The protective effect of arbutin against potassium bromate-induced oxidative damage in the rat brain

This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of arbutin (ARB) against brain injury induced in rats with potassium bromate (KBrO₃). The rats were divided into four groups as Group 1: Control (0.9% NaCl ml/kg/day p.), Group 2: KBrO₃ (100 mg/kg (gavage), Group 3: ARB (50 mg/kg/day p.), and Group 4: KBrO₃ + ARB (100 mg/kg (gavage) + 50 mg/kg/day p.). At the end of the fifth day of the study, the rats in all groups were killed, and their brain tissues were collected. In the collected brain tissues, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) levels were measured, and routine histopathological examinations were made. The MDA levels in the group that was exposed to KBrO₃ were significantly higher than those in the control group (p ˂ 0.001). In comparison to the KBrO₃ group, the MDA levels in the KBrO₃ + ARB group were significantly lower (p ˂ 0.001). It was observed that SOD and CAT enzyme activity levels were significantly lower in the KBrO₃ group compared to the control group (p ˂ 0.001), while these levels were significantly higher in the KBrO₃ + ARB group than in the KBrO₃ group (p ˂ 0.001). Additionally, the group that was subjected to KBrO₃ toxicity, as well as ARB administration, had much lower levels of histopathologic signs than the group that was subjected to KBrO₃ toxicity only. Consequently, it was found that KBrO₃ exposure led to injury in the brain tissues of the rats, and using ARB was effective in preventing this injury.     

The effects of desert dust storms,air pollution,and temperature on morbidity due to spontaneous abortions and toxemia of pregnancy: 5-year analysis

International Journal of Biometeorology - Epidemiological studies have suggested an association between particulate air pollution, increased temperatures, and morbidity related to pregnancy...     

Energy metabolism of bloodstream form Trypanosoma theileri

Bloodstream form Trypanosoma theileri degrades glucose to acetate (47%) and succinate (45%) and, therefore, does not solely rely on glycolysis for ATP production. This trypanosomatid does not use amino acids for energy metabolism. These results refute the prevailing hypothesis that substrate availability determines the type of energy metabolism of trypanosomatids.     

Fine mapping of the Schnyder’s crystalline corneal dystrophy locus

Schnyders crystalline corneal dystrophy (SCCD) is a rare autosomal dominant eye disease with a spectrum of clinical manifestations that may include bilateral corneal clouding, arcus lipoides, and anterior corneal crystalline cholesterol deposition. We have previously performed a genome-wide linkage analysis on two large Swede-Finn families and mapped the SCCD locus to a 16-cM interval between markers D1S2633 and D1S228 on chromosome 1p36. We have collected 11 additional families from Finland, Germany, Turkey, and USA to narrow the critical region for SCCD. Here, we have used haplotype analysis with densely spaced microsatellite markers in a total of 13 families to refine the candidate interval. A common disease haplotype was observed among the four Swede-Finn families indicating the presence of a founder effect. Recombination results from all 13 families refined the SCCD locus to 2.32 Mbp between markers D1S1160 and D1S1635. Within this interval, identity-by-state was present in all 13 families for two markers D1S244 and D1S3153, further refining the candidate region to 1.58 Mbp.     

Storage function of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein: the crystal structure of the coiled-coil domain in complex with vitamin D(3)

The five-stranded coiled-coil domain of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMPcc) forms a continuous axial pore with binding capacities for hydrophobic compounds, including prominent cell signalling molecules. Here, we report the X-ray structure of the COMPcc domain in complex with vitamin D(3) at 1.7 A resolution. The COMPcc pentamer harbours two molecules of the steroid hormone precursor in a planar s-trans conformation of the conjugated triene, with the aliphatic tails lying along the molecule axis. A hydrophilic ring of five Gln54 side chains divides the channel into two hydrophobic compartments in which the bound vitamin D(3) pair is fixed in a head-to-head orientation. Vitamin D(3) binding induces a volumetric increase of the cavities of approximately 30% while the main chain distances of the pentamer are retained. This adaptation to the bulky ring systems of the ligands is accomplished by a rotamer re-orientation of beta-branched side chains that form the knobs into holes of the coiled-coil structure. Compared with binding of vitamin D and retinoic acid by their classical receptors, COMP exerts a distinct mechanism of interaction mainly defined by the pattern of hydrophobic core residues.     

Preventive role of gallic acid on hepatic ischemia and reperfusion injury in rats

There is little information about the hepatoprotective effects of gallic acid against ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) damage. Animals were subjected to I/R. Gallic acid at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight (bw) were injected as a single dose prior to ischemia. Liver tissue homogenates were used for the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels. At the same time alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were assayed in serum samples and compared statistically. While the ALT, AST, LDH activities and MDA levels were significantly increased, CAT and GPx activities significantly decreased in only I/R-induced control rats compared to normal control rats (P < 0.05). Treatment with gallic acid at a dose of 100 mg/kg bw significantly decreased the ALT, AST, LDH activities and MDA levels, and markedly increased activities of CAT and GPx in tissue homogenates compared to I/R-induced rats with no treatment group (P < 0.05). In oxidative stress generated by hepatic ischemia–reperfusion, gallic acid contributes partially an alteration in the delicate balance between the scavenging capacity of antioxidant defense systems and free radicals in favour of the antioxidant defense systems in the body.     

Levels of some trace elements and rheumatoid factor in sheep with brucellosis

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that is encountered in sheep rather frequently. In this study, 100 sheep diagnosed with brucellosis that had aborts and 40 healthy sheep were used as materials. Analyses for Cu, Zn, Fe, Cr, Ca, Mg, and K were performed with the atomic absorption spectrophotometric method on blood collected from vena jugularis of all the sheep and rheumatoid factor levels were determined by the nephelometry method. Although it was found that Cu, Ca, and rheumatoid factor values in the sera of the sheep with brucellosis were high when compared to the control group (p<0.001, p<0.05, p<0.001, respectively), their serum Zn values were low (p<0.05). No significant changes in serum Cr, Fe, K, and Mg levels were found.     

Flavonoids as tyrosinase inhibitors in in silico and in vitro models: basic framework of SAR using a statistical modelling approach

Flavonoids are widely distributed in plants and constitute the most common polyphenolic phytoconstituents in the human diet. In this study, the in vitro inhibitory activity of 44 different flavonoids (1–44) against mushroom tyrosinase was studied, and an in silico study and type of inhibition for the most active compounds were evaluated too. Tyrosinase inhibitors block melanogenesis and take part in melanin production or distribution leading to pigmentation diseases. The in vitro study showed that quercetin was a competitive inhibitor (IC₅₀=44.38 ± 0.13 µM) and achieved higher antityrosinase activity than the control inhibitor kojic acid. The in silico results highlight the importance of the flavonoid core with a hydroxyl at C7 as a strong contributor of interference with tyrosinase activity. According to the developed statistical model, the activity of molecules depends on hydroxylation at C3 and methylation at C8, C7, and C3 in the benzo-γ-pyrane ring of the flavonoids.