Whole body exposure of rats to microwaves emitted from a cell phone does not affect the testes

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of radiofrequency radiation emitted from cellular phones on the lipid composition, malondialdehyde concentration, p53 immune reactivity, sperm count, morphology, histological structure of testes, and on rectal temperature of rats exposed to microwave radiation emitted from cellular phones. Sixteen Spraque-Dawley rats were separated into two groups of eight, sham exposed (control) and experimental. The rats were confined in plexiglas cages specially designed for this study, and cellular phones were placed 0.5 cm under the cages. For the experimental group, cellular phones were activated 20 min per day (7 days a week) for 1 month. For the control group, the cellular phones were placed beneath the cages for 20 min a day, but the phones were turned off. Rectal temperatures were measured weekly. For 250 mW radiated power, the whole body average SAR (rms) is 0.52 W/kg and 1 g averaged peak SAR (rms) is 3.13 W/kg. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used for statistical comparisons of groups. No statistically significant alteration in any of the endpoints was noted. This study found no evidence suggesting an adverse effect of cell phone exposure on measures of testicular function or structure.     

An EST-SSR marker linked with yellow rust resistance in wheat

Expressed sequenced tags containing simple sequence repeats (EST-SSRs) were used to identify molecular markers associated with yellow rust resistance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). A cross between yellow rust resistant (PI178383) and susceptible (Harmankaya99) wheat genotypes was performed and respective DNA pools from the resistant and susceptible F₂ seedlings were constructed. 78 EST-SSR primers were used for bulked segregant analysis and one EST-SSR marker (Pk54), identified as 200 bp fragment, was present in the resistant parent and resistant F₂ hybrids but not in the susceptible ones. 108 wheat genotypes differing in yellow rust resistance were screened with Pk54 and 68 % of the wheat genotypes, known to be yellow rust resistant, had the Pk54 marker, further suggesting that the presence of this marker correlates with yellow rust resistance.     

Effects of Environmental Lead Pollution, Smoking, and Smokeless Tobacco (Maras Powder) Use on Blood Lead Level

One hundred sixty-four adult male volunteers (29 controls [Group 1] and 135 combi drivers) enrolled in the study. The combi drivers were divided into three groups as nonusers of either Maras powder or cigarette (Group 2), smokers (Group 3), and users of Maras powder (Group 4). Blood lead levels (BLLs) were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. BLL was detected as 2.8 ± 2.3 μg/dL in Group 1 (n = 29); however, it was 3.5 ± 1.6 μg/dL in Group 2 (n = 33), 3.8 ± 2.4 μg/dL in Group 3 (n = 62), and 3.9 ± 2.4 μg/dL in Group 4 (n = 40). BLL in Group 1 was found significantly lower than other groups (p < 0.05). The use of cigarette or Maras powder by the drivers did not give rise to a marked difference on the BLLs (p > 0.05). BLL of (combi) drivers was detected to be significantly higher than nondrivers; however, it was still under the hazardous level of 10 μg/dL announced by WHO. Although there are publications reporting that usage of tobacco increases the level of lead in blood, both smoking and use of Maras powder did not affect BLL markedly in our study. Poster presented (the abstract section published in Congress Book) at the 7th Congress of Turkish Family Physicians, 23–26 May 2006, Cesme-IZMIR, Turkey.     

Paraoxonase and arylesterase activities in fibromyalgia

We aimed to evaluate the association of serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities and oxidative/antioxidative status in patients with fibromyalgia. Forty-two patients with fibromyalgia and 53 healthy controls were included in the study. Serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities were measured spectrophotometrically. Oxidative and antioxidative status were evaluated by measuring serum lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH) levels, total antioxidant status (TAS) and free sulfhydryl groups (-SH = total thiol). Lipid parameters were determined by routine laboratory methods. Serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities, and TAS were lower in patients with fibromyalgia than in controls (P < 0.001, for all), and the -SH level was also lower in the patient group (P = 0.03). LOOH levels were higher in the patient group than in controls (P = 0.01). Our results suggest that patients with fibromyalgia were exposed to oxidative stress, and paraoxonase and arylesterase activities were decreased in these patients. Patients with fibromyalgia might be prone to development of atherosclerosis with reduced paraoxonase and arylesterase activities.     

Production of recombinant human erythropoietin from Pichia pastoris and its structural analysis

AIMS: To design and investigate a recombinant expression system producing a therapeutically important glycoprotein, human erythropoietin (rHuEPO), by Pichia pastoris. METHODS AND RESULTS: EPO cDNA was cloned into pPICZalphaA for expression under control of AOX1 promoter and fused, on the amino-terminal end, with a polyhistidine tag for rapid purification. A target site for factor Xa protease was also introduced, such that cleavage in vitro produced a mature form of rHuEPO having the native N- and C-termini. RHuEPO was characterized as to the extent and nature of N-linked glycosylation using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and western blotting. The rHuEPO produced was approximately 30 kDa. All three N-linked glycosylation sites were occupied dominantly by Man(17)(GlcNAc)(2). N-glycanase-treated rHuEPO purified but not digested with factor-Xa-protease, showed a spectral peak centered about m/z 20400 Da. CONCLUSIONS: The native polypeptide form of human EPO (c. 18 kDa) was obtained for the first time in P. pastoris expression system, after affinity purification, deglycosylation and factor-Xa-protease digestion. The amount of sodium dodecyl sulfate used prior to deglycosylation was found to be crucial in determining the dominant form of glycan in glycoproteins. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The novel approaches to protein expression and purification system and structural analysis presented, would be important especially for therapeutic proteins expressed in P. pastoris.     

Is there any genetic predisposition of MMP-9 gene C1562T and MTHFR gene C677T polymorphisms with essential hypertension?

The current study was conducted to determine whether there is a relation between hypertension and two different polymorphisms, including C1562T of the Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) gene and C677T of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene. Genomic DNA obtained from 224 persons (125 patients with hypertension and 99 healthy controls) were used in the study. Polymorphisms were determined by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and electrophoresis. The results were statistically analyzed and were found to be statistically significant. The frequencies of the C1562T genotypes were found to be, in controls CC 75.8 % and CT 24.2 % and in patients CC 71.2 %, and CT 28.8 %. The frequencies of C677T genotype were found to be, in controls CC 56.6 %, CT 38.4 and TT 5.1 % in controls and in patients CC 52 %, CT 30.4 % and TT 17.6 %. In conclusion, we may suggest that there is no relation between the essential hypertension and C1562T polymorphism of MMP-9 gene; on the other hand C677T polymorphism (genotype TT) of MTHFR gene can be regarded as a genetic indicator for the development of essential hypertension.     

Migraine headaches among university students using id migraine test as a screening tool

Background  

Migraine is a significant health problem, especially for the young people, due to its frequency and accompanying morbidity, causing disability and loss of performance. In this study, our aim was to determine the prevalence of migraine headaches among university students in Edirne, a Turkish city.     

Lymphocyte DNA damage in patients with acute coronary syndrome and its relationship with severity of acute coronary syndrome

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between lymphocyte DNA damage and acute coronary syndromes (ACS). METHODS: The study population contained 53 patients with ACS, 48 patients with stable angina and 35 voluntary healty subjects. DNA damage was assessed by alkaline comed assay in peripheral lymphocyte and plasma levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were determined using a novel automated measurement method. RESULTS: In ACS patients, DNA damage was significantly higher than in patients with stable angina and control subjects (144+/-52 AU, 116+/-37, 68+/-34 AU; for three p<0.001, respectively). The TAC levels in patients with ACS were lower than the other groups (1.24+/-0.31 mmol Trolox equiv./l, 1.46+/-0.29 mmol Trolox equiv./l, p<0.05, respectively). DNA damage values in patients with acute miyocardial infarction were significantly higher than in patients with unstable angina (159.8+/-53.0 AU versus 131.8+/-48.4 AU; p<0.05, respectively). Lymphocyte DNA damage values in patients with ACS showed positive correlation with d-dimer (r=0.880, p<0.001) troponin I (r=538, p<0.001) and C-reactive protein (r=0.544, p<0.001) and negative correlation with TAC (r=-0.346, p=0.011). In multiple linear regression analysis, TAC (beta=-0.213, p=0.001) and d-dimer (beta=0.697, p<0.001) were independent predictors of DNA damage in patients with ACS. CONCLUSIONS:These findings indicate that lymphocyte DNA damage level increases in patients with ACS. Elevated DNA damage may be related with plaque instability and be useful for the identification of patients with acute coronary syndromes.