Bisphenol A levels in bowel endometrioma diagnosed serums: A case control study

Aim: To investigate the bisphenol A (BPA) levels, which may be a risk factor in the etiology of endometrioma, in patients diagnosed laparoscopically with endometrioma with and without bowel involvement. Method: In the prospective cross-sectional case control study, 47 cases were included in the study, which were admitted to the gynecology and infertility services with and without bowel involvement endometrioma who were operated and diagnosed histopathologically. 43 patients were included in the control group. For serum BPA value, blood samples taken immediately before the operation were studied in laboratory. Patients and controls were compared with controls in terms of serum BPA values. Results: The mean age of the patients was 35 ± 2 in the endometriosis group and 36 ± 2 in the control group which was and not statistically significant.  There was no statistical difference between the patient and control groups in terms of menstruation periods. Serum BPA levels were significantly higher in the bowel involvement group compared to the non-bowel involvement group, as the distribution width was higher due to excessive values, and only 5 patients with bowel involvement did not reach statistically significant levels. Serum BPA level was 1084±1132 ng/L in the endometriosis group and 269±99 ng/L in the control group which was statistically significant (p<0,001).  Conclusions: BPA levels were showing very wide range especially in the patient group. Serum BPA levels was statistically significantly higher in the endometrioma group compared to the control group. Therefore, in the etiology of endometriosis BPA may take a definite place. &nbsp

An All-Vanadium Redox Flow Battery: A Comprehensive Equivalent Circuit Model

In this paper, we propose a sophisticated battery model for vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs), which are a promising energy storage technology due to their design flexibility, low manufacturing costs on a large scale, indefinite lifetime, and recyclable electrolytes. Primarily, fluid distribution is analysed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) considering only half-cells. Based on the analysis results, a novel model is developed in the MATLAB Simulink environment which is capable of identifying both the steady-state and dynamic characteristics of VRFBs. Unlike the majority of published studies, the inherent characteristics of the flow battery, such as shunt current, ion diffusion, and pumping energy consumption, are considered. Furthermore, simplified charge transfer resistance (CTR) is taken into account based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement results. The accuracy of the model was determined by comparing the simulation results generated by the equivalent circuit battery model developed in this study with real datasets. The obtained results indicate that the developed model has an accuracy of 3% under the sample operating conditions selected. This study can also be used to fill the gap left by the absence of the VRFB battery model in commonly used programs for renewable energy systems, such as TRNSYS

The prevalence and impact of brucellosis in patients with hepatitis delta virus infection: inside the Brucella outbreak with cirrhosis

Introduction: Hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection is a serious health problem leading to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite evidence that zoonotic infections are associated with end-stage liver disease, brucellosis in patients with delta hepatitis related to liver disease has not been well characterized. So, we examined this relationship using recent hospital-based data. Material and methods : We analyzed data from 96 delta hepatitis patients (mean age: 52.5 ±12.8 years; 50 male; 52 cirrhotics) and 117 (mean age: 50.4 ±7 years; 60 male) control subjects who were selected from patients with splenomegaly. The Brucella Wright test in connection with blood culture was used to detect active Brucella infection. Demographic features, laboratory data, results of ultrasonographic examination of the abdomen and Wright agglutination titers were compared between groups. Results : There were 9 (9%) patients with active brucellosis in delta hepatitis patients. Compared to the control group, there was a statistically significant difference between groups in terms of having active brucellosis (9 vs. 2 patients; p < 0.001). Higher MELD scores were also associated with active Brucella infection (p < 0.005). Conclusions : Patients with chronic hepatitis D related cirrhosis (CHD-C) were at risk of developing brucellosis requiring hospitalization. Higher Wright titers among patients with more advanced liver disease may reflect a unique phenomenon that requires further investigation to determine underlying causative factors

Factors affecting pregnancy rates in infertile women performed abdominal myomectomy

Purpose:To evaluate pregnancy outcomes in infertile women performed abdominal myomectomy at our clinic. Patients and Methods:This retrospective study included 76 infertile women underwent abdominal myomectomy. The cases were divided into two groups according to postoperative pregnancy (Group 1, n=22), and cases with no postoperative pregnancy (Group 2, n=54). Risk factors recorded were; age, parity, size of the fibroids, body mass index (BMI), tumor markers and serum blood values. Results:A total of 76 infertile women underwent abdominal myomectomy during the study period. Of all cases 22 (28.94 %) became pregnant. There was statically significant difference between the groups in terms of age, BMI, diameter of the fibroids (p<0.05) (Table 2). The receiver operator curve (ROC) analyses showed that diameter of the fibroid may be a prognostic factor in order to assess the probability of pregnancy following abdominal myomectomy in infertile women. Conclusion:We think that in infertile women with intramural fibroids >5 cm the treatment modality should be abdominal myomectomy to increase the chance of postoperative pregnancy. [Cukurova Med J 2014; 39(4.000): 801-806

Process optimization for biodiesel production from neutralized waste cooking oil and the effect of this biodiesel on engine performance

ABSTRACT In this study, the methyl ester production process from neutralized waste cooking oils is optimized by using alkali-catalyzed (KOH) single-phase reaction. The optimization process is performed depending on the parameters, such as catalyst concentration, methanol/oil ratio, reaction temperature and reaction time. The optimum methyl ester conversion efficiency was 90.1% at the optimum conditions of 0.7 wt% of potassium hydroxide, 25 wt% methanol/oil ratio, 90 min reaction time and 60°C reaction temperature. After the fuel characteristics of the methyl ester obtained under optimum conditions were determined, the effect on engine performance, CO and NOx emissions of methyl ester was investigated in a diesel engine with a single cylinder and direct injection. When compared to diesel fuel, engine power and torque decreased when using methyl ester, and specific fuel consumption increased. NOx emission increases at a rate of 18.4% on average through use of methyl ester.RESUMEN Este estudio analiza el proceso de producción de metil éster a partir de aceites de cocina usados y neutralizados mediante una reacción alcalí-catalizada (KOH) de fase única. El proceso de optimización se lleva a cabo tomando en cuenta parámetros tales como: La concentración del catalizador, la relación metanol/aceite, la temperatura de reacción y el tiempo de reacción. La eficiencia óptima de conversión del metil éster fue de 90,1% bajo condiciones óptimas de 0,7 wt% de hidróxido de potasio, 25 wt% de relación metanol/aceite, tiempo de reacción de 90 minutos y temperatura de reacción de 60°C. Después de determinar las características como combustible del metil éster obtenido bajo condiciones óptimas, se sometió a investigación su efecto sobre el desempeño del motor y de las emisiones de CO y NOx del metil éster utilizando un motor diesel de un sólo cilindro y de inyección directa. Cuando se compararon los resultados con el combustible diesel, se observó que la potencia y el torque del motor disminuyeron utilizando metil éster, mientras que el consumo de combustible específico aumentó. La emisión de NOx aumenta a una tasa de 18,4% en promedio cuando se utiliza el metil éster