Phytochemical profile and some biological activities of three Centaurea species from Turkey

Purpose: To characterise the phytochemical profile of whole plants of Centaurea balsamita, C. depressa and C. lycopifolia with LC-ESI-MS/MS, and as well as their antioxidant, anticholinesterase and antimicrobial activities.Methods: Organic and aqueous extracts of the three Centaurea species were evaluated for DPPH free radical, ABTS cation radical scavenging and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC). Acetyland butyryl-cholinesterase enzyme inhibition abilities of the extracts using petroleum ether, acetone, methanol and water were studied to determine anticholinesterase activity, while antimicrobial activity was determined by disc diffusion method using appropriate antimicrobial standards and organisms. The phytochemical components of the methanol extracts were assessed by LC-MS/MS.Results: The methanol extract of C. balsamita exhibited much higher DPPH free and ABTS cation radicals scavenging activities (with IC50 of 62.65 ± 0.97 and 24.21 ± 0.70 mg/ml, respectively) than the other extracts. The petroleum ether extracts of the plant species exhibited moderate inhibitory activity against butyrylcholinesterase enzymes while the acetone extract of C. balsamita showed good antifungal activity against Candida albicans. Quinic acid (17513 ± 813 μg/g, 63874 ± 3066 μg/g and 108234 ± 5195 μg/g) was the major compound found in the methanol extracts of C. balsamita, C. depressa and C. Lycopifolia, respectively.Conclusion: These results indicate quinic acid is the major compound in the three plant species and that Centaurea balsamita has significant antioxidant, anticholinesterase and antimicrobial properties. Further studies to identify the compounds in the extracts responsible for the activities are required.Keywords: Centaurea, LC-ESI-MS/MS, Anticholinesterase, Antioxidant, Antimicrobia

Outcomes of standart heparin treatment in deep vein thrombosis

Amaç: Kliniğimizde derin venöz tromboz tanısıyla sürekli unfraksiyone (standart) heparin kullanılarak tedavi edilen olgulara ait sonuçların retrospektif olarak incelenmesi. Yöntem:KliniğimizdeOcak 2002-Nisan 2005 tarihleri arasında derin venöz tromboz tanısıyla tedavi ve takipleri yapılan 44 olgu çalışmaya dahil edildi. Tedavi protokolünde tüm hastalara en az 1 hafta süreyle olmak üzere mutlak yatak istirahati uygulandı. Sürekli intravenöz heparin infüzyonu başlanarak doz a PTT değerlerine göre titre edildi. Oral antikoagülan tedavi başlanarak INR değeri 2'nin üzerine çıkıncaya kadar intravenöz heparin tedavisine devam edildi. Olguların tümünde klinik bulguların yanı sıra tanısal olarak renkli doppler USGtetkiki kullanıldı. Bulgular: Yaş ortalamaları 43,2 olan olguların, 27'si erkek (% 61,3) ve 17'si kadın (%38,7) idi. Olguların % 4.5'inde pulmoner emboli saptandı. Pulmoner emboli gelişen olgularda mortalite gözlenmedi.Heparin tedavisine olguların%45'inde 5-6. gün,%36'sında 7-10. gün devamedildi. 24 hastada yatışının 0-3. gününde, 20 hastada da 4-7. gününde oral antikoagülan tedaviye başlandı. Tedavi süresince hiçbir olguda majör kanama komplikasyonu ya da mortalite gözlenmedi. 3 aylık takipte hiçbir olguda rekürren tromboembolizm ile karşılaşılmadı. Sonuç: Derin venöz trombozda devamlı unfraksiyone heparin tedavisinin güvenle uygulanabilecek bir yöntem olduğu görüşündeyiz.Aim: In this retrospective study we aimed to investigate the outcomes of continuous unfractioned ( standart ) heparin treatment for deep vein thrombosis. Methods: 44 patients who were hospitalized between January 2002 and April 2005 with the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis are included in this study. Strict bed rest was applied in treatment protocol to all cases. Continious intravenous heparin infusion was started and the dosage was titrated regardinga PTT values. Patients were put on oral anticoagulant therapy and intravenous heparin was continued until the INR value is greater than 2. Besides clinical findings colour Doppler USG was used diagnostically. Results: The mean age of the patients was 43.2 and 27 were male ( % 61.3 ) and 17 were female ( %38.7 ). Pulmonary embolism was detected in 4.5 % of cases. There was no mortality in patients who had pulmonary embolism. Heparin treatment was continued for 5-6 days in 45 % of cases and for 7-10 days in 36 % of cases. In 24 of cases oral anticoagulant therapy was started on0 - 3 rd day of hospitalization while in 20 of them therapy was started on4 - 7 th day of hospitalization. No mortality or major bleeding complication ocuured during the course of therapy. Neither of the cases faced reccurent thromboembolism in 3 months follow up. Conclusion: Unfractioned heparin treatment can be suggested asa reliable method for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis

Intraperitoneal drain placement and outcomes after elective colorectal surgery: international matched, prospective, cohort study

Despite current guidelines, intraperitoneal drain placement after elective colorectal surgery remains widespread. Drains were not associated with earlier detection of intraperitoneal collections, but were associated with prolonged hospital stay and increased risk of surgical-site infections.Background Many surgeons routinely place intraperitoneal drains after elective colorectal surgery. However, enhanced recovery after surgery guidelines recommend against their routine use owing to a lack of clear clinical benefit. This study aimed to describe international variation in intraperitoneal drain placement and the safety of this practice. Methods COMPASS (COMPlicAted intra-abdominal collectionS after colorectal Surgery) was a prospective, international, cohort study which enrolled consecutive adults undergoing elective colorectal surgery (February to March 2020). The primary outcome was the rate of intraperitoneal drain placement. Secondary outcomes included: rate and time to diagnosis of postoperative intraperitoneal collections; rate of surgical site infections (SSIs); time to discharge; and 30-day major postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade at least III). After propensity score matching, multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to estimate the independent association of the secondary outcomes with drain placement. Results Overall, 1805 patients from 22 countries were included (798 women, 44.2 per cent; median age 67.0 years). The drain insertion rate was 51.9 per cent (937 patients). After matching, drains were not associated with reduced rates (odds ratio (OR) 1.33, 95 per cent c.i. 0.79 to 2.23; P = 0.287) or earlier detection (hazard ratio (HR) 0.87, 0.33 to 2.31; P = 0.780) of collections. Although not associated with worse major postoperative complications (OR 1.09, 0.68 to 1.75; P = 0.709), drains were associated with delayed hospital discharge (HR 0.58, 0.52 to 0.66; P < 0.001) and an increased risk of SSIs (OR 2.47, 1.50 to 4.05; P < 0.001). Conclusion Intraperitoneal drain placement after elective colorectal surgery is not associated with earlier detection of postoperative collections, but prolongs hospital stay and increases SSI risk

Predictors of Enhancing Human Physical Attractiveness: Data from 93 Countries

People across the world and throughout history have gone to great lengths to enhance their physical appearance. Evolutionary psychologists and ethologists have largely attempted to explain this phenomenon via mating preferences and strategies. Here, we test one of the most popular evolutionary hypotheses for beauty-enhancing behaviors, drawn from mating market and parasite stress perspectives, in a large cross-cultural sample. We also test hypotheses drawn from other influential and non-mutually exclusive theoretical frameworks, from biosocial role theory to a cultural media perspective. Survey data from 93,158 human participants across 93 countries provide evidence that behaviors such as applying makeup or using other cosmetics, hair grooming, clothing style, caring for body hygiene, and exercising or following a specific diet for the specific purpose of improving ones physical attractiveness, are universal. Indeed, 99% of participants reported spending \u3e10 min a day performing beauty-enhancing behaviors. The results largely support evolutionary hypotheses: more time was spent enhancing beauty by women (almost 4 h a day, on average) than by men (3.6 h a day), by the youngest participants (and contrary to predictions, also the oldest), by those with a relatively more severe history of infectious diseases, and by participants currently dating compared to those in established relationships. The strongest predictor of attractiveness-enhancing behaviors was social media usage. Other predictors, in order of effect size, included adhering to traditional gender roles, residing in countries with less gender equality, considering oneself as highly attractive or, conversely, highly unattractive, TV watching time, higher socioeconomic status, right-wing political beliefs, a lower level of education, and personal individualistic attitudes. This study provides novel insight into universal beauty-enhancing behaviors by unifying evolutionary theory with several other complementary perspectives

Biotransformation of seafood processing wastes fermented with natural lactic acid bacteria; the quality of fermented products and their use in animal feeding

Lactic acid bacteria species naturally present in fish (Streptococcus spp., Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Pediococcus acidilactici and Enterococcus gallinarum) and formic acid were compared for production of fish silage, which are protein hydrolysates with immune stimulating properties. It is the first report for Enterococcus gallinarum to be used for producing fermented products. In this study, chemical and microbiological qualities of fish silage by acid or fermented methods were assessed after ripening of silages. It was observed that ripening was completed in maximum two weeks for all silage groups. Then, acid and fermented fish silage were spray dried and analysed for chemical and nutritional properties. As results of the study, these bacteria can be used as starter cultures in fermented products, especially for fish silage. In respect to essential/nonessential amino acid ratio (E/NE), the best groups among the spray-dried fish silages were prepared with formic acid, Lb. plantarum and Pd. acidilactici, respectively. Total antioxidant activity (TAO) of spray-dried fish silage was compared with ascorbic acid and TAO of spray-dried fish silages was found in range of 1.92 - 2.86 mg AA/g. The highest DPPH (diphenylpicrylhydrazyl) radical-scavenging ability of spray-dried fish silages was detected in AC group produced with Pediococcus acidilactici (20.26%) and GL group produced with Enterococcus gallinarum (16.95%), but there were no significant differences observed in other groups. According to the in-vitro gas production assessment, spray-dried fish silages generally had considerably high rate of digestibility. It was determined that the acid and fermented fish silage powders had high digestibility and valuable feed sources according to the results of the proximate analysis, amino acids compositions, total antioxidants, DPPH inhibition rates and in-vitro digestibility assessments. © Published by Central Fisheries Research Institute (CFRI) Trabzon, Turkey.National Council for Scientific Research: TUBITAK 213O166This work was supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (Project No: TUBITAK 213O166)

A hybrid approach of data envelopment analysis based grey relational analysis: A study on egg yield

The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of conditions of both feeding and the climate in poultry house on production performance in a commercial poultry enterprise with a hybrid approach. In accordance with this purpose, the hybrid approach has two main objectives: i) Determination of the effective period for which the output factors [(chicken survival rate (%), egg yield (%)] are optimized at the same time and the appropriate value ranges for the input factors [temperature (oC), humidity (%) and feed per hen (g)] that provide effectiveness ii) Determination of targeted improvement values for the ineffective months to become effective. With this hybrid approach, which is based on the integration of the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Grey Relational Analysis (GRA), the effective months are determined by DEA method and a performance rank is performed between the effective months by GRA method. It has been investigated whether the results of different Multicriteria Decision Making (MCDM) techniques combined with the data fusion technique support the proposed hybrid approach’s results. In this context, the proposed hybrid approach was applied to evaluate the monthly production performance of a commercial enterprise with Lohman Brown genus 8000 chickens. According to the findings of the analysis, it was seen that January, March, October, November and December are the months when production performance is high. When these months were ranked among themselves, it was observed that January, March and November are the first three ranks, respectively, and that the rank was also supported by the combined results of different techniques. As a result, in terms of production performance for the enterprise, it can be said that the optimum temperature is 20.25°C-26.41°C, humidity ratio is 47.60%-54.25%, and feed amount per hen is 98-128 g. Copyright 2019 Zoological Society of Pakistan

Computer-assisted automatic egg fertility control [Bilgisayar destekli otomatik yumurta döllülük kontrolü]

This research aimed to determine the fertilization control of the eggs in an incubator between 0th and 5th days by image processing techniques via low-priced tools. Three different datasets that were composed of eggs whose images taken at different times in the incubator were prepared. Several filtering and morphology methods, gray level conversion and dynamic thresholding were utilized to process the 15 egg images. Moreover, the original processing codes based on the problem were given. White and Black percentages of binary images were utilized to determine the egg control. According to the test results, for the first dataset; 73.34% of fertility accuracy was achieved on the third day; 100% of fertility accuracy was achieved on the fourth day, for the second dataset; 93.34% of fertility accuracy was achieved on the third day; 93.34% of fertility accuracy was achieved again on the fourth day; for the third dataset, 93.34% of fertility accuracy was achieved on the third day; 100% of fertility accuracy again was achieved on the fourth day. When the results were evaluated, it was seen that egg fertility has been determined successfully automated with low cost tools. © 2019, Veteriner Fakultesi Dergisi. All rights reserved

Phenolic profile, fatty acid and essential oil composition analysis and antioxidant, antialzheimer and antibacterial activities of verbascum flavidum extracts

This paper is the first report about phytochemical analysis with LC-MS/MS and biological activities of Verbascum flavidum (Boiss.) Freyn & Bornm. Rutin (1077.09±77.47 µg analyte/g extract) and chlorogenic acid (1012.42±97.18 µg analyte/g extract) were determined as the most abundant phenolics in V. flavidum. The main components of fatty acid were found to be palmitic (30.3%) and oleic acids (17.9%); while the major essential oils were determined as arachidic acid (16.4%) and ?-selinene (8.9%) by GC-MS analysis. In DPPH free radical scavenging activity the methanol extract showed higher activity than BHT with 72.62% inhibition at 100 µg/mL concentration. The methanol and water extracts of V. flavidum showed 86.01 % and 87.39 % inhibition in ABTS cation radical scavenging assay at 100 µg/mL concentration, respectively. The methanol extract showed moderate activity against E. coli with 250±0.3 MIC value and with 15 mm inhibition zone diameter at 30 mg/mL concentration. © 2016, Chiang Mai University. All rights reserved