The structural, optical and morphological properties of CaF2 thin films by using Thermionic Vacuum Arc (TVA)

In this study, calcium fluoride (CaF2) thin films have been prepared by Thermionic Vacuum Arc (TVA) technique on glass substrates. In this technique CaF2 thin films are produced by condensing the plasma of anode material generated in the TVA setup under high vacuum conditions on glass substrates. Crystal structures as well as optical and surface properties of CaF2 antireflective (AR) coated thin films were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements showed that amorphous CaF2 thin films were formed. Optical and surface properties of CaF2 films have been studied based on optical transmittance, reflectance, refractive index and atomic force microscopy imaging (AFM). Our results also show that CaF2 coated samples exhibit lower reflectance (R). From our optical studies, we have observed that CaF2 thin films have high AR properties.TUBITAK (108M608); ESOGU Scientific Research Commission (200819045

Higher COVID-19 pneumonia risk associated with anti-IFN-α than with anti-IFN-ω auto-Abs in children

We found that 19 (10.4%) of 183 unvaccinated children hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia had autoantibodies (auto-Abs) neutralizing type I IFNs (IFN-alpha 2 in 10 patients: IFN-alpha 2 only in three, IFN-alpha 2 plus IFN-omega in five, and IFN-alpha 2, IFN-omega plus IFN-beta in two; IFN-omega only in nine patients). Seven children (3.8%) had Abs neutralizing at least 10 ng/ml of one IFN, whereas the other 12 (6.6%) had Abs neutralizing only 100 pg/ml. The auto-Abs neutralized both unglycosylated and glycosylated IFNs. We also detected auto-Abs neutralizing 100 pg/ml IFN-alpha 2 in 4 of 2,267 uninfected children (0.2%) and auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-omega in 45 children (2%). The odds ratios (ORs) for life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia were, therefore, higher for auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-alpha 2 only (OR [95% CI] = 67.6 [5.7-9,196.6]) than for auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-. only (OR [95% CI] = 2.6 [1.2-5.3]). ORs were also higher for auto-Abs neutralizing high concentrations (OR [95% CI] = 12.9 [4.6-35.9]) than for those neutralizing low concentrations (OR [95% CI] = 5.5 [3.1-9.6]) of IFN-omega and/or IFN-alpha 2

Association of vitamin D level and CYP27B1 gene polymorphism with multiple sclerosis in Turkish population

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease in which the insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged. In this study, we investigated the possible association of vitamin D levels and rs703842 in the CYP27B1 gene with MS. Methodology: We used blood samples of 99 patients (65 female, 35 male) with an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-confirmed definitive diagnosis of MS and 99 controls (70 female, 29 male) between the ages of 18-55 years. We measured their vitamin D levels, isolated their DNA, and scanned rs703842 polymorphism in the CYP27B1 gene. Results: Rs703842 polymorphism in the CYP27B1 gene in humans was found as three different genotypes: CC, CT, and TT. Among them, CC genotype was found higher in the patient group and CT genotype was found higher in the control group. The statistical analysis showed that the probability of a C allele having an association with MS to be 1.5189 times of the probability of T allele. Also, the vitamin D levels in the patient group were detected lower than the control group. Conclusion: Low levels of vitamin D and low expression of CYP27B1 were found to have an association with MS. [JBCGenetics 2020; 3(1.000): 3-6

Safety assessment of the innovative functional food ingredient from Cannabis sativa L. wastes

Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) are the oligomers of β-1,4 linked xylose monomers and they have health promoting effect by modulating the beneficial microorganisms in intestine. In this study, hydrolysate obtained from hemp (Cannabis sativa) shives was investigated in terms of its in vitro toxicological impacts at cellular and genetic levels and antioxidant activity. The hydrolysate was found to contain 0.264 mg mL-1 of xylose, 0.789 mg mL-1 of xylobiose and 0.171 mg mL-1 of xylotriose in addition to hydroxymethlyfurfural (HMF) and furfural (F) at concentrations of 0.545 mg mL-1 and 0.107 mg mL-1, respectively. The cells, colon epithelial cells (CoN) and colon cancer cells (Caco-2), exposed to 5.00 mg mL-1 or lower XOS hydrolysate showed very similar growth profiles to the untreated control cells. At the genetic level, the oxidative responses of the cell types to XOS hydrolysate were different as measured by NFE2L2 (Nuclear factor, erythroid-derived 2-like 2) gene expression. Regarding antioxidant activity, the amount of XOS hydrolysate (IC50) that cleared 50 % of the 2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) in the medium was calculated as 0.12 mg mL-1. To conclude, based on in vitro studies, XOS hydrolysate obtained from lignocellulosic hemp shives emerges as an innovative, alternative and safe functional food candidate

Relationship between expression levels of TDRD7 and CRYBB3 and development of age-related cortico-nuclear cataracts

Abstract Background The human lens develops age-related cataracts (ARCs) because of the complicated effects of aging and stressful conditions. Under conditions involving oxidative stress, cells form stress granules (SGs). TDRD7 has been identified as an RNA granule component and an important component of SGs. TDRD7 plays a role in the post-transcriptional expression of genes, such as the crystallin gene CRYBB3. Therefore, the present study investigated TDRD7 and CRYBB3 mRNA expressions in relation to age-related cortico-nuclear cataracts. Methods Quantitative real-time PCR was used to determine the expression levels of TDRD7 and CRYBB3 in 52 patients with ARC and 52 healthy controls. Anterior lens capsules and peripheral blood samples from patients with ARC were included in the patient group, and peripheral blood samples from healthy subjects and human lens epithelial cells (HLE-B3) were included in the control group. Gene expression levels in the different age groups were compared. Correlation analysis was used to assess the gene expression levels and age. Results The expression of TDRD7 and CRYBB3 was significantly up-regulated (P < 0.0001) in anterior lens capsules compared to that in HLE-B3 cells. Similarly, the expression of TDRD7 (P = 0.0004) and CRYBB3 (P < 0.0001) was higher in the peripheral blood samples of patients with ARC than in those of healthy subjects. Significant upregulation (P < 0.05) was observed in the 71–81-year age group of patients. No correlation was found between gene expression levels and age. Conclusion Significantly higher expression levels of TDRD7 and CRYBB3 in patients with ARC than in controls suggest that TDRD7 and CRYBB3 are associated with the development of age-related cortico-nuclear cataracts and the aging process under chronic stress