Supramolecular cobalt(II)-pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylate complexes with isonicotinamide, 2-amino-3-methylpyridine and 2-amino-6-methylpyridine: Syntheses, crystal structures, spectroscopic, thermal and antimicrobial activity studies

The mer-[Co(pydca)(H₂O)₃(ina)]·H₂O (1), (2a3mpyH)₂[Co(pydca)₂(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O (2) and (2a6mpyH)₂[Co(pydca)₂(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O (3) complexes (H₂pydca: pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid, ina: isonicotinamide, 2a3mpy = 2-amino-3-methylpyridine and 2a6mpy = 2-amino-6-methylpyridine) were synthesised and characterised by elemental analysis, magnetic and spectroscopic measurements (UV-Vis and IR spectra) and single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. The thermal behaviour of the complexes was also studied by simultaneous thermal analysis techniques (TG, DTG and DTA). In complex 1, Co(II) ion was coordinated by one bidentate pydca, one isonicotinamide and three aqua ligands to generate a CoN₂O₄ distorted octahedral geometry. Complexes 2 and 3 crystallise in the triclinic system and space group and the structures consist of one complex anion [Co(pydca)₂(H₂O)₂]²⁻, two protonated aminomethylpyridinium cations, ampyH⁺ and two crystal water molecules. In the anions, the Co(II) ions have a distorted octahedral configuration and are coordinated by two bidentate pydca and two trans-aqua ligands. The pydca ligand is coordinated to the Co(II) by both the heterocyclic N atom and the adjacent carboxylate group O atom, creating a chelate ring, while protonated ampy ions behave as counter ion.     

Catch composition and some other aspects of bottom trawl fishery in Sığacık Bay,central Aegean Sea,eastern Mediterranean

The objective of the study was to determine the features of the bottom trawl fishery such as catch composition, catch per unit effort (CPUE) and the discard ratios in the S??ac?k Bay fishery, central Aegean Sea. A commercial trawler conducted trawl operations from October 2008 to April 2009, with a total of 18 trawls in autumn, winter and spring (six hauls per season). In total, 84 species were identified, 47 of which belonged to the bony fishes, while other groups contributed nine (cartilaginous fish), 10 (cephalopods), 13 (crustaceans), four (echinoderms) and one (porifera) species. Some 49 species were discarded regardless of length. Total catch was 3693.2 kg of which 66.8% was marketed. Among the commercial species, rose shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris) dominated the catch composition with 998 kg. However, discards accounted for 33.2% of the total catch biomass, with the majority represented by Lampanyctus crocodilus with 97 kg total weight. The study area is considered one of the most efficient trawling zones in the Aegean Sea and thus requires long‐term monitoring in terms of fish stocks and trawl discards for the preparation of well‐informed decisions for a sustainable fishery.     

Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPBs) and copper (II) oxide (CuO) nanoparticle ameliorates DNA damage and DNA Methylation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) exposed to NaCl stress

Journal of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Wheat is the second important cereal crop worldwide due to nutritional composition and role in meeting daily energy needs. Salinity is an abiotic...     

The diagnostic value of on-site cytopathological evaluation and cell block preparation in fine-needle aspiration cytology of liver masses

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to evaluate the typing accuracy of conventional smear (CS), cell block (CB) preparations and combined use of both procedures (CS + CB) for the diagnosis of hepatic malignancies and to determine whether immediate on-site cytopathological evaluation improves the diagnostic yield of liver fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). METHODS: Ultrasound-guided FNABs were performed on 323 consecutive cases with liver masses between December 2002 and December 2004. Histologically and/or clinically correlated 167 cases were included in the study. Preliminary FNAB results, results of CS, CB, and combined use of CS and CB were compared regarding diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the diagnosis of malignancy. Subtyping accuracies of different methods were also compared. RESULTS: The sensitivity of on-site cytopathological examination and CS were both 92.8%. The sensitivity of CS + CB was slightly better than that of CB (93.5% versus 84.8%). Specificity of all procedures was achieved 100%. Diagnostic accuracy of on-site cytopathological evaluation, CS, CB, and CS + CB were 93.9%, 93.9%, 87.2%, and 94.5%, respectively. A specific subtype diagnosis of malignant tumours could be rendered accurately on the basis of preliminary diagnosis in 71%, CS in 75.4%, CB in 78.3% and combined approach in 92% of cases. In terms of typing accuracy, 87.5% of HCCs, 93.2% of adenocarcinomas, 92.3% of neuroendocrine carcinomas, 100% of lymphomas and 100% of other malignant tumours were correctly subclassified in the final cytopathological diagnosis. The agreement between preliminary diagnosis and final cytopathological diagnosis was 77.2%. CONCLUSION: With use of on-site cytopathological evaluation and combined use of CS and CB, the diagnostic accuracy of liver tumours approaches 100% and also significantly improve diagnostic and subtyping accuracy of liver malignancies.     

Glucocorticoids Stimulate Inflammatory 5-Lipoxygenase Gene Expression and Protein Translocation in the Brain

In the brain, the expression of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of inflammatory leukotrienes, increases during aging. Antiinflammatory drugs are currently being evaluated for the treatment of aging-associated neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Although generally considered antiinflammatory, glucocorticoids, whose production also increases during aging, are not particularly effective in this disease. In human monocytes, 5-LO mRNA content increases on exposure to the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone, which prompted us to hypothesize that glucocorticoids might increase 5-LO expression in the brain as well. We treated rats for 10 days either with corticosterone (implanted subcutaneously) or with dexamethasone (injected daily); they were killed on day 10 after pellet implantation or 24 h after the 10th dexamethasone injection. We found increased levels of 5-LO mRNA and protein in hippocampus and cerebellum of glucocorticoid-treated rats; 5-LO-activating protein (FLAP) mRNA content was not affected. Using western immunobloting, we also observed the concurrent translocation of 5-LO protein from cytosol to membrane, an indication of its activation. Thus, glucocorticoid-mediated up-regulation of the neuronal 5-LO pathway may contribute to rendering an aging brain vulnerable to degeneration.     

Genetic diversity of Vicia faba L. and Pisum sativum L. nodulating rhizobia in the central Black Sea region of Turkey

In this study, we obtained a total of 60 rhizobial isolates from root nodules of Vicia faba L. (n = 30) and Pisum sativum L. (n = 30) grown in the Central Black Sea region of Turkey. The 16S rDNA PCR-RFLP analysis with enzymes CfoI, HinfI, NdeII and MspI revealed a single pattern. Moreover, nucleotide sequence phylogenies based on both the 16S rDNA and recA suggested that these isolates belonged to Rhizobium leguminosarum. Phylogenetic analysis showed that some of our V. faba L.-originated isolates were closely related, indicating molecular evidence for the selection of some special R. leguminosarum bv. viciae isolates by V. faba L., as suggested in previous studies. Network analysis based on recA sequences revealed a common evolutionary history for Turkish, European, North and South American, and Jordanian R. leguminosarum bv. viciae isolates. We isolated four haplotypes using nodA and nifH nucleotide sequence data, i.e. four types of sym plasmids. Two of these types were common to rhizobial isolates from both V. faba L. and P. sativum L., indicating that nodulation factors may not be the mechanism for selection of the special R. leguminosarum bv. viciae populations by V. faba L.     

Taxonomic differentiation of Cupressus sempervirens and C. atlantica based on morphometric evidence

We investigated the interspecific morphological relationships of two related Mediterranean Cupressus taxa and the possible geographic differentiation of Eastern Mediterranean C. sempervirens using morphometric analysis. A total of 446 individuals, representing eight C. atlantica (Morocco) and 10 C. sempervirens (Greece, Turkey and Lebanon) populations were examined. The 17 morphological characters of cone, seed and shoot with leaves were measured and analysed statistically. Significant morphological differences between C. atlantica and C. sempervirens were detected for the majority of analysed characters. For C. sempervirens, significant differences were also detected and these were related to its three regions of origin, the Greek Islands, Taurus Mts and Lebanon Mts. Multivariate analyses did not indicate a clear geographic pattern of differentiation in C. sempervirens populations. A relatively low level of phenotypic differentiation was detected between populations originating from the Greek Islands and Taurus Mts. We also observed a moderate multivariate differentiation between the Lebanese and remaining C. sempervirens populations. Phenotypic differentiation detected in the Asian part of the C. sempervirens range reflects patterns of differentiation similar to those described for other taxa occurring in the Taurus and Lebanon Mts.