The aim of this study was to investigate and compare in detail both the antifungal activity in vitro (with planktonic and biofilm-forming cells) and the essential oil composition (EOs) of naturally growing (OMN) and cultivated (OMC) samples of Origanum majorana L. (marjoram). The essential oil composition was analyzed using GC-MS. The major constituent of both EOs was carvacrol: 75.3% and 84%, respectively. Both essential oils showed high antifungal activity against clinically relevant Candida spp. with IC50 and IC90 less than or equal to 0.5 µg mL−1 and inhibition of biofilm with a concentration of 3.5 µg mL−1 or less. Cultivated marjoram oil showed higher anti-biofilm activity against C. albicans. In addition, OMC showed greater inhibition of germ-tube formation (inhibition by 83% in Spider media), the major virulence factor of C. albicans at a concentration of 0.125 µg mL−1. Both EOs modulated cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH), but OMN proved to be more active with a CSH% up to 58.41%. The efficacy of O. majorana EOs was also investigated using Galleria mellonella larvae as a model. It was observed that while the larvae of the control group infected with C. albicans (6.0 × 108 cells) and not receiving treatment died in the controls carried out after 24 h, all larvae in the infected treatment group survived at the end of the 96th hour. When the treatment group and the infected group were evaluated in terms of vital activities, it was found that the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The infection of larvae with C. albicans and the effects of O. majorana EOs on the hemocytes of the model organism and the blastospores of C. albicans were evaluated by light microscopy on slides stained with Giemsa. Cytological examination in the treatment group revealed that C. albicans blastospores were phagocytosed and morphological changes occurred in hemocytes. Our results indicated that the essential oil of both samples showed strong antifungal activities against planktonic and biofilm-forming C. albicans cells and also had an influence on putative virulence factors (germ-tube formation and its length and on CSH).

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This study applied two phenotypic tests, namely "Carbapenemase Nordmann-Poirel" (CarbaNP) test and "Carbapenem Inactivation Method" (CIM), against the isolates carrying the carbapenem resistance genes. The study included 83 carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates producing oxacillinase-48 (OXA-48) and 30 carbapenem-sensitive Enterobacteriaceae isolates. Out of the total isolates studied, 77 isolates (92.77%) were identified as Klebsiella pneumoniae and six isolates (7.23%) were identified as Escherichia coli by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method used to detect resistance genes found that 74 isolates (89.16%) produced OXA-48 carbapenemase, whereas nine isolates (10.84%) produced both OXA-48 and New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1 (NDM-1). The isolates producing both OXA-48 and NDM-1 were found to be positive by both phenotypic tests. Among isolates carrying only bla OXA-48 gene alone, nine isolates (13.04%) for CarbaNP test and two isolates for CIM test (2.90%) displayed false negative results, respectively. The sensitivity of CarbaNP and CIM tests was found to be 89.16% and 97.59%, respectively, whereas the specificity was determined to be 100% for both tests. These findings suggest that CarbaNP and CIM tests are useful tools to identify the carbapenemase producers. Molecular methods like PCR are recommended to verify false negative tests predicted to have OXA-48 activity.

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A strain of Trichomonas vaginalis, isolated from a patient complaining of vaginal discharge, was incubated and cultivated to compare the in vitro effects of ornidazole, metronidazole and ciprofloxacin on T. vaginalis trophozoites in terms of minimal inhibition concentrations (MICs) and minimal lethal concentrations (MLCs). MIC levels at 24 hours for ornidazole, metronidazole and ciprofloxacin were 50 mg/mL, 50 mg/mL, and 750 mg/mL. Corresponding MLC levels were the same. In this in vitro study, ornidazole was found to be the most effective drug among 3 drugs tested against T. vaginalis trophozoites in terms of MIC and MLC levels. It is interesting to note that ciprofloxacin, although not as effective as the others, also had some cytotoxic effect on T. vaginalis trophozoites.

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U pper limb injuries are injuries that may cause serious dysfunction, limb loss or death. [1] Due to their functional importance, they are among the pathologies with high morbidity rate leading to long-term loss of workforce. [2] It is extremely important to collect data regarding the attempts made in this degree of labor loss and cost loss injuries in the society, to determine the problems experienced in the postoperative period and to take necessary measures to eliminate these problems. In this study, we aimed to investigate the demographic features and etiological factors of upper extremity injury cases treated in the Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Objectives: In this study, we analyzed patients with upper extremity injuries concerning patient demographics, injury type and etiological factors, and the most common problems encountered during the first 24 hours that were noted in the retrospective analysis. Methods: In this study, a total of 82 patients who presented to the emergency plastic surgery clinic in Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Research and Training Hospital, postoperatively these patients were checked after surgery for first 24 hours concerning pain, nausea and vomiting, edema, agitation, arm immobilization arm and vascular patency. Results: Among etiological factors, 54 patients were sharp-object trauma, 10 patients punched a hard object, 15 patients had work hazard, two patients had traffic accident, one patient from the fight. When these patients were postoperatively analyzed, in 45% patients pain, in 7% nausea and in 14 % bleeding were observed. Plaster was placed in 100% of the patients in order and their arms were elevated to reduce edema. During the first four hours, in 2% of the patients, edema was seen, 16% agitation, 8%vascular problems. Conclusion: When the type of injury is subcategorized to injuries of several compartments (nerve, tendon, muscle, artery, vein), the early postoperative challanges are more easily and correctly handled.