Opportunities of electrokinetics for the remediation of mining sites in Biga peninsula, Turkey

This study investigated the geological conditions of Biga Peninsula. There are metamorphic rocks, ophiolitic melange, plutonic rocks, subvolcanics, volcanic rocks and volcanoclastics along with marine and terrestrial sediments in the region. This variety of rocks and the associated minerals resulted in many interesting metallic ores and coal for commercial exploitation. The mining exploitations in Biga Peninsula (Turkey)pose an environmental risk due to the release of contaminants, metals and arsenic, to the soil and waterbodies. This study analyzed the potential release of As and metals (Al, Fe, Mn)from a sediment sampled in a mine pond. The extraction column tests proved that those contaminants can be dissolved from the sediment using deionized water as eluent. The electrokinetic treatment of the sediment was able to remove Al and Mn, but the removal of Fe and As was negligible. The fractionation of As and metals in the sediment confirmed that the electrokinetic treatment was able to mobilize the contaminants. Based on the results of this study, it has been hypothesized that the toxic elements could be removed by electrokinetics using facilitating agents, neutralizing the alkaline environment of the cathode and increasing the treatment time

Mycoplasma haemofelis Infection and Imaging of Mycoplasma haemofelis Using Scanning Electron Microscopy in a Cat

In this case report was aimed to the evaluation of Mycoplasma haemofelis infection and electron microscopic imaging in a cat. The material of present case was included a cat, three years old, male, referred to a history of anorexia, lethargy and dehydration. Clinically were defined dehydration, apathy, tachypnea, 38.2 degrees C body temperature, murmur and tachycardia at the auscultation of heart. Mycoplasma haemofelis was detected at the peripheral smear and using PCR assay, and viewed with scanning electron microscopy. The patient was treated with doxycycline (Tetradox kapsul, Fako (R)) at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day orally for 14 days. The clinical condition of the cat was improved after treatment, which reduced the number of Mycoplasma haemofelis in blood smears, hematological and serum biochemical values were determined to be normal. To the best of authors' knowledge, this case reports the first imaging of scanning electron microscopy of Mycoplasma haemofelis in cats that are naturally infected in Turkey

Nine-week trastuzumab treatment versus 52-week trastuzumab treatment for HER2-positive early-stage breast cancer

Purposes Trastuzumab is known to be effective for early and advanced stages of breast cancer but optimal duration for early-stage breast cancer (EBC) is not well known. We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of 9- and 52-week trastuzumab therapy for EBC retrospectively

Prognostic Factors for Recurrence-Free Survival in Patients with HER2-Positive Early-Stage Breast Cancer Treated with Adjuvant Trastuzumab

Background: The objective of this study was to identify prognostic factors affecting the recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients who received a 52-week trastuzumab therapy for HER2-positive early stage breast cancer (EBC). Patients and Methods: The medical records of all patients with EBC from 10 centers were analyzed. Pathologic and clinical tumor characteristics were evaluated in 424 female patients who received 52 weeks of adjuvant trastuzumab for HER2-positive EBC. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate analyses of RFS were performed with the log-rank test. Independent prognostic and predictive factors affecting RFS were assessed by Cox regression analysis. Results: Median follow-up time was 33.1 months (range 9.2-75.9 months). 3-year RFS and overall survival were 87 and 97%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, patients aged 70 years or over (p = 0.017, relative risk (RR) 2.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19-6.13), patients with > 9 positive lymph nodes (p = 0.001, RR 2.52, 95% CI 1.42-4.46), and those with progesterone receptor-negative tumors (p = 0.006, RR 2.33, 95% CI 1.27-4.27) had worse RFS. Conclusion: In spite of a 52-week adjuvant trastuzumab treatment, classic poor prognostic factors for invasive EBC remained as such in patients with HER2-positive EBC

Risk factors for brain metastasis as a first site of disease recurrence in patients with HER2 positive early stage breast cancer treated with adjuvant trastuzumab

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine risk factors for brain metastasis as the first site of disease recurrence in patients with HER2-positive early-stage breast cancer (EBC) who received adjuvant trastuzumab