A comparative study on two closely relative Tulipa L. taxa from NE Anatolia

This study presents observations on the anatomical, palynological and ecological features of Tulipa gumusanica Terzio?lu and its morphologically similar relative, T. armena Boiss. var. armena, in order to clarify their similarities and differences. We found that these taxa have some important differences with regard to anatomical, palynological and ecological features, as well as morphological traits. General anatomical traits of both examined taxa are similar, both having isolateral leaves with distinct hypodermis and a stem with distinct monolayer collenchyma close to the epidermis. However, some anatomical characters such as mesophyll width, average number of stomata on lower epidermis, and epidermal cells on upper epidermis are found to be important in delimiting these taxa. In addition, considerable differences have been observed in pollen shape and size. The species differ ecologically in that T. gumusanica prefers slightly acidic soil with low organic content in the woodland, whereas T. armena var. armena prefers slightly alkali soil with high organic content in steppe vegetation.     

Thiol/disulfide homeostasis impaired in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome

BackgroundPrimary Sjögren''s syndrome (pSS) is a disease associated with the overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress is one of the factors responsible for its etiopathogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the thiol/disulphide homeostasis in pSS patients.MethodsThe study included 68 pSS patients and 69 healthy controls. Thiol/disulphide homeostasis (total thiol, native thiol, and disulphide levels) was measured using the automatic spectrophotometric method developed by Erel and Neselioglu, and the results of the 2 groups were compared.ResultsThe gender and age distributions of the pSS and control groups were similar (P = 0.988 and P = 0.065). Total thiol and native thiol levels were lower in the pSS group than in the control group (470.08 ± 33.65 µmol/L vs. 528.21 ± 44.99 µmol/L, P < 0.001, and 439.14 ± 30.67 µmol/L vs. 497.56 ± 46.70 µmol/L, P < 0.001, respectively). There were no differences in disulphide levels between groups [17.00 (range 0.70-217.0) µmol/L vs. 14.95 (range 2.10-40.10) µmol/L, P = 0.195].ConclusionsIt was concluded that the thiol/disulphide balance shifted towards disulphide in patients with pSS.     

Following hybridization on sensor/array platforms by using SPR,elipsometer and MALDI-MS

Abstract

The aim of this study is to develop a methodology in which Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), Ellipsometer (EM) and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-MS) will be used together for detection of single-strand oligodeoxynucleotides (ssODNs) targets. A selected target-ssODNs, and its complementary, the probe-ssODNs carrying a -SH end group, a spacer arm (HS-(CH₂)₆–(T)₁₅, and a non-complementary ssODNs were used. Silicone based stamps with 16 regions were prepared and used for micro-contact printing (µCP) of the probe-ssODNs on the gold coated surfaces homogeneously. A modulator-spacer molecule (6-mercapto-1-hexanol) was co-immobilized to control surface probe density, to orientate the probe-ssODNs, and to eliminate the nonspecific interactions. SPR was used successfully to follow the hybridization of the target-ssODNs with the immobilized probe-ssODNs on the platform surfaces. Complete hybridizations were achieved in 100?min. It was obtained that there was a linear relationship between relative change in delta and target concentration below 1?µm. Using imaging version of ellipsometer (IEM) allowed imaging of the surfaces and supported extra datum for the SPR results. After a very simple dehybridization protocol, MALDI-MS analysis allowed detection of the target-ssODNs hybridized on the sensor/array platforms.     

Sodium Acetate Pretreatment as an aid to Staining Endospore Nuclei of Protomyces Inundatus

Endospore nuclei of Protomyces inundatus may be stained satisfactorily with either acetic orcein or Giemsa after the following treatment: 1.5% sodium acetate, 12 hrs, 1:3 acetic alcohol 2-4 days, wash in absolute alcohol, transfer through 1:1 alcohol-chloroform to chloroform for 30 min and return to water via graded series of chloroform-alcohol and alcohol-water.     

Biological evaluation of some quinoline derivatives with different functional groups as anticancer agents

Due to a great deal of biological activities, quinoline derivatives have drawn attention for synthesis and biological activities in the search for new anticancer drug development. In this work, a variety of substituted (phenyl, nitro, cyano, N‐oxide, and methoxy) quinoline derivatives ( 3 ‐ 13 ) were tested in vitro for their biological activity against cancer cell lines, including rat glioblastoma (C6), human cervical cancer cells (HeLa), and human adenocarcinoma (HT29). 6‐Bromo‐5‐nitroquinoline ( 4 ), and 6,8‐diphenylquinoline (compound 13 ) showed the greatest antiproliferative activity as compared with the reference drug, 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU), while the other compounds showed low antiproliferative activity. 6‐Bromo‐5‐nitroquinoline ( 4 ) possesses lower cytotoxic activity than 5‐FU in HT29 cell line. Due to its the apoptotic activity 6‐Bromo‐5‐nitroquinoline ( 4 ) has the potential to cause cancer cell death.     

Significance of Tumor Necrosis factor α-308 (G/A) gene polymorphism in the development of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common noncutaneous cancer among men, accounting for 10?% of male cancer-related deaths worldwide. The etiology of PCa is largely unknown, although multiple environmental and lifestyle factors such as ultraviolet irradiation, smoking, and diet might increase the risk of the disease. Risk of disease varies most prominently with age, ethnicity, family history, and diet. The multifunctional cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) has an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory, autoimmune and malignant diseases. In this case control study 150 Prostate cancer patients and 150 age matched benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and equal number of healthy control groups were involved. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of TNF-α-308 (G/A) polymorphism on risk of prostate cancer on north Indian prostate cancer patients. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was utilized to genotype TNF-α-308 (G/A) polymorphism. The present study showed statistically significant increased risk of prostate cancer among individuals that carried the A allele of TNF-α-308 gene (OR?=?1.81, 95?% CI 1.00–3.481, p?=?0.03).     

Etiolation of `Royal Gala' apple (Malus×domestica Borkh.) shoots promotes high-frequency shoot organogenesis and enhanced ,-glucuronidase expression from stem internodes

Internodal explants from etiolated `Royal Gala' apple shoots were compared with those from non-etiolated shoots for frequency of shoot organogenesis and for efficiency of β-glucuronidase (GUS) expression after cocultivation of explants with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA105 (p35SGUSint). First (youngest) internodal explants from etiolated shoots produced 2-, 8- and 73-fold numbers of shoots compared to second, third, and fourth internodal explants, respectively. Moreover, these explants produced sevenfold the number of shoots as similar explants from non-etiolated shoots. All first internodes from etiolated shoots exhibited GUS-expressing zones and yielded fourfold as many GUS-expressing zones as commonly used leaf explants from non-etiolated shoots, which exhibited GUS-expressing zones in only 63% of the explants. An average of 9.8 GUS expressing calli per explant were observed on first internodes from etiolated shoots 2 weeks after cocultivation with A. tumefaciens. Received: 17 February 1998 / Revision received: 5 May 1998 / Accepted: 15 May 1998