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Aim: To analyze the effect of TLR-9 (-1486 T>C) and TLR-9 (C>T) gene polymorphisms both at TLR-9 levels and together with their sepsis parameters. In this regard, the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique was used in order to detect TLR-9 gene polymorphisms, whereas the ELISA technique was used to analyze TLR-9 serum levels in 80 sepsis patients and 100 healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of 80 patients with a diagnosis of sepsis and 100 healthy individuals. TLR-9 C>T polymorphism was identified by PCR-RFLP. Results: There was no substantial difference observed between sepsis and control groups in terms of TLR-9 (-1486 T>C) and TLR-9 (C>T) genotype and allele distribution. When serum TLR-9 levels were compared to TLR-9 (-1486 T>C) and TLR-9 (C>T) genotype and allele distribution, there was a statistically substantial decrease in TLR-9 serum levels of both TLR-9 (-1486 T>C) TT and TLR-9 (C>T) TT individuals in the sepsis group (p=0.011 and p=0.036, respectively). Conclusion: There is no relation between sepsis and both TLR-9 (C>T) and TLR-9(-1486 T>C) polymorphisms; however, there is a relation between sepsis and decreased serum TLR-9 levels of both TLR-9 (-1486 T>C) TT and TLR-9 (C>T) TT polymorphisms due to sepsisassociated immunosuppression.

Stent thrombosis (ST) is considered as a multifactorial problem which is mostly occurs due to clopidogrel resistance. It may be due to some CYP450 enzyme deficiencies which play role in clopidogrel metabolism. Therefore the aim of this study is to detect the mutations in CYP2C19 and CYP2C9 genes which may cause ST, and to investigate the relation between other risk factors and ST. 50 individuals who have stent thrombosis and 50 individuals who haven't got any complication were enrolled as patient and control group respectively. *2,*3,*4,*5,*17 mutations in CYP2C19 gene and *2 ve *3 mutations in CYP2C9 gene were investigated with RT-PCR. Clopidogrel and aspirin resistance were investigated with multiple electrode platelet aggregometry. Results were evaluated statistically. CYP2C19*2 mutation was found statistically higher in patients (% 18), whereas CYP2C19*17 was found statistically higher in controls (% 36)(plt;0.05). Additionally, it was found that patients who have clopidogrel and/or aspirin resistance also have CYP2C19*1/*2 or CYPC19*2/*2 genotype. These relations were also found statistically significant. (p=0,000005 for clopidogrel resistance and p=0,000059 for aspirin resistance). In conclusion, it was suggested that there is a relation between CYP2C19*2 mutations and ST due to clopidogrel resistance, and CYP2C19*17 may have a protective role in this process. The use of novel and more potent drug or high clopidogrel maintenance dosing before stent implantation may be beneficial treatment options for antiplatelet therapy in CYP2C19*2 carriers.

Aim: The present study investigated the effects of growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and GH-receptor (GHR)/exon-3 polymorphism on diabetes mellitus (DM) and coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. Patients and Methods: Ninety patients with CHD, 90 patients with DM and 96 controls were included in this study. The GH, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 serum levels were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. GHR/exon-3 variants were determined by multiplex-polymerase chain reaction. Results: The frequency of all alleles and genotypes in all study groups were distributed according to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. In addition, any association between GHR/exon-3 variants and the presence of risk factors were detected. The blood levels of GH, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were not distributed according to GHR/exon-3 variants. However, in the DM group, higher levels of IGF-1 and lower levels of GH and IGFBP-3, and in CHD group lower levels of IGF-1, GH and IGFBP-3 were observed. The order of GH levels were DM

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the possible association of paraoxonase-1 (PON1) 192/55 polymorphisms with lung cancer (LC) risk in a Turkish population. Materials and Methods: A population-based, case-control study was carried out, including 223 patients with LC and 234 controls. The frequencies of PON1 192/55 genotypes were compared in patient and control groups using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. Results: Distribution of PONl 192 R (+) genotype was found to be significantly higher in patients with LC compared to the controls (odds ratio: 1.497, 95% confidence interval: 1.034-2.166). This difference was especially noteworthy in patients with small cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusion: This is the first case-control study on the association between PON1 polymorphisms and LC susceptibility in a Turkish population. Our results suggest that PON1 192 polymorphsim is associated with an increased risk of LC in the Turkish population and may be a useful genetic marker for small cell and squamous cell carcinoma.

The concentrations of zinc in serum and hair from more than 600 healthy children aged between 7-12 years living in Konya (a city in the Central Anatolian region of Turkey) were measured to determine if their dietary zinc intakes and general zinc status are satisfactory. Their body weights and heights were also measured together with assessments of socioeconomic status and food consumption. There was a positive association between physical development, shown as larger height-for-age percentiles, and zinc concentrations in serum and hair both in females and males. The socioeconomic status of the children was strongly associated with levels of zinc in these samples and the lowest concentrations of zinc were found in children from the families with poor incomes and in children who rarely consumed meat. Serum selenium concentrations were similar to those found in Adana (Southern Turkey) and indicate that no active intervention to regulate selenium status is necessary.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of copper in patients with ankylosing spondilitis (AS). Twenty-nine patients with AS were included in the study and the patients were divided into 2 groups. Group I included 14 patients with systemic hypertension and cardiac abnormalities, Group II consisted of 15 patients with normal cardiac findings. Serum copper levels in Group I patients, measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry, were 55.0 ± 3.7 µg/dl (mean ± SD) compared with 94.2 ± 15.5 µg/dl in a group of matched control subjects. These results suggest that copper deficiency might be an important factor in the development of cardiovascular complications of AS.

WOS: A1995TX87100028 PubMed ID: 8669035 BACKGROUND Although use of corticosteroid in the management of head trauma has caused a great deal of controversy, corticosteroids have long been an adjunct in the management of severe closed head injury. The glucocorticoid steroid methylprednisolone (MP) has been proven to have significant antioxidant effect when administered in an antioxidant-high dose after central nervous system injury. METHODS The sodium-potassium activated and magnesium dependent adenosine-5'-triphosphatase (Na+-K+/Mg+2 ATPase EC.3.6.1.3.) activity, lipid peroxidation, and early ultrastructural findings were determined during the immediate posttraumatic period in rats. Mechanical brain injury was produced when a calibrated weight-drop device is allowed to fall on to the skull's convexity over the right hemisphere, 1 to 2 mm lateral from the midline. In group I, rats were used to determine Na+-K+/Mg+2 ATPase activity, the extent of lipid peroxidation, by measuring the level of malondialdehyde content and normal ultrastructural findings in two different brain areas (cerebral cortex and brain stem), In group II, physiologic saline was administered right after trauma in the same amount as methylprednisolone. In group III rats, methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg) was administered intravenously right after trauma. RESULTS Na+-K+/Mg+2 ATPase activity significantly decreased in the cerebral cortex and in brain stem within 2 hours after trauma (p < 0.05), There was significant difference in malondialdehyde content between groups II and III (p < 0.05). Methylprednisolone treatment reduced malondialdehyde content and induced the recovery of Na+-K+/Mg+2 activity. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that inactivation of Na+-K+/Mg+2 ATPase is closely correlated to changes of lipid peroxidation and the alteration of the ultrastructural findings in the early phases after head trauma, The glucocorticoid steroid methylprednisolone has been proven to have significant effect in inactivation of Na+-K+/Mg+2 ATPase with significant reduction of malondialdehyde content.

WOS: A1995QQ36900067 PubMed ID: 7596512 ENDORPHINS HAVE BEEN implicated in the pathophysiology of spinal cord injury. The effect of naloxone on the sodium- and potassium-activated and magnesium-dependent adenosine-5'-triphosphatase (Na+-K+/Mg+2 ATPase, EC.3.6.1.3.) activity, lipid peroxidation, and early ultrastructural findings were studied in rats at the early stage of spinal cord injury, produced with an aneurysm clip on the T2-T7 segments. The rats were divided into four groups, The 10 rats in Group I, which had no injury and received no medication, were used for determining Na+-K+/Mg+2 ATPase activity, the extent of lipid peroxidation (by measuring the level of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances as malondialdehyde), and normal ultrastructural findings. On the 15 rats in Group II, without spinal cord injury, only laminectomy was performed to determine the effect of surgery on the biochemical indices and findings. In the 15 rats in Group III, physiological saline was administered intraperitoneally in an amount equivalent to that of the naloxone administered immediately after spinal cord injury. In the 15 rats in Group IV, 0.5 mg of naloxone was administered intraperitoneally as a single dose immediately after injury and again 60 minutes after injury. The Na+-K+/Mg+2 ATPase activity was promptly reduced after spinal cord injury and remained in a lower level than the levels of Groups I and II during 120 minutes after injury. Naloxone treatment, immediately after trauma, attenuated the inactivation of Na+-K+/Mg+2 ATPase. On the other hand, there was a significant difference in the malondialdehyde content between animals in Groups I and III. Naloxone treatment reduced the malondialdehyde content in Group IV. These data suggest the possibility that naloxone contributes to protecting the spinal cord from injury by effecting lipid peroxidation and cell membrane stabilization. The possible effect mechanism of naloxone, which attenuates the inactivation of Na+-K+/Mg+2 ATPase and decreases lipid peroxidation, is discussed.

Concentrations of copper, zinc and magnesium were measured in serum and in malignant and non-malignant tissue specimens from patients with carcinoma of the breast, stomach and colon. The copper concentrations of cancerous tissues were approximately 20% lower than in normal tissue from the same patients. In specimens of sera the mean copper concentrations in the 3 groups of patients were increased by 31-40% compared with healthy subjects. Zinc concentrations were increased in malignant tissues and decreased in the serum. There were no significant changes to magnesium levels in serum or tissues. The results suggest that movements of copper out from, and of zinc into, tissues occur and it is proposed that these changes could be a response to enhanced cytokine production rather than being a feature of any mechanism(s) for the onset of cancer.

WOS: A1993MC62300007 Anti-tumoral effects of the Brassica oleracea var. Capitata extract were investigated on the acitis and solid Ehrlich ascidis tumor cells (EAT) which was transplanted to Mus musculus Balb/c mice. It had no significant toxicity. Only 2 of the 15 ascites EAT bearing mice died within 12-14 days but all of the controls died within 7 days. In these mice, peritoneal fluid contained 3 x 10(3) cells/ml and 5 atypical mitosis (magnification x 10) whereas controls had 3 x 10(5) cells/ml and 18 mitosis. Of the 27 solid EAT bearing mice, complete response occurred in 7, partial response in 11 and progression in 9. This extract also prevented the ascites tumor transplantation in 72% of the animals. This extract also caused an increase in the specific Na+, K+/Mg2+ ATPase enzyme activity (p

[No abstract available]

WOS: A1987H968700001 PubMed ID: 3687326 …

Various screening tests are devised to detect glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. The selected method should be easy, should give reliable results on G6PD deficiency, and detect heterozygosity as well as heterogeneity of G6PD. We selected the fluorescent spot test for our population studies. To assess the validity of the fluorescent spot test, 33 positive controls, 12 negative and 9 doubtful results were assayed quantitatively. Cellulose acetate electrophoresis was done on all samples. The fluorescent spot test correlated well with the quantitative results. Heterozygosity as well as heterogeneity of G6PD deficiency could be inferred from the negative and doubtful results.

Bisalbuminemia, a rare genetic disorder of albumin synthesis, is seen in various parts of the world. The first case of bisalbuminemia in Turkey was detected by Bingoel and Aydin. The possible genetic association of bisalbuminemia with hemoglobin S was hypothesized by Wieme. Therefore, a population study was undertaken in this area to determine the validity of this hypothesis. Protein electrophoresis was done on a total of 3738 serum samples. Hemoglobin electrophoresis was performed on samples of blood that showed bisalbuminemia. Physicochemicals studies on the albumin variant was studied by cellulose acetate electrophoresis and G-200 dextran gel. The results showed that one group of Eti Turks had a very high incidence of bisalbuminemia, whereas other groups of Eti Turks as well as the Turkomans showed no incidence of bisalbuminemia. Though the concomitant appearance of bisalbuminemia with Hb S showed a high precentage like 33.3%, the association was not significant from a statistical point. Therefore, the appearance of these two anomalies might be due to the high frequency of these two separate genes.

In this study, erythrocyte membrane ATPase systems are investigated in normals and patients before and after hemodialysis. The average, Na+-K+/ATPase, Mg++ ATPase, Ca++/Mg++ ATPase levels in normals were estimated as (350 ± 11 nM Pi/mg proteins/hr), (443 ± 16 nM Pi/mg protein/hr) and (584 ± 19 nM Pi/mg protein/hr) respectively. Erythrocyte membrane ATPase systems of the samples have revealed the following data before hemodialysis: Na+-K+/ATPase (262 ± 16 nM Pi/mg protein/hr), Mg++ ATPase (325 ± 20 nM pi/mg protein/hr) and Ca++/Mg++ ATPase (399 ± 30 nM Pi/mg protein/hr). On the other hand, a general increase in ATPase enzyme systems is observed after hemodialysis: Na+-K+/ATPase (354 ± 21 nM Pi/mg protein/hr), Mg++ ATPase (429 ± 24 nM Pi/mg protein/hr), Ca++/Mg++ ATPase (496 ± 32 nM Pi/mg protein/hr).

Paraoxonase (PON1) is a serum enzyme with an antioxidant function, protecting the low density lipoproteins (LDL) from oxidative modifications. Because diabetic patients are at greater risk of oxidative stress, we investigated the effect of PON1 55 methione (M)/leucine (L) and PON1 192 glutamine (A)/arginine (B) polymorphisms on oxidant-antioxidant system in 213 individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 116 non-diabetic control subjects from Turkish population were included in the study. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), and agarose gel electrophoresis techniques were used to determine the PON1 genotypes. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), conjugated dienes levels in the serum and glutathione (GSH) levels in whole blood were measured spectrophotometrically. In both groups PON1 192 AA and PON1 55 MM genotypes had higher TBARS, conjugated dienes levels and lower GSH levels, whereas PON1 192 BB and PON1 55 LL genotypes had lower TBARS, conjugated diene levels and higher GSH level than other genotypes. We thus conclude that PON1 192 BB and PON1 55 LL alleles have protective effect against oxidative stress.