Length–weight relationship of 62 fish species from the Central Aegean Sea,Turkey

Length–weight relationships were estimated for 11 elasmobranch and 51 teleost fish species caught in Izmir Bay, Turkey. Sampling was carried out from June 2005 to May 2006 at monthly intervals using a bottom trawl net. The mean b‐value was calculated as 3.10 (SE = ±0.03) and only three species were out of range between 2.5 and 3.5.     

Effects of Chromium Picolinate on Micronucleus Frequency and Morphology of Lymphocytes in Calves

We report the effects of chromium picolinate (CrPic) on micronucleus frequency, morphology of lymphocytes, and lipid peroxidation in calves. Twenty-four Holstein calves were selected for the study. They were kept in a farm and were fed a commercially available calf diet and alfalfa, ad libitum. The animals were divided into three groups of eight subjects each and were treated as follows: The first group was supplemented with a daily dose of 200 μg Cr as chromium picolinate; a second group received 400 μg Cr per day and a third group that served as control received no supplemental chromium. After 12-week supplementation, blood samples were collected to determine the micronucleus frequency, the apoptotic cell percentage, and the malondialdehyde (MDA) and blood chromium levels. In both supplemented groups, the cells had irregularly shaped and segmented nuclei. Supplementation also increased the percentage of apoptotic cells (p < 0.001) and serum MDA (p < 0.01) and slightly increased the chromium levels. The animals supplemented with 400 μg showed a significant increase of micronucleus frequency (p < 0.01). The results of this study suggest that supplementation with 200 and 400 μg chromium as chromium picolinate may lead to cytotoxicity. The higher level of supplementation may also have genotoxic effects. However, further studies investigating the mechanism of the action of CrPic are required.     

Effect of Strontium Ranelate on Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Apoptosis of CRL-11372 Cells

In vitro and in vivo studies have proven strontium to be an osteoinductive trace element. The effect of strontium ranelate (SR) on H₂O₂-induced apoptosis of CRL-11372 cells and optimization of its anti-apoptotic dose were the aims of this study. After 1 h of pretreatment with SR 1 μM, 50 μM, 100 μM, 500 μM, and 1,000 μM concentrations, CRL-11372 osteoblasts were exposed to 100 μM H₂O₂ for periods of 6–12 h. The same experiments were repeated without H₂O₂. The apoptotic index and viability of cells were assessed quantitatively with a fluorescent dye and qualitatively with agarose gel electrophoresis. Concentrations of 1–100 μM of SR with a 6-h treatment and only 1 μM concentration with a 12-h treatment inhibited the apoptotic effect of H₂O₂ on cultured osteoblasts significantly (P < 0.05). SR was shown to inhibit H₂O₂-induced apoptosis of CRL-11372 cells in a dose-dependent manner.     

Production of neutral and alkaline extracellular proteases by the thermophilic fungus, Scytalidium thermophilum, grown on microcrystalline cellulose

Extracellular proteases produced by Scytalidium thermophilum, grown on microcrystalline cellulose, were most active at pH 6.5–8 and 37–45 °C when incubated for 60 min. Highest protease activity was at day 3 where endoglucanase activity was low. Protease activity measurements with and without the protease inhibitors, p-chloromercuribenzoate, PMSF, antipain, E-64, EDTA and pepstatin A, suggest production of thiol-containing serine protease and serine proteases. Endoglucanase and Avicel-adsorbable endoglucanase activity in culture medium was not significantly affected by protease inhibitors.     

Evaluation of chalcones as inhibitors of glutathione S‐transferase

Glutathione S‐transferases (GSTs) are the superfamily of multifunctional detoxification isoenzymes and play an important role in cellular signaling. In the present study, potential inhibition effects of chalcones were tested against human GST. For this purpose, GST was purified from human erythrocytes with 5.381 EU?mg^?1 specific activity and 51.95% yield using a GSH–agarose affinity chromatographic method. The effects of chalcones on in vitro GST activity were tested at various concentrations. K_i constants of chalcones were found in the range of 7.76–41.93 μM. According to the results, 4‐fluorochalcone showed a better inhibitory effect compared with the other compounds. The inhibition mechanisms of 2'‐hydroxy‐4‐methoxychalcone and 4‐methoxychalcone were noncompetitive, whereas the inhibition mechanisms of 4'‐ hydroxychalcone, 4‐ fluorochalcone, and 4,4'‐ diflurochalcone were competitive.     

Description of two new species of the genus Gobio (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from the Black Sea coast of Turkey

Thesystematics of the genus Gobio, especially of the populations on the southern Black Sea coast, seems to be still far from being resolved. Seven species were rec-orded from the northern Black Sea coast while three species were recognized from the southern Black Sea coast. We examined in total 43 specimens from K?z?l?rmak River (southern Black Sea basin), 80 specimens from Çoruh River (the Western Cau-casus of the Black Sea basin), 14 specimens from Rioni River (the Western Caucasus of the Black Sea basin), and 6 specimens from Kherota and Shakhe Rivers (the Western Caucasus of the Black Sea basin). Based on an analysis of 32 metric and 5 meristic data as well as the number of vertebrae, we concluded that the K?z?l?rmak and Coruh populations are two distinct, unnamed species, and we describe them here as Gobio kizilirmakensis from the K?z?l?rmak River and G. artvinicus from the Çoruh River.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1ED54FB1-588F-4412-B376-4BE4E4516EB1     

Investigation of the efficacy of paclitaxel on some miRNAs profiles in breast cancer stem cells

Understanding of the functions of microRNAs in breast cancer and breast cancer stem cells have been a hope for the development of new molecular targeted therapies. Here, it is aimed to investigate the differences in the expression levels of let-7a, miR-10b, miR-21, miR-125b, miR-145, miR-155, miR-200c, miR-221, miR-222 and miR-335, which associated with gene and proteins in MCF-7 (parental) and MCF-7s (Mammosphere/stem cell-enriched population/CD44+/CD24-cells) cells treated with paclitaxel. MCF-7s were obtained from parental MCF-7 cells. Cytotoxic activity of paclitaxel was determined by ATP assay. Total RNA isolation and cDNA conversion were performed from the samples. Changes in expression levels of miRNAs were examined by RT-qPCR. Identified target genes and proteins of miRNAs were analyzed with RT-qPCR and western blot analysis, respectively. miR-125b was significantly expressed (2.0946-fold; p = 0.021) in MCF-7s cells compared to control after treatment with paclitaxel. Downregulation of SMO, STAT3, NANOG, OCT4, SOX2, ERBB2 and ERBB3 and upregulation of TP53 genes were significant after 48 h treatment in MCF-7s cells. Protein expressions of SOX2, OCT4, SMAD4, SOX2 and OCT4 also decreased. Paclitaxel induces miR-125b expression in MCF-7s cells. Upregulation of miR-125b may be used as a biomarker for the prediction of response to paclitaxel treatment in breast cancer.     

The apoptotic,cytotoxic and genotoxic effect of novel binuclear boron-fluoride complex on endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common types of gynecologic cancer of the female genital tract; it considered being the fourth leading death factor among other types of cancer. Therefore, developing new anti-cancer agents are crucial for cancer treatment. Based on the potential of Schiff based complexes for the induction of apoptosis, Schiff base compounds, and their metal complexes displayed excellent anticancer properties. In this current study, antiproliferative activity of [L(BF₂)₂] as a novel binuclear boron-fluoride complex was examined to preliminary research in eight different cell lines, HELA, DU-145, PC3, DLD-1, ECC-1, PNT1-A, HT-29, and MCF-7, it was found to have a potent, suppressive effect on human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line ECC-1. Based on this data, later investigated its apoptotic, cytotoxic, and genotoxic properties on human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line ECC-1 in different concentrations. Apoptotic and cytotoxic tests such as single cell gel electrophoresis assay (comet assay), DNA fragmentation laddering, acridine orange test for DNA damage, and ELISA for apoptotic measurement was performed. We also gauged the oxidative status by evaluating total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS). Oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated too. As a result [L(BF₂)₂] has been found to have a marvelous effect on ECC-1 cells, especially in damaging their DNA and cause a series of reactions lead to apoptosis. Taken together, it suggests that the [L(BF₂)₂] complex can induce the apoptotic pathway of endometrial cancer cells and is a possible candidate for future cancer treatment studies.     

A new species of Pomatoschistus (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from Southern Anatolia

Pomatoschistus anatoliae sp. n. is described from estuary of Göksu River on the Mediterranean coast of the Anatolia. It is distinguished from its congeners by the suborbital papilla pattern, meristic, and ecological features. DNA barcoding based on COI sequences revealed that there is a high nucleotide sequence divergence to the nearest neighbour. Kimura’s two parameter distances between P. anatoliae sp. n. and other species of Pomatoschistus and Knipowitchia have found to be at least 5.1%.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4592CF50-07B5-4C25-892F-5D009057675B