The effects of nocloprost, nileprost, iloprost and (15 S)-15-methyl-PGE2 on gastric mucosal damage induced by stress, indomethacin and ethanol.

The preventive effects of nocloprost, nileprost, iloprost and (15S)-15-Methyl-prostaglandin E2 were studied in the rat gastric mucosal damage induced by restraint-cold stress, indomethacin and ethanol. Nocloprost was found to be the most potent orally active compound against rat mucosal damage induced by all noxious stimuli used in this study. Both nocloprost and iloprost were more effective on stress-induced ulcers than on those induced by indomethacin and ethanol. Nocloprost and 15-methyl prostaglandin E2 were also more active on ethanol-induced mucosal damage than on induced by indomethacin. No significant differences were obtained with iloprost and nileprost on indomethacin and ethanol-induced mucosal injury. These results indicate a more potent oral antiulcer activity of nocloprost.     

Prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene C4 levels following different reperfusion periods in rat brain correlated with morphological changes.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and leukotriene C4 (LTC4) are the metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA) that increase in forebrain following global ischemia and reperfusion. These mediators are highly potent vasoconstrictors of cerebral arteries leading to enhanced vascular permeability that induces the formation of vasogenic edema. In this study, after developing an experimental animal model simulating the concept of ischemic penumbra in the rat, the levels of PGE2 and LTC4 produced in the forebrain were measured and the effects of these mediators in short duration and prolonged reperfusion were investigated and then correlated with neuropathological findings. We found statistically significant reduction both in PGE2 and LTC4-like activities after just 10 min ischemia (p less than 0.05, p less than 0.05). PGE2-like activity significantly increased in the 4th and 60th min of reperfusion (p less than 0.05, p less than 0.05). In the 15th min of reperfusion, PGE2 was found to be significantly reduced (p less than 0.005) that may be due to the formation of free oxygen radicals by activation of PG hydroperoxidase reaction that inhibits PGE2 production in the cyclooxygenase pathway. LTs were not significantly increased in any reperfused group. Inhibition of the lipoxygenase pathway of AA metabolism may occur as a result of 15-HPETE (15-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid) production. Pathologically, edema and degeneration of brain tissue were seen beginning from the 4th min of reperfusion that reached a peak in the 60th min of reperfusion which is in accordance with biochemical changes in the damaged tissue.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

HPLC-DAD Analysis and Versatile Bioactivities of Turkish Sunflower Honeys Using Chemometric Approaches

Sunflower honey (SH) is bright yellow, fragrant, pollen-flavoured, slightly herbaceous and has a unique taste. The present research aims to examine the enzyme inhibitory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anti-quorum sensing activities and phenolic compositions of 30 sunflower honeys (SHs) produced from several regions of Turkey with chemometric study. SAH from Samsun exhibited the best antioxidant activity in β-carotene linoleic acid (IC₅₀: 7.33±0.17 mg/mL) and CUPRAC (A_0.50: 4.94±0.13 mg/mL) assays, anti-urease activity (60.63±0.87 %) and anti-inflammatory activity against COX-1 (73.94±1.08 %) and COX-2 (44.96±0.85 %). SHs exhibited mild antimicrobial activity against the test microorganisms while they showed high quorum sensing inhibition zones measured in the range of 42–52 mm against the CV026 strain. The phenolic composition was determined by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) system and levulinic, gallic, p-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic and p-coumaric acids were identified in all studied SHs. The classification of SHs was performed the using PCA and HCA. This study revealed that phenolic compounds and biological properties are effective in classification of SHs according to their geographical origin. The results suggest that studied SHs could be valued as potential agents with versatile bioactivities in oxidative stress-related disease, microbial infections, inflammation, melanoma, and peptic ulcer.     

Leukotriene C4 and prostaglandin E2 activities in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid during acute cerebral ischemia

Lipoxygenase pathway products of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism (known as leukotrienes, LTs) are produced in the brain during pathologic conditions such as ischemia, hemorrhage, trauma, and seizure in which the release of AA is sustained by the activation of local phospholipases. The most common type of LT in the central nervous system is an LTC4 which is a highly potent vasoconstrictor leading to increase in vascular permeability. In this study, we compared the serum (S) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and LTC4 levels in 13 consecutively admitted patients with acute cerebral ischemia aged 55-80 years with 10 age-matched controls. Patients with previous glucocorticosteroid and antiinflammatory drug usage were not included in the study. S and CSF samples were drawn during the first 72 h of the attack, and samples were evaluated by bioassay. There was no significant difference in S PGE2 and LTC4 values, whereas a significant difference was observed between CSF PGE2 and LTC4 values as compared with the control group. The high levels of CSF PGE2 and LTC4-like activity in acute cerebral ischemia may indicate that these mediators have a role to play in cerebral edema. The CSF PGE2/LTC4 ratio was also found to be reduced in the ischemic group implying higher LTC4 synthesis than PGE2 synthesis. In the light of these findings, we suggest that use of a selective antagonist of LTs may be helpful in reducing the ischemic penumbra during acute cerebral ischemia by controlling the vasogenic edema.     

A 5q12.1–5q12.3 microdeletion in a case with a balanced exceptional complex chromosomal rearrangement

Complex chromosomal rearrangements are very rare chromosomal abnormalities. Individuals with a complex chromosomal rearrangement can be phenotypically normal or display a clinical abnormality. It is believed that these abnormalities are due to either microdeletions or microduplications at the translocation breakpoints or as a result of disruption of the genes located in the breakpoints. In this study we describe a 2-year-old child with mental retardation and developmental delay in whom a de novo apparently balanced exceptional complex chromosomal rearrangement was found through conventional cytogenetic analysis. Using both cytogenetic and FISH analysis, the patient's karyotype was found to be: 46,XY,der(5)t(5;7)(p15.1;7q34),t(5;8)(q13.1;8q24.1)dn. A large, clinically significant deletion which encompassed 887.69 kb was detected at the 5q12.1–5q12.3 (chr5:62.886.523–63.774.210) genomic region using array-CGH. This deleted region includes the HTR1A and RNF180 genes. This is the first report of an individual with an apparently balanced complex chromosomal rearrangement in conjunction with a microdeletion at 5q12.1–5q12.3 in which there are both mental-motor retardation and dysmorphia.     

Production of human lysozyme in biofilm reactor and optimization of growth parameters of Kluyveromyces lactis K7

Lysozyme (1,4-β-N-acetylmuramidase) is a lytic enzyme, which degrades the bacterial cell wall. Lysozyme has been of interest in medicine, cosmetics, and food industries because of its anti-bactericidal effect. Kluyveromyces lactis K7 is a genetically modified organism that expresses human lysozyme. There is a need to improve the human lysozyme production by K. lactis K7 to make the human lysozyme more affordable. Biofilm reactor provides high biomass by including a solid support, which microorganisms grow around and within. Therefore, the aim of this study was to produce the human lysozyme in biofilm reactor and optimize the growth conditions of K. lactis K7 for the human lysozyme production in biofilm reactor with plastic composite support (PCS). The PCS, which includes polypropylene, soybean hull, soybean flour, bovine albumin, and salts, was selected based on biofilm formation on PCS (CFU/g), human lysozyme production (U/ml), and absorption of lysozyme inside the support. To find the optimum combination of growth parameters, a three-factor Box–Behnken design of response surface method was used. The results suggested that the optimum conditions for biomass and lysozyme productions were different (27 °C, pH 6, 1.33 vvm for biomass production; 25 °C, pH 4, no aeration for lysozyme production). Then, different pH and aeration shift strategies were tested to increase the biomass at the first step and then secrete the lysozyme after the shift. As a result, the lysozyme production amount (141 U/ml) at 25 °C without pH and aeration control was significantly higher than the lysozyme amount at evaluated pH and aeration shift conditions (p?<?0.05).     

Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella eggs and larvae exposed to a static magnetic field and preference by Trichogramma embryophagum

This study investigated the effect of strong magnetic fields as insecticidal activity on Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae and eggs at different stages of development and their preference by the egg parasitoid, Trichogramma embryophagum Hartig (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Eggs ranging in age from 24-h to 48-h and 72-h-old and larvae (1 to 2 days) were exposed to 1.4 Tesla (T) magnetic fields from a DC power supply at 50 Hz for different time periods (3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h). Twelve hours of exposure at 1.4 T was toxic to 24-h-old eggs of E. kuehniella. The 72-h-old host eggs treated with 1.4 T for 6–72 h were not significantly preferred by T. embryophagum. The magnetic field was toxic to 24-h-old eggs of E. kuehniella exposed to 1.4 T for 12. The treatment of magnetic fields on the 72-h-old host egg with 1.4 T at 6–72 h was not significantly preferred by T. embryophagum. Magnetization of 24-h-old eggs of E. kuehniella for 3 h could be effectively used with T. embryophagum as sterilised host eggs. These eggs were markedly preferred by T. embryophagum. The LT₅₀ and LT₉₉ values of magnetic fields at different egg stages of E. kuehniella, and larvae were measured. A level of 1.4 T at 72 h completely prevented the development of the larvae. There was no significant effect on larval survival at 1.4 T at 48 and 72 h. Increasing magnetic fields exposure times for eggs that were 24-h, 48-h and 72-h-old prevented larval emergence and increased their mortality rate. Consequently, magnetic fields could be used in controlling stored-product pest eggs and larvae of E. kuehniella.     

GAR22β regulates cell migration,sperm motility,and axoneme structure

Spatiotemporal cytoskeleton remodeling is pivotal for cell adhesion and migration. Here we investigated the function of Gas2-related protein on chromosome 22 (GAR22β), a poorly characterized protein that interacts with actin and microtubules. Primary and immortalized GAR22β^−/− Sertoli cells moved faster than wild-type cells. In addition, GAR22β^−/− cells showed a more prominent focal adhesion turnover. GAR22β overexpression or its reexpression in GAR22β^−/− cells reduced cell motility and focal adhesion turnover. GAR22β–actin interaction was stronger than GAR22β–microtubule interaction, resulting in GAR22β localization and dynamics that mirrored those of the actin cytoskeleton. Mechanistically, GAR22β interacted with the regulator of microtubule dynamics end-binding protein 1 (EB1) via a novel noncanonical amino acid sequence, and this GAR22β–EB1 interaction was required for the ability of GAR22β to modulate cell motility. We found that GAR22β is highly expressed in mouse testes, and its absence resulted in reduced spermatozoa generation, lower actin levels in testes, and impaired motility and ultrastructural disorganization of spermatozoa. Collectively our findings identify GAR22β as a novel regulator of cell adhesion and migration and provide a foundation for understanding the molecular basis of diverse cytoskeleton-dependent processes.