Ebru Emekli-Alturfan

Resveratrol improves cardiovascular function and reduces oxidative organ damage in the renal, cardiovascular and cerebral tissues of two-kidney, one-clip hypertensive rats

Objectives  The putative protective effects of resveratrol against oxidative injury in the heart, kidney and brain tissues of rats induced with the two‐kidney, one‐clip (2K1C) hypertension model were investigated.

Melatonin improves cardiovascular function and ameliorates renal, cardiac and cerebral damage in rats with renovascular hypertension

Abstract:  The effect of melatonin was investigated in an angiotensin II‐dependent renovascular hypertension model in Wistar albino rats by placing a renal artery clip (two‐kidney, one‐clip; 2K1C), while sham rats did not have clip placement. Starting either on the operation day or 3 wk after the operation, the rats received melatonin (10 mg/kg/day) or vehicle for the following 6 wk. At the end of the nineth week, after blood pressure (BP) and echocardiographic recordings were obtained, plasma samples were obtained to assay lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), antioxidant capacity (AOC), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), and nitric oxide (NOx) levels. In the kidney, heart and brain tissues, malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and Na+‐K+ ATPase activities were determined. 2K1C caused an increase in BP and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. In hypertensive animals LDH, CK, ADMA levels were increased in plasma with a concomitant reduction in AOC and NOx. Moreover, hypertension caused a significant decrease in tissue SOD, CAT, and Na+, K+‐ATPase activities and glutathione content, while MDA levels and MPO activity were increased in all studied tissues. On the other hand, both melatonin regimens significantly reduced BP, alleviated oxidative injury and improved LV function. In conclusion, melatonin protected against renovascular hypertension‐induced tissue damage and improved cardiac function presumably due to both its direct antioxidant and receptor‐dependent actions, suggesting that melatonin may be of therapeutic use in preventing oxidative stress due to hypertension.

Tissue factor activities of streptozotocin induced diabetic rat tissues and the effect of peanut consumption.

Tissue factor (TF) is considered to be a major regulator of normal haemostasis and thrombosis. Circulating TF activity is suggested to be associated with diabetes mellitus. Various tissues and body fluids have TF activity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the TF activity of streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rat tissues. Peanut consumption is reported to be associated with decreased risk of type 2 diabetes. Therefore, the effect of peanut consumption on the TF activity of STZ induced diabetic rat tissues, and haemostatic parameters such as protrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and fibrinogen levels were determined.

Fluoride levels in various black tea, herbal and fruit infusions consumed in Turkey

The fluoride contents were determined by ion-selective electrode in 26 black tea samples originally produced in Turkey, Sri Lanka, India and Kenya, and in 14 herbal and seven fruit infusions originated from Turkey. Fluoride content in black tea infusions ranged from 0.57 to 3.72 mg/L after 5 min of brewing. Higher fluoride levels were found in black teas originated from Turkey when compared with teas originated from Sri Lanka. Moreover higher fluoride levels were determined in black tea bags compared with granular and stick-shaped black teas. However, herbal and fruit infusions were characterized by low values of fluoride (0.02-0.04 mg/L) after 5 min of brewing and increasing brewing time to 10 min caused only slight increases in some infusions. As a result, consuming tea infusions prepared from some black tea available in Turkish market, especially black tea bags, in large quantities may lead to exposion to a high amount of fluoride which may cause dental fluorosis. Although fruit and herbal infusions are safer to consume their fluoride contents are too low for caries prevention. In countries such as Turkey where tea is traditionally consumed, the fluoride concentration and daily safety precautions should be indicated on tea products.

Effects of Ankaferd Blood Stopper and Celox on the Tissue Factor Activities of Warfarin-Treated Rats

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of these new generation hemostatic agents on early-stage soft tissue healing of warfarin-treated rats by measuring the tissue factor (TF) activities. Rats in the warfarin group were treated intraperitonally with 0.1 mg/kg warfarin, and rats in the control group were treated with 1 mL/kg saline. All rats had 3 incisions on dorsal dermal tissue applied Celox, Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS), or no hemostatic agent. Six rats from each group were killed on day 4, and the other 6 were killed on day 8. Prothrombin time (PT) and TF activities were evaluated, respectively. Both the hemostatic agents positively affected the hemostasis. Warfarin treatment increased the PT levels as expected. Celox-treated dermal tissues had higher TF activity when compared to ABS-treated ones. The ABS affected the early-stage healing positively in clinical aspect, whereas Celox was more effective on hemostasis by means of increasing TF activities.

Salivary total sialic acid levels increase in breast cancer patients: a preliminary study.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women living in the Western world, even though it occurs worldwide. Cancer and cancer therapy induce multiple oral complications including dental and periodontal disease. Saliva is a complex and dynamic biologic fluid, which reflects both oral and systemic changes. While saliva is easily accessible body fluid, there has been little effort to study its value in cancer diagnosis. Sialic acids (SA), the end moieties of the carbohydrate chains, are biologically important and essential for functions of glycoconjugates that are reported to be altered in both blood and saliva of various cancer patients. Increased sialylation has been shown to be a characteristic feature in cancer tissue and blood in breast cancer patients. However, there is no data about salivary SA in breast cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate salivary total sialic acid (TSA) levels in breast cancer patients who were under chemotheraphy. The study included 15 breast cancer patients in different stages and 10 healthy individuals as age-matched controls. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected. Salivary total protein and SA levels were determined. Flow rate was calculated from salivary volume by the time of secretion. Salivary SA was significantly higher and total protein was lower in breast cancer patients compared to controls. It is concluded that sialylation may be increased in saliva of patients with breast cancer as the same way for cancer tissue and for blood . Increased salivary SA may therefore be useful as a non-invasive predictive marker for breast cancer patients and for the prevention and management of oral complications of cancer and cancer therapy to improve oral function and quality-of-life. The effects of different types of chemotherapies and different stages of the disease on salivary SA levels and salivary sialo-glycomic are worthy of being further investigated in breast cancer patients.

Determination of storage time of saliva samples obtained from patients with and without chronic periodontitis for the comparison of some biochemical and cytological parameters.

Salivary glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), protein, sialic acid (SA) levels, cytological parameters, and tissue factor activities (TFa) were investigated when fresh and after 3, 7, 11, 15, 21, and 30 days (d) of storage at −20°C both in the control and the periodontitis group. Moreover, the control and the periodontits groups were compared and continuity of the significances detected between the two groups were evaluated.

Plasma Tissue Factor Levels and Salivary Tissue Factor Activities of Periodontitis Patients with and without Cardiovascular Disease

The association between periodontal and cardiovascular disease has received considerable attention. Studies have demonstrated a higher incidence of atherosclerotic complications in patients with periodontal disease. Tissue factor (TF) has been known as a key initiator of the coagulation cascade, and the TF pathway is the primary physiological mechanism of initiation of blood coagulation. Recently, it has been shown that the circulating pool of TF in blood is associated with increased blood thrombogenicity in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Various tissues and saliva have been known to have TF activity. Consequently, the aim of this study was to investigate plasma TF levels and TF activity of saliva in periodontitis patients with and without diagnosed CAD. Twenty-six patients with a diagnosis of CAD and 26 systemically healthy patients were examined in the dental clinic, and the Community Periodontal Index Treatment Needs (CPITN) scores were recorded. Plasma TF levels were determined using commercially available ELISA kit. Salivary TF activities were determined according to Quick’s one-stage method. Plasma TF levels were significantly increased in patients with CAD when compared with the control group. There was no difference in salivary TF activities between the 2 groups, but there was a strong and negative correlation between salivary TF activities and CPITN indexes in both groups. In order to determine the possible role of TF activity as a salivary marker in CAD and periodontitis and to fully understand the negative correlation between salivary TF activities and CPITN, TF activity of gingival crevicular fluid that may also affect saliva can be evaluated.

Effect of sample storage on stability of salivary glutathione, lipid peroxidation levels, and tissue factor activity.

Saliva samples are often required to be stored for longer periods of time either because of the project protocol or because of lack of funding for analysis. The effects of 6 months storage (fresh, 30, 60, 90 120, 150, and 180 d) on the stability of salivary reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation (LPO) and 90 days of storage (fresh, 15, 30, 60, and 90 d) on the stability of salivary tissue factor (TF) activity and the stability of saliva imprint samples at −20°C were evaluated in this study. Salivary GSH, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels as an index of LPO, and TF activities were determined using the methods of Beutler, Yagi, and Quick, respectively. Saliva imprint samples were stained with Giemsa and microscopically examined. Salivary GSH levels and TF activities decreased, whereas MDA levels increased significantly after 6 months of storage at −20°C. Leucocyte, epithelium and bacterium cell counts did not significantly change at the end of 90 d of storage. Saliva samples may be stored up to 1 month at −20°C for LPO assay. For cytological examinations, saliva samples may be stored for 90 d at −20°C. Further studies are needed to determine the stability of salivary GSH, and salivary TF activity stored less than 30 days at −20°C. On the other hand, if saliva samples are required to be stored, to avoid the changes because of different storage periods, we recommend that they must be stored under the same circumstances and in the same time period. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 23:93–98, 2009.

Levels of C-Reactive Protein and Protein C in Periodontitis Patients with and without Cardiovascular Disease

Since periodontitis is a chronic and inflammatory disease, a number of hypotheses have proposed that it has an etiological or modulating role in cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study aimed to ascertain the changes in the plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and protein C (PC), a natural anticoagulant also having an anti-inflammatory effect, in patients who have mild-to-severe periodontitis with or without CVD. The test group consisted of 26 patients with CVD and chronic periodontitis and the control group consisted of 26 patients with chronic periodontitis and no systemic disease. In both groups Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs scores were recorded and blood samples were collected. CRP levels were significantly high and PC activity was significantly low in the test group compared to the control group (p < 0.001). There was a negative correlation between tooth loss and PC and between CRP and PC. How PC is affected by the inflammatory events and its association with CRP is an active area of investigation.