Use of fluorescent-based amplified fragment length polymorphism to resolve phylogenetic relationships of Colchicum species from Turkey.

The study of phylogenetic relationships between 14 Colchicum taxa spread throughout Turkey was performed using a fluorescent-based amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique. Five primer pair combinations were used in AFLP reactions. The data set was analyzed statistically using the NTSYS 2.1 software, and the neighbor-joining and maximum parsimony methods were implemented to generate phylogenetic trees. These analyses clustered the samples into 3 main clades. Both the neighbor-joining and maximum parsimony analyses resulted in similar topologies. Furthermore, supporting the phylogenetic trees, a similar grouping of 14 taxa was generated by principal component analysis. The AFLP analysis with 5 primer combinations was carried out to assess 14 taxa. Fragment sizes ranged from 54 to 462 bp in length for each primer combination. The average was 166 fragments per primer pair, primer B2 generated the highest number of bands (200), and primer B3 produced the lowest number of bands (112). A total of 834 polymorphic bands were scored. The cophenetic correlation coefficient between the data matrix and the cophenetic matrix for AFLP data was 0.72. Based on this molecular data, we concluded that the genetic diversity among these Turkish accessions is relatively high.

Chromosomal location of genomic SSR markers associated with yellow rust resistance in Turkish bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

We have previously reported Xgwm382 as a diagnostic marker for disease resistance against yellow rust in Izgi2001 x ES14 F2 population. Among the same earlier tested 230 primers, one SSR marker (Xgwm311) also amplified a fragment which is present in the resistant parent and in the resistant bulks, but absent in the susceptible parent and in the susceptible bulks. To understand the chromosome group location of these diagnostic markers, Xgwm382 and Xgwm311, in the same population, we selected 16 SSR markers mapped only in one genome of chromosome group 2 around 1-21 cM distance to these diagnostic markers based on the SSR consensus map of wheat. Out of 16 SSRs, Xwmc658 identified resistant F2 individuals as a diagnostic marker for yellow rust disease and provided the location of Xgwm382 and Xgwm311 on chromosome 2AL in our plant material.

The effects of opioids, local anesthetics and adjuvants on isolated pregnant rat uterine muscles.

Local anaesthetics, opioids and adjuvants are often used for managing labor pain. Some others of these agents are reported to cause alterations on uterine contractility during labor. However, there are controversies and the effects of some others are unknown. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate the effects of opioids such as alfentanyl, meperidine, remifentanyl; local anesthetics such as mepivacaine, ropivacaine, bupivacaine; and adjuvants such as clonidine and midazolam on isolated pregnant rat uterine muscle. Strips of longitudinal uterine smooth muscle obtained from rats pregnant for 18-21 days were suspended in 20 ml organ baths. Isometric tension was continuously measured with an isometric force transducer connected to a computer-based data acquisition system. The effects of cumulative concentrations of alfentanyl, meperidine, remifentanyl, mepivacaine, ropivacaine, bupivacaine, clonidine and midazolam (10(-8) - 10(-4) M, for all) on contractions induced by oxytocin (1 mU/ml) were studied. Alfentanyl (10(-5) M), meperidine (10(-5) M), remifentanyl (10(-4) M), bupivacaine (10(-4) M), ropivacaine (10(-4) M) and midazolam (3 x 10(-5) M) caused significant decreases in contractile responses of uterine strips to oxytocin. Contrastingly, mepivacaine increased (33.1% +/- 7.2%) oxytocin-induced contractions of uterine strips while clonidine exerted no significant effect. The sensitivity of myometrial preparations to tested local anesthetics or opioids did not differ significantly. The findings of the present study demonstrated that some local anesthetics, opioids and adjuvants caused significant and agent-specific alterations on contractility of the pregnant rat myometrium. Therefore, they seemed to have a potential to influence uterine contractility during clinical management of pain during labor. However, further research is needed to extrapolate these finding to clinical practice.

In vitro effects of opioids on pregnant uterine muscle.

Opioids are often used for obstetric analgesia. Ideal obstetric analgesia is attained with optimal pain relief and minimal risk for the parturient. Therefore, investigators in the present study explored the effects of different opioids on the myometrium of pregnant rats. Myometrial strips were exposed to increased concentrations of fentanyl (10(-8) M to 10(-6) M), alfentanil (10(-8) M to 10(-4) M), remifentanil (10(-8) M to 10(-4) M), and meperidine (10(-8) M to 10(-4) M). Decreased contractile activity was observed in myometrial strips isolated from pregnant rats at cumulative concentrations of fentanyl, alfentanil, remifentanil, and meperidine. The amplitude of contractions was reduced with increasing concentrations of opioids; this effect was statistically significant at a concentration of 10(-4) M. When administered at higher concentrations, opioids may decrease contractions in pregnant rat myometrium.

Comparison of epidural and combined spinal-epidural analgesia in the management of labour without pain.

The effects of combined spinal-epidural analgesia (CSEA) and epidural analgesia (EA) were studied in 50 healthy parturients randomly allocated to receive bupivacaine plus fentanyl either epidurally, or intrathecally and epidurally. Significant differences from baseline values were seen in systolic blood pressure at all time-points except for 4 h in the EA group and at 3 and 4 h in the CSEA group. Significant differences from baseline values were seen in diastolic blood pressure at 1, 2, 3 and 4 h in the EA group, whereas no significant differences from baseline were seen in the CSEA group. Pain scores in both groups were significantly decreased compared with baseline and all scores, except at 2h, were significantly lower in the CSEA group compared with the EA group. The duration of labour and total amount of drugs used were significantly decreased and cervical dilatation was faster with CSEA compared with EA. In conclusion, CSEA was associated with more rapid onset of analgesia and faster progress in cervical dilatation compared with EA, and can be used safely for labour analgesia.

Pain relief for children after adenotonsillectomy.

Effective pain relief following adenotonsillectomy in children remains a challenge. This study evaluated the effects of intramuscular 0.5 mg/kg ketamine, 1 mg/kg tramadol or 1 mg/kg meperidine on post-operative pain and recovery in 45 children aged 1-7 years undergoing adenotonsillectomy. Anaesthesia was induced with thiopental or sevoflurane (with succinylcholine for intubation) and was maintained with sevoflurane in oxygen and nitrous oxide. Post-operative pain was scored blind using a modified Toddler-Preschooler Post-Operative Pain Scale 30, 60, 120 and 240 min after tracheal extubation. Post-operative agitation scores were also recorded. Mean post-operative pain score was significantly higher in the tramadol-treated group compared with the meperidine-treated group 120 min after extubation. At all other time-points after extubation, mean post-operative pain scores were similar for the three treatment groups. Ketamine was associated with a significantly higher mean agitation score compared with tramadol and meperidine. We conclude that the effects of ketamine, meperidine and tramadol on post-operative pain following adenotonsillectomy in children were similar.

A comparison of the efficacies of different pre-treatment drugs in resolving the injection pain of rocuronium.

Efficacies of pre-treatment with lidocaine, remifentanil and metoclopramide in the reduction of pain and withdrawal movements induced by rocuronium injection were evaluated. Forty-four adult patients, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status I-II, undergoing elective surgery were randomly assigned to four groups. Each patient received intravenously either 10 mg metoclopramide, 50 mg lidocaine, 1 microg/kg remifentanil or 3 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride (control group); followed by occlusion with a tourniquet on the forearm. After 10 s, occlusion stopped and a priming dose of 0.06 mg/kg rocuronium was injected. The patient's response to rocuronium was graded using a four-point scale in a double-blind manner. All groups had significantly lower incidences of pain compared with the control group. After loss of consciousness with sodium thiopental, 0.6 mg/kg rocuronium was administered for intubation and withdrawal movements were assessed. The number of patients in whom withdrawal movements were lowest was in the lidocaine-treated group. Although there was no difference among the study drugs in the prevention of rocuronium-induced pain, lidocaine and remifentanil seemed to be clinically more effective than metoclopramide.

Comparison of the effect of ketamine added to bupivacaine and ropivacaine, on stress hormone levels and the duration of caudal analgesia.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare bupivacaine 0.25% and ropivacaine 0.2%, singly and in combination with ketamine, for caudal administration in children. Duration of analgesia, the need for other analgesics and the stress response were measured. METHODS: Eighty children were randomized into four groups of twenty. The bupivacaine group received bupivacaine 0.25% and the ketamine/bupivacaine group received bupivacaine 0.25% plus 0.5 mg/kg ketamine. The ropivacaine group received ropivacaine 0.2%, and the ketamine/ropivacaine group received ropivacaine 0.2% plus 0.5 mg/kg ketamine. The duration of analgesia and analgesic requirements were recorded for each group, as were peri-operative and post-operative concentrations of the stress hormones insulin, glucose and cortisol. RESULTS: Ketamine, added to either bupivacaine or ropivacaine for caudal analgesia, gave a longer duration of analgesia (P < 0.05) than bupivacaine or ropivacaine alone. In all groups, blood insulin concentration was increased, and cortisol concentration reduced. Glucose concentration was significantly increased in all groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ketamine can safely be added to ropivacaine 0.2% or bupivacaine 0.25% for caudal anesthesia in order to prolong duration of analgesia and reduce the need for additional analgesics. Stress hormone levels are partially attenuated.

Effect of chewing gum on plaque acidogenicity.

The aim of this investigation was to study the effect of chewing sucrose-containing gum, xylitol-sorbitol-containing gum and natural gum (Pistacia lenticus) on the pH recovery of sucrose challenged dental plaque. Plaque pH was measured by microtouch electrode method on two-days old plaque. The results of the present study suggest that the chewing gum increases plaque pH. Chewing natural gum created the highest plaque pH values.

Fluoride levels in breast milk and infant foods.

The aim of the present study is to determine the fluoride concentrations of breast milk, several milk formulations, cow's milk and yogurt shake in a nonfluoridated area, in order to estimate the fluoride intake of infants and evaluate fluoride supplementation suggestions. Breast milk samples were collected from 57 lactating mothers. Ten brands of milk formulations, 9 different brands of cow's milk and 3 brands of yogurt shake were purchased from the market. Fluoride concentrations of the samples were analyzed using a specific fluoride electrode. The average fluoride level was 0.019 +/- 0.004 ppm in breast milk, 0.022 +/- 0.007 ppm in cow's milk and 0.022 +/- 0.003 ppm in yogurt shake. Fluoride levels of milk formulations prepared by distilled water were ranging between 0.118 to 0.021 ppm. It is concluded that in non-fluoridated areas, fluoride intake of infants from the above sources is not very high and fluoride supplements may be prescribed.