Bahadir Ozturk

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in prediction of mortality in patients with hepatorenal syndrome: a prospective observational study

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a severe complication of cirrhosis which is characterized by renal dysfunction and associated with poor survival. Neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a troponin‐like biomarker for human acute kidney injury.

Effects of epilepsy and antiepileptic drugs on nitric oxide, lipid peroxidation and xanthine oxidase system in children with idiopathic epilepsy

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of epilepsy, valproic acid and oxcarbazepine on nitric oxide levels, lipid peroxidation and xanthine oxidase levels in newly diagnosed epileptic children and healthy controls. A total of 49 patients with newly diagnosed idiopathic epilepsy and 15 healthy children were enrolled in this study. Of these 49 patients, 16 children were treated with valproate and 16 treated with oxcarbazepine. Nitric oxide, malondialdehyde and xanthine oxidase levels prior to antiepileptic drug therapy were measured in the serum. Blood samples were drawn before antiepileptic drug therapy and after 3 and 6 months of the antiepileptic drug treatment. Nitric oxide levels were statistically higher in the newly diagnosed epileptic patients. In oxcarbazepine group, the nitric oxide and malondialdehyde levels were found to be decreased. No statistically significant differences were noted in nitric oxide, malondialdehyde and xanthine oxidase levels in valproic acid treated group. Oxcarbazepine which is a frequently used new antiepileptic drug in childhood epilepsy may modify nitric oxide levels and lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that decreased lipid peroxidation would play a role in the mechanism of antiepileptic effects by oxcarbazepine treatment.

Serum oxidant and antioxidant status of patients with chronic tension-type headache: possible effects of medical treatment

Tension-type headache (TTH) is one of the most common and costly primary types of headache in clinical practice, with an unknown etiology. This study assessed to investigate oxidative and antioxidative status in patients with chronic tension-type headache (CTTH), and to evaluate possible effect of medical treatment. The study included 41 CTTH patients and 19 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects without headache as controls. The CTTH group comprised 20 patients receiving treatment and 21 untreated patients. We evaluated oxidant/antioxidant status by measuring serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and activities of antioxidant enzymes, namely glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT). Comparison of oxidative parameters in the patient and control groups revealed significantly lower CAT activities and higher MDA level and GSH-Px activities in the patient group. In the CTTH group, serum CAT activities were found to be significantly decreased in patient groups, while serum MDA levels and GSH-Px activities were found to be higher in the untreated CTTH patients. These findings suggest that oxidative stress is increased in the patients with CTTH, and medical treatment abolishes the stress in part. It has been concluded that antioxidant support might be helpful for the patients with CTTH to prevent oxidant stress and peroxidation damages further.

Levels of Selenium, Zinc, Copper, and Cardiac Troponin I in Serum of Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

The aim of this study was to assess the levels of selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and troponin I (TnI) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) on admission to our emergency department in comparison to healthy control subjects. Patients with diagnosed ACS (n = 100) were included in the study group. Control subjects (n = 100) were selected from healthy volunteers in the same age range. Venous blood samples were obtained to evaluate the levels of Se, Zn, Cu, and TnI (on admission for the ACS group). Serum Se, Zn, and Cu levels were significantly less in the ACS group compared to the control group (p <0.001, p <0.01, and p <0.001, respectively). The serum TnI level was significantly greater in the ACS group compared to the control group (p <0.05). The serum Se level in the ACS group correlated significantly with the TnI level (r = −0.211, p = 0.035). These results indicate that Se, Zn, and Cu deficiencies may be risk factors for ACS, and a decreased serum Se level in patients with ACS might reflect the degree of myocardial necrosis.

A comparison between two different automated total 25-hydroxyvitamin D immunoassay methods using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Introduction Total 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] is the most reliable indicator of vitamin D status. In this study, we compared two automated immunoassay methods, the Abbott Architect 25-OH Vitamin D assay and the Roche Cobas Vitamin D total assay, with the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Materials and methods One hundred venous blood samples were randomly selected from routine vitamin D tests. Two of the serum aliquots were analyzed at the Abbott Architect i2000 and the Roche Cobas 6000’s module e601 in our laboratory within the same day. The other serum aliquots were analyzed at the LC-MS/MS in different laboratory. Passing-Bablok regression analysis and Bland-Altman plot were used to compare methods. Inter-rater agreement was analyzed using kappa (κ) analysis. Results The Roche assay showed acceptable agreement with the LC-MS/MS based on Passing-Bablok analysis (intercept: -5.23 nmol/L, 95% CI: -8.73 to 0.19; slope: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.77 to 1.15). The Abbott assay showed proportional (slope: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.67 to 0.85) and constant differences (intercept: 17.08 nmol/L; 95% CI: 12.98 to 21.39). A mean bias of 15.1% was observed for the Abbott and a mean bias of -14.1% was observed for the Roche based on the Bland-Altman plots. We found strong to nearly perfect agreement in vitamin D status between the immunoassays and LC-MS/MS. (κ: 0.83 for Abbott, κ: 0.93 for Roche) using kappa analysis. Conclusion Both immunoassays demonstrated acceptable performance, but the Roche Cobas assay demonstrated better performance than the Abbott Architect in the studied samples.

Effects of aqueous extract from Silybum marianum on adenosine deaminase activity in cancerous and noncancerous human gastric and colon tissues

Objective: Investigation of possible effects of Silybum marianum extract (SME) on adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in cancerous and noncancerous human gastric and colon tissues to obtain information about possible mechanism of anticancer action of S. marianum. Materials and Methods: Cancerous and noncancerous human gastric and colon tissues removed from patients by surgical operations were used in the studies. The extract was prepared in distilled water. Before and after treatment with the extract, ADA activities in the samples were measured. Results: ADA activity was found to be lowered significantly in cancerous gastric tissues but not in noncancerous gastric tissues after treatment with the SME. In the colon tissues, ADA activities were however found to increase after the treatment of SME. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the aqueous extract from S. marianum inhibits ADA activity in cancerous gastric tissues significantly. It is suggested that in addition to other proposed mechanisms, accumulated adenosine due to the inhibition of ADA might also play a part in the anticancer properties of the S. marianum.

Effect of Static Magnetic Field on Oxidant/Antioxidant Parameters in Cancerous and Noncancerous Human Gastric Tissues

Aim. To investigate the effects of static magnetic field (SMF) on oxidant and antioxidant parameters of the cancerous and noncancerous human gastric tissues. Materials and Methods. Gastric tissues obtained from patients with gastric cancer were used in the study. SMF was created by using two static magnets. Before and after treatment with SMF, oxidant and antioxidant parameters were measured in the tissue samples. Results. In the cancerous tissue, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was found higher and malondialdehyde (MDA) level was found lower as compared with noncancerous tissue. SMF affects oxidant/antioxidant parameters differently in the cancerous and noncancerous tissues. In this regard, SMF causes increase in SOD activity and decrease in MDA level in the noncancerous tissue. However, it decreases SOD and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities and increases MDA level and catalase (CAT) activity in the cancerous tissue. There were no differences between nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) parameters in or among the cancerous and noncancerous tissues. Conclusions. SMF accelerates peroxidation reactions possibly by suppressing SOD and GSH-Px enzymes in the cancerous gastric tissue. This event caused by SMF might play part in the death of cancer cells, which may be a good supportive vehicle for the cancer therapy.

The effect of single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy on systemic oxidative stress: a prospective clinical trial

Purpose Single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) has become a more frequently performed method for benign gallbladder diseases all over the world. The effects of SILC technique on oxidative stress have not been well documented. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of laparoscopic cholecystectomy techniques on systemic oxidative stress by using ischemia modified albumin (IMA). Methods In total, 70 patients who had been diagnosed with benign gallbladder pathology were enrolled for this prospective study. Twenty-one patients underwent SILC and 49 patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). All operations were performed under a standard anesthesia protocol. Serum IMA levels were analysed before operation, 45 minutes and 24 hours after operation. Results Demographics and preoperative characteristics of the patients were similiar in each group. The mean duration of operation was 37.5 ± 12.5 and 44.6 ± 14.3 minutes in LC and SILC group, respectively. In both groups, there was no statistically significant difference in hospital stay, operative time, or conversion to open surgery. Operative technique did not effect the 45th minute and 24th hour IMA levels. However, prolonged operative time (>30 minutes) caused an early increase in the level of IMA. Twenty-fourth hour IMA levels were not different. Conclusion SILC is an effective and safe surgical prosedure for benign gallbladder diseases. Independent of the surgical technique for cholecystectomy, the prolonged operative time could increase the tissue ischemia.

The effects of melatonin and colchicine on ischemia-reperfusion injury in experimental rat testicular torsion model.

PURPOSE The aim of the present study is to investigate the efficiency of colchicine and melatonın in an experimental rat testicular torsion model in the light of histological and biochemical data. METHODS A total of 34 Wistar albino male rats were randomly divided into 5 groups as: Group C (control, n=6), Group S (sham; underwent only left scrotal exploration, n=7), Group TD (torsion and detorsion; 6h of ischemia and 7days of reperfusion, n=7), Group TD/M (TD+Melatonin; 6h of ischemia and 7days of reperfusion and 7days of 17mg/kg intraperitoneal melatonin per day, n=7), group TD/Col (TD+Colchicine; 6h of ischemia and 7days of reperfusion and 7days of 1mg/kg oral colchicine per day, n=7). Histopathologic evaluation of seminiferous tubule deterioration was performed by Johnsens scoring system. Total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), IL-6, TNF alpha levels were analyzed in each group. RESULTS The histopathologic scores, total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), IL-6, TNF alpha levels in groups C and TD/Col were significantly lower than groups TD and TD/M (P<.001). CONCLUSION Our study results revealed that colchicine reduced testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury in experimental rat testis torsion model. Although detorsion of testis is crucial for the preserving the testicular viability, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory treatment modalities like colchicine might help to reduce ischemia-reperfusion injury in detorsed testis.

Serum Prohepcidin And Hepcidin Levels in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Prospective Study

Background: Anemia is a common complication in patients with inflammatory diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis. Recent data suggest that hepcidin is a major mediator of anemia with a central role in iron homeostasis and metabolism. Objective; The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of hepcidin and its prohormone, prohepcidin, in patients with ankylosing spondylitis in comparison with healthy controls. Methods: Forty patients with ankylosing spondylitis (13 with anemia and 27 without anemia), 20 healthy adults (HA) were prospectively enrolled. Complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate serum hepcidin, prohepcidin, iron, total iron binding capacity, ferritin, transferring and C-reactive protein levels were measured. Results: Serum prohepcidin and hepcidin levels were significantly higher in patients with ankylosing spondylitis compared with both healthy controls. (p<0.005). In patients with ankylosing spondylitis, positive correlation was determined between the serum hepcidin and prohepcidin levels (respectively;185±44, 73±7, p<0.05). Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of serum prohepcidin and hepcidin levels in the patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Serum prohepcidin and hepcidin levels are closely associated with disease activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and might play a role in the pathogenesis of anemia of chronic disease associated with ankylosing spondylitis.