Effects of Induction Therapy on Graft Functions in Terms of Immunologic Risk.

BACKGROUND: Advances in immunosuppressive therapies and surgical techniques have led to a significant reduction in the incidence of rejection within 1 year after kidney transplantation. Immunologic risk is an important factor affecting graft functions and guiding the clinician in the selection of induction therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate graft functions based on serum creatinine levels, Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD- EPI) and proteinuria levels, frequency of leukopenia, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and BK virus polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positivity in patients with low and high immunologic risk. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 80 renal recipients. Recipients were divided into 2 groups: patients at low immunologic risk who received basiliximab only and those with high immunologic risk who received low-dose (1.5 mg/kg for 3 days) antithymocyte globulin and basiliximab. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between the 2 risk groups in terms of first, third, sixth, and 12th-month creatinine levels, CKD-EPI, proteinuria levels, leukopenia frequency, and CMV and BK virus PCR positivity. CONCLUSION: One-year graft survivals did not differ significantly between these 2 treatment modalities. The combined use of low-dose antithymocyte globulin and basiliximab in the induction treatment of patients with high immunologic risk seems promising in terms of graft survival, leukopenia frequency, and CMV and BK virus PCR positivity.

Effect of allopurinol drug use on GFR and proteinuria in patients with renal transplant recipients (ADOPTR study).

BACKGROUND: Hyperuricemia has been associated with the development of hypertension, cardiovascular, and renal disease. However, there is no data about the effect of lowering uric acid level on renal functions and proteinuria in renal transplant recipients. This study aimed to investigate the effect of allopurinol treatment on renal functions in renal transplant recipients (RTR). METHODS: A total of 245 patients with renal transplantation were included in this randomized, placebo-controlled study. Patients were randomized to receive either placebo (121 patients) or 300 mg/day allopurinol (124 patients). We have examined uric acid, urinary protein creatinin ratio, MDRD (the modification of diet in renal diseases) and CRP (C-reactive protein) before and 24 weeks after treatment in both group. RESULTS: In the allopurinol group, the mean serum uric acid levels, eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate), and creatinine urinary albumin creatinin ratio (UACR) significantly improved (p < 0.001). Also uric acid level was positively correlated with the UACR (r = 0,645 p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with MDRD (r = -0,387 p < 0.05) in allopurinol treatment group. A statistically significant increase in CRP level was observed (p < 0,05) in plasebo group. Multivariate regression analysis showed that uric acid was positively correlated with UACR (r = 0,473, ß = 0.021, p = 0.002) and negatively correlated with MDRD (r = -0554 ß = 0.016, P = 0.001) in allopurinol treatment RTR. CONCLUSION: Urate, a salt of uric acid, is lowered by allopurinol treatment resulting in improved eGFR and decreased proteinuria, when compared to the placebo group. Therefore, we suggest that allopurinol therapy should be part of the management of kidney transplant patients with normal kidney function. Long-term follow-up studies will be useful in revealing the effect of uric acid management on kidney functions and proteinuria.

One-dimensional (1D) ZnO nanowires dye sensitized solar cell.

High ordered one-dimensional (1D) Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires were grown on FTO substrate by using the hydrothermal method. Nanowires structures were used as the wide band-gap semiconducting photo-electrode in dye sensitized solar cell (DSSCs). Solar cell made from ZnO nanowire at 50 nm radius and several tens micron lengths showed high solar conversion efficiency (eta) of 2.1% and incident photon current efficiency (IPCE) 35% using nanowire/N719 dye/I-/I3- electrolyte. We also compared Ru N719 dye and N3 dye on ZnO nanowire against each other in respect to solar conversion efficiency and IPCE measurements. In the case of the N3 dye on ZnO nanowire conversion efficiency (eta) of 1.32% and IPCE 23% were obtained under an illumination of 100 mW/cm2. It was found that the performance of the Ru N719 dyes was better than about 50% that of the N3 dye in ZnO nanowire dye-sensitized solar cells.

The effect of zeolite treatment by acids on sodium adsorption ratio of coal seam gas water.

Many coal seam gas (CSG) waters contain a sodium ion concentration which is too high relative to calcium and magnesium ions for environment acceptance. Natural zeolites can be used as a cheap and effective method to control sodium adsorption ratio (SAR, which is a measure of the relative preponderance of sodium to calcium and magnesium) due to its high cation exchange capacity. In this study, a natural zeolite from Queensland was examined for its potential to treat CSG water to remove sodium ions to lower SAR and reduce the pH value. The results demonstrate that acid activated zeolite at 30%wt solid ratio can reduce the sodium content from 563.0 to 182.7 ppm; the pH from 8.74 to 6.95; and SAR from 70.3 to 18.5. Based on the results of the batch experiments, the sodium adsorption capacity of the acid-treated zeolite is three times greater than that of the untreated zeolite. Both the untreated and acid-treated zeolite samples were characterized using zeta potential, surface characterization, DTA/TG and particle size distribution in order to explain their adsorption behaviours.

Understanding the role of ion interactions in soluble salt flotation with alkylammonium and alkylsulfate collectors.

There is anecdotal evidence for the significant effects of salt ions on the flotation separation of minerals using process water of high salt content. Examples include flotation of soluble salt minerals such as potash, trona and borax in brine solutions using alkylammonium and alkylsulfate collectors such as dodecylamine hydrochloride and sodium dodecylsulfate. Although some of the effects are expected, some do not seem to be encompassed by classical theories of colloid science. Several experimental and modeling techniques for determining solution viscosity, surface tension, bubble-particle attachment time, contact angle, and molecular dynamics simulation have been used to provide further information on air-solution and solid-solution interfacial phenomena, especially with respect to the interfacial water structure due to the presence of dissolved ions. In addition atomic force microscopy, and sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy have been used to provide further information on surface states. These studies indicate that the ion specificity effect is the most significant factor influencing flotation in brine solutions.

Patient assessment form for septorhinoplasty.

Septorhinoplasty is one of the most sophisticated operations in aesthetic surgery. Surgical evolution and skill are mainly gained by close follow-up of patients, which can be achieved by physical examination, photographing, and meticulous recording obtained before and after operation. On the contrary to some previous forms reported for this aim, we hereby developed a novel form of only 1 document that is simple in design and practical to apply. We think that preoperative and post records of patients can more safely be obtained by means of our personal form. More optimal and scientific studies based on these filled forms can be performed prospectively and retrospectively. We also believe that this form can present a standard for the assessment of septorhinoplasty patients in researches, publications, and presentations, if it would generally be approved by aesthetic surgeons.

A review of induction and attachment times of wetting thin films between air bubbles and particles and its relevance in the separation of particles by flotation.

Bubble-particle attachment in water is critical to the separation of particles by flotation which is widely used in the recovery of valuable minerals, the deinking of wastepaper, the water treatment and the oil recovery from tar sands. It involves the thinning and rupture of wetting thin films, and the expansion and relaxation of the gas-liquid-solid contact lines. The time scale of the first two processes is referred to as the induction time, whereas the time scale of the attachment involving all the processes is called the attachment time. This paper reviews the experimental studies into the induction and attachment times between minerals and air bubbles, and between oil droplets and air bubbles. It also focuses on the experimental investigations and mathematical modelling of elementary processes of the wetting film thinning and rupture, and the three-phase contact line expansion relevant to flotation. It was confirmed that the time parameters, obtained by various authors, are sensitive enough to show changes in both flotation surface chemistry and physical properties of solid surfaces of pure minerals. These findings should be extended to other systems. It is proposed that measurements of the bubble-particle attachment can be used to interpret changes in flotation behaviour or, in conjunction with other factors, such as particle size and gas dispersion, to predict flotation performance.

Molecular features of the air/carbonate solution interface.

The nature of the air/carbonate solution interface is considered with respect to water structure by sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy (SFVS) and molecular dynamics simulations (MDS). Results from this study provide further understating regarding previous observations that the surface tensions of structure making sodium carbonate solutions have been shown to be significantly greater than the surface tensions of structure breaking bicarbonate solutions at equivalent concentrations. This difference in surface tension and its variation with salt concentration is related to the organization of water and ions at the air/solution interface. Spectral results from SFVS show at equivalent concentrations that, for the carbonate solution, the strong water structure signal of 3200 cm(-1) at the air/carbonate solution interface is increased by a factor of 4 when compared to the same signal for the air/bicarbonate solution interface, which spectrum is weaker than the spectrum for the air/water interface in the absence of salt. These results from SFVS are explained by the results from MDS which show that in the case of carbonate solutions the structure making carbonate ions are excluded from the interfacial water region which region is extended in depth. On the other hand, in the case of bicarbonate solutions, the bicarbonate ions are accommodated in the interfacial water region and there is no evidence of an increase in the extent of water structure. These SFVS experimental and MD simulation results provide further information to understand interfacial phenomena of soluble salts at the molecular level.

Adsorption of anionic surfactants onto sepiolite.

Anionic surfactants constitute the main ingredients of detergents and a number of surfactant formulations used in a spectrum of diverse industries. The aim of this study is to examine the amenability of natural sepiolite to the adsorption of anionic surfactants, sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS). Adsorption isotherms exhibit three regions with distinctly different slopes. The first region is characterized by the complexation of anionic surfactants with Mg2+ ions at the octahedral sheet or hydrogen bonding between the oxygen groups of anionic head groups of surfactant and H+ of the bound or zeolitic water. The Mg2+ ions released from sepiolite leads to the precipitation of magnesium salt of surfactant in the second region. The third region marks both the beginning of plateau region and micellar dissolution of the precipitate. The effect of temperature on surfactant adsorption for SDS/sepiolite system was utilized to calculate such thermodynamic parameters as the free energy of adsorption (DeltaG(ads)(degrees)) and the heat of adsorption (DeltaH(ads)(degrees)). The low value of DeltaH(ads)(degrees) (1.87 kJ/mol) is an evidence for the physical adsorption of anionic surfactants onto sepiolite. The relatively large value of entropic contribution (-TDeltaS(ads)(degrees)) indicates that the adsorption of anionic surfactants onto sepiolite is entropically governed.

Color removal of reactive dyes from water by clinoptilolite.

The adsorption of reactive dyes on Gordes (Turkey) clinoptilolite was investigated by a series of batch and column adsorption experiments. Three reactive dyes (Everzol Black, Everzol Red, Everzol Yellow) were used in laboratory studies. Synthetic wastewaters were used and the ability of natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) and their modified form were examined. The adsorption results, in batch and column reactor, indicate that natural zeolite have limited adsorption capacities of the reactive dyes but are substantially improved upon modifying their surfaces with quaternary amines (HTAB). The degree of hydrophilicity is found to play an important role in the uptake of reactive dyes.

[Three-dimensional orthotopic tissue reconstruction with a free, prefabricated high-density porous polyethylene implant flap]. / Serbest prefabrike poröz polietilen implant flebi ile ortotopik üç boyutlu doku rekonstrüksiyonu modeli.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the appropriateness of the implant to be used in free-tissue transfers in a rabbit model in which a full-thickness skin graft was wrapped around a prefabricated high-density porous polyethylene implant. METHODS: In ten New Zealand white rabbits, high-density porous polyethylene implants (Medpor), 10x15x3 mm in size, were bilaterally placed and anchored underneath the superficial inferior epigastric artery and vein pedicle under anesthesia. The flaps were prefabricated through vascular induction. Eight weeks later, the flaps were wrapped by a full-thickness postauricular skin graft, following orthotopic transplantation. Two weeks after grafting, full-thickness biopsy samples were obtained from the distal one-third of the implants and stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson trichrome for histologic examination. RESULTS: Graft compliance was observed in all the implants. Histologic sections showed rich fibro-neovascular tissue, neovascularization, and development of connective tissue cells. There were very few polymorphonuclear cells. No signs of inflammation were observed. CONCLUSION: Prefabrication of the high-density porous polyethylene implant under the superficial inferior epigastric artery and vein results in sufficient conditions for its use in free transfers.

Clay mineral batch process for color removal of textile wastewaters.

Textile industry effluents exhibit large amounts of dye chemicals, which create severe water pollution. It is therefore important to reduce the dye concentration in the wastewater before discharging into the environment. In this study, the ability of sepiolite to uptake different reactive dyes is investigated. The dyes used in the experiments are Everzol Black B, Everzol Yellow 3RS H/C, and Everzol Red 3BS. A number of parameters on adsorption has been investigated in order to establish the adsorption pattern of sepiolite. The effect of conditioning time, solid/liquid ratio, pH, temperature, and dye concentrations on adsorption are studied. Adsorption isotherms for different reactive dyes have been obtained using both natural and modified sepiolites. The maximum capacity of natural sepiolite for the reactive dyes occurs at around 0.1-1 mg/g. Therefore, the natural sepiolite appears to have a little capacity for reactive dyes. The zeta potential profiles of natural and modified sepiolites against pH are also examined. The modified sepiolite exhibited ten times higher performance than the natural sepiolite.

Hatchet-shaped tensor fascia lata musculocutaneous flap for the coverage of trochanteric pressure sores: a new modification.

The tensor fascia lata flap is one of the appropriate choices for the coverage of trochanteric pressure sores. The authors designed a new, hatched-shaped tensor fascia lata musculocutaneous flap with distal Z-plasty closure and applied it to four trochanteric defects in 4 patients. Satisfactory results were obtained in all patients. The hatchet-shaped tensor fascia lata musculocutaneous flap is very safe, reliable, and practical. Designing the flap in a hatchet shape allows one to use the proximal and well-vascularized portion of the flap in the trochanteric pressure sore area. Another important advantage is the possibility of reuse resulting from recurrence. Prevention of a "dog-ear" deformity at the recipient site provides a smooth contour on the lateral aspect of the thigh. Another advantage is the tension-free Z-plasty closure of the donor site without need of grafting.