The accumulation of heavy metals in Typha latifolia L. grown in a stream carrying secondary effluent

Typha latifolia L. from aquatic plants is widely found throughout Kehli Stream (Elazig, Turkey). This study examined the uptake of some metals by T. latifolia and the transfer from roots to other plant parts. The accumulation of Mn in T. latifolia L. can be suggested as a tolerance strategy due to its transfer factor higher than 1.0. The enrichment coefficients in the leaves of T. latifolia L. were higher than 1.0 for Zn and Mn and often lower than 1.0 for other metals. Similarly, the enrichment coefficients of all metals, except for Cr, in roots of T. latifolia L. were higher than 1.0. This study demonstrated that T. latifolia L. could be considered as either a bio-indicator or a bio-accumulator for sediments and water polluted by metals.     

Karyotype analysis of some Minuartia L. (Caryophyllaceae) taxa

Karyotypic characters, mitotic metaphase chromosomes, monoploid idiograms and karyograms of Minuartia anatolica (Boiss.) Woronow var. phrygia (Bornm.) McNeill, Minuartia anatolica (Boiss.) Woronow var. scleranthoides (Boiss. & Noe) McNeill, Minuartia corymbulosa (Boiss. & Balansa) McNeill var. gypsophilloides McNeill and Minuartia aksoyi M.Koç & Hamzao?lu were investigated for the first time. Analysis of somatic metaphases showed that the chromosome numbers and the formulas of these taxa were 2n = 24 = 14m + 6sm + 4st for Minuartia anatolica var. phrygia, 2n = 14 = 6m + 8sm for Minuartia anatolica var. scleranthoides, 2n = 14 = 6m + 4sm + 4st for Minuartia corymbulosa var. gypsophilloides and 2n = 30 = 14m + 10sm + 6st for Minuartia aksoyi. No satellites were observed in the karyotypes of these taxa. Karyotype asymmetry was estimated by many different methods, namely the Stebbins classification, the karyotype asymmetry index (As K %), the total form percent (TF %), the Rec and Syi indices, the intrachromosomal asymmetry index (A1) and interchromosomal asymmetry index (A2), the dispersion index (DI), the degree of asymmetry of karyotype (A index) and the asymmetry index (AI).     

Resolution of (±)‐β‐methylphenylethylamine by a novel chiral stationary phase for Pirkle‐type column chromatography

In this study, a new Pirkle‐type chiral column stationary phase for resolution of β‐methylphenylethyl amine was described by using activated Sepharose 4B as a matrix, L ‐tyrosine as a spacer arm, and an aromatic amine derivative of L ‐glutamic acid as a ligand. The binding capacities of the stationary phase were determined at different pH values (pH = 6, 7, and 8) using buffer solutions as mobile phase, and enantiomeric excess (ee) was determined by HPLC equipped with chiral column. The ee was found to be 47%. Chirality, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Karyological studies of some representatives of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tanacetum</Emphasis> L. (Anthemideae-Asteraceae) from north-east Anatolia

The karyotypes of nine Tanacetum taxa distributed in north-east Anatolia, Turkey, were determined and evaluated by cluster analysis and principal-components analysis. Chromosome numbers were 2n = 2x = 18 (8 taxa) and 4x = 36 (1 taxon). Somatic chromosome numbers of two taxa and a new ploidy level in one taxon are reported for the first time. Karyotype analysis indicated that chromosomes of Tanacetum taxa have predominantly median centromeres. The taxa studied differed significantly in the size of the short arms and long arms, and the arm ratio of each pair of homologous chromosomes, indicating structural rearrangements of the chromosomes have been involved in diversification of the taxa. They were placed in 2A, 3A, and 2B of Stebbins’ karyotype classification, showing the presence of a primitive symmetrical karyotype in the genus. Several systematic and evolutionary aspects of the genus are discussed on the basis of karyological data.     

Multispectral image analysis for algal biomass quantification

This article reports a novel multispectral image processing technique for rapid, noninvasive quantification of biomass concentration in attached and suspended algae cultures. Monitoring the biomass concentration is critical for efficient production of biofuel feedstocks, food supplements, and bioactive chemicals. Particularly, noninvasive and rapid detection techniques can significantly aid in providing delay‐free process control feedback in large‐scale cultivation platforms. In this technique, three‐band spectral images of Anabaena variabilis cultures were acquired and separated into their red, green, and blue components. A correlation between the magnitude of the green component and the areal biomass concentration was generated. The correlation predicted the biomass concentrations of independently prepared attached and suspended cultures with errors of 7 and 15%, respectively, and the effect of varying lighting conditions and background color were investigated. This method can provide necessary feedback for dilution and harvesting strategies to maximize photosynthetic conversion efficiency in large‐scale operation. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 29:808–816, 2013     

Performance of the predator Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on greenhouse eggplants in the absence and presence of pine Pinus brutia (Pinales:Pinaceae) pollen

In Turkey, the western thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) is a key pest affecting eggplants grown in greenhouses for which an appropriate control strategy is under investigation. It was observed in a previous study that the release of the beneficial predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii (Athias‐Henriot) alone did not result in an effective control of thrips on eggplants. Since pollen is known to improve control efficiency of predators, this study was undertaken to investigate if provision of pollen to eggplants can greatly improve the efficiency of A. swirskii in controlling thrips. The experiments were carried out in both greenhouse and low tunnel. The provision of pollen led to a significant increase in the predator population density on the eggplants but did not result in an effective control of the thrips populations. In this paper, various factors are discussed that could have affected the efficiency of the predatory mite in controlling F. occidentalis on eggplants.     

Purification of carbonic anhydrase from dog erythrocytes and investigation of in vitro inhibition by various compounds

The enzyme carbonic anhydrase (E.C. 4.2.1.1) has a stimulatory effect on glaucoma, an eye disease that has a risk to dogs, which are models for the human eye disease, that is similar to that in humans.

In this study, some sulfonamide derivatives, 2-(3-cyclohexene-1-carbamido)-1,3,4-thiadiazole-5-sulfonamide (CCTS), 4-(3-cyclohexene-1-carbamido) methyl-benzenesulfonamide (CCBS), 2-(9-octadecenoylamido)-1,3,4-thiadiazole-5-sulfonamide (ODTS), 2-(4,7,10-trioxa-tetradecanoylamido)-1,3,4-thiadiazole-5-sulfonamide (TDTS), and 2-(8-methoxycoumarine-3-carbamido)-1,3,4-thiadiazole-5-sulfonamide (MCTS), as well as some anionic compounds (perchlorate and chloride) and existing medicines (dorzolamide-HCl, gentamicine sulphate, tropicamide, and procaine-HCl) were assayed for their inhibition of dog carbonic anhydrase (dCA), which was purified from erythrocytes on an affinity gel of L-tyrosine-sulfonamide-Sepharose 4B. ODTS showed the highest potency amongst the synthetic compounds with IC₅₀ value 1.18 × 10^{? 5} M. Amongst the medicines tested, only dorzolamide showed inhibition with IC₅₀ value 5.05 × 10^{? 4} M. Procaine and tropicamide actually showed an activatory effect, whereas gentamicine sulfate had no significant effect. The inhibitory effects of anionic compounds such as perchlorate and chloride were also investigated; whereas perchlorate showed inhibition, chloride did not.     

The protective effect of oxytocin on renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

AIM: Oxytocin was previously shown to have anti-inflammatory effects in different inflammation models. The major objective of the present study was to evaluate the protective role of oxytocin (OT) in protecting the kidney against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar albino rats (250-300 g) were unilaterally nephrectomized, and subjected to 45 min of renal pedicle occlusion followed by 6 h of reperfusion. OT (1 mg/kg, ip) or vehicle was administered 15 min prior to ischemia and was repeated immediately before the reperfusion period. At the end of the reperfusion period, rats were decapitated and kidney samples were taken for histological examination or determination of malondialdehyde (MDA), an end product of lipid peroxidation; glutathione (GSH), a key antioxidant; and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, an index of tissue neutrophil infiltration. Creatinine and urea concentrations in blood were measured for the evaluation of renal function, while TNF-alpha and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were determined to evaluate generalized tissue damage. Formation of reactive oxygen species in renal tissue samples was monitored by chemiluminescence technique using luminol and lucigenin probes. RESULTS: The results revealed that I/R injury increased (p<0.01-0.001) serum urea, creatinine, TNF-alpha and LDH levels, as well as MDA, MPO and reactive oxygen radical levels in the renal tissue, while decreasing renal GSH content. However, alterations in these biochemical and histopathological indices due to I/R injury were attenuated by OT treatment (p<0.05-0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Since OT administration improved renal function and microscopic damage, along with the alleviation of oxidant tissue responses, it appears that oxytocin protects renal tissue against I/R-induced oxidative damage.     

Elevated homocysteine levels in patients with slow coronary flow: relationship with Helicobacter pylori infection

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Elevation of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) level has been implicated in the pathogenesis of slow coronary flow (SCF) as it can severely disturb vascular endothelial function. Helicobacter pylori chronically infect the human stomach and causes malabsorption of vitamin B(12) and folate in food, leading ultimately to an increase in circulating Hcy levels. METHODS: Forty-three patients with angiographically proven SCF (group I) were enrolled in this study; 43 cases with normal coronary flow pattern (group II) served as controls. Fasting plasma levels of Hcy, vitamin B(12), and folate were measured in all subjects. Presence of H. pylori infection was defined as positive 14 C urea breath test. Coronary flow patterns for each major epicardial coronary artery were determined with the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) frame count method. RESULTS: Mean TIMI frame count was 46.3 +/- 8.7 in group I and 24.3 +/- 2.9 in Group II (p = .0001). Vitamin B(12) levels were similar, whereas folate levels were dramatically reduced in group I compared to group II (13.2 +/- 4.3 vs. 17.1 +/- 5.2, p = .0001). Plasma Hcy levels were significantly higher in group I compared to group II (13.4 +/- 5.6 vs. 7.9 +/- 2.5, p = .0001) as was the prevalence of H. pylori infection (90.7% in group I vs. 58.1% in group II, p = .001). Hcy levels were elevated (11.7 +/- 5.3 vs. 7.5 +/- 2.7, p = .0001) and folate levels were reduced (13.9 +/- 4.7 vs. 18.6 +/- 4.9, p = .0001) in patients with H. pylori infection, while vitamin B(12) levels were similar in patients with and without H. pylori infection. Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between plasma folate and Hcy levels and also between folate levels and mean TIMI frame counts (r = -.33, p = .002 vs. r = -.33, p = .003). Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between plasma Hcy levels and mean TIMI frame counts (r = .66, p = .0001). In addition, the folate level was the only significant determinant of the variance of Hcy in multiple regression analysis (r = -.21, p = .03). CONCLUSION: Our data showed that plasma folate levels were decreased and plasma Hcy levels were increased in patients with SCF compared to controls. Also, the prevalence of H. pylori infection was increased in patients with SCF. These findings suggest that elevated levels of plasma Hcy, possibly caused by H. pylori infection, and/or a possible disturbance in its metabolism may play a role in the pathogenesis of SCF.     

Cytogenetic effects of nine <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helichrysum</Emphasis> taxa in human lymphocytes culture

Helichrysum Mill. (Asteraceae) species have been used in folk medicine for thousands of years in the world. The in vitro cytogenetic effects in human lymphocytes of nine Helichrysum taxa used in Turkey folk medicine were investigated. Blood samples were obtained from healthy donors, non-smoking volunteers, which were incubated and exposed to increasing concentrations of methanol extracts of Helichrysum taxa (0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg/mL). The inhibitory effects of H. stoechas (L.) Moench subsp. barrelieri (Ten.) Nyman, H. armenium DC. subsp. armenium, H. armenium DC. subsp. araxinum (Kirp.) Takht., H. plicatum DC. subsp. plicatum, H. compactum Boiss. and H. artvinense P.H.Davis & Kupicha on the mitotic index and replication index indicate that these taxa can have genotoxic and mutagenic effects. They should therefore not be used freely in alternative medicine although their antiproliferative activity may suggest anticarcinogenic properties. Increase effects of H. stoechas subsp. barrelieri, H. armenium subsp. armenium, H. armenium subsp. araxinum, H. chasmolycicum P.H.Davis, H. plicatum subsp. plicatum, H. compactum and H. artvinense on the micronucleus rates showed that these taxa can have genotoxic and carcinogenic effects.