Protective roles of Cimin grape tissues on oxidative stress markers in the cellular system model

Aim: To analyze the phenolic composition of the Cimin grape, which is 1 of 2 grape varieties with a protected geographical indication in Turkey and is used locally to treat the symptoms of some disorders such as impotence and cardiovascular diseases, and to investigate its antioxidant potency against oxidant mediators in the models of intra- and extracellular surroundings. Materials and methods: Cimin grape samples were classified into 5 groups according to the grape’s tissues and the extraction solvents used. Free radical scavenging (DPPH) and antilipid peroxidation product [thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and conjugated diene (CD)] levels of the grape tissues were extrapolated from the measurement of total phenolic and individual monomeric flavanol contents in each extract. Results: The seed methanolic extract had the highest total amount of flavanols, with the amount of catechin at 4.034 mM. The DPPH activities of the seed extracts were 2- to 10-fold higher than those of the other samples. The seed extract-treated erythrocyte and unfractionated human plasma also showed lower TBARS and CD values. In addition, regeneration of glutathione was more obvious in grape seed extracts than in the rest of the tissues. Conclusion: The underlying mechanism of these changes can be related mainly to increased antioxidant status. Cimin grape consumption may have beneficial effects on health maintenance

Heavy metal (Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) contents of endemic Salvia halophila plants around Lake Tuz

Heavy metals occur naturally in ecosystems at varying concentrations. However, heavy metal sources that have emerged in present-day mainly due to human influence, i.e. industrial activities, agricultural waste, pesticides, use of fossil fuels and traffic, have included a part of heavy metals in the ecosystem. Lake Tuz, together with the entire lake surroundings, water beds and important steppe areas, was declared Turkey’s Specially Protected Area (SPA) in 2001. Our aim in this investigation was to determine the levels of heavy metals such as Chrome (Cr), Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn) in endemic Salvia halophila grown in different areas of Lake Tuz. The results of the heavy metal contents analyzed at the plant were compared with the international standard levels of heavy metals. The consequences displayed that differing extents of heavy metals are accumulated in S. halophila. The results obtained differed in accordance with the collection time and localities. When the outcomes are appraised, it is achievable to say that Pb is higher than the standard values. The findings of this investigation are the first reported results for this endemic S. halophila species that grows naturally at Lake Tuz and are important as they are newly discovered results

Integration of triboluminescent EuD4TEA crystals to transparent polymers: Impact sensor application

Lanthanide-based organometallic materials are well-known candidate triboluminescent (TL) materials that can show bright emission when a mechanical force is applied. These materials are usually in the form of crystalline powders, and it is often useful to integrate these samples into a polymer matrix in order to achieve processability, enabling coating from a solution/molten state or fabrication as a complex-shaped matrix. In this work, micrometer-sized europium tetrakis (dibenzoylmethide) triethylammonium (EuD4TEA) crystals were synthesized and integrated with various transparent polymers (PMMA, PS, PVDF, and PU) using two approaches: (i) blending and (ii) surface impregnation. In the former method, the crystalline particles were molecularly dissolved; therefore, a TL response cannot be achieved. More than 10 wt % TL crystals in the composite is needed to obtain TL signals. However, TL signal was achieved at 2.5 wt % when a composite was prepared by the latter approach. TL intensity shows exponential decay with consecutive mechanical action. The TL emission of PU-based surface impregnated composite expires with long-lived emission, and maximum TL response with respect to applied force was measured between 2.45 and 42.0 N.Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK KBAG-114Z292

Music in the Bektashi Order in RN Macedonia: Aspects of Performance

The spiritual tradition of the Turkish population in RN Macedonia is rich and still nurtures some segments of Sufism from the Ottoman period such as the Bektashi dervish order. In the period before the arrival of the Ottomans (around the 13th century), numerous Sufis were active in these territories, which in some way represented a transition point for the conquest and settlement of the Turks. Numerous Bektashi tekkes were built during the Ottoman period, several of which are still active today. Depending on the ethnic composition of the followers, the linguistic dominance of these Sufi structures also changes. The only Bektashi tekke whose members are Turks is the tekke ‘Dikmen Baba’ located in the village Kanatlarci near Prilep. This tekke is one of the few in the Bektashi orders that, despite several divisions in the spiritual leadership, has operated without interruption since its founding in the 16th century. Such divisions did not affect the essence of the spiritual beliefs nor the ritual forms of this dervish order which remain almost identical to those practised at the very beginning. The main focus of this paper will be the musical tradition of the ritual, and for the following reasons: 1. music, as the main activity of the Bektashi rituals, is the essential vehicle for spreading and reinforcing beliefs and wisdom for everyday community life, 2. its importance as a fundamental tool in the expression of mystical theosophy, and 3. variations in the repertoire as a result of drawing upon and integrating sacred music from local populations. For this purpose, field research, interviews, and the analysis of audio materials from the sacred rites of the Bektashi tekke Dikmen Baba in the village of Kanatlarci have been carried out

Determination of the heavy metal contents and the benefit/cost analysis of Hypericum salsugineum in the vicinity of Salt Lake

In this study, Hypericum salsugineum, an endemic halophytic plant growing around Salt Lake, was analyzed to determine the heavy metals (chromium, lead, copper, zinc and nickel) on it and on the soil it grew. The phytoremediation potential of H. salsugineum was evaluated. In addition, the benefit cost (B/C) analysis was performed for its potential use in phytoremediation. The plant and soil samples were collected from Eskil and Cihanbeyli between May and September in 2016. A total of 300 soil and plant samples were analysed for heavy metal content. Statistical and standard benefit/cost analyses were performed for assessment. The capacity of accumulating the aforementioned heavy metals was found to be high in H. salsugineum. It was found that Ni and Pb ratio exceeded optimum values in its habitat, and H. salsugineum accumulated available Ni and Pb. When the plant was evaluated in terms of benefit/cost, B/C ratio was greater than 1 during the useful life of the study. This conclusion increases the ecological and economical values of H. Salsugineum, effecting its potential use in phytoremediation

A Novel Electrochemical Sensor for the Detection of Reactive Red Dye to Determine Water Quality

In this study, tragacanth gum/chitosan/ZnO nanoprism-based electrochemical sensors were prepared for sensing reactive dyes in water. To use an electrochemical sensor, a ~250 nm-sized ZnO nanoprism was synthesized via ultrasonic-assisted green synthesis method, using tragacanth gum and chitosan polymer blend as a matrix. The electrochemical properties of tragacanth gum/chitosan/ZnO nanoprisms were compared against reactive red 35, reactive yellow 15, and reactive black 194. The electrochemical measurement results indicated that prepared tragacanth gum/chitosan/ZnO nanoprism-based electrochemical sensor detected 25 ppm reactive red 35 in 1 min at room temperature. This study reveals new high-potential novel tragacanth gum/chitosan/ZnO nanoprism-based sensing material for the detection of reactive red dye-consisted wastewater with high sensitivity and short response time

Comparison of inflammatory biomarkers for detection of coronary stenosis in patients with stable coronary artery disease

Erdogan, Turan/0000-0003-2986-5457; Cetin, Mustafa/0000-0001-6342-436X; yilmaz, adnan/0000-0003-4842-1173WOS: 000319223400015PubMed: 23329531BACKGROUND: the objective of the current study was to evaluate the role of various inflammatory biomarkers in detection of coronary stenosis in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and healthy people. METHODS: A total of 111 patients with stable coronary artery disease, and 66 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. Serum levels of lipoprotein-associated-phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA(2)), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured to compare patient and control groups. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar between healthy and patient groups, with the exception of age. ANCOVA and log-transformed data of inflammatory biomarkers revealed that, Lp-PLA(2) (p < 0,001) and hs-CRP (p < 0,05) levels in all patient groups were significantly higher than in the control group. Conversely, there was no significant difference in MPO levels among groups. CONCLUSIONS: in stable CAD patients, serum Lp-PLA(2) levels are more compatible than hsCRP and MPO levels in the detection of coronary stenosis.PfizerPfizer; ServierServier; Astra ZenecaAstraZenecaThis study was supported by the drug companies Pfizer, Servier and Astra Zeneca. the Authors thank all of the companies that helped during this investigation

Intensive Care Management of Critical and Severe SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Pregnancy: A Retrospective Observational Study

Objective: This study examined the clinical consequences of pregnancy coexisting with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in the intensive care unit (ICU). Materials and Methods: The study was designed as a retrospective observational study. After the ethical approval of the local ethics committee, the study was conducted for a period when the number of young coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) cases increased in our country. The patients enrolled in the study were pregnant/puerperal patients followed up in our third-level ICU. Results: The mean age of 35 pregnant women included in the study was 29.57±4.36 years. Twenty-one of the births (80.8%) were preterm births. Twelve (34.3%) patients received invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), and 5 (41.7%) of these patients were deceased. Twenty-six (74.3%) underwent a cesarean section (C/S). There were 5 (14.3%) patients who needed extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and 3 (8.5%) patients who needed continuous renal replacement therapy. The 28-day neonatal mortality rate for 26 births was 3.8%. The maternal mortality rate in the ICU was 14.3%. Conclusion: The preterm birth rate was high in our pregnant patients followed up in the ICU with a diagnosis of COVID-19. Because of clinical and radiological progression in pregnant women, it is difficult to indicate any gestational week in which maternal outcomes are better to undergo C/S. IMV mortality is not higher than in non-pregnant patients, so endotracheal intubation should not be avoided in appropriate patients, whether pregnancy continues or not. The absence of fully vaccinated patients in the study group revealed the protective effect of vaccination during pregnancy

Characteristics of food allergy in children: National multicenter study

Conference: Congress of the European-Academy-of-Allergy-and-Clinical-Immunology (EAACI) Location: Lisbon, PORTUGAL Date: JUN 01-05, 2019Background : Food allergies impose a significant burden on the life of the child and the family. In this study, to determine the demographic characteristics of food allergies, we investigated the characteristics of patients with food allergies in different regions of Pediatric Allergy- Immunology departments in Turkey. Method : Turkey ' s National Study of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Society has conducted a Study Group on Food Allergies. 25 centers participated in this multicenter, cross- sectional and descriptive study.European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunolog