Abstract Background: We evaluated the effect of early awake prone position administration on oxygenation and intubation requirements and short-term mortality in patients with acute respiratory failure due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. Methods: This is an observational-cohort study. Patients receiving mask oxygen therapy in our intensive care units because of acute respiratory failure due to COVID-19 pneumonia were included. The Awake Prone Position (APP) group consisted of patients who were applied awake prone position, whereas non-APP group consisted of patients who were not applied awake prone position. PaCO2, PaO2, pH, SpO2 values and PaO2/FiO2 ratios were recorded at the beginning and 24th hour. Demographic data, comorbidities, intubation requirements, ventilator-free days, length of intensive care unit stay and short-term mortality of the patients were recorded. Results: The data of total 225 patients were examined, and 48 patients who met our study criteria were included. At the 24th hour, the median SpO2 value of the APP group was 95%, the median PaO2 value was 82 mmHg, whereas the SpO2 value of the non-APP group was 90% and the PaO2 value was 66 mmHg. (p = 0.001, p = 0.002). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in length of intensive care unit stay and ventilator-free days, but short-term mortality and intubation requirements was lower in the APP group (p = 0.020, p = 0.001) Conclusion: Awake prone position application in patients receiving non-rebreather mask oxygen therapy for respiratory failure due to COVID-19 pneumonia improves oxygenation and decreases the intubation requirements and mortality.

ABSTRACT Purpose: Understanding the effects of high oxidation reduction potential (ORP) levels on sperm parameters will help to identify patients with unexplained and male factor infertility who may have seminal oxidative stress and determine if ORP testing is needed. This study aimed to evaluate the association between seminal ORP and conventional sperm parameters. Materials and Methods: A total of 58 patients who provided a semen sample for simultaneous evaluation of sperm parameters and ORP between January and September 2019 were enrolled in this retrospective study. To identify normal and high ORP levels, a static ORP (sORP) cut-off value of 1.36mV/106sperm/mL was used. Sperm parameters were compared between infertile men with normal sORP (control group, n=23) and high sORP values (study group, n=35). Results: Men with sORP values >1.36mV/106sperm/mL had significantly lower total sperm count (TSC) (p <0.001), sperm concentration (p <0.001) and total motile sperm count (TMSC) (p <0.001). In addition, progressive motility (p=0.04) and fast forward progressive motility (p <0.001) were significantly lower in the study group. A negative correlation was found between sORP and TSC (r=-0.820, p <0.001), sperm concentration (r=-0.822, p <0.001), TMSC (r=-0.808, p <0.001) and progressive motility (r=-0.378, p=0.004). Non-progressive motility positively correlated with sORP (r=0.344, p=0.010). Conclusions: This study has shown that TSC, sperm concentration, progressive motility and TMSC are associated with seminal oxidative stress, indicated by a sORP cut-off of 1.36mV/106sperm/mL. Presence of oligozoospermia, reduced progressive motilty or low TMSC in sperm analysis should raise the suspicion of oxidative stress and warrants seminal ROS testing.

ABSTRACT Dye stuff released to the ecosystem from textile industries cause a serious contamination and become a major environmental problem over the last few decades. As biological decolorization of textile wastewater is an important issue, Fusarium . acuminatum was used to removal of a frequently used textile dye, methyl orange. Live pellet of Fusarium acuminatum was used and decolorization studies performed in various temperatures and pH conditions with different dye concentrations. The highest decolorization rate was observed at 35ᴼC. 60 mg/L was found as the optimum initial dye concentration. In the pH range of 3-4, decolorization rate was approximately 70%. It was seen that Fusarium acuminatum have the great ability of the methyl orange removal. To our knowledge, it took place for the first time in the literature.