Comparison of different characterization approaches for monoelemental calibration solutions at two national metrology institutes.

Monoelemental calibration solutions are the most common reference in elemental analysis, linking measurement results to the International System of Units (SI). National Metrology Institutes (NMI) prepare these solutions as certified reference materials (CRM) and determine their elemental mass fraction with high accuracy. Characterization with high accuracy is one of the most critical steps in CRM production.

Development of three biofuel CRMs for the quality parameters in biodiesel and wood pellet via a joint research project.

Biomass is a key element in biofuels which can be defined as a fuel produced through contemporary biological processes, and its increased use can support the EU's aims of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Information on the nature and the quality of the biomass or biofuel is important in order to support the optimization of their combustion with respect to realizing higher efficiencies and lower emissions during energy production. Three reference materials were produced by a collaborative approach among national metrology institutes and designated institutes within the scope of the EMPIR project: BIOFMET.

Carbazole-Phosphazene Based Polymer for Efficient Extraction of Gold and Precious Elements from Electronic Waste.

The continuous advancement of industry and technology has significantly increased electronic waste, which contributes to the depletion of valuable metal reserves. Therefore, it is crucial to recycle precious metals in electronic waste effectively and sustainably. This study introduces a novel approach by applying a carbazole-phosphazene-based polymer, EBE-06, in a two-stage leaching method for efficient metal extraction.

Unilateral Multiple Evanescent White Dot Syndrome-Like Reaction Following the CyberKnife Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Choroidal Malignant Melanoma.

A 58-year-old otherwise healthy man received a diagnosis of choroidal malignant melanoma (CMM) in June 2021 and underwent a single session of (21 Gy) CyberKnife stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT). Eleven months later, we noticed 3+ anterior chamber cells with occasional vitreous cells in the left eye. Though the tumor looked regressed, there were mild optic disc leakage, early hypofluorescent and late hyperfluorescent punctate lesions scattered 360 degrees, and late staining of the mass on fluorescein angiogram.

CyberKnife Stereotactic Radiotherapy in Secondary Vasoproliferative Tumor of the Retina.

A 16-year-old boy with X-linked retinoschisis was examined for the visual decline on his left eye. Upon examination, a vasopermeable elevated mass lesion was determined at the lower temporal retinal periphery associated with surrounding arc-like hard exudates which is consistent with a vasoactive proliferative tumor of the retina. After discussing the therapeutic options with the patient and his parents, 3 successive dexamethasone implants 6 months apart were administered.

Quantification of tributyltin in seawater using triple isotope dilution gas chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry achieving high accuracy and complying with European Water Framework Directive limits.

A triple isotope dilution GC-ICPMS method for the determination of tributyltin (TBT) was developed and validated to meet the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) requirements. The validation procedure involved the evaluation of trueness, precision (repeatability, intermediate precision), limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ), stability, measurement uncertainty and traceability studies. The method is one of the most sensitive methods published to date with good accuracy, 103% average recovery in the range with %RSDs of 2.

Practical and theoretical considerations for the determination of δ C values of methylmercury in the environment.

Rationale: Analytical methods that can identify the source and fate of mercury and organomercury compounds are likely to be useful tools to investigate mercury in the environment. Carbon isotope ratio analysis of methylmercury (MeHg) together with mercury isotope ratios may offer a robust tool to study environmental cycling of organomercury compounds within fish tissues and other matrices.

Methods: MeHg carbon isotope ratios were determined by gas chromatography/combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C-IRMS) either directly or following derivatization using sodium tetraethylborate.

The association between variant urothelial histologies, pathological stage and disease specific survival in patients with bladder cancer.

Objective: We aimed to compare the oncological outcomes of patients with variant urothelial histologies (VH) with pure urothelial histology (PUH) in bladder cancer (BC) patients.

Material And Methods: This study includes 223 patients who underwent radical cystectomies (RCs) between September 2006 and July 2016 with complete follow-up data A retrospective screening was performed to identify the patients with PUH and VH. The primary outcomes of interest were pathological stage of disease at RC and disease-specific survival (DSS).

Towards tributyltin quantification in natural water at the Environmental Quality Standard level required by the Water Framework Directive.

The European Union (EU) has included tributyltin (TBT) and its compounds in the list of priority water pollutants. Quality standards demanded by the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) require determination of TBT at so low concentration level that chemical analysis is still difficult and further research is needed to improve the sensitivity, the accuracy and the precision of existing methodologies. Within the frame of a joint research project "Traceable measurements for monitoring critical pollutants under the European Water Framework Directive" in the European Metrology Research Programme (EMRP), four metrological and designated institutes have developed a primary method to quantify TBT in natural water using liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) and species-specific isotope dilution mass spectrometry (SSIDMS).

Prospective evaluation of complications in laparoscopic urology at a mid-volume institution using standardized criteria: Experience of 1023 cases including learning curve in 9 years.

Aim: To evaluate the laparoscopic operations performed in our department according to the modified Clavien classification system of complications.

Materials And Methods: Between September, 2005 and February, 2014, a total of 1023 laparoscopic cases were performed. This period was divided into three terms (Terms 1, 2 and 3 consisting of 38, 32 and 32 months, respectively).

International system of units traceable results of Hg mass concentration at saturation in air from a newly developed measurement procedure.

Data most commonly used at present to calibrate measurements of mercury vapor concentrations in air come from a relationship known as the "Dumarey equation". It uses a fitting relationship to experimental results obtained nearly 30 years ago. The way these results relate to the international system of units (SI) is not known.

Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.

Design: Case series.

Setting: School of Medicine, Düzce University, Turkey.

Use of a combined retroperitoneoscopic and transperitoneal laparoscopic technique for the management of renal cell carcinoma with level I tumor thrombi.

Background: To report our initial experiences using a combined retroperitoneoscopic and transperitoneal laparoscopic technique for the management of renal cell carcinoma with level I tumor thrombi.

Materials And Methods: Two patients underwent this technique for tumors 11- and 13-cm in diameter. After transection of the renal artery with limited mobilization of the kidney using a retroperitoneoscopic approach, additional ports were placed, and the management of the tumor thrombus was performed in the large working space provided by the transperitoneoscopic approach.

Serous retinal detachment and cystoid macular edema in a patient with Wyburn-Mason syndrome.

Wyburn-Mason syndrome is a rare phacomatosis characterized by unilateral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) involving the brain, retina, and (rarely) the skin. The diagnosis is concluded with dilated fundus examination and markedly dilated tortuous vascular loops with arteriovenous communications on fluorescent angiography. We present a 14-year-old male patient with Wyburn-Mason syndrome who developed serous macular neuroretinal detachment, cystoid macular edema (CME), and consequent visual deterioration in the left eye.

Future prospects in the diagnosis and management of localized prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the commonest visceral cancer in men worldwide. Introduction of serum PSA as a highly specific biomarker for prostatic diseases has led to a dramatic increase in the diagnosis of early stage PCa in last decades. Guidelines underline that benefits as well as risks and squeals of early diagnosis and treatment should be discussed with patients.

Relation between platelet indices and branch retinal vein occlusion in hypertensive patients.

Background: Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) is the second most common retinal vascular disease after diabetic retinopathy. To date, the studies were unable to elucidate the mechanism of the thrombosis leading to the entity; particularly the relation between thrombocyte aggregation and retinal vein occlusion is still unclear. Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a determinant of rate of platelet production and activation, both of which are indices of function of platelets.

Branch retinal vein occlusion associated with tamoxifen use.

Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor modulator widely used in the treatment of hormone-responsive breast cancer. Tamoxifen-induced ocular complications are very rare. A post-menopausal woman with carcinoma of the left breast had presented with sudden loss of vision.

Neuroprotective effects of olanzapine in N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced retinal injury.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective effect of olanzapine (OLA), an atypical antipsychotic drug, on N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-induced retinal injury.

Methods: Retinal neuronal ischemia was induced by NMDA in Wistar rats. OLA was administered intraperitoneally in 2 different dosages: 2 and 12 mg/kg.

Susac's syndrome: a case of simultaneous development of all three components of the triad.

Susac's syndrome is characterized by the clinical triad of encephalopathy, branch retinal artery occlusions and sensorineural hearing loss. We here report a case of 46 year old woman with a sudden diminution in visual acuity at the left eye, headache and decreased hearing at the right ear with mild confusion considered as Susac's syndrome with complete triad. Although it's a relatively rare entity, it should be kept in mind in differential diagnosis of the neurological disorders, especially in women in 20- to 40-year of age presenting with acute hearing loss.

What is the role of enlarged lymph node resection alone in patients with nonseminomatous germ cell tumor who had stage II or III disease?

Background: Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection is an important treatment modality in nonseminomatous germ cell tumors of the testis. However, the role of more limited surgical approaches such as resection of enlarged lymph nodes only is still controversial.

Patients And Methods: Between January 1991 and December 2010, charts of 94 patients who underwent resection of enlarged retroperitoneal lymph nodes alone were reviewed.

Premacular hemorrhage due to isotretinoin use.

Isotretinoin is a vitamin A derivative used for serious acne that is refractory to other modes of treatment. The most common side effects include dryness of the skin and mucous membranes. Itching as a result of neurological, hematological and ocular side effects has also been reported.

LKB1 mutations and their correlation with LKB1 and Rheb expression in bladder cancer.

Although there are extensive studies on the genetics of bladder cancer, several questions remain unanswered. One of the pathways which are altered in bladder cancer is the mTOR signaling pathway. In the present study, we analyzed the expression of Rheb gene and genetic alterations in the LKB1 gene which are the key components of mTOR pathway.

Clinicopathological characteristics and treatment outcomes of adult patients with paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma (PRMS): A 10-year single-centre experience.

Introduction: We report our experience with 8 consecutive adults treated for paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) at a single institution between 2000 and 2010.

Methods: After primary surgical excision, 7 patients were classified into group I according to the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Group (IRSG) Postsurgical Grouping Classification, and 1 patient into group IIB. Retroperitoneal node dissection was not a required staging procedure.

Ground temperature estimations for Bolu, Turkey.

The approximation of the soil temperature profile may be considered for many energy, environmental, and agriculture applications. In this study, temperature approximation model of ground in Bolu is developed. Unsteady state one-dimensional semi-infinite solid model is used to calculate temperature variation in ground.