Melatonin seems to be a mediator that transfers the environmental stimuli to oocytes for inheritance of adaptive changes through epigenetic inheritance system

Possibility of inheritance of epigenetic modifications have led us to consider that adaptive geographic variations in humans may result from interactions between environmental factors and epigenetic inheritance system. In this system melatonin seems to be a mediator that transfers the environmental stimuli to germ cells (oocytes). While environmental factors produce modifications in the body, they simultaneously induce epigenetic modifications in the oocytes with the help of melatonin, and these changes are inherited to offspring. In this way, adaptive changes could be passed on to the next generation. This kind of heritable long-term changes is generally labeled biological adaptation. But, how can melatonin cause epigenetic changes in oocytes? We suggest that melatonin induces epigenetic modifications by affecting the nuclear melatonin receptors that can in turn change the superstructure of DNA. It was previously suggested that biological adaptation is limited to neural crest derivatives such as, craniofacial tissues, melanocytes, and structures related to stature, hair form and body proportions. Thus, inheritance of adaptive changes is possible only where environmental factors affect the neural crest derivatives, including the cells that produce the next generation.     

Food-borne botulism cases in Van region in eastern Turkey: importance of electromyography in the diagnosis

OBJECTIVES: Food-borne botulism is an acute form of poisoning that results from ingestion of a toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum. Botulism toxin causes its major effect by blocking neuromuscular transmission in autonomic and motor nerve terminals. METHODS: In this study, we present the features of eleven cases of food-borne botulism admitted to our hospital in 2001. All of the cases were caused by home-prepared foods; green beans. In these cases, the main symptoms and signs were generalized muscular weakness, dry mouth, dysphagia, disponea and diplopia. Electrophysiological studies were performed on four patients. RESULTS: Motor conduction studies showed that compound muscle action potentials were decreased with normal latencies and conduction velocities. The needle electromyography showed signs of denervation potentials like fibrillation and positive waves in four patients. Repetitive nerve stimulation with high frequency (20 Hz) induced an increment close to 100% in the amplitudes in 2 of 4 patients. CONCLUSION: Although toxin could not be detected in the patients, the electromyographic findings supported our diagnosis. We concluded that electromyography has an important role in diagnosis of botulism, especially in the condition that serologic tests are negative or cannot be performed.     

Erdosteine prevents doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats.

The clinical use of doxorubicin (Dxr) is limited by its cardiotoxic effects which are mediated by oxygen radicals. The purpose of this study was to investigate in vivo protective effects of erdosteine, an antioxidant agent because of its secondary active metabolites in vivo, against the cardiotoxicity induced by Dxr in rats. Three groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats (60 days old) were used. Group 1 was untreated group used as control; the other groups were treated with Dxr (single i.p. dosage of 20 mg kg(-1) b.wt.) or Dxr plus erdosteine (10 mg kg(-1) day(-1), orally), respectively. Erdosteine or oral saline treatment was done starting 2 days before Dxr for 12 days. The analyses were done at the 10th day of Dxr treatment. The protein carbonyl content, the activities of myeloperoxidase, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine kinase (CK) as well as heart rate and blood pressures were significantly increased in Dxr group in comparison with the other groups. However, pulse pressure was decreased in Dxr group. The body and heart weights were decreased in both Dxr administered groups in comparison with control group. Disorganization of myocardial histology, picnotic nuclei, edema, and increase in collagen content around vessels were seen in the slides of Dxr group, whereas normal myocardial microscopy was preserved in Dxr plus erdosteine group. Collectively, these in vivo hemodynamic, enzymatic and morphologic studies provide an evidence for a possible prevention of cardiac toxicity in Dxr-treated patients.     

Detection of free radicals in gamma-irradiated seasnail hard tissues by electron paramagnetic resonance.

Gamma-irradiated seasnail (from family of Helix lukortium) hard tissues (CaCO3) were investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) at room temperature. The radicals produced by gamma-irradiation in seasnail were attributed to orthorhombic C*O2-, freely rotating C*O2-, orthorhombic C*O3-, axial C*O3-, and axial C*O3(3-) free radicals. Unirradiated seasnail hard tissues also feature Mn2+ ions in their EPR spectra. The hyperfine values were determined for the 13C nucleus in the orthorhombic C*O2- and axial C*O3(3-) free radicals and for the manganese impurity ions. The g values of all the free radicals have been measured. The results were compared with the literature data for similar defects.     

Popliteal artery pseudoaneurysm: a rare complication of brucellosis

Brucellosis is still a public health problem, particularly in developing countries. After the primary infection subsides, a chronic stage characterized by nonspecific manifestations can develop, during which it may not be possible to isolate Brucella organisms and agglutination test titers may or may not be high. We present the case of a 49-year-old man who had only nonspecific symptoms and a 2-month history of a pulsatile painful swelling in his right popliteal region. He had no history of trauma or surgery in that region, but he did ingest unpasteurized milk products. The patient's agglutination test titers were high, and Brucella melitensis was isolated from a bone marrow culture. Color Doppler sonography, T2-weighted MRI, and digital subtraction angiography were performed. Treatment with ultrasound-guided compression of the pseudoaneurysm failed because of high blood flow in its neck. Aneurysmectomy was undertaken, and the excised material was consistent with that from a mycotic pseudoaneurysm. Although both MRI and angiography provided useful information, the color Doppler sonography findings were characteristic of a pseudoaneurysm in the popliteal artery, and only that modality could detect the flow dynamics within the pseudoaneurysm.     

Use of the Brucella IgM and IgG flow assays in the serodiagnosis of human brucellosis in an area endemic for brucellosis

The clinical utility of two complementary tests for brucellosis, the Brucella IgM and IgG flow assays, was evaluated in a hospital in eastern Turkey. The results show that the flow assays are convenient diagnostic tests for use in endemic areas. A positive result in the flow assays was obtained in 91% and 97% of the admission sera from adult and pediatric patients with brucellosis, respectively, and the sensitivity at admission was 100% for culture-confirmed brucellosis. The assay system performed equally well in diagnosing patients at different stages of illness including patients with acute, subacute, or chronic disease and with relapse. The results of the flow assays correlated well with those of a serum agglutination test at a cut-off > or =1:160. The agreement was 92%. Application of the flow assays on serum samples collected during a village survey for brucellosis after an outbreak demonstrated their diagnostic potential as field tests.     

Importance of anatomical asymmetries of transverse sinuses: an MR venographic study

Time-of-flight (TOF) magnetic resonance venography (MRV) is often used to examine the intracranial dural sinuses, particularly in the evaluation of dural sinus thrombosis. The goal of the study was to evaluate the use of TOF MRV in assessing the normal anatomy of dural sinuses and their variations as sources of potential pitfalls in the diagnosis of venous sinus thrombosis. Cerebral TOF MRV obtained in 105 persons with normal MR studies were reviewed to determine the presence, aplasia and hypoplasia of the transverse sinuses. Twenty-one (20%) aplasias of the left sinus, 41 (39%) hypoplasia of the left sinus, 33 (31%) symmetric, 6 (6%) hypoplasia of the right sinus, and 4 (4%) aplasias of the right sinus cases were determined in the asymmetry in sizes of transverse sinuses. These results suggested that transverse sinus flow gaps or aplasias can be observed in approximately 24% of normal population on MR imaging. The rate of these gaps in normal subjects must be kept in mind because it can be a source of misdiagnosis in cases of suspected dural sinus thrombosis.