The Interactions of Nitric Oxide and Acetylcholine on Penicillin-Induced Epilepsy in Rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction between nitric oxide (NO) and acetylcholine (ACh) in penicillin-induced experimental epilepsy. Adult male Wistar rats weighing 220 ± 35 g were used in the experiments. The epileptiform activity was induced by microinjection of penicillin (200 IU/1 μl) into the left sensorymotor cortex. Electrocorticogram was recorded by using Ag/AgCl ball electrodes. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO donor, given intracortically 30 min after penicillin significantly reduced the spike frequency whereas ACh increased the epileptiform activity for 5 min. Atropine, an antagonist for muscarinic receptors, was given intracortically 30 min after penicillin and did not significantly affect epileptiform activity for 30 min. SNP given after atropine significantly suppressed the epileptiform activity. ACh given 10 min after Nω-nitro-L: -arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nonspecific nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, did not have a significant effect on spike frequency. When ACh and SNP were administered together, penicillin induced epileptiform activity and spike frequency were significantly suppressed from the 10th minute onwards. It can be concluded that ACh increases the penicillin-induced epileptiform activity while co-administration of ACh and SNP produces a potent anticonvulsant effect as compared to SNP alone.     

Electrical detection of biomolecular adsorption on sprayed graphene sheets

The binding affinities of graphite-binding peptides to a graphite surface were electrically characterized using sprayed graphene field effect transistors (SGFETs) fabricated with solution exfoliated graphene. The binding affinities of these peptides were also characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and mechanically exfoliated graphene field effect transistors (GFETs) to confirm the validity of the SGFET platform. Binding constants obtained via GFET and AFM were comparable with those observed using SGFETs. The sprayed graphene film serves as a scalable platform to study biomolecular adsorption to graphitic surfaces.     

Fracture resistance and analysis of stress distribution of implant-supported single zirconium ceramic coping combination with abutments made of different materials

The purpose of this study was to compare the fracture resistance and fracture mode of single implant-zirconium coping combinations using zirconium and titanium abutments and to analyze the stress distribution pattern using three-dimensional finite elements analysis. Twenty implants with titanium and zirconium abutments were randomly divided into two groups (n = 10) and into resin blocks. Zirconium copings were cemented onto the abutments. The specimens were loaded with 135° angles to the long axis and the load values at the moment of failure were recorded using a universal test machine. Stress levels were calculated according to the maximum Von Mises criteria. The fracture resistances for titanium and zirconium abutment groups were 525.65 N and 514.05 N, respectively. No significant differences were observed between two groups regarding the fracture resistance levels. The maximum Von Mises equivalent stress concentrated on zirconium copings in both of the groups. Implant-abutment-ZrO2 coping combination has the potential to withstand physiological occlusal forces in the anterior region. Three-dimensional finite elements analysis results of the implant-abutment-ZrO2 coping combination is compatible with the results of fracture resistance.     

Genetic differences in bone marrow-derived lymphoid lineages control susceptibility to experimental autoimmune myocarditis

Bone marrow (BM) transplantation has been used to study the cellular basis of genetic control of autoimmune diseases, but conclusions remain elusive due to the contradictory findings in different animal models. In the current study, we found that BM cells from myocarditis-susceptible A.SW mice can render irradiated, myocarditis-resistant B10.S recipient mice susceptible to myosin-induced myocarditis, indicating that hematopoietic cells express the genetic differences controlling susceptibility to autoimmune myocarditis. We then sought to differentiate the role of lymphoid vs nonlymphoid components of BM in the pathogenesis of myocarditis by comparing mixed chimeras receiving BM from A.SW wild-type or RAG(-/-) mice mixed with BM from B10.S wild-type mice. This experiment clearly demonstrated that T and B lymphocytes were indispensable for transferring the susceptible phenotype to disease-resistant recipients. Our findings significantly narrow the cellular expression of genetic polymorphisms controlling the EAM phenotype.     

Antiproliferative effects of some N-benzylideneanilines

A series of Schiff bases including N-benzylideneaniline (NBA) nuclei were prepared. The chemical products obtained were characterized by mass spectometry (APCI), 1H NMR, and IR spectroscopy in order to seek their cytotoxic and proliferation effects on human small lung (A549) and cervical (HeLa) cancer cell lines with biochemical assays. All of the synthesized compounds showed antiproliferative effects to different extents.     

Imaging of primary human hepatocytes performed with micron-sized iron oxide particles and clinical magnetic resonance tomography

Transplantation of primary human hepatocytes is a promising approach in certain liver diseases. For the visualization of the hepa-tocytes during and following cell application and the ability of a timely response to potential complications, a non-invasive modality for imaging the transplanted cells has to be established. The aim of this study was to label primary human hepatocytes with micron-sized iron oxide particles (MPIOs), enabling the detection of cells by clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Primary human hepatocytes isolated from 13 different donors were used for the labelling experiments. Following the dose-finding studies, hepatocytes were incubated with 30 particles/cell for 4 hrs in an adhesion culture. Particle incorporation was investigated via light, fluorescence and electron microscopy, and labelled cells were fixed and analysed in an agarose suspension by a 3.0 Tesla MR scanner. The hepatocytes were enzymatically resuspended and analysed during a 5-day reculture period for viability, total protein, enzyme leakage (aspartate aminotransferase [AST], lactate dehydrogenase [LDH]) and metabolic activity (urea, albumin). A mean uptake of 18 particles/cell could be observed, and the primary human hepatocytes were clearly detectable by MR instrumentation. The particle load was not affected by resuspension and showed no alternations during the culture period. Compared to control groups, labelling and resuspension had no adverse effects on the viability, enzyme leakage and metabolic activity of the human hepatocytes. The feasibility of preparing MPIO-labelled primary human hepatocytes detectable by clinical MR equipment was shown in vitro. MPIO-labelled cells could serve for basic research and quality control in the clinical setting of human hepatocyte transplantation.     

Increased Oxidant Stress and Decreased Antioxidant Status in Erythrocytes of Rats Fed with Zinc-deficient Diet

The aim of this study was to evaluate the lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide (NO), and free radical scavenging enzyme activities in erythrocytes of zinc (Zn)-deficient rats and to investigate the relationship among these parameters in either group. Sixteen male rats with a weight of 40-50 g were used for the experiment. The rats were divided into control (n = 8) and Zn-deficient groups. At the end of the experiment, the animals were anesthetized with ketamine-HCl (Ketalar, 20 mg/kg(-1), i.p.), and the blood was collected by cardiac puncture after thoracotomy. Blood samples were collected in vacutainer tubes without and with K(3)-EDTA as anticoagulant. Erythrocyte catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GRD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, total (enzymatic plus nonenzymatic) superoxide scavenger activity (TSSA), nonenzymatic superoxide scavenger activity (NSSA), antioxidant potential (AOP), and serum zinc (Zn) values in the Zn-deficient group were significantly lower than those of the control group, whereas NO and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly higher than those of the control group. The results show that Zn deficiency causes a decrease in antioxidant defense system and an increase in oxidative stress in erythrocyte of rats.