A unique Golgi apparatus distribution may be a marker for osteogenic differentiation of hDP-MSCs

Stem cell markers are utilized to isolate or identify stem cells. So far, many stem-cell-specific markers have been described, although some of them turned out to be not as specific as it was originally proposed. In this study, we sought to search for a specific stem cell marker that would be phenotypically helpful, characteristically specific, economically affordable and easy to use. Because organelles are one of the major characteristics of eukaryotic cells, we asked the question of whether organelle characteristics might be a useful tool for stem cell characterization. We studied distribution and characteristics of the endoplasmic reticulum, the mitochondria and the Golgi apparatus in human dental-pulp-derived mesenchymal stem cells before and during osteogenic differentiation. Although it was not possible to find a useful macromolecular marker for stem cell characterization, we found that during osteogenic differentiation, the stem cells changed their Golgi characteristics and displayed a unique in vivo pattern. We analysed these unique Golgi structures and proposed a potential osteogenic differentiation marker for human dental-pulp-derived mesenchymal stem cells. This pattern may be used in the evaluation of osteogenic differentiation.     

Assessment of antimicrobial activity of nanosized Ag doped TiO2 colloids

In the present research, the antimicrobial effects of nanosized silver (Ag) doped TiO(2) colloidal solutions prepared using a sol-gel technique were investigated. In order to determine the solution characteristics, the turbidity, viscosity and pH of the colloidal solutions were measured. Differential thermal analysis-thermogravimetry equipment was used to determine the chemical structures and reaction types of the films formed from these solutions. The morphology of Ag doped TiO(2) nanoparticles was evaluated by atomic force microscopy. The disc diffusion method was employed to explore antimicrobial activity, and the Broth Microdilution method was used to obtain MIC values of nanosized Ag doped TiO(2) colloidal solutions against the test microorganisms Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Bacillus subtilis, and Salmonella typhimurium. It was found that the silver doped TiO(2) nanoparticles inhibited the growth and multiplication of the test microorganisms, including the fungus C. albicans. Antimicrobial activity was observed against all tested microorganisms at a very low concentration of 1.125-2.81 μg/ml of nano silver in 1-25 % Ag-TiO(2) solutions.     

Investigation of mucus obtained from different fish species on the acute pain induced with scalpel incision in paw of rats

No comparative study could be found for the analgesic activity of mucuses from the Oncorhynchus mykiss (OM), Salvelinus fontinalis (SF), Salmo coruhensis (SC), Acipenser gueldenstaedtii (AG), and Acipenser baerii (AB) fish species in the literature. We aimed to investigate the effects of mucuses obtained from the abovementioned fish species on scalpel incision-induced pain in the rat paw and to examine the role of oxidant/antioxidant parameters and COX-2 gene expression in the analgesic activities. Animals were divided into groups: SIC (scalpel incision; SI), SIDS (SI+25 mg/kg diclofenac sodium), SOM (SI+25 mg/kg OM mucus), SFM (SI+25 mg/kg SF mucus), SCM (SI+25 mg/kg SC mucus), SAgM (SI+25 mg/kg AG mucus), SAbM (SI+25 mg/kg AB mucus), and HG (healthy). The paw pain thresholds were measured with a Basile algesimeter before and after diclofenac sodium (DS) or mucus administration, and then the rats were euthanized with thiopental sodium. Oxidant/antioxidant and COX-2 gene expression parameters were measured in paw tissues. OM, SC, AG, and AB fish mucuses could not decrease the SI-induced pain. However, SF fish mucus prevented this pain by 69% after the first hour and by 58.3% after the third hour. DS was shown to suppress pain more weakly than SF, preventing the pain by 62.1% and 50.0% after the first and third hours, respectively. SF mucus and DS significantly inhibited increase of COX-2 gene expression, while other fish mucuses could not. None of the fish mucuses except SF mucus in conjunction with DS could significantly inhibit the increase in oxidant parameters and decrease in antioxidants. SF fish mucus should be comparatively assessed in clinical practice for treatment of postoperative pain.     

A case of ambiguous genitalia presenting with a 45,X/46,Xr(Y)(p11.2;q11.23)/47,X,idic(Y)(p11.2),idic(Y)(p11.2) karyotype

An infant with ambiguous genitalia was found to have a karyotype 45,X/46,X,r(Y)(p11.2;q11.23)/47,X,idic(Y)(p11.2),idic(Y)(p11.2) using G-banding, C-banding and FISH. Examination of the genitalia revealed a phallus measuring 1.5 cm in length and 0.5 cm wide with perineal orifice. Subtle phenotypic features consistent with Turner syndrome were not present. Genital ultrasonography revealed the presence of an infantile uterus. Endoscopy of the vagina, uterus and cervix appeared normal.     

Serum procalcitonin and cerebrospinal fluid cytokines level in children with meningitis

AIMS: To determine the level of serum procalcitonin and cerebrospinal fluid cytokines in children with bacterial or viral meningitis and to document the use of these parameters in differential diagnosis. RESULTS: Before the start of antibiotic treatment, serum procalcitonin and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels were found to be higher in acute bacterial meningitis compared with viral meningitis and with the control group. Similarly, cerebrospinal fluid interleukin-6 levels were found to be significantly higher in children with acute bacterial meningitis compared with viral meningitis. However, no significant difference was determined between groups in respect to the cerebrospinal fluid interleukin-8 level. CONCLUSION: Serum procalcitonin and cerebrospinal fluid tumor necrosis factor alpha levels can be used in the early diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. Similarly, they may be useful adjuncts in differential diagnosis of bacterial and viral meningitis.     

A new approach for calibrating dental caries frequency of skeletal remains

It is a fact that researchers make use of various calibration methods for calculating and correcting dental caries frequency. The lack of standardization and accuracy of such methods has made it difficult for the researchers to draw reliable and differentiated conclusions from caries frequencies. Besides, the number of studies on how far the calculation methods reflect the "real" caries frequency is very limited. In this study, various methods for calculating caries frequency in skeletal samples are discussed and a new calculation method is proposed for estimating "real" caries frequency. The Hardwick's correction, which is one of the methods discussed in this study, is not successful in estimating "real" caries frequency as it proposes standard values for different life styles and dietary habits. The decayed and missing index is also considered inefficient as it assumes that all antemortem tooth loss is due to caries. The caries correction factor, proposed by Lukacs, achieves more successful results by considering factors other than caries in antemortem tooth loss, but because it does not differentiate between the anterior and posterior tooth groups during calculation, the results to be obtained therefrom may deviate from actual figures. In order to correct any such deviation, the caries correction factor must be applied separately for the anterior and posterior teeth groups since the resistance of each group to cariogenic factors is different. All the methods outlined above do not consider the effects of postmortem tooth loss on caries frequency. As a result, these methods are still far from reflecting a reliable caries frequency. The application of a proportional correction factor--as a technique newly introduced here--corrects the deviation caused by postmortem tooth loss and achieves more realistic results.     

Effect of zinc and melatonin supplementation on cellular immunity in rats with toxoplasmosis

The effects of zinc (Zn) and/or melatonin supplementation on cellular immunity were investigated in rats infested with Toxoplasma gondii. Fifty Sprague-Dawley male rats were used for this study. All animals were fed a normal diet, ad libitum, containing 97 mg Zn/kg. They were divided into five experimental groups, as follows. Group I (n=10) received intraperitoneal injections of zinc sulfate at a dose of 3 mg/kg/d for 3 wk. Group II (n=10) received intraperitoneal injections of melatonin at a dose of 3 mg/kg/d for 3 wk. Group III (n=10) received intraperitoneal injections of zinc sulfate (3 mg/kg/d) and melatonin (3 mg/kg/d) for 3 wk. Group IV (n=10) was infested controls. Group V (n=10) was healthy controls. There were no differences in the percentage of CD3+ lymphocytes among all groups. For groups I–III, the CD4+ and CD8+ ratios were higher than those of the groups IV and V controls (p<0.01). Similarly, the total lymphocyte ratios in groups I–III were higher than those of infested and healthy controls (p<0.01). The total lymphocyte ratios in group III were significantly higher than those of groups I and II (p<0.01). The plasma Zn levels in the supplemented groups were significantly higher than those of control groups IV and V (p<0.01). These results suggest that melatonin and/or Zn supplementation may activate cellular immunity by stimulating CD4+ and CD8+ production in infected rats with T. gondii.