The effect of synthesis and doping procedures on thermoluminescent response of lithium tetraborate

Lithium tetraborate has been a scientific focus since 1960s by the courtesy of the thermoluminescence property it possesses. Moreover, it is utilized in surface acoustic wave apparatuses, in sensor sector and in laser technology owing to its non-linear optical characteristics. For the uses in thermoluminescence dosimetry lithium tetraborate is activated by addition of a variety of metals as dopants

An overview of underground coal gasification and its applicability for Turkish lignite

It is accepted that coal is going to maintain its significance as an energy source for longer time than oil and natural gas. Environmental concerns brought about the concept of clean coal technologies in the recent years. Coal gasification is one of the clean coal technologies. It may be applied on the surface for the mined coal or in-situ. Gasification of coal in-situ is called "Underground coal gasification" (UCG) and has several advantages over surface gasification and conventional mining. UCG provides low rank low calorific value coals a potential to contribute to the energy basket of a country. The majority of the Turkish coals are lignite. Therefore, underground coal gasification may enable diversification of energy sources of Turkey and may help decrease external dependency regarding the energy. In the literature no documentation covering detailed information about the UCG techniques, applications and discussing the applicability of these techniques to Turkish lignite is encountered. Hence, this study aims at matching a UCG technique to the most appropriate (Afsin Elbistan) lignite reserve in Turkey which may pioneer undertaking a pilot project regarding the area

Investigation of beta globin gene mutations in Syrian refugee patients with thalassemia major

Objectives: This study, detection of beta globin gene mutations in thalassemia major patients who migrated from Syria to Kahramanmaraş region were planned. Materials and methods: The study included 35 Syrian national beta thalassemia major patients. Beta globin gene mutations were detected by ARMS (Amplification Refractory Mutation System) method, RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) method and DNA sequence analysis. Codon 15, codon 9/10, codon 5 and codon 8 mutations, which we could not detect with other methods in our study, were detected by sequence analysis. Results: In beta thalassemia major patients, 16 types of mutations were detected, the most common being IVS-I-110 (n = 8). Other mutations are according to frequency order IVS-II-745 (n = 3), codon 44 (n = 3), codon 15 (n = 3), IVS-I-110/IVS-I-1 (n = 3), codon 5 (n = 2), IVS-I-1 (n = 2), codon 8/IVS-II-1 (n = 2), codon 44/codon 15 (n = 2), IVS-II-1 (n = 1), codon 39 (n = 1), IVS-I-6/codon 5 (n = 1), codon 9/10 (n = 1), IVS-I-110/codon 39 (n = 1), IVS-I-5/IVS-II-1 (n = 1), codon 39/IVS-II-745 (n = 1). Conclusions: According to the results of our study beta-thalassemia mutations in Syrian immigrant groups show heterogeneity and mutation types of mutation map is similar to Turkey. The conclusion is to prevent families to have a second patient child by genetic counseling. © 2019 De Gruyter. All rights reserved.2015/2-43DAcknowledgments: This work was supported by grants from the Kahramanmaraş Sutcu Imam University Scientific research project management unit (project number: 2015/2-43D)

Refugee children with beta-thalassemia in Turkey: Overview of demographic, socioeconomic, and medical characteristics

PubMedID: 30706992Aim: Since the beginning of the Syrian civil war, more than 3.5 million Syrians have been under temporary protection status in Turkey. Because beta-thalassemia (BT) is a prevalent disorder in the Mediterranean countries, we decided to estimate the prevalence of and make an overview of the demographic, socioeconomic, medical characteristics, and healthcare problems of refugee children with BT. Patients: Eighteen Turkish Pediatric Hematology Oncology Centers (PHOC) with 318 refugee children from 235 families participated in the study. The mean age of the patients was 8.1 ± 4.8 years (0.5–21 years). The mean time after immigration to Turkey was 2.5 ± 1.5 years (range, 0.1–7 years). Seventy-two (22.6%) of them were born and diagnosed with BT in Turkey. On physical examination, 82 patients (26%) were underweight and 121 patients (38%) were stunted. The appearance of a thalassemic face was reported for 207 patients (65.1%). Hepatomegaly and splenomegaly were reported in 217 (68.2%) and 168 (52.8%) patients, respectively. The median ferritin level was 2508 ng/mL (range, 17–21 000 ng/mL) at the first admission, and 2841 ng/mL (range, 26–12 981 ng/mL) at the last visit after two years of follow-up in a PHOC (P > 0.05). The most frequently encountered mutation was IVSI-110 (G>A) (31%). Before immigration, only 177 patients (55.6%) reported the use of chelators; after immigration it increased to 268 (84.3%). Conclusion: Difficulties in communication, finding a competent translator capable in medical terminology, nonregular use of medications, and insensitivity to prenatal diagnosis were preliminary problems. The current extent of migration poses emerging socioeconomic and humanitarian challenges for refugee patients with BT. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Refugee children with cancer in Turkey

PubMedID: 27396633[No abstract available

The effect of renal transplantation on pulmonary function

In patients with chronic renal failure, mechanical and hemodynamic changes could occur in the lungs without obvious pulmonary symptoms and findings and their effects could pave the way to pulmonary functional disorders. In this study, pulmonary functional disorders and especially alveolocapillary defects, which are frequently seen in uremia, were determined in renal transplanted patients. Pulmonary functions and diffusion capacity were assessed in uremic patients (n = 20) and in successfully transplanted patients (n = 20) without any lung disease or pulmonary edema symptoms and findings. Patients were selected randomly among outpatients who were followed up in a Nephrology and Transplantation Unit. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), and peak expiratory flow (PEF25-75) were measured. Single breath carbon monoxide diffusion test and diffusion lung capacity adjusted for hemoglobin concentration (DLAdj) were done. The means of the spirometric values such as FVC, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC were normal in the nondialyzed uremic group, but the PEF25-75 value (68.7%) and diffusion capacity (DLAdj 72.7%) were found to be slightly low. There were 2 patients with normal values and 18 patients with some functional abnormalities in this nondialyzed uremic group. The means of all spirometric parameters and diffusion capacities were found to be normal in the transplanted group. There were 7 patients with normal function and 13 patients with some functional abnormalities in this transplanted group. When the nondialyzed uremic group and the transplanted group were compared statistically, significant differences were found between their spirometric values (except for FVC) and their diffusion capacities. Even though the uremic patients did not show any symptoms, their pulmonary function tests, especially diffusion capacity, were found to be disturbed. Although the transplanted patients as a group had normal mean spirometric values and diffusion capacity there were nevertheless many individual transplanted patients with defective diffusion capacity and abnormal spirometric values. Copyright (C) 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel