Evaluation of the gonial angle in the Anatolian populations: from past to present

Biometrical studies on ancient skeletal series and comparison with modern people by using radiological methods are quite limited in Turkey. Previous studies showed that measurements obtained from orthopantomographs are highly correlated with the actual size of the bones. The aim of the present study is to determine the possible change in gonial angle over time in ancient Anatolian populations with the present. Also an aim was attempted to demonstrate the symmetry of the gonial angle in the jaws and the sexual dimorphism. Gonial angle values (right and left) were taken from 267 Turkish adults with no craniomandibular disorders, orthodontic history or treatment by using panoramic radiographs. Data of the past populations were collected from previous studies. Comparison between right and left sides and the sexual differences were tested by paired student t-test and discriminant analyses were conducted. The results showed that there were no significant differences between the right and left gonial angles of the individuals but there was a significant difference at the left gonial angle between sexes (p < 0.01). Furthermore, no statistically significant difference was found for the gonial angle between the selected past populations with the present sample.     

Copper-induced oxidative damage, antioxidant response and genotoxicity in Lycopersicum esculentum Mill. and Cucumis sativus L.

Adequate copper (Cu²⁺) concentrations are required for plants; however, at higher concentrations it can also cause multiple toxic effects. In the present study, lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide levels as well as ascorbate peroxidase (APX: EC 1/11/1/11) and catalase (CAT: EC 1.11.1.6) activities were determined in Lycopersicum esculentum Mill. and Cucumis sativus L. seedlings after 7-day exposure to copper sulfate. In addition, DNA damage in these two crops was assessed by measuring micronucleus (MN) frequency and tail moments (TM) as determined by Comet assay. Inhibitory copper concentrations (EC₅₀: 30 and 5.5 ppm for L. esculentum and C. sativus, respectively) were determined according to dose-dependent root inhibition curves, and EC₅₀ and 2×EC₅₀ were applied. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and H₂O₂ levels significantly increased in all groups studied. CAT activity increased in treatment groups of C. sativus. APX activity increased in L. esculentum seedlings due to 2×EC₅₀ treatment. Reductions in mitotic indices (MI) represented Cu²⁺dependent root growth inhibition in all treatment groups studied. According to TMs and MN frequencies, copper exposure induced significant DNA damage (p < 0.05) in all study groups, whereas the DNA damage induced was dose dependent in C. sativus roots. In conclusion, Cu²⁺induced oxidative damage, elevations in H₂O₂ levels and alterations in APX and CAT activities, as well as significant DNA damage in nuclei of both study groups. To our knowledge, this is the first comparative and comprehensive study demonstrating the effects of copper on two different plant species at relevant cytotoxic concentrations at both biochemical and genotoxicity levels with multiple end points.     

Description of Ortheziolamameti tranfagliai new species (Hemiptera,Coccoidea, Ortheziidae) from India

This paper describes a new Ortheziolamameti species from the Oriental region (India), namely Ortheziolamameti tranfagliai Konczné Benedicty, sp. n. The examined material was extracted from forest litter from India, using Berlese funnels. With this new species the genus Ortheziolamameti now includes six species. An identification key and distribution map are provided.     

Clock gene PERIOD3 polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to Graves’ disease but not to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

ABSTRACT

Circadian disruption has been linked with immune-related morbidities including autoimmune diseases. PERIOD3 (PER3) clock gene is a key player in the mammalian circadian system. This study evaluated the possible association of PER3 rs2797685 (G/A) polymorphism and susceptibility of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) and assessed if this SNP contributes to disease characteristics and serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The PER3 rs2797685 (G/A) polymorphism was assessed in 125 patients with AITD [Graves’ disease (GD), 69; Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT), 56] and 115 unrelated healthy controls. Subjects carrying at least one variant allele of PER3 rs2797685 (GA+AA) had increased risk for GD (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1–3.61, p= .05). There were no differences in the frequencies of genotypes and alleles of the PER3 rs2797685 polymorphism between HT patients and control subjects. No association was observed between genotypes of the studied SNP and any of the disease characteristics in GD and HT patients. The GA+AA genotype of PER3 rs2797685 was associated with lower levels of IL-6 in patients with Graves’ disease. There were no differences between genotypes of the studied SNP regarding TNF-α levels in GD, HT or control groups. In conclusion, this study provides the first evidence for a genetic association between GD and the PER3 gene, highlighting the possible relevance of polymorphisms in clock genes in the etiopathogenesis of AITD. However, functional studies to identify the underlying molecular mechanisms of this association are needed to translate these findings to clinical applications.     

Pesta granule trials with Aspergillus alliaceus for the biocontrol of Orobanche spp.

The pathogenic fungus Aspergillus alliaceus has been shown to have potential for the biocontrol of Orobanche spp. (broomrape), a root parasitic plant. The effectiveness of A. alliaceus in reducing Orobanche infection was analysed using pesta granules prepared with different food formulations. The results showed that pesta granules comprising of fungal mycelia/spore mixtures from liquid and solid culture, sclerotia and fungal mycelia reduced Orobanche infection to a greater extent in below ground conditions when applied early and at high doses before crop sowing. In addition, pesta granules eliminated the risk of broomrape contamination within a 0.2–0.3 cm diameter of the granules. The sclerotial pathogenicity of A. alliaceus was compared with those of other fungi reported in other studies. In addition, some morphological and histological studies on the fungal pathogenicity on broomrape plants after infection are presented. The present study reveals the potential of sclerotial A. alliaceus pesta granule applications for long-term broomrape biocontrol under field conditions.     

PON1 55 and 192 Gene Polymorphisms in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in a Turkish Population

Diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial metabolic disease, caused by the complete or relative absence of insulin hormone, which results in the deterioration of carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism. The PON1 55 and 192 polymorphisms have been reported to be associated with type 2 diabetes and its complications. In this study, the involvement of the PON1 55 and 192 polymorphisms and paraoxonase enzyme activity in diabetic complications was assessed. The MM and QQ genotypes were the most frequent in complications of type 2 diabetes in both of the polymorphisms. PON enzyme activity was lower in the type 2 diabetes group with respect to the control group. Regarding both genotypes and enzyme activity, correlations were found between the PON1 55 and 192 genotypes and diabetic complications. This study thus helps to outline a genotype?Cphenotype relation for the PON1 gene in a Turkish population.