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Background and Objectives: Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a process in which impaired perfusion is restored by restoring blood flow and tissue recirculation. Nanomedicine uses cutting-edge technologies that emerge from interdisciplinary influences. In the literature, there are very few in vivo and in vitro studies on how cerium oxide (CeO2) affects systemic anti-inflammatory response and inflammation. Therefore, in our study, we aimed to investigate whether CeO2 administration has a protective effect against myocardial I/R injury in the liver and kidneys. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into four groups after obtaining approval from an ethics committee. A control (group C), cerium oxide (group CO), IR (group IR), and Cerium oxide-IR (CO-IR group) groups were formed. Intraperitoneal CeO2 was administered at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg 30 min before left thoracotomy and left main coronary (LAD) ligation, and myocardial muscle ischemia was induced for 30 min. After LAD ligation was removed, reperfusion was performed for 120 min. All rats were euthanized using ketamine, and blood was collected. Liver and kidney tissue samples were evaluated histopathologically. Serum AST (aspartate aminotransferase), ALT (alanine aminotransaminase), GGT (gamma-glutamyl transferase), glucose, TOS (Total Oxidant Status), and TAS (Total Antioxidant Status) levels were also measured. Results: Necrotic cell and mononuclear cell infiltration in the liver parenchyma of rats in the IR group was observed to be significantly increased compared to the other groups. Hepatocyte degeneration was greater in the IR group compared to groups C and CO. Vascular vacuolization and hypertrophy, tubular degeneration, and necrosis were increased in the kidney tissue of the IR group compared to the other groups. Tubular dilatation was significantly higher in the IR group than in the C and CO groups. TOS was significantly higher in all groups than in the IR group (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, and p = 0.006, respectively). However, TAS level was lower in the IR group than in the other groups (p = 0.002, p = 0.020, and p = 0.031, respectively). Renal and liver histopathological findings decreased significantly in the CO-IR group compared to the IR group. A decrease in the TOS level and an increase in the TAS level were found compared to the IR group. The AST, ALT, GGT, and Glucose levels are shown. Conclusions: CeO2 administered before ischemia-reperfusion reduced oxidative stress and ameliorated IR-induced damage in distant organs. We suggest that CeO2 exerts protective effects in the myocardial IR model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triple A syndrome (TAS), also known as Allgrove syndrome (OMIM#231550), is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the triad of alacrima, achalasia, and adrenal insufficiency. Additional neurological features may be present in two-thirds of patients, involving central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous system manifestations. TAS is caused by genetic alterations in the AAAS gene on chromosome 12q13, which encodes the nuclear pore complex protein termed ALADIN (ALacrima, Achalasia, aDrenal Insufficiency, and Neurologic disorder). ALADIN plays a crucial role in nucleocytoplasmic transport of specific proteins, including the transport of DNA repair proteins. TAS exhibits significant phenotypic variability in terms of symptom onset, frequency, and severity, often presenting with a progressive clinical course indicative of an underlying degenerative process. In this study, we report the case of an infant with exceptionally early and severe manifestations of triple A syndrome, with a review of the literature. Our patient exhibited the complete classical triad of TAS at six months of age, being among the youngest reported cases of the syndrome. The clinical course was complicated by severe involvement of the autonomic nervous system, neurogenic bladder, and recurrent urinary tract infections. Subsequently, the patient developed acute pancreatitis, leading to multiorgan dysfunction and a fatal outcome at 25 months of age. This case underscores the potential for atypical disease presentations and the need for clinical awareness in diagnosing and managing patients with TAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While COVID-19 has been controlled and deaths have decreased, the long-term consequences of COVID-19 remain a challenge we face today. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between the apoptosis of lymphocyte cells with DNA damage and oxidative stress and the therapeutic and clinical outcomes of elderly patients with COVID-19. Methods: This study was conducted from April 2020 to May 2021 (the period of severe attacks of the epidemic peak of COVID-19) and September 2022 (the post-COVID-19 period). The study groups included elderly patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in the ICU and normal wards of the hospital as well as elderly patients with influenza. A polymerase chain reaction was used to check the validity of the studied diseases. The Annexin V/Propidium Iodide method was used to evaluate the level of apoptosis. Genotoxic effects and DNA damage were assessed by the comet assay method. Total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) were measured by photometric methods. Results: The highest level of apoptosis in peripheral blood lymphocytes and the highest level of DNA damage were observed at both times in the intubated-ICU and non-intubated-ICU groups. In all groups, there was a significant increase in peripheral blood lymphocyte apoptosis levels and DNA damage levels compared to the healthy control group (p < 0.01). The level of apoptosis and DNA damage decreased significantly in the post-COVID-19 period (p < 0.01). In the investigation of oxidative stress biomarkers, the oxidative stress index, including TOS and MPO levels, increased in patients (p < 0.01), and the TAS level decreased (p < 0.01). Conclusion: It shows that the apoptosis of lymphocyte cells, DNA damage, and oxidative stress can be effective in prognostic decisions and is a suitable predictor for diagnosing the condition of patients with viral infections such as COVID-19 and influenza. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triple A syndrome (TAS), also known as Allgrove syndrome (OMIM#231550), is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the triad of alacrima, achalasia, and adrenal insufficiency. Additional neurological features may be present in two-thirds of patients, involving central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous system manifestations. TAS is caused by genetic alterations in the AAAS gene on chromosome 12q13, which encodes the nuclear pore complex protein termed ALADIN (ALacrima, Achalasia, aDrenal Insufficiency, and Neurologic disorder). ALADIN plays a crucial role in nucleocytoplasmic transport of specific proteins, including the transport of DNA repair proteins. TAS exhibits significant phenotypic variability in terms of symptom onset, frequency, and severity, often presenting with a progressive clinical course indicative of an underlying degenerative process. In this study, we report the case of an infant with exceptionally early and severe manifestations of triple A syndrome, with a review of the literature. Our patient exhibited the complete classical triad of TAS at six months of age, being among the youngest reported cases of the syndrome. The clinical course was complicated by severe involvement of the autonomic nervous system, neurogenic bladder, and recurrent urinary tract infections. Subsequently, the patient developed acute pancreatitis, leading to multiorgan dysfunction and a fatal outcome at 25 months of age. This case underscores the potential for atypical disease presentations and the need for clinical awareness in diagnosing and managing patients with TAS.

Non-invasive neuromodulation techniques are widely utilized to study and improve cognitive function, with the aim of modulating different cognitive processes. For workers performing high-intensity mental and physical tasks, extreme fatigue may not only affect their working efficiency but may also lead to cognitive decline or cognitive impairment, which, in turn, poses a serious threat to their physical health. The use of non-invasive neuromodulation techniques has important research value for improving and enhancing cognitive function. In this paper, we review the research status, existing problems, and future prospects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and transcutaneous acupoint stimulation (TAS), which are the most studied physical methods in non-invasive neuromodulation techniques to improve and enhance cognition. The findings presented in this paper will be of great reference value for the in-depth study of non-invasive neuromodulation techniques in the field of cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different stocking densities on oxidative stress, some hematological and biochemical blood parameters in New Zealand rabbits, and to determine the ideal cage area where rabbits can live without being stressed. A total of 36 1–month–old mixed sex New Zealand weaned rabbits were selected for the study. The rabbits were placed in cages at different densities of stocking. Experimental groups were 1 rabbit per cage (C1), 2 rabbits per cage (C2) and 3 rabbits per cage (C3). There was no significant differences between groups in terms of RBC, HGB, HCT, MCV, MCH, WBC, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophlis, basophlis, AST, ALT, trigliseride, cholesterol, HDL and LDL parameters (P>0.05). C2 group had lower count of PLT comparing C1 and C3 groups. C1 group had the highest value for MCHC (P0.05). C2 group had the lowest value in terms of SOD (P

In this paper, we investigate the performance of multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) unmanned air vehicle (UAV) based multi-user communication systems over generalized Nakagami- $m$ fading channels subject to channel feedback delays. The impact of decode-and-forward (DF) based relaying and outdated channel state information is assessed at the receiver nodes. To reduce the complexity and retain the MIMO gains, the transmit antenna selection (TAS) strategy is used to select the best antenna at the source and UAV nodes. A generic framework in the form of closed-form analytical expressions for outage probability (OP), asymptotic OP, and the average symbol error rate of higher-order quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) schemes such as hexagonal QAM, rectangular QAM, and cross QAM are derived. In addition, energy efficiency analysis is also performed for the considered system model. In this framework, altitude and location-dependent path loss modeling are considered for the air-to-ground links. Optimization of UAV location and altitude is performed through a limited-memory Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno (LBFGS) algorithm to attain minimum OP (MOP). Results illustrate optimal performance dependent on the channel correlation parameters, antenna elements, and fading conditions. Monte-Carlo simulations are performed to validate the derived analytical results and compared with the existing works.

ÖZ: Arkeolojik sahtecilik, araştırmacıları, koleksiyoncuları veya kamuyu aldatmak amacıyla yapılan sahte eserler, yazıtlar veya diğer arkeolojik materyalleri ifade etmektedir. Sahtecilik, arkeoloji ve sanat tarihi dünyasında uzun süredir devam etmektedir. Sahte eserlerin tespit edilebilmesi arkeologlar, sanat tarihçileri, malzeme bilimcileri, dil bilimciler ve diğer uzmanlar arasındaki iş birliğini içeren çok disiplinli bir yaklaşım gerektirmektedir. Bu çalışmada eserlerin otantisitesi araştırmalarında uygulanacak malzeme karakterizasyonu ile ilişkili inceleme süreci önerilmektedir. Eserin tanımlanması farklı malzemelerin işlem/üretim zinciri (chaîne opératoire) içerisinde ve arkeolojik bilgi birikimi kapsamında değerlendirilmektedir. Arkeolojik buluntuların bu zincir içinde tanımlanması fiziksel, kimyasal, biçimsel ve estetik özelliklerinin daha iyi sınıflandırılmasını sağlamaktadır. Çalışmada, taş, pişmiş toprak ve metal hammaddeden yapılan arkeolojik eserlerin işlem zinciri bağlamında incelenmesinde kullanılan malzeme karakterizasyonu yöntemlerinden bahsedilmiştir. Ayrıca gerçekliği incelenen eserlerin patina tabakasının analizlerinin, bu tabakanın doğal ya da yapay olarak oluşması ile ilgili bilgi verdiği belirtirmiştir. Sonuç olarak arkeolojik buluntuların malzeme analizlerinin detaylı olarak değerlendirilmesinin, sahte eserlerin belirlenmesi sırasında karşılaştırma için veri sağlaması bakımından önemi vurgulanmıştır. Ayrıca çalışmada RGB ve CIE XYZ renk analizi yöntemleri ile gerçek eserlerden elde edilen ölçümler ile oluşturulacak bir veri bankası ileride çok daha kısa zamanda ve az maliyetli olarak ön değerlendirme yapılmasına olanak sağlayacağı önerilmiştir. ABSTRACT: Archaeological forgery refers to forged artifacts, inscriptions, or other archaeological material made with the intent to deceive researchers, collectors, or the public. Forgery has long existed in the world of archeology and art history. Identifying counterfeit artifacts requires a multidisciplinary approach that includes collaboration between archaeologists, art historians, materials scientists, linguists, and other experts. In this study, a process related to the material characterization to be applied in the research of the authenticity of the works is suggested. The identification of the artifact is evaluated within the chaîne opératoire of various materials. The identification of archaeological finds in this chain provides a better classification of their physical, chemical, formal, and aesthetic features. In the study, material characterization methods used in the analysis of archaeological artifacts made of stone, terracotta, and metal raw materials in the context of the process chain are mentioned. It is also stated that the analysis of the patina layer of the works whose authenticity was examined gives information about the natural or artificial formation of this layer. As a result, the importance of detailed evaluation of material analysis of archaeological finds is emphasized in terms of providing data for comparison during the identification of counterfeit artifacts. In addition, it has been suggested in the study that a database to be created with measurements obtained from real works with RGB and CIE XYZ color analysis methods will allow preliminary evaluation in a much shorter time and with less cost in the future.

Abstract Background Foamy viruses (FVs) are unique nonpathogenic retroviruses, which remain latent in the host for a long time. Therefore, they may be safe, effective gene transfer vectors. In this study, were assessed FV–host cell interactions and the molecular mechanisms underlying FV latent infection. Methods We used the prototype FV (PFV) to infect HT1080 cells and a PFV indicator cell line (PFVL) to measure virus titers. After 48 h of infection, the culture supernatant (i.e., cell-free PFV particles) and transfected cells (i.e., cell-associated PFV particles) were harvested and incubated with PFVL. After another 48 h, the luciferase activity was used to measure virus titers. Results Through transcriptomics sequencing, we found that PREB mRNA expression was significantly upregulated. Moreover, PREB overexpression reduced PFV replication, whereas endogenous PREB knockdown increased PFV replication. PREB interacted with the Tas DNA-binding and transcriptional activation domains and interfered with its binding to the PFV long terminal repeat and internal promoter, preventing the recruitment of transcription factors and thereby inhibiting the transactivation function of Tas. PREB C-terminal 329–418 aa played a major role in inhibiting PFV replication; PREB also inhibited bovine FV replication. Therefore, PREB has a broad-spectrum inhibitory effect on FV replication. Conclusions Our results demonstrated that PREB inhibits PFV replication by impeding its transcription.

Purpose: Varicocele is a pathological condition that affects approximately 20% of adult men, causing infertility and sperm deterioration. The aim of our study was to investigate the efficacy of vitamin D (Vit. D) in the pathophysiology of varicocele. We performed biochemical, gene expression analyses and histopathological to evaluate the efficacy of vitamin D in the experimental varicocele model. Materials and Methods: In the study, 30 adult male Wistar Albino rats were used. The rats were divided into 3 groups equally as control group, experimental group (varicocele), treatment group (varicocele + D vit.). The treatment group received 500 IU/kg D vit. intramuscularly. Results: Histopathological, TRPM2-8 gene expression and biochemical analyses were performed on testicular and blood samples collected at the end of the experiment. The experimental group showed a deterioration in tubular structure, a decrease in total antioxidant levels and an increase in total oxidant levels. The treatment group, on the other hand, showed an increase in TAS, a decrease in TOS and a beneficial improvement in tubular structure disorders. Analysis of gene expression levels showed that TRPM2-8 expression levels were significantly increased in the varicocele group and decreased in the treatment group. Conclusion: In the varicocele model, the use of vitamin D had a significant effect on TRPM2-8 gene level, pathological seminiferous tubules and biochemical values. Further studies are needed to determine the clinical application of vitamin D in varicocele disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haji Bayram Veli is one of the undeniable figures of Anatolian Sufi tradition. Having different reflections on Sufi institutions and schools, he influenced different cultural instruments produced by Turks. His poems on land and city in the context of human, is a clear example of this aspect. It can be said that his knowledge is the manifestation of enlightenment overflowing from a cosmic consciousness when he brings together the time and space with people. While presenting the message of tawhid with correct information to people he shares the same geography, he engraves wisdom into hearts with simple expressions. Also, while addressing the hearts of human, he draws attention to their enemy which is the soul (nafs). His skillful use of the relationship between the soul and, the stone and soil, the main elements of the earth, in a metaphorical sense, shows that he is well-versed in the context of cosmology and metaphysic. For, man's struggle with stone and soil isn't independent from the world. The stonesoil connection of human being was established with the vitality of the big realm. He discovered these secrets and benefitted from the structural similarities of both realms so that people know and realize themselves. In this study, human dualism will be evaluated along with this relation in his poems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Foamy viruses (FVs) are unique nonpathogenic retroviruses, which remain latent in the host for a long time. Therefore, they may be safe, effective gene transfer vectors. In this study, were assessed FV–host cell interactions and the molecular mechanisms underlying FV latent infection. Methods: We used the prototype FV (PFV) to infect HT1080 cells and a PFV indicator cell line (PFVL) to measure virus titers. After 48 h of infection, the culture supernatant (i.e., cell-free PFV particles) and transfected cells (i.e., cell-associated PFV particles) were harvested and incubated with PFVL. After another 48 h, the luciferase activity was used to measure virus titers. Results: Through transcriptomics sequencing, we found that PREB mRNA expression was significantly upregulated. Moreover, PREB overexpression reduced PFV replication, whereas endogenous PREB knockdown increased PFV replication. PREB interacted with the Tas DNA-binding and transcriptional activation domains and interfered with its binding to the PFV long terminal repeat and internal promoter, preventing the recruitment of transcription factors and thereby inhibiting the transactivation function of Tas. PREB C-terminal 329–418 aa played a major role in inhibiting PFV replication; PREB also inhibited bovine FV replication. Therefore, PREB has a broad-spectrum inhibitory effect on FV replication. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that PREB inhibits PFV replication by impeding its transcription. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeological forgery refers to forged artifacts, inscriptions, or other archaeological material made with the intent to deceive researchers, collectors, or the public. Forgery has long existed in the world of archeology and art history. Identifying counterfeit artifacts requires a multidisciplinary approach that includes collaboration between archaeologists, art historians, materials scientists, linguists, and other experts. In this study, a process related to the material characterization to be applied in the research of the authenticity of the works is suggested. The identification of the artifact is evaluated within the chaîne opératoire of various materials. The identification of archaeological finds in this chain provides a better classification of their physical, chemical, formal, and aesthetic features. In the study, material characterization methods used in the analysis of archaeological artifacts made of stone, terracotta, and metal raw materials in the context of the process chain are mentioned. It is also stated that the analysis of the patina layer of the works whose authenticity was examined gives information about the natural or artificial formation of this layer. As a result, the importance of detailed evaluation of material analysis of archaeological finds is emphasized in terms of providing data for comparison during the identification of counterfeit artifacts. In addition, it has been suggested in the study that a database to be created with measurements obtained from real works with RGB and CIE XYZ color analysis methods will allow preliminary evaluation in a much shorter time and with less cost in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foamy viruses are members of the Retroviridae family's Spumaretrovirinae subfamily. They induce cell vacuolation and exhibit a foamy pathogenic impact after infecting cells. DACH1 (dachshund family transcription factor 1) is a crucial cytokine linked to tumor development, and is associated with the growth of many different malignant tumor cells. Additionally, DACH1 suppresses pancreatic cell proliferation and is involved in diabetes insulin signaling. Prototype foamy viruses (PFVs) were used for the investigation of the regulatory mechanism of FVs on cellular DACH1 expression. The results show that DACH1 expression in PFV-infected cells was inconsistent at both the transcriptional and protein levels. At the transcriptional level, DACH1 was significantly activated by PFV transactivator Tas, and dual-luciferase reporter gene tests, EMSA, and ChIP assays found a Tas response element of 21 nucleotides in the DACH1 promoter. PFV and Tas did not boost the levels of DACH1 protein in a manner consistent with the high levels of DACH1 transcription expression. It was noted that Tas increased the expression of the Ser/Thr protein phosphatase PPM1E, causing PPM1E-mediated post-translational SUMOylation alterations of DACH1 to prompt DACH1 to degrade. The reason for DACH1 protein degradation is that DACH1 inhibits PFV replication. To sum up, these findings show that PFV upregulated the transcription of DACH1, while urging its protein into PPM1E-mediated SUMOylation, to eliminate the adverse effect of DACH1 overexpression of host cells on viral replication and promote virus survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Endometriosis (EM) is the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. This study aimed to examine the effects of quince gel and hesperidin treatment on uterine tissue in an experimental endometriosis model. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two rats were categorized into four groups as sham, EM, EM+quince gel (QG), and EM+QG+Hesperidin (HES). The endometriosis (EM) model was induced with surgical intervention. Estradiol benzoate (EB) was used to induce endometrial hyperplasia. In the EM group, EB was given to rats for 7 days. The EM+QG group received 2 cc QG for 21 days. HES treatment was given for 21 days after EM induction. At the end of the experiment, blood was taken from the animals and the serum total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) values were studied. Uterine tissues were dissected and processed for histological paraffin embedding. Tissues were fixed in 4% glutaraldehyde solution and processed for ultrastructural analysis. Results: After EM, QG and HES treatment significantly increased the TAS and decreased the TOS value. EM caused epithelial and glandular degeneration, thinning of the basal membranes, and vascular dilatation with increased fibrosis and edema. QG+HES restored the pathology and showed protective effects in uterine tissues. Caspase-3 expression was increased in the epithelium, glands, and muscle layers of the EM group. In EM+QG+HES, hesperidin protected cell survival and decreased Caspase-3 expression in uterine tissues. TNF-α expression was intense in inflammatory cells and the muscle layer in the EM group. HES reduced inflammation by decreasing the TNF-α expression. MAPK expression was increased after EM induction in epithelial, glandular, and inflammatory cells in the EM group. After HES treatment, MAPK expression was mainly negative in cells of uterine tissue in the EM+QG+HES group. Ultrastructurally, in the EM group, organelles were disrupted and dilated and degenerated after EM induction. QG and HES treatment improved cellular organelles. Conclusion: Local vaginal applications can be an alternative treatment method in the endometriosis model via QG+HES treatment promoting cell proliferation and angiogenesis and preventing cell death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common types of endocrine syndromes in women, where the disease is described as chronic anovulation and hyperandrogenism, which characterized by the formation of small cysts (fluid-filled sacs) in the ovaries. This study was carried out to introduce knowledge when plasma and erythrocytes portions were chosen to compare the antioxidant and oxidant status of PCOS patients treated and without treatment with Metformin. Samples were included 75 women diagnostics with PCOS according to Rotterdam criteria. The control group included healthy volunteers with regular menstrual cycles and with no symptoms of hyperandrogenism. Total Antioxidants Capacity (TAC), total Oxidant Status (TOS), and CuZn SOD enzyme activity were examined in both plasma and erythrocytes. The activity of the CuZn SOD enzyme was determined based on the ability of the enzyme to inhibit the autoxidation of pyrogallol. TAC values were significantly decreased in PCOS patients and the content in plasma was significantly higher than in Erythrocytes. On the other hand, the TOS values were in the opposite pattern, they were significantly increased in patients and higher in erythrocytes than plasma. The activity of superoxide dismutase was significantly higher in patients' samples than in controls. This enzyme displayed higher activity values in samples from erythrocytes than the plasma and the highest activity was 61.9±3 U/ml. As the data for both TOS and SOD1 activity introduces the same pattern in blood samples, TAC values introduce a different line of responses. In considering Metformin's effect on previous criteria, this drug significantly decreased the TAC, TOS and SOD1, activity group. as this drug is responsible for the reduction of circulating insulin and increasing the glucose uptake by peripheral tissues [ J Adv Biotechnol Exp Ther 2023; 6(1.000): 17-24]

Introduction: Sclerostin is a glycoprotein known as a negative regulator of bone formation, predominantly expressed by mature osteocytes. There is no causative evidence information on the role of sclerostin in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in humans. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum sclerostin levels and oxidative status and biochemical parameters in T2DM patients and healthy people.Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted in a clinical trial center, included 45 subjects with T2DM and 45 subjects as controls.Results: Serum sclerostin, total oxidative status (TOS), albumin, and ferritin levels were significantly higher in T2DM patients than in the control group (p

Aim: This study aimed to show the effects of glutathione, recognized by its antioxidant specialties, on the potential DNA damage (8-hydroxy-2- deoxyguanosine) and the antioxidant system changes upon its implementation in BHK-21 cells cultured with high glucose. Materials and Methods: BHK-21 cell line was regularly surpassed in vitro conditions (5% FBS, 10% horse serum, 1% L-Glutamine, 1% penicillin/ streptomycin in RPMI 1640 medium, and 5% CO2 and 95% humidity and 37ºC) incubated. The control group determined glucose's IC50 value based on the viability tests executed on MTT cells. Cells were seeded in plates as each would have 2x106 cells. The control, the test, and the crossbreed test (glucose; (285 mM), glutathione (250 &micro ,M)) groups were prepared. After 24 hours of incubation, trypsinized cells were designed for analysis through vitrification. In the lysate of the cell culture that was procured, Oxidative DNA damage, TAS, TSO, and OSI were measured by the spectrophotometric system with ELISA. Results: It was observed that 8-OHdG levels increased significantly with glucose application. Moreover, the increase in the HG+GSH group was more significant when compared to the control group (p≤0.05). No difference with the control group was found only in the group where GSH was applied. As for TAS, whereas any difference was observed in GSH used groups, the increase in the HG+GSH group was significant compared to the control group (p≤0.05). that were the same as the control group. TOS and OSI considerably increased in HG + GSH implemented groups as to the control group (p≤0.05). Conclusion: According to the results, no protective impacts of glutathione at the cellular level in the doses mentioned above were observed on high-dose glucose implemented cells. On the other hand, it was revealed that the applied amounts of glutathione in the process did not cause any toxic effects.

This study presents various research methods and results analysis of the total antioxidant status (TAS), polyphenols content (PC) and vitamin C content in selected plant materials (vegetables) subjected to various technological processes, including sous-vide. The analysis included 22 vegetables (cauliflower white rose, romanesco type cauliflower, broccoli, grelo, col cabdell cv. pastoret, col lllombarda cv. pastoret, brussels sprouts, kale cv. crispa–leaves, kale cv. crispa–stem, toscana black cabbage, artichokes, green beans, asparagus, pumpkin, green peas, carrot, root parsley, brown teff, white teff, white cardoon stalks, red cardoon stalks and spinach) from 18 research papers published in 2017 to 2022. The results after processing by various methods such as conventional, steaming and sous-vide cooking were compared to the raw vegetable results. The antioxidant status was mainly determined by the radical DPPH, ABTS and FRAP methods, the polyphenol content by the Folin–Ciocalteu reagent and the vitamin C content using dichlorophenolindophenol and liquid chromatography methods. The study results were very diverse, but in most studies, the cooking techniques contributed to reducing TAS, PC and vitamin C content, with the sous-vide process being most beneficial. However, future studies should focus on vegetables for which discrepancies in the results were noted depending on the author, as well as lack of clarity regarding the analytical methods used, e.g., cauliflower white rose or broccoli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-invasive neuromodulation techniques are widely utilized to study and improve cognitive function, with the aim of modulating different cognitive processes. For workers performing high-intensity mental and physical tasks, extreme fatigue may not only affect their working efficiency but may also lead to cognitive decline or cognitive impairment, which, in turn, poses a serious threat to their physical health. The use of non-invasive neuromodulation techniques has important research value for improving and enhancing cognitive function. In this paper, we review the research status, existing problems, and future prospects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and transcutaneous acupoint stimulation (TAS), which are the most studied physical methods in non-invasive neuromodulation techniques to improve and enhance cognition. The findings presented in this paper will be of great reference value for the in-depth study of non-invasive neuromodulation techniques in the field of cognition.

We aimed to determine the potential damage mechanisms of exposure to widely used sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and the effects of Thymus vulgaris on this exposure. Rats were divided into six groups: control, T. vulgaris, 4% NaOCl, 4% NaOCl + T. vulgaris, 15% NaOCl, and 15% NaOCl + T. vulgaris. Serum and lung tissue samples were taken after applying NaOCl and T. vulgaris by inhalation twice a day for 30 min for four weeks. The samples were examined biochemically (TAS/TOS), histopathologically, and immunohistochemically (TNF-α). In serum TOS values, the mean of 15% NaOCl was significantly higher than in 15% NaOCl + T. vulgaris. This was the opposite in terms of serum TAS values. Histopathologically, there was a significant increase in lung injury in 15% NaOCl; significant improvement was observed in 15% NaOCl + T. vulgaris. Immunohistochemically, there was a significant increase in TNF-α expression in both 4% NaOCl and 15% NaOCl; significant decreases were observed in both 4% NaOCl + T. vulgaris and 15% NaOCl + T. vulgaris. The use of sodium hypochlorite, which is harmful to the lungs and is widely used in homes and industries, should be limited. In addition, using T. vulgaris essential oil by inhalation may protect against the harmful effects of sodium hypochlorite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Breast cancer is one of the chief causes for escalating mortality among female athletes. Oxidative stress in a cell is evident due to surplus production of oxidants because of the hysterical functioning of the system that regulates them. One such secondary product produced due to oxidative stress is malondialdehyde (MDA), a product of lipid peroxidation. To quench the effect of oxidants, an antioxidant system in the cell has a significant role. The imbalance between these two creates oxidative stress. Methods: The present study focused on assessing the oxidative stress ratio and evaluating the levels of malondialdehyde and total antioxidant status (TAS) in breast cancer patients and healthy controls. Blood samples from breast cancer patients and age-matched controls (n= 30 each. MDA and TAS were estimated by pursuing Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substance (TBARS) Assay and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) Assay respectively. Results: The level of MDA in athletic patients was significantly higher (172.7 ± 81.4 nM/mL) than that of controls (77.9 ± 49.5 nM/mL) (p=0.009), whereas the level of TAS in the athletic patients (2551 ± 1298µM/L) was significantly lower to that of the controls (3631 ± 1123µM/L) (P=0.001). In addition, MDA and TAS levels correlated with respect to chemotherapy cycles in patients. Athletic Patients undertaking the final stage of chemotherapy treatment had shown reduced oxidative stress than the athletic patients in initial stage of chemotherapy, presenting a promising recovery pattern. Conclusion: The oxidative stress was evident in athletic patients but the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs. Foods rich in antioxidants could elevate the health and morale of the athletic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation plays a role in the pathogenesis of COPD by interfering with the protease/antiprotease and oxidant/antioxidant balance. There is no adequate data about the relationship between oxidative stress biomarkers and FEV1 values in stable COPD patients. Prospective cohort study, designed in tertiary care chest disease hospitals' outpatient clinic. COPD patients were approved informed consent were included in the study. The total antioxidant status (TAS,), total oxidant status (TOS), total thiol (TT), native thiol (NT), IL1 IL6, and TNFα levels were measured. The mean age of 33 COPD patients who joined the study was 61±9,32 years, while their average body mass index (BMI) was 27±4,31 kg/m2. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of age, gender, weight, smoking status and comorbidities. According to the results of the analysis, there was a statistically significant difference in TOS, TAS, oxidative stress index (OSI), TT, NT, DIS, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα between the control and COPD patient groups (p [Med-Science 2022; 11(2.000): 770-74]

In this paper, we discuss our research into the effects on student writing of giving sentence-level feedback at several stages in a scaffolded assignment in a large second year science course. Our results indicate that feedback that draws on the reader’s intuitive sense for writing, rather than on their technical grammatical knowledge, was the most popular choice for TAs assessing student work, and also led to the most revisions on the students’ parts. Accordingly, we argue that focusing on this more intuitive approach might be a fruitful strategy for TA training.

Vitiligo, the most widespread hypopigmentary syndrome, is considered to be a multifactorial disease in which the active melanocytes are lost. Vitiligo has been studied in a variety of ways, and several genes have been implicated. In this study we focused on investigating biomarker levels of TNF-α, MDA and TAS by using ELISA, and along with that mRNA expression levels of MIF, NLRP1 and FoxP3 genes were quantified with qRT-PCR. In expression studies, Non-segmental Generalized Vitiligo (NSV) subjects had a substantial (P

This case study aims at describing how transformative agreements (TAs) have affected our profession with new tasks and workflows at two university libraries in Sweden, namely Karolinska Institutet University Library and Södertörn University Library. TAs are one of the mechanisms by which scientific publications are made open access; they involve moving libraries' contracts with publishers from payment to read toward payment to publish. We will summarize the status and progress of open access in Sweden, in particular the significant growth of TAs over a short time span. We will then focus on describing how TAs have affected our everyday work and what new tasks they have imposed. We will share our experiences and point out things we find challenging, for example, we will explore questions about eligibility, the verification process, publication types and title changes during the contract period. We will also give some recommendations on how we would prefer the workflows surrounding the TAs to be. Finally, we will share our conclusions and comments about the impact of TAs on the publishing landscape and speculate about what will happen next. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Eurasian Journal of Veterinary Sciences is the property of Eurasian Journal of Veterinary Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: This study aims to compare serum HMGB-1, 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT), TAS, TOS, and OSI levels in Wettype Age-Related Macular Degeneration (wAMD) patients and healthy controls to determine the correlation of these parameters with each other. Methods: Thirty patients with Wet-type Age-Related Macular Degeneration (wAMD) and 27 healthy adults, as controls were enrolled in the study. We determined the TAS and TOS levels in serum samples of both groups using commercial kits on a microplate reader. Serum HMGB-1 and 3-NT levels were measured with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Results: HMGB-1 levels were significantly higher in the patient group (137.51 pg/mL, p=0.001), while there was no difference between the two groups in serum 3-NT levels (p = 0.428). A statistically significant difference found in the levels of TOS and OSI (p = 0.001 and p = 0.045, respectively) between the patients and controls, however, no significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of TAS levels (p = 0.228). Conclusions: Oxidative stress and HMGB-1 levels were increased in wAMD patients and enhanced oxidative stress may be associated with increased tissue necrosis and inflammation. Thus administration of antioxidant treatment in addition to routine therapy should be considered in wAMD.

Abstract Background Prototype foamy virus (PFV) is nonpathogenic complex retroviruses that express a transcriptional transactivator Tas, which is essential for the activity of viral long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter and internal promoter (IP). Tripartite motif-containing protein 28 (Trim28) is well known as a scaffold protein normally enriched in gene promoter region to repress transcription. We sought to determine if whether Trim28 could be enriched in PFV promoter region to participate the establishment of PFV latency infection. Results In this study, we show that Trim28 restricts Tas-dependent transactivation activity of PFV promoter and negatively regulates PFV replication. Trim28 was found to be enriched in LTR instead of IP promoter regions of PFV genome and contribute to the maintenance of histone H3K9me3 marks on the LTR promoter. Furthermore, Trim28 interacts with Tas and colocalizes with Tas in the nucleus. Besides, we found that Trim28, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, binds directly to and promotes Tas for ubiquitination and degradation. And the RBCC domain of Trim28 is required for the ubiquitination and degradation of Tas. Conclusions Collectively, our findings not only identify a host factor Trim28 negatively inhibits PFV replication by acting as transcriptional restriction factor enriched in viral LTR promoter through modulating H3K9me3 mark here, but also reveal that Trim28 mediated ubiquitin proteasome degradation of Tas as a mechanism underlying Trim28 restricts Tas-dependent transcription activity of PFV promoter and PFV replication. These findings provide new insights into the process of PFV latency establishment. Graphical Abstract

Foamy viruses are members of the Retroviridae family’s Spumaretrovirinae subfamily. They induce cell vacuolation and exhibit a foamy pathogenic impact after infecting cells. DACH1 (dachshund family transcription factor 1) is a crucial cytokine linked to tumor development, and is associated with the growth of many different malignant tumor cells. Additionally, DACH1 suppresses pancreatic cell proliferation and is involved in diabetes insulin signaling. Prototype foamy viruses (PFVs) were used for the investigation of the regulatory mechanism of FVs on cellular DACH1 expression. The results show that DACH1 expression in PFV-infected cells was inconsistent at both the transcriptional and protein levels. At the transcriptional level, DACH1 was significantly activated by PFV transactivator Tas, and dual-luciferase reporter gene tests, EMSA, and ChIP assays found a Tas response element of 21 nucleotides in the DACH1 promoter. PFV and Tas did not boost the levels of DACH1 protein in a manner consistent with the high levels of DACH1 transcription expression. It was noted that Tas increased the expression of the Ser/Thr protein phosphatase PPM1E, causing PPM1E-mediated post-translational SUMOylation alterations of DACH1 to prompt DACH1 to degrade. The reason for DACH1 protein degradation is that DACH1 inhibits PFV replication. To sum up, these findings show that PFV upregulated the transcription of DACH1, while urging its protein into PPM1E-mediated SUMOylation, to eliminate the adverse effect of DACH1 overexpression of host cells on viral replication and promote virus survival.

Objectives: Endometriosis (EM) is the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. This study aimed to examine the effects of quince gel and hesperidin treatment on uterine tissue in an experimental endometriosis model. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two rats were categorized into four groups as sham, EM, EM+quince gel (QG), and EM+QG+Hesperidin (HES). The endometriosis (EM) model was induced with surgical intervention. Estradiol benzoate (EB) was used to induce endometrial hyperplasia. In the EM group, EB was given to rats for 7 days. The EM+QG group received 2 cc QG for 21 days. HES treatment was given for 21 days after EM induction. At the end of the experiment, blood was taken from the animals and the serum total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) values were studied. Uterine tissues were dissected and processed for histological paraffin embedding. Tissues were fixed in 4% glutaraldehyde solution and processed for ultrastructural analysis. Results: After EM, QG and HES treatment significantly increased the TAS and decreased the TOS value. EM caused epithelial and glandular degeneration, thinning of the basal membranes, and vascular dilatation with increased fibrosis and edema. QG+HES restored the pathology and showed protective effects in uterine tissues. Caspase-3 expression was increased in the epithelium, glands, and muscle layers of the EM group. In EM+QG+HES, hesperidin protected cell survival and decreased Caspase-3 expression in uterine tissues. TNF-α expression was intense in inflammatory cells and the muscle layer in the EM group. HES reduced inflammation by decreasing the TNF-α expression. MAPK expression was increased after EM induction in epithelial, glandular, and inflammatory cells in the EM group. After HES treatment, MAPK expression was mainly negative in cells of uterine tissue in the EM+QG+HES group. Ultrastructurally, in the EM group, organelles were disrupted and dilated and degenerated after EM induction. QG and HES treatment improved cellular organelles. Conclusion: Local vaginal applications can be an alternative treatment method in the endometriosis model via QG+HES treatment promoting cell proliferation and angiogenesis and preventing cell death.

The effects of toxic substance in soil matrices are evaluated by assessing adult worm survival and reproduction. Throughout the test, hundreds of juvenile potworms can be found. The current method for Enchytraeus crypticus quantification in soil samples is a laborious and time-consuming procedure that involves manual counting. The present work proposes a method for quick and reliable counting of E. crypticus by using an automated image analysis algorithm applied to soil images. Comparisons between automated and manual methods conducted in double-blind trials involving a large, routine batch of tropical artificial soil samples revealed no statistically significant differences for a wide range of worm densities. The proposed method overcomes time-consuming counts in manual methods and is suited to be deployed routinely for soil toxicity studies involving large batches of samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: For foamy virus, the transactivator of spumaretrovirus (Tas) could bind directly to target DNA sequences termed as Tas responsive elements and trigger the viral internal promoter (IP) and long terminal repeat (LTR) promoters. The cellular endogenous factors also play an important role in viral gene expressions. We hypothesized that except the viral transcription factor Tas, the cellular endogenous factors also affect the viral gene expression. Methods: The full length of the prototype foamy virus (PFV) genome (U21247) was used to predict the potential binding sites of the transcription factors by online software JASPAR (http://jaspar.genereg.net) and Softberry (http://linux1.softberry.com/berry.phtml?topic=index&group=programs&subgroup=promoter). The Dual-Luciferase® Reporter Assay System (Promega, USA) was used to confirm the relative luciferase activities of the test groups. The different representative activating agents or inhibitors of each canonical signal pathway were used to identify the impact of these pathways on PFV 5′LTR and IP promoters. Results: The results showed different cellular endogenous factors might have respective effects on PFV 5′LTR and IP. It is worth mentioning that activator protein-1 and BCL2-associated athanogene 3, 2 kinds of vital proteins associated with NF-κB and PKC pathways, could activate the basal activity of 5′LTR and IP promoters but inhibit the Tas-regulated activity of both promoters. Furthermore, PFV Tas was identified to trigger the transcription of the NF-κB promoter. Conclusion: NF-κB had a negative effect on PFV 5′LTR and IP promoter activities, the PKC pathway might upregulate 5′LTR and IP promoter activities, and the JNK and NF-AT signal pathway could increase the Tas-regulated promoter activity of PFV 5′LTR. This study sheds light on the interaction between PFV and the host cell and may help utilize the viral promoters in retroviral vectors designed for gene transfer experiments.

Abstract Background Daxocox® [Ecuphar/Animalcare Group] contains the selective COX-2 inhibitor enflicoxib, approved in the EU for the treatment of pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis in dogs. The safety of Daxocox® was evaluated in a target animal safety study: Groups of 4 dogs per sex each were treated once weekly with placebo or Daxocox tablets at 1-, 3- and 5-times (1X, 3X and 5X) the maximum recommended therapeutic dose of enflicoxib (0, 4, 12 or 20 mg/kg, respectively). After an initial loading dose, dogs in the placebo control, 1X and 3X groups were administered for 32 weeks, and those in the 5X group were administered for 13 weeks. Dogs were subjected to daily food consumption measurements and clinical and dose observations. Body weight measurements, physical examinations, clinical pathology, urinalysis, faecal occult blood (FOB) and electrocardiographic (ECG) and blood pressure measurements, buccal mucosal bleeding time (BMBT), ophthalmology and gastroduodenal endoscopy examinations were conducted throughout the study. At study completion, all dogs were subjected to gross necropsy. Histopathology was performed on selected tissues from all animals in all groups. Results No clinical signs were noted, and no toxicologically relevant dose-associated effects were observed. Conclusions Results show that Daxocox® is well-tolerated and has a broad safety margin when administered as directed in dogs.

This case study aims at describing how transformative agreements (TAs) have affected our profession with new tasks and workflows at two university libraries in Sweden, namely Karolinska Institutet University Library and Södertörn University Library. TAs are one of the mechanisms by which scientific publications are made open access; they involve moving libraries’ contracts with publishers from payment to read toward payment to publish. We will summarize the status and progress of open access in Sweden, in particular the significant growth of TAs over a short time span. We will then focus on describing how TAs have affected our everyday work and what new tasks they have imposed. We will share our experiences and point out things we find challenging, for example, we will explore questions about eligibility, the verification process, publication types and title changes during the contract period. We will also give some recommendations on how we would prefer the workflows surrounding the TAs to be. Finally, we will share our conclusions and comments about the impact of TAs on the publishing landscape and speculate about what will happen next.

This study presents various research methods and results analysis of the total antioxidant status (TAS), polyphenols content (PC) and vitamin C content in selected plant materials (vegetables) subjected to various technological processes, including sous-vide. The analysis included 22 vegetables (cauliflower white rose, romanesco type cauliflower, broccoli, grelo, col cabdell cv. pastoret, col lllombarda cv. pastoret, brussels sprouts, kale cv. crispa–leaves, kale cv. crispa–stem, toscana black cabbage, artichokes, green beans, asparagus, pumpkin, green peas, carrot, root parsley, brown teff, white teff, white cardoon stalks, red cardoon stalks and spinach) from 18 research papers published in 2017 to 2022. The results after processing by various methods such as conventional, steaming and sous-vide cooking were compared to the raw vegetable results. The antioxidant status was mainly determined by the radical DPPH, ABTS and FRAP methods, the polyphenol content by the Folin–Ciocalteu reagent and the vitamin C content using dichlorophenolindophenol and liquid chromatography methods. The study results were very diverse, but in most studies, the cooking techniques contributed to reducing TAS, PC and vitamin C content, with the sous-vide process being most beneficial. However, future studies should focus on vegetables for which discrepancies in the results were noted depending on the author, as well as lack of clarity regarding the analytical methods used, e.g., cauliflower white rose or broccoli.

Background: This study aims to compare serum HMGB-1, 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT), TAS, TOS, and OSI levels in Wettype Age-Related Macular Degeneration (wAMD) patients and healthy controls to determine the correlation of these parameters with each other. Methods: Thirty patients with Wet-type Age-Related Macular Degeneration (wAMD) and 27 healthy adults, as controls were enrolled in the study. We determined the TAS and TOS levels in serum samples of both groups using commercial kits on a microplate reader. Serum HMGB-1 and 3-NT levels were measured with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Results: HMGB-1 levels were significantly higher in the patient group (137.51 pg/mL, p=0.001), while there was no difference between the two groups in serum 3-NT levels (p = 0.428). A statistically significant difference found in the levels of TOS and OSI (p = 0.001 and p = 0.045, respectively) between the patients and controls, however, no significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of TAS levels (p = 0.228). Conclusions: Oxidative stress and HMGB-1 levels were increased in wAMD patients and enhanced oxidative stress may be associated with increased tissue necrosis and inflammation. Thus administration of antioxidant treatment in addition to routine therapy should be considered in wAMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation plays a role in the pathogenesis of COPD by interfering with the protease/antiprotease and oxidant/antioxidant balance. There is no adequate data about the relationship between oxidative stress biomarkers and FEV1 values in stable COPD patients. Prospective cohort study, designed in tertiary care chest disease hospitals' outpatient clinic. COPD patients were approved informed consent were included in the study. The total antioxidant status (TAS,), total oxidant status (TOS), total thiol (TT), native thiol (NT), IL1 IL6, and TNFα levels were measured. The mean age of 33 COPD patients who joined the study was 61±9,32 years, while their average body mass index (BMI) was 27±4,31 kg/m2. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of age, gender, weight, smoking status and comorbidities. According to the results of the analysis, there was a statistically significant difference in TOS, TAS, oxidative stress index (OSI), TT, NT, DIS, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα between the control and COPD patient groups (p<0.001 for all variables). Compared to healthy controls, COPD patients had greater TOS, OSI, disulfide (DIS), IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα levels. Healthy controls, had considerably higher TAS, TT, and NT values than the COPD group. No significant correlation was detected between the pulmonary function test results and oxidative stress markers. In conclusion, no significant correlation was detected between the pulmonary function test results and oxidative stress markers besides TOS was increased while TAS was decreased, in accordance with the pathophysiology of COPD, oxidative stress markers can also be utilized in COPD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Foamy viruses (FVs) are complex retroviruses belonging to the Spumaretrovirinae subfamily of the Retroviridae family. In contrast to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), another member of the Retroviridae family, FVs are nonpathogenic in their natural hosts or in experimentally infected animals. Prototype foamy virus (PFV) is the only foamy virus that can infect humans through cross-species transmission and does not show any pathogenicity after infection. Consequently, PFV is considered a safe and efficient gene transfer vector. Understanding the host proteins involved in the replication of PFV and the mechanism of interaction between the host and the virus might lead to studies to improve the efficiency of gene transfer. To date, only a few host factors have been identified that affect PFV replication. In the present study, we report that PFV infection enhances the promoter activity of SGK1 (encoding serum/glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1) via the Tas protein signaling pathway, and then upregulates the mRNA and protein levels of SGK1. Overexpression of SGK1 reduced PFV replication, whereas its depletion using small interfering RNA increased PFV replication. SGK1 inhibits PFV replication by impairing the function of the PFV Tas activation domain in a kinase-independent manner and reducing the stability of the Gag protein in a kinase-dependent manner. In addition, both human and bovine SGK1 proteins inhibit the replication of bovine foamy virus (BFV) and PFV. These findings not only improved our understanding of the function of SGK1 and its relationship with foamy viruses, but also contributed to determining the antiviral mechanism of the host. IMPORTANCE Foamy viruses can integrate into the host chromosome and are nonpathogenic in natural hosts or in experimentally infected animals. Therefore, foamy viruses are considered to be safe and efficient gene transfer vectors. Persistent infection of foamy viruses is partly caused by the restrictive effect of host factors on the virus. However, only a few cellular proteins are known to influence the replication of foamy viruses. In this study, we report that SGK1 inhibits the replication of prototype foamy virus by affecting the function of the transcription activator, Tas, and reducing the stability of the structural protein, Gag. These results will increase our understanding of the interaction between the virus and host factors, deepening our perception of host antiviral defenses and the function of SGK1, and could improve the gene transfer efficiency of foamy viruses.

Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends Transmission Assessment Surveys (TAS) to determine when an evaluation unit (EU) (a designated population survey area) has achieved elimination of transmission of the vector-borne macroparasitic disease Lymphatic Filariasis (LF). These determinations are based on combining data from multiple survey units within an EU; it is unclear how underlying cluster-level variation influences the outcome of the TAS at EU level. We simulate LF infection distribution in an EU and compare three methods for assessing whether LF elimination has occurred based on currently recommended decision thresholds and sampling methods. Methods: We simulate an EU divided into clusters of varying size and disease prevalence. We produce 1000 samples according to LF TAS examples and WHO guidelines and compare three decision-making approaches: lot quality assurance sampling (LQAS) (recommended by WHO), one-sided interval estimate (CI), and nth order statistic (MAX). Summary statistics demonstrating the “pass” rate for the EU under different disease transmission conditions are generated using a versatile SAS® macro. Results: As the prevalence of LF decreases, the LQAS and CI approaches produce increased likelihood of a pass outcome for an EU while some cluster units may still have a high likelihood of transmission. The MAX provides an alternative that increases the likelihood of determining a pass only once the whole area has a low likelihood of transmission. LQAS and CI approaches designed to estimate the LF prevalence in the EU miss hotspots that will continue to transmit infection while the MAX approach focuses on identifying clusters with high risk of transmission. Conclusions: The current TAS methodology has a flaw that may result in false predictions of LF transmission interruption throughout an EU. Modifying the TAS methodology to address results from extreme clusters rather than being based on mean prevalence over an EU will result in greater success for global elimination of LF.

Vitiligo, the most widespread hypopigmentary syndrome, is considered to be a multifactorial disease in which the active melanocytes are lost. Vitiligo has been studied in a variety of ways, and several genes have been implicated. In this study we focused on investigating biomarker levels of TNF-α, MDA and TAS by using ELISA, and along with that mRNA expression levels of MIF, NLRP1 and FoxP3 genes were quantified with qRT-PCR. In expression studies, Non-segmental Generalized Vitiligo (NSV) subjects had a substantial (P <.05) fold change in MIF gene expression compared to healthy subjects, with a 0.7 change in expression level. In FoxP3 and NLRP1, however, there was just an 0.3-fold change in expression. However, there was a substantial increase (P <.01) in TNF-α and (P <.0005) in TAS levels, but no difference in Malondialdehyde levels (MDA). The current study is a baseline study suggesting that MIF, with a 0.7-fold change, may play a key role in the pathogenesis of active NSV subjects, while changes in NLRP1 and FoxP3 mRNA expression levels were weaker. We also found a significant increase (P <.01) in TNF-α and (P <.0005) in TAS levels, which may be noted as a key feature in Vitiligo subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behcets disease is known as a chronic and inflammatory vasculitis with multiple system and organ involvement. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between BD and oxidative stress by evaluating the total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) in healthy control group and patients with Behcets disease (BD). Materials and Methods: Study groups were composed of BD patients (n = 57) and healthy controls (n = 54). Serum total TAS, TOS, (OSI) and serum lipid levels were measured by photometric method. All measurements were made on Beckman Coulter AU5800 Series (Japan). OSI was determined by the TOS / TAS ratio. Serum TAS levels in BD were lower than the healthy controls (p = 0.039). Serum levels of TOS, OSI and lipids did not differ significantly in BD patients compared to healthy controls. Also, the sensitivity of TAS for BD was high (0.825). Low TAS levels can play an important role in the etiopathology of BD. Increasing serum TAS levels may be beneficial for the clinical process. More studies are needed in this regard. [Med-Science 2020; 9(3.000): 625-8]

Yüce Allah Kur'ân-ı Kerîm’de kullarına hitâben çeşitli hakikâtleri beyan buyururken onların idrâklerini de dikkâte almakta, zikrettiği hakikâtlerin kulların zihin dünyalarında somut birer sahneye dönüşmesini sağlamaktadır. Belâgat ilminde mecâz olarak adlandırılan bu üslup Kur'ân-ı Kerîm’in en önemli anlatım özelliklerinden birisidir. Normalde beşerin algısına belki çok kapalı gelecek konular bu sayede daha kolay ve açık bir şekilde anlaşılabilmektedir. Kur’ân’ın mecaz yoluyla ifade etmiş olduğu hakikâtlerden biri de Bakara Suresinin 74. âyetinde dile getirilen, kâfirlerin kalplerinin katılığı hakkındadır. Allah Teâlâ söz konusu âyette onların kalplerinin ne kadar katı ve sert olduğunu, zikretmiş olduğu taş temsiliyle anlatmakta, hatta onların kalplerinin taşlardan bile daha katı olduğunu beyan etmektedir. Taşların katı yapılarına rağmen kendilerinden ırmakların kaynayıp suların fışkırması yahut da Allah korkusuyla bulundukları yerden düşmeleri gibi güzel vasıfları bulunduğuna, ancak katı kalpli o kâfirlerin kalplerinde ise hiçbir olumlu nitelik olmadığına işâret etmektedir. Cansız birer varlık olmalarına rağmen âyette taşların Allah korkusuyla anılmaları dikkati çeken bir husustur. Bu cihetle, çalışmanın ana odağında söz konusu durumun mahiyetini klasik tefsirlerin yanı sıra bilhassa tasavvufî tefsirler ışığında ortaya koymaya çalışmak olacaktır.

Sanat üretiminin bir bileşeni olan süslemenin temel amacı o sanat eserinin izleyici üzerinde etki yaratmasıdır. Mimari yapılarda ana malzeme olarak yüzyıllardır kullanılan taş, coğrafi etkenlerin ve dayanıklılığın yanında kişisel beğeni sonucunda da tercih edilmiştir. Mimaride süslemenin malzemeye göre çeşitlendiğini, kullanılan malzemenin yüzeyine uygulanan müdahaleyle tekniklerin ortaya çıktığını söyleyebiliriz. Mimaride taş süslemede kabartma, oyma, kafes oyma, kakma, kazıma, boyama teknikleri ile renkli taş kullanımından söz edilebilir. Çalışmamıza konu olan kakma tekniği, ana inşa malzemesi üzerine farklı renkteki malzemenin kakılması ile oluşturulan bir tekniktir. Bu çalışmada, Mardin’in İslami Dönem tarihi yapılarından taş kakma tekniği süslemeye sahip Latifiye Camii, Hamza-i Kebir Camii, Zinciriye Medresesi ve Kasımiye Medresesi’nin kısaca tarihi ve mimari özellikleri verildikten sonra bu süslemelerin yapıların hangi bölümlerinde kullanıldığı, desen ve motif detaylarıyla açıklanmıştır.

We aimed to determine the potential damage mechanisms of exposure to widely used sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and the effects of Thymus vulgaris on this exposure. Rats were divided into six groups: control, T. vulgaris, 4% NaOCl, 4% NaOCl + T. vulgaris, 15% NaOCl, and 15% NaOCl + T. vulgaris. Serum and lung tissue samples were taken after applying NaOCl and T. vulgaris by inhalation twice a day for 30 min for four weeks. The samples were examined biochemically (TAS/TOS), histopathologically, and immunohistochemically (TNF-α). In serum TOS values, the mean of 15% NaOCl was significantly higher than in 15% NaOCl + T. vulgaris. This was the opposite in terms of serum TAS values. Histopathologically, there was a significant increase in lung injury in 15% NaOCl; significant improvement was observed in 15% NaOCl + T. vulgaris. Immunohistochemically, there was a significant increase in TNF-α expression in both 4% NaOCl and 15% NaOCl; significant decreases were observed in both 4% NaOCl + T. vulgaris and 15% NaOCl + T. vulgaris. The use of sodium hypochlorite, which is harmful to the lungs and is widely used in homes and industries, should be limited. In addition, using T. vulgaris essential oil by inhalation may protect against the harmful effects of sodium hypochlorite.