ANTIOXIDANT AND THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY OF PROANTHOCYANIDIN IN SODIUM FLUORIDE-INTOXICATED MICE

In a study to assess the antioxidant activity of proanthocyanidin (Pro), 90 adult female Balb/c mice weighing 35-40 g were evenly divided into six groups. The experimental groups were administered Pro by gavage (25-50 mg/kg bw/day) (Pro-25, Pro-50) and sodium fluoride in drinking water (250 mg F ion/L) either alone (F in DW) or consecutively (F+Pro-25 and F+Pro-50) in certain periods of the trial. Blood samples were collected in heparinised tubes on days 0, 7, 8,10,12, and 15. Compared to the control group, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased significantly at day 7 by 54.25%, 57.76%, and 53.71% and at day 8 by 47.33%, 54.41%, and 48.40% for the F in DW, F+Pro-25, and F+Pro-50 groups, respectively. On the other hand, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities decreased significantly at day 7 by 48.15%, 46.30%, and 48.15% and at day 8 by 43.40%, 37.74%, and 37.74% for the same groups. Like MDA levels, erythrocyte catalase (CAT) activities increased significantly at day 8 by 59.50%, 56.20%, and 58.68%, at day 10 by 42.52%, 38.58%, and 38.58%, and at day 12 by 47.50%, 34.17%, and 27.50% for the same groups. On day 10, the plasma MDA levels in the F+Pro-25, and F+Pro-50 groups were decreased by 12.48% and 15.86% compared to the F in DW group and were close to that of the control group. Similarly, on day 15, the plasma MDA in the high dosage F+Pro-50 group showed a 9.32% decrease compared to the F in DW group and was close to that of the control level. In conclusion, exposure of mice to 250 mg F/L in their drinking water for the indicated periods of time was found to cause oxidative stress that was reduced by administration of Pro

Comparison of the effects of subconjunctival and topical anti-VEGF therapy (bevacizumab) on experimental corneal neovascularization

Purpose: To compare the effects of bevacizumab applied either subconjunctivally or topically, in a rat model of corneal neovascularization induced by alkali burn. Methods: The right corneas of 24 Wistar-Albino rats were cauterized with silver nitrate sticks. The rats were divided randomly and equally into three groups: no treatment control (n=8), subconjunctival bevacizumab treatment (n=8), and topical bevacizumab treatment (n=8). Immediately following cauterization, the subconjunctival group was treated with a 0.05 ml (1.25 mg) bevacizumab subconjunctival injection. The topical group was treated with 10 mg/ml bevacizumab twice daily, and the control group received subconjunctival saline injections twice daily. The burn stimulus and neovascularization scores were evaluated using a technique previously described by Mahoney and Waterbury. Digital photographs were obtained before the eyes were enucleated and corneal sections were then analyzed by histopathology. Results: The mean burn stimulus score was 1.86 ± 0.6 and there was no statistical difference between the groups (p=0.730). The mean neovascularization scores in the subconjunctival and topical bevacizumab groups were statistically lower than the control group (p<0.05). The mean percentage area of corneal neovascularization was 82.5 ± 22.1 in the control group, 42.7 ± 15.0 in the subconjunctival group, and 55.8 ± 18.2 in the topical group. The differences between the control and treatment groups were statistically significant (p<0.05). Histopathology showed that the treatment groups presented less neovascularization, inflammation, and fibroblast activity than the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that both subconjunctival and topical administrations of bevacizumab inhibit corneal neovascularization and decrease inflammation and fibroblast activity in a rat model of corneal neovascularization induced by alkali burn

Quality of Life in Panic Disorder: Follow Up Study for 3 Months

Purpose: Panic Disorder is a common psychiatric condition which is higher risk for substance abuse, suicide attempts and functional disability. It is 2-3 times more common in women and estimated to range from 1,4% to 3,8% of the general population. Studies reported that quality of life in Panic Disorder is negatively affected and overall health (emotional and psyhical health), social activities, risk of unemployment increases. The aim of this study was investigate the affects of quality of life on panic disorder and depression and follow the treatment response after the 3 months. Material and Methods: 22 women and 9 men (total 31) within in age range of 20-73(mean age 40,3 +/- 12,9) diagnosed as Panic Disorder; 27 women and 15 men (total 42) within in age range of 18-57(mean age 33,6 +/- 11,5) diagnosed as Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia; 54 women and 19 men (total 73) within in age 20-69(mean age 38,5 +/- 11,7) diagnosed on Major Depression were included to study. Psychiatric interview were carried out using Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnose(SCID-I), Sociodemographic Data Form, Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A), Hamilton Depression Scale(HAM-D), Panic and Agoraphobia Scale and Endicott's Work Productivity Scale (EWPS) were applied in 0., 1., 3. months. Results: Quality of life had negatively affected in all of the groups. In this study we found significant impairment in pain, general health, energy, social function, emotional role disability and mental health subgroups of quality of life scale (SF-36) in Depression group than Panic Disorder group. Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia had affected the quality of life worse than comparison with Panic Disorder without Agoraphobia. Conclusion: At the end of the treatment, there were no differences in quality of life between all of the groups statistically

EFFECTS OF MOLDSTOP (R) ON AFLATOXICOSIS IN QUAILS

ALTINTAS, Levent/0000-0002-5148-723XWOS: 000262248800015This study was conducted to evaluate the toxic effects of anatoxin (AF) oil the growth performance of quails, and to determine the preventive efficacy of MOLDSTOP (R) (calcium formate, calcium propionate, citric acid, sorbic acid, acetic acid, and carrier). A total of 60 one-clay-old quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) of both sexes were equally divided into four experimental groups each comprising of five replicates of three birds. The supplementation of diet with AF decreased significantly (P<0.001) the feed consumption. The 0.5% addition of MOLDSTOP (R) to the AF diet did not significantly prevent or reduce negative effect of AF on feed consumption at any time period. Light microscopic examination demonstrated that the addition of MOLDSTOP (R) did not decrease flat deposition Caused by the toxin, and besides, an electron microscopic examination indicated the reorganisation in the endoplasmic reticulum and increase in the number of ribosomes and polisomes compared to the AF plus MOLDSTOP (R) group. The data indicated that the addition of MOLDSTOP (R) to diets containing AF did not prevent the negative effects of AF observed in the quail

Differences in grain zinc are not correlated with root uptake and grain translocation of zinc in wild emmer and durum wheat genotypes

Cereal-based foods fall short of providing adequate dietary zinc (Zn) to human beings. Developing new genotypes with high genetic capacity for root uptake and grain deposition of Zn is an important challenge. There is a large genetic variation for grain Zn concentration among and between wheat species, especially within wild emmer wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides) that can be exploited in order to understand the physiological mechanisms contributing to grain Zn accumulation. Eight different wild emmer genotypes and two durum wheat (Triticum durum) cultivars were used to investigate root uptake, root-to-shoot translocation and remobilization (i.e., retranslocation) from flag leaves into grains of (ZnSO4)-Zn-65-treated plants. The initial seed Zn concentrations of wild emmer wheat and durum genotypes used in the experiments were different, ranging from 45 to 73 mg kg(-1) and from 35 to 40 mg kg(-1), respectively. Plants were grown in nutrient solution for the experiments investigating root uptake and shoot transport of Zn by using Zn-65 labeled ZnSO4 and in soil medium for the experiments studying shoot and grain Zn concentrations and Zn-65 translocation from flag leaves into grains. The treatment of flag leaves with Zn-65 was realized by immersion of flag leaves into (ZnSO4)-Zn-65 solution for 15 seconds and for 5 times during the anthesis and early milk stages. Wild emmer and durum wheat genotypes expressed highly significant differences in root uptake and root-to-shoot translocation of Zn-65 and translocation of Zn-65 from flag leaves into grains. However, none of these parameters showed a significant correlation either with the initial seed Zn concentrations at sowing or the grain Zn concentrations at harvest. The durum wheat cultivars with higher grain yield had lower concentration of Zn both in seeds at sowing or in grains at harvest, while wild emmer genotypes with lower grain yield capacity had higher concentration of Zn both in seeds at sowing or in grains at harvest. The concentration or content (total amount) of Zn in shoot during the early growth stage also did not correlate with the initial seed Zn concentrations. Differences in grain Zn concentration of wild emmer and cultivated wheats could not be explained by root Zn uptake and Zn translocation from flag leaf into grains during seedling and reproductive growth stages, respectively. It seems that there are additional key factors affecting the expression of genetic variation for grain Zn accumulation

Quality of life in panic disorder with or without agoraphobia and depression: a 12 weeks follow-up study

20th Congress of the European-College-of-Neuropsychopharmacology -- OCT 13-17, 2007 -- Vienna, AUSTRIAWOS: 000251231901216…European Coll Neuropsychopharmaco

Nanoparticle Enhanced Antibody and DNA Biosensors for Sensitive Detection of Salmonella

Bacteria-related pathogenic diseases are one of the major health problems throughout the world. Salmonella is a genus of rod-shaped Gram-negative enterobacteria of which more than 2600 serotypes have been identified. Infection with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, a serious bacterial toxi-infection syndrome associated with gastroenteritis, and paralyphoid and typhoid fevers. Its rapid and sensitive detection is a key to the prevention of problems related to health. This paper describes the development of antibody and DNA sensors for Salmonella detection using a microfluidic-based electrochemical system. Commercial Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella typhimurium from human stool samples were investigated using standard and nanomaterial-amplified antibody sensors. S. typhimurium could be detected down to 1 cfu mL&minus;1. The specificity of immunoassay was tested by studying with non-specific bacteria including E. coli and S. aureus that revealed only 2.01% and 2.66% binding when compared to the target bacterium. On the other hand, the quantification of Salmonella DNA was investigated in a concentration range of 0.002&ndash;200 &micro;M using the developed DNA biosensor that demonstrated very high specificity and sensitivity with a detection limit of 0.94 nM. Our custom-designed microfluidic sensor offers rapid, highly sensitive, and specific diagnostic assay approaches for pathogen detection

The effects of aflatoxins on oxidative stress in broiler chickens

Sixty 1-day-old male Ross-PM3 broiler chickens were used in this study. The chickens were divided into 5 groups, including one control and 4 experimental. The control group was fed commercial broiler feed free from aflatoxin (AF), whereas the experimental groups, namely, groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 were given feed containing, respectively, 0.05 ppm, 0.1 ppm, 0.5 ppm and 1.0 ppm of AF (approximately, 81.30% AF B-1, 10.40% AF B-2, 5.75% AF G(1) and 2.55% AF G(2)) for 45 days. Blood samples were collected on days 15, 30 and 45 of the study. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in erythrocytes were determined. The results of this study revealed a significant decline in comparison to the control group with respect to SOD activity on days 30 and 45 in groups 4 and 5, GSH-Px activity on day 30 in group 5 and day 45 in groups 4 and 5. CAT activity on day 45 in group 5 and G6PD activity on day 45 in group 5, and a significant increase in the level of MDA in group 5. Therefore it was concluded that long-term (30 and 45 days) administration of AF at high doses (0.5-1.0 ppm) caused lipid peroxidation in broiler chickens. Certain significant statistical changes that occurred on day 30 in SOD and GSH-Px activities, and on day 45 in primarily SOD and GSH-Px (for groups 4 and 5) and secondly (for group 5) in all enzyme activities and MDA levels are supportive of this hypothesis. Furthermore, it has been understood that the most sensitive parameters utilised in determination of lipid peroxidation may include SOD, GSH-Px and MDA, and these parameters may prove to be significant with regard to the assessment of the severity of aflatoxicosis in poultry naturally intoxicated with AF, implementation of precautions taken against AF intoxication and the evaluation of such practices with regard to success

Concentrations of Essential and Non-essential Toxic Trace Elements in Wild Boar (Sus Scrofa L., 1758) Tissues from Southern Turkey

ALTINTAS, Levent/0000-0002-5148-723X;WOS: 000329227000003PubMed: 24166722Wild animals, including wild boars, are suitable for use as bioindicators. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of selected essential (Co, Cu, Fe, Se, Zn) and non-essential (As, Cd, Pb) potentially toxic trace elements in various tissues (hair and hoof) of wild boars hunted in the vicinity of Antalya province in Turkey, in relation to hunting seasons. Concentrations in mg/kg on dry weight basis were determined as 0.37 +/- A 0.27 mg/kg for As, 0.05 +/- A 0.04 mg/kg for Cd, 0.24 +/- A 0.33 mg/kg for Co, 4.84 +/- A 2.48 mg/kg for Cu, 289.94 +/- A 165.26 mg/kg for Fe, 8.71 +/- A 15.68 mg/kg for Pb, 0.24 +/- A 0.10 mg/kg for Se, and 28.99 +/- A 21.41 mg/kg for Zn in the hair samples; and as 0.11 +/- A 0.04 mg/kg for As, 0.01 +/- A 0.04 mg/kg for Cd, 0.01 +/- A 0.01 mg/kg for Co, 1.03 +/- A 0.25 mg/kg for Cu, 56.88 +/- A 18.68 mg/kg for Fe, 0.30 +/- A 0.18 mg/kg for Pb, 0.11 +/- A 0.05 mg/kg for Se, and 17.91 +/- A 10.98 mg/kg for Zn in the hoof samples

Effects of short-term exposure to pulsed electromagnetic field on some biochemical parameters in mice

57-59Five-months-old male albino mice were subjected to an electromagnetic field (EMF) of 5 mT of magni-tude with a frequency of 60 Hz for 8hr of single application. Analysis of blood sampled on hourly basis (up to 8 hr) for levels/activities of total protein, albumin, globulin, uric acid, creatinine, cholesterol, and alkaline phosphatase indicated no significant differences (p>0.05) from that of the control group