Mustafa Atasever

Determination of aflatoxin B1 levels in deep-red ground pepper (isot) using immunoaffinity column combined with ELISA

Deep-red ground pepper, a variety of red ground pepper, is a special spices belonging to Sanliurfa and consumed both in Sanliurfa and other provinces of Turkey. The aim of this study was to determine the aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) levels of deep-red ground pepper. For this purpose, 75 samples of deep-red ground pepper (isot) marketed in Sanliurfa (Turkey) were purchased from bazaars and herbal shops. The occurrence and concentration range of AFB(1) in the samples were investigated by microtitre plate Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method using immunoaffinity columns. Seventy-two of the 75 ground deep-red pepper samples (96%) contained AFB(1) in the range of 0.11-24.7 microg/kg. Eleven (14.7%) samples were above the regulatory limits used in the European Union and in Turkey. More precaution should be taken on hygiene controls in order to prevent microbiological and chemical hazards.

Effects of ascorbic acid and α-lipoic acid on performance and meat quality of broilers subjected to heat stress

1. The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of adding ascorbic acid or α-lipoic acid to to the diet of broilers exposed to heat stress on performance and meat quality. 2. Heat stress caused a decrease in final body weight and feed consumption, whilst ascorbic acid (AA) and α-lipoic acid (ALA) partly prevented the decrease in final body weight of males. 3. While heat stress increased the pH values of broiler drumsticks and breast meat, AA and ALA partly reduced this increase. For meat quality, AA and ALA reduced the adverse effects on the relative yellowness value, particularly on d 14 of storage. 4. It was determined that heat stress affected the microbiological quality of meat adversely, and that AA and ALA alleviated this effect to a certain extent. 5. In conclusion, while heat stress affected body weight gain and meat quality adversely, the supplementation of the ration with AA and ALA partly alleviated these adverse effects.

Assessment of aflatoxin M1 in maternal breast milk in Eastern Turkey.

Breastfeeding may be considered as a risk factor for aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) exposure in early infancy. Hence, AFM1 levels in maternal breast milk (MBM) and the correlation between moldy cheese consumption of lactating mothers and infant exposure to AFM1 were investigated in this study. MBM samples from 73 lactating women randomly selected in hospitals located in Eastern Turkey were analysed for the presence of AFM1 using competitive ELISA. Out of 73 lactating mothers, 44 of them had the habit of cheese consumption (at least once a week), while remaining 29 had no such habit. AFM1 was detected in MBM of 18 out of 73 samples (24.6%); 12 MBM of 44 lactating mothers with moldy cheese consumption habit (27.2%) and 6 MBM of 29 mothers with no such habit (20.6%) with the range of 1.3-6.0 ng/l. None of the samples exceeded the limit set by EU and Turkish legislations. Moldy cheese consumption habit of lactating mothers exhibited no significant correlation with the presence of AFM1 in their milk (p>0.05). The results indicated that the relative risk of infant AFM1 exposure via MBM of moldy cheese consuming mother was not higher than MBM of mothers with no such habit.

Meat quality of heat stress exposed broilers and effect of protein and vitamin E

1. This study was designed to determine the effects of heat stress exposure on broiler fattening performance, meat quality and microbial counts. 2. Six groups were established: CHP (24°C + 210 g/kg crude protein (CP)), SHP (34°C + 210 g/kg CP), CLP (24°C + 190 g/kg CP), SLP (34°C + 190 g/kg CP), SHPVE (34°C + 210 g/kg CP + Vitamin E) and SLPVE (34°C + 190 g/kg CP + Vitamin E) groups. 3. It was determined that the body weights of the male animals included in Group CHP displayed statistically significant differences in comparison to those of Groups SHP, CLP and SLP. Furthermore, it was ascertained that the values of Group CLP also displayed statistically significant differences in comparison to those of Groups CHP, SHP and SLP. The feed consumptions in Groups CHP and CLP were significantly different from those of the remaining groups, excluding Group SHP. The highest feed conversion rate was determined in Group SHPVE. 4. When evaluated for chicken drumstick TBA values, Group CHP differed significantly from Groups SHP, SHPVE, CLP and SLP, whilst Group CLP differed significantly from Groups SHP, SHPVE and SLP. On the other hand, when evaluated for breast meat TBA values, Group CHP displayed statistically significant differences in comparison to Groups SHP, SLP and SLPVE, whilst Group CLP differed significantly from Groups CHP, SHP, SLP and SLPVE. 5. The sensitivity of breast meat to colour susceptibility was greater than that of chicken drumsticks. While storage period affected the TBA values and microbial counts of meat significantly, its effect on colour parameters was found to be variable. Trial groups significantly affected total aerobic mesophilic bacteria counts in chicken drumsticks, and Enterobacteriaceae and total aerobic mesophilic bacteria counts in breast meat. 6. In conclusion, heat stress adversely affected final body weights and the lipid oxidation of meat, whilst vitamin E alleviated these adverse effects.

The Effects of Age and Gender on Gingival Tissue and Peripheral Blood T-Lymphocyte Subsets: A Study in Mice

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of age and gender on relative number of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte and CD4+/CD8+ ratios in gingival tissue and peripheral blood of periodontally healthy BALB/c mice with flow cytometric analysis. The study was carried out on periodontally healthy 60 BALB/c mice. They were separated into five groups according to the life expectancy: Group I (newborn, 1–10 days old), Group II (age at weaning, 21–28 days old), Group III (age of sexual maturity, puberty, 7–8 weeks old), Group IV (adult, 8 months old), and Group V (the aged, 14 and over). Males and females were equally represented in each group. CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes and CD4+/CD8+ ratio values in gingival tissue and peripheral blood were determined using flow cytometry in the biopsy samples. The relative number of CD8+ T lymphocyte in gingival tissue was higher in puberty (p < 0.05) and the aged (p < 0.05), with more significantly difference in males (p < 0.05). The CD4+/CD8+ ratios in gingival tissue were lower in puberty group and the-aged groups compared to the other groups (p < 0.05).The peripheral blood CD4+/CD8+ ratio increased in puberty and the aged groups. These differences were more significant in females than in males (p < 0.05). There were considerable negative correlations between CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocyte ratio in gingival tissue and CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocyte ratio in peripheral blood in puberty (r = 0.647, p < 0.01) and the aged ( r = 0.599, p < 0.05). In conclusion, our data suggest that CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocyte ratios in peripheral blood increase periodontally healthy mice in puberty and the old groups, while CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocyte ratios in gingival tissue decrease in the same groups. The relative number of CD8+ T lymphocytes increases in gingival tissue in puberty and the old groups when it decreases in peripheral blood. Results from this study indicated that periodontally healthy BALB/c mice may represent important information to determine the character of an immune response in the course of a lifetime.