Changes in Serum Mineral Concentrations,Biochemical and Hematological Parameters in Horses with Pica

The aim of this study was to compare hematological, some biochemical parameters, and serum trace element concentrations in horses with or without pica. Fifteen horses with pica (group I) and another 15 healthy horses without pica (group II) were used. The hematological parameters were not changed between the two groups. In group I, hemoglobin values were lower than those of group II. However, the difference in hemoglobin values between the two groups was not significant (P > 0.05). Serum iron and copper concentrations and the copper/zinc ratio were lower in group I than those of group II (P < 0.05). The other biochemical parameters were not found to be statistically different between the two groups (P > 0.05). It was concluded that serum iron and copper deficiency may play an important role for the etiology of pica in horses. Prophylactic use of iron and copper supplements in horses may be beneficial to prevent pica.     

Comparison of aneuploidy frequencies between in vitro matured and unstimulated cycles oocytes by metaphase comparative genomic hybridization (mCGH)

A common observation after in vitro matured oocyte is that they yield poorer embryo quality compared to their in vivo counterparts. This study was designed to assess chromosomal status with metaphase comparative genomic hybridization after in vitro maturation (IVM) in unstimulated cycles and compare the results with those obtained after in vivo maturation. Patients without any obstetrical or gynecological pathology were admitted into the study. IVM oocytes were collected 36 h post hCG and matured in vitro at 37°C in 5% O₂, 6% CO₂, and 89% air for 36 h. All matured (metaphase II) oocytes were subject to polar body 1 (PB-1) biopsy and vitrified individually. PB-1 samples were transferred into 0.25 cc PCR tubes containing 2.5 μl of PBS. PB-1 samples from 12 IVM patients were studied. Twenty-six out of 63 PB-1 samples (41%) were determined as euploid and 37 samples (59%) were aneuploid, whereas these values were 42% euploid and 58% aneuploid in the control group (in vivo matured oocytes). No statistical differences were found between the IVM and the control groups for euploid–aneuploid samples (P = 0.900). More aneuploidy was observed on chromosomes 11, 13, 15, 21, and 22 after IVM. Results show a non-significant rate of abnormal PB-1 formation after IVM compared to in vivo maturation. More aneuploidy was observed in chromosomes 11, 13, 15, 21, and 22 in the IVM group.     

Investigation of relationship between IL-6 gene variants and hypertension in Turkish population

Hypertension (HT) is a common and life threating health problem worldwide leading to stroke, heart attack and renal failure. It is characterized by elevated blood pressure forced heart load. Human interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C- reactive protein (CRP) are known to be involved in inflammatory processes. IL-6 gene is a polymorphic gene which −174 G/C is a common and −572 G/C is a rare polymorphisms identified in promoter region. Publications on IL-6 gene polymorphisms raised the question whether this gene polymorphisms lead to susceptibility to HT or not. To investigate the effects of IL-6 gene −174 G/C (rs 1800795) and −572 G/C (rs1800796) polymorphisms on plasma IL-6 and CRP levels and their associations with hypertension disease in Turkish population we analyzed −174 G/C and −572 G/C polymorphisms and plasma IL-6 and CRP levels in 111 healthy controls and 108 hypertension patients from Adıyaman, Turkey. We determined the genotypes using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and analyzed plasma levels of IL-6 by ELISA and CRP by automated standard biochemical methods. We have found no statistically significant differences between IL-6 gene −174 G/C and −572 G/C genotypes and allelic frequencies and IL-6 and CRP plasma levels and HT (p > 0.05). No CC genotype was found in control subjects for −572 G/C polymorphism. In conclusion, we found relation to −174 G/C and −572 G/C gene variants between neither IL-6 and CRP levels nor hypertension. The −572 G allele and GG genotype are predominant in Turkish population in Adıyaman, Turkey whereas the CC genotype is very rare.     

Effects of dietary genistein on nutrient use and mineral status in heat-stressed quails.

Genistein is a powerful antioxidant and plays a role in calcium and bone metabolism. We evaluated the efficacy of dietary supplementation with genistein on the nutrient use and mineral concentrations in tibia and serum of quails reared at high environmental temperature (34 degrees C). Two hundred and forty Japanese quails (10 days old) were randomly assigned to 8 treatment groups consisting of 10 replicates of 3 birds. The birds were kept in a temperature-controlled room at 22 degrees C (Thermoneutral, TN groups) or 34 degrees C (for 8 h/d; 09.00 am-05.00 pm; Heat stress, HS groups). Birds were fed either a basal diet (TN and HS) or the basal diet supplemented with 200, 400 or 800 mg of genistein/kg of diet. Heat exposure decreased apparent nutrient digestibility and bone mineralization when the basal diet was fed (P < 0.001). Apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM) (P < 0.05), crude protein (CP) (P < 0.05) and ash (P < 0.01) was significantly improved by genistein supplementation. However, this improvement was not in direct proportion to increased doses of supplement since there was no difference when diets included either 400 or 800 mg genistein/kg of diet (P < 0.05) in birds reared under heat stress. The amounts of Ca, P, Mg, Mn, Zn, Fe and Cu in the excreta decreased (P < 0.01), while Ca, P, Mg, Mn, Zn and Cu concentrations in tibia ash increased in quails reared under heat stress conditions (P < 0.01) with genistein supplementation. Ca and P concentrations in tibia ash were also increased in birds kept under thermoneutral conditions with genistein supplementation. Increased serum alkaline phosphatase activity (P < 0.01) was associated with increasing dietary genistein in all groups. In conclusion, genistein supplementation to the basal diet improved digestibility of CP, DM and ash and levels of Ca and P and bone mineralization in quails reared under heat stress conditions.     

Efficient in vitro regeneration of fireweed,a medicinal plant

Epilobium angustifolium L. (fireweed) is a medicinal plant that has been used to treat diarrhea, mucous colitis, irritable-bowel syndrome, skin problems, prostate problems, menstrual disorders, asthma, whooping cough, and hiccups. A highly efficient and rapid regeneration system via multiple shoot formation was developed for fireweed. Explants (leaf, petiole, root, and stem segments) excised from sterile seedlings were cultured on medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of various plant growth regulators. Explant browning, a major problem for regeneration, was overcome by adding 100 mg/l ascorbic acid to all prepared media containing growth regulator combinations. Root explants formed more shoots than other explants. Best shoot proliferation was obtained from root explants cultured on media with 0.1 mg/l BA and 0.5 mg/l IAA. Regenerated shoots were transferred to rooting media containing different concentrations of IAA, IBA, NAA or 2,4-D. Most shoots developed roots on medium with 0.5 mg/l IAA. Rooted explants were transferred to vermiculate in Magenta containers for acclimatization and after 3 weeks they were planted in to plastic pots containing potting soil and maintained in the plant growth room.     

Bacterial Cyanuric Acid Hydrolase for Water Treatment

Di- and trichloroisocyanuric acids are widely used as water disinfection agents, but cyanuric acid accumulates with repeated additions and must be removed to maintain free hypochlorite for disinfection. This study describes the development of methods for using a cyanuric acid-degrading enzyme contained within nonliving cells that were encapsulated within a porous silica matrix. Initially, three different bacterial cyanuric acid hydrolases were compared: TrzD from Acidovorax citrulli strain 12227, AtzD from Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP, and CAH from Moorella thermoacetica ATCC 39073. Each enzyme was expressed recombinantly in Escherichia coli and tested for cyanuric acid hydrolase activity using freely suspended or encapsulated cell formats. Cyanuric acid hydrolase activities differed by only a 2-fold range when comparing across the different enzymes with a given format. A practical water filtration system is most likely to be used with nonviable cells, and all cells were rendered nonviable by heat treatment at 70°C for 1 h. Only the CAH enzyme from the thermophile M. thermoacetica retained significant activity under those conditions, and so it was tested in a flowthrough system simulating a bioreactive pool filter. Starting with a cyanuric acid concentration of 10,000 μM, more than 70% of the cyanuric acid was degraded in 24 h, it was completely removed in 72 h, and a respike of 10,000 μM cyanuric acid a week later showed identical biodegradation kinetics. An experiment conducted with water obtained from municipal swimming pools showed the efficacy of the process, although cyanuric acid degradation rates decreased by 50% in the presence of 4.5 ppm hypochlorite. In total, these experiments demonstrated significant robustness of cyanuric acid hydrolase and the silica bead materials in remediation.     

Immobilization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus oryzae</Emphasis> β-galactosidase on low-pressure plasma-modified cellulose acetate membrane using polyethyleneimine for production of galactooligosaccharide

The aim of this study was to produce galactooligosaccharides (GOS) from lactose using β-galactosidase from Aspergillus oryzae immobilized on a low-pressure plasma-modified cellulose acetate (CA) membrane. Specifically, a novel method was developed for multilayer enzyme immobilization involving polyethyleneimine (PEI)-enzyme aggregate formation and growth on a CA membrane. A large amount of enzyme (997 μg/cm² membrane) was immobilized with 66% efficiency. The K _m value for the immobilized enzyme was estimated to be 48 mM, which indicates decreased affinity for the substrate, whereas the Vmax value was smaller. The immobilized enzyme showed good storage and operational stability. The half-life of the immobilized enzyme on the membrane was about 1 month at 30°C and ∼ 60 h at 60°C. Maximum GOS production of 27% (w/w) was achieved with 70% lactose conversion from 320 g/L of lactose at pH 4.5 and 60°C. Trisaccharides were the major types of GOS formed and accounted for about 75% of the total GOS produced. Based on these results, immobilized enzyme technology could be applied to GOS production from lactose.     

Short-Term Oral Magnesium Supplementation Suppresses Bone Turnover in Postmenopausal Osteoporotic Women

Magnesium has been shown to increase bone mineral density when used in the treatment of osteoporosis, yet its mechanism of action is obscure. In this study, the effects of daily oral magnesium supplementation on biochemical markers of bone turnover were investigated. Twenty postmenopausal women have been divided into two groups. Ten patients were given magnesium citrate (1,830 mg/day) orally for 30 days. Ten postmenopausal women of matching age, menopause duration, and BMI were recruited as the control group and followed without any medication. Fasting blood and first-void urine samples were collected on days 0, 1, 5, 10, 20, and 30, respectively. Total magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, iPTH and osteocalcin were determined in blood samples. Deoxypyridinoline levels adjusted for creatinine were measured in urine samples. Thirty consecutive days of oral magnesium supplementation caused significantly decrease in serum iPTH levels in the Mg-supplemented group (p < 0.05). Serum osteocalcin levels were significantly increased (p < 0.001) and urinary deoxypyridinoline levels were decreased (p < 0.001) in the Mg-supplemented group. This study has demonstrated that oral magnesium supplementation in postmenopausal osteoporotic women suppresses bone turnover.