Economic costs of non-native species in Türkiye: A first national synthesis

Biological invasions are increasingly recognised as a major global change that erodes ecosystems, societal well-being, and economies. However, comprehensive analyses of their economic ramifications are missing for most national economies, despite rapidly escalating costs globally. Türkiye is highly vulnerable to biological invasions owing to its extensive transport network and trade connections as well as its unique transcontinental position at the interface of Europe and Asia. This study presents the first analysis of the reported economic costs caused by biological invasions in Türkiye. The InvaCost database which compiles invasive non-native species' monetary costs was used, complemented with cost searches specific to Türkiye, to describe the spatial and taxonomic attributes of costly invasive non-native species, the types of costs, and their temporal trends. The total economic cost attributed to invasive non-native species in Türkiye (from 202 cost reporting documents) amounted to US$ 4.1 billion from 1960 to 2022. However, cost data were only available for 87 out of 872 (10%) non-native species known for Türkiye. Costs were biased towards a few hyper-costly non-native taxa, such as jellyfish, stink bugs, and locusts. Among impacted sectors, agriculture bore the highest total cost, reaching US$ 2.85 billion, followed by the fishery sector with a total cost of US$ 1.20 billion. Management (i.e., control and eradication) costs were, against expectations, substantially higher than reported damage costs (US$ 2.89 billion vs. US$ 28.4 million). Yearly costs incurred by non-native species rose exponentially over time, reaching US$ 504 million per year in 2020-2022 and are predicted to increase further in the next 10 years. A large deficit of cost records compared to other countries was also shown, suggesting a larger monetary underestimate than is typically observed. These findings underscore the need for improved cost recording as well as preventative management strategies to reduce future post-invasion management costs and help inform decisions to manage the economic burdens posed by invasive non-native species. These insights further emphasise the crucial role of standardised data in accurately estimating the costs associated with invasive non-native species for prioritisation and communication purposes.

Biological invasions are a population-level rather than a species-level phenomenon

Biological invasions pose a rapidly expanding threat to the persistence, functioning and service provisioning of ecosystems globally, and to socio-economic interests. The stages of successful invasions are driven by the same mechanism that underlies adaptive changes across species in general-via natural selection on intraspecific variation in traits that influence survival and reproductive performance (i.e., fitness). Surprisingly, however, the rapid progress in the field of invasion science has resulted in a predominance of species-level approaches (such as deny lists), often irrespective of natural selection theory, local adaptation and other population-level processes that govern successful invasions. To address these issues, we analyse non-native species dynamics at the population level by employing a database of European freshwater macroinvertebrate time series, to investigate spreading speed, abundance dynamics and impact assessments among populations. Our findings reveal substantial variability in spreading speed and abundance trends within and between macroinvertebrate species across biogeographic regions, indicating that levels of invasiveness and impact differ markedly. Discrepancies and inconsistencies among species-level risk screenings and real population-level data were also identified, highlighting the inherent challenges in accurately assessing population-level effects through species-level assessments. In recognition of the importance of population-level assessments, we urge a shift in invasive species management frameworks, which should account for the dynamics of different populations and their environmental context. Adopting an adaptive, region-specific and population-focused approach is imperative, considering the diverse ecological contexts and varying degrees of susceptibility. Such an approach could improve and refine risk assessments while promoting mechanistic understandings of risks and impacts, thereby enabling the development of more effective conservation and management strategies.

Turcinoemacheilus ekmekciae, a new dwarf loach from upper Tigris and Euphrates (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae)

Turcinoemacheilus ekmekciae, new species, from upper Euphrates and Tigris drainages is distinguished from other species of Turcinoemacheilus in Western Asia by having a dark stripe broader than the eye diameter along the lateral line, rarely possessing roundish blotches, 5-6 mandibular pores in mandibular canal, a comperatvely smaller head, a deeper body, and a greater pre-pelvic distance. Our specimens collected from the upper Great Zab, near the type locality of Turcinoemacheilus kosswigi, showed notable genetic divergence (a minimum K2P of 3.3%) from sequences reported as T. kosswigi in previous studies. Despite morphological similarities, this molecular difference suggests that the populations analysed in previous studies may represent a potential new species of Turcinoemacheilus, which we tentatively named as Turcinoemacheius cf. kosswigi. Molecular data also suggest that T. ekmekciae is characterized by a minimum K2P distance of 3.5% from Turcinoemacheilus minimus and T. cf. kosswigi. The three methods for species delimitation (assemble species by automatic partitioning [ASAP], Poisson tree processes [PTP], and multi-rate PTP [mPTP]) that were utilized for testing species assignments consistently identified our test group as a distinct species.

Plastics in an endemic fish species (Alburnus sellal) and its parasite (Ligula intestinalis) in the Upper Tigris River, Türkiye

Occurrence of micro-, meso- and macroplastics in Alburnus sellal and its parasite Ligula intestinalis is reported for the first time in the Tigris River, one of the two large rivers that defines Mesopotamia. Plastic occurrence was assessed from museum fish materials collected in the upper Tigris River between 2007 and 2021. Plastics were found in 57 % of A. sellal specimens (536 individuals) and in 74 % of L. intestinalis specimens (57 individuals). Mean plastic ingestion was 1.27 ± 1.30 items. fish-1 and 1.77 ± 1.79 items. parasite-1 considering all the fish and parasites analysed. Fibres were the most common types of plastics, comprising 96.2 % and 81 % of plastics in A. sellal and L. intestinalis, respectively. Black was the most common colour of plastics found in both fish (37 %) and parasite specimens (58 %). Microplastics comprised 95.5 % and 100 % of plastics found in A. sellal and L. intestinalis, respectively. In both specimens acrylic (PAN) was the most common polymer as confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. Differences in plastic ingestion were not significantly over time and among regions. No significant correlation was found between plastics ingestion by fish and by parasites. The present assessment shows that native fish species of the Tigris River have been contaminated by plastics by more than a decade. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the status of plastic pollution in fish and parasites, provide plastic pollution baseline data for the Tigris River and highlight the urgent need to elucidate on the distribution and fate of plastics in freshwater environments and their effects on the ecosystem and humans.

Diversity, phylogeny and intraspecific variability of Paradiplozoon species (Monogenea: Diplozoidae) parasitizing endemic cyprinoids in the Middle East

Diplozoidae are common monogenean ectoparasites of cyprinoid fish, with the genus Paradiplozoon being the most diversified. Despite recent studies on Diplozoidae from Europe, Africa and Asia, the diversity, distribution and phylogeny of this parasite group appears to be still underestimated in the Middle East. The objective of this study was to investigate the diversity, endemism and host specificity of diplozoids parasitizing cyprinoid fish from the Middle East, considering this region as an important historical interchange of fish fauna, and to elucidate the phylogenetic position of Middle Eastern Paradiplozoon species within Diplozoidae. Four Paradiplozoon species were collected from 48 out of 94 investigated cyprinoid species. Three known species, Paradiplozoon homoion, Paradiplozoon bliccae and Paradiplozoon bingolensis, were recorded on new cyprinoid host species, and a new species, Paradiplozoon koubkovae n. sp., was recorded on Luciobarbus capito and Capoeta capoeta from the Caspian Sea basin in Iran and Turkey. Paradiplozoon bliccae, exhibiting a wide host range in the Middle East, expressed both morphological and genetic intraspecific variabilities. The four Paradiplozoon species collected in the Middle East were placed in divergent clades, showing the rich evolutionary history of diplozoid parasites in the Middle East. Our study also revealed that two lineages of African diplozoids have a Middle Eastern origin. We stress the importance of applying an integrative approach combining morphological, ecological and molecular methods to reveal the real diversity of diplozoids.

Two new freshwater blennies from the Eastern Mediterranean basin (Teleostei: Blenniidae)

Two new species of Salariopsis are described from the Eastern Mediterranean basin. Salariopsis burcuae, new species, from the Bay of Antalya east to the Jordan, is characterised by having a short cirrus, usually not overlapping the 9th circum-orbital sensory pore, and many tiny black dots on the cheek not organised in rows or bands. The new species shows a 4.1% K2P sequence divergence on the cytochrome-c-oxidase subunit 1 (COI) barcoding region from its closest relative, S. fluviatilis. Salariopsis renatorum, new species, from the upper Ceyhan drainage and a coastal stream in Arsuz, is distinguished by having an unbranched supraocular tentacle, black lateral line pores, a short snout, and no black dots on the upper part of the flank and on the cheek. It is also distinguished from its geographically closest congener, S. burcuae, by a molecular distance of 8.8% K2P in its COI barcode region.

Barbus urmianus, a synonym of Barbus cyri (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

Barbus urmianus, from the upper Mahabad River in Lake Urmia basin, was distinguished from B. cyri based on several morphological characters. Our analysis demonstrated very small molecular (COI) differences between both species and mostly overlapping or identic morphological character states. Therefore, Barbus urmianus is treated as a junior synonym of B. cyri.

Appropriateness of aspirin use among diabetic patients in primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases: an analysis of the ASSOS study

OBJECTIVE

Aspirin is an essential drug in the prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). It is ultimately indicated in a patient with ASCVD. However, its role is debated in primary prevention. We aimed to investigate the appropriateness of aspirin use in diabetic patients according to recommendations of recent guidelines.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

ASSOS was a multicenter observational study investigating aspirin use in cardiology outpatient clinics. We evaluated aspirin use in diabetic patients in primary prevention from the ASSOS study. We also assessed the appropriate use of aspirin according to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA), American Diabetes Association (ADA), Consensus Statement of Endocrinology, Cardiology, and Nephrology (ENCARNE), and the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPTF).

RESULTS

A total of 5,007 patients of whom 1,537 had type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) were included in the study. 1,132 of the total participants used aspirin for primary prevention; 313 of them had type 2 DM. Only 248 (76.7%), 132 (40.8%), and 128 (39.6%) diabetic patients indicated aspirin use according to the ESC/INCARNE, ACC/AHA, and ADA/USPTF guidelines, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Inappropriate aspirin use was common among diabetic patients, according to clinical practice guideline recommendations. In addition, the differences between the indications for the use of aspirin in diabetic patients according to the guidelines were remarkable. Guidelines that minimize these differences are needed for clinicians, and compliance with these guidelines in clinical practice could reduce inappropriate aspirin use.

DNA barcoding and species delimitation of the genus Oxynoemacheilus (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) in Anatolia

The DNA barcoding approach was used for the determination of evolutionary relationships and species delimitation of the genus Oxynoemacheilus (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae). The COI barcode region (615 bp amplicon) was used to barcode 444 individuals from 64 morphologically identified species in the genus Oxynoemacheilus and 189 haplotypes were identified. The average of the interspecific p distance (9.59%) was about 21-fold higher than the average intraspecific distance (0.44%). A general genetic threshold of 1.46% sequence divergence was defined for species delimitation. The multiple species delimitation methods (BCM, GMYC, bPTP and TCS) revealed a total of 62 molecular operational taxonomic units for 64 morphospecies with a new loach species from the BuyukMelen River. Neighbour-joining, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses indicated that all haplotypes were clustered into 62 clades, which corresponded to Oxynoemacheilus species, with strong bootstrap support (≥95%). Furthermore, all samples grouped in concurrence with the taxonomic status of the species except for species groups (O. germencicus-O. cinicus-O. mesudae and O. leontinae-O. namiri) that were showed intraspecific overlap in genetic diversity for COI-based barcodes. In conclusion, our analyses indicate that COI-based barcodes provide reliable species discrimination. Therefore, we currently recommend COI barcodes as the suitable barcode for genus Oxynoemacheilus.

Paracapoeta, a new genus of the Cyprinidae from Mesopotamia, Cilicia and Levant (Teleostei, Cypriniformes)

The molecular and morphological studies carried out within the scope of this study revealed that the scrapers, known as the Mesopotamian group, belong to a different genus. The Paracapoetagen. nov., from the Mesopotomia and Levant, is distinguished from Capoeta and Luciobarbus species by the presence of a strong ligament between the base of the last simple and the first branched rays of the dorsal-fin (vs. no or a very weak ligament). The Paracapoeta further differs from Capoeta by the last simple dorsal-fin ray strongly ossified in adult specimens (more than 75%, vs. less than 75%). The Paracapoeta further differs from Luciobarbus by the lower lip with horny layer (vs. fleshy lips). The molecular phylogeny based on the combined dataset (COI + Cytb, 1312 bp.) showed that the genus Paracapoeta was recovered from the other groups in the subfamily Barbinae with high bootstrap and posterior probability values (BP: 94%, PP: 0.96). Also, Paracapoeta and Capoeta are well differentiated by an average genetic distance of 8.02±0.78%. The morphological and molecular findings have largely overlapped each other. Besides, Capoeta turani is treated as a synonym of Capoeta erhani.

IS REPEAT FNAB NECESSARY FOR THYROID NODULES WITH ND / UNS CYTOLOGY?

CONTEXT/OBJECTIVE

The standard approach is to perform repeat FNAB (rFNAB) in thyroid nodules with non-diagnostic (ND) / insufficient (UNS) cytology. However, due to the nature of these nodules, recurrent FNABs may also be insufficient. Therefore, by comparing the clinical-radiological-pathological parameters of nodules with a definite diagnosis of excision, we questioned the possibility of patient management without rFNAB.

METHODS

Clinical-radiological parameters of 275 nodules belonging to 264 patients in the ND/UNS aspiration group with definite pathological diagnosis after surgery were determined. Under the guidance of these parameters, those with and without rFNAB were compared.

RESULTS

The incidence of malignancy was found to be significantly higher in nodules without rFNAB compared to nodules with rFNAB (p = 0.036). In addition, the incidence of malignancy in BC-1 nodules without rFNAB was significantly higher than in nodules with rFNAB result also BC-1 (p = 0.009). In all cases, nodule size smaller than 10 mm and border irregularity were found to be statistically significant for malignancy (p <0.020, p <0.002). When looking at the distribution of rFNAB results, a significant correlation was observed with female gender, solid component, hypoechogenicity, border irregularity and halo loss around the nodule in patients with BC-4,5,6 cytology results (respectively, 0.005 / 0.031 / 0.001 / 0.012 / 0.004).

CONCLUSION

rFNAB did not show the expected effect in ND / UNS nodules. We recommend direct surgical excision without rFNAB for nodules with border irregularity, solid structure, halo loss and hypoechogenicity, which should be considered more important in female patients.

What are the factors affecting glanular dehiscence after hypospadias surgery?

BACKGROUND

Glanular dehiscence (GD) is one of the main complications after hypospadias surgery. There is a limited number of publications regarding GD in the literature.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this work is to reveal the factors that affect GD after a literature review.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A literature search for relevant articles was performed in database using the search term glans dehiscence without setting date range limit or any other limits. All articles related to GD after hypospadias surgery were included in this study. After collecting the information from full text articles, 71 articles were included in this systematic review. In these studies, localization of hypospadic meatus, type of surgery, and other clinical data which were thought to behave as risk factors for GD were obtained. Chi-Square test was used to evaluate the differences between the parameters, where p < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant.

RESULTS

After evaluating the 71 articles that met the inclusion criteria, 309 cases (3.48%) of GD after 8858 hypospadias repairs were obtained in this review. GD rates were found significantly high for proximal hypospadias (5%), two-stage hypospadia repairs (5%) and re-do hypospadias repair (8.75%) (p = 0.002, 0.022, and 0.004, respectively). Glans width <14 mm, urethral plate (UP) width <7 mm, hypospadias surgeries performed before 6 months of age and after puberty, and caudal block anesthesia increased the rate of GD.

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of GD increases after proximal, cripple and staged hypospadias surgeries, a glans width <15 mm and UP width <8 mm, postpubertal surgeries, and caudal anesthesia use during surgery.

Contribution to the trout of Euphrates River, with description of a new species, and range extension of Salmo munzuricus (Salmoniformes, Salmonidae)

In an effort to reveal the Euphrates trout taxonomy, the Karasu River, which is one of the eastern drainages of the river, was investigated and three independent populations were identified. Result revealed that two populations belonged to Salmo munzuricus, which was known only in Munzur River, while the other population belonged to an unnamed species. Salmo baliki, a new species, is described from the Murat River, a drainage of Euphrates River. It differs from Salmo species in adjacent water by the combination of the following characters: a grayish body; commonly one, rarely two pale black spots behind eye and on cheek; two to seven black spots on opercle; a few black spots on back and upper part of flank, missing on predorsal area; few to numerous large irregular-shaped red spots in median, upper and lower part of flank, surrounded by a large irregular-shaped white ring; the number of black and red spots not increasing in parallel with size; maxilla short and narrow; adipose-fin medium size, no or rarely one or two red spot its posterior edge; 107–118 lateral line scales; 24–28 scales rows between dorsal-in origin and lateral line; 18–22 scale rows between lateral line and anal–fin origin; maxilla length 7.7–9.1% SL in males, 8.2–9.6 in females. Finally, the genetic study of the Cyt b mitochondrial gene confirmed the morphological data, suggesting the separation of S. baliki from other Salmo species.

P–336 The role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in endometriosis; preliminary results

Study question

Can X-box binding protein 1 (XBP–1) be used in evaluation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in endometriosis patients?

Summary answer

High levels of XBP–1 among endometriosis patients indicate an association between ER stress and endometriosis.

What is known already

ER is responsible for protein folding, lipid synthesis, and calcium homeostasis. ER stress occurs due to the accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins in the ER. ER stress causes the activation of several signal transduction cascades, defined as the unfolded protein response (UPR). In the studies conducted with ectopic endometrial tissue and cells, it was reported that UPR plays a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. The XBP–1 is a transcription factor involved in UPR, where it regulates ER stress-mediated apoptosis. XBP–1 is also responsible for endometrial cell migration, which is also a part of the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Study design, size, duration

This prospective case-controlled study was conducted at University of Health Sciences Turkey, Istanbul Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training and Research Hospital Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology between March 2020 – August 2020. A total of 60 subjects were included in the study. All patients gave their written informed consent before their enrollment in the study.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

30 endometriosis patients aged 18–45 years were included in the study group. Patients with a history of ovarian surgery, endocrine, autoimmune and metabolic disorders, and hormonal treatment during the previous three months were excluded. 30 healthy subjects without endometriosis were included in the control group. Endometriomas were measured with transvaginal ultrasonography and pain was evaluated with visual analogue scale (VAS). XBP–1 levels were determined from serum samples using Human XBP–1 ELISA Kit (Elabscience Co., USA).

Main results and the role of chance

The mean age of the control group was 28.33±2.49, and the study group was 27.76±2.45 (p = 0.374). The mean endometrioma volume in the study group was calculated to be 9.9± 9.05. The mean XBP–1 level in the control group was 1008.31± 329.05, whereas this level in the study group was significantly higher (2710.65±1484.13, p &lt; 0.001). When the study group was divided according to VAS scores into two groups, the mean XBP–1 level, and endometrioma volumes were significantly higher in the group with VAS scores &gt; 6 (p &lt; 0.001 and p = 0.03 respectively). A receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis was conducted in the study group. The area under the curve AUC for XBP–1 levels was 91% (95%CI: 0.86–0.96, p &lt; 0.001) for the cut-off value of 1279.52 with a sensitivity 87.2%, specificity 86.7%, PPV: 90.4%, NPV: 82.5%, +LR: 6.5, -LR: 0.1. The AUC for VAS scores &gt;6 was 96.2% (95%CI: 0.93–0.98, p &lt; 0.001) for the cut-off value 2227.71, with a sensitivity 90% and a specificity 91.1%, PPV: 87.1%, NPV: 96.1%, +LR: 10, -LR: 0.1.

Limitations, reasons for caution

A limitation of this study was the methodology of serum sample collection. Since there are no data available on the timing of sample collection with regard to the menstruation cycle of the subjects, samples were collected at the first consultation of the patients without considering the date of their cycle.

Wider implications of the findings: In this study, XBP–1 levels in the endometriosis group and also among patients with VAS scores of &gt; 6 were significantly higher. This association between XBP–1 and endometriosis and the positive correlation with pain indicates that XBP–1 can be a potential biomarker, especially in the presence of severe pain symptoms

Trial registration number

NCT04440397

Comparison of decentration, tilt and lenticular astigmatism of ıntraocular lens between sutured and sutureless scleral fixation techniques

PURPOSE

To evaluate at six months the intraocular lens (IOL) decentration, tilt and lenticular astigmatism between foldable sutured and sutureless scleral fixation IOLs compared to conventional phacoemulsification surgery.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed records for 22 eyes with sutureless scleral fixation, 16 eyes with sutured scleral fixation and 23 eyes with conventional phacoemulsification. IOL decentration and angle of IOL tilt were compared on Scheimpflug images 6 months after surgery. Lenticular astigmatism is described as the difference between refractive and net corneal astigmatism.

RESULTS

The angle of tilt in both meridians was significantly lower in the sutureless group than in the sutured group (P=0.008 horizontally and P=0.002 vertically). IOL decentration did not show a significant difference between the three groups in either horizontal or vertical meridians (P˃0.05). Lenticular astigmatism was significantly lower in the sutureless and control groups than in the sutured group (P=0.003 and P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

In addition to being relatively quick and easy to perform, the sutureless scleral fixation technique showed superior results in terms of IOL tilt and lenticular astigmatism at the six-month follow-up compared to the sutured technique.

Oxynoemacheilus isauricus, a new nemacheilid loach from Central Anatolia (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae)

Oxynoemacheilus isauricus, new species, from the Lakes Beyşehir and Suğla basins in Central Anatolia is distinguished from all other species of the O. angorae group by having a very slender caudal peduncle (its depth 2.22.6 times in its length). The new species is further distinguished by having a short head (head length 2124% SL), and a midlateral series of irregularly shaped blotches on the flank. Oxynoemacheilus isauricus is also distinguished by a minimum K2P sequence divergence of 7.5% and 8.0% in the mtDNA-COI barcode region from O. eregliensis and O. atili, its closest relatives.

Oxynoemacheilus nasreddini, a new nemacheilid loach from Central Anatolia (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae)

Oxynoemacheilus nasreddini, new species, from Lake Akşehir, Eber, Eğirdir, and Ilgın basins in Central Anatolia is distinguished from other species of Oxynoemacheilus in Central Anatolia by having irregularly shaped blotches on flank; 24 dark-brown bands on caudal fin; a slender body, and an emarginate caudal fin in which the shortest middle caudal-fin ray is 7691% of the longest ray of the upper caudal-fin lobe. Molecular data suggest that the new species is closely related to O. mediterraneus from the Aksu and Köprüçay drainages. Although the two species are separated by only a minimum K2P distance of 1.2% in the mtDNA COI barcode region, they are well distinguished morphologically. The situation is complicated by loaches from Lake Eğirdir basin that are identified as O. nasreddini by their morphological character states but are only distinguished from O. mediterraneus by a minimum K2P distance of 0.2% in the mtDNA COI barcode region.

The Glyptothorax catfishes of the Euphrates and Tigris with the description of a new species (Teleostei: Sisoridae)

The Glyptothorax species inhabiting the Euphrates and Tigris drainages are reviewed and six species are recognised, one of which is described herein as new species. Glyptothorax armeniacus is endemic to headwater streams in the Euphrates drainage. Glyptothorax kurdistanicus is endemic to the upper Tigris downstream to the Lesser Zab drainage. Glyptothorax cous and G. steindachneri are riverine species widespread in both the Euphrates and Tigris drainages. Glyptothorax silviae is endemic to Iran. Glyptothorax daemon, new species, from the Greater Zab and Yanarsu in the upper Tigris drainage, is distinguished by having the thoracic adhesive apparatus strongly elevated, 1.11.2 times longer than wide, without tubercles on the head, well developed anteromedial striae, the medial pit without striae, and a short adipose fin. Glyptothorax daemon is separated into two mitochondrial lineages, externally indistinguishable and separated by a minimum K2P distance of 2.0% in the DNA barcode region. These lineages are paraphyletic in our analysis indicating past introgressive hybridisation with G. cous. All six species are diagnosed and all, except unstudied G. steindachneri, form distinct mitochondrial clades with between 1.2% and 3.4% minimum K2P distance between them. Species from the Euphrates and Tigris form a monophyletic mitochondrial group separated from 53 other Glyptothorax species studied from India and areas further east.

Oxynoemacheilus sarus/, a new nemacheilid loach from the lower Ceyhan and Seyhan in southern Anatolia (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae)

Oxynoemacheilus sarus, new species, is described from the lower Ceyhan and Seyhan drainages in southern Anatolia. It is distinguished from other Oxynoemacheilus species in Cilicia (including the Göksu, Seyhan and Ceyhan drainages) by possession of a series of irregularly shaped midlateral blotches, 3-5 dark-brown bands on the caudal fin, a complete lateral line, a forked caudal fin (shortest middle caudal-fin ray is 56-70% of longest ray of the upper caudal-fin lobe), the caudal peduncle depth 1.4-1.8 times in its length, and a suborbital groove in male individuals. The new species occurs in sympatry with superficially similar O. seyhanicola and O. evreni, and is distinguished by colour pattern as well as morphometric and molecular characters. Molecular data suggest that the closest relatives to the new species in our dataset are O. euphraticus and O. shehabi, which is characterised by a minimum K2P distance of 3.6% and 3.8%, respectively, in the COI mtDNA barcode region.

emOxynoemacheilus/em emphasicus/em, a new nemacheilid loach from the eastern Black Sea basin with some remarks on other Caucasian emOxynoemacheilus/em (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae)

Oxynoemacheilus phasicus, new species, is described from the Rioni and Enguri River drainages in Georgia. It is distinguished from other Oxynoemacheilus species in the O. brandtii group by a mottled or marbled flank pattern in adults, a slightly emarginate caudal fin, and a deep caudal peduncle. Molecular data suggest that the new species is characterized by a minimum K2P distance of 7.5% from O. brandtii from the Kura drainage in the mtDNA COI barcode region. Oxynoemacheilus brandtii and O. elsae are re-diagnosed. A very slender Oxynoemacheilus from the Aras drainage clusters as sister to O. elsae in our molecular analysis and not with O. brandtii from the Kura River. However, it is identified as O. brandtii as it is indistinguishable from this species in morphological characters.

emGarra/em emorontesi/em, a new species from the Orontes River drainage (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

Garra orontesi, new species, is described from the Orontes River drainage in the eastern Mediterranean Sea basin in Turkey and Syria. It is distinguished from its congeners in the Mediterranean Sea basin and adjacent Mesopotamia by possessing 17-21 gill rakers on the lower part of the first gill arch, the pelvic-fin origin usually below the second branched dorsal-fin ray, 8½ branched dorsal-fin rays, usually 2-3 scales between the tip of the pectoral and pelvic-fin origins, and no tubercles behind the upper posterior eye margin. It is also distinguished by a minimum K2P distance of 2.7% in its COI barcode region against G. rufa, and 3.9% against the geographically adjacent G. turcica.

Oxynoemacheilus amanos, a new nemacheilid loach from the Orontes River drainage (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae)

Oxynoemacheilus amanos, new species, is described from İncesu spring in the upper Hupnik drainage, a northern tributary of the lower Orontes in Turkey. It is distinguished from the other Oxynoemacheilus species in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea basin by possession of an incomplete lateral line with 23-45 pores, terminating between the vertical through the dorsal fin origin and the anus, 10-13 pores in the infraorbital canal, a deeply emarginate caudal fin, no suborbital groove in the male, and a series of irregularly shaped and set dark-brown bars on the flank, not connected to saddles on the back.

Mapping the Establishment and Invasiveness Potential of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in Turkey: With Special Emphasis on the Conservation of Native Salmonids

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) has become by far the most frequently farmed freshwater fish species in Turkey, whereas very little is known about its establishment and invasiveness potential. We explored this potential through a combination of Maxent habitat suitability model and the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit (AS-ISK) on the river basin scale by generating an overall risk score (ORS). The outcome of this approach was also incorporated with the spatial analysis of native salmonid species by generating a relative vulnerability score (RVS) to prioritize susceptibility of native species (or populations) and to propose risk hotspots by identifying their potential geographic overlap and interaction with O. mykiss. Results suggest that the northern basins (Eastern Black Sea, Western Black Sea and Marmara basins) are the most suitable basins for O. mykiss. According to the Basic Risk Assessment (BRA) threshold scores, O. mykiss is classified as “high risk” for 3 (12.0%) of the 25 river basins screened (Western Black Sea, Eastern Black Sea and Maritza-Ergene), and as “medium risk” for the remaining basins. The climate change assessment (CCA) scores negatively contributed the overall invasiveness potential of O. mykiss in 22 (88.0%) of the river basins and resulted in zero contribution for the remaining three, namely Aras-Kura, Çoruh river and Eastern Black Sea. The ORS score of river basins was lowest for Orontes and highest for Western Black Sea, whereas it was lowest for Konya-closed basin and highest for Eastern Black Sea, when CCA was associated. The micro-basins occupied by Salmo rizeensis had the highest mean habitat suitability with O. mykiss. Among the all species, S. abanticus had the highest RVS, followed by S. munzuricus and S. euphrataeus. The overall outcome of the present study also suggests that the establishment and invasiveness potential of O. mykiss may decrease under future (climate warmer) in Turkey, except for the northeast region. This study can provide environmental managers and policy makers an insight into using multiple tools for decision-making. The proposed RVS can also be considered as a complementary tool to improve IUCN red list assessment protocols of species.

Evaluation of the performance of the partograph in the Kisanga health zone in Lubumbashi

Introduction

The partograph allows adequate fetal-maternal care during childbirth and the immediate postpartum in a maternity hospital. The objective of this study was to determine the proportion of the correct use of the partograph in maternity hospitals in the Kisanga Health Zone in Lubumbashi.

Materials and Methods

It was a cross-sectional study on the holding of the partograph, carried out in the Kisanga health zone in Lubumbashi during the month of November 2018. In total 794 partograms completed during the study period by providers in 89 maternity wards were analyzed. Two indicators have been known for the proper use of the partograph (for the decision price) and compliance with the benchmark. An element was considered correctly applied if its compliance rate was greater than 75%. The data were analyzed using SPSS 20

Results

Of 794 partograms collected, 63.6% were official (MSP or WHO) and 36.4% of wealth. In 32.6% of maternities, filling the partograph was easy. In total, 10.1% of maternities made the decision based on the line of attention of the partograph and 17.2% based on the line of action. The overall compliance rate for filling the partograph was 43.4% [41.1-45.6]; it was 50.0% [47.8-52.5] for maternal parameters, 54% [52.8-56.0] for fetal-adnexal parameters and 48.2% [47.4- 49.0] postpartum. The decision-making was 18.4% [18.2-18.5] and the filling time 33.3% [29.3-37.3]. It was found that 85.1% of partograms were completed during labor and 3.0% postpartum. The first point was correctly placed on the alert line in 19.6%

Conclusions

Partograph coverage, correct use and compliance rate are low in the Kisanga health zone. It turns out to be imperative to reinforce the correct use of the partograph and to rethink, if possible, a more simplified model with very sensitive items.

Key messages

This study has just helped to identify the parts of the partograms which are among the least filled and therefore the least understood by health care providers in health facilities. It has the merit of putting the thorny question of simplifying partograms back on the table for discussion in order to facilitate optimal use.

Molecular systematics and phylogeography of the genus Alburnus Rafinesque, 1820 (Teleostei, Leuciscidae) in Turkey

In this study, the phylogeny of Alburnus genus distributed in Turkish freshwaters was performed by analyzing mitochondrial cyt b gene (1141 bp) and COI gene (1551 bp) sequences from 1172 samples representing 112 populations of 24 species through their geographical distribution. According to our findings, 20 valid species are distributed in Turkey of which 18 have already been known. While six Alburnus species (A. battalgilae, A. istanbulensis, A. carinatus, A. schischkovi, A. nasreddini ve A. adanensis) have been synonomized, two new species (Alburnus sp.1 and Alburnus sp.2) from Dicle River and Çapraz Stream/Susurluk River have been identified. Extinct species such as A. akili and A. nicaeensis have not been observed in situ. Phylogenetic tree topologies and haplotype network of the 119 cyt b and 80 COI haplotypes detected in Alburnus species have indicated a consensus tree topology containing twenty lineages, each of corresponding to one species, and three Alburnus haplogroups corresponding to the geographical origins: Eastern Anatolia (I), Mediterranean (2) and Western & Northern Anatolia (3). The results indicate that the divergence between those haplogroups may have occurred during the Middle Miocene-Middle Pleistocene periods (from 14.9 to 5.29 million years).

Taxonomic assessment and distribution of fishes in upper Kura and Aras river drainages

In the present study, the actual fish fauna of the upper Kura and Aras river drainages in Turkey were re-examined. The distribution and latest taxonomic status of the species were assessed. The study area comprises the upper part of Kura and Aras river drainages, in Turkey. Overall, 32 sampling sites were prospected between 2004–2018 to inventory fish species in the area and a total of 33 species were recognized, five of which are recorded for the first time from the Turkish part of upper Aras river drainage, namely Alburnus hohenackeri, Blicca bjoerkna, Gobio artvinicus, Neogobius fluviatilis and Rhodeus amarus.

A new species of trout from the northern drainages of Euphrates River, Turkey (Salmoniformes: Salmonidae)

Salmo fahrettini, a new species, is distributed in the northern tributaries of the Euphrates River. It differs from other Salmo species in adjacent waters by a combination of the following characters: a greyish body; one black spot behind the eye and on the cheek; three to six black spots on the opercle; numerous black spots on the back (missing on the predorsal area), flank and middle part of body, surrounded by a roundish white ring; red spots in the median part of the body, surrounded by a roundish white ring; short and narrow maxilla; increase in the number of black and red spots with an increase in size; adipose fin medium size, no or rarely one red spot at its posterior edge; 109-116 lateral line scales; 27-30 scale rows between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line; 20-23 scale rows between the lateral line and anal-fin origin; maxilla length 8.8-10.0% standard length in males, 8.8-9.6 in females.

New triazepine carboxylate derivatives: correlation between corrosion inhibition property and chemical structure

In this investigation, attempts have been made to study the corrosion inhibition properties of three new triazepine carboxylate compounds for mild steel in 1.0 M hydrochloric acid medium. The evaluation was carried out using mass loss, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and polarization curves measurement. Impedance diagrams and Bode plots for uninhibited and inhibited systems were analyzed using Zview program. The fitted data observed trails in nearly the same pattern as the experimental results. It is showed that triazepine carboxylate compounds are very good inhibitors for mild steel corrosion in 1.0 M hydrochloric acid medium which act as mixed-type inhibitors. So, the inhibition efficiency was increased with inhibitor concentration in the order Cl–Me–CN > Me–CN > Cl–Me–CO2Et which depended on their molecular structures. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed that all compounds act by the formation of a protective film at the metal surface. Surface analyses via SEM and Optical 3D profilometry were used to investigate the morphology of the steels before and after immersion in 1.0 M HCl solution containing inhibitors. The correspondence between inhibition property and molecular structure of the triazepine carboxylate compounds was investigated, using density functional theory (DFT). Experimental and DFT study was further supported by molecular dynamic simulations study.

Review of the Oxynoemacheilus tigris group with the description of two new species from the Euphrates drainage (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae)

The Oxynoemacheilus tigris species group is reviewed, resulting in the recognition of six species, of which two are described herein as new. Oxynoemacheilus tigris is known from the endorheic Qweik River and the Merziman River, which is a tributary of the western Euphrates. Oxynoemacheilus ercisianus is endemic to the endorheic Lake Van basin and O. hazarensis is endemic to Lake Hazar basin in the upper Tigris drainage. Oxynoemacheilus kaynaki is widespread in the Euphrates drainage. The two undescribed species occur in the Euphrates drainage. Oxynoemacheilus arsaniasus, new species, from the Murat River and the upper Karasu (Muş) River drainage, is distinguished from other species of the O. tigris group by having a bold, black, irregularly-shaped bar at the caudal-fin base, an incomplete lateral line and a scaleless body. Oxynoemacheilus muefiti, new species, from the upper Murat River drainage and a tributary to the Atatürk reservoir, is most similar to O. ercisianus, from which it is distinguished by a more slender body and a shallower dorsal adipose crest. According to our molecular data, the Qweik population of O. tigris is suspected to be introgressed by O. namiri from the Orontes drainage. Oxynoemacheilus erdali is identified as a synonym of O. bergianus as we were unable to find differences between the two species.

Oxynoemacheilus cemali, a new species of stone loach (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) from the Çoruh River drainage, Turkey

Oxynoemacheilus cemali sp. nov. is described from the Çoruh River drainage in the eastern Black Sea basin. One molecular marker (coI), 25 morphometric and four meristic characters were analysed. Oxynoemacheilus cemali is distinguished from O. kosswigi, O. banarescui, O. samanticus and O. angorae in the Black Sea basin by having a suborbital groove in males, an axillary lobe at the pelvic-fin base, no dorsal adipose crest on the caudal peduncle, a slightly-forked caudal fin and 7-15 dark grey dorsal saddles. Morever, Oxynoemacheilus cemali is distinguished by commonly having 9-15 irregularly-shaped dark-grey bars on the flank posterior to the dorsal-fin origin or, rarely having a mottled pattern or 4-6 irregularly shaped dark-grey bars on the flank posterior to the dorsal-fin origin. Oxynoemacheilus cemali is also distinguished from the closely related species O. araxensis and O. cyri, distributed outside the Black Sea basin, by having 15 and 31 diagnostic nucleotide substitutions in the coI barcode region, respectively.

WHICH FACTORS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH MALIGNANCY IN THYROID NODULES CLASSIFIED AS BETHESDA CATEGORY 3 (AUS/FLUS) AND HOW DO THEY INFLUENCE THE PATIENT'S MANAGEMENT?

Background

Thyroid nodules are a common pathology worldwide. Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is an important diagnostic method for the investigation of malignancy in thyroid nodules. However, according to the Bethesda System used to classify the results, patients with atypia of undetermined significance/follicular lesion of undetermined significance (AUS / FLUS) may not be classified as benign or malignant. Therefore, it may be necessary to determine some clinical risk factors to apply the best treatment in these patients.

Aim

To determine the factors that increase the risk of malignancy in this patient group.

Methods

A retrospective study including 138 patients with an FNAB categorized as AUS/FLUS and operated between June 2015-September 2018. Demographical, Laboratory (TSH) and Ultrasound variables (number, size and characteristics of nodules) of the patients were compared among postoperative histopathological results.

Results

Hypo-echoic structure, microcalcification and irregular margin of the nodules were detected to be associated with malignancy in patients with FNAB results of AUS/FLUS (p <0.001).

Conclusion

We suggest that surgical treatment should be considered if the patients have nodules with the hypo-echoic structure, microcalcification and irregular margin with an FNAB histopathological result of AUS / FLUS.

A new species of Petroleuciscus (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from the Büyük Menderes River, southwestern Anatolia, Turkey

Petroleuciscus ninae sp. nov. is described from the Büyük Menderes River drainage. The new species is distinguished by having a black lateral stripe from head to base of caudal fin, stripe distinct anteriorly and posteriorly, wider than eye diameter; numerous black pigments on anal-fin rays; body depth at dorsal-fin origin 27-30% standard length (L_S ); head width at posterior margin of eye 16-19% L_S ; and eye diameter smaller than snout length. Petroleuciscus ninae is also distinguished from other species in adjacent waters by having six fixed diagnostic nucleotide substitutions in the mitochondrial DNA coI barcode region.

<i>Gobio</i> <i>baliki</i>, a new gudgeon from Turkey (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

Gobio baliki, new species, is described from the stream Büyük Melen in the northwestern Anatolian Black Sea basin. The new species is distinguished from other gudgeons in Anatolia by the breast being completely covered by scales, scales extending slightly behind the isthmus; 5-6 scales between the posterior extremity of the pelvic-fin base and the anus; the distance between the anus and the anal-fin origin 7-10% SL; the postorbital distance equal to or greater than the snout length; the depth of the anal-fin approximately equal to the length of the pelvic-fin; 8-9 midlateral black blotches, usually separated from each-other.

Comparison of injection pain caused by the DentalVibe Injection System versus a traditional syringe for inferior alveolar nerve block anaesthesia in paediatric patients

AIM

To compare paediatric patients' pain during needle insertion and injection in inferior alveoler nerve block (IANB) anaesthesia injected by either a traditional syringe (TS) or the DentalVibe Injection Comfort System (DV).

STUDY DESIGN

the study was a randomised controlled crossover clinical trial, comprised of 60 children aged 6-12 requiring an operative procedure with IANB anaesthesia on their mandibular molars bilaterally. One of the molar teeth was treated with TS and the contralateral tooth was treated with DV. On each visit, subjective and objective pain was evaluated using the Wond-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (PRS) and the Face, Legg, Cry, Consolability Scale (FLACC Scale). Patients were asked which anaesthesia technique they preferred. Data were analysed using Wilcoxon signed rank, Spearman correlation, and Mann-Whitney U tests.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences for pain evalution during needle insertion and injection of each injection system. However, a negative correlation was found on the FLACC between age and pain scores during injection after using DV.

CONCLUSION

Paediatric patients experienced similar pain during IANB anaesthesia administered with TS and DV. With increased age, pain values reduced during anaesthetic agent injection with DV according to FLACC. The traditional procedure was preferred to DV in paediatric patients.

A successful management of a giant mucinous ovarian tumor with intraoperative controlled fluid aspiration

BACKGROUND

The aim of this article was to present management of a giant ovarian mass.

CASE REPORT

A 61-year-old patient was admitted with compliants of abdominal swelling and dyspnea. Ultrasound revealed a giant ovarian mass with dimesnions 47x43x30 cm. The patient underwent laparatomy and the cyst's content was aspirated before total cyst excision. The total weight of the mass was calculated to be 42.5 kg. Postoperatively, the patient was discharged on her postoperative seventh day.

CONCLUSION

Giant ovarian cysts can be managed with controlled aspiration before total cyst excision.

Successful management of a second-trimester post-abortion hemorrhage with the Bakri balloon tamponade

Hemorrhage after abortion is rare but it is a significant cause of abortion-related mortality and morbidity. Conservative management of hemorrhage is gaining popularity. The authors describe a case which a uterine tamponade balloon which was successfully used to control second-trimester post-abortion hemorrhage.

Salmokottelati, a new species of trout from Alakır Stream, draining to the Mediterranean in southern Anatolia, Turkey (Teleostei, Salmonidae)

Salmokottelatisp. n., is described from Alakır Stream (Mediterranean basin) in Turkey. It is distinguished from other Anatolian Salmo species by a combination of the following characters (none unique to the species): general body colour greenish to silvery in life; 7–9 parr marks along lateral line; four dark bands on flank absent in both sexes; black ocellated spots few, present only on upper part of flank in individuals smaller than 160 mm SL but in larger both males and females black spots numerous and located on back and middle and upper part of flank; red spots few to numerous, scattered on median, and half of lower and upper part of flank; head long (length 29–33% SL in males, 26–32 in females); mouth large (length of mouth gape 13–19% SL in males, 12–15 in females); maxilla long (length 10–13% SL in males, 8–12 in females); 105–113 lateral line scales; 24–29 scale rows between lateral line and dorsal-fin origin, 17–19 scale rows between lateral line and anal-fin origin; 13–15 scales between lateral line and adipose-fin insertion.

Incidental parathyroidectomy as a cause of postoperative hypocalcemia after thyroid surgery: reality or illusion?

AIM

We aimed to investigate the incidence and clinical relevance of incidental parathyroidectomy (IPT) following thyroid surgery.

METHODS

A retrospective review of thyroid operations was performed between January 2013 and January 2014. Pathology and operative reports were analyzed to identify the specimens which included parathyroid tissue. Information related to diagnosis, operative details and postoperative complications were collected. Calcium levels of ≤8 mg/dL was defined as biochemical hypocalcemia and those presenting with classic findings of acute hypocalcemia, were classified as clinical hypocalcemia.

RESULTS

Two hundred and forty-five thyroid procedures were performed during study period. IPT was found in 34 (13.8%) cases: 25 were benign and 9 were malignant. Parathyroid tissue was found intrathyroidal in 6 patients (17.6%); lobar locations were right lobe in 19 (55.8%) and left lobe in 13 (38.2%) and isthmus in 2 cases (5.8%). The frequency of biochemical and clinical hypocalcemia were 50% (N.=17) and 8.8% (N.=3), respectively. Neither surgical type (lobectomy or thyroidectomy) nor malignancy (benign or malign) was not found associated with biochemical hypocalcemia. In those with biochemical hypocalcemia, left location of both dominant nodule and extracted parathyroid gland were significantly higher (P=0.01 and 0.04, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Incidental parathyroidectomy which is not uncommon (13.8%) after thyroidectomy is not associated with postoperative biochemical hypocalcemia. Neither the type of surgical procedure (lobectomy or thyroidectomy) nor the pathology but adjacent dominant nodule location may increase the risk of IPT.

A complication of temporary subclavian vein haemodialysis catheter: vena cava superior injury

Haemodialysis catheters used in the treatment of renal failure can cause very serious complications. Therefore, selection of the appropriate vein, and application of the intervention under ultrasound (US) guidance, carry vital importance. In this study, we aimed to present a potentially fatal complication of temporary haemodialysis catheter.

Is gynaecological laparoscopic surgery safe for elderly women? A comparison study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gynaecological laparoscopic surgery in an elderly group, by comparing the operative outcomes of the elderly group with those of the younger group. We analysed retrospective data of 121 women who underwent laparoscopic surgery for benign gynaecological disease. Women aged > 60 years were compared with women aged between 30 and 50 years who had the same operation. We evaluated body mass index, comorbidities, number of previous abdominal surgeries, operating time, haemoglobin change, postoperative complications, hospital stay and return of bowel activity. There were no significant differences between the elderly and a matched younger group in number of previous abdominal surgeries, operating time, ASA score distribution, changes in haemoglobin level, hospital stay and postoperative complications (p > 0.05). Laparoscopic surgery can be safely performed in elderly patients with benign gynaecological disease, and surgeons should not hesitate to perform laparoscopic surgery in elderly patients.

A rare cause of recurrent priapism: hereditary angioedema

Hereditary angioedema is a rare disease, which is caused by deficiency of compleman c1 esterase inhibitor regulatory protein in the compleman system. Priapism is involuntary, painful and prolonged erection of penis more than 4 h without sexual desire. In this case report, we elucidated a patient diagnosed with hereditary angioedema while he had recurrent priapism.

Analysis of expression of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta3 in intrinsic ureteropelvic junction obstruction

OBJECTIVES

Ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction is of critical importance to understand the histopathology of UPJ obstruction in terms of therapy planning and follow-up. For this purpose, our study was conducted with TNF-α and TGF-β markers to investigate possible underlying problems in intrinsic UPJ obstruction.

METHODS

Of the patients who had undergone surgery in our clinic, 36 UPJ segments of patients who had undergone dismembered pyeloplasty surgery due to UPJ obstruction and 14 UPJ segments of the patients who had undergone nephrectomy were collected to form 2 groups. All histological sections were examined by applying immunohistochemical transforming growth factor beta 3 (TGF-β3) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) monoclonal antibody dyes.

RESULTS

The mean staining values for TNF-α in mucosal tissue and mucosa were 0.53±0.84 and 0.58±0.84, respectively in the obstruction group, whereas the values observed in the control group were 0.86±0.36 and 0.93±0.47, respectively. While the mean staining values in the obstruction group in mucosal tissue and mucosa for TGF-β3 were 1.75±0.73 and 2.17±0.77, respectively, the values established in the control group were 1.14±0.66 and 1.43±0.93, respectively. The difference between the obstruction and control groups were statistically significant for both values (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Only a limited number of studies have been carried out on this particular issue. Data from the present study indicate that TGF-β3 and TNF-α may play a role in the histopathogenesis of UPJ obstruction (Tab. 1, Fig. 1, Ref. 18).

Uterine preservation in placenta percreta complicated by unscarred uterine rupture at second trimester in a patient with repeated molar pregnancies: a case report and brief review of the literature

Placenta-percreta causing uterine rupture in unscarred uterus is a rare obstetric surgical emergency that can cause maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. A 25-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain for four days. Previously, she had undergone two suction curettages for complete hydatiform moles. Ultrasound revealed a non-viable fetus with an estimated gestational age of 21 weeks and free fluid and coagulum in the abdominal cavity. An emergency laparotomy was performed because of the acute abdomen. At exploration, the placenta had invaded the entire thickness of the myometrium and the non-viable fetus was in the abdominal cavity. The uterus was closed with a double-layer of interrupted sutures and uterine-sparing surgery was performed. The patient was discharged on postoperative day seven. The authors present a case of placenta-percreta in an unscarred uterus complicated with uterine rupture during the second-trimester that was managed successfully with uterine repair. They also review the literature briefly and discuss similar cases managed conservatively in the second-trimester.

Alburnoides manyasensis (Actinopterygii, Cyprinidae), a new species of cyprinid fish from Manyas Lake basin, Turkey

Alburnoides manyasensis, sp. n., is described from the Koca Stream (Lake Manyas drainage, Marmara Sea basin) in Anatolia. It is distinguished from all species of Alburnoides in Turkey and adjacent regions, Alburnoides tzanevi (Rezovska [Rezve], Istranca and Terkos streams in the western Black Sea drainage), Alburnoides cf. smyrnae (Banaz Stream, a drainage of Büyük Menderes River, Aegean Sea basin), Alburnoides fasciatus (streams and rivers in the eastern Black Sea drainage) and Alburnoides eichwaldii (Kura and Aras rivers [a drainage of Kura River], Caspian Sea basin) by a combination of the following characters (none unique to the species):marked hump at nape, especially in specimens larger than 60 mm SL; partly developed ventral keel between pelvic fin and anal fin, scaleless 1/2 to 2/3 its length; body depth at dorsal-fin origin 29−32% SL; caudal peduncle depth 11−12% SL; 45–52+ 2–3 lateral-line scales; 9–12 scale rows between lateral line and dorsal-fin origin; 4–5 scale rows between lateral line and anal-fin origin, 10½–12½ branched anal-fin rays; 40–42 total vertebrae.