The use of monoclonal antibody (McAb) based immunoassays to detect serum concentration changes of cardiac specific structural and regulatory proteins, as biochemical markers, is gaining immense interest in diagnostic procedures for cardiomyocyte necrosis. Of the non-isotopic probes, chemiluminescent molecules such as acridinium esters (A.E.) are regarded as being of real value in routine clinical chemistry. In the present study, bovine cardiac troponin-I specific 5F4 McAb was purified by Protein 'A' and Mono-Q ionexchange chromatography and conjugated with A.E. The method of purification hardly interfered with the conjugation procedure. The A.E. conjugated 5F4 retained its immunoreactivity post conjugation and was used to design direct and indirect immunoassays for the detection of cTn-I in vitro samples.

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The present study deals with measurement of minerals, vitamins, free sugars and amino acids of Eugenia jambosa fruit. Minerals were determined in edible pulp of the Eugenia jambosa fruit dried in an oven to constant weight. The ash content was determined by incineration of known weight of the sample and trace elements were determined by atomic absorption. Sodium and potassium was measured by flame photometry and phosphorus was measured by colorimetry. Sufficient amount of sodium (391.5 mg), potassium (278.4 mg), calcium (116.0 mg), iron (0.58 mg), zinc (0.29 mg) and manganese (0.58 mg) were found to be present in Eugenia jambosa fruit. The chromatographic analysis showed that fruit contains glucose, mannose, sucrose, alanine, arginine, asparagine, tyrosine, glutamine and cysteine.

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Pineal indolic compounds have been postulated to play an antigonadotrophic role in the reproductive system of mammals. In humans, indoleamines are localized in tissue fluids such as plasma, serum, cerebrospinal fluid, aqueous humor, semen, and follicular fluid. Because they exhibit antigonadotrophic properties, we examined whether melatonin causes any inhibitory effects on sperm motility. In the present study, significant stimulation of sperm motility by this indole was observed. Furthermore, the presence of melatonin in incubation medium did not decrease, but on the contrary increased sperm velocity slightly and nonsignificantly. These data raise the possibility that the presence of high doses of indoles in reproductive fluids may increase sperm motility and velocity. This stimulatory effect of melatonin on sperm motility parameters was concluded to be due to its action as a highly efficient free radical scavenger and general antioxidant.

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Alcohol abuse is a common problem in Türkiye. In order to address the problem, a retrospective analysis of 700 alcohol dependent patients presenting over a period of 6 years to a university hospital in Ankara was undertaken. Results showed that most of the subjects were within the ages 30-39, the married subjects representing the largest group. Age at onset of alcohol consumption was low. Although Islamic religion strongly disapproves alcohol use, it is ineffective in preventing its consumption.

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