Mehmet Akdogan

Antienflamatuar and antiadhesive effect of clioquinol

BACKGROUNDS/AIMSnThe aim of this study is to investigate the expected adhesion-modifying effect of clinoquinol which has metal-chelating feature that limits the inflammation and fibroblastic activity.nnnMETHODSnA total of 40 Wistar Albino rats were included, which were divided into 5 groups. Group-1 constituted the sham group. Other groups, adhesions were induced by performing cecal abrasion on the rats. For treatment, saline solution was added to Group-2, carboxymethylcellulose was added to Group-3, methylene blue was added to Group-4, and clioquinol was added to Group-5. Blood samples were obtained from the heart to measure IL-10 and TNF α-levels. Adhesions were evaluated both macroscopically and histopathologically.nnnRESULTSnClioquinol reduced adhesions at significant level via decreasing the inflammation and fibroblastic activity in the adhesion-induced rats. At macroscopic level, carboxymethylcellulose and clioquinol were the most potent agents in reducing adhesions. Nonetheless, significant foreign body-reaction was observed in the carboxymethylcellulose-treated group.nnnCONCLUSIONSnClioquinol could reduce the formation of intra-abdominal adhesions. It exerts this activity by limiting the inflammation and fibroblastic activity between the intestines and serous surfaces. Furthermore, it does not induce a foreign body reaction. Due to these properties, we conclude that clioquinol can be used as an alternative agent to prevent adhesions.

Investigating the effectiveness of different tea types from various thyme kinds (Origanum onites, Thymbra spicata and Satureja cuneifolia) on anemia and anticholesterolemic activity:

In a study on villagers settled on the outskirts of the Taurus Mountains and whose source of living is thyme, it was revealed that the villagers excessively consumed thyme by adding it to their tea and many of their foods; high incidences of anemia was found among these villagers. In this study, 42 male adult Wistar albino rats weighing 200–250 g were used. The rats were divided to six equal groups as follows: control, cholesterol (Chol), 80 mg/kg Origanum onites Labiatae (OOL), 80 mg/kg Thymbra spicata Labiatae (TSL), 80 mg/kg Satureja cuneifolia Labiatae (SCL), and 160 mg/kg TSL, and each group consisted of seven rats. The control group was fed with normal pellet feed. The Chol group and all the other groups, except for the control group, were fed with 2% cholesterol-containing pellet feed. Physiological serum of 4 ml was given to the control and Chol group, wheile 80 mg/kg of thymes tea was given to the OOL group, TSL group, and SCL group, and 160 mg/kg of thymes tea was given to the TSL group by means of a gavage for 30 days. In the blood samples, the hematologic parameters and the biochemical parameters of serum glucose, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, total protein, albumin, iron (I), total iron-binding capacity, aminotransferase aspartate, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, and oxidized LDL levels were examined. The kidney and liver tissues were examined histopathologically. The results of the study showed that different types of thymes had an antihypercholesterolemic effect. In addition to the anemic effect detected in group TSL and the mild granular degeneration found in the liver of 80 mg/kg SCL group, distinct granular degeneration was observed in 160 mg/kg TSL group.

Serum Prolidase Activity as a Biomarker for Choroid Plexus Calcification

The choroid plexus (CP) performs multiple functions such as secretion and reabsorption. CP also acts as the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier. Prolidase plays an important role in collagen metabolism by degrading imidodipeptides, in which proline or hydroxyproline residue is located at the C-terminal end. Serum prolidase activity (SPA) may reflect the degree of fibrosis and inflammation. Choroid plexus calcification (CPC) is considered as the physiological calcification of the brain, and CPC is diagnosed by the presence of calcification in the anatomical region on computed tomography (CT). Here, CPC and non-calcified CP were defined by Hounsfield Units (HU) values of > 150 and < 50, respectively. We aimed to measure SPA in subjects with CPC and those with non-calcified CP. This study included 89 subjects who were admitted to the neurology clinic and underwent CT: 44 subjects with CPC and 45 subjects with non-calcified CP. The neurological examination of all subjects was normal; namely, the subjects with CPC were asymptomatic. The SPA level was significantly higher in the CPC group than that in the non-calcified CP group (p < 0.002), and there was a significant positive correlation between vitamin D and SPA levels in the CPC group. In contrast, the vitamin D and parathyroid hormone levels were higher in the CPC group, but the difference was not statically significant (p > 0.05). These findings indicate that SPA is a biomarker for CPC that may be predictive of future brain disease.

Serum prolidase enzyme activity level: Not a predictive biomarker for epilepsy

ObjectivenOxidative stress (OS) and inflammation are considered responsible for the pathogenesis of epilepsy. Prolidase has an extremely important role in proline recycling for collagen synthesis. Higher than normal proline levels have been shown to increase OS. Furthermore, prolidase activity is associated with inflammation during fibrotic process. No study has yet investigated the relationship between epilepsy and prolidase enzyme activity (PEA). In this study, we aimed to contribute to the existing literature by assessing postictal PEA levels, which are correlated with inflammation and OS, to determine whether PEA levels may be used as a biomarker for epilepsy.nnnMaterials and MethodsnThis study included patients with epilepsy who presented to the emergency department within first 6 h of a seizure.nnnResultsnThe epileptic group included 27 patients (16 males, 11 females) and the control group included 31 healthy individuals (11 males, 20 females). The mean age of the epilepsy (n=27) and healthy control group (n=31) was 43.1±20.2 and 51.9±21 years, respectively. Serum PEA levels were 1171.90±343.3 in the epileptic group and 1137.1±295.6 in the control group. There were no significant differences between two groups (p>0.05).nnnConclusionnOur study results suggest that although PEA is an enzyme associated with OS and inflammation, it is still not an ideal biomarker for epileptic patients. This study is important because it investigated PEA in patients with idiopathic epilepsy for the first time.