Assessment of pollution with biomarkers in fish culture

Biotransformation enzymes are stimulated or inhibited depending on the exposure to xenobiotics and widely used as a biomarker. In this study, EROD activity, GST activity, reduced GSH amount, amount of lipid peroxidation product MDA as oxidative stress parameter, and ACHE inhibition as a neuromuscular parameter were measured in liver and muscle tissues of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) produced in aquaculture of Kemer Dam and in concrete ponds located in Fethiye. Samples were collected in January and July from fish farming in net cages in Kemer Dam and concrete cages in Fethiye in order to evaluate seasonal changes. Also, physicochemical properties of water samples collected from trout farms were measured and evaluated together with five biomarkers. Significant ACHE inhibition was observed in both stations in parallel with the increase in ammonium nitrogen in the July period (p ≤ 0.05). In parallel with the increase in turbidity in the Kemer Dam, a significant increase in GSH, MDA level, and GST activity was detected (p ≤ 0.05). As a result of the assessment of all data, significant increases were detected in EROD induction, GST activity, MDA level, and ACHE inhibition in concrete cages in Fethiye when compared to Kemer Dam (p ≤ 0,05). It was observed that pollution was at a lower level in July compared to January, and in Kemer Dam compared to Fethiye.

Investigation of glucose catabolism in hypoxic Mcf 7 breast cancer culture

Hypoxia plays an important role in tumor phenotype and progression and alters glycolysis, with changes in signaling pathways that develop in response to hypoxia. In this study, the effects of oxygen (normoxia/hypoxia) and of glucose levels on the glucose metabolism was investigated in MCF-7 cancer cells. Under either normoxia or hypoxia conditions, the cells were exposed to glucose at different concentrations (0, 5.5, 15 or 55 mM) for either 3, 6, 12, 24 or 48 h. In all groups, cell viability, levels of key enzymes reflecting glycolytic metabolism in cell lysates, glucose consumed in the medium and extracellular lactate levels and wound closure percentages were determined. In hypoxic cells, intracellular consumption of glucose, and extracellular lactate levels due to increased glucose concentration were observed to be higher (compared to normoxia) and as a result of prolonged exposure to hypoxia, cells were observed to develop resistance to the prolonged exposure to hypoxia. The number of glycolytic enzymes obtained at different levels proved that cells had different potential capacities and changing mechanisms for the metabolic needs of the cell depending on the glucose amount in the medium and time in adapting to the oxygen tension. This study showed that there was an important interaction between hypoxia and glucose metabolism in general, and it was concluded that metabolic processes activated by hypoxia could offer new therapeutic targets.

Investigation of the bone metabolism in dogs with leishmaniasis

The present study was aimed at determining bone metabolism related changes in dogs with visseral leishmaniasis such as vitamin D, calcium, phosphate and ALP levels as compared to healthy ones. A total of 40 serums of male dogs aged between 4 and 6 years that were sent to Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Medicine, Parasitology Laboratory from Kuşadasy and Bodrum districts between the years 2012 and 2013, suspected with leishmaniasis, by the veterinary physicians in accordance with the cold chain rules and 20 of which were evaluated as leishmania seropositive and 20 as leishmania seronegative by the IFA test, were included in this study. There was no any statistically significant difference between the serum 25-OH-D3 levels of Leishmania positive and negative dogs (p>0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between the serum ALP (p<0.05), and P levels were observed to be higher in the seropositive dogs than in the seronegative dogs, while Ca level was low (p<0.001).

Oxidative stress and non-enzymatic antioxidative status in dogs with visceral Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is a potentially fatal chronic protozoan disease in human, canine and rodent species. The infection by Leishmania is endemic in the Mediterranean Sea region, Africa, Asia and South America. Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CanVL) is a systemic disease caused by Leishmania infantum and Leishmania chagasi from the Leishmania donovani complex group. The blood glutathione (GSH), plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), ascorbic acid (AA), beta-carotene, retinol and ceruloplasmin levels of dogs with CanVL were investigated to establish the status of the antioxidant defense mechanism in the infected animals. Dogs diagnosed as CanVL with amastigotes in lymph node smear examination and/or antibody titers > or = 128 were used as subjects, while those with no serological response against leishmaniasis were used as healthy controls. The glutathione and retinol amounts were decreased although not significantly (p > 0.05), but the MDA levels were significantly higher in dogs with VL, suggesting increased lipid peroxidation.