Ecotoxicological assessment of water pollution in Sariyar Dam Lake, Turkey

Given the effects of environmental pollution and different biotic factors on some important biochemical markers, as enzymes, two fish species inhabiting the Sariyar Dam Lake, Turkey have been investigated. Ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase, glutathion S-transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, and alanine and aspartate amino transferase activities have been measured in liver samples of Cyprinus carpio and Capoeta tinca. Also, brain acetylcholinesterase and carboxylesterase activities have been measured for the same samples. Selected enzymes confirmed that Sariyar basin is polluted by urban wastes and agricultural and industrial activities for many years. Organochlorine (OC) pesticide residues, caused by intensive agricultural activities, have also been observed in water, sediment samples, and adipose tissues of carp. Monitored results showed that SDL was polluted by different kinds of OC compounds such as DDT and its derivatives which are accumulated in adipose tissues of carp. Highest accumulation was found for beta-BHC in carp. The changes of enzyme activities in this study may be related to environmental pollution, while enzyme activity variations could be attributed to variable pollutants and variable concentrations of these pollutants. The results highlighted the potential convenience of these biomarkers to be used as components of environmental monitoring program in risk assessment studies in SDL. Since a seasonal variation in selected enzyme activities was found, the possible implications of such variability in the use of these enzymes as environmental biomarkers are also discussed. Hepatic cytosolic EROD did not show any significance according to the pollution factors in the lake which may be attributed to relatively less contamination by organic compounds such as PAH products.     

Synthesis and in vitro anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of N-[5-(5-nitro-2-heteroaryl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl]thiomorpholines and related compounds

Synthesis and in vitro anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of N-[5-(5-nitro-2-heteroaryl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl]thiomorpholines 5-7(a-c) and some related compounds 8a-c and 9a-c were described. The anti-H. pylori activity of target compounds along with commercially available antibiotics such as metronidazole and amoxicillin was evaluated by comparing the inhibition zone diameters determined by the paper disc diffusion bioassay. From our bioassay results against 20 clinical isolates, it is evident that most compounds still had strong activity at 4 and 2mug/disc (average of inhibition zone >20mm) while metronidazole had little activity at these doses. Nitrofuran analog 7b containing thiomorpholine S,S-dioxide moiety was the most potent compound tested.     

Celiac disease in Middle Eastern and North African countries: A new burden?

Celiac disease(CD) is now recognized as a common disorder among Middle Eastern(ME) and North African(NA) populations.The aim of this review is to assess the available data regarding CD in the ME and NA and to compare this information with that of Western countries.A literature review was performed using the electronic databases PubMed and Medline(1950-2008) as search engines,and “celiac disease“ was used as a Mesh term.The search was limited to ME and NA countries.The prevalence of CD in ME and NA countries...     

Association of IL-17A and IL-17?F gene polymorphisms with recurrent pregnancy loss in Iranian women

PurposeRecurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is defined as the occurrence of two or more miscarriages before the 20th week of pregnancy. T helper17 cells are a novel subset of T cells, which secrete IL (Interleukin)-17 and are known to be involved in inflammation, autoimmunity and rejection of non-self tissues. Herein, we studied the association between IL-17A rs2275913 and IL-17F rs763780 gene polymorphisms with RPL in Iranian women.MethodsA case-controlled study was performed on two groups consisting of 85 healthy women with at least one delivery and 85 women with the history of two or more RPLs. The frequency of IL-17A rs2275913 and IL-17 F rs763780 polymorphisms were determined by PCR-RFLP.ResultsIn the RPL group, the genotypes frequencies of rs2275913 polymorphism were GG (8.2 %), AG (30.6 %), and AA (61.2 %) and in the control group, were GG (3.5 %), AG (42.4 %) and AA (54.1 %). Statistical analysis showed no significant difference between the genotypes of AA, AG and GG in the two groups (p = 0.1). The genotypes frequencies of rs763780 polymorphism were TT (43.5 %), TC (49.4 %) and CC (7.1 %) in the RPL group; whereas the frequencies were TT (25.9 %), TC (70.6 %) and CC (3.5 %) in the control group. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in the TT, TC, and CC genotypes frequencies between the case and the control groups (p = 0.01).ConclusionsOur findings indicate that IL-17F polymorphism, rs763780, might be associated with a high risk of RPL in Iranian women.     

Secondary chromosomal abnormalities of de novo acute myeloid leukemia--a first report from the Middle East

Secondary chromosome aberrations in de novo acute myeloid leukemia ( AML) are less specific and occur in addition to the primary chromosome abnormalities. Secondary chromosome aberration in acute nonlymphocytic leukemia has been recognized for many years as the most serious long-term complication of malignant disease. Our aim in this study was to focus on patients with AML associated with secondary chromosomal abnormalities in 127 consecutive Iranian leukemia patients. Methotrexate (MTX) cell synchronization and 24h non-stimulated cultures of bone marrow cells were applied to determine the incidence of chromosomal aberrations and association of specific primary and secondary chromosome anomalies according to French American British (FAB) morphological subtypes. The distribution of the secondary changes was clearly non-random. The most frequent numerical changes were -X, - Y, -7, + 8, -10 and + 22 and the most common structural aberrations were i(17q), 9q-, dicentric and marker chromosome. We believe this report is the first for de novo AML patients showing secondary chromosomal abnormalities which are quite non-random. The findings could contribute to widening knowledge of related chromosomal abnormalities.     

Therapeutic effects of calcium & vitamin D supplementation in women with PCOS

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of calcium &; vitamin D supplementation in infertile women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and to assess levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D in these patients.MethodsIn a case control study, 100 infertile PCOS women based on a randomly divided into two groups. Group I (n = 50) were treated with metformin 1500 mg/day, and group II (n = 50) treated with metformin 1500 mg/day plus Calcium 1000 mg/day and Vitamin D 100000 IU/month for 6 months. Patients were followed by transvaginal sonography at first, 3 and 6 months later for evaluating dominant follicle.BMI, menstrual regularity, follicle diameter, pregnancy, serum 25-OH-vitamin D level were matured and compared in two groups.ResultsBMI decreased almost significantly (25.49 ± 1.88 vs 26.28 ± 2.15, p: 0.054) in group II. A better improvement was gained in regulating menstrual abnormalities (70% vs 58%, p: 0.211), follicle maturation (28% vs 22%, p: 0.698), and infertility (18% vs 12%, p: 0.401) in group II compared with group I, but these results were not statistically significant. Eighty three percent of all the PCOS patients showed vitamin D deficiency while 35% were severely deficient. The serum 25-OH-vitamin D mean levels were 13.38 ± 6.48 ng/ml. Vitamin D deficiency was recompensed in 74% of the PCOS patients who had taken calcium &; vitamin D supplementation. There was no correlation between BMI and 25-OH-VD before and after the treatment (p ≥ 0.01).ConclusionThis study showed the positive effects of calcium &; vitamin D supplementation on weight loss, follicle maturation, menstrual regularity, and improvement of hyperandrogenism, in infertile women with PCOS.     

Association of <Emphasis Type="Italic">IL-10</Emphasis> Gene Polymorphism (−819C &gt; T, −592C &gt; A and −1082G &gt; A) with Preterm Birth

Objective

To analyze the association of IL-10 gene and its polymorphisms with preterm birth (PTB).

Methods

Five hundred and fifty nine women with term birth and 559 with preterm birth were recruited from Lucknow, India. Genetic association analysis was conducted between cases and controls. Subjects recruited as cases were women (aged between 18–40 y) with singleton delivery before 37 wk of gestation and controls were with delivery after or on 37 wk. The genotyping was performed for rs1800871, rs1800872 and rs1800896 for assessing the allelic distribution, haplotypic association and linkage disequilibrium analysis. IL-10mRNA levels were evaluated by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.

Results

The risk of PTB was found significant in women carrying IL-10 (?1082) GA genotype [OR=1.72(1.7–2.5), p=0.006]. The haplotypic analysis of studied polymorphisms for rs1800871, rs1800872 and rs1800896 depicted the association of ATA (p=0.02) and ATC (p=0.01) haplotypes with PTB. The IL-10 mRNA levels were significantly lower in cases (p=0.05).

Conclusions

IL-10 marks a protective impact in the inflammatory pathway of PTB.