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Kuzey Kıbrıs’tan İzole Edilen Kutanöz Layşmanyazis ve Kanin Layşmanyazis Suşlarının Moleküler Karakterizasyonu ve Fare Modellerinde Klinik Yansımaları
No full textLeishmaniasis is a parasitic infection caused by Leishmania species in tropical and subtropical regions. Cyprus, located in the Eastern Mediterranean basin, is considered endemic for leishmaniasis. In our study, we aimed to investigate the origins of two Leishmania strains isolated from Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus by sequencing and to establish in vivo animal models by examining the clinical reflections of these strains in mice. A biopsy material was taken from a seven-year-old girl with a lupoid lesion on her forehead and amastigotes were detected in the smears. Following culture of the specimen on enriched NNN media and detection of promastigotes, the patient was diagnosed with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) (no: 504). A four-year-old boxer dog was taken to a veterinary clinic with complaints of weight loss, weakness, hair loss and lymphadenopathy. A blood sample was taken from the dog, cultured in enriched NNN media and canine leishmaniasis (CanL) was diagnosed with the growth of promastigotes (no: 753). Leishmania promastigotes obtained from CL and CanL cases were cryopreserved and stored in the Parasite Bank, Manisa Celal Bayar University. When the isolates were to be used, they were transferred to RPMI-1640 medium and grown to the concentration of 107 promastigotes/mL required for the study. The isolates were identified to the species level using primers specific for ITS-1 and cpb E/F regions of Leishmania. A phylogenetic tree was constructed according to the data obtained from the sequence analysis. In addition to the Northern Cyprus Leishmania isolates for in vivo studies, one each of Leishmania donovani (MLd) and Leishmania tropica (MLt) isolates from Manisa were included for comparison. Eight study groups and two control groups (uninfected) were formed with five Mus musculus (Balb/c) mice in each group (total 10 groups and 50 Balb/c mice). Four mouse study groups were separately used with MLt, 753, MLd and 504 strains to establish the CL animal model. The other four mice groups were used for the VL animal model with the same strains. In addition, one group each for the CL and VL models was used as a negative control group. Mice in the CL groups were infected with 100 µL of the prepared promastigote suspension on the sole of the right foot intradermally and the width and height of the sole of the foot were measured weekly for six weeks. Mice in VL groups were infected with 100 µL promastigote suspension intraperitoneally and VL symptoms were monitored. Thirty days after the injection, the spleen and liver were removed by autopsy and their sizes were measured. In our study, one of the two Northern Cyprus Leishmania isolates molecularly characterised was Leishmania donovani (human strain, no: 504) and the other was Leishmania tropica (canine strain, no: 753). Mice in the CL and VL groups developed symptoms of CL and VL, respectively, and both Manisa and Northern Cyprus isolates had similar reflections in mice. In the literature, it is reported that Leishmania infantum is the causative agent of CanL cases in Northern Cyprus. However, according to our study, L.tropica may also be the source of CanL infections in the island. In addition, it was observed that Northern Cyprus isolates caused both CL and VL infections in mice and it was concluded that they can be used in future in vivo studies. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved
Effectiveness of Concentrated Growth Factor on Improving Postoperative Comfort in Patients Undergoing Coronectomy for Impacted Lower Third Molars: A Double-Blinded Split-Mouth Randomized Controlled Clinical Study
No full textBackground: Following coronectomy, pain and edema are adverse side effects. Concentrated growth factor (CGF) is recognized for its potential to enhance wound healing, reduce inflammation and may help to improve postoperative comfort following coronectomy. Purpose: The study purpose was to measure and compare postoperative pain and edema between CGF and control treatments in patients undergoing bilateral coronectomies. Study design, setting, and sample: In this split-mouth, double-blind, randomized controlled study conducted at Ege University Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Izmir, Turkey, patients aged 18 to 65 years at risk of mandibular nerve injury underwent bilateral coronectomy. Patients over 65 years of age or those with systemic conditions contraindicating surgery were excluded. Patients and the researcher responsible for data collection and analysis were blinded to the intervention. Independent variable: The independent variable was wound management. Within subjects, the treatment sides were randomly assigned to CGF treatment or control. Main outcome variable: The outcome variable was postoperative comfort measured using pain and edema. Pain was measured using the visual analog scale for 7 days after surgery. Edema was quantified in millimeters in 3 planes preoperatively and on postoperative days 2 and 7. Covariates: Age, sex, and depth of impaction were covariates. Analyses: The conformity of edema measurements to normal distribution was assessed with the Shapiro-Wilk test, analysis of variance for repeated measures and Bonferroni correction, and supported by paired two-sample t test (significant interaction); since pain levels did not fit the normal distribution (ordinal scale), the nonparametric Brunner and Langer model (LD-F2) and Benjamini-Hochberg procedure were used. Statistical significance was defined as (P < .01). Results: The sample included 35 subjects, comprising 12 (34.3%) males and 23 (65.7%) females, with a mean age of 32.7 +/- 11.42 (standard deviation). Visual analog scale scores were significantly lower on the CGF side for the first 6 days (P < .001) but not on day 7 (P = .6). Postoperative second day edema was statistically significantly lower in the 2 planes on the CGF side (P < .001, P = .007, P = .8) but not on day 7 in any plane (P = .5, P = .8, P = .1). Conclusions and relevance: Our study shows that CGF enhances postoperative comfort by minimizing pain and edema. Additional interventions may be necessary for patients undergoing coronectomy due to the potential for significant postoperative discomfort. (c) 2025 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
Performance of a novel multimodal large language model in ınterpreting meibomian glands quantitatively and qualitatively
No full textPurpose To evaluate the performance of a multimodal large language model (LLM), Claude 3.5 Sonnet, in interpreting meibography images for Meibomian gland dropout grading and morphological abnormality detection. Methods A total of 228 meibography images were analyzed by the same researcher and an assessment was performed in terms of gland drop out ratio and morphological abnormalities. Meibomian gland loss was graded from 0 (no loss) to 3 (> 2/3 loss of total gland area). One-hundred and sixty images, comprising 40 images per grade, were included. Claude 3.5 Sonnet, a multimodel LLM, developed by Anthropic (California, United States) was utilized to investigate its performance in evaluating meibography images. Results Claude 3.5 Sonnet showed high performance in grading Meibomian gland dropout, correctly scoring 97.5%, 92.5%, 95%, and 85% of images in Grades 0, 1, 2, and 3, respectively. In addition, Claude 3.5 Sonnet showed remarkable performance in detecting morphological abnormalities, including heterogeneous lumen diameters, lumen tortuosity, shortened lumen length, and hyperreflective gland residues. The model detected all of the 48 manually identified morphological abnormalities accurately. In 12 images, initially classified as morphologically normal by the manual assessment, the model reported additional subtle abnormalities. Conclusion Claude 3.5 Sonnet showed promising results in interpreting meibography images, detecting morphological abnormalities and discriminating normal Meibomian glands from abnormal. Claude 3.5 Sonnet might be useful in serving as a complementary educational tool in ophthalmology clinics. The model's ability to perform detailed morphological evaluations and respond to further questions provides a tailored learning experience for young ophthalmic clinicians
3-(1H-pyrazole-1-yl/1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-yl)-N-propananilide Derivatives: Design, Synthesis and Neuroprotectivity Potential Against 6-OHDA Induced Neurotoxicity Model
No full textObjectives: Excessive amounts of neuroapoptosis are the underlying cause of neurodegenerative diseases. Bax is a pro-apoptotic member of the B-cell lymphoma-2 family that activates caspases which are the members of the cysteine protease family that play a significant role in the initiation and execution phases of apoptosis. The aim of this study was to design and synthesize a group of N-propananilide derivatives bearing pyrazole or 1,2,4-triazole ring were designed and synthesized to analyze the neuroprotectivity potential against 6-hydroxy-dopamine (6-OHDA). Four compounds possessed protectivity at lower doses were subjected to further studies on caspase-3 and Bax pathway. Materials and Methods: Designed compounds were synthesized by reacting 1H-pyrazole or 1H-1,2,4-triazole with propananilide intermediates in Dimethylformamide. The neuroprotective activity of the title compounds was analyzed against 6-OHDA-6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity model. Then, caspase-3 and Bax levels were determined for the selected compounds by Western blot study. Results: All twelve 3-(1H-pyrazole-1-yl/1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-yl)-N-propananilide derivatives possessed neuroprotectivity against the 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity model (p?0.05, **p?0.001, ***p?0.005). Compounds 7, 10, 11, and 12 were found to be more active at lower doses. They were subjected to further studies and the results revealed that their protecting activity arose from the decreasing levels of Bax, one of the pro-apoptotic proteins, and c expression levels and caspase-3 proteins. Conclusion: All designed and synthesized derivatives possessed neuroprotectivity against 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity in the SH-SY5Y cell line and compounds 7, 10, 11, and 12 revealed that their neuroprotectivity originated from the decreasing Bax expression levels and caspase-3 activation. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved
How narrow is narrow QRS in premature ventricular contractions? A novel variant of SCN5A-associated MEPPC
No full text[No abstract available
Quaternary ammonium-modified cellulose: A sustainable strategy for purifying aqueous solutions contaminated with sunset yellow dye
No full textThis study showcases the remarkable efficacy of quaternary ammonium-modified cellulose as a highly sustainable biosorbent for removing Sunset Yellow (SY) dye from water. Detailed analysis was conducted using infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for structural changes and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for morphological changes. A minimal yet highly effective dose of 0.05 g was identified through dedicated optimization experiments, achieving near-complete removal (99 %) of SY. The biosorbent demonstrated exceptional performance across a broad pH range (2-10), accomplishing remarkable removal within just 5 min. Langmuir modeling uncovered a monolayer sorption mechanism with a high maximum capacity (107.08 mg g- 1), and thermodynamic analysis affirmed the spontaneity and favorability of the sorption process. Noteworthy is the biosorbent's impressive regeneration capabilities (up to 95 %) using 1.0 M NaOH or HCl solutions and its sustained performance over three sorption-regeneration cycles, highlighting its exceptional stability and reusability. The modified cellulose exhibited remarkable resistance to common interfering ions (chloride, nitrate, and sulfate) at 10 and 100 mg L- 1 concentrations. These combined features position quaternary ammonium-modified cellulose as a promising, sustainable, and efficient option for dye wastewater treatment.Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkiye (TUBITAK) [2209-A]This study was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkiye (TUBITAK program code: 2209-A). The authors express their gratitude to Denkim Kimya A.S for providing cellulose
Identification of heat-prone areas in a mixed land use mediterranean watershed based on risk factors identified through spatial and temporal analysis
No full textThe heat index (HI), based on air temperature and relative humidity, assesses the potential health risks associated with heat exposure. This study introduces a novel methodology linking HI with land use patterns and climate change. Focusing on a mixed land-use watershed, it aims to enhance sustainable environmental management strategies, particularly in heat-vulnerable Mediterranean regions. By applying the methodology through the use of R software to calculate HI and Sen's Slope statistics and ArcGIS version 10.3.1 to spatially overlay the risk criteria layers, heat-prone areas and priority zones were identified using the 'risk categorization scheme' and 'action priority level' in the K & uuml;& ccedil;& uuml;k Menderes River Basin, a climate-sensitive region in T & uuml;rkiye. Climate projections from the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology's Earth System Model (Medium Resolution), downscaled to 1 km under the RCP 8.5 scenario and covering the period 2025-2100, were employed. Land use classes were reclassified into eight categories to examine HI-land use interactions. The results indicate that from 1975 to 2000, the region was categorized as 'danger' due to high HI levels, with projections escalating it to 'extreme danger' by 2100. Urban areas and water bodies exhibited the highest HI, whereas forests, orchards, and non-irrigated agricultural lands helped mitigate heat stress. The findings offer crucial guidance for local authorities and urban planners in designing targeted heat mitigation strategies, thus enhancing climate resilience in the region
Novel Approach Methodologies in Modeling Complex Bioaerosol Exposure in Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis Under Climate Change
No full textThe undeniable impact of climate change and air pollution on respiratory health has led to increasing cases of asthma, allergic rhinitis and other chronic non-communicable immune-mediated upper and lower airway diseases. Natural bioaerosols, such as pollen and fungi, are essential atmospheric components undergoing significant structural and functional changes due to industrial pollution and atmospheric warming. Pollutants like particulate matter(PMx), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs), nitrogen dioxide(NO2), sulfur dioxide(SO2) and carbon monoxide(CO) modify the surface and biological properties of atmospheric bioaerosols such as pollen and fungi, enhancing their allergenic potentials. As a result, sensitized individuals face heightened risks of asthma exacerbation, and these alterations likely contribute to the rise in frequency and severity of allergic diseases. NAMs, such as precision-cut lung slices(PCLS), air-liquid interface(ALI) cultures and lung-on-a-chip models, along with the integration of data from these innovative models with computational models, provide better insights into how environmental factors influence asthma and allergic diseases compared to traditional models. These systems simulate the interaction between pollutants and the respiratory system with higher precision, helping to better understand the health implications of bioaerosol exposure. Additionally, NAMs improve preclinical study outcomes by offering higher throughput, reduced costs and greater reproducibility, enhancing the translation of data into clinical applications. This review critically evaluates the potential of NAMs in researching airway diseases, with a focus on allergy and asthma. It highlights their advantages in studying the increasingly complex structures of bioaerosols under conditions of environmental pollution and climate change, while also addressing the existing gaps, challenges and limitations of these models.Presidency of the Republic of Turkey Strategy Budget Department [2019 K12-149080]; Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) [123 M406]This study is funded by the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey Strategy Budget Department (2019 K12-149080) and the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) through 123 M406
Recent Advances in the Use of Bionanotechnology for Bioremediation
No full textEnvironmental problems are the major reason for the destruction of agricultural land, animals, and human diseases on earth. It causes pollution in the air, water, and soil that is difficult to control. Bio-nanotechnologies play a significant role in environmental protection and sustainability by adopting novel techniques to clear, mitigate, and monitor environmental pollutants. Nanotechnology helps to reduce energy consumption, cost, and resource consumption through more efficient methods. So, nanomaterials with large surface area and small size have the unique capacity to solve complex problems. They require less activation energy and have high reactivity; these additional benefits make them ideal candidates for sustained bioremediation. Bio-nano-technology techniques have a positive impact on the environment and its sustainability by reducing environmental contaminants. The present chapter discusses the role of bio-nanotechnology in solving the persisting urgent environmental issues such as soil contamination, air, and water pollution, and climate change and also focuses on the effectiveness, safety, and scalability issues as well as any potential advantages and difficulties. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved
Phytoremediation Technique for Heavy Metal Removal from Wastewater: Eco-Friendly Wastewater Treatment
No full textGlobal industrialization and urbanization have accelerated the release of hazardous substances, particularly heavy metals, into aquatic environments, posing serious threats to environmental and public health owing to their persistence and bioaccumulation. Phytoremediation has emerged as a promising, eco-friendly, and cost-effective strategy for treating heavy-metal contaminated wastewater. This study evaluated the phytoremediation potential of two aquatic macrophytes water hyacinth (WH) (Eichhornia crassipes) and water lettuce (WL) (Pistia stratiotes), in addition to their mixture, for removing heavy metals from industrial and drainage wastewater under mesocosm tank conditions. Over a 2 months period, metal removal efficiencies ranged from 10.93% to 85.90% for zinc (Zn), 14.03% to 67.95% for manganese (Mn), 11.62% to 45.00% for copper (Cu), and 8.39% to 27.58% for nickel (Ni), depending on treatment setup. The study further highlights the critical role of total suspended solids (TSSs) in heavy metal dynamics, with a significant proportion of Ni and Mn found adsorbed onto TSS rather than directly accumulated by the aquatic plants. In addition, translocation factor (TF) values revealed metal-specific behaviors, with Cu and Mn exhibiting higher TF values (up to 2.50 and 3.15, respectively), while Ni and Zn exhibited lower TF values (0.28-0.38 and 0.15-0.16, respectively). Overall, the results provide compelling evidence for the application of WH and WL, individually and in combination, as viable nature-based solutions for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater. These findings support the integration of phytoremediation into broader water management frameworks, offering a sustainable approach for water reuse and pollution mitigation.General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM) [TAGEM/TSKAD/T1/23/A11/P1/6634]This research project (TAGEM/TSKAD/T1/23/A11/P1/6634) was funded by General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM); and we appreciate UTAEM for providing all project facilities and supports