Socio-Economic Characteristics and Fishing Operation Activities of the Artisanal Fishers in the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest, Bangladesh

The Sundarbans Mangrove Forest (SMF) is a complex ecosystem containing the most diverse and abundant natural resources of Bangladesh. The research was designed to investigate the socio-economic characteristics and fishing operation activities of the artisanal fishers in the SMF through case studies. Despite the great importance of mangroves in the livelihood of the artisanal fishermen in the SMF, deforestation is perceived to continue due to illegal logging and deterioration of mangroves for climate change, increased salinity, natural disasters, shrimp farming and household consumption. The consequences are depleted fish and fishery resources, changes in fisher's primary occupation and livelihood status. The present study also elicited several risks and shocks of the fishermen livelihood like the attack by dacoits, hostage, ransom, and attack by tigers, natural disasters, river bank erosion. However, the artisanal fishermen adopted different strategies to cope with the changing conditions by forming associations, violating the fisheries laws and regulations, migrating, sharing responsibilities with the household members, and transmitting local ecological knowledge. This study concludes that there is an urgency to update the existing policies and management issues for the sustainable extraction of the SMF resources for the improvement of the artisanal fishermen livelihood.Peer reviewe

The Effects of Argan Oil in Second-degree Burn Wound Healing in Rats

ATMACA, HASAN TARIK/0000-0001-8379-4114; UN, Harun/0000-0003-1772-282X; Yayla, Muhammed/0000-0002-0659-3084WOS: 000394497400003PubMed: 26978857Argan oil, produced from the kernels of the argan tree (Argania spinosa), has been shown to have antioxidant properties. To examine the effect of argan oil in second-degree burn wound healing, an in vivo experiment was conducted among 30 adult male Wistar rats divided into 5 equal groups: a sham group, a control group (burned but no topical agent), a group in which argan oil was applied once a day, a group in which argan oil was applied twice a day, and a group treated with 1% silver sulfadiazine once a day. Second-degree burns were created by scalding hot water (85 degrees C for 15 seconds). Treatment began 24 hours after the burn injury; in the argan oil groups, 1 mL of argan oil was administered via syringe to the wound. The rate of wound healing was quantified by wound measurements on days 1, 7, and 14 after burn injury. Tissues were analyzed for molecular and histologic changes in TGF-beta expression and fibroblast activity. Percent contraction of burned skin tissue was determined using the stereo investigator program, which calculated the burn field to the millimeter. Means (SD) were calculated and compared using Duncan's multiple comparison test. The group receiving argan oil twice daily showed significantly increased mRNA levels of TGF-beta 1 from 39.66-to 58.70-fold compared to the burn control group on day 14 (P < 0.05). Both argan oil-treated groups showed significantly increased contraction compared to the burn control group at all 3 timepoints; the group receiving argan oil twice daily had a greater contraction rate (31% on day 7, 76% on day 14) than the silver sulfadiazine group (22% on day 7, 69% on day 14), (P < 0.05). Histopathological assessments on days 3, 7, and 14 showed greater healing/contraction in both argan oil and silver sulfadiazine groups compared to the control group. These results suggest argan oil is effective in healing experimentally created second-degree burns in rats. Prospective, randomized, controlled clinical studies are needed to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and effectiveness of this treatment modality for patients with second-degree burn wounds

Effects of Aliskiren, an RAAS inhibitor, on a carrageenan-induced pleurisy model of rats

Abstract Our aim is to investigate the potentially preventive effects of Aliskiren in a carrageenan-induced lung pleurisy model and to compare the standard anti-inflammatory agents, indomethacin and dexamethasone. The pleurisy model was induced through the injection of carrageenan (0.2 ml-%2) into the pleural cavity. After the experiment, serum and lung tissues were collected and biochemical, molecular and pathological examinations were performed. In our study, pleural inflammation decreased superoxide dismutase activity and the glutathione level and increased the malondialdehyde level in the lung of rats, while Aliskiren increased the superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione level and decreased the malondialdehyde level. In addition, carrageenan-induced pleurisy caused a significant increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines mRNA expressions (TNF-α, IL-1β, and NF-KB), while Aliskiren administration decreased their expressions as well as the standard treatments, indomethacin and dexamethasone, did. Aliskiren administration at the 200 mg/kg dose protected the lungs in the pathological evaluation, especially against inflammatory cell infiltration and edematous lesions. It appears that Aliskiren protects the lung from carrageenan-induced pleurisy damage by regulating inflammation and antioxidant-oxidant balance via Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone System inhibition

Tnf-alpha inhibition by infliximab as a new target for the prevention of glycerol-contrast-induced nephropathy

Karaman, Adem/0000-0002-3091-0609; UGAN, RUSTEM ANIL/0000-0002-4837-2343; UN, Harun/0000-0003-1772-282X; ATMACA, HASAN TARIK/0000-0001-8379-4114WOS: 000353929900011PubMed: 25682004Contrast medium-induced nephropathy (CIN) remains as a problem with high incidence and mortality rates. The aim of this study is to examine the roles of infliximab (INF) in the glycerol (GLY) and CIN model in rats. The rats were separated into five groups (n=8): Healthy, GLY, GLY+CM, GLY+CM+INF 5 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.), and GLY+CM+INF 7 mg/kg (i.p.). Antioxidant levels in the therapy groups were observed to be quite similar to those in the healthy group. In this study, while the kidney TNF-alpha, TGF-1 beta and Caspase 3 gene expressions' levels increased in the nephrotoxic groups, these levels were found to have decreased in the treatment groups. Moreover, histopathologic examination showed that hyaline, haemorrhagic casts and necrosis were increased in nephrotoxicity group, whereas they decreased in the therapy group. Furthermore, TNF-alpha and NF-kappa B expression were decreased with infliximab administrated groups similar to control group. In conclusion, we suggest that infliximab have protective roles on CIN. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Ataturk University Scientific Experimental Project OfficeAtaturk University [2013/54]This article was supported by the Ataturk University Scientific Experimental Project Office, Project Number: 2013/5

Does Bosentan Protect Diabetic Brain Alterations in Rats? The Role of Endothelin-1 in the Diabetic Brain

Cayir, Yasemin/0000-0001-9133-5460; UN, Harun/0000-0003-1772-282X; Yayla, Muhammed/0000-0002-0659-3084; ATMACA, HASAN TARIK/0000-0001-8379-4114WOS: 000350099600008PubMed: 25200216Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major problem all over the world, affecting more people in recent years. Individuals with diabetes are more prone to disease than non-diabetics, especially vascular complications. The aim of this study was to examine the roles of the endothelin (ET)-1 in brain damage formed in a streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetes model, and the effect of bosentan, which is the non-specific ET1 receptor blocker in the prevention of the diabetes-induced brain damage. To examine the effects of bosentan (50mg/kg and 100mg/kg) in this study, the rats were given the drug for 3months. The rats were divided into four groups: the sham group (n=10), the diabetic control group (n=10), the group of diabetic rats given bosentan 50mg/kg (n=10) and the group of diabetic rats given bosentan 100mg/kg (n=10). Diabetes was induced in the rats by STZ (60mg/kg i.p.). On day 91, all rats were killed. Brain tissues of the rats were measured by molecular, biochemical and histopathological methods. Antioxidant levels in the therapy groups were observed as quite near to the values in the healthy group. In this study, while the brain eNOS levels in the diabetic groups decreased, the ET1 and iNOS levels were found to be increased. However, in the diabetes group, hippocampus and cerebellum, pericellular oedema and a number of neuronal cytoretraction were increased in neuropiles, whereas these results were decreased in the therapy group. Based on all of these results, ET1 will not be ignored in diabetes-induced cerebral complications

Nephroprotective potential of carnitine against glycerol and contrast-induced kidney injury in rats through modulation of oxidative stress, proinflammatory cytokines, and apoptosis

Karaman, Adem/0000-0002-3091-0609; UGAN, RUSTEM ANIL/0000-0002-4837-2343; POLAT, Beyzagul/0000-0003-2042-5949; ATMACA, HASAN TARIK/0000-0001-8379-4114; UN, Harun/0000-0003-1772-282XWOS: 000368422100001PubMed: 26562095Objective: Contrast media (CM) are a major cause of nephropathy in high-risk patients. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of carnitine (CAR) in advanced nephrotoxicity due to CM administration in rats with glycerol-induced renal functional disorder. Methods: 40 rats were divided randomly into five groups (n=8): (1) healthy group; (2) glycerol only (GLY); (3) glycerol and CM (GLY1CM); (4) glycerol, CM and 200 mg kg(-1) carnitine (CAR200, Carnitene (R); Sigma-tau/Santa Farma, Istanbul, Turkey); and (5) glycerol, CM and 400 mg kg(-1) carnitine (CAR400). Kidney injury was induced with a single-dose, intramuscular injection of 10 ml kg(-1) body weight (b.w.) of GLY. CAR was administered intraperitoneally. CM (8 ml kg(-1) b.w. iohexol, Omni-paque (TM) T; Opakim Medical Products, Istanbul, Turkey) was infused via the tail vein to the rats in Groups 3-5. Results: L-carnitine administration significantly decreased serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels. Superoxide dismutase and glutathione activity increased significantly in the treatment groups compared with the nephrotoxic groups. CAR400 significantly reduced malondialdehyde levels to healthy levels. In the treatment groups, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-beta, transforming growth factor 1 beta, interleukin 1 beta and caspase-3 gene expression decreased compared with the nephrotoxic groups. TNF-alpha and nuclear factor kappa-beta (NF-kappa B) protein expression increased after CM and CAR administration reduced both TNF-alpha and NF-kappa B expressions. Histopathologically, hyaline and haemorrhagic casts and necrosis in proximal tubules increased in the nephrotoxicity groups and decreased in the CAR groups. Conclusion: The results reveal that L-carnitine protects the oxidant/antioxidant balance and decreases proinflammatory cytokines and apoptosis in CM-induced nephrotoxicity in rats with underlying pathology. Advances in knowledge: Depending on the underlying kidney pathologies, the incidence of CM-induced nephropathy (CIN) increases. Therefore, this is the best model to represent clinically observed CIN. Advances in knowledge: Depending on the underlying kidney pathologies, the incidence of CM-induced nephropathy (CIN) increases. Therefore, this is the best model to represent clinically observed CIN.Ataturk University Scientific Experimental Project OfficeAtaturk University [2013/52]This work was supported by the Ataturk University Scientific Experimental Project Office through project number: 2013/52