Evaluation of postictal optic nerve sheath diameter at epileptic patients.

INTRODUCTION: During a seizure, metabolic rate and, consequently, cerebral blood flow increase to provide the required maintenance energy. It is thought that this causes an increase in intracranial pressure, but there is no comprehensive research on this subject. In this study, we aimed to measure and follow optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) in patients who applied to the emergency department (ED) after generalized tonic-clonic (GTC) seizures and to gain information about intracranial pressure changes in epilepsy patients in the postictal period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective observational study. Patients already diagnosed with epilepsy who applied to the ED within one hour after GTC seizures were included. The ONSD of the patients was measured by the same radiologist three times in both eyes using ultrasonography at the time of admission and the fourth hour of follow-up. The seizure characteristics and measurements of the patients were recorded, and the changes in ONSD over time and correlations between seizure characteristics and ONSD were examined. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients were included in the study. Thirty-four (51.5%) of the patients had seizures with auras. For both eyes, the first-hour ONSD values of the patients [right: 5.90 (5.73-6.16) mm, left: 5.86 (5.73-6.13) mm] were significantly higher than the fourth-hour ONSD values [right: 5.26 (5.19-5.40) mm, left: 5.28 (5.16-5.36) mm)] (p < 0.001 for both eyes). Additionally, the first- and fourth-hour ONSD values of patients with seizures with auras were significantly higher than those with seizures without auras (p < 0.001 for each condition). There was no correlation between other variables related to seizure type and ONSD. CONCLUSION: This study showed that after GTC seizures in epilepsy patients, ONSD increases in the first hour postictal and decreases over time. Another important result is that the increase in ONSD values in seizures with auras is significantly higher than in seizures without auras.

Adsorption of Cr(III) from Aqueous Solution using Borax Sludge.

Borax sludge is the waste produced by a trommel sieve in the borax production process and is used as an adsorbent for Cr(III) removal. The effects of various parameters, including pH, initial Cr(III) concentration and contact time were investigated for batch adsorption of Cr(III). The experimental results obtained were applied to different adsorption isotherms and kinetic models. The results indicated that the Temkin isotherm (R2 = 0.9749) was most suitable to explain the adsorption characteristics of borax sludge, and the removal of Cr(III) was achieved by a physisorption process. The overall kinetic data fitted the pseudo-second order rate model (R2 = 0.9990). According to thermodynamic studies, which were carried out at different temperatures, changes in enthalpy (ΔH) and entropy (ΔS) values for Cr(III) adsorption by borax sludge were determined to be 69.395 kJ/mol and 0.276 kJ/mol K, respectively. The study implied that borax sludge could be used as an alternative adsorbent in the adsorption of Cr(III) from aqueous solutions.

A Novel Synthesis of Zinc Borates from a Zinc Oxide Precursor via Ultrasonic Irradiation.

In this study, zinc borate hydrate (Zn3B6O12 · 3.5H2O) was synthesized from zinc oxide (ZnO) and boric acid (H3BO3) via a novel method of ultrasonic irradiation. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the synthesized products. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to determine the effects of reaction time and reaction temperature on the morphology of the products. Thermal dehydration kinetics were studied using thermal gravimetry and differential thermal gravimetry analysis (TG/DTA). The Doyle and Kissinger non-isothermal kinetic methods were used to analyse the TG/DTA data. The XRD results confirmed the successful synthesis of Zn3B6O12 · 3.5H2O at a range of reaction temperatures and times. Additionally, FT-IR and Raman analysis of the products identified peaks specific to zinc borate. Using the methods of Doyle and Kissinger, the activation energies of thermal dehydration of zinc borate were found to be 341.61 kJ/mol and 390.17 kJ/mol, respectively.

Senior Undergraduate Nursing Students' Perceptions of Disaster Preparedness: A Descriptive Study.

OBJECTIVE: This descriptive study aimed to determine the disaster preparedness of a senior class of undergraduate nursing students. METHODS: The study sample was composed of 73 undergraduate nursing school students from Ankara, Turkey. Data were collected by using a questionnaire developed by the researchers and were evaluated with descriptive statistics. RESULTS: More than half (56.1%) of the students stated that the disaster competencies of nurses should include leadership, manager, and coordinator skills; 42.4% of them indicated the competencies of decision-maker, critical thinking, autonomy, and planning skills. Regarding education, 56.4% of the students considered their education on disaster nursing as "efficient"; however, 35.9% of them considered their education as "partly efficient" or "inefficient." CONCLUSIONS: Many correct concepts related to the definition, features, competencies, and roles of disaster nurses were stated by students. However, low percentages and insufficient statements showed low preparedness for disasters. Curriculum development or redesign is necessary to include content and clinical experiences related to disasters. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:557-561).