Abdullah Acar

The anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic effects of nebivolol and zofenopril in a model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats.

The aim of this experiment was to investigate whether nebivolol and zofenopril have protective effects against oxidative damage and apoptosis induced by cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). There were seven groups of rats, with each containing eight rats. The groups were: the control group, I/R group, I/R plus zofenopril, I/R plus nebivolol, I/R plus nebivolol and zofenopril, zofenopril only and nebivolol only. Cerebral I/R was induced by clamping the bilateral common carotid artery and through hypotension. The rats were sacrificed 1h after ischemia, and histopathological and biochemical analyses were carried out on their brains. The total antioxidant capacity was evaluated by using an automated and colorimetric measurement method developed by Erel. I/R produced a significant increase in the levels of total oxidant status and malondialdehyde levels, the number of caspase-3 immunopositive cells and activities of prolidase and paraoxonase in brain when compared with the control group (p<0.05). A significant decrease in brain total antioxidant capacity and nitric oxide levels were found in I/R group when compared with the control group (p<0.05). Both nebivolol and zofenopril treatment prevented decreasing of the total antioxidant capacity and nitric oxide levels, produced by I/R in the brain (p<0.05). Both nebivolol and zofenopril treatment prevented the total oxidant status, malondialdehyde levels, activities of paraoxonase and prolidase from increasing in brains of rats exposed to I/R (p<0.05). In conclusion, both nebivolol and zofenopril protected rats from ischemia-induced brain injury. The protection may be due to the indirect prevention of oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Oxidative Damage is Ameliorated by Curcumin Treatment in Brain and Sciatic Nerve of Diabetic Rats

ABSTRACT To date, there have not been enough studies about the effects of curcumin against oxidative stress on sciatic nerves caused by streptozotocin (STZ) in diabetic rats. Therefore, this study was undertaken to determine whether curcumin, by virtue of its antioxidant properties, could affect the oxidant/antioxidant balance in the sciatic nerve and brain tissues of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. A total of 28 rats were randomly divided into four groups of seven rats each: normal controls, only curcumin treated, diabetic controls, and diabetics treated with curcumin. Biomarkers—malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), oxidative stress index (OSI), and NO levels—for oxidative stress in the brain and sciatic nerve tissues of the rats were measured. We found a significant increase in MDA, NO, TOS, and OSI, along with a reduction in TAS levels in the brains and sciatic nerves of the STZ-induced diabetic rats (for both parameters p < 0.05). The MDA, TOS, OSI, and NO levels in these tissues were significantly reduced in the curcumin-treated diabetic group compared to the untreated diabetic group. In conclusion, the results of this study suggested that curcumin exhibits neuroprotective effects against oxidative damage in the brain and sciatic tissues of diabetic rats.

Serum Levels of Calcification Inhibitors in Patients With Intracerebral Hemorrhage

ABSTRACT The vascular calcification regulators and inflammatory markers including fetuin-A, osteopontin (OPN), and matrix Gla protein (MGP) may play an important role in the development of intracerebral hemorrhages (ICHs). So far, the relationship between these parameters and ICH has not been studied. Therefore, this study was designed to elucidate whether fetuin-A, MGP, and OPN are involved in the pathophysiology of ICH. The ICH group consisted of 27 consecutive patients with spontaneous ICH evaluated in the neurology intensive care unit within the first 24 hours from the onset of the stroke. The serum OPN levels were significantly increased in patients with ICH compared to the controls. On the other hand, the serum MGP and fetuin-A levels were significantly decreased in the patients with ICH in comparison to the controls. In the patients with ICH, the serum MGP levels of the nonsurvivors were statistically significantly lower than the MGP levels of the survivors. In conclusion, the change in serum fetuin-A, MGP, and OPN levels after ICH indicates that these parameters play a role in the pathophysiological processes leading to an ICH. Measurement of the serum MGP levels may also be of value to estimate mortality.

Identifying autonomic nervous system dysfunction in acute cerebrovascular attack by assessments of heart rate variability and catecholamine levels.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate changes in the autonomic nervous system caused by cerebral lesions due to acute stroke. We assessed heart rate variability and catecholamine levels in lieu of stroke lesion localization. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 stroke patients and 31 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine levels were measured on the first, third, and seventh days following the stroke event. Heart rate variability was evaluated with time-domain and frequency-domain analyses via 24-hour Holter monitor recordings. Results: On the first and third day following the stroke, norepinephrine levels were significantly higher in all patient groups as compared to controls. Epinephrine levels on the first, third and seventh days after the stroke were significantly higher in patients with lesions in the right middle cerebral artery territory than controls. In frequency-domain analysis, patients with right middle cerebral artery territory lesions had greater low frequency and low frequency to high frequency ratio values than controls. Time-domain analysis revealed significant decreases in the standard deviation from the mean for 5-minute 288 R-R intervals in patients with lesions in the right middle cerebral artery and posterior cerebral artery territory when contrasted with controls. Patients with lesions in the right middle cerebral artery territory demonstrated the highest increase in the percentage of consecutive R-R intervals differing by more than 50 ms (pNN50) as compared to the control group. Conclusion: These findings indicate that autonomic dysfunction favoring an increase in sympathetic activity occurs in acute stroke patients.

Diagnostic value of F-wave inversion in patients with early carpal tunnel syndrome.

Routine electrophysiological studies usually give normal results in patients with early stage carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Diagnostic significance of the F-wave inversion (the median of F-wave minimal latencies (FWML) exceeds a normal ipsilateral ulnar FWML by 1ms) has not been previously reported in early stage CTS. In this study, our primary aim was to investigate the diagnostic value of F-wave inversion in early stage CTS. Additionally, we aimed to demonstrate any possible relationship between F-wave inversion and symptom scores of the Boston questionnaire and functional capacity in early stage CTS. The study included 60 early stage CTS patients who presented with a median sensory nerve conduction velocity of ≥50m/s. The symptom severity and functional status of the patients were assessed by using the Boston questionnaire. The control group consisted of 45 healthy volunteers. We compared early stage CTS patients and healthy control subjects in terms of the results obtained from median-ulnar FWML. Existence of F-wave inversion was found in 32 (53.3%) of the early stage CTS patients and in 3 (8.7%) of the healthy controls (p=0.001). It was also found to be positively correlated with the Boston questionnaire scores (p=0.001, r=0.41) and functional capacity scores (p=0.001, r=0.41). The sensitivity and specificity of F-wave inversion for the diagnosis of early stage CTS were calculated as 53.3% and 93.3%, respectively. The addition of F-wave inversion measurement to the set of the routine nerve conduction studies can increase the reliability of the electrophysiological studies in patients with early stage CTS.

Changes in serum albumin levels and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in patients with convulsive status epilepticus.

Aim: Inflammation may be involved in the ictogenesis and development of some partial epilepsies. Serum albumin levels and the neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) are markers of inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of serum albumin levels and NLR to predict inflammation in patients with convulsive status epilepticus (CSE). Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on 58 patients who were diagnosed with CSE and control group comprised of 58 healthy individuals. Albumin levels and NLR were evaluated during both the acute and subacute periods of CSE. Results: The average serum albumin levels were 3.27 ± 0.62 g/dL during the acute period and 3.4 ± 0.67 g/dL in the subacute period in the patient group and 3.92 ± 0.52 g/dL in the control group. Neutrophil counts were higher in patients in the acute phase of CSE, but lymphocyte counts were lower compared to the control group and the subacute phase. The average NLR values were 4.83 ± 5.1 in the acute period, 3.07 ± 3.02 during the subacute period and 1.98 ± 0.42 in the control group. Serum albumin and NLR levels were significantly different between the patients in the subacute and acute periods of CSE and the control group (p < 0.05). There were significant negative correlational relationships between serum albumin and NLR levels (p < 0.05). Conclusion: We found serum albumin levels were significantly lower and the NLR was significantly higher in the acute period of CSE. Neutrophil-mediated inflammation may be important in the aetiopathogenesis of CSE.

Epilepsi hastasında topiramatın indüklediği ekolali olgusu

Echolalia are subsets of imitative behavior which repetition of sounds and language. Topiramate is an effective drug for treatment several types of seizures. It is generally tolerated well. We reported the case of a 44-year old man patient who presented with a history of a epilepsy disorder, He had been maintained with 1000 mg/day sodium valproate for seizure episode. But this recently did not control his seizure episode. Then he was placed on topiramate (600mg/day). Following treatment, he had no seizure episode. subsequently He became incoherence, confusion, disorientation, and significant speech impair ments including echolalia Thereby, we present a case of echolalia in a rapidly titrated topiramate induced in a epilepsy disorder patient. J Clin Exp Invest 2014; 5 (4): 620-622

Fibromusküler Displaziye Bağlı Serebral Enfarkt Olgusu

The course of cervicocephalic fibromuscular dysplasia is mainly asymptomatic. It is often found as an incidental finding on autopsy or angiography mostly in women and is commonly located in extracranial region of carotid artery. In the present article, we reported a 21 year-old man who has been initially accepted to our intensive care with a tentative diagnosis of cerebrovascular infarct after having symptoms of loss of consciousness and right hemiparesis. He later received a certain diagnosis of fibromuscular dysplasia after neuroimaging findings. This disorder should be considered in differential diagnosis of young stroke patients.

Early Orbital Blood Flow Changes in Multiple Sclerosis Patients with Unilateral Acute Optic Neuritis

The aim of this study was to evaluate orbital blood flow by using colour Doppler imaging before corticosteroid administration in multiple sclerosis patients with unilateral acute optic neuritis. Thirty multiple sclerosis patients with unilateral acute optic neuritis and 30 healthy subjects were included as the study and the control groups. The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis optic neuritis was based on clinical presentation, visually evoked potential, and magnetic resonance imaging findings. Data obtained from affected and unaffected eyes were compared with each other and the control group. Ophthalmic artery peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, resistivity index, and pulsatile index were measured in all patients before administration of systemic corticosteroid treatment and in control subjects. All parameters of blood flow obtained from affected eyes of patients who developed acute optic neuritis were significantly higher than those of the clinically uninvolved eyes of the affected patients (p < 0.001) and those of control eyes (p < 0.001). In addition, statistically significant increases were found in ophthalmic artery peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, and resistivity index of the clinically uninvolved eye of the affected patients compared with the control group (p = 0.002, p = 0.012, p = 0.013, respectively). No significant differences were found in blood flow data between left and right eyes of the control group (p > 0.05).

İntraserebral kanamalı hastalarda serum fibroblast büyüme faktörü düzeyleri

Objectives: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is one of the most mortal subtypes of stroke. Due to the angiogenic, neurotropic, and vessel-dilating properties of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the brain, role of bFGF has been investigated in a number of neurological disorders. So far, there is only study about serum bFGF levels in patients with ICH. The first aim of the present research is to investigate whether increased serum bFGF in patients with ICH. Also, second aim was to study the association between serum levels of bFGF and clinical status in patients with ICH. Materials and methods: We measured the serum levels of bFGF in 30 patients with ICH during acute period. Age and sex matched healthy subjects (n=30) were included in controls. Serum bFGF levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Results: The patients with intracerebral hemorrhage had higher serum levels of bFGF when compared with the healthy controls (12.89±3.23 ng/ml, 5.28±1.75 ng/ml; p=0.001). No statistically significant difference was determined between bFGF levels of the patients who died as compared to the patients who lived (13.49±4.13 ng/ ml; 12.43±3.43 ng/ml, p>0.05). No statistically significant difference was found between bFGF levels of the patients with intraventricular hemorrhage as compared to the patients without intraventricular hemorrhage (13.54±3.92 ng/ml; 12.24±2.29 ng/ml, p>0.05). There was no correlation between serum bFGF, hematoma volume, Gloskow coma scale, and National Institutes of Health stroke scale (p>0.05). Conclusion: The increased bFGF level may be one of the mechanisms that lead to angiogenesis and neuroprotection after ICH in human. . J Clin Exp Invest 2011; 2 (3): 282-286.