Şerefköy-2, a new Late Miocene mammal locality from the Yatağan Formation,Muğla,SW Turkey

Here we report on a new fossil locality, ?erefköy-2, from the Yata?an Basin of southwestern Turkey that preserves a well-sampled, abundant, and diverse mammal fauna. Indeed, after three field seasons, more than 1200 catalogued specimens representing 26 mammal species belonging to 14 genera make the ?erefköy-2 mammalian assemblage one of the richest Late Miocene fauna from Anatolia. Five hipparionines, six bovids, including the rare and enigmatic Urmiatherium rugosifrons and the presence of Pliohyrax graecus, strongly support affinities with Late Miocene faunas from Samos Island, Greece. Through a consideration of the identified material and the subsequent comparison with material from well-known Balkan and Anatolian faunas, a Middle Turolian (MN12) age for ?erefköy-2 is indicated.     

A quantitative trait locus for long photoperiod response mapped on chromosome 4H in barley

Photoperiod response is a key determinant for barley adaptation to diverse environments. A major quantitative trait locus (QTL) for response to long photoperiod was identified in Australia (Perth, 31°56??S) and China (Wuhan, 30°33??N) using 178 doubled haploid lines derived from a cross of an Australian barley, Baudin, and a Canadian barley, AC Metcalfe. The QTL was detected as a major QTL in the 18-h photoperiod glasshouse experiments and mapped to the Xp12m50B199?CXp13m47B399 interval on chromosome 4H with a LOD score of 57 in Australia and confirmed in China. The single QTL accounted for 77.48 and 37.81% of phenotypic variation for long photoperiod response in Australia and China, respectively. The same QTL also controlled heading date in Australia, under normal and extended photoperiod conditions, and in China, under extended photoperiod and late-sown conditions. The QTL advanced heading date by 27.8?days in Australia and 42.5?days in China under a 18-h photoperiod. In addition, QTL for heading date were identified on chromosomes 2H and 3H. The chromosome 3H QTL was associated with the denso gene and detected in all conditions, but the chromosome 2H QTL was only detected in Australia. The new photoperiod response QTL, Qhea.BM.4-13/Qpho.BM.4-13, on chromosome 4H and its associated markers will provide an alternative for plant breeders developing new varieties for different environments using marker-assisted selection.     

Biepicondylar fracture presenting with elbow dislocation: a case report

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Biepicondylar fracture of the elbow is very rare, and to date there have only been three reports of this injury and its treatment in the English scientific literature. This case report evaluates the surgical internal fixation of a biepicondylar fracture of the elbow with an associated dislocation. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 15-year-old Turkish girl with a biepicondylar fracture dislocation of the left elbow. Open reduction and an internal fixation operation were applied. There were no complications. CONCLUSION: In these injuries, open reduction and internal fixation appear to be a good method to restore elbow stability and function.     

CHEK2 1100delC, IVS2+1G>A and I157T mutations are not present in colorectal cancer cases from Turkish population

BackgroundThe cell cycle checkpoint kinase 2 (CHEK2) protein participates in the DNA damage response in many cell types. Germline mutations in CHEK2 (1100delC, IVS2+1G>A and I157T) have been impaired serine/threonine kinase activity and associated with a range of cancer types. This hospital-based case–control study aimed to investigate whether CHEK2 1100delC, IVS2+1G>A and I157T mutations play an important role in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Turkish population.MethodsA total of 210 CRC cases and 446 cancer-free controls were genotyped for CHEK2 mutations by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and allele specific-polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR) methods.ResultsWe did not find the CHEK2 1100delC, IVS2+1G>A and I157T mutations in any of the Turkish subjects.ConclusionOur result demonstrate for the first time that CHEK2 1100delC, IVS2+1G>A and I157T mutations have not been agenetic susceptibility factor for CRC in the Turkish population. Overall, our data suggest that genotyping of CHEK2 mutations in clinical settings in the Turkish population should not be recommended. However, independent studies are need to validate our findings in a larger series, as well as in patients of different ethnic origins.     

Intraperitoneal Alpha-Lipoic Acid to prevent neural damage after crush injury to the rat sciatic nerve

The hypothesis is explored that CRPS I (the "new" RSD) persists due to undiagnosed injured joint afferents, and/or cutaneous neuromas, and/or nerve compressions, and is, therefore, a misdiagnosed form of CRPS II (the "new" causalgia). An IRB-approved, retrospective chart review on a series of 100 consecutive patients with "RSD" identified 40 upper and 30 lower extremity patients for surgery based upon their history, physical examination, neurosensory testing, and nerve blocks. Based upon decreased pain medication usage and recovery of function, outcome in the upper extremity, at a mean of 27.9 months follow-up (range of 9 to 81 months), gave results that were excellent in 40% (16 of 40 patients), good in 40% (16 of 40 patients) and failure 20% (8 of 40 patients). In the lower extremity, at a mean of 23.0 months follow-up (range of 9 to 69 months) the results were excellent in 47% (14 of 30 patients), good in 33% (10 of 30 patients) and failure 20% (6 of 30 patients). It is concluded that most patients referred with a diagnosis of CRPS I have continuing pain input from injured joint or cutaneous afferents, and/or nerve compressions, and, therefore, similar to a patient with CRPS II, they can be treated successfully with an appropriate peripheral nerve surgical strategy.     

Effects of scrotal hyperthermia on Leydig cells in long-term: a histological,immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study in rats

We have previously demonstrated that scrotal hyperthermia induce Leydig cell (LC) damage in short-term. The objectives of this pilot study were to investigate morphological changes and regulation of steroidogenesis on LC in long-term and the time of observation were extended to investigate whether the LC would eventually make a recovery after scrotal hyperthermia. The rats were randomly allotted into one of four groups: A (control), B (70 days after scrotal hyperthermia), C (105 days after scrotal hyperthermia), D (140 days after scrotal hyperthermia); each group contain seven animals. Scrotal hyperthermia was carried out in a thermostatically controlled water bath at 43°C for 30 min once daily for six consecutive days. Control rats were treated in the same way, except the testes were immersed in a water bath maintained at 22°C. Hyperthermia applied rats were sacrificed under 50 mg/kg ketamine anaesthesia after 70, 105 and 140 days, and biopsy materials of testes were obtained for light and electron microscopic examinations. Morphologically normal and the number of testosterone positive LC was significantly higher in 140 days after last heat than all other heat treatment groups. In heat treated groups, a dilated smooth endoplasmic reticulum, swollen mitochondria, and vanished mitochondrial cristae were observed. In the 140 days after scrotal hyperthermia, the severities of degenerative changes of LC were less than that observed in the other heat treated groups. We conclude that, scrotal hyperthermia cause morphological damaging and impaired steroidogenesis in LC and recovery of these findings were noted first time in 140 days after the last heat treatment.