Oxidative status and serum leptin levels in obese prepubertal children

The prevalence of obesity in children has increased dramatically over the last 20-30 years in developed countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the oxidative and antioxidant status and any correlation with leptin in obese prepubertal children. A cross-sectional study was made of healthy children from ten elementary schools in the province of Elazig, Eastern Turkey. Blood samples were drawn from children comprising obese and control groups, on a visit to their school in the morning after an overnight fast. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.03 +/- 4.09 kg/m(2) in the obese group and was 17.51 +/- 2.33 kg/m(2) in the control group. Mean plasma leptin concentration was significantly higher in the obese children. Homocysteine and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were also significantly higher in the obese group. In contrast superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase activities were significantly decreased in the obese group (p < 0.001). In conclusion, in prepubertal obese children oxidative stress was increased and MDA and homocysteine levels were well correlated with serum leptin level and BMI. In contrast with the increase in oxidative stress, antioxidant activities of SOD and glutathione peroxidase were decreased in obese prepubertal children.     

Protective effects of long term dietary restriction on swimming exercise-induced oxidative stress in the liver, heart and kidney of rat

In this study, we evaluated the hypothesis that long term dietary restriction would have beneficial effects on the oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme systems in liver, heart and kidney in adult male rats undergoing different intensities of swimming exercise. Sixty male, Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned as either dietary restricted on every other week day (DR) or fed ad libitum (AL) groups, and each group was further subdivided into sedentary, endurance swimming exercise training (submaximal exercise) and exhaustive swimming exercise (maximal exercise) groups. Animals in the submaximal exercise group swam 5 days/week for 8 weeks, while maximal exercise was performed as an acute bout of exercise. In parallel with the increase in the intensity of the exercise, the degree of lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation were increased in both the DR and AL groups; however the rate of increase was lower in the DR group. Reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione reductase (GR) enzyme activities were lower in the DR group than in the AL group. In parallel with the increase in exercise intensity, GSH and GR enzyme activities decreased, whereas an increase was observed in GSH-Px enzyme activity. In conclusion, the comparison between the DR and AL groups with the three swimming exercise conditions shows that the DR group is greatly protected against different swimming exercise-induced oxidative stress compared with the AL group.     

New material of Palaeoamasia kansui (Embrithopoda,Mammalia) from the Eocene of Turkey and a phylogenetic analysis of Embrithopoda at the species level

Since the discovery of the megaherbivore Arsinoitherium zitteli Beadnell (early Oligocene of Egypt), the extinct order Embrithopoda has remained an enigmatic group, with disputed affinities among ungulates. In this study, new specimens of Palaeoamasia kansui from the early Palaeogene of Turkey are described and a synthetic dental terminology is proposed for embrithopods. Based on 130 cranial–mandibular and dental characters, the first phylogenetic analysis of embrithopods is carried out in aim to enhance the position of Palaeoamasia within embrithopods. The monophyly of Embrithopoda is confirmed, following the topology (Phenacolophus (Namatherium (Arsinoitheriinae, Palaeamasiinae))). However, phylogenetic relationships between Eurasian embrithopods (Palaeoamasiinae: Palaeoamasia, Crivadiatherium and Hypsamasia) remain unresolved. The integration of all embrithopod genera within a cladistic analysis encompassing a wider taxonomic sample (Condylarthra, Afrotheria/Paenungulata and Laurasiatheria) also supports Embrithopoda as being monophyletic, but questions the position of both Phenacolophus and Namatherium within Embrithopoda. Finally, possible faunal exchange events are proposed based on three hypothesized scenarios between Eurasia and Arabia–Africa during the early Palaeogene.     

Female reproductive pattern of Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 (Brachyura: Portunidae) in Iskenderun Bay,Eastern Mediterranean

We studied the female reproductive pattern of Callinectes sapidus, which was introduced to the Mediterranean in the 20^th century. We assessed female size at first maturity, fecundity, and fecundity relationship to size in Iskenderun Bay, eastern Mediterranean, Turkey. Samples were collected between July 2014 and June 2015 using bottom trawling at depths ranging from 1 to 50 m. A total of 322 crabs were caught of which 308 (95.7%) were females including 116 ovigerous ones. The minimum carapace width of the mature females was 39.1 mm and the mean carapace width 123.8 mm. The carapace width of ovigerous females varied between 95.1 and 144.5 mm, with a mean of 120.3 mm. The highest number of ovigerous females was observed in July and August. Mean fecundity was 1.91 million (667,950–4,669,853) eggs per female. A weak positive linear relationship between fecundity and carapace width was noted, as well as a high correlation with total egg weight. In the eastern Mediterranean, maturity sizes of females were smaller than those in the native region of the species.     

Comparative analyses of foregut and hindgut bacterial communities in hoatzins and cows

Foregut fermentation occurs in mammalian ruminants and in one bird, the South American folivorous hoatzin. This bird has an enlarged crop with a function analogous to the rumen, where foregut microbes degrade the otherwise indigestible plant matter, providing energy to the host from foregut fermentation, in addition to the fermentation that occurs in their hindguts (cecum/colon). As foregut fermentation represents an evolutionary convergence between hoatzins and ruminants, our aim was to compare the community structure of foregut and hindgut bacterial communities in the cow and hoatzin to evaluate the influences of host phylogeny and organ function in shaping the gut microbiome. The approach used was to hybridize amplified bacterial ribosomal RNA genes onto a high-density microarray (PhyloChip). The results show that the microbial communities cluster primarily by functional environment (foreguts cluster separately from hindguts) and then by host. Bacterial community diversity was higher in the cow than in the hoatzin. Overall, compared with hindguts, foreguts have higher proportions of Bacteroidetes and Spirochaetes, and lower proportions of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. The main host differences in gut bacterial composition include a higher representation of Spirochaetes, Synergistetes and Verrucomicrobia in the cow. Despite the significant differences in host phylogeny, body size, physiology and diet, the function seems to shape the microbial communities involved in fermentation. Regardless of the independent origin of foregut fermentation in birds and mammals, organ function has led to convergence of the microbial community structure in phylogenetically distant hosts.     

Triterpenoid saponins from Astragalus wiedemannianus Fischer

Three cycloartane-type triterpene glycosides were isolated from Astragalus wiedemannianus together with eight known secondary metabolites namely cycloastragenol, cycloascauloside B, astragaloside IV, astragaloside VIII, brachyoside B, astragaloside II, astrachrysoside A, and astrasieversianin X. The structures were established mainly by a combination of 1D and 2D-NMR techniques as 3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-25-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-20(R),24(S)-epoxy-3β,6α,16β,25-tetrahydroxycycloartane, 3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-D-xylopyranosyl]-6-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-24-O-α-(4’-O-acetoxy)-L-arabinopyranosyl-16-O-acetoxy-3β,6α,16β,24(S),25-pentahydroxycycloartane, 3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-D-xylopyranosyl]-6-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-24-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-16-O-acetoxy-3β,6α,16β,24(S),25-pentahydroxycycloartane. To the best of our knowledge, the presence of an arabinose moiety on the acyclic side chain of cycloartanes is reported for the first time.     

Plasma Levels of Trace Elements Have an Implication on Interferon Treatment of Children with Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

This study evaluated the plasma levels of trace elements in children with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and assessed whether they can be a factor that affects the response to interferon alpha (IFN-α) treatment. The study included 35 cases (ten girls, 25 boys) aged 3–13 years with chronic HBV infection and the control group. Plasma levels of copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn) were measured before IFN-α treatment and biochemical, virological, and histopathologic response to treatment were assessed. Children were followed for at least 15 months. Although plasma Cu levels showed no difference between the groups, Mn, Mo, Se, and Zn levels were significantly lower in the study group before treatment. Fourteen cases (40%) showed biochemical response; 17 (48.6%) showed virological response; 16 (47.6%) showed histopathologic response, and ten (28.6%) showed response according to all three parameters. Plasma Cu and Mn levels of patients with triple response showed no difference; but Mo, Se, and Zn levels were significantly lower (p?<?0.001) in the study group. No difference was observed between responders and nonresponders (p?>?0.05). Plasma levels of Mn, Mo, Se, and Zn are lower in children with chronic HBV infection compared to healthy children. The pretreatment levels of these elements did not show difference between responders and nonresponders to IFN-α.     

Secondary metabolites from Centaurea ensiformis P.H. Davis

Centaurea ensiformis P.H. Davis was evaluated for its secondary metabolites. 20 different compounds have been isolated and identified; four phenolic compounds, one aminoacid, two acetophenone glycosides, three phenylpropanoide glycosides, one coumarin glucoside, four flavon glycosides, two neolignan glycosides, two megastigmane glycosides and schikimic acid methyl ester.