Simple concentration method enables the use of gargle and mouthwash instead of nasopharyngeal swab sampling for the diagnosis of COVID-19 by PCR.

Since its emergence in December 2019, SARS-CoV-2 is causing one of the most devastating pandemics in human history. Currently, the most important method for definitive diagnosis of COVID-19 is identification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in nasopharyngeal swab samples by RT-PCR. Nasopharyngeal swab sampling is a discomforting procedure sometimes with adverse effects, which also poses a risk for infection for the personnel performing the sampling. We have developed a new method for concentrating biological samples, which enabled us to use gargle and mouthwash samples to be used in RT-PCR, for the diagnosis of COVID-19, as an alternative to nasopharyngeal swab samples. We have analyzed nasopharyngeal and gargle and mouthwash samples, before and after concentration, of 363 patients by RT-PCR for the presence of SARS-CoV-2. Among 114 patients in which SARS-CoV-2 was identified in at least one of their samples, the virus was identified in 76 (66.7%), 67 (58.8%), and 101 (88.6%) of nasopharyngeal swab, gargle, and mouthwash samples before and after concentration, respectively. When concentrated by our new method, gargle and mouthwash samples can be used instead of nasopharyngeal samples in identification of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR, with the same or better sensitivity. Eliminating the need for nasopharyngeal sampling will save the patients from an invasive and painful procedure and will lower the risk of infection for the healthcare personnel taking the sample. This easy sampling procedure may decrease the workload of hospitals, shorten the turnaround time of obtaining test results, and thus enable rapid isolation of infected patients.

A combined treatment using ethylmethane sulfonate and ultraviolet light to compare amylase production by three Bacillus sp. isolates.

In this study, three Bacillus sp.-producing amylase enzymes were isolated from soil samples and identified using 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Amylase production and total protein productions were spectrophotometrically measured. The following media were tested to increase enzyme production: LB medium and molasses. Three Bacillus sp. were identified as follows: Bacillus subtilis subtilis, Bacillus thuringiensis, and Bacillus cereus. Amylase production levels were in the range of 10 U/mL, whereas total protein production levels were at 15 mg/mL. Higher amylase activity was found in the Bacillus subtilis isolate. Ethylmethane sulfonate (EMS) and ultraviolet (UV) mutagenesis in combination were applied to compare amylase production. Amylase activity was increased to around 58% in the treatment with 0.03 mL of EMS and UV when compared to the control group. A pilot scale bioreactor with a total working volume of 10 liters was used to produce amylase by B. subtilis subtilis. In conclusion, B. subtilis subtilis can be used to produce amylase enzyme for various industrial purposes, and, for the first time, the amylase activities of B. subtilis can be enhanced with EMS and UV treatment.

Orthorexia nervosa tendency among students of the department of nutrition and dietetics at a university in Istanbul.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine an orthorexia nervosa scale score for and evaluate orthorexic tendency among students of nutrition and dietetics according to various sociodemographic characteristics. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out in May and June of 2016 among 208 students in the nutrition and dietetics department at a university in Istanbul. After receiving the approval of the university ethics committee, of a total of 300 students, 208 agreed to join the study. Participants completed a questionnaire related to individual characteristics and the ORTO-11 scale during a face-to-face interview. The ORTO-11 scale is a verified Turkish scoring system in which a low score indicates orthorexic tendency. The Mann-Whitney U test, independent samples t-test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and analysis of variance were used to assess the data. P<0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. RESULTS: Orthorexic tendency was significantly higher in males (p=0.050) and students who lived with their family (p=0.002). Mean ORTHO-11 scale score did not differ significantly between groups when the participants were grouped by parameters of smoking, alcohol consumption, chronic disease status, body mass index, diet observance, or use of nutritional supplement products. CONCLUSION: The orthorexic tendency was higher in men and in students who lived with their family. Additional assessment of individual eating habits, eating behavior, and personality characteristics would shed light on the reasons for the difference between gender groups. Qualitative studies should be carried out and possible confounding factors should be determined.