Microencapsulation of parathyroid cells via electric field and non-surgical transplantation approach.

PURPOSE: Hypoparathyroidism is a rare disease with low PTH, mostly seen as a consequence of neck surgery. Current management is the prescription of calcium and vitamin D, but the definitive treatment is parathyroid allotransplantation, which frequently triggers an immune response, thus cannot achieve the expected success. To overcome this problem, encapsulation of allogeneic cells is the most promising method. By optimizing the standard alginate cell encapsulation technique with parathyroid cells under high-voltage application, the authors reduced the size of parathyroid-encapsulated beads and evaluated these samples in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Parathyroid cells were isolated, and standard-sized alginate macrobeads were prepared without any electrical field application, while microbeads in smaller sizes (< 500 µm), by the application of 13 kV. Bead morphologies, cell viability, and PTH secretion were evaluated in vitro for four weeks. For the in vivo part, beads were transplanted into Sprague-Dawley rats, and after retrieval, immunohistochemistry and PTH release were evaluated in addition to the assessment of cytokine/chemokine levels. RESULTS: The viability of parathyroid cells in micro- and macrobeads did not differ significantly. However, the amount of in vitro PTH secretion from microencapsulated cells was significantly lower than that from macroencapsulated cells, although it increased throughout the incubation period. Immunohistochemistry of PTH staining in both of the encapsulated cells identified as positive after retrieval. CONCLUSION: Contrary to the literature, a minimal in vivo immune response was developed for alginate-encapsulated parathyroid cells, regardless of bead size. Our findings suggest that injectable, micro-sized beads obtained using high-voltage may be a promising method for a non-surgical transplantation approach.

Distortion optimization for wide-angle computational cameras.

An imaging system design procedure for miniature wide-angle computational cameras with subsequent software correction of distortion is described. Such miniature wide-angle computational cameras have a broad range of applications, including eye-tracked extraocular cameras for retinal prostheses, and also wearable visual aids for the blind and those with low vision. As significant (typically barrel) distortion is commonplace in wide-field-of-view imaging systems, digital post-processing is often employed to generate rectilinear output images. Relaxation of the constraint on distortion during the optical system design process is shown to allow for improved optimization of other image-degrading aberrations. Analysis of the effects of distortion on the software-corrected final image during optical design is accomplished by using comprehensive image quality metrics such as the correlation coefficient and the spatial frequency response. Selection of a surprisingly large exact initial distortion value as a constraint allows for the design of a miniature wide-angle imaging system that yields significantly enhanced final image quality.

The effects of ozone application on genotoxic damage and wound healing in bisphosphonate-applied human gingival fibroblast cells.

OBJECTIVES: Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ) is an extremely therapy-resistant disease involving the jaws especially following bisphosphonate treatment. Bisphosphonates accumulate in bone in concentrations sufficient to be directly toxic to the oral epithelium. Current therapeutic options are inadequate for the prevention and treatment of MRONJ. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of ozone gas plasma therapy on wound healing in bisphosphonate-applied human fibroblasts. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Human primary gingival fibroblasts were cultured. Cytotoxic concentrations (IC50) of bisphosphonates (pamidronate (PAM), alendronate (ALN), and zoledronate (ZOL)) were determined by MTT test. A 60 µg/µl for 30 s of ozone gas plasma application was performed to all experimental culture flasks after drug treatment at 24-h intervals as 3 s/cm2. Genotoxic damages were evaluated by comet assay and wound healing was determined by in vitro scratch assay. RESULTS: PAM, ALN, and ZOL applications caused genotoxic damage on primary human gingival fibroblast DNA. Ozone gas plasma therapy significantly decreased the genotoxic damage (p < 0.05), and this application provided 25, 29, and 27% less genotoxic damage in order of ALN, PAM, and ZOL groups. Ozone gas plasma therapy significantly increased wound healing rates both in postsurgical 24th and 48th hours for all doses of experimental drug groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The ozone gas plasma application decreased genotoxic damage effect of bisphosphonate usage while improved the wound closure rate on human gingival fibroblasts. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Ozone gas plasma therapy may be helpful in prevention of gingival healing delay in MRONJ pathogenesis especially when applied simultaneously with surgical intervention.

Micro RNA-126 coordinates cell behavior and signaling cascades according to characteristics of breast cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Micro RNA-126 is known to enhance apoptotic processes and also plays a role in vascular growth through the regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor-mediated signaling, angiogenesis, and vascular integrity. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the role of miR-126 in breast cancer cell lines with a variety of different characteristics to evaluate its interaction with certain cancer-related molecules and mechanisms. METHODS: To determine the effect of presence and absence of miR-126 in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, miR-126 mimics and inhibitor were transfected. miRNA and gene expressions were observed by using RT-PCR. Viability, proliferation, adhesion, invasion and lateral motility assays were performed to determine cell behavior changes. RESULTS: miR-126 is more effective on MDA-MB-231 cells on cell behavior. We observed an increase in miR-126 expression when miR-126 mimics was transfected to MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Also, there was a decrease in miR-126 expression when MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were transfected with miR-126 inhibitor. Furthermore, presence and absence of miR-126 modulated the gene expressions of VEGF/PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that miR-126 is in a state of interaction with a multitude molecules playing a role in breast cancer. According to obtained data, we can say that miR-126 may be more effective in inhibition of metastatic breast cancer (Tab. 4, Fig. 3, Ref. 46).

Is induction of labour by Propess(®) safe? A comparison of midwife-led versus obstetrician-led labour management.

This retrospective study compared maternal and fetal outcomes after labour induction, using a dinoprostone vaginal pessary (Propess(®)) in midwife-led and obstetrician-led labour management. Labour induction outcomes, delivery mode and rates of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit were compared. A total of 405 women, 40.5% (n = 164) from midwife-led units and 59.5% (n = 241) from an obstetrician-led unit, participated. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in caesarean section rate or neonatal intensive care unit admission rates (p = 0.789 and 0.769, respectively). Non-reassuring fetal non-stress test and uterine hyperstimulation risks were higher in the obstetrician-led unit (p = 0.003 and 0.001, respectively, and odds ratio (OR) 0.165, 95% CI: 0.117-0.232 and OR 0.218, 95% CI: 0.078-0.611, respectively). Postpartum blood transfusion rate was higher in the midwife-led units (p = 0.002, OR 8.082, 95% CI: 1.879-39.292). Labour induction with Propess(®) is safe during both midwife-led and obstetrician-led labour management.

Serum YKL-40 levels as a novel marker of inflammation in patients with endometriosis.

PURPOSE: To establish serum YKL-40 concentrations in patients with endometriosis compared to age-matched healthy subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional clinical study conducted in a tertiary care center. Demographics and serum YKL levels were determined and noted in a total of 63 cases (33 endometriosis patients, 30 healthy controls). Measurement of YKL-40 levels was made using a YKL-40 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit according to the manufacturer's protocol. RESULTS: The mean serum YKL-40 levels of the patient group was 106.0 +/- 15.9 (range 23.44 to 382.55) years, while the mean serum YKL-40 levels of the controls was 52.2 +/- 7.0 (range 22.35 to 160.0) years (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study evaluating serum YKL-40 levels in endometriosis. The present results indicate that YKL-40 levels were increased in patients with endometriosis compared to controls. The authors propose that circulating YKL-40 levels could be a novel biomarker for diagnosis and follow-up of endometriosis.

First Report of Fire Blight Caused by Erwinia amylovora on Meadowsweet (Spirea prunifolia) in Turkey.

Fire blight, caused by Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winslow et al., affects plants in the Rosaceae family, which includes trees and shrubs in orchards, nurseries, and landscape plantations. During the springs and summers of 2008 and 2010, dying branches, necrotic leaves attached to shoots, and blighted twigs of meadowsweet (Spirea prunifolia) were observed at three different locations of landscape areas in Konya Province, Turkey. Disease incidence was approximately 1% on the plants during the surveys. Initial symptoms of reddish to brownish streaks on the shoots of infected plants were observed in spring. Nine representative bacterial strains were isolated from the lesions on shoots of seven meadowsweet plants on nutrient sucrose agar (NSA) medium and identified as E. amylovora on basis of biochemical, physiological (2,3) and molecular tests (1). Bacteria were gram-negative, rod shaped, aerobic, fermentative, yellow-orange on Miller and Scroth medium (2), positive for levan formation and acetoin production, did not grow at 36°C, positive for gelatin hydrolysis, and negative for esculin hydrolysis, indole, urease, catalase, oxidase, arginine dehydrolase, reduction of nitrate, acid production from lactose, and inositol. All strains were hypersensitive response-positive on tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum var. White Burley) plants. All strains were identified as E. amylovora using the species-specific primers set, A/B (1), by PCR assay, and by fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profiles determined by Sherlock Microbial Identification System software (TSBA 6 v. 6.00; Microbial ID, Newark, DE) with similarity indices ranging from of 79 to 99%. Pathogenicity was tested by injecting of petioles and actively growing three shoot tips of 2-year-old S. prunifolia seedlings cv. number 29 using a 0.46 mm-diameter hypodermic needle with bacterial suspensions containing 108 CFU mL-1 in sterile distilled water (SDW) Plants were inoculated with each of the nine bacterial strains and two references strains, Ea29 and NCPPB 2791 (Selcuk University, Department of Plant Protection, Konya, Turkey). Symptoms resembling those associated with natural infection appeared on the inoculated plants 7 days after inoculation. Plants inoculated with SDW served as a negative control treatment, and no symptoms were observed on these plants. All tests were repeated three times with the same results. Bacterial re-isolations were attempted from the control plants as well as shoots and leaves inoculated with the two reference strains and the nine bacteria identified as E. amylovora. Bacteria isolated from inoculated plants were identified as E. amylovora using the biochemical, physiological, and molecular tests described above, but this bacterium was not isolated from the control plants. Phytosanitary measures must be taken to avoid spread of the pathogen to ornamentals in new landscape areas in Turkey. This report is important because infected Spirea spp. can be a potential inoculum source for other rosaceous ornamentals. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of fire blight on meadowsweet in Turkey. References: (1) S. Bereswill et al. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 58:3522, 1992. (2) A. L. Jones and K. Geider. Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, pp. 40-55. American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 2001. (3) R. A. Lelliott and D. E. Stead. Methods for Diagnosis of Bacterial Diseases of Plants (Methods in Plant Pathology). Oxford, UK, 1987.

Importance of nasal septal cartilage perichondrium for septum strength mechanics: a cadaveric study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the biomechanical qualities of the perichondrium and cartilage, and to determine the strength of the septal cartilage against bending forces. STUDY DESIGN: This paper describes an experimental cadaver study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The nasal septal cartilages of 14 fresh cadavers (8 hours postmortem) were excised from the cadavers and cut into two strips: one with the perichondrium (group A) and one without perichondrium (group B). A bending test was then performed on the strips. RESULTS: The deflection of group A strips was larger than the deflection of group B strips. Flexural strength was also larger in group A strips compared to group B strips. The average modulus of elasticity was 122% higher in group A compared to group B. All conducted tests revealed statistically significant differences between groups. CONCLUSION: This study objectively shows that the perichondrium provides the cartilage with a 25% bending strength.

Evaluation of the effects of maternal anxiety on the duration of vaginal labour delivery.

OBJECTIVE: In the present study, the authors aim to investigate the effect of anxiety during late pregnancy periods and during labour on the duration of delivery in patients giving birth vaginally. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the study we included 50 nulliparous and 35 multiparous patients who were at or above the 28th gestational age and followed-up and admitted for birth at the present hospital. During the admission at the outpatient clinic at third trimester and at the beginning of labour, anxiety levels of patients were detected by performing the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The duration of the labour stages of pregnant women were recorded and these durations and maternal state-trait anxiety levels were compared. RESULTS: The trait anxiety of patients both during the third trimester and labour was similar, while during labour state anxiety was seen to be increased. Statistically, the levels of the trait anxiety of multiparous patients were significantly higher. There was a statistically significant correlation between state anxiety for both periods in nulliparous patients and latent and active phases, the first and the second stages, and total duration of the labour. In addition, there was a significant relationship between trait anxiety levels for both period and total duration of the labour. For multiparous patients, only positive significant correlation was detected with the level of state anxiety during labour. CONCLUSION: It has been seen that the anxiety occurring at the last trimester of pregnancy and labour, and especially acute state anxiety have negative effects on the duration of the phases of labour. It has been considered that the physical care provided for patients at the last trimester and during labour and also evaluation in terms of anxiety and provision of emotional support may cause positive outcomes for the duration of labour.

Characteristics and outcome of 16 periprosthetic shoulder joint infections.

PURPOSE: Shoulder arthroplasties are increasingly performed, but data on periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) in this anatomical position are limited. We retrospectively investigated the characteristics and outcome of shoulder PJI after primary arthroplasty from 1998 to 2010 in a single centre. METHODS: Periprosthetic joint infection was defined as periprosthetic purulence, presence of sinus tract or microbial growth. A Kaplan-Meier survival method was used to estimate relapse-free survival of prosthesis. RESULTS: From 1,571 primary shoulder prostheses, we evaluated 16 patients with a PJI at different stages, i.e, early (n = 4), delayed (n = 6) and late (n = 6) infections. The median patient age was 67 (range 53-86) years, and 69 % were females. The most commonly isolated microorganism was Propionibacterium acnes in 38 % of patients (monobacterial in four and polymicrobial in two patients). In 14 of the 16 patients, surgical interventions consisting of debridement and implant retention (6 patients), exchange (7) and explantation (1) were performed. Four patients had a relapse of infection with P. acnes (n = 3) or Bacteroides fragilis (n = 1). The relapse-free survival of the prosthesis was 75 % (95 % confidence interval 46-90 %) after 1 and 2 years, 100 % in six patients following the treatment algorithm for hip and knee PJI and 60 % in 10 patients not followed up. All but one of the relapses were previously treated without exchange of the prosthesis. CONCLUSIONS: As recommended for hip and knee PJI, we suggest treating shoulder PJI with a low-grade infection by microorganisms such as P. acnes with an exchange of the prosthesis. Cohort studies are needed to verify our results.

In vitro comparison of induction capacity and biomineralization ability of mineral trioxide aggregate and a bioceramic root canal sealer.

AIM: To compare the effect of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and iRoot SP, a bioceramic root canal sealer, on the cell viability, hard tissue deposition capacity and odontogenic differentiation of human tooth germ stem cells (hTGSCs). METHODOLOGY: The dental materials MTA, iRoot SP and Dycal were packed into Teflon rings and placed on transwell inserts for toxicity evaluations by the MTS assay on days 3 and 7. Dycal was used as a positive control for the cell viability assay. Teflon rings were cocultured with hTGSCs, followed by the induction of odontogenic differentiation. The odontogenic differentiation of hTGSCs and biomineralization ability of the materials were evaluated by analysing the mRNA expression levels of dentine sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) and collagen type 1A (COL1A) by real-time polymerase chain reaction expression analysis, measurement of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and visualization of calcium deposits by von Kossa staining. RESULTS: MTA and iRoot SP exhibited no cytotoxicity, but Dycal caused cytotoxicity (P < 0.05) of almost all of the cells after 7 days. MTA significantly stimulated (P < 0.05) the odontogenic differentiation of hTGSCs compared with iRoot SP. MTA and iRoot SP increased (P < 0.05) the mRNA levels of COL1A and DSPP mRNA compared with noninduced hTGSCs, which served as a negative control (NC). iRoot SP, however, significantly decreased (P < 0.05) COL1A and DSPP mRNA expression levels compared with the PC. CONCLUSION: MTA and iRoot SP induced hTGSC differentiation into odontoblast-like cells, but MTA might provide more inductive potential and hard tissue deposition compared with iRoot SP.

First Report of Fire Blight Caused by Erwinia amylovora on Rosehip (Rosa canina) in Turkey.

During the summers of 2008 and 2010, leaf and shoot blight, wilting of the tips of young infected shoots, and cankers with brown discoloration on twigs were observed on six dog rosehip (Rosa canina) plants from four different private orchards in Eregli district of Konya Province, Turkey. Disease incidence was estimated to be approximately 0.5% on rosehips over 2 years within all survey areas, and surveys showed that ~4 ha was infested. Bacteria isolated from diseased leaf and shoot tissues was macerated and streaked on nutrient sucrose agar (NSA) and King's medium B (KB). Typical light cream, levan-positive colonies developed on NSA medium after a 2-day incubation at 25°C. Colonies on KB were white and non-fluorescent (1). Bacterial strains were identified on the basis of biochemical, physiological (2), and molecular tests (3). Eleven representative bacterial strains isolated were gram-negative, rod-shaped, mucoid, fermentative, yellow-orange on Miller & Scroth medium, positive for levan formation and acetoin production, no growth at 36°C, positive for gelatin hydrolysis, and negative for esculin hydrolysis, indole, urease, catalase, oxidase, arginine dehydrolase, reduction of nitrate, and acid production from lactose and inositol. Two reference strains of Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winslow et al. (Ea43b and NCPPB 2791) obtained from culture collection of Selcuk University, Department of Plant Protection, Turkey, were used as positive controls. All strains induced a hypersensitive response in tobacco (Nicotiana tabaccum cv. White Burley) plants within 24 h after inoculation with a 108 CFU/ml bacterial suspension in sterilized distilled water (SDW) (~50 µl), and the strains produced ooze on inoculated immature pear fruit slices cv. Ankara. All strains were identified as E. amylovora using the species-specific primers set A/B (A: 5' CGGTTTTTAACGCTGGG 3' and B: 5' GGGCAAATACTCGGATT 3') (3) by PCR assay to generate a 1-kb DNA fragment, and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profiles determined by Sherlock Microbial Identification System software with similarity indices ranging from 84 to 97%. Pathogenicity was tested by inserting a suspension (108 CFU/ml SDW) of each of the 11 bacterial strains and two references strains into actively growing shoot tips and petioles of 4-year-old plants of Rosa canina using a 0.46-mm-diameter hypodermic needle. Leaf and shoot blight symptoms resembling the natural infection were developed on the inoculated plants 7 to 10 days after inoculation. SDW was injected similarly as a negative control treatment, and no symptoms were observed on the control plants. All tests were repeated three times. Re-isolations were done from shoots and leaves of inoculated plants with the two reference strains and the 11 bacteria, and control plants. Obtaining bacteria were identified as E. amylovora using the biochemical, physiological, and molecular tests described above, but this bacterium was not isolated from the control plants. To our knowledge, this is the first report of E. amylovora on rosehip in Turkey. References: (1) R. A. Lelliott and D. E. Stead. Methods for Diagnosis of Bacterial Diseases of Plants (Methods in Plant Pathology). Oxford, UK, 1987. (2) A. L. Jones and K. Geider. Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, Pp. 40-55, American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 2001. (3) S. Bereswill et al. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 58:3522, 1992.

The role of group education on quality of life in patients with a stoma.

Stoma education has been traditionally given in a one-to-one setting. Since 2007, daily group education programmes were organised for stoma patients and their relatives by our stoma therapy unit. The programmes included lectures on stoma and stoma care, and social activities in which patients shared their experiences with each other. Patients were also encouraged to expand interaction with each other and organise future social events. A total of 72 patients [44 (61.1%) male with a mean (± SD) age of 56.8 ± 13.6 years] with an ileostomy (n= 51, 70.8%), a colostomy (n= 18, 25.0%) or a urostomy (n= 3, 4.2%) were included in the study. Patients were asked to answer a survey (SF-36) face-to-face before the initiation of the programme, which was repeated 3 months later via telephone call. The comparison of pre-education and post-education SF-36 scores revealed a statistically significant improvement in all 8-scale profiles, but not in vitality scale, and both psychometrically-based and mental health summary measures. Analyses disclosed that married patients and those who were living at rural districts seem to have the most improvement in life quality particularly in bodily pain, general health and role-emotional scales and mental health summary measure. In our opinion, group educations may be beneficial for stoma patients, and stoma therapy units may consider organising similar activities.

First Report of Fire Blight Disease on Blackberry in Turkey.

During 2008 and 2009, a new disease on blackberry (Rubus fruticosus cv. Chester) causing leaf and shoot blight and cankers with brown discoloration of necrotic tissues on mature branches was observed in Isparta and Konya provinces of Turkey. Disease incidence was estimated to be 4% for the two years. Isolations were made from lesions on leaves and shoots on nutrient sucrose agar (NSA) medium. Bacteria consistently isolated from the diseased tissues were identified on the basis of biochemical, physiological (2), and molecular tests (1). Eleven representative bacterial strains were gram-negative, rod-shaped, mucoid, fermentative, yellow-orange on Miller and Scroth (MS) medium, positive for levan formation and acetoin production, no growth at 36°C, positive for gelatin hydrolysis, and negative for esculin hydrolysis, indole, urease, catalase, oxidase, arginine dehydrolase, reduction of nitrate, acid production from lactose, and inositol. Two reference strains of Erwinia amylovora (EaP28 and NCPPB 2791) obtained from the culture collection unit of Selcuk University were used as positive controls. All strains induced a hypersensitive response in tobacco (Nicotiana tobaccum cv White Burley) 24 h after inoculation with a 108 CFU/ml bacterial suspension in water. All strains were identified as E. amylovora using the species-specific primers set A/B (1), which amplified a 1-kb DNA fragment in PCR, and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profiles determined by Sherlock Microbial Identification System software (TSBA 6 v. 6.00; Microbial ID, Newark, DE) with similarity indices ranging from of 79 to 99%. Pathogenicity was confirmed by injecting bacterial suspensions (108 CFU/ml-1) in sterile distilled water into the shoot tips of 2-year-old R. fruticosus cv. Chester and the first blighting symptoms were observed on leaves within 3 days and also 10 days later after inoculation on shoots. Sterile distilled water was used as a negative control. No symptoms were observed on control plants. All tests were repeated three times. The bacterium was reisolated from inoculated plants and identified as. E. amylovora. To our knowledge, this is the first report of E. amylovora on blackberry in Turkey. Phytosanitary measures are needed to prevent any further spread of the bacterium to new blackberry areas. References: (1) S. Bereswill et al. App. Environ. Microbiol. 58:3522, 1992. (2) A. L. Jones and K. Geider. Lab. Guide for Identification of Plant Pathological Bacteria, 40, 2001.

First Report of Fire Blight Disease Caused by Erwinia amylovora on Rockspray (Cotoneaster horizontalis) in Turkey.

In the late summer and early winter of 2008 and 2009, leaf and shoot blight and cankers with reddish and brownish necrotic tissue on mature branches of Cotoneaster horizontalis were investigated in landscape areas of Konya province in Turkey. Disease incidence was estimated at 2%. Bacteria were consistently isolated from the lesions on leaves and shoots on nutrient sucrose agar medium. Twelve representative bacterial strains were isolated and characterized as gram-negative, rod-shaped, mucoid, fermentative, yellow-orange on MS medium, positive for levan formation and acetoin production, no growth at 36°C, positive for gelatin hydrolysis, and negative for indole, urease, oxidase, arginine dehydrolase, reduction of nitrate, and acid production from lactose and inositol (2). Two reference strains of Erwinia amylovora (EaP28 and NCPPB 2791) obtained from the culture collection unit of Selcuk University were used as positive controls. All strains induced a hypersensitive response in tobacco (Nicotiana tobaccum cv. White Burley). All strains were identified as E. amylovora on the basis of amplification of a 1 kb DNA fragment with a species-specific primer set, A/B (1) by PCR, and fatty acid methyl ester profiles determined by Sherlock Microbial Identification System software (TSBA 6 v. 6.00; Microbial ID, Newark, DE) with similarity indices ranging from of 83 to 96%. Pathogenicity tests were performed by injecting 20 µl of a bacterial suspension (108 CFU ml-1) into the shoot tips of 3-year-old C. horizontalis seedlings. Leaf and shoot blighting symptoms were observed within 10 to 15 days, but no symptoms were observed on control plants treated with sterile water. The bacterium was reisolated from the lesions on leaves and shoots and identified as described above. To our knowledge, this is the first report of E. amylovora on cotoneaster in Turkey. Control measures are needed to prevent any further spread of the bacterium to new landscape areas. References: (1) S. Bereswill et al. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 58:3522, 1992. (2) A. L. Jones and K. Geider. Page 40 in: Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathological Bacteria, 2001.

Effects of hot air and freeze drying methods on antioxidant activity, colour and some nutritional characteristics of strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L) fruit.

Antioxidant activity, colour and some nutritional properties of hot air and freeze-dried strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) fruits were investigated. Additionally, the effects of two pre-treatments, namely ethyl oleate and water blanching, were compared in terms of drying characteristics. For determination of antioxidant activities in ethanol extracts, two different analytical methods were used: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity and ß-carotene bleaching activity. As a result, the ethyl oleate pre-treatment shortened the drying time by hot air method and gave a higher 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity (82.16 ± 0.34%), total phenolic content (7.62 ± 1.09 µg GAE/g extract), ascorbic acid content (236.93 ± 20.14 mg/100 g), besides hydromethylfurfural was not observed. Freeze-dried fruits exhibited higher ascorbic acid content (368.63 ± 17.16 mg/100 g) than those fresh fruits (231.33 ± 19.51 mg/100 g) and nearly 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl activity (93.52 ± 0.41 %) to fresh fruits (94.03 ± 1.18%). Colour characteristics, sugar content and mineral contents of fruits were significantly affected by pre-treatments and drying methods (p < 0.05). It is concluded that the drying of strawberry tree fruits should bring a valuable and attractive foodstuff to food industry due to the rich nutritional components, antioxidant activity and colour. Another conclusion from this study is that the freeze-drying is the best drying method to keep the nutritional value, antioxidant activity and sensory properties of fruits.

Happiness and social appearance anxiety in overweight young girls.

OBJECTIVE: This research was conducted to determine the relationship between social appearance anxiety and happiness in overweight young girls. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This is a correlational descriptive study and the study sample included 343 overweight young female students from a university in eastern Turkey. A Personal Information Form, the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire-Short Form (OHQ-SF), and the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale (SAAS) were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics (percentage, mean, standard deviation), independent-samples t-test, analysis of variance, and correlation and regression analyses were used in data analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 21.55 ± 3.03 years. About a third of the participants (30.6%) was composed by year 3 university students, 60.6% had an income level equal to their expenditure level, and 50.7% was residing in the city center. The OHQ-SF mean total score of the participants was 17.03 ± 5.86, and the SAAS mean total score was 43.36 ± 17.07. There was a moderate negative correlation between the mean scores of the OHQ-SF and the SAAS (r: -.547, p<0.001). Social appearance anxiety explained 30% of happiness in young girls participating in the study (ß: -.547, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Happiness in young girls was effective on social appearance anxiety. Health professionals may also evaluate the level of happiness in the care and counseling services they provide to young girls during extraordinary circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

The relationship between papillary thyroid cancer and triglyceride/glucose index, which is an indicator of insulin resistance.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of thyroid cancer and metabolic syndrome has been increasing at the same rate over the past few decades. We hypothesized that there would be a direct relationship between thyroid papillary cancer and triglyceride/glucose index (TyG). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 382 operated patients were divided into two groups: patients operated on for papillary thyroid cancer and for non-malignant reasons. Each patient's age, gender, operation times, presence of neck dissection, serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxine (FT4), fasting blood glucose and triglyceride levels were scanned retrospectively from the archive system. RESULTS: TyG index was statistically higher in the malignant group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves obtained for TyG levels at the time of diagnosis of thyroid papillary cancer were AUC: 0.608. The threshold value for TyG was 6,252. The sensitivity of this value was 62.8% and the specificity was 49.2%. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we investigated the predictive effect of the TyG index in differentiating thyroid papillary carcinoma from non-malignant thyroid lesions. We concluded that the TgY index can be used to identify people at high risk of thyroid papillary cancer and to plan treatment.

The predictive value of platelet/mean platelet volume ratio in predicting colon diverticulitis relapse.

OBJECTIVE: Diverticulitis is a health problem that has increased in frequency recently. It has a wide spectrum from simple inflammation to fecal peritonitis, sepsis and even mortality. Thus, it is important to predict diverticulitis, especially recurrent diverticulitis, and take measures to prevent it. In this study, we investigated the predictive value of the PLT/MPV ratio, which is an inflammation marker in predicting the recurrence of diverticulitis disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, 132 patients diagnosed with diverticulitis were analyzed retrospectively. Patients' gender, age, localization of diverticulitis, number of diverticula in computed tomography (CT), hospitalization status, length of hospitalization, control colonoscopies, polyps' number and localizations in colonoscopies, presence of malignancy, need for surgery, and recurrences were not reported. White blood cell (WBC), Neutrophil (NE), Lymphocyte (LY), Hemoglobin (Hb), PLT, MPV, Albumin, Creatine Kinase (CK) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were examined. The patients were divided into two groups as those who did not relapse concerning diverticulitis and those who did, and statistical analysis was performed between the two groups about related parameters. RESULTS: Among all patients, recurrence was seen in 11 (10.1%) patients. The patients were divided into two groups according to their recurrence status and statistical significance was sought between the data. The calculated PLT/MPV ratio of patients who did not relapse was 25.61±8.05 and 34.98±11.37 for those who had a relapse (p=0.006). The sensitivity for MPV was 81.8%, a specificity of 57.1% and a cut-off of 9.85. The cut-off value for PLT was 207.5 with 100% sensitivity and 33.7% specificity. A cut-off value of 25.11 was found for PLT/MPV with 100% sensitivity and 49% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: PLT/MPV ratio was significantly higher in relapsed cases. Since it is easily accessible and inexpensive, it will guide physicians for diagnosis concerning early detection of relapse cases and initiation of appropriate treatment.

Cytotoxicity of 5 endodontic sealers on L929 cell line and human dental pulp cells.

AIM: To investigate the cytotoxicity of five root canal sealers on L929 mouse fibroblasts and primary human dental pulp cells. METHODOLOGY: Cylindrical specimens of AH Plus (Dentsply De Trey GmbH, Konstanz, Germany), RoekoSeal (Coltène Whaledent, Langenau, Germany), EndoREZ (Ultradent Products Inc., South Jordan, UT, USA), Epiphany (Pentron Clinical Technologies, LLCC, Wallingford, CT, USA) and Activ GP (Brasseller Inc., USA, Savannah, GA, USA) were kept at 37 °C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO(2) for thrice the length of the setting time given by the manufacturer. Extraction of specimens was performed after setting in cell growth medium for 1, 4 and 7 days. Undiluted, 50% and 25% diluted eluates were incubated with cultured cells for 24 and 72 h. Cytotoxicity was assessed using MTS colorimetric bioassay. Kruskal-Wallis test and post hoc Dunn's multiple comparison test were used to compare the sealers and diluted/undiluted eluates in terms of cell viability (% of control). Friedman test and post hoc Dunn's multiple comparison test were performed to compare extraction periods. Wilcoxon test was utilized in comparing 24- and 72-h readings. RESULTS: Undiluted 1-day eluate of Activ GP was significantly more cytotoxic than all other sealers (P < 0.0001). Undiluted 4- and 7-day eluates of Epiphany and Activ GP were significantly more cytotoxic than the other three sealers (P < 0.0001). Diluted eluates of Activ GP and Epiphany were generally less toxic than the undiluted ones. The cytotoxicity of Epiphany significantly increased as the extraction period increased (P < 0.0001). Epiphany became more toxic with time of exposure to cells. No or minimal cytotoxicity was observed with RoekoSeal, AH Plus and EndoREZ. CONCLUSIONS: The sealers exhibited varying degrees of cytotoxicity dependent on their chemical composition.