Floristic Characteristics of the Karkamis Dam Reservoir Area and its Surroundings (Gaziantep-Sanliurfa: Turkey)

The natural flora of Karkamis Dam lake area and its surroundings was studied in 2000 and 2001 before the dam construction was completed. During the floristic surveys, 464 species of 279 genera belonging to 70 families were recorded. The number of endemic species is 14. The phytogeographic elements are represented in the study as follows; Irano-Turanian 104 (18.2%), Mediterranean 66 (11.5%), Euro-Siberian 7 (1.2%), Cosmopolitan 9 (1.5%), Sharo-Arabian 1 (0.1%). The phytogeographic region of 383 taxa (67.1%) is unknown, or multiregional. The spectrum of the basic life forms is as follows; Therophytes 50.0%, Hemicryptophytes 33.4%, Phanerophytes 5.2%, Geophytes 5.2%, Chamaephytes 4.3% and Hydrophytes 1.9%. According to the IUCN Red List Categories, 28 threatened plant species were identified in the study area.     

Chemical meat bait traps versus basic meat bait traps in collection of adult flies

The aim of the present study is to compare the effectiveness of chemical meat bait traps and basic meat bait traps for collecting adult flies. Bait traps used to collect these species can be damaged by anthropogenic or environmental effects. In this study, chemical meat bait traps and basic meat bait traps were hung from trees in the garden of the Ankara University Forensic Sciences Institute. This activity was carried out on the first Monday of each month for nine months. During the study, 1894 specimens were collected. Of all these species, 1787 (94.35%) were obtained from chemical meat bait traps (CMBTs), while 107 (5.65%) were obtained from basic meat bait traps (BMBTs). To determine the diversity of species in CMBT and BMBT sample groups in our study, Shannon Wiener and Simpson diversity and dominance indices were used. Shannon Evenness Index was calculated to determine the relationship between species community‐density. Cluster analysis provided a summary of the similarity in species composition of different regions. The CMBT and BMBT trap groups similarity/dissimilarity feature was checked using Bray–Curtis cluster analysis. The number of species collected from CMBTs was considerably higher than in BMBTs. The results of this study will help researchers to save time. In addition, it should be kept in mind that thiamethoxam is harmful to the environment when it contaminates sources of water.     

Sequences within a small yeast RNA required for inhibition of internal initiation of translation: interaction with La and other cellular proteins influences its inhibitory activity.

We recently reported purification, determination of the nucleotide sequence, and cloning of a 60-nucleotide RNA (I-RNA) from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae which preferentially blocked cap-independent, internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-mediated translation programmed by the poliovirus (PV) 5' untranslated region (UTR). The I-RNA appeared to inhibit IRES-mediated translation by virtue of its ability to bind a 52-kDa polypeptide which interacts with the 5' UTR of viral RNA. We demonstrate here that the HeLa 52-kDa I-RNA-binding protein is immunologically identical to human La autoantigen. Moreover, I-RNA-mediated purified La protein. By using I-RNAs with defined deletions, we have identified sequences of I-RNA required for inhibition of internal initiation of translation. Two smaller fragments of I-RNA (16 and 25 nucleotides) inhibited PV UTR-mediated translation from both monocistronic and bicistronic RNAs. When transfected into HeLa cells, these derivatives of I-RNA inhibited translation of PV RNA. A comparison of protein binding by active and inactive I-RNA mutants demonstrates that in addition to the La protein, three other polypeptides with apparent molecular masses of 80, 70, and 37 kDa may influence the translation-inhibitory activity of I-RNA.     

Esterified glucomannan improves aflatoxin-induced damage of sperm parameters during liquid storage of ram semen at 5 °C

The aim of the present work was to study the effects of aflatoxin (AF) on sperm parameters in rams, and to determine the protective efficiency of esterified glucomannan (EG) co-administered with AF up to 96 h of the liquid storage of ram semen at 5 °C. Thirty-two Merino rams (12–14 months old) were used. The animals were examined for their general health status. To ensure their adaptation to the environment and the new feeding regimen, a 15-day acclimatization programme was applied to the animals, prior to the start of the study. Experimental feeding was continued for ninety-two days. The experimental design consisted of four dietary treatments. The control group (C) was fed with commercial feed. The AF group was fed with commercial feed plus 250 μg/day of total AF. The EG group received commercial feed plus 2 g/day of EG. The AF + EG group was given commercial feed plus 250 μg/day of total AF and 2 g/day of EG. In the study, ejaculates were obtained from rams twice a week for 12 weeks, using an electro-ejaculator. After collected, the ejaculates were diluted with a skimmed milk extender, and stored at 5 °C. Sperm motility and rates of abnormal and nonviable spermatozoa were determined for the different treatment groups at 5 °C at 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h of liquid storage.     

Neuroprotective effects of Caffeic acid phenethyl ester on experimental traumatic brain injury in rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) with an experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI) model in rats. Twenty-four adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups of 8 rats each: control, TBI, and TBI + CAPE treatment. In TBI and TBI + CAPE treatment groups, a cranial impact was delivered to the skull from a height of 7 cm at a point just in front of the coronal suture and over the right hemisphere. Rats were sacrificed at 4 h after the onset of injury. Brain tissues were removed for biochemical and histopathological investigation. To date, no biochemical and histopathological changes of neurodegeneration in the frontal cortex after TBI in rats by CAPE treatment have been reported. The TBI significantly increased tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and significantly decreased tissue superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, but not tissue catalase (CAT) activity, when compared with controls. The administration of a single dose of CAPE (10 μmol/kg) 15 min after the trauma has shown protective effect via decreasing significantly the elevated MDA levels and also significantly increasing the reduced antioxidant enzyme (SOD and GPx) activities, except CAT activity. In the TBI group, severe degenerative changes, shrunken cytoplasma and extensively dark picnotic nuclei in neurons, as well as vacuolization indicating tissue edema formation. The morphology of neurons in the CAPE treatment group was well protected. The number of neurons in the trauma alone group was significantly less than that of both the control and TBI +CAPE treatment groups. The caspase 3 immunopositivity was increased in degenerating neurons of the traumatic brain tissue. Treatment of CAPE markedly reduced the immunoreactivity of degenerating neurons. TBI caused severe degenerative changes, shrunken cytoplasma, severely dilated cisternae of endoplasmic reticulum, markedly swollen mitochondria with degenerated cristae and nuclear membrane breakdown with chromatin disorganization in neurons of the frontal cortex. In conclusion, the CAPE treatment might be beneficial in preventing trauma-induced oxidative brain tissue damage, thus showing potential for clinical implications. We believe that further preclinical research into the utility of CAPE may indicate its usefulness as a potential treatment on neurodegeneration after TBI in rats.     

Susceptibility of Arcobacter butzleri isolates to 23 antimicrobial agents

AIMS: The objective of this study was to determine the susceptibility of Arcobacter butzleri isolates to various antimicrobial agents used in the treatment of infectious diseases in humans and animals. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-nine A. butzleri strains isolated from broiler chickens were tested for their susceptibility to 23 antimicrobial agents using a disc diffusion method. All isolates were resistant to aztreonam, cefuroxime sodium, cephalothin, orbenin, oxacillin, penicillin G and trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazol. Of the 39 isolates tested, 26 were also found resistant to amoxycillin, amoxycillin/clavulanic acid and ampicillin. One isolate was resistant to, and four showed intermediate level of resistance to, erythromycin. All isolates were susceptible to amikacin, chloramphenicol, danofloxacin, enrofloxacin, nitrofurantoin, nalidixic acid, tetracyclines and tobramycin. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the isolates were found resistant to antibiotics commonly used for the treatment of infectious bacterial diseases in humans and animals. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study shows that A. butzleri strains vary in their resistance to certain kinds of antibiotics and caution should be taken when choosing a suitable antibiotic for the treatment of disease(s) caused by this organism.     

Effects of Some Antibiotics on Human Erythrocyte 6-Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase: An in vitro and in vivo Study

The in vitro and in vivo effects of some antibiotics on human erythrocyte 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase were investigated. Human erythrocyte 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase was purified with ammonium sulphate precipitation, 2′,5′ ADP-Sepharose 4B affinity and gel filtration chromatography. Some antibiotics (netilmicin sulphate, cefepime, amikacin, isepamycin, chloramphenicol, ceftazidim, teicoplanin, ampicillin, ofloxacin, levofloxacin, cefotaxime, penicillin G, gentamicin sulphate, ciprofloxacin) inhibited enzyme activity in vitro but others (cefozin, decefin, streptomycin, combisid, and meronem) were devoid of inhibitory effects. For the drugs having low IC50 values (netilmicin sulphate and cefepime), in vivo studies were performed in rats. Netilmicin sulphate at 15-mg/kg inhibited enzyme activity significantly (p < 0.001) 1h, 2h, and 3h after dosing and cefepime at 200-mg/kg very significantly (p < 0.001) inhibited the enzyme 1 h and 2 h after dosing. Netilmicin sulphate and cefepime inhibited rat erythrocyte 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase both in vivo and in-vitro.