Investigation of The Genotoxicity of Ponceau 4R in Drosophila Melanogaster Using the Smart Test and Effects of Some Plants Extracts Against the DNA Damage

In this study, genotoxic effects of Ponceau 4R (E 124) was investigated in vivo using Drosophila melanogaster Meigen in the laboratory experiments. The food coloring in 25‰, 50‰ and 75‰ concentrations were added to food medium of Drosophila during the larval stage and the mutant wing spot numbers were evaluated using the wing spot test, namely SMART (somatic mutation and recombination test). The food colourings are the food additives which are used for increasing the appearance of food and beverages. In SMART, mwh (multiple wing hair), flr3 (flare) and BdS (beader serrate) marker genes on the third largest chromosome of Drosophila are used. Genotoxic effects of the Ponceau 4R in the imaginal disc cells that will develop into the wing spot cells during the embryonic development of Drosophila heterozygous larvae and the genotypic changes caused by mutation or recombination in somatic cells also play a role in the formation of mutant spots in the wings (GRAF et al., 1984). The food coloring which is daily used in our many types of food induced mutant wing spots depend on the concentration in trans-heterozygous flies (mwh/flr3) and in balancer-heterozygous flies (mwh/TM3) in the medium (Chi-Square test; df=3, P<0.001) and the spots were significantly higher than the flies were fed in the medium prepared with distilled water used as negative control showing that the Ponceau 4R has mutagenic effect. However, the mutant spots were less than the flies were fed in the medium prepared with 1 mM EMS (ethyl methane sulfonate) used as positive control showing that mutagenic effect of the colouring was not as much as the EMS. On the other hand, the concentrations of the colouring were used in the mediums together the different plant extracts to determinate whether they have antigenotoxic effects against the colouring. The following plant extracts were added to mediums in 10% concentration with the colouring were: Hypericum perforatum L., (St John’s wort), Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. (milk thistle), and Lavandula stoechas L. (topped lavender). The mutant wing spots were compared to control groups showed that the three plant extracts have no effect to reduce the mutant spots in trans-heterozygous flies (mwh/flr3) and in balancer-heterozygous flies and thus have no antigenotoxic effect against the food colouring used experimental treatments (Kruskal-Wallis test; df=2, P>0.05) Keywords: Challenge Genotoxicity, antigenotoxicity, Ponceau 4R, Hypericum perforatum L., Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn., Lavandula stoechas L., Drosophila melanogaster Meigen, SMART. DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/87-07 Publication date:March 31st 202

Investigation of the Genotoxicity of Tatrazine and Anti-Genotoxicity of Some Plants Extracts in Drosophila Melanogaster Using the Smart Test

Food colorings are the food additives, which are used for improving the appearance of food and beverages. In the present study, genotoxic effects of Tatrtazine (E 102), is an synthetic food coloring, was investigated in vivo using the wing spot test, SMART (somatic mutation and recombination test), in Drosophila melanogaster Meigen. The food coloring at 25‰, 50‰ and 75‰ concentrations were added to food mediums of Drosophila during the larval stage and the numbers of mutant wing spots were evaluated using the SMART. Negative control medium was prepared with distilled water, while positive control medium was prepared with 1 mM EMS (ethyl methane sulfonate). According to results obtained from SMART, Tartrazine demonstrated significant results in trans-heterozygous flies (mwh/flr3) for inducing the mutant wing spots compared to control groups at 25 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml, and 75 mg/ml exposure concentrations. On the other hand, Tartrazine yielded significant results for inducing the mutant wing spots in balancer-heterozygous flies (mwh/TM3) at 25 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml, and 75 mg/ml exposure concentrations.The numbers of mutant wing spots were increased by the food coloring depending on the concentration (Chi-Square test; df=3, P<0.001). It was also determined that the numbers of mutant wing spots were significantly higher than the flies in the negative control medium and it suggests that Tartrazine has genotoxic effect. However, these numbers were less than the flies in the positive control medium; the data indicate that genotoxic effect of the food coloring was not as much as the EMS.On the other hand, the concentrations of Tartrazine were used in the mediums together the different plant extracts to determine whether they have anti-genotoxic effects against the food coloring. The following plant extracts were added to mediums at 100 mg/ml concentration with the food coloring was: Hypericum perforatum L., (St John’s wort), Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. (milk thistle), and Lavandula stoechas L. (topped lavender). When the mutant wing spots were compared to the control groups showed that the three plant extracts have no effect to reduce numbers of mutant wing spots in trans-heterozygous flies (mwh/flr3) and in balancer-heterozygous flies (mwh/TM3) and thus, have no anti-genotoxic effect against the food coloring used experimental treatments (Kruskal-Wallis test; df=2, P>0.05). Keywords:Genotoxicity, anti-genotoxicity, Tartrazine, Hypericum perforatum L., Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn., Lavandula stoechas L., Drosophila melanogaster Meigen, SMART. DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/89-04 Publication date:May 31st 202

Evaluation of COVID-19 Antibody Positivity of Health Professionals

Amaç: Koronavirüs hastalığı 2019 (COVID-19) kısa bir sürede pandemi haline gelmiş enfeksiyöz bir hastalıktır. COVID-19 hastalarında 7-11 gün sonra antikor cevabı gelişmektedir. Salgın süresince sağlık çalışanlarının durumunu kontrol etme açısından serolojik testlerin faydalı olduğu düşünülmektedir. Bu çalışmada salgının başlangıcında hastanemiz sağlık personelinin antikor pozitifliğinin değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Nisan 2020-Mayıs 2020 tarihleri arasında hastanemizde yapılan COVID-19 antikor taramasına katılan 150 adet sağlık personeline ait sonuçlar retrospektif olarak değerlendirildi. Kan örneklerinden elde edilen serumlara kolloidal altın bazlı immunokromatografik test yöntemi uygulandı. Demografik özellikler, lökosit sayısı, lenfosit sayısı, C-reaktif protein değerleri ve akciğer Bilgisayarlı Tomografi (BT) bulguları çalışmaya dahil edildi. Bulgular: Çalışmaya yaş ortalaması 39,5 ± 9,3 yıl olan toplam 150 kişi (95 kadın) dahil edildi. Yedi kişide (%4,6) antikor pozitifliği saptandı. İki pozitif kişinin akciğer BT’sinde viral pnömoni ile uyumlu buzlu cam infiltrasyonlarının varlığı gözlendi. Sonuç: Salgının ilk döneminde hastanemiz sağlık çalışanlarında yaklaşık %5 oranında antikor pozitifliği saptanması COVID-19 açısından riskli grupta olan sağlık personelinin devamlı izlenmesi ve tedbirlerin alınması gerekliliklerini ortaya koymaktadır.Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease which has become a pandemic in a short time-period. Antibody response develops after 7 11 days in COVID-19 patients. Serologic tests are thought to be beneficial for checking status of the health professionals during the pandemic. In the present study, it was aimed to evaluate the antibody levels of the health professionals who work in our hospital at the beginning of the pandemic. Material and Method: The results of 150 health professionals who participated in the COVID-19 antibody screening which was performed in our hospital between April 2020 and May 2020 were evaluated retrospectively. Colloidal gold-based immunochromatographic test was performed on the serums which was obtained from the blood samples. Demographic characteristics, leukocyte counts, lymphocyte counts, C-reactive protein values, and lung Computed Tomography (CT) findings were included in the study. Results: A total of 150 subjects (95 females) with a mean age of 39.5 ± 9.3 years were included in the study. Antibody positivity was detected in seven (4.6%) subjects. Ground-glass infiltrates consistent with viral pneumonia were observed in the lung CT of two positive subjects Conclusion: Detecting approximately 5% antibody positivity in the health professionals who work in our hospital at the beginning of the pandemic, indicates the necessities of pursuing the health professionals who are in the risky group for COVID-19 and taking precautions

Population genomics of Bombus terrestris reveals high but unstructured genetic diversity in a potential glacial refugium

Ongoing climate change is expected to cause an increase in temperature and a reduction of precipitation levels in the Mediterranean region, which might cause changes in many species distributions. These effects negatively influence species gene pools, decreasing genetic variability and adaptive potential. Here, we use mitochondrial DNA and RADseq to analyse population genetic structure and genetic diversity of the bumblebee species Bombus terrestris (subspecies Bombus terrestris lusitanicus), in the Iberian Peninsula. Although this subspecies shows a panmictic pattern of population structure across Iberia and beyond, we found differentiation between subspecies B. t. lusitanicus and B. t. africanus, probably caused by the existence of barriers to gene flow between Iberia and North Africa. Furthermore, the results revealed that the Iberian Peninsula harbours a large fraction of B. terrestris intraspecific genetic variation, with the highest number of mitochondrial haplotypes found when compared with any other region in Europe studied so far, suggesting a potential role for the Iberian Peninsula as a glacial refugium. Our findings strengthen the idea that Iberia is a very important source of diversity for the global genetic pool of this species, because rare alleles might play a role in population resilience against human- or climate-mediated changes.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effects of the food colouring agent Brilliant Blue (E133) on mitotic cell division of onion (Allium cepa) Root tips

Mavi gıda boyası, “Brilliant Blue (E133)” dondurma, soğuk içecekler, bardak çorba, süt ürünleri, pastalar ve şekerleme gibi birçok üründe renklendirici gıda boyası olarak kullanılmaktadır. Ayrıca, sabun, şampuan, ağız içi durulama suyu gibi bazı farmakolojik ürünlerde de kullanılmaktadır. Bu çalışmada Mavi gıda boyasının toksik etkileri, mutfak soğanı (Allium cepa) meristematik kök hücrelerinde in vivo olarak araştırılmıştır. Soğan replikatları laboratuvar ortamında boyanın 200ppm, 800ppm ve 1600ppm’lik sıvı çözeltilerini içeren düzeneklerde üç gün gelişmeye bırakılmıştır. Her replikat için toplam 500 hücre incelenmiştir. Negatif kontrol grubu olarak doğal kaynak suyu kullanılmıştır. Sonuç olarak, her üç konsantrasyondaki çözeltilerde gelişen soğan ortalama kök uzunlukları kontrol grubuna göre istatistiki olarak anlamlı olarak (P<0,001) kontrol grubundan daha kısa kalmıştır. Tüm gruplara ait ortalama kök sayıları karşılaştırıldığında ise (P>0,05), bu gruplar arasında istatistiki olarak anlamlı bir fark bulunamamıştır. Mitoz bölünme toplam sayıları 200ppm grubunda diğer gruplardan en yüksek çıkmıştır, ikinci yüksek değer mitoz sayılarını alan kontrol grubu olmuştur, diğer iki gruptaki ortalama mitoz bölünme sayıları konsantrasyona bağlı olarak azalmıştır (P<0,001). Mitotik indeks (MI) ortalama değerleri de Mitoz bölünme sayılarındaki gibi aynı şekilde sıralama göstermiştir. Mavi gıda boyasının soğan meristematik kök hücrelerinde meydana getirdiği Kromozom aberasyonlarının (CA) ortalama sayıları ve CA yüzdeleri de kontrol grubu ve diğer üç konsantrasyondaki çözeltiler arasında istatistiki anlamlı bir farklar göstermiştir. CA ortalama sayıları ve CA yüzdeleri, en yüksek çıkan 1800ppm den kontrol grubuna doğru azalma eğilimi göstermiştir. Bu çalışma sonuçlarına göre Mavi gıda boyasının özellikle 200ppm’den daha yüksek konsantrasyonlarda A. cepa meristematik kök hücrelerinin belirgin olarak sitotoksik ve genotoksik etkiye maruz kaldığı söylenebilmektedir.Food additive “Brilliant Blue (E133)” is used for colouring a variety of foods such as; ice cream, cold drinks, instant soup, dairy products, pies, candies and a wide variety of other foods. Moreover, it is also used in cosmetics, it is added to soap, shampoo, deodorants and mouthwash liquids. In this study, toxic effects of the food colouring agent “Brilliant Blue (E133) were investigated in vivo by using the root meristematic cells of the onion, Allium cepa L.). The onion specimens were left three days for root growth in beakers involving 200ppm, 800ppm and 1600ppm solutions of brilliant blue. A total of 500 cells were examined in the replicates of each treatment. Spring water was used for negative control group. As a result, the mean length of the onion roots they obtained from the experimental treatments involving the three different concentrations of the blue dye were shorter than the control group roots (P < 0,001). However, the mean root numbers of the onions in all four grups shown no sign of statistical differences (P>0,05). Total number of the mitosis in the cells examined was the highest in 200ppm group followed by control group. The mitosis numbers in the remaining two groups were lower than the previous groups showing association with the concentration level (P<0,001). Mean chromosomal aberrations (CA) and CA percentages occurred in the meristematic root cells due to the blue dye showed statistically significant differences among the four groups of experimental treatments. Mean CA numbers and CA percentages was highest in the 1600 ppm group and decreased gradually from 1600ppm group to the control group. According to these findings the “Brilliant Blue E133” over 200ppm concentrations have significant cytotoxic and genotoxic consequences on A. cepa meristematic root cells

KURUMSAL İTİBARIN ÖLÇÜLMESİ: KARABÜK ÜNİVERSİTESİ’NİN KURUMSAL İTİBARININ ÖĞRENCİLER TARAFINDAN DEĞERLENDİRİLMESİNE YÖNELİK BİR UYGULAMA

Son yıllarda d&uuml;nyada ve T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;de eğitim hizmetlerinde s&uuml;rekli bir değişimin yaşandığı bilinmektedir. Bu anlamda &uuml;niversitelerin &ouml;ğrenci (m&uuml;şteri) odaklı hizmet anlayışını benimseyerek; doğru, hızlı, g&uuml;venilir, konforlu bir hizmet sunma &ccedil;abası i&ccedil;ine girdikleri g&ouml;r&uuml;lmektedir. Bu araştırma, Karab&uuml;k &Uuml;niversitesi&rsquo;nin i&ccedil; paydaşı konumunda olan &ouml;ğrencilerin &uuml;niversitenin kurumsal itibarını tespit etmeye ve bu değerlendirmeler arasında oluşan farkı belirlemeye y&ouml;nelik betimsel bir &ccedil;alışmadır. Eğitim &ouml;rg&uuml;tlerindeki i&ccedil; paydaşların kurumsal itibara ilişkin değerlendirmenin tespit edilmesi ve kurumsal itibarla ilgili bir fark olup olmadığının belirlenmesi amacıyla literat&uuml;r taraması yapılmış ve kurumsal itibarın &ouml;l&ccedil;&uuml;m&uuml; i&ccedil;in geliştirilen kurumsal itibar &Ouml;l&ccedil;eği araştırmada kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın ana k&uuml;tlesini, Karab&uuml;k &Uuml;niversitesi&rsquo;nde eğitim g&ouml;ren &ouml;ğrencilerin tamamıdır. Bu ana k&uuml;tleden &ouml;rnekleme se&ccedil;ilirken ihtimalli &ouml;rnekleme y&ouml;ntemlerinden biri olan &ldquo;Katmanlı &Ouml;rnekleme&rdquo; y&ouml;ntemi kullanılmıştır. Se&ccedil;ilen &ouml;rneklem grubuna daha &ouml;nce yapılan &ccedil;alışmalardan yararlanarak oluşturulan anket formu uygulanmaktadır. Verilerin &ccedil;&ouml;z&uuml;mlenmesinde SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) paket programının 18.0 s&uuml;r&uuml;m&uuml;nden yararlanılmıştır. Anket yoluyla elde edilen verilere Tek Fakt&ouml;rl&uuml; &Ccedil;oklu Varyans Analizi (MANOVA) uygulanmaktadır. MANOVA analiziyle &ouml;ğrencilerin demografik ve okul bilgileri dikkate alınarak Karab&uuml;k &Uuml;niversitesi&rsquo;nin kurumsal itibarını karşılaştırılarak aralarında fark olup olmadığı &ouml;l&ccedil;&uuml;lmeye &ccedil;alışılmaktadı

Non-Aneurysmal Perimesencephalic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: 6 Cases

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in middle-age and elderly people. Although aneurysm ruptures are the most frequent causes of SAH, it cannot be identified in approximately 15% of the cases. However, the onset symptoms are similar, perimesencephalic non-aneurysmal SAH can be differentiated by benign prognosis from other forms. Its early diagnosis may prevent unnecessary neuroradiological and surgical procedures. In this study, 6 patients who admitted to Neurology Department with severe headache and detected hemorrhagic appearance around the mesencephalon (pretruncal) on computerized tomography were presented

In-vitro evaluation of different antimicrobial combinations with and without colistin against carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates

Abstract Background Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) infections are one of the most common causes of nosocomial infections and have high mortality rates due to difficulties in treatment. In this study, the in vitro synergistic interactions of the colistin (CT)–meropenem (MEM) combination and patient clinical outcomes were compared in CRAB-infected patients that receive CT–MEM antimicrobial combination therapy. In addition, in vitro synergistic interactions of MEM–ertapenem (ETP), MEM–fosfomycin (FF) and CT–FF antimicrobial combinations were investigated. Finally, the epsilometer (E) test and checkerboard test results were compared and the compatibility of these two tests was evaluated. Methods Twenty-one patients were included in the study. Bacterial identification was performed with MALDI–TOF, and antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed with an automated system. Synergy studies were performed using the E test and checkerboard method. Results For the checkerboard method, the synergy rates for CT–MEM, MEM–FF, MEM–ETP and CT–FF were 100%, 52.3%, 23.8% and 28.5%, respectively. In the E test synergy tests, synergistic effects were detected for two isolates each in the CT–MEM and CT–FF combinations. Microbial eradication was achieved in nine (52.9%) of the 17 patients that received CT–MEM combination therapy. The agreement between the E test and the checkerboard test was 6.5%. Conclusions A synergistic effect was found with the checkerboard method for the CT–MEM combination in all isolates in our study, and approximately 70% of the patients benefited from treatment with this combination. In addition, more than half of the isolates showed a synergistic effect for the MEM–FF combination. Combinations of CT–MEM and MEM–FF may be options for the treatment of CRAB infections. However, a comprehensive understanding of the potential of the microorganism to develop resistant mutants under applied exposures, as well as factors that directly affect antimicrobial activity, such as pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, is essential for providing treatment advice. We found a low rate of agreement between the E test method and the checkerboard test method in our study, in contrast to the literature. Comprehensive studies that compare clinical results with methods are needed to determine the ideal synergy test and interpretation method

Investigation of Various Virulence Factors and SCCmec Types in the Healthcare-associated and Community-associated Methicillin Resistance Staphylococcus aureus Strains

Objective: the objective of this study was to investigate some virulence genes and SCCmec types of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates and to determine their relationship with virulence factors. Methods: A total of 100 MRSA strains, 64 from healthcare-associated and 36 from community-associated infections, were included in the study. the presence of mecA gene was investigated by PCR. SCCmec types and efb, clfB, agrA gene were detected by multiplex PCR and their relationship with virulence factors has been analyzed. Results: All of the isolates contain the mecA gene. At the same time, in 66 strains (66%) agrA gene, in 58 strains (58%) clfB gene, and in 47 strains (47%) efb gene were positive. in terms of SCCmec types, the distribution of these types among the 64 HA-SA strains was 53% similar-to-type-III, 16% type IV, 2% type I and 30% unclassified. the distribution of the types among the 36 CA-SA strains was 19% similar-to-type-III, 25% type IV, 8% type I and 47% unclassified, respectively. When SCCmec types were evaluated according to clinical sample type, similar-to-type-III isolates were found to be dominant in wound samples. Efb (78%), clfB (85%), agrA (88%) were the dominant genes in similar-to-type-III strains, whereas clfB (74%), agrA (100%) were the main genes detected in the type IV strains. Conclusions: It is of clinical and epidemiological importance to know the origin of MRSA strains because this affects the empirical treatment choice