The Effect of Total Anthocyanins Extracted From Sweet Cherry Cultivars on Carbonic Anhydrases and Antioxidant Activity

Total anthocyanins were extracted from eleven sweet cherry cultivars grown in Sakarya, Turkey. In vitro inhibition effects of extracted total anthocyanins on purified carbonic anhydrase I and II were investigated by using CO₂ as a substrate. The results showed that all extracted total anthocyanins inhibited the hCA I and hCA II enzyme activities. Among all cultivars, ‘Merton Premier’ was found to be the most active one against both hCA I (IC₅₀?=?0.83?µg/mL) and hCA II (IC₅₀?=?1.16?µg/mL). Additionally, the DPPH activities of the extracts were investigated as antioxidant properties. The results exhibited that ‘Churchill’ and ‘Merton Premier’ have high antioxidant activity with 74.102% and 73.503% DPPH activity, respectively.

     

In vitro inhibition of the carbonic anhydrase from saanen goat (Capra hircus) with pesticides

This study was conducted to determine the in vitro effects of four commonly used pesticides (Nuarimol™, Fenarimol™, Parathion-methyl™ and 2,4-D™) on erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity from Saanen goats (SG). The enzyme was 262.57-fold purified by affinity chromatography and the purity was confirmed by SDS-PAGE. Inhibitory effect of the pesticides on the purified enzyme was determined using the CO₂-hydratase activity method. IC₅₀ values of the pesticides that caused inhibition were determined by means of activity percentage diagrams. The concentrations of Nuarimol™, Fenarimol™, and 2,4-D™ that inhibited 50% of the enzymatic activity were 0.352, 0.924 and 2.04 mM, respectively. Conversely, the enzyme activity was increased by parathion-methyl.     

Imaging and surgical outcomes of spinal tumors in 18 dogs and one cat

Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, histological appearances and surgical outcomes of 18 dogs and one cat with spinal tumors are presented. Medical records of the cases admitted for spinal disorders were reviewed, and cases of spinal tumors that were diagnosed by MRI and confirmed by histological examination were included in this study. T1 weighted, T2 weighted and contrast enhanced T1 weighted images were taken and interpreted to evaluate the spinal tumors. The tumors were diagnosed as: meningioma (n = 6), ependymoma (n = 1), nerve sheath tumor (n = 4), metastatic spinal tumor (n = 3), osteosarcoma (n = 2), osteoma (n = 1), rhabdomyosarcoma (n = 1), and nephroblastoma (n = 1). Thirteen cases underwent surgical operation and the remaining six cases were euthanized at the request of the owners. The neurological status of the surgical cases did not deteriorate, except for one dog that showed ependymoma in the early period after the operation. These results indicate the potential for surgical gross total tumor removal of vertebral tumors to provide better quality of life and surgical collection of histological specimens for definitive diagnosis. For effective case management, dedicated MRI examination is important to accurate evaluation of the spinal tumors, and surgical treatment is useful for extradural and intradural-extramedullary spinal tumors.     

Comparative biological activities of a plaque-purified variant and a Turkish native isolate of SpliNPV-B against Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The noctuid moth Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) is an important pest of many cultivated plants worldwide and five different geographical Nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) strains of this pest have been isolated to date. Two of these, a plaque-purified variant of the S. littoralis NPV from Morocco (SpliNPV-M2) and a SpliNPV isolated from field-infected S. littoralis larvae found in Turkey (SpliNPV-TR1), were compared biologically in terms of infectiveness (median lethal dose, LD50) for third instars and in terms of virulence (median lethal time, LT50) for neonates and third-instar S. littoralis larvae. The LD50 values of SpliNPV-TR1 and SpliNPV-M2 were 20.73 and 185.21 occlusion bodies (OBs)/larva, respectively, with non-overlapping confidence limits indicating they were significantly different. Thus, SpliNPV-M2 was found to be significantly less infective (about nine times higher LD50) than SpliNPV-TR1. The LT50 values of neonates for SpliNPV-M2 and SpliNPV-TR1 were 37 and 43.9 h at a concentration of 10(6) OBs ml(-1), respectively. For these same isolates, the LT50 values at a concentration of 3 x 10(6) OBs ml(-1) were calculated as 35.6 and 41.7 h, respectively. The LT(50) values of third instars for SpliNPV-M2 and SpliNPV-TR1 were 147.4 and 160.5 h, respectively, at a dose of 3000 OBs/larva and 145.4 and 152.4 h, respectively, for the same isolates at a dose of 20,000 OBs/larva. On the other hand, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) and Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) revealed a lack of lethality of the SpliNPV-TR1 isolate.     

Investigation of the antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from gangrenous mastitis of ewes

In this study, Staphylococcus aureus strains (n = 110) isolated from seven ewe flocks in Sanliurfa, Turkey were screened for antibiotic resistance and biofilmforming ability as well as for genes associated with antibiotic resistance and biofilm-forming ability. All isolates were found to be susceptible to oxacillin, gentamicin, clindamycin, cefoxitin, tetracycline, vancomycin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, ciprofloxacin and sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim. The percent proportions of strains resistant to penicillin G, ampicillin and erythromycin were 27.2% (n = 30), 25.4% (n = 28) and 6.3% (n = 7), respectively. Regarding the antibiotic resistance genes, 32 (29%) isolates carried the blaZ and 8 (7.2%) the ermC gene. Other resistance genes were not detected in the isolates. All isolates showed biofilm-forming ability on Congo red agar (CRA), while 108 (98.18%) and 101 (91.81%) of them were identified as biofilm producers by the use of standard tube (ST) and microplate (MP) methods, respectively. All isolates carried the icaA and icaD genes but none of them harboured the bap gene. The results demonstrated that S. aureus isolates from gangrenous mastitis were mainly resistant to penicillins (which are susceptible to the staphylococcal beta-lactamase enzyme), and less frequently to erythromycin. Furthermore, all of the S. aureus isolates produced biofilm which was considered a potential virulence factor in the pathogenesis of staphylococcal mastitis.     

Rapid immunofiltration assay based on colloidal gold–protein G conjugate as an alternative screening test for bovine and ovine brucellosis

A non-enzymatic rapid immunofiltration assay (NERIFA) was developed as an alternative field test for rapid detection of anti-Brucella antibody in bovine and ovine sera. The assay was based on Brucella abortus lipopolysaccharide as diagnostic antigen and colloidal gold particle–protein G conjugate as detection reagent. Its diagnostic performance was evaluated using undiluted well-defined positive and negative serum samples in comparison with Rose Bengal test (RBT), complement fixation test (CFT) and a commercial and an in-house indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A perfect test agreement was found between NERIFA and ELISAs by kappa statistics. In addition, McNemar’s analysis of the results showed that the RBT for bovine sera and the CFT for ovine sera were found significantly less performant than indirect ELISAs and NERIFA. The results of the present study indicated that the NERIFA could be considered as a simple, rapid, and accurate field test for screening of ovine and bovine brucellosis. Therefore, this test constitutes a high potential to be used as an alternative model particularly in brucellosis prevalent tropical and subtropical geographical areas.     

Investigation of bovine brucellosis in the Northeastern Turkey

Bovine brucellosis, caused by Brucella abortus, is a significant problem for both public and animal health in Turkey. This study was conducted on the calving seasons between 2001 and 2006. A total of 626 serum samples of cattle obtained from 27 herds with a history of abortions was examined for Brucella antibodies by RBPT, SAT and ELISA. Of the cattle sera analysed, 221 (35,30%) and 206 (32, 92%) and 247 (39,45%) were found to be positive by RBPT , SAT and ELISA, respectively. B. abortus was isolated from 48 (32,21%) of 149 lung samples and stomach contents of the aborted fetuses. Based on the biochemical tests and the agglutination tests with monospecific A and M antisera, only 3 of the isolates were found to be B. abortus biotype 1 and the remaining 45 were biotype 3. This study also revealed that the dominant biotype of B. abortus was biotype 3 in this region. The determination of the agents responsible for bovine brucellosis and serosurvey of this disease are expected to help better understanding of this zoonotic infection in this region and neighbouring countries.     

A comprehensive 3D analysis of polymer flow through a conical spiral extrusion die

Several restrictions which are related to extruder machinery and nature of process material exist in the design of plastic extrusion dies. To this respect, it is very important to consider design criteria and limitations in order to operate extrusion dies at desired production rate and temperature. In the current study, flow field characteristics through a conical spiral mandrel die are analysed in detail by 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. The effects of operating conditions such as production rate and temperature on pressure drop through the spiral mandrel die and the occurence of melt fracture are investigated. The temperature dependent viscosity versus shear rate data for grade QB79P (CarmelTech) polypropylene (PP) melt under study are measured by use of rotational and capillary rheometers. Stress terms in the momentum equations are modeled by Generalized Newtonian Fluid (GNF) Model. For this, Bird-Carreau Model is employed as the viscosity model for the polymer melt. 3D CFD analyses provide comprehensive data and understanding with regard to flow behaviour through complex extrusion dies.     

Dietary vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol acetate) and selenium supplementation from different sources: performance, ascites-related variables and antioxidant status in broilers reared at low and optimum temperatures

1. This study compared the effect of dietary supplementation with organic or inorganic selenium (Se) sources plus control amounts or large amounts of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol acetate) in broilers raised at control (20 to 24 degrees C) or low (14.5 to 16.8 degrees C) temperatures after 2 weeks of age. 2. The following dietary treatments were used from one day old. Diet 1, the control diet, comprised a commercial diet containing 0.15 mg/kg inorganic Se and 50 mg vitamin E/kg feed. Diet 2 was the same as diet 1, supplemented with 0.15 mg/kg inorganic Se. Diet 3 was the same as diet 2 but was supplemented with 200 mg/kg vitamin E. Diet 4 was the same as diet 1, but inorganic Se was replaced with 0.30 mg/kg organic Se. Diet 5 was the same as diet 4, supplemented with 200 mg/kg vitamin E. 3. Low temperature reduced the growth rate of broilers; however, at 6 weeks, there were no differences in the body weights of birds fed on organic Se supplemented diets housed at low or control temperature. The feed conversion ratio was significantly affected by low temperature but not by diet. The heterophil/lymphocyte ratio was higher in chicks after one week in the cold, indicating mild stress. Blood triiodothyronine levels were significantly higher in birds after 1 and 4 weeks in the cold but thyroxin was not affected. 4. Organic Se supplementation increased relative lung weight at the control temperature, which might lead to greater respiratory capacity. Relative spleen weight significantly decreased in broilers fed diets supplemented with inorganic Se under cold conditions, a possible indication of chronic oxidative stress. 5. At the low temperature, supplementation with organic Se alone, or with inorganic Se and vitamin E increased glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity and glutathione (GSH) concentration in the liver of broilers, which may indicate increased activity of birds' antioxidant defence against suboptimal environments.