Histological and biochemical effects of cigarette smoke on lungs

In this study, rats were made to inhale cigarette smoke in a specifically prepared container for different periods. The lung tissue samples of the subjects were examined by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Malonaldehyde, one of the free oxygen radicals was determined in lungs and plasma. The catalase activity level of erythrocyte and arginase levels were determined. Three groups were formed. The rats in the Ist and IInd groups were made to inhale cigarette smoke for 30 and 60 minutes a day for a total period of 3 months. Control group, the rats in the IIIrd group (controls) were made to inhale clean air during the same periods. An increase in the number of macrophages was observed in the pulmonary tissue of the exposed groups. Especially in the group that inhaled the smoke for long periods, the number of macrophages and the inclusion bodies contained in them increased. These differences could easily be observed in TEM studies. In the light microscopy and SEM observations, it arouse attention that the alveolar macrophages occurred as sets and their activation increased. Depending on the length of the exposure to cigarette smoke, an increase in the number of macrophages was observed. Statistically significant increases were determined in the malonaldehyde levels of pulmonary tissue and plasma when compared to the control group. Besides significant increases were found in the catalase activity levels of erythrocytes in the experimental groups.     

A safer and relatively shorter method for Southern blot hybridization analysis

The study presented here describes a Southern blot hybridization technique which is performed in a shorter time and safer than the classical one. In this study DNA was isolated from a small amount of blood sample and the probe for hybridization was prepared with (35)S by polymerase chain reaction.     

Increase in Candida parapsilosis Fungemia in Critical Care Units: A 6-Years Study

Objectives

We aimed to asses possible clinically significant differences between C. parapsilosis and other candida species candidemia receiving care in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting.

Methods

The study included 118 adult patients diagnosed as candidemia after admission to the ICU of a university hospital between January 2004 and December 2009. Data about demographic characteristics, underlying diseases, and risk factors for ICU-related candidemia were collected.

Results

During the study period, 118 patients with candidemia were identified among 2,853 patients admitted into the ICU. Candidemia was seen in 41.4 cases per 1,000 ICU admissions. The overall incidence of candidemia in ICU patients during the study period was 2.09 per 1,000 hospital admissions. Of the isolates, 18.6% were C. albicans and 81.4% were C. non-albicans. The species most frequently isolated was C. parapsilosis (66.1%, 78/118). The distribution of other Candida spp. was as follows: 15 had C. tropicalis (12.7%) and 3 had C. glabrata (2.5%). By Statistical analysis, when patients with candidemia who had C. parapsilosis were compared with other Candida spp., the following factors were found to be significantly associated with C. parapsilosis fungemia; intravascular catheters (p = 0.008), malignity (p = 0.049) and age (p = 0.039). Relationship was found between C. tropicalis and hematologic malignancies (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

When infections with a high mortality such as candidemia is suspected in critically ill patients, it is important to know local risk factors and epidemiological distributions of causative agents in selection of empirical and effective antifungal treatment.     

Ultrastructural Changes in the Kidney of Rats with Acute Exposure to Cadmium and Effects of Exogenous Metallothionein

Ultrastructural changes in the kidneys of rats after acute cadmium exposure and the effects of exogenous metallothionein (MT) were studied by transmission electron microscopy. Thirty-six adult Wistar rats were divided into three groups. Cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) (3.5 mg/kg/day) was injected subcutaneously in the first group. In the second group, 30 μmol/kg MT was administered in addition to CdCl₂. Control rats received 0.5 ml subcutaneous saline solution. Four rats from each group were killed on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 after administration of the compounds. Kidney tissues were taken and fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde solution for electron microscopic observations. Tissue damage in kidney increased as time passed since the administration of CdCl₂ in the first group. Degeneration in the proximal and distal tubules was observed. Increased apoptosis was seen in the proximal tubules epithelium, especially on day 7. Peritubular capillaries became dilated, there was degeneration of the endothelial cells, and the amount of intertubular collagen fibers was increased. On day 1, irregular microvilli in the proximal tubules, deepening of the basal striations, and myelin figures; on day 3, multiple vesicular mitochondria and regions of edema around tubules; on days 5 and 7, increased apoptotic cell in the proximal tubules and widened rough endoplasmic reticulum of the endothelial cells of glomerular capillaries were observed. We observed that the structural alterations that increased depending on the day of Cd administration decreased after exogenous MT administration, the dilation of the peritubular capillaries persisted, and there were degenerated proximal tubules. It was established that cadmium chloride was toxic for kidney cortex and caused structural damage. Exogenous MT partly prevents CdCl₂-induced damage.     

Purification,biochemical characterization and gene sequencing of a thermostable raw starch digesting α-amylase from Geobacillus thermoleovorans subsp. stromboliensis subsp. nov.

This study reports the purification and biochemical characterization of a raw starch-digesting α-amylase from Geobacillus thermoleovorans subsp. stromboliensis subsp. nov. (strain Pizzo^T). The molecular weight was estimated to be 58 kDa by SDS–PAGE. The enzyme was highly active over a wide range of pH from 4.0–10.0. The optimum temperature of the enzyme was 70°C. It showed extreme thermostability in the presence of Ca²⁺, retaining 50% of its initial activity after 90 h at 70°C. The enzyme efficiently hydrolyzed 20% (w/v) of raw starches, concentration normally used in starch industries. The α-amylase showed an high stability in presence of many organic solvents. In particular the residual activity was of 73% in presence of 15% (v/v) ethyl alcohol, which corresponds to ethanol yield in yeast fermentation process. By analyzing its complete amyA gene sequence (1,542 bp), the enzyme was proposed to be a new α-amylase.     

Flocculating performances of exopolysaccharides produced by a halophilic bacterial strain cultivated on agro-industrial waste

This study reports the first systematic investigation of the flocculation dynamics of exopolysaccharides (EPSs) produced by a halophilic bacterial strain grown on pretreated molasses as fermentation substrate. The potential use of these EPSs as an easily biodegradable, natural alternative for synthetic polyelectrolytes which are widely used and contain toxic and carcinogenic monomers was investigated. Flocculating activities of the EPS samples in synthetic water, synthetic sea water and natural sea water media which were used as model raw waters were monitored via the Photometric Dispersion Analyser (PDA 2000) instrument and removals were determined by measuring residual turbidities. One of the six EPS specimens, which formed the largest flocs thus performed highest turbidity removal, exhibited flocculation performance and particle removal efficiency comparable with commercial cationic, nonionic and anionic synthetic polyelectrolytes.     

Reduction of carbon tetrachloride-induced nephropathy by melatonin administration

The aim of this study was to investigate possible protective effects of melatonin on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced renal damage in rats. A total of 24 animals were divided into three equal groups: the control rats received pure olive oil subcutaneously, rats in the second group were injected with CCl4 (0.5 ml kg-1, s.c. in olive oil) and rats in the third group were injected with CCl4 (0.5 ml kg-1) plus melatonin (25 mg kg-1, s.c. in 10% ethanol) every other day for 1 month. At the end of the experimental period, the animals were sacrificed and blood samples were collected. The kidneys were removed and weighed. Urea and creatinine levels were determined in blood samples. Histopathological examination of the kidney was performed using light microscopic methods. Administration of CCl4 significantly increased relative kidney weight (g per 100 g body weight) and decreased serum urea levels compared to controls (p<0.01). Melatonin treatment significantly (p<0.01) reduced relative kidney weight, and it produced a statistically equal (p=0.268) relative weight with the kidneys of control rats. CCl4 administration alone also caused histopathologically prominent damage in the kidney compared to the control group. Glomerular and tubular degeneration, interstitial mononuclear cell infiltration and fibrosis, vascular congestion around the tubules, and interstitial haemorrhage in perivascular areas were observed in the renal cortex and cortico-medullary border. However, the affect of CCl4 on the medulla was limited. Melatonin provided protection against CCl4-induced renal toxicity as was evident by histopathological evaluation. In view of the present findings, it is suggested that melatonin protects kidneys against CCl4 toxicity.     

Expression of nidogens in rat uterus and embryo during decidualization and implantation

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the expression of nidogen-1 and nidogen-2 and their possible role in decidualization and implantation events during early pregnancy in rats. The tissue samples were examined from pregnant animals between gestational days 1-8 using immunocytochemistry. The uterine luminal epithelium, the glandular epithelium, and the myometrial smooth muscle cells stained strongly from gestational days 1-8 with both nidogen antibodies. At day 4 the decidual reaction areas began to appear in the stromal matrix and immunostaining of both nidogens revealed that the basement membrane of the surface epithelium was discontinuous. The differentiation of stromal cells into decidual cells was seen at gestational day 5 and both nidogens were weakly expressed in the decidualizing cells. At day 6, nidogen-2 immunoreactivity was higher in the primary decidual cells close to the embryo than nidogen-1, and during development of the decidual tissue both nidogens appeared in the endometrial stromal cells. At day 7, while expression of both nidogens declined in the primary decidual cells, their expression was markedly observed in the secondary decidual cells close to the myometrium. At day 8, expression of both nidogens was also observed to increase in the primary decidual cells. While nidogen-2 expression was seen in the parietal endoderm and primary ectoderm of the rat embryos at this developmental stage, nidogen-1 expression was only detected in the parietal endoderm. These results indicate that nidogen-1 and nidogen-2 could play important roles during embryogenesis, decidualization, and implantation in the endometrium of rat uterus.