Responsivenes of total content changes of magnesium and zinc status in patients infected with Giardia intestinalis

The aim of the study was to investigate the changes of total content of the essential elements of zinc and magnesium levels in patients infected with Giardia intestinalis. Zinc and magnesium concentrations were measured in 64 patients who were positive for the intestinal parasite G. intestinalis. Scores were obtained for the positives and their 60 age- and sex-matched G. intestinalis-negative healthy controls. The mean concentration of magnesium in blood was significantly lower in G. intestinalis-positive patients than in their controls both in females (p<0.05) and males (p<0.05). The average zinc concentration in G. intestinalis-positive female patients was 0.76±0.3 mg/L and it was 0.60±0.2 mg/L in controls (p>0.05). The mean values of the zinc in blood were 0.73±0.2 mg/L in G. intestinalis-positive male patients and 0.82±0.1 mg/L in controls (p>0.05). No correlation could be demonstrated between age and mean values of zinc and magnesium in both G. intestinalis-positive females/males and controls (p>0.05). No significant correlation could be found between blood zinc and magnesium levels in G. intestinalis-positive female/male patients and controls (p>0.05). Magnesium levels were found to be clearly decreased, whereas no change was observed in zinc level in the patients infected with G. intestinalis compared to controls.     

Determination of fatty acid profiles,cholesterol and D,E, K vitamin’s content in Astacus leptodactylus caught from wild prior to reproduction period

In this study, fatty acids compositions, fat-soluble vitamins (D, E, and K) and cholesterol in the gonads, hepatopancreas, and abdomen muscle of male and female Astacus leptodactylus caught from wild were determined in their prior of reproduction period. The results showed that in female A. leptodactylus, compared with hepatopancreas, the ovaries contained a significantly high level of C16:0, C16:1n-7, C18:1n-9, C22:6n-3, the ratio of n-3 to n-6 (p < 0.05). In females, the values of δ-tocopherol, α-tocopherol, K₂ and D₂ vitamins, and cholesterol obtained in ovaries were significantly higher than those of obtained in abdomen muscle and hepatopancreas (p < 0.05). In male A. leptodactylus δ-tocopherol was found to be 1.91 μg/g in testes, which is significantly higher than that of abdomen muscle, hepatopancreas, and vasa deferentia (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the findings of present study are especially constructive for both crayfish biologists and farmers for preparing broodstock diets for crayfish at reproduction units.     

Cytoglobin: a potential marker for adipogenic differentiation in preadipocytes in vitro

Obesity, mainly characterized by the excess fat storage, is a global health problem resulting in serious morbidity and mortality. Identification of molecular mechanisms in adipogenic differentiation pathway might lead to development of new strategies for diagnosis, prevention and therapy of obesity and associated diseases. Discovery of new genes and proteins in the differentiation pathway could help to understand the key specific regulators of the adipogenesis. Cytoglobin (Cygb), identified as a new globin family member protein, is expressed in various tissues. Although its interaction with oxygen and nitric oxide indicates the potential role in antioxidant pathways, the exact role remains unclear. In the current study, expression level of Cygb was determined in proliferating and differentiating 3T3-F442A cells by gene expression and protein expression analysis. Results revealed that Cygb expression up-regulated in differentiated cells in parallel with adipogenic differentiation markers; PPARγ, CEBPα and FABP4 expressions. Besides, Cygb overexpression in preadipocytes contributed to the adipogenic differentiation as verified by detection of higher lipid droplets and increased PPARγ, CEBPα and FABP4 expressions with respect to control cells. These findings will shed light on the unknown roles of Cygb in adipogenesis and obesity.     

Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid Magnesium Levels, Glasgow Coma Scores, and In-Hospital Mortality in Patients with Acute Stroke

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) magnesium (Mg⁺²) levels, Glasgow Coma Scores (GCS), and 7-day mortality in acute stroke patients. Patients with acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke arriving within the first 3 h of symptoms were included in the study. The control group consisted of healthy volunteers. GCS was determined, and blood and CSF samples were taken in order to establish serum and CSF glucose, Mg⁺², sodium, potassium, calcium, and chlorine levels. Mortality was recorded at 7 days after admission. CSF Mg⁺² in the ischemic infarct group was significantly lower than in the control group (p = 0.006). CSF Mg⁺² in the ischemic infarct patients with a GCS ≤ 8 were significantly lower (p = 0.002) than controls and in ischemic infarct patients with a GCS ≥9. In the ischemic stroke patients, CSF Mg⁺² and GCS were significantly correlated (r = 55, p = 0.031). CSF Mg⁺² levels in ischemic stroke patients who died within 7 days were significantly lower than controls, ischemic stroke patients who survived, and hemorrhagic stroke patients who died (p = 0.002, p = 0.042, and p = 0.005, respectively). Low CSF Mg⁺² levels in patients with acute ischemic stoke at admission predicted a higher 1-week mortality.     

The protonation equilibria of selected glycine dipeptides in ethanol-water mixture: solvent composition effect

Knowledge of the protonation constants of small dipeptide is important, interesting and necessary for complete understanding of the physiochemical behavior of dipeptide. In this study, the protonation constants of some aliphatic dipeptides (Gly–Gly, Gly–Val, Gly–Leu, Gly–Thr, Gly–Phe and Gly–Met) were studied in water and ethanol–water mixtures [20% ethanol–80% water, 40% ethanol–60% water, 60% ethanol–40% water, (v/v)] at 25 ± 0.1°C under nitrogen atmosphere and ionic strength at 0.10 mol dm⁻³ by potentiometry. The constants of the systems were calculated by using BEST computer program, and distribution species diagrams were produced using the SPE computer program. The protonation constants were influenced by changes in solvent composition, and their variations were discussed in terms of solvent and structural properties. The concentration distribution of the various species in ethanol–water mixtures was evaluated.     

Characterization of mesenchymal stem cells from rat bone marrow: ultrastructural properties,differentiation potential and immunophenotypic markers

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) can differentiate into many lineages. Although the growing interest in BM-MSCs has led to a number of characterization studies, some important biochemical and immunohistochemical properties are still lacking. In this study, morphological and immunophenotypic properties of BM-MSCs were examined in detail. Differentiation potential and growth kinetics of adult rat BM-MSCs were also determined. Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR results indicated that BM-MSCs expressed myogenic (desmin, myogenin, myosin IIa, and α-SMA), neurogenic (γ-enolase, MAP2a,b, c-fos, nestin, GFAP and beta III tubulin), and osteogenic (osteonectin, osteocalcin, osteopontin, Runx-2, BMP-2, BMP-4 and type I collagen) markers without stimulation towards differentiation. These expression patterns indicated why these cells can easily differentiate into multiple lineages both in vitro and in vivo. Ultrastructural characteristics of rBM-MSCs showed more developed and metabolically active cells.