A multidisciplinary approach to address climate-resilience, conservation and comfort in traditional architecture: The PROT3CT example

Traditional dwellings despite their environmental credentials, due to age, previous damage, and residents unable to afford even the limited maintenance allowed by restrictive legal framework, may offer poor thermal performance, which is expected to be further exacerbated by changing climate. More than 70% of Turkey’s built heritage stock is composed of traditional dwellings, which makes this stock able to create a major impact nationally on the building-related energy use, carbon emissions and population wellbeing. This research aims to develop an evidence-based multidisciplinary methodology for cost-effective retrofit of the traditional dwellings in Turkey, to improve energy performance, satisfy user expectations of comfort, and protect heritage value

Effects of selected food phytochemicals in reducing the toxic actions of TCDD and p,p′-DDT in U937 macrophages

To assess the effectiveness of selected food phytochemicals in reducing the toxic effects of the environmental toxicants, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and p,p′-DDT (DDT), we tested the potencies of auraptene, nobiletin, zerumbone, and (±)-13-hydroxy-10-oxo-trans-11-octadecenoic acid (13-HOA) in reversing the inflammatory action of these toxicants in U937 human macrophages. Using quantitative RT–PCR as the initial screening assay, we identified antagonistic actions of zerumbone and auraptene against the action of TCDD and DDT in up-regulating the mRNA expressions of COX-2 and VEGF. The functional significance of the inhibitory action of zerumbone on COX-2 expression was confirmed by demonstrating its suppression of TCDD-induced activation of COX-2 gene expression in mouse MMDD1 cells. We tested auraptene on DDT-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation in U937 macrophages and found that auraptene is a powerful agent antagonizing this action of DDT. To confirm the significance of these actions of zerumbone and auraptene at the cellular level, we assessed their influence on TCDD-induced apoptosis resistance in intact U937 macrophages and found that they are capable of reversing this action of TCDD. In conclusion, zerumbone and auraptene were identified to be the most effective agents in protecting U937 macrophages from developing these cell toxic effects of TCDD and DDT

DETERMINATION OF CEFTRIAXONE IN AQUEOUS-HUMOR AND SERUM SAMPLES BY DIFFERENTIAL-PULSE ADSORPTIVE STRIPPING VOLTAMMETRY

Differential-pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetry was used to determine ceftriaxone in serum and aqueous humour samples. The method involved extraction of the ceftriaxone from serum samples with an Amberlite XAD-2 column followed by elution with methanol. The recovery was 97.6% with a relative standard deviation of 3.3% at a ceftriaxone concentration of 90.9 mu g l(-1). Peak currents of ceftriaxone were measured with a hanging mercury drop electrode at -0.78 V versus an Ag-AgCl reference electrode in pH 3.0 Britton-Robinson buffer. The calibration graph was linear from 0.02 to 1300 mu g l(-1). The method was applied to cataract cases and ceftriaxone levels were measured in aqueous humour and serum samples from patients who had received 1 or 2 g of ceftriaxone intravenously. Aqueous humour was added to the polarographic cell directly. The amounts of ceftriaxone in the aqueous humour and serum samples with respect to time were measured. The pharmacokinetic profiles for 1 and 2 g were compared

Can crocin play a preventive role in Wistar rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced nephrotoxicity?

Objective(s): To investigate protective role of crocin by attempting to create nephrotoxicity with carbon tetrachloride. Materials and Methods: Ethics committee approval was obtained and 50 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups that included 10 rats each: Control, Corn oil, Crocin, Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), and Crocin + Carbon tetrachloride. Following the experiments, the rats were decapitated under anesthesia and incised kidney tissues were subjected to biochemical and histological examinations. Results: In the CCl4 administered group, MDA, TOS, Bun, and creatinine levels increased, GSH, SOD, CAT, and TAS levels decreased (P?0.05), glomerular collapse in kidney sections, narrowing and local occlusion in Bowman’s space in certain glomeruli, inflammatory cell infiltration and congestion were observed when compared to all other groups. There was a significant decrease in increased MDA, TOS, Bun, and creatinine levels, and a significant increase in decreased GSH, SOD, CAT, and TAS levels in CCl4 + crocin administered group compared to the CCl4 group (P?0.05), local minimal glomerular damage, tubular damage, inflammatory infiltration, and vascular collagen symptoms were observed in kidney sections, however significant improvement was observed in damage findings when compared to the CCl4 group. Conclusion: At this dose and time interval, against a highly toxic chemical such as CCl4, crocin was able to suppress oxidative stress by playing a protective role in the kidney tissue. © 2018, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Common features of anaphylaxis in children

Objective: We aimed to establish the characteristics of anaphylaxis in childhood