Registries of cases with neural tube defects in Denizli, Turkey, 2004-2010.

Neural tube defects (NTD) are among the most common congenital abnormalities, with an incidence of 3 per 1000 live births in Turkey. In a study of major congenital abnormalities in the city of Denizli, Turkey, abnormalities of the central nervous system are particularly common (31.1%). The objective of this study was to develop a registry of cases with NTDs in Denizli. Cases that had been diagnosed with NTD between January 2004 and September 2010 in State Hospitals of Central Denizli were retrospectively examined. The diagnoses were established based on the ICD-10 criteria. A total of 250 subjects with NTD were identified, including 123 (49.2%) females and 127 (50.8%) males with a mean age of 13.72 ± 15.62 years (age range 1-81 years). Interestingly, spina bifida constituted a significant percentage of the cases (149 cases; 59.6%). In addition, 10 (4.0%) cases had hydrocephalus plus spina bifida. The second most common diagnosis was microcephaly, which included 70 cases (28.0%). Encephalocele was observed in only 2 cases (0.8%). Development of NTD is influenced by nutrition, socioeconomic factors, and the use of folic acid during the peri-conceptional period. Studies examining the effect of these factors on NTD in Turkey and a review of primary prevention measures are necessary.

Elevated micronucleus frequencies in patients with pleural plaque secondary to environmental exposure to asbestos.

We examined genotoxic damage and frequency of micronuclei in people living in the Bekilli and Suller districts of Denizli city who had been diagnosed with pleural plaques as a result of environmental exposure to asbestos. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 30 volunteer patients 59-86 years old who did not smoke or consume alcohol and who were diagnosed with calcified pleural plaques. We also examined 30 healthy controls with similar features, who also lived in downtown Denizli. Micronucleus frequencies, nuclear division index, and mitotic index were determined. Micronucleus frequency, nuclear division index, and mitotic index were significantly higher in patients who had been exposed to asbestos than in the controls. We conclude that asbestos had a genotoxic effect, resulting in an increase in micronucleus frequency and other changes in patients diagnosed with pleural plaques secondary to asbestos exposure.

Registries of cleft lip/palate cases between 2004 and 2010 in Denizli, Turkey.

Oral clefts are one of the most common birth defects in humans. However, few population-based studies of these defects have been carried out in Turkey. Our objective was to determine the registries of cases of cleft lip and palate. All cases of cleft lip and palate referred to central state hospitals in Denizli between January 2000 and May 2010 were investigated retrospectively. Anomalies were determined and classified according to the ICD-10 coding system. A total of 194 cases were identified consisting of 92 females (47.4%), 100 males (51.6%), and 2 subjects of undetermined gender (1%) with an age range of 1 to 65 years. Among the 194 cases, 127 subjects (65.5%) had isolated cleft palate, including 63 females and 64 males; 42 (21.6%) subjects had cleft lip, including 17 females and 25 males; and 25 subjects (12.9%) had cleft lip and palate, including 12 females and 13 males. Studies of oral cleft prevalence are insufficient in Turkey owing to the incompleteness of registries, and the chromosome analysis rate has reached a reasonable level only in recent years.

Retrospective analysis of live birth prevalence of children with Down syndrome in Denizli, Turkey.

Down syndrome (DS) is the most frequent chromosome abnormality among live births. Its prevalence increases with maternal age, and can be diagnosed by antenatal screening. We examined prevalence variations of DS in Denizli, Turkey, through a retrospective study. Sixteen years of survey data were retrieved from the two main state hospital registries from records between 1994 and 2010. We identified 113 DS live births in Denizli for 16 years. The prevalence of DS was 9.07 per 10,000 live births before the year 2000 and 9.90 after 2000. The prevalence did not change significantly. The population in Turkey is still young; the fertility rate is high in women under 35 years old and prenatal screening programs are extensively applied; for these reasons, the prevalence of DS has remained stable during these 16 years.

Lack of association between catalase gene polymorphism (T/C exon 9) and susceptibility to vitiligo in a Turkish population.

Accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and low catalase (CAT) activity have been demonstrated in the epidermis of vitiligo patients. We investigated a possible association between the CAT exon 9 (Asp-389) gene and vitiligo susceptibility in the Turkish population. Thirty-four patients with vitiligo and 49 gender, age and ethnic matched controls were enrolled in the study. Genotyping was done by PCR-RFLP. The CAT exon 9 (Asp-389) genotype and allele frequencies of vitiligo patients did not differ significantly from those of healthy controls. We found no association between CAT (Asp-389) gene polymorphism and vitiligo susceptibility in Turkish vitiligo patients.

Evaluation of cancer records from 2000-2004 in Denizli, Turkey.

Objective information about cancer incidence is important for planning control programs. We examined the distribution of cancer cases recorded in Denizli province, Turkey. A total of 2185 cancer cases reported to the Denizli Province Health Ministry's Cancer Early Diagnosis Center during the years 2000-2004 were evaluated for sociodemographic characteristics, cigarette use, family history, and organ systems. Among these cases, 56% were male and 44% were female; 45.1% of the patients had smoked cigarettes at some time and there was a 10-fold increase in lung cancer and a 4-fold increase in urinary cancers among cigarette smokers (P < 0.001). We found that 34.4% of the cancer cases were diagnosed as localized, 27.9% had a more extensive distribution and 21.8% were in metastasis. The most frequent types were urinary cancers at 26.4%, gastrointestinal cancers at 19.2% and respiratory cancers at 18.9%; there was a significant increase in gastrointestinal, blood and skin cancers over the years. Lung (14.9%), breast (14.1%), bladder (8.0%), prostate (5.3%), and lymphatic (4.8%) cancer cases were the most common.

Major congenital anomalies: a five-year retrospective regional study in Turkey.

We examined the distribution and demographic characteristics of congenital anomalies in a Turkish province for five years. The records of 63,159 live births between 2000 and 2004 were examined retrospectively. Major congenital anomalies were classified according to year, organ system, gender, family relationship, maternal age, mortality rate, and method of delivery. There were 183 cases of major birth defects among 63,159 live births, giving a prevalence of 2.9/1000. Anomalies of the central nervous system were the most common defect (31%), followed by cleft palate/lip (19%), musculoskeletal system anomalies (14%), and chromosomal anomalies (13%). Among the infants with major anomalies, 14% did not survive, 56% were delivered vaginally, and 25% were miscarried. There was a significant increase in rate of major congenital anomalies during the five-year period.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis with subtelomere specific probes (12pter-15qter) showed no differences in deletion patterns between normotensive and essential hypertension.

Telomere biology is intimately linked to the genetic/environmental etiology of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and telomere shortening is emerging as an important biomarker disease. The relationship between subtelomeric deletions and genetic hypertension was examined. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to directly assess whether there is a loss or gain of subtelomere copy number. Five subjects with essential hypertension and five normotensive controls were recruited from the outpatient population of the Cardiology Department of the Afyon Kocatepe University Medical School. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was performed using 12p(Tel12) and 15q(Tel15) Cytocell subtelomeric probes on metaphase slides prepared from peripheral blood samples. No differences in subtelomeric region signals between the hypertensive and normotensive groups were found.

Effects of S-CMC on the cisplatin toxicity in rats.

In the present study, some toxic effects of cisplatin are evaluated in rats. It was also investigated whether S-carboxymethylcysteine (S-CMC), a free radical scavenger, protects the experimental animals from the toxic effects of cisplatin. The 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th groups received physiological saline, dimethyl sulphoxide, and S-CMC (100 and 500 mg/kg i.p.) for 3 days, respectively. The 3rd group received cisplatin (5 mg/kg i.p.) 12 h before sacrifice. The 6th and 7th groups received S-CMC (100 and 500 mg/kg i.p., respectively); additionally, these groups received cisplatin (5 mg/kg i.p.) 12 h before the rats were sacrificed. 5 mg/kg cisplatin decreased significantly serum creatinine and glutamic-oxaloacetic and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase levels as well as leucocyte counts. Although S-CMC did not change the effects of cisplatin on creatinine and liver enzyme levels, it eliminated the effect of cisplatin on leucocyte counts. Cisplatin increased significantly urinary creatinine level and creatinine clearance. Cisplatin caused some histological changes in kidney and liver.

Effects of ciprofloxacin on chromosomes, and hepatic and renal functions in rats.

In the present study, ciprofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, was evaluated in vivo. The toxic effects of ciprofloxacin (20 and 200 mg/kg/day) on kidney and liver functions, and on chromosomes were investigated in rats. 20 mg/kg/day ciprofloxacin did not significantly affect urine composition, serum enzyme levels and the haematocrit, affecting only creatinine clearance. The 200 mg/kg/day dose increased urine volume, serum creatinine and and creatinine clearance. Ciprofloxacin at both doses had no significant numerical effect on chromosomes, but there was a statistically significant dose-dependent increase in chromatid-type breakage. Significant histological changes in the liver and kidney were not observed.