Kafkas University

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) leads to neurological complications through multiple pathways. Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra, SN) is rich in bioactive compounds with potential neuroprotective properties. This study sought to evaluate the neural-protective potential of SN extract in STZ-diabetic rats using an integrated molecular, biochemical, and histomorphological approach. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups (n = 10/group): control (C; 0.9

In this study, the synthesis of 2-(3,4-dicyanophenoxy)phenoxy)benzoic acid, a phthalonitrile derivative used as a starting material, and the subsequent formation of the copper phthalocyanine complex were accomplished. The structures of the phthalonitrile and copper(II) phthalocyanine compounds were confirmed by FT-IR, UV-Vis,13C-NMR,1H-NMR, and mass spectrometry. Electronic structure analysis and molecular optimization were performed using the B3LYP method within the framework of density functional theory (DFT) with the 6-311 G(d,p) and LanL2DZ basis sets. The molecular electrostatic potential surface map, HOMO-LUMO frontier orbitals, natural bond orbital analysis, and several key molecular parameters were also investigated. Additionally, the photovoltaic properties were theoretically evaluated. Photovoltaic data were obtained using three different computational setups (B3LYP/6-31G, CAM-B3LYP/6-31G, and omega b97x-D/6-31G) with DFT and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) in singlet-only models. The calculations demonstrated that the compound exhibits high potential for photovoltaic applications, owing to its narrow HOMO-LUMO gap and broad light absorption capacity.

Hospital septic surfaces represent critical reservoirs for persistent microbial contamination and may contribute to the spread of opportunistic pathogens in healthcare environments. Enzyme-producing bacteria colonizing such surfaces can enhance environmental persistence and resistance to routine sanitation procedures. This study aimed to investigate the diversity, enzymatic potential, and phylogenetic relationships of bacteria isolated from hospital septic surfaces using morphological, biochemical, and molecular approaches. Environmental samples were collected from selected hospital septic surfaces, and bacterial isolates were obtained using standard microbiological techniques. Morphological and biochemical characterization was performed using conventional assays, including catalase, protease, lipase, and amylase activity tests. Genomic DNA was extracted from purified isolates, and the 16 S rRNA gene region was amplified and sequenced. Sequence similarity analysis was performed using BLAST, and phylogenetic relationships were constructed using MEGA11 software based on the Maximum Likelihood method with bootstrap analysis. A total of 28 bacterial isolates were initially obtained, and genomic DNA was extracted from all isolates; however, reliable sequencing data suitable for molecular identification were successfully obtained for 26 isolates. A total of 26 bacterial isolates were successfully identified from hospital septic environments. Catalase and protease activities were widely observed among isolates, while lipase and amylase activities varied between species. Molecular identification based on 16 S rRNA gene sequencing revealed the predominance of bacterial species belonging to the genera Paenibacillus, Bacillus, and Staphylococcus. Several isolates, including Paenibacillus glucanolyticus and Staphylococcus haemolyticus, showed high sequence similarity (99–100

This study investigates the effects of thymoquinone on micronucleus frequency and proinflammatory cytokine secretion in the livers of rats fed high-fat diet with cholesterol. Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: control, high-fat diet with cholesterol (CHFD), high-fat diet with cholesterol+thymoquinone (CHFD+T), and thymoquinone (TQ). Histopathological examination revealed hepatocyte vacuolization in the CHFD group. In the CHFD+T group, both hepatocyte vacuolization and mild portal fibrosis were observed, whereas the TQ group exhibited only sinusoidal dilatation. Immunohistochemical analysis showed severe immunoreactivity for IL-6, IL-1(3, and TNF-alpha in the control group, while no such immunoreactivity was detected in the CHFD group. Additionally, in the thymoquinone-treated group, IL-6 and TNF-alpha displayed moderate immunoreactivity, whereas IL-1(3 was not observed. In terms of genotoxicity, the CHFD was found to increase the number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs). However, thymoquinone treatment significantly reduced these elevated levels of MNPCEs. Furthermore, the ratio of polychromatic to normochromic erythrocytes (PCE/NCE), which was lowest in the CHFD group, increased following thymoquinone administration. These results suggest that, with appropriate timing and dosage, thymoquinone may be effective in mitigating liver and genotoxic damage induced by a high-fat diet with cholesterol.

This study aimed to evaluate the myocardial effects of aerobic exercise in cold weather in healthy individuals by measuring galectin-3 (Gal-3) and CK-MB levels. Forty-one individuals (12 professional athletes [age: 21.91 ± 2.60 years, body mass: 63.5 ± 8.4 kg, BMI: 21.7 ± 1.6 kg/m2], 14 physically active [age: 21.95 ± 2.30 years, body mass: 65.5 ± 10.3 kg, BMI: 22.4 ± 1.4 kg/m2], and 15 sedentary individuals [age: 21.40 ± 2.64 years, body mass: 62.5 ± 7.4 kg, BMI: 22.2 ± 1.7 kg/m2]) participated in this study. Athletes and physically active individuals performed 40 minutes of acute aerobic running exercises at 0°C and 20°C environmental temperatures. Gal-3 and CK-MB levels were measured pre- and post-exercise. Baseline Gal-3 levels of professional athletes (p < 0.001) and physically active individuals (p = 0.048) were significantly higher than those of sedentary individuals. Two-way ANOVA showed significant interaction (p = 0.035) between temperature (0°C vs. 20°C) and exercise (pre- vs. post-exercise). At 0°C, there was a significant increase in post-exercise serum Gal-3 levels when compared with pre-exercise values (p < 0.001, +7.1%), whereas no significant difference was observed at 20°C. Moreover, no significant interaction was found for CK-MB levels (p = 0.306) between the temperature (0°C vs. 20°C) and exercise (pre- vs. post-exercise). Additionally, there was a significant difference between pre- and post-exercise values at the 0°C environmental temperature for serum CK-MB levels (p < 0.001), while there was no significant difference at 20°C. This study demonstrates that regular exercise is associated with biochemical abnormalities that may affect cardiac structure and function. Aerobic exercise under cold conditions may cause myocardial injury.