The genotypic effects on the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) berries grown in Turkey

In this study, chemical composition of berries of 10 sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) genotypes in Turkey was investigated. The total phenolic content of the berries ranged from 21.31 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per g dry weight basis to 55.38 mg GAE per g. The highest antioxidant activity was 93.54% (similar to the standard BHT at 200 mg/L) and the lowest was 80.38%. There was no correlation (R = 0.688) between the total phenolic content and the antioxidant activity. The major fatty acids in berries were palmitoleic acid (35.48%), followed by palmitic acid (28.13%), oleic acid (22.89%) and linoleic acid (3.96%). Total soluble solid content of sea buckthorn genotypes varied from 10.15 to 14.80%, titratable acidity varied from 2.64 to 4.54%, the pH varied from 2.63 to 2.98 and Vitamin C varied from 19 to 121 mg/100 mL. The average content of minerals in the sea buckthorn berries of different genotypes was 20,800 ppm N, 7100 ppm P, 7260 ppm K, 1960 ppm Ca, 1465 ppm Mg, 32 ppm Zn, 24 ppm Cu, 22 ppm Mn and 7 ppm Fe.     

The effect of tilmicosin on cardiac superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities

In this study, the effect of tilmicosin on cardiac superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities was investigated. Forty male BALB/c mice were used as material. Ten mice served as a control group, and 30 mice were injected with tilmicosin (25 mg/kg body weight, subcutaneously, with a single injection). After drug administration, they were monitored for 3 days. Tilmicosin caused decreases in cardiac superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities.     

Effects of florfenicol feeding on diversity and composition of the intestinal microbiota of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

Intestinal microbiota contributes health of living organisms. Florfenicol is an approved antimicrobial (AM) prescribed for several bacterial fish diseases. The present study investigated the extent to which florfenicol modulates intestinal microbial populations of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Florfenicol was administered orally to catfish at a standard therapeutic dose (10–15 mg/kg of body weight for 10 days), and the intestinal contents were collected and the 16S rRNA was subjected to Illumina sequencing. Alpha diversity analysis indicated that florfenicol significantly decreased microbiota richness and diversity. Beta diversity reflected a clear separation had occurred between the florfenicol‐fed and control groups. Results indicated a significant increase in the abundance of phylum Proteobacteria (98.97% vs. 79.35% of the population) and decrease in phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes (0.72% and 0.29% vs. 18.04% and 2.53%, respectively) in the florfenicol‐fed fish in comparison with the control fish. At the genus level, unclassified Enterobacteriaceae and Escherichia populations increased in the florfenicol group. In contrast, Plesiomonas, Aeromonas, Lactococcus, Clostridium sensu stricto, Romboutsia, Klebsiella, Turicibacter and Lactobacillus decreased in florfenicol‐fed fish in comparison with the control fish, indicating that intestinal microbiota of catfish was substantially modulated by florfenicol administration. Knowledge of changes in gut microbiota during medicated feed administration is important to improve fish performance and disease management and could enable the development of alternative therapeutic strategies.     

Investigation of direct toxic and teratogenic effects of anticoagulants on rat embryonic development using in vitro culture method and genotoxicity assay

Heparin and low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) are used to reduce the incidence of venous thromboembolism in pregnancy. Although, these agents have been shown to be safe when used during pregnancy, the studies about direct toxic and teratogenic effects of these drugs on embryonic development are limited. In this study, the effects of heparin and LMWHs on rat embryonic development were investigated by using in vitro embryo culture and micronucleus (MN) assay methods. Rat embryos were cultured in vitro in the presence of different concentrations of heparin (5-40 IU/ml), dalteparin (2.5-20 IU/ml), enoxaparin (25-100 microg/ml) and nadroparin (1-4 IU/ml). Effects of anticoagulants on embryonic developmental parameters were compared and embryos were evaluated for the presence of any malformations. After culturing the embryos, classic MN assay was performed. Anticoagulants significantly decreased all growth and developmental parameters dose-dependently. Dalteparin and enoxaparin were found to cause more developmental toxicity than heparin and nadroparin. Along with haematoma in general, heparin and nadroparin caused maxillary deformity, situs inversus and oedema most frequently, while neural tube defects were observed with dalteparin and enoxaparin. All agents also significantly induced MN formation in rat embryonic blood cells. These results indicate the possible genotoxic effects of anticoagulant agents on the developing rat embryo when applied directly.     

Antioxidative role of selenium against the toxic effect of heavy metals (Cd<Superscript>+2</Superscript>, Cr<Superscript>+3</Superscript>) on liver of rainbow trout (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus mykiss</Emphasis> Walbaum 1792)

The main purpose of this study is to discuss the effect of Cd⁺², Cr⁺³ and Se metals on biochemical parameters in liver tissue of Oncorhynchus mykiss. The rainbow trout were exposed to heavy metal stress (Cd⁺², Cr⁺³) at 2 ppm dosage. The present study was undertaken to determine the protective effect of selenium treatment at the same dosage (2 ppm) on some biochemical parameters. The activity of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the changes in levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) from biochemical parameters were determined in liver tissue of the fish groups exposed to heavy metals, especially for the selenium-applied groups. Results of this study showed that the activities of CAT, GSH-Px and SOD in the tissues of fish exposed to the stress of Cd⁺² and Cr⁺³ were significantly lower than the control groups (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the closer values to the control groups were obtained in selenium-added groups (Cr⁺³ + Se⁺⁴, Cd⁺² + Se⁺⁴). For the level of MDA, the last production of lipid peroxidation showed increases (P < 0.05) in the groups exposed to the metal stress, whereas significant decreases were obtained in selenium-applied groups. The result of the statistical evaluation showed that the negative effects occurring in the biochemical parameters of the applied groups exposed to the toxicity of heavy metal were significantly eliminated (P < 0.05) as a result of selenium treatment.     

Bioequivalence Study of Two Long-acting Oxytetracycline Formulations in Sheep

Two commercially available long-acting oxytetracycline hydrochloride formulations (Primamycin LA (Pfizer) and Terralent 20% LA (İ.E. Ulagay)) were administered by the intramuscular route to 20 clinically healthy sheep at a dose of 20 mg/kg. The study was performed in a two-period crossover design. Plasma samples were analysed by high-pressure liquid chromatography. The mean maximum concentrations (C _max) was 8.00 ± 2.05 μg/mland 8.61 ± 1.42 μg/ml, respectively. The mean area under the concentration time curve (AUC) values were 154.95 ± 50.37(μg h)/ml and 161.70 ± 47.02(μg h)/ml, respectively. The 90%confidence intervals for the ratio of C _max and AUC values for the test and reference product are with in the interval 70−143% for C _max and interval 80-−125% for AUC proposed by EMEA. It was concluded that Primamycin LA and Terralent 20% LA formulations are bioequivalent in their rate and extent of drug absorbtion. Ozdemir N. and Yıldırım, M., 2006. Bioequivalence study of two long-acting oxytetracycline formulations in sheep. Veterinary Research Communications, 30(8), 929–934     

Influence of an organic acid blend and essential oil blend,individually or in combination,on growth performance,carcass parameters,apparent digestibility,intestinal microflora and intestinal morphology of broilers

1. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of an organic acid (OA) and essential oil (EO) blends, individually or in combination, on growth performance, carcass parameters, apparent digestibility, intestinal microflora and intestinal morphology of broilers.

2. A total of 480 one-d-old male Ross 308 chicks were randomly assigned to 4 treatments consisting of 4 replicates each (n = 30 birds in each replicate). Dietary treatments consisted of a basal diet (control), and basal diet supplemented with 2 g/kg OA blend (OAB), 300 mg/kg EO blend (EOB), or with 2 g/kg OA and 300 mg/kg EO blend (OAB–EOB) for 42 d.

3. The dietary supplementation with EO blend or in combination with OA blend increased body weight gain and improved feed efficiency as compared to control. Dietary treatments had no significant effects on feed consumption or relative organ weights of broilers.

4. The OAB diet increased carcass yield compared to the control diet but the lowest carcass yield occurred with the OAB–EOB combination. Birds fed on EOB and OAB–EOB diets had lower ileum Escherichia coli counts than birds fed on the control diet.

5. There was no significant effect of treatments on apparent digestibility at 16–21 d but the EOB and OAB–EOB diets increased apparent digestibility of dry matter and crude protein during the finisher period (d 37–42) compared to the control diet.

6. Birds fed on the EOB and OAB–EOB diets had greater villus height in the ileum at 21 and 42 d of age and had lower crypt depth in the ileum at 42 d of age than birds given the control diet.

7. In conclusion, beneficial effects of the use of EO blend individually or in combination with the OA blend were observed but the OA blend alone was ineffective. Furthermore, the use of the combination of OA and EO was more effective, in some respects, than their individual use.

     

PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF HAZELNUT HUSK RESIDUES WITH DIFFERENT DECOMPOSITION DEGREES FOR SOILLESS GROWING MEDIA PREPARATION

In this study, the main physical, physiochemical, and chemical properties of hazelnut husk have been determined for the suitability as a container growing medium. Four substrates were prepared based upon decomposition degree: raw (H₁), medium decomposed (H₂, H₃), and strongly decomposed hazelnut husk samples (H₄), to determine the optimum growing medium parameters. Particle size was the key parameter to determine the physical properties, which was decreased with the increasing decomposition degrees. The main physical parameters were in the ranges for the ideal growing medium characteristics for H₄. Except for raw material (H₁), chemical characteristics such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), carbon (C)/nitrogen (N), and nutrients were within acceptable ranges. The results indicated that hazelnut husk could be an alternative growing media component for containerized crops, if optimum particle size within the range of 0-2mm is obtained, for both aeration and water holding requirements.     

Effects of anthropogenic activities on the Lower Sakarya River

We investigate the effects of anthropogenic activities on the Lower Sakarya River. The impacts of dam, levee, and bridge constructions, sand-gravel mining activities and water withdrawals during the industrialization period of the Sakarya River Basin have been explored by analyzing flow, sediment and channel cross section data from different periods in time by comparing pre- and post-1975 periods. The year 1975 is roughly determined to be commencement of heavy human activities. Assessment of data shows that average annual flow is reduced by almost 20% after 1975. Due to increased regulations after 1975 flow became less variable, i.e. low-flows are increased and high-flows are reduced. Flow showed less variation with seasons during the post-1975 period compared to the pre-1975 period. Close inspection of precipitation and temperature patterns over the course of this period indicates that these changes in the flow regime cannot be attributed to natural causes and must be instigated by anthropogenic activities. Analyses of sediment data point toward a consistent reduction in sediment concentration and loadings with years in the Lower Sakarya River. Sediment rating curves developed for pre- and post-1975 exhibit a similar pattern. The impact of the anthropogenic activities on the river cross section is also examined by employing data from 1965, 2003 and 2006 at various points along the river profile. We found as much as 1 m aggradation at the thalweg elevation along the river profile starting from the river mouth up to the 12th km. Degradation in thalweg elevation is observed upstream of the 12th km, as much as 7 m at some locations. This research clearly undermines how human activities can alter the river hydrology and morphology. The adverse impacts of these modifications on the stream ecology in the Lower Sakarya River unfortunately remain unresolved.