Antimicrobial, anti-biofilm and cytotoxic properties of methallyl functionalized benzimidazolium-derived Ag(I)-Nheterocyclic carbene complexes

Purpose: To investigate the antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and cytotoxicity properties of methallyl substituted benzimidazolium-based, silver-bound N-heterocyclic carbene (Ag(I)-NHC) complexes, with respect to their potential to act as antimicrobial agents.Methods: The antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and cytotoxicity properties of the four complexes, the synthesis and characterization of which were carried out previously, were investigated. The antimicrobial properties were tested using the broth microdilution method, while their antibiofilm potential were determined by microtiter plate assay. The L-929 cell line was used for cytotoxic studies.Results: Strong antibiofilm and antimicrobial effects were produced by Ag(I)-NHC complexes. Compounds 2 and 3 showed potent activities against E. coli strain, with effects similar to that of positive control antibiotic, while compounds 1 and 4 exhibited antimicrobial activity at a concentration of 31.2 μg/mL. The compounds were effective against biofilms formed at concentrations in the range of 32 – 84 %, and degraded mature biofilms at a concentration range of 14 - 66 %. Compounds 1 and 2 did not significantly affect cell survival (p > 0.05), while compounds 3 and 4 significantly reduced cell survival, when compared with untreated cells in the control group (p < 0.001).Conclusion: This study may be one of the few studies on benzimidazolium-derived NHCs. The compounds which produced antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and cytotoxic properties in this study may be valuable and novel antimicrobial agents. Therefore, there is need for further in vivo and in vitro studies on these compounds

Clitoral epidermoid cyst secondary to blunt trauma in a 9-year-old child

Epidermoid cysts are slowly growing tumors arising from invagination of the epidermis into the dermis traumatically or spontaneously. This implantation in the clitoris is most commonly induced by female genital mutilation. The reported cases with spontaneous onset of this clitoral lesion are scarce. Trauma other than female circumcision predisposing to the onset of the cyst has not been mentioned before. A nine-year-old girl was presented for swelling in the pubic region with the onset following an accidental trauma; the diagnosis was determined to be epidermoid cyst of the clitoris after a brief preoperative evaluation and an accurate surgical management

Environmental Factors and Semiarid Plants Species on Eroded Marly Soils in Southwest Anatolia (Eskişehir/Türkiye)

The natural regeneration of vegetation in areas of marly soils is restricted due to drought and soil erosion. For the ecological restoration of eroded areas, the selection of suitable plant species is critical. The aim of this study is to assess specific plant species and their ecological characteristics for their ability to thrive under drought in eroded areas with marly soil. The study was conducted on 36 sampling locations in the marly areas of Eskisehir-Bozan, Türkiye, during the most drought-prone months, August and September, in 2011 and 2012. Vegetation sampling was conducted according to the Braun-Blanquet method. Fifteen plant taxa with the highest coverage and frequency were identified. Relationships between plant species and environmental factors were determined using Spearman’s correlation analysis. According to the results of numerical analysis, there were correlations between ecological parameters including nitrogen, phosphorus, organic matter, lime, slope, altitude and plant taxa. The resistance rate of fifteen plant taxa in marly areas is quite high even in the driest months. These plant taxa, possessing properties essential for soil protection, may be used for revegetation practices of marly areas exposed to soil erosion. This study’s findings will provide useful guidance for vegetation programs

X-ray Scattering and Diffraction Studies on Spider Silk Cocoons

[Abstract Not Available

Characterization of greater middle eastern genetic variation for enhanced disease gene discovery

The Greater Middle East (GME) has been a central hub of human migration and population admixture. The tradition of consanguinity, variably practiced in the Persian Gulf region, North Africa, and Central Asia1-3, has resulted in an elevated burden of recessive disease4. Here we generated a whole-exome GME variome from 1,111 unrelated subjects. We detected substantial diversity and admixture in continental and subregional populations, corresponding to several ancient founder populations with little evidence of bottlenecks. Measured consanguinity rates were an order of magnitude above those in other sampled populations, and the GME population exhibited an increased burden of runs of homozygosity (ROHs) but showed no evidence for reduced burden of deleterious variation due to classically theorized ‘genetic purging’. Applying this database to unsolved recessive conditions in the GME population reduced the number of potential disease-causing variants by four- to sevenfold. These results show variegated genetic architecture in GME populations and support future human genetic discoveries in Mendelian and population genetics

Pediatric Liver Transplantation as Enzyme Replacement Therapy for Rare Metabolic Diseases with No Structural Liver Damage

Objective: Very rare monogenic metabolic diseases without structural liver damage can be cured by liver transplantation. This process is a surgical enzyme replacement therapy, and defective enzymes may or may not be confined to the liver. The aims of this single center study of children with metabolic diseases showing structurally normal liver parenchyma were to analyze the indications and post-operative outcomes of liver transplantation, identification of developmental and metabolic benefits of the procedure with recognition of peri-operative difficulties to improve the success rate.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: Patients under the age of 19-year-old who underwent liver transplantation for metabolic disorders with no structural liver injury between January 2015 and June 2021 analyzed retrospectively. Patient and graft survivals, indications for transplantation, presence of extra-hepatic enzyme deficiency causing other organ damage, inclusion of simultaneous or sequential kidney transplantation, immunosuppressive protocols, post-transplant complications, and metabolic outcomes were identified.&#x0D; Results: Eight children with primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (n = 4), Maple syrup urine disease (n = 1), Crigler-Najjar syndrome type 1 (n=1), familial hypercholesterolemia (n=1) and propionic acidemia (n = 1) received left lobe (n=6) and left lateral segment (2) allografts from living donors. The median age of 4 girls and 4 boys at time of transplantation was 6.8 years (range 2.2-12.7 years). The median follow-up time was 3.3 years (range 1.5-5.7 years). The most common post-transplant complications were biliary system complications and infections and, two patients died because of sepsis. Six patients are alive with normal functioning allografts and metabolically stable on unrestricted diet.&#x0D; Conclusion: Liver transplantation is a lifesaving treatment and improves patient’s and parent’s life quality for metabolic disorders with no parenchymal injury despite strict dietary restrictions and medical therapies. Especially, living donor liver transplantation is very important for populations with very low organ donation rates.</jats:p

Rheological Properties of Bituminous Binder Modified with Nigella Pulp Liquefied by means of Pyrolysis Method

It is possible to improve the performance by means of modifying the mixtures through enhancing the properties of the materials used in paving or by adding some special substances. The modification process is carried out by adding the admixtures on specific rates and conditions into the binder or into the bituminous mixture on the mixture plant. By modifying the properties of the used bituminous materials the performance of both the binder and the mixture is tried to be improved. Intense studies have been carried out in Turkey and the World, for rendering the bituminous hot mixtures more durable against the current road and weather conditions. For this purpose, modifications of bituminous mixtures have been started to use with the aid of chemical substances as vehicle tires, polypropylene, rubber, waste plastics, sulfur, etc. Besides the main purpose of achieving durability against the conditions of road and weather, reduction of production and maintenance costs is another purpose of these modifications. With this study, it has been aimed to modify bitumen by adding nigella pulp liquefied by means of pyrolysis method and to examine the effect of this admixture on the rheological properties of bitumen. The effects on the rheological properties have been determined with penetration, softening point, dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), rolling thin film oven test (RTFOT) and bending beam rheometer test (BBR)

Effect of a nurse-led intervention program on the physical health and quality of life of individuals with severe mental illness

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of nurse-led intervention programs on patients' physical health, physical activities, healthy lifestyle behaviors, and quality of life

The views and habits of the individuals with mental illness about physical activity and nutrition

Purpos