Detection of urban change using remote sensing and GIS: Izmir case

This study is an example of how land use changes could be detected via high resolution remotely sensed data. In order to perform "change detection" IKONOS satellite images, belonging to 2001 and 2004, have been used. An automated Graphical User Interface (GUI) has been created for detection of environment. Different image enhancement techniques and a fuzzy inference system have been combined in the GUI. The detection results are classified according to some basic levels such as 20-50% and 70%. Additionally, four different change detection algorithms have been applied which are pixel-based object based, feature based. These algorithms have been examined according to change detection levels with different image enhancement techniques. At the end of the study, the results have been compared. © 2008 Taylor & Francis Group

Antioxidative status and lipid peroxidation in kidney tissue of rats fed with vitamin B6-deficient diet

PubMed: 20486846Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate lipid peroxidation (LP) and free radical scavenging enzyme activities in kidney tissue of vitamin B6-deficient rats. Material and Methods: The rats were divided into control and vitamin B6-deficient groups. After 4 weeks of feeding, animals in all groups were anesthetized by thiopental sodium (50 mgkg). Thoraces were opened, 2 mL blood samples were taken from aortas, then the rats were killed by cervical dislocation, and kidney tissues were removed. Biochemical measurements in kidney tissue were carried out using a spectrophotometer. Results: Total superoxide scavenger activity (TSSA), nonenzymatic superoxide scavenger activity (NSSA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and antioxidant potential (AOP) values in the vitamin B6-deficient group were significantly lower than those of the control group, whereas glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GRD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA) level were significantly higher than those of the control group (p < 0.05). Discussion: The results show that vitamin B6 deficiency causes an attenuation in antioxidant defense system and an increase in oxidative stress in kidney tissue of rats. © Informa UK, Ltd

Two-hour post-dose cyclosporin A levels in adolescent renal transplant recipients in the late post-transplant period

Although the success of renal transplantation is closely linked to the immunosuppression provided by cyclosporin A (CsA), the best way to monitor the blood levels of CsA is still not clear. Trough CsA levels (C-0) are commonly used, but the 2-h post-dose CsA levels (C-2) are reported to correlate better with area under the curve. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation of C-2 levels with allograft function in adolescent renal transplant recipients in the late post-transplant period (6 months after transplantation) compared with C-0 levels. The data of 17 adolescent renal transplant recipients (12 males, 5 females) were evaluated retrospectively. The mean age at the time of transplantation was 15.212+/-2.918 years and the mean follow-up period was 53.172+/-34.090 months. C-0 levels correlated with oral CsA and diltiazem doses, while C-2 levels exhibited no correlation. When C-2 levels were classified as 0-400, 401-800, and 801-1200 ng/ml, no statistically significant difference was found between these groups with respect to glomerular filtration rate (P=0.830). Although 82% of the patients had C-2 beneath the therapeutic level (<800 ng/ml), none had an acute rejection episode. In conclusion, optimum C-2 levels could be different from levels in the adult population. Furthermore, the correlation of C-2 levels with CsA dose seems to be weaker than in the adult population. Thus, further studies are needed to determine a more reliable predictor for CsA dose monitoring and target blood CsA levels in adolescent patients

HGF/C-MET PATHWAY HAS A ROLE IN TESTICULAR DAMAGE IN DIABETES INDUCED BY STREPTOZOTOCIN

Objective. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF)/c-Met pathway in testicular damage provoked by streptozotocin (STZ)induced diabetes and the effects of insulin treatment on the HGF/c-Met pathway

Endurance training attenuates the oxidative stress due to acute exhaustive exercise in rat liver

The aim of this study was to investigate whether an 8-week treadmill training attenuates exerciseinduced oxidative stress in rat liver. Male rats were divided into untrained and trained groups. Endurance training consisted of treadmill running at a speed of 2.1 km/h, 1.5 h/day, 5 days a week for 8 weeks. To see the effects of endurance training on acute exhaustive exercise induced oxidative stress, untrained and trained rats were further devided into two groups: animals killed at rest and those killed after acute exhaustive exercise, in which the rats run at 2.1 km/h (10% uphill) until exhaustion. Acute exhaustive exercise increased malondialdehyde level in untrained but not in trained rats. It decreased the activity of glutathione peroxidase and total (enzymatic plus non-enzymatic) superoxide scavenger activity in untrained rats and catalase activity in trained rats. However, it did not affect glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase and non-enzymatic superoxide radical scavenger activities in both trained and untrained rats. On the other hand, endurance training decreased glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase activities. The results suggested that endurance training attenuated exercise-induced oxidative stress in liver, probably by preventing the decreases in glutathione peroxidase and total superoxide scavenger activities during exercise. © 2008 Akadémiai Kiadó