Influence of different irrigation and nitrogen levels on crude oil and fatty acid composition of maize (

The effect of irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer levels on the crude oil and fatty acid composition of maize cultivars was studied. Three levels of irrigation (50, 75 and 100% of field capacity) and nitrogen (100, 200 and 300 kg·ha-1) were used for treatment groups. After harvest, the crude oils were extracted and fatty acid profiles were determined by Gas Chromatography system. The study was repeated for two years and the interaction effects of fertilizer and irrigation were determined. Our results show that the crude oil content was affected positively by the fertilizer and the irrigation applications. As expected, the most abundant fatty acid was linoleic and the harvest year did not alter it. The highest linoleic acid content value was obtained with a 50% field capacity and 300 kg·ha-1 fertilizer treatment combination. In addition, fatty acid contents varied with the changing of interaction effects except for myristic and palmitic acid. Oleic acid was the second abundant fatty acid in the oil samples and the lowest oleic acid value was obtained with a 50% field capacity and 300 kg·ha-1 fertilizer treatment combination. Oleic acid content tended to increase with 75% field capacity but 100% field capacity treatment decreased in it.

Thiol/disulphide homeostasis in Bell's palsy as a novel pathogenetic marker

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Bell's palsy and a novel oxidative stress parameter, thiol/disulphide homeostasis.

DESIGN

A prospective study evaluating oxidative stress in Bell's palsy.

SETTING

This research took place in the department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Totally, 77 patients with Bell's palsy and 38 healthy controls were included in this study.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The blood levels of total and native thiol and disulphide activity were assessed, and their levels were compared in the patients and controls.

RESULTS

There were statistically significant differences between the patients and controls regarding thiol/disulphide parameters. The mean native thiol and total thiol were significantly lower and disulphide levels were higher in the Bell's palsy than controls. On binary logistic regression analysis, the created model showed 45.3% variation. The cut-off value was 18.95 for disulphides.

CONCLUSION

Native and total thiol levels were low in the Bell's palsy. This metabolic disturbance may have a role in the pathogenesis of Bell's palsy.

Osteochondromas of the spine

Osteochondromas are common developmental benign bone lesions, which rarely involve the spine. In a narrow space, such as the spinal canal, they may potentially lead to serious complications. Moreover, because this condition is fairly rare in the spine, it may be confused with other entities. The objective of this review is to describe the typical imaging findings of this rare, but occasionally significant condition of the spine.

MRI in ankle tuberculosis: Review of 14 cases

We reviewed the MR imaging features of ankle tuberculosis and determined the role of MR in its diagnosis. A retrospective analysis of 14 cases of ankle tuberculosis imaged with MRI was performed. Plain radiographs were also reviewed where available, and the imaging characteristics were noted. We also reviewed the medical records in order to assess the impact of the imaging findings on management of these patients. Magnetic resonance imaging is extremely helpful for detection, mapping the extent and resolution of the disease. It can identify cases, enables early institution of antituberculous chemotherapy and might obviate the need for surgery.

Unusual "floating balls" appearance of an ovarian cystic teratoma: sonographic and CT findings

Ovarian cystic teratomas are cystic fatty tumors that can be easily diagnosed by sonography and CT. We present a case of ovarian cystic teratoma with an unusual sonographic appearance of mobile, hyperechoic, intracystic fat balls; this finding correlated well with the appearance on CT.

Imaging in isolated sacral tuberculosis: a review of 15 cases

OBJECTIVE

To review imaging studies of isolated involvement of the sacrum due to tuberculosis and determine the role of imaging in the diagnosis and management of these patients.

DESIGN AND PATIENTS

A retrospective analysis of 15 cases of isolated sacral tuberculosis imaged with MR imaging was performed. The CT images were also reviewed where available, and the various lesion characteristics were identified. We also reviewed the medical records in an attempt to determine the impact of the imaging studies on the management of these patients.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients (5 male, 10 female) presented with symptoms of 3-15 months' duration. Chronic localized backache with muscle spasm was the commonest presenting symptom; discharging sinuses with abscess formation was found in six patients, five of whom were children. MR imaging of the sacrum revealed a hypointense marrow signal on T1-weighted images and hyperintense signal on T2-weighted images in 14 of 15 patients, the S2 vertebra being always involved. CT revealed osteolytic changes in the sacrum in all the five patients in whom CT was performed. All patients showed marked clinical improvement within 1 year of anti-tuberculous chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Isolated tuberculosis of the sacrum is uncommon but should be suspected in patients presenting with chronic low backache or children with discharging sinuses/abscesses and showing sacral destruction on CT or MR imaging. MR imaging can identify cases and enables early institution of antituberculous chemotherapy.

Multiple intracranial lipomas, hypogenetic corpus callosum and vestibular schwannoma: an unusual spectrum of MR findings in a patient

We describe imaging findings of a patient with multiple intracranial lipomas, hypogenetic corpus callosum and a vestibular schwannoma. We did not find association of intracranial lipomas and vestibular schwannoma in English literature.

Assessment of the genotoxic potential of riboflavin and lumiflavin. B. Effect of light

On exposure to visible light, riboflavin and lumiflavin produced reactive oxygen species such as singlet oxygen and superoxide radicals. The reaction was found to be time- and concentration-dependent. Both riboflavin and lumiflavin, upon illumination, showed mutagenic response in the umu test as well as in the Ames/Salmonella assay with Salmonella typhimurium TA102. The mutagenic response was partially abolished by superoxide dismutase while sodium azide did not have any effect. No mutagenicity was observed if the compounds were not illuminated. The results suggested the involvement of superoxide radicals in light-induced mutagenicity of riboflavin as well as lumiflavin.

Assessment of the genotoxic potential of riboflavin and lumiflavin. A. Effect of metabolic enzymes

The mutagenic potential of riboflavin and its photodegradation product lumiflavin was evaluated using the umu test, SOS chromotest and Ames Salmonella assay. Both riboflavin and lumiflavin by themselves were found to be non-mutagenic. On treatment with rat liver microsomal enzymes (S9) or caecal cell-free extract (CCE), lumiflavin acquired mutagenicity, while the status of riboflavin remained unaffected. Activation of lumiflavin by metabolic enzymes was found to result in an alteration of its spectral characteristics.