Endothelium biomarkers endocan and thrombomodulin levels in isolated coronary artery ectasia.

OBJECTIVE: Endothelial dysfunction may play an important role in the evolution of coronary artery ectasia (CAE). Endocan and thrombomodulin (TM) are two biomarkers released from the endothelium that are associated with dysfunction. We aimed to evaluate the levels of these markers in patients with isolated CAE. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-two patients with isolated CAE and thirty-five sex- and age-matched control patients with normal coronary angiograms were enrolled. Serum endocan and TM concentrations were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. RESULTS: The basal characteristics of the two groups were similar. Both endocan (1.19 ± 0.18 vs. 1.07 ± 0.15 ng/ml; p = 0.006) and TM (687.28 ± 150.85 vs. 571.27 ± 171.23 pg/ml; p = 0.007) were significantly increased in the CAE  group compared to controls. However, no significant differences were detected in the concentration of these markers when we grouped the subjects according to the Markis classification. CONCLUSIONS: We found higher endocan and TM levels in isolated CAE patients. However, these markers were not associated with CAE severity as assessed using the Markis classification. The results suggest that these markers play an important role in the development of isolated CAE.

Effects of oregano essential oil with or without feed enzymes on growth performance, digestive enzyme, nutrient digestibility, lipid metabolism and immune response of broilers fed on wheat-soybean meal diets.

1. The study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of enzyme and oregano essential oil at two levels, alone or together, on performance, digestive enzyme, nutrient digestibility, lipid metabolism and immune response of broilers fed on wheat-soybean meal based diets. 2. The following dietary treatments were used from d 0 to 21. Diet 1 (control, CONT): a commercial diet containing no enzyme or oregano essential oil, diet 2 (ENZY): supplemented with enzyme, diet 3 (EO250): supplemented with essential oil at 250 mg/kg feed, diet 4 (EO500): supplemented with essential oil at 500 mg/kg feed, diet 5 (ENZY + EO250): supplemented with enzyme and essential oil at 250 mg/kg, and diet 6 (ENZY + EO500): supplemented with enzyme and essential oil at 500 mg/kg. 3. Birds fed on diets containing ENZY, EO250 and ENZY + EO250 had significantly higher weight gain than those given CONT diet from d 0 to 7. No significant effects on feed intake, feed conversion ratio, mortality, organ weights except for jejunum weight and intestinal lengths was found with either enzyme or essential oil, alone or in combination, over the 21-d growth period. The supplementation of essential oil together with enzyme decreased jejunum weight compared with essential oil alone. 4. Supplementation with enzyme significantly decreased viscosity and increased dry matter of digesta, but did not alter pH of digesta. There was no effect of essential oil alone at either concentration on viscosity, dry matter or pH of digesta. A significant decrease in viscosity of digesta appeared when essential oil was used with together enzyme. 5. The supplementation of essential oil at both levels with or without enzyme significantly increased chymotrypsin activity in the digestive system, and improved crude protein digestibility. 6. The higher concentration of essential oil with and without enzyme significantly increased serum total cholesterol concentrations. No significant effect on immune response was found with either enzyme or essential oil, alone or together. 7. Enzymes and essential oil had different modes of actions. The supplementation of enzyme with essential oil in diets is likely more effective in view of performance, nutrient digestibility, enzyme activities and immune system.

Chromium and aluminum biosorption on Chryseomonas luteola TEM05.

Cr(VI) and Al(III) are environmental pollutants that are frequently encountered together in industrial wastewaters, e.g., from mining iron-steel, metal cleaning, plating, metal processing, automobile parts, and the manufacturing and dye industries. In this work, several variables that affect the capacity for chromium and aluminum biosorption by Chryseomonas luteola TEM05 were studied, particularly the effects of pH, metal concentration and contact time. Optimum adsorption pH values of Cr(VI) and Al(III) were determined as 4.0 and 5.0, respectively. The biosorption equilibrium was described by Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms. The value of Qo appears to be significantly higher for the Al(III) C. luteola TEM05 system. Langmuir parameters of C. luteola TEM05 also indicated a maximum adsorption capacity of 55.2 mg g(-1) for Al(III) and 3.0 mg g(-1) for Cr(VI).

In vitro study of urease/AlaDH enzyme system encapsulated into human erythrocytes and research into its medical applications.

In our system, urease/AlaDH have been encapsulated within erythrocytes by using slow dialysis methods. Urea is decomposed into ammonia and bicarbonate and the ammonia released is converted into alanine by reacting pyruvate under the catalytic action of AlaDH. It is very important for our that products are formed quickly but the ammonia is not connected definetely. For this aim, urease/AlaDH we encapsulated using different enzyme activity ratio (0.5:1.5; 0.5:2.5; 0.25:1.25 U/U urease/AlaDH). The activities of enzyme systems, encapsulation yield, McV, McH, and McHc were measured for each sample. Investigated results suggest that loaded enzyme systems can be used as potential carrier systems for the removal of high levels of urea from blood.

Encapsulation of catalase and PEG-catalase in erythrocyte.

Reactive partially reduced oxygen species such as superoxide anion (O2-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hydroxyl radical (OH) are produced in aerobically growing organisms during normal cellular respiration. To provide an effective defense against these reactive species, many aerobic organisms have evolved a multienzyme defense which includes superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase. The superoxide anion may cause appreciable cellular damage by oxidizing aminoacids or by causing DNA strand breakage. Catalase was covalently immobilized on activated methoxypolyethyleneglycol-5000 and catalase and PEG-catalase were encapsulated in erythrocyte. Enzyme activity, encapsulation yield and hemograme analysis were determined for each sample. The erythrocyte shape of the samples were investigated by using phase contrast microscopy.

Encapsulation of PEG-urease/PEG-AlaDH enzyme system in erythrocyte.

No intravenously injectable enzyme preparate containing urease as an alternetive to hemodialysis, hemoperfusion and CAPD systems in patients having chronic renal failure has been encountered in literature. In this study, it has been aimed to convert blood urea to alanine by using PEG-urease/PEG-AlaDH enzyme pair encapsulated within living erythrocyte. In this system, urea is decomposed into NH3 and HCO3- and the ammonia released is converted into alanine by reacting pyruvate under the catalytic action of alaninedehydrogenase. The production of pyruvate and NADH by erythrocyte required in the second stage of the reaction will make the process a feasible and ceaseless one. The success of the system will enable the renal patients with diabetes mellitus. Urease and AlaDH were covalently immobilized on activated PEG. PEG-urease/PEG-AlaDH were encapsulated in erythrocyte (1/1)(v/v) by using slow dialysis methods. The activity of enzyme system, encapsulation yield and hemogram analysis were determined for each sample.

Encapsulation of Urease and PEG-Urease in erythrocyte.

Erythrocytes can be used to entrap drugs, enzymes or other molecules with active properties, with various encapsulation procedures. The carrier is nonimmunogenic, biodegradable, and circulates freely throughout the body. Urease was covalently immobilized on activated methoxypolyethyleneglycol-5000 (PEG-5000) (1:3 molar ratio). Urease and PEG-Urease were encapsulated in erythrocyte (1/1) (v/v) by using slow dialysis methods. To optimize the loading of erythrocyte, the above base procedure was varied to test the effect of some parameters. Dialysis time, dialysis temperature, storage condition for erythrocyte conjugate, Urease and PEG-Urease concentration were investigated.

Bacterial nosocomial infections in mechanically ventilated children.

Of 480 patients admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of the Institute of Child Health Children's Hospital in Istanbul, 97 required mechanical ventilation (MV). Sixty of these children were included in a retrospective analysis aiming to determine the frequency of and factors contributing to the development of nosocomial infections (NI). NI rate was 45 percent, ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) accounted for the greater part (66.7%) of the NI, followed by urinary tract infections (16.7%), septicemia (13.3%), and meningitis (3.3). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequent cause of VAP. The duration of the MV and invasive interventions were important risk factors for the development of VAP.

Vitamin K deficiency--late onset intracranial haemorrhage.

A retrospective study is presented of the clinical features and outcome of late onset haemorrhagic disease due to vitamin K deficiency in 11 babies who were admitted to the emergency or child neurology unit during a 4-year period (January 1994-December 1997). The disease occurred in infants between 30 and 119 days of age (mean: 56+/-24 days). None of them received vitamin K after birth and all were breastfed. The presenting complaints were seizures (91%), drowsiness (82%), poor sucking (64%), vomiting (46%), fever (46%), pallor (46%), acute diarrhoea (27%), irritability and high-pitched cry (18%). On examination, tense or bulging fontanelle (73%), anisocoria (36%), weak neonatal reflexes (18%), cyanoses (18%) were the most frequent findings. The localizations of the intracranial haemorrhage were as follows: intracerebral (91%), subarachnoid (46%), subdural (27%), and intraventricular (27%). No fatality was observed. However, after a follow-up period ranging from 6 to 48 months (mean: 21+/-13 months), only three (27%) infants remained neurologically normal. Seizure disorders (73%), severe psychomotor retardation (46%), cerebral palsy (46%) and microcephaly (46%) were observed in the remainder. Hydrocephalus developed in three (27%) babies but none of them required shunt replacement. The value is emphasized of vitamin K prophylaxis in the newborn to reduce the incidence of late onset intracranial haemorrhage and handicap in children.