Ramazan Bilgin

Free radicals and antioxidants in primary fibromyalgia: an oxidative stress disorder?

The role of free radicals in fibromyalgia is controversial. In this study, 85 female patients with primary fibromyalgia and 80 age-, height-, and weight-matched healthy women were evaluated for oxidant/antioxidant balance. Malondialdehyde is a toxic metabolite of lipid peroxidation used as a marker of free radical damage. Superoxide dismutase is an intracellular antioxidant enzyme and shows antioxidant capacity. Pain was assessed by visual analog scale. Tender points were assessed by palpation. Age, smoking, body mass index (BMI), and duration of disease were also recorded. Malondialdehyde levels were significantly higher and superoxide dismutase levels significantly lower in fibromyalgic patients than controls. Age, BMI, smoking, and duration of disease did not affect these parameters. We found no correlation between pain and number of tender points. In conclusion, oxidant/antioxidant balances were changed in fibromyalgia. Increased free radical levels may be responsible for the development of fibromyalgia. These findings may support the hypothesis of fibromyalgia as an oxidative disorder.

Effects of trimetazidine on tissue damage in kidney after hindlimb ischemia-reperfusion.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of trimetazidine (TMZ) on tissue damage in kidney after hindlimb ischemia-reperfusion (I/R), by assessing blood biochemical assay and histopathological analysis. Adult male Wistar rats were divided into two groups. TMZ 10 mg kg(-1)day(-1) was administrated twice a day for 10 days to the treatment group (group T, n=10). Sham group was given only 5% gum arabic (group S, n=10). On 11th day of treatment, 8h I/R period was performed on right hindlimb of the rats. At the end of reperfusion period, a 5 ml blood withdrawn from ascending aorta for biochemical assays and their right kidneys were harvested for histopathological examination. Superoxide dismutase, Na(+)-K(+) ATPase, and reduced glutathione levels were significantly increased in group T (P<0.001). On the other hand, myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde levels were significantly less in group T than group S (P<0.001). Kidneys from the sham-operated group displayed intense leukocytic infiltration in histopathological examination. These overall results strongly suggested that TMZ contributes renal protection from hindlimb I/R injury by decreasing systemic oxidative stress.

Effects of lead on Na(+)-K(+) ATPase and Ca(+2) ATPase activities and lipid peroxidation in blood of workers.

Lead is considered one of the major environmental toxicants that causes hematological, neurological, and gastrointestinal dysfunction. In this study, the authors examined the relationship between lead and lipid peroxidation, lead and Na+-K+ ATPase activity, and lead and Ca+2 ATPase activity in blood of workers. The working group consisted of 30 male workers occupationally exposed to lead at least for 10 years. The control group consisted of 20 healthy male individuals not involved with job-related lead exposures. Blood lead content of the control group and the working group were 10.0 ± 1.8 γg/dl and 317.3 ± 47.6 γg/dl, respectively. Malondialdehyde (MDA) value of the working group (0.57 ± 0.30 nmol MDA/ml) was significantly greater than MDA value of the control goup (0.17 ± 0.02 nmol MDA/ml). In the working group, both Na+-K+ ATPase activity (105.0 ± 47.0 nmol Pi mg protein-1 h-1) and Ca+2 ATPase activity (58.0 ± 40.0 nmol Pi mg protein-1 h-1) were lower compared with the corresponding values of Na+-K+ ATPase activity (247.0 ± 41.0 nmol Pi mg protein-1 h-1) and Ca+2 ATPase activity (230.0 ± 41.0 nmol Pi mg protein-1 h-1) of normal controls. The results show that lead exposure causes inhibition of Na+-K+ ATPase and Ca+2 ATPase activities and also results in increased lipid peroxidation.

Oxidative Stress in Vivax Malaria

Malaria is still a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. The increase in lipid peroxidation reported in malaria infection and antioxidant status may be a useful marker of oxidative stress during malaria infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of antioxidant enzymes against toxic reactive oxygen species in patients infected with Plasmodium vivax and healthy controls. Malondialdehyde levels, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activities were determined in 91 P. vivax patients and compared with 52 controls. Malondialdehyde levels, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activities were 8.07±2.29 nM/ml, 2.69±0.33 U/ml, and 49.6±3.2 U/g Hb in the patient group and 2.72±0.50 nM/ml, 3.71±0.47 U/ml, and 62.3±4.3 U/g Hb in the control group, respectively. Malondialdehyde levels were found statistically significant in patients with vivax malaria higher than in healthy controls (P<0.001). On the other hand, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities were found to be significantly lower in vivax malaria patients than in controls (P<0.05). There was an increase in oxidative stress in vivax malaria. The results suggested that antioxidant defense mechanisms may play an important role in the pathogenesis of P. vivax.

Effects of sulfhydryl compounds on the inhibition of erythrocyte membrane Na ‐K ATPase by ozone

Exposure of human erythrocyte membranes to ozone (5 μmol/10 min) resulted in the inhibition of erythrocyte membrane Na+‐K+ ATPase (EC.3.6.1.39). It was determined that, the degree of enzyme inhibition in the directly ozone exposed membranes was greater than that of membranes obtained from ozone exposed intact erythrocytes. In the presence of varying concentrations (0‐1.0 mM) of dithiotrethiol or mercaptoethanol Na+‐K+ ATPase activities of both types of ozone exposed membranes were increased almost proportionally with the concentration of dithiotrethiol or mercaptoethanol however, the activities were still lower than the normal Na+‐K+ ATPase value.

Association between chronic hepatitis B virus infection and HLA-DP gene polymorphisms in the Turkish population

AIM Hepatitis B virus (HBV) affects approximately 360 million people worldwide. 10-15% of patients with chronic HBV develop liver cirrhosis (LC), liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Chronic HBV infection or HBV clearance is influenced by both viral and host factors. In genome-wide association studies (GWAS), the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene polymorphisms rs3077 and rs9277535 were identified to be associated with chronic hepatitis B. HLA genes have been linked to immune response to infectious agents. Genetic variants in HLA genes influence HLA mRNA expression which might also affect antigen presentation. We evaluated the association between HLA gene polymorphisms and the risk for persistent HBV infection. METHODS In the current study, HLA gene polymorphisms were investigated in a case-control study of 294 chronic HBV patients and 234 persons with HBV natural clearance by using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS The results showed that rs9277535 allele frequency is associated with HBV infection in the Turkish subjects examined (P=0.048). However, no association was found for rs3077. Additionally, the AG haplotype block showed a protective effect against the risk of persistent HBV infection (for the rs3077A/rs9277535G, OR=0.52; 95% 0.34-0.80, P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS Our results, for the first time, demonstrate that HLA-DPB1 gene rs9277535A allele has a major effect on the risk of persistent HBV infection. We suggest that further independent studies are necessary to clarify the association of these polymorphisms with persistence or natural clearance of HBV infection in Caucasian populations.

IMMOBILIZATION OF SOYBEAN LIPOXYGENASE ONTO POLYACRYLAMIDE GEL

ABSTRACT Soybean lipoxygenase (Lox) was covalently immobilized onto Polyacrylamide gel which activated with glutaraldehyde. Optimal temperature for free enzyme was 30 °C whereas for the immobilized lipoxygenase (Imm-Lox) optimal temperature increased to 35 °C. The optimal pH for free enzyme and immobilized enzyme was 10.5 and 8.5, respectively. The maximum activity of Imm-Lox was low as compared with that of free soybean lipoxygenase. The reusability of Imm-Lox was investigated after 7 uses; enzyme retained 85 % of its original activity. Storage stability of Imm-Lox was tested at different conditions.

Optimization of covalent immobilization of Trichoderma reesei cellulase onto modified ReliZyme HA403 and Sepabeads EC-EP supports for cellulose hydrolysis, in buffer and ionic liquids/buffer media.

The covalent immobilization of Trichoderma reesei cellulase onto modified ReliZyme HA403 and Sepabeads EC-EP supports were carried out. The optimal immobilization conditions were determined using response surface methodology. The hydrolysis of cellulose using the free and immobilized cellulase preparations in ionic liquids (IL) using cosolvents was investigated. The hydrolytic activities in buffer medium containing 25% (v/v) of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate were around 2.6-, 1.6-, and 5.5-fold higher than the activities in buffer medium. The retained initial activities were 32% and 57%, respectively for cellulase preparations immobilized onto Sepabeads EC-EP support and onto modified ReliZyme HA403 support after 5 reuses.

Effects of glucose on the activity of erythrocyte membrane Ca2 ATPase in subjects with normal and impaired glucose tolerance

The effects of glucose on Ca2+ATPase activity of erythrocyte membranes were investigated under in vitro and in vivo conditions.

A Heavy Metal Pollution in Industrial Zone and its Effect on Soil and Spring Water in Iskenderun Bay, North-East Mediterranean

The Bay of Iskenderun is located in the north-eastern corner of Mediterranean Sea. The coasts of the Bay are intensively industrialized when compared with the Mediterranean coasts of Turkey. These are fertilizer and cement industries, iron and steel complexes, coal fired plants, a pipe line terminal and E 5-Road with heavy traffic. In this study 30 soil samples taken from 10m centers and 500m, 1000m, 1500m, 2000m, 3000m, 5000m distances to the Industrial Zone were analyzed for their heavy metal concentrations, such as Pb, Mn, Cd, Fe, Zn, Cu, Cr, Mg, Ca. 20 water samples were collected from drinkable water sources in the industrial zone and close villages. Heavy metal concentrations in the samples were determined by the use of Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. It was found that the metal ion concentrations were higher in close distances to the Industrial Zone except Ca, Mg ions. On getting far away from the zone, a decrease in metal concentrations was observed. COD levels, pH, NOx in water were also determined.