Antioxidative, anticancer and genotoxic properties of α-pinene on N2a neuroblastoma cells

α-Pinene, an organic monoterpene, is found in essential oils of pine and coniferous trees. To date, although various biological activities of α-pinene have been demonstrated, its neurotoxicity has never been explored. Therefore in this study, we aimed to describe in vitro antiproliferative and/or cytotoxic properties by 3-(4,5-dimetylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test, genotoxic damage potentials by single cell gel electrophoresis, and oxidative effects by total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidative stress (TOS) analysis of α-pinene. Statistical analysis of MTT assay results indicated significant (p < 0.05) decreases of the cell proliferation rates in healthy neurons treated with α-pinene at only 400 mg/L, while significant decreases were observed in N2a cells at 100, 200 and 400 mg/L. On the other hand, the mean values of the total scores of cells showing DNA damage were not found significantly different from the control values on both cells. In addition, our results indicated that 10 and 25 mg/L of α-pinene treatment caused increases of TAC levels in primary rat neurons without any alterations of its level in N2a cells. However, α-pinene treatments at higher doses led to increases of TOS levels in both cell types. Overall our results suggest that α-pinene is of a limited therapeutic use as an anticancer agent.     

Obestatin is present in saliva: alterations in obestatin and ghrelin levels of saliva and serum in ischemic heart disease

Ghrelin and obestatin are a single gene products and are a multiple functional peptides that regulates energy homeostasis, and food intake. In the present work, we studied the secretion of ghrelin and its co-secreted peptide obestatin in 44 patients with ischemic heart disease with that of 27 healthy matched controls. Here we first conducted using an immunohistochemistry assay to screen whether human salivary glands have any obestatin immunoreactivity. Then, serum and saliva obestatin and acylated ghrelin levels were determined by using Radioimmunoassay. Our immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that obestatin was localized in the striated and excretory duct of human salivary gland. We also report for the first time that obestatin, like ghrelin, is present in human salivary gland and saliva. No evidence of the role of obestatin or ghrelin saliva levels in the context of ischemic heart disease was found. Salivary ghrelin and obestatin levels are correlated in controls with the blood levels. Determination of salivary values could represent a non-invasive alternative to serum ones that can be useful in clinical practice.     

Population genetic structure of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L., 1758) in the Black Sea

Turbot, Scophthalmus maximus, is a commercially important demersal flatfish species distributed throughout the Black Sea. Several studies performed locally with a limited number of specimens using both mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellite markers evidenced notable genetic variation among populations. However, comprehensive population genetic studies are required to help management of the species in the Black Sea. In the present study eight microsatellite loci were used to resolve the population structure of 414 turbot samples collected from 12 sites across the Black Sea. Moreover, two mtDNA genes, COI and Cyt-b, were used for taxonomic identification. Microsatellite markers of Smax-04 and B12-I GT14 were excluded from analysis due to scoring issues. Data analysis was performed with the remaining six loci. Loci were highly polymorphic (average of 17.8 alleles per locus), indicating high genetic variability. Locus 3/20CA17, with high null allele frequency (>30%), significantly deviated from HW equilibrium. Pairwise comparison of the F_ST index showed significant differences between most of the surveyed sampling sites (P < 0.01). Cluster analysis evidenced the presence of three genetic groups among sampling sites. Significant genetic differentiation between Northern (Sea of Azov and Crimea) and Southern (Turkish Black Sea Coast) Black Sea sampling sites were detected. The Mantel test supported an isolation by distance model of population structure. These findings are vital for long-term sustainable management of the species and development of conservation programs. Moreover, generated mtDNA sequences would be useful for the establishment of a database for S. maximus.     

Optimization of Bacillus subtilis natto growth parameters in glycerol-based medium for vitamin K (Menaquinone-7) production in biofilm reactors

Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering - Menaquinone-7 (MK-7) is the key form of vitamin K used as a dietary supplement and its production revolves around Bacillus subtilis natto. Current...     

Protective effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on iron-induced liver damage in rats

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is a natural product with potent anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antioxidant activities, and attenuates inflammation and lipid peroxidation. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of CAPE on iron-induced liver damage. Rats were divided into four groups and treated for 7 days with saline (control group), 10 μmol kg CAPE/day s.c. (CAPE group), 50 mg iron-dextran/kg i.p. (IRON group) and CAPE and iron at the same time (IRON+CAPE group). Seven days later, rats were killed and the livers were excised for biochemical analysis. The administration of IRON alone resulted in higher myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and lipid peroxidation than in the control and CAPE treatment prevented the increase in MPO activity and malondialdeyde (MDA) level. No differences were observed in all four groups with regards to superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) activities. Our results collectively suggest that CAPE may be an available agent to protect the liver from injury via inhibition of MPO activity.     

Balanced de novo translocation t(6;7)(p25;q31) and cleft palate as an isolated finding

We report a prenatally diagnosed balanced de novo translocation t(6;7)(p25;q31). Physical examination of the baby born at term revealed only a posterior cleft palate. Laboratory examinations and radiologic investigations were found normal. Two years follow-up of the patient showed her mental and motor development was appropriate with her age. Our report is the first observation on balanced de novo translocation t(6;7)(p25;q31) and cleft palate. Association of this translocation and cleft palate has not been reported previously.     

Effects of pinealectomy and exogenous melatonin on ghrelin and peptide YY in gastrointestinal system and neuropeptide Y in hypothalamic arcuate nucleus: immunohistochemical studies in male rats

It is reported that the pineal gland and its main hormone melatonin may have a role in the regulation of ghrelin synthesis in the brain. Stomach is the place where ghrelin is predominantly expressed and secreted. One aim of this study was to investigate possible effects of pinealectomy and melatonin treatment on gastric ghrelin amount. The studies on the effects of the pineal gland on leptin and ghrelin arises the question whether the pineal gland has also effects on the other energy-regulatory peptides such as peptide YY (PYY) and neuropeptide Y (NPY). Therefore, we also aimed to investigate the changes in the immunohistochemical staining of intestinal PYY and hypothalamic NPY following pinealectomy and melatonin treatment. Serum PYY levels were also investigated. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups as sham-operated (SHAM), sham-operated with melatonin treatment (SHAM-MT), pinealectomised (PNX) and melatonin-treated PNX (PNX-MT) groups. The cells immunostained for ghrelin were abundant throughout the gastric mucosa in all the groups. Neither pinealectomy nor exogenous melatonin affected significantly immunohistochemical staining of ghrelin in stomach. Pinealectomy resulted in a significant increase in immunohistochemical staining of PYY in ileum. The results of serum PYY measurement corresponded closely to the data obtained by immunohistochemical analysis of PYY in ileum, being significantly lower and higher in SHAM and PNX groups, respectively. Pinealectomy caused a decrease in NPY synthesis in ARC as understood from low immunohistochemical staining of NPY. Melatonin treatment increased NPY synthesis in SHAM rats and restored reduction in NPY synthesis caused by pinealectomy. In conclusion, the pineal gland and its main hormone melatonin can be suggested to have a role in the regulation of NPY synthesis in ARC and PYY in gastrointestinal system.     

Expression profiles of switch-like genes accurately classify tissue and infectious disease phenotypes in model-based classification

Background  

Large-scale compilation of gene expression microarray datasets across diverse biological phenotypes provided a means of gathering a priori knowledge in the form of identification and annotation of bimodal genes in the human and mouse genomes. These switch-like genes consist of 15% of known human genes, and are enriched with genes coding for extracellular and membrane proteins. It is of interest to determine the prediction potential of bimodal genes for class discovery in large-scale datasets.