Effects of Enzyme-Producing Probiotic Bacteria Isolated from the Gastrointestinal Tract of Trout on the Growth Performance, Survival, and Digestive Enzyme Activity of Rainbow Trout Fry (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

In this study, we investigated the effects of enzyme-producing probiotic bacteria isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of rainbow trout on the growth performance, feed conversion ratio, and digestive enzyme activity, of fry (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Three isolates (G8/2013, T7/2013 and U5/2013) of candidate bacteria elicited the highest protease, lipase, and amylase activities, respectively. Isolates were identified as Aeromonas sp., Bacillus sp. and Citrobacter braakii by morphological, physiological, biochemical characterizations as well as 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The fry basal diet was supplemented with probiotics at varying concentrations; G8 group, Aeromonas sp. 1.72 x 108 CFU/g; U5 group, Bacillus sp. 3.01 x 108 CFU/g; T7 group, C. braakii 2.96 x 108 CFU/g and a mixed group (same bacterial concentrations), and control group (no bacteria). The rainbow trout fry were fed ad libitum in triplicate treatments with supplemented and non-supplemented probiotic diets for 70-days. The total bacterial count in the intestine was significantly higher in the mixed group (30th and 50th days) and U5 group (50th and 70th days) compared with the control group. However, there was no significant difference in weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), nutrient digestibility, or digestive enzyme activity among the groups.

Isolation and Characterization of Potential Probiotic Bacteria from Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, (Walbaum) Rearing Units Against Bacterial Pathogens

Bacteria were studied for potential probiotic activity against vibriosis, yersiniosis and lactococcosis in rainbow trout. A total of 79 bacterial strains were isolated from rainbow trout rearing water, and screened for antagonistic activity against Vibrio anguillarum, Yersinia ruckeri and Lactococcus garvieae using a well-diffusion agar assay. Vibrio spp. showed inhibitory activity against V. anguilarum and L. garvieae, while Aeromonas spp. displayed antagonistic activity against L. garvieae. Antagonistic L. garvieae strains displayed inhibitory activity against all pathogens. Antagonistic strains were characterized for enzymatic activity (protease, lipase) and hydrophobicity. Vibrio sp. A12, and Aeromonas sp. A5, G1, were found to have enzymatic properties and hydrophobicity. L. garvieae strains showed weak hydrophobicity and did not display enzymatic activity. Phenotypic characteristics of antagonistic strains were determined by conventional API 20NE and API STREP rapid identification systems. Antagonistic L. garvieae strains were confirmed as L. garvieae by PCR using species-specific primers. Candidate probiotic strains were tested for pathogenicity in rainbow trout by intraperitoneal injection. Following a challenge, L. garvieae strains caused mortality and were eliminated from further study. As a result, Aeromonas spp. and Vibrio spp. were identified as probiotic candidates with the potential to control vibriosis and lactococcosis

The Investigation of Heavy Vehicle Effects on Roundabouts

Composition of a traffic flow is one of the most important factors which effects operations at intersections. The effect of different vehicle types in a flow may be reflected by using passenger car equivalence (PCE) values. In this study, it is tried to determine the effect of heavy vehicles at roundabouts, especially the most common heavy vehicle type of buses at urban traffic. Data of the study are obtained from five different roundabouts in Izmir The results show that when calculating the heavy vehicle factor (f(AA)), different PCE values should be used for minor and major flows. Using the same PCE value for both flows may lead engineers to overdesign or inadequate results. Furthermore it was determined that the effect of heavy vehicles is higher in the major flow when mean speed of major flow is low

Insulin Like Growth Factor-I and IGF-Binding Protein-3 Levels in A Healthy Adult Turkish Population

Tuzun, Hakan/0000-0002-6376-8979WOS: 000298720200004Objective: Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels are important markers in diagnosis of growth hormone (GH) related disorders. The normal levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 vary among different ethnic groups, and using the references derived from different populations may sometimes be misleading during diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. We examined the levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in healthy adult Turkish population. Material and Methods: Eight hundred and thirty-three subjects (512 females, 321 males) were enrolled in the study. Serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels were measured by immunoradiometric assay in all participants. The study population was divided into age groups (18-20, 21-23, 24-25, 26-30, 31-40, 41-50, >50 years of age) and gender groups (females and males separately in the population 30 years of age (p<0.05). Conclusion: Serum IGF-I concentrations of our study population are generally higher than the reference values of the commercial kit. Centers dealing with GH disorders might benefit from defining their own population's normal values for IGF-I and IGFBP-3 to overcome possible diagnostic and follow-up pitfalls

Relationship of Internet addiction with impulsivity and severity of psychopathology among Turkish university students

The previous studies have found a relationship between IA and both impulsivity and psychopathology when they were considered separately. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of Internet addiction (IA) with impulsivity and severity of psychopathology among Turkish university students. We also wanted to control the effect of impulsivity dimensions on the relationship between IA and psychopathology. A total of 319 university students from two universities in Ankara participated to the study. Students were assessed through the Internet Addiction Scale (IAS), the Symptom Checklist-Revised (SCL-90-R) and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11). Correlational analyses revealed that severity of IA was related to both SCL-90-R and BIS-11 scores. Among SCL-90-R subscales, severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) was the only predictor for IAS score. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that interpersonal sensitivity, additional to attentional and motor impulsiveness, was the predictor of IAS score. Although severity of IA is associated with wide range of psychopathology, particularly OCS, interpersonal sensitivity seems to be the main dimension that predict severity of IAS additional to impulsiveness (attentional and motor). Impulsivity seems to be an important construct when considering IA and its treatment among Turkish university students. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Deep phenotyping of miRNAs in the exercise-induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis

Cardiac hypertrophy (CH) is an adaptational enlargement of the myocardium, in exposure to altered stress conditions or in case of injury which can lead to heart failure and death. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs that play a significant role in modulating gene expression. Here, we aimed to identify new miRNAs effective in an experimental CH model and to find an epigenetic biomarker that could demonstrate therapeutic targets responsible for the pathology of heart tissue and serum. In this study, Sprague–Dawley male rats were divided into the training group (TG, n=9) and the control group (CG, n=6). Systolic and diastolic dimensions of the left ventricle and myocardial wall thickness were measured by echocardiography to assess CH. After the exercise program of the rats, miRNA expression measurements and histological analyses were performed. The 25,000 genes in the rat genome were searched using microarray analysis. A total of 128 miRNAs were selected according to the fold change rates, and nine miRNAs were validated for expression analysis. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick (TUNEL) method was used to detect apoptotic cells. Cell proliferation was evaluated by the proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) method. Necrosis, bleeding, and intercellular edema were detected in TG. The mean histopathological score was higher in TG (p=0.03). There were rarely positive cells for apoptosis of both groups in cardiomyocytes. In the receiver characteristic curve analysis (ROC), the heart tissue rno-miR-290 had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.920 with 100% sensitivity and 89.90% specificity (p=0.045), rno-miR-194-5p had AUC of 0.940 with 83.33% sensitivity and 100% specificity (p=0.003), and the serum rno-miR-132-3p AUC was 0.880 with 66.67% sensitivity and 100% specificity (p=0.004) in TG. miR-194-5p was used as a therapeutic target for remodeling the cardiac process. While miR-290 contributes to CH as a negative regulator, miR-132 in serum is effective in the pathological and physiological cardiac remodeling process and is a candidate biomarker

Turkish version of the Drug Hypersensitivity Quality of Life Questionnaire: assessment of reliability and validity

The first disease-specific quality-of-life questionnaire in patients with drug hypersensitivity, Drug Hypersensitivity Quality of Life Questionnaire (DrHy-Q), was developed and validated recently. The aim of this study was to assess validity, reliability and responsiveness to interventions of the Turkish version of the DrHy-Q

EDUCATION STATUS OF PEDIATRIC DIALYSIS PATIENTS IN TURKEY

WOS: 00044399840026