Leyla Yildiz

The changes of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities in erythrocytes of active and passive smokers.

Abstract Cigarette smoking has been implicated in the pathogenesis of ischemic heart disease, emphysema, obstructive lung disease and neoplastic disorders. More than 1000 constituents of smoke, including many oxidants, pro-oxidants, free radicals and reducing agents, have been identified. The activities of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), which are the important components of antioxidant defense system, were measured in 100 healthy volunteers. This study included heavy smokers (consuming cigarettes ≥20 per day; n=30, group I), light smokers (consuming cigarettes< 20 per day; n=30, group II), passive smokers (exposed to cigarette smoke in the indoor environment; n=20, group III), and non-smokers (n=20, the control group). While activities of SOD and CAT in erythrocytes were significantly lower in groups I, II and III than in the control group (p<0.01 for all), mean erythrocyte GSH-Px activity in group III was higher than that in groups I, II and in controls. These results suggest that the increased oxidative stress occurs in smokers, owing to the free radicals present in smoke. It might cause a decrease in antioxidant enzyme activities and oxidant/antioxidant imbalance. We also observed that passive smokers were affected by the environmental smoke to the same extent as active smokers.

The relationship between breast milk leptin and neonatal weight gain

Aim: To investigate whether change in leptin content of breast milk during lactation acts on neonatal body weight gain.

Umbilical cord and maternal blood leptin concentrations in intrauterine growth retardation

Abstract Leptin, the ob gene product, plays an important role in the regulation of body fat mass and weight. In previous studies, it was demonstrated that leptin is detectable in human fetal cord blood as early as at 18 weeks of gestation and that serum leptin concentrations are significantly reduced in small gestational age newborns. In the present study, we investigated whether umbilical and maternal serum leptin concentrations correlate with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). In addition, we aimed to determine the relationships between leptin concentration in the maternal and cord blood. We studied 40 newborn infants (21 female and 19 male; gestational age, 38–42 weeks) and their mothers. Of the infants studied, 10 had IUGR. Serum leptin concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. All newborns had detectable leptin concentrations. Leptin concentrations were significantly lower in newborns with IUGR and in their mothers (n=10; 3.53±1.42 ng/ml, 6.75±1.47 ng/ml, respectively) than in infants experiencing normal growth and their mothers (n=30; 5.58±2.98 ng/ml, 9.85±6.50 ng/ml, respectively) (p<0.01 for newborns, p<0.05 for mothers). There was no significant correlation between umbilical leptin concentration and maternal leptin concentration (r=0.229; p=0.155) in all study groups but, significantly, a correlation was observed in the group with IUGR (r=0.736; p=0.015). There were no significant correlations between both umbilical and maternal leptin concentrations and parity, delivery type and gestational age. There was a correlation between umbilical leptin concentration and birth weight of newborns (r=0.383; p=0.015) but no correlation with body mass index (BMI) of the newborns (r=0.034; p=0.834). Maternal leptin concentrations correlated with maternal weight and BMI (r=0.606; p=0.000, r=0.535; p=0.000, respectively). There was no correlation between maternal leptin concentrations and birth weight of the newborns (r=0.179; p=0.269) and with BMI of the newborns (r=0.146; p=0.367). There was no gender difference in leptin concentrations in the newborns (n=21; 5.50±3.37 ng/ml, for females; n=19; 4.58±1.98 ng/ml for males) (p=0.296). In summary, we have shown that IUGR is associated with a decreased leptin concentration in newborns and their mothers. The association between umbilical serum leptin and birth weight in this and other studies suggests a pivotal role of fetal leptin in regulating fetal growth and development.

The effects of oral contraceptives including low-dose estrogen and drospirenone on the concentration of leptin and ghrelin in polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate short-term leptin and ghrelin concentrations in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who use low-dose oral contraceptives containing drospirenone. DESIGN Prospective study. SETTING Department of obstetrics and gynaecology in a university hospital. PATIENT(S) Twenty women with PCOS were enrolled in the study. INTERVENTION(S) A low-dose oral contraceptive containing ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone was given for three cycles. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Serum androstenedione, free T, T, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, sex hormone-binding globulin, FSH, LH, E(2), lipid profiles, leptin, and ghrelin levels were measured in each subject. Insulin resistance was estimated by the homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). RESULT(S) While leptin concentrations did not change with therapy, ghrelin levels increased statistically. Baseline leptin concentrations were correlated positively with body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, insulin, and HOMA-IR and negatively with ghrelin. After controlling for body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio in a partial correlation analysis, leptin levels were not correlated with these parameters. Ghrelin was inversely correlated with body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, insulin, HOMA-IR, and free T. CONCLUSION(S) In patients with PCOS, an oral contraceptive containing ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone increases ghrelin levels but not leptin levels in a 3-month period. Ghrelin might be related to the metabolic and androgenic changes in patients with PCOS.

Comparison of iodine contents in gastric cancer and surrounding normal tissues

Abstract It has been suggested that iodine plays an important role in gastric cancer. Gastric cancer ranks first among the cancers in the north-eastern Anatolia region, Turkey, where iodine deficiency is common. In this study, iodine levels were determined in gastric cancer and surrounding normal tissues in 19 patients with gastric cancer. Tissue iodine levels were determined by the Foss method based on the Sandell-Kolt-hoff reaction. Tissue iodine levels were lower in gastric cancer tissue (17.8±3.4ngI/mg protein, mean±SEM) compared with surrounding normal tissue (41.7±8.0ngI/mg protein) (p<0.001). There was positive correlation between the iodine levels in gastric cancer tissue and surrounding normal tissue (r=0.845, p<0.001). There was no significant difference in iodine levels in cancer and surrounding normal tissue between male and female subjects. The iodine deficiency in our region may be one of the factors for increased gastric cancer prevalence. Our results support the hypothesis that iodine plays an important role in gastric cancer development.

Blood and urine iodine levels in patients with gastric cancer.

In this study, we aimed to investigate whether there is any relationship between gastric cancer and iodine concentrations in blood and urine in the northeast Anatolia region, where iodine deficiency is common. A total of 56 patients, diagnosed as gastric cancer and 25 healthy volunteers were included in the study. The methods used were based on the Sandell-Kolthoff reaction. The urine iodine concentration (UIC) and serum protein-bound iodine (PBI) levels were higher in patients with gastric cancer compared with healthy control subjects. The UIC in stage IV was higher than all other stages and the control group. The UIC was higher in stages III and IV compared with stages I and II. However, serum PBI levels in stage III were higher compared with stages I, and II and also control group. The serum PBI level in stage IV was higher than stage II and the control group. In the patient and control groups, there were no significant differences in serum PBI and UIC with regard to age or sex. Our results suggested that urinary and blood iodine concentration might be a useful marker for following the disease.

Lipid profile in children with acute viral hepatitis A.

Background: Most of the knowledge about lipid parameters in acute hepatitis is originated from adult studies. In this study, the authors investigated lipid profile of children with acute hepatitis A (AVH) at diagnosis and recovery in order to observe the behavior of lipid parameters in such children.