N-acetyl cysteine reduces oxidative toxicity, apoptosis, and calcium entry through TRPV1 channels in the neutrophils of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common inflammatory and oxidant disease with an uncertain pathogenesis. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) decreases oxidative stress, intracellular free calcium ion [Ca(2+)]i, and apoptosis levels in human neutrophil. We aimed to investigate the effects of NAC on apoptosis, oxidative stress, and Ca(2+) entry through transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and TRP melastatin 2 (TRPM2) channels in neutrophils from patients with PCOS. Neutrophils isolated from PCOS group were investigated in three settings: (1) after incubation with TRPV1 channel blocker capsazepine or TRPM2 channel blocker 2-aminoethyl diphenylborinate (2-APB), (2) after supplementation with NAC (for 6 weeks), and (3) with combination (capsazepine + 2-APB + NAC) exposure. The neutrophils in TRPM2 and TRPV1 experiments were stimulated by N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (fMLP; 1 µM) and capsaicin (10 µM) as concentration agonists, respectively. Neutrophil lipid peroxidation and capsaicin-induced increase in [Ca(2+)]i concentrations were reduced by capsazepine and NAC treatments. However, the [Ca(2+)]i concentration did not change by fMLP stimulation. Neutrophil lipid peroxidation, apoptosis, caspase-3, caspase-9, cytosolic reactive oxygen species production, and mitochondrial membrane depolarization values were decreased by NAC treatment although neutrophil glutathione peroxidase and reduced glutathione levels were increased by the NAC treatment. Serum lipid peroxidation, luteinizing hormone, testosterone, insulin, interleukin-1 beta, and homocysteine levels were decreased by NAC treatment although serum vitamin A, beta-carotene, vitamin E, and total antioxidant status were increased by the NAC treatment. In conclusion, NAC reduced oxidative stress, apoptosis, cytokine levels, and Ca(2+) entry through TRPV1 channel, which provide supportive evidence that oxidative stress and TRPV1 channel plays a key role in etiology of PCOS.

Effect of age on speech recognition in noise and on contralateral transient evoked otoacoustic emission suppression.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to study the influence of age, in normal hearing individuals, on: the masking level difference test, the speech recognition in noise test, the transient evoked otoacoustic emissions test, and the contralateral transient evoked otoacoustic emission suppression test. We also aimed to research the effect of age when using these tests to evaluate the central auditory nervous system. METHODS: Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions and contralateral transient evoked otoacoustic emission suppression were measured in all subjects. Subjects also underwent masking level difference and speech recognition in noise tests. RESULTS: We found a decrease in transient evoked otoacoustic emission amplitudes, speech recognition in noise scores and hearing thresholds with age. We also found that higher masking level difference values were associated with lower speech recognition in noise scores and contralateral transient evoked otoacoustic emission suppression values. CONCLUSION: We conclude that decreasing speech recognition in noise scores are associated with decreasing contralateral transient evoked otoacoustic emission supression values. This effect may be related to medial efferent system dysfunction.

Retrospective evaluation of epidermal skin prick tests in patients living in Aegean region.

Sensitization to aeroallergens of Aegean region is not well decumented. In this study we evaluated the epidermal skin prick test results of the patients who applied to allergy outpatient department retrospectively. Epidermal skin prick test of the 5055 patients were evaluated. Of these patients 2638 (52 %) were female, 2417 (48 %) male, 1213 (24 %) adult and 3842 (76 %) pediatric patient, 1163 (23 %) patients were allergic rhinitis, 2477 (49 %) were bronchial asthma, 505 (10 %) were allergic rhinitis with bronchial asthma, 556 (11 %) were chronic urticaria, 253 (5 %) were wheezy infant and 101 (2 %) patients were atopic dermatitis, 2932 (58 %) had atopy history in their first and second degree relatives. Patients were aged between 3.5 months and 79 years (mean 14.1 3.2 years and median 11 years). In epidermal skin prick tests sensitization to house dust mites (D. farinae, D. pteroniyssinus), pollens (grass, cereals and trees), moulds, animal danders, foods (especially in early childhood) and cockroach were evaluated. Our data indicate that allergens that may be the cause of the high prevalence of allergic diseases in Izmir are probably produced by pollens and mites.

Retrospective evaluation of epidermal skin prick tests in patients living in Aegean region

Sensitization to aeroallergens of Aegean region is not well decumented. In this study we evaluated the epidermal skin prick test results of the patients who applied to allergy outpatient department retrospectively. Epidermal skin prick test of the 5055 patients were evaluated. Of these patients 2638 (52 %) were female, 2417 (48 %) male, 1213 (24 %) adult and 3842 (76 %) pediatric patient, 1163 (23 %) patients were allergic rhinitis, 2477 (49 %) were bronchial asthma, 505 (10 %) were allergic rhinitis with bronchial asthma, 556 (11 %) were chronic urticaria, 253 (5 %) were wheezy infant and 101 (2 %) patients were atopic dermatitis, 2932 (58 %) had atopy history in their first and second degree relatives. Patients were aged between 3.5 months and 79 years (mean 14.1 ± 3.2 years and median 11 years). In epidermal skin prick tests sensitization to house dust mites (D. farinae, D. pteroniyssinus), pollens (grass, cereals and trees), moulds, animal danders, foods (especially in early childhood) and cockroach were evaluated. Our data indicate that allergens that may be the cause of the high prevalence of allergic diseases in I(dot)zmir are probably produced by pollens and mites (AU)

La sensibilización a los aeroalergenos en la región del Egeo no está bien documentada. En este estudio evaluamos de manera retrospectiva los resultados de las pruebas cutáneas (prick test) de los pacientes que acudieron al departamento de alergia del ambulatorio. Se examinaron las pruebas cutáneas de 5.055 pacientes. De estos pacientes, 2.638 (52 por ciento) eran mujeres, 2.417 (48 por ciento) varones, 1.213 (24 por ciento) adultos y 3.842 (76 por ciento) niños; 1.163 (23 por ciento) pacientes presentaban rinitis alérgica, 2.477 (49 por ciento) asma bronquial, 505 (10 por ciento) rinitis alérgica con asma bronquial y 556 (11 por ciento) urticaria crónica; 253 (5 por ciento) eran lactantes con sibilancias y 101 (2 por ciento) pacientes con dermatitis atópica; y 2.932 (58 por ciento) tenían antecedentes de atopia en sus parientes de primer y segundo grado. Los pacientes tenían entre 3,5 meses y 79 años de edad (media 14,1 ñ 3,2 años y mediana 11 años). En las pruebas cutáneas se evaluó la sensibilización a los ácaros del polvo doméstico (D. farinae, D. pteroniyssinus), pólenes (gramíneas, cereales y árboles), mohos, caspas de animales, alimentos (especialmente en la primera infancia) y cucarachas. Nuestros datos indican que los alergenos que pueden ser la causa de la gran prevalencia de enfermedades alérgicas en Izmir están probablemente producidos por pólenes y ácaros (AU)

Late hemorrhagic disease of the newborn.

BACKGROUND: Late hemorrhagic disease of the newborn (HDN) may occur without an underlying disorder or as a secondary manifestation of an underlying disorder. It may be seen in fully breast-fed infants without a routine supplementation of vitamin K. In contrast, idiopathic late HDN is defined as HDN without the presence of any risk factor, such as gastroenteritis or use of antibiotics. Severe hemorrhagic symptoms frequently occur. METHODS: Between March 1987 and May 1997, we evaluated 15 infants with idiopathic late HDN, who were diagnosed by detailed history, physical examination and laboratory findings. RESULTS: The age (mean +/- SD) at onset of symptoms was 62.4 +/- 33.9 days. All children were breast-fed infants and were born at term from healthy mothers. The delivery histories were uneventful. There was no history of vitamin K administration at birth. Signs and symptoms of the patients were convulsions (47%), feeding intolerance and poor sucking (47%), irritability (33%) and pallor (20%). In physical examination; there was bulging or full fontanel in 10 patients (67%), diminished or absent neonatal reflexes in nine patients (60%) and ecchymosis in three patients (20%). Before administration of vitamin K, prothrombin time (PT) was 76.1 +/- 43.0 s and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) was 123.4 +/- 68.8 s. Six to 12 h after administration of vitamin K, PT was 15.6 +/- 1.8 s and PTT was 33.4 +/- 1.0 s. Neurologic, gastrointestinal and skin hemorrhagic findings were found in 11 (73%), three (20%) and three patients (20%), respectively. There were both neurologic and skin bleeding symptoms in two patients. The mortality in the present study was 33%. CONCLUSIONS: Late HDN results in severe hemorrhage, especially hemorrhage in the central nervous system. Administration of vitamin K (1 mg, i.m.) at the birth can reduce these severe complications.

Prevalence of atopy in young healthy population, in Izmir, Turkey.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of atopy especially in young aged group in which allergic diseases are frequently seen. We carried out this study in Izmir which is located on the west coast of Turkey and has all the characteristics of mediterranean climate. However, we evaluated whether geographical characteristics such as climate, dampness, kinds of plant might be affected on prevalence of atopy. Participants were randomly selected and detailed standard questionnaire about if they or their relatives had any allergic symptoms were applied. The skin prick tests (SPT) with standardzied allergen extracts were performed and serum total IgE levels were assayed. The study group consisted of 277 individuals, aged 15-25 years. Based on the questionnaire, 123 (44.4%) participants described positive history of atopy. In 127 of 277 subjects (46%) was found at least one positive skin-test response and the most frequent allergen was house-dust mites. SPT was positive in 68 (55.2%) of 123 subjects who had atopic history and in 59 (38%) of 154 subjects who had negative history of atopy. The subjects who had atopic history showed more frequently positive SPT prevalence than the others (p < 0.01). Geometric mean of total IgE level was 105.5 kU/L in SPT positive 127 subjects and 57.7 kU/L in SPT negative 150 subjects. There was a positive relationship between total IgE level and positive SPT (p < 0.01). History of atopy was correlated with total IgE levels in males (p < 0.01) but not in females. Women more often than men reported atopic history in the absence of true atopy.