Effects of morphogenetic and diurnal variability on the hypericin content in St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum L.)

This research was conducted to investigate effects of morphogenetic and diurnal variability on the hypericin content of St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) populations originating from Turkey formaximum utilization of the active substance in plants. During 2002 and 2003, field trials were conducted at Uludag University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field Crops, Bursa, Turkey. Samples of bud,flower and capsule of H. perforatum L. populations were collected in the second year of cultivation (2003). Factorial arrangements of three H. perforatum L. populations (Bursa, Edirne, Izmir), three part ofplant (bud, flower, capsule) and six collection h (8:00, 10:00 a.m; 12:00 (noon), 2:00, 4:00, 6:00 p.m) were evaluated in a completely randomized block design with three replications. Hypericin content (%) in parts of H. perforatum L. populations was determined according to DAC (1986). Consequently, the content of hypericin in the examined populations varied from 0.260% in Bursa to 0.283% in Izmir.Evaluating plant parts revealed that the hypericin content both in floral parts (0.309%) and buds (0.308%) were higher than capsule tissues (0.208%) for all populations. When collection hours wereexamined for the hypericin content of plants, the highest content was recorded at 10:00 a.m (0.279%) and the lowest value at 4:00 p.m (0.272%) and 6:00 p.m (0.272%). As a result, this study showed that the highest hypericin ratio was determined in flowers and buds generally collected between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m within a day for examined Hypericum populations

Relationship between microstructure and fracture types in a UNS S32205 duplex stainless steel

Duplex stainless steels are susceptible to the formation of sigma phase at high temperature which could potentially be responsible for catastrophic service failure of components. Thermal treatments were applied to duplex stainless steels in order to promote the precipitation of different fractions of sigma phase into a ferrite-austenite microstructure. Quantitative image analysis was employed to characterize the microstructure and Charpy impact tests were used in order to evaluate the mechanical degradation caused by sigma phase presence. The fracture morphology of the Charpy test specimens were thoroughly observed in SEM, looking for a correlation between the microstructure and the fracture types in UNS S32205 duplex stainless steel. The main conclusion is the strong embrittlement effect of sigma phase since it is possible to observe a transition from transgranular fracture to intergranular fracture as increases the percentage of sigma phase. Thus, the mixed modes of fracture are predominant in the present study with high dependence on sigma phase percentages obtained by different thermal treatments

The investigation of the possible relationship between Coxsackie viruses and pemphigus.

BACKGROUND: Pemphigus is a group of autoimmune bullous diseases on which the etiopathogenesis of several viruses has been blamed. Coxsackie viruses (CVs) are the causative agents of hand, foot, and mouth disease, and herpangina, which have been strongly associated with several autoimmune diseases. The onset of pemphigus after CV infection and cephalosporin use has been reported. OBJECTIVE: To detect the presence of CV in patients with pemphigus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis for CV RNA sequences and immunohistochemical staining for the CV and adenovirus receptor expression were performed on patient skin samples. CV-IgM and -IgG serum levels were analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients and 40 controls were investigated. Neither the CV and adenovirus receptor expression nor CV RNA sequences was established in the skin samples of patients. The ratio of CV-IgG positivity was higher in patients (12.5%) than in the controls (5%; P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our preliminary results indicate that the viral genome of CV does not become persistent in the skin. Further studies with a larger number of cases are needed to clarify the place of CVs in the etiopathogenesis of pemphigus

A scientometric analysis of dermoscopy literature over the past 25 years.

BACKGROUND: Dermoscopy is a useful method allowing the non-invasive visualization of dermal and epidermal structures. OBJECTIVE: To determine the scientific output in dermoscopy between 1985 and 2009 using ISI Web of Knowledge. METHODS: The ISI Web of Knowledge was searched for articles on dermoscopy published between 1985 and 2009 using appropriate terms. Articles were characterized each year by publication type and journal type. RESULTS: The search yielded 1490 dermoscopy publications, of which 1198 (80%) appeared in dermatology journals. A cubic increase in the number of publications over time was observed (R(2) = 95.3%, P < 0.0001). Most of these publications were published in high-impact dermatologic journals, including Archives of Dermatology (209, 14%), Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (161, 10.8%) and British Journal of Dermatology (113, 7.6%). Italy produced 29% of all articles followed by the United States with 22% and Austria with 15%. The number of dermoscopy publications associated with a given country correlated with melanoma incidence and Growth Domestic Product (GDP) per capita of that country (r = 0517 P = 0.02, and r = 0486 P = 0.03 respectively). CONCLUSION: The number of scientific publications in the field of dermoscopy has increased significantly over the past 25 years. Italy, the United States and Austria have dominated the field of dermoscopy

The comparison of Nail Psoriasis Severity Index with a less time-consuming qualitative system.

OBJECTIVE: Reliable assessment of severity in nail psoriasis is essential to document treatment responses in clinical trials and routine clinical usage. In this study the correlation between Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI) and Cannavo's scoring system was assessed, and inter-rater correlation of NAPSI scores were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five patients with nail psoriasis were included. Target nails were selected and graded by the first dermatologist with both scoring systems. The nails were reevaluated by the second dermatologist with NAPSI. RESULTS: The two systems were highly correlated (P < 0.001). For NAPSI inter-rater correlation was also significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our results showed that the qualitative and quantitative evaluations of the same rater were similar. Although the qualitative scoring system of Cannavo's is less time consuming than NAPSI, to suggest this system inter-rater correlations should be evaluated