PHOTORESPONSE OF BACTERIORHODOPSIN IMMOBILIZED IN POLYACRYLAMIDE-GEL MEMBRANES

A two-chambered cell has been designed and constructed for the measurement of photoresponses of bacteriorhodopsin immobilized in polyacrylamide gel (FAG) membranes. The photoresponse of bacteriorhodopsin was determined by measuring the pH variation in each chamber independently, for long periods of illumination. The aim was to verify the light driven proton transfer of bacteriorhodopsin immobilized in FAG membranes. However, the same pH variation was observed in the two chambers irrespective of whether oriented or nonoriented bacteriorhodopsin immobilized in FAG membranes were employed

Effect of light intensity, wavelength and illumination protocol on hydrogen production in photobioreactors

Rhodobacter sphaeroides O.U. 001 is a purple non-sulfur bacterium which evolves hydrogen from the breakdown of organic acids under illumination and anaerobic conditions. In this study, the effect of light intensity, light wavelength and illumination protocol on the growth and hydrogen production of R. sphaeroides O.U. 001 was investigated in gas-tight glass photobioreactors with defined medium. The results showed Also it was found that the rate of hydrogen production increased with increasing light intensity and reached saturation at around 270W/m(2) that lack of infrared light (750-950 nm wavelength) decreased photoproduction of hydrogen by 39%. Another factor evaluated was the effect of different illumination protocols on the growth and hydrogen production. It was observed that illumination after inoculation stimulates hydrogen production, increases substrate conversion efficiency and hydrogen production rate; no hydrogen was produced during the dark periods. (c) 2007 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Assessment of Serum Levels of Copper, Magnesium, and Zinc in Patients Infected with Trichinella Britovi

Objective: Trichinella britovi is found in many species of carnivores and omnivores. T.britovi occurs in Eurasia and there are also studies on trichinellosis in Turkey showing the outbreak of trichinellosis, which occurred in Izmir, between January and March 2004. It was aimed to investigate the changes of level of the essential elements of copper, magnesium and zinc status in cases of trichinellosis. Material and Methods: This research has focused mainly on the relationship of copper, magnesium and zinc contents in human serum with Trichinella infection. Subjects were selected from anti-Trichinella IgG ELISA positive patients (48 patients, 24 controls). The parasite species was diagnosed from the deltoid muscle biopsy specimen using PCR and it was confirmed as T.britovi. The copper, magnesium and zinc concentrations of serum samples were determined using Zeeman atomic absorption spectrometry. Results: There was significantly higher serum magnesium concentration in both female and male patients than in controls. However, there was no significant difference in female and male patients' serum copper and zinc concentrations as compared with the controls. Conclusion: The increased magnesium levels clearly suggest that pathophysiology of trichinellosis may effect on element status and accordingly in human health

Hydrogen production and transcriptional analysis of nifD, nifK and hupS genes in Rhodobacter sphaeroides OU001 grown in media with different concentrations of molybdenum and iron

Rhodobacter sphaeroides O.U.001 was grown in media with different concentrations of molybdenum and iron to study the expression level of nifD and nifK genes coding for the large subunit of Mo-nitrogenase and hupS gene coding for the small subunit of uptake hydrogenase. Hydrogen productions under the same growth conditions were also evaluated. Increasing concentrations of the molybdenum and iron stimulated hydrogen production and the highest total hydrogen accumulation was achieved in 16.51 mu M sodium molybdare (0.841 H-2/l culture at t =168 h) and 0.1 mM ferric citrate (1.141 H-2/l culture at t =240 h) containing media. Maximal expressions of nifD and nifK were observed from the late log phase until the mid-stationary phase of growth and hupS expression was seen as soon as the hydrogen was produced in the cells. Moreover, nifK, nifD and hupS expressions were significantly reduced in the molybdenum and iron starved cells. (c) 2006 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Beneficial effects of agomelatine in experimental model of sepsis-related acute kidney injury

WOS: 000374753400002PubMed ID: 27193977BACKGROUND: Sepsis-related acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious complication of sepsis. Problems persist regarding early diagnosis and treatment of AKI. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of agomelatine, which is primarily known for its positive effects on depressive and anxiety disorders in sepsis-related AKI. METHODS: Sepsis model was created with cecal ligation puncture (CLP). Rats were separated into 4 groups of 8 each: the control group, the sham-operated group, the CLP+saline group, and the CLP+agomelatine group. Agomelatine was administered intraperitoneally in doses of 20 mg/kg. RESULTS: In the agomelatine group, reductions were observed in levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), malondialdehyde (MDA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine, as well as in histological kidney scores, compared to the non-treated group. In addition, it was demonstrated that agomelatine treatment had positive effect on sepsis-induced morphological damage to renal and tubular tissues. CONCLUSION: Agomelatine showed strong efficacy in sepsis-related AKI, demonstrated with histological and biochemical results in an experimental model. It is believed that antioxidant and pro-inflammatory effects of agomelatine are responsible for the improvement in kidneys

Biological hydrogen production from olive mill wastewater with two-stage processes

In the present work two novel two-stage hydrogen production processes from olive mill wastewater (OMW) have been introduced. The first two-stage process involved dark-fermentation followed by a photofermentation process. Dark-fermentation by activated sludge cultures and photofermentation by Rhodobacter sphaeroides O.U.001 were both performed in 55 ml glass vessels, under anaerobic conditions. In some cases of dark-fermentation, activated sludge was initially acclimatized to the OMW to provide the adaptation of microorganisms to the extreme conditions of OMW. The highest hydrogen production potential obtained was 291H(2)/l(OMW) after photofermentation with 50% (v/v) effluent of dark fermentation with activated sludge. Photofermentation with 50% (v/v) effluent of dark fermentation with acclimated activated sludge had the highest hydrogen production rate (0.00811(-1) h(-1))

Neuroprotective Effects of Eexenatide in a Rotenone-Induced Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease

WOS: 000410832600017PubMed ID: 28918840Backround: Several studies suggest an association between Parkinson's disease (PD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus; these 2 diseases are both known to affect the common molecular pathways. As a synthetic agonist for the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor, exenatide has been evaluated as a neuroprotective agent in multiple animal models. Rotenone models of PD have great potential for the investigation of PD pathology and motor and nonmotor symptoms, as well as the role of gene environment interactions in PD causation and pathogenesis. Therefore, in this study, the neurochemical, behavioral and histologic effects of exenatide on a rotenone-induced rat model of PD were examined. Materials and Methods: Eighteen adult male rats were randomly divided into the following 3 groups (n = 6): 1 group received stereotaxical infusion of dimethyl sulfoxide (vehicle, group 1) and the others received stereotaxical infusion of rotenone (groups 2 and 3). Apomorphine-induced rotation test was applied to the rats after 10 days. Thereafter, group 2 was administered isotonic saline, whereas group 3 was administered exenatide for 28 days. Results: Malondialdehyde and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels increased in the rats with PD induced by rotenone, whereas malondialdehyde and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels markedly decreased in the rats treated with exenatide. The apomorphine-induced rotation test scores of exenatide-treated rats were determined to be lower compared with the untreated group. Additionally, treatment with exenatide significantly reduced the loss of dopaminergic neurons in striatum. Conclusions: These results have shown that exenatide has neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in a rotenone-induced rat model of PD

The-137G/C Polymorphism in Interleukin-18 Gene Promoter Contributes to Chronic Lymphocytic and Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Risk in Turkish Patients

WOS: 000369120000004PubMed ID: 26376814Objective: Interleuldn-18 (IL-18) is a cytokine that belongs to the IL-1 superfamily and is secreted by various immune and nonimmune cells. Evidence has shown that 1L-18 has both anticancer and procancer effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between IL-18 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to chronic lymphocytic leukemias (CLL) and chronic myelogenous leukemias (CML) in Turkish patients. Materials and Methods: The frequencies of polymorphisms (rs61667799(G/T), rs5744227(C/G), rs5744228(A/G), and rs187238(G/C)) were studied in 20 CLL patients, 30 CML patients, and 30 healthy individuals. The genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing analysis. Results: Significant associations were detected between the IL-18 rs187238(G/C) polymorphism and chronic leukemia. A higher prevalence of the C allele was found in CML cases with respect to controls. The GC heterozygous and CC homozygous genotypes were associated with risk of CML when compared with controls. However, prevalence of the C allele was not significantly high in CLL cases with respect to controls. There was only a significant difference between the homozygous CC genotype of CLL patients and the control group; thus, it can be concluded that the CC genotype may be associated with the risk of CLL. Based on our data, there were no significant associations between the IL-18 rs61667799(G/T), rs5744227(C/G), or rs5744228(A/G) polymorphisms and CLL or CML. Conclusions: IL-18 gene promoter rs187238(G/C) polymorphism is associated with chronic leukemia in the Turkish population. However, due to the limited number of studied patients, these are preliminary results that show the association between-137G/C polymorphism and patients (CLL and CML). Further large-scale studies combined with haplotype and expression analysis are required to validate the current findings