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Thermally Stimulated Discharge Currents, one of the oldest destructive method widely used for studying the mechanisms of polarization and depolarization within the dielectrics was employed for determining information related to trapped and/or detrapped charges and activation energy (Ea) within P(AN-co-AA)-PPy composite films. Two peaks or two relaxation regions could be noticed on the TSDC spectra for each material under test: one at a temperature around 323.15K (50°C), attributed to decomposition due to DMF removal as presented in our previous studies, and a second one at 363.15K (90°C), attributed to glass transition temperature. An increased of detrapped charges was observed when the PPy quantity within the P(AN-co-AA) matrix was increased. The same time, both relaxations appeared at very close temperatures for all three samples under test. Complementary measurements for an in-depth electrical analysis were performed with the help of Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy (BDS), while further information regarding conductive composites structures was obtained through FTIR-ATR analysis.

The economic importance of ornamentals worldwide suggests a bright future for ornamental breeding. Rapid progress in plant molecular biology has great potentials to contribute to the breeding of novel ornamental plants utilizing recombinant DNA technology. The plant cell, tissue or organ culture of many ornamental species and their regeneration are essential for providing the material and systems for their genetic manipulation, and this is therefore the first requirement of genetic engineering. In this research, different concentration of BA (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mgl(-1) with NAA ( 0.0, 0.5, 1.0 mgl(-1)) and BA (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mgl(-1)) with IAA ( 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, mgl(-1)) were investigated to optimize regeneration of Begonia elatior cv. Toran orange. The best regeneration and growth were obtained from the media containing 2.0 mgl(-1) BA and 1.0 mgl(-1) NAA (70%) followed by 1.0 mgl(-1) BA and 0.5 mgl(-1) NAA (50%), 1.0 mgl(-1) BA and 1.0 mgl(-1) NAA (20%) in BA - NAA combination. The media with BA - IAA combination showed that the best regeneration was 0.5 mgl(-1) BA and 0.5 mgl(-1) IAA (43%) followed by 0.5 mgl(-1) BA and 1.0 mgl(-1) IAA (23%).

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This report represents the suspected familial case series of odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) related to Gorlin Goltz syndrome (GGS), a rare genetic disorder characterized mainly by multiple basal cell carcinomas, OKCs and other less frequent skeletal and neurological manifestations. Familial cases included grandmother's father, grandmother, father and son. Although they had all OKCs, father additionally possessed some of the other characteristics of GGS. We described all the patients' diagnoses, treatments and long-term follow-ups under the light of current literature.

The enhancing effects on UVB erythema of topical agents applied on sun exposed areas are important due to their increased sunburn risk. Since the lesions in acne vulgaris are seen primarily on the face, the effects of topical agents used in acne treatment on the erythemogenicity of UVB is important. The aim of the present study was to examine whether azelaic acid cream, benzoyl peroxide gel, adapalene gel have the enhancing effects on UVB erythema which are widely used in the topical treatment of acne vulgaris. The minimal erythema dose (MED) was determined with phototest in 30 volunteers and the test was repeated with thin (0.1 cc/25 cm(2)) and thick (0.3 cc/25 cm(2)) azelaic acid cream, benzoyl peroxide gel, adapalene gel. The effects of each agent on MED was determined after 24 hours. MEDs of UVB were unaffected by azelaic acid cream, benzoyl peroxide gel and adapalene gel when applied immediately before irradiation. According to our results azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide and adapalene do not seem to have enhancing effects on UVB erythema and thus increased sunburn risk.

A gene encoding for zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) coat protein was transformed into 'Kirkagac 637', an important Turkish melon cultivar using Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and putatively resistant transgenic lines were obtained. Proximal cotyledonary explants were incubated with Agrobacterium carrying the binary plasmid PGA643 including the nptii and zymv coat protein genes under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter. ELISA tests and PCR analyses were performed to determine which plants were transformants. Transformation efficiency was 1,6 %. Four transformants were self pollinated to obtain R 1 generation. The plants from the R2 generation were tested by PCR to demonstrate the integration of the zymv coat protein gene (1000 bp) in to the 'Kirkagac 637' genome. Segregation of 4 transformants was tested by X2 analysis and the results were consistent with predicted Mendelian ratios. In each case the P values were much greater than the rejection level of P=0.05.

WOS: 000223478200004 PubMed ID: 15266171 Background The non-invasive detection of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and multidrug resistance related proteins in vivo, will represent the greatest challenge in overcoming multidrug resistance. Although Tc-99m tetrofosmin has been used previously as a myocardial perfusion agent, it is now also being used in the imaging of various tumours. In the current study, Tc-99m tetrofosmin was used in the investigation of acute leukaemia. Aim To show the uptake pattern of Tc-99m tetrofosmin in the bone marrow of patients with acute leukaemia, and to ascertain the relationship between Tc-99m tetrofosmin uptake and the level of Pgp expression and their relation to the response to chemotherapy. In addition, CD95, which is an indicator of apoptosis (programmed cell death), has also been assessed. Materials and methods Pgp and CD95 were detected by using flow cytometry. Of the 27 acute leukaemia patients assessed, nine had previously received chemotherapy, and 18 had had an initial diagnosis. All patients had undergone Tc-99m tetrofosmin scintigraphy, and their Pgp and CD95 levels had been determined. The same parameters were studied again for 14 patients. The responses to chemotherapy were assessed by patients' clinicians. A control group of 37 patients without bone marrow pathology was also studied in order to provide comparisons for the scintigraphy results. The control images were assessed only qualitatively. Results In leukaemia patients the uptake of Tc-99m tetrofosmin into bone marrow was found to be considerably higher than in control patients (P = 0.000). An analysis of the relationship between Pgp, CD95, and the qualitative and quantitative tetrofosmin uptake ratios (URs) showed that there was an inverse correlation only between Pgp and the quantitative uptake ratio (P = 0.016, r = -0.461). When the patients were grouped as 'good' and 'poor', as related to the chemotherapy response, there were no meaningful differences between these two groups regarding Pgp, CD95 and tetrofosmin URs (P > 0.05). By evaluating the scintigraphic findings of the 'repeated' 14 patients, we showed that if the Tc-99m tetrofosmin UR in the second imaging test was reduced by > 0.08, the response to chemotherapy tended to be good. This method, based on follow-up scanning with tetrofosmin, showed a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 62% in the prediction of a 'good' response, if a decrease of 0.08 was taken into consideration. Conclusion In this study, patients with acute leukaemia showed significant uptake of tetrofosmin into the bone marrow. The addition of basal and repeated Tc-99m tetrofosmin scintigraphy to the management protocol for leukaemia could lead to the preferential determination of responses to chemotherapy, by evaluating whole bone marrow non-invasively. This method seems promising, but it needs further support from various similar investigations comprising more patients in order to confirm our results. (C) 2004 Lippincott Williams Wilkins.

PubMedID: 15573184 Objective: To examine the co-expression of CD19, CD45, CD38, CD56, and CD138 molecules in plasma cells of bone marrow (BM) aspirates and their relation with BM infiltration, and treatment in patients with multiple myeloma by flow cytometry. Methods: Forty BM aspirate samples were assessed from 40 patients at diagnosis and on follow-up at the Medical Oncology Department, Cukurova University, Balcali Hospital, Turkey, between 2002 and 2004. The mean age was 56.83 ± 9.1 and male:female ratio was 2.6. All patients received at least 4 courses of VAD (vincristine, adriamycin, dexamethasone) regimens and 20 of them were also treated with high dose melphalan and peripheral autologous stem cell transplantation. The median follow-up period was 19.1 ± 22.7 months. Results: Using light microscopy the BM smears stained with hematoxylin and eosin from patients on follow up were classified into one of 3 categories, complete remission (CR) (5% and 30%). According to infiltration ratio 23 were evaluated CR, 2 were PR and 15 were EI. The mean value of CD19 was 6.01 ± 9.5%, CD56 = 9.9 ± 6.8%, CD138 = 8.6 ± 5.6%, CD45 = 84.2 ± 22.3% and CD38 = 59.5 ± 25.4%. The flow cytometric analyses revealed that only the mean value of CD38 and CD45 expression were significantly high. We correlated infiltration ratio with each parametric and found statistically significant relations. We also correlated independent variables with each other and found a relation between CD38 and CD19 (p=0.005). We also defined the groups whether treated with peripheral autologous transplantation or not and compared the independent variables between them, in which CD138 was statistically significant (p=0.02). Conclusion: We suggest BM plasma cells expressed mainly by CD38 and CD45 may have a role in generation of BM plasma cells and that CD138 expression may be considered in follow-up for minimal residual disease after autologous transplantation in myeloma patients.

Fractures of the maxillofacial region are common in the elderly people. Titanium and LactoSorb screws are the widely accepted materials for use in the maxillofacial fractures. This study was undertaken to evaluate the early tissue response following the insertion of both titanium and LactoSorb screws composed of 82% PLLA and 18% PGA in an elderly animal model. In this study, 22 titanium and 22 LactoSorb screws were applied to calvaria of 44 guinea pigs that were 10-11 months old. Animals were sacrificed on postoperative days 3, 7, 14, 30 and 60. Screws were retrieved with surrounding bone tissue and the specimens were prepared for routine histologic examination. All the specimens were evaluated by light microscopy. Histometric analysis revealed that there was no significant difference between LactoSorb and titanium screws for the new bone formation. The biodegradation of LactoSorb screws was not complete by the end of day 60. In conclusion, both materials were well tolerated and induced bone formation without causing adverse tissue response in an elderly animal model. Our results suggest that both LactoSorb and titanium miniplates and screws can be used safely, regardless of the increasing age. However, LactoSorb may be the first choice as it does not require a second operation for removal and has late biodegradation in elderly that keeps its support for a relatively longer time during fracture healing.

WOS: 000184293800010 PubMed ID: 12713258 Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) develops as a result of autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic beta-cells. The aim of this study was to explore possible associations between serum levels of cytokines, IL-1, IL-2, TNFalpha and INFgamma and metabolic parameters in children with type 1 DM and their non-diabetic siblings to determine whether these cytokines could be indicators of disordered immune regulation. The study population consisted of 41 children with type 1 DM, 32 non-diabetic siblings, and 28 healthy controls. Children with DM were divided into three subgroups: 1) newly diagnosed patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (ND + DKA), 2) newly diagnosed patients without DKA (ND - DKA), and 3) previously diagnosed patients (PD). The highest serum IL-1alpha level was found in the ND - DKA group, which was significant compared to both the ND + DKA (p

Hypocotyl explants of three cultivars of melon (Cucumis melo L.) (cvs. Revigal, Topmark and Kirkagac), and a cucumber (C. sativus L. cv. Taoz) rapidly directly regenerated multiple shoots on Murashige and Skoog medium augmented with 4.4 µM benzyladenine. Regeneration from the hypocotyl resulted in nearly 100% diploid shoots, whereas regeneration from the cotyledons resulted in 40% to 70% polyploid regenerants. Regeneration from cotyledon explants of melon cv. Revigal required light, whereas regeneration from hypocotyl explants of melon cv. Revigal occurred in both light and darkness. Direct regeneration also occurred from the hypocotyl of cucumber cv. Taoz in both light and darkness, even though cotyledonary explants did not regenerate buds or shoots under the same conditions. This is the first report of regeneration from the Cucumis genus producing a fully diploid plant population.

PubMedID: 12415503 BACKGROUND: We investigated the levels of IL-I, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-I0 and IL-12 in serum of the children with trauma and its relation with the severity of trauma. METHODS: We included 45 children with moderate or severe multiple trauma and 21 healthy children for control group to our study. The serum IL-I, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-IO and IL-12 were measured by micro ELISA. RESULTS: We found a statistically significant difference between the serum values of IL-l, IL-4, 1 L-6, IL-I0 in the children with trauma and healthy control group. A similar difference was also observed between the control group and the trauma group with injury severity score (ISS) 30 and also ISS 32. Serum values of IL-2 and IL-12 did not show significant difference between the groups.W e detected a positive correlation between ISS and IL-l, IL-6, IL-I0 and IL-I2 (respectively r = 0,602, p = 0,000; r = 0,391, p = 0,008; r = 0,399, p = 0,007; r = 0,475, p = 0,001 ). CONCLUSION: These results point out that serum IL-6, IL-I0, IL-12 and especially IL-l has a close relationship with the severity of the tissue damage after trauma. Key words: Child, cytokine, ISS, trauma, the severity of trauma

The clonal propagation of rootstocks used for pistachio species such as Pistacia khinjuk Stock, Pistacia atlantica Desf., Pistacia terebintus L. and Pistacia integerrima Stewart via tissue culture techniques was investigated. Meristems and the shoots which were obtained by germinating the seeds were used as propagation materials. Different concentrations of BAP were used as cytokinin. Healthy shoot development was not obtained in Pistacia integerrima Stewart. In the other three species, shoot development was obtained in Murashige & Skoog medium containing 4 mg/1 BAP, but the problems were not solved completely. Meristems of Pistacia terebintus L., Pistacia khinjuk Stock, andPistacia atlantica Desf. showed 3.88, 2.20 and 2.20 multiplication ratio, respectively. The shoots of Pistacia terebintus L., Pistacia khinjuk Stock, Pistacia atlantica Desf. showed 1.97, 1.36 and 0.80 multiplication ratio, respectively. During in vitro propagation of Pistacia species, some problems, such as browning, death of shoot tips, vitrification, variation and callus production, were seen. In order to solve the problems which were encountered, some studies, such as subculturing frequently, usage of active charcoal, ascorbic acid, and citric acid, and changing media compositions were carried out. These problems were not eliminated totally, however.