Cevat Yazici

Increased advanced oxidation protein products in Behcet's disease: a new activity marker?

Background  Behçets disease (BD) is a chronic inflammatory disease with unknown pathogenesis. As various functions of neutrophils in peripheral blood, such as chemotaxis, phagocytosis and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) increase in BD, ROS‐mediated oxidative stress related to neutrophil activation may have an important role in the pathogenesis of BD.

Protein oxidation in obesity and insulin resistance

IntroductionAdvanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) are considered reliable markers to estimate the degree of oxidant-mediated protein damage. Data on oxidative stress in childhood obesity and insulin resistance are limited.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the AOPP level as an oxidative stress marker in obesity and insulin resistance. The study included 57 pubertal obese children and adolescents (30 girls and 27 boys) and 20 healthy pubertal children and adolescents (11 girls and 9 boys). Materials and MethodsAll participants in the obesity group underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and two separate groups were formed according to the existence of insulin resistance. ResultsAOPP levels were measured in the obesity and control groups spectrophotometrically. The obesity group consisted of 25 children and adolescents with insulin resistance and 32 subjects without insulin resistance. AOPP levels in the obesity group were found to be significantly higher than those in the control group. Although AOPP levels in the subjects with insulin resistance were higher than the subjects without insulin resistance, there was no significant difference between AOPP levels of subgroups with insulin resistance and without insulin resistance.ConclusionThis study showed protein oxidation in obesity with a novel oxidative stress marker and it also suggests that insulin resistance may play an important role as a source of oxidative stress in the development of other diseases after pubertal years.

Protective effects of spironolactone against anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy

The protective effect of beta‐blockers, ACE inhibitors, and ARBs on anthracycline cardiotoxicity has already been demonstrated, but the effect of aldosterone antagonism, which inhibits the last step of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS), was questioned. This study sought to investigate whether spironolactone protects the heart against anthracycline‐induced cardiotoxicity.

A Link between the Intrarenal Renin Angiotensin System and Hypertension in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

Background/Aims: Early onset of hypertension and its consequences account for the great majority of deaths in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) components have been shown in ADPKD kidneys independent of systemic RAS. Thus, we examined the urinary angiotensinogen (UAGT) levels as a biomarker of intrarenal RAS status in ADPKD patients with/without hypertension and healthy subjects. Methods: Eighty-four ADPKD patients (43 with hypertension and 41 without hypertension) and 40 healthy controls were studied cross-sectionally. Patients with glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min were excluded from the study. Hypertension was diagnosed with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Urinary and plasma concentration of angiotensinogen, spot urine microprotein and creatinine (UCre) levels were recorded for each participant. Results: UAGT/UCre levels were higher in hypertensive ADPKD patients (23.7 ± 8.4) compared with normotensive ADPKD patients (16.6 ± 5.2) and healthy controls (6.9 ± 3.3; p < 0.001). In univariate analysis, UAGT correlated with systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and proteinuria. The independence of these correlations was analyzed in a regression model, and UAGT was shown to be significantly predicted by proteinuria and DBP. Conclusion: Intrarenal RAS activation which is monitored by UAGT levels clinically may be a harbinger of hypertension and kidney disease in ADPKD patients.

Effect of propylthiouracil on adenosine deaminase activity and thyroid function in patients with psoriasis

Background T‐cell activation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of psoriasis; adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity has been considered as a marker of T‐cell activation. The antithyroid drug propylthiouracil (PTU) has recently been shown to have beneficial effects on psoriatic lesions, probably by acting on the immune system.

Urinary uric acid : creatinine ratios in healthy Turkish children.

Background:  Determining uric acid : creatinine ratios in random urine samples may be useful to assess the excretion of uric acid in children. Because it was shown that urinary uric acid excretion varies with age and geographic area, it is important to have accurate reference values of uric acid excretion. The aim of the present study was therefore to obtain regional reference values for urinary uric acid : creatinine ratios in healthy Turkish children.

The efficacy of theophylline in preventing cisplatin-related nephrotoxicity in patients with cancer

Abstract Objective: Cisplatin is a potent antineoplastic agent used and its major limiting side effect is nephrotoxicity. The aims of the study are early detection of acute kidney injury (AKI) with biomarkers and investigation of the potential nephron-protective effects of theophylline. Methods: Glomerular filtration rates (GFR), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), cystatin C were measured at 5th day of treatment in all of the patients. In addition, these parameters were measured repeatedly after the administration of cisplatin, at 2nd hour, 5th and 20th days. Patients: Sixty patients who are planned to receive cisplatin for the first time were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups as Group 1 (n = 30) (standard treatment arm) and Group II (n = 30) (theophylline arm). Results: In both groups after the administration of cisplatin, GFR showed a significant decrease within time (p = 0.006). Urine NGAL levels were significantly high after 2 h of cisplatin administration (p < 0.001), no significant difference was observed between groups. However, when the time*group effects were considered together, higher NGAL levels were detected in the group not receiving theophylline (p = 0.025). After 5 days of cisplatin administration, urine protein levels were significantly higher in both groups (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Results showed that urine NGAL level is a superior biomarker compared to serum creatinine and serum cystatin C in the detection of early AKI. Theophylline was found not to bring a complete protection for the kidneys, but less nephrotoxicity was developed when compared to the group not receiving theophylline.

Heart-type fatty acid binding protein and cardiac troponin I may have a diagnostic value in electrocution: A rat model

Although cardiac injury is known to be the leading cause of death in electrocution, the differential diagnosis can be challenging in forensic practice since the exact mechanism is poorly understood and there is lack of reliable markers. Thus, death due to electrocution may be classified as a negative autopsy. The serum levels of and myocardial immunostaining loss for cardiac troponins and heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) are highly sensitive and specific biomarkers of ischemic myocardial damage and may have a diagnostic value in determining the myocardial injury or the cause of death due to electrocution. Due to this reason, a rat model is prepared to investigate these issues. Thirty-two Wistar albino female rats were included and randomly divided into four groups of eight subjects. Group A was the control group, and Group B, C, and D were exposed to electrical current of 110 volt (V), 220 V, and 600 V, respectively. Blood samples and the hearts were collected from the rats for biochemical and immunostaining analyses. It is found that increased serum H-FABP levels were significantly associated with the higher voltage immediately after electrocution. However, serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels did not show significant changes associated with the higher voltage in the early period of electrocution. As for histopathological examinations, the only significant difference in myocardial immunostaining loss was for H-FABP in Group B. Serum H-FABP levels may have a diagnostic value in the early postmortem period immediately after electrocution. Besides, it seems that serum H-FABP levels may be a better indicator than those of cTnI to reflect the myocardial damage in the early period of the electrocution.

Dexmedetomidina impede a nefrotoxicidade da colistina

BACKGROUND In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of dexmedetomidine on colistin nephrotoxicity in rats. METHODS Thirty-two Wistar albino rats were allocated into four groups. Intraperitoneal (ip) saline at 1mL.kg-1 was administered to the control group and 10mg.kg-1 ip colistin was given to the colistin group. In the DEX10 group 10mcg.kg-1 dexmedetomidine ip was given 20min before the injection of 10mg.kg-1 ip colistin. In the DEX20 group ip 20mcg.kg-1 dexmedetomidine was injected 20min before the administration of 10mg.kg-1 ip colistin. These treatments were continued twice a day for seven days. Samples were taken on the eighth day. BUN, Cr, KIM-1, TAS, and TOS were examined in blood samples and caspase-3 was examined in kidney tissue samples. RESULTS The values for BUN, Cr and TOS were significantly higher in the colistin group than in the control group. BUN, Cr and TOS changes in the DEX10 and DEX20 groups were not significant compared with the control group but they were significantly lower compared with the colistin group. TAS values in the DEX10 group were significantly lower than in the control group. Apoptotic activity was significantly higher in the colistin group compared with the control group, but there was no significant difference in terms of caspase-3 staining activity when DEX10 and DEX20 groups were compared with the control group. CONCLUSION Oxidative damage and apoptosis played roles in colistin nephrotoxicity, and colistin nephrotoxicity could be prevented by treatment with dexmedetomidine.

Comparison of Different Dialysis Modalities in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients with Acute Dialysis Requirement

OBJECTIVE: There is little knowledge on the differences between PD or HD initiation in terms of early and late morbidity and other complications. We aimed to compare the effect of different dialysis modalities on inflammation and other complications in a one-year prospective follow-up. MATERIAL and METHODS: The patients were divided into three groups depending on their dialysis requirements and compared in terms of inflammation and complications. Group 1: The patients who had acute dialysis indication and started urgent PD (n=23), Group 2: The patients who had acute dialysis indication and started urgent HD (n=21), Group 3: The patients with no acute dialysis indication and started dialysis two weeks after PD catheter insertion (n=20). RESULTS: HD patients had significantly lower urine levels and higher hemoglobin levels after 12 months in comparison with other groups. Complications of catheter-related infections were similar among the three groups, although catheter-related leaks were only found in the urgent PD group. There were no differences in terms of inflammatory markers among the groups. CONCLUSION: Urgent PD could be an alternative modality in end-stage renal disease patients with acute dialysis requirement. KEy wORDS: Chronic kidney disease, Inflammation, Peritoneal dialysis, Hemodialysis