Telomerase activity in patients with stage 2-5D chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Molecular mechanisms of increased cardiovascular mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD) associated with biological age are not well understood. Recent studies support the hypothesis that common factors responsible for this phenomenon are cellular aging and telomere dysfunction. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between telomerase activity and CKD stages. METHODS: The study included 120 patients who were followed-up for CKD stage 2-5D, composed of 30 patients of each stage and 30 healthy volunteers without any known disease who were admitted to our hospital for routine check-ups. Telomerase activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was measured using the TRAP assay. RESULTS: A significant difference was observed for telomerase activity in PBMC between groups. The detected levels were lowest in the healthy control group (0.15±0.02), and highest in CKD stage 5D patients (0.23±0.04). In CKD patients, telomerase activity in PBMC was positively correlated with the CKD stage, serum creatinine, potassium and parathormone levels, and negatively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), body mass index (BMI), platelet count and serum calcium levels. According to the linear regression analysis, independent predictors for high telomerase activity in CKD patients were eGFR and BMI. CONCLUSION: Telomerase activity in PBMC increases with advancing CKD stage in CKD patients. Increased telomerase activity in PBMC is associated with eGFR and BMI.

The Serum Levels of Resistin and Its Relationship with Other Proinflammatory Cytokines in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to analyze the levels of resistin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-18, and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and also investigate a potential relationship between resistin levels and TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-18, and CRP levels in patients with AD. METHODS: The study included fifty patients with AD and 30 healthy controls with normal cognitive functions. The serum resistin, TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-18, and CRP levels were assessed. We performed a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) to evaluate the general cognitive performance. RESULTS: The mean serum resistin, IL-1ß, IL-18, and TNF-α levels were significantly higher in patients with AD compared with the controls (p=0.026, p=0.002, p=0.003, and p=0.038, respectively). The IL-6 and CRP levels did not differ between the groups (p=0.874 and p=0.941). The resistin levels were positively correlated with the levels of CRP and IL-18 (r=0.526, p＜0.001; r=0.402, p=0.004, respectively). MMSE scores and inflammatory markers were not correlated (p＞0.05 for all). CONCLUSION: Serum resistin levels were significantly increased and correlated with some inflammatory markers in AD patients, suggesting that resistin might play a role in the inflammatory process of AD.

Thiol/disulfide homeostasis: A prognostic biomarker for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate oxidative stress and thiol/disulfide status with a novel automated homeostasis assay in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Thirty-five patients with advanced NSCLC, who had been newly diagnosed and previously untreated, and 35 healthy subjects were chosen for the study. We measured plasma total thiol (-SH+-S-S-), native thiol (thiol) (-SH), and disulfide (-S-S-) levels in the patients with NSCLC and the healthy subjects. The thiol/disulfide (-SH/-S-S-) ratio was also calculated. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences between the patient group and the control group were detected for the thiol/disulfide parameters. The mean native thiol, total thiol, and disulfide levels were significantly lower in the group with advanced stage NSCLC. The cut-off value was 313 and 13.8 for native thiol and disulfide, respectively. Median overall survival (OS) was significantly shorter in patients with low native thiol and disulfide levels according to the cut-off value (respectively, P = 0.001; P = 0.006). Native thiol, total thiol, and disulfide levels were correlated with Karnofsky performance status (KPS), OS, and age. Additionally, hierarchical regression analyses showed gender, KPS, lung metastases, and plasma native thiol levels were the determinants of OS in the final model. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that in advanced stage NSCLC, the native thiol, total thiol, and disulfide levels decrease, while the native thiol/disulfide ratio does not change. Low levels of thiol/disulfide parameters are related to tumor aggressiveness and may predict a poor outcome for patients with NSCLC.

[The evaluation of serum vitamin B12, folic acid and hemoglobin levels in patients with recurrent minor aphthous stomatitis]. / Tekrarlayan minör aftöz stomatitli hastalarda serum vitamin B12, folik asit ve hemoglobin düzeylerinin degerlendirilmesi.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the serum levels of hemoglobin, vitamin B12 and folic acid in patients with recurrent minor aphthous stomatitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between June 2010 and January 2012, a total of 112 patients including 57 with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (study group; 30 males 27 females; mean age 36.7±13.9 years; range 13 to 74 years) and 45 with chronic tinnitus patients without recurrent aphthous stomatitis (control group; 18 males 27 females; mean age 39.7±15.1 years; range 20 to 80 years) who were admitted to our clinic were included in this study. The serum hemoglobin, vitamin B12 and folic acid levels of the patients were measured and statistically compared. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in serum levels of hemoglobin and folic acid between the groups. Serum levels of vitamin B12 were significantly lower in the study group, compared to the control group (p<0.05). Serum levels of hemoglobin and folic acid were significantly lower in women compared to men in both groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Vitamin B12 deficiency, but not lower levels of folic acid and hemoglobin, may play a role in the underlying etiology of aphthous stomatitis. Vitamin B12 supplements may be added to the treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis.