Investigating the Levels of Brain-Specific Proteins in Hydrocephalus Patients.

BACKGROUND: Hydrocephalus, a common brain disorder in children, can cause permanent brain damage. A timely diagnosis of this disorder is crucial. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of S-100, CK-18, and NSE brainspecific proteins in patients with hydrocephalus. We examined the levels of these proteins in the blood samples of hydrocephalic patients. METHODS: The study was conducted on the hydrocephalus (n = 31) patients and a healthy control group (n = 30). A Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the validity of the NSE, CK-18, and S100B to differentiate between the hydrocephalus and the control groups. The suitability of the data to the normal distribution was tested with the Shapiro Wilk test, and the Student t-test was used to compare the characteristics of the normal distribution in two independent groups. The individuals in the hydrocephalus and control groups had similar values in terms of age, height, and weight. RESULTS: It was observed that NSE, CK-18, and S100B mean values of the individuals in the hydrocephalus group were significantly higher than NSE, CK-18, and S100B mean values of the control group. CONCLUSION: Experiments have shown that the levels of these proteins increase significantly in hydrocephalus patients compared to the healthy group. These three parameters can be considered as important markers in the diagnosis of hydrocephalus.

Relationship Between Oxidative Stress, Tau Level and Antioxidant Mechanisms of the KEAP-1/NRF-2/HO-1 in Children with Hydrocephalus.

BACKGROUND: Hydrocephalus is a complex neurologic disorder that has a widespread impact on the central nervous system and a multifactor disease which affects the CSF dynamics and causes severe neurological impairments in children. The pathophysiology of hydrocephalus is not fully understood. However, increasing evidence suggests that oxidative stress may be an important factor in the pathogenesis of hydrocephalus. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship of the KEAP-1/NRF-2/HO-1 pathway, one of the main regulators of the antioxidant system in the hydrocephalus pathology, on oxidative stress and tau protein level. METHODS: The study included 32 patients with hydrocephalus and 32 healthy controls. KEAP-1, NRF-2, HO-1, TAU, and MPO levels are measured using ELISA method TAS, TOS, and Total THIOL colorimetric method. RESULTS: KEAP-1, TAS, and Total THIOL levels were found significantly lowerer in the hydrocephalus group than in the control group. Nevertheless, it was identified that in the hydrocephalus group that the NRF-2, HO-1, TAU, MPO, TOS, and OSI levels were significantly elevated. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, although the KEAP-1/NRF-2/HO-1 pathway is activated in patients with hydrocephalus, it is identified that the antioxidant defense system is insufficient and ultimately leads to elevated oxidative stress. The elevation in the tau level may be an indicator of oxidative stress induced neurodegenerative damage.