The behavior of fat grafts in recipient areas with enhanced vascularity

Fat grafts are used for soft-tissue augmentation of various anatomic regions, most frequently for the improvement of facial contours. Resorption of the graft is the main problem, and several different procedures have been described to minimize this phenomenon. Using 25 New Zealand rabbits, the behavior of fat grafts in a highly vascularized recipient site was studied. The recipient sites prepared on the backs of the rabbits were divided into four regions. A capsule formation with silicone sheet application was accomplished in two of these recipient areas before the transplantation of the fat grafts. Fat grafts were placed in the other two recipient areas without any prior preparation. We prepared two types of fat tissue; in one the lobular structure was preserved and in the other it was manually crushed and rinsed with lactated Ringer's solution. The fat tissues with preserved lobular structure were placed in area I and area III. Manually crushed and rinsed fat tissues were placed in area II and area IV. In areas III and IV, a capsule formation with silicone sheet had been accomplished 3 weeks before grafting. Biopsy samples were obtained from these sites at the end of the first, third, sixth, and tenth months. Our aim was to observe the histologic fate of fat tissue in different recipient areas. The macroscopic and microscopic evaluation of the fat grafts in areas with silicone sheet indicated significant differences in the resorption time of the fat grafts; however, it was concluded that the significant resorption of the transplanted autologous fat tissue grafts at the end of the first year was an inevitable consequence of fat grafting.     

Timing and targeting of P-element local transposition in the male germline cells of Drosophila melanogaster

The P element in Drosophila melanogaster preferentially transposes into nearby sites. The local insertions display a preferential orientation toward the starting element. We investigated the mechanism of the P-element local transposition by isolating and characterizing local insertions in the male germline. We designed a genetic screen employing a marker gene that is carried in the P element and is dose sensitive. This dose effect allows isolation of flies containing newly transposed P elements in the presence of the starting element. A rapid molecular screen with PCR was used to identify 45 local insertions located within an approximately 40-kb genomic region on both sides of the starting element. Our system permits the isolation of the cluster progeny derived from a single insertion event, but none was isolated. The data suggest that local transposition occurs in the meiotic cell cycle. Nearly all of the local insertions were located within the promoter regions of the genes that were active in the male germline cells, suggesting that local insertions target predominantly active promoters. Our analysis shows that local transposition of the P element is highly regulated, displaying a cell-type specificity and a target specificity.     

Role of the dielectric constants of membrane proteins and channel water in ion permeation

Using both analytical solutions obtained from simplified systems and numerical results from more realistic cases, we investigate the role played by the dielectric constant of membrane proteins epsilon(p) and pore water epsilon(w) in permeation of ions across channels. We show that the boundary and its curvature are the crucial factors in determining how an ion's potential energy depends on the dielectric constants near an interface. The potential energy of an ion outside a globular protein has a dominant 1/epsilon(w) dependence, but this becomes 1/epsilon(p) for an ion inside a cavity. For channels, where the boundaries are in between these two extremes, the situation is more complex. In general, we find that variations in epsilon(w) have a much larger impact on the potential energy of an ion compared to those in epsilon(p). Therefore a better understanding of the effective epsilon(w) values employed in channel models is desirable. Although the precise value of epsilon(p) is not a crucial determinant of ion permeation properties, it still needs to be chosen carefully when quantitative comparisons with data are made.     

Oxidative status and serum leptin levels in obese prepubertal children

The prevalence of obesity in children has increased dramatically over the last 20-30 years in developed countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the oxidative and antioxidant status and any correlation with leptin in obese prepubertal children. A cross-sectional study was made of healthy children from ten elementary schools in the province of Elazig, Eastern Turkey. Blood samples were drawn from children comprising obese and control groups, on a visit to their school in the morning after an overnight fast. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.03 +/- 4.09 kg/m(2) in the obese group and was 17.51 +/- 2.33 kg/m(2) in the control group. Mean plasma leptin concentration was significantly higher in the obese children. Homocysteine and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were also significantly higher in the obese group. In contrast superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase activities were significantly decreased in the obese group (p < 0.001). In conclusion, in prepubertal obese children oxidative stress was increased and MDA and homocysteine levels were well correlated with serum leptin level and BMI. In contrast with the increase in oxidative stress, antioxidant activities of SOD and glutathione peroxidase were decreased in obese prepubertal children.     

Synthesis of novel bis‐sulfone derivatives and their inhibition properties on some metabolic enzymes including carbonic anhydrase,acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase

In this study, a series of novel bis‐sulfone compounds ( 2a‐2j ) were synthesized by oxidation of the bis‐sulfides under mild reaction conditions. The bis‐sulfone derivatives were characterized by ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, and elemental analysis techniques. Nuclear Overhauser effect experiments were performed to determine the orientation of the sulfonyl groups in bis‐sulfone derivatives. Here, we report the synthesis and testing of novel bis‐sulfone compound–based hybrid scaffold of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitors for the development of novel molecules toward the therapy of Alzheimer's disease. The novel synthesized bis‐sulfone compounds demonstrated K_i values between 11.4 ± 3.4 and 70.7 ± 23.2 nM on human carbonic anhydrase I isozyme (hCA I), 28.7 ± 6.6 to 77.6 ± 5.6 nM on human carbonic anhydrase II isozyme (hCA II), 18.7 ± 2.61 to 95.4 ± 25.52 nM on AChE, and 9.5 ± 2.1 to 95.5 ± 1.2 nM on BChE enzymes. The results showed that novel bis‐sulfone derivatives can have promising drug potential for glaucoma, leukemia, epilepsy, and Alzheimer's disease, which are associated with the high enzymatic activity of hCA I, hCA II, AChE, and BChE enzymes.     

Testicular development, ultrasonographic and histological appearance of the testis in ram lambs immunized against recombinant LHRH fusion proteins

Sixteen native ram lambs weaned at 10 wk of age were divided into two groups. Eight animals were immunized against LHRH with a mixture of two fusion proteins: ovalbumin-LHRH-7 and thioredoxin-LHRH-7. The immunized lambs received a primary immunization plus two booster immunizations at 4 and 12 wks. Animals in the control group (n=8) were not treated. Scrotal measurements and blood samples were taken at 2-week intervals. Beginning at 25 wk of age, semen was collected and sexual behaviour was evaluated on a weekly basis. At 35 and 37 wk of age testes and accessory glands of all animals were subjected to ultrasound scanning. At 37 wk of age animals were slaughtered and testes were evaluated histologically. Serum LHRH antibodies (P<0.01) were detected in animals of the immunized group which had reduced serum testosterone concentrations (P<0.01). Testicular development was suppressed in the immunized animals (P<0.01). Immunized animals exhibited mounting activity 5 wks later than control animals. No mature spermatozoa containing ejaculates were collected from immunized animals. Control animals had moderately echogenic ultrasonographic appearance at 37 wk age, whereas immunized animals had hypoechogenic images. Mean seminiferous tubule diameter in immunized lambs was significantly smaller than that in control lambs. Basal membrane was thickened and hyalinized; there was an increase in peritubular connective tissue. No proliferating spermatogonia or mature spermatozoa were present in the tubules in these animals. There were no differences in the ultrasonographic appearance of prostate and vesicular gland between control and immunized animals. The LHRH recombinant fusion proteins were effective in immunological castration in ram lambs when started at 10 wk of age as noted by differences in serum testosterone, testicular histology and ultrasonographic appearance of testis and weight of accessory sex glands. Determining the effects of immunization on ultrasonographic appearance of the testis related to time after immunization requires further investigations.     

Nitric oxide levels and antioxidant enzyme activities in jaundices of premature infants

Free radicals are effective in the genesis of several diseases in the neonatal period. This study aimed to show the relationship between serum bilirubin levels and plasma nitric oxide and the activity of enzymes in the erythrocyte such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) in premature infants. In the study, 20 premature infants with newborn jaundice were included and the control group was formed by 15 premature infants without jaundice. Venous blood samples were taken from all neonates in the study and control groups on the first day of hospitalization. Plasma nitric oxide levels and activities of SOD, GSH-Px and CAT enzymes in the erythrocytes were investigated in these samples. Plasma nitric oxide and serum bilirubin levels were found to be significantly higher in the study group (47.4 +/- 7.25 micromol l(-1), 18.41 +/- 3.28 mg dl(-1), respectively) than those in the control group (33.46 +/- 6.43 micromol l(-1), 4.35 +/- 0.60 mg dl(-1), respectively; p < 0.001). In addition, erythrocyte SOD, GSH-Px and CAT enzyme activities (724 +/- 78.61, 673 +/- 90.5, 63 +/- 12.8 U g(-1) Hb, respectively) were found to be significantly lower in the study group than those in the control group (1208 +/- 129.04, 1097.6 +/- 75.8, 99.06 +/- 12.4 U g(-1) Hb, respectively, p < 0.001). It was concluded that in the aetiology of hyperbilirubinemia, neonatal erythrocytes and nitric oxide reactions are affected differently and that erythrocyte haemolysis caused as a result of these effects may play a role in the aetiopathogenesis of unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. Haemolysis may also be seen because of the inadequacy of the protection by erythrocytes against the cytotoxic effects of free radicals resulting from the lack of antioxidant enzymes in these cells.     

Changes in serum cytokine levels in active tuberculosis with treatment

It has been reported that IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-12 stimulate, and that IL-10, TGF-beta, and IL-4 suppress the protective immune response against tuberculosis. We aim to evaluate changes in the serum levels of pro and antiinflammatory cytokines in active pulmonary tuberculosis (APTB) and the possible effects of treatment on these changes. Serum IL-12p40, IL-4, IL-10, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and TGF-beta1 levels were determined in 20 APTB cases (group 1) before and 2, 4, and 6 months after therapy. The same parameters were also determined in 9 inactive pulmonary tuberculosis (IPTB) cases (group 2) and 9 healthy controls (HC, group 3). Before treatment, the mean serum IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-10 levels in group 1 were statistically higher than those in group 2 (P=.001, P=.024, P=.016, resp) or group 3 (P=.003, P=.002, P=.011, resp). The levels in group 1 decreased significantly after treatment (P=.001 for IFN-gamma, P=.004 for TNF-alpha, P=.000 for IL-10). The serum levels of IL-12p40 were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 3 (P=.012) and decreased insignificantly after treatment. There was no difference in serum IL-4 and TGF-beta1 levels among the groups (P>.05). Because the serum IL-12p40, IL-10, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma levels were high in APTB, we believe that these cytokines have important roles in the immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M tuberculosis). These parameters could be used in follow-up as indicators of the success of APTB therapy.