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In Alzheimer's disease (AD), neurofibrillary tangles are composed of hyperphosphorylated tau protein, and tau hyperphosphorylation reduces microtubule binding. Many protein kinases are thought to be involved in tau hyperphosphorylation. Based on the fact that tau hyperphosphorylation can be prevented by inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), which is one of the tau kinases, the effectiveness of potential GSK-3β inhibitors determined by virtual screening, molecular docking, and dynamics simulations studies on Alzheimer's pathology has been examined and its role in neurodegeneration has been investigated by studies. Neomangiferin was determined as the most effective molecule according to the results of studies with potential compounds determined by virtual screening and molecular docking to be GSK-3β inhibitors in the in vitro Alzheimer's model created by neuronal differentiation studies. Neomangiferin has been shown to have a protective role in induced neurodegeneration by the MTT method and Real Time Cell Analysis. It has been determined that Neomangiferin inhibits GSK-3β and reduces the level of phosphorylated tau. In summary, our findings suggested Neomangiferin can be a therapeutic candidate for AD treatment.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

1. The aim of this study was to utilise low-value spent hen meat and investigate the possibility of using chia (Salvia hispanica L.) as a mucilage-based edible film to prevent loss of quality in meat products. For this purpose, spent hen meat was reconstructed with the addition of transglutaminase (TGase) at different concentrations (0.5, 1 and 1.5%) and used to produce nuggets. These were covered with chia mucilage-based film and kept at 4°C for 7 d.2. The addition of transglutaminase and coating with film decreased meat pH (P < 0.01). Samples containing transglutaminase had higher thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value (P < 0.01), while the DPPH value of the samples was not affected by the transglutaminase and edible film (P > 0.05). Hence, mucilage-based edible film did not prevent or delay the oxidation of nuggets.3. Transglutaminase improved the texture characteristics of the nuggets and the edible film reduced fat retention in the samples. The combined use of transglutaminase and film decreased cooking loss and increased water holding capacity (P < 0.01). In the sensory analysis, nuggets with transglutaminase and film had more overall acceptability scores, although the results were not statistically significant.

The hybrid molecules bearing heterocyclic structures in the A or D rings of steroids have significant biological activity. 16 ( E )-Hetereoarylidene steroids were synthesized from the reaction of different heteroaromatic carbaldehydes and trans -Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in a basic medium. Then, synthesis of the N -formyl pyrazoline substituted new DHEA derivatives were carried out from the reaction of hydrazine hydrate and 16 ( E )-hetereoarylidene steroids. The structures of the synthesized compounds were elucidated by elemental analysis, FT-IR, 1 H NMR, and 13 C NMR spectroscopy. To investigate the activation pathway of synthesized N -formyl pyrazoline substituted steroid derivatives, a molecular docking study was performed on human cytochrome P450-(CYP17A1: PDB ID 5IRQ) with the help of the free AutoDock Vina. 100 ns molecular dynamic simulation process was performed to monitor the behavior of the complex structure formed by CYP17A1 and to calculate the stability over time of 2a and 2d (-9.8 kcal/mol), which gave the lowest value according to the results obtained in the molecular docking study with AutoDock Vina. Accordingly, RMSD, RMSF, Rg, and SASA analyzes of 2a and 2d were performed, and MMPBSA was calculated. Lastly, the ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) analyses of the novel steroid derivatives were investigated.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

1. This study aimed to determine the effects of marination liquids prepared with citric acid (CA-0.5%), lemon (LJ-100%) and grapefruit (GJ-100%) juices on the pH, colour ( L*, a*, b* , Chroma, hue angle, total colour differences), cooking loss (CL), water holding capacity (WHC) and marinade absorption (MA) of chicken breast meat. Textural, microstructure (scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM)) and sensory properties were investigated.2. As a result of marination, there was a significant (P < 0.01) decrease in the CL and pH values and an increase in WHC and MA values of marinated meat. The L*, b* and chroma values of chicken breast meats marinated with all marinades increased significantly (P < 0.01).3. While CLSM showed that LJ gave rise to a partial deterioration in muscle fibres, SEM indicated that LJ had irregular muscle fibres, some fibres were broken and separated from each other. The lowest hardness value was established in the LJ group from texture analysis. In the sensory analysis, marinated samples generally received higher scores from panellists compared with the control.

Acrylamide is an important industrial chemical; it also is formed in starch-rich foodstuffs during baking, frying and roasting. Most acrylamide exposure occurs by ingestion of processed foods. We investigated possible immunotoxic effects of extended administration of low doses of acrylamide in rats. To do this, we measured alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) and acid phosphatase (ACP-ase) activities in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Male and female weanling Wistar rats were administered 2 or 5 mg acrylamide/kg/day in drinking water for 90 days. Peripheral blood was sampled at the end of the administration period. We found ANAE staining in eosinophils and T-lymphocytes, but not in monocytes, platelets, B-lymphocytes and neutrophils. ACP-ase was found in B-lymphocytes. We found a significant reduction of the ratio of ANAE:ACP-ase in lymphocytes of the experimental animals compared to controls. We found no statistically significant differences between the doses or sexes. We found that acrylamide ingested in processed foods might affect the immune system adversely by decreasing the population of mature T- and B-lymphocytes.

Introduction: There are numerous diseases that are claimed to have a correlation with AB0 blood groups. Analysis on distribution of blood groups in primary brain tumors and clinical value has revealed conflicting results. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between AB0 blood groups and glial neoplasms (GN) and their effects on prognosis., Methods: A retrospective cross sectional study was performed. Patients admitted between 2000-2014 and had a diagnosis of GN were evaluated. Blood groups of patients were analyzed and compared with the National blood group data obtained from Turkish Red Crescent Society. The prognostic significance of AB0 blood groups was analyzed within glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), anaplastic astrocytoma and grade 1-2 astrocytoma., Results: 759 patients with a diagnosis of glial neoplasia were evaluated. Distribution of AB0 blood groups in the different grades of Glial neoplasia was similar with the national blood group frequencies. There was not a statistically significant difference between grades of glial neoplasia and healthy control patients. Median overall survival (mOS) of GBM patients were 12.9 months in A (95% CI, 10.2-15.5), 13.4 months in B (95% CI, 7.3-19.5), 5.7 months in AB (95% CI, 0.8-10.6), 12.8 months in 0 blood groups (95% CI, 8.6-16.8) (p = .46). mOS of anaplastic astrocytoma patients were 24.4 months in A (95% CI, 15.2-33.6), 47.2 months in B (95% CI, 9.9-84.5), 37.8 months in AB (95% CI, 10.2-80.3), 29.2 months in 0 blood groups (95% CI, 21.2-33.4) (p = .96). mOS in grade 1-2 were 84.2, 90.6 and 144 months for A, AB and 0 blood groups respectively., Conclusions: In our patient group, when compared with general population, there seems to be no association between frequencies of AB0 blood groups and Glial Neoplasia. In addition, the AB0 blood groups have no prognostic impact on glial neoplasms.

Context Sumac [Rhus coriaria L. (RC) (Anacardiaceae)] is used as a folk medicine in the treatment of diabetes in Turkey. Objective This study investigates the in vivo healing and protective effects of lyophilized extract sumac against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic complications. Materials and methods Toxicity test was conducted in three different dosages (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg of plant extracts, respectively). Six groups of seven rats each were used in experiments. Groups were designed as Normal control, Diabetic (DM), DM + AC-20 mg/kg, DM + Extract-100 mg/kg, DM + Extract 250 mg/kg and DM + Extract 500 mg/kg group. Experimental diabetes [50 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.)] was induced by STZ. The effects of oral administration of the extract for 21 d on the level of serum glucose, insulin, C-peptide, lipid profile (LP), hepatic and renal damage biomarkers (HRDB), diabetic serum biomarkers (DSB), glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), antioxidant defence system constituents (ADSCs), malondialdehyde (MDA) and α-glucosidase activity in small intestine tissue were evaluated. Results The extract decreased the levels of blood glucose in diabetic groups (an average of 31%). Triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein levels were balanced by plant extract (500 mg/kg) supplementation in the diabetic group. Decreased levels of aspartate aminotransferase (89%), alanine aminotransferase (91%), lactate dehydrogenase (35%), alkaline phosphatase (47%), creatinine (25%) and urea (29%) were detected in plant extract (500 mg/kg) supplemented diabetic group. Additionally, a considerable increase in the HRDB, DSB, LP, MDA and fluctuated ADSC levels were restored in RC-extract supplemented groups. Conclusion RC lyophilized extract has a healing effect on diabetes and diabetes-related complications.

Context: The effect of antibiotics (amikacin, cefazolin, ivermectin, and kanamycin) on glutathione reductase (GR) isoenzymes activity in liver and erythrocyte of the fish, Chalcalburnus tarichi (Lake Van pearl mullet, Pallas 1811) (Cyprinidae) were investigated., Objective: This study determined the biochemical characterization of GR purified from the liver and erythrocytes of C. tarichi and the inhibition effect of the antibiotics on the GR isoenzymes., Materials and Methods: GR was purified by affinity chromatography from the tissues of C. tarichi. The biochemical characterization of GR such as optimum temperature, optimum pH, and ionic strength were determined. The inhibition effects of the antibiotics on the isoenzymes were evaluated as IC50 and Ki values. Ki constant and 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) value for antibiotics were determined by Lineweaver-Burk graphs and plotting activity % versus [I], respectively, at five different concentrations of antibiotics., Results: Optimum temperature, pH, and ionic strength were determined for isoenzymes as 40 °C, 60 °C; 8.0, 8.0, and 50, 50 mM, respectively. Subunit molecular weights of the isoenzymes were estimated as 55 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). In addition, IC50 and Ki values were calculated for amikacin, cefazolin, ivermectin, and kanamycin. The antibiotics showed non-competitive inhibition effects. IC50 values were calculated as 16.3, 36.6, 0.504, and 18.8 mM for liver and 20.0, 30.4, 0.787, and 31.8 mM for erythrocyte, respectively. Ki constants were 13.9, 18.4, 0.654, and 11.2 mM for liver and 23.2, 46.4, 1.19, and 36.4 mM for erythrocyte, respectively., Discussion and Conclusion: The results indicated that the antibiotics displayed non-competitive inhibition.

This study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of G-CSF (Granulocyte colony stimulating factor) administration to 37 patients with neutropenia following intensive combination chemotherapy. The patients were divided into two subgroups including solid tumors given ifosfamide and etoposide combination chemotherapy (IMET subgroup) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients treated with mitoxantrone and cytarabine. Control group consisted of 31 acute myeloid leukemia patients. G-CSF was started on the first day of absolute neutropenia until the absolute neutrophil count was above 1000/mm(3) for two consecutive days. G-CSF was found to be effective for early recovery of neutrophil count. Expected response was achieved within 14 days in 91.5% of the courses with a median of fifth day of G-CSF treatment. In conclusion, this study showed the efficacy of G-CSF in early recovery of neutrophil count without any reduction in the incidence of febrile episodes and documented rates of bacterial and fungal infections in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.