Links between airborne microbiome, meteorology, and chemical composition in northwestern Turkey.

The composition of atmospheric aerosols is dynamic and influenced by their emission sources, organic and inorganic composition, transport pathways, chemical and physical processes, microorganisms' content and more. Characterization of such factors can improve the ability to evaluate air quality and health risks under different atmospheric scenarios. Here we investigate the microbial composition of the atmospheric particulate matter (<10 µm; PM10), sampled in Bolu, Turkey, and the linkage to the chemical composition changes, and different environmental factors. We show distinct differences between aerosol composition of different sources and air-mass transport patterns, sampled in July-August 2017 and in February 2018. The summer samples had a typical northern component air mass trajectories and higher local wind speed. They were characterized by high PM10 levels, marine and mineral dust tracers and high relative abundance of Ascomycota, suggesting long-range transport of the particles from remote sources. In contrast, samples collected in February were characterized by a dominant contribution of southern air masses, and low wind speed. They had low PM10 values, higher relative abundance of antibiotic resistance genes and anthropogenic ions related to local industries and farming, suggesting a dominance of local sources. With the microbiome analyses reported here for the first time for this region, we show good agreement between airborne microbial composition, aerosol mass load, chemistry, and meteorology. These results allow better air quality evaluation and prediction capabilities.

Photocatalytic degradation of yellow 2G dye using titanium dioxide/ultraviolet A light through a Box-Behnken experimental design: Optimization and kinetic study.

Yellow 2G (Y2G), a type of anionic, synthetic monoazo dye that is widely used in household applications, textiles, and food industries, has been found to have cardiovascular and neurological effects on all living beings. In the present study, heterogeneous photocatalytic degradation of commercial Y2G was conducted using pure titanium dioxide (TiO2) in a batch reactor system under ultraviolet A (UVA) light for 180 min. TiO2 dosage, pH, and initial Y2G concentration were the three experimental parameters selected and studied to obtain preliminary information about the photocatalytic activities within a specified range. The Box-Behnken design method (BBD) was used to determine optimal values of the results using the above parameters of Y2G photocatalysis under response surface methodology (RSM). The optimum conditions were 0.914 g L-1 TiO2, pH 3.45, and an initial Y2G concentration of 20 mg L-1. The Y2G degradation efficiency was 96.19% using a second-order polynomial equation with R2 ≈ 0.999. The experimental results also showed that the photocatalytic process could be successfully explained using the modified Langmuir-Hinshelwood model, where kc and KLH were 0.787 mg L-1 min and 0.010 L mg-1, respectively.

Plasma visfatin level in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to compare the serum level of visfatin between patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and control subjects matched for age and body mass index (BMI) and to assess the possible correlations of visfatin to the hormonal and metabolic parameters of the syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Fifty-five patients with PCOS diagnosis composed of 25 obese, 13 overweight, 17 normal weight subjects and 49 women without concomitant disease matched for age and BMI were included in this study. RESULTS: Serum visfatin levels were similar in normal weight PCOS and control group. Visfatin levels in obese and overweight patients with PCOS were higher than that found in control women with similar BMI, and visfatin had positive linear correlation with BMI, waist circumference and HOMA-IR. Obese women with PCOS had also significantly higher visfatin levels than normal weight women with PCOS. CONCLUSION: Visfatin levels in obese and overweight patients with PCOS were higher than that found in females without concomitant disease with similar BMI, and visfatin had positive linear correlation with BMI, waist circumference and HOMA-IR.

Impact of treatment with metformin on adipokines in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Adipose tissue synthesizes various adipokines such as resistin, adiponectin and visfatin, which have an effect on insulin resistance. This study was designed to show the effect of metformin, one of the most important drugs used to reduce insulin resistance in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), on these adipokines. METHODS: The study group consisted of 24 women with PCOS and 25 healthy, age- and weight-matched, normally menstruating women. Hormone and lipid profiles, visfatin, adiponectin and resistin were measured in all cases, before and after metformin treatment. RESULTS: Serum visfatin levels were found to be significantly higher in patients with PCOS, compared to controls. Following metformin treatment, a significant decrease was observed in visfatin levels compared to the baseline. A positive correlation was found between serum visfatin levels and BMI, waist circumference, HOMA, insulin and triglyceride levels. No statistically significant difference was observed in terms of serum adiponectin levels in women with PCOS before and after treatment, or in healthy controls. Serum resistin levels were significantly reduced by metformin treatment. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that visfatin may be related to the obesity and insulin resistance that is frequently encountered in patients with PCOS. A reduction in serum visfatin and resistin levels was shown with metformin treatment, in patients with PCOS.

Isolated bladder aspergillosis as the primary presentation of non-oliguric acute renal failure.

A 70-year-old male patient with diabetes mellitus presented to our hospital with acute obstructive non-oliguric renal failure. Abdominal CT revealed obstructive hydronephrosis and irregular thickening of the bladder wall. Upon cystoscopy, samples of tissue were taken and found to be positive for Aspergillus spp. on histology, indicating infection of the bladder wall. The patient was treated successfully by means of a percutaneous nephrostomy and a 30-day course of caspofungin.