Effect of Taurodehydrocholic Acid on the Hepatic Expression of Abcg5 and Abcg8 and Biliary Parameters in the Fistula Rat

Introduction: Biliary secretion of phospholipids and cholesterol is mainly dependent on bile-salt secretion although the exact mechanisms involved are not clearly defined. Aims: This study was to investigate the effect of oral administration of turodehydrocholic acid (TDHC) on cholesterol metabolism. Materials and Methods: TDHC was administered orally at a concentration of 10mM twice a day to rats for 7 days in order to mimic the in vivo situation in gallstone patients on bile salt therapy. Bile duct was cannulated and bile was collected for 30 mins on ice and subjected to analysis for total cholesterol, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and Gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT). Liver samples were subjected to real time PCR and the gene expression of the adenosing triphosphate-binding cassette transporter heterodimer Abcg5/g8 was determined. Results: TDHC significantly increased the expression of Abcg5 whilst the level of Abcg8 was significantly decreased. No changes in biliary cholesterol, ALP and GGT were observed, however the total bilirubin was significantly increased in the bile of TDHC administered rats. Conclusions: Increased expressıon of Abcg5 may be one mechanism by which TDHC stimulates the secretion of biliary cholesterol

Prevalence of mold growth and aflatoxin M-1 in Kashar and white cheese produced in Western Turkey

WOS: 000185529900011To evaluate mold growth and aflatoxin M-1 problem in Turkish cheese, a total of 46 commercial samples of the two cheese types were examined with agar plate incubation and ELISA methods. Mean mold growth exceeded maximum tolerable limits (1x10(2) cfu/g) in both groups of cheese (1x10(4) and 2x10(4) cfu/g in Turkish white cheese and Kashar cheese, respectively), although there were no significant differences between cheese types (p=0.34). Kashar cheese samples were highly contaminated with fungi. Total concentrations of aflatoxin M-1 in white and Kashar cheese (0.0998 and 0.1931 ppb, respectively) were lower than maximum tolerable limits (0.5 ppb). However, aflatoxin M-1 concentration of Kashar cheese in 2 out of 13 samples exceeded the maximum tolerable limits. Results indicated that cheese plants should be sanitised properly to avoid fungal contamination and milk should be evaluated for aflatoxin M-1 before it is used for making cheese

Fungi and aflatoxin B-1 in horse and dog feeds in Western Turkey

Filazi, Ayhan/0000-0002-2800-6215WOS: 000223398200002To evaluate fungi growth and aflatoxin B, contamination in horse and dog feeds, total of 41 feed samples were examined with agar plate incubation and ELISA methods. Fungi growth of the horse feed was not exceeding maximum tolerable limits (0.97 x 10(4) CFU/g). Although dog foods should not contain any fungi contamination, slightly less than half of the tested dog foods had fungi growth. Both feeds had aflatoxin B, content in allowable limits (10 mug/kg.), however, dog foods contain significantly higher aflatoxin B I content than horse feeds do (P less than or equal to 0.05) (6.69 mug/kg and 1.98 mug/kg, respectively). Fungi growth and aflatoxin B I content did not correlate in either group of feeds (r(2) = 0.09 and r(2) = 0.30, respectively). Surveilance of both fungi growth and aflatoxin contents of both types of feeds are necessary for the health of the animals

patients with endometriosis: a preliminary study

The chronic course of endometriosis suggests that the immune system may play a role in its aetiology. There may be resistance to cell lysis, as well as an immune defect underlying endometriosis. Granzyme B is a serine protease that is secreted by Natural Killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes during a cellular immune response and can induce apoptosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between both Granzyme B levels and Granzyme B gene polymorphisms in endometriosis patients. Women between the ages of 20 - 45 were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups: those diagnosed with endometriosis and those who had not been diagnosed with endometriosis. In the blood samples, Granzyme B gene polymorphisms and serum levels of Granzyme B were studied. There was no difference between the groups in terms of median Granzyme B levels and the presence of AA, AG, and GG genotypes. There was a difference in median granzyme levels for the control group; the GG genotype was found at a lower frequency. The immune defect within endometriosis-related immune cells may not be exclusively due to Granzyme B. Other mediators that are secreted from immune cells may have additive effects.IMPACT STATEMENT What is already known on this subject?NK cells are cytotoxic and inhibit the implantation of autologous endometrial cells that are spilled into the peritoneum by retrograde menstruation. Thus, a reduction in NK cell activity may facilitate the progression of endometriosis. The literature review reveals that there are studies suggesting that NK cell activity may be insufficient in endometriosis. Granzyme B is a serine protease that is secreted by NK cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes during a cellular immune response. What do the results of this study add?Granzyme B is one of the cytotoxic granules in NK and cytotoxic T lymphocyte cells and its genetic polymorphisms were tested in endometriosis. We found that median Granzyme B levels were significantly different in patients with the GG genotype in the control group, compared to those with the AA and AG genotype. However, this difference was not detected between the control and endometriosis groups. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research?Our results contribute to uncovering the pathogenesis of endometriosis since there are no previous studies in the literature regarding this topic. Although we did not find a difference, our results will inform further studies made on this topic. Studies with different molecules and an increased number of patients are needed. The immune defect of endometriosis may not be due exclusively to Granzyme B. Other mediators that are secreted from immune cells may have mutual effects and interactions.C1 [Taskin, Mine Islimye; Guney, Gurhan; Adali, Ertan] Balikesir Univ, Dept Obstet & Gynecol, Med Fac, Cagis Kampusu, TR-10145 Balikesir, Turkey.[Hismiogullari, Adnan Adil] Balikesir Univ, Dept Biochem, Med Fac, Balikesir, Turkey.[Dodurga, Yavuz; Elmas, Levent] Pamukkale Univ, Dept Med Biol AD, Med Fac, Denizli, Turkey