Search

Doner kebab is a traditional Turkish meat product produced from lamb, beef or poultry meat seasoned with a blend of spices such as salt, black pepper, cumin, thyme and/or sauces. The aim of this study was to determine 16 EU priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in doner kebabs cooked under four different heating sources (electricity, open gas, wood and charcoal grilling). For this purpose, 200 meat doner and 200 chicken doner kebab samples were obtained randomly from various buffets and restaurants located in Istanbul and analyzed by means of GC-MS. According to the results, benzo[a]pyrene and PAH4 levels, which are important PAH compounds as biomarkers, were significantly higher in chicken doner than in meat doner ( p < 0.05). The highest occurrence of benzo[a]pyrene and PAH4 in meat and chicken doner samples was in the charcoal heating source, whereas the lowest occurrence was detected in electric grilling. In terms of all PAH compounds, cooking with an electric heating source caused the formation of fewer PAH compounds in doner kebab samples. Consequently, the fat content of fatty meat products such as doner kebab should be reduced, the contact of fat with the heating source (especially flame) and dripping of fat to the source should be prevented and overcooking of meat should be avoided.

Thermosonication is a process that can be used as an alternative to thermal pasteurization by combining mild temperature and ultrasound treatments. This study evaluated the effects of verjuice on the thermosonication process and its bioactive values modeled with the RSM (response surface method). The bioactive components of verjuice were found to increase with high predictive values. Additionally, the presence and amounts of 20 free amino acids in C-VJ (untreated verjuice), P-VJ (thermally pasteurized verjuice) and TS-VJ (thermosonicated verjuice) samples were investigated. Significant ( p < 0.05) differences were detected among C-VJ, P-VJ and TS-VJ samples in all free amino acid values except methionine. Although 17 free amino acids were detected at various concentrations, glycine, taurine and cystine were not found in any samples. Thirteen phenolic filters in C-VJ, P-VJ and TS-VJ samples were also examined in this study. Eight phenolic donors with various abilities were detected in the C-VJ sample, along with nine phenolic acceptors in the P-VJ sample and eleven phenolic contents in the TS-VJ sample. The content of phenolic products in the TS-VJ sample increased by 37.5% compared to the C-VJ techniques and by 22.22% compared to the P-VJ techniques. Thermosonication did not significantly affect color and physiochemical values. Panelists generally appreciated the effects of thermosonication. It is concluded that the thermosonication process is a good alternative to thermal pasteurization. The results of this study provide essential data for future in vivo studies and show that the bioactive values of verjuice can be increased by using the thermosonication process.

Objective: Because of the ongoing and recurring inflammatory state in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), patients may experience a high risk of cardiovascular events. Our aim was to investigate the arterial stiffness and associated factors in patients with FMF., Methods: Sixty-nine consecutive FMF patients (including 11 females) and 35 controls (including 5 females) were enrolled in the study. The demographical, clinical, and laboratory data and genetic mutations of the patients were recorded. In the study, FMF patients according to the Tel-Hashomer criteria were included, whereas patients with other known inflammatory rheumatologic disease, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, those under the age of 18 years, or those refusing to participate in the study were excluded. Arterial stiffness measurements were performed using the TensioMed device (TensoMed Ltd, Budapest, Hungary)., Results: The patient and control groups were similar in terms of the mean ages, BMIs, gender, systolic blood pressures, and smoking. FMF patients had a higher pulse wave velocity (PWV) (7.73±1.3 and 7.18±1.1 m/s; p=0.03) and lower brachial and aortic augmentation indexes (-64.6±14.6% and -54.6±25.9%, p=0.041 and 4.9±7.4% and 14.0±11.5%, p=0.025, respectively) compared with the controls. Thirty-one (45%) patients were in the "during-attack" state and had higher PWV (8.17±1.6 and 7.38±0.9 m/s; p=0.027) compared with the asymptomatic patients. PWV was correlated to serum CRP, WBC, ESR, fibrinogen, and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios (r=0.666, 0.429, 0.441, 0.388, and 0.460, respectively). The genetic mutation and predominant attack type had no effect on arterial stiffness., Conclusion: FMF patients have increased arterial stiffness during attacks compared with asymptomatic patients and controls. The impaired arterial stiffness is correlated to the severity of the inflammatory state rather than to the attack type or genetic mutations.

Background: Unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) plays a protective role in coronary artery disease. Red cell distribution width (RDW), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are inflammatory biomarkers and higher levels are related to atherosclerosis and adverse cardiovascular events., Aim: We aimed to investigate the relation between UCB levels and RDW, NLR, PLR in people with Gilbert's syndrome (GS)., Materials and Methods: We selected 2166 subjects (1082 with GS and 1084 healthy controls) from a database having 33,695 people. RDW, NLR and PLR were investigated in the subjects with GS and compared with the healthy controls. Linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the relation between variables., Results: NLR and PLR were higher in the subjects with GS compared to the controls (p < 0.001). RDW was similar in both groups (p = 0.318). UCB was negatively correlated with lymphocyte counts (p = 0.040), and positively correlated with RDW (p < 0.001) and PLR (p = 0.037) in the subjects with GS. There was no significant correlation between UCB and NLR (p = 0.078). RDW (p < 0.001) and lymphocyte counts (p = 0.030) were significantly associated with UCB levels in the regression analysis conducted in the subjects with GS., Conclusion: There is a negative association between UCB and NLR, PLR due to low amounts of lymphocyte counts, which causes increased risk of CVD. These results suggest that the cardio-protective effect of UCB is due to both anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory ways indirectly.

Objective: There is a growing body of data supporting the association between diabetes and microcirculatory disfunction. We aimed to study e-selectin levels, and their associations with serum markers of inflammation and arterial stiffness in prediabetes and newly diagnosed diabetes patients in this study., Subjects and Methods: Sixty patients (25 females) with a newly established elevated fasting serum glucose [20 impaired fasting glucose (IFG), 20 impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), 20 newly diagnosed diabetes (T2DM)] and 17 healthy controls (13 females) were included in the study. Serum e-selectin and hs-CRP levels, and arterial stiffness parameters of the patients were studied., Results: Fasting serum glucose was the most important predictor of serum e-selectin levels. Pulse wave velocity and central aortic pressures were significantly higher in IFG, IGT and T2DM groups, compared to controls (p = 0.001, < 0.001, 0.013 and 0.015, 0.002, 0.009, respectively). The mean arterial pressure did not show any significant association with serum e-selectin and hs-CRP levels (β coefficient: 0.092, p = 0.358; and β coefficient: 0.189, p = 0.362, respectively)., Conclusion: Prediabetes patients have increasing e-selectin levels through the diagnosis of T2DM. E-selectin is associated with serum glucose levels. Prediabetic and newly diagnosed diabetics have higher arterial stiffness measurements. Serum e-selectin may be a good marker of endothelial inflammation and dysfunction increasing in parallel with serum glucose levels, predicting future cardiovascular events.

Pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (Aix), and central aortic pressure (CAP) are arterial stiffness markers of endothelial dysfunction (ED). We investigated the relationship between arterial stiffness parameters and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA; a marker of ED), in newly diagnosed patients with hypertension (n = 101; 61 females). These patients were investigated in accordance with the recommendations of hypertension guidelines. Arterial stiffness was measured, and serum ADMA and C-reactive protein (CRP; a marker of inflammation) levels were determined. In both women and men, there was no difference in terms of age, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, PWV, CAP and the levels of ADMA, while Aix and CRP levels were significantly higher in women (P = .004, P = .046, respectively). In the whole group, ADMA levels correlated with Aix (Pearson r = .237, P = .024). Our findings provide further evidence of a link between arterial stiffness and ED in newly diagnosed patients with hypertension., (© The Author(s) 2013.)

Background: Microalbuminuria (MA) is common in hypertensive population and is a marker for endothelial dysfunction and a predictor of increased cardiovascular risk. A great body of data shows the importance of MA as a strong predictor of renal and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in hypertensive population., Aim: In this study, we aimed to compare the anti-albuminuric effects of an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, valsartan, with a calcium channel blocker, amlodipine, in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients., Material and Methods: Totally, 20 patients were recruited into the study. Patients were randomized to one of the following intervention protocols: An (a) angiotensin II receptor blocker (valsartan, 80-320 mg/day) or (b) calcium channel blocker (amlodipine, 5-10 mg/day), for 12 weeks immediately after baseline measurements. Ten patients were randomized into valsartan group and 10 patients into the amlodipine group. Twenty-four-hour urinary albumin excretion (UAE) levels of the patient groups were measured before treatment and on the 12th week., Results: Patients of the two groups were matched for age and body mass index. In the amlodipine group, baseline urine microalbumin levels were higher compared to valsartan group, although the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.082). At the 12th week, there was a significant decrease in urine microalbumin levels in the amlodipine group, but no significant change was observed in the valsartan group., Conclusion: Amlodipine seems to be superior to valsartan in decreasing UAE. To reduce cardiovascular risks, endothelial dysfunction, and microinflammation, these factors are taken into consideration while prescribing antihypertensive drugs in hypertensive patients.

Hypertension is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and is associated with several metabolic disorders like dyslipidemia. Higher levels of triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) are quite strong factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we investigated the effects of valsartan and amlodipine on the lipid profile in patients with newly diagnosed essential hypertension. We observed a beneficial effect of amlodipine on the lipid profile with a significant reduction of LDL compared to valsartan. In the treatment of hypertension, prior knowledge of the plasma cholesterol levels can be important in antihypertensive drug choice.

Tarhana is a popular traditional Turkish cereal-based fermented food product mainly produced at home or at home-scale level. Some certain mould species can grow even at low moisture and pH values and produce aflatoxins in food. This study was conducted to determine aflatoksin levels in tarhana. For this purpose, a total of 138 tarhana powder samples were collected from bazaars in Istanbul and analyzed for aflatoxins, mould contamination, and some physico-chemical parameters. As a result, 32 out of 138 tarhana samples (23.2%) were found to be contaminated with aflatoxins in the range of 0.7-16.8 μg/kg, whereas 29 samples contained Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) ranging from 0.2-13.2 μg/kg. All samples (100%) contaminated with moulds in the range of 1.4 × 10(1) -5.8 × 10(7)cfu/g. The average pH, moisture and a(w) results were detected as 3.82, 12.71%, and 0.695, respectively.

Bowel purgatives containing oral sodium phosphate (OSP) solution are used frequently in general practice and they have the potential of causing acute kidney injury especially in patients with some identified risk factors. Kidney injury may lead to chronicity and end-stage renal disease. Here we present, with renal biopsy findings, an elderly patient suffering from end-stage renal failure due to OSP solution.