Hydrology and hydrochemistry of marble aquifer with point recharge from two deep sinkholes, Menderes Massive, western Turkey

Menderes Massive is a NE–SW-trending metamorphic terrain in western Anatolia. The massive is composed of regionally metamorphosed rocks of mica-schist and marble. The Bozdag Mountain is the main horst system in Kucuk Menderes river basin. It is composed of several N-S oriented small horsts and grabens and contains important karst features, such as poljes and sinkholes. Ayvacik and Subatan Poljes are typical closed depressions draining into Ayvacik and Subatan sinkholes (ponors). Both are developed along the N-S directed fault system. The main objective of this study is to determine the karstification and hydrogeochemical features of water circulating in marble terrain and controlled by deep sinkholes in the Bozdag Mountain. Detailed speleological studies demonstrated that the degree of karstification of marble rock depends on the regional tectonic structure, the mineralogy of marble and the water recharge rate into the sinkholes. Tritium isotope and tracer tests indicate very fast flow and connection between Subatan surface water and a spring in lower elevations with high Ca and Mg ion concentration at the south of the study area. Hidrogeologija in hidrokemija marmornega vodonosnika s ponornim točkovnim napajanjem (Masiv Meredes, zahodna Turčija)Masiv Menderes je območje metamorfnih kamnin v zahodni Anatoliji, Turčija. Razteza se v smeri SV–JZ in je sestavljeno predvsem iz regionalno metamorfiziranih sljudnih skrilavcev in marmorjev. Goro Bozdag sestavlja sistem manjših grud in tektonskih jarkov, orientiranih v smeri sever-jug. Masiv je delno zakrasel, s tipičnimi kraškimi oblikami, med katere spadata tudi polji Ayvacik in Subatan, ki se drenirata skozi istoimenske ponore. Obe polji sta razviti v prelomni coni orientirani v smeri sever-jug. Glavni namen opisane raziskave je določiti stopnjo zakraselosti območja in hidrokemične lastnosti vode, ki teče skozi marmornati masiv. Podrobne speleološke raziskave so pokazale, da je zakraselost močno pogojena z regionalno geološko strukturo, mineraloško sestavo marmorja in velikostjo dotokov v ponore. Izotopske analize tritija in sledenje podzemnih voda kažejo na hiter tok in povezavo med poljem Subatan in visoko mineraliziranimi izviri na jugu obravnavanega območja. 

Diltiazem Increases the Liver Regeneration in Rats by Inhibiting TGF-β1

Transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF- β1) is the most important inhibitory cytokine during the hepatic regeneration process. Diltiazem is a Ltype calcium channel blocker that has inhibitory effect on TGF- β1. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of diltiazem on hepatic regeneration. Sixty female Wistar Albino rats were used. Three groups were created; the control, low dose diltiazem and high dose diltiazem groups, each consisting of 20 rats. After partial liver resection (70% hepatectomy), saline was introduced to control group, 5 mg/kg diltiazem was introduced to low dose group and 15 mg/kg diltiazem to high dose group intraperitoneally. Ten rats in each group were sacrificed on the first postoperative day and the remaining rats on the fifth day. Liver weight, mitotic rate and the Ki-67 ratio were measured for determining hepatic regeneration. Liver regeneration rate on the fifth postoperative day was significantly higher both in the low dose and high dose diltiazem groups than the control group (Low diltiazem vs control: P<0.001; High diltiazem vs control: P<0.001). No significant difference was found between the groups regarding the number of mitoses on the first and fifth days following partial hepatectomy (P>0.05). The Ki-67 ratio on the first postoperative day was significantly higher both in the low dose and high dose diltiazem groups than the control group (Low diltiazem vs control: P<0.001; High diltiazem vs control: P<0.001). Diltiazem increases liver regeneration by inhibiting TGF-β1

The frequency of Duchenne muscular dystrophy/Becker muscular dystrophy and Pompe disease in children with isolated transaminase elevation: results from the observational VICTORIA study

IntroductionElevated transaminases and/or creatine phosphokinase can indicate underlying muscle disease. Therefore, this study aims to determine the frequency of Duchenne muscular dystrophy/Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD) in male children and Pompe disease (PD) in male and female children with isolated hypertransaminasemia.MethodsThis multi-center, prospective study enrolled patients aged 3–216 months with serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and/or aspartate transaminase (AST) levels >2× the upper limit of normal (ULN) for ≥3 months. Patients with a known history of liver or muscle disease or physical examination findings suggestive of liver disease were excluded. Patients were screened for creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) levels, and molecular genetic tests for DMD/BMD in male patients and enzyme analysis for PD in male and female patients with elevated CPK levels were performed. Genetic analyses confirmed PD. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of the patients were analyzed.ResultsOverall, 589 patients [66.8% male, mean age of 63.4 months (standard deviation: 60.5)] were included. In total, 251 patients (188 male and 63 female) had CPK levels above the ULN. Of the patients assessed, 47% (85/182) of male patients were diagnosed with DMD/BMD and 1% (3/228) of male and female patients were diagnosed with PD. The median ALT, AST, and CPK levels were statistically significantly higher, and the questioned neurological symptoms and previously unnoticed examination findings were more common in DMD/BMD patients than those without DMD/BMD or PD (p < 0.001).DiscussionQuestioning neurological symptoms, conducting a complete physical examination, and testing for CPK levels in patients with isolated hypertransaminasemia will prevent costly and time-consuming investigations for liver diseases and will lead to the diagnosis of occult neuromuscular diseases. Trial RegistrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT04120168

Getting rid of fossil-fuel subsidies is a triple-win solution

Fossil-fuel subsidies remain commonplace in many countries. They result in an economically inefficient allocation of resources and market distortions, while often failing to meet their intended objectives. Moreover, volatile energy markets and the prospect of higher fossil fuel prices mean that fossil-fuel subsidies threaten to be a growing liability to state budgets. This prospect has created a strong impetus for reform, strengthened by other associated benefits. But fossil-fuel subsidy reform is notoriously difficult as the short-term costs imposed on certain groups of society can be very burdensome and induce fierce opposition. If removing these subsidies were easy, it would probably already have happened

Mit hoher geschwindigkeit in den abgrund der transportvektor in der Türkei.

Donated by Klaus KreiserReprinted from : Journal für Entwicklungspolitik 4.1., 1988