Immunohistochemical and histopathological evaluation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid-induced changes in rat kidney cortex.

This study aims to investigate the effect of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) on rat kidney cortex histology. Oral exposure of rats to 2,4-D for 28 days resulted in decreases in body weight gain and kidney weight. Histological examination showed degeneration in renal corpuscles and podocytes; vacuolization in the glomerulus with disintegration of the basal membrane; tissue edema; vacuolization, cystic dilation and invagination of the basal laminae in the tubular structures; dilation and congestion in renal corpuscular vessels and marked decrease in glomerular and stromal fibronectin reaction; suggesting that subacute 2,4-D administration induces dose-dependent histopathological degenerative effects in rat kidney cortex.

[Morphometric variations of the rumen ciliate, Ophryoscolex purkynjei Stein, 1858 (Ciliophora: Entodiniomorphida) from cypriot domestic goats]. / Kibris evcil keçilerinde yasayan iskembe siliyati Ophryoscolex purkynjei Stein, 1858 (Ciliophora: Entodiniomorphida)'de morfometrik varyasyonlar.

The species Ophryoscolex purkynjei and its four formae [O. p. f. purkynjei, O. p. f. bifidobicinctus, O. p. f. bicoronatus and O. p. f. tricoronatus] from the Cypriot domestic goats (Capra hircus) have been investigated from the viewpoint of the diagnostic morphometrical characteristics. Moreover, it was demonstrated that there was significant morphometrical variations among the same formae in different host animals. As the result of our investigation, it has been suggested that all of the morphometrical variations determined may originate from the individual physiological differences of the host animals (e.g. the other ciliate fauna, bacterial population, inter-specific antagonism etc.).

The association between factor XIII Val34Leu polymorphism and early myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Activated factor XIII (FXIII) cross-links between fibrin monomers, thus increasing the clot stability and resistance to fibrinolysis. Congenital FXIII deficiency causes severe bleeding diathesis. Recently, a common polymorphism of the FXIII A subunit (FXIII Val34Leu) has been identified as a protective factor against both arterial and venous thrombosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of FXIII Val34Leu polymorphism in coronary artery thrombosis, especially in young patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred and thirty patients under than 60 years of age with a history of myocardial infarction (%) and 130 healthy control subjects in the same age group were included to our study. Genomic DNA was extracted from venous blood samples and the polymerase chain reaction method was used to genotype FXIII Val34Leu polymorphism. Coronary risk factors such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia and smoking were compared between the groups with chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. The Leu allele frequency was significantly lower in patient group compared to control group (7.69% vs 19.23%, p=0.0001, chi-square). This difference was extremely significant in patients younger than 50 years-old (5.26% vs 19.64%, p<0.0001, chi-square). CONCLUSION: Our findings support the hypothesis that Val34Leu polymorphism in FXIII gene has a protective effect against myocardial infarction.