Trace element and magnesium levels and superoxide dismutase activity in rheumatoid arthritis

It has been suggested that reactive oxygen metabolites and trace elements play some role in the etiology and pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is believed to exert an important protective role against oxygen toxicity. The aim of the study was to investigate the probable changes in the levels of trace elements and SOD activity in RA. Plasma and erythrocyte copper, zinc, and magnesium levels and erythrocyte SOD activity were measured in groups of controls and RA cases. Significantly increased erythrocyte SOD activity was found in RA patients in comparison with controls(p < 0.0001). A rise in erythrocyte Zn level(p < 0.0001) and plasma Cu level(p < 0.0001) and a decrease in erythrocyte Cu level(p < 0.05) and plasma Zn level(p < 0.05) were obtained in RA patients when compared to controls. Plasma and erythrocyte Mg levels of the RA patients showed slight and statistically insignificant reductions when compared to controls(p > 0.05). In RA patients, there were positive correlations between erythrocyte SOD activity and Mg level (r = 0.4345,p < 0.01) and between erythrocyte Zn level and plasma Cu level(r = 0.4132,p < 0.01). There were negative correlations between erythrocyte SOD activity and plasma Zn level(r =-0.3605,p < 0.05) and between plasma Zn level and erythrocyte Cu level(r =-0.4578,p < 0.01) in RA patients. This work was presented at the International Congress on Free Radicals in Health and Disease, 6–10 September 1995, Istanbul, Turkey.     

Re-Evaluation of the AASHTO-Flexible Pavement Design Equation with Neural Network Modeling

Here we establish that equivalent single-axle loads values can be estimated using artificial neural networks without the complex design equality of American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). More importantly, we find that the neural network model gives the coefficients to be able to obtain the actual load values using the AASHTO design values. Thus, those design traffic values that might result in deterioration can be better calculated using the neural networks model than with the AASHTO design equation. The artificial neural network method is used for this purpose. The existing AASHTO flexible pavement design equation does not currently predict the pavement performance of the strategic highway research program (Long Term Pavement Performance studies) test sections very accurately, and typically over-estimates the number of equivalent single axle loads needed to cause a measured loss of the present serviceability index. Here we aimed to demonstrate that the proposed neural network model can more accurately represent the loads values data, compared against the performance of the AASHTO formula. It is concluded that the neural network may be an appropriate tool for the development of databased-nonparametric models of pavement performance.     

Multilocus phylogenetic analysis of true morels (Morchella) reveals high levels of endemics in Turkey relative to other regions of Europe

The present study was conducted to better understand how the phylogenetic diversity of true morels (Morchella) in Turkey compares with species found in other regions of the world. The current research builds on our recently published surveys of 10 Turkish provinces and the northern hemisphere in which DNA sequence data from 247 and 562 collections respectively were analyzed phylogenetically. Herein we report on phylogenetic analyses of 243 additional collections made in spring 2009 and 2010 from eight additional provinces in the Aegean, Black Sea, central Anatolia, eastern Anatolia and Marmara regions of Turkey. Our analysis revealed that five species within the Esculenta clade (yellow morels) and 15 species within the Elata clade (black morels) were present in Turkey. Our preliminary results also indicate that M. anatolica, recently described from a collection in Mu?la province in the Aegean region of Turkey, is a closely related sister of M. rufobrunnea; these two species comprise a separate evolutionary lineage from the Esculenta and Elata clades. Nine species of Morchella currently are known only from Turkey, four species were present in Turkey and other European countries and seven species might have been introduced to Turkey anthropogenically. Three of the putatively exotic species in Turkey appear to be endemic to western North America; they are nested within a clade of fire-adapted morels that dates to the late Oligocene, 25 000 000 y ago. Our results indicate that there are roughly twice as many Morchella species in Turkey compared with the other regions of Europe sampled. Knowledge of Morchella species diversity and their biogeographic distribution are crucial for formulating informed conservation policies directed at preventing species loss and ensuring that annual morel harvests are sustainable and ecologically sound.     

Nitric oxide levels and antioxidant enzyme activities in jaundices of premature infants

Free radicals are effective in the genesis of several diseases in the neonatal period. This study aimed to show the relationship between serum bilirubin levels and plasma nitric oxide and the activity of enzymes in the erythrocyte such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) in premature infants. In the study, 20 premature infants with newborn jaundice were included and the control group was formed by 15 premature infants without jaundice. Venous blood samples were taken from all neonates in the study and control groups on the first day of hospitalization. Plasma nitric oxide levels and activities of SOD, GSH-Px and CAT enzymes in the erythrocytes were investigated in these samples. Plasma nitric oxide and serum bilirubin levels were found to be significantly higher in the study group (47.4 +/- 7.25 micromol l(-1), 18.41 +/- 3.28 mg dl(-1), respectively) than those in the control group (33.46 +/- 6.43 micromol l(-1), 4.35 +/- 0.60 mg dl(-1), respectively; p < 0.001). In addition, erythrocyte SOD, GSH-Px and CAT enzyme activities (724 +/- 78.61, 673 +/- 90.5, 63 +/- 12.8 U g(-1) Hb, respectively) were found to be significantly lower in the study group than those in the control group (1208 +/- 129.04, 1097.6 +/- 75.8, 99.06 +/- 12.4 U g(-1) Hb, respectively, p < 0.001). It was concluded that in the aetiology of hyperbilirubinemia, neonatal erythrocytes and nitric oxide reactions are affected differently and that erythrocyte haemolysis caused as a result of these effects may play a role in the aetiopathogenesis of unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. Haemolysis may also be seen because of the inadequacy of the protection by erythrocytes against the cytotoxic effects of free radicals resulting from the lack of antioxidant enzymes in these cells.     

Predictors of the paroxysmal atrial fibrillation recurrence following cryoballoon-based pulmonary vein isolation: Assessment of left atrial volume,left atrial volume index,galectin-3 level and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio

Background

Cryoballoon-based pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is a treatment option for atrial fibrillation (AF). Left atrial volume (LAV) and left atrial volume index (LAVi) are important parameters for long term success of PVI. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (N/L ratio) are biomarkers to demonstrate the cardiac fibrosis and remodelling.

Proxy Molecular Diagnosis from Whole-Exome Sequencing Reveals Papillon-Lefevre Syndrome Caused by a Missense Mutation in CTSC

Papillon-Lefevre syndrome (PLS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterised by severe early onset periodontitis and palmoplantar hyperkeratosis. A previously reported missense mutation in the CTSC gene (NM_001814.4:c.899G>A:p.(G300D)) was identified in a homozygous state in two siblings diagnosed with PLS in a consanguineous family of Arabic ancestry. The variant was initially identified in a heterozygous state in a PLS unaffected sibling whose whole exome had been sequenced as part of a previous Primary ciliary dyskinesia study. Using this information, a proxy molecular diagnosis was made on the PLS affected siblings after consent was given to study this second disorder found to be segregating within the family. The prevalence of the mutation was then assayed in the local population using a representative sample of 256 unrelated individuals. The variant was absent in all subjects indicating that the variant is rare in Saudi Arabia. This family study illustrates how whole-exome sequencing can generate findings and inferences beyond its primary goal.     

Serum procalcitonin and cerebrospinal fluid cytokines level in children with meningitis

AIMS: To determine the level of serum procalcitonin and cerebrospinal fluid cytokines in children with bacterial or viral meningitis and to document the use of these parameters in differential diagnosis. RESULTS: Before the start of antibiotic treatment, serum procalcitonin and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels were found to be higher in acute bacterial meningitis compared with viral meningitis and with the control group. Similarly, cerebrospinal fluid interleukin-6 levels were found to be significantly higher in children with acute bacterial meningitis compared with viral meningitis. However, no significant difference was determined between groups in respect to the cerebrospinal fluid interleukin-8 level. CONCLUSION: Serum procalcitonin and cerebrospinal fluid tumor necrosis factor alpha levels can be used in the early diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. Similarly, they may be useful adjuncts in differential diagnosis of bacterial and viral meningitis.     

Quantitative Profiling of Long-Chain Bases by Mass Tagging and Parallel Reaction Monitoring

Long-chain bases (LCBs) are both intermediates in sphingolipid metabolism and potent signaling molecules that control cellular processes. To understand how regulation of sphingolipid metabolism and levels of individual LCB species impinge upon physiological and pathophysiological processes requires sensitive and specific assays for monitoring these molecules. Here we describe a shotgun lipidomics method for quantitative profiling of LCB molecules. The method employs a “mass-tag” strategy where LCBs are chemically derivatized with deuterated methyliodide (CD₃I) to produce trimethylated derivatives having a positively charged quaternary amine group. This chemical derivatization minimizes unwanted in-source fragmentation of LCB analytes and prompts a characteristic trimethylaminium fragment ion that enables sensitive and quantitative profiling of LCB molecules by parallel reaction monitoring on a hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Notably, the strategy provides, for the first time, a routine for monitoring endogenous 3-ketosphinganine molecules and distinguishing them from more abundant isomeric sphingosine molecules. To demonstrate the efficacy of the methodology we report an in-depth characterization of the LCB composition of yeast mutants with defective sphingolipid metabolism and the absolute levels of LCBs in mammalian cells. The strategy is generic, applicable to other types of mass spectrometers and can readily be applied as an additional routine in workflows for global lipidome quantification and for functional studies of sphingolipid metabolism.