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[Display omitted] • A NIR probe IR780 showed unexpected colorimetric response to NO 2 − ions. • The probe produced the distinct color change from chartreuse to violet. • The probe exhibited high sensitivity (LOD = 227 nM) and a rapid response (<5 s). • Smartphone-based imaging was further employed for real time detection of NO 2 − ions. • The probe displayed excellent sensing performance in tap water and processed meat products. Nitrite (NO 2 −) is a unique active ion involved in the nitrogen biochemical cycle which is very important to life on earth. Besides, it is indispensable additive to preserve nutrients in diverse food products. However, the concentrations above allowable limits pose considerable threat to human health and require urgent attention. In this study, we report a novel detection strategy by using IR780 dye as a near-infrared (NIR) probe which shows unexpected colorimetric response to NO 2 − ions with excellent selectivity, a rapid response (<5 s) and a low detection limit (227 nM). The probe produces the distinct color change from chartreuse to violet with a 220 nm of large hypsochromic (blue) shift caused by the nitration of IR780 in the presence of NO 2 − ions. Smartphone-based imaging has been further employed for real time and on-site visual detection of NO 2 − ions which will widen the application area of our system in environmental safety and food quality. In addition, the probe IR780 has shown excellent sensing performance in complex environments such as tap water and processed meat products with high recovery rates (85–113 %) and reproducibility (RSD < 5 %). Overall, the results demonstrate that the new system is capable of sensing NO 2 − ions in water resources as well as complex food matrices with high sensitivity and selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aims of this study were to translate the Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire (PGQ) to Turkish and to assess its test-retest reliability and validity in pregnant women. Materials and Methods: One hundred and thirty-five pregnant with pelvic girdle pain were recruited in the study. Visual analog scale was used to evaluate pain intensity, PGQ for condition-specific health related quality of life, Nottingham Health Profile for health-related quality of life, Oswestry Disability Index for disability level, The guidelines for cross-cultural adaptation in PGQ was used. Results: A total of 135 pregnant with a mean age of the 30±4.77 years included in the study. Interclass correlation coefficient score for test-retest reliability was 0.972 (95% CI= 0.968-0.977) for PGQ activity subscale, 0.910 (95% CI=0.905-0.915) for PGQ symptom subscale and 0.979 (95% CI= 0.975-0.983) for PGQ total. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that Turkish version of PGQ is a valid and reliable tool for measuring both disability and symptom and good psychometric properties in Turkish speaking pregnants with pelvic girdle pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Objectives Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in children with hematological malignancies. The monitoring of serum galactomannan (GM) antigen is considered useful in the diagnosis of IA . The aim of this study was to determine the utility of serum GM monitoring in the early diagnosis of IA and the role of positive antigenemia in the management of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Methods The cases of 141 children who were being treated for ALL in the Division of Pediatric Hematology of the Medical School of Ege University between January 2006 and February 2015 were reviewed retrospectively. Cases of proven and probable IA were defined according to the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) criteria. Results The incidence of proven and probable IA was 3.5% (5/141). The incidence of positive GM antigenemia among 3264 serum samples was 5.5% ( n = 179). Of the cases detected, 21.7% were true-positive, 52.1% were false-positive, and the remaining 26.1% were classified as ‘undetermined.’ An increase in the incidence of true-positive tests and induction of antifungal therapy was determined through multiple consecutive positive tests. Conclusions GM may be detected in the serum before the clinical signs of IA appear, but its sensitivity and specificity are variable. False-positivity is a significant disadvantage, and consecutive positive GM must be taken into account in the case of clinical and imaging findings that are relevant to IA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel long wavelength BODIPY-based probe for the detection of oxalyl chloride is developed. • This novel probe exhibited high selectivity and fast response toward oxalyl chloride. • A smartphone application was used for on-site real-time quantification of oxalyl chloride. Herein, a novel long wavelength monostyryl BODIPY derivative (BDZ-1) has been synthesized by rational design and used to detect oxalyl chloride, a highly reactive and harmful chemical to humans and other living organisms, with high sensitivity and selectivity. The purple solution of BDZ-1 changed to pink color immediately upon the addition of oxalyl chloride and the weak red fluorescence changed to strong orange fluorescence simultaneously. In addition, the practicability of BDZ-1 was further explored by using a smartphone application, allowing the sensitive and selective on-site detection of oxalyl chloride. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acquired severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is a life threatening bone marrow failure characterized by pancytopenia and hypocellular bone marrow. Matched sibling donor is not available for majority of the patients and many children receive immunosuppressive therapy (IST). Although horse antithymocyte globuline (ATG) is the preferred option, our patients received rabbit ATG; since horse ATG is not available in Turkey. We reviewed the medical records of children with SAA who were treated with rabbit ATG, cyclosporine, and granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF) between 2006 and 2012. Fifteen children with SAA aged between 1.5 and 17 years received rabbit ATG as first line treatment. Only two of them showed partial response and the others did not give any response at 3rd, 6th, and 12th months after the first course of IST. The second course of ATG was given to 8 of the patients; Rabbit ATG at the same dosage was used for 3 of them, and others were given horse ATG. None of the patients responded to the second course of ATG. Invasive fungal infection (IFI) which was seen in 80% of the patients was the most significant problem. Overall survival rate was 60%. The median time between the diagnosis and initiation of IST was 57 (range; 29-144) days. This delay might be significantly contributed to unresponsiveness. In our series, the use of rabbit ATG was not effective for these patients as first line treatment modality. Response rate was very low and the incidence of fungal infections was very high in the SAA patients who received rabbit ATG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkylphosphate self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) were prepared on Nb-doped SrTiO3(Nb–STO) conducting metal oxide substrates. Unlike thiols on gold, the alkylphosphate SAMs on Nb–STO exhibited an electrochemical stability over a wide voltage range from −2 to 2 V. Cyclic voltammetry showed that the SAM modification inhibited the electrochemical activity of the underlying conducting substrate with an efficiency dependent on the chain length. Impedance spectroscopy showed that SAM-modified Nb–STO substrates have a significantly higher resistance than bare substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Von Willebrand disease and haemophilia A are the two most common inherited bleeding disorders. Despite the relatively high frequency of those two bleeding disorders in the general population, reports of their coexistence together or of combined coagulopathies in general are rare. We describe a 1-year-old male with confirmed mild haemophilia A co-existing with mild type 1 VWD. The 1- year old male was admitted to our hospital with a history of excessive bleeding following circumcision. Initial laboratory evaluation revealed a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) of 46.2 s (normal range 23.2-34.7), and low FVIII activity level of 5.5% of normal. His subsequent evaluation, was also consistent with mild type 1 VWD with a decreased VWF antigen (VWF:Ag) of 50%, decreased ristocetin cofactor activity (VWF:RCo) of 44%. The DNA testing detected a C2 domain R2304H mutation of the FVIII gene. We believe that the co-existence of VWD and haemophilia A is underappreciated, under-diagnosed, and under-reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is not exactly known the risks from infection with pandemic influenza (H1N1) 2009 in children with leukemia. Here the authors present their experience in 5 children with leukemia. Pandemic influenza (H1N1) 2009 was detected in 5 patients (F/M: 3/2) at their institution. The ages of these patients were between 2 and 16 years. Four had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 1 acute myeloblasic leukemia (AML). Three of the ALL patients had the diagnosis of pandemic influenza (H1N1) 2009 at the same time as they were diagnosed with ALL. The remaining 2 patients were receiving intensive chemotherapy. All patients had fever, rhinorrhea, and cough. Although bronchopneumonia was seen in 3 patients, only 1 revealed respiratory distress. Stomachache and diarrhea was seen in the patientwho had no pneumonia. All treated as inpatients, but none of them required hospitalization in intensive care unit. One to 3 days after the symptoms of influenza appeared, oseltamivir (Tamiflu) was given to all patients in combination with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Fever declined to normal ranges in 1 to 3 days after treatment was started. The patients received oseltamivir for 5 to 7 days. Cell culture tests were found to be positive for influenza A and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) revealed H1N1 for all 5 patients. Although this is a very small case series, pandemic influenza (H1N1) 2009 did not seem to be very dangerous for children with leukemia if the oseltamivir treatment was given early when symptoms of influenza appeared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two fabrication schemes are reported for the direct patterning of organic monolayers on oxide-free silicon, combining top-down nanoimprint lithography and bottom-up monolayer formation. The first approach was designed to form monolayer patterns on the imprinted areas, while the second approach was designed for monolayer formation outside of the imprinted features. By both approaches, covalently bonded Si−C monolayer patterns with feature sizes ranging from 100 nm to 100 μm were created via a hydrosilylation procedure using diluted reagents. Both unfunctionalized and ω-functionalized alkenes were patterned successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel distyryl-substituted boradiazaindacene (BODIPY) dye displays interesting properties as a sensitizer in DSSC systems, opening the way to further exploration of structure−efficiency correlation within this class of dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichosporon asahii ( T. asahii) is an uncommon fungal pathogen rarely seen in patients with hematologic malignancies. Although appropriate therapy is started, infection with T. asahii usually leads to mortality. Here, we describe two patients developed severe T. asahii infection and secondary HLH. Despite rapid identification of T. asahii and negative blood cultures achieved by prompt initiation of treatment with voriconazole, fever and pancytopenia, persisted and both developed hepatosplenomegaly, and their clinical state worsened. Bone marrow aspiraton revealed hemophagocytosis. Elevated ferritin, triglyceride levels were seen. The first patient did not receive HLH directed therapy and died with multiple organ dysfunctions. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of secondary HLH led to rapid improvement in clinical and laboratory abnormalities in the second patient and kept her alive. We suggest that HLH may present as a secondary condition, accompanying a severe infection with T. asahii may, at least in part, contribute to high mortality rates in these cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aryl-substituted boratriazaindacenes (Aza-Bodipy's) are a new class of dyes with long wavelength absorption and emissions. We now report the first application of these dyes in metal ion sensing. 2-Pyridyl substituents at positions 1 and 7 create a well-defined pocket for metal ion binding. The chemosensor described here is selective for Hg(II) ions, and both absorption and emission spectra display large changes that would allow ratiometric sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Chromosomal changes are necessary in determining the classification, prognosis and using the appropriate therapeutic regimen in acute leukemia. Isochromosomes are uncommon chromosome aberations in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and the effect of i(9q) is not well established. We present an 8-year-old male case of pre-B ALL who has an unusual course at diagnosis. He was hospitalized three times in three different hospitals and blastic cells disappeared after the first hospitalization following blood transfusion without chemotherapy. In the following two hospitalizations no blastic cell was observed and transfused with a pack of erythrocyte suspension each time. In the fourth hospitalization, bone marrow aspiration revealed L1 type of lymphoid blast cell infiltration. The remission was achieved on the 15th day of the induction therapy and he has been in remission for the last 6 months. This unusual presentation and early remission achieved by induction therapy in this patient may support the literature that isochromosome 9q has a favourable outcome in childhood ALL. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The recently reported acenaphthopyrrolone (ACNP) class of fluorophores have remarkably bright emission in the red end of the visible spectrum. We demonstrated that straightforward derivatization with 2-aminoethyl-dipicolylamine yields a selective and sensitive chemosensor for Zn(II), Cd(II) and Hg(II) ions. Further modifications could result in water-soluble derivatives, with practical applications in intracellular imaging of Zn(II) concentrations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The present study aimed to determine the problems, unmet needs and expectations of phenylketonuria (PKU) patients in Türkiye regarding follow-up and treatment in order to provide data for future planning and implementations on PKU. Methods: The study included patients diagnosed with PKU and/or their parents. They were informed about the study via phone calls and their verbal consents were obtained. Questions in the data collection forms, which were established separately for pediatric, adolescent, and adult age groups, were applied during the interviews and the answers were recorded. Results: Among 182 classical PKU patients, 66 (36.3%) were in the pediatric group (0–12 years old), 44 (24.2%) were in the adolescent group (13–19 years old), and 72 (39.5%) were in the adult group (≥ 20 years old). In all patient groups, phenylalanine-restricted diet and medical nutrition products were the main options for treatment. The median of the last measured blood phenylalanine concentration (patient-reported) was 290 µmol/L, 425 µmol/L, and 750 µmol/L in the pediatric, adolescent, and adult groups, respectively. The frequency of blood testing for serum phenylalanine level according to the age groups was appropriate in nearly half of the patients. While the majority of the patients have been visiting the metabolism center they have been diagnosed with PKU for control, considerable proportion of the patients would like to change the center or the doctor they visit for control if they could. It was determined that nearly half of the patients had trouble in accessing the metabolism center. Treatment options' being limited and expensive were the major problems. The main requests of the patients and patient relatives included easier access to the metabolism centers and more options for treatment and diet. Conclusions: Access to the services should be easier to improve the patients' follow-up and treatment. There is need for low-cost, easily applicable, and accessible nutrition products and effective novel pharmacological agents. Focusing on these issues in health policies by providing pedagogic/psychological support, establishing support programs also comprising the families, and increasing the awareness activities were the key outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is considered to be a cancer biomarker in the assessment of metastatic potential in patients and an early indicator of atherosclerosis. A labelless biosensor based on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) signal from the specific affinity interaction of an aptamer and a soluble ICAM-1 protein was developed for blood samples. The developed aptasensor provided real-time information on the concentration of the ICAM-1 protein in blood when integrated to a purification step based on a magnetic pull-down separation. The SPR aptasensor was highly specific with a limit of detection of 1.4/0.2 ng ml−1, which was achieved through aptamer-functionalized silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dysregulation of microRNA (miRNA) expression contributes to the pathogenesis of several clinical conditions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the associations between miRNAs and childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) to discover their role in the course of the disease. Forty-three children with ALL and 14 age-matched healthy controls were included in the study. MicroRNA microarray expression profiling was used for peripheral blood and bone marrow samples. Aberrant miRNA expressions associated with the diagnosis and outcome were prospectively evaluated. Confirmation analysis was performed by real time RT-PCR. miR- 128, miR-146a, miR-155, miR-181a, and miR-195 were significantly dysregulated in ALL patients at day 0. Following a six-month treatment period, the change in miRNA levels was determined by real time RT-PCR and expression of miR-146a, miR-155, miR- 181a, and miR-195 significantly decreased. To conclude, these miRNAs not only may be used as biomarkers in diagnosis of ALL and monitoring the disease but also provide new insights into the potential roles of them in leukemogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Heart failure (HF) secondary to myocardial iron loading remains the leading cause of death in β-thalassemia major (β-TM) patients. The early diagnosis and treatment of HF in these patients is related to survival. We aimed to evaluate myocardial performance using conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography and its relation to plasma NT-proBNP levels and iron overload indices in β-TM patients with preserved systolic function. Methods: The study population included 49 β-TM patients (24.0 ± 4.2 years) and 48 age-matched healthy controls. Doppler-echocardiographic study was performed and blood samples for NT-proBNP measurements were drawn on the third day following blood transfusion. Patients were divided as group-1, without diastolic dysfunction: E/E′ ratio < 9 and group-2, with suspected diastolic dysfunction: E/E′ ratio ≥ 9. Results: NT-proBNP levels and E/E′ ratio were increased in patients compared with controls ( P < 0.001 and P < 0.001) but did not correlate with each other. A strong positive correlation was detected between NT-proBNP levels and mean ferritin levels in β-TM patients (rs= 0.939; P < 0.001). Median NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher in group-1 in comparison to controls [51.2 (41.51-113.5) vs 30.1 (17.97-68.16) ng/mL, P < 0.01]. NT-proBNP levels were also increased in group-2 in comparison to group-1 but this increase was not statistically significant. Conclusion: NT-proBNP secretion begins in the early phase of the disease before the increase in diastolic pressure becomes overt. While there was a strong correlation between the plasma NT-proBNP levels and iron overload, there was no correlation between NT-proBNP levels and diastolic dysfunction parameters in patients in the third decade of life. (Echocardiography ****;**:1-8) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Heart failure (HF) secondary to myocardial iron loading remains the leading cause of death in β-thalassemia major (β-TM) patients. The early diagnosis and treatment of HF in these patients is related to survival. We aimed to evaluate myocardial performance using conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography and its relation to plasma NT-proBNP levels and iron overload indices in β-TM patients with preserved systolic function. Methods: The study population included 49 β-TM patients (24.0 ± 4.2 years) and 48 age-matched healthy controls. Doppler-echocardiographic study was performed and blood samples for NT-proBNP measurements were drawn on the third day following blood transfusion. Patients were divided as group-1, without diastolic dysfunction: E/E′ ratio < 9 and group-2, with suspected diastolic dysfunction: E/E′ ratio ≥ 9. Results: NT-proBNP levels and E/E′ ratio were increased in patients compared with controls ( P < 0.001 and P < 0.001) but did not correlate with each other. A strong positive correlation was detected between NT-proBNP levels and mean ferritin levels in β-TM patients (rs= 0.939; P < 0.001). Median NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher in group-1 in comparison to controls [51.2 (41.51-113.5) vs 30.1 (17.97-68.16) ng/mL, P < 0.01]. NT-proBNP levels were also increased in group-2 in comparison to group-1 but this increase was not statistically significant. Conclusion: NT-proBNP secretion begins in the early phase of the disease before the increase in diastolic pressure becomes overt. While there was a strong correlation between the plasma NT-proBNP levels and iron overload, there was no correlation between NT-proBNP levels and diastolic dysfunction parameters in patients in the third decade of life. (Echocardiography ****;**:1-8) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]