Inflammatory and Hematologic Liver and Platelet (HALP) Scores in Hypothermia-Treated Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE).

Objective: This study examined systemic inflammatory indices and "Hemoglobin, Albumin, Lymphocyte, Platelet (HALP) scores" in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

Methods: A total of 43 neonates with moderate-to-severe HIE at 36 weeks' gestation were assessed. Systemic inflammatory markers were measured before HT commenced within 0-6 h after birth and between 60 and 72 h during and after therapy or before adjusting for hypothermia.

Perinatal and Neonatal Outcomes of Refugee Infants in a Tertiary Hospital in Turkey.

Background Worldwide, the immigration problem has been increasing due to conflicts. In recent years, Turkey accepted more than 3.8 million refugees from many countries, principally Syria.

Awareness or neglecting the diagnosis of cow milk protein allergy in the neonatal period.

Background And Objectives: Cow milk protein allergy (CMPA) can mimic surgical disease, gastroenteritis, sepsis, and necrotizing enterocolitis in the neonatal period. For this reason, we aimed to evaluate the clinical features, differential diagnosis, and treatment methods of neonates with CMPA.

Methods And Study Design: The charts of twenty-six breastfed full-term and preterm newborns presenting with CMPA between October 2018 and February 2021 were retrospectively reviewed.

Can We Estimate Late-Onset Sepsis by Serial Methemoglobin Levels? An Observational Study in Preterm Neonates.

To assess serial methemoglobin (MetHb) levels in preterm infants as a possible diagnostic method for late-onset sepsis (LOS). Preterm infants were assigned into two groups: those with culture-proven LOS and controls. Serial MetHb levels were measured.

Carboxyhemoglobin Levels in Preterm Neonatal Late-Onset Sepsis: to Predict or not to Predict.

Background: In this study, we aimed to evaluate carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels in diagnosing late-onset sepsis (LOS) in preterm neonates.

Methods: The records of culture-positive LOS in preterm neonates hospitalized in NICU from January 2017 to July 2022 were reviewed. COHb levels, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio of septic preterm infants were compared to controls.

Intravenous immunoglobulin in hemolytic disease of the newborn: A moving target in time.

Background: Alloimmune hemolytic disease of the newborn (AIHDN) results in hemolysis, anemia, hyperbilirubinemia with the potential for brain damage. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has been investigated as an alternative low-risk procedure for the treatment of AIHDN in addition to traditional treatment methods such as phototherapy and exchange transfusion (ET).

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of IVIG therapy in decreasing ET needs based on risk factors and clinical outcomes.

Syntaxin-1A modulates vesicle fusion in mammalian neurons via juxtamembrane domain dependent palmitoylation of its transmembrane domain.

SNAREs are undoubtedly one of the core elements of synaptic transmission. Contrary to the well characterized function of their SNARE domains bringing the plasma and vesicular membranes together, the level of contribution of their juxtamembrane domain (JMD) and the transmembrane domain (TMD) to the vesicle fusion is still under debate. To elucidate this issue, we analyzed three groups of STX1A mutations in cultured mouse hippocampal neurons: (1) elongation of STX1A's JMD by three amino acid insertions in the junction of SNARE-JMD or JMD-TMD; (2) charge reversal mutations in STX1A's JMD; and (3) palmitoylation deficiency mutations in STX1A's TMD.

Can the Reduction of Cytokines Stop the Progression of Sepsis?

Objective In this study, we aimed to analyze the laboratory and clinical results of cytokine hemadsorption as an immunomodulation therapy in ICU patients diagnosed with sepsis or septic shock. Methods The levels of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP), determined to be indicators of infection/sepsis, and the levels of interleukins (IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), deemed as indicators of the cytokine storm, were compared among 32 patients before and after the hemadsorption procedure. Results The hemadsorption significantly reduced the levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNFα, PCT, CRP, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) scores, mortality rate, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores (p<0.

Reexamination of N-terminal domains of syntaxin-1 in vesicle fusion from central murine synapses.

Syntaxin-1 (STX1) and Munc18-1 are two requisite components of synaptic vesicular release machinery, so much so synaptic transmission cannot proceed in their absence. They form a tight complex through two major binding modes: through STX1's N-peptide and through STX1's closed conformation driven by its H- domain. However, physiological roles of these two reportedly different binding modes in synapses are still controversial.

The Role of Lung Ultrasound as an Early Diagnostic Tool for Need of Surfactant Therapy in Preterm Infants with Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the accuracy of neonatal lung ultrasound (LUS) in predicting the need for surfactant therapy compared with chest X-ray (CXR) in preterm infants.

Study Design: A prospective double-blind study was conducted in infants with a gestational age <34 weeks with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) by evaluation with LUS and CXR on admission.

Results: Among 45 preterm infants, the median (interquartile range [IQR]) LUS score was 4 (2-8) in the mild RDS group, whereas it was 10 (IQR: 9-12) in the severe RDS group ( < 0.

Epilepsy-causing STX1B mutations translate altered protein functions into distinct phenotypes in mouse neurons.

Syntaxin 1B (STX1B) is a core component of the N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex that is critical for the exocytosis of synaptic vesicles in the presynapse. SNARE-mediated vesicle fusion is assisted by Munc18-1, which recruits STX1B in the auto-inhibited conformation, while Munc13 catalyses the fast and efficient pairing of helices during SNARE complex formation. Mutations within the STX1B gene are associated with epilepsy.

Acute Peritoneal Dialysis in Premature Infants.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the underlying causes and outcomes of less than 1500 g birth weight infants who underwent acute peritoneal dialysis (PD).

Methods: Case records of infants with birthweight less than 1500 g from January 2015 to June 2018 were reviewed.

Results: The median (range) birth weight and gestational age of the patients were 720 g (555-1055) and 26 weeks (23-27.

Bi-directional tuning of thermal transport in SrCoO with electrochemically induced phase transitions.

Unlike the wide-ranging dynamic control of electrical conductivity, there does not exist an analogous ability to tune thermal conductivity by means of electric potential. The traditional picture assumes that atoms inserted into a material's lattice act purely as a source of scattering for thermal carriers, which can only reduce thermal conductivity. In contrast, here we show that the electrochemical control of oxygen and proton concentration in an oxide provides a new ability to bi-directionally control thermal conductivity.

Complexes of glucose oxidase with chitosan and dextran possessing enhanced stability.

In this study, the different mole ratios of glucose oxidase/chitosan/dextran-aldehyde and glucose oxidase/chitosan/dextran-sulfate complexes were synthesized. The modification of glucose oxidase by non-covalent complexation with dextran and chitosan in different molar ratios was studied in order to increase the enzyme activity. The enzyme/polymer complexes obtained were investigated by UV spectrophotometer and dynamic light scattering.

Development of urea biosensor using non-covalent complexes of urease with aldehyde derivative of PEG and analysis on serum samples.

Non-covalent complexes of urease/polyethylene glycol (PEG)-aldehyde were synthesized using regular molar ratios of urease and PEG-aldehyde at room temperature. The physical properties of the non-covalent complexes were analyzed in order to investigate the impact of coupling ratio, temperature, pH, storage stability, and thermal stability. Urease activity was analyzed by UV-Vis spectrophotometer at 630 nm.

Synthesis of glucose oxidase-PEG aldehyde conjugates and improvement of enzymatic stability.

In this article, aldehyde derivative of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was synthesized directly with sodium periodate agent. To obtain a conjugate which possesses better stability, PEG aldehyde was bonded to native enzyme with different molar ratios. The conjugation reaction turned out to be efficient and mild.

RIM-binding protein 2 regulates release probability by fine-tuning calcium channel localization at murine hippocampal synapses.

The tight spatial coupling of synaptic vesicles and voltage-gated Ca channels (Cas) ensures efficient action potential-triggered neurotransmitter release from presynaptic active zones (AZs). Rab-interacting molecule-binding proteins (RIM-BPs) interact with Ca channels and via RIM with other components of the release machinery. Although human RIM-BPs have been implicated in autism spectrum disorders, little is known about the role of mammalian RIM-BPs in synaptic transmission.

Syntaxin 1B is important for mouse postnatal survival and proper synaptic function at the mouse neuromuscular junctions.

STX1 is a major neuronal syntaxin protein located at the plasma membrane of the neuronal tissues. Rodent STX1 has two highly similar paralogs, STX1A and STX1B, that are thought to be functionally redundant. Interestingly, some studies have shown that the distribution patterns of STX1A and STX1B at the central and peripheral nervous systems only partially overlapped, implying that there might be differential functions between these paralogs.

Measuring calcium, potassium, and nitrate in plant nutrient solutions using ion-selective electrodes in hydroponic greenhouse of some vegetables.

Generally, the life cycle of plants depends on the uptake of essential nutrients in a balanced manner and on toxic elements being under a certain concentration. Lack of control of nutrient levels in nutrient solution can result in reduced plant growth and undesired conditions such as blossom-end rot. In this study, sensitivity and selectivity tests for various polyvinylchloride (PVC)-based ion-selective membranes were conducted to identify those suitable for measuring typical concentration ranges of macronutrients, that is, NO(3-), K(+), and Ca(2+), in hydroponic solutions.

Electrochemistry of magnesium electrolytes in ionic liquids for secondary batteries.

The electrochemistry of Mg salts in room-temperature ionic liquids (ILs) was studied using plating/stripping voltammetry to assess the viability of IL solvents for applications in secondary Mg batteries. Borohydride (BH4(-)), trifluoromethanesulfonate (TfO(-)), and bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (Tf2N(-)) salts of Mg were investigated. Three ILs were considered: l-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium (BMIM)-Tf2N, N-methyl-N-propylpiperidinium (PP13)-Tf2N, and N,N-diethyl-N-methyl(2-methoxyethyl)ammonium (DEME(+)) tetrafluoroborate (BF4(-)).

Inhibition of hydrogen uptake in Escherichia coli by expressing the hydrogenase from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.

Background: Molecular hydrogen is an environmentally-clean fuel and the reversible (bi-directional) hydrogenase of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 as well as the native Escherichia coli hydrogenase 3 hold great promise for hydrogen generation. These enzymes perform the simple reaction 2H+ + 2e- <--> H2 (g).

Alanine 101 and alanine 110 of the alpha subunit of Pseudomonas stutzeri OX1 toluene-o-xylene monooxygenase influence the regiospecific oxidation of aromatics.

Saturation mutagenesis was used to generate 10 mutants of toluene-o-xylene monooxygenase (ToMO) at alpha subunit (TouA) positions A101 and A110: A101G, A101I, A101M, A101VE, A101V, A110G, A110C, A110S, A110P, and A110T; by testing the substrates toluene, o-cresol, m-cresol, p-cresol, phenol, naphthalene, o-methoxyphenol, m-methoxyphenol, p-methoxyphenol, o-xylene, and nitrobenzene, these positions were found to influence the regiospecific oxidation of aromatics. For example, compared to wild-type ToMO, TouA variant A101V produced threefold more 3-methoxycatechol from m-methoxyphenol as well as produced methylhydroquinone from o-cresol whereas wild-type ToMO did not. Similarly, variant A110C synthesized 1.

Protein engineering of toluene-o-xylene monooxygenase from Pseudomonas stutzeri OX1 for enhanced chlorinated ethene degradation and o-xylene oxidation.

Toluene-o-xylene monooxygenase (ToMO) from Pseudomonas stutzeri OX1 has been shown to degrade all chlorinated ethenes individually and as mixtures. Here, DNA shuffling of the alpha hydroxylase fragment of ToMO (TouA) and saturation mutagenesis of the TouA active site residues I100, Q141, T201, F205, and E214 were used to enhance the degradation of chlorinated aliphatics. The ToMO mutants were identified using a chloride ion screen and then were further examined by gas chromatography.