Sırma Geyik

Gene expression profiles of autophagy-related genes in multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an imflammatory disease of central nervous system caused by genetic and environmental factors that remain largely unknown. Autophagy is the process of degradation and recycling of damaged cytoplasmic organelles, macromolecular aggregates, and long-lived proteins. Malfunction of autophagy contributes to the pathogenesis of neurological diseases, and autophagy genes may modulate the T cell survival. We aimed to examine the expression levels of autophagy-related genes. The blood samples of 95 unrelated patients (aged 17-65years, 37 male, 58 female) diagnosed as MS and 95 healthy controls were used to extract the RNA samples. After conversion to single stranded cDNA using polyT priming: the targeted genes were pre-amplified, and 96×78 (samples×primers) qRT-PCR reactions were performed for each primer pair on each sample on a 96.96 array of Fluidigm BioMark™. Compared to age- and sex-matched controls, gene expression levels of ATG16L2, ATG9A, BCL2, FAS, GAA, HGS, PIK3R1, RAB24, RGS19, ULK1, FOXO1, HTT were significantly altered (false discovery rate<0.05). Thus, altered expression levels of several autophagy related genes may affect protein levels, which in turn would influence the activity of autophagy, or most probably, those genes might be acting independent of autophagy and contributing to MS pathogenesis as risk factors. The indeterminate genetic causes leading to alterations in gene expressions require further analysis.

Oxidative stress and DNA damage in patients with migraine

BackgroundOxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of migraine, but no published studies have examined both oxidative stress levels and oxidative DNA damage on the same patient group.MethodsIn this study, total oxidant status (TOS); total antioxidant status (TAS); oxidative stress index (OSI); and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), which is an indicator of oxidative DNA damage, were measured in the plasma samples of 50 prophylactic unmediated migraineurs (11 with aura and 39 without aura) and 30 matched healthy volunteers.ResultsNo significant differences in TAS, TOS, and OSI values were observed between patients and controls. However, plasma 8-OHdG levels were found to be significantly higher in migraine patients than in the control group (p = 0.001); this increase in plasma 8-OHdG levels was more prominent in cases with migraine without aura than with aura (p = 0.001). Our results suggested an evidence of oxidative stress-related DNA damage in migraine.ConclusionDNA damage reflected by plasma 8-OHdG did not studied in migraine before. Therefore, further research on oxidative stress-related DNA damage and the extent of its clinical manifestations in migraine may provide additional data to our current knowledge.

The Effect of Circadian Melatonin Levels on Inflammation and Neurocognitive Functions Following Coronary Bypass Surgery

PURPOSE In this study, the relationship between the plasma levels of melatonin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), which plays role in several intercellular interactions including inflammatory and immune responses, and early neurocognitive functions associated with ischaemia-reperfusion injury during open heart surgery is examined. METHODS Forty patients who were to undergo elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were divided into two groups, those who underwent their operations at 8 AM (group I; n = 20) and those who underwent their operations at 1 PM (group II; n = 20). Blood samples were collected prior to surgery (S1), when the aortic cross clamp was removed (S2) and 4 (S3) and 24 h after the surgery (S4). Neuropsychiatric assessment was conducted one day before and seven days after surgery. RESULTS Melatonin levels measured during and after surgery were also significantly higher in Group 1. ICAM-1 levels were significantly lower in Group 1 at S2 and S3. Significant deterioration was observed in postoperative neurocognitive function compared with preoperative functions in Group 2 more than Group 1. CONCLUSION We hypothesise that the greater preservation of neurocognitive functions in the morning patients is associated with elevated melatonin levels, which reduce the damage from ischaemia-reperfusion injury.

Multicentric Dentigerous Dermoid Cyst with an Unusual Location in the Central Nervous System

Dermoid cysts are benign and congenital ectodermal inclusions. Their occurrence in an intracranial location is quite rare. They constitute 0.1 to 0.7% of all intracranial tumors. Their occurrence in the fourth ventricle and their multicentric feature are extraordinary. A 12-year-old boy was admitted to our clinic with a dermoid cyst with sixth cranial nerve involvement. He had symptoms of increased intracranial pressure. This case is the first dermoid cyst in the literature at this unusual location; a mature tooth structure was found within the cyst, which extended over the cervical subsegments. There was a second dermoid cyst in the thoracic spine (multicentric). Our aim is to present an atypical dermoid cyst along with radiodiagnostic characteristics and macroscopic findings.

Elevated plasma total nitrite levels may be related to migraine attacks

Both vascular and neuronal mechanisms are the main foci of investigation in defining the pathophysiology of migraine attacks. This study was designed to evaluate the possible role of nitric oxide (NO) in migraine patients in the natural course of unprovoked attacks and attack-free periods. The mean plasma nitrite levels of 26 migraine patients during attacks and attack-free periods were compared within group and with those of 26 healthy controls. Plasma total nitrite levels were measured by Greiss reaction. Mean plasma total nitrite levels of migraine patients during attacks and attack-free periods and of controls were 36.5±7.5 μmol/l, 27.81±4.8 μmol/l and 25.19±4.1 μmol/l, respectively. These results demonstrated that total nitrite levels during attacks were significantly higher in migraineurs than both during attack-free periods and those of controls (P=0.001 and P=0.001, respectively). No significant difference was observed between migraineurs during attack-free periods and controls in this regard (P=0.534). Based on these results, we suggest that NO pathway may play a key role in the pathogenesis of migraine attacks.

Investigation of the Plasma Nitrite Levels and Oxidant–Antioxidant Status in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

INTRODUCTION Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the most prevalent sleep disorders. In the present study, we assessed the nitrite level, which is an indirect indicator of nitric oxide (NO), total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS) and oxidative stress index (OSI), which may be associated with endotel dysfunction. We investigated the difference between the groups and the relationship among the severity of comorbid conditions. METHODS This study was conducted in 39 OSA patients confirmed by polysomnography and 40 healthy subjects (controls). The OSA group consisted of 10 women and 29 men and the control group consisted of 20 women and 20 men. Polysomnographic revealed mild OSA in two, moderate in 7 and severe in 30 cases. We measured plasma TAS, TOS and nitrite levels from venous blood. The OSI value was obtained by dividing the TOS and TAS values. Values were compared with the control group and between patient groups. RESULTS A high body mass index (BMI), cardiovasculer diseases (CVD) and the use of medication for co-morbid diseases were more prevalent in the OSA group (p=.001, p=.029 and p=.006, respectively). The median plasma TOS level and OSI in the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OUA) group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p=.001 and p=.001, respectively). The plasma median nitrite level and TAS did not show any significant difference between the OSA and the control groups. None of the parameters revealed a significant difference between severe and moderate OSA cases. CONCLUSION Our findings in the present study revealed that the oxidant-antioxidant balance shifted toward the oxidant side in OSA cases; however, the NO level did not change. These findings together may point out that some molecules other than NO may have a role in the pathophysiology of endothelial dysfunction and also in the disturbed oxidant-antioxidant balance in OSA.

Early cyclosporin A treatment retards axonal degeneration in an experimental peripheral nerve injection injury model

Injury to peripheral nerves during injections of therapeutic agents such as penicillin G potas-sium is common in developing countries. It has been shown that cyclosporin A, a powerful immunosuppressive agent, can retard Wallerian degeneration after peripheral nerve crush injury. However, few studies are reported on the effects of cyclosporin A on peripheral nerve drug in-jection injury. This study aimed to assess the time-dependent efficacy of cyclosporine-A as an immunosuppressant therapy in an experimental rat nerve injection injury model established by penicillin G potassium injection. The rats were randomly divided into three groups based on the length of time after nerve injury induced by cyclosporine-A administration (30 minutes, 8 or 24 hours). The compound muscle action potentials were recorded pre-injury, early post-injury (within 1 hour) and 4 weeks after injury and compared statistically. Tissue samples were taken from each animal for histological analysis. Compared to the control group, a significant im-provement of the compound muscle action potential amplitude value was observed only when cyclosporine-A was administered within 30 minutes of the injection injury (P < 0.05); at 8 or 24 hours after cyclosporine-A administration, compound muscle action potential amplitude was not changed compared with the control group. Thus, early immunosuppressant drug therapy may be a good alternative neuroprotective therapy option in experimental nerve injection injury induced by penicillin G potassium injection.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease presented with dizziness, weakness and neuropsychiatric symptoms: 2 Case Reports -

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is among very rare, progressive, untreatable, neurodegenerative prion diseases. While the incidence is reported as 1/1000000 years in European countries, sporadic cases are rarely presented in Turkey. Clinical findings are in the form of rapid progressive dementia, myoclonus, cerebellar, pyramidal and extra pyramidal symptoms. Definitive diagnosis is established by histopathological examination. Our case is a 64-year-old male and 70-year-old female patients admitted with dizziness emerged as sub-acute weakness, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, imbalance and additional neuropsychiatric complaints. Focal activity slowness and common periodic sharp wave activities were observed in EEG. CJD was considered because bilateral symmetrical diffusion limitation was observed at both sides in the basal ganglia level in cranial diffusion MRI’s and 14-3-3 protein was resulted as positive in CSF examinations. CJD, which is a very rare disease in patients presenting with progressive neuropsychiatric symptoms and seizure, is one of the diagnosis to be considered and we wanted to emphasize that there is no treatment for it and preventive measures should be taken.