Chemical characterization of water-soluble ions in highly time-resolved atmospheric fine particles in Istanbul megacity.

The diurnal and seasonal variations of water-soluble ions (WSIs) in fine particles were investigated in an area predominantly affected by traffic emissions in Besiktas, Istanbul between 2017 and 2018. PM2.5 samples were collected at high time resolutions of 2 h during the daytime and 12 h during the nighttime for six sampling campaigns over all seasons. Five inorganic water-soluble ions (SO42-, NH4+, NO3-, PO4-3, and NO2-) were determined using ion chromatography. Source analysis was investigated with principal component analysis (PCA) and bivariate polar plots. In descending order, WSIs concentrations were SO42->NH4+> NO3-> PO4-3>NO2- during the different seasons. The high time-resolved concentrations ranged as follows: sulfate 1.2-1118.1, ammonium 0.3-289.9, phosphate 2.9-107.6, nitrate 4.6-179.7, and nitrite 0.8-9.0 ng/m3, with yearly averages of 226.5, 59.0, 58.4, 37.9, and 3.3 ng/m3, respectively. Except for phosphate, all WSIs had strong seasonal variations with high concentrations during the winter and low concentrations during the summer. Molar ratios revealed that the formation of ammonium sulfate was less likely than ammonium nitrate. Principal component analysis resolved secondary aerosols (43.9%), residential heating (34.6%), shipping emissions (8.7%), and vehicle emissions (6.7%) as the major sources of WSIs, OC, EC, and PM2.5 in Besiktas, Istanbul. Sulfate aerosol originated mainly from two nearby areas, SW and NE, of the sampling site tentatively due to residential heating and shipping emissions, respectively.

Identification of natural compounds of Jurinea species by LC-HRMS and GC-FID and their bioactivities.

The Jurinea Cass. is one of the most important genera within Asteraceae and it comprises about 250 species in total. This genus is known for its numerous biological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antilipid peroxidation, anticholinesterase, antileishmanial activities. The aim of this study was to determine chemical composition and biological activities of ethanol and n-hexane extracts of three different Jurinea species. For this purpose, different parts of J. mollis, J. cadmea and J. pontica were extracted and totally six n-hexane and six ethanol extracts were obtained. Fatty acid content of n-hexane extracts was determined by GC-FID whereas phenolic and flavonoid content of ethanol extracts by LC-HRMS. Palmitic acid (16:0) was detected as the most abundant fatty acid in all n-hexane extracts with the rates ranging from 42.16%-55.08%, except flowers of J. mollis (JMF) and J. cadmea (JCF). LC-HRMS analysis showed the rutin content of all extracts was higher than other flavonoids, except of J. cadmea flowers, whereas apigenin-7-glucoside was found the most abundant in JCF. Cytotoxic effects of the extracts on HeLa and HEK-293 cells were determined by MTT method, and antioxidant activities were evaluated by DPPH and CUPRAC assays. Ethanol extract of J. mollis flowers significantly inhibited cancerous HeLa cells, with the IC50 value of 9.683 µg/mL while it was more less toxic on healthy HEK-293 cells. Ethanol extracts of J. mollis flowers and J. mollis steams-leaves (JMSL) showed the highest antioxidant activity by a DPPH inhibition % of 45.516 ± 2.497 and 56.671 ± 1.496, respectively. JMF and JMSL have also the highest CUPRAC values (0.880 ± 0.067 and 1.085 ± 0.152 mmol TR/g DWE, respectively). Total flavonoid content was determined using aluminum chloride colorimetric assay while total tannin and phenolic content by Folin Chiocalteu's reagent. Results showed that JMSL has the highest total phenolic (108.359 ± 6.241 mg GAE/ G DWE) and flavonoid (32.080 ± 4.385 mg QE/ g DWE) contents whereas JMF has the highest tannin content (121.333 ± 17.889 mg TAE/ g DWE). In the light of these results, various parts of Jurinea species may be regarded as alternative sources for cytotoxic and/or antioxidant flavonoids, phenolics and unsaturated fatty acids that can arouse the interest of pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries.

Episodic psychosis, ataxia, motor neuropathy with pyramidal signs (PAMP syndrome) caused by a novel mutation in ADPRHL2 (AHR3).

BACKGROUND: The protein "ADP-Ribosylarginine Hydrolase-Like Protein 2" is encoded by ADPRHL2 and reverses ADP-ribosylation. Recently, mutations in ADPRHL2 were found to be associated with a very rare childhood onset severe neurodegeneration syndrome with episodic, stress-induced seizures, ataxia, and axonal neuropathy. In this study, we evaluate a novel mutation in ADPRHL2 leading to an unknown adult onset syndrome "episodic psychosis, ataxia, motor neuropathy with pyramidal signs (PAMP syndrome)." DESIGN/METHODS: Four patients with episodic psychosis, ataxia, and motor neuropathy with pyramidal signs were included in this study. RESULTS: An index patient presented ataxia, postural tremor in the hands, and hallucinations at age 20 years, which had started after a viral infection. She improved within 3 months without any treatment. Her neurological exam revealed mild distal weakness, brisk DTRs, bilateral Babinski sign, impaired vibration sensation, position, and ataxia. Pes cavus and hammer toes were also noted. EMG revealed neurogenic changes in distal muscles and normal sensory nerve conduction studies. Cranial MRI was normal. She had three more severe episodes in recent years, and her neurologic findings got progressively worse. Two of her older sisters had much milder phenotypes. The phenotype of the fourth patient from an unrelated family was identical with the index patient. All affected patients had homozygous novel NM_017825.3:c.838G>A (p.Ala280Thr) mutations in a highly conserved region of ADPRHL2. Western blot analyses demonstrated that ADPRHL2 was not expressed in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: Here, we describe a novel mutation in ADPRHL2, which further expands the phenotypic and genetic spectrum of the patients harboring these mutations.

Viscum album L. Extracts Protects HeLa Cells against Nuclear and Mitochondrial DNA Damage.

Viscum album L. is a semiparasitic plant grown on trees and widely used for the treatment of many diseases in traditional and complementary therapy. It is well known that some activities of Viscum album extracts are varied depending on the host trees, such as antioxidant, apoptosis-inducing, anticancer activities of the plant. The aim of the present study is to examine the comparative effects of methanolic extracts of V. album grown on three different host trees (locust tree, lime tree, and hedge maple tree) on H(2)O(2)-induced DNA damage in HeLa cells. Oxidative damage in mitochondrial DNA and two nuclear regions was assessed by QPCR assay. The cells were pretreated with methanolic extracts (10 µg/mL) for 48 h, followed by the treatment with 750 µM H(2)O(2) for 1 hour. DNA damage was significantly induced by H(2)O(2) while it was inhibited by V. album extracts. All extracts completely protected against nuclear DNA damage. While the extract from lime tree or white locust tree entirely inhibited mitochondrial DNA damage, that from hedge maple tree inhibited by only 50%. These results suggest that methanolic extracts of V. album can prevent oxidative DNA damage, and the activity is dependent on the host tree.