In vivo biocompatibility assessment of (PTFE–PVDF–PP) terpolymer-based membrane with potential application for glaucoma treatment

The aim of the work was to evaluate the in vivo biological behaviour of polymeric membrane materials for glaucoma implants. The base material was biostable synthetic terpolymer (PTFE–PVDF–PP) with proved biocompability (PN-EN ISO 10993). The samples manufactured in the form a membrane were subjected to chemical and physical treatment to create an open pore system within the polymer matrix. As a porogenic phase biodegradable natrium alginate in a fibrous form was employed. The non-perforating deep sclerectomy technique was performed in a rabbit model. The clinical observations were made after 14 and 30 days. During the study clinical symptoms of a moderate degree were observed, and histopathological changes were typical for foreign body implantation. At the end stage of the study no significant difference in histopathological assessment was found between control and experimental group. Similarities observed in both groups and relatively mild histopathological changes in the tissue surrounding the implant indicate that the observed symptoms come from a deep scleral trauma caused by surgery, and not by the presence of the implant itself

Diagnostic significance of CK19, TG, Ki67 and galectin-3 expression for papillary thyroid carcinoma in the northeastern region of China

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To evaluate the expression and differential diagnostic significance of CK19, TG, Ki67 and galectin-3 in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) (metastatic and non metastatic), follicular adenoma and nodular goiter in patients from the northeastern part of China.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>441 PTC specimens and 151 other benign thyroid specimens (97 cases of nodular goiter, 54 cases of nonmalignant follicular adenoma) were collected. Immunohistochemistry for CK19, TG, Ki67 and galectin-3 was performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>CK19, TG, Ki67 and galectin-3 expression was 96.37% (425/441), 82.77% (365/441), and 40.59% (179/441), 96.82% (427/441), respectively, for the PTC group and the expression of these markers in the benign thyroid lesions group was 25.83% (39/151), 79.47% (120/151), and 37.09% (56/151), 50.99% (77/151), respectively. The expression of CK19 and galectin-3 in PTC was much higher than that in the nonmalignant group (p < 0.05). However, the expression of TG, Ki67 did not differ among these two groups (p > 0.05). The diagnostic efficiency of CK19 and galectin-3 for PTC was 96.37% (537/592) and 84.63% (501/592). CK19 and galectin-3 expression rate in PTC was higher than that in benign disease cases.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The diagnostic efficiency of CK19 for PTC was slightly better than galectin-3. The utilization of these markers combined with morphologic evaluation may be helpful in the differential diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma in the northeastern region of China.</p

Effect of wheat cultivars, fertilizers, and fungicides on Fusarium foot rot disease of wheat

Fusarium culmorum is a principal causal agent of root, crown, and foot rot disease in the wheat-growing areas of Turkey. The effects of different fertilization practices, fungicide sprays, and cultivar reactions of 12 wheat varieties were investigated for disease development in greenhouse conditions in 2006–2007. The fertilizers used in the experiments significantly reduced disease by 27.5%– 54.7% compared to the nonfertilized control. The plants fertilized with calcium ammonium nitrate (26% N) or composite NPK (15%, 15%, 15%) showed fewer disease symptoms than those fertilized with NPK (20%, 20%, 0%) in the presowing applications. On the other hand, foot rot severity was lower with ammonium nitrate (33% N) than urea (46% N) when applied as a supplement in the 25th and 45th growth stages of the Zadoks scale. Furthermore, fungicide sprays and seed dressing treatments also decreased foot rot symptoms. Seed treatment with tebuconazole lowered disease severity in the subcrown internode compared to the control and it was overall the most effective fungicide with 47.8% efficacy. When plants were sprayed with fluquinconazole, tebuconazole, or epoxyconazole + carbendazim (two times at Zadoks growth stages 31 and 45), disease severity decreased by 96.3%, 93.9%, and 91.0%, respectively. In the cultivar reaction tests, no stable or considerable tolerance was observed in the 12 wheat varieties against foot rot. It may be concluded from this study that fertilizer forms and fungicide preference can play an important role where Fusarium foot rot is the main problem in wheat-growing areas. © TÜBİTAK

Iprodione resistance of Alternaria alternata f.sp. citri Minneola tangelo isolates in Turkey [Türkiye'de Alternaria alternata f.sp. citri'nin Minneola tangelo i·zolatlarinin i·prodione'a dayanikliliklari]

In this study, isolates of Alternaria alternate f.sp. citri, cause of citrus brown spot, were obtained from Minneola tangelo orchards in Çukurova Region where disease appeared and after pathogenicity tests their resistance to iprodione was investigated. Five of 35 isolates recovered from different orchards were observed as iprodione-resistant. The ED50 values of these resistant isolates ranged from 61.89 to 109.21 µg/ml, but the average ED50 value of iprodione-sensitive isolate was less than 1 µg/ml. When the orchards where from iprodione-resistant isolates collected were checked in terms of fungicide application program in recent years, it was noticed that iprodione application was much more than others. When Iprodione-sensitive isolates were subcultured on PDA supplemented with iprodione, they developed resistance starting after second subculture, ED50 values continued to increase after each subculture

Determination of alternaria brown spot (Alternaria altenata f.sp. citri) disease on minneola tangelo in Çukurova region [Çukurova'da minneola tangelolarda alternaria kahverengi leke (Alternaria alternats f.sp. citri) hastaliginin şiddetinin belirlenmesi]

In this study, the incidence and severity of Alternaria brown spot disease (Altemaria alternata f.sp. citri) in the Çukurova region were determined. Thirty-five Minneola tangelo orchards, with a total area of 2497 da, in 24 different locations were surveyed for this purpose. Leaf infections in all orchards were observed in the spring flushing period. Disease severity was found to be 0-10 % in 10 orchards, 11-20% in 10 orchards. 21-30% in 7 orchards, 31-40% in 5 orchards, 42.5% in 1 orchard and 62.3% in 1 orchard. However, infections on the summer flushes were higher than10 % in only 9 orchards. Fruit infections were generally correlated with spring flush infections. The ratio of infected fruits was higher than 10% in 16 orchards, and the highest ratio of infected fruits was observed to be 72%. The results sowed that thee is a positive corelation between disease severity and relative humidity in orchards and also hyperflushing of twigs

Does preemptive gabapentin modulate cytokine response in total knee arthroplasty? A placebo controlled study

Gabapentin, as a structural analogue of γ-aminobutyric acid, has been investigated to provide pain relief in the early postoperative period following various surgical interventions