Gulbuz Sezgin

Protective Effect of Melatonin and 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 on Renal Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury in Rats

Ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury induces the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which affect many organs. This study was designed to investigate the roles of melatonin and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VD3) on renal I/R injury. Thirty male Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups: group 1, control; group 2, right nephrectomy (RN) + I/R in the contralateral kidney; group 3, melatonin + RN + I/R; group 4, VD3 + RN + I/R; and group 5, melatonin + VD3 + RN + I/R. Melatonin (10 mg/kg), VD3 (0.5 μg/kg), and melatonin plus VD3 were injected intraperitoneally for 7 days before renal I/R. After 7 days, right nephrectomy was initially performed and left renal artery was clamped for 45 min. After 45-min reperfusion, the serum and kidney tissue samples were obtained for assays. Melatonin and VD3 had an ameliorative effect on biochemical parameters such as serum creatinine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Renal tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO) levels, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were determined. Renal I/R decreased the kidney tissue GSH levels and SOD activity and increased the NO levels as compared with control group. However, melatonin and VD3 and melatonin plus VD3 treatment significantly increased the tissue GSH levels and SOD activity and decreased the NO levels compared with those of I/R group. Meanwhile, MDA levels were not different between the control and I/R groups. But, MDA levels decreased in all treated groups compared to I/R and control groups. These data support that melatonin and VD3 have beneficial effects on renal injury.

Effects of Spirulina on Cyclophosphamide-Induced Ovarian Toxicity in Rats: Biochemical and Histomorphometric Evaluation of the Ovary

Cyclophosphamide (Cyc) is known to cause ovotoxicity and infertility in women. Our aim is to investigate the possible ovotoxic effects of Cyc and possible antioxidant and protective effects of blue-green algae, Spirulina (Sp), in rat ovaries. Eighteen rats were given: group I (n = 6, control); group II (n = 6, CP), a single dose Cyc; group III (n = 6, Sp+Cyc), 7 days Sp+single dose Cyc. Tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities are assessed biochemically. Normal and atretic primordial and primary follicle counts for all sections obtained for each ovary are calculated. Mean number of follicle counts for each group are compared. In Sp+Cyc group, tissue MDA levels were significantly lower than those in the CP and higher than those in the C group (CP > Sp+Cyc > C). Tissue SOD activity was significantly higher in Sp+Cyc group than that in the CP group and lower than that in the C group (C > Sp+Cyc > C). No statistically significant difference was found between the ovarian CAT activities in any group. Histomorphometrically, there was also no significant difference between the mean numbers of normal and atretic small follicle counts. Our results suggest that single dose Cyc has adverse effects on oxidant status of the ovaries and Sp has protective effects in Cyc-induced ovotoxicity.

Melatonin with 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Protects against Apoptotic Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury in the Rat Kidney

This study was designed to evaluate the preventive role of melatonin (Mel) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VD3) in biochemical and apoptotic events leading to tissue injury and renal dysfunction after ischemia–reperfusion (I/R). Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into five groups: sham-operated, I/R, Mel + I/R, VD3 + I/R, and Mel + VD3 + I/R. The rats were intraperitoneally administered with Mel (10 mg/kg), VD3 (0.5 μg/kg), or Mel (10 mg/kg) plus VD3 (0.5 μg/kg) each day at 1 week prior to ischemia. Right nephrectomy was initially performed and left renal I/R injury was induced by 45 min of bilateral renal ischemia followed by 45 min of reperfusion. After reperfusion, kidneys and blood were obtained for histopathologic and biochemical evaluation. Mel and VD3 had an ameliorative effect on biochemical parameters such as serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and apoptosis (caspase-3 and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP–biotin nick end labeling staining) in the kidneys against renal I/R injury in rats. Additionally, VD3 combined with Mel significantly reduced apoptotic and histological alterations when compared with Mel or VD3 alone. This preventive effect on renal tubular apoptosis was remarkable when Mel was combined with VD3.

The association of endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase-1 (ERAP-1) with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF)

Background The ERAP1 gene cleaves the receptors and reduces their ability to transmit chemical signals to the cell that affect the process of inflammation and, secondly, it cleaves many types of proteins into small peptides that are recognized by the immune system. Objective ERAP-1 gene mutations may create a sensitivity for Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF). Method We included 15 FMF patients with the M694 (+) mutation in the study in order to exclude patients without pyrin gene mutations and create a homogeneous study group. Fifteen patients with ulcerative colitis formed the control group. Results There wasn’t any case without ERAP-1 gene mutations. At least one mutation at exon 3 or exon 10 was found in all cases in both groups. There were 14 ERAP-1 gene mutations at exon 10 and 11 at exon 3 in patients with FMF. Interestingly, if there were ERAP-1 gene mutations at exon 3, a p.Arg127 Pro (c.380 G>C) mutation always existed for three FMF patients with polymorphic mutations at this exon. There were 11 ERAP-1 gene mutations at exon 10 and 12 gene mutations at exon 3 in patients with ulcerative colitis. Exon 3 mutations were usually single p.Arg127 Pro (c.380 G>C) mutations for 12 patients with ulcerative colitis as seen in the patients with FMF. The single mutation was always p.Ser453 Ser (c.1359T>C) for patients with ulcerative colitis at exon 10. Conclusion There are more ERAP-1 mutations in the FMF group in comparison to the ulcerative colitis group. So, there may be a strong susceptibility to ERAP-1 gene mutations in FMF patients according to our results. However, further studies with larger study and control groups are needed.

Vitamin D Levels of Outpatients Admitted to a University Hospital in the Marmara Region of Turkey Over 3 Years

Summary Background Vitamin D regulates calcium and phosphorus metabolism, and it is essential for bone formation. Several factors can affect vitamin D levels in plasma. In present study we compare vitamin D levels of outpatients, who admit to Maltepe University Hospital between 2011 and 2013 and had vitamin D measurements regarding gender, age, and season. Methods Hospital records were evaluated to identify the outpatients with vitamin D levels and their gender, age, and vitamin D levels and the seasons of measurements were recorded. Results Data of 4860 subjects (74% female) were analyzed and 69.2% were between 18–64 years old. Vitamin D levels were as follows: 43.1% ≤ 10 ng/mL, 31.9% between 10 ng/mL and 20 ng/mL, 16.1% between 20 ng/mL and 30 ng/mL, and only 8.9% ≥ 30 ng/mL. The number of females with vitamin D levels < 10 ng/mL was significantly higher than that of males, while the number of males with vitamin D levels between 10 ng/mL and 20 ng/mL was significantly higher than that of females (P = 0.001) for each of the individuals, 6.2% and 11.1% had sufficient levels in winter and summer, respectively. Overall, it was observed that 6.6% of individuals between 18–44 years old, 8.2% of individuals between 45–64 years old and 10.3% of individuals over 65 years old had vitamin D levels > 30 ng/mL. Conclusions The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in outpatients of Maltepe University Hospital in Marmara region was 75% (< 20 ng/mL).

Relationship Between Autonomic Diabetic Neuropathy and Glycemic Control

Amac: Tip 2 diabetes mellituslu (DM) hastalarda gastrointestinal ve kardiyovaskuler diyabetik otonomik noropatinin degerlendirilmesi amaclanmaktadir. Materyal ve Metot: DM hastalarindan olusan calisma grubu Mart-Eylul 2012 tarihleri arasinda incelendi. Yas, vucut kutle indeksi (VKI), aclik kan glukozu, HbA1c, C-peptid, diyabet suresi, elektrokardiyogram, kan basinci, kalp hizi kaydedildi. Hastalar kontrol altinda olan ve olmayan diyabetikler olarak gruplandirildi. Kardiyak otonom noropati (KON) testleri degerlendirildi. Anal manometri ile rekto-anal inhibitor refleks, istirahat ve sikma basinclari olculdu. Bulgular: Toplam 50 DM hastasi calismaya kaydedildi ve hastalarin yas ortalamasi 57,06±8,92 yil, istirahat anal basinci ortalamasi 55,92±14,84 mmHg ve sikma anal basinci ortalamasi 83,15±31,00 mmHg idi. Orta ve agir KON gruplari arasinda istirahat anal basincinda anlamli fark saptanmazken (p=0,573), orta ve agir KON gruplari arasinda maksimum sikma basincinda anlamli fark mevcuttu (p=0,005). Kisa veya uzun sureli diyabeti olan hastalarda anal manometrik basinclarda fark saptanmadi. KON ile VKI arasinda iliski bulunmazken yas ile iliski saptandi. Kotu glisemik kontrol istirahat basinda azalma ile iliskili iken, maksimum sikma basinci ve yetersiz glisemik kontrol grubu arasinda iliski yoktu. KON’un siddeti maksimum sikma basincinda azalma ile iliskiliydi. Sonuc: Kardiyak ve gastrointestinal otonom disfonksiyon, DM’nin onemli komplikasyonlaridir. Anal manometri testleri ve KON diyabetin bu komplikasyonlarini gosterebilir.