Hulya Cicek

Increased Levels of Nitric Oxide, Cortisol and Adrenomedullin in Patients with Chronic Schizophrenia

Objective: To investigate the levels of serum cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), nitric oxide (NO) and adrenomedullin (AM) in schizophrenic patients. Subjects and Methods: Sixty-six male patients with chronic schizophrenia and 28 normal male subjects participated in this study. The duration of disease was 145 ± 120 (mean ± SD) months. Serum levels of cortisol and DHEA-S were measured by electrochemiluminescence; plasma nitrite levels as an index of NO were measured with the Griess reaction, while plasma AM concentration was measured by using high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: Patients (12.48 ± 3.2 µg/dl), as compared to controls (10.31 ± 3.1 µg/dl), had higher levels of baseline cortisol (p < 0.05). DHEA-S levels were lower in patients though this did not reach statistical significance (302 ± 156 µg/dl compared to control, 322 ± 96 µg/dl, p > 0.05). The mean levels of plasma AM and NO in the schizophrenic group (44.33 ± 5.07 pmol/l and 36.27 ± 17.6 µmol/l) were significantly higher than the levels in the control group (14.56 ± 4.03 pmol/l and 32.54 ± 7.14 µmol/l; p < 0.001, p < 0.03, respectively). There was a positive association between duration of disease and cortisol/DHEA-S ratio and cortisol level. Conclusion: The data show that schizophrenia is associated with abnormal levels of cortisol, DHEA-S, NO and AM.

Homocysteine, folic acid and vitamin B12 levels in maternal and umbilical cord plasma and homocysteine levels in placenta in pregnant women with pre‐eclampsia

Aim:  The aim of this study was to evaluate maternal and fetal serum levels of homocysteine, folic acid, vitamin B12 and placental tissue levels of homocysteine and their association with severity of pre‐eclampsia.

Effect of fasting during Ramadan on fetal development and maternal health

Aim:  The aim of the present study was to determine whether fasting during Ramadan causes ketonemia and/or ketonuria and their effects on fetal intrauterine development.

Comparison of Lipoprotein(a) Levels between Elderly and Middle-Aged Men with Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract:  Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is known to be a risk factor for atherosclerotic disease in middle‐aged men, but the role of Lp(a) in women and in the elderly is less clear. In most studies, excess Lp(a) is not associated with increased risk for persons >65 years of age. This study examined the strength of association of a number of risk factors to coronary artery disease (CAD) in groups of men <65 years (n= 108) and >65 of age (n= 66) with angiographically documented significant narrowing of coronary arteries. Serum Lp(a) concentrations were determined; elevated Lp(a) is positively associated with CAD for men <65 years (adjusted OR: 2.45, P <0.05) but not for men >65 of age (adjusted OR: 0.56, P= NS). For middle‐aged men, elevated Lp(a) appears to be an independent risk factor for premature CAD, and the importance of Lp(a) as a risk factor appears to decrease with age. These data suggest that the utility of Lp(a) lipoprotein levels in predicting the risk of CAD in older men is limited. Factors, such as age; sex; levels of total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides; carotid‐wall thickness; smoking status; the presence or absence of diabetes and systolic and diastolic hypertension; body mass index (BMI); and other traditional risk factors, must be evaluated together to determine the risk of CAD for the entire population.

How Volatile Organic Compounds Affect Free Radical and Antioxidant Enzyme Activity in Textile Workers

How Volatile Organic Compounds Affect Free Radical and Antioxidant Enzyme Activity in Textile Workers Various effects of exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOC) have recently become an important issue because of their widespread use in industry. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of volatile organic solvents commonly used in textile paint industry on free radical levels and the antioxidant enzyme system in textile workers. The study included twenty exposed workers and twenty controls. Blood samples were taken after an overnight fast of 10 to 12 hours. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were studied in serum while super oxide dismutase (SOD) activity was studied in erythrocytes. Statistical analysis was performed using the ANOVA and Kruskall-Wallis analysis tests. MDA and SOD were significantly higher in textile workers than in controls (p<0.01). In contrast, no significant difference was observed between them for TAC (p>0.05). Elevated MDA levels in textile workers may indicate increased lipid peroxidation as a result of long-term exposure to organic solvents, whereas elevated SOD activity suggests that the antioxidant system was activated to counter lipid peroxidation. The results suggest that textile workers occupationally exposed to volatile organic solvents make a risk group and require more frequent periodic examinations. Kako hlapljivi organski spojevi utječu na slobodne radikale i aktivnost antioksidacijskih enzima u tekstilnih radnika Štetni učinci izloženosti hlapljivim organskim spojevima u novije su vrijeme razlog zabrinutosti zbog njihove sve veće uporabe u industriji. U ovome su istraživanju procjenjivane razine slobodnih radikala te aktivnost sustava antioksidacijskih enzima u uzorcima periferne krvi radnika zaposlenih u pogonima za bojenje tkanina izloženih hlapljivim organskim otapalima. Istraživanje je provedeno na dvadeset profesionalno izloženih ispitanika te dvadeset ispitanika kontrolne skupine. Uzorci periferne krvi svim su ispitanicima uzimani u jutarnjim satima, nakon 10 do 12 sati gladovanja. Koncentracije malondialdehida (MDA) i ukupni antioksidacijski kapacitet mjereni su u serumu, a aktivnost super oksid dismutaze (SOD) u eritrocitima. Statistička analiza provedena je primjenom ANOVA i Kruskall-Wallisova testa. U skupini tekstilnih radnika utvrđena je značajno povišena razina MDA u usporedbi s kontrolom (p<0,01). Aktivnost SOD u tekstilnih radnika također je bila viša nego u kontroli (p<0,01). Nasuprot tomu, između dviju skupina nije uočena statistički značajna razlika u ukupnom antioksidacijskom kapacitetu. Povišene koncentracije MDA u tekstilnih radnika mogu upućivati na povećanu lipidnu peroksidaciju koja nastaje kao posljedica višegodišnje profesionalne izloženosti organskim otapalima, dok povećana aktivnost SOD upućuje na aktiviranje antioksidativnih enzima čija aktivnost raste zbog uklanjanja produkata nastalih u procesu lipidne peroksidacije. Na osnovi dobivenih rezultata zaključujemo da tekstilni radnici profesionalno izloženi hlapljivim organskim otapalima predstavljaju skupinu s povišenim zdravstvenim rizikom te stoga moraju biti pod medicinskim nadzorom koji uključuje češće periodičke preglede.