Search

Hydrogen's ability to enhance carbon neutrality in combustion processes puts forward the use of hydrogenated fuels, both in the form of fuel and an energy carrier as a potential decarbonization solution. However, because of the nature of hydrogen, blending it with hydrocarbons causes crucial structural changes in the flame structure, including higher flame propagation velocities and higher flame temperatures, decreased instantaneous flame thickness, and increased risks of flame flashback and an increasing potential of NOx emissions due to higher flame temperatures. These attributes encourage a thorough examination of hydrogenated blends of hydrocarbon fuels. Using lean premixed fuels is another technique to achieve efficient and cleaner combustion. However, due to the problem of flame instability in lean premixed combustion, forecasting the design points in terms of flame attributes is critical for better combustor designs.In this study, conical (Bunsen type) lean premixed turbulent flames of hydrogenated natural gas-air mixtures are experimentally studied. Through chemiluminescence measurements of the OH* and CH* radicals and laser-induced Mie scattering, lean natural gas-air premixed flames are examined with subsequently increasing hydrogen addition rates up to 20% by volume and keeping the premixture velocity constant. The obtained data is utilized for exploring the dynamics of the turbulent flame front. The main turbulent premixed flame parameters we identified relate to the instantaneous and average topology of the flame such as the turbulent flame brush thickness and flame height. We also inferred global combustion parameters like the turbulent flame propagation speed from the experimental findings.

AbstractThis study aimed to examine the acquisition of Roman alphabetic script among young children within a bilingual (Arabic and English) educational environment employing a language separation pedagogical approach in Muscat, Oman. Data were collected utilizing participant observations, video recordings to capture the interactions of three children and the instructive practices of the teacher, and teacher interviews, in order to explore the efficacy of this model. The findings of the study indicate that children demonstrate proficiency in script composition in their second language (Roman-English) through engagement in diverse classroom activities, including mathematical and artistic pursuits. Despite prevalent negative perceptions associated with language separation methodologies, our findings suggest its potential effectiveness in facilitating second language acquisition and literacy development. Implications of the study’s outcomes are discussed, along with avenues for future research inquiry.

Today, the world is on the brink of a crisis that has plunged it into the darkness of the Middle Ages. The crisis of modernity raises serious questions about the sustainability of existing social, economic and political systems. In this context, the basic principles for the construction of a new civilisation are being determined and a global intellectual struggle is taking place. The crisis of modernity points not only to a material but also to a spiritual impasse. Societies are facing various problems and struggling with difficulties arising from existing paradigms. Therefore, to create a new vision of civilisation is to lay the foundations for a sustainable, just and human-oriented future. In this struggle, it is important to treat diversity not as a threat, but as an asset. Diverse cultures, worldviews and ways of life should be recognised as the cornerstones of a new civilisation. Not only economic growth, but also universal values such as human rights, environmental protection, equality and justice should be central to discussions on a new civilisation. This will enable the adoption of a human-centred approach and sustainable solutions to global and local problems. In conclusion, an intellectual effort is required to deal with the crisis of modernity and to build a new civilisation. This effort should include bringing together different perspectives, seeing diversity as richness and cooperating for a common future. Keywords: Modernity, Crisis, Civilisation, Local Government

Abstract Background This study aimed to evaluate the effects of child neglect and abuse training on the knowledge and awareness of medical vocational schoolteachers in Turkey. Methods This study was conducted based on data taken from a sample of teachers from Kayseri, Turkey, between October 2016 and April 2017. Teachers who agreed to participate in the study received training pertaining to child neglect and abuse. Data were collected through a survey form and the Scale for Identifying the Symptoms and Risks of Child Abuse and Neglect. Data were analyzed using SPSS V.20.0 software. For statistical analyses, Student’s t test, analysis of variance and McNemar tests were conducted, with a value of p

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of Agave Salmiana bagasse was investigated to assess the potential of hydrochar as an energy resource. The effect of operating conditions on the mass yield and the energy quality of hydrochar was examined by varying the temperature and the holding time over the ranges of 180–250 ℃ (T) and 0–60 min (t), respectively. These parameters were screened using the response surface methodology through a Doehlert design. Performances of HTC were assessed on the basis of the hydrochar mass yield higher heating value ultimate and proximate analyses. In the studied domain, the modeling results indicated that the hydrochar mass yield varies between 45% and 86% and higher heating valuesfrom18 to 23 MJ.kg-1, which is similar to that of peat. In addition, the volatile matter and fixed carbon fractions of hydrochars ranged from 54 to 80% and between 12 and 36%, respectively. Energy yield modeling indicated that the mass yield is the most influent parameter. The maximal energy yield value was obtained at 180 ℃ with time equal to 0 min. Globally, the evolution of H/C ratio is amplified for temperatures greater than 215 ℃ by increasing the holding time from 30 to 60 min. For O/C ratio the maximal variation is below these conditions. It is concluded that increased hydrothermal carbonization conditions favor dehydration reactions, while decarboxylation reactions are favored in mild HTC conditions. The combustion characteristics such as ignition peak and burnout temperatures were significantly modified for hydrochars. The model results indicated that lowest ignition and peak temperature values are obtained at both low-temperature and low-holding time, and high-temperature and high-holding time zones. An increase in the burnout temperature was correlated with the increase of the fixed carbon content in hydrochars.

Refah rejimi, bir ülkenin uyguladığı sosyal politikalara siyasi, sosyal, ekonomik ve kültürel açıdan ışık tutması nedeniyle önemlidir. Esping-Andersen'in (1990) yaptığı refah rejimi sınıflandırmalarına yönelik çalışma, yaklaşık otuz yıldır sosyal politika araştırmalarının temel tartışma alanlarından birini oluşturmuştur. Esping-Andersen’in çalışması pek çok çalışmaya ilham kaynağı olmuş ve bu doğrultuda yeni araştırmalar yapılmıştır. Bu araştırmaların pek çoğu Esping-Andersen’in sınıflandırmasına hem kapsam hem de yöntem açısından eleştirel yaklaşmaktadır. Ancak, eleştirel yaklaşımların çoğunun Esping-Andersen’in çalışmasını doğruladığı veya katkıda bulunduğu görülmektedir. Bu makalede, refah devletinin gelişim sürecinde ortaya çıkan refah rejimi tartışmaları teorik çerçevede incelenmektedir. Bu doğrultuda, Esping-Andersen’in sınıflandırması ve bu sınıflandırmaya yönelik eleştiriler analiz edilmektedir. Refah rejimi ile ilgili 1990’lardan itibaren yürütülen tartışmaların Esping-Andersen’in çalışması çerçevesinde şekillendiği ve yapılan çalışmaların bunun bir devamı niteliğinde olduğu ortaya konulmaktadır.

Amaç: Bu çalışmada, tarafsız devlet anlayışından sosyal devlet anlayışına geçişle beraber meydana gelen değişmelerin bir sonucu olarak ifade edilen müdahaleci devlet anlayışı bağlamında vergi politikaları sosyal adalet çerçevesinde incelenecektir. Yöntem: Çalışmada, ilgili literatürün eleştirel değerlendirmesi yapılmıştır.Bulgular: Bu doğrultuda, vergi politikaları yoluyla tüm sosyal sınıflar üzerindeki vergi yükünün adil bir şekilde dağıtılabilmesi için çeşitli politikalar önerilmektedir.

The effect of applying ozonation and perozonation to antibiotic cefazolin-Na formulation effluents were investigated in this study. Twenty minutes of ozonation at a rate of 1,500 mg/L-h was observed to remove COD by 38%, whereas a COD removal efficiency of 40% was achieved via H2O2 enhanced ozonation (same conditions + 31.25 mM H202). Both of the pretreatment alternatives were monitored to elevate the BOD5/COD ratio from 0.01 to 0.08. The initially inert COD was reduced by 38% using ozonation and by 60% employing H2O2 enhanced ozonation. In terms of the lowest achievable effluent COD levels after bio-treatment, ozonation was observed to yield a residual COD of 205 mg L-1, while a residual COD of 135 mgL-1 was involved for perozonation. According to the results of acute toxicity on Phaedactylum tricornutum, ozonated and perozonated samples exhibited more toxicity than the untreated effluent after 4 days. The activated sludge inhibition test demonstrated that both of the pretreatment alternatives efficiently eliminated the inhibition of investigated formulation effluent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sound in-plant pollution control strategy can only be defined by paying due attention to bio-recalcitrance and toxicity. In this context the levels of toxicity and inert COD introduced to textile dyebath discharges by two alternative auxiliary chemicals, namely natural tannin (NT) and synthetic tannin (ST), were investigated. The effect of 40 minutes ozonation at 1,000 mg h-1 at pH 3.5 on the segregated effluent streams containing the above-mentioned tannin formulations was evaluated in terms of changes in toxicity and recalcitrance. The effect of ozonation on the COD distribution of raw and ozonated NT and ST samples according to their molecular weight cut-offs was also assessed. Both untreated tannin formulations exerted high acute toxicity towards marine microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Moderate decrease in the toxicity levels of both tannins was observed upon ozonation. The raw NT formulation with a COD content more than twice that of its alternative raw ST had an initially inert soluble COD content of only 25 mg/L, while the initially inert COD was 135 mg/L for ST. As the initially inert soluble COD content of NT was considerably lower, this textile auxiliary did not need chemical pretreatment to improve its biodegradability. On the other hand, the initially inert soluble COD content of ST was reduced by 70% by ozone pretreatment. In terms of residual COD contents achievable after passing through a biological treatment system, raw NT and pretreated ST formulations yielded 100 and 95 mg/L COD, respectively. The highest proportion of COD (46% for NT and 38% for ST) was found in the < 1 kDa range. The same fraction increased to 93% for NT after ozonation, while for ST no significant change was observed in the COD distribution of the molecular weight cut-offs after ozonation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bu çalışmada, Güney Avrupa ülkelerinde ve refah rejimi açısından bu ülkelere benzer olduğu kabul edilen Türkiye’de iş yaşam dengesi politikaları incelenmektedir. Bu doğrultuda, İspanya, İtalya, Yunanistan ve Türkiye’nin çocuk bakım hizmetleri, ebeveyn izni ve esnek çalışma kapsamındaki düzenlemeler hem hukuki boyutuyla ve hem de bu ülkelere ilişkin bazı makro verilerle karşılaştırmalı olarak analiz edilmiştir. Bu ülkelerde iş yaşam dengesinin sağlanması amacıyla oluşturulan politikaların seviyesinin birbirine benzerlik gösterdiği ve iş yaşam dengesi uygulamalarının diğer refah rejimlerine göre daha geri kaldığı tespit edilmiştir. Öte yandan, son yıllarda Avrupa Birliği’ne uyum çabalarının ve düşük doğurganlık ve nüfusun yaşlanması gibi demografik değişimlerin etkisiyle bazı politika uygulamaları hız kazanmasına rağmen bunların yeterli seviyede olmadığı anlaşılmaktadır. Türkiye’nin iş yaşam dengesi politikalarının, Güney Avrupa ülkelerinden bazı alanlarda daha geride olmakla birlikte, bu ülkelerle benzer bir eğilim içerisinde olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmaktadır.

Pseudophoxinus burduricus sp. n. is described from drainages of Salda and Burdur lakes, southwestern Turkey. It is distinguished from other Anatolian Pseudophoxinus by a combination of characters: lateral line incomplete, with 21–39 (commonly 26–37) perforated scales and 47–57+1-2 scales in lateral series; 10½–12½ scale rows between lateral line and dorsal fin origin, 3–4(5) scale rows between lateral line and the pelvic fin origin; dorsal fin commonly with 7½ branched rays; anal fin commonly with 6½ branched rays; 7–8(9) gill rakers on the first branchial arch; a faint and diffuse epidermal black stripe from eye to caudal fin base in alive and preserved individuals; mouth slightly subterminal, tip of mouth cleft on about level of lower margin of eye; snout rounded, its length greater than eye diameter. Comparison is given with all Pseudophoxinus species from western Anatolia.

Özet: Elodea canadensis Michaux (Hydrocharitacea: Spermatophyta) Türkiye'de ilk olarak 1980'li yıllarda Trakya'dan bildirilmiştir. Eğirdir Gölü'nde, 2005 yılında ilk kez gözlemlenen bu tür dört yıl içerisinde tüm göl alanını kaplayarak baskın konuma gelmiştir. Bu çalışmada, 2005-2008 yılları arasında Eğirdir Gölü'nden alınan E. canadensis'in bazı diagnostik özellikleri ve ilk görüldüğü yıldan günümüze değin göldeki yayılışına ilişkin tespitler ortaya konulmuştur. Anahtar kelimeler: Elodea canadensis, Eğirdir Gölü, istilacı tür, trofik düzey A STUDY ON THE FIRST RECORD OF ELODEA CANADENSIS MICHAUX AND ITS INVASION IN LAKE EĞİRDİR, TURKEY Abstract: Elodea canadensis Michaux (Hydrocharitacea: Spermatophyta) was firstly recorded in Thrace in Turkey by 1980s. Firstly observed in 2005 in Lake Eğirdir, it has become dominant in the following years spreading all the lake area. In this study, some biological features and notes on the distribution of the plant since first observation was recorded, between 2005 and 2008. Key words: Elodea canadensis, invasive species, Lake Eğirdir, trophic level

The occurrence of cyanobacteria species Nodularia spumigena and its toxin nodularin were studied in Burdur Lake, a saline alkaline lake with endemic fauna and a Ramsar site of ornithological importance. The water samples were collected from three different locations of Lake Burdur between May and November of 2011. Abundance of Nodularia spumigena and the nodularin levels peaked at the end of July (112,147 cells mL-1 and 4.82 µg L-1), coinciding with the highest levels of chlorophyll a (Chl a) (27.15 µg L-1) and the water temperature (29oC). Although fish or other animal deaths were not detected during the episodes, it is concluded that N. spumigena blooming should be monitored in Burdur Lake for the ecosystem and environmental health.

We report a nosocomial outbreak caused by a multidrug-resistant carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (MDRCPKp), that was detected in six patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit between 20th of December 2023 and 15th of January 2024 in Ankara, Turkey. The investigation of this outbreak was started on 29th of December 2023. During the outbreak 11 samples were collected from the six patients with MDRCPKp. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed to determine the genetic relatedness and clonality of MDRCPKp strains. MDRCPKp was isolated in the tracheal aspiration culture, blood, urine, and screening samples. Five patients with MDRCPKp colonization developed healthcare-associated infection. In one patient MDRCPKp was isolated from tracheal aspirate and the screening cultures were considered as colonization not infection. PFGE analysis revealed that all isolates belonged to the same K. pneumoniae clone. MDRCPKp strain of this outbreak exhibited multidrug resistance and co-produced OXA-48 and NDM-1. This outbreak ended after application of strict infection control measures. An outbreak of MDRCPKp can occur in hospitals, especially in the intensive care units; thus, it should be detected early by infection control teams. A strong collaboration between infection control team and microbiology laboratory is essential to cope with MDR bacterial outbreaks in hospitals.

Introduction: Invasive device-associated nosocomial infections commonly occur in intensive care units (ICUs). These infections include intravascular catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), and catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). This study aimed to evaluate the factors associated with invasive device-associated nosocomial infections based on the underlying diseases of the patients and antibiotic resistance profiles of the pathogens causing the infections detected in the ICU in our hospital over a five-year period., Methodology: Invasive device-associated infections (CRBSI, VAP, and CAUTI) were detected retrospectively by the laboratory- and clinic-based active surveillance system according to the criteria of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in patients hospitalized in the ICU of the tertiary hospital between 1 January 2018 and 30 June 2023., Results: A total of 425 invasive device-associated nosocomial infections and 441 culture results were detected (179 CRBSI, 176 VAP, 70 CAUTI). Out of them, 57 (13.4%) patients had hematological malignancy, 145 (34.1%) had solid organ malignancy, and 223 (52.5%) had no histopathologic diagnosis of any malignancy. An increase in extended-spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenem resistance in pathogens was detected during the study period., Conclusions: Antibiotic resistance of the Gram-negative bacteria associated with invasive device-associated infections increased during the study period. Antimicrobial stewardship will reduce rates of nosocomial infections, reduce mortality, and shorten hospital stay. Long-term catheterization and unnecessary antibiotic use should be avoided., Competing Interests: No Conflict of Interest is declared, (Copyright (c) 2024 Duygu Mert, Burcu Çalışkan Demirkıran, Gülşen İskender, Zuhal Avşar, Arif Timuroğlu, Songül Binay, Tuğba Aşkın, Mustafa Ertek.)

Aim: We aimed to investigate potential discrepancies in the volume of thalamic nuclei between individuals with schizophrenia and healthy controls., Methods: The imaging data for this study were obtained from the MCICShare data repository within SchizConnect. We employed probabilistic mapping technique developed by Iglesias et al. (2018). The analytical component entailed volumetric segmentation of the thalamus using the FreeSurfer image analysis suite. Our analysis focused on evaluating the differences in the volumes of various thalamic nuclei groups within the thalami, specifically the anterior, intralaminar, medial, posterior, lateral, and ventral groups in both the right and left thalami, between schizophrenia patients and healthy controls. We employed MANCOVA to analyse these dependent variables (volumes of 12 distinct thalamic nuclei groups), with diagnosis (SCZ vs. HCs) as the main explanatory variable, while controlling for covariates such as eTIV and age., Results: The assumptions of MANCOVA, including the homogeneity of covariance matrices, were met. Specific univariate tests for the right thalamus revealed significant differences in the medial (F[1, 200] = 26.360, p < 0.001), and the ventral groups (F[1, 200] = 4.793, p = 0.030). For the left thalamus, the medial (F[1, 200] = 22.527, p < 0.001); posterior (F[1, 200] = 8.227, p = 0.005), lateral (F[1, 200] = 7.004, p = 0.009), and ventral groups (F[1, 200] = 9.309, p = 0.003) showed significant differences., Conclusion: These findings suggest that particular thalamic nuclei groups in both the right and left thalami may be most affected in schizophrenia, with more pronounced differences observed in the left thalamic nuclei., Fundings: The authors received no financial support for the research., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background/aim: It wasaimed herein to investigate coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in cancer patients and compare hematological and solid organ cancer patients in terms of the course and outcome of this disease., Materials and Methods: Data from cancer patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection were analyzed retrospectively. Risk factors for poor prognosis and the effect of vaccination on the clinical outcomes of the patients were evaluated., Results: A total of 403 cancer patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 between March 1st, 2021, and November 30th, 2022, were included, of whom 329 (81.6%) had solid and 74 (18.4%) had hematological cancers. Hospitalization and intensive care unit (ICU) admission rates were significantly higher in the hematological cancer patients compared to the solid organ cancer patients (73.0% vs. 35.9%, p< 0.001 and 25.7% vs. 14.0%, p= 0.013, respectively). The COVID-19 - related case fatality rate (CFR) was defined as 15.4%, and it was higher in the hematologicalcancer patientsthan inthe solid organ cancer patients (23.0% vs. 13.7%, p= 0.045) and was higher in patients with metastatic/advanced disease compared to the other cancer stages (p< 0.001). In the solid organ cancergroup, hospitalization, ICU admission, and the COVID-19 CFR were higher in patients with respiratory and genitourinary cancers (p< 0.001). A total of 288 (71.8%) patients had receivedCOVID-19 vaccination; 164 (56.94%) had≤2 doses and 124 (43.06%) had≥3 doses. The hospitalization rate was higher in patients with ≤2 doses of vaccine compared to those with ≥3 doses (48.2% vs. 29.8%,p= 0.002). Patients with COVID-19 - related death had higher levels of leucocyte, neutrophil, D-dimer, troponin, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin, and ferritin and lower levels of lymphocyte than the survivors. In the logistic regression analysis,the risk of COVID-19 - related mortality was higher in the hematological cancer patients(OR:1.726), those who were male (OR:1.757), and with the Pre-Delta/Delta variants (OR:1.817)., Conclusion: This study revealed that there is an increased risk of COVID-19-related serious events (hospitalization, ICU admission, or death) in patients with hematological cancerscompared with those who have solid organ cancers. It wasalso shown that receiving ≥3 doses of COVID-19 vaccine is more protective against severe illness and the need for hospitalization than ≤2 doses., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest, including specific financial interests, relationships, and/or affiliations relevant to the subject matter or materials included herein., (© TÜBİTAK.)

Introduction: Healthcare workers are at high risk for acquiring COVID-19 and transmitting it to the patients especially to cancer patients in whom the risk of severe COVID-19 is high. We determined the rate of COVID-19 infection among healthcare workers in an oncology hospital and their epidemiological characteristics., Methodology: Data of infected workers from March 11, 2020, to February 28, 2022 were obtained via Infection Control Committee COVID-19 Surveillance Records and evaluated retrospectively., Results: During this period 58.34% of 2,355 workers were vaccinated with > 3 doses of COVID-19 vaccines. A total of 1,294 COVID-19 attacks developed in 1,181 (50.14%) workers; mean age was 38.08 ± 9.52 years, 744 (63%) were female. Re-infection occurred in 112 (9.5%) workers. Source of infection in 858 attacks (66.31%) was unknown. Hospitalization was needed in 24 (2%) and intensive care unit admission in 1 (0.08%), no death occurred. In the first attacks, 587 (49.70%) were unvaccinated; in re-infections 66 (58.92%) were ≥ 3 doses vaccinated. Hospitalizations were predominantly in the pre-Delta period (16/24: 66.7%, p < 0.05). Re-infections occurred mostly in the Omicron variant period (p < 0.05). Relationship between hospitalization and male gender, age ≥ 50 years, "doctor" profession and presence of chronic diseases were significant (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: During the study period, half of the healthcare workers in our hospital developed COVID-19 infection of whom 9.5% re-infected, predominantly during the Omicron variant period. Our findings highlight the importance of taking preventive measures and administering booster vaccine doses even after initial vaccination/infection., Competing Interests: No Conflict of Interest is declared, (Copyright (c) 2023 Gülşen İskender, Duygu Mert, Zühal Avşar, Servet Kölgelier, Mustafa Ertek.)

Objective: There remains a lack of clarity as to the possible cross talk of insight into illness and depressive symptoms in treatment-resistant schizophrenia. We therefore set our primary aim to evaluate relationship between insight dimensions and depressive symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia receiving clozapine., Methods: This was a cross-sectional, non-interventional study, conducted in daily clinical practice conditions. Patients in outpatient clinics between March 2020 and May 2020 with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (based on Treatment Response and Resistance in Psychosis), with no comorbid psychiatric disorder, and with no body mass index greater than 40.0 kg/m 2 were included. We collected sociodemographic variables, scores of insight dimensions (treatment compliance, illness recognition, and symptom relabeling with the Schedule for Assessment of Insight), and depressive symptoms with Calgary Depression Score for Schizophrenia. Linear regression models were used to investigate variables associated with depressive symptoms as the outcome of interest., Results: The final analysis sample comprised 55 patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia, with a mean age of 42.48 (SD = 9.18) years and a predominance of the male sex (n = 42, 76.9%). Model 1 [Calgary Depression Score for Schizophrenia ~ (Schedule for Assessment of Insight + Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale)] displayed that 48% of the variation in the Calgary Depression Score for Schizophrenia can be explained by Schedule for Assessment of Insight-composite and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale-composite ( P < .001). More effectively, model 2 [Calgary Depression Score for Schizophrenia ~ (Schedule for Assessment of Insight-illness recognition + Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale-general psychopathology)] revealed that 51% of the variation in the Calgary Depression Score for Schizophrenia can be explained by the sub-scales ( P < .001). We further designed a new model in which Global Assessment of Functioning scores were the response variable to explore the link between awareness into illness and functionality (Global Assessment of Functioning ~ Schedule for Assessment of Insight-illness recognition). In this model, awareness of illness did not explain a significant proportion of variance in functionality scores ( R 2  = 0.045, F (1,52) = 2.48, P  = 0.121)., Conclusion: The treatment compliance part of insight was not one of the significant explanatory variables of depressive symptoms, but it explained the variance in functioning, in contrast to the illness recognition dimension of insight. If our findings were replicated in treatment-resistant schizophrenia, they would suggest that promoting treatment compliance dimension of insight instead of recognition of illness could not increase depressive symptoms., (© 2023 authors.)

Introduction: In cancer patients, percutaneous nephrostomy (PN) catheters can be used to relieve obstruction from chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery, thereby improving kidney function and preventing further kidney damage. One of the complications of PN catheters is infections. Recurrent infections may delay chemotherapy, increase antimicrobial resistance with frequent antibiotic use, deteriorate the quality of life of patients, and increase costs. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate risk factors, causative pathogens, and treatment in recurrent PN catheter-related urinary tract infections in cancer patients., Material and Method: Cancer patients with PN catheter-associated urinary tract infection who were followed-up in the Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Clinic between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2021 were included in the study., Results: The total catheterization time, and occurrence of preinfection catheter replacement, active chemotherapy, and kidney stones were significantly higher in patients with recurrent infection when compared to the other group (P = .000, P = .000, P = .007, and P = .018, respectively). ESBL-positive Escherichia coli and ESBL-positive Klebsiella pneumoniae were most commonly isolated from the PN catheter urine cultures of patients with recurrent infections., Discussion: Long-term use of the PN catheter increases the risk of urinary tract infection and sepsis. In this study, the total catheterization time, and occurrence of preinfection catheter replacement, active chemotherapy, and kidney stones were found to be risk factors for the development of recurrent PN catheter-related urinary tract infection in cancer patients., Conclusion: It is important to know the risk factors in recurrent PN catheter-related urinary tract infections in cancer patients, take maximum protective measures, and follow-up. Knowing both the causative profile and the resistance rates will increase the chance of success in the treatment when empirical treatment is required. It should also be noted that these patients should be included in the group of patients who need prophylaxis for urinary tract infection., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients may be at an elevated risk of developing active tuberculosis infection due to suppression in the cellular immune system. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of latent tuberculosis and active tuberculosis in patients with allogeneic and autologous HSCT. In this cohort, data were obtained retrospectively from patients' records. The patients who were followed up in the bone marrow transplantation unit of the University of Health Sciences Dr Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Education and Research Hospital between January 2016 and December 2019 were screened for the study. And the HSCT recipients who had tuberculin skin test and/or QuantiFERON-TB gold (QFT-GIT) test results were included in the study. A total of 361 patients were included in the study, 227 patients had autologous HSCT, and 134 patients had allogeneic HSCT. QFT-GIT was performed in 10 patients with allogeneic HSCT, and it was found positive in only 1 patient. Tuberculin skin test ≥5 mm was accepted as positive and was accepted to have latent tuberculosis, and it was positive in 18.2% (41) of the patients with autologous HSCT and was positive in 21.6% (29) of the patients with allogeneic HSCT. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups (P = .429). Isoniazid (INH) prophylaxis was started in 16.7% of patients with autologous HSCT and 22.4% of patients with allogeneic HSCT. During follow-up, active tuberculosis did not develop in any patients in both groups. There was no statistically significant difference found between allogeneic and autologous HSCT recipients regarding the prevalence of latent tuberculosis. Active tuberculosis infection did not develop in any of the patients who started INH prophylaxis. INH prophylaxis seems to be very efficient in preventing the reactivation of latent tuberculosis in patients going through allogeneic HSCT and/or autologous HSCT., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Introduction: We aimed to evaluate the epidemiology of infections and factors associated with mortality in patients with febrile neutropenia (FEN)., Methodology: The adult patients, who developed FEN after chemotherapy due to a hematologic malignancy or a solid tumor in a training and research hospital were evaluated, retrospectively. The demographic data of the patients, underlying malignancy, administered antimicrobial therapy, microbiological findings, and other risk factors associated with mortality were evaluated., Results: A total of 135 FEN episodes of 115 patients, who comprised of 72 (63%) patients with 89 FEN episodes due to hematologic malignancies (hemato-group) and 43 (37%) patients with 46 FEN episodes due to solid organ cancers (onco-group), were evaluated in the study. The median age was 47 years (range: 17-75 years) and 66 (57%) patients were male. A total of 12 patients (8.8%) died during 135 episodes of FEN including nine cases from hemato-group and three cases from onco-group. Those factors including a presence of pneumonia, advanced age, persistent fever despite an antimicrobial treatment, and need for mechanical ventilation in intensive care unit (ICU) with were determined as risk factors associated with mortality., Conclusions: Morbidity and mortality are more common in patients with hematological malignancies compared to patients with solid organ cancers due to prolonged neutropenia. In case of persistent fever, an invasive fungal infection (IFI) should be kept in mind in patients with hematologic malignancies and then antifungal treatment should be initiated. Although a persistent fever is also common in patients with solid tumors, the necessity of antifungal therapy is rare due to the short duration of neutropenia., Competing Interests: No Conflict of Interest is declared, (Copyright (c) 2020 Sabahat Ceken, Habip Gedik , Gulsen Iskender, Meryem Demirelli, Duygu Mert, Goknur Yapar Toros, Tugce Nur Yigenoglu, Fevzi Altuntas, Berna Oksuzoglu, Mustafa Ertek.)

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus infection is a major cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer worldwide. The knowledge of physicians about what should they do in case of any anti-HCV positivity in screening tests is of great importance. In this study the awareness and knowledge of physicians is evaluated by analyzing the rate of the referrals of anti-HCV positive patients to HCV RNA test and their treatment by different clinics., Methodology: The patients tested for anti-HCV in internal medicine, surgery, gastroenterology and infectious disease clinics between 1 January and 31 December 2017 were evaluated retrospectively in a tertiary care hospital., Results: Anti-HCV testing was performed in 32,803 patients. Anti-HCV positivity was detected in 95 (0.28%) patients aged 88 years of age or younger (mean 60.89 ± 16.96 years), 57.89% of them were female. HCV RNA was tested in 50 (%52,63) of anti-HCV positive patients and it was found positive in 18 (36%) patients. In anti-HCV positive patients HCV RNA testing was requested most by infectious disease (100%) and gastroenterology (70.58%) clinics and least by surgery and other clinics (21% and 25% respectively). These differences were found to be statistically significant ( =33.65, p < 001)., Conclusions: Our study highlights the significant deficiencies existed in the referring patients with anti-HCV positivity for further examination and treatment by the attending physicians especially in surgical clinics. Performing HCV screening in the different steps of medical care and using electronic reminder systems directing physicians at appropriate diagnostic and treatment protocols can maximize the likelihood of the detection and treatment of HCV- infected patients., Competing Interests: No Conflict of Interest is declared, (Copyright (c) 2020 Gulsen Iskender, Duygu Mert, Sabahat Ceken, Melike Bahcecitapar, Ayla Yenigun, Mustafa Ertek.)