[Lomentospora prolificans Fungemia in a Patient With T-Cell Large Granular Leukemia: A Rare Pathogen in Türkiye]. / T-hücreli Büyük Granüler Lösemili Bir Hastada Lomentospora prolificans Fungemisi: Türkiye'de Nadir Bir Etken.

Scedosporium/Lomentospora is an opportunistic fungal pathogen found worldwide. While Scedosporium apiospermum and Scedosporium boydii are commonly observed globally, Lomentospora prolificans, which mainly affects immunosuppressed individuals, is rarely encountered and is more prevalent in arid climates, particularly in Australia and Spain. L.prolificans is a fungus commonly found in environmental sources such as contaminated water and soil. This species is known as an opportunistic pathogen that can cause deep-seated fungal infections, especially in immunosuppressed individuals. In this case report, a fatal case of L.prolificans fungemia in a patient with T-cell large granular leukemia during profound neutropenia was presented. The patient admitted to the hospital with prolonged fever, neutropenia, and shortness of breath. Antibiotherapy was administered to the patient for febrile neutropenia, but the fever persisted and his clinical status rapidly deteriorated. L.prolificans was isolated from the blood culture, and considering its antifungal resistance, combination therapy of voriconazole and terbinafine was initiated. However, the patient died of septic shock and multiple organ failure. In conclusion, although L.prolificans infections are rare, they can be life-threatening, especially in immunosuppressed individuals. Diagnosis and treatment of such infections may be difficult, therefore rapid diagnostic methods and appropriate treatment protocols should be developed. Consideration of infections caused by rare fungal pathogens in patients with risk factors may be critical for patient care. The literature review revealed that the first case of L.prolificans fungemia from Türkiye was reported in 2023. This case presentation represents the second reported case. However, in our case, L.prolificans fungemia occurred in 2018, it can be considered that L.prolificans may have been an invasive fungal pathogen of significant concern in Türkiye much earlier than previously documented.

An electronic tongue for simultaneous determination of Ca2+, Mg2+, K+ and NH4+ in water samples by multivariate calibration methods.

In this study, a multi ion-selective electrode system was developed for simultaneous determination of Ca2+, Mg2+, K+ and NH4+ ions. The system, called electronic tongue, was used for the quantitative determination of these ions in different water samples. The measurement system was comprised of sixteen ion-selective electrodes, an Ag/AgCl double-junction reference electrode, and a sixteen-channel multi-potentiometer. In the fabrication process of the electronic tongue, an electrode body, which comprised eight ion-selective electrodes together on it, was designed. The obtained data were evaluated by using multivariate calibration methods such as Classical Least Squares (CLS), Principal Component Regression (PCR) and Partial Least Squares (PLS1). The parameters that influence the electronic tongue performance were investigated. Analyses were conducted in synthetic water samples and real water samples. Percentage recovery values in synthetic samples, which were calculated via PLS1, were found 101.35%, 102.41%, 100.04% and 99.23% for Ca2+, Mg2+, K+ and NH4+ respectively. The results, obtained from the electronic tongue and other analytical techniques, were compared and no significant difference was found between the results at 95% confidence level.

Simultaneous determination of copper and zinc in brass samples by PCR and PLS1 methods using a multiple ion-selective electrode array.

A method was developed to determine copper and zinc simultaneously in brass sample using a multiple ion-selective electrode array system and multivariate calibration techniques. The multiple ion-selective electrode array system was consisted of one pH electrode and eight ion selective electrodes which were formed using commercial ionophores and which are mainly sensitive copper and zinc. PCR, PLS1 which are multivariate calibration techniques were used to calibrate the multiple ion-selective electrode array system using five level multivariate calibration design and PCR method was selected as most suitable method. The measurements were performed at pH 10 in ammonia-ammonium chloride buffer. Copper and zinc content of a brass sample were determined by the calibrated multiple ion-selective electrode array system and the composition of brass sample was also determined by gravimetric method. The percentage amount of copper and zinc in brass sample were 64 ±â€¯1 and 26 ±â€¯2, respectively using the gravimetric method. The percentage results obtained in brass samples for copper and zinc were 63 ±â€¯3 and 24 ±â€¯3 by PCR method and 60 ±â€¯5 and 20 ±â€¯7 by PLS1 method, respectively. The obtained results were calculated for a 95% confidence level.

Determination of Heavy Metals in Almonds and Mistletoe as a Parasite Growing on the Almond Tree Using ICP-OES or ICP-MS.

In this study, the elements of Al, As, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Sr, Pb, Ti, and Zn were determined in the leaves, fruits, and branches of mistletoe, (Viscum albüm L.), used as a medicinal plant, and in the leaves, branches and barks of almond tree which mistletoe grows on. The aim of the study is to investigate whether the mistletoe are more absorbent than the almond tree in terms of the heavy metal contents and the determination of the amount of the elements penetrated into the mistletoe from the almond tree. ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry) was used for the analysis of As, Cd, Mo, and Pb, whereas ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry) was used for the other elements. The results obtained were statistically evaluated at 95% confidence level. Within the results obtained in this study, it was determined whether there is a significant difference between metal elements in almond tree and mistletoe, or not. As a result, it was observed that there were higher contents of B, Ba, K, Mg, and Zn in the mistletoe than in the almond tree. K was found much higher than other elements in the mistletoe. On the other hand, Al, As, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mo, Ni, Sr, Pb, and Ti contents were determined to be more in almond tree than mistletoe.

The effect of temperature change on fluoride uptake from a mouthrinse by enamel specimens.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of temperature on fluoride uptake by enamel specimens from a 0.05% NaF-fluoridated mouthrinse (Oral-B Advantage; Oral-B Laboratories, Newbridge, UK). METHODS: Enamel specimens were prepared from extracted human maxillary central incisors. A fluoride-specific ion electrode was used to measure the uptake from a 2 ppm fluoride solution containing 50.0 mL of distilled water, total ion strength adjustment buffer, and fluoridated rinse at 3 different temperatures (room temperature, 25°C; human body temperature, 37°C; hyper-fever temperature, 43°C). One-way analysis of variance and least significant difference were used to assess intragroup and intergroup differences (P<.05). RESULTS: The study found that both the amount and the rate of fluoride uptake increased significantly with increase in temperature. This effect was particularly noticeable at 43°C. CONCLUSIONS: The temperature of the NaF mouthrinse may easily and safely be increased beyond room temperature by placing a container of the NaF mouthrinse in a bowl of hot water, allowing greater fluoride penetration into the enamel from the mouthrinse when used at home as a routine prophylactic agent.

Linear regression modeling to compare fluoride release profiles of various restorative materials.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the released fluoride profiles of various restorative materials by using linear regression analysis. METHODS: Specimens were prepared using a cylindrical Teflon mold with a height of 2 mm and a radius of 8 mm. After being prepared, specimens were immediately placed into artificial saliva which was replaced at various times during 6 weeks. These released intrinsic fluoride amounts were measured by using an ion selective electrode. Then, data obtained cumulatively were statistically analyzed, and the released profiles were compared. RESULTS: It was observed that the materials released fluoride at different levels of concentration and the largest fluoride release was obtained from the conventional glass ionomer cement. This was followed by resin modified glass ionomer cement, polyacid modified composite resin, and fluoride releasing composite resin, respectively. Although the released fluoride amounts of the materials were different, their release profiles were found to be similar in that the release was initially fast and then it became steady as time passed. SIGNIFICANCE: The statistical modeling of the release profiles helps to compare the fluoride release behavior of materials and also to predict fluoride release amounts for the future. In literature, for these purposes, separate nonlinear statistical models have extensively been utilized. However, the single linear statistical modeling approach has numerous advantages such as providing estimators having good statistical properties, exact results, precise inference and simplicity in calculation. Therefore, this study was conducted to introduce the use of single linear regression modeling to compare release profiles statistically.