Active shrinkage protects neurons following axonal transection

Trauma, vascular events, or neurodegenerative processes can lead to axonal injury and eventual transection (axotomy). Neurons can survive axotomy, yet the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Excessive water entry into injured neurons poses a particular risk due to swelling and subsequent death. Using in vitro and in vivo neurotrauma model systems based on laser transection and surgical nerve cut, we demonstrated that axotomy triggers actomyosin contraction coupled with calpain activity. As a consequence, neurons shrink acutely to force water out through aquaporin channels preventing swelling and bursting. Inhibiting shrinkage increased the probability of neuronal cell death by about 3-fold. These studies reveal a previously unrecognized cytoprotective response mechanism to neurotrauma and offer a fresh perspective on pathophysiological processes in the nervous system.Yüzüncü Yıl Universit

Molecular Approaches to the Diagnosis of <em>Chlamydia</em>

Chlamydia trachomatis is known as the most common bacterial infection agent to pass with sexual transition. This microorganism is an obligatory intracellular parasite. A variety of infections are caused by C. trachomatis, including trachoma, pneumonias in newborns, genital and urinary tract infections, and lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), which is caused by LGV strains. The diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis can be made by cultures and isolations, antigens and antibodies (direct fluorescence, enzyme immunoassays), hybridization, or polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Each year, infection and diagnosis rates increase in the developed world. Since Chlamydia is mostly asymptomatic, screening, and treatment are a key to detecting cases. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), ligase chain reaction (LCR), and nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBAa) molecular methods can be used for the detection, low concentration, quantification, and identification of organisms. While the traditional PCR method confirms its existence, it can quantify real-time PCR (RT-PCR). This method (RT-PCR) may have low sensitivity among variants of the same species. Also, PCR scans, which receive urine service, offer great advantages. PCR from initial void urine (FVU) samples is highly sensitive in detecting the organism. Urine Chlamydia screenings are more acceptable in large populations and asymptomatic detections

Determination of heat shock proteins in certain Bacillus species

In this study, the effects of four different temperatures on the sporulation and development of 6 Bacillus species, 2 native and 4 reference were investigated. The SDS PAGE analysis emerged that two different proteins, 40 and 39 kilodalton (kDa), were produced by Bacillus sphaericus ATCC 2362 after 24 and 48, respectively hours at 48°C, by local isolate 4 after 24 and 48 hours at 42°C and by local isolate 31 after 24 and 48 hours at 48°C. Additionally Bacillus firmus (ATCC 14573) produced a 40 kDa protein after 48 hours at 52°C and Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis produced a 42 kDa protein after 48 hours at 42°C. At temperatures of 48 and 52°C, after 12, 24 and 48 hours incubation, vegetative and heat resistant spore counts were determined to reduce by 104-106 fold according to bacterial counts. As a result, the data revealed that at 48 and 52°C spore vitality fell by a significant degree. Additionally, SDS PAGE analysis results showed that high temperature resistance was provided by different heat shock proteins a 40 kDa protein produced by B. firmus ATCC (14573), 40-39 kDa proteins produced by B. sphaericus (ATCC 2362), and local isolates 4 and 31 and 42 kDa protein produced by B. thuringiensis var. israelensis

Van Gölü ve Çevresinden İzole Edilen Alkalofilik Bacillus Türlerinin Ekstraselülar Protein Profillerinin Bilgisayar Analiziyle İdentifikasyonu

Five reference Bacillus species and 17 native alkaliphilic Bacillus strains, isolated from the water of Lake Van and the soil surrounding it, were identified using phenotypic characteristics and extracellular protein profiles by the method of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). According to the phenotypic characteristics, all the native isolates were Gram-positive, aerobic, endospore-forming, motile, facultatively alkaliphilic Bacillus spp. It was also found that the native alkaliphilic Bacillus isolates were distinguished phenotypically from other Bacillus species. A numerical analysis based on the resulting extracellular protein profiles revealed 5 distinct clusters: native isolates and B. megaterium formed 4 clusters that varied between 69% and 100% similarity, and the other reference Bacillus species formed a cluster with a similarity of above 70%. The research showed that extracellular protein profiles obtained by SDS-PAGE provide an effective approach to the investigation of taxonomic relationships within native alkaliphilic Bacillus isolates and other Bacillus species.Bu çalışmada, 5 referans Bacillus türü ve Van Gölü suyu ve çevresindeki topraklardan izole edilen toplam 17 yerel alkalofilik Bacillus izolatı fenotipik özellikleri ve sodyum dodesil sülfat poliakrilamid jel elektroforez kullanılarak elde edilen ekstraselülar protein profillerine göre identifiye edilmiştir. Fenotipik özelliklerine göre, yerel izolatların tümünün Gram pozitif, aerobik, endospor oluşturan, hareketli ve fakültatif alkalofilik Bacillus cinsine ait türler olduğu belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca, yerel alkalofilik izolatların fenotipik olarak diğer referans Bacillus türlerinden farklı olduğu bulunmuştur. Ekstraselülar protein profil sonuçları esas alınarak yapılan nümerik analiz; yerel izolatlar ve B. megaterium'u içeren benzerlik seviyesi % 69 ve % 100 arasında değişen dört grup ve benzerlik seviyesi % 70'in üzerinde diğer referans Bacillus türlerini içeren bir grup olmak üzere beş ayrı grup ortaya koymuştur. Bu araştırma, SDS-PAGE yöntemiyle elde edilen ekstraselülar protein profillerinin yerel alkalofilik Bacillus izolatları ve diğer Bacillus türlerinin taksonomik ilişkilerinin incelenmesinde etkili bir yaklaşım sağladığını göstermiştir

Comparison of spermiograms of infertile men before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

This was a clinical study investigating the possible relationship between covid 19 infection and spermiogram in male populationObjective: Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been interest in the impact of both SARS-CoV-2 infection and pandemic-induced social restrictions on male reproductive health. This study aimed to evaluate the spermiogram values of men who presented for infertility during the pandemic compared with the previous 2 years. Methods: Patients who presented to a urology outpatient clinic for the first time due to infertility were included. The patients' age, semen volume, and spermiogram results were recorded. Based on the presentation date, the patients were divided into prepandemic group 1 (March 2018-February 2019), prepandemic group 2 (March 2019-February 2020), and pandemic group (March 2020-February 2021) for comparison. Results: A total of 594 patients were included. There was no significant difference between the three groups in terms of the number of patients who presented for infertility (207, 190, and 197 patients, respectively; p=0.691). The mean age was 36.6±7.2 in the prepandemic group 1, 35.5±7.1 in the prepandemic group 2, and 33.1±6.3 in the pandemic group. Patients who presented during the pandemic were significantly younger (p<0.001). There were no differences between the groups in terms of semen volume (p=0.910) or rates of normospermia and pathological spermiogram findings (p=0.222). Conclusions: In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no significant difference in the number of patients who presented for infertility or in their spermiogram results compared with 2018 and 2019. However, it is noteworthy that the patients were significantly younger during the pandemic than in the previous 2 years.No sponso