Investigation of biological effects of some Mannich Bases containing Bis-1,2,4- Triazole.

In this study, the effects of Mannich bases containing bis-1,2,4-triazole on the levels of in vivo malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant vitamins (A, E, C) were examined in serum, livers and kidneys of rats. DA and vitamin (A, E, C) levels were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Antioxidant effect was investigated by determining the MDA levels in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells as in vitro. Furthermore, the antitumor effects of compounds were investigated against MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Interrelations of results among control and compound groups were evaluated using SPSS statistical software package. As a result, some of the compounds showed effective biological activity when compared to control conditions. The test compounds used in this study may be effective for utilization in the selection and design of model compounds for further studies.

Assessment of wild mint from Tunceli as source of bioactive compounds, and its antioxidant Activity.

The types of wild mint (Mentha spicata L.) were sampled from different geographical regions in Tunceli (Turkey) in order to find out their vitamin, mineral, phenolic contents and their antioxidant properties. The total phenol varied from 77.7±0.242 to 52.34±0.351 mg of GAEs/g of dry mint. The highest radical effect of scavenging was observed in Mazgirt parting of the ways 7.5 km with 6.17±0.245 mg/mL. The highest reducing power and metal chelating were observed in the mint from Cicekli parting of the ways 6.5 km Demirkapi. Among the various macronutrients which were estimated in the plant samples, potassium was presented in the highest quantity followed by calcium and phosphate. Although rutin and resveratrol were not determined in any samples, kaempferol and catechin levels were found out in almost all samples. The concentrations of vitamin A ranged between 42,14±5.70 and 13.61±3.00 (mg/kg dry weight). These results show that plants of mint are quite rich in phenolic compounds, and these have been appeared to have antioxidant activity, which agrees with this work, since the extract showed a higher content of phenolic compounds and higher antioxidant activity and mint may be considered as a natural alternative source for food, pharmacology and medicine sectors.

Combination Therapy in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Single Centre Long-term Experience.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease of the pulmonary vascular bed and causes right heart failure and death. Combination therapy which targets three different pathways is necessary due to the progressive nature of the disease. In patients with PAH, there are two approaches in combination therapy: "first-line up-front" and "sequential add-on" treatment. In "firstline up-front" treatment, patients receive double or triple drug therapy from the start. In the "sequential add-on" approach, a single drug is initially started and then according to the patient's requirements, a second or third drug is added. There is insufficient evidence about the efficiency and safety of treatment approaches. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the treatment approach in patients with PAH at a tertiary centre. METHODS: Pulmonary arterial hypertension was diagnosed according to clinical, echocardiographic and right heart catheterization findings. The patients received bosentan, sildenafil and iloprost treatment in accordance with guidelines recommendations. Clinical worsening in patients was defined as death, requirement of hospitalization for PAH, a 15% decline in the six-minute walk test (6MWT) distance, deterioration in functional capacity, and symptoms and findings of right heart failure. RESULTS: At the end of the follow-up period, clinical and echocardiographic findings, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and oxygen saturation were similar between patients who completed the study with monotherapy and with combination therapy. The follow-up period was significantly longer in patients who required combination treatment. Two patients (6.9%) died and four patients (13.8%) were hospitalized due to recurrent symptoms and findings of right heart failure. At the end of follow-up, 10 patients (34.5%) completed the study with a single drug, 15 patients (51.7%) with two drugs and four patients (13.8%) with three drugs. CONCLUSION: In this study, combination therapy was given to patients as "sequential add-on therapy". At the end of the follow-up period, monotherapy was sufficient in 34.5% of patients of the study group and in eight patients, sildenafil or prostaglandin analogues were added; a total of 15 patients (48.4%) completed the study under dual therapy. Four patients (12.9%) received combination therapy with three drugs.

Evaluation of antioxidant properties, elemental and phenolic contents composition of wild nettle (Urtica dioica L.) from Tunceli in Turkey.

Wild nettle (Urtica dioica L.) types were sampled from different geographical regions in Tunceli (Turkey) to determine their mineral, vitamin, phenolic contents and their antioxidant properties. The total phenol varied from 37.419 ± 0.380 to 19.182 ± 1.00 mg of GAEs g(-1) of dry nettle. The highest radical scavenging effect was observed in Mazgirt parting of the ways 7.5 km with 33.70 ± 0.849 mg mL(-1). The highest reducing power was observed in the nettles from Mazgirt parting of the ways 7.5 km. Among the various macronutrients estimated in the plant samples, potassium was present in the highest quantity followed by calcium and phosphate. Kaempferol and resveratrol were not determined in some nettle samples but rutin levels were determined in all samples. Vitamin A concentrations were ranged between 13.64 ± 1.90 and 5.74 ± 1.00 (mg kg(-1) dry weight). These results show that Urtica dioica L. collected from Tunceli in Turkey could be considered as a natural alternative source for food, pharmacology and medicine sectors.

Asprosin, visfatin and subfatin as new biomarkers of obesity and metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and obesity are important public health problems associated with adipose tissue mass. Asprosin, visfatin, and subfatin are new members of which fate in MetS and obesity has not been fully revealed yet. Thus, this study was to investigate the association between asprosin, visfatin, subfatin, and biochemical values, demographic data, and body composition measurement values in MetS patients with and without obesity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Blood samples were taken from a total of 90 people, including 31 MetS patients with obesity, 29 MetS patients without obesity, and 30 healthy (control). Asprosin, visfatin, and subfatin were studied by the ELISA method. RESULTS: There was a negative correlation between asprosin and Body Mass Index (BMI) in the MetS + Obese group. The correlations between asprosin and urea and fasting insulin (FI) levels in the MetS group were positive and statistically significant (p < 0.05). While there was a statistically significant negative correlation (p < 0.05) between visfatin and BMI in the MetS + Obese group, the correlation with waist circumference in the MetS + Obese and MetS groups was statistically significant and negative (p < 0.05). There was a statistically significant negative relationship (p < 0.05) between aspartate aminotransferase value and visfatin. The results between visfatin values and asprosin and subfatin in all groups were significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a direct relationship between circulating amounts of asprosin, visfatin, and subfatin hormones and age, weight, height, diastolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, and creatinine. Therefore, asprosin, visfatin, and subfatin hormones are the new biomarkers of metabolic turbulence.

Differentiation between benign and malignant ovarian masses using multiparametric MRI.

PURPOSE: To investigate the capabilities of multiparametric MRI including dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) perfusion and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to discriminate between benign and malignant ovarian masses. METHODS: A total of 43 women with a total of 43 ovarian masses were retrospectively included. They had a mean age of 51.26±18.05 (SD) years (range: 20-88years). Twenty women had benign and 23 had malignant ovarian tumors. All women had multiparametric MRI examinations including DWI (b50-b800) and DCE perfusion imaging at 1-5T. Results of DWI (apparent diffusion coefficient [ADC], b-800) and DCE imaging (volume transfer coefficient [Ktrans], rate constant [Kep], interstitial volume [Ve], initial area under the curve [iAUC]) were compared between benign and malignant ovarian masses. RESULTS: Mean ADC was significantly lowed in malignant tumors (0.92±0.25 [SD]×10-3 mm2/s (range: 0.6-1.6×10-3 mm2/s) than in benign tumors (1.37±0.69 [SD]×10-3 mm2/s; range: 0.4-2.9×10-3 mm2/s) (P=0.011). B-800 was significantly greater in malignant tumors (80.61±24.73 [SD] s/mm2; range: 24-110 s/mm2) than in benign ones (61.15±22.17 [SD] s/mm2; range: 38-155 s/mm2) (P=0.010). Ktrans was lower in benign tumors (0.13±0.06 [SD] min-1; range: 0-0.2min-1) than in malignant ones (0.25±0.16 [SD] min-1; range: 0.1-0.8min-1) (P=0.002). Kep was significantly greater in malignant tumors (0.55±0.19 [SD] min-1; range: 0.1-1.9min-1) than in benign ones (0.44±0.38 [SD] min-1; range: 0.2-1.1min-1) (P=0.003). iAUC was greater in malignant tumors (15.59±7.98 [SD] mM/min; range: 6.6-42.1mM/min) than in benign ones (7.98±5.06 [SD] mM/min; range: 0.2-17.7mM/min) (P=0.001). No differences in Ve were found between benign and malignant masses (P=0.084). The area under the ROC curve was significant for all parameters but Ve. Logistic regression analysis revealed 5.590 and 11.637 times higher malignancy risk for an ADC≤0.93×10-3 mm2/s and an iAUC≥13.88mM/min, respectively. CONCLUSION: Multiparametric MRI has high accuracy in discrimination between benign and malignant ovarian masses. Therefore, adding these methods to the more common MRI protocol can help select the best treatment option in women with ovarian mass.

Protective effect of resveratrol, a red wine constituent polyphenol, on rats subjected to portal vein thrombosis.

This experimental study investigated the prophylactic effects of the antioxidant and antiaggregant compound resveratrol (R) on portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in rats. Thirty rats weighing 200- 250 g were distributed in 3 groups: Group A (n = 10) and underwent PVT+R, Group B (n = 10) PVT alone, and Group C (n = 10) were subjected to a sham operation. Group A rats received R (60 mg/d per naso-gastric tube) for 10 days before PVT. Concerning antioxidant status, statistically significant increases in both tissue and plasma levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were observed in the PVT+R group compared with the PVT group (P < .001 for all). Comparison of these parameters with those of the sham group revealed significantly higher tissue and plasma levels of GSH and low MDA levels among the sham-operated group when compared with to the PVT+R or PVT groups (P < .001 for all). Concerning the antiaggregant status, significant increases of c-AMP levels were detected in rats treated with R before experiencing PVT (P < .001). Cyclic AMP levels in the sham group were significantly higher than those of either the PVT or PVT+R groups (P < .001). One may advise patients undergoing liver transplantation and carrying certain cardiovascular disease risk factors to ingest foods containing R to minimize PVT.

Effect of resveratrol on oxidative stress enzymes in rats subjected to 70% partial hepatectomy.

This experimental study investigated the antioxidant status of rats after resveratrol (R) treatment following 70% partial hepatectomy. Thirty Wistar albino rats (200 to 250 g) were divided among: groups A and B (n = 10 each) underwent laparotomy and 70% partial hepatectomy (PH). Whereas rats in group A received resveratrol 60 mg/d per nasogastric tube for 7 days before and 3 days after PH (PH + R), those in group B underwent PH only. Rats in group C (n = 10) were subjected to a sham operation. Significant increases in tissue levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were observed in the PH group receiving R compared with those of the PH group (P < .001 for all). Comparison of these parameters with those of the sham group revealed significantly higher tissue levels of GSH and lower MDA levels among sham-operated compared with PH + R and PH groups (P < .001 for all). Concerning the NO levels, a trend to a slightly decrease was observed in the PH + R group (P < .06). Interleukin-6 levels showed significant decreases in both PH + R and PH groups (P < .001 and P < .05, respectively). The tissue GSH levels were slightly decreased in PH + R (P < .05), and decreased in the PH group compared with the controls (P = .002). We have suggested that patients undergoing living donor liver transplantation would likely benefit from prophylactic treatment with foods having resveratrol.

Influence of oxidative stress and inflammation on rHuEPO requirements of hemodialysis patients with CRP values "in normal range".

AIMS: We sought to evaluate influences of oxidative stress (OS) on rHuEPO requirements in hemodialysis patients without chronic inflammation. METHODS: Sixty-eight hemodialysis patients and 46 healthy controls underwent measurements plasma levels of antioxidative agents, such as glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and oxidative compounds including malonyldialdehyde (MDA). We retrospectively analyzed the last 3 months' rHuEPO requirements, iron indices, and CRP levels. RESULTS: Plasma levels for SOD, GPX, and MDA were 974.4+/-216.4 U/gHb, 44.4+/-13.6 U/gHb, 10.0+/-2.0 nmol/mL, respectively yielding results that were different from healthy controls (P<.0001). Increased OS negatively correlated with hemoglobin levels (P<.0001) and positively correlated with rHuEPO requirements (P<.01). Increased antioxidative capacity positively correlated with hemoglobin levels (P<.0001) and negatively correlated with rHuEPO requirements (P<.0001). For further analyses, hemodialysis patients were subgrouped according to rHuEPO requirements as group I (lowest 1/3, n=23), group II (moderate 1/3, n=23) and group III (highest 1/3, n=22). Group III displayed the highest MDA (P<.05), the lowest SOD (P<.0001), and comparable GPX (P<.05) levels. Group III also had the highest CRP and the lowest albumin levels compared with the others (P<.01). CONCLUSION: OS has strong adverse influences on rHuEPO responses of HD patients with "normal" CRP levels, but it should not be forgotten that CRP levels in the "normal" range may still reflect ongoing microinflammation.

Prevalence of Human Herpesvirus-8 and BK Polyoma Virus Infections in End-stage Renal Disease and the Influence of Renal Transplantation.

Viral infections lead to significant morbidity and mortality in kidney transplant recipients. We evaluated 49 kidney transplant recipients for human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) and BK polyomavirus infections in conjunction with data obtained from 43 donors. The seroprevalence of HHV-8 was 6.9% in donors and 12.2% in recipients. HHV-8 DNA was detected below the limit of quantification (<5000 copies/mL) in a recipient with HHV-8 seropositivity at the pretransplant period and was undetectable at month 3 after transplantation. Transient viruria with BK polyomavirus was recorded in 10.2% of recipients without viremia. Multiple factors contribute to viral reactivation, particularly immunosuppressive treatment. Reduction in maintenance immunosuppression seems beneficial in terms of viral reactivation. At our center, routine use of valganciclovir for antiviral prophylaxis may be effective for the prevention of HHV-8 reactivation.

Hepatitis C infection in hemodialysis patients: Protective against oxidative stress?

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a common problem that increases morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients. These patients are also at risk of increased oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate possible interactions between HCV infection and oxidative stress indicators in a group of hemodialysis patients awaiting transplantation. We evaluated 73 patients (29 women, 44 men; ages, 49.3 +/- 13.3 years; dialysis duration, 81.7 +/- 48.8 months; Kt/V > or = 1.3). Indicators of plasma oxidative status were monitored at the beginning of a clinically stable hemodialysis session. Measurements were performed for plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) by spectrophotometric methods. We retrospectively recorded the prior year's monthly laboratory values for alanine aminotransferase (ALT), C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, lipids, homocysteine, Lp(a), calcium, phosphorus, intact parathyroid hormone, and predialysis blood urea nitrogen (BUN) creatinine, as well as clinical findings of body mass index and pre- and postdialysis blood pressures. We excluded patients with chronic inflammation (mean CRP levels > or = 10 mg/L) or HCV infection of duration <12 months or clinically advanced liver failure. Twenty-six patients had HCV. The sex distribution, mean age, and dialysis duration were similar between groups. HCV-infected patients showed significantly lower levels of MDA, albumin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, predialysis creatinine, and phosphorus. Antioxidative indicator levels were also higher in the HCV group, but they were not statistically significant. In conclusion, HCV infection in dialysis patients is associated with decreased levels of plasma oxidative load.

Acute Anterior Myocardial Infarction Accompanied by Acute Inferior Myocardial Infarction: A Very Rare Coronary Artery Anomaly.

Coronary artery anomalies are rare and mostly silent in clinical practice. First manifestation of this congenital abnormality can be devastating as syncope, acute coronary syndrome, and sudden cardiac death. Herein we report a case with coronary artery anomaly complicated with ST segment myocardial infarction in both inferior and anterior walls simultaneously diagnosed during primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Enterovirus in sudden unexpected deaths in infants.

BACKGROUND: Conventional approaches to virus detection failed to provide convincing evidence of a viral etiology in sudden unexplained deaths in infants (SUDI). Many viruses may not have been detected by the routinely used methods; among them enteroviruses (EV) have seldom been found in SUDI. METHODS: In this study EV were sought directly in stools, in pharyngeal and tracheal samples and in myocardial and lung tissues, by using a nested PCR; they were also sought indirectly by detecting IgM antibodies with a new capture immunoassay. Twenty-four SUDI cases were divided into two groups: Group I, certainly associated with; or Group II, not associated with clinical, biologic or histologic signs of viral infection. RESULTS: EV were found in stools but their prevalence was not significantly different between Group I and Group II (20 and 22.2%, respectively). On the contrary EV were detected in respiratory tract and/or lung samples in 53.8% of infants of Group I and in none of Group II. Anti-EV IgM antibodies were detected in 55.5% of infants of Group I and in none of Group II. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that EV infection may be specifically associated with the subgroup of SUDI with viral signs, raising the question of its role in this condition.

Glutathione S-transferase-pi in malignant tissues and plasma of human colorectal and gastric cancers.

PURPOSE: In this study, 16 paired samples of colorectal and gastric cancers and adjacent non-neoplastic tissues were analysed for the determination of glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities and the expression of GST-pi. METHODS: Western blotting procedure as well as plasma GST-pi levels were used. RESULTS: GST activities were found to be increased in malignant tissues of patient compared with adjacent normal tissues. A significant correlation was detected between GST activity and GST-pi expression in malignant tissues of patients. Plasma GST-pi levels increased in patients compared to aged-matched control subjects. When the patients were grouped according to TNM stage, GST-pi expression in malignant tissues as well as plasma GST-pi levels were higher in patients with more advanced tumor stages. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that GST-pi expression in malignant tissues and plasma GST-pi levels in human colorectal and gastric cancers increased depending on the stages of tumor.

Persistently normal alanine transaminase levels in chronic C hepatitis: what does it tell us?

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We evaluated the demographic, clinical, histological and serological characteristics of chronic hepatitis C infection with persistently normal serum alanine transaminase levels and compared the results with those obtained in a group of chronic hepatitis C infection with serum alanine transaminase levels above normal. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-one patients who had chronic hepatitis C infection with normal alanine transaminase during the follow-up period and 34 patients who had chronic C infection with serum alanine transaminase levels above normal were included in this study. Demographic, clinical, histological and serological parameters of these two groups were evaluated. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, gender, known route of infection, viral load and genotype distribution between the two groups (P > 0.05). The gamma-glutamyltransferase and gamma-globulin levels were significantly higher in the serum alanine transaminase levels above normal group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05). Among the patients with normal alanine transaminase, liver biopsy findings were normal in eight patients (38%). None of the patients with serum alanine transaminase levels above normal had normal liver biopsy findings. Histologic activity index was significantly higher in serum alanine transaminase levels above normal group (9.7 +/- 2.2 vs. 6.4 +/- 1.9; P < 0.001). Histologic activity index and alanine transaminase levels correlate with the stage of the disease (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: For a definite diagnosis in patients with HCV-RNA+ and normal alanine transaminase liver biopsy is necessary and significant liver disease may be present in such patients irrespective of viral load, genotype and alanine transaminase levels.

Genes of major histocompatibility complex class II influence chronic C hepatitis treatment with interferon in hemodialysis patients.

UNLABELLED: The prevalence of anti-HCV among patients on hemodialysis is consistently higher than in the general population, indicating that patients on hemodialysis programs are at risk of acquiring HCV infection. The response to interferon alpha 2b (IFN -alpha 2b) therapy in chronic C hepatitis depends on viral and host factors. We treated 22 chronic C hepatitis uremic patients with IFN -alpha 2b (3 MU three times a week) and compared interferon responsive and unresponsive patients with regard to HLA II genes. HLA II genes were investigated by PCR-SSP low resolution, anti-HCV with ELISA II and HCV-RNA with reverse transcriptase "nested" PCR. FINDINGS: HLA DRB1*13 is 50% positive in the non-responder group (four women, four men, mean age; 28.8+/-11.9 years) and 7% in the responder group (five women, nine men, mean age; 32.2+/-7.8 years) (p<0.05). There was no difference with respect to HLA genes between controls (six women, eight men, mean age; 29.5+/-12.8 years) and patients (nine women, 13 men, mean age; 31.0+/-9.3 years) (HLA DRB1*13 is 28% and 22% positive, respectively). We conclude that major histocompatibility complex class II genes influence the outcome of chronic C hepatitis treatment with IFN -alpha 2b.

Effects of metals on elastase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa SES-938-1.

Among the numerous virulance factors produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, elastase is the one most often associated with pathogenesis. In this study, effects of various metal ions on elastase from a new isolate of P. aeruginosa (Strain SES-938-1) was investigated. Crude elastase was prepared from culture supernatant via salting out by ammonium sulfate, and then desalting and concentrating the sample using a centricon microconcentrator. Activities were measured at 450 nm using N-succinyl-L-(ala)3-p-nitroanilide as the substrate. The metal chelating agents EDTA and EGTA inhibited the Pseudomonas elastase, which shows that the enzyme is a typical metalloproteinase. At a 10-mM concentration, Mn2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+ strongly inhibited the elastase, whereas Mg2+ effect was negligable. There was a gradual decrease in the enzyme activity in accordance with an increase in the concentration of metal ions.

[Epidemiology of rotavirus infantile diarrhea in Istanbul using virus genome RNA electrophoresis]. / Istanbul'da Rotavirus çocuk diyareleri epidemiyolojisinin virus genom RNA'si elektroforezi ile arastirilmasi.

Rotaviruses were detected using ELISA and latex agglutination, in 210 of 826 (25.4%) stool specimens collected from children with gastroenteritis between October 1984 and August 1990. In 82 of the 85 specimens (96%), Rotavirus specific RNA pattern was detected with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining. In 44 of the 56 strains with long migration pattern, 20 different electropherotypes and in 25 of the 26 strains with short migration pattern, 9 different electropherotypes were seen, respectively. Of the remaining strains, 3 were accepted as having mixed RNA pattern since 15 or 16 bands were detected in electrophoresis and 2 strains (one from long; one from short migration pattern) showed an extra RNA band.

Parkinsonism in elderly rheumatoid arthritis patients.

OBJECTIVE: The incidences of extrapyramidal symptoms and Parkinson's disease were reported to be increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study we aimed to explore the frequency of the symptoms of Parkinsonism among RA patients older than 60 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 30 (6 males, 24 females) consecutive RA patients, followed at a rheumatology outpatient clinic, who were 60 years of age or older; 23 patients who were diagnosed as PD and 50 sex and age matched healthy controls were included to the study. All participants were examined for the motor and non-motor findings of Parkinsonism including bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor, postural abnormality, upper limb sway abnormality, gait impairment, decrease in facial expression, seborrhea, slowing of speech and impairment in the self care. RESULTS: When the RA, PD cases and healthy control group were compared for bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor, posture, upper limb sway, gait impairment, facial expression, seborrhea, speech and self care; highly significant differences were seen for all parameters. Two out of the 30 RA cases (6,7%) were diagnosed as Parkinson's disease. CONCLUSIONS: The signs of Parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease were found more frequent in elderly RA cases as compared to healthy controls.