Serum Trace Element Levels in Febrile Convulsion

Febrile convulsion is the most common disorder in childhood with good prognosis. There are different hypotheses about neurotransmitters and trace element changes in biological fluids which can have a role in pathogenesis of febrile convulsion. In this study, serum selenium, zinc, and copper were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry in the children with febrile convulsion (n?=?30) and in the control group (n?=?30). The age and sex of the subjects were registered. Selenium and zinc were found to be significantly lower in febrile convulsion cases than in the control group (p?<?0.0001 and p?<?0.0001, respectively). There was no significant difference in the value of copper between the two groups (p?=?0.16). While selenium and zinc levels were 44.92?±?10.93 μg/l and 66.13?±?18.97 μg/dl in febrile convulsion, they were found to be 62.98?±?9.80 μg/l and 107.87?±?28.79 μg/dl in healthy children. Meanwhile, copper levels were 146.40?±?23.51 μg/dl in the patients and 137.63?±?24.19 μg/dl in the control group, respectively. This study shows that selenium and zinc play an important role in the pathogenesis of febrile convulsion.     

桑蓟马在桑树中空间分布的研究

桑蓟马Pseudodendrothrips mori是桑树的一种主要害虫。它的寄生直接影响供桑叶的质量和产量。我们通过泰勒幂法则和Morisita的散度指标对桑树蓟马在植株和桑园内的空间分布进行检验,结果显示:P.mori种群在植株内和桑园里的分布都存在局部化。桑树中蓟马的分布在树内显示出幼虫蓟马位于低层(从上面叶子起5-10层),但成虫更喜欢上层(从上面叶子起1-5层)。同一植株叶子的不同方向上蓟马密度没有出现明显变化。桑园内蓟马主要分布在桑园东部、南部和北部的植株上,中部,西部植株上的蓟马密度较低。P.mori的成虫和幼虫在叶子上的分布呈现明显聚集化。     

Two-state irreversible thermal denaturation of Euphorbia characias latex amine oxidase

Thermal denaturation of Euphorbia latex amine oxidase (ELAO) has been studied by enzymatic activity, circular dichroism and differential scanning calorimetry. Thermal denaturation of ELAO is shown to be an irreversible process. Checking the validity of two-state it really describes satisfactorily the thermal denaturation of ELAO. Based on this model we obtain the activation energy, parameter T(*) (the absolute temperature at which the rate constant of denaturation is equal to 1 min(-1)), and total enthalpy of ELAO denaturation. HPLC experiments show that the thermal denatured enzyme conserves its dimeric state. The N(2)-->kD(2) model for thermal denaturation of ELAO is proposed: where N(2) and D(2) are the native and denatured dimer, respectively.     

Simultaneous purification and polymerization method for bovine serum albumin preparation

Bovine serum albumin (BSA) has various applications in blood group serology and different research purposes. In this study purification of BSA has been compared with human serum albumin (HSA) using modified ethanol precipitation method based on the method of Cohn. The purification process was carried out under controlled conditions, particularly of ethanol concentration, pH, ionic strength and temperature. It was revealed that the produced BSA and HSA have purity more than 95%. It is obvious that HSA can be used, as a drug when the amount of its polymers is less than 5% whereas polymer generation is required in order to enhance the potentiating properties of BSA in agglutination of red cells. We propose here a simple and rapid two-step method for simultaneously purification and polymerization of BSA. By this method simply BSA with desired amount of polymers was obtained by 40% ethanol concentration.     

Property evaluation of two anticancer candidate platinum complexes with N-isobutyl glycine ligand against human colon cancer

BioMetals - Small molecules have potential usage in cancer therapy due to their remarkable potency of disarranging the natural structure of nucleic acids. In this study, two complexes...     

Predation rate and numerical response of Aphidoletes aphidimyza feeding on different densities of Aphis craccivora

Predation rate and numerical response are basic to any investigation of predator–prey relationships and key components in the selection of predators for biological control. The density-dependent predation rate and numerical response of Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rondani) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) to varying densities (5, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80) of third-instar Aphis craccivora (Koch) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), were studied in laboratory conditions [23±1°C, 70 ± 5% relative humidity (RH), and a photoperiod of 16:8 h L:D. Predation rate data were analysed using the age-stage, two-sex consumption rate software. Net consumption rate (C₀) increased by increasing prey density. The lowest and highest net consumption rates were 20.75 and 190.8 prey nymphs at densities of 5 and 80 A. craccivora. The transformation rate from prey population to predator offspring (Q_p) increased by increasing prey density. The reproductive numerical response, in terms of eggs laid, increased curvilinearly with increasing prey density. Females laid 121.375 ± 4.301 eggs when exposed to the highest prey density (80) and 52.5 ± 1.544 eggs at lowest prey density (5). It can be concluded that different densities of A. craccivora influenced the reproductive performance of A. aphidimyza in terms of predation rate and numerical response.