Antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation in type II diabetes mellitus

Diabetes Mellitus (DM), a state of chronic hyperglycaemia, is a common disease affecting over 124 million individuals worldwide. In this study, erythrocyte glutathione levels, lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase and some extracellular antioxidant protein levels of patients with type II diabetes mellitus and healthy controls were investigated. Thirty-eight patients (21 males; with age of mean +/- SD, 53.1+/-9.7 years) and 18 clinically healthy subjects (10 males; with age of mean +/- SD, 49.3+/-15.2 years) were included in the study. Levels of erythrocyte lipid peroxidation, serum ceruloplasmin and glucose levels, HbA1C levels, and erythrocyte catalase activity were significantly increased, whereas serum albumin and transferrin levels, erythrocyte glutathione levels, and glutathione peroxidase activity were significantly decreased compared to those of controls. There was no significant difference in superoxide dismutase activity compared to controls. The results suggest that the antioxidant deficiency and excessive peroxide-mediated damage may appear in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.     

A Detailed Chemical and Biological Investigation of Twelve Allium Species from Eastern Anatolia with Chemometric Studies

Allium species are widely consumed as food all over the world. The phenolic profile of ethanol extracts of aerial parts and roots of 12 Allium species, collected from five different Eastern Anatolia regions, were studied using LC-MS/MS. In vitro antioxidant, anticholinesterase, cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities were also tested. The multivariate analyses were performed using principal component and hierarchical cluster analyses. Seventeen of 27 standard compounds were detected in all Allium species. The major components were mainly identified as quinic acid, malic acid, vanillin, and p-coumaric acid. The aerial parts possessed better antioxidant activity than roots. Aerial parts of A. atroviolaceum, A. chrysantherum, A. kharputense, and A. shirnakiense exhibited high cytotoxic activity against DLD-1 colon cancer cell lines (IC₅₀ 12.5 μg/mL). A. shatakiense and A. vineale demonstrated good antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and E. coli (MIC 75 μg/mL). According to chemometric analysis, differences were detected between aerial parts and the roots. The aerial parts of A. atroviolaceum, A. chrysantherum, A. kharputense, and A. shirnakiense could be potent in the pharmaceutical industry while A. shatakiense and A. vineale in the food industry after further investigations.     

Modulatory effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thymbra spicata</Emphasis> L. different extracts against the mercury induced genotoxicity in human lymphocytes in vitro

Mercury, a xenobiotic metal, is a highly deleterious environmental pollutant. Moreover, in any form mercury is reported to be toxic. On the other hand, Thymbra spicata L., a member of the Lamiaceae family, has long been investigated popularly of biological roles; mainly antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. However, there are very scarce data on the cytogenetic effects of thyme species. The purpose of this study was to investigate the genetic safety of different extracts from T. spicata (water extract, methanol extract, and ethanol extract) and the effects of T. spicata on mercury (as HgCl₂) induced genotoxicity. Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and micronucleus (MN) assays were performed to assess DNA damages in cultured human lymphocytes (n = 5). Our results clearly revealed that, the SCE and MN rates induced by HgCl₂ were alleviated by the presence of T. spicata. As conclusion, this study demonstrated for the first time that the T. spicata provided increased resistance of DNA against HgCl₂ induced genetic damage in human lymphocytes. Based on the results of this study, it may be concluded that the T. spicata is a nontoxic material that could be used as a suppressor of heavy metal-induced genotoxicity.     

MDR1 single nucleotide polymorphism C3435T in Turkish patients with non-small-cell lung cancer

We assessed whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in MDR1 gene C3435T predicted the outcome of platinum-based chemotherapies and survival in our non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. A total of 79 non-small cell lung cancer patients were enrolled to study. We determined the MDR1 C3435T single nucleotide gene polymorphisms. Median age was 60years: 91.7% male, 8.9% female. We found that CC, CT, TT genotype and T, C allele frequencies in lung cancer patients as 24.1%, 62%, 13.9% and 44.3%, 55.7%, respectively. Patients with CT genotype had a higher response rate (11.4%) than the other genotypes. However, this difference is not statistically significant (p=0.743). Cox regression analysis for overall survival showed that ECOG PS status 0 (HR PS 1 vs. 0, 5.68 p=0.002; HR of PS 2 vs. 0 is 21.579, p=0.001; HR of PS 3 vs. 0 is 35.35, p=0.001), stage ≤II (HR of stage III vs. I+II is 17.77; p=0.016, HR of stage IV vs. I+II is 26.97, p=0.006), and albumin level ≥3g/dl (HR of albumin <3g/dl vs. ≥3g/dl is 2.46, p=0.044) were the most important prognostic factors (also, time to progression was related to these factors). There was no significant association between the genotypes and clinicopathologic parameters; however, good performance status, early stage and ≥3g/dl albumin level were found to be the most important prognostic factors for overall survival and progression-free survival.     

GC-MS analysis and in vitro antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities of essential oil from aerial parts of endemic Thymus spathulifolius Hausskn. et Velen

We investigated the antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities and chemical composition of the hydro-distilled essential oil (0.35% yield) from aerial parts of Thymus spathulifolius. Antioxidant capacity of the oil was assessed by different methods including free radical scavenging (DPPH and ABTS), reducing power (FRAP and CUPRAC) and phosphomolybdenum assay. Inhibitory activities were analyzed against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and tyrosinase. Twenty-one constituents were identified representing 97.2% of the total oil with thymol (50.5%), borneol (16.7%) and carvacrol (7.7%) as the major components. The essential oil exhibited good antioxidant activity with IC₅₀ values of 3.82 and 0.22?mg/mL determined by free radical scavenging DPPH and ABTS, respectively. EC₅₀ values of FRAP and CUPRAC were found to be 0.12 and 0.34?mg/mL, respectively. The results of the present study support the uses of T. spathulifolius essential oil as a source of natural antioxidants and bioactivities for functional foods and phytomedicines.     

Effects of drag reducing polymer on atherosclerosis

In order to determine the effect of drag reducing polymers on the occurrence of atherosclerosis, the Guinea pigs were used as the experimental animals. The inhibitory effect of a drag reducing polymer (polyacrylamide) on atherosclerosis in the aortas of Guinea pigs on a high cholesterol diet (2%) was investigated over a period of 6 months. The aortas, livers, kidneys and lungs of the animals, which were separated into four experimental groups (control, polymer, cholesterol and cholesterol + polymer) were also investigated both macroscopically and light microscopically. The selected physiological parameters such as, plasma cholesterol levels, plasma hemoglobin, hematocrit and total lipid values were determined at regular intervals for each group. The results indicate that the atherosclerosis in aorta of the animals receiving the polymer injection is suppressed significantly and the drag reducing water soluble polymers may be effectively applied against atherosclerosis.     

Role of dietary fiber in the recovery of the human gut microbiome and its metabolome

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A design-oriented STEM activity for students’ using and improving their engineering skills: the balance model with 3D printer

Abstract

This study involves the development and implementation of a STEM activity containing 3?D printer technology, which is commonly used in STEM education. Out of school STEM courses were organized with seven middle school students studying in the 7th grade and the activities in the course were carried out with a 3D printer. One of the activities in the course is the Balance model. The study reveals the skills students used in the Balance Model activity, which is a 3D STEM activity. The students’ engineering skills were effective through the STEM activity, and they actively used skills such as planning, designing, explaining the design process, creating a realistic product, and testing and evaluating product performance. In addition, it was concluded that the students use their academic and technical skills effectively. The study presents in detail the preparation and implementation process of this activity, which we think may help educators uncover and improve students’ engineering skills.