Evaluation of decay and termite resistance of wood treated with copper in combination with boron and N′-N-(1, 8-naphthalyl) hydroxylamine (NHA-Na)

This study evaluated the relative ability of various combinations of copper sulfate with either boric acid or calcium-precipitating agent, N′-N-(1, 8-naphthalyl) hydroxylamine (NHA-Na), to inhibit fungal degradation and attack by Formosan subterranean termites (Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki). Wood specimens were treated with either 1%, 0.5%, or 0.1% concentrations of copper sulfate, boric acid, NHA-Na, copper sulfate + boric acid, or copper sulfate + NHA-Na mixtures. Treated specimens were subjected to laboratory decay-resistance tests by using petri dishes inoculated with the Basidiomycetes fungi Tyromyces palustris and Trametes versicolor for 12 weeks. Treated wood specimens were also subjected to termite-resistance tests under laboratory conditions. Increased efficacy of copper sulfate against the brown-rot fungus T. palustris was observed when either boric acid or NHA-Na was added. The most effective treatments against the fungi tested were NHA-Na only treatments at 1% and 0.5% concentration levels. Boric acid treatments were not able to protect wood against decay after leaching because of excessive leaching of boron. Similar results were obtained in termite-resistance tests in comparison with decay-resistance tests. These results indicate that the efficacy of the treatments in preventing fungal and termite attack is a function of the type of preservative.     

Melatonin ameliorates cardiac remodelling in fructose-induced metabolic syndrome rat model by using genes encoding cardiac potassium ion channels

Molecular Biology Reports - Metabolic syndrome comprises a group of disorders, including cardiac abnormalities. Ventricular arrhythmias observed in metabolic syndrome are due to the impaired...     

Factors predicting treatment adherence in patients with adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a preliminary study

This study aimed to elicit patient- and treatment-related factors that can potentially predict treatment adherence in adult ADHD. Subjects who were over 18 and received a diagnosis of ADHD were included in the study. Chart review data of 102 subjects regarding demographics, medications, comorbidities, concomitant medications and domains of functional impairment were collected, and predictors were assessed using a binominal logistical regression model. One hundred and two patients (78.4 % male) with a mean age of 28.8 (SD = 9.8, range = 18–55) years were enrolled in the study. Childhood diagnosis of ADHD, agents used for treatment (MPH or atomoxetine), individual domains of dysfunction and use of additional psychotropic drugs were not found to be related to treatment adherence. Patients with a university education and those referred for family history of ADHD were more likely to adhere to treatment (p = 0.05 and 0.03, respectively). On the other hand, reasons for referral other than ADHD were significantly more frequently related to non-adherence (p = 0.02). Treatment noncompliance remains a significant problem despite therapeutic effects of medications. Identification of predictors of non-adherence can lead to heightened awareness of special populations at risk. We have found that prior awareness on ADHD (via past history/media/friends) leading to self/clinician referral to rule out ADHD and pervasiveness of symptoms across functional domains led to better compliance in our sample. Future research with prospective design utilizing objective tools for adherence is required.     

Evaluation of Phytochemical Compositions and Biological Properties of Achillea gypsicola at Different Phenological Stages

Phytochemicals, which are commonly found at different levels in many medicinal plants, are natural strong antioxidants used in traditional medicine. In this research, determination of differences of phytochemical compositions and biological properties were aimed as periodically (pre‐, full and post flowering) and daily (6 am, 1 pm and 8 pm) in Achillea gypsicola Hub.‐Mor . The volatile oils belonging to A. gypsicola were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography‐flame ionization detection (GC‐FID) and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The antimicrobial activities of the volatile oils were determined with disc diffusion method. The microdilution method was used to determine minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined by spectrophotometric methods and antioxidant capacities were evaluated by 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical, reducing power (RP) and metal chelating activity (MCA) assay. In addition, the phenolic acid and flavonoid compositions were evaluated by reversed phase‐high‐performance liquid chromatography (RP‐HPLC). This study presented a comprehensive report for the first time on evaluation of the phytochemical composition and the biological properties of A. gypsicola at different phenological stages. Thirty‐two compounds, containing the major component as camphor, 1,8‐cineole and borneol, were detected. Designated harvest time for the highest yield of volatile oils was found to be at full flowering stage‐1 pm. It has been observed that the volatile oil composition changes periodically and even daily. Also, in this research, menthol and menthone were found as the composition of volatile oil in Achillea species for the first time. Full flowering stage was found as the richest period in terms of phenolic acid and flavonoid compositions of A. gypsicola for the first time. The species examined in this research showed a high antioxidant and antimicrobial activity in comparison to other studies with Achillea species. The volatile oils exhibited high performances with range of inhibition zones (8.3–42.3 mm) and minimum inhibitory concentration values (2.25—144 μg/ml). Besides, a high correlation between antioxidant activity and phenolic content of A. gypsicola was found. These results suggest that A. gypsicola can be used as a safe source in the cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical industries.     

The molecular epidemiology of Foot-and-Mouth Disease virus serotypes A and O from 1998 to 2004 in Turkey

Background

Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) causes significant economic losses in Turkish livestock. We have analysed the genetic diversity of the 1D sequences, encoding the hypervariable surface protein VP1, of Turkish isolates of serotype A and O collected from 1998 to 2004 in order to obtain epidemiological and immunological information.

Results

The 1D coding region of 33 serotype O and 20 serotype A isolates, obtained from outbreaks of FMD between 1998 and 2004, was sequenced. For serotype A, we confirmed the occurrence of the two subtypes IRN99 and IRN96. These subtypes are most divergent within the region encoding the immuno-dominant GH-loop. Also a close relationship to Foot-and-Mouth Disease virus (FMDV) serotype A isolates obtained from outbreaks in Iraq and Iran were detected and a clustering of isolates collected during the same period of time were found. The analysis of the deduced amino-acid sequences of these subtypes revealed evidence of positive selection in one site and one deletion, both within the GH-loop region. By inferring the ancestral history of the positively selected codon, two potential precursors were found. Furthermore, the structural alignment of IRN99 and IRN96 revealed differences between the tertiary structures of these subtypes. The similarity plot of the serotype O isolates suggested a more homogeneous group than the serotype A isolates. However, phylogenetic analysis revealed two major groups, each further divided in subgroups, of which some only consisted of Turkish isolates. Positively selected sites and structural differences of the Turkish isolates analysed, were not found.

Conclusion

The sequence and structural analysis of the IRN99 strains is indicative of positive selection suggesting an immunological advantage compared to IRN96. However, results of antigenic comparison reported elsewhere do not substantiate such a conclusion. There is evidence that IRN99 was introduced to Turkey, in all probability from Iran. Since, a member of the IRN96 lineage was included as a component of the FMDV vaccine produced since 2000, the outbreaks caused by IRN96 strains in 2004 could be due to incomplete vaccine coverage. The Turkish type O strains, all with a VP1 structure similar to the O1/Manisa/69 vaccine, appear in several sublineages. Whether these sublineages reflect multiple samplings from a limited number of outbreaks, or if they reflect cross-boundary introductions is not clear.     

Hydrogen Sulfide Protects Damage From Methyl Viologen-Mediated Oxidative Stress by Improving Gas Exchange,Fluorescence Kinetics of Photosystem II,and Antioxidant System in Arabidopsis thaliana

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Considering the unfavorable impacts of methyl viologen-induced oxidative stress (MV1-2, 50 and 500 µM) on growth, gas exchange (intercellular CO2...     

Differential expression of genes participating in cardiomyocyte electrophysiological remodeling via membrane ionic mechanisms and Ca2+-handling in human heart failure

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - Excitation–contraction coupling in normal cardiac function is performed with well balanced and coordinated functioning but with complex dynamic...