The Effects of Copper Sulfate on Liver Histology and Biochemical Parameters of Term Ross Broiler Chicks

Copper is an essential trace element that is extremely toxic to organisms and organs at high doses. We have investigated the histological and biochemical effects of a toxic dose of copper sulfate on the liver of term Ross broiler chicks. Fertilized eggs were divided into three groups: experimental, injected with 50 mcg/0.1 ml copper sulfate in the air chambers on day 1; sham, injected with 0.1 ml saline; and control, no injection. Term chicks were killed and their livers investigated histologically, with hematoxylin–eosin-stained sections examined under light microscopy, and biochemically, for malondialdehyde and glutathione levels. Histological examinations showed copper-treated samples with granular degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes and impairment to the cell lining of the remark cords. The samples had a congestive appearance, with blood in the vena centralis and sinusoids, slight connective tissue increase, and lymphocyte infiltration. Control and sham group sections had normal appearances. As oxidative damage parameters, in the copper-treated group, malondialdehyde levels were increased and glutathione levels decreased. In the sham and control groups, there were no significant differences. At this toxic dose, copper sulfate shows oxidative damage according to the histology of term chick liver that are confirmed biochemically by the changes in malondialdehyde and glutathione levels.     

A molecularly imprinted nanofilm‐based quartz crystal microbalance sensor for the real‐time detection of pirimicarb

This study aimed to prepare a novel quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor for the detection of pirimicarb. Pirimicarb‐imprinted poly (ethylene glycol dimethacrylate‐N‐metacryloyl‐(l )‐tryptophan methyl ester) [p (EGDMA‐MATrp)] nanofilm (MIP) on the gold surface of a QCM chip was synthesized using the molecular imprinting technique. A nonimprinted p (EGDMA‐MATrp) nanofilm (NIP) was also synthesized using the same experimental technique. The MIP and NIP nanofilms were characterized via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy, contact angle, atomic force microscopy, and an ellipsometer. A competitive adsorption experiment on the sensor was performed to display the selectivity of the nanofilm. An analysis of the QCM sensor showed that the MIP nanofilm exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity for pirimicarb determination. A liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry method was prepared and validated to determine the accuracy and precision of the QCM sensor. The accuracy and precision of both methods were determined by a comparison of six replicates at three different concentrations to tomato samples extracted by using a Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) method. The limit of detection of the QCM sensor was found to be 0.028 nM. In conclusion, the QCM sensor showed good accuracy, with recovery percentages between 91 and 94%. Also, the pirimicarb‐imprinted QCM sensor exhibited a fast response time, reusability, high selectivity and sensitivity, and a low limit of detection. Therefore, it offers a serious alternative to the traditional analytical methods for pesticide detection in both natural sources and aqueous solutions.     

A new Cephalaria species (Dipsacaceae) from the European part of Turkey

A new species, Cephalaria tuteliana, (Dipsacaceae) from the European part of Turkey is described and illustrated. The characteristics of the new species, and its relationships with Cephalaria tenuiloba is discussed.     

The effect of cyclic anaerobic–aerobic conditions on biodegradation of azo dyes

The effect of cyclic anaerobic–aerobic conditions on the biodegradative capability of the mixed microbial culture for the azo dye Remazol Brilliant Violet 5R (RBV-5R) was investigated in the sequencing batch reactor (SBR) fed with a synthetic textile wastewater. The SBR had a 12-h cycle time with anaerobic–aerobic periods of 3/9, 6/6 and 9/3 h. General SBR performance was assessed by measurement of catabolic enzymes (catechol 2,3-dioxygenase, azo reductase), chemical oxygen demand (COD), color and amount of aromatic amines. In this study, under steady-state conditions, the anaerobic period of the cyclic SBR was found to allow the reductive decolorization of azo dye. Longer anaerobic periods resulted in higher color removal efficiencies, approximately 71% for the 3-h, 87% for 6-h and 92% for the 9-h duration. Total COD removal efficiencies were over 84% under each of the cyclic conditions and increased as the length of the anaerobic period was increased; however, the highest color removal rate was attained for the cycle with the shortest anaerobic period of 3 h. During the decolorization of RBV-5R, two sulfonated aromatic amines (benzene based and naphthalene based) were formed. Additionally, anaerobic azo reductase enzyme was found to be positively affected with the increasing duration of the anaerobic period; however; it was vice versa for the aerobic catechol 2,3-dioxygenase (C23DO) enzyme.     

Lithium-Induced Hypothyroidism: Oxidative Stress and Osmotic Fragility Status in Rats

The present study was conducted to explore the possible effects of different doses of lithium carbonate on thyroid functions, erythrocyte oxidant–antioxidant status, and osmotic fragility. Twenty-four Wistar-type male rats were equally divided into three groups: groups I and II received 0.1 and0.2 % lithium carbonate in their drinking water, respectively, for 30 days. The rats in group III served as controls, drinking tap water without added lithium. At the end of the experimental period, the erythrocyte osmotic fragility and the levels of triiodothyronine (T₃), thyroxine (T₄), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH) were measured in blood samples. Compared to controls, there was a statistically significant increase of TSH but decreases of the T₃ and T₄ levels in group II. Both experimental groups showed a statistically significant increase of the maximum osmotic fragility limit. The minimum osmotic fragility values of the animals in group II were statistically higher than those of controls. The standard hemolytic increment curve of both experimental groups was shifted to the right when compared to the curve obtained from the controls. Also, relative to controls, the activities of MDA and SOD were significantly higher and the GSH level lower in group II, but not so in group I. The results of the present study show that treatment with lithium carbonate may result in thyroid function abnormalities, increased oxidative damage, and possible compromise of the erythrocyte membrane integrity resulting from increased osmotic fragility.     

PpGRAS12 acts as a positive regulator of meristem formation in Physcomitrium patens

Plant Molecular Biology - This study focused on the key regulatory function of Physcomitrium patens GRAS12 gene underlying an increasing plant complexity, an important step in plant...     

The Long-Term Dynamics of Mortality Benefits from Improved Water and Sanitation in Less Developed Countries

The problem of inadequate access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in less-developed nations has received much attention over the last several decades (most recently in the Millennium Development Goals), largely because diseases associated with such conditions contribute substantially to mortality in poor countries. We present country-level projections for WASH coverage and for WASH-related mortality in developing regions over a long time horizon (1975–2050) and provide dynamic estimates of the economic value of potential reductions in this WASH-related mortality, which go beyond the static results found in previous work. Over the historical period leading up to the present, our analysis shows steady and substantial improvements in WASH coverage and declining mortality rates across many developing regions, namely East Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The economic value of potential health gains from eliminating mortality attributable to poor water and sanitation has decreased substantially, and in the future will therefore be modest in these regions. Where WASH-related deaths remain high (in parts of South Asia and much of Sub-Saharan Africa), if current trends continue, it will be several decades before economic development and investments in improved water and sanitation will result in the capture of these economic benefits. The fact that health losses will likely remain high in these two regions over the medium term suggests that accelerated efforts are needed to improve access to water and sanitation, though the costs and benefits of such efforts in specific locations should be carefully assessed.     

Calcium hypochlorite on mouse embryonic fibroblast cells (NIH3T3) in vitro cytotoxicity and genotoxicity: MTT and comet assay

Molecular Biology Reports - Antimicrobial irrigation solutions are widely used under clinical settings. Their effect on dental tissue is a subject of recent research, which aims for a safer...     

ICAM1 K469E and E-selectin S128R polymorphisms could predispose to increased autoantibody production and TSH suppression in Graves’ disease

The etiopathogenesis of Graves’ disease (GD) has not been clearly elucidated although the role of chronical inflammation and endothelial dysfunction has been established. Adhesion molecules such as intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1), and E-selectin are secreted from vascular endothelium and promote accummulation of leukocytes in damaged endothelial areas. This study examined the possible association of ICAM1 (G241R and K469E), VCAM1 (T-1591C and T-833C), and E-selectin (S128R) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with the occurence of GD. ICAM1 (G241R and K469E), VCAM1 (T-1591C and T-833C), and E-selectin (S128R) SNPs in DNA from peripheral blood leukocytes of 171 patients with GD and 259 healthy controls were investigated by real-time PCR combined with melting curve analysis using fluorescence-labeled hybridization probes. We did not find significant differences in the distributions of studied polymorphisms, nor in the haplotype frequencies between patients with GD and healthy control. However, the anti-TPO levels in E-selectin 128R allele carrying subjects (SR + RR) were higher than S128S genotype (p < 0.05). In addition, the decline of TSH levels was more prominent in ICAM1 469 E carrying subjects (KE + EE) in comparison with wild homozygotes (p < 0.05). Although there is not assosiation between ICAM1 (G241R and K469E), VCAM1 (T-1591C and T-833C), and E-selectin (S128R) SNPs and susceptibility to GD, higher anti-TPO in E-selectin 128 SR + RR, and lower TSH in ICAM1 469 KE + EE subjects suspect that these genotypes are prone to increased antithyroid autoantibody production with more accentuated TSH suppression in GD. Further studies with a larger cohort, analyzing other polymorphisms in ICAM, VCAM1 and E-selectin genes are necessary to support our observations.