The effects of physicochemical properties on gamma emitting natural radionuclide levels in the soil profile of Istanbul

The inventory of gamma-emitting radionuclides was determined in soil samples collected at six depth levels, from 15 locations in Istanbul metropolis. The activity concentrations of (232)Th, (238)U, (40)K were measured by means of gamma spectrometry. The average activity concentrations of (232)Th, (238)U, (40)K in the 30-cm depth soil were found as 32.1, 27.4, 393.1 Bq kg (-aEuro parts per thousand 1), respectively. The mean value of the absorbed dose rate (D), annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) from the outdoor terrestrial gamma radiation, Ra equivalent activity (Ra(eq)), and the external hazard index (H (ex)) were calculated as 48.7 nGy h (-aEuro parts per thousand 1), 59.7 mu Sv, 104.1 Bq kg (-aEuro parts per thousand 1), and 0.28, respectively. The effects of organic matter content, textural properties, and pH value of soil samples on the natural radionuclide levels were also investigated. The relations between natural radionuclide level and the physical and chemical properties of studied soil samples were mainly clarified with cluster analysis and Pearson correlation

232Th, 238U, 40K, 137Cs radioactivity concentrations and 137Cs dose rate in Turkish market tea

In this study, the activity concentrations of 232Th, 238U, 40K and 137Cs were measured in 10 branded tea samples from local Turkish markets using gamma spectrometry with an HPGe detector. The mean activity concentrations of 232Th, 238U, 40K and 137Cs were found to be 2.71.0, 0.90.4, 50142 and 45.042.6Bqkg-1, respectively. The average annual effective 137Cs dose as a consequence of tea consumption was found to be 385nSv for an adult person, which is not hazardous to public health. The correlation coefficient between 137Cs and 40K was found to be-0.82 in these samples. The present data were compared with those found in other studies

SEASONAL VARIATIONS OF TRACE ELEMENTS AND RADIO-ACTIVITY CONCENTRATIONS IN RAW COW'S MILK SAMPLES COLLECTED FROM WEST THRACE REGION, TURKEY

In the present study, trace elements and radioactivity levels were investigated in raw cow's milk samples collected seasonally from villages of Havsa, Hayrabolu, Malkara and Uzunkopru towns of West Thrace region in Turkey. The element concentrations were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), and mean values of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn were found to be 10.0 +/- 1.2, 51.5 +/- 5.0, 5.7 +/- 1.1, 51.2 +/- 6.3, 257.0 +/- 43.6, 43.3 +/- 10.0, 120 +/- 31, and 4187 +/- 162 mu g kg(-1), respectively. The activity concentrations of (232)Th, (238)U, (137)Cs and (40)K in the raw cow's milk were measured by using gamma spectrometry with high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. (232)Th, (238)U, and (137)Cs were found to be under limit of detection whereas 40K was detected in all samples. The mean activity concentrations of (40)K were 47.0 +/- 1.3 Bq kg(-1). No significant variation could be observed among seasons and towns with regard to the trace element and radionuclide contents of the milk samples

High-dose intravenous anakinra treatment is safe and effective in severe and critical COVID-19 patients: a propensity score-matched study in a single center

BackgroundIn COVID-19, severe disease course such as need of intensive care unit (ICU) as well as development of mortality is mainly due to cytokine storm. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the high-dose intravenous anakinra treatment response and outcome in patients with severe and critically ill COVID-19 compared to standard of care.MethodsThis retrospective observational study was carried out at a tertiary referral center. The study population consisted of two groups as follows: the patients receiving high-dose intravenous anakinra (anakinra group) between 01.09.2021 and 01.02.2022 and the patients treated with standard of care (SoC, control group) as historical control group who were hospitalized between 01.07.2021 and 01.09.2021.ResultsAfter the propensity score 1:1 matching, 79 patients in anakinra and 79 patients in SoC matched and were included into the analysis. Mean +/- SD patient age was 67.4 +/- 16.7 and 67.1 +/- 16.3 years in anakinra and SoC groups, respectively (p = 0.9). Male gender was 38 (48.7%) in anakinra and 36 (46.2%) in SoC (p = 0.8). Overall, ICU admission was in 14.1% (n = 11) and 30.8% (n = 24) (p = 0.013; OR 6.2), intubation in 12.8% (n = 10) and 16.7% (n = 13) patients (p = 0.5), and 14.1% (n = 11) and 32.1% (n = 25) patients died in anakinra and control groups, respectively (p = 0.008; OR 7.1).ConclusionIn our study, mortality was lower in patients receiving anakinra compared to SoC. Intravenous high-dose anakinra is safe and effective treatment in patients with severe and critical COVID-19