Research on the change of fruit quality characteristics of chestnuts (Castanea sativa Mill.) in pre-harvest and post-harvest period

Kestanelerde, hasat öncesi, hasat ve hasat sonrası dönemlerde meyve kalite özellikleri değişiminin ortaya konması ve karşılaştırılması amacıyla yürütülmüştür. Çalışmada kestaneler n normal (geleneksel)ve soğuk depo koşullarında (soğuk hava deposunda) muhafaza edilmiştir. 2010 yılı ürün yılında; hasat öncesi, hasat ve hasat sonrası Ekim ayı başı-Aralık ayı sonu arasındaki muhafaza süresince iki hafta aralıklarla alınan, meyve örneklerinde fiziksel ve biyokimyasal analizler yapılmıştır. Bu amaçla; meyve boyutları (en, boy, yükseklik, meyve indeksi), meyve kabuğu ve eti rengi *, su aktivitesi (aw) ve toplam şeker, nişasta ve karbonhidrat miktarı, *; tanen miktarı, aflatoksin B1, B2, G1, G2, toplam aflatoksin (ppb) miktarları belirlenmiştir. Geleneksel ve soğuk hava deposunda muhafaza ile kestanelerde depolama süresi arttıkça toplam şeker miktarının (%) arttığı, bununla birlikte toplam nişasta miktarının (%) ise azaldığı saptanmıştır. Muhafaza süresi uzamasıyla birlikte kestanelerde muhafaza şekline bağlı olarak aflatoksin bulaşıklığının görülebileceği sonucuna varılmıştır.Traditional storage and cold storage room have been used in this trial, which was performed in order to exhibit and compare the changes in fruit quality properties of chestnuts during the pre-harvest, harvest and post-harvest terms. In this trial, which has been set up on Year 2010 harvest season, during pre-harvest, harvest and post-harvest storages, physical and biochemical analyses have been performed with fruit samples taken approximately once in every two weeks, between the beginning of September and the end of December. For that purpose, fruit sizes (width, length, height, fruit index), peel and pulp colors (L*, a*, b*, hue, chroma), water activity (aw) and amounts of total sugar, starch and carbohydrates (%). amount of tannin (%), amounts of aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2, total aflatoxins (ppb) have been detected. With storage in traditional and cold storage rooms, it has been observed that total amount of sugar (%) in chestnuts has increased whereas total amount of starch (%) has declined. In addition to this, aflotoxin contamination could be observed in chestnuts in the event of elongation of storage period depending on the type of storage

Is there a relationship between systemic immune-inflammatory indices and asthma?

Immune inflammatory response plays an important role in patients with asthma. The goal of the current study is to determine whether pan-immune inflammation value (PIV) and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) are effective in predicting asthma.Material and Methods: This retrospective study included 55 patients and 55 healthy controls followed in the Allergy and Immunology Clinics of Ordu University Training and Research Hospital.Results: Neutrophil, Monocyte, MPV and PDW were statistically significant between the groups (p0.05).Discussion: We concluded that SIRI and PIV could be novel and cost-effective inflammatory indices in patients with asthma

Relationship of glycemic control and diabetes duration with fibromyalgia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Aim: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome characterized by chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain, presence of specific tender points and other somatic symptoms. The objective of the present study was to identify the association of glycemic control and diabetes duration with FM based on 2016 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: A total of 275 consecutive patients with T2DM admitted to a university hospital setting were included in this cross-sectional study. FM was diagnosed based on ACR 2016 criteria in all patients. Age, gender, diabetes duration, and body mass index (BMI) were recorded and metabolic parameters were determined in all participants. Results: HbA1c and fasting blood glucose were not significantly different between patients with FM and without FM. Diabetes duration was independently associated with FM in patients with T2 DM. Conclusions: Development of FM in patients with T2DM was not associated with glycemic control but associated with diabetes duration. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of concomitant FM in long term diabetes patients complaining of pain, fatigue and cognitive symptoms because of its devastating effect on quality of life

Clinical Course of Hyperprolactinemia in Children and Adolescents: A Review of 21 Cases

Objective: Hyperprolactinemia may be due to various etiological factors and may present with different signs and symptoms. It is relatively less frequent in childhood than in adulthood. The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the clinical course and outcome of hyperprolactinemia in pediatric patients

Acquired Generalized Lipodystrophy Associated with Autoimmune Hepatitis and Low Serum C4 Level

Lipodystrophies are a group of diseases characterized by loss of fat tissue and are associated with insulin resistance. A six-year- old girl followed with the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis showed a severe loss of fat tissue, hyperinsulinemia, impaired glucose tolerance, hypertriglyceridemia and low serum complement 4 (C4) levels. She had coarse facial features with generalized loss of subcutaneous fat and prominent muscularity. Remarkable acanthosis nigricans was present over the neck, axilla, and umbilicus. Two hours after glucose loading, the glucose tolerance test revealed a glucose level of 258 mg/dL, a HbA1c value of 6.8%, and an insulin level of 642.9 mIU/mL, documenting a state of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Acquired generalized lipodystrophy was diagnosed and metformin with dietary intervention was initiated. Low serum complement levels proved the autoimmune nature of the process. We conclude that the serum complement levels must be investigated in patients with acquired lipodystrophy, particularly when it is associated with autoimmune hepatitis

A Rare Cause of Precocious Puberty: Hepatoblastoma

Hepatoblastoma, an embryonal tumor, is one of the most common primary liver tumors in childhood. It secretes human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which can cause precocious puberty (PP). Herein, we present a case with PP who had enlarged penile size noticed during a diagnosis of hepatoblastoma. Laboratory examination revealed increased testosterone, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and hCG levels. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were within prepubertal ranges. The diagnosis of hepatoblastoma was made by liver biopsy. Chemotherapy was administered, and the patient was referred to surgery. Ten months later, testis volumes were below 4 ml bilaterally, and penile length was 5.5 cm. Serum testosterone, AFP, and hCG levels decreased. Resection of the tumor and chemotherapy are essential for the treatment of hepatoblastoma and they can eliminate the symptoms of PP

Resolution of Autoimmune Oophoritis after Thymectomy in a Myasthenia Gravis Patient

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by autoantibodies against acetylcholine receptors. MG is generally an isolated disorder but may occur concomitantly with other autoimmune diseases. We describe an eighteen-year-old girl with MG who was admitted to our clinic with secondary amenorrhea and diagnosed as autoimmune oophoritis. Since her myasthenic symptoms did not resolve with anticholinesterase therapy, thymectomy was performed. After thymectomy, her menses have been regular without any hormonal replacement therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first report on a patient with autoimmune ovarian insufficiency and MG in whom premature ovarian insufficiency resolved after thymectomy, without hormonal therapy

Morphometric Analysis of Greater Palatine Canal by Computed Tomography

Aim: The greater palatine canal connects to the oral cavity through the greater palatine foramen. Preoperatively identifying the morphology of the greater palatine canal and greater palatine foramen is very important to avoid possible complications during surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the greater palatine canal and surrounding anatomical structures using computed tomography. Material and Methods: Images from 100 patients (35 female and 65 male) who had previously undergone computed tomography for various reasons were evaluated. The study data were divided into three age groups, <20 years, 20-60 years, and >60 years. Morphological parameters measured in this study included; diameter measurement from the widest part of the canal, length of the canal, beginning diameter of the canal, the ends diameter of the canal, localization of the canal entrance with respect to the third molar tooth, distance of the canal entrance to palatine suture. The values obtained from the measurements were compared in terms of age group, gender, and side. Results: The mean length of the canalis palatinus major was 15.19±4.38 mm. The diameter of the widest part of the canal and the end of the canal, and the distance between the canal entrance and the sutura palatina increased with age, but these increases were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Proper administration of anesthesia through the greater palatine foramen in maxillofacial surgeries and related applications requires a detailed understanding of the anatomy of the greater palatine canal, and the results of the present study will contribute to the understanding of this anatomy

Canonical Wnt signaling is antagonized by noncanonical Wnt5a in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>β-catenin mutations that constitutively activate the canonical Wnt signaling have been observed in a subset of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). These mutations are associated with chromosomal stability, low histological grade, low tumor invasion and better patient survival. We hypothesized that canonical Wnt signaling is selectively activated in well-differentiated, but repressed in poorly differentiated HCCs. To this aim, we characterized differentiation status of HCC cell lines and compared their expression status of Wnt pathway genes, and explored their activity of canonical Wnt signaling.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We classified human HCC cell lines into "well-differentiated" and "poorly differentiated" subtypes, based on the expression of hepatocyte lineage, epithelial and mesenchymal markers. Poorly differentiated cell lines lost epithelial and hepatocyte lineage markers, and overexpressed mesenchymal markers. Also, they were highly motile and invasive. We compared the expression of 45 Wnt pathway genes between two subtypes. TCF1 and TCF4 factors, and LRP5 and LRP6 co-receptors were ubiquitously expressed. Likewise, six Frizzled receptors, and canonical Wnt3 ligand were expressed in both subtypes. In contrast, canonical ligand Wnt8b and noncanonical ligands Wnt4, Wnt5a, Wnt5b and Wnt7b were expressed selectively in well- and poorly differentiated cell lines, respectively. Canonical Wnt signaling activity, as tested by a TCF reporter assay was detected in 80% of well-differentiated, contrary to 14% of poorly differentiated cell lines. TCF activity generated by ectopic mutant β-catenin was weak in poorly differentiated SNU449 cell line, suggesting a repressive mechanism. We tested Wnt5a as a candidate antagonist. It strongly inhibited canonical Wnt signaling that is activated by mutant β-catenin in HCC cell lines.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Differential expression of Wnt ligands in HCC cells is associated with selective activation of canonical Wnt signaling in well-differentiated, and its repression in poorly differentiated cell lines. One potential mechanism of repression involved Wnt5a, acting as an antagonist of canonical Wnt signaling. Our observations support the hypothesis that Wnt pathway is selectively activated or repressed depending on differentiation status of HCC cells. We propose that canonical and noncanonical Wnt pathways have complementary roles in HCC, where the canonical signaling contributes to tumor initiation, and noncanonical signaling to tumor progression.</p