Is problematic mobile phone use explained by chronotype and personality?

In this study, the relationships among problematic mobile phone use, age, gender, personality and chronotype of Turkish university students were examined. The study included 902 university students (73% female, 27% male) and their participation in the study was anonymous and voluntary. Data were collected from each participant by assessing a demographic questionnaire, Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM) as a measure of chronotype, the Big Five Inventory (BIG-5) for personality assessment and Mobile Phone Problem Usage Scale (MPPUS). The most important result was that CSM scores were the best predictor for problematic mobile phone usage, and as a consequence, evening-oriented university students scored higher on the MPPUS. This result remained, even when compared with the most influential personality predictor, conscientiousness. In addition, while extraversion positively predicted, emotional stable and chronotype negatively predicted problematic mobile phone use. Lastly, age and gender were not predictors of problematic mobile phone use.     

Chromosomal fragile sites in schizophrenic patients

Schizophrenia is a common and complex mental disorder. Cytogenetic and molecular studies have shown that genetic factors play an important role in the etiology of schizophrenia. As a preliminary step in the search for chromosomal location of a susceptible gene predisposing to schizophrenia, cytogenetic screening of patients might be useful. Therefore, this report is aimed at studying the relationship between chromosomal fragile sites (FS) (gaps, breaks, triradial figures, and several rearrangements) and the etiology of schizophrenia. Because of this, we compared the frequencies of folate-sensitive FS from schizophrenic patients and normal individuals in short-term whole-blood cultures. The rate of FS expression in the patients was considerably higher than in the controls. We determined 15 common FS (cFS) (1q21, 1q32, 2q21, 2q31, 3p14, 4q31, 5q31, 6q21, 6q26, 7q22, 7q32, 10q22, 13q32, Xp22, and Xq22), six rare FS (rFS) (6p21, 8q22, 11q23, 12q24, 16q22, and Xq26), and two previously unknown FS (3p25 and 5q22). Among these expressed FS, there was a significantly higher frequency of 12 FS at 2q31, 3p25, 3p14, 5q31, 6q21, 7q22, 7q32, 10q22, 11q23, 12q24, Xq22, and Xq26 in patient group than in controls by x ²-test (P between 0.0001 to 0.036). Sites 3p14, 5q31, and 7q22 were also the most frequently observed cFS. Males exhibited twice as many FS as females, but no age effects were observed. The potential relationship between increased FS frequency and the occurrence of schizophrenia in these patients is discussed. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Inheritance of a translocation between chromosomes 12 and 16 in a family with recurrent miscarriages and a newborn with Down syndrome carrying the same translocation

Reciprocal translocation carriers have reduced fertility, increased risk of spontaneous abortion or unbalanced karyotype in their offspring. Here, we report the inheritance of a translocation between chromosomes 12 and 16 in a family with recurrent miscarriages and a newborn with Down syndrome carrying the same translocation. Chromosomal analysis from fetal amniotic fluid and peripheral blood lymphocytes from the family were performed at the Cukurova university hospital in Turkey. We assessed a family in which the translocation between chromosomes 12 and 16 segregates; one of the eight progenies with the karyotype 47,XY,+21,t(12;16)(q24;q24) was heterozygote for the translocation and presented with Down syndrome. His mother is phenotypically normal, one brother and one sister were also carrying the same translocation. Apparently, this rearrangement occurred due to the unbalanced chromosome segregation of the mother [t(12;16)(q24;q24)mat]. This case will enable us to explain the behavior of segregation patterns and the mechanism for each type oftranslocation from carrier to carrier and their effects on reproduction and numerical aberrations. The t(12;16) is also associated with fetal wastage and may play a role in the etiology of the family's miscarriages. These findings can be used in clinical genetics and may be used as an effective tool for reproductive guidance and genetic counseling.     

D-penicillamine inhibits transactivation of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) LTR by transactivator protein

D-Penicillamine, an amino acid analogue of cysteine, has been shown to inhibit the transactivation of HIV-1 LTR by the transactivator protein, tat protein. The transactivation was studied in Jurkat cells co-transfected with plasmids containing HIV-LTR sequences fused to the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene and HIV tat gene. The expression of CAT activity was a measure of transactivation of LTR by the tat protein. Incubation of transfected Jurkat cells with D-penicillamine led to inhibition of CAT activity. This inhibition was found to be concentration-dependent; more than 90% inhibition of chloramphenicol acetylation was seen in extracts prepared from cultures incubated with 40 micrograms/ml of D-penicillamine. Earlier experiments have shown that D-penicillamine at 40 micrograms/ml can completely inhibit HIV-1 (HTLV-III B) replication in H9 cells [(1986) Drug Res. 36, 184-186]. These results suggest that inhibition of transactivation may be the molecular mechanism involved in the inhibition of HIV-1 replication by D-penicillamine.     

Chromosomal fragile sites in schizophrenic patients

Schizophrenia is a common and complex mental disorder. Cytogenetic and molecular studies have shown that genetic factors play an important role in the etiology of schizophrenia. As a preliminary step in the search for chromosomal location of a susceptible gene predisposing to schizophrenia, cytogenetic screening patients might be useful. Therefore, this report is aimed at studying the relationship between chromosomal fragile sites (FS: gaps, breaks, triradial figures, and several rearrangements) and the etiology of schizophrenia. Because of this, we were compared the frequencies of folate-sensitive FS from schizophrenic patients and normal individuals in short-term whole blood cultures. The rate of FS expression in the patients was considerably higher than in the controls. We determined 15 common FS (cFS) (1q21, 1q32, 2q21, 2q31, 3p14, 4q31, 5q31, 6q21, 6q26, 7q22, 7q32, 10q22, 13q32, Xp22 and Xq22), 6 rare FS (rFS) (6p21, 8q22, 11q23, 12q24, 16q22, and Xq26) and 2 previously unknown FS (3p25 and 5q22). Among these expressed FS, there was a significantly higher frequency of 12 FS at 2q31, 3p25, 3p14, 5q31, 6q21, 7q22, 7q32, 10q22, 11q23, 12q24, Xq22 and Xq26 in patient group than in controls by chi2 test (P = between 0.0001 to 0.036). Sites 3p14, 5q31 and 7q22 were also the most frequently observed cFS. Males exhibited twice as many FS as females, but no age effects were observed. The potential relationship between increased FS frequency and the occurrence of schizophrenia in these patients is discussed.     

Phenotypic correlations in a patient with ring chromosome 22

Ring chromosome 22, a rare cytogenetic anomaly, has been described in over 60 cases in the medical literature. The aim of this report was to present a case carrying ring chromosome 22, and her family.It is a case report of a patient presented at Medical Faculty of ?ukurova University in Turkey.An 8-year-old girl with ring chromosome 22 and her family were evaluated cytogenetically and clinically.A chromosome analysis of the proband revealed a de novo 46, XX, r(22)(p11.2;q13) karyotype. Our subject demonstrated the prominent features of this syndrome including profound mental retardation, language impairment, dysmorphic features, lack of speech, hyperactivity, and behavioral disorders.There is lack of consistency between the physical abnormalities that we observed in our subject and those observed for such patients in the literature. The wide range of manifestations observed in patients with this cytogenetic alteration is probably due to size differences in the deleted region.     

Sheep farming business in Uşak city of Turkey: Economic structure,problems and solutions

The current study was conducted to reveal the current states, structural features and primary problems of the sheep raising businesses in the city of U?ak. The study group of the current study is comprised of 429 sheep raising businesses selected through stratified sampling (provinces) and a questionnaire consisted of 112 items was administered to these businesses. Through the items in the questionnaire, data were collected about the general features of the businesses and their owners, the state of grazing lands, mating of sheep, birth, milking, clipping, health protection, marketing of animals and the states of tools and equipments in the businesses.The findings of the study have revealed that 82.2% of the owners of the sheep raising businesses are elementary school graduates, their average time of being involved in the activity of sheep raising is 9.8?years, 90% of their shepherds are from the family members, 23.5% of them practice additional feeding before mating and the most preferred method for mating is free insemination with 89%.Of the owners of the businesses, 81.1% learned sheep raising from their elders; for 54% of them sheep raising is the sole source of income and 25.6% of them are engaged in sheep raising to support their families. The main problems of the sheep raisers were found to be the high cost of feed, the low prices paid for their products, inadequate and poor quality grazing lands and animal diseases. In order to make sheep raising more attractive, the prices of the products should be increased, grazing lands should be improved, the genetic structure of the herd should be enhanced, the amount of land area where feed crops are cultivated should be extended and suitable credit conditions should be provided. On the other hand, they need to be informed about sheep mating, lamb growing, stock, milking hygiene, general sheep feeding practices and marketing.     

Genotoxic damage in Maras powder consumers from Kahramanmaras province of Turkey

In the present study, chromosomal aberrations (CAs) and micronucleus (MN) levels in the lymphocytes from 60 male individuals consisting of 40 habitues of Maras powder (a kind of smokeless tobacco) and 20 unexposed subjects were determined to investigate the possible inducing effect of Maras powder. The consumers of Maras powder had no exposure to any other known mutagens or toxicants. The mean exposure period to Maras powder was 12.25 ± 0.93 years (range 3–22). Data obtained from microscopic examination of the slides was analyzed using SPSS (10.0) software package. Mean frequency of CA and MN was found to be significantly higher in Maras powder consumers as compared to controls. Similarly, there was a significant elevation in the level of aberrant cells (Ab.Cells) with CAs and binucleated cells with MN (BNMN) in habitues. Spearman’s rho correlation analysis indicated a significant increase in the frequency of CA and MN with increase in both age and years of exposure in consumers. Our finding of a significant elevation of CA and MN frequencies in peripheral lymphocytes from smokeless tobacco consumers demonstrated a potential cytogenetic hazard associated with Maras powder exposure. The text was submitted by the authors in English.