Türkan Kutlu

Relationship among placental cadmium, lead, zinc, and copper levels in smoking pregnant women

Previous studies on Cd-exposed pregnant animals have reported a Cd−Zn interaction that result in increased placental Cd levels and decreased placental Zn transport. In this study, placental Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn status in pregnant women exposed to Cd and Pb through cigaret smoke was investigated. Placental tissues obtained from 30 nonsmokers (controls), 70 passive smokers, and 90 smokers were analyzed for Cu and Zn levels using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer and for Pb and Cd levels using an EG&G PARC Model 303A hanging mercury drop electrode. The result showed that whereas the placental Cd and Pb levels in smokers were higher that those of nonsmokers, Cu and zinc levels were lower in nonsmokers. These results imply that smoking during pregnancy could be harmful for both the mother and the fetus.

Synthesis, characterization, crystal structure, and antimicrobial studies of 2-morpholinoethyl-substituted benzimidazolium salts and their silver(I)- N -heterocyclic carbene complexes

This article describes synthesis of N-morpholinoethylbenzimidazole (1), 2-morpholinoethyl-substituted benzimidazolium salts (NHC precursors, 2a–c), and their Ag(I) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes (3a–c). All compounds were characterized by 1H and 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and elemental analysis, and their antimicrobial effects examined. The molecular structure of the NHC precursor 2a1 was established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC) values were determined to evaluate their antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus bacterial strains and Candida albicans fungal species. All tested samples were compared with silver nitrate. All the compounds exhibited strong antimicrobial activity.