Derya Arslan

Determination of antioxidant effects of some plant species wild growing in Turkey

In this study, the antioxidant activity of 50% aqueous methanol extracts of Crataegus tanacetifolia (Lam.) Pers, Crataegus bornmuelleri Zaberi, Crataegus orientalis Pall. ex M.Bieb. var. orientalis, Crataegus szovitsii Pojark, Crataegus curvisepala Lindm., Crataegus monogyna Jacq. subsp. monogyna, Crataegus monogyna Jacq.subsp. azarella (Gris.) Franco, Crataegus micophylla C.Koch, Rosa foetida Herrm., Rosa hemisphaerica J.Herrm., Rosa pulverulenta M.Bieb., Rosa canina L., Rubus discolor Weihe & Nees, Rubus canescens DC. var. canescens, Rubus sanctus Screber, Rubus caesius L., Sorbus umbellata (Desf.) Fritsch var. umbellata, Prunus avium L. (Moench.) and Prunus cerasus L. Mespilus germenica was evaluated by various antioxidant assays, including free radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging and metal-chelating activities. The extracts of R. hemisphaerica J.Herrm., P. cerasus L. and R. canina L. showed more stronger free radical scavenging and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities, and the extracts of R. foetida Herrm. (62.54%) and P. cerasus L. showed stronger metal-chelating activity. The results obtained in the present study indicated that the R. hemisphaerica J.Herrm., P. cerasus L. and R. canina are potential sources of natural antioxidant. These antioxidant properties depend on the concentration of the sample.

Determination of mineral contents of bee honeys produced in Middle Anatolia.

The mineral contents of 43 honey samples from the middle regions of Turkey were investigated. Minerals were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrophotometry. Calcium, potassium, sodium and phosphorus were the most abundant of the elements in all samples with average concentrations ranging between 40.13 and 189.69 mg/kg for calcium, 161.01 and 598.62 mg/kg for potassium, 9.34 and 45.9 mg/kg for sodium, and 460.11 and 3,776.96 mg/kg for phosphorus. Cluster analysis of the honeys’ data revealed that mineral contents of Çorum and Konya honeys were closer as they formed a cluster at a similarity level of 60%.

Some nutritional properties of Prangos ferulacea (L.) Lindl and Rheum ribes L. stems growing wild in Turkey.

In this study, some compositional properties and mineral contents of Prangos ferulacea and Rheum ribes stems growing wild in Ağrı and Elazığ province in Turkey were investigated. Mineral contents were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Moisture, crude oil, crude fiber, crude ash, crude protein, water-soluble and alcohol-soluble extract, pH and acidity values of samples were determined. Both plants contained high amounts of crude ash, crude fiber and water-soluble extract. According to results, aluminum, calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus and zinc values were very high in both samples. The levels of calcium (4,248.58 mg/kg), potassium (60,613.03 mg/kg) and phosphorus (5,827.71 mg/kg) of P. ferulacea in this work were found to be higher than those of other location plants (R. ribes). Potassium ranged from 32,730.82 mg/kg R. ribes (Elazığ sample) to 60,613.03 mg/kg P. ferulacea (Ağrı sample). The iron content ranged from 56.11 mg/kg R. ribes (Ağrı sample) to 147.01 mg/kg R. ribes (Elazığ sample). This work contributed to the nutritional properties of these plant species, and the information may be useful for the evaluation of dietary information.

Release of NT-pro brain natriuretic peptide in children before and after adenotonsillectomy

OBJECTIVES To measure serum B-type natriuretic peptide, especially N-terminal segment of its prohormone (NT-proBNP) and pulmonary arterial pressure levels and to determine whether NT-proBNP concentrations correlate with pulmonary arterial pressure levels in children before and after adenotonsillectomy. METHODS Twenty children with adenoid and tonsil hypertrophy and 20 healthy subjects were included in the study. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in all patients to assess pulmonary artery systolic and diastolic pressure with cardiac dysfunction. The NT-proBNP was analyzed for correlation with pulmonary artery pressure. RESULTS Our results showed that prohormone serum concentrations and pulmonary arterial pressures were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group at the preoperative evaluation. A significant decrease was detected among patients after surgery (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the study and control groups for prohormone serum concentration and pulmonary arterial pressure at the postoperative evaluation (p>0.05). CONCLUSION We found increased serum prohormone levels and height pulmonary artery pressures in the children with adenoid and tonsil hypertrophy when comparing with healthy subjects. Our study supported that increased serum prohormone levels and pulmonary artery pressures as a result of adenoid and tonsil hypertrophy are reversible. Pediatric cardiologs and otolaryngologs should keep in mind an increased pulmonary artery pressure during management of children with adenoid and tonsil hypertrophy. Furthermore, Doppler echocardiography may be useful in the monitoring of pulmonary arterial pressure and in the follow-up of surgical outcome of children with adenoid and tonsil hypertrophy.

Application of fuzzy expert system approach on prediction of some quality characteristics of grape juice concentrate (Pekmez) after different heat treatments

Effects of heat treatment on physicochemical characteristics and sensory properties of different fruit juice concentrates (pekmez) were studied. Apricot pekmez had the highest viscosity followed by mulberry and date pekmez. Apricot and date pekmez had higher scores for odour, taste and consistency than others. Hydroxymethyl furfural concentration of all pekmez samples increased after heat treatments. Samples heated at 75°C showed highest L* values while at 65°C the lowest mean L* values. L* values of all pekmez samples were similar while carob Pekmez had higher L* values. Also a development of the Fuzzy Expert System (FES) was made for prediction. Using the experimental values, FES model of the system was designed. Accordance was found with experimental and FES results when compared statistically. This study provides advantage for prediction possibility of unknown sub-values’, which were not experimentally studied.

P-Wave Dispersion in Children With Acute Rheumatic Fever

As a new and simple electrocardiographic marker, P-wave dispersion is reported to be associated with inhomogeneous and discontinuous propagation of sinus impulses. The current study aimed to investigate P-wave dispersion in children with acute rheumatic fever. The study population consisted of 47 children with acute rheumatic fever (29 patients with carditis and 18 patients without carditis) and 31 healthy control subjects. Maximum and minimum P-wave durations were measured from the 12-lead surface electrocardiogram. The P-wave dispersion was calculated as the difference between maximum and minimum P-wave durations. The maximum P-wave duration and the P-wave dispersion of the patients with and without carditis were significantly greater than those of the control subjects. The P-wave dispersion of the patients with carditis was significantly greater than that of the patients without carditis. In conclusion, the P-wave dispersion was higher in the children with acute rheumatic fever than in the healthy control subjects.

The usefulness of plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels and tissue doppler echocardiography for heart function in term infants born to mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to examine whether asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) concentrations are associated with ventricular function in the infants of mothers with gestational diabetes. Method: Twenty-five term newborns of mothers with gestational diabetes and term newborns as the control group (n = 25) with normal general health status were evaluated at two time points, on the 3rd postnatal day, at the 3th months. Echocardiographic evaluations of all participants were performed and ADMA level was measured. Results: In the first analysis, 10 patients (40%) had a septal thickness of 6 mm or more, indicating septal hypertrophy. In the first and second analysis, interventricular septum end-diastolic thickness (IVSTd) and the left ventricular posterior wall end-diastolic thickness (LVPWTd) in the patient group were higher than the control group. ADMA level measurement was not significantly different between the groups the first and second analysis. There was no difference in ADMA levels of the group with septal thickness ≥6 mm and the group with <6 mm. Conclusion: Newborn cardiac wall thickness was increased in pregnancies complicated by Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and the increase was independent of glycemic control. Diastolic newborn cardiac function was impaired in GDM, and this effect was independent of septal thickness. We found no association between ADMA levels and cardiac systolic, diastolic functions or septum thickness in the GDM newborn.

Influence of Eriophyid mites (Aculus olearius Castagnoli and Aceria oleae (Nalepa) (Acarina: Eriophyidae)) on some physical and chemical characteristics of Ayvalık variety olive fruit

BACKGROUND Aculus olearius Castagnoli is a recently recorded species that damages olive fruits in the Mediterranean basin of Turkey. Thus, the effects of Eriophyid mites (Aculus olearius Castagnoli and Aceria oleae (Nalepa) (Acarina: Eriophyidae) on the olive fruits from Ayvalık variety in southern Turkey were studied for the first time in terms of some physical parameters and chemical constituents including some individual phenolics. RESULTS The Eriophyid damaged fruits had higher L* values (lighter colour) and tyrosol level (37.53 mg kg(-1) ) than the undamaged fruits (28.51 mg kg(-1) ) in August. In contrast, Eriophyid damaged fruits were darker in colour and had lower levels (25.77 mg kg(-1) ) of tyrosol than those of undamaged fruits (79.14 mg kg(-1) ) in October. Eriophyid damaged samples had higher values of vanillic acid than the undamaged samples. An increase in the average concentrations of hydroxytyrosol and p-coumaric acid was observed in the fruits harvested in August, whilst the oleuropein content decreased. CONCLUSION The harvest in October can be recommended regarding the higher dimensional values, total oil, dry matter and oleuropein contents. But the interaction between harvest time and Eriophyid damage was found effective in terms of tyrosol content and skin colour; as tyrosol values were lower in the fruits harvested in October and the fruits were darker. The resistance of undamaged fruits against Eriophyid damage can be linked to high tyrosol content of these fruits.

The use of the oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) essential oil and hydrosol in green olive fermentation

The effect of oregano the (Origanum vulgare L.) oil at the levels of 0.05, 0.1 and 0.3% and oregano hydrosol on the physicochemical, microbiological and sensory characteristics of the green olive (Edremit variety) fermentation was investigated. The initial pH of the oregano oil added samples were higher than the other treatments, which were above 5.8. The highest final acidity was observed in the hydrosol+brine combination (0.53%). The initial LAB population on the first day of the fermentation was high in the diluted hydrosol (8.89 log cfu ml-1) and control (8.47 log cfu ml-1) samples. But a significant difference was not observed between the LAB counts of the treatments on the 40th day of fermentation. The control and brine+oregano hydrosol samples had the highest sensory scores.

Mineral and heavy metal contents of different honeys produced in Turkey

Summary In this study, honeys samples of different origin: pine (Pinus pinea); tufted vetch (Vicia cacca); locust (Robinia pseudoacacia); garden vetch (Vicia sativa); cedar (Cedrus spp.); yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis); cotton (Gosspium hirsutum); trefoil (Trifolium spp.); cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) obtained from different locations in Turkey were investigated. Mineral contents of honeys were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES). Whilst the Sodium contents of the honeys varied between 168.11 ppm and 729.94 ppm, and phosphorus concentrations varied from 462.38 ppm to 845.65 ppm, magnesium was found at the highest concentrations in our samples.