The anatomical,morphological features,and biological activity of Scilla siberica subsp. armena (Grossh.) Mordak (Asparagaceae)

Protoplasma - Scilla siberica subsp. armena is known as Siberian Squill which is naturally distributed in Lebanon-Syria, Transcaucasus, and Turkey. It is a perennial bulbous plant with a short...     

The Porous Surface Model, a Novel Experimental System for Online Quantitative Observation of Microbial Processes under Unsaturated Conditions

Water is arguably the most important constituent of microbial microhabitats due to its control of physical and physiological processes critical to microbial activity. In natural environments, bacteria often live on unsaturated surfaces, in thin (micrometric) liquid films. Nevertheless, no experimental systems are available that allow real-time observation of bacterial processes in liquid films of controlled thickness. We propose a novel, inexpensive, easily operated experimental platform, termed the porous surface model (PSM) that enables quantitative real-time microscopic observations of bacterial growth and activity under controlled unsaturated conditions. Bacteria are inoculated on a porous ceramic plate, wetted by a liquid medium. The thickness of the liquid film at the surface of the plate is set by imposing suction, corresponding to soil matric potential, to the liquid medium. The utility of the PSM was demonstrated using Pseudomonas putida KT2440 tagged with gfp as a model bacterium. Single cells were inoculated at the surface of the PSM, and the rate at which colonies expanded laterally was measured for three matric potentials (−0.5, −1.2, and −3.6 kPa). The matric potential exerted significant influence on colony expansion rates, with a faster rate of spreading at −0.5 than at −1.2 or −3.6 kPa (diameter increase rate, ca. 1,000, 200, and 17 μm h⁻¹, respectively). These differences can be attributed to cell motility, strongly limited under the most negative matric potential. The PSM constitutes a tool uniquely adapted to study the influence of liquid film geometry on microbial processes. It should therefore contribute to uncovering mechanisms of microbial adaptation to unsaturated environments.     

Genetic polymorphism of cytochrome P450 2E1 in the Turkish population.

CYP 2E1 is involved in metabolic activation of carcinogenic N-nitrosamines, benzene, urethane and other low molecular weight compounds. CYP2E1 gene is present in the population in various polymorphic forms. We detected the RFLP of the human CYP2E1 gene with the restriction endonuclease PstI, RsaI and DraI in a group of 153 Turkish individuals. According to the results of the PstI/RsaI analysis, 96.07% of the subjects were of the c1/c1 genotype, and 3.93% were of the c1/c2 genotype. In the DraI RFLP analysis, 84.30% DD genotype, 15.03% CD genotype and 0.66% CC genotype were determined. The data obtained may be useful in epidemiological studies of the influence of CYP2E1 polymorphism on carcinogenesis.     

The effects of docosahexaenoic acid on glial derived neurotrophic factor and neurturin in bilateral rat model of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder marked by cell death in the Substantia nigra (SN). Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is the major polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in the phospholipid fraction of the brain and is required for normal cellular function. Glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and neurturin (NTN) are very potent trophic factors for PD. The aim of the study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of GDNF and NTN by investigating their immunostaining levels after administration of DHA in a model of PD. For this reason we hypothesized that DHA administration of PD might alter GDNF, NTN expression in SN. MPTP neurotoxin that induces dopaminergic neurodegeneration was used to create the experimental Parkinsonism model. Rats were divided into; control, DHA-treated (DHA), MPTP-induced (MPTP), MPTP-induced+DHA-treated (MPTP+DHA) groups. Dopaminergic neuron numbers were clearly decreased in MPTP, but showed an increase in MPTP+DHA group. As a result of this, DHA administration protected dopaminergic neurons as shown by tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry. In the MPTP+DHA group, GDNF, NTN immunoreactions in dopaminergic neurons were higher than that of the MPTP group. In conclusion, the characterization of GDNF and NTN will certainly help elucidate the mechanism of DHA action, and lead to better strategies for the use of DHA to treat neurodegenerative diseases.     

Comparison of ultrasonographic characteristics of deep abdominal muscles in women with and without chronic neck pain: a case-control study

Objectives:To compare ultrasonography (USG) parameters of deep abdominal muscles (transversus abdominis-TrA, internal obliques-IO) between women with and without chronic neck pain (CNP).Methods:Women with CNP (n=18; mean-age=37.7 years; mean-BMI=22.7 kg/m²) and asymptomatic individuals (n=18; mean-age=36.1 years; mean-BMI=21.8 kg/m²) participated in the study. The activation of the deep neck flexors (ADNF) was measured using cranio-cervical flexion test. Muscle thickness, changes in thickness (ΔT), and contraction ratio (CR) of deep abdominal muscles were evaluated by ultrasonography device in two conditions: standard-protocol and during ADNF. For each condition, ultrasound image of abdominal muscles was captured at rest and during abdominal draw-in manoeuvre (ADIM).Results:Comparative statistics revealed no significant difference between groups regarding ultrasonography parameters in the standard-protocol (p>0.05). Besides, there was no difference in the CR of TrA and IO between groups in the two conditions. However, women with CNP showed less muscle thickness of TrAADIM during ADNF than the asymptomatic participants (p<0.05). The CNP group also had decreased ΔT of TrA(ADIM-rest) during ADNF compared to the asymptomatic group (p<0.05).Conclusions:The ultrasonography parameters of TrA suggest that motor control in the lumbar region is altered in women with CNP. The combination of cervical stabilization exercises with ADIM can be a novel strategy in the treatment of CNP.     

The molecular mechanisms of vulpinic acid induced programmed cell death in melanoma

Molecular Biology Reports - Malignant melanoma is an aggressive skin tumor with a rapidly increasing incidence and there is not yet a successful treatment strategy. Vulpinic acid (VA) is derived...