Emine Arslan

Serum TNF-α, IL-6, lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibody in women with and without a past history of recurrent miscarriage

ObjectiveThe aim of the this study was to investigate Lupus Anticoagulan (LA), Anticardiolipin Antibody (ACA), Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) serum levels in 40 pregnant and 20 nonpregnant.Materials and methodsThe women were divided into three groups. The first group consisted of 20 pregnant women of less than 20 gestational weeks and a past history of habitual abortion . The second group consisted of 20 non pregnant patients with a past history of habitual abortion. The third group consisted of 20 healthy non pregnant women. RESULT: LA was found in only one patient in the Group 2. ACA Ig G positivity were found 1 patient in the Group 1, 3 patients Group 2 and 1 patient in Group 3. Mean ACA IgG was highest in the Group 2. High serum TNF-α levels were found in the 12 (60%), 6(30%) and 2 (10%) women in the Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Significant difference were found for TNF-α among the groups (P<0.05). The highest level of TNF-α was found in the Group 1 and the lowest in the Group 3. There were statistically significant differences for IL-6 among the three groups (P>0.05).ConclusionWe propose that cytokines especially TNF-α was found to be related to the pregnancy loss.

Karyological studies of the genus Onobrychis Mill. and the related genera Hedysarum L. and Sartoria Boiss. & Heldr. (Fabaceae, Hedysareae) from Turkey

Nine chromosome counts in several genera of the tribe Hedysareae from Turkey, six species of Onobrychis, two species of Hedysarum and one species of Sartoria, were reported and all karyotypes were prepared. Six of them are new. One of the other three reports is a confirmation of polyploidy, another report is a confirmation of chromosome count and the last report is a confirmation of both chromosome count and karyotype morphology. Except for karyotype of O. altissima, all karyotypes were presented in this study first.

Mitochondrial divergence between three cytotypes of the Anatolian Mole Rat, Nannospalax xanthodon (Nordmann, 1840)

Abstract The Blind Mole Rats of Anatolia (Nannospalax xanthodon (Nordmann, 1840)) are characterised by prolific chromosomal diversification. While the geographic distribution of various cytotypes is well documented, opinions on their taxonomic ranking varies amongst authorities. A partial sequence (630 bp) of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene in 13 Blind Mole Rats from the Konya basin, central Anatolia, which represented three distinct cytotypes (2n=40, 58, and 60) yielded nine cyt b haplotypes. Phylogenetic reconstructions recognized three well supported lineages which matched diploid number counts. Genetic divergences between cytotypes were high (K2P between 8.16% ± 1.19 and 11.33% ± 1.42) and application of the 2% divergence rate to the net divergence estimates suggests their divergence about 3.84 and 5.43 Mya (95% confidence interval=1.53–8.19 Mya). If one would rely on genetic operational criteria in species delimitation, there would be little doubt that the three Nannospalax cytotypes analysed in this study belong to distinct allopatric species. Before translating the results into formal taxonomy, more genetic information should be acquired on different Nannospalax cytotypes occupying the eastern Mediterranean.

Karyological studies of some species of the genus Vicia L. (Leguminosae) in Turkey

In this study, 11 Vicia taxa naturally distributed in Turkey were karyologically studied. Chromosome numbers, karyotypes and idiograms of five taxa that belong to section Cracca of the genus Vicia (Vicia cracca subsp. gerardii, V. cracca subsp. atroviolacea, V. cracca subsp. stenophylla, V. canescens subsp. canescens, V. palaestina) and six taxa that belong to section Vicia (Vicia michauxii var. stenophylla, V. pannonica var. pannonica, V. hybrida, Vicia sativa subsp. nigra var. nigra, Vicia sativa subsp. nigra var. segetalis, Vicia sativa subsp. incisa var. cordata) were done. The chromosome numbers of these taxa were found as 2n = 10, 12, 14, 24. The chromosome numbers and karyotype analysis of five of these were reported for the first time and chromosome morphology of two taxa was identified for the first time. Also chromosome numbers of six taxa were verified. These results will contribute to the taxonomy of the genus Vicia which has a high diversity in Turkey.

A new cytotype (2n=46) of Nannospalax xanthodon from Turkey

A new cytotype was found in a population of mole rats Nannospalax xanthodon from south-eastern Anatolia, Turkey. The karyotype contained 46 chromosomes and 66 autosomal arms (11 biarmed and 11 acrocentric autosomal pairs). The X chromosome was submetacentric and the Y chromosome small subtelocentric. Distinct dark C-bands were observed on all the biarmed chromosomes and on three pairs of acrocentric autosomes. The NORs were detected on the short arms of two subtelocentric pairs of autosomes. The published data indicate considerable chromosomal variation between populations of mole rats in south-eastern Anatolia. The finding of a karyotype with a unique chromosomal number in the karyologically well-studied region of south-eastern Anatolia indicates that the karyotype structuring between mole rat populations may be even more complex than previously realised.

COMPARISON OF AGRONOMIC CHARACTERS, TOTAL SEED STORAGE PROTEINS AND THEIR USE FOR GENOTYPES DISCRIMINATION IN THE KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS (POA PRATENSIS L.)

ABSTRACT This research aimed to investigate the genetic diversity among 11 Turkish Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) genotypes using seed storage proteins and agronomic traits. Thirty nine polypeptide bands in range of 10 to 82 kDa were recorded. Genetic similarity among genotypes was estimated basing on Euclidian coefficients. Cluster analysis was performed using the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA). Similarity, coefficients of 11 genotypes belonging to Poa pratensis ranged 85- 100% with low diversity of genetic variation in protein profiles. Average Euclidean distance used for agronomic data ranged from 1.51 to 8.11. This clustering pattern for protein profiles and agronomic data showed that same genotypes were revealed in same groups.

Novel copper(II) complexes of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene diamide derivatives: synthesis, antimicrobial and DNA cleavage activities

In this study, two new Cu(II) complexes of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene amide derivatives (8, 9) have been synthesised and investigated their DNA cleavage and antimicrobial activities. On the basis of spectral studies, a smaller distortion of square planar geometry has been proposed for both of the copper(II) complexes. The DNA cleavage studies show that the ligands are not efficacious, whereas the complexes have high activity. Futhermore, in order to determine the site of DNA cleavage, the DNA interactions of these compounds were investigated with some restriction enzymes. In addition, all synthesised compounds were screened for antimicrobial activities against some bacteria and for antifungal activities against yeast strains. The results showed that ethyl ester and furfuryl amide derivatives of the calixarenes are more efficient than other compounds against tested bacteria. However, complexes have not been effective. In case of DNA interaction studies, compounds were very effective against plasmid DNA.

Hedysarum L. (Fabaceae: Hedysareae) Is Not Monophyletic - Evidence from Phylogenetic Analyses Based on Five Nuclear and Five Plastid Sequences

The legume family (Fabaceae) exhibits a high level of species diversity and evolutionary success worldwide. Previous phylogenetic studies of the genus Hedysarum L. (Fabaceae: Hedysareae) showed that the nuclear and the plastid topologies might be incongruent, and the systematic position of the Hedysarum sect. Stracheya clade was uncertain. In this study, phylogenetic relationships of Hedysarum were investigated based on the nuclear ITS, ETS, PGDH, SQD1, TRPT and the plastid psbA-trnH, trnC-petN, trnL-trnF, trnS-trnG, petN-psbM sequences. Both nuclear and plastid data support two major lineages in Hedysarum: the Hedysarum s.s. clade and the Sartoria clade. In the nuclear tree, Hedysarum is biphyletic with the Hedysarum s.s. clade sister to the Corethrodendron + Eversmannia + Greuteria + Onobrychis clade (the CEGO clade), whereas the Sartoria clade is sister to the genus Taverniera DC. In the plastid tree, Hedysarum is monophyletic and sister to Taverniera. The incongruent position of the Hedysarum s.s. clade between the nuclear and plastid trees may be best explained by a chloroplast capture hypothesis via introgression. The Hedysarum sect. Stracheya clade is resolved as sister to the H. sect. Hedysarum clade in both nuclear and plastid trees, and our analyses support merging Stracheya into Hedysarum. Based on our new evidence from multiple sequences, Hedysarum is not monophyletic, and its generic delimitation needs to be reconsidered.

The effects of aflatoxin B1 on growth hormone regulated gene-1 and interaction between DNA and aflatoxin B1 in broiler chickens during hatching

Abstract Many types of aflatoxin cause problems for both public and animal health. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is the most toxic and commonly encountered fungal toxin that appears in poultry feed and in feeds stored under unsuitable conditions. AFB1 decreases feed quality, egg production and fertility of hatching eggs. Also, AFB1 alters the development of embryos by infecting eggs. We investigated using sequence analysis the changes caused by different concentrations of AFB1 on the promoter sequences of the growth hormone regulated gene-1 (GHRG-1) in chick embryo at 13, 17, 19 and 21 days incubation. DNA isolated from the liver of chick embryos treated with different concentrations of AFB1 was separated using agarose gel electrophoresis to detect apoptosis, and DNA interaction with AFB1 was investigated using plasmids to detect changes in electrophoretic mobility and their effects on DNA. Base changes of the promoter sequences of GHRG-1 in 5 ng/egg, 15 ng/egg and 40 ng/egg doses of AFB1 were increased on day 19 compared to base changes of the same AFB1 doses on day 13. We also found that AFB at different concentrations changed the mobility of DNA by binding to it, and that high doses of AFB1 destroyed DNA. The DNA interaction study using plasmid demonstrated that AFB1 at high doses was bound to plasmid DNA, slowed its mobility and inhibited restriction cuts.

Taxonomic identity of Chionomys nivalis spitzenbergerae (Mammalia: Rodentia)

The most genetically divergent populations of the European snow vole Chionomys nivalis occupy the extreme eastern range of the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. It was recently suggested that subspecies C. n. spitzenbergerae from the Central Taurus Mountains (Turkey) represents a highly divergent lineage of C. nivalis from the Aladağ Range which induced us to address its status by examining topotype specimens. Two females karyotyped displayed 54 mitotic chromosomes of 25 acrocentric autosomal pairs. One of the smallest autosomal pairs was heteromorphic in both specimens, consisting of a submetacentric and an acrocentric chromosomes (NFa = 53). Cytochrome b sequences however unambiguously clustered both individuals with reference sequences from C. nivalis from Turkey. We conclude that a deviant haplotype from the Aladağ Range does not represent C. n. spitzenbergerae. Its taxonomic identity was not resolved in our study. Further attention should be devoted to snow voles from Central Anatolia and Western Iran, which are characterized by cranial peculiarities.