Benzamide and Benzamidine Compounds as New Inhibitors of Urokinasetype Plasminogen Activators.

BACKGROUND & METHOD: In this ongoing research, it is aimed to investigate the synthesis, structure identification and effects on urokinase-type plasminogen activators (uPA) and its receptor levels of 4-(3H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-yl)-N-substituted benzamide and benzamidine derivatives. uPA levels obtained from 4b and 7d administration were similar to 5-FU (5-fluorouracil) for colorectal carcinoma cells (p<0.05). 4b and 7d significantly reduced uPAR (urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor) levels on both cell lines (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: uPAR levels obtaining from 4b and 7d administration were similar to 5-FU for both cell lines colorectal (Colo205, CCL-222) and hepatocellular (HepG2, CCL-23) carcinoma cells (p<0.05).

Determination of Heavy Metals in Almonds and Mistletoe as a Parasite Growing on the Almond Tree Using ICP-OES or ICP-MS.

In this study, the elements of Al, As, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Sr, Pb, Ti, and Zn were determined in the leaves, fruits, and branches of mistletoe, (Viscum albüm L.), used as a medicinal plant, and in the leaves, branches and barks of almond tree which mistletoe grows on. The aim of the study is to investigate whether the mistletoe are more absorbent than the almond tree in terms of the heavy metal contents and the determination of the amount of the elements penetrated into the mistletoe from the almond tree. ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry) was used for the analysis of As, Cd, Mo, and Pb, whereas ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry) was used for the other elements. The results obtained were statistically evaluated at 95% confidence level. Within the results obtained in this study, it was determined whether there is a significant difference between metal elements in almond tree and mistletoe, or not. As a result, it was observed that there were higher contents of B, Ba, K, Mg, and Zn in the mistletoe than in the almond tree. K was found much higher than other elements in the mistletoe. On the other hand, Al, As, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mo, Ni, Sr, Pb, and Ti contents were determined to be more in almond tree than mistletoe.

Neonatal line on fetus and infant teeth: An indicator of live birth and mode of delivery.

BACKGROUND: The neonatal line (NL) is an important issue in forensic odontology. It is the sign of a developmental birth defect, which is caused by the effect of metabolic stress on tooth structures when the fetus passes to extrauterine life. AIMS: The aim of this research is to determine the existence and thickness of NL in teeth, as it is a legal necessity to indicate the signs of viability at birth in a forensic examination of a fetus or infant case. STUDY DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: This research was conducted on 48 lower left and right lateral teeth, which were taken from 24 autopsy cases (46% female and 54% male). Left lateral teeth were sectioned in a vertical plane and right lateral teeth were sectioned in a horizontal plane. The NL thickness was measured with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). These cases comprised three conditions as: 70.3% normal birth, 16.7% caesarean sections, and 12.5% still birth cases under the legal and ethical permission. OUTCOME MEASURES: The mean NL thickness of normal birth cases was higher than caesarean cases as 7.7µm and 2.5µm, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The results showed a statistical significance between all birth conditions. NL does not exist in still birth cases (p<0.001). Not only is the presence of NL a sign of live birth, but also its thickness is an indicator of the delivery mode where NL thickness of normal birth was found thicker than the caesarean cases.

Age estimation from fetus and infant tooth and head measurements.

Forensic identification comprises legal, social, ethical, and religious aspects where age detection is an important factor. When the case is a fetus or infant, recording various measurements of the body, head, and teeth is essential. The aim of this research is to evaluate the effects of different tooth and body measurements and their implications on the age estimation of fetuses and infants. This research was performed on 96 fetus and infant incisor teeth taken from 24 autopsy cases (54 % males and 46 % females) where age of the subjects were within the range of prenatal 16 weeks to postnatal 72 weeks. The data were statistically processed by regression analysis via curve estimations. According to the results, growing patterns of the head circumference (HC) and the upper central tooth measurements indicate a strong relationship, where there is no significant difference for both sexes. The growth patterns of all variables showed a linear function to a certain age (approximately 56 weeks pre-plus postnatal); the tooth height (TH) slightly increases until the closure of the root apex, and the HC gradually stabilizes in time, therefore a log-linear relation was found considerable. The results revealed eight age estimation formulas, including the combination of HC with the labiolingual, mesiodistal (MD), crown height, and TH measurements. Among these, only MD can be applied to a living. In conclusion, tooth and head measurements are found to be the main factors of age estimation formulas.

Differences in the number of autopsies and causes of death between the months of Ramadan and control months and between two cities, Ankara and Bursa in Turkey.

AIM: To investigate differences in the number of autopsies and causes of deaths affected by spiritual factors and concentration during Ramadan and to compare the results from two cities, Ankara and Bursa. METHODS: Autopsies performed in morgue departments of the Council of Forensic Medicine, Ministry of Justice, in Ankara and Bursa during Ramadan and non-Ramadan (control) months between 2003 and 2006 were retrospectively investigated for age, sex, cause of death, manner of death and blood toxicological analyses. RESULTS: The number of autopsies was significantly higher in Ramadan months than in the control months in Bursa, but low and insignificant in Ankara. A significant decline in traumatic deaths was observed during Ramadan (p less than 0.05). CONCLUSION: During Ramadan, while rates of homicidal deaths displayed a relatively steep decline in females, the rates of homicide were increased in males. This might be due to a decrease in natural deaths and accidents. To make further comments, conducting studies evaluating detailed socio-demographic features and assessing relevant psychological states of the victims can be beneficial.

Age determination from central incisors of fetuses and infants.

Age at time of death for a fetus or infant is an important issue in the field of forensic science. Dental development can give an accurate measure of infant and fetal age and current literature does not include any studies of dental age from central incisor development. The objective of this study is to determine the age of deceased fetuses and infants by examining metric tooth development of central incisors in deceased fetuses and infants. Five dimensions of 76 maxillary and mandibular central incisors were measured: mesio-distal (MD), bucco-lingual (BL), crown height (CH), crown thickness (CT), and root height (RH). The results showed that 44.45+/-0-2 weeks is a sectional time for age calculations, which corresponds to 40 weeks from conception plus 4 to 5 weeks after birth. Four ATA entitled age formulas are derived to give the relation of age with tooth dimensions before and after 44.45 weeks [ATA is the special name given to the honor of the great Turkish leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938)]. Age estimation can be calculated from these formulas with an accuracy of the age +/-0-2 weeks. Also, calcification time can be determined from ATA formulas. In conclusion, the age of fetuses and infants can be assessed by the measurements of a single central incisor. According to this research, when estimating age during identification studies, forensic researchers must take into consideration the period of embryonic human growth and development.