Boron bio-mining by high boron-tolerant native microalgae in Turkey and boron toxicity in the aquatic environment.

Boron (B) is one of the most important trace elements. Turkey has the largest B reserves in the world with 3 billion tons of B. Therefore, the toxicity of B is more important in Turkey. In this study, effective B removal was provided by different types of microalgae and then B recovery in culture media by bio-mining was detected. The water of Lake Mogan in Gölbasi/Ankara/Turkey was used as the microalgae culture medium as a cost-reducing factor. The effects of light, temperature, NaNO3 and K2HPO4 stresses on B removal were determined. The highest B removal was 17.19% at 25 µmol/m2s light intensity and 25 °C for Phormidium animale in Lake Mogan culture medium. Boron removal of Scenedesmus sp. was 36.42% at 25 µmol/m2s light intensity, at 25 °C, at 1.5 g/L NaNO3 and 40 mg/L K2HPO4 concentrations in BG11 medium on the 15th day. The chl (a + b) concentration of Scenedesmus sp. was 1.63 µg/mL at 75 µmol/m2s light intensity and the chl (a) concentration of P. animale was 2.01 µg/mL at 25 µmol/m2s light intensity. Considering all parameters, Scenedesmus sp. and P. animale are recommended as effective biomaterials for the B removal process.

A serological investigation of pestiviruses in sheep in eastern border of Turkey.

All pestiviruses are important veterinary pathogens causing economic losses in cattle, sheep, and pigs. In this study, blood samples randomly collected from 465 sheep were analysed for the presence of antibodies to pestiviruses (bovine viral diarrhea virus, border disease virus) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the province of Van and their towns. The seroprevalance were estimated as 75.9% and 60.0-82.5% in the sampled animals and sampled towns, respectively. The results revealed that pestiviruses are important abort pathogens in the province of Van and their towns.

Biliary tract reconstruction with autologous rectus sheath graft--an experimental study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Common bile duct injuries which cause significant morbidity and mortality are one of the most serious complications of cholecystectomies. They can be repaired by various approaches. METHODOLOGY: We used an autologous graft obtained from the posterior sheath of the rectus muscle in biliary tract reconstruction for common bile duct defect. This experimental study was carried out on six dogs. A tissue fragment was excised from the posterior sheath of the rectus muscle together with the fascia transversalis and peritoneum. A channel from the fascial graft was formed around a T-tube. The autologous rectus sheath graft was sutured to the common bile duct as a segmental conduit graft. Afterwards, blood biochemistry values and liver histopathology were investigated. Dogs were studied by T-tube cholangiography 4 months postoperatively just prior to removing the T-tube and again 2 months later at relaparotomy. The hepatic parenchyma, intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts were detected by ultrasonography during the last 2 months, one time in fifteen days. RESULTS: There was no anastomotic insufficiency. The fascial graft gained an appearance similar to bile duct in dogs. Postoperatively, no change in blood biochemical parameters was observed, and in the preoperative and postoperative periods no histopathological change in the liver was found. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that the use of an autologous fascial graft to repair common bile duct injuries as a conduit graft for segmental bile duct loss may be a feasible and alternative method of treatment.