Production of demineralised high quality hierarchical activated carbon from lignite and determination of adsorption performance using methylene blue and p-nitrophenol: The role of surface functionality, accessible pore size and surface area.

In the adsorption process, the surface area, pore and particle size distribution and the chemical structure of the solid and the type of adsorbent are of vital importance. Activated carbon (AC) is a very good adsorbent material and its cost is highly dependent on the starting material and production method. The pore size and functional structure of the surface depend on the amount of activation chemical used. Hierarchical ACs were produced from lignite by loading two different amounts of KOH. The impregnation ratio (KOH/lignite) was chosen as 1/1 and 3/1 and the produced ACs were labelled as AC1 and AC3. The surface areas of AC1 and AC3 were determined as 1321.3 and 2421.3 m2/g, and the total pore volumes were 1.079 and 1.425 cm3/g. Methylene blue (MB) and p-nitrophenol (p-NP) were used to determine the adsorption performance of the produced ACs. The adsorption data were evaluated in terms of the Langmuir and Freundlich models. The amounts of MB and p-NP adsorbed on the surface were calculated in mg/g, total and accessible surface area in mg/m2. It was determined that the MB and p-NP adsorbed to the AC1 sample were higher than the AC3 sample per m2 of population. Molecular orientation is possible depending on the solid surface functionality and chemical structure of the molecule to be adsorbed. It was concluded that in addition to the large surface area, the pore width that can be entered and the functional structure of the surface are very significant factors in the adsorption processes.

Examination of gas and solid products during the preparation of activated carbon using phosphoric acid.

Activating agents play significant roles in the preparation of activated carbon (AC) from biomasses and their wastes, which are widely used in AC production. Application methods are also important for the production process. Products give remarkable ideas regarding the method and heat treatment process. The activated carbon was produced from waste tea in accordance with either the conventional method or microwave energy pretreated method using phosphoric acid (H3PO4) as activating agent. The yields of the activated carbons were 51.8% for conventional method and 46.0% for microwave pretreated method. The acid suppressed the formation of tar and promoted the amount of solid and aromatic structure accordance to sp2 hybridisation. Additionally, the waste tea was directly carbonised (without H3PO4) and the yield was 36.3%. Major gas (H2, CH4, C2H6, C2H4, CO2 and CO) products obtained during heat treatment process in a conventional furnace were examined in terms of quantity and quality. The solid products were characterised in terms of surface area, pore size and surface properties. The result of gas analysis showed that phosphoric acid affected formation of activated carbon mechanism and significant reactions occurred during microwave pretreatment process.

Does an asymmetric lobe in digital rectal examination include any risk for prostate cancer? results of 1495 biopsies.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the well-known findings related to malignity in DRE such as nodule and induration, asymmetry of prostatic lobes, seen relatively, were investigated in a few studies as a predictor of prostate cancer so that there is no universally expected conclusion about asymmetry. We aimed to compare cancer detection rate of normal, asymmetric or suspicious findings in DRE by using biopsy results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of 1495 patients underwent prostate biopsy between 2006-2014 were searched retrospectively. Biopsy indications were abnormal DRE and or elevated PSA level( >4ng/mL). DRE findings were recorded as Group 1: Benign DRE, Group 2: Asymmetry and Group 3: Nodule/induration. Age, prostatic volume , biopsy results and PSA levels were recorded. RESULTS: Mean age, prostate volume and PSA level were 66.72, 55.98 cc and 18.61ng/ mL respectively. Overall cancer detection rate was 38.66 % (575 of 1495). PSA levels were similar in group 1 and 2 but significantly higher in group 3. Prostatic volume was similar in group 1 and 2 and significantly lower in Group 3. Malignity detection rate of group 1,2 and 3 were 28.93%, 34.89% and 55.99% respectively. Group 1 and 2 were similar (p=0.105) but 3 had more chance for cancer detection. CONCLUSION: Nodule is the most important finding in DRE for cancer detection. Only na asymmetric prostate itself does not mean malignity.

The performance of sulphur doped activated carbon supercapacitors prepared from waste tea.

The pore structure, high surface area and good conductivity are the key properties for the electrochemical double layer based supercapacitors. The activated carbons were produced from the waste tea, utilising microwave pretreatment with H3PO4 and activation at 450°C. Sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate (Na2S2O3·5H2O) was used as sulphur doping agent at 800°C to enhance conductivity of the activated carbons. Supercapacitor electrodes were prepared from both the activated carbon (WTAC) and sulphur doped activated carbon (WTAC-S) samples and the electrochemical performances were tested in the presence of 6 M KOH and 1 M H2SO4 as electrolytes. The activated carbon samples were characterised by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area, Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis techniques. The electrochemical performance analyses were performed by galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) methods. The specific capacitance values of the WTAC and WTAC-S samples under the 1 A g-1 current density were found to be 89.3, 144.7 F g-1 for KOH electrolyte and 73.8 and 101.9 F g-1 for H2SO4 electrolyte, respectively. The results show that the sulphur doping process enhances the electrochemical performance of activated carbon samples.

Our urethrocutaneous fistula repair results in adults after hypospadias surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Our aim was to evaluate and share our urethrocutaneus fistula repair results in adult patients who had been operated for hypospadias in their childhood. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The data of totally 48 patients who had been treated for urethrocutaneous fistula after hypospadias surgery in our department from May 2008 to January 2015 analyzed retrospectively. Patients' age at fistula repair, age at first hypospadias surgery, fistula size, localization and number, distal urethral obstruction status and surgical outcomes of fistula repairs were recorded. All patients were controlled three months after the repair for surgical outcomes. RESULTS: Fistula repair performed in 45 patients. Mean age was 21.46 (20-26). Nineteen patients (42.2%) underwent first hypospadias surgery under the age of 7 years; 8 patients (17.7%) between 7 and 15 years, 18 patients between 15 and 20 years. Tubularized incised plate urethroplasty (TIPU) was performed in 40 patients (88.9%), extragenital tissue was used in 5 patients (11.1%). Twenty two patients (48.9%) had 1 or 2 operations, 17 patients (37.8%) had 3-5 operations and 6 patients (13.3%) had 6 or more operations. Thirteen (28.9%) coronal, 24 (53.3%) subcoronal, 6 (13.3%) penile and 2 (4.4%) penoscrotal fistulas were observed. While a single fistula was observed in 35 patients, multiple fistulas were seen in 10 patients. A fistula diameter les than 5mm was detected in 37 patients, and larger than 5mm in 8 patients. Fistula recurrence was observed in 3 patients at follow-up examinations carried out at 3 months postoperatively. The number of operations was more than 5, the fistula diameter was larger than 5mm and the fistulas were coronal in all three recurrent fistulas. CONCLUSION: According to our results fistula size, previous surgery and well-vascularised, one or two layer tissue were the important factors in the success of fistula repair after hypospadias surgery.

Renal metastasis from pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a rare case along with literature review.

Metastatic masses in the kidney are rare, and metastasis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma to the kidney is even rarer. A 58-year-old male patient with macroscopic hematuria presented to the emergency department. Abdominopelvic computed tomography revealed a lesion that was not visualized as a complete mass but instead appeared as a patch extending from the pelvis to the parenchyma. Biopsy indicated metastasis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma to the right kidney. These findings indicate that metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma should be considered in patients presenting with hematuria and findings of patch-like suspicious masses in the right kidney. After diagnosis is confirmed by prompt biopsy, chemotherapy should be initiated to prolong the patient's life. To the best of our knowledge, the present case is the first report of renal metastasis from pancreatic adenocarcinoma in a living patient.

Does an asymmetric lobe in digital rectal examination include any risk for prostate cancer? results of 1495 biopsies

ABSTRACT Introduction: Despite the well-known findings related to malignity in DRE such as nodule and induration, asymmetry of prostatic lobes, seen relatively, were investigated in a few studies as a predictor of prostate cancer so that there is no universally expected conclusion about asymmetry. We aimed to compare cancer detection rate of normal, asymmetric or suspicious findings in DRE by using biopsy results. Materials and Methods: Data of 1495 patients underwent prostate biopsy between 2006-2014 were searched retrospectively. Biopsy indications were abnormal DRE and or elevated PSA level(>4ng/mL). DRE findings were recorded as Group 1: Benign DRE, Group 2: Asymmetry and Group 3: Nodule/induration. Age, prostatic volume, biopsy results and PSA levels were recorded. Results: Mean age, prostate volume and PSA level were 66.72, 55.98 cc and 18.61ng/ mL respectively. Overall cancer detection rate was 38.66 % (575 of 1495). PSA levels were similar in group 1 and 2 but significantly higher in group 3. Prostatic volume was similar in group 1 and 2 and significantly lower in Group 3. Malignity detection rate of group 1,2 and 3 were 28.93%, 34.89% and 55.99% respectively. Group 1 and 2 were similar (p=0.105) but 3 had more chance for cancer detection. Conclusion: Nodule is the most important finding in DRE for cancer detection. Only an asymmetric prostate itself does not mean malignity.

A rare complication of penile prosthesis: Inguinal hernia / / Una rara complicación de prótesis de pene: hernia inguinal

Inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) implantation is a successful method for treatment of erectile dysfunction. IPP placements have rare complications. In this paper, we present a highly unusual case of an inguinal hernia as a short-term complication of a 3-piece IPP implantation. The patient was a 55-year-old man with erectile dysfunction due to diabetes mellitus. He presented 3 weeks after implantation with a strong cough. On exploration, the reservoir was seen in direct inguinal hernia sac. After removing the reservoir from the sac, the hernia was repaired with mesh and the reservoir was placed in the space of Retzius again. The patient is symptom free at follow-up (AU)

Implantación de prótesis de pene inflable (IPP) es un método exitoso para el tratamiento de la disfunción eréctil. Implantaciones de PPI tienen complicaciones raras. En este artículo, presentamos un caso de hernia inguinal que es una complicación rara ocurriendo a corto plazo después de la implantación de PPI a tres piezas. El paciente era un hombre de 55 anos ˜ con disfunción eréctil debido a diabetes mellitus. Presentó 3 semanas más tarde después de la implantación con una tos fuerte. En la exploración, el reservoir se observó en el saco de la hernia inguinal directa. Después de retirar el resorvoir del saco, la hernia se reparó con malla y el resorvoir fue colocado de nuevo en el espacio de Retzius. Ningún síntoma fue observado en el paciente al seguimiento (AU)