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Background/aim: To determine whether macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels in patients with hepatitis B (HB) are different than in normal individuals and whether the HB surface antigen (HBs Ag) level and viral load are correlated with each other and with the two aforementioned parameters. Materials and methods: Sera were obtained from 52 chronic active HB (CAHB) patients and 33 healthy controls, and their MIF and MCP-1 levels were measured. Statistical analyses were performed. A value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The MIF and MCP-1 values of the control group were increased compared to those of the CAHB group. The MIF and MCP-1 levels were negatively correlated with HBs Ag levels and viral loads. The MIF and MCP-1 levels were positively correlated. The HBs Ag levels and the log10 of the viral loads were positively correlated. Conclusion: We conclude that the negative correlation of MIF and MCP-1 with viral load and HBs Ag levels may be due to T-cell deficiency, antinuclear antibody seropositivity, and/or inhibition of chemokine ligand 2 receptors by viral antigens. More studies with a greater number of subjects are needed to evaluate the potential role of MIF and MCP in CAHB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a functional disorder of the bowel, has been thought to result from immune activation. The aim of this study was to evaluate macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MMIF) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) levels in IBS patients. Materials and methods: We enrolled 30 IBS patients and 30 healthy controls. The MMIF and MCP-1 levels of all patients and controls were detected using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Results: Serum MMIF and MCP-1 levels were markedly higher in IBS patients than in controls. White blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, and basophil counts did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusion: These results show that alterations in MMIF and MCP-1 affect the proinflammatory process. They also suggest that MMIF and MCP-1 may play a substantial role in IBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study was designed to evaluate glucose screening and oral glucose tolerance test results, and to assess the prevalence of gestational diabetes in pregnant patients admitted to our hospital. Materials and methods: This retrospective study was carried out at Sema Hospital in İstanbul, Turkey. The study subjects were recruited between January 2006 and August 2009. A glucose challenge test (GCT) was given to 1681 pregnant women and based on the results 494 went on to take an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). A diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was made according to the criteria defined by the National Diabetes Data Group. Results: Out of the 1681 pregnant women tested, 58 were diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Pregnant women with GDM had GCT results greater than or equal to 145 mg/dL. While the percentage of GCT false positives was 87.8% when the cut-off value was taken to be 140 mg/dL, it was calculated to be 84.3% when the cut-off value was taken to be 145 mg/dL. For the 140 mg/dL cut-off value of GCT, specificity was 100% and sensitivity was 4.3%, and for the 145 mg/dL cut-off value of GCT, specificity was 98.3% and sensitivity was 28.3%. Conclusion: The prevalence value in this study was calculated at 3.45%. Pregnant women diagnosed with GDM had GCT results higher than 145 mg/dL. When the cut-off value was increased from 140 mg/dL to 145 mg/dL, a decrease was observed in false positives, and an increase was observed in sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is an inflammatory condition of unknown etiology. The exact role of the leukocytes in the pathogenesis of RAS is not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the status of the oxidative system in neutophils of RAS patients. A total of 26 patients and 22 sex and age matched healthy control subjects were analyzed by measuring intracellular oxidant/antioxidant enzymes and related parameters; myeloperoxidase (MPO), xanthine oxidase (XO), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), adenosine deaminase (AD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO). Statistically significant increases in the activities of SOD, CAT and levels of MDA, NO were detected in the neutrophils of patients. There was no significant difference in MPO, AD and XO activities of neutrophils. Although the functions of neutrophils were normal, there may be an oxidative stress affecting neutrophils in RAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]