Short Communication Effect of selenium-vitamin E injections of ewes on reproduction and growth of their lambs

The experiment was conducted on 90 Karacabey Merino ewes divided into three groups. The first group of ewes was treated with 5 mL 0.1% sodium selenate, the second with 5 mL 0.1% sodium selenate and 250 mg vitamin E, while the third one was a control group. The effect of intra-muscular injection of selenium (Se) and Se plus vitamin E on oestrus, fertility, prolificacy, number of lambs reared the weight of lambs at birth and the live weight gain for 60 days was investigated. The injections of Se plus vitamin E significantly increased the incidence of oestrus, fertility and prolificacy in ewes, lamb body weight at day 60 and daily weight gain of ewes for 60 days postpartum compared with the control group. Keywords: keyword; keyword; keyword South African Journal of Animal Science Vol. 37 (4) 2007: pp.233-23

Premarital screening of 466 Mediterranean women for serum ferritin, vitamin B12, and folate concentrations

Background/aim: Iron, folate, and vitamin B12 serum levels are closely related with dietary habits and have an essential role in the healthy development of a fetus. We aimed to investigate hemoglobin, ferritin, folate, and vitamin B12 levels in preconceptional women in an area where a plant-based diet referred to as Mediterranean cuisine is commonly used. Materials and methods: The study population included 466 women between the ages of 18 and 45 years admitted for thalassemia screening. Sociodemographic variables and history of menometrorrhagia, pica, and dietary habits were collected. Serum vitamin B12, folate, ferritin, and hemoglobin levels were measured. Ferritin of <12 μg/L, vitamin B12 of <200 pg/mL, and folate of <4 ng/mL were accepted as deficiencies. Hemoglobin level of <12 g/dL was classified as anemia. Results: Polymenorrhea was present in 11.7% and hypermenorrhea in 24.8% of women. Anemia was detected in 24.9% and thalassemia trait in 3.0% of women. Low ferritin levels were observed in 46.1%, vitamin B12 in 21.6%, and folate in 3.4% of women. In the group with low vitamin B12, decreased meat consumption was more prevalent (27.5% vs. 16.9%; P = 0.019). Conclusion: Vitamin B12 and iron are the main micronutrients depleted in our community. This necessitates implementing a public health program for women consuming a Mediterranean diet. © TÜBİTA

The Evaluation of the Role of Beta-Hydroxy Fatty Acids on Chronic Inflammation and Insulin Resistance

β-hydroxy fatty acids are a major component of lipid A moiety of lipopolysaccaride. We aimed to investigate the role of free β-hydroxy fatty acids on inflammation, as well as to evaluate their effects on cytokine release from human blood cells, and whether they exist in plasma of patients with chronic inflammatory diseases with/without insulin resistance. Peripheral venous blood was incubated with β-hydroxy lauric and β-hydroxy myristic acids (each 100 ng, 1 μg, 10 μg/mL) up to 24 hours. Cytokines were measured from culture media and plasma. Free fatty acids and biochemical parameters were also measured from patients' plasma. Only β-hydroxy lauric acid significantly stimulated interleukin-6 production at 10 μg/mL compared to control (533.9 ± 218.1 versus 438.3 ± 219.6 pg/mL, P < .05). However, free β-hydroxy lauric and myristic acids were not found in patients' plasma. Therefore, free β-hydroxy lauric and myristic acids do not seem to have a role on sterile inflammation in chronic inflammatory diseases associated with insulin resistance

Submarine and coastal karstic groundwater discharges along the Southwestern Mediterranean coast of Turkey

A 120 km-long part of the southwestern coast of Turkey, with well-developed karst terrain in contact with the sea, has been investigated by systematic diving surveys to determine the submarine groundwater discharges (SGDs). The physical, chemical and isotopic data have been used to determine the rate of the fresh groundwater end member (FEM) and its temporal dynamics. About 150 SGDs have been detected by diving surveys employed mostly up to a depth of 30 m below sea level (bsl). Among those, 15 SGDs are in the form of coastal or submarine caves with entrances ranging between sea surface and 40 m bsl. The FEM contribution in SGDs ranges from a few percent to more than 80%. Stable isotope data suggest a range of mean recharge area elevations extending from the coast to more than 1,000 m inland. In many of the SGDs, the FEMs are characterized by tritium-based residence times ranging from recent to several decades. Hypothetical geochemical calculations of mixing between freshwater and seawater end members reveal that more than 45% of freshwater contribution is required for karst development in the SGDs. Models suggest a threshold pH of 7.6 or lower for the carbonate rock dissolution. © 2010 Springer-Verlag

Rare hemoglobin variant Hb Yaizu observed in Turkey

Objective: To determine the characteristic features of the rare hemoglobin (Hb) variant Hb Yaizu to enable laboratory diagnosis of the hemoglobin variants during screening programs. Materials and Methods: Genomic DNA was obtained from the 4 members of a family living in Denizli province, an Aegean region of Turkey. Blood cell counts, hemoglobin composition, hemoglobin electrophoresis (both alkaline and acid), HPLC analysis, DNA sequencing and beta globin gene cluster haplotypes were done. Results: Hb Yaizu carriers were apparently healthy individuals. Hb Yaizu was slightly faster than Hb S at alkaline pH, but slower than Hb S at acidic pH in hemoglobin electrophoresis. An abnormal hemoglobin peak was observed with a retention time of 4.77 min in HPLC analysis attributed to Hb Yaizu. Two members of the family were heterozygous Hb Yaizu [beta 79(EF3) Asp>Asn] confirmed by DNA sequencing. The mutation was found to be linked with the Mediterranean haplotype I [+ - - ++]. Conclusion: We have presented the details of Hb Yaizu, a rare hemoglobin variant that may be important to hemoglobinopathy screening programs, although its clinical significance is unclear. Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG

Investigation of pre‑treatment techniques to improve membrane performance in real textile wastewater treatment

Membrane technology has a significant role in textile wastewater treatment considering the modular design of the membrane processes that enables to conceive a complete treatment scheme. The study presents a comparative study of microfiltration (MF) (0.2 µm and 0.05 µm), ultrafiltration (UF), ozonation (0.1, 0.2 g/L ozone), ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and titanium dioxide (TiO2) (0.05, 0.15, 0.3, 0.5 g/L TiO2) and zeolite adsorption (125, 250, 500 mL/min flow rates) processes as pre-treatment prior to nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes for the treatment of real textile washing wastewater (WW). Experiments demonstrated that the applied pre-treatment methods enhanced the flux performance of NF270 and RO membranes except zeolite adsorption. By evaluation of all pre-treatment alternatives, it was seen that the best chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency (41%) was achieved with MF0.05 membrane. The highest conductivity removal efficiencies were obtained by UV/TiO2 application and with ozonation process the colour of the wastewater was removed at a performance of 80.5%, that was the highest among all pre-treatment applications. Based on the permeate flux and quality, the best pre-treatment method was selected as MF membrane with a pore size of 0.05 µm. Best conductivity removal efficiency was obtained by MF0.05 + XLE membrane combination at 93.6%. Also, considerably high COD removals were achieved with pre-treated NF and RO combinations together with a significant colour elimination (> 98%). In this study, it is aimed to create an efficient system that can be applied in real textile wastewater treatment by creating a combined treatment process

Cold storage of sour cherry cultivar Kütahya

Bu çalışma, Isparta (İlavus Yaylası)'da yetiştirilen Kütahya vişne çeşidinin 3 farklı polietilen torba içerisinde soğukta muhafazası sırasındaki kalite değişimini incelemek amacıyla 2002 yılında Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Bahçe Bitkileri Bölümü Derim Sonrası Fizyolojisi Laboratuarında yürütülmüştür. Meyve saplarıyla birlikte elle tam olum döneminde derilen meyveler 0°C sıcaklık ve % 90-95 nispi neme sahip soğuk odada 25 gün muhafaza edilmiştir. Araştırmada 2'si ithal ve 1'i yerli olmak üzere 3 farklı polietilen torba kullanılmıştır. Depolama boyunca 5'er gün aralıklarla alınan vişne örneklerinde ağırlık kaybı, meyve renk değişimi, meyve sapı renk değişimi, suda çözünür kuru madde içeriği, pH ve titre edilebilir asitlik içerikleri incelenmiştir. Muhafaza boyunca meyveler duyusal (görünüş-tekstür ve tat-aroma) olarak da değerlendirmeye alınmıştır. Araştırma sonunda, elde edilen bulgulara göre Isparta (İlavus Yaylası) koşullarında yetiştirilen Kütahya vişne çeşidinin depolama süresi sonunda (25. gün) tüm ambalaj materyalindeki meyvelerin pazarlanabilir durumda (5 puan) olduğu; ithal 2 ambalaj materyalindeki meyvelerin ise 15 gün boyunca meyve kalitesinde hiç bir değişiklik olmadığı (7 puan) belirlenmiştir. Depolama süresi boyunca yapılan değerlendirmelere göre, 2 numaralı ithal polietilen torbanın meyve kalitesini daha iyi koruduğu, onu ithal 1 ve yerli polietilen torbaların izlediği sonucuna varılmıştır.This research was conducted in University of Suleyman Demirel, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Horticulture, Postharvest Physiology Laboratory to investigate the quality changes during cold storage of sour cherry cultivar of Kütahya in 3 different polyethylene bags grown in Isparta (Ilavus plateau) in 2002. The fruits harvested by hand and were stored in 3 different polyethylene bags named as local, import 1 and import 2 for 25 days at 0ºC temperature and 90-95%relative humidity in cold storage. During the storage period weight loss, fruit colour change, fruit stem colur change, soluble solid content, titretable acidity and pH values of fruit samples were determined at 5 days intervals. Sensory evaluations were also performed during the storage period. According to the results, at the end of the cold storage (25th days) fruits were in marketable stage (5 points) in all of three packaging materials. Fruits in import 2 polyethylene bag were the best quality (7 points) during the 15 days of cold storage. This packaging material preserved the fruit quality better than the other bags

Hb D-Los Angeles [beta121(GH4)Glu>Gln] and Hb Beograd [beta121(GH4)Glu>Val]: Implications for their laboratory diagnosis and genetic origins

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the laboratory diagnosis and genetic origins of the hemoglobin (Hb) variants, Hb D-Los Angeles and Hb Beograd observed frequently in our region. Material and Methods: Hb variants were investigated in one Hb D-Los Angeles and two Hb Beograd families. These families were unrelated with each other. For the determination of Hb variants, alkaline/acid electrophoresis, HPLC, DE-52 micro-column chromatography procedures were applied. Mutations were determined by non-radioactive fluorescence automated DNA sequencing. Beta globin gene cluster haplotypes were identified by RFLP analysis at seven loci known as ε-Hinc II, Gγ-Hind III, Aγ-Hind III, 5′ψβ-Hinc II, 3′ψβ-Hinc II, β-Ava II ve 3′β-Hinf I. Results: Three novel beta globin gene cluster haplotypes were identified as in relation with Hb D-Los Angeles [--+-+++], Hb Beograd [+----++ and -+-(+/-)(+/-)+(+/-)]. These haplotypes were reported for the first time in the world population Conclusion: In this study we emphasize the importance of DNA seqeuncing and other laboratory procedures for the identification of Hb variants in premarital diagnosis. On the other hand we discuss also the genetic origins of these Hb variants