Analysis of serum cytokine and protective vitamin D levels in severe cases of COVID-19.

In this study, we investigated the role and relationship between the cytokine profile and protective vitamin D by measuring their serum levels in COVID-19 intensive care unit patients with severe illnesses. A total of 74 patients were included in our study. Patients were divided into two groups. Patients in the COVID-19 group (n = 31) and individuals without a history of serious illness or infection were used as the control group (n = 43). The serum concentrations of interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, IL-10, IL-21, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Levels of serum vitamin D were detected with Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methodologies. TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, IL-21, and vitamin D levels were measured in all patients. The serum cytokine levels in the COVID-19 patient group were significantly higher (151.59 ± 56.50, 140.37 ± 64.32, 249.02 ± 62.84, 129.04 ± 31.64, and 123.58 ± 24.49, respectively) than control groups. Serum vitamin D was also significantly low (6.82 ± 3.29) in patients in the COVID-19 group than the controls (21.96 ± 5.39). Regarding the correlation of vitamin D with cytokine levels, it was significantly variable. Our study shows that COVID-19 patients are associated with lower serum vitamin D and higher pro-inflammatory cytokines associated with increased virus presence. Our data provide more evidence of the anti-inflammatory effect of vitamin D on COVID-19 patients and the protective effects of vitamin D on risk were demonstrated.

Investigation the levels of endotoxin and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in sera of patients with Helicobacter pylori-positive peptic ulcer.

BACKGROUND: Peptic ulcer is considered an important public health problem and generally associated with complicated conditions such as bleeding and perforation. The aim of this study is to reflect the rate of oxidative damage in the body among dyspeptic patients with Helicobacter pylori-positive peptic ulcer by measuring 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) level in serum samples and its association with the level of bacterial endotoxin. METHODS: Patients referred to Harran University Gastroenterology Outpatient Clinic with dyspeptic complaints were enrolled in this study. According to gastrointestinal endoscopy findings, 43 dyspeptic patients with H pylori-positive peptic ulcer patients and 43 healthy volunteers were included in this study. Infection with H pylori was diagnosed by H pylori urea breath and stool antigen tests. Serum 8-OHdG and endotoxins were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: A total of 43 dyspeptic patients with peptic ulcer (13 women and 30 men) and 43 healthy individuals (16 women and 27 men) were enrolled in the study. In biopsies taken endoscopically, H pylori severity was mild in 19 patients (43.9%), moderate in 21 patients (48.5%) and severe in 3 patients (7.6%). 8-OHdG was compared with the healthy and patient group. It was observed that there was a statistically significant difference (P < .01). In addition, a weak correlation was found between OHdG and bacterial endotoxin. CONCLUSION: Serum 8-OHdG and endotoxin levels are only weakly associated implying that they reflect specific aspects of oxidative damage. Helicobacter pylori and its endotoxin have a significant role in peptic ulcer pathogenesis. The detection of serum 8-OHdG in dyspeptic patients may be used as a biomarker for the presence of peptic ulcers.

Analysis of Interleukin-17, Interleukin-23, neopterin and Nesfatin-1 levels in the sera of Hashimoto patients.

Background: Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is an autoimmune disorder affecting the thyroid gland and may present as goiter or atrophic thyroiditis that may result in various metabolic and inflammatory disorders. The aim of this study is to determine the changes in serum levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17), IL-23, neopterin, and nesfatin-1 parameters in HT patients and to evaluate the possible relationship among these parameters. Methods: 90 HT patients and 30 healthy individuals were included in this study. Demographic data of the patients included in the study were recorded and detailed physical examinations were performed. IL-17, IL-23, neopterin, and nesfatin-1 levels were measured in the serum samples of the participants by the ELISA method.

Amino acids profile in children with acute brucellosis.

BACKGROUND: Many new cases of brucella infections are seen in Turkey every year, especially in March, April, and May, due to the consumption of local unpasteurized cheese. Amino acids profiles have not been studied in brucellosis so far. INTRODUCTION: The amino acid profiles may be affected by infectious diseases. Our study aims to evaluate the plasma amino acid profile in the progression of acute brucellosis. METHODS: Plasma amino acid profile was performed by an 8045 LC-MS / MS device (Shimadzu 8045, Japan) using JASEM amino acid kit. RESULTS: Analysis of 45 amino acid profiles was made and results profiles showed significant differences in concentrations and types of amino acids in brucella patients. We observed a significant difference in terms of alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, glutamine, glutamic acid, glycine, isoleucine, ornithine, phenylalanine, proline, tyrosine, valine, alpha-aminoadipic acid, alpha-amino-pimelic acid, argininosuccinic acid, gamma-aminobutyric acid, thiaproline, 1-methylhistidine, 3-methylhistidine, hydroxylysine, hydroxyproline, cystine, serotonin, ethanolamine, and taurine (p-value <0.05 for each). No significant differences were determined regarding asparagine, citrulline, histidine, leucine, alloisoleucine, lysine, methionine, serine, threonine, tryptophan, anserine, alpha aminobutyric acid, beta aminoisobutyric acid, beta-alanine, cystathionine, histamine, and 5-oh-trp (p-value >0.05 for all). CONCLUSION: Patients with brucellosis have a specific profile of amino acids which may reflect sequelae of pathological and metabolic biochemical changes in the disease process due to the growth of Brucella spp. in the human body leading to an imbalance of amino acid levels.

Evaluation of the Relationship Between Aquaporin-1, Hepcidin, Zinc, Copper, and Iron Levels and Oxidative Stress in the Serum of Critically Ill Patients with COVID-19.

Our study aims to determine the relationship between hepcidin, aquaporin (AQP-1), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) levels, and oxidative stress in the sera of seriously ill COVID-19 patients with invasive mechanical ventilation. Ninety persons with and without COVID-19 were taken up and separated into two groups. The first group included seriously COVID-19 inpatients having endotracheal intubation in the intensive care unit (n = 45). The second group included individuals who had negative PCR tests and had no chronic disease (the healthy control group n = 45). AQP-1, hepcidin, Zn, Cu, Fe, total antioxidant status (TAS), and total oxidant status (TOS) were studied in the sera of both groups, and the relations of these levels with oxidative stress were determined. When the COVID-19 patient and the control groups were compared, all studied parameters were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.01). Total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), and AQP-1, hepcidin, and Cu levels were increased in patients with COVID-19 compared to healthy people. Serum TAC, Zn, and Fe levels were found to be lower in the patient group than in the control group. Significant correlations were detected between the studied parameters in COVID-19 patients. Results indicated that oxidative stress may play an important role in viral infection due to SARS-CoV-2. We think that oxidative stress parameters as well as some trace elements at the onset of COVID-19 disease will provide a better triage in terms of disease severity.

Evaluation of amino acid profile in serum of patients with Covid-19 for providing a new treatment strategy.

Background: Amino acids have an important role in metabolism and may affect COVID-19-related outcomes. In our study, the amino acid serum level of hospitalized COVID19 patients was evaluated to determine a new treatment strategy. Methods: The amino acid profile covering 43 amino acids in 68 subjects, comprising 30 (14 men and 16 women) controls and 38 (16 men and 22 women) COVID-19 patients, were examined. The amino acid profiles of the participants were screened by LC-MS/MS. Results: Compared with the control group, serum levels of 27 amino acids increased in the patient group. Alpha-aminopimelic acid, sarcosine, and hydroxyproline amino acids were considerably higher in the control group than in the patient group (p<0.0001). There was no notable difference among control group and the case group for 13 amino acids (p≥0.05). A significant positive correlation was seen among the control and the patient groups in the mean amino acid values (r=0.937; p<0.0001). Conclusions: These results postulated a clear picture on the serum levels of amino acid in the COVID-19 patients. Serum amino acids measured in hospitalized COVID-19 patients can explain the patient's metabolic status during the disease.

Effects of specimen haemolysis on complete blood count results by Abbott Alinity hq System.

INTRODUCTION: The current study aimed to assess the interference of in vitro haemolysis on complete blood count (CBC) using Abbott Alinity hq system, and to determine which haemolysis levels affect the reliability of sample results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood samples obtained from 25 volunteers in K3-EDTA tubes were divided into four aliquots. The first aliquot was not subjected to any intervention. The second, third and fourth aliquots were passed through a fine needle 2, 4 and 6 times, respectively. Complete blood count was performed by multi-angle polarized scatter separation technology and haemolysis index (HI) was assessed from the plasma samples separated by centrifugation. Five groups were formed according to the HI values. The percentage biases between the results of non-haemolysed and haemolysed groups were compared with the desirable bias limits from The European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine database and reference change values (RCVs). RESULTS: In groups 1 to 4, the effects of haemolysis on CBC parameters were acceptable comparing to the analytical bias except for lymphocytes (7.26%-7.42%), MCH (2.59%), and MCHC (0.47%-2.81%). Results of group 5 (gross haemolysis) showed decreases in HCT(- 4.56%), RBC (- 4.07%) count and increase in lymphocyte (11.60%) count higher than the analytical performance specifications. Moreover, variations in MCH (4.65%) and MCHC (5.24%) were exceeding the RCVs. CONCLUSIONS: Gross haemolysis (haemoglobin concentration > 10 g/L) is likely to produce unreliable CBC results on non-pathological samples. Further studies including pathological specimens are needed.

In Vitro Demonstration of Drug-Reagent Interactions Among Commonly Used Parenteral Drugs in Cardiology.

BACKGROUND: Drug-drug interactions are undesirable, as they reduce drug bioavailability. Drug-reagent interactions in biochemical tests may directly affect the accuracy of test results. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of drug-reagent interactions of drugs used in cardiology on different cardiac markers (troponin I, Nt-proBNP, CK-MB mass, CK, AST, and LDH) and the D-dimer test. METHODS: Eleven drugs (enoxaparin, tirofiban hydrochloride monohydrate, diltiazem, glyceryl trinitrate, metoprolol, epinephrine, heparin sodium, atropine sodium, furosemide, norepinephrine tartrate, and amiodarone HCl) were tested in an interference study. The interference protocol was applied to the control material of troponin I, CK-MB mass, Nt-proBNP, CK, AST, LDH tests with 11 different drugs and performed with analyzers. Cardiac Markers Plus Control (Bio-Rad, Irvine, CA, USA; Lot: 23662) materials were used to assess the impact of drug-reagent interactions on the accuracy of tests of cardiac markers based on immunoassay methods. The bias rate, defined as the extent of deviation from the target value (bias %), in the interference study was calculated in each test. RESULTS: For all 11 drugs, positive interference in the range of 43.58% to 130.06% occurred in the CK-MB mass test, whereas positive interference in the range of 11.98% to 107.44% occurred in the troponin I test. All the drugs, except enoxaparin sodium, led to negative interference in the range of - 84.21 to -29.6% in the Nt-proBNP test. In the D-dimer test, amiodarone HCl and diltiazem caused interference (122.87% and 28.08%, respectively). The percentage of interference caused by the other drugs ranged from -1.27% to 11.44%. Minimal deviations in the target values (between -3.31% and 3.86%) were observed in the CK, AST, and LDH tests measured using spectrophotometric methods. CONCLUSION: Parenteral drugs used in cardiology can significantly interfere with troponin I, CK-MB mass, Nt-proBNP, and D-dimer tests in the analytical phase because of drug-reagent interactions. Minimal deviations in the CK, AST, and LDH tests were observed using spectrophotometric methods. Thus, changes in test results may be due to drug interference rather than the treatment itself. Clinicians should consider the possibility of drug interference in cases of doubtful cardiac test results that do not comply with the diagnosis.

Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities in cancerous bladder tissue and their relation with bacterial infection: a controlled clinical study.

It is well known that antioxidants and reactive oxygen species play an important role in carcinogenesis. In this study, we attempted to evaluate antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation levels in cancerous bladder tissue and to determine their relationship with bacterial infection. Bacterial culture was made from all urine samples using Blood and Eosin Methylene Blue agars for checking the presence of bacterial infections. We measured thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs) and activities of xanthine oxidase (XO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), and catalase (CAT) in cancerous tissues of 25 bladder cancer patients, in noncancerous adjacent bladder tissues of 13 out of these 25 patients, and in control bladder tissues of 15 patients with a non-neoplastic genitourinary disease. TBARs levels increased and XO, SOD, GSH-PX, and CAT activities decreased significantly in cancerous bladder tissues. TBARS, XO, and SOD levels were not significantly different between noncancerous adjacent tissue and control bladder tissue. Statistically significantly lower GSH-PX and higher CAT activities were observed in noncancerous adjacent bladder tissue compared with cancerous tissue. GSH-PX level of tumor tissue was correlated significantly with tumor grade (r=-0.425, P=0.034). Results suggested that pathway activity of free radicals were accelerated in the cancerous human bladder tissues via increased TBARs levels and decreased enzyme activities of XO, SOD, GSH-PX, and CAT, which implicated a severe exposure of cancerous tissues to oxidative stress.

Enzyme Replacement Therapy may Affect Blood Immunosuppressant Monitoring.

BACKGROUND: Although LC-MS/MS is preferred as a reliable method, therapeutic enzyme drugs in the blood matrix may lead to false results. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to experimentally investigate the effect of five different enzymes used in the treatment of metabolic diseases on blood immunosuppressant measurement. METHODS: Five different enzyme drugs (galsulfase, alglucosidase alfa, imiglucerase, elosulfase alfa, laronidase) were added to control materials containing tacrolimus, everolimus, sirolimus, and cyclosporine A drugs. Measurements were performed using an LC-MS/MS instrument (Shimadzu 8040, Japan). The amount of deviations from the target values was calculated. RESULTS: Blood Immunosuppressant levels significantly changed after the administration of enzyme drugs. Four different enzyme drugs led to false-positive results in the tacrolimus levels at a rate of 10.58% (95% CI, 9.83-11.32) to 37.28% (95% CI, 33.55-41.27). The highest deviations were observed with the administration of galsulfase and alglucosidase alpha in the sirolimus levels at rates of 336.54% (95% CI, 306.25-366.82) and 395.88% (95% CI, 360.25-431.50), respectively. Imiglucerase was the least effective enzyme for the sirolimus level (0.80% (95% CI, 0.71-0.89). Different deviations between the ratios of - 9.37% (95% CI, -10.40 - -8.33) and 8.33% (95% CI, 7.41-9.24) were determined at the cyclosporin A level. CONCLUSION: Galsulfase, alglucosidase alpha, imigluserase, elosulfase alpha and laronidase can significantly interfere with immunosuppressant measurements with LC-MS/MS. False immunosuppressant results associated with enzyme injection may result in immunosuppression failure, organ rejection. For the measurement of immunosuppressant levels, sampling should be done before the enzyme infusion. Clinicians should question the time of enzyme infusion and sampling when confounding results in immunosuppressant measurement.

The Role of Interferences in the Increasing Incidence of Vitamin D Deficiency.

OBJECTIVE: Lipemia is one of the causes of interference in immunoassay and LC-MS/MS methods. Increased prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the US, where obesity is gradually increasing, raises the suspicion that high levels of fat diet and blood lipid levels interfere with vitamin D measurement results. The focus of this study was to investigate the effect of blood lipid profiles on vitamin D results and prevent the matrix effect. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, 25OH vitamin D3 (25OHD3) levels of 100 samples consecutively accepted to biochemistry laboratory regardless of age and sex were measured by the LC-MS/MS method, and each sample was restudied after 1/10 dilution. After dilution restudy, two groups were obtained-group 1 (results deviating below 20%) and group 2 (results deviating above 20%)-and the difference between the groups was investigated. There were 79 patients in group 1 and 21 patients in group 2. In our study, lipid profiles (triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL) from the same samples of consecutive vitamin D patients were studied. RESULTS: It was observed that the triglyceride, total cholesterol HDL, LDL, and 25OHD3 measurements of group 1 and group 2 were similar (p > 0.05). While the mean vitamin D value in the second group was 9.94 ± 7.85, the mean vitamin D value after dilution was measured as 39.23 ± 18.13 and was statistically significant. 25OHD3 concentrations of 21 patients out of 100 were found to be falsely low. Measurements were repeated to confirm the results. CONCLUSION: The matrix effect caused by exogenous and endogenous interferences in the blood could be a hidden factor increasing the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency by causing falsely low 25OHD3 values. Suspicious results should be remeasured by a dilution study.

The effects of synthetic organoselenium compounds on nitric oxide in DMBA-induced rat liver.

DMBA (7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene) is known to generate DNA-reactive species during their metabolism, which may enhance oxidative stress in cells. Since selenium is known as a non-enzymic antioxidant, health problems induced by many environmental pollutants, have stimulated the evaluation of relative antioxidant potential of selenium and synthetic organoselenium compounds. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate chemopreventive potential of synthetic organoselenium compounds by monitoring level of liver nitric oxide. In this study, adult female Wistar rats were treated with DMBA and the novel organoselenium compounds (Se I) and (Se II) in the determined doses. DMBA-induced in rats, the effects of organoselenium compounds on nitric oxide levels in rat liver was studied. In this study it has been observed a statistically significant increase in (Nitric Oxide) levels for the liver of rat exposed to DMBA (p<0.05). However with administration of Se I and Se II there was a statistically significant decrease in NO levels (p<0.05). The ability of the organoselenium compounds to prevent oxidative damage induced by DMBA in rat livers was rationalized. Protection against nitric oxide measured in Se I and Se II treated groups were provided by synthesized organoselenium compounds. Se I and Se II both provided chemoprevention against DMBA-induced oxidative stress in rat liver.

The levels of nitric oxide in megaloblastic anemia.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between nitric oxide degradation products (nitrate and nitrite) levels and megaloblastic anemia which is treated with cyalocobalamin. METHODS: A total of 30 patients with megaloblastic anemia (16 Male, 14 Female) were included in the study. Cyanocobalamin was administered (1.000 µg/day intramuscularly) until the reticulocyte crisis occurred to the normal range. The control group consisted of 30 healthy subjects (15 Male, 15 Female). Nitric oxide levels were measured before treatment and compared with the values obtained during peak reticulocyte count. RESULTS: Plasma direct nitrite, total nitrite and nitrate levels were 24,86±3,87, 60.56±7,01 and 36,02±5,24 in before treatment versus 15,48±3,05, 38,92±6,44 and 22,77±6,04 µmol/dl in after treatment, respectively. Plasma direct nitrite, total nitrite and nitrate levels were significantly lower in after treatment compared with the before treatment (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Nitric oxide levels are seen to increase in megaloblastic anemia. This study suggested that abnormalities in the nitric oxide levels in megaloblastic anemia are restored by vitamin B12 replacement therapy.

Effects of cyanocobalamin on immunity in patients with pernicious anemia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of vitamin B(12) in patients with pernicious anemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted prospectively at the Turgut Ozal Medical Center, Department of Hematology, between April and November 2002. Absolute numbers and ratio of the surface antigens of T and B lymphocyte subgroups, CD4/CD8 ratio were calculated in order to evaluate changes in leukocyte and lymphocyte numbers; natural killer (NK) cell count, serum C3, C4, and levels of immunoglobulins G, A, and M were also measured to evaluate vitamin B(12) effect on immunity. Values obtained before treatment with cyanocobalamin were compared with those found during peak reticulocyte count. RESULTS: In vitamin B(12)-deficient patients, absolute numbers of CD4+ and especially CD8+ lymphocytes were found to be decreased; CD4/CD8 ratio increased, and NK cell activity was depressed. After cyanocobalamin treatment, absolute numbers and percentage of lymphocyte subgroups were elevated. Increased CD4/CD8 ratio and depressed NK cell activity were restored and levels of C3, C4, and immunoglobulins were elevated. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that vitamin B(12) has important immunomodulatory effects on cellular immunity, and abnormalities in the immune system in pernicious anemia are restored by vitamin B(12) replacement therapy.

The levels of nitric oxide in beta-thalassemia minor.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between NO (nitric oxide) and beta-thalassemia minor. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with beta-thalassemia minor (30 M, 30 F) were included in the study. The control group consisted of 60 healthy subjects (30 M, 30 F). Plasma nitrite/nitrate levels were measured using the Griess reaction method and analyzed by spectrophotometry at 545 nm. RESULTS: Plasma direct nitrite, total nitrite and nitrate levels were 7.561±6.19, 42.548±7.37 and 34.84±6.24 in beta-thalassemia minor patients versus 36.9±19.8, 85.9±35.3 and 48.61±17.35 Ìmol/dl in controls, respectively. Plasma direct nitrite, total nitrite and nitrate levels were significantly lower in beta-thalassemia minor patients compared with the control group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: These findings confirm that plasma NO levels in beta-thalassemia minor patients are decreased at the time of diagnosis. This may be helpful in assessing the prognosis and follow-up evaluation of patients with beta-thalassemia minor.

Excretion rate and composition of skin surface lipids on the foreheads of adult males with type IV hyperlipoproteinemia.

OBJECTIVES: Most of the lipids of the skin surface come from sebaceous glands secretions, called sebum. Some of the sebum lipids are synthesized by sebaceous cells while some are reportedly derived from the plasma. Role of blood lipoproteins in sebum secretion rate and composition is unclear. To this end, excretion rate and composition of skin surface lipids of normo- and type IV hyperlipoproteinemic subjects were compared. DESIGN AND METHODS: Quantitative analysis of skin surface lipids was performed by three successive sampling on left, middle, and right zones of the forehead with a sebumeter. Skin surface lipid samples for the compositional analysis were collected from the forehead, extracted into n-hexane, and analyzed by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). HPTLC plates were scanned with a densitometer for the quantification of the lipids. RESULTS: Skin surface lipids from type IV hyperlipoproteinemic subjects contained higher proportion of wax ester + cholesterol ester compared with that from normolipoproteinemic subjects. However, skin surface lipid excretion rates of normo- and hyperlipoproteinemic subjects were found to be similar. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma lipid/lipoprotein concentration may be a determinant factor in sebum lipid composition.

The level of endothelin-1 and nitric oxide in patients with chronic viral hepatitis B and C and correlation with histopathological grading and staging.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The aim of this study was to estimate the serum levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) and to analyze the correlation of their levels with histopathological grading and staging of the liver in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and C (CHC). METHODS: Eighty-nine patients who were either HBsAg positive (45 CHB patients, 34 inactive carriers (IC)) or had CHC (10 patients) and 36 healthy volunteers as a control group were included in this study. Fifty patients from the CHB (n=43) or CHC (n=7) groups with elevated serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels underwent a liver biopsy. Histological activity was scored according to Ishak's activity and the fibrotic index. The ET-1 serum concentration was determined with a commercially available ELISA assay kit. Total nitrite was measured by the Griess reaction as an index for NO production. RESULTS: Serum levels of ET-1 and NO were significantly increased in CHB patients (7.67+/-4.00pg/ml and 172.44+/-50.30mumol/l, respectively) compared with the IC group (3.99+/-5.42pg/ml and 114.68+/-32.22mumol/l, respectively) and the control group (3.05+/-0.65pg/ml and 58.61+/-24.18mumol/l, respectively) (p<0.0001). The CHC patients also had significantly higher serum levels of ET-1 (5.92+/-4.24pg/ml) and NO (147.50+/-55.84mumol/l) compared to the control group (p<0.0001 and <0.001, respectively). Linear regression analysis identified that the level of ET-1 was an independent variable that correlated significantly with the stage score (r(2)=0.348, p<0.0001) in CHB patients but there was no correlation in the CHC group. CONCLUSION: ET-1 and NO levels were increased in chronic hepatitis and there was a significant correlation between the ET-1 level and the stage in CHB patients.

Prevalence of goiter and urinary iodine status of 7-11-year-old children in Malatya province, Turkey.

Goiter prevalence and urinary iodine excretion levels were assessed in 568 schoolchildren (317 boys and 251 girls), aged 7-11 years, living in the Malatya province, a well-known endemic goiter area in Turkey. Five hundred sixty-eight children aged 7-11 years consented to thyroid gland palpation and provided a urine sample on the day of examination in April 2004. Median urinary iodine concentration for the total group was 66 microg/L. There was an association between presence of goiter or not and urinary iodine levels (67 microg/L versus 62 microg/L, p=0.000). The median urinary iodine concentration was lower in rural areas than in urban areas (54.6 microg/L versus 59.7 microg/L, respectively) and schoolchildren living in rural areas had significantly lower urinary iodine levels (p=0.000). In conclusion, the present study reports mild iodine deficiency in the Malatya province, despite a mandatory iodization program in Turkey which has been in force since 1998.

Effects of polyenylphosphatidylcholine on cytokines, nitrite/nitrate levels, antioxidant activity and lipid peroxidation in rats with sepsis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of pretreatment with polyenylphosphatidylcholine (lecithin, PPC) on plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, total nitrite/nitrate (NOx), and tissue levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in septic rats. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled animal study. SETTING: University laboratory. SUBJECTS: Forty-five Spraque-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: group C, sham-operated; group S, sepsis; and group P, sepsis pretreated with PPC. INTERVENTIONS: Rats were made septic by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Group P rats were treated with PPC (100 mg/day orally) for 10 days before sepsis. Twenty-four hours later CLP, plasma concentrations of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-10 and plasma levels of NOx were measured. SOD and MDA were determined in liver, lung and heart homogenates. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: All rats in group P survived during the 24-h observation time after CLP, whereas survival rate in group S was 66.7% (10/15; P<0.05). PPC significantly reduced plasma levels of TNF-alpha (P=0.006), IL-6 (P=0.007), IL-10 (P=0.016), NOx (P<0.001), and tissue levels of MDA (P<0.001) in group P with respect to in group S. Tissue levels of SOD significantly increased in group P when compared with group S (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results show that PPC pretreatment exerts cumulative effects in decreasing the levels of cytokines, NOx, and tissue MDA concentrations, with a concomitant increase in survival in septic rats. Lecithin therapy may be a useful adjuvant therapy in controlling of the excessive production of the inflammatory cytokines in patients with severe sepsis. DESCRIPTOR: SIRS/sepsis, experimental studies.

Hydrophobic nature of rat lymph chylomicrons.

BACKGROUND: A typical molecular structure of a lipoprotein is composed of hydrophobic lipids at the core and hydrophilic apolipoprotein side chains and lipid head groups at the surface. Some of the hydrophobic characteristics of rat lymph chylomicrons were investigated. METHODS: Thoracic duct was cannulated and lymph was collected overnight. Chylomicrons (>100 nm) were isolated by ultracentrifugation at 4 x 10(6)xg min. Since particle aggregation is a characteristic of hydrophobic nature of lipoproteins, as an index of aggregation, the turbidity generated by vortexing and storage of chylomicrons was measured spectrophotometrically at 680 nm. We also assessed the ability of chylomicrons to interact with five different hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) media. RESULTS: Neither shaking nor prolonged storage at 4 degrees C produced an increase in the optical density of chylomicron solution indicating no aggregation took place. Typical elution profiles of chylomicrons through octyl, phenyl (high substance) and butyl sepharose columns showed two peaks. Peak I material emerged with 4 mol/l NaCl in a position corresponding to the void volume and peak II material eluted with water. Phenyl sepharose (high performance) media exhibited the maximum binding strength towards chylomicrons among the five different media. In the case of phenyl sepharose (low substance) column, an additional material was eluted with 3 mol/l NaCl between peaks I and II. These results indicate the heterogeneity of chylomicron surface hydrophobicity. CONCLUSION: Since particle aggregation is a characteristics of hydrophobicity of lipoproteins and believed to be an underlying cause of atherosclerosis, fractionation of lipoproteins by hydrophobic interaction chromatography may introduce a new approach into the assessment of lipoprotein atherogeneicity.