Extractive fermentation of gibberellic acid with free and immobilized Gibberella fujikuroi.

Gibberelic acid fermentation using extractive methods was carried out in the presence of corn oil and Alamine 336. Gibberella fujikuroi fungus (NRRL 2278) was used to produce gibberellic acid. Oleyl alcohol was a diluting agent for Alamine 336. The effects of oleyl alcohol (100%, v/v), corn oil (5-25%, v/v), the concentration of Alamine 336 in oleyl alcohol, and feeding air were examined in this study. According to the results, oleyl alcohol was not effective on the production. On the other hand, oleyl alcohol solutions containing 15-30% (v/v) Alamine 336 showed effects as a toxic substance. In order to reduce solvent toxicity, corn oil was used. Addition of corn oil increased the concentration of gibberellic acid 1.3-fold compared to the control. Then the effects of immobilization and co-immobilization on extractive gibberelic acid fermentation were investigated. The highest total gibberellic acid concentration of 158.9 mg/L was produced with immobilized cells and feeding air by using extractive fermentation. The yield of gibberellic acid increased about 2.6-fold compared with the shake-flask fermentation (60.5 mg/L) without organic solutions.

The Relationship of Comorbid Diseases and Empirical Antibiotic Usage with Superinfection in COVID-19 Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the microorganisms responsible for superinfections in patients admitted with COVID-19 and evaluate the impact of empirical antibiotic regimen and comorbid disease on superinfections comparing COVID-19 patients with and without secondary infection. STUDY DESIGN: A descriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Microbiology, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Kahramanmaras, Turkiye, from March to July 2020. METHODOLOGY: This study was conducted with patients diagnosed with COVID-19 disease based on radiological or quantitative RT-PCR test results. Culture results, demographic characteristics, clinical variables, and therapeutic regimen were collected from medical records. RESULTS: Superinfection developed in 48 (26.96%) of 178 cultures (24 of 101 patients) followed up in the COVID-19 clinics. Infections were determined as 25 (52.08%) bloodstream, 11 (22.9%) urinary tract, 10 (20.8%) respiratory tract and 2 (4.16%) soft tissue infections, respectively. Secondary infectious agents were E.coli in 11 (22.9%), A.baumannii in 8 (16.7%), S.homminis in 7 (14.6%), S.epidermidis in 6 (12.5%), K.pneumoniae in 4 (8.3%), C.albicans in 2 (4.1%), and other bacterial and fungal agents in 10 (20.8%). The median range from admission to the hospital to detecting microorganism growth was the longest with piperacillin/tazobactam with moxifloxacin and azithromycin. Secondary microorganism detection was delayed, mostly due to the empirical use of moxifloxacin, azithromycin, and piperacillin/tazobactam. CONCLUSION: Demographic characteristics, comorbidity and antibiotic use of patients were not directly related to secondary infections. In addition, the empirical use of azithromycin and moxifloxacin with piperacillin/tazobactam appeared to delay the development of superinfection. KEY WORDS: Superinfection, COVID-19, Comorbidity.

Experiences, thoughts, and feelings of patients with a diabetic foot ulcer in Turkey: A qualitative descriptive study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of foot ulcers on male patients diagnosed with type-2 diabetes, foot care and treatment, and the difficulties, experiences, feelings, and perspectives of male patients regarding foot ulcers. METHODS: This study designed as a qualitative descriptive study. The study sample included 14 male patients diagnosed with a diabetic foot ulcer. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three main themes were identified from the interviews: diabetic foot ulcer development, diabetic foot ulcer effects, and healthcare experiences with the diabetic foot ulcer. CONCLUSION: The results of this study may serve to provide a guideline for healthcare professionals to develop foot care strategies. While the patients who participated in the study were well-informed about foot care and diabetes management, their self-care practices were poor. Good management of diabetes and external factors were correlated with the development of foot ulcers.

Can family physicians have a role in eradication of hepatitis c infection?

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is an important global public health problem. The application of screening programs is important for the elimination of HCV in addition to DAA therapies. The aim of this study was to measure the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of family physicians, who are important in screening programs for the diagnosis, natural history, and treatment of HCV infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study aimed to measure the knowledge levels in respect of HCV screening, diagnosis, natural history and treatment, of family physicians working nationwide in Turkey, through a survey. RESULTS: The most common reason to perform an anti-HCV test stated by 70.9% (n:420) of the participants was the mandatory screening program before marriage. Of the participants included in the study, 29.6% (n=175) had encountered anti-HCV test positivity at least once within the last year, and of these, 15.4% (n=27) had no knowledge of whether the patient went to a higher level center for further diagnosis, while 58.9% (n=103) did not know the disease stage. In response to questions about current drug options for hepatitis C infection, 14.5% were aware of DAA and 34.8% of participitant reported interferon+ ribavirin. CONCLUSION: Family physicians have gaps in their knowledge of the screening, natural history and treatment of HCV infection. The results of this study show that HCV training plans for family physicians should cover all aspects of the infection, and emphasize the necessity for the establishment of guideline-based screening recommendations.

Can mean platelet volume and mean platelet volume/platelet count ratio be used as a diagnostic marker for sepsis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the mean platelet volume (MPV) and MPV/platelet (PLT) values can be used in the study of sepsis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). METHODS: In this retrospective case-controlled study, 69 sepsis, 69 SIRS patients, and 72 control group who were treated in the years 2012-2013 were reviewed, and both the MPV and MPV/PLT rates were evaluated in all groups. RESULTS: Statistically significant difference was found between sepsis, SIRS, and control groups when comparing the MPV and MPV/PLT ratio (p less than 0.05), and no significant difference was found between sepsis and SIRS groups in terms of MPV and MPV/PLT ratio (p more than 0.05). Mean platelet volume values for sepsis and control groups was 10.07/8.731 femtoliter (fL) (p=0.000), and 9.45/8.731 fL (p=0.000) for SIRS and control groups. In the group of sepsis patients, the MPV was found to be at cut-off 8.915, sensitivity 71%, and specificity 63.9%. In the group of patients with SIRS, MPV was found to be at cut-off 8.85, sensitivity 69.6%, and specificity 62.5%. For the MPV/PLT values, the specificity and sensitivity were found to be insignificant. CONCLUSION: This study shows that although there was no significant reduction in the PLT values between the sepsis and SIRS patients, the MPV and MPV/PLT ratio values were found to have significant differences. However, the specificity and sensitivity of the values were not reliable standard to be used as a test.

Properties of immobilized glucose oxidase and enhancement of enzyme activity.

In this study; glucose oxidase (GOD) and MnO2 were immobilized in alginate gel beads using the entrapment method and effects of oxygen vectors on immobilized GOD activity were investigated. The specific activity of free enzyme was 1.3 units/mg protein whereas that of immobilized enzyme was 8.4 × 10(-1) units/mg protein. The Km values for free and immobilized enzyme were found to be 2.7 mM, 2.9 mM; Vmax values 3.64 × 10(-1) µmol/min.mL, 2.61 × 10(-1) µmol/min.mL, respectively. When 4% (v/v) silicone oil or soybean oil was used, the activity of immobilized GOD increased 1.7 times and 1.3 times, respectively, compared to media without these oils.

Enhanced ethyl butyrate production using immobilized lipase.

In this study, the production of ethyl butyrate was investigated by using immobilized lipase enzyme in shake flasks. In order to determine optimum conditions for the production, response surface methodology was used. The model indicated the optimum conditions for maximum conversion (9.1%) at the 0.31 M substrate concentration, acid- alcohol molar ratio of 0.49, immobilized enzyme 25% (w/v) at 35°C, for 3 hours which were in good agreement with the experimental value. At the end of the 55 hours conversion was obtained as 61.3%. When Na2HPO4 was used in reaction medium conversion increased to 90.3% for 55 hours.