Determination of Nutrient Content of Gagea bohemica (Liliaceae) in Turkey.

Mineral nutrients are essential for the growth and survival of a plant. In particular, bulbous plants such as Gagea bohemica (Zauschn.) Schultes & Schultes f. store nutrients and use them in metabolic activities during dormancy. The main aim of the present research is to reveal the micro- and macronutrient contents of G. bohemica. The soil and plant (bulbs, stem, and leaf parts) samples were taken from the southeast of Aksaray in Turkey at an altitude of 1320 m above sea level in April 2021. The amount of nutrients (Zn, S, P, Ni, Mn, Mg, K, Fe, Cu, Ca, Ba, and Al) in these samples were determined by ICPMS. Afterwards, these data were analyzed statistically. Zn, Fe, K, and Ca values in soil were within reference values, whereas Al (65,000 ± 1000-75,000 ± 3000 mg/kg), Cu (20 ± 2-46 ± 0.1 mg/kg), Mg (15,000 ± 1000-21,000 ± 1000 mg/kg), Mn (606 ± 2-751 ± 24 mg/kg), and Ni (75 ± 7-100 ± 10 mg/kg) values were above. Our results indicate an accumulation of nutrients in the soil where G. bohemica grows. Similarly, the concentrations of Zn, K, Cu, and Ca in the bulbs of the plant were among the reference values, while Al (14,900 ± 500 mg/kg), Fe (15,700 ± 200 mg/kg), Mg (7600 ± 300 mg/kg), Mn (321 ± 15 mg/kg), and Ni (81 ± 1 mg/kg) ratios were higher than optimal. Additionally, we found that G. bohemica effectively accumulates Al, Fe, Mg, and Ni in its shoot tissues. Monitoring this plant in terms of macro and micronutrients will provide more detailed information about its ecological features and habitat properties. In this way, it will be possible to carry out the cultivation of the species in suitable conditions and effective species protection and ensure sustainability.

Assessment of human-induced effects in the Sultan marshes (Ramsar Protection), Kayseri (Turkey).

This study examines the drying in the Sultan Marshes and the spatio-temporal change of different land cover classes. Corine land cover change outputs were examined for four periods (1990-2000; 2000-2006; 2006-2012; and 2012-2018). During these analyses, the period when the water area changes in the lakes occur the most was determined. Moreover, other land cover changes occurring in the region were defined. The LCC results were compared and discussed in terms of some human factors (i.e., human development index and terrestrial human footprint). According to the results of this study, it was observed that there was a severe decline in the lake surface water located in the Sultan Marshes National Park Area. The water's surface in the lakes decreased by 50% in the 2000s compared to previous years and decreased until 2006. This withdrawal was prominent especially in Lake Yay and Lake Çöl. Considering the human factors (Human Development Index) and variables (terrestrial Human Footprint) in terms of the spatio-temporal land cover change, it is seen that the human development in the region increased from 0.54 to 0.81 from 1990 to 2018, and the human footprint increased the most in 1993. Water area changes occurred at a high rate between 1990-2000 and 2000-2006. It results from the growing demand for basic needs (such as water consumption and food diversity) with increasing human development and expanded agricultural practices in the region and overuse of the ground and aboveground waters that are the source of the lakes. Especially between 1990 and 2000, the high number of human interventions in the region caused the human footprint to be higher in 1993 than in 2009. Unless the Sultan Marshes have the proper planning and policies, it faces the danger of complete drying up with the effects of climate change in the future.

Possible effect of biotechnology on plant gene pools in Turkey.

The recent rapid developments in biotechnology have made great contributions to the study of plant gene pools. The application of in vitro methods in freeze storage and DNA protection techniques in fast production studies has made major advances. From that aspect, biotechnology is an indispensable means for the protection of plant gene pools, which includes the insurance of sustainable agriculture and development of species. Besides all the positive developments, one of the primary risks posed by the uncontrolled spreading of genetically modified organisms is the possibility for other non-target organisms to be negatively affected. Genes of plant origin should be given priority in this type of studies by taking into consideration such negative effects that may result in disruption of ecological balance and damage to plant genetic pools. Turkey, due to its ecological conditions and history, has a very important position in terms of plant gene pools. This richness ought to be protected without corrupting its natural quality and natural evolution process in order to provide the sources of species that will be required for future sustainable agricultural applications. Thus, attention should be paid to the use of biotechnological methods, which play an important role especially in the protection and use of local and original plant gene pools.

The Comparison of the Effects of Epidural Bupivacaine and Levobupivacaine on the Autonomic Nervous System and Cardiac Arrhythmia Parameters in Inguinal Hernia Surgeries.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of bupivacaine and levobupivacaine, used to create epidural anaesthesia in inguinal hernia operations, on heart rate variability and cardiac arrhythmia parameters. METHODS: Sixty male patients of the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) I-II group, scheduled to be operated on for inguinal hernia surgery with epidural anaesthesia, were randomly divided into two groups. The patients, with a 12-channel Holter recorder (Rozinn RZ153+12-USA) attached 1 hour before the operation to record until the end of the surgery, were taken into the preparation room and anaesthetised. In group L (n=30), 17 mL of 0.5% levobupivacaine (Chirocain 0.5%-Abbot, El-verum, Norway) was given into the epidural space within 10 minutes, versus 17 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine in (Marcain 0.5%, Astra Zeneca, Istanbul, Turkey) group B (n=30). After 30 minutes, when there was enough block, the operation had been started. Holter recordings, starting 1 hour before the anaesthetic procedure and completed by the end of the operations, were transferred to the computer. The records were evaluated by the cardiologists. RESULTS: When analysing the frequency effect measurement results of the heart rate variability, it was seen that neither of the medications created any statistically significant change in or among the groups in total, very-low-frequency (VLF), low-frequency (LF), high-frequency (HF) and LF/HF ratio levels. Only normalised low-frequency band was significantly lower in Group L (p=0.013). CONCLUSION: In the volumes and concentrations that were used in our study, levobupivacaine and bupivacaine created sensory blockade at the same level on average and did not reduce heart rate variability at the levels of these blockages.

Medical Resource Value Appraisal for Leucojum aestivum in Turkey.

In this study, we investigate the medical and economical value of Leucojum aestivum. Leucojum aestivum contains the alkaloid galanthamine, which is one of the main active substances in Reminyl, a commonly used drug for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this analysis, we estimate that there are 13 million mild to moderate patients with Alzheimer's who use Reminyl. Our results suggest that the market change value of L aestivum required for 1 unit of Reminyl is US$62. The value of total change of galanthamine and L aestivumis estimated to be US$18.6 billion per year. Alzheimer's drugs that use L aestivum are relatively expensive, ranging in cost from US$183 to more than US$400 per month. The minimum annual cost of this is US$2196 per person for "patients with mild and moderate stage AD." The using value of 6 million units of L aestivum bulbs, which is the amount exported from Turkey, is estimated to be US$27 million per year. The determined value for L aestivum is equivalent to the value of a rare flower that can be used to treat the serious illness of AD.

Left-molar approach for direct laryngoscopy: is it easy?

PURPOSE: For direct laryngoscopy, we compared midline and left-molar approaches with respect to ease of intubation, using a Macintosh blade. We investigated the relationship between failure of the left-molar approach and preoperative risk factors for difficult intubation. METHODS: With local ethics committee approval, 200 consecutive adult, nonpregnant patients were included in the study. The demographic data, body mass index, Mallampati modified score, interincisor gap, and mentohyoid and thyromental distances were measured preoperatively. First, the Macintosh blade was inserted using the midline approach, and then optimal external laryngeal manipulation (OELM) was applied. Second, the blade was inserted using the left-molar approach. The glottic views were assessed according to the Cormack-Lehane classification before and after OELM in both approaches. In cases where tracheal intubation failed with the left-molar approach, the midline approach was applied again and endotracheal intubation took place. RESULTS: The grade I glottic view obtained using the midline approach without OELM did not change in 94.3% of the patients with the left-molar approach without OELM; in addition, the grade II glottic view improved to grade I in 52.8% of the patients with the same technique (P < 0.001). Although the number of patients with a grade I or II glottic view in the left-molar approach was 197, only 37 patients could be intubated using the left-molar approach. In addition, 59.5% of them were intubated at the second attempt with the left-molar approach, while the incidence of a second attempt was 1.2% with the midline approach (P < 0.001). There was no correlation between the preoperative risk factors for difficult intubation and failure of the left-molar approach. CONCLUSION: Difficulty in the insertion of the endotracheal tube limits the efficacy of the left-molar approach. It is not possible to predict the failure of intubation with the left-molar approach by considering the preoperative risk factors.

Biological and chemical removal of Cr(VI) from waste water: cost and benefit analysis.

The objective of the present study is cost and benefit analysis of biological and chemical removal of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] ions. Cost and benefit analysis were done with refer to two separate studies on removal of Cr(VI), one of heavy metals with a crucial role concerning increase in environmental pollution and disturbance of ecological balance, through biological adsorption and chemical ion-exchange. Methods of biological and chemical removal were compared with regard to their cost and percentage in chrome removal. According to the result of the comparison, cost per unit in chemical removal was calculated 0.24 euros and the ratio of chrome removal was 99.68%, whereas those of biological removal were 0.14 and 59.3% euros. Therefore, it was seen that cost per unit in chemical removal and chrome removal ratio were higher than those of biological removal method. In the current study where chrome removal is seen as immeasurable benefit in terms of human health and the environment, percentages of chrome removal were taken as measurable benefit and cost per unit of the chemicals as measurable cost.