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Introduction: During the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic period, all cases admitted to the emergency services have been evaluated primarily for COVID-19, and therefore other infectious diseases, especially Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), which are endemic in our region, can be overlooked. In this study, it was aimed to determine the diagnostic power of the Hitit Index, which we developed from a panel consisting of clinical and laboratory findings of the cases with and without CCHF in previous years, to distinguish CCHF cases from COVID-19 cases. Materials and Methods: The study groups consisted of the COVID-19 cases (n= 116) admitted to the emergency service and the CCHF patients (n= 110) who were followed up in the Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Clinic of the same hospital between 2015-2020. Results: Hitit Index was found to be statistically significantly higher in patients with CCHF. For Hitit Index, sensitivity and specificity were 88% and 99%, while negative predictive value (NPV) and positive predictive value (PPV) were 90% and 99%, respectively. Conclusion: The Hitit Index is an example of artificial intelligence that we can use to distinguish patients with CCHF from patients with COVID-19.

The reperfusion following liver ischemia results in hepatocyte damage and apoptosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two antioxiclant agents, carnosine and melatonin, in rat Liver ischemia-reperfusion injury. Five study groups were formed; I. sham, II. ischemia-reperfusion, III. ischemia-reperfusion+ melatonin, IV. ischemia-reperfusion+carnosine, V. ischemia-reperfusion+melatonin+ carnosine. Then 250mg/kg carnosine and 10mg/kg melatonin were administered intraperitoneally 30min before ischemia and immediately after the reperfusion. Sinusoidal dilatation, congestion and neutrophil. infiltration were observed in the ischemia-reperfusion group while these symptoms were less pronounced in the treatment groups. Atanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and myeloperoxidase levels were increased in the ischemia-reperfusion group while they were towered in the treatment groups. Glutathione level was tow in the ischemia-reperfusion group while it tended to increase in the ischemia-reperfusion+carnosine administered and ischemia-reperfusion+carnosine+melatonin administered groups. There was an increase in the number of apoptotic cells in the ischemia-reperfusion group white this number was towered in the treatment groups. Carnosine was more effective than melatonin in the reversal of structural and biochemical alterations that resulted from ischemia-reperfusion injury. The administration of melatonin and carnosine together yielded better outcomes compared to the sole administration of each agent. (C) 2008 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Background/aim: Low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) have been shown to be a major risk factor for coronary artery disease. Multiple distinct subspecies have been identified among LDL particles on the basis of differences in size, density, and chemical composition. Particles with a diameter of

Autoxidation of globin chains and iron overload are the suggested mechanisms for the increased oxidative stress in beta -thalassemia. The aim of this study was to evaluated the extend of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status of patients with beta -thalassemia and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and compare the results with healthy subjects. Oxidant and antioxidant status of the children with beta -thalassemia major (n = 22) and iron deficiency anemia (n = 19) were studied. Healthy controls (n=14) were age and sex matched. Fresh anticoagulant venous blood samples obtained from all children. Conjugated diene (CD) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive (TBARS) substances were analysed to indicate the oxidative parameters, whereas the erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) and gluthathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured to show the antioxidant status of the children. Plasma TBARS and CD concentrations in TBARs was significant. In the iron-deficiency group both TBARS and CD concentrations were elevated in beta -thalassemia compared to IDA. When compared to the controls, elevation in TBARS was significant. In the iron-deficiency group both TBARS and CD levels were decreased in TBARS was significant. In the iron-deficiency group both TBARS and CD levels were decreased compared to the controls. SOD and GPx activities were increased in the beta -thalassemia group. SOD in beta -thalassemia was higher than both IDA and the controls and GPx activity was higher than the IDA group. In vivo lipid peroxidation was increased in children with beta -thalassemia major. This leads to a compensatory increase in antioxidant enzymes, whereas IDA does not lead to lipid peroxidation with a normal antioxidant enzyme activity.

In the present study, the genotoxic, hematoxic effects, and their relation with pathological and biochemical parameters of hexane were investigated. Cytogenetic evaluation performed on the bone marrow indicated that chromosome aberrations increased at both hexane doses in relation to the negative controls. Decreased hematocrit, hemoglobin concentrations, and mean corpuscular volume were observed on the whole blood counts. Conjugated dienes (CD), glutathione (GSH), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and catalase (CAT) were increased. Histological examinations showed intracytoplasmic vacuolisation, nuclei with lower chromatin, and parenchymatous degenerations in the dose groups. In the bone marrow slides, depletion of the erythroid series were observed. In conclusion, hexane seems to be a genotoxic and hematoxic agent leading to degeneration and lipid peroxidation in exposed groups. Teratogenesis Carcinog. Mutagen. 20:329-340, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The oxidative effects were investigated of exhausting exercise in smokers, and the possible protective role of 400 mg day(-1) vitamin E (Vit E) supplementation over a period of 28 days. The subjects exercised to exhaustion including concentric-eccentric contractions following maximal cycling. The haematocrit and haemoglobin, leucocyte (WBC), plasma lactic acid (La) and malondialdehyde (MDA), erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), serum Vit E and ceruloplasmin (CER) concentrations were measured pre and post exercise. Supplementation increased Vit E concentrations 28% and 31% in the controls and the smokers, respectively. Cigarette smoking and/or Vit E supplementation did not influence plasma lipid peroxidation or the antioxidant status at rest. Exercise caused significant haemoconcentration in all groups. When the post-exercise concentrations were adjusted for haemoconcentration, a significant elevation in La concentrations due to exercise was observed in all groups. Similarly, there were significant elevations in the adjusted WBC counts in all groups except the Vit E supplemented controls. The MDA concentrations on the other hand, when adjusted for haemoconcentration, did not exhibit any difference due to exercise. Exercise did not affect the GPx and CER activities either, while causing a SOD activity loss in all groups except the Vit E supplemented non-smokers. Serum Vit E concentrations diminished significantly in all groups after exercise. Post-exercise plasma MDA and blood antioxidant concentrations were not altered by smoking. The results would suggest that plasma volume changes should always be taken into account when assessing post-exercise plasma concentrations and that smoking and exercise do not have an additional collective effect on plasma lipid peroxidation and the dose of Vit E administered was insufficient to maintain the serum concentrations after exercise.

Backgrounds and aims: Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is a novel marker that has been shown to exert protective functions on atherosclerosis by preventing oxidative modification of serum lipoproteins. In this study, we investigated the effects of PON1 on CA-IMT in renal transplant patients. Methods: A total of 98 adult renal transplant recipients was enrolled in the study. CA-IMT was determined by B-mode Doppler ultrasonography. PON1 activity was assessed by the rate of enzymatic hydrolysis of paraoxon to p-nitrophenol. Results: Mean age was 39.4 ± 9.6 years and 10% of the patients were diabetic. Time after transplant was 76 ± 59 months. Mean PON1 level was 62.1 ± 43.3 U/l. PON1 levels were negatively correlated with CA-IMT and positively with HDLcholesterol. Mean CA-IMT was 0.62 ± 0.10 mm (0.40-0.98). CA-IMT was positively correlated with age, male gender and negatively with proteinuria and PON1 levels. In linear regression analysis, PON1 levels were associated with CA-IMT. Conclusion: Reduced PON1 activity is significantly associated with increased carotid atherosclerosis in renal transplant patients. © 2013 Dustri-Verlag Dr. K. Feistle.

WOS: 000297673000008, PubMed ID: 21737961, Aim: Paraoxanase 1 (PON 1) has been shown to protect against atherosclerosis by modifying lipoproteins. Its activity decreases in dialysis patients but is restored after transplantation. Whether it affects arterial stiffness is unclear. In this study we aimed to investigate the effects of PON 1 on arterial stiffness in renal transplant patients. Methods: Seventy renal transplant recipients were enrolled. Arterial stiffness was measured using a Syphmocor device. PON-1 activity was assessed from the rate of enzymatic hydrolysis of paraoxon to p-nitrophenol. Results: Mean age was 39.0 +/- 9.6 years and 5.7% of the patients were diabetic. Post-transplant follow-up time was 46.7 +/- 37.9 months. Eighty-five percent received anti-hypertensive and 12.9% anti-hyperlipidemic medication. Mean PON1 activity was 75.9 +/- 52.4 U/L. PON1 activity was negatively correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, LDL-cholesterol and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV). Mean c-f PWV was 8.10 +/- 1.39 m/s. Cf-PWV was positively correlated with age, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, proteinuria and negatively correlated with PON1, PON1/HDL ratio and creatinine clearance. In linear regression analysis, PON1 was a predictor of cf-PWV in a model that included age, gender, diabetes, mean arterial pressure, urine protein level, creatinine clearance and PON 1. Conclusions: Reduced PON1 activity is significantly associated with increased arterial stiffness. The results of this study show the possible role of PON1 for arterial stiffening in renal transplant recipients.

Background: Antithrombin III (AT III) is a serine protease inhibitor and the mechanism of its anti-inflammatory action is still not understood. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory action of AT III on lung injury in a rat model of sepsis. Methods: Three groups of animals were used in this controlled study: the sham-operated group (sham, n = 3) which only underwent a laparotomy; the control group (control, n = 7) which underwent cecal ligation and perforation (CLP); and the AT III-treated group (AT III, n = 6) which underwent CLP and received intravenous (i.v.) 250 U/kg AT III 30 min before induction of sepsis. Rats were killed 24 h after induction of sepsis by needle aspiration of the right ventricle after a sternotomy, and the lungs and trachea were removed en bloc under ether anesthesia. Results: Pulmonary accumulation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) was assessed by measuring lung tissue myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Lipid peroxidation in lung tissue was assessed by tissue thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels. The plasma prostacyclin level was assessed by the plasma 6-keto prostaglandin F1α(6-keto-PGF1α) level, which is a stable derivative of prostacyclin. Histopathological changes in lung tissue were assessed by PMN count in the capillaries and alveolar spaces. The lung tissue TBARS level, MPO activity and PMN count in the control group were significantly higher than in the AT III group (P

To investigate the effects of acute fecal peritonitis on plasma and tissue lipid peroxidation and possible protective effects of vitamin E (Vit E) and cimetidine at 4 h in a rat peritonitis model, four groups were designated as: controls, peritonitis, Vit E and cimetidine. Plasma, liver, lung and kidney thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and conjugated diene (CD) levels were measured to monitor oxidative injury. The present fecal peritonitis model caused a significant elevation in liver TBARS; however, neither Vit E nor cimetidine was effective in preventing TBARS formation. Administration of Vit E and cimetidine caused significant decrements from the peritonitis value in liver and lung CD levels.