The intermittent drying of wheat by microwave and fluidized bed drying

[EN] The objective of the study is to investigate the effects of different drying processes (convective hot air, microwave, and fluidized bed drying) and combined drying methods on the drying characteristics and physical properties of the dried wheat and the power consumption of the dryers. The lowest moisture content and water activity values were observed for the 25min of drying in fluidized bed dryer (60°C) and following 16min in microwave dryer (540W). The lowest power consumption was observed in the 60°C-180W fluidized bed-microwave combination (0.77kWh) compared to the other combined trials.Türkoğlu, T.; Baykal, H.; Yüksel, H.; Çalışkan Koç, G.; Dirim, S. (2018). The intermittent drying of wheat by microwave and fluidized bed drying. En IDS 2018. 21st International Drying Symposium Proceedings. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1543-1550. https://doi.org/10.4995/IDS2018.2018.7467OCS1543155

Fingolimod impairs inactivated vaccine (CoronaVac)-induced antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in persons with multiple sclerosis

Background: : The impact of disease-modifying treatments on humoral response induced by inactivated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines is understudied. Methods: : We recruited 34 persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) under fingolimod treatment and 25 healthy individuals. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG indices were measured by ELISA in sera of participants after CoronaVac vaccinations. Results: : Persons with MS displayed significantly lower antibody levels and seropositivity prevalence. Persons with MS with longer fingolimod treatment durations displayed lower anti-SARS-CoV-2 indices. Conclusion: : Our results support previous findings regarding humoral response impairing effect of fingolimod after vaccinations. Patients under fingolimod treatment may require closer monitoring for COVID-19

Ergan Dağı’nın Farklı Yükseltilerinde Yaygın Olarak Yetişen Bitkilerde Ağır Metal (Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Pb) Birikiminin Belirlenmesi

Bu çalışma, Erzincan il sınırları içerisinde yer alan Ergan Dağı’nın farklı yüksekliklerinde yetişen yaygın 30 bitki türü ile yapılmıştır. Çalışma kapsamında 1500 m, 2000 m, 2500 m ve 3000 m olmak üzere farklı yüksekliklerden toplanan bitkilerde ve yetiştikleri topraklarda metal (Cd, Cr, Pb, Co, Ba) konsantrasyonları tespit edilmiştir. Toplanan bitkilerin çiçek, yaprak ve kök ile yetiştikleri topraklar laboratuvarda ön işlemlerden geçirilmiştir. Hazır hale getirilen örneklerde metal konsantrasyonları ICP-MS’te analizi gerçekleştirilmiştir. Elde edilen bitki ve toprağa ait metal verileri istatistiksel olarak değerlendirilerek, her bir metal için rakımlar arasındaki farklılıklar belirlenmiştir. Çalışmada Cd ve Pb konsantrasyonunun 2500 m yetişen bitkilerde ve topraklarda yüksek olduğu belirlenmiştir. İlave olarak, Turanecio hypochionaeus ve Crepis armena türlerinin bünyesinde kadmiyum metalini toprağa göre daha fazla biriktirdiği ve bazı türlerin biyomonitor özelliğe sahip olduğu anlaşılmıştır.This study was carried out with 30 plant species common at different altitudes of Ergan Mountain, located in Erzincan. In the research, metal (Cd, Cr, Pb, Co, Ba) concentrations were determined in plants collected from different altitudes, 1500 m, 2000 m, 2500 m, and 3000 m, and in the soils, they grow. The flowers, leaves, and roots of the plants and the soils were pre-treated in the laboratory. Metal concentrations in the prepared samples were analyzed in ICP-MS. The obtained plant and soil metal data were evaluated statistically and the differences between the altitudes were determined for each metal. It was determined that the Cd and Pb concentrations were high in plants and soils at 2500 m. In addition, it has been understood that Turanecio hypochionaeus and Crepis armena species accumulate more cadmium metal in their bodies than in the soil, and some species have biomonitoring properties

Cerebrospinal Fluid Level of Phosphorylated Neurofilament Heavy Chain is Higher in Converting Clinically Isolated Syndrome and Correlates with CAMP Response Element‑Binding Protein Concentration

Introduction: Prevision of conversion from clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) tomultiple sclerosis (MS) is required to avoid unnecessary use of immunomodulatingagents and to recognize patients with high disease activity. Our aim was toevaluate the value of phosphorylated neurofilament heavy chain (pNFH, a markerfor neuroaxonal degeneration) and Cyclic adenosine monophosphate responseelement‑binding protein (cAMP response element‑binding protein [CREB], amarker for neuroregeneration) levels in the prediction of conversion from CIS toMS. Methods: Twenty‑three consecutively recruited treatment‑naïve CIS patientswere followed for 36 months. pNFH and CREB levels were measured in the firstepisode cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the serum of 12 converting (CIS‑MS) and11 nonconverting CIS patients (CIS‑CIS) by enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay.Results: Baseline CSF but not serum samples of CIS‑CIS patients displayedsignificantly lower pNFH levels compared to patients with CIS‑MS. The analysisof receiver operating characteristic curve presented a high specificity for theprediction of MS conversion for the CSF pNFH cut‑off level of 730.9 pg/ml. CSFpNFH levels significantly correlated with serum and CSF CREB levels. Higherbaseline CSF pNFH and CREB levels were associated with more rapid progressionto MS or increased disability scores. Conclusion: CSF pNFH measurement maypotentially determine MS patients with unfavorable clinical progression after thefirst attack. pNFH and CREB appear to be increased in parallel in CSF of CISpatients with higher disease activity. These results suggest that neurofilaments arenot only indicators of axonal degeneration but also partly a marker of neuronaldifferentiation and new axon regeneration mediated by CREB signaling pathway

Clinical outcomes and independent risk factors for 90-day mortality in critically ill patients with respiratory failure infected with sars-cov-2: A multicenter study in turkish intensive care units

Background: There are limited data on the long-term outcomes of COVID-19 from different parts of the world. Aims: To determine risk factors of 90-day mortality in critically ill patients in Turkish intensive care units (ICUs), with respiratory failure. Study design: Retrospective, observational cohort. Methods: Patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and who had been followed up in the ICUs with respiratory failure for more than 24 hours were included in the study. Their demographics, clinical characteristics, laboratory variables, treatment protocols, and survival data were recorded. Results: A total of 421 patients were included. The median age was 67 (IQR: 57-76) years, and 251 patients (59.6%) were men. The 90-day mortality rate was 55.1%. The factors independently associated with 90-day mortality were invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) (HR 4.09 [95% CI: [2.20-7.63], P 2 mmol/L (2.78 [1.93-4.01], P < .001), age ≥60 years (2.45 [1.48-4.06)], P < .001), cardiac arrhythmia during ICU stay (2.01 [1.27-3.20], P = .003), vasopressor treatment (1.94 [1.32-2.84], P = .001), positive fluid balance of ≥600 mL/day (1.68 [1.21-2.34], P = .002), PaO2 /FiO2 ratio of ≤150 mmHg (1.66 [1.18-2.32], P = .003), and ECOG score ≥1 (1.42 [1.00-2.02], P = .050). Conclusion: Long-term mortality was high in critically ill patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in intensive care units in Turkey. Invasive mechanical ventilation, lactate level, age, cardiac arrhythmia, vasopressor therapy, positive fluid balance, severe hypoxemia and ECOG score were the independent risk factors for 90-day mortality. Copyright@Author(s)