Kültür, Toplumsal Bellek ve Mekân Temsilleri Üzerine Bir Araştırma: Tillo (Siirt) Örneği

Tillo, sosyomekânsal ve kültürel özellikleri bakımından, farklı niteliklere sahip bir kasabadır. Tillo hem somut ve hem de somut olmayan kültürel özellikleri ve bulunduğu konum itibarı ile çevresine göre farklı özelliklere sahiptir. Hem yöresel hem de ulusal ölçekte Tillo’nun tanınırlığını arttıran bu mekânsal bağlamlar, kasaba nüfusunun gündelik yaşam pratiklerine nasıl yansımaktadır? Bu soruya cevaben, insan ve mekân arasındaki etkileşime dair üretilen temsillerin neler olduğu, nasıl geliştiği ve ne tür örüntülere alan açtığı irdelenmiştir. Ayrıca Tillo’daki kültürel bellek öğelerinin ilişkisel mekân özellikleri analiz edilmiştir. Bu amaçla, çalışma alanına dair literatür incelenmiş, notlar tutulmuş, fotoğraflar çekilmiş ve mekân temsil(ler)i üzerinden ilişkisel örüntüler, literatürden de yararlanılarak, çözümlenmeye çalışılmıştır. Çalışmanın sonucunda, kamusal alan ve gündelik mekân pratikleri açısından başta cas evleri, sabatlar, medreseler, türbeler gibi somut ve ışık hadisesi, icazet töreni, bayramlaşma ve evlilik pratikleri gibi soyut kültür öğelerinin yaşamsal pratiklerin temel paydaşı oldukları ve ayrıca kültürel belleğin sosyomekânsal tasarımında da önemli yer edindikleri belirlenmiştir

Consequences of neurite transection in vitro

WOS: 000309967300004PubMed ID: 20121423In order to quantify degenerative and regenerative changes and analyze the contribution of multiple factors to the outcome after neurite transection, we cultured adult mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons, and with a precise laser beam, we transected the nerve fibers they extended. Cell preparations were continuously visualized for 24 h with time-lapse microscopy. More distal cuts caused a more elongated field of degeneration, while thicker neurites degenerated faster than thinner ones. Transected neurites degenerated more if the uncut neurites of the same neuron simultaneously degenerated. If any of these uncut processes regenerated, the transected neurites underwent less degeneration. Regeneration of neurites was limited to distal cuts. Unipolar neurons had shorter regeneration than multipolar ones. Branching slowed the regenerative process, while simultaneous degeneration of uncut neurites increased it. Proximal lesions, small neuronal size, and extensive and rapid neurite degeneration were predictive of death of an injured neuron, which typically displayed necrotic rather than apoptotic form. In conclusion, this in vitro model proved useful in unmasking many new aspects and correlates of mechanically-induced neurite injury.Yuzuncu Yil University Directorate of Scientific Research Projects [TF073]This study was supported by the Yuzuncu Yil University Directorate of Scientific Research Projects (grant no. TF073)

The effects of milled Tribulus terrestris, Avena sativa, and white ginseng powder on total cholesterol, free testosterone levels and testicular tissue in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet

This study examines the effects of milled Tribulus terrestris (TT), Avena sativa (AS), white ginseng (WG) and triple-combination (TC) powders on sexual dysfunction parameters - such as serum total cholesterol, free testosterone levels and histopathological changes in testicular tissue - in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet. The study's animal matenal consisted of 42 male Wistar albino rats weighing 200-210 g divided into six groups. Group I was fed normal pellet feed, while the remaining groups were fed pellet feed containing 2% cholesterol. Group III, IV, V, and VI also received 0.6 g/kg/day of TT, 0.3 g/kg/day of AS, 0.2 g/kg/day of WG and 0.55 g/kg/day of TC (7.5% TT, 3.75% AS, 2.5% WG), respectively. After 90 days, the rats were sacrificed and blood and testicular tissue samples obtained. Serum total cholesterol and free testosterone levels were measured, and the Johnsen testicular biopsy score (JTBS) was calculated by a histopathological examination of testicular tissue samples. The high-cholesterol diet in Group II significantly caused increase in total cholesterol level and decrease in JTBS as compared to Group I. Although the groups' free testosterone levels were not statistically significant, WG and TC significantly prevented total cholesterol increase. TC significantly increased the JTBS compared to TT, AS and WG alone. Thus, it was concluded that TC might be particularly efficient for improving male sexual dysfunction

Isolation and culture of adult mouse vestibular nucleus neurons

WOS: 000418884300035PubMed ID: 29306256Background/aim: Isolated cell cultures are widely used to study neuronal properties due to their advantages. Although embryonic animals are preferred for culturing, their morphological or electrophysiological properties may not reflect adult neurons, which may be important in neurodegenerative diseases. This paper aims to develop a method for preparing isolated cell cultures of medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) from adult mice and describe its morphological and electrophysiological properties. Materials and methods: Vestibular nucleus neurons were mechanically and enzymatically isolated and cultured using a defined medium with known growth factors. Cell survival was measured with propidium iodide, and electrophysiological properties were investigated with current-clamp recording. Results: Vestibular neurons grew neurites in cultures, gaining adult-like morphological properties, and stayed viable for 3 days in culture. Adding bovine calf serum, nerve growth factor, or insulin-like growth factor into the culture medium enhanced neuronal viability. Current-clamp recording of the cultured neurons revealed tonic and phasic-type neurons with similar input resistance, resting membrane potential, action potential amplitude, and duration. Conclusion: Vestibular neurons from adult mice can be cultured, and regenerate axons in a medium containing appropriate growth factors. Culturing adult vestibular neurons provides a new method to study age-related pathologies of the vestibular system.Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) [SBAG2971-104S506]This work was supported by a grant from the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK, Grant No. SBAG2971-104S506)

S6K2 promises an important therapeutic potential for cancer

S6K2, the newer member of S6 Kinase family, is a crucial modulator of Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and is a member of AGC kinase family that regulates cellular growth and survival. S6K1 and S6K2 share high sequence similarity; therefore, S6K2 had been underestimated. However, recent studies displayed distinct functions of S6K2. Activated by both Akt/mTOR and Ras/Raf/Mek/Erk signaling pathways, S6K2 regulates cancer cell survival via different routes. Complexation with antiapoptotic proteins BRAF and PKCϵ avoids non-small-cell lung cancer cells from apoptosis upon FGF-2 stimulation. Indirect upregulation of the translation of antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-XL and XIAP in HEK293T cells and interference with TNF-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells are other routes of cancer cell survival. The aforementioned studies on S6K2 necessitate the development of therapies targeting only on S6K2. Studies targeting S6K2 may help to build important roads for cancer therapy. © 2018 Future Medicine Ltd

Intranasal midazolam for prolonged convulsive seizures

In order to determine the efficiency of intranasal midazolam in prolonged convulsive episodes, we conducted a prospective study in children with various types of seizures. Nine patients (six boys, three girls; age range 6 months to 9 years) with prolonged convulsions lasting more than 10 min were treated with intranasal midazolam, 0.3 mg/kg. The success rate was 100% with only one case requiring a second dose. Estimated duration of seizures was 12-30 min (mean 18.6) while mean time elapsed until cessation of seizures was 139.6 s (range 60-480). No significant adverse effects were noted except for one patient who had seizures secondary to serious CNS infection and respiratory depression after intranasal midazolam. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V