Determination of phthalates in some milk products by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

WOS: 000472627700002This study was aimed to determine the presence and amount of the phthalates in yoghurt and ayran samples consumed in Turkey. For this purpose, 36 yoghurt and 24 ayran samples were used as materials in original packages collected from different markets in Turkey. The presence and the amounts of di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), di-isononyl phthalate (DINP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP) and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) were determined by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The results of the analysis howed that DBP, DEHP and BBP were present in the yoghurt samples whereas DINP, DIDP and DNOP were found to be lower than the detectable limit 20 mu g/kg. The lowest and the highest mounts of DBP, DEHP and BBP in yoghurt samples are 6-229, 24-122, 22-63 mu g/kg respectively. The lowest and highest phthalate amounts in ayran samples are determined to be 38-59 mu g/kg for DBP and 26-81 mu g/kg for DEHP. According to the results, although DEHP and DBP were the main phthalate esters in all milk products that were analyzed, the phthalate values of the samples were found to be less than the limit values (P<0.001)

Evaluation of Dermatology Residents Using the Multisource (360-Degree) Assessment Method

WOS: 000269255400003Objective: To test the applicability of the 360-degree assessment method of postgraduate medical education (dermatology) in a Turkish setting and discover the possible areas of improvement Design: Cross-sectional research Setting: Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey Subjects and Methods: Using the competencies framework of the The American Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), a 71 item containing pool was formed. Based on evaluation aspects of possible evaluator groups, the pool was converted into seven different evaluation forms for the following groups: teachers (faculty), nurses, peers, secretaries, auxiliary staff, patients and self. All seven residents and members from each department voluntarily participated in the study. Data was collected over a period of three months. Main Outcome Measures: In the data analysis process, mean scores, and internal consistency scores were measured and evaluator groups' scores and resident's ranks in competency areas were compared to find out differences. Results: A total of 259 forms were filled out by seven groups to evaluate seven residents. All the staff in the dermatology clinic participated in the process. The reliability coefficient for the faculty members was 0.99 while it was 0.60 for the auxiliary staff. Low scores were clustered. I. Conclusions: Our results show that the 360-degree assessment is very well received by the evaluator group and residents and the method is acceptable in the Turkish setting of postgraduate dermatology specialist training. There is a need for larger sample study for other settings.Akdeniz University Research FoundationAkdeniz UniversityThis study was supported by Akdeniz University Research Foundation

Development of Genic-SSR Markers in Myrtle by RNA-seq

Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) is a typical plant cover of the Mediterranean region. It is an evergreen perennial shrub or small tree belonging to Myrtaceae family with a natural spread in tropical and subtropical areas. RNA sequencing technique is a common method used to identify transcriptomes. Next-generation sequencing technologies have recently been used for identification and development of SSR markers. This study was conducted to develop SSR markers in myrtle plants with the use of next-generation sequencing technologies. Illumina HiSeq 2000 sequencing device was used for RNA sequencing in two different myrtle genotypes (one with black fruits and the other one with white fruits). RNA-Seq analyses were conducted in two different myrtle genotypes and de novo analyses were performed to identify repeat regions of the genome. Present analyses revealed the greatest repeat pattern as 12,885 di-nucleotide. Number of repeat patterns varied between 12-11,776. Appropriate SSR primers able to amplify these repeat patterns were designed. Within the scope of this study, more than 12,000 SSR primers were developed

Environmentally friendly, antibacterial materials from recycled keratin incorporated electrospun PLA films with tunable properties

The traditional disposal of chicken feathers includes expensive and challenging steps such as incineration and burying in landfills. Keratin is a valuable component of chicken feather waste recycled from poultry industry. The fibrous intermediate protein nature along with unique chemical composition enables its use in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics and agricultural industries. The current study proposes an innovative valorization of recycled keratin from chicken feathers combined with polylactic acid (PLA), a viable bio-based polymer obtained from plant-based food stock. As a novel application, this study explains the preparation, electrospinning parameter optimization and performance assessment of recycled keratin electrospun with PLA. The structural, thermal, thermo-mechanical, morphological, antibacterial and surface wetting properties of keratin-incorporated electrospun PLA films were investigated. The disruption of crystallinity, hence the processability of both biopolymer via electrospinning is demonstrated. The nanofiber size, thermal, thermo-mechanical, antibacterial and surface wetting properties of electrospun films can be tuned by keratin content. This study provides environmentally friendly, recycled, bio-based material alternatives with tunable material properties that can be used in multitude of applications including environmental food packaging

Epiretinal membrane related vascular changes in diabetic eyes evaluated with optical coherens tomography angiography

AIM: To evaluate the retinochoroidal microvascular circulation and anatomical structure of diabetic and non-diabetic patients with epiretinal membrane (ERM) with the help of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) and compare them with healthy control subjects. METHODS: In this prospective, cross-sectional study, a total of 165 eyes were evaluated, including 50 eyes of patients with diabetic ERM, 54 eyes of idiopathic ERM (iERM) patients, and 61 eyes of healthy controls. Macula and disc angiography was performed by OCT-A. Macular vessel density (VD) ratio was evaluated by dividing the VD of the foveal region by the VD of the parafoveal region. Statistical calculations were evaluated at the 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: Macula superficial VD values of ERM cases were lower than that in the control group, while foveal VD was higher in ERM cases. Macula deep VD values of ERM cases were lower in all quadrants, except the fovea. The width of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area was significantly lower in the ERM groups, and the FAZ width was lowest in iERM group. Macula superficial VD ratio was significantly higher in the ERM groups, but there was no significant difference between ERM groups. Macula deep VD ratio was significantly higher in the iERM group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: Diabetic and idiopathic ERMs differ in their mechanism of formation and clinical presentation, as well as their effect on retinal vascular structures. If the relationship of increase of retinal thickness with vascular integrity can be demonstrated with OCT-A, then, OCT-A can be used as a guide for ERM prognosis

Paraoxonase1 192 (PON1 192) Gene Polymorphism and Serum Paraoxonase Activity in Panic Disorder Patients

Background/Aim: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in the development of certain neuropsychiatric disorders. Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity has been suggested to be adversely related to oxidative stress in plasma. The purpose of the present study was to demonstrate the relationship between serum PON1 activity and PON1 192 polymorphism in panic disorder (PD). Materials and Methods: Fourty-two patients with PD and 46 healthy controls were included in this study. PON1 192 genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. PON1 activity was measured by spectrophotometric assay of p-nitrophenol production following the addition of paraoxon. Results: PON1 192 AA genotype and A allele in PD were significantly higher than in the control group, whereas the B allele was found to be significantly higher in the control group. Patients with panic disorder have lower PON1 activity than the control group. Conclusion: The PON1 192 AA genotype may increase the risk of PD depending on lipid peroxidation

The Relationship Between ACE Polymorphism and Panic Disorder

Background: The angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene, which has been found to have an insertion and deletion polymorphism (I/D), is of increasing interest in etiology and treatment of various psychiatric disorders such as panic disorder. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between ACE polymorphism and panic disorder. Materials and Methods: In this study, 43 patients diagnosed with panic disorder at the Erenkoy Mental and Neurological Diseases Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul and 41 healthy controls were enrolled. The ACE gene insertion/deletion polymorphism of exon 16 was evaluated using the polymerase chain reaction method. Results: There was a significant association between I/D genotype and panic disorder (p=0.003). However, the frequency of the I allele was found to be significantly higher in patients compared to controls (p=0.002). In addition, we recognized a significant association between I/D polymorphism and respiratory-type panic disorder in patients. Carriers of the D allele also had an increased risk of respiratory type panic disorder patients (p=0.034). Moreover, the result of Spearman correlation analysis showed an association with ACE D allele and severity of panic disorder (p<0.001). Conclusion: We suggest that the I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene is associated with panic disorder and particularly respiratory-type panic disorder in patients. The I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene seems to influence therapeutic outcome in patients suffering from panic disorder. Our results indicate that ACE D allele is associated with the severity of panic disorder

Paraoxonase1 192 (PON1 192) Gene Polymorphism and Serum Paraoxonase Activity in Panic Disorder Patients

Background/Aim: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in the development of certain neuropsychiatric disorders. Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity has been suggested to be adversely related to oxidative stress in plasma. The purpose of the present study was to demonstrate the relationship between serum PON1 activity and PON1 192 polymorphism in panic disorder (PD). Materials and Methods: Fourty-two patients with PD and 46 healthy controls were included in this study. PON1 192 genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. PON1 activity was measured by spectrophotometric assay of p-nitrophenol production following the addition of paraoxon. Results: PON1 192 AA genotype and A allele in PD were significantly higher than in the control group, whereas the B allele was found to be significantly higher in the control group. Patients with panic disorder have lower PON1 activity than the control group. Conclusion: The PON1 192 AA genotype may increase the risk of PD depending on lipid peroxidation