Anti-inflammatory cytokines in gingival crevicular fluid in patients with periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis: a preliminary report

Cytokines which are produced by host cells play an important role in pathogenesis both rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and chronic periodontitis (CP). In this study, we aim to investigate the levels of Interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). Seventeen patients with CP, 17 patients with RA and 17 healthy controls (HC) were included. The RA group was divided into two groups according to gingival sulcus depths (RA-a: PD < or =3mm, (n=12), RA-b: PD>3mm, (n=5)). For each patient, clinical parameters were recorded. The GCF samples were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for IL-4 and IL-10 levels. IL-4 levels in the RA-a, RA-b and CP subjects were significantly lower compared to the HC subjects (p<0.05). The mean level of IL-4 in RA-b group was significantly higher than that in CP group (p<0.05). IL-10 mean level in the HC group was higher than those in the other groups (p<0.05). In the RA-a group, higher IL-10 level was found compared to the CP patients (p<0.05). Within the limitations of this preliminary report, it can be concluded that the initiation and progression of periodontal inflammation may be due to a lack or inappropriate response of the anti-inflammatory cytokines in both CP and RA.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">CAT</Emphasis> C-262T and <Emphasis Type="Italic">GPX1</Emphasis> Pro198Leu polymorphisms in a Turkish population

Oxidative stress is believed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of considerable number of complex diseases. The antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) are important components of cell defense against oxidative stress, and polymorphisms in the genes which regulate their expression may contribute to differences in susceptibility of individuals to oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species. The aim of this study was to assess the distribution of CAT C-262T and GPX1 Pro198Leu genotypic variants in a Turkish population. Genotyping analyses of CAT and GPX1 were conducted in 250 unrelated, healthy volunteers by the PCR-RFLP assay. The allele frequencies were 0.784 (C) and 0.216 (T) for CAT and 0.636 (C) and 0.364 (T) for GPX1 Pro198Leu. The genotype frequencies were 0.632 (CC), 0.304 (CT), and 0.064 (TT) for CAT and 0.416 (CC), 0.44 (CT), and 0.144 (TT) for GPX1 Pro198Leu. The genotype frequencies did not deviate from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. The results are compared with those of other reported populations. They showed marked ethnic group differences.     

Partial trisomy 18q11.2-->qter due to de novo unbalanced translocation of chromosomes 15 and 18 analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization

This report presents a case with partial trisomy 18q resulting from de novo unbalanced translocation of chromosomes 15 and 18 displaying the features of pure trisomy. This is the first reported case with partial trisomy 18q due to unbalanced translocation between chromosomes 15 and 18. Clinical findings of our case have been compared with the reported cases' had partial trisomy 18q and the importance to recognize the cases with chromosome abnormalities to give genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for subsequent pregnancies has emphasized.     

The effects of magnesium sulfate on blood-brain barrier disruption caused by intracarotid injection of hyperosmolar mannitol in rats

The study was performed to evaluate whether magnesium sulfate could alter the degree of disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) caused by hyperosmotic mannitol. Wistar adult female rats were infused with 25% mannitol into the left internal carotid artery. Each animal received intraperitoneally a 300 mg/kg loading dose of magnesium sulfate, dissolved in 0.9% saline, followed by a further 100 mg/kg dose. In the other group, intracarotid infusion of magnesium sulfate was performed at a dose of 150 mg/kg 10 min before mannitol administration. Evans blue (EB) dye was used as a marker of BBB disruption. The measured serum glucose and magnesium levels increased after mannitol and/or magnesium administration when compared with their initial values before treatment (P < 0.01). Water content of the left hemisphere was significantly increased by hyperosmotic mannitol (P < 0.01). The increased water content in the mannitol-perfused hemisphere was significantly decreased by magnesium treatment (P < 0.05). The content of EB dye in the mannitol-perfused hemisphere markedly increased when compared with the right hemisphere of the same brain (P < 0.01). The EB dye content in the mannitol-perfused hemisphere following both intraperitoneal and intraarterial administration of magnesium decreased when compared with mannitol alone (P < 0.01). We conclude that although magnesium sulfate administration by both intracarotid arterial and intraperitoneal routes attenuates BBB disruption caused by hyperosmolar mannitol, particularly intraperitoneal route of magnesium sulfate administration may provide a useful strategy to limit the transient osmotic opening of the BBB.     

Electronic structure modeling of dinuclear copper(II)-methacrylic acid complex by density functional theory

A dinuclear centrosymmetric copper(II) complex with the formula [Cu₂(μ-maa)₄(maaH)₂] has been synthesized and experimentally characterized by IR, electronic spectroscopy, and X-ray single-crystal diffractometry. Starting from experimental X-ray geometry and using antiferromagnetic singlet ground state, gas phase geometry optimization was performed by density functional hybrid (B3LYP) method with 6-31G(d) and LANL2DZ basis sets. Gas-phase vibrational frequencies and single point energy (SPE) calculations have been carried out at the geometry-optimized structure. Molecular electrostatic potential calculated at the optimized geometry and natural bond orbital analysis data have been extracted from SPE output. The gas-phase electronic transitions of the title complex were investigated by the time dependent-density functional theory (TD-DFT) approach with the same theory employing LANL2DZ basis set. Also the calculated UV-Vis based upon TD-DFT results and IR spectra were simulated for comparison with the experimental ones.     

What colour of flowers do Lepidoptera prefer for foraging?

Food plant preferences of some Lepidoptera species associated with particular colour of the flowers were investigated. Based on 1,329 field observations of 43 Lepidoptera and 66 plant species, Lepidoptera showed a high tendency (G-test, G _adj = 698.6, df = 6, P < 0.001) to use the yellow (29%) and pink (28%) coloured flowers for foraging. Compared to the other colours it was evident that plants with red flowers (2%) were not preferred. Moreover, the plants with red (H = 0.435) and yellow-white (H = 0.543) flowers were not visited by diverse Lepidoptera species. Although yellow and pink flowers were most frequently visited, the highest degrees of the Lepidoptera diversity values were associated with the plants having blue (H = 0.647) and purple (H = 0.634) flowers. Species of Nymphalidae were most numerous (14 spp.) in the study area and the members of this family were observed 430 times on 39 different plant species, but never on plants with red flowers. Pieris rapae was the most abundant species that occurred 136 times on a total of 21 different plant species of which eight had yellow flowers. But, this species has never been seen while feeding on red flowers.     

Postantibiotic effect of various antibiotics on Legionella pneumophila strains isolated from water systems

The postantibiotic effects (PAE) of azithromycin, clarithromycin, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin were investigated against Legionella pneumophila (L. pneumophila) strains isolated from several hot water systems of different buildings in Istanbul. Each strain in logarithmic phase of growth was exposed to concentrations of antibiotics equal to minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and 4× MIC for 1?h. Recovery periods of test cultures were evaluated after centrifugation using the viable counting method. The mean values of PAEs for the strains of L. pneumophila, azithromycin at a concentration equal to and 4 times of MIC values were found 1.75?±?0.28 h and 4.06?±?0.44?h, for clarithromycin 2.98?±?0.70?h and 4.18?±?0.95?h, for ciprofloxacin 2.97?±?0.63?h and 4.70?±?0.63?h, for levofloxacin 2.05?±?0.33?h and 3.78?±?0.46?h, respectively. All of the antibiotics showed increased PAE values in a concentration-dependent manner. The findings of our study may play useful role in selecting the appropriate timing of doses during therapy with antimicrobials to treat patients infected with L. pneumophila.     

Evaluation of genotoxicity, cytotoxicity and cytostasis in human lymphocytes exposed to patulin by using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome (CBMN cyt) assay

Patulin (PAT) is a fungal secondary metabolite commonly present in apples and apple products. In the present study, PAT was evaluated for its genotoxic, cytotoxic and cytostatic effects to human peripheral blood lymphocytes by using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome (CBMN Cyt) assay. Lymphocyte cultures were treated with PAT at the following concentrations, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 μM, as well as 0.5 μM mitomycin c (MMC) as a positive control and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a vehicle control. PAT was found to induce nucleoplasmic bridges (NPBs) at 5.0 and 7.5 μM concentrations (P?<?0.05), apoptotic cells at 0.1, 1.0, 5.0 μM (P?<?0.05), 7.5 μM concentrations (P?<?0.01) and necrotic cells at 0.3 and 2.5 μM (P?<?0.05), 5.0 and 7.5 μM (P?<?0.01) concentrations in human lymphocytes. The 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 μM PAT concentrations also led to a clear decrease in the nuclear division index (NDI) (P?<?0.05). PAT caused a significant dose-dependent increase in the number cells of NPBs, in the frequency of apoptotic and necrotic cells, and a significant dose-dependent decrease in the NDI values in lymphocytes. These results indicate that PAT at high concentrations is genotoxic, cytotoxic and cytostatic in cultured human lymphocytes.     

Effect of Time on Endothelium-Dependent Relaxations in Mice and Rat Thoracic Aortas

Temporal variations in the endothelium-dependent relaxant effects of acetylcholine (ACh) in mice and histamine (HA) in rat thoracic aorta have been studied. The relaxations induced by higher concentrations of ACh and HA were significantly dependent on the time the tissues were obtained. However, neither EC 50 (the concentration inducing half of the maximum response) values for ACh and HA, nor K B (antagonist dissociation constant) values for atropine and diphenhydramine were found to be statistically significant depending upon the time of obtaining aorta preparations. These results show that the in vitro responsiveness of mice and rat thoracic aortas to endothelium-dependent relaxant effects of ACh and HA, respectively, changes over a 24-h period. These variations might be dependent on a temporal rhythm in post-receptor events, i.e., guanylate cyclase-cGMP-phosphodiesterase system which mediates responses to endothelium-derived relaxing factor(s).     

Influence of Chirality of Benzimidazole Amine Hybrids on Inhibition of Human Erythrocytes Carbonic Anhydrase I,II and Acetylcholinesterase

Novel chiral benzimidazole amine hybrids ( 4a – 4d ) were synthesized from commercially available amine [(R)- (+)-phenylethylamine, (−) (S)-(-)-phenylethylamine, (−) (R)-(-)-cyclohexylethylamine, (S)-(+)-cyclohexylethylamine] and 2-(chloromethyl)-N-tosyl-1H-benzimidazole. The synthesized compounds ( 4a – 4d ) were characterized by IR, NMR, and LC/MS analysis. The inhibitory effect of 4a – 4d on human erythrocytes carbonic anhydrase I (hCA-I), II (hCA-II), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was investigated. For hCA-I, the IC₅₀ values of 4a – 4d were found to be 4.895 μM, 1.750 μM, 0.173 μM, and 0.620 μM, respectively, and for hCA-II, the IC₅₀ values of 4a – 4d were found to be 0.469 μM, 0.380 μM, 0.233 μM, 0.635 μM, respectively. Furthermore, IC₅₀ values of 4a – 4d on AChE were found as 87.5 nM, 100 nM, 26.92 nM, and 100 nM, respectively. In addition, molecular docking analysis was performed to evaluate the affinity of 4a – 4d against hCA-I, hCA-II, and AChE and explain their binding interactions.