Reassessment Of Conservation Status Of The Genus Salvia (Lamiaceae) In Turkey II

WOS: 000302278300001The current conservation status of the Salvia L. (sage) taxa of the family Lamiaceae distributed in the East, South-East, Central, North Anatolian, and Marmara geographic regions of Turkey was reassessed at regional, national, and global levels using IUCN Red List categories and criteria. In accordance with the present taxonomic revision of the genus since 2005, the study area seems to cover 79 taxa, 36 of which are endemic and 4 of which are rare nonendemic; the remaining 39 taxa are widely distributed. The rate of endemism is 46% in the area. Based on new field observations of populations and distribution data, taxa were classified into the following threat categories at the global scale: Critically Endangered (CR) (5 taxa), Endangered (EN) (8 taxa), Vulnerable (VU) (11 taxa), Near Threatened (NT) (12 taxa), and Least Concern (LC) (43 taxa). The most threatened species at the global scale are S. anatolica, S. ballsiana, S. freyniana, S. odontochlamys, and S. pseudeuphratica. The threatened taxa are under pressure from intensive human activities such as overgrazing, construction (e.g., road construction), land clearing (e.g., agricultural activities), and urbanisation. The threatened endemic taxa are concentrated in 3 main areas. The first area includes Sivas, Divrigi, Gurun, Pinarbasi, and Kemaliye. The second area includes Ankara, Beypazari, Polatli, and Sivrihisar. The third area includes Yozgat, Akdagmadeni, Nevsehir, and Kayseri. Some significant measures are recommended here for the conservation and management of the high number of endemic taxa under threat in the research area.Scientific and Technological Research Council of TurkeyTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [TUBITAK-TBAG-104 T 450]; Canakkale Onsekiz Mart UniversityCanakkale Onsekiz Mart University [BAP 2007/14]We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK-TBAG-104 T 450) and the Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University Research Fund (BAP 2007/14). We also thank the curators of the AEF, AIBU, ANK, B, BM, CBB, E, G, FUH, GAZI, HUB, ISTE, ISTF, ISTO, K, KNYA, LE, MO, VANF, and W herbaria for allowing us to study their Salvia collections

POTENTIALLY TOXIC ELEMENTS OF VOLCANIC ASH SOILS IN THE CAPPADOCIA REGION OF CENTRAL TURKEY

WOS: 000350932700015We determined the variability and content of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soils formed on volcanic parent materials erupted from Erciyes stratovolcano in the middle Anatolian region of Turkey. The PTE content of soils formed on tuffs were higher than the soils formed on lavas. All the PTE concentrations decrease with increasing soil depth except for those of Cd. Cr, Cd, and Ni increased with elevation, but Co, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn concentrations decreased. The high PTE concentrations in soils could be attributed to the volcanic parent materials. The greatest PTE variations in soils were determined by lithological differences and could be attributed to the types of parent material and their compositions. Site specific soil management practices must be applied to soils in the study area because of the high PTE content.Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey [TUBITAK CAYDAG 106Y307]This study was supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, project TUBITAK CAYDAG 106Y307. We thank the laboratory technical staff of the Departments of Geological Engineering and Soil at Cumhuriyet and Gaziosmanpasa Universities, who made XRD and ICP determinations. We also thank Joanna Wilson (Sibia Proofreading) for fluent English grammar

Injuries and Deaths Caused by Mole Guns

Objective: Mole guns are commonly used to kill detrimental animals. They sometimes cause injuries, even lethal ones, and are occasionally used in crimes. A mole gun propels pellets similar to a shotgun. Material and Methods: In this study, 24 cases of injuries in the province of Konya (Turkey) between 2004 and 2007 and 4 cases of death in the provinces of Konya, Burdur, Erzincan and Denizli (Turkey) that were caused by mole guns were analyzed. Results: In the cases involving non-lethal injuries, 23 victims were males and one was a female. Their ages ranged between 2 and 80 years with an average age of 50.8 +/- 17.7 years. The most represented age group in the range was 60-69 years with 8 cases and 19 of the cases were farmers. In 3 of the cases that led to death, the manner of death was an accident and 1 case was a homicide. Conclusion: As the mole gun can cause various disabilities and lethal wounds to humans when fired from a short distance, its production and use should be prohibited

Plasma Urotensin II Concentration In Gestational Diabetes

Aim: Urotensin II (UII) and its system is implicated in the etiology of many diseases (including diabetes mellitus). We tried in this study to evaluate and compare UII levels in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Methods: Thirty-six pregnant women (15 non-GDM patients consisted group 1 and 21 GDM patients consisted group 2) enrolled in this study. The 3rd group consisted of age matched 22 non pregnant healthy women. Plasma UII levels were determined at the beginning of the study. After 12 weeks of delivery, a second plasma UII was determined from group 1 and 2.Results: Gestational UII levels of both GDM and non-GDM patients were higher than non-pregnant healthy controls (p=0.0001 for both). Both gestational and postpartum UII levels of GDM patients were higher than non-GDM patients but had not reached statistical significance (P≥0.05). Plasma UII concentrations in non-GDM patients significantly decreased after delivery but not in GDM patients (p=0.036 and p≥0.05, respectively). Conclusion: The finding of elevated gestational plasma UII concentrations in GDM patients which did not decrease significantly after delivery (in compare to non-GDM patients) shows that plasma UII levels may have a role in the pathogenesis of GDM. Further detailed studies are needed in this field

Plasma Urotensin II concentration in gestational diabetes

<p>Aim: Urotensin II (UII) and its system is implicated in the etiology of many diseases (including diabetes mellitus). We tried in this study to evaluate and compare UII levels in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).<br></p> <p>Methods: Thirty-six pregnant women (15 non-GDM patients consisted group 1 and 21 GDM patients consisted group 2) enrolled in this study. The 3rd group consisted of age matched 22 non pregnant healthy women. Plasma UII levels were determined at the beginning of the study. After 12 weeks of delivery, a second plasma UII was determined from group 1 and 2. </p> <p>Results: Gestational UII levels of both GDM and non-GDM patients were higher than non-pregnant healthy controls (p=0.0001 for both). Both gestational and postpartum UII levels of GDM patients were higher than non-GDM patients but had not reached statistical significance (P≥0.05). Plasma UII concentrations in non-GDM patients significantly decreased after delivery but not in GDM patients (p=0.036 and p≥0.05, respectively) </p> <p>Conclusions: The finding of elevated gestational plasma UII concentrations in GDM patients which did not decrease significantly after delivery (in compare to non-GDM patients) shows that plasma UII levels may have a role in the pathogenesis of GDM. Further detailed studies are needed in this field. </p