Çankırı Karatekin University

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by progressive connective tissue and alveolar bone destruction, with recurrence frequently observed despite conventional therapy. Emerging evidence indicates that periodontal cells—including gingival fibroblasts, osteoblast progenitors, and immune cells—may acquire persistent epigenetic modifications that sustain an exaggerated inflammatory phenotype even after apparent clinical resolution. This narrative review summarizes recent evidence (2020–2025) regarding the role of epigenetic mechanisms in periodontal inflammation, wound healing, and regenerative responses, with emphasis on their biological relevance and emerging therapeutic implications. A focused narrative search of PubMed and Scopus was performed to identify representative English-language studies published between 2020 and 2025 using combinations of the terms ‘periodontitis,’ ‘epigenetic regulation,’ ‘DNA methylation,’ ‘histone modification,’ ‘epigenetic memory,’ and ‘trained immunity.’ Original experimental, molecular, translational, and selected review articles were screened based on title, abstract, and full-text relevance. Because this article was designed as a narrative review, the literature was synthesized interpretively rather than appraised systematically. Altered DNA methylation patterns in inflammatory gene promoters (e.g., IL6, TNFA) and histone modifications such as H3K27ac and H3K4me3 contribute to sustained pro-inflammatory signaling and impaired regenerative capacity. These epigenetic changes may lower the inflammatory response threshold and influence post-treatment tissue stability. Experimental evidence suggests that pharmacologic modulators (HDAC and DNMT inhibitors) and biologic agents (e.g., PRF, EMD, hyaluronic acid) may partially restore regenerative gene expression and improve cellular homeostasis. Epigenetic remodeling represents a plausible biological mechanism that may contribute to disease persistence and interindividual variability in healing outcomes. Improved understanding of epigenetic memory may help generate testable hypotheses for future host-modulation strategies and individualized periodontal care; however, current biomarker and therapeutic applications remain investigational.

This study developed a novel chocolate spread incorporating yellow and blue poppy seeds as functional ingredients. Physicochemical, bioactive, textural, rheological, microstructural, FT–IR spectroscopic, and sensory properties of spreads containing 5

Papaver somniferum L. (poppy) is a pharmaceutically important plant valued for its alkaloids (morphine, codeine, narcotine, laudanosine, papaverine, oripavine) that relieve pain, reduce spasms, ease agitation, induce sleep, and lessen anxiety. As global temperatures continue to rise, plants are encountering growing difficulties in their growth, development, and metabolic balance. Over time, plants have evolved systems to tolerate heat. Information on the function of genes underlying the response to high temperature is critical for developing adaptation strategies and for identifying or developing cultivars with phenotypic plasticity. However, the genes and molecular pathways associated with elevated temperature responses in poppy remain largely unexplored, and no transcriptomic study has characterized the temperature-dependent regulation in poppy at different temperature gradients. In this study, transcriptomic profiling of seedling-stage poppy cultivar ‘Çelikoğlu’ exposed to three temperatures (21, 26, and 30°C) was conducted. Compared to control (21°C), 8524 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified at 26°C, 9852 at 30°C, and 1441 between 26 and 30°C. Gene ontology and KEGG analyses revealed enrichment in pathways including photosynthesis, RNA modification, amino acid and carbohydrate biosynthesis, and chaperone transport. The genes related to abiotic stress, cell wall formation, and cytokinin signaling represent potential genes involved in temperature-responsive regulatory processes. The occurrence of temperature-sensitive changes in the expression of genes within benzylisoquinoline alkaloid (BIA) biosynthetic pathways indicates a potential regulatory role for temperature at the transcriptomic level in secondary metabolism. Our findings highlight candidate genes that may contribute to stress tolerance and will guide future breeding efforts aimed at enhancing poppy’s thermal resistance.

Dust from intensive mining operations like quarrying is a major concern in urban areas and should be assessed from environmental and public health perspectives. This study investigates the geochemical properties of trace elements in street dust and their associated health risks, based on samples collected from 40 georeferenced sites across three densely populated districts of Istanbul (Sultangazi, Eyüp, and Gaziosmanpaşa) located near and affected by quarries. The concentration distribution of 21 elements (Si > Al > Fe > Mg > Na > Ti > Mn > Zn > Ba > Cu > Cr > V > Pb > Ni > Sb > Co > As > Cd > Hg > Mo > Sn) was determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), indicating that elements associated with natural sources are more dominant. The concentrations of potentially toxic elements exhibited wide spatial variability, with Co ranging from 6.14 to 4467.49 mg kg−1, Cr from 36.78 to 2933.88 mg kg−1, Zn from 47.75 to 3828.63 mg kg−1, Pb from 6.89 to 1166.41 mg kg−1, and As from 0.25 to 1032.63 mg kg−1. Pollution levels were assessed, revealing extremely high contamination levels for Co based on the enrichment factor (EF = 107.99) and for Sn based on the geo-accumulation index (Igeo = 8.73). Human health risk assessment identifies ingestion as the dominant exposure pathway, with non-carcinogenic risk exceeding acceptable thresholds for children, particularly for Co, Cr, and As which their total hazard index was 2.65E+01. Carcinogenic risk via inhalation remains within acceptable limits. The findings emphasize the dominant role of particulate matter from quarries in contributing to urban street dust pollution. Moreover, the high levels of elements classified as potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in road dust, combined with quarrying activities, can lead to the accumulation of heavy metals in environmental components, disrupting ecosystem balance and posing significant environmental and human health risks to communities living in these areas.

Ovarian cancer ranks as the seventh most prevalent malignancy among women globally. Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) is an FDA-approved tumor biomarker for the early detection of malignant ovarian cancer. In this work, a portable, electrochemical HE4 immunosensor was fabricated for the rapid, sensitive, and practical analysis of HE4 levels in commercial human blood serum. In the preparation of immunosensors, nanomaterials such as Ti3C2, Ti3C2-COOH, and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), as well as disposable screen-printed carbon electrodes, were used. The influence of nanomaterials on the electrochemical efficiency of electrodes and immunosensors was examined. The materials of Ti3C2, Ti3C2-COOH, and AuNP, and the modified electrodes with these materials, were characterized by FE-SEM-EDX, FTIR, and XRD. Optimization studies and evaluation of analytical performance of the HE4 immunosensor were conducted using a portable electrochemical reader with DPV. The linear range and the detection limit of HE4 immunosensors were determined to be 5–250 pM and 0.34 pM, respectively. Stability was observed for 60 days, and shelf life was assessed for 24 weeks. The selectivity of HE4 immunosensors was tested in the presence of other ovarian cancer biomarkers and found to be highly selective for HE4. In repeatability tests, HE4 immunosensors responded to seven repetitions (RSD: 3.38