence, UV–visible, mid-infrared) in the detection of acetic-acid/apple-vinegar and spirit-vinegar/apple-vinegar mixtures (1–50%). Data obtained with the three spectroscopic techniques were used in the generation of classification models with partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and orthogonal partial least square discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) to differentiate authentic and mixed samples. An improved classification approach was used in choosing the best models through a number of calibration and validation sets. Only the mid-infrared data provided robust and accurate classification models with a high classification rate (up to 96%), sensitivity (1) and specificity (up to 0.96) for the differentiation of the adulterated samples from authentic apple vinegars. Therefore, it was concluded that mid-infrared spectroscopy is a useful tool for the rapid authentication of apple vinegars and it is essential to test classification models with different datasets to obtain a robust model.

Objective: Cholecystectomy materials are frequently encountered in routine practice. The aim of this study was to determine the true frequency of gallbladder lesions, the diagnostic consistency, and standardization of reports after macroscopic sampling and microscopic evaluation based on previously defined criteria. Material and Method:14 institutions participated in the study within the Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Pathology Study Group. Routinely examined cholecystectomies within the last year were included in the study in these institutions. Additional sampling was performed according to the indications and criteria. The number of blocks and samples taken in the first macroscopic examination and the number of blocks and samples taken in the additional sampling were determined and the rate of diagnostic contribution of the additional examination was determined. Results: A total of 5,244 cholecystectomy materials from 14 institutions were included in the study. Additional sampling was found to be necessary in 576 cases (10.98%) from all institutions. In the first macroscopic sampling, the mean of the numbers of samples was approximately 4 and the number of blocks was 2. The mean of the numbers of additional samples and blocks was approximately 8 and 4, respectively. The diagnosis was changed in 144 of the 576 new sampled cases while the remaining 432 stayed unaltered. Conclusion: In this study, it was observed that new sampling after the first microscopic examination of cholecystectomy materials contributed to the diagnosis. It was also shown that the necessity of having standard criteria for macroscopic and microscopic examination plays an important role in making the correct diagnosis.

Abstract Background The aim of this prospective study was to assess the effectiveness of concentrated growth factors (CGF) in preventing the development of alveolar osteitis (AO) after the extraction of partially-erupted mandibular third molars. Methods Seventy patients (26 men and 44 women) 18 years or older (mean age 25.86; range 18–35) underwent 140 third molar extractions. All the patients presented with bilateral, partially-erupted mandibular third molars and underwent surgical extractions. In each case, one socket received CGF and the other served as a control. The predictor variable was the CGF application and the sides were categorized as ‘CGF’ and ‘non-CGF’. The outcome variable was the development of AO during the first postoperative week. Other study variables included age and gender. Data were analyzed using Cochran’s Q test with the significance level set at a P value less than 0.05. Results The overall frequency of AO was 11.4% for the control group. The frequency of AO in the CGF group was significantly lower than in the non-CGF group (p

Bu çalışmanın amacı, iktisat tarihinin gelişimine katkı sağlayacak arkeoloji temelli, kazı süresince ortak çalışma alanı kurulabilecek bir yöntemin başlangıcının gerekliliğini vurgulamaktır. Öncelikle önemli olan yeni bir yöntem kurmak değil, arkeolojik yöntemlerle, iktisadi metotların birlikte kullanılabileceği bir alt disiplinin gerekliliğini vurgulamak, bir düşünce gelişimini belirleyerek iktisat tarihi ve hızla gelişen arkeoloji bilimi ile ortak payda sağlamaktır. Çalışmada, günümüz iktisadi meselelerin başlangıcını hazırlayan tarih öncesi yaşamın tüketim, üretim, işbölümü, mülkiyet, sanat ve din temelli davranış ve alışkanlıkları incelenmiş, arkeoloji ile iktisat tarihi arasında kurulacak disiplinlerarası birliktelikte Anadolu’nun zengin veriler sunduğu Çatalhöyük ile örneklendirilmiştir.

This study aimed to investigate the levels of sAA (Salivary Alpha-Amylase) in stroke patients. The H0 hypothesis of the study was established as the increase in sAA activity after stroke is not statistically significant when compared with the normal healthy population of the similar age group. Patients and Methods: This research is a case-control study. Forty-two patients who had a stroke during the period of February-November 2018 in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Turkey and 40 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Saliva samples were collected within the first seven days after stroke. Saliva samples were taken by passive dilution (drool) technique with the standard method at certain hours. The concentration in U/mL of sAA in the samples is then calculated by comparing optical densities (OD) of the samples to the standard curve. Results: In the stroke group, a total of 42 patients and a total of 40 patients as volunteers were evaluated. The mean age was 69.4 ± 6.1 in the stroke group and 69.6 ± 6.4 in the healthy volunteers. The mean functional independence criterion in the stroke group was 64.7 ± 18.4. The sAA levels were found to be 142.18 ± 42.15 U / mL in the stroke group and 103.69 ± 36.52 U / mL in the healthy volunteers. There were statistically significant difference levels of the sAA between the two groups (p: 0.012). Conclusion: The levels of sAA in stroke patients were not clearly investigated in the literature, and the results indicate that patients with stroke have higher sAA activity compared to healthy subjects. The relationships between autonomic dysfunction and high sAA activity in stroke patients are new topics to be investigated. [Med-Science 2019; 8(4.000): 852-6]

The α-methylated chalcone 3 with an electron-donor substituted A-aryl ring and an unsubstituted B-phenyl ring was synthesized by base-catalyzed aldehyde/acetophenone condensation. Compound 3 can be photo-switched from E→Z by irradiation with long-wavelength light λ > 350 nm, whereas irradiation with shorter wavelengths leads to photo-stationary states (PSS) with lower amounts of the Z-isomer. The limiting wavelength for fully equilibrated E⮀Z (PSS = 1) can be achieved around 240 nm. The stability of both E- and Z-isomers at the wavelength-dependent PSS under UV-irradiation between 250 and 350 nm is remarkably high as observed from UV and NMR spectroscopy. Compound 3 is fatigue resistant even after more than 10 days continuous irradiation and is also oxygenation-stable under singlet oxygen sensitization conditions. In remarkable contrast to many other α-methylated chalcones, no change in the E/Z-ratio was detected when PSS samples were treated with Broensted acids. The negative photochromic E→Z switch of 3 is accompanied by a conformational switch from the E-form in its preferred s-trans conformation to the Z-form in a distorted s-cis conformation (Es-c→Zs-t).

Osteomalacia is a metabolic bone disease characterized by demineralization of the newly formed osteoid in adults. Vitamin D deficiency due to insufficient vitamin D intake, inadequate exposure to sunlight, and malabsorption of vitamin D are the most widespread cause of osteomalacia. Here,we present the case of 18 year old female patient who presented to our hospital with complaints of low back pain. Sacral bone pseudofracture was detected by magnetic resonance imaging due to osteomalacia. Patient was treated with vitamin D.

As part of the Letoon surveys, the excavations have been carried out on the terrace walls since 2015 due to the fact that some of the remains of the walls, which are observed at the end of the western slope from the theater to the city, show structural features towards terracing. The architecture of the Terrace Wall and Late Antique Palaces was published. Due to the unclear discovery of the ceramics from the hill with the flow from the top to the terrace wall and the relations with the Late Antique Periods, the rich ceramic groups in various forms, which date back to the large time interval, shed light on the ceramic diversity of the settlement. Ceramics from the Classical Period to the Late Antiquity have been studied according to their periods and types and the Roman Period ceramics were determined as the subject of this article. Roman ceramics include eastern sigillatas; ESA, ESB, ESC Groups and local Lykian red slip wares are available. In addition, excavated, daily use vessels; cooking pots, service, storing vessels, mortars related to the function of the space will be evaluated separately. In this study, it is aimed to understand the ceramic trade, production and relations between the cities in the Roman Period in the Lycian region. In the light of these results, it has been tried to provide an overview of trade, production economy, relations between the cities.

İşyerlerinde risk değerlendirmesi yapmak mevzuat yönünde zorunlu olduğu gibi, ülkenin geleceği açısından da oldukça önemlidir. Bu çalışma, atıksu arıtma tesisinde üç yılda yapılan risk değerlendirme analiz sonuçlarının karşılaştırılması amacıyla yapılmıştır. Araştırma tanımlayıcı tipte olup, Gaziantep merkez atıksu arıtma tesisinde 2012-2013-2014 yıllarında bir iş sağlığı ve iş güvenliği uzmanı tarafından yapılan risk analizlerinin karşılaştırılmasıyla yapılmıştır. Herhangi bir örneklem grubu seçilmeden evrenin tümü araştırma kapsamına alınmıştır. Arıtma tesisinde “L Tipi Matris Analiz Metodu” ile risk değerlendirmesi yapılmıştır. Gaziantep atıksu arıtma tesisinde 2012 yılında yapılan işçi sağlığı ve iş güvenliği risk analizlerinde; yangın, kimyasallar, ilkyardım, periyodik ölçümler, elektrik tesisatı ve topraklama yüksek risk; talimatlar, eğitim, hijyen kuralları ve uyarı-ikaz levhaları konularında orta risk; iş yeri fiziksel yetersizlikleri ve işletme dışı tehlikeler konularında düşük risk saptanmıştır. 2012 yılında tespit edilen bu risklerin 2013 yılından itibaren düzeltilerek uygulanması sağlanmıştır. 2014 yılında çamur kurutma binasına eklenen dekantör risk değerlendirilmesine eklenerek gerekli önlemler alınmaya başlanmıştır. Araştırmamızın sonuçları, alanda yapılan işlerin sonuçlarının değerlendirilmesi açısından halk sağlığı alanına katkı sağlayabilir.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of vitamin C on glycidamide-induced cytotoxicity, oxidative damage and cell death in Leydig (TM3) cells. Leydig cells were exposed to glycidamide (1, 10, 100 and 1000 μM) and/or vitamin C (50 μM) for 24 h. After completion of the exposure time, cell viability, amount of lactate dehydrogenase enzyme, apoptosis-necrosis rates, levels of oxidative stress parameters such as hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation were determined in Leydig cells. The results showed that glycidamide administration decreased Leydig cell viability and increased cytotoxicity significantly at high concentration (1000 μM). In addition, glycidamide generated oxidative damage by significantly increasing the production of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation. Exposure to glycidamide increased the formation of early apoptosis, apoptosis and necrosis in Leydig cells. Consequently, glycidamide has been shown to cause apoptosis due to lipid peroxidation and formation of reactive oxygen species in Leydig cells, and vitamin C has a therapeutic role against toxicity caused by glycidamide.