Air-soil exchange of PCBs: seasonal variations in levels and fluxes with influence of equilibrium conditions.

The variations in the occurrences of PCB congeners both in soil and air were investigated in conjunction with each other, and the changes in the fugacity fractions and flux levels were examined on a seasonal basis. Air and soil samples were collected concurrently two or three times in a month during a one-year monitoring at two different locations in Bursa, located in the northwestern Turkey. Fugacity fractions and net flux levels of PCB congeners were calculated.

An alternative sutureless repair technique with amelogenin for duodenal perforation.

Background: Among the various sutureless techniques, fibrin glue has proved to be effective in the treatment of peptic ulcer perforation as an alternative to classical suture repair. Albeit rare, a potential disadvantage of fibrin glue use is viral transmission or anaphylaxis. The aim of this study is to introduce a new technique for the closure of duodenal perforation using a novel recombinant enamel protein called amelogenin.

Pulmonary microvascular permeability and gas exchange in patients with syndrome X.

Aim: This clinical study was planned to assess pulmonary microvascular permeability in patients with Syndrome X (SX) by using a functional imaging tool, technetium-99m-diethyltriaminepentaaceticacid ((99m)Tc-DTPA) lung clearance scintigraphy, and the pulmonary functions test, which includes diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO).

Methods: The study population consisted of 22 non-smoker subjects divided into two groups. First group comprised 12 patients (4 male, 8 female, mean age: 48±4 years, range 36 to 65) with SX.

Prospective evaluation of the factors effective on morbidity and mortality of the patients having liver resection surgeries.

Background/aims: The objective of this study is to evaluate the factors effective on mortality and morbidity of the patients operated for liver tumor.

Methodology: Thirty-four patients who were operated for liver tumor between January 1st 2008 and December 31st 2009 in Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty have been included in this study. Patient preoperative, perioperative and postoperative characteristics and the effects of these characteristics on mortality, morbidity and the length of hospital stay were evaluated.

Efficacy of tigecycline and vancomycin in experimental catheter-related Staphylococcus epidermidis infection: microbiological and electron microscopic analysis of biofilm.

Central venous catheters are frequently used. The commonest cause of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) is coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) associated with adherent biofilm. Tigecycline, a derivative of tetracycline, acts against strains producing biofilm.

Delivery room blood pressure percentiles of healthy, singleton, liveborn neonates.

Background: Arterial blood pressure (BP) is one of the four vital signs that reflect cardiovascular status in neonates. The present study aimed to obtain BP percentiles among healthy, singleton, liveborn neonates between 34 and 43 weeks of gestation who were less than 1 h old.

Methods: BP measurements were taken after birth in supine-positioned neonates in the delivery room using an oscillometric device.

Quantum control of the spin-orbit interaction using the Autler-Townes effect.

We have demonstrated quantum control of the spin-orbit interaction based on the Autler-Townes (ac-Stark) effect in a molecular system using a cw optical field. We show that the enhancement of the spin-orbit interaction between a pair of weakly interacting singlet-triplet rovibrational levels, G (1)Π(g)(v=12,J=21,f)-1 (3)Σ(g)(-)(v=1,N=21,f), separated by 750 MHz in the lithium dimer, depends on the Rabi frequency (laser power) of the control laser. The increase in the spin-orbit interaction due to the control field is observed as a change in the spin character of the individual components of the perturbed pair.

Effects of epidural-and-general anesthesia combined versus general anesthesia during laparoscopic adrenalectomy.

Laparoscopic approach is increasingly performed for functional adrenal tumor resections. The aim of this study was to compare general anesthesia and general anesthesia combined with epidural anesthesia for laparoscopic adrenalectomy. In our study, we planned to examine hemodynamic changes (heart rate, systolic, diastolic, and mean pressures) and quantity of adrenocorticotropic hormone, adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol, and aldosterone in laparoscopic adrenalectomies under general anesthesia with or without epidural anesthesia.

Effects of lycopene on oxidative stress and remnant liver histology after partial hepatectomy in rats.

Background/aims: Partial hepatectomy is performed for the treatment of mass lesions in the liver. Lycopene, which is a carotenoid, is present in various physiologic processes. In this study, the effects of lycopene administration in partially hepatectomized rats were evaluated by assessing various oxidant/antioxidant parameters, remnant liver histology and plasma nitric oxide levels.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura after prophylactic cefuroxime axetil administered in relation to a liposuction procedure.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) or Moschcowitz's syndrome is characterized by platelet and von Willebrand factor (vWF) deposition in arterioles and capillaries throughout the body, which results in organ ischemia. The diagnostic pentad characterizing TTP consists of thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA), fever, neurologic manifestations, and renal insufficiency. In terms of type, TTP can be either idiopathic or secondary.

Surgical repair of a cause of sudden death: left coronary artery originating from right coronary sinus.

Left coronary artery originating from the right coronary sinus is one of the most frequent causes of sudden death in young people. We present a reconstructive surgical technique for left coronary artery and main pulmonary artery in a case with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the right coronary sinus. A 15-year-old boy underwent unroofing of the left main coronary artery and patch arterioplasty with autologous pericardium after transection of the main pulmonary artery.

Azacitidine has limited activity in 'real life' patients with MDS and AML: a single centre experience.

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) represents a heterogeneous group of potentially malignant diseases of bone-marrow stem cells. Acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) is an inevitable outcome for many patients with MDS. Azacitidine has been reported to result in comparably higher response rates and improved survival than other treatment strategies.

Bacterial adhesion and colonization differences between zirconium oxide and titanium alloys: an in vivo human study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare zirconium oxide and titanium alloys with respect to their tendency to adhesion and colonization of two periodontal pathogens on both hard surfaces and on soft tissues in vivo.

Materials And Methods: The present study was designed as a prospective stratified randomized controlled clinical trial. Patients were scheduled to receive two implants with different types of abutments in the posterior mandible.

Factors affecting recurrence and disease-free survival in granulosa cell tumors of the ovary.

Purpose Of Investigation: To determine risk factors for prognosis and recurrence in ovarian adult-type granulosa cell tumor (GCT).

Methods: A retrospective review of GCT cases treated at our university hospital between 1991-2006.

Results: Of 39 patients with GCT, 82% had Stage I disease.

Amelogenin (an extracellular matrix protein) application on ischemic colon anastomosis in rats.

Background: Ischemia is a troublesome problem that can cause intestinal emergencies and complicate the treatment. Identification of a chemical agent with beneficial effects on the healing process in risky colon anastomosis with the aim of reducing leakage rates is a popular topic in the era of surgical research. Data is lacking about the role of amelogenin, an extracellular matrix protein, during the healing process of gastrointestinal anastomosis.

Spatial and temporal distribution of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations in soils of an industrialized city in Turkey.

Surface soil (0-5 cm) samples from 43 sampling sites covering the entire urban territory of Bursa, an industrialized city in Turkey, were collected in each season and analyzed for 83 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The mean concentration of total PCBs (Σ83 PCBs) among all sites over the four seasons was 2121.51 pg/g dry weight (dw), with a range of 207.

[Prevalence of chronic otitis media in the young male population in Turkey].

Objectives: In this study, we investigate the prevalence of chronic otitis media (COM) in young men.

Patients And Methods: Twenty thousand consecutive young men (mean age 22 years) who were under election for high performance military positions were examined by two otolaryngologists in the Military Hospital, İzmir. The otologic examination findings were noted.

The performance of Hancock porcine-valved Dacron conduit for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction.

Background: The surgical reconstruction of right ventricle outflow tract (RVOT) often requires the implantation of a valved conduit. Homografts are lacking availability and are associated with limited durability in children. Our experience with the Hancock porcine-valved Dacron (DuPont, Wilmington, DE) conduit (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) was retrospectively assessed.

Industrial hazardous waste management in Turkey: current state of the field and primary challenges.

A holistic evaluation of a country's hazardous waste management (HWM) practices is useful in identifying the necessary actions to focus on. Based on an analysis of industrial hazardous waste (HW) generation in Turkey, this paper attempts to critically evaluate and report current Turkish HWM practices and discuss the primary challenges to be addressed. The generation of industrial HW for Turkey reported in 2004 was 1.

Analysis of laparoscopic colorectal surgery in high-risk patients.

The aim of this retrospective study is to examine the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic colorectal resection for colorectal malignancies to determine "high-risk" patients. In our classification, 3 minor criteria including patients over 70 years of age, body mass index over 30 m/kg, and cigarette smoking and 5 major criteria including cardiac, pulmonary, renal, liver disease, and diabetes mellitus were selected to determine a high-risk group. Patients carrying 1 minor and 1 major criteria were classified as the high-risk group.

Comparison of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons levels in sludges from municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants.

This study was carried out to investigate the concentrations and potential sources of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sludge of 14 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Sludge samples were collected from 2 municipal WWTPs, 11 industrial WWTPs, and 1 sanitary landfill leachate treatment plant within the city of Bursa, Turkey during the summer of 2008. Ultrasonication was applied for extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to analyze the PAH contents of the samples.

Evaluation of intravenous paracetamol administration on postoperative pain and recovery characteristics in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Purpose: In this study, the effects of intravenous paracetamol treatment on early postoperative period analgesia and recovery characteristics after laparoscopic cholecystectomy have been evaluated.

Methods: Forty patients whose American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and randomly divided into 2 equal groups. In the first group, 1 g paracetamol was given to the patients intravenously after intubation before start of the surgery in 15 minutes.

Online unsupervised formation of cell assemblies for the encoding of multiple cognitive maps.

Since their introduction sixty years ago, cell assemblies have proved to be a powerful paradigm for brain information processing. After their introduction in artificial intelligence, cell assemblies became commonly used in computational neuroscience as a neural substrate for content addressable memories. However, the mechanisms underlying their formation are poorly understood and, so far, there is no biologically plausible algorithms which can explain how external stimuli can be online stored in cell assemblies.

Mitral web--a new concept for mitral valve repair: improved engineering design and in-vitro studies.

Background And Aim Of The Study: A new mitral valve repair concept to treat mitral regurgitation (MR) due to valve prolapse was recently proposed. In this study, an improved design of this concept is presented, and the results of preliminary hemodynamic studies conducted in an in-vitro prolapse model are reported.

Methods: The new repair approach is based on using a web/net attached to a standard annuloplasty ring spanning the annulus of the mitral valve.