Serum copper,zinc levels,and copper

Serum copper and zinc levels were determined in 20 healthy women and in 100 women with gynecological tumors. Malignant and benign tumor cases were separated according to their postoperative, histopathological examinations. The stages of malignant and benign tumors were also established histologically. Seventy benign and 30 malignant genital tumors (carcinoma of cervix in situ, cervix, ovary endometrium, and vulva) of the patients were differentiated histopathologically. The serum Cu/Zn ratios of patients were increased significantly from the control group (0.32±0.35) to the benign group (1.22±0.63) and from the benign group to the malignant group (2.24±1.03). Nine of 30 malignant cases were determined as false negative (30%) and 15 of 70 benign cases were determined as false positive (14.2%) according to the serum Cu/Zn ratios of patients. Serum copper levels of 30 malignant and 10 benign tumor cases showed linear correlation with serum ceruloplasmin values.     

New water mites of the family Hygrobatidae (Acari,?Hydrachnidia) from Turkey

In this study, the findings of three water mite species of the family Hygrobatidae collected from different streams in Turkey were evaluated. Hygrobates (s. str.) anatolicus Esen & Pešić, sp. n. is described as new for science. Hygrobates (Rivobates) diversiporus Sokolow, 1927 and Atractides (s. str.) nikooae Pešić, 2004, which were illustrated and thoroughly discussed, are new records for the Turkish fauna.     

The effect of ellagic acid on caspase-3/bcl-2/Nrf-2/NF-kB/TNF-α /COX-2 gene expression product apoptosis pathway: a new approach for muscle damage therapy

Molecular Biology Reports - The goal of this study was to determine the protective role of ellagic acid (EA) against CCl4-induced muscle injury in rats. In this study, 36 Wistar albino rats...     

Biological Time‐Dependent Difference in Effect of Peroxynitrite Demonstrated by the Mouse Hot Plate Pain Model

We previously demonstrated the rhythmic pattern of L‐arginine/nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) cascade in nociceptive processes. The coupled production of excess NO and superoxide leads to the formation of an unstable intermediate peroxynitrite, which is primarily responsible for NO‐mediated toxicity. In the present study, we evaluated the biological time‐dependent effects of exogenously administered peroxynitrite on nociceptive processes and peroxynitrite‐induced changes in the analgesic effect of morphine using the mouse hot‐plate pain model. Experiments were performed at four different times of day (1, 7, 13, and 19 hours after lights on, i.e., HALO) in mice of both sexes synchronized to a 12 h:12 h light‐dark cycle. Animals were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with saline or 10 mg/kg morphine 30 min before and 0.001 mg/kg peroxynitrite 30 sec before hot‐plate testing, respectively. The analgesic effect of morphine exhibited significant biological time‐dependent differences in the thermally‐induced algesia; whereas, administration of peroxynitrite alone exhibited either significant algesic or analgesic effect, depending on the circadian time of its injection. Concomitant administration of peroxynitrite and morphine reduced morphine‐induced analgesia at three of the four different study time points. In conclusion, peroxynitrite displayed nociceptive and antinociceptive when administered alone according to the circadian time of treatment, while it diminished analgesic activity when administered in combination with morphine at certain biological times.     

Variables of Microbial Response in Natural Soil Aggregates for Soil Characterization in Different Fluvial Land Shapes

The main objective of this study was to determine changes in microbial response in natural soil aggregates for soil characterization in different fluvial land shapes. This study was carried out in fluvial lands formed on accumulated sediment depositions carried by K?z?l?rmak River. The majority soils of the study area were classified as Typic Ustifluvent and Typic Haplustept in Soil Taxonomy. It was found that macroaggregates (especially >6300 μm and 2000–4750 μm diameters) of all soil samples were higher than microaggregate of soils. In addition, it was determined that the C_org content varies between 0.41–0.91% in soil samples. C_mic content was also found higher level in aggregates involved <250 and 250–425 μm diameters as compared to other aggregate size classes. Moreover, we detected that C_org:C_mic ratio was much higher in macroaggregates than in microaggregate fractions. BR levels were also greater in macroaggregates of >6,300, 4,750–6,300 and 2,000–4,750 μm than in the other macroaggregates sizes and microaggregates. Consequently, macroaggregates have relatively more C_org level than the C_org level in microaggregates, even if the absolute values of C_mic were the lower. This study thus evidenced contrasting microbial habitats and their response in different soil aggregate size formed in various developed soils.     

Helophorus erzurumicus sp. n., a new species from Turkey and some notes on H. ponticus Angus, 1988 (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae)

A new species of Helophorus Fabricius, 1775 is described from Erzurum, northeastern Turkey: Helophorus erzurumicus. In addition, distributional and morphological notes on H. ponticus Angus, 1988 are presented.     

Turkey as a crossroad for Greater Flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus: evidence from population trends and ring-resightings (Aves: Phoenicopteridae)

The Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus is a waterbird commonly found in saline and brackish lagoons throughout the Mediterranean Region. We have gathered existing data on Greater Flamingos in Turkey and carried out field surveys to present the most up to date information on wintering (1999–2014) and breeding (1969– 2014). The wintering population of flamingos shows an increasing trend with 54,947±20,794 individuals mainly concentrated in the Gediz, Büyük Menderes and Çukurova deltas, respectively. Breeding attempts were recorded in at least seven wetlands in Turkey in the past, yet after 1999 most of the colonies were abandoned due to basin scale intensive water management practices in Central Anatolia. Currently, only Tuz Lake and Gediz Delta are used as regular breeding sites, while breeding has been recorded sporadically in Ac?göl and Ak?ehir Lakes. The breeding colony of Tuz Lake is of prime importance at the Mediterranean scale, with the number of young chicks in 2011, 2012 and 2013 accounting for the highest number of fledglings in the Mediterranean Region and West Africa (18,418, 20,274 and 20,292 respectively). Finally, building upon the previous findings about Turkey and the western Mediterranean metapopulation links, recent resightings of Turkish flamingos (despite the limited numbers) confirm post-fledging and natal dispersal reaching the western Mediterranean Basin and West Africa. Flamingos from Turkey were also found to disperse to Israel and to a region outside the known flyways of the western Mediterranean and West African flamingos (i.e. to Israel and UAE). Thus, Turkey, due to its geographic position, appears to be a crossroad between the western and eastern Mediterranean Region and southwest Asia.     

Infection-Mediated Priming of Phagocytes Protects against Lethal Secondary Aspergillus fumigatus Challenge

Phagocytes restrict the germination of Aspergillus fumigatus conidia and prevent the establishment of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in immunecompetent mice. Here we report that immunecompetent mice recovering from a primary A. fumigatus challenge are protected against a secondary lethal challenge. Using RAGγc knock-out mice we show that this protection is independent of T, B and NK cells. In protected mice, lung phagocytes are recruited more rapidly and are more efficient in conidial phagocytosis and killing. Protection was also associated with an enhanced expression of CXCR2 and Dectin-1 on bone marrow phagocytes. We also show that protective lung cytokine and chemokine responses are induced more rapidly and with enhanced dynamics in protected mice. Our findings support the hypothesis that following a first encounter with a non-lethal dose of A. fumigatus conidia, the innate immune system is primed and can mediate protection against a secondary lethal infection.