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The nutrition of the mother during pregnancy is very important on the development of the child's immune system and immune programming. Nutrition with antioxidant-rich fresh vegetables and fruits, dietary fiber consumption, and intake of n-3 unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) provide important benefits in the development of the child's immune system and intestinal microbiota. Healthy nutritional components such as the Mediterranean diet, which are high in antioxidants, seem to have a direct effect on immune and metabolic processes as a whole and prevent the occurrence of many diseases by reducing chronic inflammation, oxidative damage, and cell destruction. Such a diet during pregnancy is thought to reduce the child's susceptibility to allergic diseases. For this reason, approaches to improving nutrition for the prevention of allergic diseases have been a very important research area in recent years. According to current data, epidemiological studies reveal conflicting results in terms of antioxidant intake and the development of allergic diseases. Many studies and meta-analyses associate low antioxidant intake with wheezing, increased asthma and airway reactivity, and reduced respiratory function. However, it has not been shown that a diet with high maternal antioxidant content has a protective effect on food allergy and other allergic diseases. In this review, the effects of a diet high in antioxidants and a Mediterranean diet during the pregnancy period of the mother on the prevention of food allergy and other allergic diseases in the child will be discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective properties of betanin in rats exposed to Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles. An experimental animal study was conducted on 40 Spraque Dawley rats. The rats were studied in 4 groups (n = 10). Group I: Control group, Group II: TiO2 group (250 mg/kg/bw), Group III: TiO2 + Betanin group (250 mg/kg/bw TiO2 + Betanin; 100 µg/ml), Group IV: Betanin group (100 µg/ml). After 28 days of application, blood and liver tissue samples of the rats were collected. Total Antioxidant Status (TAS, mmol Trolox Eq/L), Total Oxidant Status (TOS, µmol H2O2 Eq/L), Paraoxonase (PON, U/L), Total thiol (μmol/L), Nitric oxide (NO, µmol/L), Malondialdehyde (MDA, nM/ml) and Catalase (CAT, U/mg protein) activity levels in the blood and liver tissue measured. Liver tissue samples were evaluated by immunohistochemical methods (Caspase-3 and 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine) and hematoxylin-eosin staining. As a result, a significant (p < 0.001) increase in the mean oxidant parameters and a significant (p < 0.001) decrease in the antioxidant parameters were determined in the TiO2 group when compared to the control group. Caspaze-3 and 8-OHdG histopathological results findings indicated a similar situation. However, it was determined that TiO2 damage was significantly reduced (p < 0.001) in rats to which TiO2 and betanin were administered together. In addition, the highest antioxidant levels and low histopathological damage were determined among all groups in the betanin-only group. Betanin (C24H26N2O13) shows protective activity in oxidative tissue damage caused by TiO2 nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effects of orally administered Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles on reproductive health in rats. A total of 20 rats, aged 2 to 3 months, were divided into two groups. One group (n=10) received a dosage of 250mg/kg bw TiO2 (15 nm particle size) daily for 28 days, while the other group (n=10) received only tap water as a control. At the end of the study, rats were euthanized, epididymal sperm samples were collected and testicular tissues were examined using both hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemical techniques to assess the levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1a (HIF-1a). Oxidative stress levels were measured by Total Antioxidant Status (TAS), Total Oxidant Status (TOS), Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity. The results indicated that the oral administration of TiO2 nanoparticles significantly impaired sperm quality parameters (P<0.01). In the TiO2-treated group, seminiferous tubule diameter and epithelial height were lower compared to control group (P<0.05). Furthermore, the levels of 8-OHdG, indicating DNA damage, and HIF-1a, a marker of tissue hypoxia, were increased in the testicular tissue. Additionally, the levels of oxidants (TOS and MDA) were increased, while antioxidant markers (TAS and GSH-Px) were decreased in TiO2-treated group. In conclusion, oral administration of TiO2 nanoparticles induces DNA damage, adversely affects epididymal semen quality, and elevates oxidant levels in testicular tissue. These results underscore the detrimental effects of TiO2 nanoparticles (<100nm, especially <25nm) on reproductive health and highlight the importance of further investigation into their potential adverse effects in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bread still constitutes an essential part of meeting the daily nutritional requirement. This study, it is tried to define and predict the behavioral attitudes of consumers toward bread consumption. The primary purpose of this study is to examine the socio-demographic characteristics of individuals and their bread consumption preferences and perceptions with a focus on quality and healthy life. The data are obtained digitally with 9583 consumers from survey questions created on google form throughout Turkey throughout the year 2020. First, descriptive statistics of the answers to the comprehensive survey questions are revealed. Then, correlation analysis was conducted to show the relationships between the variables, in line with each sub-objective set up under the primary purpose. Finally, by using some data mining and machine learning algorithms, it is tried to reveal future expectations based on some main determinant parameters such as health and quality expectation for bread consumption of consumers. All statistical and inferential evaluations were made using the Konstanz Information Miner (KNIME) analytics platform. The findings discover that increasing income and education level in bread consumption improves the level of awareness about health and quality of life in people, and these attitudes and perceptions bring about a proportional decrease in bread consumption of individuals. On the other hand, as a vicious circle, it reveals that the sedentary life brought by work-life in modern society causes an increase in body weight and an unhealthy living ecosystem. The findings can offer meaningful advice to all actors and political decision-makers involved in the bread market and supply chain and consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal plants are widely consumed as beverages in many countries. Although the parts of the plants involved and how they are used are basically similar, these may vary depending on the region. In addition to their positive effects on health, medicinal plants are supplements that people should be careful about in terms of the heavy metals they may contain due to the environmental pollution in the places they are grown. In this research, the Fe, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Al metals' concentrations in six different medicinal plants sold in herbal stores in Aydın, Denizli, Burdur and Isparta were determined via ICP-OES in samples sold unpackaged and as packaged tea for infusions. According to this study, more heavy metal residues were detected in the herbal tea samples sold unpackaged compared to the infused teas. At the end of the study, while the maximum amount of heavy metal in the samples sold unpackaged was Fe (302 mg/kg), Cd and Cr heavy metal residues were not identified in the samples made into infusions from packaged tea. The largest heavy metal residues were found in samples sold unpackaged, and the smallest heavy metal residues were detected in the samples. As a result of this, it is considered necessary for producers, sellers and consumers to be more aware of and sensitive to the risk of heavy metals in herbal teas, and for the authorities to monitor the producers more frequently so that these products can be consumed in a healthier way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation was conducted to determine the contents of some heavy metals in raw milk samples collected from four different regions: industrial, rural, heavy traffic intensity and agricultural regions around İsparta city, Turkey. A total of 86 raw milk samples were collected from these regions, and the contents of Pb, Cd, Cu, Fe, Zn, As, Sn and Hg of milk samples were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Limit of detection values (LODs) were between 1.00-5 pg/L for the studied elements while recoveries ranged from 91 to 102% and the standard deviations were in the range 1.13 to 4.30%. Pb, Cd, Cu, Fe and Zn were detected in milk while As, Sn and Hg was not detected in milk samples. The highest heavy metal content was found in milk samples collected from the industrial region. According to the statistical analysis, the differences between the regions were statistically significant (p<0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, it was aimed to determine the preventive effects of rose water against toxicological effects of chlorpyrifos- ethyl (CPE). Group I was the control group, group II received CPE (0.3 mg/kg/day), group III received water solution of rose extract (WR, 100 mg/kg/day), while group IV received WR + CPE. The rats were sacrificed after 15 days of the experiment to collect blood samples, liver and kidney tissue. The results showed that, compared to the CPE group, there was a significant (p<0.001) decrease in the activities of GGT, ALT, AST, lipase enzymes and MDA levels, while a significant (p<0.001) increase was observed in put the actual words (TAC) and platelet (PLT) levels in the CPE + WR group. Between the control and WR groups, TAC, WBC and CAT levels were significantly (p<0.001) higher, while TOC and OSI levels were significantly (p<0.001) lower in the WR group. The highest OSI levels were determined in the CPE group (1.12 pmol H2O2 equ./L) followed by CPE + RW (1.02 (imol H2O2 equ./L), (0.93 pmol H2O2 equ./L) and RW (0.87 pmol H2O2 equ./L) groups. PON and ARE were found to be significantly (p<0.001) low in the CPE and CPE + RW groups. In between these two groups of CPE and CPE + RW, the levels of PON and ARE were found significantly (p<0.001) higher in the CPE + RW group. A residue of CPE was also detected in the groups II and IV. In conclusion, it can be said that WR showed some positive effects on the enzymes of liver and haematological parameters in rats, and reduced the toxic effects of CPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to assess the effect of exposure to pesticide on platelet indices including mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) in farm workers. The study group consisted of 40 farm workers (4 females, 36 males; mean age 42.6 ± 9.8 years). An age-, gender- and body mass index–matched control group was composed of 38 healthy volunteers (8 females, 30 males; mean age 46.1±8.9 years). Platelet indices were assessed in farm workers exposed to pesticides. MPV values were significantly lower in farm workers than in those of controls (6.3 ± 1.1 vs. 7.6 ± 0.7 fL, respectively; p < 0.001). Platelet count was significantly lower in farm workers than those of controls (155.7 ± 35.7 vs. 271.3 ± 96.2 × 109/L, respectively; p < 0.001). PDW was significantly lower in farm workers than in those of controls (8.9% ± 2.0% vs. 15.8% ± 0.8%, respectively; p < 0.001). We have found that MPV and other platelet indices were significantly lower in farm workers exposed to pesticides than those of controls. Our findings suggest that MPV may be a sensitive indicator of a pesticide-exposure effect. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Nuclear medicine has been using radiopharmaceuticals for the diagnostic and therapeutic purposes of many diseases. Technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (99mTc sestamibi) is a lypophilic complex that has a positive-loaded isonitril group. Aim of the study is to investigate whether 99mTc sestamibi, which is one of the mostly used radiopharmaceuticals in nuclear medicine field, causes oxidative damage or not in rats’ heart after an injection. A total of 16 male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups: group I: 99mTc sestamibi group, 99mTc sestamibi administered intravenously with the dose of 25MBq; group II: control group, one dose of isotonic sodium chloride was administered intravenous with the same volume as 99mTc sestamibi group. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and total oxidant status (TOS) were used as markers of oxidative stress-induced heart impairment. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and total antioxidant status (TAS) activities were studied to evaluate the changes in the antioxidant status. In the 99mTc sestamibi group (group I), animals treated with 99mTc sestamibi produced a significant decrease in the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT), while MDA level increased when compared with control group (group II) in myocardial tissue (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the GSH-Px activities were significantly increased in the 99mTc sestamibi-treated rats compared with the untreated rats (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the TAS and TOS levels of plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose: To examine the relationship between serum total oxidant (TOS) and antioxidant (TAS) levels and clinical pregnancy in assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles., Methods: Prior to and after oocyte pick-up (OPU) and embryo transfer (ET), blood samples were collected from gynecologically normal females (n = 70) who were enrolled for ART solely due to male factor infertility. TAS, TOS levels and oxidative stress indexes (OSI: TOS/TAS) in four phases of treatment cycle (pre and post OPU and ET) between clinically pregnant and non-pregnant patients were compared. Critical cut-off values of significantly different TAS, TOS levels and OSIes for clinical pregnancy were established., Results: The TAS levels in patients with clinical pregnancy were significantly higher in all of the four phases of the cycle. Post-OPU and pre-ET TOS levels were significantly higher in clinically pregnant patients. According to OSIes; only the pre-OPU OSI was significantly lower in clinically pregnant patients compared with non-pregnant ones. Moreover, the highest area under the ROC curve (AUC) from the seven different significant measurements [1) pre-OPU OSI, 2) pre-OPU TAS, 3) post-OPU TAS, 4) pre-ET TAS, 5) post-ET TAS, 6) post-OPU TOS, 7) pre-ET TOS] was related to pre-OPU OSI., Conclusions: In ART cycles, women with a higher total antioxidant status prior to and after OPU and prior to and after ET have an increased probability of clinical pregnancy. Additionally; OSI before OPU was one of the most important determinants for clinical pregnancy, so the oxidant and antioxidant balance is as important as the antioxidant concentration alone.