Breakthrough Trichosporon asahii fungemia in neutropenic patient with acute leukemia while receiving caspofungin.

A 47-year-old man with newly diagnosed acute myeloblastic leukemia and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus developed Trichosporon asahii fungemia while receiving caspofungin as empirical antifungal therapy. The diagnosis was based on repeated isolation of T. asahii in culture of blood for three times.

Expression and clinical significance of Ki-67, oestrogen and progesterone receptors in acoustic neuroma.

Objective: The objective was to assess the presence of Ki-67, and oestrogen and progesterone hormone receptors as well as their clinical correlates in acoustic neuroma.

Methods: Medical records of 59 patients who were operated on for acoustic neuroma between 1995 and 2003 were evaluated retrospectively. Formaldehyde-fixed paraffin-embedded archival acoustic neuroma specimens of the patients were used for immunohistochemical assessments of oestrogen and progesterone hormone receptors, and Ki-67 proliferative marker.

Robotics in cardiac surgery: the Istanbul experience.

Background: Robots are sensor-based tools capable of performing precise, accurate and versatile actions. Initially designed to spare humans from risky tasks, robots have progressed into revolutionary tools for surgeons. Tele-operated robots, such as the da Vinci (Intuitive Surgical, Mountain View, CA), have allowed cardiac procedures to start benefiting from robotics as an enhancement to traditional minimally invasive surgery.

Biosorption of Reactive Red-120 dye from aqueous solution by native and modified fungus biomass preparations of Lentinus sajor-caju.

The capacities and mechanisms of native and treated white-rot fungus "Lentinus sajur-caju" biomass preparations in removing of textile dye (i.e. Reactive Red-120) from aqueous solution was investigated with different parameters, such as adsorbent dosage, pH, temperature and ionic strength.

Risk of superior gluteal nerve and gluteus medius muscle injury during femoral nail insertion.

Background: Abduction weakness and limping is a well-recognized complication of closed antegrade insertion of femoral nails. Iatrogenic injuries to the superior gluteal nerve and the gluteus medius muscle are the most likely contributing factors. The purpose of this study of cadavers was to assess the risk of nerve and muscle injury with various lower-limb positions used during nail insertion.

Techno-economical evaluation of electrocoagulation for the textile wastewater using different electrode connections.

The bench scale of an electrocoagulation (EC) unit requires a detailed study discerning the effects of continuous variables such as pH, current density and operating time, and type variables such as electrode material and connection mode. This paper presents the results of the treatment of a textile wastewater by EC process. Two electrode materials, aluminum and iron, were connected in three modes namely, monopolar-parallel (MP-P), monopolar-serial (MP-S), and bipolar-serial (BP-S).

Effects of osteoarthritis and fatigue on proprioception of the knee joint.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of knee osteoarthritis (OA) and periarticular muscular fatigue on knee joint kinesthesia.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: A physical medicine and rehabilitation outpatient clinic.

Single-step purification of recombinant Thermus aquaticus DNA polymerase using DNA-aptamer immobilized novel affinity magnetic beads.

A DNA aptamer specific for Thermus aquaticus DNA polymerase (Taq-polymerase) was immobilized on magnetic beads, which were prepared in the presented study. The effect of various parameters including pH, temperaturem and aptamer concentration on the immobilization of 5'-thiol labeled DNA-aptamer onto glutaric dialdhyde activated magnetic beads was evaluated. The binding conditions of Taq-polymerase on the aptamer immobilized magnetic beads were studied using commercial Taq-polymerase to characterize the surface complexation reaction.

Kinetics of mercury ions removal from synthetic aqueous solutions using by novel magnetic p(GMA-MMA-EGDMA) beads.

Poly(glycidylmethacrylate-methylmethacrylate), p(GMA-MMA-EGDMA), magnetic beads were prepared via suspension polymerization in the presence of ferric ions. The epoxy groups of the beads were converted into amino groups via ring opening reaction of the ammonia and, the aminated magnetic beads were used for the removal of Hg(II) ions from aqueous solution in a batch experiment and in a magnetically stabilized fluidized bed reactor (MFB). The magnetic p(GMA-MMA-EGDMA) beads were characterized with scanning electron microscope (SEM), FT-IR and ESR spectrophotometers.

The effect of abdominal massage on bowel function in patients with spinal cord injury.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of abdominal massage on clinical aspects of bowel dysfunction and colonic transit time in patients with spinal cord injury. Twenty-four patients were placed on a standard bowel program (phase I), after which abdominal massage was added to the regimen (phase II). Parameters of gastrointestinal system function and colonic transit times were evaluated.

Biosorption of benzidine based textile dyes "Direct Blue 1 and Direct Red 128" using native and heat-treated biomass of Trametes versicolor.

The capacities and mechanisms of native and heat-treated white rot fungus "Trametes versicolor" biomass in removing of two different benzidine based dyes (i.e., Direct Blue 1, DB-1 and Direct Red 128, DR-128) from aqueous solution was investigated with different parameters, such as molecular weight of dye, adsorbent dosage, pH, temperature and ionic strength.

Biosorption of Reactive Blue 4 dye by native and treated fungus Phanerocheate chrysosporium: Batch and continuous flow system studies.

The native and treated fungal biomass of Phanerocheate chrysosporium was used for the biosorption of a textile dye (i.e., Reactive Blue 4).

Surgical exposure in retrosigmoid approach: do we need cerebellar retractors?

Background: The aim of this study was to present our technique of posterior fossa surgery and to evaluate whether cerebellar retractors are needed.

Methods: Since March 1989, more than 500 surgeries were performed through retrosigmoid approach, and our surgical technique was described. The data were evaluated whether or not cerebellar retractors were used in the operations.

Combined off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery and ablative therapy for atrial fibrillation: early and mid-term results.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting combined with radiofrequency ablation and to compare outcomes between patients with permanent and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) in terms of restoring sinus rhythm.

Methods: Thirty-three patients underwent the combined procedure. Mean age was 62.

Practical use of MESNA in atelectatic ears and adhesive otitis media.

Objective: MESNA is a synthetic sulfur compound that produces mucolysis by disrupting disulfide bonds. This study aimed to address indications and technique of MESNA application in otologic surgery, especially in retraction pockets and adhesive otitis media.

Methods: MESNA application was performed in 42 ears of 39 patients.

Serum albumin and comorbidity relative to rehabilitation outcome in geriatric stroke, and possible links with stroke etiology.

Factors that describe the disability status of the stroke patient on discharge are important when starting a rehabilitation program, both from a psychosocial and a financial point of view. The objective of this study was to assess how comorbidity and serum albumin levels relate to rehabilitation outcome in geriatric stroke patients. Another aim was to assess whether stroke etiology (ischemic or hemorrhagic) influences these links.

Studies on accumulation of uranium by fungus Lentinus sajor-caju.

The untreated, heat- and alkali-treated Lentinus sajor-caju mycelia were used for the recovery of uranium from aqueous solutions. The effect of pH, temperature, initial concentration of UO(2)(2+) ions and contact time parameters were investigated in a batch system. The particles sizes of the fungal mycelia were ranging from 100 to 200 microm.

Surface energy components of a dye-ligand immobilized pHEMA membranes: effects of their molecular attracting forces for non-covalent interactions with IgG and HSA in aqueous media.

In the present paper, we report the study of the adsorption behaviour of human immunoglobulin G (IgG), human serum albumin (HSA) and polyethylenimine (PEI) onto surfaces of Procion Green HE-4BD (PG) immobilized poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (pHEMA) membranes. The adsorption behaviour of the IgG and HSA onto surfaces of the PG-PEI complexed membrane was also studied. Surface wettability and hydrophilicity of all the membranes were investigated by static contact angle measurements.

Adaptive neuro-fuzzy based modelling for prediction of air pollution daily levels in city of Zonguldak.

Air pollution is a growing problem arising from domestic heating, high density of vehicle traffic, electricity production, and expanding commercial and industrial activities, all increasing in parallel with urban population. Monitoring and forecasting of air quality parameters in the urban area are important due to health impact. Artificial intelligent techniques are successfully used in modelling of highly complex and non-linear phenomena.

Treatment of poultry slaughterhouse wastewaters by electrocoagulation.

Treatment of poultry slaughterhouse wastewater (PSW) by electrocoagulation (EC) has been investigated batchwise in this paper. Effects of the process variables such as medium pH, electrode material, current density, and operating time are investigated on chemical oxygen demand (COD) and oil-grease removal efficiencies, electrical energy consumption, and sacrificial electrode consumption. The highest COD removal efficiency is reached with aluminum as 93%, and maximum oil-grease removal is obtained with iron electrodes as 98%.

Treatment of levafix orange textile dye solution by electrocoagulation.

The decolorization of the levafix orange textile dye in aqueous solution by electrocoagulation using aluminum sacrificial anode has been investigated. The process performance is analyzed in terms of decolorization efficiency and the important cost-related parameters such as electrode and energy consumptions, as a function of initial pH, conductivity, current density, initial dye concentration and electrolysis time. The present study proves the effectiveness of electrochemical treatment for the textile dye solution.

Ultrastructural analysis of the chorda tympani nerve in chronic suppurative otitis media.

Objective: To compare ultrastructure of the chorda tympani nerve by light and electron microscopy in patients with otosclerosis and chronic suppurative otitis media.

Study Design: Comparative prospective study.

Setting: Tertiary care, referral medical center.