Synthesis of tentacle-type magnetic beads as immobilized metal-chelate affinity support for cytochrome c adsorption

Magnetic poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (mPHEMA) beads with an average diameter of 100-140 microm were produced by suspension polymerization in the presence of magnetite particles (i.e. Fe3O4). Specific surface area and average pore size of the magnetic beads was found to be 50 m2/g and 819 nm, respectively. Ester groups in the mPHEMA structure were converted to imine groups by reacting with poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) in the presence of NaH. Amino (-NH2) content of PEI-attached mPHEMA beads was determined as 102 mg PEI/g. Then, Cu2+ ions were chelated on the magnetic beads in the range of 20-793 micromol Cu2+/g. Cytochrome c (cyt c) adsorption was performed on the metal chelating beads from aqueous solutions containing different amounts of cyt c at different pHs, Cu2+ loadings and temperatures. Cyt c adsorption on the mPHEMA/PEI beads was 4.6 mg/g. Cu2+ chelation increased the cyt c adsorption significantly (40.1 mg/g). Adsorption capacity increased with Cu2+ loading and then reached a saturation value. Cyt c adsorption decreased with increasing temperature. Cyt c molecules could be reversibly adsorbed and eluted ten times with the magnetic adsorbents without noticeable loss in their cyt c adsorption capacity. The applicability of two kinetic models including pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order model was estimated on the basis of comparative analysis of the corresponding rate parameters, equilibrium capacity and correlation coefficients. Results suggest that chemisorption processes could be the rate-limiting step in the adsorption process. In the last part of this article, cyt c adsorption experiments were performed in a magnetically stabilized fluidized bed (MSFB) system at optimum conditions determined from the batch experiments. The adsorption capacity decreased significantly from 46.8 to 15.4 mg/g polymer with the increase of the flow-rate from 0.5 to 4.0 ml/min. The resulting magnetic chelator beads possessed excellent long-term storage stability.     

Dilated cardiomyopathy in a spider monkey (Ateles paniscus)

Background A spider monkey with severe dyspnea was referred to our clinic. Methods and Results Radiographs revealed an enlarged cardiac silhouette. Ventricular tachycardia and ST segment depression were also diagnosed after an ECG. These findings coupled with the postmortem examination confirmed dilatative cardiomyopathy. Conclusions This case is worthy of presentation since dilatative cardiomyopathy has been rarely encountered in spider monkeys.     

Subjective sleep quality in premenstrual syndrome

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a cyclical disorder observed in late luteal phase and presenting with behavioral changes that can affect interpersonal relationships and normal daily activity. Sleep disturbances are also common. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between PMS and subjective sleep quality with Pitsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in the Medical Academy students, whom have considerable information about menstruation. PMS was detected with "Premenstrual Syndrome Scale", and PSQI was used to evaluate subjective sleep quality. Chi-square test and Kendall's rank correlation analysis were used in statistical analysis. p values (p < 0.05) were considered as statistical significant. Poor sleep quality was found in the 75.6% of the participants with PMS, and 58.8% of the participants without PMS (p < 0.05). Only component 5 (sleep disorder component) of the PSQI components revealed statistically significant difference (1.7 ± 0.6 in participants with PMS, and 1.5 ± 0.6 without PMS, p < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between total PSQI score and all of its' components, except component 6 (sleeping pill usage component) (p < 0.05). The strongest association was found to be in the component 5 (r = 0.528; p = 0.0001). Results of our study suggested the poor sleep quality due to sleep disorders in women with PMS.     

Extraction of the essential oil from endemic Origanum bilgeri P.H.Davis with two different methods: comparison of the oil composition and antibacterial activity

The antibacterial activity and chemical composition of the essential oils (EOs) isolated from Origanum bilgeri P.H.Davis by two different extraction methods, i.e., hydrodistillation (HD) and solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME), were examined. This endemic Origanum species had shown very good antibacterial activity. The composition of the O. bilgeri EOs obtained by SFME and HD was investigated by GC/MS analysis. The main components of the oils obtained by both methods were carvacrol (90.20-84.30%), p-cymene (3.40-5.85%), γ-terpinene (0.47-1.20%), and thymol (0.69-1.08%). The EO isolation by SFME offered many important advantages, including a higher extraction yield, a shorter extraction time, and a higher content of the active component carvacrol. The carvacrol-rich oils obtained by both HD and SFME showed a good antibacterial activity. The largest inhibition zones were observed for the O. bilgeri EO obtained by SFME. Our study suggests that O. bilgeri EO has the potential to be used as preventative against bacterial contamination in many foods, instead of the common synthetic antimicrobial products.     

Diet composition and prey selection of the pike,Esox lucius,in Çivril Lake,Turkey

Diet composition and prey selection of pike (Esox lucius) were studied in Çivril Lake, Turkey. The lake is eutrophic in character with a surface area of ca. 64 km^?2 and mean depth of 3 m. Stomach contents of 409 specimens were collected between October 2003 and April 2005. Pike diet included 10 prey fish species, two Crustaceae, four Insecta, one Hirudinae and one Amphibia. Feeding was homogeneous, with most pike specializing in prey fish and a few pike specializing on miscellaneous items. Feeding activity varied by season and ontogeny. Stomach fullness and the percentage of fish with prey were highest in spring and in small pike, while feeding intensity was lowest in winter and in large sized pike. Diet composition was dominated by fish, including Carasius gibelio, Chondrostoma meandrense, Esox lucius, Gambusia affinis, Gobio gobio, Hemigrammocapoeta kemali, Leuciscus cephalus, and Tinca tinca. Crustacea were also a significant component in spring and in small sized pike. The most important prey items were C. meandrense, Gammarus sp., H. kemali, and L. cephalus. Pike feeding in winter and summer was homogeneous, specializing mainly on fish as prey, while the diet in spring and autumn was heterogeneous with some pike specializing on Gammarus sp. Cannibalism at 8.7% was observed only in the large sized pike (>40 cm). Pike strongly preferred C. meandrense (Selectivity index V = 0.372; χ² = 27.739; P < 0.01), G. gobio (V = 0.192; χ² = 7.350; P < 0.01) and T. tinca (V = 0.146; χ² = 4.257; P < 0.05) despite their low abundance in the lake. Hemigrammocapoeta kemali was the most abundant prey fish in the environment; however, it was a negatively selected food item (V = ?0.358; χ² = 25.642; P < 0.01). Cyprinus carpio also inhabits the lake, but was not preferred by pike (V = ?0.056; χ² = 0.625; P > 0.05).     

Serum Selenium,Vitamin E,and Sialic Acids Concentrations in Lambs with White Muscle Disease

The aim of this study was to determine the serum concentrations of selenium, vitamin E, and total- and lipid-bound sialic acid (LBSA) in lambs with white muscle disease (WMD) before and after treatment with a commercial preparation containing selenite and vitamin E. Fifteen lambs with WMD and ten control animals were used as research materials. Blood samples were collected from both groups before- and 1 month after treatment for Se analysis by fluorimetry, whereas vitamin E and sialic acid were measured by HPLC and spectrophotometry, respectively. Compared to controls, in the diseased animals, there was a significant increase of serum total sialic acid (TSA) and LBSA, together with significant decreases of serum Se and vitamin E concentrations (p < 0.001). One month after treatment, a reversal of trend was observed with decreases of TSA and LBSA and increases of Se and vitamin E concentrations. The TSA and LBSA levels, however, remained significantly higher than those of the controls, p < 0.05 and 0.001, respectively. The Se and vitamin E concentrations of the treated animals were the same as those of controls. This is the first study on total and LBSA concentrations in lambs with WMD, showing that these markers can be used in the prognosis of the disease.