Differences in shape and size of skull and mandible in Talpa species (Mammalia: Eulipotyphla) from Turkey

We analysed with landmark-based images morphological differences between four species of Talpa which resemble each other morphologically and are all highly adapted to underground life. Subtle shape differences of the skull and mandibular bones were found between all species. However, there is also broad overlap between all species. Talpa caucasica had the largest skull and mandibles, and Talpa levantis the smallest.     

Phytochemical Profiling,in Vitro Biological Activities and in Silico Molecular Docking Studies of the Crude Extract of Crambe orientalis,an Endemic Plant in Turkey

In this study, total phenolic and flavonoid analyses of flower, leaf, and stem aqueous extracts of C. orientalis were performed. Total phenolic contents of C. orientalis extracts ranged from 12.2±0.06 to 19.0±0.07 mg GAE/g extract. Total flavonoid values range between 2.0±0.11 and 6.6±0.19 mg CE/g extract. Urease, collagenase, tyrosinase, and α-glucosidase inhibition activities were determined in vitro and the relationship between them was examined. IC₅₀ results for all enzymes were obtained between 0.18 and 3.53 μg/mL. The aqueous extract of the plant C. orientalis showed potent cytotoxic effects against the human colon cancer cell lines DLD-1. As the extract concentration increases, cell death increases. The main fatty acid composition by GC/MS analysis is erucic acid (36.5 %). The potential binding modes of the fatty acids in the plant extract to the enzymes and possible inhibition mechanisms were determined by molecular docking calculation.     

Complete mitochondrial genomes of Chionomys roberti and Chionomys nivalis (Mammalia: Rodentia) from Turkey: Insight into their phylogenetic position within Arvicolinae

Organisms Diversity & Evolution - The complete mitochondrial DNA (mitogenome) sequences of Chionomys nivalis and C. roberti were first presented as reference mitogenomes by the current study...     

In vitro conservation and cryopreservation of mature pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) germplasm

As genetic erosion of pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) has been occurring in the Mediterranean, Central and West Asia and North Africa, experiments were conducted to conserve two cultivars (‘Atl?’ and ‘Siirt’) of mature pistachio germplasm by assessing both medium- and long-term conservation techniques. In medium-term conservation, our results showed that it was feasible to conserve both cultivars in the form of either microshoots or encapsulated shoot apices up to 12 months at 4°C in the dark. As regards long-term conservation, encapsulation-dehydration and droplet-vitrification techniques were assessed for cryopreservation of cold-hardened and osmoprotected shoot apices of mature ‘Atl?’ cultivar. Among the methods tested, 13.6% of regrowth was achieved with incubation of explants in the droplets of vitrification solution for 150 min at 0°C followed by direct immersion in liquid nitrogen (LN), rapidly thawed and then cultured on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium containing 1 mg L^?1 BA and 0.5 mg L^?1 GA_3. The developed droplet-vitrification technique appeared as a promising procedure for long-term preservation of shoot apices of mature pistachio germplasm. Moreover, assesment of genetic fidelity by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA analysis (RAPD) revealed out high levels of genetic stability between donor plant and cryopreserved plants (similarity indexes between 0.959 and 0.973) after they were subcultured for at least 3 months. The detected low level of genetic instability could be due to the toxic effect of PVS2 and regeneration phase. The optimized conservation techniques, especially slow growth storage, could be applied to preserve other Pistacia species.     

Sinus Node Dysfunction as the First Manifestation of Left Ventricular Noncompaction with Multiple Cardiac Abnormalities

Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a genetically heterogenous form of cardiomyopathy which may remain undiagnosed till adulthood due to the late presentation of typical symptoms such as dyspnea, congestion, ventricular arrhythmias and thromboembolism. Symptomatic bradycardia secondary to persistent sinus node dysfunction is very rare. Coexistent cardiac defects are common in children however in adults the disease is usually in isolated form. Here, we present a case of twenty-three year-old female LVNC patient with patent ductus arteriosus, bicuspid aortic valve and persistent sinus node dysfunction who presented with dizziness as the first manifestation of the disease.     

OETMAP: a new feature encoding scheme for MHC class I binding prediction

Deciphering the understanding of T cell epitopes is critical for vaccine development. As recognition of specific peptides bound to Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules, cytotoxic T cells are activated. This is the major step to initiate of immune system response. Knowledge of the MHC specificity will enlighten the way of diagnosis, treatment of pathogens as well as peptide vaccine development. So far, a number of methods have been developed to predict MHC/peptide binding. In this article, a novel feature amino acid encoding scheme is proposed to predict MHC/peptide complexes. In the proposed method, we have combined orthonormal encoding (OE) and Taylor’s Venn-diagram, and have used Linear support vector machines as the classifier in the tests. We also have compared our method to current feature encoding scheme techniques. The tests have been carried out on comparatively large Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A and HLA-B allele peptide three binding datasets extracted from the Immune epitope database and analysis resource. On three datasets experimented, the IC50 cutoff a criteria is used to select the binders and non-binders peptides. Experimental results show that our amino acid encoding scheme leads to better classification performance than other amino acid encoding schemes on a standalone classifier.     

Immobilization of a thermostable α-amylase, Termamyl, onto nitrocellulose membrane by Cibacron Blue F3GA dye binding

Highly porous nitrocellulose membranes were prepared by a solvent casting technique for the first time to immobilize α-amylase. An affinity dye, namely Cibacron Blue F3GA (CB), was incorporated covalently within the structure. The nitrocellulose–CB derivatized membranes were used for the immobilization of a starch degrading enzyme, α-amylase. Optimum conditions of immobilization for highest apparent activity were determined as pH 6.0, temperature 50°C and initial enzyme concentration 0.317 KNU/l. Under these optimum conditions, maximum enzyme immobilization yield was around 21% of the initial amount of the enzyme in the solution. Performance of free and immobilized enzymes at the same amount was compared for repeated runs. Up to the third use, immobilized enzyme showed higher activity than that of free enzyme mainly due to higher enzyme concentration in the membrane structure, then the apparent activity decreased gradually. However, when regenerated by switching pH to cause contraction/expansion of the structure, the membrane showed the highest activity, almost 2.5 times than that of the free enzyme. This unusual feature along with inexpensive cost may well make the nitrocellulose membrane an economical material for industrial application in glucose syrup production.     

Age-related hormonal differences in cycling squirrel monkeys (Saimiri boliviensis boliviensis)

This study was planned to evaluate the poor reproductive performance of aged squirrel monkeys in a self-sustaining breeding colony. Two groups of monkeys aged 6–8 years (Group 1), and >12 years (Group 2) were evaluated. During the midbreeding season, daily blood samples were obtained for a period of 35 days from 10 animals in each group. Blood samples were assayed for serum estradiol (E), progesterone (P), and bioassayable luteinizing hormone (bio-LH) concentrations and the data were analyzed by ANOVA (analysis of variance). Bio-LH surges were less frequent in the aged breeders (Group 2). Total P output during periovulatory period (day ?;3 to day + 3) and the total P output during the luteal phases of the estrus cycles were significantly lower in aged squirrel monkeys (Group 2, P < 0.003). Although E peaks occurred less frequently in Group 2, they had higher concentrations as compared to Group 1 (P < 0.003). Cumulative periovulatory and luteal phase E levels did not differ between the two groups. The reduction in P output in aged squirrel monkeys may interfere with proper implantation, thus contributing to the lower pregnancy rate observed in this age group. The decreased frequency of bio-LH surges indicated less frequent ovulations in the aged animals which may further impair reproduction with aging. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Impaired Relaxation in Aorta from Streptozotocin-diabetic Rats: Effect of Aminoguanidine (AMNG) Treatment

Aim The effect of 8 weeks′ streptozotocin (STZ)- induced diabetes and aminoguanidine (AMNG), the inhibitor of advanced glycosylation reaction, treatment on arteriolar reactivity to vasoactive substances was investigated in vitro. Materials and Methods Studies were performed in untreated control rats (n = 10), STZ-induced (60 mg/kg i.v.) diabetic rats (n = 10), AMNG-treated (600 mg/l given in drinking water throughout 8 weeks) control rats (n = 10) and AMNG-treated (600 mg/l given in drinking water, beginning at 72h after STZ and throughout 8 weeks of diabetes) diabetic rats (n = 10). Results are expressed as the mean ±s.e. Relaxant responses are expressed as a percentage (%) relaxation of noradrenaline-induced tone. Statistical comparisons were made by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey–Kramer multiple comparisons test. Results 1. The decreased body weights (205 ± 6 g) and increased blood glucose levels (583 ± 8 mg/dl) of diabetic rats were partially restored by treatment of aminoguanidine (253 ± 6 g, p < 0.05 and 480 ± 14 mg/dl, p < 0.001, respectively). 2. Diabetes caused a 71% deficit in maximal endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine for noradrenaline precontracted aortas (p < 0.001). AMNG treatment prevented the diabetes-induced impairment in endothelium dependent relaxation (58 ± 8%) to acetylcholine, maximum relaxation remaining in the non-diabetic range (78 ± 4%). 3. Neither diabetes nor treatment affected endothelium-independent relaxation (pD₂ and max. Relax.) to sodium nitroprusside. 4. Vasoconstrictor responses (pD₂ and Max. Contraction) to noradrenaline and KCl were not influenced by the diabetic state and treatment. Conclusion Our data suggest that 8 weeks of experimental diabetes is associated with a decreased endothelium-dependent vasodilatation. AMNG treatment may prevent diabetes-induced endothelial dysfunction. This may be mediated via the prevention of advanced glycosylation end product formation, the enhanced release of vasodilator substances such as prostacyclin, the increased elasticity of blood vessels, the antioxidant activity and inhibitor activity of enzyme aldose-reductase by AMNG.