BACKGROUNDThe weakest link in the whole cycle of chemical quality testing of sweet potato tubers for both food and feed purposes, where the main determinant of their nutritional value is the level of protein and its nutritional value, is the effect of nitrogen fertilization. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine the effect of differentiated nitrogen fertilization on protein content and its amino acid composition, biological value, and the possibility of modification of these features.RESULTSChanges in total nitrogen content in sweet potato tubers were accompanied by changes in amino acid composition of protein. The consequence of intensified nitrogen fertilization was a decrease in the sum of exogenous amino acids and sum of endogenous amino acids. The amino acid limiting the biological value of sweet potato protein was mainly lysine, followed by arginine and methionine. The ratio of essential to total amino acids indicated high usefulness of sweet potato tubers in human nutrition and their high nutritional value.CONCLUSIONThe consequence of nitrogen fertilization was a decrease in the sum of exogenous amino acids and the sum of endogenous amino acids. Fertilization of sweet potato with a nitrogen dose of 100 kg ha−1, due to the content of crude and true protein, turned out to be beneficial and sufficient under the conditions in central–eastern Europe. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry

Autoimmune thyroid diseases and diabetes mellitus exist together more often in comparison to other diseases. The existence ratio increases with age and affects autoimmune diabetics and females the most (1), while thyroid disorders are observed in about 10-15% of patients with diabetes mellitus and 6% of non-diabetics (2). Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis or chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (3), is the most common autoimmune thyroid disease, affecting up to 10% of the general population. It is more prevalent in females than in males (4, 5). HT is characterized by the development of autoantibodies against thyroid peroxidase (TPO), thyroglobulin, and thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) autoantigens. T cells play a vital role in the pathogenesis of the disease by reacting with thyroid antigens and secreting inflammatory cytokines. So, lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid, gradual loss of thyroid function and goiter are frequently observed (4). Also, a hypoechogenic and inhomogeneous parenchyma can appear in ultrasound observation of the thyroid gland (5).The observation of thyroid dysfunction in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is more frequent than those with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Moreover, more than Background: A protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 (PTPN22) C1858T gene polymorphism has been reported to be associated with both Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) separately. However, no study has been conducted to explore the C1858T polymorphism in T2DM and HT coexistent cases up to now. Aims: The study aimed to determine whether a relationship exists or not between the PTPN22 C1858T polymorphism and this coexistent patient group. Study Design: Case-control study. Methods: Peripheral blood samples from 135 T2DM patients, 102 patients with coexistent T2DM+HT, 71 HT patients and 135 healthy controls were collected into ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) anticoagulant tubes and genomic DNA was extracted. The PTPN22 C1858T polymorphism was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) methods. Results: Statistically significant differences were not observed between the patient and control groups. This study demonstrated a statistically significant association between both the CT genotype and the T allele in the female patient group with coexistent T2DM+HT (CT genotype: p=0.04; T allele: p=0.045) with a statistically significant association between the CT genotype and the mean values of body mass index (BMI) and free T3 levels (FT3) (BMI: p=0.044 and FT3: p=0.021) that was detected in the patient group with coexistent T2DM+HT. The minor genotype TT was observed in none of the groups in this study. The CT genotype frequency was [number (frequency): 5 (3.8%), 7 (6.86%), 5 (7.04%), 3 (2.22%), while the T allele frequency was 5 (1.86%), 7 (3.44%), 5 (3.53%) and 3 (1.12%)] in the T2DM, T2DM+HT, HT and control groups, respectively. Conclusion: Our data sugge...

Objectives: This study aims to examine the effects of sorafenib on a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model. Materials and methods: The study included 50 randomly selected female Wistar-albino rats (8-10-week-old, weighing between 200 g to 250 g). The rats were divided into five equal groups as control, arthritis, etanercept, sorafenib high-dose, and sorafenib low-dose groups, respectively. Arthritis was induced by injecting mixed intradermal chicken type II collagen and incomplete Freund's adjuvant. Twenty-four hours after the advent of arthritis; rats in group 3 were injected subcutaneous etanercept (6 mg/kg/week), while those in groups 4 and 5 were given sorafenib (10 or 30 mg/kg/day) orally until they were sacrificed on the 34 th day. The rat claws and trunk bloods were carefully examined to note perisynovial inflammation and cartilage/bone injury through histopathology. Tissue vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor levels were carefully checked using western blot analysis. Results: Analysis of the experimental data showed that CIA decreased in treatments groups after 12-13 days and 34 th day in contrast with the arthritis group. Histopathological examination revealed broad perisynovial inflammation and cartilage/bone break down in the arthritis group. Compared to the control group, tissue VEGF and VEGF receptor levels increased in the arthritis group. Sorafenib and etanercept decreased tissue VEGF and VEGF receptor levels, perisynovial inflammation, damage of cartilage/bone. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that sorafenib treatment ameliorates CIA with anti-VEGF effectiveness.

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