Genetic relationship of wild einkorn based on geographical distribution in Anatolia and Thrace using AFLP markers

Triticum monococcum L. ssp boeoticum Boiss., is the wild progenitor of domesticated einkorn. High throughput AFLP genetic analysis showed that the domestication of einkorn started in the northern part of the Fertile Crescent, near the Karacadag Mountains, Southeastern Turkey [1]. This study assesses the genetic distribution and the diversity of wild einkorn throughout Turkey, using total of 59 accessions from 22 locations in four different geographical regions. In our study, the four selective combinations of AFLP markers (E+ACC/M+ACT, E+ACC/M+ATA, E+ACT/M+ATA, and E+ATC/M+AAG) resulted in 161 AFLP marker loci. Phylogenetic trees for individual accessions and populations based on geographical regions were obtained using 'PopGen-32' population genetic analysis software. East and Southeast samples were genetically closest to each other among the samples from other regions. The samples from West, Northwest, and Central Anatolia were clustered together

Perspectives on care and communication involving incurably ill Turkish and Moroccan patients, relatives and professionals: a systematic literature review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Our aim was to obtain a clearer picture of the relevant care experiences and care perceptions of incurably ill Turkish and Moroccan patients, their relatives and professional care providers, as well as of communication and decision-making patterns at the end of life. The ultimate objective is to improve palliative care for Turkish and Moroccan immigrants in the Netherlands, by taking account of socio-cultural factors in the guidelines for palliative care.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A systematic literature review was undertaken. The data sources were seventeen national and international literature databases, four Dutch journals dedicated to palliative care and 37 websites of relevant national and international organizations. All the references found were checked to see whether they met the structured inclusion criteria. Inclusion was limited to publications dealing with primary empirical research on the relationship between socio-cultural factors and the health or care situation of Turkish or Moroccan patients with an oncological or incurable disease. The selection was made by first reading the titles and abstracts and subsequently the full texts. The process of deciding which studies to include was carried out by two reviewers independently. A generic appraisal instrument was applied to assess the methodological quality.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fifty-seven studies were found that reported findings for the countries of origin (mainly Turkey) and the immigrant host countries (mainly the Netherlands). The central themes were experiences and perceptions of family care, professional care, end-of-life care and communication. Family care is considered a duty, even when such care becomes a severe burden for the main female family caregiver in particular. Professional hospital care is preferred by many of the patients and relatives because they are looking for a cure and security. End-of-life care is strongly influenced by the continuing hope for recovery. Relatives are often quite influential in end-of-life decisions, such as the decision to withdraw or withhold treatments. The diagnosis, prognosis and end-of-life decisions are seldom discussed with the patient, and communication about pain and mental problems is often limited. Language barriers and the dominance of the family may exacerbate communication problems.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This review confirms the view that family members of patients with a Turkish or Moroccan background have a central role in care, communication and decision making at the end of life. This, in combination with their continuing hope for the patient’s recovery may inhibit open communication between patients, relatives and professionals as partners in palliative care. This implies that organizations and professionals involved in palliative care should take patients’ socio-cultural characteristics into account and incorporate cultural sensitivity into care standards and care practices<it>.</it></p

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Determination of the knowledge level, attitudes, and behaviors of islamic religious officials toward blood donation

PubMedID: 29133024The aim of the present study was to determine knowledge level, attitudes, and behaviors of Islamic religious officials toward blood donation. This study included 334 religious officials rendering service in the province of Kahramanmaras, located in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. A questionnaire was administered to gather sociodemographic data of the participants and their knowledge levels, attitudes, and behaviors toward blood donation. The questionnaire consisted of 11 questions that yielded a total of 11 points. The religious officials in the study included 206 imams (61.7%, males) and 128 Quran course instructors (38.3%, females). Of study participants, 134 (40.1%) reported a previous experience of blood donation and 200 (59.9%) denied previous experience of blood donation. The mean knowledge score was 7.09 ± 2.54 points for males and 6.89 ± 2.18 points for females. Male and female participants achieved comparable scores (p = 0.476). Of the participants, 291 (87.1%) agreed and nine (2.7%) disagreed with the expression, “Blood donation is permissible in Islam;” 34 (10.2%) participants had no idea. The present study revealed considerable deficiencies in knowledge about blood donation among religious officials. In addition, the rate of blood donation and willingness to donate blood were low among religious officials. Although the level of knowledge about blood donation was similar in males and females, it was an interesting finding that the blood donation rate was significantly higher in males than in females. © 2017 Elsevier Lt

Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibition by sildenafil citrate in a rat model of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis

Sildenafil, a selective and potent inhibitor of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-specific phosphodiesterase (PDE)5, has a relaxant effect on the smooth muscle cells of the arterioles supplying the human corpus cavernosum acting via nitric oxide (NO)-dependent mechanism. This study aimed to investigate the possible protective effect of sildenafil citrate on the extent of tissue integrity, oxidant-antioxidant status and neutrophil infiltration to the inflamed organ in a rat model of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis. Lung fibrosis was induced by intratracheal administration of 0.1 ml of bleomycin hydrochloride (5 mg/kg in 0.9% NaCl) under anesthesia to Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250 g; n =7-8 per group). Control rats received an equal volume of saline intratracheally. In the treatment groups, the rats were treated with either sildenafil citrate (10 mg/kg per day; subcutaneously) or saline for 14 days. Another group of rats were administered subcutaneously with N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 20 mg/kg in 0.9% NaCI) 5 min after sildenafil injections. After decapitation, the lungs were excised and taken for microscopic evaluation or stored for the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and for the assessment of apoptosis. Trunk blood was collected for the assessment of serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (1)-1 beta levels. In the group with lung fibrosis, the lung tissue was characterized by microscopic lesions, increased lipid peroxidation with a concomitant reduction in GSH content, increased MPO activity and apoptosis. Serum TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta levels were higher in the lung fibrosis group compared to control values. Sildenafil reversed tissue MDA levels, MPO activity and serum pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, and preserved GSH content although its effect on the extent of tissue lesion and apoptosis was not statistically significant. Treatment with L-NAME reversed the effect of sildenafil on GSH content. In conclusion, sildenafil citrate administration to rats with bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis seems to be beneficial via prevention of lipid peroxidation, cytokine production and/or release and neutrophil accumulation. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Relaxant effect of the prostacyclin analogue iloprost on isolated human radial artery: An approach for the reversal of graft spasm

Radial artery graft spasm in the perioperative or postoperative period of coronary bypass surgery necessitates urgent treatment due to risk of graft failure and mortality. Herein, we evaluated the effect of iloprost, a prostacyclin (PGI(2)) analogue, against the contractions produced by noradrenaline and potassium chloride on isolated human radial artery. Following the determination of endothelial and vascular relaxing capacities of the arteries, iloprost (10(-9)M-10(-6)M) was cumulatively applied on rings precontracted submaximally with the spasmogens. In some rings, the response to iloprost was assessed following pretreatment with nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, L-NAME (3 x 10(-4)M,30 min). Iloprost produced complete relaxations on radial artery rings pre contracted with noradrenaline whereas, only moderate relaxations against the contractions induced by potassium chloride. Notably, the relaxation to iloprost was remarkably blunted in radial arteries with impaired endothelial function. Moreover, the relaxation to iloprost was unchanged in rings pretreated with L-NAME. Our results demonstrated that iloprost could be a potent relaxant agent in reversing radial artery spasm, particularly initiated by noradrenaline, possibly acting via an endothelium-mediated mechanism unrelated to NO

Venous Thromboembolism Risk and Thromboprophylaxis Among Hospitalized Patients: Data From the Turkish Arm of the ENDORSE Study

Objectives: To evaluate venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk and use of thromboprophylaxis in the acute care hospital setting. Methods: A total of 1701 patients hospitalized for acute or exacerbated chronic medical illnesses or elective major surgery at 11 different hospitals across Turkey were included in the study. Patients at risk and VTE prophylaxis application were retrospectively identified based on medical charts. Results: According to the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) criteria, overall 35.6% (606 of 1701) of the patients were identified to be at VTE risk. Venous thromboembolism-risk was observed in 64.9% of surgical and 23.8% of medical patients, the latter being lower than global Epidemiologic International Day for the Evaluation of Patients at Risk for Venous Thromboembolism in the Acute Hospital Care Setting (ENDORSE) study results; while prophylaxis was prescribed in 39.0% and 38.5% of them, respectively. Contraindication to anticoagulant prophylaxis was observed in 8.7% of medical and 8.8% of surgical patients. Conclusions: VTE remains a risk factor among patients hospitalized across Turkey, since identification as well as prophylaxis of patients at VTE risk seems to be neglected

In Turkish wheat cultivars the resistance allele of LR34 is ineffective against leaf rust

Rust and powdery mildew diseases of wheat are among the oldest and most harmful diseases confining the yield of wheat worldwide. Development of resistant wheat cultivars with durable or race-nonspecific resistance genes is the main objective for many breeding programs. One of these genes, Lr34/Yr18/Pm38, was found to confer partial and durable resistance against rust pathogens as well as powdery mildew. This multiple disease resistant locus was recently found to comprise a single gene, which encodes an adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter (ABC-transporter) of the pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR) subfamily. Differences in the alleles of resistant and susceptible cultivars enabled to develop six allele-specific markers. In this study, 46 different Turkish bread wheat cultivars were screened using these specific markers, which indicated that 13 cultivars carry the resistance allele of that gene. To compare this molecular finding with phenotypic observations, a field trial with artificial inoculation of Puccinia recondita was performed. Interestingly, all cultivars having the resistance allele were found to be susceptible. Although Lr34 has mediated resistance against leaf rust for over 40 years and has been used globally as an effective component of rust resistance in many breeding programs, this adult plant resistance is ineffective in the studied Turkish bread wheat cultivars