Relationship between Pollen Counts and Weather Variables in East-Mediterranean Coast of Turkey

BACKGROUND: Aeroallergen sampling provides information regarding the onset, duration and severity of the pollen season that clinicians use to guide allergen selection for skin testing and treatment. OBJECTIVES: This atmospheric survey reports (1) airborne pollen contributions in Adana in one-year period (2) pollen onset, duration and peak level (3) the relationship between airborne pollen and selected meteorological variables and; (4) effects on symptoms in pollen allergic children. METHODS: Pollen sampling was performed with a volumetric Burkard Spore Trap. Meteorological data were measured daily from April 2001 to April 2002. Asthma symptom scores were investigated in 186 pollen allergic children that were on follow up in pediatric allergy outpatient clinics during same period. RESULTS: Average measurements included 82.5% tree pollen, 7.7% grass pollen and 9.8% herb pollen 54 taxa were identified during one year. The most prominent tree pollens were Cupressaceae, Eucalyptus and Pinus. The most common herb was Chenopodiaceae pollen family. When airborne pollen levels were examined in relation to single meteorological conditions; daily variations in total pollen counts were not significantly correlated with any variable studied (humidity, rainfall, temperature and wind) (p > 0.05). On the other hand, statistically significant relationship between pollen concentration and symptom scores were found (p > 0.05). Positive correlations were seen between both Gramineae and Herb pollen, and humidity and rainfall from March to July. However, positive correlations were detected between tree pollen counts and temperature and humidity in May and June. CONCLUSION: This survey is the first volumetric airborne pollen analysis conducted in the survey area in Adana. This study suggested that the effects of weather on pollen count and symptom scores in this population could not be clearly identified with the evaluation of one-year data. However, pollen counts had effect on allergic symptoms in pollen allergic children. Examination of the complex interaction of multiple whether parameters would perhaps more fully elucidate the relationship between meteorology and aerobiology and provide the clinician with information necessary to forecast pollen prevalence. An awareness of the ever chancing, local aeroallergen patterns requires regular monitoring. Such awareness serves as a useful guide in the effective testing and treatment of atopic patients.     

Effects of UV-light on Bacillus sphaericus and its protection by chemicals

Although when UV-irradiated seven most toxic strains of Bacillus sphaericus lost their viabilities between 2.5-4.5 min, their larvicidal activity was protected for longer periods. Benzaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde, salicylaldehyde, methylene blue and yeast extract showed good protective effect for spore viability and larvicidal activity from UV inactivation in B. sphaericus. This protective effect has also been confirmed by SDS-PAGE analyses whereby the 42 kDa and 51 kDa toxic proteins bands did not disappear following UV treatment.     

ASO Visual Abstract: Robotic Posterior Retroperitoneal Adrenalectomy: Patient Selection and Long-Term Outcomes

Annals of Surgical Oncology -     

Synthesis of a New Nitrate-Fertilizer Form with a Controlled Release Behavior via an Incorporation Technique into a Clay Material

The current study shows an advanced synesthetic technique of a nitrate-fertilizer with a controlled release behavior into different soils (normal and acidic agriculture soils solutions) at different climate temperatures. The environmentally friendly and the biocompatible layered double hydroxide (LDH) clay material was used as a host to accommodate the nitrate anion into its interlayer gallery by applying a reconstruction-incorporation technique (the memory effect property of LDH that allows calcined LDH to memorize its original structure). The prepared materials were characterized by different spectroscopic techniques including; X-ray powder spectroscopy, IR, SEM, TEM, and TGA analyses. A remarkable loading ratio of the nitrate anion fertilizer was recorded into the LDH structure. Around 90 wt% of the intercalated nitrate anion was released in a sustained controlled behavior over around 24 days, while the same amount of nitrate was released over 10 days in the acidic soil. Accordingly, the present study offers a new passway for the formulation of controlled release fertilizers by using the hosting anionic clay LDH materials.     

Right iliac bone pathological fracture mimicking acute appendicitis

Simple bone cyst (SBC) also known as unicameral bone cyst is a benign, radiolucent bone lesion that is seen commonly in childhood. These lesions are usually found incidentally although pain and swelling can be seen. The most common complication is a pathological fracture, and this is often the cause of presentation. Here, we present a 22-year-old male with right lower quadrant pain due to SBC related pathological fracture of right iliac bone which is mimicking acute appendicitis.     

Post-traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the brachial artery and its surgical treatment

The frequency of peripheral artery aneurysms in the upper extremities is much less than in the lower extremities. Diagnosis and surgical treatment are important because upper extremity aneurysms can cause severe decreases in function and lead to the loss of an arm or of fingers. We performed aneurysmal resection together with saphenous vein graft interpositioning in 9 patients with a diagnosis of post-traumatic brachial pseudoaneurysm from January 1995 through February 2003. Of these patients, 7 were men (77%). The mean age was 38.2 years (range, 26-46 years. Four patients had gunshot wounds (44%) and 5 had stab wounds (56%). The mean duration from injury to hospital admission was 26.7 months (range, 17 months-7 years). All patients underwent color-flow arterial Doppler ultrasonography and selective upper extremity digital subtraction angiography. In all patients, we performed aneurysmal resection and saphenous vein graft interpositioning. There was no instance of death or ischemic extremity loss. Patients were discharged from the hospital a mean of 3.2 days after surgery (range, 2-6 days). Early and late graft patency rates were 100%. We followed the patients' cases for a mean of 3.4 years (range, 1 month-7 years). Very rarely, post-traumatic upper extremity pseudoaneurysms show symptoms after a long period of time. Diagnosis is very easy with a review of the patient's history and a physical examination; surgical reconstruction is the preferred treatment for such patients.     

Acromegaly is associated with a distinct oral and gut microbiota

Pituitary - Our aim was to investigate the changes in the composition of oral and gut microbiota in patients with newly diagnosed acromegaly and their relationship with IGF-1 levels. Oral and fecal...