Melanocortin-4 Receptor Gene Polymorphisms in Obese Patients

Obesity is a complex disease caused by both genetics and environmental factors. Melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) (MIM 155541) gene polymorphisms were reported to be the cause of monogenic obesity in humans. We studied three polymorphisms (Val50Met, Val103Ile, and Ser58Cys) and a mutation (Asn274Ser) of the MC4R gene in 203 obese patients and in 110 healthy subjects in the Turkish population. A high incidence of Val103Ile and Val50Met polymorphisms as well as the Asn274Ser mutation was found in the obese patients, whereas no significant correlation was found regarding the Ser58Cys polymorphism. We conclude that there is a concordance between the polymorphisms (Val103Ile, Val50Met, Ser58Cys) that were first studied in the Turkish population with obesity.     

Acyclovir-Polyethylene Glycol 6000 Binary Dispersions: Mechanistic Insights

The dissolution and subsequent oral bioavailability of acyclovir (ACY) is limited by its poor aqueous solubility. An attempt has been made in this work to provide mechanistic insights into the solubility enhancement and dissolution of ACY by using the water-soluble carrier polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG6000). Solid dispersions with varying ratios of the drug (ACY) and carrier (PEG6000) were prepared and evaluated by phase solubility, in vitro release studies, kinetic analysis, in situ perfusion, and in vitro permeation studies. Solid state characterization was done by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis, and surface morphology was assessed by polarizing microscopic image analysis, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. Thermodynamic parameters indicated the solubilization effect of the carrier. The aqueous solubility and dissolution of ACY was found to be higher in all samples. The findings of XRD, DSC, FTIR and NMR analysis confirmed the formation of solid solution, crystallinity reduction, and the absence of interaction between the drug and carrier. SEM and AFM analysis reports ratified the particle size reduction and change in the surface morphology in samples. The permeation coefficient and amount of ACY diffused were higher in samples in comparison to pure ACY. Stability was found to be higher in dispersions. The results suggest that the study findings provided clear mechanical insights into the solubility and dissolution enhancement of ACY in PEG6000, and such findings could lay the platform for resolving the poor aqueous solubility issues in formulation development.     

PON1 55 and 192 Gene Polymorphisms in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in a Turkish Population

Diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial metabolic disease, caused by the complete or relative absence of insulin hormone, which results in the deterioration of carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism. The PON1 55 and 192 polymorphisms have been reported to be associated with type 2 diabetes and its complications. In this study, the involvement of the PON1 55 and 192 polymorphisms and paraoxonase enzyme activity in diabetic complications was assessed. The MM and QQ genotypes were the most frequent in complications of type 2 diabetes in both of the polymorphisms. PON enzyme activity was lower in the type 2 diabetes group with respect to the control group. Regarding both genotypes and enzyme activity, correlations were found between the PON1 55 and 192 genotypes and diabetic complications. This study thus helps to outline a genotype?Cphenotype relation for the PON1 gene in a Turkish population.     

Apoptotic effect of gossypol on human lymphocytes

The overall objective of this study was to determine the effect of gossypol on human lymphocytes. Blood samples were taken from healthy donors and lymphocytes were cultured with various concentrations of gossypol (25-150 microM). The percentage of apoptotic cells was determined by assessing DNA fragmentation by agarose gel electrophoresis; morphological features of apoptosis were assessed by light microscopy. The concentrations of gossypol required to induce apoptosis in human lymphocytes without causing necrosis through cytotoxic effects were between 25-50 microM.     

Hook selectivity and catch efficiency in two sport fishing sectors in the Strait of Istanbul,Turkey: Classic handline fishing and Light Rock Fishing (LRF)

In this study, the efficiency of two fishing methods (a) traditional handline commonly used in the Strait of Istanbul and (b) light rock fishing (LRF), which is beginning to spread in recent years, were investigated by monthly sampling between September 2014 and September 2015. One classic handline fishing tackle and one LRF fishing tackle were used in the test fishing exercise. In addition, the effects of the hook sizes (numbers 6, 8 and 10) used in the handline fishery on the size selectivity for horse mackerels were also studied. Catches using both types of fishing gear were mainly composed of Trachurus mediterraneus (89.60%), Scorpeana porcus (5.12%), Sardina pilchardus (1.98%), Atherina boyeri (0.99%), Liza aurata (0.66%), Scorpaena scrofa (0.50%), Pomatomus saltatrix (0.33%), Sprattus sprattus (0.33%) and a few other species. The frequency distributions of horse mackerel caught using handlines and LRF were slightly different and ranged between 6.1–19.0 cm and 9.0–16.0 cm, respectively. Of all the handlines, LRF yielded the highest catch per unit effort (CPUE), 1.295 kg/10 hooks/hour. The log normal model selectivity curve gave the best fit for the T. mediterraneus by using the SELECT method. The modal lengths of horse mackerel caught by handline hook sizes no.10 and no. 8 hook were calculated as 13.4 cm and 17.7 cm, respectively. In addition, the spread values were determined with 3.58 and 4.74, respectively.     

Trichoderma theobromicola and T. paucisporum: two new species isolated from cacao in South America

Trichoderma theobromicola and T. paucisporum spp. nov. are described. Trichoderma theobromicola was isolated as an endophyte from the trunk of a healthy cacao tree (Theobroma cacao, Malvaceae) in Amazonian Peru; it sporulates profusely on common mycological media. Trichoderma paucisporum is represented by two cultures that were obtained in Ecuador from cacao pods partially infected with frosty pod rot, Moniliophthora roreri; it sporulates sporadically and most cultures remain sterile on common media and autoclaved rice. It sporulates more reliably on synthetic low-nutrient agar (SNA) but produces few conidia. Trichoderma theobromicola was reintroduced into cacao seedlings through shoot inoculation and was recovered from stems but not from leaves, indicating that it is an endophytic species. Both produced a volatile/diffusable antibiotic that inhibited development of M. roreri in vitro and on-pod trials. Neither species demonstrated significant direct in vitro mycoparasitic activity against M. roreri.     

Human L-ficolin,a Recognition Molecule of the Lectin Activation Pathway of Complement,Activates Complement by Binding to Pneumolysin,the Major Toxin of Streptococcus pneumoniae

The complement system is an essential component of the immune response, providing a critical line of defense against different pathogens including S. pneumoniae. Complement is activated via three distinct pathways: the classical (CP), the alternative (AP) and the lectin pathway (LP). The role of Pneumolysin (PLY), a bacterial toxin released by S. pneumoniae, in triggering complement activation has been studied in vitro. Our results demonstrate that in both human and mouse sera complement was activated via the CP, initiated by direct binding of even non-specific IgM and IgG3 to PLY. Absence of CP activity in C1q^−/− mouse serum completely abolished any C3 deposition. However, C1q depleted human serum strongly opsonized PLY through abundant deposition of C3 activation products, indicating that the LP may have a vital role in activating the human complement system on PLY. We identified that human L-ficolin is the critical LP recognition molecule that drives LP activation on PLY, while all of the murine LP recognition components fail to bind and activate complement on PLY. This work elucidates the detailed interactions between PLY and complement and shows for the first time a specific role of the LP in PLY-mediated complement activation in human serum.     

Identification of a novel mutation in ZAP70 and prenatal diagnosis in a Turkish family with severe combined immunodeficiency disorder

Protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) play an important role in T cell development and activation. In vitro and in vivo defects, resulting in variable deficiencies in thymic development and in T cell antigen receptor (TCR) signal transduction, in PTKs have been shown. ZAP70, one of those PTKs, is a 70-kDa tyrosine phosphoprotein and associates with the ζ chain and undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation following TCR stimulation. It is expressed in T and natural killer (NK) cells. Several mutations were shown to lead to an autosomal recessive form of severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID).     

Association of Allergic Symptoms with Dengue Infection and Severity: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

The relationship between the severity of dengue infection and allergy is still obscure. We conducted an electronic search across 12 databases for relevant articles reporting allergic symptoms, dengue infection, and dengue classification. These studies were categorized according to dengue severity and allergy symptoms, and a meta-analysis was performed by pooling the studies in each category. Among the included 57 articles, pruritus was the most common allergic sign followed by non-specified allergy and asthma(28.6%, 13%, and 6.5%, respectively). Despite the reported significant association of dengue with pruritus and total Ig E level(P \ 0.05), in comparison with non-dengue cases and healthy controls, there was no association between the different severe dengue group with pruritus, skin allergy, food allergy or asthma. However,removing the largest study revealed a significant association between asthma with dengue hemorrhagic fever(DHF) rather than dengue fever(DF). In comparison with DF, DHF was associated with Ig E positivity. Furthermore, specific-Ig E level was higher in secondary DF rather than primary DF. There was a possible association between allergy symptoms and dengue severity progression. Further studies are needed to clarify this association.