Evaluation of Gamma-Radiation Inactivation of a Bioterrorism Agent, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus anthracis</Emphasis> Spores,on Different Materials

Decontamination of suspected packages, such as sealed envelopes, liquids and tools that are likely contaminated with biological agents is of great importance. In this study, we aimed to determine the gamma radiation dose required for the decontamination of paper, fabric and liquid materials without causing any damage to the structure of these materials. Each study group included 11 pieces of paper, fabric and sterile saline contaminated with 0.8 × 10⁵ virulent Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis) spores. These specimens were exposed to doses of 5.49, 11.58, 17.21, 21.75, 27 and 33.1 kilogray (kGy) of gamma radiation from a cobalt-60 source. After irradiation of all the samples, a viability assessment of the B. anthracis spores was performed. It was found that full decontamination was achieved with 11.58 kGy on the paper samples and 17.21 kGy on the fabric and liquid samples. It was concluded that a dose of 20 kGy of gamma radiation may be recommended for the inactivation of B. anthracis for some surfaces when especially sensitive and valuable materials cannot be wet decontaminated were exposed. In addition, serologic and molecular assays of the suspected packets can be performed for forensic purposes without damaging existing evidence in a bioterror incident.     

The synthesis of (Z)-4-oxo-4-(arylamino)but-2-enoic acids derivatives and determination of their inhibition properties against human carbonic anhydrase I and II isoenzymes

The synthesis of (Z)-4-oxo-4-(arylamino)but-2-enoic acid (4) derivatives containing structural characteristics that can be used for the synthesis of several active molecules, is presented. Some of the butenoic acid derivatives (4a, 4c, 4e, 4i, 4j, 4k) are synthesized following literature procedures and at the end of the reaction. In addition, structures of all synthesized derivatives (4a–4m) were determined by ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR and IR spectroscopy. Carbonic anhydrase is a metalloenzyme involved in many crucial physiologic processes as it catalyzes a simple but fundamental reaction, the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide to bicarbonate and protons. Significant results were obtained by evaluating the enzyme inhibitory activities of these derivatives against human carbonic anhydrase hCA I and II isoenzymes (hCA I and II). Butenoic acid derivatives (4a–4m) strongly inhibited hCA I and II with K_is in the low nanomolar range of 1.85?±?0.58 to 5.04?±?1.46?nM against hCA I and in the range of 2.01?±?0.52 to 2.94?±?1.31?nM against hCA II.     

Failure of cyproheptadine to affect calcium homoeostasis and PTH levels in primary hyperparathyroidism

In this study we evaluated the influence of cyproheptadine treatment on serum PTH values, as well as serum Ca, Mg and P levels in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. For this purpose, cyproheptadine was given in a dose of 4 mg orally every 4 hours during 10 consecutive days to six patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Control fasting blood samples for PTH, Ca, Mg and P were obtained every other day for a week. Afterwards cyproheptadine treatment was applied as mentioned above. Then blood samples were taken on the 4th, 6th, and 10th day of treatment to determine serum PTH, Ca, Mg and P. Before treatment the mean PTH (+/- SE) values were 22.95 +/- 1.4 mlU/ml and during cyproheptadine treatment were 23.06 +/- 0.9, 22.95 +/- 0.8, 22.32 +/- 0.8 mlU/ml, respectively. There were no significant changes in serum PTH levels before and during treatment (P greater than 0.05). Also serum Ca, Mg and P levels remained unchanged. Our data suggest that cyproheptadine treatment does not affect calcium homoeostasis and serum PTH levels in primary hyperparathyroidism.     

The Effects of Boron on Arsenic‐Induced Lipid Peroxidation and Antioxidant Status in Male and Female Rats

The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible protective effects of boron, an antioxidant agent, against arsenic‐induced oxidative stress in male and female rats. In total, 42 Wistar albino male and female rats were divided into three equal groups: The animals in the control group were given normal drinking water, the second group was given drinking water with 100 mg/L arsenic, and the third group was orally administered drinking water with 100 mg/kg boron together with arsenic. At the end of the 28‐day experiment, arsenic increased lipid peroxidation and damage in the tissues of rats. However, boron treatment reversed this arsenic‐induced lipid peroxidation and activities of antioxidant enzymes in rats. Moreover, boron exhibited a protective action against arsenic‐induced histopathological changes in the tissues of rats. In conclusion, boron was found to be effective in protecting rats against arsenic‐induced lipid peroxidation by enhancing antioxidant defense mechanisms.     

Targeting apoptosis in the hormone- and drug-resistant prostate cancer cell line, DU-145, by gossypol/zoledronic acid combination

Possible synergistic cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of gossypol with zoledronic acid on DU-145 cells were explored, along with the rationale behind any observed synergism due to the different apoptotic proteins involved. XTT cell proliferation assay was used to assess the cytotoxicity, and DNA fragmentation and caspase 3/7 activity were measured to verify apoptosis. Human Apoptosis Array was used to evaluate apoptotic proteins. The synergistic cytotoxic combination treatment had a versatile effect on apoptotic proteins, through inhibition of anti-apoptotic proteins (including cIAP-1, cIAP-2, survivin, livin, claspin, p53, p21, PON-2 and heat shock proteins) and concurrently the induction of pro-apoptotic proteins (Bad, Bax, Fas, FADD, cleaved caspase-3 and p27). Both drugs had a minimal toxicity profile comparing to cytotoxic agents. Combination treatments targeting many pivotal apoptosis-related proteins may be a rationale option for treatment of prostate cancer.     

Effects of lossy image compression on quantitative image analysis of cell nuclei

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether statistically significant changes occur in quantitative image analysis of cell nuclei when lossy image compression techniques are used. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-five stoichiometric, Feulgen-stained samples of rat hepatocytes, human thyroid and ovarian cancer cell nuclei were used. Image analysis was performed by a computerized system that used AutoCyte LINK V1.1.1.56 software (Burlington, North Carolina, U.S.A.) for image acquisition and Zeiss Vision KS 400 V3.0 software (Oberkochen, Germany) for quantitative image analysis. After lossy JPEG compression of acquired images at different quality levels, some densitometric features were selected and measurements performed. RESULTS: We observed that nearly all the standard densitometric features showed statistically significant changes when images were compressed with the lossy JPEG algorithm. However, most invariant densitometric moment features remained free of statistically significant changes. CONCLUSION: The standard densitometric measurements that we used do not tolerate lossy compression. However, analyses using invariant densitometric features may be performed on images compressed with lossy JPEG, resulting in simpler, less expensive systems demanding less network bandwidth.     

Influence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains on fermentation and flavor compounds of white wines made from cv. Emir grown in Central Anatolia,Turkey

The effect of inoculation with selected Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains was studied on fermentation and flavor compounds of wines made from Vitis vinifera L. cv. Emir grown in Central Anatolia, Turkey. Flavor compounds were analysed and identified by GC-FID and GC-MS, respectively. The total concentrations of flavor compounds did not increase with the addition of indigenous and commercial wine yeasts, but differences were noted in individual volatile compounds. Cluster and factor analyses of flavor compounds also showed that wines produced were different depending on the wine strain used. Wines were completely fermented to less than 1.4 g/l residual sugar. Yeasts other than S. cerevisiae survived longer than previously reported. Inoculation with selected strains increased the ethanol level. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2002) 29, 28–33 doi:10.1038/sj.jim.7000258 Received 11 July 2001/ Accepted in revised form 27 March 2002     

Gluteal perforator flaps for coverage of pressure sores at various locations

Flap coverage is essential for successful treatment of pressure sores, and musculocutaneous flaps have been preferred universally. Development of perforator flaps supplied by musculocutaneous perforators has allowed reconstructive surgeons to harvest flaps without including muscles. Perforator flaps have enhanced the possibility of donor sites because a flap can be supplied by any musculocutaneous perforator, and donor-site morbidity is also reduced. Between November of 1998 and June of 2002, the authors used 35 gluteal perforator flaps in 32 consecutive patients for coverage of pressure sores located at sacral (n = 22), ischial (n = 7), and trochanteric (n = 6) regions. The mean age of the patients was 53.1 years (range, 5 to 87 years), and there were 16 male and 16 female patients. All flaps in this series were supplied by musculocutaneous arteries arising from gluteal muscles. Patients were followed up for a mean period of 13.6 months. Wound dehiscence was observed in two patients and treated by secondary closure. Three patients died during the follow-up period. All flaps survived except one that had undergone total necrosis, and only one recurrence was noted during the follow-up period. Gluteal perforator flaps are safe and reliable options for coverage of pressure sores located at different locations. Freedom in flap design and low donor-site morbidity make gluteal perforator flaps an excellent choice for pressure sore coverage.     

Optimizing the biosynthesis of oxygenated and acetylated Taxol precursors in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using advanced bioprocessing strategies

Taxadien‐5α‐hydroxylase and taxadien‐5α‐ol O‐acetyltransferase catalyze the oxidation of taxadiene to taxadien‐5α‐ol and subsequent acetylation to taxadien‐5α‐yl‐acetate in the biosynthesis of the blockbuster anticancer drug, paclitaxel (Taxol®). Despite decades of research, the promiscuous and multispecific CYP725A4 enzyme remains a major bottleneck in microbial biosynthetic pathway development. In this study, an interdisciplinary approach was applied for the construction and optimization of the early pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, across a range of bioreactor scales. High‐throughput microscale optimization enhanced total oxygenated taxane titer to 39.0 ± 5.7 mg/L and total taxane product titers were comparable at micro and minibioreactor scale at 95.4 ± 18.0 and 98.9 mg/L, respectively. The introduction of pH control successfully mitigated a reduction of oxygenated taxane production, enhancing the potential taxadien‐5α‐ol isomer titer to 19.2 mg/L, comparable with the 23.8 ± 3.7 mg/L achieved at microscale. A combination of bioprocess optimization and increased gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry resolution at 1 L bioreactor scale facilitated taxadien‐5α‐yl‐acetate detection with a final titer of 3.7 mg/L. Total oxygenated taxane titers were improved 2.7‐fold at this scale to 78 mg/L, the highest reported titer in yeast. Critical parameters affecting the productivity of the engineered strain were identified across a range of scales, providing a foundation for the development of robust integrated bioprocess control systems.