Ganoderma lucidum and Hypericum perforatum exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-androgen effect in rat model of experimental polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Since chronic inflammation is considered to be of key importance in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), we aimed to investigate Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide (GLP) and Hypericum perforatum (HP), anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity have been identified in several pathologies due to their polyphenolic components, on ovarian tissue in rat model of experimental PCOS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two Sprague-Dawley female rats were divided into 6 groups with 7 animals in each group as listed below; Group 1: Control, Group 2: PCOS, Group 3: PCOS + HP, Group 4: HP only, Group 5: PCOS+ GLP, Group 6: GLP only. At the end of the experimental procedures, all animals underwent bilateral oophorectomy and blood samples were collected. Ovarian tissue and blood samples were used for biochemical and histopathological analysis. RESULTS: Follicle degeneration in the PCOS group showed a statistically significant increase compared to the other groups (p<0.05). When the PCOS+GLP and PCOS+HP groups were examined, it was determined that the cystic follicles were significantly reduced compared to the PCOS group. Whereas tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were elevated in PCOS rats (p<0.01). Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels were diminished (p<0.01). MDA and IGF-1 levels were increased in PCOS rats as against the remaining groups (p<0.02, p<0.02, respectively). GLP supplementation to the treatment diminished IGF-1 and malondialdehyde (MDA). GLP or HP supplementation increased reduced glutathione (GSH). CONCLUSION: GLP and HP treatment normalizes SHBG levels while correcting PCOS-induced hyperandrogenemia. Both herbs regulate the redox balance by decreasing the MDA level and increasing the GSH.

Canine Saliva as a Possible Source of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes.

While the One Health issues of intensive animal farming are commonly discussed, keeping companion animals is less associated with the interspecies headway of antimicrobial resistance. With the constant advance in veterinary standards, antibiotics are regularly applied in companion animal medicine. Due to the close coexistence of dogs and humans, dog bites and other casual encounters with dog saliva (e.g., licking the owner) are common. According to our metagenome study, based on 26 new generation sequencing canine saliva datasets from 2020 and 2021 reposited in NCBI SRA by The 10,000 Dog Genome Consortium and the Broad Institute within Darwin's Ark project, canine saliva is rich in bacteria with predictably transferable antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). In the genome of potentially pathogenic Bacteroides, Capnocytophaga, Corynebacterium, Fusobacterium, Pasteurella, Porphyromonas, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species, which are some of the most relevant bacteria in dog bite infections, ARGs against aminoglycosides, carbapenems, cephalosporins, glycylcyclines, lincosamides, macrolides, oxazolidinone, penams, phenicols, pleuromutilins, streptogramins, sulfonamides and tetracyclines could be identified. Several ARGs, including ones against amoxicillin-clavulanate, the most commonly applied antimicrobial agent for dog bites, were predicted to be potentially transferable based on their association with mobile genetic elements (e.g., plasmids, prophages and integrated mobile genetic elements). According to our findings, canine saliva may be a source of transfer for ARG-rich bacteria that can either colonize the human body or transport ARGs to the host bacteriota, and thus can be considered as a risk in the spread of antimicrobial resistance.

PFP-LHCINCA: Pyramidal Fixed-Size Patch-Based Feature Extraction and Chi-Square Iterative Neighborhood Component Analysis for Automated Fetal Sex Classification on Ultrasound Images.

Objectives: Fetal sex determination with ultrasound (US) examination is indicated in pregnancies at risk of X-linked genetic disorders or ambiguous genitalia. However, misdiagnoses often arise due to operator inexperience and technical difficulties while acquiring diagnostic images. We aimed to develop an efficient automated US-based fetal sex classification model that can facilitate efficient screening and reduce misclassification. Methods: We have developed a novel feature engineering model termed PFP-LHCINCA that employs pyramidal fixed-size patch generation with average pooling-based image decomposition, handcrafted feature extraction based on local phase quantization (LPQ), and histogram of oriented gradients (HOG) to extract directional and textural features and used Chi-square iterative neighborhood component analysis feature selection (CINCA), which iteratively selects the most informative feature vector for each image that minimizes calculated feature parameter-derived k-nearest neighbor-based misclassification rates. The model was trained and tested on a sizeable expert-labeled dataset comprising 339 males' and 332 females' fetal US images. One transverse fetal US image per subject zoomed to the genital area and standardized to 256 × 256 size was used for analysis. Fetal sex was annotated by experts on US images and confirmed postnatally. Results: Standard model performance metrics were compared using five shallow classifiers-k-nearest neighbor (kNN), decision tree, naïve Bayes, linear discriminant, and support vector machine (SVM)-with the hyperparameters tuned using a Bayesian optimizer. The PFP-LHCINCA model achieved a sex classification accuracy of ≥88% with all five classifiers and the best accuracy rates (>98%) with kNN and SVM classifiers. Conclusions: US-based fetal sex classification is feasible and accurate using the presented PFP-LHCINCA model. The salutary results support its clinical use for fetal US image screening for sex classification. The model architecture can be modified into deep learning models for training larger datasets.

Corrigendum: Overview of Cattle Diseases Listed Under Category C, D or E in the Animal Health Law for Which Control Programmes Are in Place Within Europe.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.688078.].

Antimicrobial resistance determinants in silage.

Animal products may play a role in developing and spreading antimicrobial resistance in several ways. On the one hand, residues of antibiotics not adequately used in animal farming can enter the human body via food. However, resistant bacteria may also be present in animal products, which can transfer the antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG) to the bacteria in the consumer's body by horizontal gene transfer. As previous studies have shown that fermented foods have a meaningful ARG content, it is indicated that such genes may also be present in silage used as mass feed in the cattle sector. In our study, we aspired to answer what ARGs occur in silage and what mobility characteristics they have? For this purpose, we have analyzed bioinformatically 52 freely available deep sequenced silage samples from shotgun metagenome next-generation sequencing. A total of 16 perfect matched ARGs occurred 54 times in the samples. More than half of these ARGs are mobile because they can be linked to integrative mobile genetic elements, prophages or plasmids. Our results point to a neglected but substantial ARG source in the food chain.

The effects of adalimumab on the rat autotransplantation endometriosis model: A placebo-controlled randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory pathology that can cause persistent pelvic pain and infertility by affecting women of reproductive age. It is defined as the placement of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. Hormonal, genetic and immunological factors have an effect on the development of endometriotic implants. Adalimumab is a monoclonal antibody specific for tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-á), used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effectiveness of adalimumab on histopathological and biochemical values in rats with experimental endometriosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study is a comparative, prospective, experimental rat study. Wistar albino female rats were divided into 4 groups. Group 1 was separated as the control group. Endometriotic implants were simultaneously induced in group 2 and group 3. After 4 weeks, developing endometriotic foci were measured. Adalimumab (5 mg/kg) was simultaneously intraperitoneally (ip.) administered to group 3 and group 4 for 4 weeks. At the end of the study, histopathological scoring and fibrillin-1 scoring were performed. Total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) values were measured. Findings in all groups were compared. RESULTS: When group 1 and group 2 were compared, the histopathological score, as well as MDA and TOS levels increased, while TAS levels decreased in group 2 (p < 0.001). After adalimumab treatment, the average endometriotic implant size in group 3 (0.32 ±0.002 mm) decreased compared to group 2 (0.77 ±0.04 mm) (p = 0.032). While fibrillin-1 score increased in group 2 and group 3 compared to group 1, it decreased in group 3 compared to group 2 (p < 0.001). Histopathological score decreased, TAS levels increased and MDA levels decreased in group 3 compared to group 2 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Adalimumab may play a role in the regression of endometrial implants by showing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on histopathological damage and fibrosis.

Effects of vitamin B12 on rat ovary with ischemia-reperfusion injury.

We investigated the histopathological and biochemical effects of vitamin B12 on ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury using a rat ovarian torsion-detorsion model. We used four groups of female Wistar albino rats. Group 1 (sham group): both ovaries were removed. Group 2 (torsion group): ovarian torsion was established. Group 3 (torsion-detorsion group) perfusion was retored after ischemia for 2 h. Group 4 (torsion-detorsion-vitamin B12 group): after 2 h ovarian torsion, perfusion was re-established and 4 mg/kg vitamin B12 was administered for 2 h. Follicular degeneration, vascular congestion, hemorrhage, edema and infiltration were evaluated histologically. Tissue damage was decreased in group 4 compared to groups 2 and 3. Total antioxidant status TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) level were measured. The values for TOS and MDA for groups 1 and 4 were similar. We found a significant increase in MDA and TOS levels in group 3 compared to group 2. MDA and TAS levels decreased and TOS levels were increased in group 4 compared to groups 2 and 3. MDA, TAS and TOS values were increased in groups 2 and 3 compared to group 1. We found that vitamin B12 reduced I-R damage in the rat ovary.

Histopathological Examination of the Mucosal Effects of Obstetric Gel on Vaginal Wound Healing in an Incision-Inflicted Rat Model.

Background and objective The present study intended to investigate the histopathological efficacy of obstetric gels on the healing of vaginal lacerations in rats. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such study. Materials and methods Twenty-one female Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups, comprising seven animals per group. The first group (group 1) was the control group, the second (group 2) was the polyvinyl iodine (PI) group, and the third group (group 3) was the obstetric gel (OG) group. In all three groups, a vaginal incision was made with a No. 10 scalpel, and the incision site was sutured with a 3-0 Vicryl suture. In the control group, the incision site was left for routine healing. The incision site was washed with PI in the PI group and with OG in the OG group. After 15 days, vaginal tissues were obtained from all three groups for histopathological examination. In addition, immunohistochemistry staining was performed using caspase 3 and fibrillin 1 antibodies. Results There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of congestion, vascular proliferation, and inflammation stages in the examinations performed on the vaginal wall. However, the amount of collagen and elastic fibers increased during the remodeling and fibrosis phase, and the fibrillin 1 score increased in immunohistochemistry staining (p < 0.001). Conclusion It has been shown in rat vaginal tissue that obstetric gels do not have negative effects on wound healing; however, they contribute to wound healing by positively affecting the fibrosis stage.

Overview of Cattle Diseases Listed Under Category C, D or E in the Animal Health Law for Which Control Programmes Are in Place Within Europe.

The COST action "Standardising output-based surveillance to control non-regulated diseases of cattle in the European Union (SOUND control)," aims to harmonise the results of surveillance and control programmes (CPs) for non-EU regulated cattle diseases to facilitate safe trade and improve overall control of cattle infectious diseases. In this paper we aimed to provide an overview on the diversity of control for these diseases in Europe. A non-EU regulated cattle disease was defined as an infectious disease of cattle with no or limited control at EU level, which is not included in the European Union Animal health law Categories A or B under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2002. A CP was defined as surveillance and/or intervention strategies designed to lower the incidence, prevalence, mortality or prove freedom from a specific disease in a region or country. Passive surveillance, and active surveillance of breeding bulls under Council Directive 88/407/EEC were not considered as CPs. A questionnaire was designed to obtain country-specific information about CPs for each disease. Animal health experts from 33 European countries completed the questionnaire. Overall, there are 23 diseases for which a CP exists in one or more of the countries studied. The diseases for which CPs exist in the highest number of countries are enzootic bovine leukosis, bluetongue, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, bovine viral diarrhoea and anthrax (CPs reported by between 16 and 31 countries). Every participating country has on average, 6 CPs (min-max: 1-13) in place. Most programmes are implemented at a national level (86%) and are applied to both dairy and non-dairy cattle (75%). Approximately one-third of the CPs are voluntary, and the funding structure is divided between government and private resources. Countries that have eradicated diseases like enzootic bovine leukosis, bluetongue, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and bovine viral diarrhoea have implemented CPs for other diseases to further improve the health status of cattle in their country. The control of non-EU regulated cattle diseases is very heterogenous in Europe. Therefore, the standardising of the outputs of these programmes to enable comparison represents a challenge.

Vitamin D improves oxidative stress and histopathological damage in rat ovaries caused by hyperthyroidism.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the histopathological and biochemical efficacy of vitamin D on oxidative damage and fibrosis in rat ovaries induced by experimental hyperthyroidism. METHODS: This study is a comparative, prospective experimental rat study. Sprague-Dawley female rats were divided into four groups. Only distilled water was given to the rats in group 1 for 25 days. In group 2, 100 µg/day L-thyroxine was given to rats for 25 days. In Group 3, 100 µg/day L-thyroxine and 200 IU/day vitamin D were given to rats for 25 days. In group 4, only 200 IU/day vitamin D was administered for 25 days. RESULTS: This study is the first to demonstrate the protective effect of vitamin D against ovarian damage caused by experimental hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism caused fibrotic degenerative changes in the ovaries and an increase in the fibrillin 1 score. It caused serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels to increase and serum E2 levels to decrease. In addition, malondialdehyde (MDA) and total oxidant status (TOS) levels increased in rats with hyperthyroidism. Vitamin D decreased MDA and TOS values and increased total antioxidant status (TAS) values in rats with hyperthyroidism. It also increased TSH values by causing a decrease in TT3 and TT4 values. It decreased fibrosis, follicle degeneration, stromal degeneration, and fibrillin 1 score in ovarian tissue. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D has positive histopathological and biochemical effects on the oxidative stress and follicle damage caused by hyperthyroidism in ovarian tissue. Human studies with larger case populations should be conducted to evaluate the effects and clinical applications of vitamin D.

Can complete blood count parameters that change according to trimester in pregnancy be used to predict severe preeclampsia?

We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of changes over time in complete blood count (CBC) parameters to estimate the diagnosis of preeclampsia. Data on 161 severe preeclampsia patients and 161 healthy pregnant patients who met the study criteria of pregnant women whose CBC had been measured at 10-12, 22-24 and 28-30 weeks of pregnancy were compared. In the preeclampsia group, an increase in the mean platelet volume (MPV) value and a decrease in the number of platelets were statistically significant in the transition from the second to the third trimester. MPV and lymphocyte counts were more significant in the third trimester and neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were more significant in the second trimester. We found that evaluation of the changes in lymphocyte, MPV and NLR values in three different trimesters of pregnancy rather than a single trimester was more meaningful to predict severe preeclampsia.Impact StatementWhat is already known on this subject? Studies have shown that MPV and NLR can predict preeclampsia. However, a clear cut off value could not be determined. The reasons for this may be that the gestational week during which the measurement is made is not standard and the patient groups are not homogeneous.What the results of this study add? In this study, CBC parameters at different stages of the preeclampsia process were compared in the severe preeclampsia group. According to our results, lymphocytes, NLR and MPV can be used to predict severe preeclampsia. In addition, NLR measurements in the second trimester and MPV and lymphocyte measurements in the third trimester were found to be more significant in predicting severe preeclampsia.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? In order to predict severe preeclampsia, instead of a single measurement of CBC parameters, new calculations should be made that add change over time.

Adalimumab Increases Follicle Reserve and Follicle Development in Rat Ovary: The Effect of Adalimumab on Ovarian Reserve.

Introduction Adalimumab is used in the treatment of many chronic inflammatory diseases, especially rheumatoid arthritis. The aim of this experimental study is to determine the histological and biochemical effects of adalimumab on rat ovary. Methods Wistar albino female rats were randomly divided into three groups prior to the experiment: a healthy control group, a 2 mg/kg adalimumab group, and a 5 mg/kg adalimumab group. Then, histopathological findings and biochemical examinations were made in the ovaries of the rats. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, morphometric examination, and Masson trichrome staining were performed. Antimullerian hormone (AMH) levels were measured in the biochemical examination. Results Ovarian follicle count and AMH level were significantly higher in the groups given low-dose adalimumab and high-dose adalimumab (p <0.001). In addition, fibrosis decreased in proportion to the dose of adalimumab (p <0.001). Conclusion Adalimumab is an important biological agent that contributes to the preservation of ovarian function by increasing ovarian follicle reserve and has shown that it can help preserve ovarian reserve in women of reproductive age suffering from chronic inflammatory diseases.

Phylogenetic Relationships of Turkish Indigenous Donkey Populations Determined by Mitochondrial DNA D-loop Region.

In this study, to analyze the mtDNA D-loop region and the origin of the maternal lineages of 16 different donkey populations, and to assess the domestication of Turkish indigenous donkeys in seven geographical regions, we investigated the DNA sequences of the D-loop region of 315 indigenous donkeys from Turkey. A total of 54 haplotypes, resulting from 35 polymorphic regions (27 parsimoniously informative and 6 singleton sites), were defined. Twenty-eight of these haplotypes are unique (51.85%), and 26 are shared among different Turkish indigenous donkey populations. The most frequent haplotype was Hap 1 (45.71%), followed by two haplotypes (Hap 4, 15.55% and Hap 7, 5.39%). The breed genetic diversity, evaluated by the haplotype diversity (HD) and nucleotide diversity (πD), for the Turkish donkey populations ranged from 0.533 ± 0.180 (Tekirdag-Malkara, MAL) to 0.933 ± 0.122 (Aydin, AYD), and from 0.01196 ± 0.0026 (Antalya, ANT) to 0.02101 ± 0.0041 (Aydin, AYD), respectively. We observed moderate-to-high levels of haplotype diversity and moderate nucleotide diversity, indicating plentiful genetic diversity in all of the Turkish indigenous donkey populations. Phylogenetic analysis (NJT) and median-joining network analysis established that all haplotypes were distinctly grouped into two major haplogroups. The results of AMOVA analyses, based on geographic structuring of Turkish native donkey populations, highlighted that the majority of the observed variance is due to differences among samples within populations. The observed differences between groups were found to be statistically significant. Comparison among Turkish indigenous donkey mtDNA D-loop regions and haplotypes, and different countries' donkey breeds and wild asses, identified two clades and which is named Somali (Clade IV) and Nubian (Clade V) lineages. The results can be used to understand the origin of Turkish donkey populations clearly, and to resolve the phylogenetic relationship among all of the different regions.

Genetic Characterization of Native Donkey (Equus asinus) Populations of Turkey Using Microsatellite Markers.

This study presents the first insights to the genetic diversity and structure of the Turkish donkey populations. The primary objectives were to detect the main structural features of Turkish donkeys by microsatellite markers. A panel of 17 microsatellite markers was applied for genotyping 314 donkeys from 16 locations of Turkey. One hundred and forty-two alleles were identified and the number of alleles per locus ranged from 4 to 12. The highest number of alleles was observed in AHT05 (12) and the lowest in ASB02 and HTG06 (4), while ASB17 was monomorphic. The mean HO in the Turkish donkey was estimated to be 0.677, while mean HE was 0.675. The polymorphic information content (PIC) was calculated for each locus and ranged from 0.36 (locus ASB02) to 0.98 (locus AHT05), which has the highest number of alleles per locus in the present study. The average PIC in our populations was 0.696. The average coefficient of gene differentiation (GST) over the 17 loci was 0.020 ± 0.037 (p < 0.01). The GST values for single loci ranged from -0.004 for LEX54 to 0.162 for COR082. Nei's gene diversity index (Ht) for loci ranged from 0.445 (ASB02) to 0.890 (AHT05), with an average of 0.696. A Bayesian clustering method, the Structure software, was used for clustering algorithms of multi-locus genotypes to identify the population structure and the pattern of admixture within the populations. When the number of ancestral populations varied from K = 1 to 20, the largest change in the log of the likelihood function (K) was when K = 2. The results for K = 2 indicate a clear separation between Clade I (KIR, CAT, KAR, MAR, SAN) and Clade II (MAL, MER, TOK, KAS, KUT, KON, ISP, ANT, MUG, AYD and KAH) populations.

An experimental study on the use of lycopene to prevent infertility due to acute oxidative ovarian damage caused by a single high dose of methotrexate.

BACKGROUND: Methotrexate (MTX) is an antineoplastic agent, which increases the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreases the level of antioxidants. Lycopene, is a potent antioxidant, which is used because of its protective effect against tissue damage. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of lycopene on ovarian MTX-induced injury in rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Rats (n = 36) were randomly divided into 3 equal groups: a group with MTX only (MG, n = 12), a group with lycopene and MTX (LMG, n = 12), and a healthy control group (HCG, n = 12). Then, malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and total glutathione (tGSH) levels and histopathological findings were examined in the ovaries of rats. Apart from the histopathological and biochemical evaluation, the reproductive performance of the experimental groups was also examined. RESULTS: Our study demonstrated that, in ovarian tissues of rats administered MTX, there was a decrease in the levels of tGSH, while MDA and MPO were increased, but it is observed that these ratios are reversed in the LMG (p < 0.05). It also has been proven that a single, high-dose use of MTX causes infertility in female rats, prolongs the gestation period and reduces the number of offspring. CONCLUSIONS: Lycopene pretreatment ameliorates the MTX induced ovarian injury and infertility in rats through its antioxidative activities.

Can the negative effects of ketamine abuse on female genital organs be prevented by nimesulide? An experimental study.

The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of nimesulide on ketamine-induced ovarian and uterine toxicity by biochemical and histopathological examinations. Ketamine is an anesthetic agent whose use leads to overproduction of catecholamines. Nimesulide is a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, which has also been reported to exert a significant antioxidant effect. Wistar albino female rats were randomly divided into three groups as follows: ketamine group (60 mg/kg), ketamine (60 mg/kg) + nimesulide (50 mg/kg) group, and a healthy control group. Then, the biochemical levels and histopathological findings in the ovaries and uteri of the rats were examined for malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, total glutathione and superoxide dismutase. The study demonstrated that, in the uterine and ovarian tissues of rats that have been administered ketamine, there was a decrease in the levels of total glutathione and superoxide dismutase, while malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase was increased: however it was observed that these ratios were reversed in the ketamine+nimesulide group. It was also proved that the negative effects of ketamine can be corrected with nimesulide when the myometrial and endometrial thicknesses are compared. Antioxidants such as nimesulide may protect against the damage caused by ketamine to the genital organs in young women.

Effects of Multi-Trait Selection on Phenotypic and Genetic Changes in Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

The present study in Japanese quail was aimed to develop multi-trait genetic selection program for a meat type sire line utilizing the mixed-model methodology. In total, 2000 pedigreed quail were formed the basis of the research where a multi-trait animal model was performed. A flock consisting of a total of 160 families (1 male: 3 female) was developed from the initial flock (base population of sire line), so as to obtain a selection flock sire line. Body weight at 5 weeks of age was chosen as a primary selection criterion in flock. The age at point of inflection derived from Gompertz growth curve, feed conversion ratio between 3 to 5 weeks of age, and carcass yield at 5 week of age were determined as selection criteria. Multi-trait BLUP methodology was carried out for genetic improvement of birds. In flock, 25 percent of males and females with highest breeding value were selected to produce next generation. Genetic parameter estimates, realized genetic parameters, selection responses, and genetic trends were obtained. Significant (P<0.01) selection responses for body weight, age at point of inflection, feed conversion ratio, and carcass yield traits on generations were observed. The results of the study revealed that the negative genetic relationships exhibited between some studied traits had overcame by modern poultry breeding methods such as selection via multi-trait BLUP.

Improvement of catalytic activity of lipase in the presence of calix[4]arene valeric acid or hydrazine derivative.

Sol-gel encapsulation is a simple but powerful method to enhance the enantioselectivity of lipase-catalyzed transformations in an isooctane/aqueous buffer solution. Candida rugosa lipase was encapsulated according to a sol-gel procedure in the presence and absence of calix[4]arene hydrazine or carboxylic acid derivatives with Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles as an additive. The activity of the encapsulated lipases was evaluated for the enantioselective hydrolysis of racemic Naproxen methyl ester and the hydrolysis of p-Nitrophenylpalmitate. The results indicate that the encapsulated lipase without calix[4]arene derivative has lower conversion and enantioselectivity compared to the encapsulated lipase with calix[4]arene derivative. It was found that the calix[4]arene hydrazine and carboxylic acid-based encapsulated lipases have excellent activity and enantioselectivity (E >300) compared to encapsulated lipase without the calix[4]arene derivatives.

Evaluation of maternal mortality cases in the province of Elazig, Turkey, 2007-2013: a retrospective study.

The aim of this study was to determine the causes and factors influencing maternal mortality. All maternal deaths occurring between January 2007 and November 2013 in the Elazig Province of Turkey were retrospectively investigated. The maternal age, obstetric history, cause of death, encountered delay model of each case, as well as the overall number of annual live births in the Province were determined. The information of cases was obtained from Directorate of Public Health and hospital records.  Families or family doctors were also interviewed to obtain details about the circumstances surrounding each death. There were a total of 64,423 live births in the Province of Elazig between 2007- 2013. The number and ratio of maternal deaths due to direct and indirect causes were 12 and 18.6, respectively. The direct causes of maternal death were hypertensive diseases of pregnancy (n=5, 41.7%), obstetric hemorrhages (n=3, 25%) and pulmonary embolism (n=1, 8.3%). The indirect causes of death were cardiac diseases (n=2, 16.7%) and malignancy (n=1, 8.3%). When classified according to the "Three Delays Model", 2 cases were in the first delay model and 3 cases in the third delay model; the second delay model led to no maternal deaths. Hypertensive diseases of pregnancy are the leading cause of maternal mortality in our province. The preventable causes of maternal mortality and factors contributing to death must be identified to reduce the incidence.