In vitro effects of some drugs on catalase purified from human skin

Catalase enzyme (H202: oxidoreductase; E.C. 1.11.1.6) was purified from human skin homogenate using ammonium sulfate precipitation and DEAE-Sephadex A50 ion exchange chromatography at 4 degrees C and some characteristics of the enzyme were investigated. The human skin enzyme, having a specific activity of 1354.5 EU/mg proteins was purified with a yield of 43.13% and 1110-fold. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed a single band for the enzyme. Inhibition by piroxicam, ketoprofen, diclofenac sodium, sulfamethoxazole and nidazole occurred with I50 values of 0.414, 1.29, 1.8, 3.83, and 8.64 mM, respectively.     

Genetic relationships among Turkish sheep

Genetic relationships among Turkish sheep breeds were analysed on the basis of 30 microsatellite markers. Phylogenetic analyses based on the estimation of genetic distances revealed the closest relationships for the Akkaraman, Morkaraman and Tuj breeds, which were clearly differentiated from the others in the dendrogram. Our pattern was completely confirmed by results from the Factorial Correspondence Analysis. All the results described analysing either population parameters or individuals revealed a clear separation between the fat-tailed group and the others. These results, based on nuclear DNA, are discussed along with those already reported for these breeds through the investigation of mitochondrial DNA, which had revealed the invaluable significance of the genetic background of these Turkish sheep.     

Dyeing of wool fibres with natural dyes: effect of proteolytic enzymes

In spite of the widespread use of proteins (casein, peptone, etc.) and protein fragments as a substrate for the proteolytic enzymes, a substrate prepared from dyes that adsorb onto appropriate materials, such as wool and cotton, are also used for enzyme activity determination. In the point of view of this thought, it was our aim to develop the substrates which are easily and economically obtainable and also environmentally safer for the frequently used proteolytic enzymes, such as subtilisin carlsberg, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and protease type XVI and, if possible, to prepare the specific substrate at least for one of these enzymes. For this aim, wool was dyed with natural dyes such as juglone, lawsone, berberine, and quercetin. The optimum pH, incubation time, and agitation rate were determinated. The results indicate that, of all the tested enzymes on wool-dye complex as an insoluble substrate, the most appropriate complex was found to be wool-lawsone complex.     

The influence of Helicobacter pylori infection on the prevalence of endoscopic erosive esophagitis

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the frequency of endoscopic esophagitis and Helicobacter pylori infection in a large Turkish population over a 6-year period. METHODS: We studied a consecutive series of 14,380 patients who had been newly referred for diagnostic esophagogastroduodenoscopy from 2000 to 2006. The mean age value was 45 +/- 10 (18-89) years. All endoscopic findings were retrospectively evaluated. Two antral and two corpus biopsies were taken from patients for rapid urease test. Endoscopic esophagitis was defined as the presence of erosions and/or ulceration. The relationship between erosive esophagitis and various relevant factors was analyzed. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of endoscopic esophagitis was 7.8% (95% CI, 6.9-8.1). The prevalence of positive rapid urease test was 49% (95% CI, 38-53) in patients with esophagitis and 85% (95% CI, 70-96) in patients without esophagitis (p < .001). From 2000 to 2006, the frequency of endoscopic esophagitis and the rate of positive rapid urease test remained unchanged. After adjusting for the effects of mean age, male gender, and percentage of hiatal hernia, there was a 0.785% risk reduction in esophagitis with every 1% increase in the rate of positive rapid urease test result. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of endoscopic esophagitis is significantly lower in patients with a positive rapid urease test result. This negative correlation with H. pylori infection reflects a protective effect of H. pylori from endoscopic esophagitis in a Turkish population and deserves further investigation.     

Nitric oxide levels in patients with psoriasis treated with methotrexate

Psoriasis is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory, and hyperproliferative disease. Recently there have been studies regarding increases in the levels of NO in inflammatory dermatoses including psoriasis. In this study, 22 patients with psoriasis were scored with PASI (psoriasis area and severity index) and the levels of serum nitrite-nitrate were evaluated before and after therapy with methotrexate (Mtx). The results were compared with age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. The relation of the results with the clinical severity and the cumulative Mtx dose were also evaluated. The serum levels of nitrite-nitrate of the psoriatic patients with active lesions were found to be significantly higher than the levels of the healthy volunteers and the patients after therapy. The elevated nitrite-nitrate serum levels in the inflammatory period may suggest the possible role of this mediator in the etiopathogenesis of psoriasis and the potential future use of NO inhibitors in the treatment of psoriasis.     

The first gene-based map of Lupinus angustifolius L.-location of domestication genes and conserved synteny with Medicago truncatula

We report the first gene-based linkage map of Lupinus angustifolius (narrow-leafed lupin) and its comparison to the partially sequenced genome of Medicago truncatula. The map comprises 382 loci in 20 major linkage groups, two triplets, three pairs and 11 unlinked loci and is 1,846 cM in length. The map was generated from the segregation of 163 RFLP markers, 135 gene-based PCR markers, 75 AFLP and 4 AFLP-derived SCAR markers in a mapping population of 93 recombinant inbred lines, derived from a cross between domesticated and wild-type parents. This enabled the mapping of five major genes controlling key domestication traits in L. angustifolius. Using marker sequence data, the L. angustifolius genetic map was compared to the partially completed M. truncatula genome sequence. We found evidence of conserved synteny in some regions of the genome despite the wide evolutionary distance between these legume species. We also found new evidence of widespread duplication within the L. angustifolius genome.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at and is accessible for authorised users.     

Further optimization of mouse spermatozoa evaporative drying techniques

It has been shown in the past that mouse spermatozoa could be dried under a stream of nitrogen gas at ambient temperature and stored at 4 °C or 22 °C for up to 3 months and was capable of generating live-born offspring. In previous desiccation work, dried sperm were stored in a vacuum-sealed plastic bag placed in a vacuum-packed Mylar bag. However, dried specimens stored in this way often lost moisture, particularly in samples stored at higher temperatures (22 °C) compared to lower temperatures (4 °C). The present report describes a method which minimizes this water loss from the dried sperm samples. Its use is described in a preliminary study on the effect of supplementing the trehalose with glycerol. The results have demonstrated that mouse sperm can be stored at 4 °C over saturated NaBr without the uptake of water which occurs when they are stored in Mylar packages. In addition, we were able to get some survival of sperm (9–15%) at room temperature storage after 3 months. The addition of glycerol to trehalose had little effect on the survival of dried mouse sperm stored over NaBr for 1 and 3 months.     

Desiccation tolerance in bovine sperm: A study of the effect of intracellular sugars and the supplemental roles of an antioxidant and a chelator

Desiccation preservation holds promise as a simplified alternative to cryopreservation for the long term storage of cells. We report a study on the protective effects of intracellular and extracellular sugars during bovine sperm desiccation and the supplemental effects of the addition of an antioxidant (catalase) or a chelator (desferal). The goal of the study was to preserve mammalian sperm in a partially or completely desiccated state. Sperm loaded intracellularly with two different types of sugars, trehalose or sucrose, were dried with and without catalase and desferal and evaluated for motility and membrane integrity immediately after rehydration. Intracellular sugars were loaded using ATP induced poration. Drying was performed in desiccator boxes maintained at 11% relative humidity (RH). Results indicated that sperm exhibited improved desiccation tolerance if they were loaded with either intracellular trehalose or sucrose. Survival was further enhanced by the addition of 1 mM desferal to the desiccation buffer. Though sperm motility after drying to low dry basis water fractions (DBWF) did not show significant improvement under any of the tested conditions, there was an increase in the sperm membrane integrity that could be retained after partial desiccation through the use of intracellular sugars and desferal.     

Distribution and Identification of Root-knot Nematodes from Turkey

Root knot nematodes are causing serious losses in protected cultivation fields in the West Mediterranean region of Turkey. Correct and confident identification of the plant parasitic nematodes is important for vegetable growing and breeding. Therefore, ninety-five populations of plant parasitic nematodes were collected from regional greenhouses. Previously described species-specific primers were used to identify Meloidogyne populations. The present study indicated that SEC-1F/SEC-1R and INCK14F-INCK14R primers for identifying of M. incognita, Fjav/Rjav and DJF/DJR primers for M. javanica and Far/Rar for M. arenaria primers can be effective tools to identify the Turkish root-knot nematode species. Dissemination ratios of the population were 64.2%, 28.4% and 7.3% for Meloidogyne incognita, M. javanica and M. arenaria, respectively. The results showed that M. incognita was the prominent root-knot nematode species in the West Mediterranean coastal areas of Turkey.     

Differences in responsivity of original cupric reducing antioxidant capacity and cupric-bathocuproine sulfonate assays to antioxidant compounds

The cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) method using bathocuproine sulfonate (BCS) as cuprous-chelating ligand claims to be an efficient substitute for the conventional CUPRAC assay using neocuproine; however, differences in their physical chemistry give rise to significantly varying responsivities to antioxidant compounds. The antioxidant capacity due to β-carotene (in acetone or dichloromethane) was fully measurable by conventional CUPRAC but not at all by cupric-BCS assay. Furthermore, CUPRAC exhibits distinctly stronger responses than cupric-BCS to naringenin, α-tocopherol, and bilirubin.