Leptin/Melanocortin pathway hormones in obese patients after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

OBJECTIVE: The melanocortin system is an important neural system underlying the control of body weight and food intake. This system has recently received great attention as a potential target for obesity treatment. Therefore, the objective of this study was to find out the leptin-melanocortin pathway before and after Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LSG) in obese patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was carried out with a total of 144 individuals in 3 groups [control, obese group before LSG and obese group after LSG (who underwent LSG one year ago)]. The amount of leptin (LEP), leptin receptor (LEPR), tropomyosin receptor kinase receptor B (TrkB), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and melanocortin-4 receptors (MC4R) molecules were measured by using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of body mass index (BMI) values (p = 0.001). There was also statistically significant difference present between obese before LSG group and obese after LSG group regarding the levels of LEP, TrkB, BDNF and proteins (p < 0.05). A decline was determined in the LEP and BDNF levels one year follow-up after LSG. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence suggests that the leptin melanocortin pathway strictly regulates food intake and BMI before and after LSG surgery. This pathway should be kept under control for effectively reducing food intake and body weight in the treatment of obesity.

The relationship between serum prolidase activity and histone H3 protein levels and fibromyalgia.

OBJECTIVE: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a clinical syndrome characterized by prominent physical and psychological impairment and widespread pain on both sides of the body, above and below the waist, and along the axial skeleton. It often causes sleep difficulties, memory impairment, mood changes, irritable bowel syndrome, and fatigue. Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between FM and prolidase (peptidase D) and histone H3 protein levels by comparing a patient group with a healthy control group. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In total, 176 people were examined in our study, 88 of whom were healthy and 88 of whom had FM. Serum level was measured by ELISA. Then the results were analyzed using SPSS. All p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A significant increase in the levels of prolidase was observed in the patient group compared with the control group (6.28-4.68, p <0.001). Histone H3 protein values were not significantly different between the patient and control groups (p=0.184). The ROC analysis indicated that prolidase was statistically significant in disease prediction (p<0.001, AUC: 0.795 (0.697-0.893), while histone H3 protein was statistically insignificant in predicting disease. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study show that prolidase activity may play a role in diagnosing FM. In addition, since no study like ours has been performed before, it can bring a new perspective to the literature.

IL-13 gene polymorphisms (-1112 C/T and -1512 A/C) in patients with chronic and aggressive periodontitis: Effects on GCF and outcome of periodontal therapy.

BACKGROUND: IL-13 is the key cytokine in the regulation of inflammatory with an autoimmune disease and has an anti-inflammatory effect. AIMS: This study aimed to compare IL-13 (-1112 C/T and -1512 A/C) gene polymorphisms in patients with aggressive periodontitis (AgP), chronic periodontitis (CP), and periodontally healthy group (C) and evaluate the effect of nonsurgical periodontal therapy on gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) IL-13 levels in patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred thirty patients with AgP, 120 patients with CP, and 70 periodontally healthy subjects were included in this study. Clinical parameters were recorded (plaque and gingival index, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level), and GCF and blood samples were taken at baseline and 6-week. Nonsurgical periodontal therapy was performed in patients with periodontitis. Gene analyses (IL-13 - 1112C/T (rs1800925) and - 1512 A/C (rs1881457) were performed with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cytokine levels were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS: AgP and CP patients showed significant improvement in clinical parameters after periodontal therapy (P < 0.05). According to results, genotype distributions and allele frequencies in IL-13 variants - 1112C/T and - 1512 A/C were found similarly in all groups (P > 0.05). In the AgP group, GCF IL-13 cytokine level is statistically significant and increased in 6 weeks; however, in the CP group, there is no statistically significant difference between baseline and 6 week. In the AgP group, baseline GCF IL-13 cytokine level is lower than those of the CP group and C group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Within the limits of this study, IL-13 -1112 and -1512 gene polymorphisms have not been associated with AgP and CP, and GCF IL-13 cytokine level is increased after treatment in the AgP group.

Effect on oxidative stress, hepatic chemical metabolizing parameters, and genotoxic damage of mad honey intake in rats.

A total of 66 male Wistar rats were used and six groups (control: 10 animals and experimental: 12 animals) were formed. While a separate control group was established for each study period, mad honey application to the animals in the experimental group was carried out with a single dose (12.5 g kg-1 body weight (b.w.); acute stage), at a dose of 7.5 g kg-1 b.w. for 21 days (subacute stage), and at a dose of 5 g kg-1 b.w. for 60 days (chronic stage). Tissue and blood oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione (GSH) peroxidase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase), hepatic chemical metabolizing parameters in the liver (cytochrome P450 2E1, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-cytochrome b5 reductase, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-cytochrome c reductase (CYTC), GSH S-transferase (GST), and GSH), and micronucleus and comet test in some samples were examined. Findings from the study showed that single and repeated doses given over the period increased MDA, NO, and HNE levels while decreasing/increasing tissue and blood antioxidant enzyme activities. From hepatic chemical metabolizing parameters, GST activity increased in the subacute and chronic stages and CYTC activity increased in the acute period, whereas GSH level decreased in the subacute stage. Changes in tail and head intensities were found in most of the comet results. Mad honey caused oxidative stresses for each exposure period and made some significant changes on the comet test in certain periods for some samples obtained. In other words, according to the available research results obtained, careless consumption of mad honey for different medical purposes is not appropriate.

Effects of the Pringle manoeuvre on the healing of left colonic anastomoses in rats.

BACKGROUND: Whether to perform colorectal cancer and liver metastasis resections simultaneously or in separate procedures is controversial. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the Pringle manoeuvre on the healing of left-sided colonic anastomoses in rats. METHODS: Sixteen rats were randomly separated into two groups. In Groups 1 and 2, 1 cm of descending colon was resected and a primary anastomosis was performed. In Group 2, an intermittent pedicle clamp (the Pringle manoeuvre) was performed. On postoperative day 5, laparotomy was performed and the bursting pressures of all colon anastomoses were determined. Tissues were sampled for assay of hydroxyproline levels. Cultures of intraperitoneal swabs were also performed. RESULTS: Clostridium was twice as abundant in the Pringle manoeuvre group as in the control group (p < 0.05). Anastomosis-bursting pressures and tissue hydroxyproline levels were significantly lower in the Pringle manoeuvre group than in the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The Pringle manoeuvre may compromise the viability of colonic anastomoses.

The effects of Rumex patientia extract on rat liver and erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme system.

The aqueous extract from the roots of Rumex patientia L. (Polygonaceae) (D-1) was investigated for its effects on rat liver and erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme systems and lipid peroxidation. Measurements of the GSH-Px, SOD and CAT activities, and MDA levels of liver and erythrocytes in D-1 administered animals showed that there was an increase in GSH-Px and SOD activities when compared to that of controls. No significant decrease was observed in catalase activity and no changes in malondialdehyde levels were observed.

Carnitine deficiency in diabetes mellitus complications.

In this study, the serum total, free and ester carnitine levels in 24 type II diabetes mellitus (DM) patients with complications and 15 type II DM patients with no complications were investigated. The patients were investigated in four groups; the control group included the patients with no complications (group 1), the groups including the patients with retinopathy (group 2), hyperlipidemia (group 3), and neuropathy (group 4). In addition, patients were grouped into two. The first group included 10 patients who took insulin by injection (group 5), and the second group included 29 patients using antidiabetic drugs orally (OAD) (group 6). Free and ester carnitine levels were determined by using Boehringer Manheim UV-enzymatic L-carnitine kit. Statistical analysis results showed that both the plasma total and free carnitine levels of groups 2, 3, and 4 were found to be low when compared to the levels of group 1 (p < 0.05). It was observed that the plasma total and free carnitine levels of group 5 were lower when compared to group 6. No significant difference was observed between the plasma ester carnitine levels of all the groups investigated. As a result of this study, it has been thought that carnitine plays an important role in diabetes mellitus complications.