Biofortification and Localization of Zinc in Wheat Grain

Zinc (Zn) deficiency associated with low dietary intake is a well-documented public health problem, resulting in serious health and socioeconomic problems. Field experiments were conducted with wheat to test the role of both soil and foliar application of ZnSO4 in Zn concentration of whole grain and grain fractions (e.g., bran, embryo and endosperm) in 3 locations. Foliar application of ZnSO4 was realized at different growth stages (e.g., stem elongation, boot, milk, dough stages) to study the effect of timing of foliar Zn application on grain Zn concentration. The rate of foliar Zn application at each growth stage was 4 kg of ZnSO4 3 7H2O ha-1. Laser ablation (LA)-ICP-MS was used to follow the localization of Zn within grain. Soil Zn application at a rate of 50 kg of ZnSO4 3 7H2O ha-1 was effective in increasing grain Zn concentration in the Zn-deficient location, but not in the locations without soil Zn deficiency. In all locations, foliar application of Zn significantly increased Zn concentration in whole grain and in each grain fraction, particularly in the case of high soil N fertilization. In Zn-deficient location, grain Zn concentration increased from 11 mg kg-1 to 22 mg kg-1 with foliar Zn application and to 27 mg kg-1 with a combined application of ZnSO4 to soil and foliar. In locations without soil Zn deficiency, combination of high N application with two times foliar Zn application (e.g., at the booting and milk stages) increased grain Zn concentration, on average, from 28 mg kg-1 to 58 mg kg-1. Both ICP-OES and LA-ICP-MS data showed that the increase in Zn concentration of whole grain and grain fractions was pronounced when Zn was sprayed at the late growth stage (e.g., milk and dough). LA-ICP-MS data also indicated that Zn was transported into endosperm through the crease phloem. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that the timing of foliar Zn application is of great importance in increasing grain Zn in wheat, especially in the endosperm part that is the predominant grain fraction consumed in many countries. Providing a large pool of Zn in vegetative tissues during the grain filling (e.g., via foliar Zn spray) is an important practice to increase grain Zn and contribute to human nutritio

4,5-Bis(2,4-di-tert-butyl­phen­oxy)phthalonitrile

In the title compound, C36H44N2O2, the dihedral angles between the phthalonitrile ring and the two di-tert-butyl­benzene rings are 68.134 (8) and 70.637 (11)°. The two nitrile groups are almost coplanar with the phthalonitrile ring except for one of the N atoms which deviates from the plane by 0.125 (4) Å. One of the tert-butyl groups is disordered over two orientations, with refined occupancies of 0.814 (6) and 0.186 (6). Intra­molecular C—H⋯O inter­actions stabilize the molecular structure. The crystal packing is stabilized by inter­molecular C—H⋯N inter­actions

Clinical spectrum of early onset “Mediterranean” (homozygous p.P131L mutation) mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy

Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE) is an autosomal recessive mitochondrial disorder characterized by cumulative and progressive gastrointestinal and neurological findings. This retrospective observational study, aimed to explore the time of presentation, diagnosis and clinical follow-up of 13 patients with a confirmed MNGIE disease of Mediterranean origin. The mean age of symptom onset was 7 years (6 months−21 years) and the average diagnosis age was 15.4 years ±8.4. Four of 13 patients (30%) died before 30 years at the mean age of 19.7 years ±6.8. Cachexia and gastrointestinal symptoms were observed in all patients (100%). The mean body mass index standard deviation score at diagnosis was 4.8 ± 2.8. At least three subocclusive episodes were presented in patients who died in last year of their life. The main neurological symptom found in most patients was peripheral neuropathy (92%). Ten patients (77%) had leukoencephalopathy and the remaining three patients without were under 10 years of age. The new homozygous “Mediterranean” TYMP mutation, p.P131L (c.392 C > T) was associated with an early presentation and poor prognosis in nine patients (69%) from five separates families. Based on the observations from this Mediterranean MNGIE cohort, we propose that the unexplained abdominal pain combined with cachexia is an indicator of MNGIE. High-platelet counts and nerve conduction studies may be supportive laboratory findings and the frequent subocclusive episodes could be a negative prognostic factor for mortality. Finally, the homozygous p.P131L (c.392 C > T) mutation could be associated with rapid progressive disease with poor prognosis

Evalution of rantes, MIG, IL-17, IL-8 and eotaxin chemokines serum levels treated with pulse methylprednisolone in alopecia patients

Bu çalışmada alopesi hastalarında pulse steroid tedavisinin klinik ve immunolojik etkilerinin değerlendirilmesi, tedaviye yanıttaki farklılıkların bazı kemokin düzeyleriyle ilişkili olup olmadığının araştırılmasını amaçladık.Çalışmaya Ocak 2008-Ocak 2009 arasında polikliniğimize başvuran yamasal alopesi areatalı (AA) 10 hasta, alopesi totalisli (AT) 5 hasta ve alopesi universalisli (AU) 5 hasta olmak üzere toplam 20 hasta alındı. Erişkin yaş grubuna 8 mg/kg/gün, çocuk hastalara 5 mg/kg/gün dozunda metilprednizolon, 3 gün üst üste İV yolla ayda bir kez, toplam 6 ay boyunca verildi. Olgular takiben 6 ay süresince ilaçsız izleme alındı. Klinik yanıt SALT (alopesi şiddet ölçeği) ile değerlendirildi. Yanıt veren olgularda saç çekme testi uygulandı. Tedavinin başlangıcında, 3. ve 6. aylarında; izlemde 3 ayda bir, ayrıca aktivasyon ve nüks dönemlerinde ELISA yöntemiyle serumda RANTES, MIG, IL-17, IL-8 ve Eotaksin konsantrasyonları ölçüldü.Olguların 13'ü erkek, 7'si kadın olup, yaşları 6-43 (19.2±12) yıl, hastalık süresi 6-432 (131.1±119.3) ay arasında değişiyordu. Daha önce topikal, sistemik tedavi ve/veya fototerapi uygulanmıştı. Yamasal kaybı olan olguların birisinde tam, ikisinde orta derecede yanıt, AT olgularının ikisinde orta derecede yanıt ve AU'li bir olguda tam yanıt sağlandı. Olguların üçünde aktivasyon, üçünde nüks gözlendi. "Flushing" ve reaktif lenfadenopati dışında bir yan etki görülmedi. Çekme testi pozitif olan olgularda saçların %60'ı distrofik anagen kıl özelliğindeydi. Sadece eotaksinle tedavi öncesi hastalık şiddeti arasında ters ilişki bulundu (p<0.05). Aktivasyon ve nüks görülen 6 olgudan beşinde bu dönemde alınan serum örneklerinde MIG, IL-17 ve IL-8, düzeylerinde, birinde sadece IL-8 düzeyinde artış saptandı.Diğer immunsupresif tedavilere yanıtsız ve hastalığı uzun süredir devam eden olgularda pulse metilprednizolon tedavisinin dar yan etki profiliyle güvenilir olmasına rağmen etkinliğinin de sınırlı olduğunu gördük. Tedavi öncesi eotaksin düzeyiyle hastalık şiddeti arasında istatistiksel olarak saptanan ters ilişki ve aktivasyon ve nüks gelişen olgular bazında MIG, IL-17, ve IL-8'le saptanan pozitif ilişki nedeniyle bu konunun daha geniş olgu serili çalışmalarla araştırılması gerektiği kanısındayız.In this study we aimed to evaluate the clinical and immunological effects of pulse steroid therapy in alopecia patients and the relation between the different responses to therapy and some chemokine levels.Ten patients with patchy type of alopecia areata, 5 patients with alopecia totalis and 5 patients with alopecia universalis applied to our clinic between January 2008 and January 2009 were included in the study. Adult patients recieved 8 mg/kg/day and pediatric patients received 5 mg/kg/day methylprednisolone IV for 3 consecutive days once a month a total of 6 months. The patients were followed up for 6 months unmedicated. Clinical response was evaluated according to SALT (Severity of Alopecia Tool) score. Pull test was applied to responded patients. Serum RANTES, MIG, IL-17, IL-8 and Eotaxin concentrations were measured at the beginning of the therapy, at 3rd and 6th months of therapy; at every 3 months in the follow up period and if activation or relaps occurs.Our cases consisted of 13 men and 7 women; ages varying between 6-13 (19.2±12) years and duration of their illnesses varying between 6-432 (131.1±119.3) months. Topical and systemic therapies and/or phototherapy were previously applied. Complete response was achieved in one, moderate response in two of patchy type of alopecia areata patients. Moderate response was achieved provided in two patients with alopecia totalis and complete response in one patient with alopecia universalis. Three cases had activation and 3 cases relapsed during the study. No side effects were observed except flushing and reactive lymphadenopathy. We observed that 60% of hairs were at dystrophic anagen stage in the cases with pull test positivity. There was an inverse relationship between pretreatment levels of eotaxin and severity of illness (p<0.05). 5 of 6 patients with activation or relapse showed increased levels of serum MIG, IL-17 and IL-8 levels and one of them showed increased levels of serum IL-8 only.In this study, we observed that the efficacy of methylprednisolone therapy in patients who are unresponsive to other immunosuppressive agents is limited, though it was safe with minimal side effects. Since we detected an inverse relationship between the severity of illness and pretreatment levels of eotaxin and an increase in levels of MIG, IL-17 and IL-8 in patients with activation and/or relapse, we consider that this issue should be evaluated with further studies.Uludağ Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Birimi Başkanlığ