Chemical and biological profiles of essential oil from different parts of Myrtus communis L. subsp. communis from Turkey

The present study reports chemical composition, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential of essential oils from leaves and twigs of Myrtus communis L. subsp. communis from Turkey. Essential oils were obtained separately from leaves and twigs of Myrtus communis subsp. communis (MC) by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus. Chemical compositions were determined using GC/MS. Antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of essential oils were tested by α-amylase inhibitory, 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory and DPPH/ABTS radical scavenging methods, respectively. The major compounds of essential oil of Myrtus communis subsp. communis leaves (MCLEO) were α-pinene (35.6%), 1,8-cineole (28.3%), linalool (10.5%), and limonene (8.2%), while the major constituents of essential oil of Myrtus communis subsp. communis twigs (MCTEO) were α-pinene (30.7%), 1,8-cineole (23.5%), p-cymene (13.3%) and limonene (11.9%). MCLEO and MCTEO showed good and moderate radical scavenging activity with IC50  values of 124.40 µg/mL and 390.10 µg/mL for ABTS radical, respectively. MCLEO and MCTEO exhibited significant radical scavenging activity with IC50 values of 34.13 µg/mL and 28.15 µg/mL for DPPH radical, respectively. Also, MCLEO and MCTEO displayed strong and good antidiabetic activity with IC50 values of 29.94 µg/mL and 159.80 µg/mL against α-amylase enzyme, respectively. Finally, MCLEO and MCTEO showed good anti-inflammatory activity with IC50 values 86.10 µg/ mL and 96.55 µg/mL against 5-lipoxygenase enzyme, respectively. From the present study it can be concluded that essential oils, especially MCLEO, possess good antidiabetic, anti- inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Also, this is the first study on chemical composition of MCTEO from Turkey, as well as on α-amylase inhibitory and 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activities of MCLEO and MCTEO

Predictive performance of CT for adverse outcomes among COVID-19 suspected patients: a two-center retrospective study

The aim of the study was to compare the performance of various computed tomography (CT) reporting tools, including zonal CT visual score (ZCVS), the number of involved lobes, and Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) categorization in predicting adverse outcomes among patients hospitalized due to the lower respiratory symptoms during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A total of 405 patients admitted with severe respiratory symptoms who underwent a chest CT were enrolled. The primary adverse outcome was intensive care unit (ICU) admission of patients. Predictive performances of reporting tools were compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC ROC). Among the 405 patients, 39 (9.63%) required ICU support during their hospital stay. At least two or more observers reported a typical and indeterminate COVID-19 pneumonia CT pattern according to RSNA categorization in 70% (285/405) of patients. Among these, 63% (179/285) had a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The median number of lobes involved according to CT was higher in patients who required ICU support (median interquartile range [IQR], 5[3; 5] vs. 3[0; 5]). The median ZCVS score was higher among the patients that subsequently required ICU support (median [IQR], 4[0; 12] vs. 13[5.75; 24]). The bootstrap comparisons of AUC ROC showed significant differences between reporting tools, and the ZCVS was found to be superior (AUC ROC, 71-75%). The ZCVS score at the first admission showed a linear and significant association with adverse outcomes among patients with the lower respiratory tract symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic

Unilateral Ectopic Kidney in the Pelvis and Right Undescended Testicle: A Case Report

Urinary system anomalies are cases that can be encountered in the clinic. In the anatomy laboratory, we observed that a different vessel was separated from the aortic bifurcation during routine dissection. As a result of the vascular follow-up, we determined that the male cadaver had a pelvic localized ectopic kidney. As a result of the vascularization, we found that there is an ectopic kidney with pelvic location in the male cadaver. One of the most common forms of congenital renal ectopia is pelvic localized ectopic kidney. When the dissection was detailed, the right undescended testicle accompanying the right ectopic kidney was detected. In conclusion we are of the opinion that knowing such anomalies and variations will guide physicians before surgical procedures

Intraglomerular microlesions in renal angiomyolipoma

A unique case of bilateral multiple intrarenal angiomyolipomas in a 81-year-old woman with tuberous sclerosis is reported. The microscopic examination showed peculiar intraglomerular microlesions, epithelioid areas, microscopic foci of renal cell carcinoma and renal cysts, and the classical features of angiomyolipoma lesion. HMB-45 positivity was detected within some nodules and epithelioid areas. Intraglomerular microlesions were composed of adipose and smooth-muscle cells within the glomerular capillary tuft. These lesions, which were continuous with the capillary tuft, did not show any attachment to the Bowman's capsule. These findings suggest that these are not a consequence of an infiltration from the outside but were originated from inside the glomerulus. The simultaneous presence of multiple angiomyolipoma nodules either inside or outside the glomeruli, multifocality and bilaterality of these lesions, together with the HMB-45 positivity and the finding of scattered epithelioid areas supports the theory that there is a progenitor cell giving origin to all these lesions, the cell which has been named as perivascular epithelioid fell by most authors. HUM PATHOL 31:1325-1328, Copyright (C) 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company

An unusual presentation of an usual lymphoma: A case report

We report a case of seventy-four year-old male with advanced urinary tract obstruction symptoms and a high serum level of prostate specific antigen. In the microscopic examination of the transrectal ultrasound guided prostate needle biopsy specimens, a diffuse infiltration composed of small lymphocytes which were strongly positive for CD20 and CD5 (30%) and negative for CD3, CD10, CD43 and Tdt. After his referral to the hematology clinics for further investigation to verify a possible low grade lymphoproliferative neoplastic disorder, an absolute lymphocytosis in the peripheral blood and generalized lymphadenopathies were detected. In the bone marrow trephine biopsy, we observed a diffuse infiltration of small lymphocytic lymphoid cells having the same morphological and immunohistochemical features with the cells detected in prostate biopsies. With these findings, we made the diagnosis of small lymphocytic lymphoma/chronic lymphocytic leukemia and its prostatic involvement

Ground-penetrating radar for sedimentology: methodological advances and examples from the Usumacinta-Grijalva delta plain, Tabasco, México

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is widely used as a tool for imaging sedimentary structures and reconstructing depositional history in a range of settings. Most GPR systems use a pair of dipole antennas to transmit and receive electromagnetic energy, typically in the frequency range of 0.025-1 GHz. Radar reflections result from contrasts in dielectric properties, which can be induced by small textural variations between layers. To generate cross sections of the subsurface, the common-offset antenna pair is moved along surface transects. The GPR method benefits from its relative ease of use and relatively limited basic processing that is required for interpretation of field data. Drawbacks include the high signal attenuation in electrically conductive material such as clay and the trade-off between penetration depth and resolution for different antenna frequencies. In recent years, various equipment advances and novel field practices and processing strategies have improved the ability of GPR to provide high-resolution data in a wider range of settings and scenarios. Advances include multi-channel systems for more efficient data collection, multi-offset data collection and processing for improved signal-to-noise ratios, full-resolution and multi-component imaging, and full-waveform inversion. In this presentation, we will discuss some of these methodological advances and present full-resolution field data from a highly heterogeneous fluvial site in Mississippi, USA. We will also present GPR data from a project focused on reconstructing depositional history of the Usumacinta-Grijalva delta in Tabasco, México, which is the world's largest beach ridge plain. Here we used common-offset GPR antenna pairs at two frequencies to assess the varying thickness of the eolian cover of individual beach ridges. We also characterized systematic changes in the dip of beach face and foreshore deposits to study its possible relation with temporal changes in coastal processes

Pre-service elementary teachers' noticing expertise of students' mathematical thinking: the case of fractions

The purpose of the study is to investigate pre-service elementary teachers' noticing expertise of students' mathematical thinking within the context of fractions. For this purpose, 32 pre-service elementary teachers were asked to examine students' answers and ways of thinking given in written excerpts related to fractions. The data was mainly analysed using the constant comparative method to identify similarities and differences in pre-service elementary teachers' answers based on the existing Professional Noticing of Children's Mathematical Thinking framework developed by Jacobs, Lamb, and Philipp ([2010]. Professional noticing of children's mathematical thinking. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 41(2), 169-202.). The findings indicated that the vast majority of the pre-service elementary teachers showed at least a limited level in all professional noticing skills: attending, interpreting, and deciding how to respond. The findings serve to inform teacher educators to include written excerpts in their mathematics teaching courses and, thus result in improvement in pre-service teachers' noticing skills