Fe(III)meso-tetraphenylporphyrinated polyacrylonitrile fiber mat supported TiO 2 photocatalyst (PANC/ TiO 2 mat) was prepared via copolymerization and electrospinning. SEM images showed that well-defined fibers with diameters around 1.47 ± 0.26 μ m were fabricated from Fe(III)meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (FeTPP)-acrylonitrile copolymer (PANC) and TiO 2 mixture. The XRD characterizations demonstrated that the electrospinning process had no effect on the anatase structure of TiO 2 . The photocatalytic activity of the PANC/TiO 2 mat was examined for the photodegradation of methyl red in aqueous solution under the irradiation of visible light. The results showed that this PANC/TiO 2 fiber mat was very efficient for the photodegradation of methyl red, with a degradation percentage over 94%. It is worth noting that the PANC/TiO 2 mat could be easily recovered and reused 3 times without any destruction of fiber morphologies.

Objective: Candida infections have increased due to transplant patients, prolonged ICU stay and invasive procedures. The most common isolated strain is C. albicans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution of Candida isolates at Tepecik Education and Research Hospital.Materials and Methods: Yeast like fungi were isolated between 13.01.2010 and 19.08.2011 at Mycology Laboratory. The identification was done by conventional methods and carbohydrate assimilation profile using the ID32C identification system (Biomerieux, France).Results: Yeast like fungi were isolated from 337 clinical specimens. They consisted of urine, blood culture, respiratory specimen and wound. The most isolated yeast strains were C.albicans (38.6%), C.tropicalis (13.9%), C. parapsilosis (28.4%), C.glabrata (7.4%), C.krusei (3.8%).Conclusion: Recently there is an increment in Candida infections. In this study the most common strain was C.albicans and the rate C. glabrata and C. krusei isolates were lower than expected. C. parapsilosis was the most isolated strain in blood cultures and this may be due to invasive procedures and the use of indwelling catheters.

Aspergillus sp. is a fungus that is very common in nature and may cause invasive disease with high mortality, especially in immunosuppressed patients. Here we present a case of central nervous system (CNS) aspergillosis in a previously healthy immunocompetent patient. A 23-year-old female was admitted to hospital with the complaints of headache, blurred vision, and double vision. In her cranial magnetic resonance imaging, abscess and paranchymal edema were observed in the left frontal lobe, and biopsy was performed with endoscopic nasal operation. The pathology result was consistent with aspergillus infection. It should be remembered that although CNS aspergillosis generally occurs in immunosuppressed patients, it may also rarely be diagnosed in immunocompetent individuals.

Purpose Prisons, which are hazardous places for various contagious diseases, carry additional risks for HBV and HCV because of the communal lifestyle (common use of tools like razor blades, tattoo applications, intravenous drug use and homosexual intercourse). The purpose of this paper is to determine the prevalence of HBV and HCV, and also provide information for prisoners in this respect. Design/methodology/approach This study included 180 prisoners from the Buca F-Type Closed Prison, and 180 prisoners from the Foça Open Prison in Turkey. After the training seminars, serum levels of HBsAg, anti HBs, anti HBc total and anti HCV in the prisoners were assessed using the MICROELISA method. Findings All the prisoners were male. The mean age was 40(21–73) years. According to the results of 360 prisoners from both prisons, 17 (4.7 percent) prisoners were HBsAg positive and were diagnosed as HBV. Isolated anti HBs was positive in 33 (9.1 percent) prisoners who had been previously vaccinated. In 25 (6.9 percent) prisoners isolated Anti HBc total was positive, and in 61 (16.9 percent) prisoners both Anti HBs and Anti HBc total was positive in those who were considered to be recovered from the HBV. Anti HCV was positive in 2 (0.5 percent) prisoners; the process was repeated twice, and found to be repeatedly positive. Coinfection of HBV and HCV was not detected. Research limitations/implications In this study, the prevalence of HBV and HCV was determined to be similar to those in the normal population. However, it is not expedient to generalize this result and apply it to all prisons. For the sake of public health, prisons should be scanned for infectious diseases, and vaccinations must be applied as necessary, in order to provide protection. Originality/value It is a study to determine the prevalence of HBV and HCV in the prisoner population, which constitute one of the risk groups because of the communal lifestyle (common use of some tools such as the razor blade, tattoo applications, intravenous drug use and homosexual intercourse), and to compare the results with other groups in Turkey and globally.

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