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The genus Teucrium belongs to the Lamiaceae family. Lamiaceae is one of the important plant groups because most members of this group are used as medicinal and aromatic plants. In this study, the leaves and flowers of Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. chamaedrys and Teucrium polium, which were taken from both their natural habitat and cultivars, were analysed by SPME and GC-MS in two vegetation periods. The amount and the composition of volatile oil of cultivated plants were compared with plants from natural areas. Caryophyllene (12.20-23.74%) was the most abundant component in all samples of Teucrium chamaedrys except in samples from natural habitats of the first vegetation period. Moreover, 2-hexen-1-al (12.79-13.98%), germacrene-D (11.99-19.60%) and a-pinene (3.80-11.68%) were the dominant components of the T. chamaedrys, while in Teucrium polium samples, ß-myrcene (19.52-25.28%) was the common component in both sampling area of the first vegetation period, limonene (30.87-31.79%) had the highest amount in the second vegetation period. Besides, a-thujone (3.13-18.87%), a-pinene (0.94-17.93%) and germacrene-D (4.31-15.63%) were detected as major components in samples from both natural habitats and cultivars of T. polium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composition of polysaccharides in the cones of conifer species growing in Turkey was studied. The content of polysaccharides was between 39 and 57% (w/w). The total amount of polysaccharides was generally higher in pine species. Polyoses were the predominant polysaccharides. The percentage of polyoses was between 23.3 and 33.9% (w/w). The main units of polyoses were mannose and galactose, while in some species xylose was the other important sugar unit. Between 1 and 6.7% of the polyoses were soluble in hot water. Polyoses were more readily dissolved from fir species than from other species. Galactoglucomannan was dissolved from all cones. Contrary to wood, the content of cellulose was only between 13 and 27.5% (w/w) in cones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We investigated the relationship between the distribution of the IL-1RN, TNF-β and IL-4 polymorphism and the clinical features of bladder cancer., Materials and Methods: A total of 100 patients with bladder carcinoma and 102 healthy control subjects were enrolled in the study. The IL-1RN, IL-4 and TNF-β gene polymorphisms were identified by PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism-based analysis. Allelic frequencies were compared between patient and the controls. Tumor stage, histopathological grade, tumor size/number and smoking condition were evaluated with IL-1RN, IL-4 and TNF-β gene polymorphisms., Results: Allele distribution frequencies of IL-1RN and IL-4 gene polymorphisms were significantly different between patients and control groups. However, allele distribution of TNF-β gene was not statistically significant. There was no difference in allele distribution of the three genes in both groups regarding stage, tumor size, number of tumors and smoking condition. Although allele distribution of IL-4 gene showed significant difference considering histopathological grades in both smoking and total patients group, allele distribution of IL-1RN and TNF-β was not different., Conclusion: The present research suggests that the IL-1RN and IL-4 gene polymorphisms are potential genetic markers of susceptibility to bladder cancer. In the future, clinical improvements on diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of bladder carcinoma are expected owing to development of more sensitive and specific tests for genetic polymorphisms of cytokines that are effective on inflammation.

Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common causes of preventable ischemic stroke and is related to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. There is a lack of data in Turkey on the use of new oral anticoagulants (NOACs), and time in therapeutic INR range (TTR) in vitamin K antagonist users and AF management modality. In this multi-center trial, we aimed to analyze, follow and evaluate the epidemiological data in non-valvular AF patients., Study Design: Four thousand one hundred consecutive adult patients from 42 centers with at least one AF attack identified on electrocardiography will be included in the study. Patients with rheumatic mitral valve stenosis and prosthetic valve disease will be excluded from the study. At the end of one year, the patients will be evaluated in terms of major cardiac end points (death, transient ischemic attack, stroke, systemic thromboembolism, major bleeding and hospitalization)., Results: First results are expected in June 2015. Data about major cardiovascular end-points will be available in January 2016., Conclusion: The rates and kind of oral anticoagulant use, TTR in vitamin K antagonist users and main management modality applied in non-valvular AF patients will be determined by AFTER-2 study. In addition, the rate of major adverse events (MACEs) and the independent predictors of these MACEs will be detected (AFTER-2 Study ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02354456.).

Objectives: To analyze (1) the sex-specific and age-bracket defined all-cause and coronary mortality in the 23-years' follow-up of the Turkish Adult Risk Factor Study, and (2) to determine the nation-wide prevalence of Type-2 diabetes and its recent trend., Study Design: Information on the mode of death was obtained from first-degree relatives and/or health personnel of local heath office. Information collected in survivors was based on history, physical examination of the cardiovascular system and Minnesota coding of resting electrocardiograms. Diabetes was defined by criteria of the American Diabetes Association without the use of glycated hemoglobin., Results: Of the 1370 participants to be surveyed, 768 were examined, in 452 subjects information was gathered, and 29 men, 18 women were ascertained to have died. Cumulative assessment of the entire cohort in the age bracket 45-74 years disclosed coronary mortality to be 7.5/1000 person-years in men and 3.74 in women, persisting to be high among the European countries. The recent decline observed in overall mortality seemed to halt as well. Of greatest concern was the finding in the past 12 years that the rate of rise in the age-controlled prevalence of Type-2 diabetes was as high as 5% annually., Conclusion: Overall and coronary mortality in Turkish adults continue to be high, while an elicited annual increase of 5% in the age-controlled prevalence of diabetes is virtually alarming and requires new public health policies.