Allozyme variation in Rattus rattus (Rodentia: Muridae) in Turkey, with particular emphasis on the taxonomy

WOS: 000261906600003The Turkish black rat "Rattus rattus" shows variation in coat colour corresponding to the occurrence of three subspecies with intermediate colour stages: Rattus rattus rattus, Rattus r. alexandrinus and Rattus r. frugivorus. Turkish black rat populations were divided geographically into six sub-populations: Rr1 = Northwest Anatolia, Rr2 = Central Anatolia, Rr3 = Eastern Mediterranean, Rr4 = Western Mediterranean, Rr5 = Turkish Thrace, and Rr6 = Black Sea region. Genetic variation was assessed using twenty two isoenzyme systems. Seven of twenty-two loci (Pgm-1, Hk, Ale-M, G3pdh, Gpdh-1, Gpi, Fum-1) were found to be polymorphic. The mean Value of F(ST) is found to be 0.073, indicating 7.3 % genetic variation among groups and suggesting the existence of a moderate differentiation between sub-populations of the Turkish black rat. Overall mean heterozygosity (Ho = direct count) for sub-populations was Ho = 0.020, ranging from 0.008 to 0.031. Nei's measure of genetic distance showed that Rr2 and Rr6 were the most identical and sub-populations Rr1 and Rr5 had diverged the most.BAP of Ankara UniversityAnkara University [97.05.03.04, 2000.07.05.037]We wish to thank Dr Ben BRILOT for comments on the text. This study was supported by BAP (97.05.03.04 and 2000.07.05.037) of Ankara University

Impact of Reducing Irritative Symptoms in Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer During BCG Instillation: A Pilot Study

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated use of anticholinergics, mirabegron, and combination of anticholinergics with mirabegron during Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) instillation for reducing irritative symptoms in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). METHODS: Prospectively recorded data of NMIBC patients receiving BCG were retrospectively evaluated between August 2015 and April 2019. Patients with low-grade T1 solitary papillary lesions <4 cm were included in the study. Validated questionnaires (OAB-V8) for irritative symptoms adapted to Turkish language, and QoL index forms were filled out by the study participants. OAB-V8 scores of ≥8 were considered as an indication to start medical treatment for irritative symptoms. Groups were formed according to daily used anticholinergic drugs and combinations as follows: Group 1, tolterodine; Group 2, solifenacin 5mg; Group 3, mirabegron, and Group 4, mirabegron with solifenacin 5 mg. RESULTS: Mean follow- up period was 20.4+-6.8 months. There were 132 patients [110 men (83%) and 22 (17%) women] with irritative symptoms and NMIBC. Mean age of the study population was 59.7+-12.4 years. The OAB-V8 scores and QoL indexes significantly improved with all drugs. However, in subgroup analyses, Group 4 provided the most dramatic improvement in OAB-V8 and QoL index scores (P=0.02 for both). The longest in time to micturition was recorded in Group 4 (P=0.04). Tumour recurrence was similar for groups 12 months after BCG instillation (P=0.9), however the least recurrence was observed in Group 4. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Combination of solifecacin and mirabegron can reduce irritative symptoms, improve QoL, and prolong time to micturition, during BCG instillation in selected NMIBC patients. This combination may also decrease recurrence rates in this patient population

Passer hispaniolensis subpopulations in Turkey: allozyme variations and brief ecobiological notes

WOS: 000325268300014In this study, Spanish Sparrows were recorded in numerous locations and specimens were collected from Samsun, Corum, and Denizli provinces in Turkey. The breeding subpopulations preferred various nesting sites, including wooded areas and White Stork nests. These sparrows were primarily observed in flocks of variable size and were rarely solitary. The largest flock recorded was found in juniper and pine woods in Denizli. We collected data on 23 allozyme loci to compare the genetic variation among the 3 Spanish Sparrow subpopulations. The low F-ST (0.1363) and high Nm (1.5842) values calculated from these data indicated that gene flow among the 3 subpopulations was high and that these subpopulations did not show substantial genetic isolation. The genetic distance (D) between Corum and Denizli was particularly low (0.001), and these subpopulations showed the highest level of genetic similarity found in the study. Conversely, a high genetic distance (0.028) was found between Denizli and Samsun. The genetic structure of these subpopulations also demonstrated a low level of heterozygosity in the total population

A new species of voles, Microtus elbeyli sp nov., from Turkey with taxonomic overview of social voles distributed in southeastern Anatolia

WOS: 000366496200009There are twelve Microtus species in Turkey and two of them are endemic to the steppic central Anatolian plateau. In this study, previously collected specimens that were recorded as Microtus irani from southeastern Turkey were reevaluated by karyologically comparing different species distributed throughout southeastern Turkey. The taxonomic status of this species was raised to a new species, Microtus elbeyli sp. nov., which has dark ochreous dorsal color, agrestis morphotype in M-2, and 2n = 46, NF = 50, NFa = 46 karyotype. The new species described here raises the total number of Microtus species in Turkey to 13 and endemic vole species in Anatolia to three.TUBITAK (the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [109T593, TBAG/U113]; Research Fund of Ankara UniversityAnkara University [98050302]This research was partly sponsored by TUBITAK (the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, project no: 109T593, TBAG/U113) and by the Research Fund of Ankara University (project no: 98050302). We thank Dr B Coban (BEUN) for linguistic revision

Genetic differentiation of the Meriones tristrami (Mammalia: Rodentia) subpopulations in Turkey - inferring allozyme variations

WOS: 000393615100007Allozyme variations of Tristram's jird Meriones tristrami, which is distributed in the steppe and semiarid areas of Turkey, were studied using 24 loci of 83 specimens from ten locations in Turkey. Seven loci were found to be polymorphic. According to the patterns of allozyme variation, the percentage of polymorphic loci was 12.5. F-ST was found to be 0.44, indicating high genetic variations among M. tristrami; accordingly the Nm value (0.3157) appeared quite low. The UPGMA dendrogram, based on genetic distance, showed that the populations established two very close subclusters, and supported the idea that the westernmost population connected to the northern part of the central Anatolian population. As expected, the eastern population appeared to be more divergent due to geographic distance. Our findings supported that genetic isolation among these subpopulations might be caused by geographic isolation.Ankara University-BAP (TUBITAK, Turkey) [09H4240003, TBAG-107T324]This research was financially support by Ankara University-BAP 09H4240003 and TBAG-107T324 (TUBITAK, Turkey)

On feasibility of near-infrared spectroscopy for noninvasive blood glucose measurements

Non-invasive blood glucose measurement has long been desired since the invasive methods are not suitable to perform continuous monitoring. Near Infrared Spectroscopy is one of the most popular methods used in studies; however, despite more than 20 years of research, a practical and reliable noninvasive NIR glucose sensor is yet to be developed. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of NIRS towards the detection of glucose concentration. Although we can obtain adequate sensitivity, our measurements suffer from poor selectivity due to the fact that we can only detect the impurity level of water by NIRS due to strong water absorbance

Allozyme Variations in the Genus Meriones (Gerbilinae: Rodentia) from Turkey

WOS: 000325676600006Allozymic variability of 24 loci was compared in the genus Meriones representing 5 species in Turkey. The phylogenetic relationship of these Meriones species was established according to the variations of twelve polymorphic loci (Aid, Ldh, alpha-Gpdh, Ca-1, Ca-2, Gpi, Me, Mpi, G6pdh, Ldh-1, Sod, Ak). According to the patterns of allozyme variation, the percentage of polymorphic loci was found to be 12.5 in Meriones crassus, 16.7 in Meriones persicus, 12.5 in Meriones tristrami, 18.7 in Meriones vinogradovi and 8.3 in Meriones dahli. Interspecific genetic distances were found to be high, ranging from 0.032 to 0.332. Neighbor-joining and UPGMA dendrograms showed that M tristrami and M crassus have a high genetic similarity. The most diverged one was appeared to be M vinogradovi. It was also concluded that the genus Meriones is not monophyletic since M persicus, which belongs to a different subgenus, was placed between the clades of M tristrami, M crassus and M vinogradovi.Ankara University-BAP [09H4240003]; TUBITAK-TBAG, Turkey [107T324]This work was supported by the Ankara University-BAP (09H4240003) and TUBITAK-TBAG (107T324), Turkey

Growth and Yield Response of Rice (Oryza sativa) to Different Seed Coating Agents

WOS: 000309210600025The effect of some materials on the rice growth was examined using the film coating technique without changing the shape of the seed. The trial was conducted in Gonen during 2010 and 2011 and the experiment was set up as randomized complete block design with four replications. The variety "Osmancik-97" was the plant material of the study. Seed coating treatment was performed with the lab type film coating equipment. The treatments included were as seed coating with KNO3 (2000 & 4000 mg/L) and GA(3) (1000 mg/L) including control. According to the mean values of two years, the highest values for effective tillers (6.8 plant(-1)), number of fertile grains (630 plant(-1)) and grain yield (2010: 23.2 g plant(-1) & 2011: 19.3 g plant(-1)) were obtained from the treatment 1000 mg/L GA(3). Also, the highest germination rate (89.6%) was found in the treatment 1000 mg/L GA(3). In the year 2011, the difference between the treatments was statistically significant for the parameters root dry matter (1000 mg/L GA(3): 0.037 g), leaf dry matter (1000 mg/L GA(3): 0.073 g) and total biomass (1000 mg/L GA(3): 0.109 g) of three week old seedlings. According to these results, it is indicated that vigorous seeds, seedlings and high yields could be successfully obtained with the application of 1000 mg/L GA(3) using the film coating technique. (C) 2012 Friends Science Publisher

Diverticulitis of appendix vermiformis: a distinct case from acute appendicitis

[Cukurova Med J 2016; 41(4.000): 815-817