Tuncer Tug

The evaluation of cognitive functions with P300 test for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients in attack and stable period.

OBJECTIVES Hypoxia, in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), leads to a decrease in cerebral perfusion and an impairment of some cognitive abilities. We aimed to investigate the relation between arterial blood gas analysis (ABA) and pulmonary function test (PFT) parameters with cognitive function of COPD patients during attack and stable period. PATIENTS AND METHODS ABA, PFT, P300 tests of 30 patients in stabilized period and 30 patients in attack, and 17 healthy controls were evaluated. RESULTS When both COPD groups and controls were compared, it was seen that latency of P300 was shorter in the control group (p<0.001), but there was no difference between COPD groups (p>0.05). P300 amplitude measures were lower in both COPD groups than control group, but it was not statistically significant (p>0.05). When we compared the measures of attack group, we saw that arterial oxygen tension (PaO(2)), arterial oxygen saturation (SaO(2)), forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV(1)), FEV(1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) values increased (p<0.001), and P300 latency shortened (p<0.05) in attack group during stable period. P300 latency correlated significantly with PaO(2) (r=-0.557, p<0.001), SaO(2) (r=-0.424, p<0.001), FEV(1) (r=-0.441, p<0.001), FEV(1)/FVC (r=-0.477, p<0.001) values, and age (r=0.329, p<0.05). P300 amplitude is only correlated with PaO(2) (r=0.236, p<0.05). CONCLUSION Longer latency of P300 appears to be an expected sequel of COPD. P300 test can be considered as a potential objective marker of cognitive impairment.

Prevalence and risk factors of asthma and allergic diseases among schoolchildren in Bolu, Turkey

Aim: In this study we aimed to detect the prevalence and risk factors of asthma and allergic diseases in children aged between 7 and 14 years old at rural and urban areas of Bolu, Turkey.

Protective effect of octreotide on intra-tracheal bleomycin-induced oxidative damage in rats

The present study is aimed at determining the effect of parenteral octreotide against oxidative damage caused by intra-tracheal bleomycin (BLM) administration. A total of 30 male Wistar rats randomly divided into three groups (control, bleomycin alone, and bleomycin and octreotide) were used in the study. A group of animals received a single dose of intra-tracheal bleomycin (7.5mg/kg). Animals in another group, which also received intra-tracheal bleomycin, were given 82.5 microg/kg octreotide via i.m. injection for a week. Animals in the control group received neither bleomycin nor octreotide. All animals were sacrificed at the end of the experiment. Serum levels of malondialdehyde, vitamins A, E, and C, selenium levels were determined. In addition, glutathion peroxidase activity levels in erythrocytes were also determined. Malondialdehyde levels and glutathion peroxidase activity were increased whereas antioxidant vitamin levels were decreased significantly in animals that received only bleomycin compared to control animals (p<0.05). The values in rats that received bleomycin and octreotide were found to be closer to the control group (p<0.05). Selenium levels in animals that received only bleomycin were determined to be reduced compared to controls (p<0.05). On the other hand, selenium levels in bleomycin and octreotide groups were similar to control values in (p<0.05). In conclusion, bleomycin induces a severe stress and more importantly increases the amount of free radicals whereas octreotide administration reduces this oxidative damage significantly.

Tumor suppressor gene alterations in patients with malignant mesothelioma due to environmental asbestos exposure in Turkey

Background Environmental asbestos exposure can cause the grave lung and pleura malignancies with a high mortality rate, and it is also associated with increased rate of other organ malignancies. Asbestos exposure can develop genotoxic effects and damage in the pleura and lungs. Objective In this study, we aimed to determine tumor suppressor gene (TSG) loss in genomic DNA which was isolated from pleural fluid and blood samples of patients with Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) due to environmental asbestos exposure. Design and patients Prospective study of period from 2001 to 2003 in 17 patients with MPM. Methods A total of 12 chromosomal regions were researched by comparing genomic DNA samples isolated from blood and pleural effusion (using PCR, and polyacrilamid gel electrophoresis denaturizing), on 2 different chromosomes which have 9 different polymorphic determinants at 6q and 3 different polymorphic determinants at 9p using molecular genetic methods on 13 patients clinico-pathologically diagnosed MPM. Results Loss of Heterozygosity (LOH) was determined at D6S275 in one patient, at D6S301 in another, at D6S474 in 2, at ARG1 in 2, at D6S1038 in 2 and at D6S1008 in 3 patients. In 7 (54%) of the13 patients, we found LOH in at least one site. No LOH was determined at any informative loci in 6 patients. Of the 13 patients, no investigated markers were determined at 9p. Conclusion In this study, genomic DNA samples obtained from MPM patients with asbestos exposure revealed that they contained important genotoxic damage. We found no other study on this subject at molecular level in pleural effusion either in Turkey or in the med-line literature. We believe that this study will provide important support for other research into molecular-genetic variations, both on this subject and other malignancies, and may also constitute a base for early diagnosis and gene therapy research in the future.

Silicosis in Manufacture of Electric Cable: Report of Four Cases

Free silica (silicon dioxide) is naturally found in amorphous and crystalline forms in many rocks in the Earth . Inhaled silicon dioxide is usually crystalline and most often quartz which is the most important form. Silicosis is an irreversible disease 3) that results from workrelated exposures to dusts containing silica crystals, and is characterized by fibrotic tissue reaction caused by the presence of silica in the lungs . Crystalline silica exposure and silicosis have been associated with work in mining, quarrying, tunneling, sandblasting, masonry, foundry work, glass manufacture, ceramic and pottery production, cement and concrete production, and work with certain materials in dental laboratories. The diagnosis of silicosis is based on history of exposure to silica dust and multiple, bilateral pulmonary nodules and large opacities on chest radiography . Several studies have demonstrated that high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is superior to conventional radiography for detection of silicotic lesions, confluence of nodules, and presence of emphysema . Most pneumoconiosis evolves slowly and changes in radiological findings take a long time, usually years, to occur. However, in rare instances, such as acute silicosis associated with exposure to a very large quantity of very fine silicaceous dust, radiological changes can show up within months . We present clinical and radiological findings of four cases working in the same department producing ‘silicone paste’ by mixing quartz dust (a synonym for silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ), sil ica or sil icon) with sil icone (polysiloxane ([R 2 SiO] n , a class-name for various synthetic plastic substances made of silicon, oxygen, carbon, germanium, and hydrogen), in an electric cable factory, for 5 to 8 yr. Up to now, this branch of industry has not been reported in the English literature as a cause of silicosis.

The effect of octreotide, an analog of somatostatin, on bleomycin-induced interstitial pulmonary fibrosis in rats

In this study, octreotide (OCT), a synthetic somatostatin analog, was tested for its beneficial effects in the prevention of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) induced by bleomycin (BLM) in rats by histological examination and by evaluating tissue OH-proline levels. Thirty male Wistar rats were divided randomly into three groups: group I: intratracheal (i.t.) BLM (7.5 mg/kg, single dose) + saline solution [0.9% NaCl, subcutaneously (s.c.), once-daily for 7 days]; group II: i.t. BLM (7.5 mg/kg, single dose) + OCT acetate (82.5 µg/kg, s.c., once-daily for 7 days); and the control group. At the end of the 7 days, lung tissues were excised and examined by histopathological methods. Levels of tissue hydroxyproline (OH-proline) were determined. BLM administration resulted in prominent histopathologic findings, such as diffuse alveolar damage and interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, as well as a significant increase in OH-proline level, as compared to controls. OCT application explicitly attenuated the histopathologic changes to a significant extent. OCT decreased paranchymal fibrosis and structural deformities in BLM-induced lung fibrosis. These results suggest that OCT administration to rats with BLM-induced IPF has a protective effect. Further studies are necessary to reveal the molecular mechanism(s) of OCT-induced protective effect.

Serum Omentin Levels in Asthma Patients

Objective: Asthma is a heterogeneous disease characterized by chronic airway inflammation. We aimed to determine the serum levels of omentin in asthma patients and its relation to atopy. Methods: A total of 47 asthmatic patients and 39 healthy adults were involved. In addition to routine biochemical tests, the serum omentin levels were determined by the ELISA method. The Statistical evaluation was performed using the SPSS 16.0 package program and p <0.05 values were considered significant. Results: Serum omentin levels of asthmatic patients (107.0 ± 23.7 pg /ml) were higher than the control group (84.0 ± 44.2) (p = 0.028). A statistically significant difference was found according to the severity of asthma (p=0.008). Serum omentin levels were significantly higher in the mild persistent asthma group compared to the moderate asthma group (p = 0.021). In the control group, omentin levels in the non-smokers were significantly higher than the control group (p = 0.005). In the control group, the serum omentin levels of the women were significantly higher than the levels in men (p <0.001). In asthma group, there was a negative correlation between omentin level and the body mass index in men (p= 0.040, r= -0.599). In the control group, the same negative correlation was detected between omentin level and the body mass index in women (p=0.008, r= -0.484). Conclusion: Serum omentum levels were found to increase in asthmatic patients. In addition, it has been shown that omentum levels are higher in women than men.

Evaluation of Mean Thrombocyte Volumes in Asthma Patients During Acute Exacerbations and Stable Periods

Objective: Asthma is a heterogeneous disease characterized by chronic airway inflammation. Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) is one of the markers of platelet activation. The disease activity has been shown to have an important role as a marker for the efficacy of anti-inflammatory therapy and inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between disease activity and mean platelet volume and to determine the mean platelet volume (MPV) and CRP values during asthma exacerbations and stable periods. Methods: In this study, data from 50 patients with asthma exacerbations, 50 stable asthmatic patients and 40 healthy subjects were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Even though the MPV values of patients with an asthma exacerbation was lower (9.2 ± 0.9 fL) than those of stable asthmatic patients (9.6 ± 1.3 fL), we did not find statistical differences between the groups in terms of MPV results (P = 0.374). Leukocyte, neutrophil counts and percentages and CRP levels were significantly higher in patients with an exacerbation than in stable asthmatic and control groups (p = 0.000). There was no difference in , neutrophil counts and percentages and CRP levels between stable asthmatic patients and healthy controls (p> 0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, there was no statistically significant relationship between the MPV values and disease activity in asthmatic patients. We believe that prospective studies involving a larger number of patients are needed to determine the place of MPV in asthmatic patients, since the number of patients and controls in our study was low.

The Relation between Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein A and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Aim We aimed to investigate the relationship between serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) levels and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Materials and Method 44 patients with OSAS and 44 healthy adults were included in this study. The participants having rheumatic or systemic inflammatory disease, advanced liver or kidney failure, diabetes, heart failure, hypertension, pregnancy, prerenal azotemia, known history of coronary artery disease, any pulmonary disease, rhinitis, or atopy, history of major trauma or surgery within the last six 6 months, and inhaled nasal or systemic corticosteroid use or other anti-inflammatory medications and those with <18 years of age were excluded. Serum PAPP-A levels were determined by the Elisa method with the immune sandwich measuring method. Statistical analysis of the study was performed with SPSS 17.0 statistical analysis package program, and p < 0.05 was considered as significant. Results Serum PAPP-A levels of patients with OSAS (2.350 ng/ml (0.641–4.796)) were significantly higher (p < 0.001) when compared with healthy controls (0.971 ng/ml (0.109–2.679)). There was a statistically significant difference in serum PAPP-A levels between groups of OSAS patients according to the classification of OSAS severity. Between the groups of patients with OSAS, serum levels of PAPP-A in moderate group was significantly higher when compared with severe OSAS group (p < 0.001). There was positive correlations between PAPP-A levels and night minimum (p=0.042, r=0.309), and average oxygen levels (p=0.006, r=0.407). There was a negative correlation between PAPP-A levels and AHI (p=0.002, r=−0.460). Conclusion Higher PAPP-A levels in OSAS patients that were found in this study show inflammatory component in OSAS.