Comparison of the plasma and hernia sac tissue copper levels in direct and indirect inguinal hernia patients

Although the inguinal hernia is among the most commonly encountered and well-described health problems all over the world, the etiology is still controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the plasma and hernia sac tissue copper levels in direct and indirect inguinal hernia patients. Plasma and hernia sac tissue copper levels obtained from patients operated under spinal anesthesia with primary direct (group I, n = 55, 45 male, mean age = 45.68 yr) and indirect (group II, n = 55, 40 male, mean age = 38.57 yr) hernias were detected by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Significantly lower plasma and hernia sac tissue copper levels were detected in group I in comparison to group II (p < 0.001). Both plasma and hernia sac tissue copper levels were significantly lower in males when we compare the patients according to their sex characteristics, including both direct and indirect hernia groups (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). Age was not a significant factor. The plasma and hernia sac tissue copper levels were significantly lower in direct hernia patients in comparison to indirect hernia patients. Copper is a cofactor of lysyl oxidase, an important enzyme in collagen tissue metabolism, so there might be a defect in the collagen synthesis of direct hernia patients because of the decreased activity of the lysyl oxidase. Further investigations are necessary to clarify this concept.     

The assessment of genotoxic effects in lymphocyte cultures of infants treated with chloral hydrate

Chloral hydrate is a sedative commonly used in pediatric medicine. It was evaluated for genotoxicity in cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes of infants who were given chloral hydrate for sedation. Sister chromatid exchange and micronucleus frequencies were determined before and after chloral hydrate administration. After treatment, the frequencies of sister chromatid exchange and micronuclei were significantly increased, suggesting that chloral hydrate has moderate genotoxic potential in infants.     

The anti-inflammatory effect of leptin on experimental colitis: involvement of endogenous glucocorticoids

The present study was designed to compare the effect of leptin on acute colonic inflammation with that of acute stress exposure, which acts via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes were administered intrarectally with acetic acid. Either leptin (10 microg/kg; i.p.) or saline was injected immediately before and 6 h after the induction of colitis. A group of rats was exposed to water avoidance stress (WAS) for 30 min at the 6th h of colitis induction. RU-486 (2 mg/kg; i.p.), a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, was injected intraperitoneally, at 12 and 1 h before the initial leptin injection, and at 1 h before the second leptin injection or exposure to WAS. Rats were decapitated at 24 h and the distal 8 cm of the colon were removed for macroscopic and microscopic scoring, determination of tissue wet weight index (WI) and tissue myeloperoxidase activity (MPO). Acetic acid-induced colitis significantly increased macroscopic and microscopic damage scores, WI and MPO, compared to control group. Exposure to acute WAS or treatment with leptin reduced the elevations in damage scores, WI and MPO induced by colitis, but no additive inhibitory effect was observed when WAS and leptin were applied together. RU-486 treatment reversed the inhibitory effects of leptin or WAS on colonic inflammation. Our results demonstrate that exogenous leptin mimics the effects of HPA axis activation on colitis-induced inflammatory process. The results also suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of leptin involves a tissue neutrophil-dependent mechanism and is dependent on the release of glucocorticoids.     

Plasma lipid peroxidation and antioxidant levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

In recent years, a great number of studies have investigated the possible role of reactive oxygen species in the aetiology and pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was to investigate plasma concentrations of vitamin E, beta-carotene, activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase, levels of lipid peroxidation (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in 36 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 22 healthy age-matched controls. The plasma activity of GSH-Px and catalase (p < 0.001), levels of GSH (p < 0.01), concentration of beta-carotene (p < 0.05) and vitamin E (p < 0.001), haemoglobin and hematocrit (p < 0.05) were significantly lower in patients with RA than in controls. The MDA levels (p < 0.01), C reactive protein, rheumatoid factor, anti-streptolysin-o values (p < 0.001), platelet count (p < 0.05) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p < 0.001) were higher in the patient group than in the control group. These results provide some evidence for a potential role of increased lipid peroxidation and decreased enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants in RA by its inflammatory character. These results suggested that oxidant stress plays a very important role in the pathogenesis of RA.     

Production of microbial rennin from Mucor miehei in a continuously fed fermenter

In this study, microbial production of rennin, a milk-clotting enzyme, from a commercial strain of Mucor miehei NRRL 3420 has been investigated in a continuously fed fermenter for prolonged times. The spherical film-type growth of the culture has been accomplished in the fermenter and the effects of medium pH, mixing and dilution rates, and feed -glucose concentration on milk-clotting activity have been elaborated. In the fermenter, optimum operational parameters have been determined as 400 rpm, 0.125 day⁻¹, and 7.5 g l⁻¹ for mixing rate, dilution rate, and feed -glucose concentration, respectively. Under these conditions, the fermenter operated 575 h continuously producing 1.24 IU ml⁻¹ maximum milk-clotting activity without concentration. In the fermenter sample at maximum milk clotting activity, the R factor and specific milk-clotting activity were determined as 1.55 × 10⁻³ IU PU⁻¹ and 5.28 IU mg⁻¹ medium protein, respectively, denoting competitive characteristics of a commercial rennet after concentration.     

Anti-breast cancer and anti-angiogenic potential of a lichen-derived small-molecule: barbatolic acid

Natural products have been used for centuries as the most potent remedies to cure many diseases including cancer diseases. Angiogenesis is defined as the formation of new capillaries from existing vessels and plays a key role in the tumorigenesis process. Barbatolic acid is a little known lichen-derived small-molecule. In the present study, barbatolic acid was isolated from the acetone extract of Bryoria capillaris, and its anti-breast cancer and anti-angiogenic potential was investigated using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), human breast ductal carcinoma (T-47D) and cisplatin-resistant BRCA2-mutated human breast TNM stage IV adenocarcinoma (HCC1428) cells. AlamarBlue? cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase cellular membrane degradation and PicoGreen? dsDNA quantitation assays were performed to determine the cytotoxic potential of barbatolic acid. Anti-angiogenic and anti-migratory activities were investigated using endothelial tube formation assay and scratch wound healing assay, respectively. Half maximal inhibitory concentration of barbatolic acid was found to be higher than 100 µM for HUVEC, HCC1428 and T-47D cells. The sub-cytotoxic concentrations such as 25 µM, 50 µM and 100 µM were applied to determine anti-angiogenic and anti-migratory activities. Although the sub-cytotoxic concentrations inhibited endothelial tube formation and cellular migration in a concentration depended manner, barbatolic acid was more effective on the migration of HCC1428 and T-47D breast cancer cells than the migration of HUVECs. Consequently, the findings suggest that barbatolic acid is a promising anti-angiogenic and anti-migratory agent and the underlying activity mechanisms should be investigated by further in vitro and in vivo experiments.     

Correction to: Biomonitoring of Trace Metals in the Keban Dam Reservoir (Turkey) Using Mussels (Unio elongatulus eucirrus) and Crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus)

Biological Trace Element Research - The original version of this article contained mistakes: the units mg/kg-1 and μg/kg-1 found on tables 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 should be mg kg−1 and μg...