Parasitological and Microbiological Investigation of Meat and Offal Consumed in Istanbul

In this study, it was aimed to explore the presence of some important foodborne parasitological and microbiological parameters that may seriously risk the consumers’ health (total coliform, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli EHEC O157:H7, Salmonella spp., Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella typhimurium and Toxoplasma gondii) in meat and offals that are sold in various sales points in different districts of Istanbul. For this purpose, 400 samples (100 mutton, 100 beef, 100 minced meat and 100 sheep brain) were collected and analyzed by using PCR procedures for aforementioned parameters. The data obtained, were interpreted by statistical methods and binary correlations among the parameters will be exposed. Besides, a risk alligment was formed among the sales points and the products. According to the results, Escherichia coli EHEC O157:H7 and Toxoplasma gondii were determined in any samples. However except the aforementioned parameters all the analyzed microbiological variables were exposed in different samples with different concentrations. The results were verified by real-time PCR procedures. Binary correlation analysis were applied to the positive determined microbiological parameters. The results showed that all the positive determined microbiological parameters were positively correlated with each other. The result of the study showed that applynig good hygien procedures is very important to supply qualified and safe food to the costumers is very improtant in very step of food production chain but especially in the sales points that sell ready to eat foods. Besides, it was concluded that the implementation of effective control / inspections and continious education programs which would be held by related government agencies would be very effective for decreasing the incidence of the foodborne pathogens.

Impact of hypoxia-ischemia and dopamine treatment on dopamine receptor binding density in the preterm fetal sheep brain

This is the first study on the effects of hypoxia-ischemia and dopamine treatment on the dopaminergic pathway in the preterm brain. In the striatum of fetal sheep (equivalent to ∼26–28 wk of human gestation), we demonstrate that hypoxia-ischemia leads to cell death, reduces D1 and D2 receptors, and reduces dopamine transporter. Intravenous dopamine infusion at clinical dosage used in preterm human infants does not alter the striatal cell death, D1 and D2 receptor density levels, and DAT protein expressions after hypoxia-ischemia in the preterm brain.

Deep brain stimulation electrodes may rotate after implantation—an animal study

Directional deep brain stimulation (dDBS) electrodes allow to steer the electrical field in a specific direction. When implanted with torque, they may rotate for a certain time after implantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether and to which degree leads rotate in the first 24 h after implantation using a sheep brain model. dDBS electrodes were implanted in 14 sheep heads and 3D rotational fluoroscopy (3D-RF) scans were acquired to visualize the orientation of the electrode leads. Electrode leads were clockwise rotated just above the burr holes (180° n = 6, 360° n = 6, 2 controls) and 3D-RF scans were again acquired after 3, 6, 13, 17, and 24 h, respectively. One hundred eighty degree rotated electrodes showed an initial rotation of 83.5° (range: 35.4°–128.3°) and a rotation of 114.0° (range: 57°–162°) after 24 h. With 360° torsion, mean initial rotation was 201° (range: 3.3°–321.4°) and mean rotation after 24 h 215.7° (range 31.9°–334.7°), respectively. Direct postoperative imaging may not be accurate for determining the rotation of dDBS electrodes if torque is present.

Reliability of fNIRS for noninvasive monitoring of brain function and emotion in sheep

The aim of this work was to critically assess if functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) can be profitably used as a tool for noninvasive recording of brain functions and emotions in sheep. We considered an experimental design including advances in instrumentation (customized wireless multi-distance fNIRS system), more accurate physical modelling (two-layer model for photon diffusion and 3D Monte Carlo simulations), support from neuroanatomical tools (positioning of the fNIRS probe by MRI and DTI data of the very same animals), and rigorous protocols (motor task, startling test) for testing the behavioral response of freely moving sheep. Almost no hemodynamic response was found in the extra-cerebral region in both the motor task and the startling test. In the motor task, as expected we found a canonical hemodynamic response in the cerebral region when sheep were walking. In the startling test, the measured hemodynamic response in the cerebral region was mainly from movement. Overall, these results indicate that with the current setup and probe positioning we are primarily measuring the motor area of the sheep brain, and not probing the too deeply located cortical areas related to processing of emotions.

The sheep brain: an interesting translational model for functional MRI studies?

Biomedical investigations in clinically relevant animal models is of crucial interest for faster and appropriate transfer to human. The ovine model has already demonstrated its potential compared to rodents and non-human primates (NHP) in various studies: sheep possess a gyrencephalic brain, captivity is not an issue and can undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in routine clinical scanners (1.5T, 3T) under identical conditions using similar techniques to humans. To date, the effects of anesthesia have been poorly explored and only few functional MRI (fMRI) studies were conducted in sheep. Here, Blood Oxygen Level dependent fMRI and perfusion MRI were conducted in lambs and adult ewes at 3 T. Robust but weak BOLD responses to visual stimulation were found in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) up to 3% isoflurane anaesthesia. BOLD responses were weaker in adult sheep than in lambs while relative cerebral blood volumes (rCBV) and relative cerebral blood flows (rCBF) were significantly higher in lambs than in adult sheep for both gray and white matter in accordance with previous findings in the human. Assessment of functional responses in healthy individuals under adequate physiological conditions is essential for robust translational studies.