Suleyman Demir

The effects of desferrioxamine on cisplatininduced lipid peroxidation and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in rat kidneys

Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity is associated with an increase in lipid peroxidation and oxygen free radicals in rat kidneys. In this study, the effects of desferrioxamine were compared to vitamin C and E on cisplatin-induced lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities in rat kidneys. Rats were divided into five groups, with 15 Wistar rats in each group. In the control group, rats received 1 mL/100 g isotonic saline solution intraperitoneally (i.p.). In Group II, 10 mg/kg cisplatin i.p. was injected to rats. Thirty minutes before the same dosage of cisplatin administration, 100 mg/kg i.p. vitamin C or E was given to rats in groups III and IV, respectively. Rats in Group V received 250 mg/kg desferrioxamine i.p., before the same dose of cisplatin administration. All rats were killed by cervical dislocation after 72 hours. The kidneys were immediately removed and washed in cold saline. Spectrophotometric method was used for all analyses. While catalase, glutathione reductase (GR), and super oxide dismutase (SOD) levels were found to be significantly decreased (P B < 0.001), malondialdehyde (MDA) (P < 0.05) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (P < 0.001) levels were significantly increased in the cisplatin group when compared to the controls. MDA levels were decreased by desferrioxamine (P < 0.005) as well as vitamin C and E (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). These three compounds induced a significant increase in SOD levels (P B < 0.05), but only in the vitamin C group, were SOD levels not significantly different than the levels of the controls (P > 0.05). In the desferrioxamine (P < 0.05), vitamin C and E groups (P < 0.001 for both), the cisplatin elevated H2O2 levels were decreased. None of these drugs had any effect on GR and catalase levels (P > 0.05). Desferrioxamine is useful to prevent cisplatin-induced lipid peroxidation, however, vitamin C and E are more effective on antioxidant enzymes than desferrioxamine.

Pentoxifylline and N-acetylcysteine in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury

This study was designed to clarify the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on hepatic reperfusion injury in rats. Rats were pretreated with NAC, or PTX, or combination of the drugs. In each rat, liver was isolated after twenty minutes reperfusion following thirty minutes ischemia. Plasma alanine amino transferase (ALT) activity, liver tissue glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GSSGR), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were determined. Plasma ALT activity was higher in ischemia/reperfusion groups than in control. It was decreased in the groups given NAC. Administration of NAC maintained tissue GSH levels, whereas the levels were decreased in both the ischemia/reperfusion groups treated (P < 0.05) and untreated with PTX (P < 0.01). Increases in liver MDA concentration in ischemia/reperfusion (P < 0.01) and PTX-treated groups (P < 0.05) were mitigated by administration of NAC. GPx and CAT activities were increased in the ischemia/reperfusion (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) and PTX-treated groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.001). GSSGR activities were increased in the NAC (P < 0.001) and NAC-PTX-treated groups (P < 0.01). SOD activities were higher in the ischemia/reperfusion (P < 0.01) and the PTX-treated (P < 0.01) and the NAC-PTX-treated groups (P < 0.01 ). In conclusion, short-term liver ischemia/reperfusion diminished GSH, increased MDA and induced some antioxidant enzymes. While we could not find any useful effects with PTX as we expected, our findings indicate that NAC might be useful to prevent tissue damage in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Elevation of serum and urinary carbohydrate antigen 19-9 in benign hydronephrosis

Objective: The aim of this study was to find out the predictive role of serum and urinary carbohydrate antigen 19‐9 levels in benign hydronephrosis and whether these levels are helpful for differentiation of complete or partial urinary obstruction.

Relationship between hemorheology and Glu(298)Asp polymorphism of endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene in patients with coronary artery disease.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between endothelial nitric oxide synthase Glu(298)Asp gene polymorphism and hemorheological parameters. Red blood cell (RBC) deformability, aggregation were measured using an ectacytometry, whole blood, plasma viscosities were determined by a viscometer. Restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to detect polymorphism. Plasma nitrite, nitrate concentrations were determined by Griess method. The genotype distribution of the control group was as follows: 50 (67.5%) GG, 21 (28.4%) GT, 3 (4.1%) TT. A 48 (57.8%) of the patients with CAD had GG, 28 (33.7%) GT, 7 (8.5%) of them TT genotype. RBC aggregation index of CAD patients with G allele was higher and t½ lower compared to controls carrying the same allele. The amplitude of RBC aggregation of healthy subjects with T allele, who are under increased cardiovascular risk was lower compared to control subjects with G allele. The results of this study indicate that, alterations in RBC aggregation seem to be a consequence of CAD, more than being a preexisting cause. Additionally, some compensatory mechanisms by causing decrements in RBC aggregation, may help regulation of circulation in healthy individuals with high cardiovascular risk.

The effects of amifostine and dexamethasone on brain tissue lipid peroxidation during oxygen treatment of carbon monoxide-poisoned rats

The mechanisms of injury of, and methods of treating patients with, carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning are poorly understood. Besides the hypoxic degenerative effects of CO, reoxygenation injury may play an important role. Amifostine (Ami), which is most often used in radiotherapy for its tissue protective characteristics, may offer benefits. In this study, investigators evaluated the effectiveness of various treatments in a CO-poisoned rat model. A total of 36 Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 1 of 6 groups (n=6 each), including control and poisoned groups exposed to CO at 2000 ppm (v/v) for 1 h, followed by various 1-h treatments: group C (control), group CO-air (ambient air), group CO-NBO (normobaric 100% oxygen), group CO-HBO (hyperbaric oxygen with 3 atmospheres absolute [3 ATA]), group CO-NBO-Ami (normobaric oxygen with intraperitoneal [IP] injection of amifostine 250 mg/kg body weight [bw]), and group CO-70O (70% O2 and 5% CO2 with dexamethasone 10 mg/kg bw, IP). Blood gas analysis, carboxy-hemoglobin determination, brain tissue lipid peroxidation, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine kinase (CK) activities were evaluated. Carboxyhemoglobin concentration in the air-treated group was 44±2%; it decreased to the control level with all oxygen treatments. Brain tissue GSH-Px and SOD measurements did not change. The activity of LDH in group CO-HBO and the activities of LDH and CKin group CO-70O were similar to those of group C. Lipid peroxides were high in ambient air and normobaric oxygen, but HBO, amifostine with oxygen, or 70% O2 reduced these to control levels (P < .05).

Free and Total Prostate–Specific Antigen Levels in Saliva and the Comparison with Serum Levels in Men

Objective: We investigated free and total prostate–specific antigen (PSA) levels and free/total (f/t) ratio in the fasting saliva and compared them with the serum levels in normal individuals, in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer. Our aim was to determine free and total PSA and f/t ratio in saliva and to improve and simplify the differentiation between BPH and prostate cancer by using saliva as an alternative to serum.Methods: Serum and fasting saliva concentrations of free and total PSA were measured in 35 men with BPH, 16 men with stage D prostate cancer, and 25 healthy men. Serum and fasting saliva samples were collected at the same time and were analyzed on the same day at our laboratory with microparticle enzyme immunoassay technology.Results: For the total of 76 men, there was a significant correlation between free and total PSA levels in each sample (r = 0.97 for serum and r = 0.44 for saliva, p<0.001). Although there was a significant difference between three groups for serum–free and total PSA levels and serum f/t ratios, no significant difference was determined between groups for salivary free and total PSA levels and salivary f/t ratios. No correlations were found between patient age and salivary PSA levels.Conclusions: Fasting salivary free and total PSA levels are not effected by high serum levels of prostatic origin. Although there was a significant difference between mean serum and salivary levels of free and total PSA in each group, the f/t ratio of saliva was very close to the serum ratio of normal subjects. Determination of free and total PSA in saliva to improve and simplify the differentiation between prostate cancer and BPH is not suitable for use as alternative measurement of serum.

Effects of low-dose 17-β-estradiol plus norethisterone acetate and tibolone on fasting plasma homocysteine levels in postmenopausal women

Background.  Many postmenopausal women currently receive hormone replacement therapy. The use of low‐dose 17β‐estradiol plus norethisterone acetate and tibolone for hormone replacement therapy is not uncommon in postmenopausal women. Homocysteine, which is known to be an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, is found in increased levels postmenopause. This study compared the effects of low‐dose 17β‐estradiol plus norethisterone acetate and tibolone on the fasting plasma homocysteine level in healthy postmenopausal women.

Influence of cadmium and copper on tissue element levels of pregnant rats

In the current study, we examined the effects of Cd on Cd, Cu, Zn and Fe levels in placenta and maternal and fetal plasma and tissues, the placental weight, total fetal and maternal body weights, and fetal and maternal tissue weights during pregnancy. A total of 21 adult female rats were treated during gestation with drinking water containing one of the following: 70 mg/L of CdCl2, a combination of 70 mg/L of CdCl2 and 70 mg/L of CuSO4, or no addition (control). Placenta Cu and Fe levels, fetal liver and kidney Cu levels, and fetal liver tissue weights were lower in the group administered Cd than in the control group. Also, Cd levels in the placenta, maternal and fetal liver, and maternal kidney were higher in the group treated with Cd than in controls. In the group administered both Cd and Cu, fetal body and tissue weights did not change, but Cd levels in the placenta, maternal and fetal liver, and maternal kidneys were higher than in controls. Zn and Fe levels in the maternal kidney and fetal liver were also lower in this group. Cd exposure during pregnancy resulted in Cd accumulation in maternal and fetal tissues during pregnancy and a decrease in the total weight of fetuses, and the combination of Cd and Cu caused some changes in the both maternal and fetal levels of Cu, Zn, and Fe, but it did not cause changes in the total fetal body weight or the weights of individual tissues.

Safety awareness among laboratory workers.

The purpose of this study was to assess safety awareness among laboratory personnel. The research group, which consisted of 84 subjects (88.4% of 95 persons contacted), completed a questionnaire. Of the study population, 55.9% were male and 44.1 % were female. On the subject of how to receive samples, 70.2% of the study group knew the correct answer. In all, 90.5% and 79.8%, respectively, knew what procedures should be followed after injuries or accidents occurred in the laboratory. The lowest number of correct responses on the questionnaire was associated with the topic of waste disposal. Results of this study show that laboratory personnel would benefit greatly from educational initiatives designed to promote laboratory safety.

The effect of partial unilateral ureteral obstruction release and allopurinol on the renal malondialdehyde and glutathione levels

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether relief of partial unilateral ureteral obstruction (PUUO) with or without antioxidant drug affect renal tissue malonedialdehyde (MDA) and glutathion (GSH) levels.